Content about Personal Care

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday promoted Mike Spear to divisional merchandise manager of the retailer’s personal care division and announced that Lauren Vondrasek is transitioning to the company’s beauty merchandising unit, which is headed by Barbara Larson.

Spear has more than 20 years of retail experience, most recently as director of category planning at Walgreens.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Sales of cosmetics and toiletries in the United States increased 2.4% to $36.5 billion in 2010 — which is above pre-recession levels — thanks to technological advances, promotional activity and rising consumer confidence, according to worldwide consulting and research firm Kline.

NEW YORK — Colgate-Palmolive is bolstering its foothold in the European personal care market by acquiring from Unilever the Sanex personal care brand for about $940 million.

Sanex is a multicategory personal care brand with 2010 net sales of about $260 million, primarily in western Europe. Liquid body cleansing and deodorants each represent nearly 50% of the business.

The deal is structured as an all-cash acquisition for shares and net assets. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter this year.

ANN ARBOR, Mich., and BRUSSELS — NSF International, a U.S. testing and certification organization, has partnered with Natrue, the international natural and organic cosmetic association based in Brussels, to develop a national standard for natural personal care products.

NEW YORK — Personal care brand Eos has announced the launch of its new tangerine medicated anti-bacterial Lip Balm Smooth Sphere.

The medicated lip balm is 95% natural and provides antibacterial protection through the natural active ingredient phenol, the company stated. The lip balm promises to not only help soothe dry lips and prevent the spread of germs, but also alleviate the symptoms of cold sores.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Reckitt Benckiser on Monday supplemented its Mucinex and Delsym cough-cold portfolio with the addition of Cepacol from Combe.

Combe also announced the completion of its cough-cold and skin care businesses to the British conglomerate, along with its foot care brand Odor-Eaters to personal care company Blistex.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario —Katz Group Canada’s flagship Rexall drug store chain has unveiled a new format, called Rexall Healthy Living Pharmacy, at six Rexall locations across Canada. The stores offer “more than 200 health information touch points, new team members, new tools and services, and one of the broadest assortments of [dermatologic] brands in the Canadian market,” according to Katz Group.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA has appointed Stefan Sudhoff, corporate SVP cosmetics/toiletries at Henkel, to lead Henkel Consumer Goods. Sudhoff succeeds Georg Baratta.

Henkel Consumer Goods is headquartered in Scottsdale and markets such consumer brands as Dial soaps, Right Guard antiperspirants, Purex laundry detergents and Renuzit air fresheners. Henkel purchased The Dial Corp., located in Scottsdale, in 2004.

PLEASANTON, Calif. Grocer Safeway has unveiled its new natural personal care line called In-Kind.

The In-Kind line is comprised of lotions, body washes, shampoos, conditioners, facial products and hand soaps. The formulas are free of parabens, sulfates and pesticides, according to the company. Furthermore, the products are made with more than  90% natural ingredients.

NEW YORK Many consumers worldwide believe that personal care products formulated with natural ingredients are better for them; however, they still are concerned about product efficacy, and most consider themselves unknowledgeable when it comes to the impact of chemicals on their health, according to recent research by research-firm Datamonitor.

SILVER SPRING, Md. —The Personal Care Products Council announced in July that it is working to create formal processes for the Food and Drug Administration to review ingredients of personal care products for safety at the request of the public and stakeholder groups, and to review all safety determinations made by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review expert panel.