If we carefully look into the different products that can be clubbed together as cosmetics, we can categorize them into four basic segments - skin-care, hair-care, make-up and fragrance. Sometimes dubbed as hair and beauty products, this is a multi-billion dollar industry on a global basis.
The use of cosmetics for the enhancement of beauty is an age-old practice. Earlier, it was more of a necessity than luxury and was restricted to medical purposes only. Natural cures were the only way out and it was confined within the local residents of a certain region.
With the advancement of science, the area specific knowledge were pooled together, samples were collected and examined rigorously in the laboratories and crystallized in the form of formulas that can be replicated anywhere in the world.
Thus, what was once a local resource turned into globally accepted and standardized products that can be produced in a mass scale! This tremendous transformation propelled businesses and artificially produced chemicals replaced the herbs. The same transformation also produced two lateral effects - one, the knowledge of herbs and associated procedures were subdued and secondly, it helped conserving those herbs and medicinal plants by saving them from mass use.
Until now, the saga is quite similar to any of the ancient procedures and traditions that have been wiped out by tsunamis of laboratory based science and commercial ventures. Take any case like that of clothing, paper, etc., something that is associated with the plant kingdom and you will notice striking similarities with the evolution of cosmetics.
At this stage, it is important to remember that the constituents of hair and beauty products also comprises of several things like special type of soils, minerals, etc. - something that can only be obtained directly from the nature and is cost-prohibitive to be formulated and mechanically produced in a laboratory-factory setting. Therefore, today's cosmetic makers are still very much dependent on nature for a major portion of the required raw materials.
However, the dynamics of the evolution of cosmetics is gradually making a U-turn. Artificially manufactured chemicals that powers today's hair and beauty products are responsible for numerous dermatological problems, as pointed out by professionals. Sooner or later, these undesired effects create problems for a regular user.
For some, it may be a minor rash or vigorous allergy, while for others it may be a gradual and permanent deterioration and damage of hair and skin. No matter how much startling the initial effects are in a positive sense, the scenario always has a downward slope with the passage of time.
To solve this problem, people are turning towards the herbal and natural solutions in their quest for side-effect free hair and beauty products. In the past decade, the market has seen a steady increase in the demand for Ayurvedic products in both medicine and cosmetics category.
This trend clearly indicates the gradually growing popularity of the Oriental culture which emphasizes on slow and steady improvement. The decline in the stigmas and taboos attached with certain external ailments regarding hair and skin has also encouraged people to avoid quick-fixes and opt for a more sustainable, durable and side-effect free genre of hair and beauty products.
In Australia and more specifically in Melbourne, hair and beauty products of very high quality are sold by Global Hair & Beauty Supplies. The author Pritam Dalui has been a beautician and a make-up artist itself and has experience of working closely with the glamour world.
