Skin Deep
According to Kline & Co., the natural personal care category is
expected to reach $6.6 billion in 2015, up from $3.9 million in
2010. It is often reported that as much as 60% of what is applied
to an individual’s skin is absorbed into the bloodstream. In fact,
human skin has evolved to keep out foreign substances such
as water and other “xenobiotics.” However, as a result of the
ubiquity of the absorption claim, manufacturers are launching
new personal care lines with a concentration on skincare using
a variety of natural ingredients with inherent benefits.
Roots Rose Radish by Los Angeles herbalist Christian
Toscano is a natural skincare line originally crafted from plants
grown in her garden. The newest launch is the Apothecary Oils
Collection in three products: Rose Face Oil, Citrus Face Oil
Cleanser, and Rosemary & Scotch Pine
Hair Oil . The Rose Face Oil is formulated
with 12 flowers and botanical oils, while
the Citrus Face Oil features jojoba oil,
castor oil, tangerine oil, grapefruit oil and
lemon. Rosemary & Scotch Pine uses six
emollient-packed essential oils derived
from seeds, flowers and fruits. Like Roots
Rose Radish, San Francisco’s Earth Tu
Face was launched by two herbalists,
Sarah Buscho and Marina Storm. It is
a purely plant-based skincare line. Face
+ Lips + Body Stick is an all-purpose
skin salve created with geranium and
vetiver packaged in a compostable tube,
while the Face Serum is designed with
blue chamomile and carrot seed. U.K.’s
Boots partnered with Kew Royal Botanic
Gardens to create the Boots Botanics
Organics line of nine stock-keeping units
(SKU) sold at Target. The Boots Botanics
100% Organic Facial Oil with Nourishing
Rosehip, which is high in Omega oils,
is the newest addition. A notable new
product is Dr. Fedorenko True Organic
Tick & Mosquito Repellent, which is
DEET- (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide)
and alcohol-free, organic-certified and
formulated with essential oils. Larissa
Fedorenko, a clinical herbalist, naturopath and dermatologist, and her team
created the formula “to be safe for
the entire family without side effects.”
According to the company, it’s the first
of its kind and has been clinically tested
and proven to repel tick and mosquito
bites for up to five hours.
Kate Pratt and Michel Mazuret, own-
ers of East Hampton Gourmet Foods,
known for supplying organic, locally
grown and sustainably harvested produce,
recently launched Hampton Botanicals.
The products are formulated with organi-
cally derived plant extracts, therapeutic
grade essential oils, natural preservative
systems, organic emulsifiers and “potent”
botanical actives, according to the company. The products do not
contain parabens, sulfates, phthalates, petrochemicals, silicone,
or artificial fragrances or colors. The Grapeseed Co., based in
Santa Barbara, California, is the creator of more than 80 “vino-
therapy” skin, hair and body care products that use fresh and
local ingredients. Cali Vine Decadently Rich Face Cream and
Resroli Serum For Acne, Scars & Sun Damaged Skin are two
new products. The face cream is created with California grape-
seeds, avocado, carrot, blue-green algae, nettle, rose, vitamin C
and E, and resveratrol, while the serum highlights resveratrol,
carrot and neroli, which are said to be natural acne-fighting and
anti-aging ingredients.
GOA by Rodrigo Diaz is a recent “Natural Luxury” range
based on exotic ingredients from India’s Maharajas’ ancient
