Beauty and Personal Care

Hair care witnessed a decline in retail volume sales in 2022, with standard shampoo most heavily affected. With border restrictions relaxed, a significant percentage of Uruguayans from border towns are buying cheaper products in Argentina, with…

Fragrances enjoyed a second year of retail volume growth in 2022, with current value sales achieving strong double-digit increases. Much of this growth is linked to strong performance in premium fragrances, reflecting the global trend towards…

Depilatories witnessed slight growth in current value sales in 2022, but faced a sharp decrease in volume. As in other categories, this is linked to the significant price differential between depilatories sold in Uruguay and Argentina. It is very…

In 2022, deodorants suffered a moderate decrease in retail volume sales, caused by the large price difference between products sold in Uruguay and Argentina. Many Uruguayans cross the border to purchase deodorants at cheaper prices in Argentina. In…

The colour cosmetic category had an outstanding year in 2022 with significant double-digit growth in both retail volume and current value sales. The gradual re-opening of the economy and the full relaxation of pandemic restrictions has increased…

In 2022, beauty and personal care saw a decline in retail volume sales as demand waned in some product categories, although current value growth remained robust. The most critical factor in 2022 has been the exchange rate between Argentina and…

Bath and shower saw a weaker performance in 2022 following two years of robust growth. The relaxation in hygiene measures post-pandemic has reduced demand in some categories like hand sanitisers. Consumption has also been negatively impacted by a…

In the face of disruptions to supply baby and child-specific faced a difficult year in 2022, with current value growth slowing and retail volume sales continuing to decline. Furthermore, the category faced unfair competition from the informal market…

After the sharp decline seen during the pandemic, sun care made a strong recovery in 2022, with retail volume sales nearing pre-pandemic levels. As cases of COVID-19 decreased in 2022, travel restrictions on mobility were also relaxed. Domestic…

Sun screen and aftersun are largely consumed by tourists in Costa Rica. Beach tourism in the country is very popular amongst both locals and international tourists, and tourism resumed in 2022, driving category growth in the year. As of the first…

Retail developments have played a fundamental role in the growth of skin care. The proliferation of pharmacies across the country has spearheaded growth of skin care led by Fybeca, which has increased the number of retail outlets with an emphasis on…

There has been strong growth in the availability of dermocosmetics in Costa Rica over the past two years, supported by the presence of Derma Care centres in pharmacies. Farmacias Fischel has been spearheading the growth, offering an increased variety…

Premium fragrances witnessed a significant improvement in 2022 as consumption continued to recover post-pandemic. However, current value sales still remain below pre-pandemic levels. The return of international travel in 2022 has led to an increase…

Costa Rican consumers are increasingly opting for dermocosmetic skin care brands. Local dermatologists usually recommend dermocosmetic brands such as La Roche Posay over premium brands such as Lancôme, L’Occitane, and Clinique as they directly…

During the review period, a number of small brands of locally produced mouthwashes witnessed solid growth, including the domestic alcohol brand Weir that has extended its portfolio to include mouthwashes. Local brands have sought to take advantage of…

Oral care products are considered essential products in Costa Rica and are therefore seeing further growth in 2022, although downtrading is evident as price-sensitive consumers are looking to economise. In the largest category, toothpaste, consumers…

In recent years there has been a significant increase in men’s cosmetic shampoos aimed at strengthening hair and preventing hair loss. Rising levels of generalized stress in Ecuadorian society has impacted men and women in recent years, with hair…

There was a rise in the popularity of barbershops in Costa Rica before the pandemic, with men increasingly visiting them for the latest cuts and styles. While some of these barbershops went out of business during the pandemic, several have reopened,…

A large proportion of mass fragrances and colour cosmetics sales are made through the direct selling channel in Ecuador. Direct selling was hard hit during the pandemic, with many of the sellers in this channel becoming inactive as orders reduced for…

With rising inflation and living costs, consumers in Costa Rica have become increasingly price-sensitive and are looking to make savings where they can. Companies in mass beauty and personal care are therefore offering new volume sizes for certain…