5 natural skin care all-stars

What first drew customers into your store’s health and beauty department? Probably increasing awareness about cosmetics’ worst chemical offenders—parabens, phthalates and synthetic fragrances—which all pose potential health risks when applied to the skin. But what will keep customers coming back is discovering that natural, nontoxic skin care really works.

Companies are now focusing on the latest science to incorporate high-performance bioactives, such as plant stem cells, in their formulations. This approach is drawing shoppers’ attention: Natural skin care accounted for $3.2 billion in U.S. consumer sales in 2010, up 6 percent over 2009, according to Nutrition Business Journal. Put your best face forward by highlighting these research-backed brands on your shelves.