Skincare products sales outpace make-up products in the UAE and are even higher than hair care products which stand at 25 per cent, said an industry expert.

“Consumers in the UAE are known to spend higher amounts of disposable income on cosmetics, with a strong preference for skincare products that are recommended by cosmetics specialists and salons, thus leading to the ‘do it at home’ trend,” added Dr Ali F Abdulqader, managing director, Al Hikma, a Dubai-based company specialising in import, export, distribution and promotion of premium skincare and health products.

“They also demonstrate growing preference for organic products because they believe that the organic ingredients would bring 100 percent benefits to their skins.”

The UAE is the Middle East’s biggest consumer of cosmetics despite its small population, he added.

More than 35 per cent sales of skincare products in the UAE are generated from supermarkets and hypermarkets, followed by salons (15 per cent), said Dr Abdulqader.

“The prevalence of supermarkets and hypermarkets is driven by consumers’ preference for buying in malls, complemented by the ‘do it at home’ trend among UAE consumers, which reduces the importance of salons as generators of sales of cosmetics.”

Dr Abdulqader said that skin care products are emerging as a serious threat to face make-up, such as foundation, blush, liners and shadow, as women in the UAE are more aware of the winning features of skincare products and importance of regular skincare.

“Skincare is a big driver of the cosmetics market in the UAE backed with a strong beauty culture prevailing here.”

Beauty and personal care products recorded overall healthy growth in recent years, due to the higher disposable incomes in the UAE, aided by a strong shopping culture, he noted.

“The high awareness levels among UAE consumers for skincare products that were earlier exclusively used in spas and salons is further igniting the retail sales of these products,” said Ratiba Ayad, brand manager, Al Hikma, which represents Vitia Floris, Vinoderm, Toitbel and Swisscode amongst other globally reputable skincare brands.

“We cater to both mass and premium segments of skincare. There is high awareness today about the damage that might be caused to the skin.  The aim is not just to keep the skin fair but also to protect it due to climatic factors and ageing,” she added. – TradeArabia News Service