The Natexpo Lyon trade show demonstrated that the market for organic cosmetics remained dynamic despite a background of fierce competition between distribution networks and a declining market over the last two years in France with more than 130 exhibitors in organic cosmetics (+10% compared to 2019). Organic competitors are attempting to stand apart by providing more goods. The new goods that were showcased this year from September 18 to 20 should be your main focus.
The numbers speak for themselves; in a French beauty and hygiene market that is also contracting, there is a constant decline in volume sales of organic cosmetics. According to BioAnalytics 2022 statistics, the hygiene and care sector declined by 25.2% in the specialized organic channel in June 2022, but pharmacies and supermarkets fared marginally better.
Despite this challenging environment, businesses continue to spend in order to provide products that are more in line with consumer demands for minimal waste and ease of use. Therefore, solid or powder formulae were widely distributed on exhibitor stands. Given that organic products are often 15 to 30% more expensive than conventional ones, finding a fair price is also becoming a more important consideration when making a purchase.
Zero-waste, usability, and going back to the basics
The Anaé brand’s solid cosmetics container is put to use in yet another novel way. The glass jars holding the various sizes of balms are reusable thanks to a collaboration with the Duralex glass plant, and the same is true of the lids made of Portuguese cork. The items include deodorant balms in 80ml format, nourishing balms with camelina oil or mentholated oil for the sport version, and soothing massage balms with hemp oil, all in 60ml format.
For a reasonable cost of 6.45 euros, Perlucine offers smaller formats for testing their goods, all of which are made of Brittany oyster shell powder. The 3g sachets of shampoo, face wash, toothpaste, shower powder, and deodorant are all included in the hygiene kit. The thoughtfully designed package, which is fashioned like a salt shaker, efficiently dispenses the proper amount of powder.
It is important to bring up Savons du Léman, a company with a Nature et Progrès label, and its founder Sandra Rembert, a maker of soap who, in addition to hygienic soaps, offers a specific line of organic soaps for short- and long-haired dogs, cats, and equines. Natural colours used to the soaps have given the visual aspect special consideration.
A baby range is brand-new to Lamazuna and includes three solid products: a surgras massage butter, a perfume-free diaper rash balm, and a balm to prevent diaper rash in infants. Additionally, solid conditioners and a shampoo containing Lavandin oil to prevent head lice.
Steam face masks from the Mas du Roseau brand for do-it-yourselfers. The user merely takes what he needs and infuses it with hot water once it has been packaged in canvas bags.
A trend to watch is the organic invasion in beauty establishments.
For a “seed to cream” concept, everything at Beauty Garden, the institute brand of the Sothys Group, comes from an organic permaculture garden in Corrèze. Every item on the market is created from locally farmed vegetables. The same four-phase ritual is used in institute treatments like “Lâcher Prise” and “Détox”: first contact, nature in the skin, immersion, and a gentle return with a seasonal organic herbal tea. Plants including peppermint, birch, meadowsweet, calendula, and camomile are essential to this skincare routine.
Ingredients include terroir and superfruits.
In addition to pomegranates, cranberries, blueberries, and other superfruits, mulberries also come from mulberry trees, which should not be mistaken with wild blackberries. It is a potent antioxidant that is high in resveratrol.
French and even regional raw materials are in great demand as a result of both the local food movement and the (hyper-)short circuit trend. These natural resources, which have a distinct personality, strengthen the idea of proximity: Provence lavender, Breton seaweed, mountain gentian, Alpine aster… They are the centerpiece of the Elixens company’s organic line and include calendula, oily meadowsweet macerate, and lemon savoury from Provence. Similar summer’s Vivaness trade fair in Nuremberg also witnessed this trend.
Self-tanning product innovation
Let’s not forget the Gold Trophy Laboratoires de Biarritz received for their self-tanning face and body drops at the event (launched in February 2022). The benefit of this product is that any skin care regimen may be combined with it (emulsion, gel, lotion, etc.). It enables producing a custom tan based on phototype and the quantity of drops put to the typical skincare product. This extremely thorough formula is offered in a reusable glass dropper bottle and contains a self-tanning complex (DHA from rapeseed and corn erythrulose), a patented red algae antioxidant extract, Alga-Gorria®, moisturizing organic glycerine (rapeseed), and soothing and moisturizing organic aloe vera.
