Cosmetics are mixtures of some surfactants, oils and other ingredients. They are required to be effective, longlasting, stable and last not least safe to human use. Cosmetics contain mineralic or metalic and nonmetallic additives. In sunscreen for example titanium and zinc are used as sunblockers. The color of make-up is determined by the concentration and the ratio of black or red iron oxide,
. titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. Metal dyes are used in finger nail polish and also the use and concentration of heavy metals play an important role in cosmetics production. Like all processes producing goods that get ingested or can otherwise reach into human bodies the manufacturing of cosmetics is under strict regulations and legislations and thus needs continuous control and monitoring. The cosmetic industry is a profitable business for most manufacturers of cosmetic products. Given the technological development and the improvement of the manufacturing process of cosmetics and not least due to the constantly increasing demand of such products, this industry reported an important growth in terms of profit. The cosmetic industry has not only grown only in the United States, but also in various parts of the world which have become famous for their cosmetic precuts. Some of these include France, Germany, Italy and Japan. It has been estimated that in Germany, the cosmetic industry generated sales of EUR 12.6 billion at retail sales, which made the German cosmetic industry the 3rd largest in the world after Japan and the United States. Also, it has been shown that in the same country, this industry has grown with nearly 5 percent in one year, from 2007 to 2008. The exports of Germany in this industry reached in 2008 EUR 5.8 billion whereas the imports of cosmetics totaled EUR 3 billion. The main countries that export cosmetics to Germany are France, Switzerland, the United States and Italy and they mainly consist of makeup and fragrances or perfumes for women. http://www.slideshare.net/lovee911/economical-analysis-of-cosmetic-industry or www.panalytical.com/index.cfm?pid=113
