key factors contributing to beauty and health
Beauty is a culturally influenced and often misinterpreted concept. This is mainly due to the role of advertisements and mass media, as well as local and global trends in the fashion industry and adoption of foreign cultural practices. This leads to an obsession with beauty, which can lead to health problems such as depression and stress. This trend is a concern as it has an impact on the mental and physical health of women. This paper provides a critique of the obsession with beauty and calls for the development of health promotion programmes to ameliorate this trend.
The beauty health industry has made a solid recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to grow globally in 2023. However, growth is being hampered by a cost-of-living crisis that is impacting consumers’ buying decisions. Hence, brands need to understand consumer trends and attitudes that are driving innovation in the sector to tap into growth opportunities. Euromonitor International identifies five key trends that are adding value for beauty and personal care consumers: Easy & Affordable, Health & Wellness, Sustainability & Ethics, Individualism & Expression and Digitalization.
A growing number of consumers are looking at beauty products as part of a holistic healthcare regimen. As a result, many of them are seeking out brands that have been proven to improve skin condition and/or offer anti-aging benefits. This has given rise to a new class of beauty products that are positioned as health-enhancing. These beauty and personal care products are designed to improve the appearance of the face, hands, and nails, as well as support healthy hair, eyesight, and teeth.
What are some key factors contributing to beauty and health?
In addition to the proliferation of wellness-oriented beauty products, a wide range of clean and natural alternatives are gaining popularity among beauty consumers. These products are marketed as safer, more ethical, and more environmentally friendly than conventional counterparts. In fact, some of these clean and green beauty products are being lauded for their health benefits, including helping with acne breakouts, reducing the signs of aging, and protecting the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Despite the positive effects of these alternative beauty products, some consumers are still hesitant to adopt them. They may feel unsure about the safety of these products or are worried that they might not be effective enough. To overcome these hurdles, some manufacturers are partnering with dermatologists to ensure the quality and safety of their products.
In order to combat the stigma of clean and green beauty products, manufacturers should educate their consumers about the benefits of these products. This will help them make informed purchasing decisions and encourage them to seek out these brands. Additionally, they can advocate for policies that address issues such as natural hair discrimination, colorism, and racialized beauty norms. As a way to further drive awareness, some companies are creating educational content and even hosting webinars to discuss these issues. One example is the podcast, Beauty + Justice, which explores the history and context of beauty injustices and their potential impacts on consumers’ health from asthma to early menstruation to breast cancer.