Gone are the days when health and beauty were two separate categories, with The Future Laboratory executive vice president Claire Hobson explaining: “It’s important that when we talk about cosmetics, we talk about beauty, we talk about wellness and we talk about health in a converged environment now.”
But where did this intrinsic link between health and beauty come from and where is it going? To find out all, BD tracked down a range of industry experts to spill their knowledge on this growing partnership.
Beauty and health - the perfect romance?
As society as a whole becomes more health-conscious, this trend is extending far beyond food and exercise intake and spreading into other areas - such as beauty. “Consumers are becoming more and more aware and regimented about not only what they ingest by mouth, but also what they put on their skin and face,” explains CEO Phillipa Denton.
For Weleda managing director David Johnston, this all stems from society taking a holistic approach to life. “We are currently seeing a big increase in people striving to live healthier and more conscious lives. This new generation of consumers choose organic food over conventional produce, practise mindfulness with yoga and meditation, and switch to chemical-free products, especially for their beauty routine. It’s all part of a holistic approach to enhance vitality and achieve inner balance.”
Consumers are becoming clued up on the fact that perfect skin is a collaboration of both what they put in their bodies as well as on it. “If you nourish your body from the inside, it will also enhance and support the health of your skin as they are intrinsically connected. True beauty comes from within, not from Photoshop,” says general manager Wendy Mossop.
A sentiment supported by senior brand manager Fion So, who reveals: “Our skin is our body’s largest organ, so it makes sense that it requires internal nourishment to look its best. Teaming naturally-enriched skincare with a diet that nourishes your body will ensure maximum results from your skincare regime. Inner health equals outer glow!” ’s Danielle Mason adds: “Our skin is an organ of elimination. If we eat and have unhealthy habits, our body is constantly trying to rid itself of these toxins and the first place that we can see this is on the skin.”
For general manager Nicola Gleeson, there are five key factors that contribute to outer beauty which must be in perfect balance: spirituality, nutrition, physical activity, career and personal relationships. “It is only possible to correct physical flaws and prevent damage with beauty products to a certain point. At some stage, if the five key factors that contribute to our health are not in balance, our skin especially will exhibit signs of stress and/or premature ageing,” says Gleeson.
Now, more than ever before
Consumers of the past may have been happy to slap on some thick skin-suffocating foundation while swigging a can of coke, but these days you’re more likely to see that same girl applying her BB cream while ordering a kale smoothie. “With growing consumer awareness of what ingredients they are choosing to use via their skincare, cosmetics and also their food, a conscious and educated decision is being made when purchasing skincare and cosmetics,” says Denton.
director Mary Centofanti agrees, revealing: “We can already see a big shift towards healthier and safer product choices people make in what they put into and onto their bodies, be it foods, skincare or haircare - it’s a holistic approach to our health and general wellbeing.”
As a result of this growing awareness, food trends are also now influencing beauty brands when it comes to product development. “Food and food ingredient trends have a tendency to occur several years before they cross over into cosmetics and skincare. By keeping an eye on local and international foods and food ingredient trends eg. superfoods, clean ingredients lists, our NPD team can develop on-trend products well before they hit the mainstream,” explains Denton.
Diet is not the only answer
It may be easy to believe that having a good diet and using the right skincare products will ensure you have perfect skin - but there are many other aspects of health that play havoc on our outer beauty. “The skin is our largest organ and as such a reflection of our inner health. A therapist can tell internal problems such as hormonal or digestive problems from one look at the skin,” explains ’s Danielle Mason.
Johnston warns that our skin mirrors our physical and psychological wellbeing: “If the body isn’t functioning at its best, it will show on the surface. Stress and worry, medications, food intolerances, hay fever and environmental influences are just some of the factors disturbing the skin’s balance. Eat healthy food, exercise, choose healthy products for your skin and look after balance in your life and you will feel and look great.”
Injuries in the body also play their part, with sales and marketing manager Sue Millinchip revealing: “If you suffer from joint or muscle pain, your body will be stiff and sore, often reflected in frown lines or signs of tiredness on your face.” By taking glucosamine or magnesium, not only will the pain be reduced - but the appearance of the skin will be improved.
And it’s not just a one-way street - with our beauty habits also affecting our health. “What we feed our skin affects our bodies – apply harsh chemicals and rashes are likely to appear; apply natural, safe products and the skin will be nourished and healthy,” says Mossop.
A look into the crystal ball
The partnership between health and beauty may be growing ever closer, but it’s just the start of a beautiful relationship. “Even though there are an abundance of products and blogs dedicated to this aspect, we’ve only just begun to uncover the powerful link between health and beauty. Women (and men) want to feel amazing and look their best, and it is this very desire that we think will be a constant driver, linking health and beauty over the long haul,” says Nutimetic’s So.
For former Olympian and Priceline brand ambassador Steph Prem, both market leaders and brand initiatives are helping to drive this trend. “I believe the large beauty and health leaders of the world are taking much more of a health-based approach to beauty with genuine intentions to help educate women on how to look and feel their best. It is important to see initiatives like the Priceline Pharmacy Beauty of Health month celebrate women and encourage them to look after themselves both inside and out.”
With a more knowledgeable consumer and the help of industry leaders, health and beauty will continue to foster and grow. “Without a doubt, wellness is the biggest growth industry of the 21st century as people struggle to find life balance. People today understand that beauty is more than skin deep. You can’t mask stress and disease forever,” concludes Gleeson.
