Personal care products are consumer products which are applied on various external parts of the body such as Human skin, hair, nails, lips, external genital and anal areas, as well as Human tooth and mucous membrane of the Human mouth, in order to make them clean, protect them from harmful germs and keep them in good condition. They promote personal hygiene and overall health, well-being and appearance of those body parts. Toiletries form a narrower category of personal care products which are used for basic hygiene and cleanliness as a part of a daily routine. , in contrast, are used for personal grooming and beautification (aesthetically enhance a person's appearance). Pharmaceutical products are not considered personal care products.
Most of the personal care products are rinsed off immediately after use, such as shampoos, soaps, toothpastes, shower gels, etc. Some products, such as moisturizers and sunscreens, are designed to remain on the skin for extended protection. etc.
The global market size of the personal care products industry is several hundred billion US Dollars (as of early 2020s). Procter & Gamble, L'Oreal, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, Colgate-Palmolive, Gillette, Avon Products, Natura & Co, Kimberly-Clark and Shiseido are some of the world-leading companies in personal care products industry.
Description
Personal care products can be categorized according to their function and area of application. These are cleansing products, hair care products, oral care products, sun care products, skin hydrating products, feminine care products, hair removal products, nail care products, eye care products and anal hygiene products.
Cleansing products
Cleansing products include
or bar soaps,
,
,
, body oils, body lotions,
cleansing pads, moist
. They remove dirt, excess oil and other impurities from the surface of the body and improve a person's overall cleanliness.
Facial tissues are used to wipe the nasal discharge.
are used to remove makeup.
are used to clean outer ear.
are used to dry up wet areas on the body,
are used to dry up wet face. Exfoliating scrubs (loofahs and such) are used for deeper cleansing.
Hair care products
These include
,
,
and
, and they are used to cleanse, condition and treat hair so that hair is clean and healthy.
promote blood flow in the scalp and
hydrate and nourish the scalp.
Hair removal products
Among hair removal products, there are
,
,
,
,
,
,
, waxing kits, and hair removal creams (e.g.
). These are used to remove unwanted hair from various parts of the body.
Oral care products
These are
toothpaste,
toothbrush,
mouthwash,
dental floss,
Oral irrigator, interdental brush,
gum massager,
gum gel, etc. They are used to maintain
oral hygiene, prevent
tooth decay and
gum disease, and have healthy teeth and gums.
are used to remove food debris, dead cells and bacteria from the tongue surface. Denture care products are used to clean artificial dentures.
Skin care products
These include
,
,
,
,
and facial moisturizers. They are used to hydrate, moisturize, and nourish the skin and keep the skin soft, smooth, and protected.
keep the lips hydrated.
Sun care products
Sun care products include lotions, creams, sprays, gels, oils and sticks that act as a
sunscreen or a
sunblock. They protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation, and as such prevent
sunburn,
premature aging, and
skin cancer. Prickly heat powders prevent or soothe itchy, bumpy and red heat rashes on the skin due to excess heat.
and wide-brimmed
are used to protect the eyes from the sun.
Feminine care products
These include sanitary pads,
Tampon, menstrual cups, and panty liners. There are used for menstrual hygiene and provide comfort, absorption, and protection during menstruation.
Nail care products
Nail care products include nail cutters, nail files and cuticle creams. They are used to maintain and enhance the appearance of nails and promote healthy nail growth.
Eye care products
These include
artificial tears or lubricating eye drops to moisturize and soothe the eyes and provide relief from dryness, irritation, and discomfort due to dry eye syndrome or environmental factors; contact lens solutions for cleaning, disinfecting, and storing contact lenses and help remove debris, bacteria, and protein buildup from the lenses,
eye drops (typically containing anti-histamines and mast cell stabilizers) for allergies to provide relief from itching, redness, and watering caused by allergic reactions;
eye creams, which are special moisturizers for the sensitive skin around the eyes, contain ingredients such as
hyaluronic acid, peptides, and antioxidants to hydrate, firm, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles;
for puffiness, dark circles, and signs of aging, typically containing ingredients like caffeine, retinol, or vitamin C;
to clean and soothe the eyelids and eyelashes by removing debris, excess oil, and bacteria and in this way help alleviate eyelid inflammation, blepharitis, or dry eye syndrome;
, which are gel or sheet masks placed over closed eyes to provide cooling, soothing, and hydrating effects, and to help reduce puffiness, relieve tired eyes, and improve the appearance of dark circles.
Anal hygiene products
Anal hygiene products include
,
and
. For babies,
wet wipes are used. These are used to keep the anal area clean from fecal remains and harmful bacteria after defecation.
Forms and additives
Personal care products can come in different physical forms such as liquid solutions, solid bars and sticks, semi-solid or
emulsion-based mixtures,
,
,
,
, scrubs and sheets. They may contain
,
,
,
,
,
, stabilizers,
, pH adjusters and
,
,
, film-forming agents, natural
,
,
and
along with the actual product.
In addition, there are personal care tools such as , and , manual and , , nail clippers and nail file, sponges, pads, scrubs, etc. which help apply the aforementioned products or have their own functions.
Hotel application
Typical toiletries offered at many hotels include:
-
small bar of soap
-
disposable shower cap
-
small bottle of moisturizer
-
small bottles of shampoo and conditioner
-
toilet paper
-
box of facial tissue
-
face towels
-
disposable shoe polishing cloth
-
Toothpaste
-
Toothbrush
-
Cologne
Corporations
Some of the major
in the personal care industry are:
Other corporations, such as pharmacies (e.g. CVS/pharmacy, Walgreens) primarily retail in personal care rather than manufacture personal care products themselves.
Environmental impacts
See also
