This year the most relevant news in the cosmetics industry spanned the region and a telling array of topics: the environment in China, novel skin care ingredients, animal testing in India, influential industry trends across the region, and digital strategy in Japan.
Consumers have taken a real interest in environmental issues, ranging from sustainable packaging and ingredient sourcing to the ways that harsh climate conditions affect the skin. In response, this year saw several Cosmetic brands develop antipollution products for China.
Fine particulate matter, specks of pollution measuring less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter and known as PM2.5, create the haze that limits visibility in urban areas. Beauty brands have responded with products that may make anti-PM2.5 a viable new skincare segment. “Some Chinese brands have integrated the word ‘PM2.5’ directly on their packaging such as Hua Niang, Fumakilla, however no official studies can prove the real link between these products and action on PM2.5,” Florence Bernardin, CEO of Information & Inspiration, told Cosmetics Design early this year.
Novel ingredients derived from flying insects, mollusks, fermentation and more continue to bring fresh personal care products to the shelf. Here, the market intelligence agency Mintel showcases a gallery of Asian skin care innovations. The products for face and hands promise to boost hydration, diminish signs of aging, and sooth acne.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA,) along with affiliated groups, initiated a campaign urging the Indian Beauty & Hygiene Association to support a ban on animal testing for personal care products developed in and imported to India.
Four personal care trends are responsible for growth in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Pei Ying, a beauty and personal care analyst with Euromonitor. Namely, multifunctional products, at-home beauty treatments like facial masks, products that promise camera-ready looks for the #Selfie crowd, and men’s anti-aging skin care.
Learning from the best practices of beauty brands that are connecting digitally with consumers in the US (a country Miyano says is ahead of Japan by about three years when it comes to tech and social media), L’Oreal has focused on strategic celebrity partnerships; on taking advantage of e-commerce to let discrete consumers research and purchase products that treat gray hair; and on using the existing beauty community site @cosme as well as the company’s own dedicated website to reach consumers in Japan.
The clinical study found that people exposed to higher levels of air pollution had distinctly compromised skin compared to people in areas with better air quality.
The benefits of snail mucus on the skin have been known to the cosmetics industry for a while, and having seen a big trend in Korea, it is now heading to American shores and is expected to be the ‘newest fad’.
The facial mask trend appears to have made the jump from the Asia Pacific region and is now showing the first signs of really taking off in Europe, according to market research group NPD.
