Great organic make-up? Who knew!
If you were thinking of launching a beauty brand, organic skincare wouldn’t be a bad move. The global skincare market is estimated to be worth about €116 billion by 2021 and, of this, about 30 per cent will be spent on natural products, a niche that’s growing by 10 per cent per annum. However, while organic skincare has been gaining ground and reputation, organic make-up has lagged behind a bit – in truth, the textures have left a lot to be desired. Well, not any more. Earlier this year Dr Hauschka relaunched its offering and now The Organic Pharmacy has, too, hoping to up its cosmetic ante. The brand’s founder Margo Marrone has spent two years reformulating and repackaging the range, working hard to make everything as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible, with lipglosses and even mascaras coming in sleek glass tubes, while powders are housed in cardboard compacts slipped into envelopes (all the paper, by the way, is made from hemp, bamboo and bagasse). Marrone says: ‘I wanted to try to compete with the gold standard, but in an organic formula. I didn’t want someone to use the products [feel disappointed] and say, “Yes, well…it is organic” – and it’s been a challenge.’ The biggest issue is colour; organic offerings, explains Marrone, ‘can’t provide the wide shade choice of non-organic brands. Until recently, there really wasn’t a pink or red that you could get from nature – not one that would be stable – but we have managed to do it from plant pigments.’ The result is a simple collection built around the basic products most women use daily and, while the colour spectrum may not be vast – the Volumising Balm Gloss (1, €30) comes in red (pictured), pink, coral and clear sparkle; the Sheer Glow Liquid Blush (€28) in three shades – the textures are really impressive. Marrone’s personal favourite is the Skin Perfecting Highlighter (2, €28) – ‘It’s so dreamy, even my 20-year-old daughter wants some’. Meanwhile the Hydrating Bronzer (3, €54) can hold its own and the Hydrating Foundation (4, €59), which comes in four shades, is truly top notch. ‘While we can’t offer the vast choices of brands such as Fenty Beauty – it’s just not possible,’ says Marrone, ‘we’ve instead concentrated on the shades that are most popular with our customers.’ So, if you can find one that suits you, this is good – and feel-good – stuff. Visit theorganicpharmacy.com