The innovation and leadership in the natural personal care industry this year was truly a thing of beauty, from new ingredient breakthroughs to clever marketing strategies, impressive launches and advocacy. But if I had to choose one hallelujah moment, it would have to be Johnson & Johnson finally agreeing to reformulate its baby products. While this announcement left many of us wondering the obvious “Why are toxins still in baby products?” it also has encouraging, far-reaching implications for personal care’s future—and proves the influence of the nontoxic beauty industry.

Everyone wants in on natural—and for good reason.

Nutrition Business Journal estimates that U.S. consumer sales of natural and organic personal care reached $8.2 billion in 2010, a 6 percent increase over 2009, with similar positive projections for 2011. Not only that, natural and organic personal care is the fastest growing sector of the personal care market, expected to soon outperform conventional, according to market research firm Mintel.

What’s to thank for such impressive growth? Leading the way is consumer concern about ingredients and education efforts from nonprofits such as the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Emerging certifications, stricter retail standards and new legislation also have boosted the buzz around natural personal care. 

And here's the really good news: Not only do these recent developments represent a victory for concerned shoppers, they also present tremendous opportunities for suppliers, manufacturers and retailers in the natural channel. Here are 2012’s insider beauty secrets.