Is It Wise To Use Rare Botanical Ingredients In My Skincare Formulas?

If you are a cosmetics formulator the answer to that question is relatively simple, you use the ingredient that will give the best results for the intended purpose of the product. Provided the research has been done, and the ingredient declared safe, a formulator is free to use whatever he or she wishes.

If you are a marketeer the considerations are more complex: your choice of ingredient could be the raison d’etre of your brand. As an SME looking at a new ingredient you need to ask yourself the following questions:

 1.  Does it really do what it says on the bottle ?

  2. Is it economically viable given my intended target market and price point

  3. Can I source it safely and reliably ?

  4. Has anyone heard of it ?

There are many companies who have made their names focussing on unusual cosmetic ingredients and they have done so with total passion and complete belief in the results they could achieve. Who knew that mud from the Dead Sea could be a cosmetic dream or that extract of placenta when slapped on the face would somehow make us more beautiful. However, in order to get new products recognised and understood in the public arena a huge investment in both research and marketing is required. This fact needs to be fully taken on board before you decide that you are going to be the one to herald the discovery of Bonga Bonga oil (I made that oil up) and declare that you were the first to land in beauty Utopia.

The issue gets even more complicated if the magic ingredient claims to be a natural solution for some common problem. Sorry folks but as I write, there is no cure for Acne, Eczema or Psoriasis (although many natural creams can relieve those conditions) and I have yet to find a totally reliable natural preservative although much marketing out there will tell you to the contrary. Vast amounts of money have been spent on clinical trials and purchase of useless stock by well meaning people who were confident they had found the ultimate solution to these issues.

For the new entrepreneur, rather than risking your bank balance it is far more sensible to watch the trending of a new ingredient, allow one of the big boys to spend their marketing budget promoting it and then, at the optimum point in time, jump in with some stunning and utterly unique product that includes it.

Despite its centuries old, skin enhancing reputation, it wasn’t until Anita Roddick spent fortunes launching a range of fruity body butters that anyone, other than African village communities and the cosmetic fashionista had the faintest idea what Shea Butter was. Thanks to Body Shop’s sensational promotional campaigns there are now many small producers focusing on this one product and doing it brilliantly.

To get a real idea as to whether a botanical oil is trending check out the big boys. When you notice that P&G and Nivea are using Argan oil in their shampoos and skin creams and that Aloe Vera is now a staple inclusion in fabric softeners you can rest assured that the general public have twigged to the notion that these are great ingredients to use.

There are times in your business when being second is a strategically clever move. This is one of them.