It’s not just about what looks good, but what goes into it. Consumers are becoming more inclined towards chemical-free products, says Saumya Barman

India being the 7th largest economy in the world with 2.83 per cent of the global GDP and slated to become the 5th largest by 2025, there’s also a huge spurt in the fashion and grooming business like the exponential growth recorded in almost every industry in India over the last few years. The growing health and beauty consciousness in India with a meteoric rise in the disposable income of the ever-growing Indian middle class, the fashion and beauty trends are changing by leaps and bounds. The cosmetics and beauty market are slated to be of US$ 20 billion by 2025 from the current size of US$ 6.5 billion growing by 13 per cent year after year.

But the trend that is fast catching up is of organic beauty products and is here to stay, though, not too many brands are available in India which are really organic and are certified by an organisation of global repute. The Indian organic beauty care market is estimated to be of Rs 1000 crore by 2020 according to study of Goldman Sachs of USA. This organic market is growing by 52 per cent per annum and to cater to this new emerging market demand, an ECOCERT certified brand needs to capture the market offering the purest essence of nature in a packaged form for the aspiring Indian consumers.

After seeing these figures, it is suggested that people are going to spend a lot more in skincare than make-up in 2018. People have damaged their skin by applying chemical based products, it is time to go organic way. Following are few trends that will arrest you in 2018:

Self-Conscious Consumers

Indian market has seen the arrival and launch of a plethora of premium and imported beauty care products from brands in 2017 which claim to be organic but without any organic certification or clear mention of percentage of organic ingredients used and are making merry in absence of clarity of organic concept with majority of Indian consumers. 2018 will be the time when the market will witness more aware consumers about the concept of organic, natural, ayurvedic and herbal.

Organic is the new mantra

The premium beauty care market size is currently growing at about 34 per cent per annum, the organic beauty care market by 52 per cent per annum compared to a mere 13 per cent per annum of the mass market. This trend is the order of the day and will be dominated by organic beauty care products hereafter till anything purer than organic is  invented in this universe. Hence, the slogan of the decade is  “Be organic……. go organic”.

Creams that fight Pollution

We may hate to believe this, but pollution is around us, all the time. From an innocent train ride to walking down the street, those pesky particles are flying around us all the time and speeding up our ageing process. The next wave of skin aggressors on everyone’s radar are thanks to pollution, a wave of anti-pollution skincare.

Make it clean

Forget natural beauty, the next trend out there is ‘clean’ beauty. Put simply, clean means products that are free of harmful chemicals, parabens, phthalates, sulphates, silicones which can enter your bloodstream and cause serious health problems in the future.

Say no to chemicals

2018 will witness people being more aware about the harmful effects of chemical based products on skin and they will look out for products that will not contain animal ingredients, preservatives, artificial colour and fragrance and make your skin healthy and radiant from within.

Hair care

2018 will bring even more inspiration for natural and curly folks of all lengths and textures — a little something for everyone. You’ll see many more textured hairstyles being embraced everywhere.

No Makeup look is in

‘No makeup’ makeup has been a staple of the catwalks for seasons and not merely to avoid the models’ faces stealing attention from the clothes, as you might assume. In fact, healthy looking skin has become a trend statement in beauty.

No matter what trends come and go, do not forget to wear your confidence because it never goes out of fashion and it will make you look the most beautiful version of yourself.   

(The author is Senior Manager and Head of Marketing, Divine Organics)