The Eastern European region is currently experiencing significant market growth and growing consumer sophistication, which organisers believe boosted visitor numbers.

Many of the major players in the region were present at the show and an extensive conference programme focused on themes such as anti-ageing and sun protection.

Visitor numbers

A total of 906 unique visitors attended the show, held in Moscow on 25th and 26th October, a 23 per cent increase in visitors compared to last years Warsaw event.

The International Perfumery and Cosmetics Exhibition InterCHARM, was held at the same time in the venue, and the In-Cosmetics conference programme was held in collaboration with the Perfumery and Cosmetics Association of Russia, PACR. Two factors that organisers feel may have boosted attendance.

"With the Russian personal care market enjoying double digit growth, our presence in Moscow in co-location with InterCHARM and our collaboration with PCAR was a strategic move which resulted in increased show profile and visitor numbers", said group exhibition director from in-cosmetics group Richard Hesk. 

According to Euromonitor the Eastern European market for cosmetics and toiletries stood at $19301.9m in 2006 and year-on-year growth has been in double figures for the last five years.

Conference program

Ingredients providers Symrise, Sederma and Croda Chemicals Europe presented a number of seminars about current anti-ageing ingredients.

Karl Linter from Sederma discussed the future of anti-ageing ingredients beyond peptides, showcasing a new ingredient under development teprenone, a close analogue of vitamin K2 that the company says has protective and reparative properties.

In addition, Dr Jacek Art, president of the Polish Society of Cosmetic Chemicals, presented his paper on low molecular weight peptides (LMW peptides) - biologically active peptides that represent the next step in anti ageing treatments to Dr Art.

Such a strong focus on anti-ageing is hardly surprising as the Eastern European market for such products is projected to grow significantly over the next few years.

According to Euromonitor the Eastern European market size for anti-ageing products in 2006 was estimated at $670.7m, (in comparison to $4248.8m in Western Europe) but is projected to grow by 268.2 percent in the period 2006-2011 (in comparison to 99.4 percent projected growth for Western Europe in the same period).