12 mins
NEWS
Beauty and hair services contribute £5.1 billion a year to the UK economy
Beauty and hair service providers, including salons and freelance practitioners, contributed £5.1bn to UK economy in 2022, 81% of the pre-Covid 2019 peak of £6.2bn.
The figures come from The Value of Beauty Report, created by Oxford Economics for the British Beauty Council (BBCo).
The report also showed that the services division of the industry supports almost a quarter of a million jobs, which is 78% of 2019 levels. British Beauty Council chief executive Millie Kendall said, “The service sector is a very large part of our overall contribution to Britain’s economy, with hair and beauty service providers making up the largest part of our offering.
“It’s grown 20% year on year, which is about a billion in a year, so it’s definitely moving in the right direction.”
The new report found that the beauty industry’s total contribution to UK GDP in 2022 – including not just treatment providers but also retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers – was £24.5 bn.
Just over half of this (£12.3 billion) was generated by the industry itself and this figure represented 0.5% of the nation’s GDP.
After beauty and hair service providers at £5.1bn, the next biggest contributor was beauty retailers at £3.3bn, followed by wholesalers at £2.1bn, manufacturers at £1.1bn then advertising and marketing at £0.7bn.
A further £4.9 billion was created by the beauty industry’s domestic supply chain purchases, with wage payments to the industry and its supply chain accounting for £7.3bn.
ASA cracks down on beauty salons and clinics advertising sclerotherapy
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has cracked down on beauty salons and aesthetic clinics advertising sclerotherapy procedures that require the use of a prescription-only medicine.
Several rulings have been made against businesses that advertised the procedure on their social media channels.
Following legislation, ASA rules make it clear that businesses can’t advertise prescription-only medicines to the public.
The ASA said in a statement, “Sclerotherapy – atreatment for varicose veins…requires the use of a prescription-only medicine. As such, it can’t be advertised towards the general public.”
The banned adverts all broke the rules by advertising sclerotherapy on social media, in breach of CAP Code (Edition 12) rule 12.12 (Medicines, medical devices, health-related products and beauty products).
An additional advert was banned for promoting training courses for sclerotherapy, without making clear the requirements and possible professional registration details of the course.
Miles Lockwood, director of complaints and investigations at the ASA, said: “We know that sole traders and small businesses aren’t always aware of how the rules apply to their work, particularly online and on social media.
“These rulings, alongside our training programmes, will remind businesses of their responsibilities around advertising treatments that use prescription-only medicines.”
News in brief
Caci has given its Skinbreeze brand a refresh, with a new easy-to-navigate website that incorporates the Skinbreeze brand story, treatments and technology menu, blog, and clinic finder. Salon businesses can also access the professional portal, including marketing materials and training videos.
Cidesco has partnered with Charlotte Tilbury for international certification of its new educational certificate programme “Charlotte’s Expert Skin Program”. The course is Charlotte Tilbury’s first Cidesco-endorsed education course.
The British Beauty Council has named its first brand ambassadors. Skincare experts Caroline Hirons and Dr Ateh Jewel join brand founders Marcia Kilgore and Kathy Phillips, make-up artist Mary Greenwell and hairdresser Sam McKnight MBE, while brand founder Bobbi Brown will be the Council’s first US ambassador.
The College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) is celebrating is 25th anniversary. It held a two-day event in May, hosting guest speakers on key topics from nutrition, to immunity, to fertility and hormones. Over the last 25 years, CNM’s commitment to quality training has helped to shape the field of naturopathic medicine.
Gharieni has apointed a strategic advisory board which includes Michael Schummert, previous chief executive of Babor, and Enrico Della Casa, who previously advised global luxury brands Ferrari and Riva Yachts.
Government called on to reinstate full ban on animal testing for cosmetic ingredients
Animal rights campaigners are calling on the Government to enforce an outright ban on animal testing for ingredients used in cosmetics.
The call comes after it was revealed that, since 2019, the Government has been issuing licences for animal testing of cosmetic ingredients in circumstances where they may impact worker safety.
The policy changes were revealed during a High Court case brought by animal rights group Cruelty Free International.
The court ruled that the licenses were not in conflict with the Government ban on cosmetics testing, with judge Mr Justice Linden pointing out that they only allow for ingredient testing on animals as a “last resort”.
Following media coverage of the case, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, “It’s important that the public are reassured here. The ban on using animals to test cosmetic products or ingredients for the consumer remains completely in force.”
However, Cruelty Free International said the spokesperson was misinformed, adding that tests have been allowed for cases of worker safety (as opposed to consumer safety) but that the end result is the same: “The Prime Minister’s statement refers to tests ‘for the consumer’. Whether labelled as consumer or worker safety, the animal tests are identical.”
TikTok profiting from sales of counterfeit beauty products
An investigation has found that social media platform TikTok is profiting from sales of counterfeit beauty products via its TikTok Shop, despite claiming it has a “zero tolerance” policy on sales of fakes.
Last year, TikTok launched its Intellectual Property Protection Centre, a tool it said would help brands identify product listings that breach their IP.
However, an investigation by The Guardian discovered fake versions of Maybelline mascaras and Vaseline lip balms among products being sold via TikTok’s in-app Shop by third-party vendors.
More worryingly, skin-whitening products containing banned ingredients and prescription-strength acne creams were also being advertised for sale.
TikTok, which takes a 5% commission on product sales, states in its Shop policy that it bans the sale of any product requiring a prescription, any counterfeits and any products containing banned ingredients.
News in brief
Skinceuticals has announced its first flagship clinic, alongside award-winning aesthetic doctor Dr Ana Mansouri. Dr Ana The Skin Clinic, which opened in May in Birmingham, will offer treatments including filler and toxin injectables, advanced facials, microneedling, peels and LED.
Aesthetics and dermatology brand Cutera is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Founded in 1998, the brand is looking toward the next 25 years to develop additional technologies and expand on the value that it can add to aesthetic and dermatology practices.
Sarah Louisa Carswell, founder of training school and product brand Sarah Louisa, has launched a new Habia-approved course. The Ingrown Hair Short Course is an online course accessible to all those wanting to expand their skills and become ingrown hair specialists.
Daniel Thwaites Spa Group has launched a new menopause relief treatment, Your Best You, created by Temple Spa. Available from June 1, the treatment has been designed to help ease the symptoms of those going through menopause or peri-menopause.
Xpert Professional has welcomed Thomas Klein to its Beauty Division. Klein will be joining the team as sales director across its beauty brands, including Dibi Milano, APG Technology, and Olos.
Demand for female wellness rises 783%
Demand for female wellness products has soared by 783% in the last 12 months, according to new research from online beauty retailer Cult Beauty.
The research, which analysed internal sales and Google trends data, revealed that there has been a 783% increase in demand and that revenue is up by 176% for female wellness.
Cult Beauty analysed internal sales data to reveal the shifts in purchasing, which revealed a 220% purchase increase year-on-year for women’s health products, with a further 75% increase year-on-year for women’s wellbeing products.
These products include everything from sex toys to supplements, and intimate cleansers to pelvic floor trainers and women’s hygiene, all of which fall under the female wellness category.
Menopause products also saw high growth, with a 69% increase on perimenopause products year-on-year, and 73% for menopausal supplements.
The data also revealed that the UK is the capital of female wellness, with the largest interest in female wellness compared to any other countries in the world and 20,000 yearly searches.
Canada followed in second and the US placed third. Australia and India completed the top five.
TSW campaign to raise awareness of dangers associated with eczema and psoriasis creams
To raise awareness of topical steroid withdrawal (TSW), bath salt brand Westlab has announced a TSW Awareness Campaign.
TSW refers to symptoms that can occur when a patient reduces or ceases use of topical steroids, including, but not limited to, painful redness, burning, swelling, itching, flaking, and oozing of the skin.
Topical corticosteroids are applied directly to the skin to help reduce inflammation and irritation for conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Not only is TSW extremely painful for the user, but it can lead to neurological side effects such as depression, insomnia, anxiety, and PTSD.
The campaign has been developed to raise awareness of the urgent need for research to aid GPs, pharmacists, and dermatologists in diagnosing and treating patients safely while helping prevent the long-term risks of topical steroid misuse.
News in brief
Gaia Skincare has launched an online training platform for spa partners, offering flexibility and reducing training costs by up to 80%. The platform offers 24/7 access to training material, with a mix of in-person and digital training.
Sweet Squared has recertified 500 CND Shellac nail technicians, allowing experienced nail techs to refresh their knowledge and update themselves with newer techniques. The one-hour webinars were led by CND educator Sarah Marr.
Temple Spa has announced several new partnerships. The brand has expanded its partnership with the Eden Hotel Collection, partnering with Elan Spa at The Greenway Hotel and Spa in Shurdington, Cheltenham, and its sister hotel Bovey Castle Hotel and Spa in Dartmoor, Devon. In addition, there is a new partnership with Edinburgh’s One Spa.
Jennifer Young Training is returning to in-person training at its headquarters. Young is inviting therapists to learn at two locations with set training days at her listed sandstone school building in rural Staffordshire, as well as at a dedicated site in Berkshire, not far from Reading.
Ishga has partnered with Luxury Family Hotels, a collection of five family-focused properties across southern England. The new collaboration will see ishga’s organic seaweed skincare and treatments introduced to guests at the group’s coastal and countryside locations.
Revealed: best UK cities for skin health
New research has revealed the top 10 cities in the UK for your skin.
The data, from Showers To You, looked at average sunlight hours, water hardness and pollution levels to give an overall score out of 10, with lower scores indicating better skin health.
Scottish cities accounted for seven of the top 10 locations. Inverness took the top spot with an overall skin impact score of just 0.2 out of 10, and Stirling following in second with a score of 1.09.
At the other end of the rankings, Kingston upon Hull is the worst UK city for your skin, receiving an overall skin impact score of 7.41 out of 10.
The Yorkshire city receives an average 1,577 hours of UV sunlight each year and has a pollution rating of 8.1 out of 10, and a water hardness level of seven out of 10.
Hoar Cross Hall spa’s £1.5 million biomass heating project to reduce CO2 by 40%
Hotel and spa collection Barons Eden has completed a project that will reduce its CO2 emissions by over 40%.
In partnership with Reheat, a renewable heat and power consultant, a new biomass heating system has been installed at Hoar Cross Hall, Staffordshire, and is set to save over 1,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent each year.
This was part of an initiative to reduce the carbon footprint emitted by traditional kerosene boilers.
Hoar Cross Hall managing director Phil Murphy said, “One of our key company initiatives is to work towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Biomass heat source has allowed us to take a huge step forward to achieving our goal.”
Flagship 3D Aesthetics Medispa launches within Champneys Tring
3D Aesthetics has launched its first 3D Aesthetics Medispa at Champneys Tring, Hertfordshire, situated within the Marine and Wellness Spa.
The 3D Aesthetics Medispa features five treatment rooms and a dedicated consultation room.
Some of Medispa’s packages will include the 3D HIFU non-surgical facelift and 3D lipo-ultimatepro body contouring services.
“Our Flagship 3D Aesthetics Medispa within Champneys Tring can offer a new level of result-driven ‘tweakments’, adding a new dimension to their organisation while not taking away from their area of expertise,” said Roy Cowley, founder and managing director of 3D Aesthetics. “I look forward to contributing to their renowned organisation through this exciting new project.”
Lemi opens new UK headquarters in London
Italian spa and medical equipment manufacturer Lemi has opened a UK headquarters in London, with the goal of Improving the company’s performance in the UK market.
The UK branch will be headed up by Anna Histed (pictured) as the new UK head of sales. The UK offices have been opened to allow the company to serve UK customers directly, offering a faster and more personalised service. The site will also offer training in Lemi equipment. The UK HQ marks the fourth site for Lemi, which has its main corporate office in Italy, plus branches in Dubai and the US.
Nouveau HD Beauty Group launches online platform
The Nouveau HD Beauty Group has launched new online platform nouveaubeauty.com, which aims to be a one-stop shop for beauty professionals and students to stock up, learn and connect.
The site will house all products and training courses from the original Nouveau brand line in one place for the first time and will also be a space for other brands to promote and sell their products and training.
Nouveaubeauty.com will also host NouAcademy, an interactive online learning platform.
Additionally, through new social channels, the company said it is dedicated to providing the beauty community a space where new and experienced beauty professionals can connect and support one another.
Diary dates
// June 10 Global Wellness Day Worldwide
A not-for-profit day to raise awareness about living well. +90 216 571 49 00 globalwellnessday.org
// June 30–July 1 Facial Aesthetics Conference & Exhibibition InterContinental London
Medical aesthetics event focused on the non-surgical aesthetic marketplace. 01268 745892 faceconference.com
// July 2–4 Spa Life UK Convention Cotswolds Water Park Hotel, Gloucestershire
The convention includes meetings and education to help spa professionals grow their businesses. 01268 745892 spa-life.international
// September 24–25 Professional Beauty North Manchester Central
The largest beauty exhibition in the North returns with product launches, education, competitions and more. 020 7351 0536 professionalbeauty.co.uk/north
// October 15–16 Olympia Beauty ExCeL London
Now under the Professional Beauty Group umbrella, Olympia Beauty will run alongside hair show Salon International. 020 7351 0536 olympiabeauty.co.uk
// October 19–20 CCR ExCel London
Trade show featuring education and aesthetic suppliers and brands. 020 3196 4370 ccrlondon.com