Geraldine Howard, president, Aromatherapy Associates
"I think people will increasingly want the main benefit of a product to come from natural ingredients, not chemical ones. I also think the public is becoming more educated about ingredients, such as the antiseptic nature of lavender, for example, which promotes the skin's natural regenerative process."
Hot buy: Aromatherapy Associates Renew Rose Hydrating Mask, £26 (stockists +44 (0)20 8569 7030)
"I always use this on long-haul flights. Apply it as soon as you get on the aeroplane and leave it on. It keeps skin hydrated and leaves you with a very healthy, smooth complexion for arrival."
Brian Williams, Biotherm UK training director
"With less and less time to spend on ourselves, and more and more pressure to look after ourselves both internally and externally, I think the development of quick-fix aids for the skin is on the up. For instance, it only takes a dab of concealer or a moisturiser with a hint of fake tan to make the signs of fatigue disappear and I think that this will become the status quo for men's skincare regimes before we know it."
Hot buy: Biotherm Homme High Recharge, £27
"An anti-fatigue daily moisturiser, which gives an instant burst of energy to the skin with ginseng and an enduring hydrating and protective action with white willow extract. Good for frequent flyers suffering dry skin from cabin air."
David Boynton, L'Occitane retail operations and marketing director
"This year will see consumers demanding a wider range of eco-conscious products, but without a quality sacrifice. For beauty and grooming, this means products that really deliver on their claims, but without a host of synthetic, lab-created ingredients. Science and nature will come together to offer product ranges which are really effective in tackling beauty needs head on, but in a much more natural way than has been seen before."
Hot buy: L'Occitane Immortelle Very Precious Cream with SPF40, £30
"A richly textured cream with powerful anti-aging properties using a rare essential oil from wild Immortelle flowers in Corsica. The high sun factor is ideal for giving optimum protection if you are heading to sunny climates or on a winter ski-break."
Sally Cohen, Elizabeth Arden managing director
"In the cosmetics industry we see reverberations from some of the mega-trends that have been driving consumer behaviour over the past few years. One of the most important is the proliferation and specialisation of product options and the consumer backlash: facing an ever-expanding and bewildering set of choices, they retreat to classic products they know and love. That is why our 70-year-old Eight Hour franchise continues to grow and why our recent limited vintage edition of Eight Hour was such a hit. A linked trend is called 'tryvertising', which is advertising that gives consumers an easy way to try new products. We have seen this in action on our Ceramide website, where thousands of consumers have downloaded coupons to receive samples of our new Plump Perfect products."
Hot buy: Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Time Complex Capsules, £47 (for 60)
"My hot buy is incredibly versatile and can stand in for more specialised day and night creams when you are short of space. The capsules supplement and repair natural ceramide content to reinforce the skin's barrier function, optimising moisturisation and improving resistance to the first signs of ageing."
Jenny Belknap, Origins executive director global marketing
"We like to say at Origins that natural products have gone from 'hippie to hip'. As interest in and awareness of nature-based beauty products has increased, these products are moving from niche into the mainstream. You no longer have to shop at a health food store to find skin and body care products made with natural and organic ingredients. With the rise of wellness-based beauty and grooming, more people are also seeking out alternative and integrative therapies such as acupuncture, massage, yoga and meditation. We see this trend strengthening in the year to come as people seek nature-based products that benefit their skin and psyche."
Hot Buy: Origins Modern Friction for the Body, £27.50
"Age-smoothing exfoliation without irritation. Based on the power of rice, Modern Friction rapidly removes sluggish cells, uneven patches and even surface sun damage. The 'afters' are amazing – skin looks polished, smooth and luminous."
Daniela Chandler, director of skincare, Pevonia UK
"The pace of life has increased dramatically. People are more impatient than ever. They want to look younger for longer, they want the results and they want them now. So at Pevonia we are committed to developing skincare products which contain the most potent and effective natural-source ingredients in advanced formulations, ensuring visible results, such as our Myoxy Caviar line, which contains an ingredient we say is a topical alternative to botox."
Hot buy: Pevonia Botanica Vitaminic Concentrate, £22.95 (stockists +44 (0)1449 727 000)
"Perfect for on-the-go skin protection because it is highly moisturising, hydrating and packed full of essential vitamins and amino acids."
Men and the knife
Cosmetic surgery has traditionally been a female preserve – but, says consultant plastic surgeon Rajiv Grover, men are catching up fast, with rhinoplasty (a nose job), liposuction (fat removal) and anti-ageing procedures, such as face lifts, and non-invasive treatments such as botox topping the list. Here's a quick guide to some of the looks-improving procedures on offer.
Rhinoplasty Whether it's improving on what nature has given you as a career move or repairing the effects of a rugby injury, nose jobs are the number one cosmetic op for men. Demands a couple of weeks' recovery time.
Botox Muscle-paralysing injections that soften frown lines and lines in the forehead and around the eyes. It lasts for four months on average and costs from around £250 depending on how many areas are treated.
Liposuction The surgical alternative to diet and exercise. In traditional liposuction, small incisions are made where the fat is to be removed and a narrow tube inserted which is attached to a vacuum pump. This is moved back and forth, sucking out tunnels of fat while leaving blood vessels and nerves intact. Will set you back at least £4,000.
Eye lift Excess skin is cut away above the eye for a younger appearance. Below the eye, fat can be removed to get rid of bags. It can be done under "twilight", ie not general anaesthesia.
Fillers Nose-to-mouth lines develop with age and can be plumped out with injections of reabsorbable substances such as hyaluronic acid (Restylane), lasting six months or so. Hollow eyes and thin lips can be filled out too. There are also longer-lasting fillers available.
Peels Light peels use solutions of glycolic acid, lactic acid and beta hydroxy acid, which are left on for a few minutes and then neutralised. They exfoliate the skin, making it look fresh and glowing. A course can help increase skin firmness as collagen production is also stimulated by the process. Medium peels, such as Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) and Jessner's Solution are stronger and used for pigment problems, fine lines, blemishes and acne scars.
