Green Chic is an online store that provides a curated selection of natural and organic beauty products in the UAE. We asked Vila Vasoodaven, Founder, about her store and what drives the organic beauty market in the region.
What type of natural/organic products/services do you sell in the Middle East?
As a natural skincare enthusiast, I believe there has should be transparency in beauty, which is why we screen our products to make sure they are truly natural and effective. We launched about 6 weeks ago and our brands include Absolution, Grown Alchemist, The Organic Pharmacy, Shirley Conlon Organics, Izil and Melvita.
In your opinion, how popular is the organic industry in the UAE and the Middle East?
The organic industry is definitely increasing in popularity in this region. More so with organic produce, as seen through the popularity of the Farmer’s Market and Ripe Market. However, it is really exciting to see that there is a growing interest in organic and natural beauty products.
In the last few years, we have seen more people becoming aware about natural beauty products and choosing to buy it. This has been helped with so many amazing natural beauty products getting a lot of press and love from skincare experts.
Why, in your opinion, do people prefer buying organic nowadays?
When it comes to beauty, the decision to buy organic is based on a number of things. In most cases, people choose to go organic because they realise the negative impact ingredients such as phthalates and SLS can have on their health. On top of that, they learn that natural products use some fantastic ingredients and are ethically made. But what is interesting to see is that people are also choosing to go organic because they are just as, or more effective than synthetic products. For me, that is a big thing – natural skincare products needs to be effective. Information and education play a key part in this which is why we provide lots of information through our website and our blog.
How do you determine the products to sell in this market?
We do look at what is popular but a clear guide for us is speaking to people. We speak to our customers and women interested in beauty to get their thoughts on what they look for and what products they are interested in.
Interviewed by Menaka Ramakrishnan, Buyer Manager
menaka@organicandnatural.com