More than 200 professionals and companies from the cosmetics sector, from all over Spain, gathered at AITEX to attend the third edition of the Cosmetics Industry Congress. A professional day dedicated to the latest trends and innovations in the cosmetics sector. With a focus on innovation, trends and regulations, the event has provided valuable information on the situation of cosmetology and aparotology, also offering networking opportunities for professionals who have come to Alcoy.
Under the title ‘Cosmetology: new horizons in care and beauty’, AITEX offered the necessary techniques and tools to care for and improve skin and hair, talking about products, treatments, techniques and beauty routines.
Cosmetics under study once again thanks to AITEX
The cosmetics conference began with the opening speech of León Grau, president of AITEX, who thanked all the attendees for their presence. ‘AITEX will continue to support this industry and help all cosmetic companies in the Valencian Community, to make them even more competitive and put the region on the national cosmetic map’.
After the inauguration, it was the turn of Cristina Guillem, director of R&D projects at AITEX, who explained to all the attendees that ‘cosmetics is a priority nowadays’. And, therefore, it is important to take into account which trends will mark the future of the sector. Sustainability, digitalisation, neuroscience, medicalisation and personalisation of users.
Next, it was the turn of Mercé Camps, pharmacist, RAFC academic and expert in cosmetic regulation, to give a talk on ‘regulatory’. Mercé explained the current situation of the sector and the importance of differentiating between cosmetic products and non-medical products. She has provided all her experience so that companies in the sector know, from an expert hand, all the necessary regulations and rules.
The presentation ‘made in AITEX’ was given by Isabel Soriano, AITEX Deputy Director of Laboratories and International Offices and Maria Blanes, Head of the Cosmetics and Health Research Group. They offered an objective analysis of skin ageing and provided two successful cases that provide an answer to the treatment: the evaluation of the Protection Factor of a cosmetic product and the topographical evaluation of the skin by means of a 3D scanner. Skin ageing has never been more studied.
After a coffee-break, the star presentation of this edition took place. Boticaria García gave her point of view, as a mass communicator, on the fine line between science and communication, talking about the role of content creators, influencers and agencies, all with the aim of helping attendees to prepare real and effective communication campaigns. He also shared best practices, offering attendees tools for companies to improve the connection between the cosmetics industry and their consumers.
The day ended with a round table discussion on the impact of social networks and virality in the cosmetics industry from three points of view: the influence of content creators on consumption, how companies are managing the misuse of their products and the need for greater regulation and training in the industry. The speakers, Eliseo González, technical inspector of the Valencian Health Agency, Andrés López, technical director of Babaria, Boticaria García and Mª Aurora Benaiges, president of the SEQC, moderated by Sara Jiménez, dircom of Beauty Cluster, contributed their professional experience to help companies manage situations such as unforeseen product virality, stock breakage, crisis management or product misuse. ‘The important thing is that the end consumer is informed and does not believe everything he or she sees on social networks. ‘Young people use social media to consume cosmetics content, but they listen to professionals. So what's the problem? Maybe the format is not the right one’.
The regional secretary for Industry, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Felipe Carrasco, closed the Cosmetics Congress where he stressed that the technology centres ‘are an essential part of the Consell's reindustrialisation strategy and a perfect ally to promote business innovation, digitalisation processes and the use of disruptive technologies that help to increase competitiveness in companies’.
Finally, the attendees participated in a guided tour of the facilities of the new AITEX building and took part in a practical workshop: one on perfume by Essential Compositions and another on scalp by Eni Gómez, biologist and specialist in trichology and hair cosmetics.
AITEX, POSITIONING IN THE NATIONAL COSMETIC SECTOR
This third edition of the Cosmetics Congress, promoted by AITEX, emerges as the main forum for experts and professionals in the field of cosmetics. This conference, which has been held in person, is designed to talk about the cosmetics of the future, opening the way to the latest trends in innovation.
The day is not only an opportunity to learn from experts, but also to network in a collaborative environment. It will encourage the exchange of ideas, the establishment of contacts and the strengthening of professional relationships.