The personal care and cosmetic industry have shown a significant increase over the last decade. More and more people are attracted towards fancy beauty products and expensive beauty treatments. There are thousands of brands available in the market, targeting different areas and millions of people blindly believing in their promises. These brands bring out different and a constantly rising number of products every day.
With the growing awareness of people towards health care and self-maintenance, their focus has shifted from mere external beauty to the longevity of good health. These rising health concerns and awareness about the various side effects of allopathy, people are driven more towards Ayurvedic products.
India is said to have a long-lived heritage of personal care and cosmetics dated back to Indus Valley Civilization, but it only has a contribution of 1% in the global market of personal care, which is approximately 75,000 crore. However, since India is the fastest growing consumer market globally, this figure is soon to change in the years to come.
Ayurvedic Cosmeceuticals- Beauty
Ayurvedic cosmeceuticals are cosmetics containing ingredients with medicinal benefits. Ayurvedic products are known for their use of natural ingredients, mostly including some fruit extract or pulp or a combination of a few fruits, extracts from trees, oils and a variety of mud, etc. These ingredients not only nourish the skin and hair but also help in improving complexion, delaying grays, controlling dandruff and promoting hair growth.
On the contrary, the chemically based cosmetics can be used for short-term benefits but are famous for causing long-term, permanent damage to the skin.
Ayurvedic Cosmeceuticals- Anti-Aging
Aging is a complex and challenging experience common to all human beings, along with our never-ending desire to look young. According to Ayurveda, for a cosmetic to be effective, it must balance the three dhatus of the human body, namely- Rasa (nutritional fluid), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscles). Rasa helps in keeping the skin healthy, Rakta helps in the detoxifying skin of toxins, and the Mamsa helps in providing firmness to the skin.
Ayurvedic Cosmeceuticals- Health
Ayurvedic medicines have proven to a revolution in a health sector. Cosmetics related to eating and drinking products in accordance with skin care for an overall betterment of skin health is termed as Nutricosmetics. These generally focus on reversing certain psychological processes that promote youthfulness. Such cosmetics contain ingredients like phytonutrients, vitamins, extracts of certain leaves and plants, etc.
These products target and improve hair, skin and overall health. Aloe Vera, Green Tea, Garlic, etc are few common and natural ingredients of Nutricosmetics.
Benefits of Ayurvedic Cosmeceuticals over Synthetic
- Ingredients- Already mentioned, ayurvedic cosmetics are made up of natural ingredients including extracts from plants and fruits, aloe-vera, coconut oil, different types of mud, etc. While the synthetic cosmetic products are made up of harmful chemicals that can do great damage to the skin.
- Wide Usage- Since the products are made up of natural ingredients, they are suitable to use for all skin types (dark, fair; dry, oily), unlike the traditional synthetic cosmetic products.
- Safe to use- One can be relaxed about side effects while using herbal cosmetics. Since all the ingredients used are natural, there are minimal chances of skin reactions or itchiness. Synthetic cosmetics contain synthetic antioxidants that can induce allergies, etc whereas ayurvedic cosmetics have natural antioxidants that are harmless to the human skin.
- Low Cost- Ayurvedic cosmetics are not expensive at all in comparison to synthetic cosmetics. Famous companies like Olay and Lakme are trying very hard to reduce their prices in order to be stable in the market for cosmetics and personal care.
Ayurveda has a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16% and with its huge range of cosmetics, health care, and anti-aging products, Ayurvedic Cosmeceuticals are likely to boost the market in the coming years.
The increasing awareness of people towards health and personal has lead to an upward graph of the demand of Ayurvedic Cosmeceuticals. It can dominate synthetic cosmetics because of its low cost and use of natural ingredients. It offers a multifunctional benefit to the overall human body with no side effects.
