Apr 19, 20226 min read

2022 Preview: Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna Opens April 28

Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna is one of the cosmetics and personal care industry’s most comprehensive and international tradeshows. And after two years without an in-person edition, Cosmoprof kicks off in Bologna, Italy, at the end of the month with over 2,700 exhibitors from some 70 countries across 3 distinct events: COSMOPACK for supply-side pros, COSMO Perfumery & Cosmetics featuring brands and products for the retail channel, and COSMO Hair & Nail & Beauty Salon for the professional channel.

CosmoTalks: an Educational Series, featuring Trends, Experts, and Insights on Innovation

“We return to Bologna with great enthusiasm, ready to seize the numerous opportunities that only an in-person event like Cosmoprof can offer,” said Renato Ancorotti, President of Cosmetica Italia (The Italian Personal Care Association), speaking at last month’s press conference.

And at this year’s show, those opportunities are indeed numerous. CosmoTalks brings trend agencies and consumer behavior experts to the stage to share educational programing and insights on what’s now and what’s next in the cosmetics and personal care marketplace. As it happens, I am moderating a panel discussion about FUNctional Beauty as part of the 2022 CosmoTalks series. Our discussion—featuring the wisdom of creative trend bureau CARLIN—will center on how contemporary brands can both meet consumer expectations when it comes to transparency, benefits, and user experience; and at the same time, engage and intrigue beauty consumers with cheerful, spontaneous, and delightful brands and products and campaigns.

Other talks in this year’s series will cover topics such as Age Anxiety, the Metaverse, consumer demand for Sustainability, Retail Reimagined, Biotech, and more. Find the full CosmoTalks program here. And there is dedicated programing (not part of the CosmoTalks series) for all sectors of the professional sector on the schedule as well.

Beauty Tech exhibitions at Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2022

There will be an area devoted to Beauty Tech exhibitions at Cosmoprof this year. “15 exhibitors will be able to present new product solutions and new generation marketing and sales tools in line with growing digitalization and new consumption habits,” as a press release from the event organizers describes it. Tech innovations on exhibit are coming from Italy, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Germany, Croatia, and the US.

Business Solutions, Trends Report, and Awards at Cosmoprof

New for 2022 is the Business Solutions Village, featuring companies providing industry support services such as market research, logistics, payment processing, professional training solutions, and more.

Trend agency BEAUTYSTREAMS will compile an exhibition report for media, buyers, trend scouts, etc., highlighting future trends and industry developments to watch for on the show floor and in the marketplace going forward. BEAUTYSTREAMS is also instrumental in the celebrated Cosmoprof & Cosmopack Awards program.

Finalists for the 2022 Cosmoprof Awards can be found here and span 5 categories: Skin & Personal Care Product, Salon & Spa, Natural & Organic, Make-Up & Nail Product, and Hair Product. The 2022 Cosmopack Awards categories are Skin Care & Hair Packaging Technology, Skin Care & Hair Formula, Packaging Design, Make-Up & Nail Packaging Technology, and Make-Up & Nail Formula. Finalists can be seen here and include notable innovations such as airless paper packaging for skincare as well as packaging materials made with rice bran or limestone.

CosmoFactory showcases real-time product production

At this year’s Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna, design agency centdegrés will curate the 8th edition of CosmoFactory, an on-site, end-to-end production process featuring “"Six4all" - a foundation that combines a neutral base with six shades of colours. A skilful mix allows you to create a specific product for each skin type,” according to the press release.

The formula was chosen as an acknowledgement of the beauty industry’s progress toward inclusivity and will feature:

· a formula developed by Pink Frogs Cosmetics

· machinery from Marchesini Group Beauty

· an application brush designed by PennelliFaro

· primary aluminum packaging from Scandolara

· secondary packaging from Gatto Astucci

· and sample-size packaging from Seriplast A.T. Packaging

Meetings with Buyers, Retailers, and Distributors from around the world

The CosmoProf My Match digital platform is helping buyers, retailers, and distributors meet the right suppliers and brands and schedule meetings during the event.

The organizers of Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna anticipate buyers, retailers, and distributors from across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas region to be at this year’s show. In fact, “to encourage the presence of strategic operators from the main international markets, Cosmoprof and the ITA agencies have worked on a program of exclusive invitations and hospitality services.” And, according to the recent release outlining 2022 events and initiatives, perfumeries as well as the mass-market and drugstore sector will be well represented among the buyers and retailers in attendance this year.

Industry Pros from the FIT Cosmetics & Fragrance Marketing and Management Program

The partnership between Cosmoprof and New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology continues; and students from the school’s Master’s Degree Program will be at this year’s event: "We look forward to returning to accompany our graduate students to Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna," says Professor Stephan Kanlian, Chairperson and Founder of the Program. "As an industry think tank, we greatly appreciate our global partnership with Cosmoprof and the opportunity to work with the team to build international leaders for the future of the industry."

Discover Exhibitors from Every Sector of the Global Beauty Industry at Cosmoprof

Cosmoprof Worldwide attracts beauty industry suppliers, brands, buyers, media, and allies from every sector and every corner of the globe.

The 2022 exhibitor list includes France-based Citus Kalix (hall 19PK, stand B/6PK), a company that specializes in filling machines and cartoning for beauty and personal care products across several categories: fragrance, hair care, sun care, skincare, deodorants, liquid soaps, and more.

Brush maker Anisa International (hall 18, stand C/33) will be at the event as well, showcasing top-of-the-line makeup and skincare brushes, skincare tools, and more. The company, equipped with in-house design and manufacturing capabilities, is well-known globally as the beauty industry’s brush authority, as an early champion of vegan brush fibers, and as a woman-owned business.

Also in the tools and accessories space, Caressa Kahn (hall 18, stand B/46), a UK company, will be on hand exhibiting a portfolio of powder puffs, foam-head applicators, brushes, sifters, and related products.

Italy-based product manufacturer BioFarma Group (hall 15, stand D/6 - E/5) is exhibiting at Cosmoprof Worldwide this year showing capabilities across, beauty, personal care, and dermocosmetics, as well as on-tend waterless and solid formulations and (what’s described as) eco-packaging options.

Beauty packaging specialists such as mascara and color cosmetics packaging expert Brivaplast (hall 15, stand D/10 - E/9) will be on hand, as will Germany-based distributor Certina Packaging (hall 15A, stand A/1), which specializes in components for both masstige and prestige brands.

Consumer brands like Energie Fruit (hall 16, stand D/8 - E/3L), will be exhibiting this year as well. Engergie Fruit is a mood-boosting, vegan personal care brand out of France that’s all about positive beauty and has a full portfolio of shower-friendly products across hair care, body care, and shave.

The popular probiotic beauty brand Esse Skincare (hall 14EG, stand 48) will be at this year’s show. An early standout in the microbiome beauty movement, Esse was awarded a BIA for Best Indie Beauty Brand in 2019. The brand’s product portfolio now spans cleaners, toners, moisturizers, masks, body care, sun care, and more.

Personalized skincare brand Lesielle Adaptive Skincare will be in hall 16 at stand F/17a. The brand sells an at-home product dispensing device known as The Lesielle S which holds a base moisturizer and as many as 4 active treatment products and mixes them according to consumer preferences, allowing for adjustments as needed. The wireless device retails for 90€ (Lesielle is based in Spain), moisturizers start at 15.70€ and actives go for 6.50 – 8.00€.

The beautiful eco-chic brand D’Alchemy (hall 14GP, stand G/15) is exhibiting at this year’s show. Based in Poland, D’Alchemy is a very well-thought-out brand formulated with organic plant ingredients such as hydrosols.

Collectively, the brands—both pro and consumer—as well as the suppliers, manufacturers, and industry support services exhibiting at Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna in 2022 will showcase the trends and innovations shaping the future of our industry. And this year's Cosmoprof promises to be a particularly pivotal event as the global cosmetics and personal care industry recovers, reemerges, and reconnects.