Spa Essentials

Vitamins In Natural Spa Products And Treatments

The spa industry is the fourth largest leisure industry in the United States, and continues to be highlighted in movies, television, articles and advertising.  All of these factors have gathered to make the spa experience more mainstream -- and growing numbers of consumers are searching to add the spa experience to their everyday lives.

Vitamins have become extremely important in helping spa professionals and personal care suppliers achieve the kind of balance that is being demanded from clients; in this case, scientifically proven efficacy from natural ingredients.

Despite the fact that many vitamins are produced in a highly industrial fashion, they are among the most trusted of health and well-being ingredients and are universally recognized as natural and beneficial nutrients. At the same time, there is plenty of scientific evidence to support their role in health, so it is no surprise that the spa industry has successfully piggy-backed on the popularity of vitamins in food and beverages to extend their usage into spa products and services.

Particularly popular in the spa essential arena is pro-vitamin B (panthenol), which is used widely in hair care and accounts for three-quarters of total vitamin use in the cosmetics and toiletries market; and vitamin E, which is finding increasing favor as an antioxidant and anti-aging ingredient in a wide range of spa products, including most notably skin care and sun protection. In fact, vitamin E is now used as standard in a number of major sun and skin care brands. Researchers at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, are also studying the efficacy of tocotrienol, a topical form of vitamin E, to prevent or diminish surgical scars.1

However, the star attraction in the essential spa vitamins category is retinyl palmitate, an ester of vitamin A that is also known as retinol. This stands out as by far the fastest-growing sector in the vitamins market, with projected personal care growth of almost 5% per annum from 2009–2014. This strong growth is due to its growing use in anti-aging skin care, which remains one of the best-performing areas of the personal care market. Retinyl palmitate is now used in many popular anti-aging brands and is widely believed to be effective.

Check out some great spa essentials listed in our organic beauty products directory!