Month: April 2023

The lines of courtesy kits for guests are increasingly innovative and ecological. Up until now, hotel guests have always used small bottles but to safeguard the environment and to contain costs, the use of dispensers is becoming increasingly widespread.

Today there is a new idea that revolves around courtesy kits, which is to offer well-being and comfort to hotel guests through precious soaps, shampoos, shower and body creams. Generally, these are products of such high quality that many customers ask to be able to buy them even for use at home.

Welcoming in the best way possible is essential for any self-respecting hotel. A complimentary hotel line set may include:

• body lotions
• shampoo and conditioner
• liquid or solid soap
• shower gel
• intimate cleanser

Obviously, the more products it includes, the more the guest’s satisfaction will be guaranteed.

Solid cosmetics for hotels

The hotel facilities that constantly strive to follow the trends of the moment are adapting to the new needs of respect and eco-sustainability, opting for shampoo and body wash in solid format. These are truly eco-friendly cosmetics that avoid the need for plastic containers for liquids.

This type of product is created with the sole use of natural and biological substances that are not harmful to the environment or even to humans.

Albogroup is one of the first companies that has believed in this important market trend and for many years it has been producing solid cosmetics for high quality hotels able to combine respect for the environment with the other performances of a truly innovative cosmetic product. Albogroup’s new solid shampoos or shower gels are even more sustainable because they are designed so that they can be divided and used for multiple showers, without waste. Shampoos, conditioners, body wash, intimate cleansing products and hand soap are available, all in a solid and ultra-delicate state using ingredients of natural and organic origin, such as Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Oatmeal, Olova Oil and Panthenol, to name just a few. Discover the line of Hotel Amenities Solid.O Original by Albogroup and request further information if you are looking to develop your own private and personalised solid line.

Sachets and mini-bottles for hotels

The courtesy kits contain products for personal hygiene both in sachets format and in mini-size bottles, with particular designs and unique materials.

These are small 100% recyclable plastic bottles with elegant packaging and in various fragrances, such as the Albogroup Amenities Design collection. These are 10 complete lines of customisable bottles, with an essential and modern design. Albogroup’s collections of Amenities Design hotel bottles have quality formulations with refined fragrances and ingredients and are fully customisable with labels or silkscreens according to the customer’s requirements.

Albogroup single-dose or Sachet sachets, contain all the products useful for the beauty routine in the hotel. They can be customised in many formats and weights. Albogroup provides a complete and personalised service, able to respond to every requirement, providing innovative product and packaging solutions. The Albogroup sachets are particularly suitable for liquid cosmetics, products for hygiene and the cleaning of hands and surfaces, shampoos, shower, wipes and for many more uses.

Shower and body creams for hotels

The beauty routine is very important and often, when travelling, it is not always possible to pack all the creams and cosmetic products that we normally use.

Fortunately, many hotels offer their guests complimentary kits that also include shower and body creams.

The Albogroup lines are of high quality and are produced with respect for the environment. The creams and body washes are designed to give well-being and comfort to anyone who uses them. But there is much more because for Albogroup the concept of Clean Beauty is a choice not just a trend. The concept of “clean beauty” focuses on the content, in particular, and on formulas that have been specifically developed to be effective and safe, endeavouring to eliminate anything that could harm the planet or our skin. A need for simplicity that is now also essential for hotel amenities. For this reason Albogroup prefers to offer its customers cosmetic products without added dyes that are as natural and as “clean” as possible. In fact,our Albogroup Amenities Hotel proposals include products with the following green claims:

• NO ARTIFICIAL DYES
• NO MINERAL OILS
• WITH INGREDIENTS OF NATURAL ORIGIN
• WITH ORGANIC INGREDIENTS
• WITH CERTIFIED INGREDIENTS

Why are dispensers so important in hotels?

Dispensers are becoming increasingly popular and in demand in hotels because they are eco-sustainable and made of 100%recyclable or recycled plastic. They are the choice made by all the generation 4.0 hotels, without compromising on elegance and design.

In addition to attention to the environment, the new dispensers for hotels result in no wastage of the product but instead dosing the right quantity each time. A significant step forward compared to traditional mini-size bottles. The Albogroup Design Collection of wall-mounted dispensers is a clear example of this: original design products, designed and produced exclusively by Albogroup, with an innovative system for attachment to the wall, which can be customised as desired to make them an actual piece of furniture.

Which courtesy products can be customised?

Nowadays, hotels are increasingly attentive to the impact that their hospitality has on the guests they accommodate. In the past soap and cosmetic kits were not given too much importance. Today, however, it is considered an added value that reflects the image that the hotel seeks to convey to customers. Attention to small details is become increasingly important.

Today it is possible to have fully customised courtesy sets in hotels. Behind this customisation is the work of marketing and of researching distributors specialised in the sector that interface with hoteliers to understand what their particular needs are.

The colours, formats and logo are chosen with care and professionalism by marketing experts. The customisation service includes the choice of colours, packaging, packaging materials, fragrance and much more besides.

There can be various types of formulas. Usually, it is advisable to opt for products that are suitable for all types of skin or hair, or even for specific products for children, with delicate natural ingredients and appropriate for the most sensitive skin. The courtesy line for children is very popular with families in many hotels. An example is the courtesy line for children Albogroup Beba Lena & Friends , captivating and ironic, perfect for the most delicate skins. Available both in convenient coloured Sachets and in the innovative solid version.

An example to understand how customisable a courtesy line can be is that of personalised soaps. The disposable soap is available in many different weights so that each hotel can choose the one that best suits its customers.

The advantages of a personalised courtesy line

Having a personalised courtesy line means being able to communicate an image of class and elegance to your customers. The fragrances and colours of the packaging are chosen in line with the values that the hotel seeks to convey and are personalised with professionalism. Choose from mini-bottles, sachets or dispensers. The materials used are all eco-sustainable and the products are true high-end cosmetics for body and hair care.

We might ask ourselves what are the differences between a generic courtesy set and a personalised one. The personalised one is a custom-made product, designed specifically to communicate a “world” and a story. It has a much stronger evocative power of structure values than a generic set.

Discover the elegant collections of Albogroup Hotel Amenities.

Packaging optimisation and quality care are the constants for the entire production of third-party soaps made in Albogroup, the company with over forty years of experience in the sector. A focus on requirements and green ideas are the key concepts that draw on the past to project to the future, even in the choice between liquid and solid formulation.

Which are better, liquid soaps or solid soaps?

Considering the routine for hygiene, the change is cyclical: liquid soap has revolutionised habits for at least a century but now the current trend is reversing towards the return to solid solution. Looking at the function of both, the verdict would be simple: a quality soap is comparable in both liquid and solid formulation. The sensation to the touch is different but certainly not the function, a good surfactant works well in both cases. Quality is at the heart of the matter.

In order to make a comparison between the two types of product, it is always good to consider the response of skin to the type of soap. The principle is as simple as it is archaic: the skin defends itself naturally while maintaining its slightly acidic pH, with values ranging from 4.7 to 5.75. Whether it is liquid or solid, a good soap does not upset that balance; the typical sensation of an overly basic soap is that of “pulling skin”. Which is better, solid or liquid? It’s just a matter of budget and needs.

The real advantages of classic soap

Although the trends point towards liquid soaps, the dear old soap is a solution that has told so much in the past and that has just as much to say in the future. It is good to mention its production: the solid detergent – yes, the product that is often found among the amenities on the plane or in hotels – is the result of the saponification of mostly vegetable fats with soda. Everything lies in the formulation of the production mixture, the choice of natural ingredients and ad hoc solutions that are used to create solid products that respect the pH and bring useful substances to the skin. This is how soaps for the face are created, those for sensitive skin, bactericidal cleansers for acne but also delicate ones for female and male intimate hygiene.

Then there is the packaging factor, soap doesn’t need plastic packaging. Reducing plastic production is one of the challenges to allowing the oceans to breathe again. Soaps definitely help to do this. They add practicality in everyday commutes but also convenience in suitcase transportation plus a bar of soap passes the security checks at the airport without any problems. The visual aspect and the other senses are also relevant factors. Design shapes and colours can combine with the fragrances of quality soaps, the packaging can range from classic and elegant style to real works of graphic art: the soap can stand the test of time because it is worth it. Discover, for example, the Albogroup Soap in Love line of soaps, a new line of plant-based skin soaps with innovative and smart fragrances, to be accompanied by traditional liquid body washes and body creams, all with new, fresh and stimulating fragrances.

What is the most natural soap?

This is INCI speaking in plain language. It must be stated that the consumer can trust any product if it is produced in accordance with the European regulations. The international nomenclature of cosmetic ingredients is the instrument that protects both the user and the manufacturer regarding the authenticity of the product.

The soap in the liquid formulation, in fact, is the result of a mixture. Liquid soap requires the use of foaming agents and preservatives in order to avoid bacterial colonisation and to ensure the maintaining of unchanged functions over time. The trick for the inexperienced is as simple as it is effective: simply read the list of ingredients, the liquid solution will necessarily have a longer one.

How long does liquid soap last compared to solid soap?

Giving up the aqueous component in the formulation of a soap means, in fact, compressing its density while minimising its volume. By comparing cost prices and evaluating their practicality, the dear old soap demonstrates a clear superiority. Then there is the important aspect of use: liquid soap requires a dispenser that often delivers a greater quantity of product than is necessary: an almost unconscious action clearly reduces its duration in terms of availability. If we consider that hand washing takes place at least five times a day, the consumption of liquid soap is markedly more accentuated than that in the solid formulation.

How do you use a classic soap?

Versatility is the secret of its success, a soap is transported simply inside its container. Not surprisingly, travel solutions always include a solid soap. Correct use is essential to preserve its qualities over time. The product should be left to dry immediately after use. This prevents the possible nesting of bacterial colonies that could cause unpleasant odours and deterioration of the product.

Each soap has its own scope of use. The most common mistake is to use the common soap also in the shower. The common formulation is in fact suitable for the cleansing of hands and face; use for the shower requires a composition that is respectful of the application pH and of the necessary foam content. Proper use is the key to getting the most out of every product.

Do you want to help protect the environment?

It seems obvious, but have you thought about what it means for the environment to start using solid soaps and bars of soaps instead of liquid soaps? The first ingredient present in the INCI of a liquid soap is always the water that composes the majority of the product. You basically bottle and transport mostly water to wash your face and hands, and almost always in plastic containers. Never before has the need to contain water consumption become a vital necessity and the choice to adopt a solid detergent soap is a small-large contribution. In fact, the quantity of water present in a soap or solid soap is infinitely less than its liquid soap counterpart. In water the classic soap turns into a soft foam, without processes, and the active ingredients and natural ingredients present are immediately available. Behind the simple choice to reduce the consumption of liquid cosmetics and to adopt products in solid form there is a choice of real sustainability.

Soaps in the courtesy lines for Hotel

It is a classic of courtesy lines present in all hotels. The soap becomes a small work of graphic art that communicates a precise style and taste, coordinated with the lines of Hotel Amenities. We find it in multiple formats, with infinite colours and shapes, wrapped, boxed, pleated, with ecological wrappings and with an infinite number of possibilities in terms of enrichments and fragrances. If you are looking for an Italian manufacturer who is able to develop and produce your own line of hotel or retail soaps, you can contact Albogroup and discover all its customised soap and soap bar productions.

Having experience in the sector means focusing on resources and optimising them according to the target. Producing single-dose sachets of cosmetics for hotels, for example, as the Albogroup does, requires a targeted study. Here are some considerations in this regard.

How to create a line of cosmetic products

Considering the catchment area of Albogroup, the launch strategies by the most important companies are the model to which it is appropriate to refer. A good idea is only the first step of a path, creating a solid business plan means taking into account the energy necessary for the production machine to enter full speed. Looking at the third-party production strategy, it is good to consider how start-up costs can be optimised as the time taken will allow you to better focus needs and strategies.

Considering the impact of each production step. Entrusting each phase to the same business partner can allow a good percentage margin of savings. Splitting tasks between different companies can instead lead to a deleterious fragmentation of energy: producing in this way increases risks and costs significantly more. Starting from the composition, it is good to make sure that your idea is actually achievable but above all that it is not related to something extremely similar but at the lowest cost.

Advantages in creating a custom cosmetics line

You could also talk about figures. Expressing the costs in thousands of Euro would not result in an estimate commensurate with the needs of the individual customer. It is perhaps more profitable to consider the advantages that the production would bring to your brand. Providing a valid service is part of experiential marketing strategies; the customer tests the validity of the product and contributes to nurturing its brand identity. Take the example of a hotel chain: offering amenities based on green compositions would steer the market in a well-defined direction.

At this point, you would need to ask yourself what advantages the creation of a branded cosmetic line might bring. In reality, cosmetic production is not a bed of roses but requires careful compliance with the health, legal and tax regulations. It is therefore essential to use a production partner who can bring their experience to bear on three hundred and sixty degrees of support. This is the strategy that works.

Procedure for creation

As mentioned, the starting point in cosmetics is always in the composition of the product. This must be valid but also attractive from the point of view of fragrances and appearance. You could devise an effective blend but, if you do not make it appealing, it may not bring compatible benefits to the market. After passing the steps in the field, testing and labelling, only then can the cosmetic product be considered ready for marketing strategies. This is what is meant by resource optimisation.

Creating graphics and logos

Brand identity, this is the starting and finishing point for every new cosmetic launch. Each new line is a renewal for the image of the company; it is therefore good to innovate but it is necessary not to distort. The challenge in the challenge lies in consolidating the conviction regarding the logo but adapting it to the characteristics of the new product. Here the role of specialists is essential. It is necessary to use companies who are able to translate the concept underlying the product into lines and colours. See, for example, the Albogroup Hotel Amenities Lines which have been studied starting from graphic and communication concepts suitable for the sophisticated world of hotels and which fully meet the need for visibility, recognition and functionality of these particular cosmetic products intended for use in hotels.

Creating labels and custom packaging

Considering the latest applications of EU regulations, the creation of labels and packaging are particularly delicate aspects. The future is headed in the direction of low environmental impact. This concept is certainly a good thing, but it involves a certain commitment in terms of budget. However, the return lies in the customised solution. Here the expense is in fact compensated by a gain in terms of image. When it comes to cosmetic products, the customer perceives quality even in these details. In the world of cosmetics for hotels, for example, the classic mini-size bottles are being increasingly replaced with the most innovative and environmentally friendly wall dispensers, including refillable ones, which Albogroup has designed and produced with an exclusive design. See for example Albogroup’s Italian Collection entirely developed with the new 400 ml Uranus Dispenser in recyclable PE with black pump dispenser.

Product photo shoots

The production of a valid line and attractive packaging requires an essential step: it must find a way to make room in the market. Getting to the customer means breaking down the famous 
“6-second barrier”, which is in fact the time needed to capture attention. Here you rely on the costs of communicative marketing. Focus on the contents and enhance them with an explanatory but at the same time intriguing image: everything is entrusted to a description and a shot. Using the best comes with costs but can offer a greater return.

Updating certifications

A cosmetic formulation cannot travel to the European market without the PIF. The Product Information File is an actual dossier that describes the product and certifies its safety for humans. Considering the EU directive 1223/2009, the launch of new cosmetic lines must therefore include the “challenge test” in order to indicate its resistance to storage and the “patch test” to demonstrate the safety of the product on the skin.

Changing the wording means updating the PIF and its documentation. Using a solid production partner is therefore the way forward to optimising costs and ensuring that the branded product is in line with current legislation. Choice makes all the difference.

Contact us if you would like further information about the design and construction of your cosmetic line for hotels or retail.

Sodium laurylsophate (SLS) is a surfactant that has recently been in the spotlight. It can be found in body hygiene soaps. Knowing more about it is a good way to evaluate its actual impact on the body. Is it really that dangerous to health? Doing the research is the way to understand the subject. For Albogroup, which produces soap for third parties, safety is important.

Label and INCI: how to recognise substances

The potential effectiveness is one of the reasons that lead us towards the choice of a product. This is the case for any purpose but is also more true when buying a soap. A body wash also requires a good dose of foam and it is here that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate plays an important role. This compound is therefore not often found on the commercial label of classic detergents but can be obtained from the INCI located on the back.

In fact, the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients reports the wording Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): this substance is generally found at the top of the list. Already inclusion in the INCI is indicative of the use of any substance in doses that are not harmful to the body. Noticing the presence of a chemical should therefore not be frightening as the product is certified and labelled so that it can perform its function without causing damage. The INCI is a list of substances that does not show the percentage of each one. Compliance with the safety limits must therefore reassure the user. Labelling in the cosmetics and detergents industry is a guarantee, regardless of the chemical composition of the products. Knowing more about it is in any case useful.

Sodium laureth sulfate. Is it harmful?

Let’s start with a fundamental clarification: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are two different molecules. SLES is an ethoxylated derivative of SLS, often added to products that already contain SLS. Although the derivative is derived from petroleum compounds, its function can be viewed positively. SLS is a particularly aggressive detergent but, in admixture with SLES, the surfactant function is mitigated. Glancing through the biodictionary, Sodium Laureth Sulfate is indicated as a cosmetic ingredient, surfactant and is also approved in vegan preparations.

It goes without saying that even ordinary water could be dangerous if it were drunk in excessive quantities. The use of SLES in skin care products is not a particular source of risk for humans. It is obvious that the data available confirm its potential aggressive action on the skin, but it is necessary to be exposed to excessive doses to ensure that the substance can significantly attack the lipid film that covers the human skin. Considering what has been specified, the exclusive presence of SLS by virtue of a mitigating effect by SLES is more worrying.

SLS and SLES: what they are and what they are used for

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a naturally derived product and its origin is mainly plant-based as it is obtained from palm oil. Chemically it is classified as an anionic surfactant: it is identified as such because its negatively charged part has surfactant power. It thus consists of a long chain of carbon atoms and ends with a sulfonate group. If SLS is of completely natural origin, SLES is a relative of SLS called Sodium lauryl ether sulfate but also known as Sodium laureth sulfate. The molecule differs in its length, precisely by virtue of the addition of ethylene oxide molecules derived from petroleum.

The cost of SLS and SLES is actually very low, which is why the two ingredients are particularly used in the field of the soap industry. Recently brought to the attention of the general public through an actual negative media campaign, probably the result more of the logic of marketing than of scientific evidence, the two substances constitute salts with surfactant functions. Their function is to reduce the surface tension of the liquids present around dirt to wrap it inside a micelle that is washed away by water. In a nutshell, they are the reason why a soap can wash.

Where can we find them?

Given that SLS can be dangerous due to its aggressiveness – only if the detergent is used continuously – and given that the maximum risk can be associated with possible inflammation of the skin – but that no carcinogenic power has been demonstrated – it is good to recall a number of products in which Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is more likely to be found. It is obvious that, by virtue of the above, the SLS can be combined with the SLES in order to mitigate its aggressiveness towards the outermost layer of the skin.

High-foam detergents are the perfect products for use with SLS and SLES; the molecules ensure a large amount of foam while giving greater performance to the soap. Shampoos must avoid the presence of these substances as their effect could be harmful to the hair bulb and scalp, especially in the case of dry skin. Another category is dishwashing detergents; their presence guarantees a good foam content. The real virtue of SLS and SLES is in the right measure, which is why there is no need to be concerned about them.

Albogroup SLS-free soaps, soap bars and solid cosmetics

For more than 40 years we have specialised in the production of soaps, especially hotel soaps, with varying types of formulas, size, weight and packaging, both our own brand and for customised productions and on behalf of third parties. Albogroup’s classic soaps and soap bars are SLS-free: the quality of the product is very high, with selected raw materials, also including natural and organic ingredients. There are many types of soaps that are produced by Albogroup, both for hotels and for retail collections or on behalf of third parties:

• Classic soaps and soap bars
• Soaps and soap bars with ingredients of natural origin
• Soaps and soap bars with organic ingredients
• Soaps and soap bars with classic and delicate fragrances
• Soaps and soap bars with strong and particular fragrances
• Soaps and soap bars with natural colours
• Soaps and soap bars with a high glycerine content
• Soaps and soap bars with RSPO MB certified palm oil
• EU Ecolabel, Nordic Ecolabel, Cosmos Natural, Cosmos Organic certified soaps and soap bars

The same choice not to include SLS is also present in the Innovative Solid Cosmetics, which Albogroup produces under its own brand or in personalised productions and on behalf of third parties both for the world of hotel amenities and for that of the more selective distribution. Find out more about the world of Hotel Amenities in solid format and contact us for further information.