Better for You Beauty: U.S. Natural Personal Care Sales Reach $5.7 Billion in 2016

Source: Natural Foods Merchandiser, July/August 2017, published by New Hope Network

The market for natural and organic personal care products, including cosmetics, skin and hair care and other products, reached $5.7 billion in 2016, an increase of 9.2 percent over the previous year, reported Global Cosmetic Industry Magazine in May 2017. “Consumers’ increasing focus on wellness – from diet to exercise to self-care – are a leading factor behind this growth,” said Naira Aslanian of the Kline Group, producer of the study.

According to the study, 67 percent of consumers who purchased natural and organic personal care products (NOPC) are trying to live a healthier lifestyle, and 49 percent of NOPC consumers consider them safer and of better quality than conventional alternatives. Most consumers who don’t purchase NOPC cite higher cost compared to conventional products.

Consumer concerns around ingredients and synthetic materials has boosted demand for natural formulations, and brands have responded with a spectrum of offerings from organicto wholly natural to what Aslanian described as “natural-inspired.”

According to Kline Group, facial treatments are the leading growth driver in skin care, which comprises the majority of U.S. natural beauty care products sales. Natural hair care sales have outpaced those of natural cosmetics, said Kline, in part due to lack of conventional retail growth for the latter segment.

Children’s personal care products are ripe for growth, too, according to market research firm Mintel. “Parents are information seekers when it comes to raising their kids and, therefore, could be more aware of ingredients to avoid in their children’s personal care products, as well as their own,” Jana Vyleta, health and personal care analyst at Mintel, told Global Cosmetic Industry Magazine. “This presents an opportunity for natural and organic personal care brands to target parents, as they should incentivize them to purchase both adult- and child-specific products.”

Whole Foods Market recently celebrated its third annual Beauty Week to raise awareness of the benefits of natural and organic personal care products. The natural grocer notably has disallowed more than 75 ingredients from the body care brands it carries, including phthalates, microbeads, triclosan, BHT, BHA and aluminum chlorohydrate.