Could nutricosmetics transform the beauty industry inside out? Fast Company took a look at “beauty ingestibles,” checking in with companies on the leading edge of the cosmeceutical trend for their take on the market.
On the more conservative edge were Allen Burke, QVC, who questioned the available substantiation for nutricosmetic products; and Jay Tiesman, P&G, whose lab is focused on determining the skin’s response to ingested compounds to develop more efficacious beauty products, versus the “snake oil” still available.
However, there was also a great deal of enthusiasm for the concept. Kimberly Cooper, the 33-year-old brand manager at Nestle who pitched the Glowelle beauty drink concept, noted the company is aiming to make consumers more open to the idea that food and drink do affect outward appearance; she told Fast Company, “We’re creating a whole new category that fuses food, nutrition and beauty—and accessing all of the emotions women have about appearance and food.”
Additional innovators included Francesco and Margo Marrone, co-founders of The Organic Pharmacy, who take a holistic approach to all health issues; BASF’s Serge Rogasik, who noted the company is applying food science technology to skin care, developing ingredients with trend, high-tech, synergistic applications; and Jane Lauder, the granddaughter of Estee Lauder and current head of that company’s Origins division, which is incorporating plant-based ingredients into high-end personal care solutions. Lauder’s group even opened a concept store in Denver that marries the Origins product line with a café offering vegan and organic foods and beverages plus spa services such as facials and massages.