“Health is the future of beauty”

What are the main trends in the skincare market today?

Skincare is the number one category in the beauty marketx; revolutionised by health and driven by dermo-cosmetics. It is relevant for current market trends; a focus on health, safety, well-being, authenticity and naturalness.

The main expectations are two fold: on the one hand, directly dealing with the negative effects of our environment and lifestyles on our skin through protection, prevention and in-depth skincare. On the other hand, the desire for immediate results.

What is the Active Cosmetics Division doing to meet these expectations in terms of strategy and the assets used?

We have a head start: our existing DNA and mission “health is the future of beauty”. Passing the 2 billion euro turnover mark with a +5.8% like-for-like growth x above market growth, we have re-instated our Division’s leadership and the success of our strategy. Two brands are leading their markets: La Roche-Posay, the world’s leading dermocosmeticx brand and SkinCeuticals, the number one US medical aesthetic skincare brand worldwidex.

Our complementary portfolio of brands has solid roots in healthcare and very strong values. On one hand, our brands are recommended by healthcare professionals ranging from esthetic professional skincare with SkinCeuticals, to dermatological problem solving La Roche-Posay, to CeraVe’s accessible skincare range, not forgetting Vichy’s natural care. On the natural and well-being side, we have the very natural and organic Sanoflore range and the natural perfumed rituals of Roger&Gallet. Our innovations reflect the expectations of our customers and their way of life because we develop our products with them, and with our professional healthcare partners. Lipikar stick AP+, for itch relief, is a perfect example of this co-development.

Does adapting to our consumer’s lifestyles mean we have to adapt our distribution methods?

We are no longer defined by our distribution channels but by a vision of beauty driven by health. We offer effective products, services and professional advice regardless of the points of contact with our consumers: this is applied not only to our physical points of sale; pharmacy, drugstores, shops, and in our dermacenters in airports… but also on digital. Thanks to this strategy, e-commerce has posted a strong growth accelerating again this year, around +50%.

How do you increase consumer trust, a key aspect in the skincare market?

We rely on expert brands whose tolerance and effectiveness is born from very rigorous formulation charters and numerous clinical studies. And we have two major assets to increase trust and our credibility; first, our proximity with medical experts whose word remains paramount; they are drivers for initial recommendations or for a consumer’s commitment to a brand. Second lever: our consumers who increasingly recommend our products online and who appreciate their quality. They are our best ambassadors.