The future of the cosmetics and personal care sector will continue to be shaped by conscious sustainable lifestyle choices and increased awareness of more environmentally sound, ethically sourced, chemical-free skincare and personal grooming products. According to the findings of Allied Market Research, the Indian skincare products market is projected to reach $5033.7 million by 2027 and will grow at a CAGR of 9.5% from 2021 to 2027.

Nevertheless there has been a global paradigm shift in skincare trends due to burgeoning concerns about the harmful side effects of skincare products. There has been a clear shift towards more holistic, clean cosmetics and personal care products as customers everywhere strive to make informed purchasing decisions. 

As found by the Grand View Research report, the global organic skincare market stood at $9.83 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2022 to 2030. The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing market and will grow at a CAGR of 9.2% from 2022 to 2030.

What is driving the market trend for clean category natural, organic and vegan beauty aids is the accelerating consumer awareness for healthier consumables, conscious sustainable lifestyle choices, and growing environmental concerns. 

Dermatologist Dr Divya Sharma points out that the global market for clean cosmetics and personal care products is on an all-time high while referring to eco-friendly, ethically sourced organic and vegan and naturally derived options that are now trending. 

A greater value is being created for brands that are committed to the planet, the animal condition and their health. Sensitized to the changing market sensibilities, several leading firms in the cosmetic and personal grooming space have been quick to pick up on this emerging demand for organic, vegan and natural products. While her experiences as a dermatologist reveal how consumers are veering towards products that are ethically sourced, packaged, and manufactured, Dr Sharma brings in a cautionary note on what is actually happening in this space. “There has been no consensus on the actual definition of these terms. Even the FDA does not define or regulate organic skin care products. So cosmetics may obtain and display the certified sales if they comprise 95-100 percent certified organic ingredients which have been grown on soil with no prohibited substances including any synthetic pesticides. So many private agencies certify them,” she shares.

Vegan products do not contain animal products or by products and have mineral oils, phthalates or parabens, says Dr Sharma. There are almost 100 ingredients, including petroleum jelly, that have been banned in certain green beauty lines, she adds. The global market for vegan cosmetics is expected to reach $21.4 billion by 2027, as reported by ReportLinker.

Cause for Pause

“The controversy is that phthalate formaldehyde level used in cosmetics has been actually found to be safe and food has emerged as the biggest source of exposure to these harmful things rather than the cosmetics,” she reveals. Formaldehyde, for the unaware, is also naturally found in fruits and veggies, such as apples, pears, peas, carrots, and bananas. In beauty products, it is used as a preservative to prolong shelf life and prevent bacterial contamination. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs) are used in many personal care products. In personal care products, formaldehyde can be added directly, or frequently, it can be released from preservatives like quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, bromopol and glyoxal. These chemicals, which help prevent microbes from growing in water-based products, can be absorbed through the skin and have been linked to cancer and allergic skin reactions. Formaldehyde is considered a known human carcinogen by many expert and government bodies, including the United States National Toxicology Program. The FDA doesn't regulate the use of formaldehyde in skincare. It recommends it not be included at all in aerosols, and that other products contain only.2 percent. However, these are just recommendations and companies are not obligated to comply.

Product Development

So whether actually these terms like organic or vegan are relevant is difficult to say, according to Dr Sharma. “For example, when we say a product has not been tested on animals, the products may not have been, but the ingredients could have been. So if you really want to certify a product we have to exclude animal testing at all stages of the product development,” she says. 

Beauty aids need to be efficacious, but they also need to be good for you. As Dr Divya Sharma points out, one should not blindly accept claims by products you choose. One should try to find out which agency has certified the product as vegan or organic or cruelty-free and also find out if it has followed all these steps at all stages of product development. 

It's recommended one reads the labels and avoids products containing such ingredients as: formaldehyde, quaternium-15, dimethyl-dimethyl (DMDM) hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol). It is a good idea to check with your stylist what ingredients are listed in the products being used on you.

While the demand for organic and vegan skincare products made from clean ingredients  will continue to surge in the years to come, it basically requires a very wise and informed customer to really check on the authenticity of the claims, says Dr Sharma. 

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