The cosmetic industry is fast-paced. Innovations are being developed daily. How do you keep up? Following the right industry source will give you a complete 360 look at the cosmetic industry across the supply chain. We have taken the top 10 cosmetic industry media sources to give you an up-to-date look at the cosmetic world.

1. Premium Beauty News
2. Cosmetics and Toiletries
3. Global Cosmetic Industry Magazine 
4. Cosmetics Design 
5. Cosmetique Mag
6. Beauty Packaging
7. Happi Magazine
8. Cosmetics Business
9. BW Confidential Magazine 
10. La Pivoine
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This edition of Industry Voices features Jillian Baker of TAMA Cosmetics. TAMA Cosmetics is unique because of the high percentage of natural shea butter in its products. They invest in natural and affordable shea-based bath and beauty products sourced through an ethical and environmentally friendly supply chain.  

1. How did you get into the cosmetic industry? Tell us your story.

A bit unconventionally, I started out distributing TAMA Cosmetics because of the social empowerment story. My day job brought me to Ghana a couple of times a year. I became friends with the TAMA team in Tamale and was always stuffing my suitcases full of their amazing shea butter products for friends, family and colleagues back home. One day, they were ready to enter the Canadian market, and suddenly I was on board to lead the way! Since then, I’ve become more passionate about helping Canadians deal with the dry winter air—it’s the worst! Shea butter is a great salve for most things in life. 

2. What were the challenges in starting your cosmetic business?

The main challenge has been finding our market niche in an already saturated industry. As a start-up and social enterprise, TAMA Cosmetics was lucky in that we secured funding to do some market research, which was a big help. However, it’s a constant push to secure the market: both e-commerce and retail. We were devastated in 2020 not only dealing with the pandemic disruptions but also  with the closure of Ten Thousand Villages here in Canada.   Luckily Ghana is faring pretty well, all things considered. The second challenge is shipping: air freight is exorbitant and sea freight takes a long time. 

3. What was the experience of importing raw materials into Canada?

Once the market is secured, it’s an easy adventure! Some challenges pop up, but rewarding to see the supply chain grow.  Our women shea collectors are paid a fair price as well as the other  employees of the the Shea Butter Village. Once you are assured of the quality of the product, the process becomes more simple.

4. Did you experience more hardships with import during Covid-19?

Yes. Ghana closed its commercial air and sea traffic for the summer of 2020. The impact of  this was was tough as we were scarily low on inventory. Luckily, the borders opened things up again in September.  We were able to resume importing our products. Prices have also gone in up the past year.  

5. How do you connect with clients? Is it hard to have an online presence?

Social media is a great connector, so we’ve pushed that a tiny bit and are planning more there. We send out emails to our subscribers. We are on Shopify , a platform that makes engagements and fulfillment very simple. We are looking to tell more of the TAMA story on Instagram and our website. 

6. What is one innovation that you would bring to the cosmetic industry if you could?

​Paper packaging for oils and lotions would be great! We value sustainability, and I’d love to see more options for green packaging. At TAMA we reuse as much as we can with shipping. For our wonderful cosmetics that are processed up in the north of Ghana, it would be great to contribute to a world that will work for the next generations.

Canada ranks top affordable country for beauty products.  Check out Cosmetify for more information. 

Canadian Overview
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The Canadian Market is worth 15 Billion Dollars. The skincare market is 40 percent of the entire cosmetic market. Facial products achieve 900.2 million in sales with hands & body products sell second at 282.1 million. 

Canadian Consumer 
The average Canadian spends on average skincare of 22 dollars a month to the expense of 264 CAD a year. Skincare items are the 2nd most purchased items after haircare. Most commonly the average Canadian consumer shops a few times a year (30.84%), with 22.65% shop monthly, and 15.73% shop a few times a month. Only 4.17% of consumers shops a couple of times a week and 6.44% shop weekly. Products need to be affordable within that range of 20-30 dollars and last a month.

Consumers prioritize family and friends in terms of cosmetic suggestion. Consumer reviews are the 2nd most prioritized step. Unlike personal care items like shampoo, toothpaste and deodorant, skincare products do not have as many loyalties from the Canadian consumer. This means consumers are more eager to try new products. As much as 55% of Canadians believe in research and how it is making better products. Canadian also see Mass-market brands are viewed as just as effective as premium. Shopping trips made specially to get certain products as much as 50%. Price is also an important factor of Canadians with 50% look at price to decide a purchase. Natural products are not a big factor.

Simplicity is preferred over innovations.

Statistics provided by Statista and Euromonitor. 

"Canada and the United Kingdom have reached an interim post-Brexit trade agreement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Saturday.
The Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement extends the elimination of tariffs on 98 per cent of goods exported between the two countries and sets the stage for negotiations toward a permanent and more ambitious deal in the new year. The deal could include "the potential to go further in areas like digital trade, the environment and women's economic empowerment," a release from the British government said." (CBC,2020)
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For full article please continue at CBC

The Canadian Cosmetic Cluster has enjoyed a great relationship with the UK Cosmetic Cluster. We will continue to support the UK Cosmetic Cluster and collaborate on innovative cosmetic projects in the future. 

​As of 2020, the beauty industry is worth close to 500 billion dollars USD. This global industry has been long thought of as an industry that has unlimited potential in product sales. New innovations in science have led to better products being developed. As we approached the mid 20th century we saw that cosmetics were no longer a luxury but a part of everyday life. In 1944, the British government likened cosmetic products to cigarettes and beer. These items were a necessity for the common man not just for the select  few wealthy. 

Companies and formulators are in a never ending race to launch a new skincare line or a different shampoo formula. There is a neverending need for new products by consumers. They are eager to try and use a new type of product with the promise of everlasting beauty and youth. The question to ask is why do we need cosmetic products? What is the importance of beauty? Traditionally beauty was linked to health, it was a sign of strong genetics. Signs of youth were associated with fertility. That has been the driving factor for the cosmetic industry for centuries. The last two decades have presented a change in the industry comparable to the industrial revolution. This has largely been due to the growth of the tech industry. Consumers have also changed. Women who were the traditional cosmetic buyers are no longer bound to domestic life and responsibilities. Women have a place in government, business and science. Birth and marriage rates are down in most developed countries. The modern consumer seems not to care about attracting mates and fertility. If the consumer has moved away from its traditional mindset, what are the factors that are leading the industry to its astonishing growth? 

The Canadian Cosmetic Cluster is dedicated to providing these answers. We will partner with academic institutions, corporate sponsors and relevant organizational partners to conduct research on the psychology of the cosmetic consumer and the benefits of self-care rituals.
By studying in-depth how the use of cosmetic products affect us, will help us understand the value of products and provide a more precise picture of the industry. The benefit of the global cosmetic cluster is that it allows us to connect to different countries, different markets. This provides a global understanding of the subject. How does political instability affect consumer habits? Do areas with higher millennial populations have higher sales around the world? What is the driving factor in buying skincare, is the act of self-care. Do cosmetics make us feel good psychologically and physiologically? We are beginning to gather research on the topic. There is still a greater deal of research to be done. The Cluster is committed to supporting companies who strive to show cosmetics as self-care aids.