2009 Beauty Trends

Recently, Cosmetics Design posted some thoughts on the 2009 beauty industry trends, including some thoughts from Nica Lewis, from Mintel Beauty Innovation (Mintel is a leading research firm in the US & UK) about some of the hot new ingredients we can expect to see in the upcoming year.

In part due to the economy, the beauty industry is going to go through a “survival of the fittest” overhaul. There has been a rash of new beauty companies, all proclaiming their product will make me thinking, younger, and more beautiful, but this year, only the strongest will survive. Brands that can prove their worth will earn a spot in our bathrooms.

A few of the things that Cosmetics Design mentioned as top trends for 2009 include sustainability and another round of super fruits.

Sustainable beauty has been gaining more and more visibility as many make the concept central to their lives. It’s not enough to just claim to be green however. People are starting to look for ethical authenticity, from more fair trade ingredients, eco-friendly packaging, charity focused initiatives and sustainable production. It’s time for the beauty industry to step up and prove that it’s not just skin deep. Look for companies adding more value to their product lines by including more programs which support economic, environmental and social sustainability.

There’s been an increased movement towards including the so-called superfruits in bath and beauty products, and 2009 will add a few more of those into our skin care products. Last year, it was all about acai fruit, goji berries and pomegranate.  This year, biloba (most commonly known for the Ginko Biloba supplements which help with memory) and probiotics will pop up. The industry appears to be hoping that the ingredients will convince consumers that they will enhance their looks like they do for their health.

Personally, I’m not completely sure about the idea that probiotics that work in my gut will then also work on my skin, but I guess we’ll wait and see!