Only well-tolerated and easy-to-use cosmetics, which fulfill user expectations, can generate long-term consumer confidence. Besides effectiveness, compatibility with health and the environment have always been top priorities in product development.

Care and skin compatibility are a high priority in soaps. Formulations with the same pH as the skin, which do not dry out the hands, are favored. Gentle cleansing is provided by the new care formulation and innovative dispensing method of Fa Soft Foam Soaps. A pump, especially designed for Henkel, generates a mild, creamy foam at the moment the soap leaves the bottle. This pre-foaming has a number of benefits. It reduces the amount of water and product needed to wash the hands, as no water is required to generate the foam. Moreover, the microfine foam achieves the same cleaning performance as conventional liquid soaps, but with a lower proportion of washing active substances (surfactants). This makes Fa Soft Foam especially mild and skin-compatible. The low-surfactant formulation is also especially sound from an ecological standpoint.

Henkel has used renewable ingredients in its products for many years. Natural care substances in hair products, for example, help to regulate the moisture content of the hair. In two new lines of hair care products, Schauma has succeeded in incorporating, for the first time, an active ingredient that was previously used primarily for skin care:

The new Schauma Yoghurt & Aloe Vera line of care products uses natural ingredients to protect the hair from becoming too dry. Even if this is not visible to the naked eye, healthy hair contains about 30 percent water. Yogurt and aloe vera are well known for their moisturizing properties. In addition, restorative vitamins regenerate andstrengthen the hair. The Schauma Repair formulations with shea butter and coconut extract also use nature’s active ingredients. Shea butter’s high content of caregiving fats and vitamins makes it an eminently suitable ingredient for hair cosmetics. The effective combination of shea butter and coconut extracts repairs damaged hair from the inside and simultaneously smoothes the hair surface, making the hair easier to comb.

About 40 percent of people suffer from sensitive teeth. Often this is because microscopically small passages (dentinal tubules) at the neck of the teeth are exposed. These tubules can convey external stimuli such as heat, cold, acid or pressure directly to the dental nerve. With Theramed S.O.S. Sensitive, a toothpaste is now available which can seal the dentinal tubules with a near-natural protective layer. The innovative Nanit®active ingredient reacts with calcium and phosphate ions in the saliva to form a new, toothlike protective layer on the necks of the teeth.

The idea behind the material originated in basic research. The research company SusTech Darmstadt and Henkel Research developed the material for use in toothpaste. A clinical study of Theramed S.O.S. Sensitive with Nanit®active substantiated an immediate tangible effect and, after just two weeks, a significant reduction in the sensitivity of the teeth. Theramed S.O.S. Sensitive was launched on the Belgian market in November 2005 and has been available in Germany and Austria since January 2006. The next step will be its introduction in France and Central and Eastern Europe under the Vademecum brand.

A recent innovation in hair styling is the Silhouette Compact Hairspray. Although the size of the hairspray can has been reduced from 750 to 400 milliliters, its contents go further than the 750-milliliter can. Silhouette Compact provides the accustomed perfect hold and is more flexible and convenient in its new small format. The 50-milliliter version is ideal when traveling and at work. This was made possible by a combination of a newly developed concentrated hairspray formulation and a new microspray application system. The nozzle and the valve were optimized so that the usual styling results can be obtained with a very much smaller amount of product. Silhouette Compact contains almost 50 percent less propellant gas than conventional 750-milliliter hairspray cans. Moreover, less metal and plastic are needed for the packaging. This saves resources in packaging and production and, with about half the weight, in shipping.

Yogurt is well known as a healthy food product which promotes positive bacterial flora. It contains proteins, vitamins and minerals, and can also be applied to the skin as an anti-inflammatory. A feel good innovation in cosmetics is the Fa Yoghurt shower gel range. The formulations, containing a concentrate of natural yogurt, help the skin to maintain its natural balance. Fa Yoghurt’s light, creamy formula cares for the skin and keeps it from becoming dry.

Pimples and blackheads are not only a problem for adolescents, but also for many men and women over twenty. The cause is often an imbalance in the skin flora.

Henkel has therefore developed two care ranges based on the prebiotic principle. An innovative formula containing tea and ginseng extract encourages the growth of beneficial microorganisms and simultaneously inhibits the harmful ones. The skin flora is stabilized and can again perform its natural protective function. The skin becomes clearer and healthier.

In contrast to conventional products whose broad-spectrum antibacterial effect helps to treat blemished skin, prebiotic substances are better tolerated by the skin and act more selectively against undesirable microorganisms. Pimples and blackheads are cleared up quickly, lastingly and gently, the skin is provided with sufficient moisture, and its protective function is reinforced. Since March 2004, Diadermine Purity with tea and ginseng extract has been available on the French market. In July 2004, the Aok Pur Balance care range, also with tea and ginseng extract, was launched in Germany.

The international hair specialists of Schwarzkopf Professional have a vision of being more than a product supplier to hairdressers. They see themselves as partners, who supply all of the professional services associated with hairdressing. At the core of these services, Schwarzkopf Professional offers the Schwarzkopf Academy education and training system. This is now available in more than 80 countries.

The seminars for hairdressers cover everything from cutting techniques to product application and from fashion advice to salon management. The seminar materials are available on the Internet in several languages. Through its knowledge transfer system, which is unequalled in the hairdressing sector anywhere in the world, Schwarzkopf Professional achieves far more than optimal customer service. In Asia and South America, in particular, the activities of the Schwarzkopf Academy help to define training standards for hairdressers.