The Cosmetics/Toiletries business sector produces branded consumer products and operates in the hair cosmetics and body, skin and oral care segments, as well as in the professional hairdressing business. With brands such as Schwarzkopf, Dial, Fa and Igora we occupy internationally leading market positions.

Our continued success is based on well tolerated cosmetics and toiletries that are safe to use and meet the expectations of customers and consumers. Compatibility with human health and the environment are therefore just as important as efficacy in the development of our products.

Henkel products always meet the highest quality and safety standards. To assure the health compatibility of our cosmetic products we use in-vitro (test tube) tests on cell cultures and dermatological tests. With the aim of replacing legally prescribed animal tests, we have been collaborating with external institutes since the early 1980s to develop and optimize alternative test methods. In 2006, we concentrated our skin and hair research, the development of non-animal test systems, and dermatological studies in our biological research company Phenion. Phenion uses various approaches, including a proprietary model of the human skin as the basis for developing new in-vitro test methods.

By replacing mineral-oil-based ingredients in our formulations with renewable raw materials, we make contributions to resource conservation and climate protection. Our soaps and shower gels are mainly based on renewable ingredients. And the average proportion of these in our shampoos is about 45 percent (referred to the dry mass). In utilizing renewable raw materials we consider it our duty to respect the need for balanced ecologies to ensure that the use of these natural resources will help to advance social progress in a sustainable manner.

To meet the growing demand among consumers for cosmetic products with natural-sourced ingredients, we have intensified our research in this area. Many of our most recently launched product innovations meet this wish. For our facial care products in particular we rely on action mechanisms that emulate nature, such as prebiotics and biomimetics.

As part and parcel of our philosophy, we offer consumers and hairdressers extensive services beyond the products themselves. This includes providing advice through consumer service lines, product guides on the Internet, and the internationally oriented Schwarzkopf Academy (ASK) for hairdressers that was established in 1989. The engagement of our brands in activities that benefit society is an integral aspect of our broad understanding of sustainability.