Natural extracts in the beauty industry have been steadily rising, and it’s only going up. We asked experts in the region about their opinion.
The Middle East customers understand the global holistic approach of using natural products and are knowledgeable on all ingredients
“The Middle East customers understand the global holistic approach of using natural products and they are very knowledgeable on all ingredients in our products. They encourage a “green”, healthy lifestyle for the whole family as they recognise the benefits of clean, natural, or organic beauty or food,” said a Neal’s Yard Remedies representative, one of the top natural and organic brands for skincare across the globe.
Meanwhile, Priya Judge & Gayatri Sagar, founders of Cosmopolitan Awarding Winning home brand, The Dubai Dolls, said, “Today’s consumers are driven by a desire for more authenticity and social responsibility. So, why should the world of beauty be any different? We strongly believe that the market is set to see a boom in conscious beauty. A Clean and conscious movement is already well underway!”
Customers’ demand for natural ingredients in their beauty products is rising, and we can see a particular interest in these natural extracts
Neal’s Yard Remedies had the following information to share:
“Customers’ demand for natural ingredients in their beauty products is rising, and we can see a particular interest in these natural extracts:
- In continued efforts to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our products, from raw material sourcing to formulations and packaging, upcycled ingredients have seen a rise in popularity. NYR uses Boswellia resin extract in its Frankincense Intense Lift range. The resin is used in essential oil production, then the processed resin is reused in another extraction process to extract the water-based components.
- Fermented ingredients such as the fermented oat extract in NYR Sensitive Serum.
- As customers increasingly look to enhance their wellbeing, mood-boosting scents become even more appealing. NYR offers a collection of organic essential oil blends to suit every mood!
- Stress-relieving adaptogens such as sea buckthorn which you’ll find in our new Women’s Balance body care range.”
The pandemic has certainly affected customers’ approach to beauty and personal care products
“Consumers have access to information at their fingertips 24/7 thus highlighting the importance of transparency at all stages. Although this has been an extremely difficult year; these turbulences have also reinforced our belief in The Dubai Dolls. Since inception, we are proud that sustainability, as well as our environmental and social impact, have been at the forefront of our work,” The founders of The Dubai Dolls commented.
Neal’s Yard Remedies has the same opinion:
“The pandemic has certainly affected customers’ approach to beauty and personal care products, accelerating certain trends such as seeking out natural and organic ingredients, and a simpler approach to ingredient lists which will continue to shrink. When it comes to ingredients, less is more as customers look to simplify their beauty routine with products that deliver on their claims but with a streamlined INCI. Mood-boosting claims will continue to gain momentum as customers seek to bring wellness into their beauty choices. The lines between beauty and wellbeing are blurred as consumer lifestyles evolve, where taking time out for essential self-care for improved mental wellbeing is key.
Sustainability will continue to be front of mind with the added sense of community developed through locally sourced produce.
The prominent behaviours we see are:
- Antimicrobial Essentials – Defend, clean, restore (sanitise, wash, moisturise).
- Digital behaviours – Products that ‘protect from tech’ (laptop screen or mobile phone).
- Wellbeing – Inner and outer health and beauty; Mental health; Adaptogens.
- Good for you and the planet – Zero waste; Sustainable future.”
The ingredients we use are globally sourced from partners who follow our strict procurement policy guidelines
“Ethically sourcing high-quality ingredients for our award-winning products is a key component of our success. The transparent relationship between our customers and our products is what maintains our integrity within the natural and organic arena. The ingredients we use are globally sourced from partners who follow our strict procurement policy guidelines, and we have long-standing relationships with many of our oil and essential oil suppliers.
For example, one of our key ingredients in our bestselling Frankincense Intense range, frankincense essential oil, is ethically and sustainably sourced from the Dhofar region of Oman, the cultural home of the finest frankincense, with a partnership that supports local collectors,” said Neal’s Yard Remedies.
We use organic certified ingredients wherever possible
According to Neal’s Yard Remedies, very important, “In 1991 we received our golden seal of approval from the Soil Association, the UK’s leading organic certifier. Our commitment to offering natural and organic products governs our formulation policy: we use organic certified ingredients wherever possible and have a comprehensive list of materials that we do not use for either environmental or ethical reasons.”
The Future of Natural Extracts
The Dubai Dolls founders think there is much to gain from sustainability, “As creators, we are motivated by the magic and the resilience of Dubai. Indeed, the challenge is that we have to continually look ahead; we cannot be stagnant. We have to stay true to our ethos, and create a positive ecosystem.”