Biofach is an exhibition of organic food products that comply with the European Union Organic Agriculture Regulation. This year was the anniversary of the exhibition – 30 years!
And Vivaness is dedicated to natural and organic cosmetics, hygiene products and household chemicals.
The exhibition was held from February 13 to 16, which means four days of complete immersion in the world of organics and naturalness. A lecture hall was also presented at the exhibitions.
Every year I promise myself to go to Biofach and take a closer look at the presented products, and every year I “disappear” in the stands with cosmetics! The scale of the exhibition is huge.
It:
– 11 exhibition pavilions
– 3273 exhibition stands
– 95 countries (!)
VIVANESS ALREADY AN ADULT DAUGHTER OF BIOFACH
Once upon a time, there was neither a separate name nor a separate exhibition space for natural/organic cosmetics. She hid in stands with food. Gradually, our girl grew up, she was given a name and a separate room 7A. And in 2020, Vivaness moves into a new modern 3C space built by Zaha Hadid Architects.
To exhibit at Vivaness, you need to pass brand certification. If the brand does not have a certificate, but it is completely natural, then you can apply. True, there will be a strict check of all the compositions. Therefore, at the exhibition, you can relax and not read the compositions in search of greenwashing, all the presented products are completely natural / organic and safe.
The technology of natural cosmetics is amazing!
If you thought that at the exhibition with such cosmetics, masks mixed with sour cream and oatmeal and egg yolks, which are offered to wash your hair, are exhibited, you will be disappointed.
MUSHROOMS ON THE HAIR AND PACKAGING THAT CAN BE THROWED INTO COMPOST
Natural cosmetics have long become a high-tech segment – when all the best is taken from nature, and with the help of modern processes it all turns into extra effective, beautiful, tasty cosmetics that can outdo not only the classic mass market, but also luxury.
Now let’s talk about the innovations of 2019.
Natural cosmetics is a combination of safety and efficiency. This is the height tech segment.
Well, look how interesting they came up with:
a face mask that can be removed with a magnet (!), while all the valuable oils remain on the skin.
Line for hair growth with chanterelle mushrooms. Technologists from the Latvian brand Madara found out that mushroom extract acts on hair in the same way as silicones.
Soap in fully biodegradable packaging made from 95% lignin (a by-product of paper recycling) and 5% cornstarch.
You&oil made Beauty shot from oils, patented their formula “100% botox oil”.
Toothpaste in the form of a tablet with minimal packaging.
The French company Pierpaoli produces natural cosmetics with probiotics for children.
Our Natura Siberica presented the Flora Siberica series – a luxury body butter with Siberian pine oil, an updated design of hair products and a new, in my opinion, interesting product for men – 2 in 1 mask and shaving cream.
Arctic plants are also used in their cosmetics by the Finnish company INARI Arctic Cosmetics. They presented cosmetics for aging skin based on a unique active complex of six powerful plant extracts – an arctic mixture. This includes real superfoods for the skin, such as arctic berries, chaga or rose, also known as northern ginseng.
Lithuanian uoga uoga provided new cranberry-based skin care products.
TRENDS FOR NEXT YEAR
Zero Waste or waste reduction.
Urtekram launched a line of oral care products. They are contenders for innovation of the year for sugar cane packaging that is XNUMX% recyclable.
LaSaponaria, Birkenstock, Madara have also joined this trend.
The German brand Spa Vivent went further and made packaging from the so-called “liquid wood”. By-product of paper processing lingin + wood fiber + cornstarch.
This brand combined another trend – regional production and released a conditioner based on apples grown in Germany.
It is suggested to be used together with their other novelty – solid shampoo soap (different from solid shampoo). Balm conditioner acidifies hair after alkaline soap, adds shine and makes combing easier.
Gebrueder Ewald presented their innovative material Polywood: by-products from the woodworking industry. This material significantly reduces the use of oil and CO2 emissions compared to plastic.
At the Gebrueder Ewald exhibition, Überwood vegan hair foam with pine heart extract was presented.
Benecos introduced cosmetic refills. You yourself make a palette of the products you like: powder, shadows, blush. This approach also reduces the amount of waste.
Masmi menstrual cups that are not made of silicone, but of hypoallergenic medical grade thermoplastic elastomer. The bowls are completely biodegradable in the compost.
Minimalistic packaging of soft face soaps from Binu (created using Korean technology).
Reusable glass packaging with a replaceable dispenser was also presented at the exhibition.
Innovative guys from the company Fair Squared presented a closed cycle of consumption of their products. They are encouraged to take the glass packaging to the store where you bought the product. The packaging is washable and reused over and over again. Benefits for both consumers and producers. Real sustainability at its finest!
Another trend is oral care. Mouthwashes; toothpastes for sensitive teeth, but with a strong menthol smell. And even an Ayurvedic mouthwash oil blend.
It is also worth mentioning such a trend as pro- and pre-biotics in cosmetics.
The beginning of this trend was laid in 2018, but in 2019 its rapid development is noticeable.
The Belarusian brand Sativa, which was exhibited this year at Vivaness for the second time, fits perfectly here.
Sativa has introduced a line of products that contain a cocktail of highly effective ingredients and prebiotics that restore the skin microbiome. Due to this, acne, rashes, atopic dermatitis, peeling and other problems disappear.
Probiotics are also used in cosmetics by Oyuna (line for aging skin) and Pierpaoli (children’s line).
NATURAL COSMETICS FROM ASIA IS GAINING SPEED
In addition to the Whamisa brand that I love, the exhibition featured:
Naveen is the “old man” of the exhibition, the brand presented sheet masks.
Urang (Korea) is still new to Vivaness, but is already interested in a whitening oil-serum based on Roman blue chamomile.
Japanese cosmetics ARTQ organics are made on the basis of high quality essential oils.
Its founder Azusa Annells specializes in aromatherapy for pregnant women. She is also a pioneer in essential oil blending in Japan. Azusa, an exclusive fragrance compiler for several major corporations, famous personalities, was a consultant for the 2006 film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.
I am sure that next year this Asian beauty company will expand!
PERFUME
It is not easy to create a perfume that consists entirely of natural ingredients and essential oils. And for the smells to be non-trivial and persistent, that’s another problem.
Usually manufacturers went in two ways:
– simple smells, like mixtures of essential oils;
– simple smells, and even not persistent.
As a perfume lover, it is interesting for me to observe the development of this niche. Pleased with the appearance of perfume novelties.
This year there were few of them at the exhibition, but definitely more than in the past.
The pioneer of organic perfumes Acorelle pleased me with the new Envoutante fragrance. This is an aromatherapy perfume with an interesting, feminine and charming scent.
A brand already sold in Russia is Fiilit parfum du voyage. This is a niche perfumery with 95% natural ingredients. They have an interesting concept: perfumery travels around the world, each fragrance is responsible for a separate country.
I especially liked the fragrances of Cyclades, Polinesia and Japon.
This year Fiilit brought four novelties to the exhibition. Perfume is 100% natural.
And what about my beloved Aimee de Mars, whose perfume flaunts on my bathroom shelf.
The creator of the brand, Valerie, is inspired by the scents of her grandmother Aimee’s garden.
By the way, Valerie used to be “on the other side of the barricades” and worked at Givenchy. And it was not easy to work, she was their main “nose”.
Valerie believes that fragrances have a powerful effect on the subconscious. Aimee de Mars brought the art of perfumery to a new level – aroma perfumery. Their technology is based on the magical power of aromas and the benefits of essential oils.
It contains 95% natural substances and 5% synthetic from ethical representations.
Needless to say, how much I look forward to the appearance of this brand in Russia?
SUN PROTECTION COSMETICS
The new sunscreens on the stands immediately caught my eye. Many brands have released new lines from the sun, and those who already had them have expanded them. Delicate textures that leave almost no white marks.
Sun protection was presented in different forms: creams, emulsions, sprays, oils.
The beginning of non-whitening sun care was laid a couple of years ago by the French Laboratoires de Biarritz.
It was once a sensation at Vivaness! Creams of this brand were absorbed without residue. Creams with SPF below 30 – exactly, with SPF above – almost no residue.
Although I remind you that buying a cream with SPF above 30 is a waste of money. There is almost no difference in protection between 30 and 50. It is also necessary to renew the cream in 1,5-2 hours.
Speick introduced his sun protection line. I liked her very much! Although at first I reacted with caution, remembering the total failure of Weleda. It was just a white putty that could not be smeared on the skin or washed off afterwards.
For me, the Vivaness exhibition is the main event of the year. I can talk about her endlessly.
I took a quick look at the food products presented at Biofach, there was too little time. Press releases are trending all sorts of products with turmeric, vegan vegetarian products are becoming even more popular (just think, 1245 manufacturers had vegetarian products in their line, 1345 had vegan products!).
The zero waste trend was also presented at the exhibition. For example, pasta straws for drinks from Campo or recyclable plastic-free packaging paper for food from Compostella. In addition, visitors could observe fermented products such as kimchi or protein products such as pumpkin seed bars from Frusano.
I promise you that next year I will still go to Biofach for a day (although you won’t see everything here in a day), try vegetarian / vegan goodies for you and wash it all down with organic red dry wine.
Who is with me?