WATCH – Derma demand: Dermalogica and Merck on the emerging opportunities for cosmeceuticals in APAC

In recent years, the market has seen strong wave of demand for cosmeceuticals, or derma beauty products due to several factors such as an increasing demand for science-backed claims and a rising concern for sensitive skin issues.

In light of COVID-19, the demand for the category has accelerated even more as consumers begin to prioritise safety and skin health above all other concerns.

According to ingredient supplier Merck, the growth of the cosmeceutical category is expected to grow by double-digits.

“This is a very important category and, in the future, it’s going to be even more important. In Asia, some places consider cosmeceutical category as a specific category of skin care. That tells you just how important this is. The growth will be double-digit, more than 20%,”​ said Vivien van de Water, sales director of Merck’s commercial cosmetics, Asia.

In particular, van de Water believes there is strong potential for the cosmeceuticals in the anti-ageing category.

She elaborated that ageing well is a concern for Asian consumers across the all age demographics, especially among younger consumers.

Most recently, the German company partnered with one of China’s largest skin care brand, Pechoin, to develop an anti-ageing range for younger consumers.

Like Merck, US-based cosmeceutical brand Dermalogica believes that the demand for derma will continue to persist in Asia Pacific.

“Nowadays there are a lot of environmental factors that are causing skin sensitivity. With that, people are looking for products that are safe and effective to use… I think that [in APAC] we do face harsher conditions here with pollution, exposure to UV damage, stress. That's causing increase in skin sensitivity in the region,”​ said Roderick Chieng group managing director and CEO of Esthetics International Group Berhad, the exclusive distributor for Dermalogica in South East Asia and Hong Kong.

Despite the pandemic, the brand believes strongly that the professional channel will remain a vital line for the business.

“Cosmeceuticals are really powered up when [consumers] visit a skin treatment centre for their regular treatments,” ​said Chieng.

However, the company works to ensure clients feel safe returning to salons.

“It’s very important that we launched this clean touch certification. Basically, we certify all our skin treatment centres to follow 12 Clean Touch Principles to give clients confidence that when they come their hygiene is taken care of.”​

To hear more insights into research and development and the future of the cosmeceutical category, check out the video above.