The emollients market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• The steady expansion of the emollients market has been observed in the past few years. It is expected to surge from $1.58 billion in 2024 to $1.66 billion in 2025, boasting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8%.
The growth recorded during the historical period can be tied to the swelling growth in the skin care industry, the increasing demand for personal care products, evolving cosmetic and beauty trends, the rise in popularity of natural and organic products, and the growth of the aging population and their need for anti-aging products.
The emollients market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• Anticipated to experience substantial expansion in the coming years, the emollients market is projected to reach a value of $2.1 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%.
This predicted growth within the forecast period can be linked to a greater public consciousness about skin health, the increasing customization in beauty product offerings, advances in sustainable and ethical product research, the rise of independent beauty brands, and the broadening of the men's grooming market. The key trends expected to shape the forecast period include innovations in ingredient science technology, the digitalization of beauty trends, a surge in the demand for natural and organic emollients, heightened focus on sustainability and green chemistry, along with an expanding demand in the personal care products industry.
The growth of the emollient market is anticipated to be fueled by the rising consumer demand for personal care products. Such products are primarily utilized to uphold personal cleanliness and grooming, and they often contain emollients. These substances are incorporated into personal care items to alleviate skin dryness and irritation. Emollients are essential ingredients in a myriad of skincare routines, delivering moisturizing benefits, softening fine lines and wrinkles, addressing photodamage, and diminishing aging signs. Take, for example, the figures unveiled by the Federal Reserve Economic Data, an American online database provider, in March 2023. The consumer price index for personal care commodities in major American cities saw an increase from $160.22 in January 2022 to $171.53 in February 2023, marking a growth of 6.59%. Thus, the escalating demand for personal care products is steering the expansion of the emollient market.
The emollients market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Type: Esters, Fatty Alcohols, Fatty Acids, Ethers, Silicones, Other Types
2) By Form: Solid, Liquid
3) By Application: Skin Care, Hair Care, Deodorants, Oral Care, Other Applications
4) By End User: Cosmetics Industries, Toiletries Industries, Oral Care Industries, Other End-Users
Subsegments:
1) By Esters: Aliphatic Esters, Aromatic Esters
2) By Fatty Alcohols: Long-Chain Fatty Alcohols, Short-Chain Fatty Alcohols
3) By Fatty Acids: Saturated Fatty Acids, Unsaturated Fatty Acids
4) By Ethers: Glyceryl Ethers, Alkyl Ethers
5) By Silicones: Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Silicone Oils
6) By Other Types: Natural Emollients, Synthetic Emollients
Leading firms in the emollients sector, such as SonneNatural NXG, are prioritizing the development of innovative items to improve the composition of products for lip and personal care. SonneNatural NXG, a plant-sourced emollient developed for use in personal care goods, provides a firm texture that significantly reduces the need for thickeners or waxes in formulations, and allows for a non-greasy application. It also ensures excellent moisture retention and indulges users with a luxurious after-feel. For example, in November 2022, Sonneborn, LLC, a high-purity specialty product manufacturing company based in the US, launched SonneNatural NXG, which boasts superior moisturization, low odor, and stability, and is particularly suitable for lip balms, lipsticks, body lotions, and facial scrubs. Marketed as a premium plant-sourced substitute for personal care industry formulators, SonneNatural NXG is part of Sonneborn's array of natural plant-based emollients, catering to the increasing need for sustainable, plant-based options. It also comes in a palm-free version and is certified vegan, making it ideal for a wide variety of personal care applications.
Major companies operating in the emollients market include:
• Cargill Incorporated
• BASF SE
• The Dow Chemical Company
• Peter Cremer North America LP
• Stephenson Group Ltd.
• Evonik Industries AG
• Sasol Limited
• Solvay SA
• Kao Corporation
• Croda International plc
• Univar Solutions Inc.
• Eastman Chemical Company
• The Lubrizol Corporation
• Lonza Group Ltd.
• Clariant AG
• Stepan Company
• Ashland Inc.
• Innospec Inc.
• Elementis plc
• Emery Oleochemicals LLC
• Sonneborn LLC
• Pilot Chemical Corp.
• Oleon NV
• Vantage Specialty Chemicals
• Bio-Botanica Inc.
• Hallstar
• Jarchem Industries Inc.
• Colonial Chemical Inc.
• Lipo Chemicals Inc.
North America was the largest region in the emollient market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global emollients market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the emollients market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.