INCREASING CONSUMER DEMAND FOR NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS

With increasing awareness of the potential health risks due to chemicals and petroleum ingredients in the beauty care products, more and more consumers are turning to natural cosmetics and skin care products. Recognizing the shifting trend in beauty industry, a newly launched company, Ardra Bio, is now focusing on creating petroleum-free chemicals by using artificial pathways and metabolic engineering.

The company founder revealed in an interview that their alternative ingredient makes use of sugar as a raw material, and the product can be used as a natural humectant and a solvent for fragrances. Ardra Bio is partnering with Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory to scale up its technology. Dr. Gawand, one founder, highlighted the fact that in the cosmetic industry, there is increasing consumer demand for natural products. Being a consumer driven industry, cosmetic companies are trying to incorporate natural ingredients into their products. Hence, they prefer to not use products derived from petroleum. The demand for natural products is high, and hence companies want to make the product as naturally derived as possible.

Petroleum jellies – by-product of the oil industry – that are being used in beauty products extensively, can suffocate pores, aggravate acne and even cause a rare form of pneumonia, if inhaled. Take, for example, Vaselin, a finely refined version of petroleum jelly that could be doing more bad than good, despite the fact that this is considered to be safer petroleum jelly in cosmetics.

Experts have warned that there are probably plenty of other petroleum jelly imitators being used in chemical-based cosmetics. However, most of the celebrities and make-up experts (like Kately Denno) strongly recommend that only those products should be put on skin which can be absorbed into it. They are not fan of petroleum jelly, whatever the brand.

If used too often, the petroleum gel can irritate the skin because of its thick texture that merely 'seals in the dirt.' Cosmetologists  recommend always washing and cleansing the skin before applying any form of moisturizer to avoid breakouts.

Remember that some of these products are absorbed into the skin, so it's nice to use something that you wouldn't mind putting into your body. It is with a view to offer safe and effective beauty formulations, Herbally Radiant started manufacturing amazingly effective new range of skin care products, with USDA certified natural ingredients since 2010.  Herbally Radiant products display the ingredients in the formulation to help consumers make the right choice.