Our Essensity brand is setting new standards in the professional hairdressing sector through its deliberate combination of performance and naturalness. In all products, we have consistently replaced synthetic ingredients with natural ones wherever this was possible without compromising on product performance. The formulations contain no artificial fragrances, silicones, paraffin oils, mineral oils or parabens. The biodegradability of the ingredients has also been enhanced. We are also using Essensity to help support reforestation projects in rainforest areas.

Vademecum Bio toothpaste ensures naturally healthy teeth and gums. It consists to 99 percent of natural-based ingredients, which our researchers selected in accordance with the criteria of the independent certification organization ECOCERT. These include green tea from controlled organic cultivation. What makes the Vademecum Bio formulation special is that – in contrast to traditional toothpastes – it contains no synthetic flavors or sweeteners. In 2008, Vademecum Bio was given the ECOCERT label. It tells consumers that the ingredients have been specially selected and are obtained from crops that are cultivated in an environmentally compatible manner.

In France, our liquid soaps Le Chat Bio Apricot and Le Chat Bio Fig also carry the ECOCERT logo. Le Chat, a traditional soap brand which has been marketed since 1853, launched these two products in response to growing consumer demand for natural, independently certified products. Both of them satisfy extremely strict ecological criteria throughout the value chain and contain, in accordance with the ECOCERT criteria, 99 percent natural-based ingredients. They make no use of synthetic colorants or fragrances.

The Eco-Smart pouch refills for our Dial liquid soaps in the U.S. market contain about 67 percent less plastic than conventional refill bottles. This not only reduces consumers’ packaging waste, but also significantly decreases the amount of energy needed to produce them. The production process for the refill pouches is much more energy-efficient than the bottle production process.
Moreover, the empty refill pouches can be transported much more compactly, so that 85 percent less fuel is required to deliver them to the production site.

One innovative product for dry and sensitive skin is Diadermine Soft Mousse. This care foam has a well thought-out formulation containing almond extract and provitamin B5. The clever choice of cleansing ingredients means that the product cleanses very well, while providing care at the same time. The formula has the same pH as the skin. It contains neither soap nor alkaline components and is therefore highly skin compatible. An additional advantage of Diadermine Soft Mousse is the innovative way in which it is applied. Pressing the pump valve immediately produces a light, airy foam. This pre-foaming reduces water consumption during use, as no water is needed to generate the foam.

The Gliss Oil Nutritive hair care line contains extracts of shea oil and argan oil, which especially protect long hair against breakage and split ends and give it an intensive shine and suppleness. Both ingredients come from Africa, where they are traditionally used to care for the skin, hair and nails. We cooperate with our suppliers and local stakeholders in order to support the long-term viability of the raw material sources and fair trade with the countries of origin. Argan trees, for example, grow only in Morocco. Argan oil is extracted from the fruit kernels and is sold internationally. For the local population, the argan forests are an important source of income. They also play a key role in the ecological balance of the region, as they prevent encroachment by the Sahara. To conserve the argan forests and simultaneously develop the economic potential of the region, the Argan Program was launched in cooperation with local groups in 2001. Its objective is to protect the regional ecosystem and to ensure fair payment for the local population. By using argan oil in Gliss Oil Nutritive, we support the Argan Program through our suppliers.

An increasing numbers of consumers value products with natural ingredients. To satisfy this consumer demand, we completely reworked our U.S. range of Pure & Natural personal care products. The new soap and shower gel formulations contain up to 98 percent natural ingredients. Great care was taken to select only plant-based care and fragrance extracts that are suitable for sensitive skin. The ingredients used are also readily biodegradable. And the cardboard pack in which the soap is sold is made from 100 percent recycled paper and therefore compostable.

Carefully selected botanical ingredients characterize the new hair care shampoos Schauma Bio Mandel Intensivpflege (organic almond intensive care) and Schauma Bio Granatapfel Kraft & Pflege (organic pomegranate power & care). The formulations contain no artificial colorants or fragrances, and no silicones or mineral oil-based paraffin oils. The products Schauma Bio Mandel und Schauma Bio Granatapfel achieve their effect through finely harmonized active and care ingredients, combined with plant extracts from certified organic crops. This means that the agricultural production of the ingredients is based on soil-conserving production methods, taking account of ecological and environmental protection factors and deliberately avoiding the use of crop protection agents and growth boosters.

Many people have a sensitive scalp. To avoid additional irritation, a lot of them do not use hair styling products. Taft has therefore developed a new styling line: Taft Sensitive. The dermatologically tested and approved formulation is aligned exactly to the needs of a sensitive scalp. The hair spray and mousse are perfume-free and odor-neutral. The formulations offer 100 percent hold and are at the same time especially gentle on the scalp. This makes Taft Sensitive ideal for anyone with a sensitive scalp who does not want to do without styling.

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 and strengthen 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.

An innovation in hair styling: 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 a care range based on the prebiotic principle - Aok Pur Balance. 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.

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. The seminars for hairdressers cover everything from cutting techniques to product application and from fashion advice to salon management. Through this worldwide established system of knowledge transfer system, 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.