Characteristics of the SPA & Wellness market:

There are tens of thousands of beauty salons and Spa & Wellness centres in Poland. Because the market is continuously developing, service quality improvement has is a core and constant priority for all service providers. New technologies and updating of know-how play an important role here as an essential element of competitive struggle. Many of them are located in our region. These are modern cosmetic institutes offering a wide range of biological regeneration services. Poland is one of the largest markets of Spa & Wellness services in Central and Eastern Europe - 600 Spa facilities, medical Spa and sanatoriums offers huge potential for tourists. Małopolska Region is one of the leading Polish regions in the field of spa services. The southern part of the province is the richest region in the country in terms of size, quality and use of water deposits of therapeutic value. There are 9 registered health resorts in Małopolska: Swoszowice, Rabka Zdrój, Szczawnica, Piwniczna, Żegiestów Zdrój, Muszyna, Krynica Zdrój, Wysowa, Wapienne. This list is closed by Wieliczka, which is not classified as a spa town, but has a sanatorium facility on its territory. Germans, Russians, Ukrainians and English are the most common foreign spa visitors to Małopolska Region. Polish tourists who benefit from spa services are most often local community members. An important competitive advantage of Małopolska is the wide range of diseases that are treated in health resorts. Most spas deal with rheumatic diseases and upper respiratory system conditions In the spa centres, patients can also take advantage of beauty and cosmetic treatments and enjoy sightseeing or hiking tours.

„Wieliczka” Salt Mine Health Resort provides medical services in healing salt chambers on the third level of the mine (135 meters below the ground). The secret of the spa’s success is unique therapeutic microclimate of the historical underground of the Mine, which is beneficial to health. In the salt chambers, active pulmonary rehabilitation is provided in the conditions of subterraneotherapy in form of either outpatient services, or 21-day in-patient spa treatment. Patients who cannot stay in the salt cellars for longer, are offered a „Day for Health” package, or can enjoy a Healthy Sleep in a healing microclimate.

Cosmetic Industry in Poland:

The strength and potential of the Polish cosmetics industry lies in its history. During one century, this branch of industry has experienced a real boom, and the „Made in Poland” products have been enjoyed and appreciated by both Polish customers, and also in the most remote places of the world. Small, local production plants were established in Poland as early as the mid-19th century, but the production of cosmetics on an industrial scale began only in the 1920s. The cosmetics industry in Poland is a unique mixture of global cosmetic corporations, large and medium-sized Polish companies and several hundred small and micro enterprises manufacturing cosmetics. As a result, despite strong competition from global brands, the position of local producers in Poland is very strong, which is a unique phenomenon on a European scale. It may be evidenced by the fact that 50% of the Polish market of body and face care cosmetics are owned by Polish brands. Flexibility of the cosmetics market in Poland is aff ected by its fragmentation. Small and medium-sized manufacturers can easily adapt to the requirements of the changing market, as they release short series or lots of products, and can quickly modify the production process. In order to compete effectively with cosmetic corporations, Polish manufacturers invest in modern production lines and research programmes, which result in launching innovative products. In Poland there are about 100 large and medium, and over 300 small and very small companies producing cosmetics.

Sector of production of cosmetics in Małopolska Region:

Modern cosmetology is an extensive, interdisciplinary area of science involving the combination of general medical, chemical and biological studies. It concerns issues from the field of dermatology and aesthetic medicine, and is a discipline closely related to them. It includes studies of both basic and clinical medical sciences (anatomy, cell histology and physiology, physiology, biochemistry, general and cosmetic chemistry, dermatology, allergology, plastic surgery, geriatrics, oncology, health promotion, endocrinology). A cosmetologist’s knowledge includes also psychology, sensory studies and hygiene. Cosmetology uses the same physiotherapeutic and phytotherapeutic therapeutic methods as dermatology and physiotherapy. A cosmetologist is therefore a profession very close to strict medical practitioners. Pharmacy deals with synthetic and biological drugs, medications of natural origin and ingredients of cosmetics and food. Thus, pharmaceutical companies from Małopolska, whose products are very closely connected with health and beauty care sector, are presented below. Małopolska has a strong position on the cosmetics market in Poland in terms of the number of manufacturers of cosmetic and toilet products. There are over 100 cosmetic companies in the whole Małopolska Region, most of which are medium-sized and small companies. Krakow, with multiple research facilities and highly qualified staff, offers favourable environment for cosmetic business, and cosmetic companies willingly set up their plants in the city or the surrounding towns, which is even more reasonable as this area of activity often requires advanced research and long-term laboratory work. Life Science Klaster, whose network of over 70 entities ensures effective connection and use of the existing potential of human resources, enterprises, universities, research and development units, business environment institutions and local authorities, is an exceptional advantage. The Klaster supports innovativeness of companies in the area of life science and creation of conditions for effective commercialization of research and development results.

 If You want to know more about Cosmetics Market SPA & Wellness in Małopolska Region, read publication about it in our publications section.

Publication has been prepared as part of the implementation of the „Power up Your Business in Małopolska 2” project, sub-measure 3.3.1 of the Regional Operational Program of the Malopolska Region for the years 2014-2020.