Organic Monitor assessed over 50 cosmetic brands and ranked them according to their level of ‘naturalness’. The research was led by a chartered chemist who analyzed the formulations of natural and organic cosmetics and compared them to their marketing claims.

Brands were categorized by their rankings as follows: Certified organic cosmetics received the highest rating (9-10), pure natural cosmetics were rated 5-7, naturally inspired cosmetics 2 and conventional cosmetics 1.

The study found that the majority of brand’s formulations do not accurately reflect their marketing claims. Products that claim to be 100% natural were discovered to include synthetic preservatives, emollients and surfactants. Some brands with ‘natural’ claims were conventionally formulated, and several organic cosmetics did not even meet natural standards.

However, the study did show that products certified by a recognized agency received the highest ranking. Although, some products contain certified organic ingredients, the formulations still have synthetic ingredients not common to natural and organic products.

Organic Monitor emphasizes the importance of natural or organic certification as it adds continuity to the industry with strict standards and guidelines on allowed natural formulation processes and ingredients. Moreover, Organic Monitor encourages companies to become certified and establish trust with consumers by helping them distinguish a truly natural product from a falsely labeled one.

Natural Cosmetic Brands Assessed

Brands that received high naturalness scores include: Intelligent Nutrients (9), Green People (8) and Living Nature (7). Intelligent Nutrients products received high naturalness ratings, as they contain high levels of organic (food) ingredients, with almost all products certified organic.

New brands launched by large multinationals also scored high in terms of their natural and organic formulations: Garnier Bio Active (L’Oreal), Diadermine Bio Expertise (Henkel) and Johnson’s Natural (Johnson & Johnson). The high naturalness ratings of these brands epitomize how the natural and organic arena has evolved from just having small niche brands.

Natural & Organic Certification

Not all certifications are created equally. While natural and organic certification agencies like ECOCERT, Soil Association, BDIH, NPA and NaTrue standardize what constitutes a natural product, the report criticized Fair Trade organizations which allow cosmetics to be certified Fair Trade if they contain a minimum level of Fair Trade ingredients. Some consumers perceive these products as natural since they are certified and often marketed on their Fair Trade (natural) ingredients.

The study went on to show that many certified Fair Trade cosmetics received low naturalness ratings because of high levels of synthetic ingredients. Organic Monitor calls for Fair Trade certification standards to be tighten so they do not add to consumer confusion of what constitutes natural and organic cosmetics.

According to the study’s findings, the level of naturalness of brands varies considerably between geographic regions. European brands, partly because of the high adoption rates of natural and organic standards, score highest. North American brands are the second most natural, and whilst brands in other regions generally receive lower ratings. Although a growing number of Asian and Latin American brands are emphasizing their natural – and in many cases, indigenous – ingredients, the formulations are usually high in synthetic preservatives, emulsifiers and other ingredients.

A building block to beauty and healthy looking skin is your inner health, something that makeup cannot conceal. You need to start from the inside out. And a great way to achieve this is through a balanced diet.  You can start by choosing the right foods to eat, and by eliminating the unhealthy ones.

This video, by as Michelle Pham, a professional makeup artist and a spokesperson for Lancome discusses the benefits of eating 18 different foods that you can eat to help give you better looking skin and health in general.

Here is a the list of foods mentioned in the video:

• Olive Oil
• Green Tea
• Black Tea
• Soy Beans
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Cranberry juice
• Oats
• Butternut Squash
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Milk (Soy, Skim, or 1%)
• Broccoli
• Salmon
• Whole grain rye bread
• Brown rice
• Oranges
• Blueberries
• Spinach

Get Daily Discounts on Eco-Friendly Products & Services

One thing is for sure, everyone loves a great deal. And now more than ever, people are shopping online looking for just that – discounted products and services.

It’s no surprise Internet flash sale and group coupon sites like Groupon, LivingSocial and Gilt Goupe are growing in popularity. The companies use group buying power to provide big discounts on everything from restaurants to hotels to clothing. The Web sites give registered users, or “members”, different deals every week in their surrounding areas. Some discounts can offer upwards of 90% off, but 50% is more common. The deals usually change daily and are offered for 24 to 72 hours, depending on the site.

Five years ago finding great deals on eco-friendly products like natural cosmetics, toxin-free baby gifts or ethically sourced clothing was difficult. But now, for those who are eco-minded or are part of the natural and organic trend can find great deals on “green” flash sale Web sites.

Here are some great options to find discounts on daily “green” deals near you.

Blissmo

Blissmo offers organic and eco-friendly daily deals to a national audience. With the slogan “buy good. feel great”, they provide discounts up to 70% off and work to cut through the “green washing” that is so prevalent in the eco-friendly product industry. The deals they provide are for products or services that are either certified as organic or eco-friendly, or that have a “people & planet positive approach in the DNA of the business.”

http://www.blissmo.com/

Pure Citizen

Pure Citizen is a flash sale site that features 3-day sales of products or services from fair trade, organic, and otherwise ethically minded companies. One cool aspect that stands out is that Pure Citizen allows customers to choose to save less and donate that money to a featured non-profit. All companies whose products are on sale “make a difference”, according to Pure Citizen, by “providing employment and job training for the underprivileged, building wells, reducing global pesticide use, saving children from slavery, rescuing women from prostitution, creating healthier products, or that they are overall committed to making the world a better place.”

http://www.purecitizen.com/

JP Selects

JP Selects, launched in June 2011, is a member’s only e-commerce platform for selective socially conscious and eco-friendly products. It is different from the other flash sale sites in that after a brand’s 72 hour introductory promotional price, their products remain available in the JP Select Online Shop. A percentage of the sales go to JP Selects co-founder John Paul DeJoria’s Peace, Love and Happiness Foundation which supports humanitarian efforts worldwide, as well as to the Grow Appalachia hunger initiative.

http://www.jpselects.com/

LovingEco

LovingEco recently launched in June, 2011. It is a flash sale site that specializes in offering eco-friendly products at exclusive price points (up to 70% off retail). The limited-time and brand-specific sale events are offered only to members. Sales posted on the site are for eco-friendly, fair trade and natural products in fashion and accessories, beauty and products for moms, babies and kids. Each sale is on a first-come first-serve basis, and 3% of net proceeds from each purchase is donated to the current ‘tastemaker charity’ to help support a social or environmental cause.

http://www.lovingeco.com/

ethicalDeal

ethicalDeal offers people daily deals from local green companies in North America. Discounts on products and services range from 50-90%. ethicalDeal labels themselves as “part green city guide, part green deal site, part green action network” which aims to help you discover the best green stuff to do, see and buy in your city, at exclusive discounts.

http://ethicaldeal.com/

Green Box Top

Green Box Top is a group coupon site that offers discounts from 40% to 90% on “green” products and services in San Francisco, Denver, Oregon and nationwide (online stores only). A percentage of each sale is donated to non-profits and charities aligned with the company’s mission. Member’s can nominate and vote for different organizations they want to have as the donation beneficiaries.

http://www.greenboxtop.com/

Green Deals

Launched in January 2011, Green Deals offers daily discounts and deals from local and national green online businesses that are Green America approved. Green America is a non-profit organization that works to promote a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. A new deal or discount is offered every 24-48 hours for a product or service from a company that they ensure has deep commitments to social and environmental responsibility in their policies, practices and products.

http://www.greendeals.org/

The complete list of companies the CEH named in the lawsuit is listed below. However, the products identified are just examples, as the CEH has included multiple mislabeled products from the companies in the lawsuit.

• Advantage Research Laboratories, Inc./Murray’s Worldwide, Inc.: Parnevu T-Tree No Lye Conditioning Relaxer System
• Aubrey Organics, Inc: Collagen & Almond Enriching Moisturizing Lotion
• Beauty Without Cruelty/Lotus Brands, Inc: Organic Aromatherapy Facial Cleanser
• Boots Retail USA Inc: Boots Amazon Forest Brazil Nut & Vanilla Body Wash
• California Inside & Out, Inc: Out of Africa Handwash Tea Tree with Essential Oil
• Colomer U.S.A.: Crème of Nature Kiwi & Citrus Ultra Moisturizing Shampoo
• Cosway Company, Inc/Head Organics Company: Clearly Head Conditioner
• Curls, LLC: Curlicious Curls Cleansing Cream Organic Shampoo
• derma e® Natural Bodycare/Stearns Products, Inc: Psorzema Body Wash
• Hain Celestial Group: Jason Thin-to-Thick Conditioner and Baby Avalon Organics Silky Cornstarch Baby Powder
• House of Cheatham, Inc: Organics by Africa’s Best Hair Mayonnaise
• International Trade Routes of New York, Inc/Laboratorios Phergal: Naturtint Green Technologies Permanent Hair Colorant
• Kinky-Curly Hair Care: Kinky-Curly Spiral Spritz
• Kiss My Face Corporation: Hold Up Styling Mousse
• Lafe’s Natural BodyCare/Lafe T. Larson, Inc: Deodorant Stone With Holder
• Morrocco Method, Inc: Euro Organic Oil Simply Pure Hair & Scalp Therapy
• Namasté Laboratories: Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Pak
• Nature’s Baby Products, Inc: Nature’s Baby ORGANICS Shampoo & Body Wash in Vanilla-Tangerine Scent or Lavender-Chamomile Scent
• Nubian Heritage Group/Sundial Group LLC: Coconut & Papaya with Vanilla Bean Extract Body Wash
• Nutrition Resource, Inc. dba NutriBiotic: NutriBiotic Everyday Clean Conditioner Botanical Blend
• Rainbow Research Corporation: Rainbow Baby Oh Baby Unscented Organic Herbal Shampoo
• Renpure, L.L.C: Renpure Organics I Love My Hair! Body and Shine Shampoo
• Strength of Nature Global, LLC: Elasta QP Intense Fortifying Hair Conditioning Treatment
• Sundial Brands/Sundial Group LLC: Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo
• The Himalaya Drug Company: Organique by Himalaya Toothpaste
• Todd Christopher International, Inc/Vogue International: Hydrating Teatree Mint Conditioner

One would think replacing harsh chemicals with safe and naturally derived ingredients would be a good thing, right? Well, not so fast. Organic Monitor believes that this development could open up a Pandora’s Box in the beauty industry. Diverting agricultural land from the production of food crops to plant derived cosmetic ingredients could result in a global food shortage.

On a small scale replacing food crops with cosmetic ingredients may not seem like a threat to world food supply, but if the natural and organic product market continues to grow as it has been for the past 5 years then companies need to take preventative action. At the very least cosmetic companies need to begin putting measures in place that ensure their ingredients are derived from sustainable sources. The repercussions could be huge if natural cosmetic companies begin receiving some blame for a global food shortage.

Global food shortage, really? Well, it is surely possible. At the current rate of world population growth, coupled by increasing food prices and a decreasing amount of available agricultural land, the threat is very real and could easily creep its way into the natural cosmetics market.

If the threat manifests companies need to be prepared for a new debate about ‘food vs. beauty crops,’ says Organic Monitor.  Companies that already sustainably source their natural ingredients will be one step ahead and avoid the backfire.

Lead by Example

Large consumer product companies who source natural ingredients realize the risk and have already started taking proactive measures. L’Oreal, Unilever and Proctor & Gamble have made commitments to sustainable sourcing, while Wal-Mart has been putting pressure on its suppliers to adopt sustainability practices for a few years now.

Natural and Organic certifications and Fair Trade standards are gaining popularity around the world. Up next could be sustainable ingredient certified.

Palm Oil is a good example of how companies or associations can come together and set standards to sourcing natural ingredients. It is possible that in the near future more companies will follow suit as they have with palm oil by pledging to only source from Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)-approved companies. Organic Monitor has already noticed that similar roundtables exist for soya and cocoa, and more are under development.

In summary, the cosmetic and personal care industry have been moving in the right direction by wanting to make safer products by using natural ingredients, but it is evident that it now needs to be taken one step further. No longer is the time when having natural ingredients is enough. Companies now need to be able to squash the debate before it occurs and avoid a potentially harsh backfire by beginning to sustainably source natural ingredients.

Minerals are becoming a very popular source of ingredients for natural personal care products, including deodorants and cosmetics. More often than not, consumers are more interested in whether or not the product is effective and natural rather than how and where do the mineral ingredients come from.

Minerals are naturally extracted from the Earth’s crust by mining companies. The mining industry is dominated by a handful of large companies that can simultaneously finance many mines on their own. But lesser know companies, like junior miners require outside financing and are mostly exploratory, searching for the next big find. However, small-scale mining, or “micro” mining, is practiced in about 50 countries by people who live in the poorest and most remote rural areas, with few employment alternatives. Small-scale mining refers to mining by individuals, groups, families or cooperatives with minimal or no mechanization, and account for approximately 15 to 20% of the world’s non-fuel mineral production.

Although small and basic, small scale miners are supplying valuable minerals to the cosmetic industry, including: bauxite, kalunite, zinc, iron oxides, sericite, mica, different types of magnesium, various base metals, and more. Even though they are providing a valuable service, small scale miners are traditionally unorganized and without a voice in the international mining industry.  Furthermore, they struggle to receive financing and bring their minerals to market.

Worldwide at least 15 million people engage in small scale mining, and a further 80 million people depend on it for their livelihood, mainly in the Andes region of South America and Africa. These numbers will surely continue to grow as does the price for minerals.

To this day in regions around the world natural resources are being exploited using a model of a stipend for the use of the land with the promise of jobs. Additionally, large scale mining companies often come to areas of small-scale mining and create conflict around issues of land ownership rights which can result in bidding wars backed by the deep pockets of the mega miners.

An opportunity remains for the small communities to gain control of the resources through manageable organic growth of community owned companies. The communities have the potential to mine the mineral deposits, such as kalunite spread throughout the Andes.  If NGOs and governments become involved and provide the necessary support for the local communities, consultants can take the lead from exploration through closure while providing long-term stable employment for people in the community. Small scale mining can be used as a catalyst for economic growth and sustainable development.

If the natural and organic cosmetic market is seeking natural minerals, it is not hard to find. Large companies do a great job of extraction, logistics and sale. But at what cost?  And who is benefiting?

The idea is to be able to create products that use minerals that are natural, healthy, safe, but also sustainable and fair. Natural and organic cosmetics are about nature and harmony, and of course effectiveness, but not at the cost of exploiting poor rural communities in developing countries.  Natural products can support local communities that need help the most by sourcing minerals from small scale mining projects and small community based mining companies, instead of buying from the giant mining companies who can muscle their way in to remote areas and exploit the natural resources.

However, small scale mining can result in a range of negative environmental and social impacts. Unfortunately, small scale mining has become known for its high environmental costs and poor health and safety record.  Environmental issues can include erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water by chemicals from mining processes. But it is important to note that these environmental harms are not only isolated to small scale mining projects. Large companies, though better educated and prepared, can create environmental problems as well.

By promoting the right conditions for the development of small scale mines and educating the community on environmental best practices, an opportunity will be granted for poor communities to contribute to the formal economy and supply the cosmetic industry with valuable minerals.  It is this ideology that more Latin American and other regions of the world should embrace in order to help reduce poverty by building sustainable communities where small-scale mining is an important economic activity. If this goal is met it will allow for long-term efficient mineral extraction by small communities, with access to fair markets and sources of credit.

You can help show your support for small scale mining and contact CASM and learn how you can help. Also, become aware where you minerals come from. Talk to your supplies and insist on fair trade products that are mined sustainably using local small scale mining companies.

“Green chemistry, also known as sustainable chemistry, is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry applies across the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, and use.”

-          U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

As the natural personal care product market grows, companies are looking for innovative ways to utilize natural ingredients while still creating an effective product. In doing so, green chemistry is advancing, and companies are mixing naturally sourced ingredients with safer, effective synthetic ingredients.  We realize that not every product on the market can or will use only natural ingredients, but at least some companies who do use synthetics in their formulations are consciously making an effort vis-à-vis green chemistry to provide a product that is both safer for personal use and the environment.

While green chemistry does not ensure the absolute safety of the products we use, it is a definitive step in the right direction.  The backbone of green chemistry still consists of chemicals and chemical processes, but it is designed to reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts.

Green chemistry continues to evolve. Companies are updating and innovating manufacturing processes and a number of benefits are following, including reducing waste, pollution, energy and resources, using non-toxic components, and creating safer products.  The EPA has created Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry to serve as a guide for green chemists who want to reduce their environmental impact

Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry

1. Prevention
   It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it has been created.
2. Atom Economy
   Synthetic methods should be designed to maximize the incorporation of all materials used in the process into the final product.
3. Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses
   Wherever practicable, synthetic methods should be designed to use and generate substances that possess little or no toxicity to human health and the environment.
4. Designing Safer Chemicals
   Chemical products should be designed to effect their desired function while minimizing their toxicity.
5. Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries
   The use of auxiliary substances (e.g., solvents, separation agents, etc.) should be made unnecessary wherever possible and innocuous when used.
6. Design for Energy Efficiency
   Energy requirements of chemical processes should be recognized for their environmental and economic impacts and should be minimized. If possible, synthetic methods should be conducted at ambient temperature and pressure.
7. Use of Renewable Feedstocks
   A raw material or feedstock should be renewable rather than depleting whenever technically and economically practicable.
8. Reduce Derivatives
   Unnecessary derivatization (use of blocking groups, protection/ deprotection, temporary modification of physical/chemical processes) should be minimized or avoided if possible, because such steps require additional reagents and can generate waste.
9. Catalysis
   Catalytic reagents (as selective as possible) are superior to stoichiometric reagents.
10. Design for Degradation
    Chemical products should be designed so that at the end of their function they break down into innocuous degradation products and do not persist in the environment.
11. Real-time analysis for Pollution Prevention
    Analytical methodologies need to be further developed to allow for real-time, in-process monitoring and control prior to the formation of hazardous substances.
12. Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention
    Substances and the form of a substance used in a chemical process should be chosen to minimize the potential for chemical accidents, including releases, explosions, and fires.

The 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, originally published by Paul Anastas and John Warner in Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice (Oxford University Press: New York, 1998).

Dry skin can be a result of many factors. Usually we experience dry skin in the cold winter months when there is lower humidity. Central air and heating can also contribute to decreased humidity levels. Other causes include excess sun exposure, vitamin deficiencies, overuse of harsh soaps and lack of moisturizing. Regardless of the cause, dry skin occurs when your skin’s natural oil (sebum) is stripped away and moisture escapes.

To combat dryness the key is to moisturize and replenish your skin’s oil to combat the loss of moisture. Petroleum jelly or mineral oil work very well as a moisturizer, yet their purity and safety are very controversial and have been shown to have carcinogenic effects.  Virtually any vegetable oil can also be used to safely prevent dry skin. They are effective, safe and inexpensive. However, all of them are greasy, which is a feeling not everyone likes. Below you will find some great tips on how to use natural ingredients from your pantry to prevent dry skin, and not all will leave you feeling greasy.

Say goodbye to dry skin with these 5 natural remedies for dry skin:

Olive Oil Cleanser

A great natural oil to use is extra-virgin olive oil, which works as a natural cleanser and moisturizer.  It works wonders on hands and elbows, and soothes and conditions itchy, dry skin. You can dab a thin layer under your moisturizer for a little added antioxidants, or even rub the oil into your skin and drape a warm, damp cloth over your face until it cools, then wipe away the excess oil.

Sweeten Your Skin with Honey

Dating back 1,000s of years, honey is a time-tested cure for dry skin and chapped or cracked lips. Before taking a bath, rub some honey on your body and leave it on for 5-10 minutes. Or, apply a little honey to your lips before going to bed and wake up to smooth, moist lips. Another trick is to do the same but on your heels or elbows, and the natural moisturizing effects of honey will prove effective.

Treat your Skin from the Inside Out

Keeping hydrated with plenty of water is a great start to alleviating dry skin. 8-10 glasses of water a day should do the trick, but if you are normally hydrated, you cannot possibly counteract or correct dry skin by drinking water alone.

Your diet can also play a large role in the appearance and condition of your skin. Ideally, you want a diet rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin C, magnesium and beta-carotene. Consuming salmon and other fatty fish, plus dark chocolate, oranges and carrots can help improve dry skin.

Mask Yourself in Avocado

Try creating a mask of avocado to naturally sooth your dry skin. Puree half an avocado and mix in a teaspoon of olive oil or add a tablespoon of honey. Apply the mask to your face, and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes, then wash it off.  Your skin should feel fresh and moisturized, but if not, as an extra measure finish the process by applying your regular moisturizer.

Soak in the Oats

A 15 minute soak in a lukewarm bath can help hydrate your skin. Add a cup of oatmeal to the bath and you will feel the soothing, hydrating effects immediately. The nutrients from the oats, combined with the warm, not hot water, help the skin retain moisture.

Follow each bath, whether you use oats or not, with a moisturizer, especially if you bathe frequently. If not, all the moisture that soaked into the skin during the bath can evaporate.  When drying yourself off after a bath or shower try to leave the skin damp. Moisturizers are more effective on damp skin opposed to totally dry skin.

Burgeoning in Brazil

Source: Nancy Mills at Kline
Despite its ranking behind Asia and Europe as the third largest market for natural personal care products, the Brazilian market for naturals has ballooned at a 20% compound average growth rate (CAGR) since 2005. Despite an economic crisis that saw the nation’s GDP slide backwards by 0.2%, growth in naturals continued at a double-digit pace, making it one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Part of this growth can be attributed to the heavy influence of local giants Natura and O Boticário, which together command an overwhelming majority of the market share.

However, as the industry moves toward more natural formulations, there remains room for other players, especially those who can offer consumers a wider selection of truly natural products. The richness of Brazil’s biodiversity, particularly the flora of the Amazon region, is one of the key drivers in the growth of this segment, with many well-known ingredients already being explored for their cosmetic properties. The increasing supply of locally sourced raw materials also makes natural products more affordable and accessible for consumers.

Belief in natural remedies is already a well-ingrained aspect of Brazilian culture, where herbs and plants have long been widely used for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. This cultural acceptance makes it easier for manufacturers to make the natural “pitch” to consumers, who largely already appreciate the benefits. Meanwhile, the rising middle class has boosted overall cosmetics and toiletries growth, priming the market for naturals to blossom.

With large competitors like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Avon, and L’Oréal already entering this segment on a global basis to diversify their existing product lines and meet the new demands of consumers, no doubt the local and regional players will see increasing competition in the coming years.

Natural Personal Care Products Sales in Brazil, (BRL)

Asia Continues Climbing

Buoyed by a longstanding traditional of herbal remedies, Asia remains the largest market for natural personal care in the world, but now ranks second to Brazil in its pace, posting double-digit growth in 2010. Here, truly natural formulations hold a larger share at nearly one-fourth of the market, but growth in natural-inspired products is gaining strength as consumers demand mass products at lower prices.

Interestingly, the market for naturals in Indonesia is well-established, dominated by multinationals like Unilever, which has been on the ground here for more than two decades. Here, consumers seem to follow Western trends, despite the largely rural population, with the foreign origin of a brand commanding priority as a status symbol over its natural positioning. In contrast, truly natural products account for about one-third of the total market in India, which ranks second in the region behind China in terms of overall naturals growth. The competitive pricing of domestic brands and a strong belief among consumers in the medicinal properties of ayurvedic formulations are driving growth in the segment.

Also poised for double-digit growth, the market for naturals in Asia is expected to surge by a nearly 14% CAGR through 2015, buoyed by rapidly increasing urban population and greater awareness of natural products, especially in China, India, and Indonesia. Renewed interest for natural products—and a change in the perception of naturals from that of cheap alternatives to mass brands—is creating healthy competition and encouraging domestic brands to invest in research and development to improve product quality. The dominance and wide acceptance of herbal natural products in China and India will ensure ongoing demand in the natural segment.

U.S. Upswing

In the supercharged natural personal care industry, the U.S. market has shown the most significant impact of the prolonged economic recession. However, the real story here seems to be the surge in truly natural products, which shot up more than 20% over the past year, while natural-inspired products inched up just over 4%. One of the leading factors behind the growth of truly natural products is product reformulations. Marketers are reformulating their natural-inspired products to fit more within the truly natural segment. Furthermore, some of the leading marketers of truly natural personal care products, including Burt’s Bees (Clorox) and Tom’s of Maine (Colgate-Palmolive), have succeeded in expanding their product lines in mass market retail outlets like Wal-Mart, Target, and drug stores around the country, which has played an important role in the growth of the truly natural segment.

Around the globe, consumers have displayed ever-increasing interest in natural products, which will continue to push worldwide growth into double-digit territory—a welcome respite for diversified multinational manufacturers reeling from lackluster performance in the overall cosmetics and toiletries market. The key to leveraging this growth in specific regions is to remain mindful of the nuances and unique characteristics in each market. While stellar growth may be the universal condition, specific consumer demands and other drivers in each region will dictate the best course of action to capitalize on pockets of opportunity.