Sales of natural cosmetics set to rise across the Middle East

Statistics from organic monitoring agencies show that across the Eurozone, sales of chemical free beauty products are projected to break the Euro 1 billion mark (AED 4.8 billion) this year, with the Middle East market predicted to follow this trend.

Heather Nix, Exhibition Manager Beautyworld Middle East, the region's largest trade exhibition organised by Messe Frankfurt, believes that the boom in this sector of the market can be explained by an increased willingness from consumers to embrace environmentally friendly personal habits and health concerns over the chemicals found in some products. "Present day customers are knowledgeable about the ingredients in the lotions and creams that they are applying to their bodies. They are now looking for natural products to use as part of their make-up preparation and see this as a logical extension to their other healthy lifestyle adoptions," she says.

It is estimated that women use up to 12 different cosmetic items each day, whether these are lipsticks, body lotions, nail polish or shampoos, in application routines that are generally taken for granted by many. Although perfumes and other personal care commodities have to undergo rigorous testing before being put onto the market, some campaigners have highlighted the fact that there can be up to 175 potentially harmful chemicals found in everyday toiletries. They fear some of theses can exacerbate a range of health complaints; such as skin irritation, asthma and headaches, as well as having a negative impact on the environment.

"It's fair to say that cosmetic products are generally safe to use, but there may be a small percentage of people who would want to try natural cosmetics from an allergy point of view. We're finding that, on the whole, people are preferring the idea of being natural as a lifestyle choice," says Ms. Nix. " Many cosmetic products, because of their nature, get washed down the sink and may take time to biodegrade. People are now asking for natural ingredients in their shampoos and bubble baths, so as not to contaminate the environment," she stresses.

Concern for the environment is increasingly becoming an issue across the Gulf region. Most GCC countries rank in the top 10 worldwide in terms of waste production per capita and Dubai's current construction boom places it at fourth; having one of the largest carbon footprints per capita in the world. Recent media exposure about global warming, such as from the acclaimed Al Gore film "An Inconvenient Truth" have brought these worries to the fore "There is no doubt that the organic segment of the cosmetic market will increase over the next few years," says Ms. Nix. "More and more people are becoming aware of some of the potential issues around chemicals, whether this is to do with applying make-up, eating food, or any other of our daily activities. People are starting to realise that they can make a difference."

Beautyworld Middle East is the region's most popular cosmetic and beauty trade exhibition, now in its 12th year. The largest event of its kind, Beautyworld will host 950 exhibitors representing 1500 brands from 55 countries. It opens its doors this year from 20-22 May, 2007 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. This year, it is expected that approximately 10,000 trade visitors will attend from around 80 countries.