CURRENT TRENDS IN COSMETIC PRESSURE PACKS 403 The tremendous spurt of 1960 over 1959 is undoubtedly due to the increasing number of different products which are now utilizing the pressuri- zed pack, particularly cosmetics and polishes. Cosmetics (mainly hair sprays and perfumes) account for between 20 and 25 per cent of the total 'salesL While the United Kingdom figures are mainly guesses, however well informed, the United States figures (which include Canada) are based ß on the annual surveys conducted, and published, by the CSMA, and it behoves us to study these more closely as they may give a clue towards -the future of cosmetic pressure packs in this country. In the opinion of the CSMA Committee the totals actually reported {Table 2) should be adjusted upwards as follows :-- Table 4 Million Units Product 19603 1959 a Shave Creams .... -- 5 Hair Spray .... 5 20 Dental Cream .... -- 4 Cologne ...... 3 5 As these adjustments refer only to totals they have not been taken into account in the comments that follow below. 'SHAVING CREAMS It will be noted that the total has decreased by 6.1ø/o . At the same time, however, there has been a growth of 720% in the "over 12 oz." (i.e. 14 oz. and 16 oz.) size resulting in an actual growth of the market based on weight .of shaving cream sold. In the United Kingdom, however, pressurized shaving cream certainly does not account for almost 10% of the total sales as our shaving habits appear to differ from those prevailing in the U.S.A. in so far that the stick is still preferred to the brushless type. A pressurized shave cream is, after .all, only a more convenient pack for a brushless cream. It is, of course, true that most ranges of men's toiletries now include a pressurized shaving .cream, but one fears that this is intended primarily in order to complete the range and in order to be as good as the competitor, rather than as a definite entry into the pressure pack market. The high prices of some of these products surely confirm this thought. In any event, even the popu- larly priced brands are experiencing rather lean sales. Perhaps the use of 16 oz. containers, without a proportional increase in price, may help

404 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS pressurized shaving cream to achieve part of the popularity which it enjoys, in the U.S.A. HAIR SPRAYS AND DRESSINGS The U.S. figures reveal an increase of 40% based on Table 2, which might only amount to 16% if the adjustments referred to in Table 4' are taken into consideration. There is a marked increase in the 6 oz.- 12 oz., i.e. 8 oz., and in the 12 oz.-16 oz., i.e. 14 oz. and 16 oz. sizes. For the first time, the number of units packed in glass and plastic con- tainers is of sufficient magnitude to escape the "too revealing to be released" classification. Despite the tremendous increase in these two sizes,. the smaller containers have also increased in total and this must surely be attributed to the handbag size of container, particularly as in this grouping there was a 70% decrease from 1958 to 1959 a. Without any further sub- division it is difficult to assess how popular the handbag size really is, but there is no doubt that it indicates a potential market development. The increase in the "8 oz. and over" size in the U.S.A. is also reflected in the tendency towards the 8 oz. size in this country. Containers with a capacity of 12 oz. and over, which normally have a diameter of 2 • in. (211) must be considered as too difficult for women to handle, and the 2{ in. (202) diameter dispenser is certainly more in keeping with the smaller female palm. The convenience of the purse pack is obvious. It offers the possibility of a touch-up spray to the hair while away from home, i.e. at a show, dinner, after the Test Match, etc. In the U.S.A., the prices of the purse size pack and of the 8 oz. size of hair lacquer, are virtually identical around $1, and this does put a high premium on the convenience of the smaller pack. One such pocket size hair lacquer has recently been marketed in this country, retailing at 3/11. This indicates that it is considered worthwhile to market a pressurized pack which offers an added convenience, even if the price is proportionally high. At the same time, let it not be forgotten that hair lacquers were made by pressure packs. So far as the product itself is concerned, there is a tendency to provide. for different conditions, i.e. lacquers with high fixative properties, lacquers with low fixative properties, high gloss, low gloss, etc. Although shellac, PVP, and copolymers of the latter predominate as film formers at the moment, the use of alternatives is being actively pursued, particularly in the U.S.A., where the La Maur owned U.S. patent covering sprayable, water-free, alcoholic PVP hair preparations, was sustained earlier this year •. That decision recognised the patent as a basic one in the pressurized hair spray field, seemingly pointing to the conclusion that all practical sprays containing Freon (i.e. fiuorocarbon)-type of propellant, alcohol and PVP are covered by that patent. It was also ruled that copolymers of PVP,