Feminine Hygiene

That category of products was invented in 1924…

…by marketers, of course! This article from Ad Age chronicles the growth of the industry. And looking beyond the napkin, I found that “natural personal care” now comprises a $29 million market.

That trend was evident at Expo East, a huge trade show for the natural product industry. A large portion of the exhibit hall was devoted to organic cosmetics, hair and body care, and alternative treatments for ailments (and potions to prevent them).

I stopped at a booth with a great fresh logo. The company is Good Clean Love. Perhaps they would have attracted more show traffic if they were called Bad Dirty Love, but I was impressed by the founder’s knowledge and mission. She and her daughter talked intelligently and enthusiastically about “bio matching” and their products are 100% vegan, petroleum-free, and paraben-free. Sounds good to me. Who wants a paraben down there?

I also visited Sustain at their booth. Their condoms are fair trade and vegan certified and are free of harmful chemicals, dyes, and fragrances. And then there was Intimina, who had a cheery pink booth, filled with all kinds of gadgets. (I’m not talking about the iPhone 6 either). Indigo Wild was giving out “boob” stress balls and the company donates a portion of their Betsy line to a breast cancer cause.

We women seem to have come a long way from 1924. Although some of this may still be smart branding, good business, and marketing hype, the people in this natural personal care business all seemed genuine, knowledgeable, and friendly.

I think a lot about the food I eat. Now I’ll pause and reflect about what I’m putting in other body parts. We’ve come a long way baby!