A key chemical that is used across the cosmetics industry is due to run out in the next couple of weeks, with possible shortages of products like shampoo and fake tan expected.
Manufacturers of widely-used cosmetics say that they are really struggling to obtain supplies of ethoxydiglycol, which is a chemical solvent that is crucial to beauty supplies and is also used in medication for the treatment of certain skin conditions like eczema.
However, prices of the key chemical have shot up in recent weeks from £12.10 ($16.50) to £103 per kg - meaning some suppliers are now completely out of stock, reports Mirror.co.uk.
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There is also a minimum order quantity set by ethoxydiglycol manufacturers, which has increased from 24kg to 1,000kg.
This could particularly impact small businesses, given that 1,000kg of the chemical would set them back £103,000.
Altogether, this means that essential cosmetics like makeup, fake tan, hair dye, shampoos, fragrance, anti-ageing and skincare creams could be unavailable in UK shops.
Online pharmacy Medicine Direct said the cause of the price rise was likely to be related to the other shortages the UK is currently seeing, including a major shortage of HGV drivers, caused by a mixture of Covid and Brexit.
The government has introduced some measures in an attempt to fix the problem. These solutions include 5,000 three-month visas for non-UK drivers and training for 4,000 more British workers to become HGV drivers.
Separately, an executive at one UK wholesaler of ethoxydiglycol told the i newspaper how there is “a substantial rise in the price being asked for this product”.
They said: “There isn’t any one single cause – the global supply chain is in a mess and demand is currently significantly outstripping supply in a number of areas.
“We have not been told when we can expect our next shipment [of ethoxydiglycol].”
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Consumers generally in the UK are being affected by price hikes at the moment, as well as some products not being available on shelves.
Some shops have already started selling their Christmas stock due to predicted shortages, with retailers advising that consumers get their Christmas shopping done early.
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