Cleaning up their act
Natural products have caught up with their synthetic cousins, writes Tama Lung
There was a time, not too long ago, when shopping for natural skincare products required a visit to the local farm or health-food store. But as more and more consumers seek to avoid potentially toxic ingredients in their cleansers and moisturisers, natural products have caught up with their synthetic cousins to become technologically advanced and increasingly luxurious.
'Natural and organic skincare is definitely the new luxury skincare,' says Anita Yuen, director of beauty for Harvey Nichols.
Joyce Beauty's general manager Harriet Lee agrees. 'People always have the impression of organics being from the countryside, part of a very simple lifestyle,' she says. 'But actually you can find organics that are very luxurious.'
Starting with the introduction of Dr Hauschka 10 years ago, Joyce Beauty has pioneered the natural and organic skincare market in Hong Kong. In recent years it has added luxury brands such as Darphin from France and more modern ones including England's Elemental Herbology and Hungary's Omorovicza.
While brands such as Perricone MD and 3LAB remain staples among Joyce Beauty's customers, Lee expects the organic market to become more popular and sophisticated.
'Because of the technology being put into the organic brands there will be more and more results-oriented products coming up,' she says. 'You'll see more doctors and dermatologists behind the brands, offering different opinions and support.'