Vanity is still important among consumers, but not at the expense of the planet - at least that's retailers demonstrated in their votes for the top 10 personal care products when they examined the wealth of personal care products in the Showcase @ GMDC last month during GMDC's recent 2008 Health Beauty Wellness marketing conference, held last month in Phoenix. 

Among the top picks were natural bath products and cosmetics, as well as the traditional HBC standbys. The winners were:
 
1. ACT mouthwash with free 3-ounce on-pack by Chattem, Inc.                                                              
2. Nivea For Men body wash by Beiersdorf Inc.                                                            
3. Ecotools bath and cosmetics accessories by Paris Presents Incorporated                                        
4. Pure & Natural bar, liquid hand soap and body wash by The Dial Corp., a Henkel Company
5. Pepsom Sports and Pepsom Salt by The Pepsom Group Inc.                                                      
6. Air Travel Approved bottles by Paris Presents Inc.
7. New Nivea lip care sticks by Beiersdorf Inc.
8. Boo Boo Buddy cold pack assortment by MZB Personal Care                                                          
9. (Tie): Lifestyle product displays by Newmark Media, Ltd.; Desert Essence
Organics by Desert Essence; and 24-piece Mixed Cold Gravity by Zicam LLC
10. (Tie): Net Sponge in Tie-Dye Colors by Paris Presents Incorporated; Travel Kit - 6 piece by Sprayco; and Gold Bond Ultimate assorted lotion by Chattem, Inc.
 
The Showcase is a secure room where every wholesaler and retailer member conference attendee is able to view products set up in product displays - including promotions and merchandising concepts -- during a pre-scheduled appointment. Participants scan items that interest them to build a secure online file of the products' information.  

GMDC (Global Market Development Center) is a trade association serving general merchandise and health and beauty retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers.