Partnership targets cosmeceutical industry

France-based Laboratoires Expanscience is more commonly known for its specialised work with health and well-being nutraceutical products. However, the new partnership will further boost the company's profile within the increasingly competitive cosmeceutical market. Combining the expertise from both companies, the partnership will create an opening for more elaborate product innovation that will capitalise on a wider target audience created by the merging of client bases of both Laboratories. Laboratoires Cegipharma retails the Micro-Regime high protein product range targeting the weight-loss segment of the nutraceutrical market, while Laboratoires Expanscience specialises in health and well being, but also claims it is ranked at, or near the top of many other market segments. These segments include Dermocosmetics, focusing on skin care for infants, babies, children and mothers to be, and dermatology. The collaboration is not the first to take place in the cosmeceutical industry, with many companies joining forces in a bid to become more prevalent within a segment that is enjoying sustained growth. Most recently France-based Laboratoire Oenobiol and LycoRed came together to create a new sun protection supplement for men containing lycopene, paving the way towards more male-oriented products in the beauty-from-within category. The Oenobiol Homme Solaire Intense supplement is aimed at men - a consumer group so far largely unreached by oral cosmeceuticals. The move comes at a time when the hesitancy of male consumers to purchase products that are not deemed 'manly' is being well-documented as the possible decline in the much-hyped male grooming industry. Thus, appearance-geared nutritional supplements could be the lynch pin that turns the male grooming market around, whilst marking the two companies as innovative leaders. Likewise, Health care provider Alltracel collaborated with an unnamed leading global commercialisation player to create a cosmeceutical skin care range earlier this month. The move came as part of a six-month product development programme. The two are focusing on developing the phytopeutics properties that relate to establishing an effective anti-ageing skin care product. The phytopeutics range of ingredients is derived from non-genetically modified cotton linters and uses a variety of technologies to aid specific skin care needs. The co-funded partnership will allow Alltracel to further develop and research the collagen and elastin stimulation, moisurisation and skin hydration and anti-oxidation benefits of the range. The world's cosmeceuticals market is estimated to be worth US$60bn, with a growth rate of 8 to 12 per cent per annum. In terms of the geographical market for cosmeceuticals, Japan is by far the biggest market, valued at $6bn to $8bn dollars. The US is estimated at around $5bn to $6bn, and the EU $3bn to $5bn. There is also a notable difference between genders. For women, the prime target is those who are 50-years plus. But in men it is the 25 to 34 age group that is showing the most interest in products for outward appearance - "single men on the run to find the right date"​.