Trends from Cosmoprof at a Glance

My head has been spinning with all things beauty since I attended Cosmoprof a couple of weeks ago, this conference was the ‘Land of Oz’ for this beauty maven. As I begin to sift through all of my great beauty finds and try some really great products, I wanted to give you an overview about some of the trends I spotted this year:

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Emphasis on ‘Good for You’ Products

Currently, one of the biggest trends in the beauty industry by far is a heavy shift towards organic, natural products and this trend was equally prevalent at Cosmoprof. Many beauty companies are truly beginning to understand the importance of healthier ingredients and are making products that contain botanical/organic/natural ingredients or products that are free of bad for you chemicals like parabens, sulfates and formaldehyde. Some of the companies that are making impressive strides in this category that I came across at Cosmoprof include: Swissclinical, Skin 2 Skin Care, Gamila Secret, First Aid Beauty, Jeune d’age Organics, Lili Beauty and Hair Rules.

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All things Argan Oil

Everywhere I turned, it seemed that the ingredient on everyone’s lips was Argan Oil, especially in haircare. Argan is a rich golden oil that comes from Morocco and is prized for its therapeutic properties. It is especially desirable in hair and skin care products because it is healing, hydrating, nourshing and at the sample time lightweight which allows it to absorb quickly (meaning its not greasy). The Original Moroccanoil for hair seems to be blazing the trail in this category (one of my new fav products BTW and it smells divine) and other notable players were DermOrganic Argan Oil Hair Treatments and Amika (who also make stellar flatirons in cool animal prints).

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Brazilian Blowout–Whose Playing it Straight?

Given that I am absolutely crazy about my recent Brazilian blowout (ask me for a referral to the fab Gui if you live in the LA area), I was probably more tuned into the vast array of companies at Cosmoprof touting their version of this ‘magical’ hair straightening process. Basically, this is a long lasting hair straightening and smoothing process that incorporates keratin to condition and smooth the hair along with a chemical preservative to seal it and make it last. The main difference between these professional products is whether it contains formaldehyde or not. Major players include: Brazilian Keratin Treatment by Marcia Teixeira, Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy by Coppola, and Global Keratin.

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Multi-Use and Convenience Products

This Recessionista is always looking for less spendy fab beauty products that really work, and I noticed many brands at Cosmoprof had innovative products that offer at least two or more products for the price of one, and I just LOVE that. In addition, these good for your wallet products are also packaged for convenience and ease of use. Here are a couple worth checking out: French Tip Dip–a super cool, easy, affordable do-it-yourself french manicure tool; and NP2 Nail Perfection–a hip package of stylish nail polish with a cute little bottle of express top coat attached to the top that is interchangeable.

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Brands with ‘Tude or a Great Story

In these challenged times, I think it is the emotional connection and relatability of a brand that really differentiates one brand from another. I think consumers are looking for more than just a good product these days, and brands that deliver more will tip the scales. Like Hissyfit, for example, if the name doesn’t give you a flavor for these Aussie babes, then their beautifully made, high performance products certainly will. Or how about the cheeky girls from Nails, Inc. who elevate nail care to a new level with their fashion forward colors and luxurious ingredients like caviar.

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What beauty trends have you spotted lately?? Please post and share your latest and greatest finds.