According to a recent report by market analysts Mintel, the UK has seen the largest increase in new organic and beauty products of any European country in the first quarter of 2007.

Nica Lewis, head consultant of cosmetic research at Mintel stated, "In line with the growing interest in organic food and drink, demand for all natural or organic toiletries is really taking off, as people become increasingly concerned about what they put 'on' their bodies, as well as 'in' their bodies".

Indeed, organic cosmetics sales in the UK have seen a shift from prior years, where the country has notably fallen behind other leading markets, product innovation and launches, such as the US markets.

The country accounted for a mere five per cent of the 1600 organic cosmetics launched worldwide in 2006, which has now risen to 19 per cent of the 1053 products that have already been launched globally this year.

Despite the first organic cosmetic products being launched 25 years ago in the UK by Neal's Yard, it has only recently seen an explosion of activity as consumers become more aware of the health benefits of using natural ingredients.

Supermarkets have now begun to pick up on this trend, with leading chains such as Asda, Tesco and Waitrose all developing own brands to capitalise on the growing consumer demand for organic and ethical products - a trend that is set to continue.

"What is more, as we have seen in food, Fairtrade is becoming more important in the world of beauty and it is again UK brands, such as Organic Apoteke, that are leading the way here, by creating organic ranges with ethically sourced and Fairtrade ingredients".

"We are likely to see more of these beauty products in our supermarkets and department stores over the next few years, as consumers demand not only organic, but ethically sourced products with a minimal carbon footprint" Lewis said.

Major cosmetics companies such as L'Oreal and Boots are introducing ranges that have been established with carbon off setting initiatives.

However, in contrast to the food industry, few major manufacturers have yet to produce explicitly all natural and organic product lines from existing brands- which could be a lucrative gap in the market in the coming years.

Another predicted trend is the concerted emphasis on the source of ingredients in cosmetics, with packaging set to highlight exactly where they originate, such as Egyptian Fennel or Sicilian Orange.