France has long been at the forefront of organic cosmetic manufacturing and the trends emerging from the Beyond Beauty Expo held in Paris this month had some particularly exciting new additions to the health and beauty industry.
As to be expected there was a clear emphasis on organic, vegan and ayurvedic beauty products, with companies merging the use of color therapy and aromatherapy for a more holistic approach to skin care. It seems we are going to be sucking on our supplements - with one company making supplements into sweets that we can suck on the go!
Green is certainly going mainstream:
There were a lot of beauty brands joining forces with indigenous communities around the world to take a stand against the exploitation of developing nations.
It is also apparent that natural and organic cosmetic companies are increasingly sourcing fair-trade ingredients and launching certified products. These fair-trade projects protect endangered plant species and encourage sustainability. The use of fair-trade ingredients helps people invest in the improvement of communities.
Rise of the Chemiganics:
Conversely, the number of skincare brands adopting the highly scientific position was interesting, validating the chemiganic trend. It seems apparent that although we as consumers want naturals, our primary goal is to look young and beautiful. The chemi-ganic will not compromise on efficacy; she will fight the ageing process organically as far as possible, but won't say no to the odd bit of chemical help and there are many companies that are willing to help her plight.
Rise of the educated Consumer:
It is clear from the number of brands that are hero-ing specific ingredients and technologies that consumers are actively seeking out botanical natural-ingredient-based products. Clean brands with simple biodegradable, recyclable or non-air-freighted packaging are becoming more accessible i.e. Dr Hauschka, Nude and Green People.
Despite the fact that there were many brands in the organic/natural section, the overarching observation was that there was a distinct lack of natural, organic or vegan color cosmetics on the market. Hopefully this will change in the near future.
