Tag Archives: organic beauty

02/21/2018 · 09:09

Vivaness 2018: [Show Report]

Well, Vivaness 2018 has come and gone. The 11th edition of the trade fair took place from 14th to 17th February 2018 together with sister show Biofach, the biggest organic food trade show worldwide. I actually had to go through my old show reports to count how many times I’ve attended this trade show; 2018 was my fifth Vivaness visit.

In total there were 3,218 exhibitors at both shows (275 of these companies and brands were Vivaness exhibitors) which is a big increase compared to 2017 – check out my show reviews for Vivaness 2014, Vivaness 2015, Vivaness 2016 and Vivaness 2017.

This year’s trade fair seemed to feature more small and newcomer brands than previous years (especially in the newcomer Breeze exhibition area) which was fabulous – after all, this is one of the main reasons why I love visiting trade shows: new brand discoveries!

Which is also why this show review will focus on international niche and start-up brands (many of which you’ll recognize from my Instagram feed).  Also, with a few exceptions, these are all brands that I’ve never written about on trend-traveller, so this is quite exciting for me as well. I’ve grouped the brands by country, but in no particular order.

And now, click on the link below to read more about my favourite brand discoveries at Vivaness 2018!

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01/01/2018 · 20:20

[Brand Profile]: Kimature

I first came across Hong Kong-based beauty company Kimature at China Beauty Expo 2017 in Shanghai this May and was immediately intrigued by this unusual organic beauty brand. Not only are Kimature’s products based on TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) plant extracts but the brand’s cosmetics are manufactured right there in Hong Kong with locally sourced herbal ingredients.

When I was in town a few months ago for Cosmoprof Asia 2017 I met up with founder Kim Chen and her husband Edward Ian and asked them a bunch of question about their company. Click on the link below for more information about Kimature’s products and the concept behind the brand.

Kimature White Jade Orchid range

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11/22/2017 · 19:32

Retail notes from Hong Kong: [Show Report] Cosmoprof Asia 2017

I’ve just returned from Hong Kong where I attended Asia’s biggest C&T trade show, Cosmoprof Asia 2017.  As always, it was an exhausting and exciting three days. This year’s trade show took place from 14th to 16th November (the dates for Cosmopack were 13th to 15th November).

As a quick reminder: last year, organisers Bologna Fiere/UBM Asia decided to split the trade show into two separate entities – Cosmoprof (finished cosmetics) continues to take place in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) while sister show Cosmopack (packaging, ingredients, OEM, manufacturing) was relocated to Asia World Expo (AWE) near Hong Kong International Airport.

Since Cosmopack was moved to AWE the exhibition centre feels much less crowded although, don’t get me wrong, it was still very busy indeed. I also liked it that this year the press office was located on the ground floor next to registration, rather than tucked away in an obscure corner in one of the halls.

And here are the key facts and figures about this year’s trade show! 2,877 exhibitors from 54 countries presented their products, brands and services at Cosmoprof and Cosmopack which equals an increase of 7% compared to 2016 exhibitor figures. Total exhibition space across both locations grew 11% to 108,600 sqm and there were 25 country pavillions. The 2017 Country of Honour was Korea and around 74% of Cosmoprof/Cosmopack exhibitors were from Asia, followed by Europe with 18%, the US with 4% and Africa, the Middle East and Oceania with 1-2% respectively. According to the official post-show press release stats, a total of 83,793 visitors from 135 countries visited Cosmoprof/Cosmopack, an increase of 9% compared to 2016.

There was also an exciting new trade show section in 2017 – the Natural & Organic showcase in Hall 3. The Wellness & Spa and Discover Trends sections returned in 2017 as did the popular Boutique charity shopping area – at the Boutique booth visitors can purchase sample sized cosmetics from trade show exhibitors, with all proceeds going to a Hong Kong charity. Another new feature this year were the Cosmoprof Beauty Circle Awards. For details about the award winners, scroll down to the end of the article.

Like every year, Cosmoprof Asia was divided into four key product sectors: Perfumery & Cosmetics (Hall 1 + Concourse and Hall 5C), Beauty Salon (Hall 3E + Concourse), Hair Salon (Hall 5G + Concourse) and Nail & Accessories (Hall 5E). And, like every year, the three days of the trade show were much too short to see everything, so I concentrated on Halls 1 and 3 with a brief visit to Hall 5.

The 2017 show was my fourth visit to Cosmoprof Asia – if you’re interested you can check out my show reports for Cosmoprof Asia 2014, Cosmoprof Asia 2015 and Cosmoprof Asia 2016. And now, click on the link below to read more about my brand discoveries at Cosmoprof Asia 2017!

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10/14/2017 · 11:29

Natural Cosmetics Conference 2017: [Show Report]

This year’s Naturkosmetikbranchenkongress (Natural Cosmetics Conference) took place from 26th to 27th September 2017. I have just counted back and this was my sixth Branchenkongress conference; I first attended the event in 2011 when organisers Messe Nuremberg and Naturkosmetikverlag moved the conference from Nuremberg to Berlin. Here you can find my show reports for Naturkosmetikbranchenkongress 2013, Naturkosmetikbranchenkongress 2014 (Day One), Naturkosmetikbranchenkongress 2014 (Day Two), Naturkosmetikbranchenkongress 2015 and Naturkosmetikbranchenkongress 2016.

Has it been six years already? Wow. And this reminds me, Natural Cosmetics Conference also celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2017: Happy Birthday Naturkosmetikbranchenkongress!
This conference report will be a bit shorter than my usual articles because I am flying to Asia very soon (Tokyo, Taipei and Hong Kong for Cosmoprof Asia 2017!) and there is still much to do before I leave.

However, I will of course cover the most important lectures and panel discussions. Key topics this year included the challenges (and opportunities) of digitalisation for retailers and brands, how to market to the Millennials demographic and – particularly interesting – the organic beauty markets in East Asia!

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09/25/2017 · 08:32

OWN: Fall edition 2017

The latest issue of Organic & Wellness News has just been published – you can download the pdf for free on the company’s website. This edition includes three of my articles:

  • Asian beauty goes organic (p.12) – a round-up of some of the interesting organic newcomer brands I saw at Cosmobeauty Seoul 2017 and China Beauty Expo 2017.
  • Top 5 Organic Food Retailers in Germany (p.29-p.30) – the first installment of a new OWN article series which looks at the leading organic food retailers in various international markets.
  • Next Organic Start-Up Awards 2017 (p.30) – a round-up of the 2017 winners in this unique start-up competition.

Enjoy!

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09/21/2017 · 08:44

Retail notes from Sofia: [Store Profile] Zoya

I just returned from a short city trip to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The city is absolutely worth a visit: a compact old town center which is perfect for walking around all day, with a wonderful hodge-podge of architectural styles (art nouveau/1930s/1950s and later). Most of the buildings are still very much in disrepair and/or graffitied/vandalised but enough houses have been renovated and restored that you can see the beauty of the cityscape.

My first visit to Sofia was in 2008 and back then the city looked a lot more – well, let’s say: unfinished! Today there is an almost palpable creative energy: new cafés and bars are opening in beautifully renovated historic buildings and small art galleries, fashion boutiques and maker/design stores are popping up everywhere.

And organic beauty/food retail chain Zoya is a perfect example of this new kind of urban development. The Bulgarian company’s first store was opened in 2009 which, presumably, makes Zoya one of Sofia’s organic retail pioneers. Today, Zoya operates three stores in Sofia as well as a flourishing online shop.

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09/18/2017 · 13:22

Beautyjagd: Organic beauty news in English (Chapters 44, 45 & 46)

Check out the last three translations for Beautyjagd blog!

News and Reviews from the World of Organic Beauty (Chapter 44) offers an article on aromatherapy hacks for travelling, a review of US brand Ilia Beauty’s new Cucumber Water Stick, a comprehensive show report of Julia’s visit to ingredients trade fair In-Cosmetics Korea (one of my favourite articles in this installment. I’ve never visited any of the In-Cosmetics trade shows!) and all the usual organic beauty news and launches, including a special Beauty Notes edition from the Austrian city of Graz.

In News and Reviews from the World of Organic Beauty (Chapter 45) you’ll find a beautifully detailed organic beauty shopping guide to Los Angeles, a feature on how to heat-proof your makeup for tropical temperatures, a product review of German brand marie.w’s new Gloss Serum Gold, a DIY starter essence beauty recipe from 1941 (!) and two Beauty Notes articles (including a Berlin-Edition!).

And News and Reviews from the World of Organic Beauty (Chapter 46) features and article on aromatherapy scalp care, product reviews of Italian brand Tiama’s Organic Shower Balm Iris and the Eau de Parfum Cavi & Jardin de Figuier from French fragrance brand 100Bon, a Beauty Notes edition from the South of France and a fascinating look behind the scenes of the fair trade macadamia nut oil in German brand Dr. Hauschka’s liquid foundation.

Enjoy!

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08/01/2017 · 19:43

Retail notes from Shanghai: [Brand Profile] Urtekram China / Yatikelan

The last stop on my recent Asia trip was Shanghai; China’s largest city (according to Wikipedia) and one of the country’s four so-called top tier cities. It was my first visit to Shanghai (and mainland China) and I loved it.

Granted, I only saw the (touristic) city centre – I was there for just four nights (on the 144 hour transit visa deal for EU citizens) and two of those days were spent at China Beauty Expo 2017 – but still: such a cool city!

It’s great for exploring on foot, has a fascinating cityscape, interesting buildings, stores and markets, and the food!!! And Shanghai has a fabulous bar scene, too – I wish I could have had an extra few nights to try out all the bars on my short list; thank you @asia.cocktails! – but at least I managed to visit Speak Low bar. An excellent night.

But this article isn’t about Shanghai’s tourist attractions, it is about an organic beauty brand which I discovered quite by accident in a Watsons drugstore on Nanjing East Road (Pedestrian street ). Even more surprising was the fact that I knew the brand – Urtekram is one of THE best-known and oldest Danish organic beauty brands and they have a wide European distribution. However, it seems that Urtekram (or “Yatikelan”) also has a product portfolio of around 100 sku designed specifically for the Chinese market. Exciting stuff!

Essences, toners, lotions, BB creams, CUSHION FOUNDATIONS, men’s care; face masks – these are Asian formats and textures. None of these product ranges are available anywhere in Europe (or in East Asia either; at least I haven’t seen these products in any of the beauty stores I’ve visited in Tokyo, Taipei or Hong Kong). The ranges aren’t listed on Urtekram International’s website either.

I tried to contact Urtekram China through their official Shanghai address but didn’t get a response. I can’t read a word of Mandarin, unfortunately, and Google Translate doesn’t work so well with non-Western scripts, but I did my best to dig up some info for y’all. Keep in mind that most of this info is based on assumptions, conclusions, inferences and some creative lateral thinking.  If anyone of you kind readers out there can confirm or correct the facts or has additional info about Urtekram China, please let me know and I’ll update the article accordingly.

I also took a whole bunch of photographs (I think I spent almost an hour sitting in front of the product display; the sales assistants were starting to give me distinctly nervous glances) and I bought two of the hydrating toners which are SUPERB! Loving the textures.

Anyway, this is probably the longest teaser paragraph I’ve ever written for a trend-traveller article, so click on the link below for more info and pictures!

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07/28/2017 · 09:10

Beautyjagd: Organic beauty news in English (Chapters 40, 41, 42 & 43)

I just realised that it’s been a while since I last posted Beautyjagd translations on my blog. So here they are: the most recent four chapters of Best of Beautyjagd in English – with more international organic beauty info than ever!

News and Reviews from the World of Organic Beauty (Chapter 40) includes reviews of Uk brand Nourish’s 3D Kale Cleanser and US brand RMS Beauty’s limited edition Pop and Mod Collections, a feature on the renaissance of the General Store retail format in Los Angeles and two very detailed Beauty Notes articles with all the latest launch info about organic beauty in Germany and internationally.

In News and Reviews from the World of Organic Beauty (Chapter 41) you can read a feature about five organic niche brands from the US, a detailed article about the OrganicCup menstrual cup, a special travel Beauty Notes edition from Kenya, and product reviews of the Skin Dew Coconut Cream from US brand One Love Organics, the new fragrance Two Eternities from UK brand Walden Natural Perfume and tattoo skin care from German beauty brand Eco Cosmetics.

News and Reviews from the World of Organic Beauty (Chapter 42) features Julia’s annual Best of Organic Sun Care 2017 market overview,  an article about German herbal brand Frühmesner’s new bath additives, a detailed shopping guide to German brand Dr. Hauschka’s relaunched colour cosmetics range and a review of German artisan perfumer Florascent’s new men’s fragrance Le Mec.

And News and Review from the World of Organic Beauty (Chapter 43) offers detailed Beauty Notes from Tokyo and Seoul, a trend feature about water-free cosmetics, a product review of French organic brand Eau Thermale Jonzac’s new REhydrate+ H2O Booster Lotion, an article about organic household cleansing products and a special Finland/Estonia Beauty Notes edition from Helsinki.

Enjoy!

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07/12/2017 · 10:35

Retail notes from Bucharest: [Brand Profile] Prisaca Transilvania / Sabio Cosmetics

I recently visited the Romanian capital Bucharest for the first time and really liked the city. Amazing city architecture – a very cool mixture of modern Communist-style buildings, Bauhaus and Art Nouveau; in the city center many buildings are renovated, others look like they are about to crumble into pieces any minute now.

Bucharest also has tree-lined wide boulevards, art museums, many green spaces, bakeries everywhere; antiquarian book stores and cafés…and there are some FABULOUS bars, especially Fix MAD Bar and the Origo Café  in Strada Lipscani which turns into a cocktail bar at night (check out their drinks on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/y74xkhjs / https://tinyurl.com/y9vgat5r / https://tinyurl.com/y88ek4re). And don’t even get me started on the Romanian food…..*happy sigh*…..

But this article really is about two rather cool organic beauty brands from Romania, Prisaca Transilvania and Sabio Cosmetics. Both were completely new to me – then again, I don’t know much about the Romanian C&T market, let alone the domestic organic beauty industry. I came across Prisaca Transilvania in one of the Bucharest outlets of German drugstore chain DM. Sabio Cosmetics, on the other hand, I discovered right here in Berlin, in the recently opened Pravalia Romanian Delights store in Neukölln neighbourhood.

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