Higher Investment in Personal Care Companies

A sharp rise in investment activity involving natural personal care companies is expected in 2010.

According to Organics Monitor’s new Strategic Insights report, which looks at investments, mergers and acquisitions in the global natural personal care industry, improving economic conditions and easing of capital restrictions are making investors target this high growth sector once again.

Until the financial turbulence began in 2008 the natural personal care industry was a favourite of the investment community. However, Organics Monitor reports that after an 18-month lull period, major deals have restarted, for example, the acquisition of Bare Escentuals by Shiseido in a $1.7 billion deal and the completed purchase of Kibio by Clarins this month.

Organic Monitor director Amarjit Sahota said: “We would not say that natural personal care companies were resilient during the recession, however most companies continued to show growth in 2008 to 2009 albeit at lower growth rates than previous years.

Many companies were reporting growth of above 20% a year but experienced single-digit growth in 2008 and 2009. So we would say natural personal care companies were affected by the recession, but not as badly affected as other personal care companies.”

Organic Monitor predicts further deals as investors are once again pursuing natural personal care companies.

It said that investors are attracted by high market growth rates and profitable product categories and explained that European companies are expected to be involved in major deals in 2010 because of the lack of “investable” companies in North America.

The report stated that the most successful natural personal care companies are those that receive investment and continue to operate as separate entities. Aveda and Burt’s Bees are cited as such companies that have continued to show positive growth. In comparison, those that have been acquired and integrated into larger corporations have not realised their growth potential.

The statement from Organic Monitor said: “A major reason is that natural personal care companies are typically small enterprises with strong ethical values which do not always fit well into larger profit-driven organisations”.

Sahota added: “Increased investment in natural and organic personal care companies will benefit the professional beauty sector by giving more financing to brands that currently focus on this sector. This financing will provide capital for new product development, product improvements and ingredients. It will also provide capital to new start-ups that are developing professional beauty products and provide more funding for marketing and distribution to companies that supply salons and spas.”

By Kate Donovan
February 22, 2010

New Instore - PureMAN - by [A'kin]

Men’s skin differs from women’s. It is twice as oily, has larger pores where bacteria gets trapped, can be more irritable due to shaving, dehydrates easily and has 50% more blood flow.

[A'kin] have selected active ingredients and developed formulas targeting these important differences. Each of the [A’kin] PureMAN products contain specially selected active ingredients from botanical sources. The formulations include naturally derived cleansers such as panama bark and a synergistic blend of 5 cleansers derived from coconut and plant botanicals, which are extremely gentle yet thoroughly cleansing for fresh, clean skin and hair.

The powerful soothing benefits of aloe vera as well as pro vitamin B5 will assist in calming skin sensitivities and irritations. Soften and restore skin moisture with natural moisturising factors (NMFs) such as hydrolysed oats, hyaluronic acid, olive extract and aloe vera.

The anti-oxidant benefits of white tea and vitamin E as well as anthyllis flower extract will help protect the skin from environmental damage and promote healthier and younger looking skin.

The [A’kin] PureMAN range energises skin with ginseng, citrus and spice. These ingredients not only provide a light, refreshing and masculine scent, but also have been purposely selected as most suitable for male skin.

New Instore - [A'kin] Body Care

[A'kin] natural body care consists of body washes, scrub and moisturisers. Gentler and more luxurious than soap, these body washes are economical and sulfate free; [A'kin] invigorating body scrub is fragranced with the finest sandalwood and sweet orange essential oils, and the body moisturisers include the premier source of omega 3, 6 & 9.

[A’kin] products are made free from sulfates, ethoxylates, parabens, propylene glycol, petrochemical cleansers, silicones, phthalates, mineral oils, DEA and artificial colours.

Check out the full [A'kin] Natural Body Care Range

New Instore - [A'kin] Natural Hair Care

The [A’kin] natural shampoo range works differently from most other shampoos. Their sophisticated combinations of cleansers leave your hair feeling beautiful and extra clean, whilst retaining the essential natural oils and moisture.

[A'kin] natural conditioners feature a new generation GMO free rapeseed oil derived detangler that has proven superior detangling ability and is unequalled in its mildness to both your skin and eyes.

Nourishing ingredients are vitally important in any quality conditioner. [A’kin] conditioners feature generous amounts of natural nourishing ingredients - including cold pressed certified organic Australian grown avocado oil, Australian macadamia oil, Australian jojoba oil and hydrolysed wheat protein (GMO free) - all of which are rapidly absorbed to penetrate, nourish and re-moisturise each shaft of hair very effectively.

Check out all the [A'kin] Natural Hair Products.

New Arrival - Green People Make Up Range

Green People has cleverly combined the minerals with plant oils and natural ingredients like Beeswax and Cupuaçu Butter to create a highly effective natural make-up range.

Mineral make-up is perfect for every skin type, even those with skin conditions like rosacea. The minerals' silky lightness provides natural, full coverage without clogging pores. Minerals reflect light off the skin, giving the illusion that it’s smoother and flawless by minimising pores and evening out wrinkles and fine lines - for a softer, more youthful and radiant appearance.

Beware! Many high street "mineral makeup" brands add tons of chemical ingredients, so it’s no longer pure, no less potentially irritating and no closer to improving your skin than any other foundation you pull off the shelf.

Why use Green People’s Eco Mineral Make-up?

• 3 in 1 - our mineral pressed powders work as a foundation, powder and sunscreen all in one!

• Matching the shade with your skin is easy – it blends seamlessly and the minerals reflect and diffuse light to allow your natural colour to shine through

• There’s no chemical ‘nasties’ - free from Parabens, Synthetic Fragrances, Petrochemicals, Silicones, Phthalates, Artificial Colours, Not Tested on Animals

See the Green People natural make up range now.

Application Tips:
Face – Concealer – Apply using your ring finger. Pat on the skin and gently blend moving from the outside corner to the inside corner of the under eye area. Take special care not to stretch the skin!

Mineral Powders - Apply with a brush for a natural coverage and remember to build the base up rather than putting lots on at once. Apply in a buffing motion starting at the outer edges of your cheeks moving inwards, across your forehead and then down over your nose and chin.

Eyes – Smokey Eyes – Apply Fondant shadow starting at the lash line and extending just over the crease. Use Cream shadow to highlight under the eyebrow. Blend Espresso shadow from the outer corner of your lid, blend half way across the eye and up to the crease. For a more dramatic effect use the thin applicator to apply Espresso under the lower lashes. To finish the look apply Volumising mascara to both the upper and lower lashes for full, voluminous lashes.

Lips - starting at the center of the upper lip glide lipstick outward towards one corner. Bring the lipstick back to the center and run it outward to the other corner. Repeat with the lower lip. Blot with tissue to remove excess colour and even out the texture.

New Arrival - [A'kin] Natural Skin, Hair & Body Care

In 1987, Will Evans began manufacturing personal hair and skin care products. Will’s vision was to develop pure, effective, luxurious hair and skin care products from natural ingredients.

One year later Will launched the ‘Ultra Natural’ hair care range into health food stores in WA and NSW. In response to customer demand for a more effective pure range of haircare products, [Al’chemy] was developed and test marketed in Western Australia. The new brand quickly grew from loyal customers who wanted less chemicals in their life and in 1994 [Al’chemy] was launched Australia-wide.

Will then moved from Perth to Sydney and established The Purist Company in 1997 from a small factory in Katoomba in the heart of the Blue Mountains. During this time, Will experimented and refined his formulations until he was satisfied that The Purist Company products combined the latest in scientific knowledge with the best ingredients nature can supply.

In 1998, body washes were launched into the Australian marketplace. Easy to use and gentle to the skin, the body wash was developed to replace soap and to be versatile enough to be used as a shower gel, bubble bath and a gentle wash for delicate clothing.

In 2002 the [A’kin] brand was launched and a variety of [A’kin] skin care products were sold in pharmacies and health food stores. With the ever increasing demand for natural and safe products, The Purist Company expanded its distribution base to include TVSN (Australia’s Television Shopping Network), spa retreats, online stores, complementary medical practices and beauty and hairdressing salons.

In 2004, The Purist Company spread to international markets and today exports to the UK, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Ireland, Dubai, Malaysia and the USA with a view to expanding to new markets in the future.

In 2006 The Purist Company launched in selected David Jones stores Australia-wide.

[A’kin] products are made free from sulfates, ethoxylates, parabens, propylene glycol, petrochemical cleansers, silicones, phthalates, mineral oils, DEA and artificial colours.

[A’kin] products are ingredient-rich, vegan, using certified organic ingredients where possible, 100% natural botanical aromatherapy and formulated without animal ingredients or animal testing.

Checkout the fabulous [Akin] Range: [Akin] Hand Care, [Akin] Skin Care.

Courts make ruling on Dr. Bronner’s organic lawsuit

By Simon Pitman, 16-Dec-2009

California courts have upheld certain motions by the defending cosmetics companies in the amended federal lawsuit bought by Dr. Bronner’s that.

The judge chose to grant the motions filed by the defendents to dismiss for lack of subject-matter and failure to state a claim in favor of the defendants, headed by the Hains Celestial Group.

However, the California judgment deemed that Dr. Bronner’s motion to dismiss a counter claim filed by Ecocert, which certifies some of the beauty products in question, was granted.
Nevertheless, both Ecocert and Dr. Bronner’s have been given 30 days to amend their pleadings as the court deemed certain defects in the proceedings could be rectified through amendment.

The court ordered that any amendment plea should be filed by 13th January, 2010, while a case management conference is scheduled for February 12th.

Ongoing saga dating back to April 2008

The lawsuit was first filed back in April 2008 under the plaintiff name All One God Faith, doing business as Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, under the premise that its complicity to strict FDA regulations governing organic beauty products was not being met by its competitors.

Dr. Bronner’s claims that many of the leading organic beauty brands are not complying with the standards enforced by the FDA, in turn not complying with consumer expectations as to the definition of an organic certified product.

The natural soaps company originally brought the lawsuit against a number of players including Hains Celestial (Jason Naturals and Avalon Organics brands), Levlad (Nature’s Gate), Kiss My Face, YSL Beaute and the certification bodies OASIS and Ecocert.

In the original lawsuit Dr Bronner’s asked that the companies cease to market products with organic in the product name unless they meet USDA National Organic Program specifications, which it believes represents consumers’ expectations of the term organic.

However, last July the company upped the stakes and by asking for damages incurred through loss of sales to what it alleged were falsely advertised organic products.

Second amendment focused on mislabeling of organic products

In the second amended complaint presented at the San Francisco Superior Court, Dr Bronner’s is calling for the profits made from the sale of the defendants allegedly mislabelled organic products to be awarded to the company.

In addition, it asked for monetary compensation for the diversion of sales from Dr Bronner’s to the defendants.

Likewise the lawsuit also asked that certifiers OASIS and Ecocert should stop certifying products as organic if they could not be certified under the USDA national organic program.