Croda shares: "While we often think of the shifts and adaptations that climate change necessitates within industries like cosmetics, its effects also extend to a more personal level: the consumer and what are the consequences of weather disruptions and extremes on our skins.
Introducing Geoskincare, a recent and rising beauty trend promoting personal care products that are tailored to specific geographical or climatic conditions. These conditions include factors such as temperature, humidity, pollutions levels, and other factors that can impact the health and appearance of our skin. Geoskincare aims to address the unique challenges posed by different regions and climates, ensuring that individuals use products and adopt practices that suit their specific surroundings.
This approach to personal care emphasises the following aspects:
- Climate-appropriate ingredients well suited to a specific climate.
- Adaptative routines to accommodate the skin’s changing needs due to seasonal changes or varying weather conditions.
- Tailored recommendations to help individuals make informed choices for their skin care needs.
- Protection against environmental factors (UV radiation, pollution) as well as extreme conditions like cold winters, hot summers, or high altitudes.
Geoskincare is one of the main trends our teams identified as shapers of the cosmetic industry in 2024. In today’s changing world, there is no doubt Geoskincare is bound to be adopted as a holistic approach to skincare and as a main element of choice for beauty routines during many following years.
Let’s delve into this concept together! Beginning with a consideration of how climate change impacts the cosmetic industry, as well as skin health on an individual level, we will proceed to explore the specific challenges that skin faces during the changing seasons in temperate regions. Additionally, we’ll discuss the unique and extreme conditions for tropical and polar climates, and the need for protection at all times. Throughout our exploration, we'll showcase practical solutions by drawing from our wide array of natural ingredients available. These ingredients are meticulously chosen to effectively address each of the issues we've discussed.
What is the impact of climate change on the cosmetic industry?
Climate change can have a profound impact on the cosmetics industry, both directly and indirectly. It is already driving companies to adopt more sustainable practices, encouraging innovation, to respond to changing consumer preferences and regulatory requirements.
In our purchasing operations, we’re actively addressing significant impacts, such as the availability and sourcing of raw material, as well as disruptions in our supply chains.
- Climate change affects the quality and availability of the natural materials used in cosmetics, because changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and ecosystems can disrupt the growth and availability of plants.
- Changing climate conditions and extreme weather conditions can also disrupt supply chains, affecting the transportation and distribution of cosmetic products and their ingredients. This can lead to delays, shortages, and increased costs.
- Regulatory bodies are also implementing new and stronger environmental standards, influencing ingredient sourcing, waste management and packaging choice, leading to fostering innovations in these areas.
Our botanical experts are collaborating closely with producers, locally in France as well as around the world, to ensure resilient supply chains, and prepare for climatic shifts.
Water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, affects manufacturing and product development processes, as well as consumer behaviours. Companies are adopting more water-efficient practices and explore waterless formulas. The “water gardens” around one of our French factories, featuring plant-based water purification systems, exemplifies innovative approaches to water conservation. It avoids the discharge of production water into the wastewater system, thus shortening the water cycle, while hosting a remarkable biodiversity.
Sustainability initiatives extend beyond water. Cosmetic companies are embracing many initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint and their environmental impact: renewable energy sources, waste reduction, more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes are some of the levers Croda is using to become Climate, Land and People positive by 2030.
In terms of brand marketing, highlighting the eco-conscious practices isn’t merely a competitive advantage - it's a consumer expectation. As climate awareness grows, consumers increasingly seek eco-friendly, sustainable products. With a global perspective on climate change impacts, there's heightened demand for cosmetics with minimal environmental footprints and sustainable packaging, as we previously discussed. This shift underscores the industry's collective commitment to environmental responsibility.
But there is something else to it: it’s not only about being conscious about climate change, but we also must deal with its effects on our skin and hair, wherever we are on the planet. And this is what a new beauty concept becoming stronger is dealing with: introducing Geoskincare!
What is Geoskincare?
The movement is strong consumer behaviours nowadays: they consider the impacts of climate change on a more personal level with the well-being problematics it induces on our daily lives. Skin suffers from sudden and strong weather changes, or continued exposure to extreme cold or heat, dryness or humidity.
Whether they live in temperate where skin suffers from the alternance of seasons, or non-temperate zones with harsh(er) continuous weather conditions, climate change calls for opportunities for skin and hair care to respond to seasonal changes or extreme environments with erratic weather. Formulas are also adapted to the local climates and the seasons, to ensure the performance and ease in application.
Climate change also pushes customers to give priority to skin protection in all forms, to combat increased UV radiation and air pollution, does also influence consumer needs for skincare: this leads to shifts in demand for products with specific protective properties.
Geoskincare is thus a growing beauty trend that focuses on the specific needs of the skin in each climate zone, in response to the various impact of climate change in these regions and to the ever-growing need of protection.
Let’s delve into what this means for temperate zones and non-temperate zones!
Is there such thing as seasonal care for skin and hair?
Seasonal changes of weather in temperate zones can have a significant impact on the health and condition of the skin and hair. The skin serves as a protective barrier between the body and the external environment, and variations in temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors can influence its appearance and function.
Seasonal care is designed to help our skin and hair evolve following the climatic rhythm of the four seasons and provides solutions for the skin’s needs for each moment of the year. This approach to care allows consumers of temperate climates to change their beauty routines each season, in the exact same way they adapt their diet!
Let’s explore together how the different seasons can affect the skin, and examples of our hero ingredients for each season!
What are the best skincare practices during the winter season?
During winter, cold air tends to be drier, which can lead to decreased moisture levels in the skin. This can result in dryness, flakiness, and even cracking. Indoor heating systems and low outdoor humidity can further contribute to dry skin, with a weakened barrier function. Dehydrated skin can become more prone to irritation, itching, and sensitivity.
Cold winds can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to chapping and redness, especially on exposed areas like the face and hands. The hot showers in which we find soothing comfort after a long day out in the cold can also have the same effect of striping natural oils and thus exacerbate dryness.
During winter, seasonal care is all about nourishing and soothing!
Crodarom™ Manuka Honey is the ideal natural ingredient for that. This product provides the best of honey to make the delicious and cocooning ingredient of the season. Rich in nourishing and softening sugars, it’s the essential ingredient for a moisturising routine during the coldest months of the year.
How can you adapt your skincare routine for the spring season?
Spring is a time when pollen and other allergens are abundant in the air. People with sensitive skin may experience increased redness, itching, and inflammation due to allergic reactions.
The skin fatigue linked to the end of winter as well as the fluctuations between cool and warm temperatures, with high humidity, can also be a cause of confusion for the skin's natural balance, leading to issues like redness or breakouts.
Both problems require purifying and invigorating care in spring.
Introducing Cosme-Phytami™ Camu Camu, an extract of a one-of-a-kind superfruit! Although little known, this tropical fruit is one of the richest on the planet in vitamin C. This extract is quantified in vitamin C, this energising molecule strengthens the immune system and reboosts the skin at the end of winter!
Spring is also a time of increased UV exposure. As the weather warms up, people may spend more time outdoors without adequate sun protection, increasing the risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage. But we will see that later.
What are the essentials of skincare during summer?
Summer is a period with two problems: heat and sun. Increased sun exposure during hottest months of the year can indeed lead to sunburn, premature aging, and an elevated risk of skin cancer.
Sweating can in turn lead to clogged pores and breakouts, particularly if proper hygiene and skincare routines are not maintained, which can be the case when you leave your house for a well-deserved holiday trip. Dehydration is also frequent in summer, particularly when exposed to salt and sea breeze while on holiday at the beach, and impacts skin and hair.
UV aggressions, sweating and dehydration make it clear that summer care must be oriented towards hydration and protection.
When speaking about hydration in cosmetics, we can instantly think of cucumber or coconut as hero ingredients. But we chose to highlight Crodarom™ Green Caviar, a true jewel from the marine world. This ingredient has proven effect, it brings you the hygroscopic and high xylose content of this algae also known as sea grapes, providing a wave of hydration to quenching skin.
What autumn-specific skincare tips can enhance your beauty routine?
Autumn is a time of temperature fluctuations, just like spring, that challenge the skin's equilibrium. It is also a period of decrease in light intensity, the whole body is experiencing fatigue and loss of energy. This season can thus cause skin flakiness, associated with dryness and tightness.
The golden season is a time when exfoliation and energising care become priorities.
Your ally of choice will be Cosme-Phytami™ Kiwi EC, quantified in organic acids. The kiwi is a well-known superfruit rich in AHAs, vitamins and sugars. Its natural purifying and energising properties will help you restore a soft and radiant skin, a must-have during autumn!
How can you enhance skin health in non-temperate regions with specific beauty routines?
Around the equator and the poles are regions of the world where seasons do not occur, the combination of various factors due to quasi-constant and often erratic weather patterns can lead to a great likelihood of very specific skin and hair concern.
This is not a question of adapting your personal care to a season or another, it’s all about making sure you maintain optimal skin and hair health, while facing cold weather in the polar regions, or a range of hot climates with various degrees of humidity in the tropics or in the desert. Indeed, in these regions, continuous harsh climate patterns can have a real impact on the body, which must draw on its own reserves to adapt. This skin is also undergoing the same impacts.
Extremophile plants, an endless source of inspiration
Our botanical experts sought solutions in the extremophile plants. We love to be inspired by the intelligence of plants and how they adapt to their specific climatic conditions to strive. The extremophile plants are a huge reservoir of biomolecules to fight these extreme climates to which they are particularly adapted. They indeed grow optimally in the hostile environments and extreme conditions where other plants would not survive.
Their evolution under constant state of stress made them metabolise specific molecules to survive. Such molecules can be the foundation of outstanding active ingredients to help the skin fight and protect itself from the effects of erratic climates.
To create the botanical extracts that provide a Geoskincare solution for non-temperate regions, we hence dug in aquatic plants, desert cacti, coastal shrubs or mountain flowers. Millenia of adaptation by plants to these environments where men have set foot long after them now offer a formidable reservoir of immense potential for innovation and well-being in cosmetics.
How can an extremely cold climate affect skin?
The Canadian Dermatology association points out that the rate of increasing occurrence of sensitive skin is well above the global average. This is only one example of the dry and dehydrated skin that people living in polar regions meet due to extremely low temperatures and low humidity levels, as well as potential strong wind exposure and high UV index. In these regions of extreme cold or high mountains, the skin is constantly aggressed and becomes sensitive, with irritation, discomfort, and tightness.
Skincare routines are thus designed to nourish, repair, and protect.
Our team looked closely at the plants living in the boreal forests and selected lingonberry to produce an extract that offers the antioxidant, moisturising, and revitalising benefits of this superfruit. Fruitliquid™ Lingonberry EC is an organic certified ingredient.
What are the best ways to adjust your skincare routine in the tropics?
Shifting down south towards latitude zero, tropical climates present their own set of challenges for skin health, mainly caused by high heat. We can see that there are two main patterns: either deserts with very dry conditions, or forests environments with roof-breaking levels of humidity.
In the equatorial and humid tropical zones, excessive sweating from high temperatures and humidity levels can lead to overproduction of sebum, dehydration and dryness, heat rash (red, itchy, inflamed skin due to sweat trapped in blocked sweat ducts) as well as the development of bacterial and fungal infections. To maintain a healthy and radiant skin, personal care routines would aim to purifying, regulate and illuminate the skin.
Our hero ingredient to do so is definitely Crodarom™ Violet Rice. Rice offers its natural moisturising and soothing benefits to relieve the extreme climate-related stress endured by the skin. Our variety of rice (Khao Gram) is cultivated in Laos and our supplier is fair-trade certified and promote sustainable farming practices.
On the other hand, in arid regions of the tropics, there is little to no rain, which make the heat even more intense, leading to skin and hair dehydration, as well as irritations. The key for skin well-being is here to provide hydration and soothing.
We looked at cacti, the ultimate desert plants, to find a good solution for the skin and created Phytofleur™ Cactus. The cactus flower only opens at dusk to protect itself against dryness, and it led us to think that this would be a great extract. Indeed, the soothing, moisturising, and protective properties of the cactus flower help to relieve irritation and rehydrate the skin.
Is there a universal skincare element that applies across all climates?
Yes: protection. Against the sun, against air pollution.
Reflecting on the extraordinary global weather of 2022, the past year witnessed the hottest summer on record, leading to elevated UV indices. The French National Cancer Institute has noted that the occurrence of skin cancer has tripled over the last four decades. A strong growth of the demand for higher levels of UV protection (SPF 100) is expected.
The escalating temperatures are also linked to various natural calamities, including rampant forest fires. Such events contribute to heightened airborne pollutants, inflicting oxidative stress on our skin and hair, potentially triggering premature ageing and hair loss.
It is essential to address the damaging effects of pollutants and UV rays with super antioxidants. Consumers will continue to prioritise this protection in personal care. Within our array of protective ingredients, two essential extracts have stood out as must-haves.
- Phytofoam™ is a bestseller ingredient that combines three plant extracts, this natural ingredient provides proven foaming and cleansing properties to eliminate residue and pollution. As a result, the skin breathes anew and regains its radiance.
- Preparami™ ER is an active ingredient derived from prickly pear, a flat-stemmed cactus native to tropical and subtropical regions. This high-tech ingredient is designed to protect the skin from external aggressions: it strengthens the cellular defences of the skin and improves cell resistance to the effects of UV rays.
Do not hesitate to reach out to your sales representative to discuss the whole range of anti-pollution ingredients with us.
To conclude...
In conclusion, the concept of geoskincare underscores the importance of tailoring skincare routines to the specific environmental conditions of a region. By recognising the influence of climate, humidity, pollution levels, and other factors, geoskincare offers a strategic approach to maintaining skin health and appearance. This approach involves using climate-appropriate ingredients, providing environmental protection, and adapting routines to seasonal changes.
A balanced approach that combines geographical considerations with local ingredients and current trends will yield the most effective skincare results, ensuring that the skin remains resilient and radiant regardless of the surroundings. Make sure to reach out to you local sales representatives to learn more about Geoskincare and our ingredients that suit this beauty concept!"
