Beauty and Personal Care

Stress-related problems have been on the rise among the Ecuadorian population since the pandemic, with economic problems only adding to the list of growing concerns. The general feeling of stress within the country has led to higher numbers of people…

With rising prices, hair products have become very expensive in Costa Rica in 2022, even for higher income consumers. Larger volume presentations became very popular during 2020; however, in 2022, consumers’ purchasing decisions are based on price,…

In 2022, the fragrance category witnessed a strong rebound in sales after a sizeable decline following the pandemic. The first few months of the year were affected by the omicron variant, but after these restrictions were abolished and social…

With consumers no longer wearing masks in 2022, returning to their old social habits, kissing each other on the cheek when greeting, they want to present themselves well and smell good. This is driving healthy current value and volume growth in…

The lack of social gatherings and events during the pandemic led to lower use of depilatory products in Ecuador. However, with the impact of COVID-19 dissipating in 2022, social gatherings have once again become more widespread triggering the start…

With consumers being more price sensitive, pre-shave products such as the shaving foams offered by Gillette, Nivea, and Barbasol continue to see declining volume sales in 2022 as they are perceived to be non-essential and easily substitutable items.…

Deodorants achieved another solid year of growth in 2022 as the category recovered from the pandemic. Many people had spent time at home and used far less deodorant during the long periods spent at home. As consumers resumed normal lifestyles in…

Considered an essential product, deodorants record further growth in 2022; however, brand loyalty is waning as consumers look to economise due to the difficult economic climate and high inflation in Costa Rica. To encourage consumption, some…

During the pandemic, demand patterns changed substantially due to the use of face masks in most public places. Consumers chose to limit the use of lip products as they stain the face mask as did other types of facial make-up. Consequently, these two…

There has been a clear increase in the range and variety of nail polish products available in retailers in Costa Rica in 2022. The OPI brand entered modern retailers with an aggressive strategy and wide variety of colours and options, including…

Ecuador witnessed a slight economic recovery in 2022 following the decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the second half of 2021, a nationwide vaccination plan was launched that successfully reduced the threat of COVID-19. Although there…

Costa Rica’s inflation is the highest in Central America. The year-on-year inflation measured by the consumer price index (as of August 2022) is 11.48%, according to the National Statistics Institute (INEC). Inflationary pressure increased further in…

The falling number of COVID-19 cases and the less severity of symptoms meant Ecuadorians were far less concerned about contracting the virus in 2022, and so compulsive hand washing decreased considerably. As sales of bath and shower began to…

Body wash/shower gel is the best-performing category in 2022 as more Costa Ricans are trying the product and preferring it to bar soap despite the lower price tag of bar soap. The pandemic pushed consumers away from soap, as they did not want to use…

A significant proportion of baby and child specific products are imported from Colombia and so the category is dependent on the supply chain working efficiently across borders. In 2021, national strikes lasted for some 50 days causing severe…

Manufacturers of baby and child-specific products are offering consumers savings through volume presentations of their products, especially in modern retailers. Johnson & Johnson and Kimberly-Clark, for instance, have introduced larger bottles for…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. In 2023, global inflation is expected to ease from its peak in 2022, but remaining significantly above-trend. Geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market are…

Now in its seventh edition, this report explores the top digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this edition touch on topics such as second-hand shopping, community group buying,…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. Global inflation is reaching a peak, although geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market remain key risks. The impact varies between countries, with…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. Global inflation is reaching a peak, although geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market remain key risks. The impact varies between countries, with…