Even though the results may be slower, organic skin care products are gentle on skin and won’t harm in the long run, says Ayushi Sharma
When organic skincare products came into India, it was assumed that they would be another elitist fad, which would eventually fade away with each passing day. However, as the benefit of natural, plant-based cosmetics spread, the bigger brands spurred an interest in our native traditions and birthed home brands as well.
One of the major reasons why the demand kept on growing in India is due to the country’s constantly increasing digital literacy rate, shares Vedika Sharma, Director at Mantra Herbal. She feels that people are now becoming more conscious of and familiar about the benefits of organic products and trying to avoid the harmful effects of chemicals and fertilisers used during farming. “The personal care space has mostly been defined by three terms — ayurveda, wellness and organic. From a marketing standpoint, ayurveda is more of a mass play. On the other hand, organic has emerged as an alternative to ayurveda with a more premium positioning,” says she.
While the Director at The Imperial Spa and Salon, Jacqualine Tara Herron, who recently announced association with French luxury skincare brand, Olivier Claire, tells us that from the growers to the market place and on to the consumer, the economy is greatly influenced by these intelligent choices. Director at O3plus, Vidur Kapur, believes that even though the future of organic products is bright, the degree of result may vary if you compare it to a dermatological product.
Impact of organic products
Certified organic products are derived from plants and other naturally occurring ingredients. More importantly, those ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilisers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and other additives or chemicals. Tara says, “More and more of us are seeking ways to redress the balance of pollution that can damage the skin and destroy the skins ability to regenerate. The synthetic ingredients found in non-organic products may be fast acting, but they are also invasive, causing harm that cannot be seen. Olivier Claire products and treatments have an integral protective and preservative nature that combats the effects of negative stress on the skin caused by environmental hazards.”
Vedika tells us that the use of toxic chemicals worsens the skin’s natural barrier and accelerates the damage by disrupting pH balance and can even cause skin cancer in the long run. “Given Delhi’s air pollution level and atmosphere, it causes many skin problems brown spots, wrinkles, redness, enlarged pores and dry patches. Even though the results may be slower, organic skin care products are gentle on your skin and won’t harm you in the long run,” says she.
Newer natural ingredients
On the surface of the skin, there is something known as microbiome, which is made up of bacteria, fungi and viruses. This makes certain chemicals that keep the skin healthy and help your skin’s barrier stay intact. Skincare experts note that this is set to go mainstream this year.
The trends also points towards ‘less-but-better’ attitude. Experts say that brands need to evolve with this concept understanding that consumers are looking to purchase fewer items that still deliver all of the results they want.
Vedika feels the concept of “blue beauty,” is on the rise, which will push people to use marine-friendly products. The say if it is bad for marine life, why do you think it is good for your skin? “Waterless beauty is the next thing in the industry, which means that brands will reduce water consumption in making the products,” says she. Keeping in mind the current air pollution situation, anti-pollution skincare will become synonymous with sun protection, she adds.
Also, the biggest shift in Vidur’s opinion is going to be towards mens skincare range of products. “While the mainstream media has historically targetted women when it comes to grooming products, more options for men’s personal care are emerging,” she says and adds that the star ingredient of the products is going to be caffeine.
Perception of beauty may vary
A good state of health isn’t a process that you can master overnight, it takes a lot of baby steps and determination. The definition of beauty keeps on changing but something that stays constant is the fact that internal beauty really does matter over the external charm. And skincare brands must prioritise internal intangibles — like being comfortable in one’s own skin and feeling confident — over external features.
The good news is that focussing on a few, simple things can make a massive difference to how you look and feel. In Vedika’s opinion, healthy skin comes from a combination of a good diet and use of natural skincare products. She says, “Good nutrition implies what to avoid. Veggies and water can only hydrate your organs. Skin is also an organ of the body and water also evaporates from it easily. Hence, moisturisers seal moisture in skin. Skincare have ingredients that penetrate and work on the problem area directly. For instance, dark circles won’t just fade away with an eye cream. A healthy diet and sound sleep will work together along with a good skincare product.”
Tara believes that inner beauty is long lasting. You don’t need costly cosmetics or expensive surgeries to keep it intact. There are many brands that cater to this concept. One such example is Dove. Olivier Claire focus on it too. The products have been harmlessly harvested from natural sources. Key ingredients such as native stem cells from sunflower pollen, wakame seaweed and sea fennel are scientifically tested to achieve the best results.
Inner beauty enhances your external charm. It gives you the confidence to face the world and its problems, which is something far greater than the standards that had been set by the society, feels Vidur.
