Increasing Demand For Cosmetics And Personal Care Drives The Fatty Acids Market

The quest for youthfulness never dies – as seen with the fatty acids market being driven by the demand for cosmetics and personal care products. With increased and more widespread understanding of skincare and natural ingredients, there is a rising demand for personal care products. Fatty acids are the emollients and emulsifiers in the cosmetics industry, which work to replenish and soothe the skin. Esters of fatty acids such as triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol esters are commonly used in cosmetics as skin hydrants and thickeners.

Fatty acids are used as ingredients in a variety of skin care products such as creams, lotions, shampoos, and lipsticks. The fatty acids market covered in this report is segmented by end use industry into household products, cosmetics and personal care, soap and detergent, oilfield, rubber and plastic, lubricants, and other end-user industries. The global fatty acids manufacturing market overall is expected to grow at a rate of about 4% and reach $148.22 billion by 2023 (from $128.94 billion in 2019), as shown in Fig. 1.

The demand for fatty acids in personal care is not just for external use – Omega fatty acid supplements are increasingly being taken as well, due to the rising consciousness regarding health. These fatty acids are present extensively in fish oils and are vital ingredients to the human body. Omega-3 supplements can help relieve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and can also be used as dietary supplements or medicinal supplements. The use of Omega-3 fatty acids and Omega-6 fatty acids help to combat diseases and improve cardiovascular health, promote healthy metabolism, reduce pain and inflammation in joints, as well as increase optimal brain function. Thus, with all these benefits, the global omega 3 supplements market is expected to increase from $37.95 billion in 2018 to $57.06 billion by 2025.

Besides being used for general improvement of personal health, the greater concern is that insufficient intake of fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) can also lead to the occurrence of biological effects such as blood pressure issues, strokes, coronary artery disease, inflammation, and various other diseases. These two fatty acids are necessary and must be included in the diet, especially for children as the deficiency results in scaly dermatitis, alopecia, thrombocytopenia, and intellectual disability in children. Fatty acid deficiency is most commonly observed in infants. Fatty acids in general act as energy for muscles, the heart, and other organs, performing as building blocks for fats in the human body. They also help manage inflammation in the body. Thus, with increasing knowledge of the benefits and necessities of fatty acids, the market is expected to grow steadily in the forecasted period.