Health & Beauty Industry Crossover

What to expect in the Personal Care Industry from now to 2010

As the personal care industry continues to thrive and enter the mainstream both nationally and internationally it is inevitable that consumers will start expecting more from their personal care industry. Personal care has often been considered the outsiders of the health and wellness industry. However, with the most recent research, consumer trends show that the line between nutrition and personal care is beginning to blur.

According to a 2006 Datamonitor study titled, “Wellness Trends in Personal Care,” found that 45 percent of consumers believe “skin care products provide nutrition for the skin in the way that food and drinks provide nutrition internally,” also that 50 percent of respondents reported they viewed themselves as being “conscious of skin nutrition.” Consumer trends are blurring the line between beauty and health, by viewing both industries as a part of an overall holistic approach to maintaining good health. Datamonitor’s study found that 56 percent of Americans and Europeans “consciously acted upon the link between diet, appearance and beauty,” noticeably more in 2006 then before. And since then, the approach has increased even further helping drive the demand for nutritional products into the personal care industry. This new trend is allowing for personal care type businesses to tap into new revenue generating opportunities and helping them become leading industry players.

This trend is becoming apparent to other industry members, the leading personal care trade publication HAPPI, has also become aware of the industry cross over. The publication has run a series of articles describing the new driving force, “consumers have become more aware of the role nutrition, super foods, fruits, vitamins and herbals have in promoting health and beauty from the inside out.” This was also acknowledged in the Datamonitor study, which found 48 percent of consumers ‘strongly agree’ that what they ingest “can have as much effect on body appearance as what they topically apply to the body.”

Convinced or not, this influence is taking a hold of the industry and is opening up a wide range of opportunities for both the business owner and consumer – for better health and financial gain.

Source: Datamonitor, Consumer survey February 2006