3 emerging nutricosmetic ingredients for healthy skin

The cosmeceutical concept—that specific ingredients can improve the skin’s appearance—dates back to 1961, with the founding of the U.S. Society of Cosmetic Chemists. Its inception sparked a flurry of new topical products to combat everything from aging to cellulite to acne, and by 2007, cosmeceuticals had become a $55 billion global industry, according to international market research firm Kline & Co.

By comparison, nutricosmetics—products that improve skin health, elasticity and appearance from the inside out—are relatively new. In fact, the term nutricosmetics was coined just in the past decade. Now, Kline values the global nutricosmetics market at $1.5 billion, with Europe capturing 55 percent of the market share, Japan following at 41 percent and the U.S. bringing up the rear with only 3 percent. And these numbers are growing steadily: International market research firm Mintel estimates the global nutricosmetics market will reach $2.5 billion by 2012.

The combined cosmeceutical-nutricosmetics category has become so significant, in fact, that it was the sole focus of the inaugural NutriCosmetic Summit in Las Vegas last June, which drew more than 120 manufacturers, suppliers, formulators, marketers and innovators.

Here’s a look at three emerging nutricosmetic ingredients.