Brand story: The recent APAC developments from the biggest names in beauty

1 – Zero-waste hero: Four LG H&H brands launch solid personal care products to boost eco-credentials

South Korean conglomerate LG Household and Health Care has launched zero-waste beauty options​ from four of its brands – Dr. Groot, Elastine, Veilment, and Himalayan Pink Salt.

By developing solid products LG Household & Health Care (LG H&H) said it could reduce its reliance on plastic packaging.

For instance, its beauty bars are packaged in paper while the powdered toothpaste is packaged in a metal jar.

Furthermore, the solid format would help to reduce water consumption, transportation costs and packaging.​

2 – L’Oréal exclusive: Why beauty’s online boom is far from plateauing in South Asia Pacific

Beauty multinational L’Oréal says there is huge room for growth across its SAPMENA region​ with emerging demographics and online selling channels poised to take off.

On January 13, Shopee, an e-commerce platform that operates in South East Asia and Taiwan, announced that L’Oréal’s consumer products division (CPD), which consists of brands such as L’Oréal Paris, Garnier and Maybelline, achieved at least U$100m in goods merchandise value (GMV).

L’Oréal was the only beauty brand that achieved this alongside a slew of technology brands, namely Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi, and realme.

Speaking exclusively to CosmeticsDesign-Asia, Manashi Guha, L’Oréal CPD general manager of SAPMENA region, said this achievement did not come as a surprise for the French beauty giant.

3 – Everyday care: Anessa set to introduce sunscreen serum in response to changing lifestyles

Japanese sun care brand Anessa is set to introduce a sunscreen serum​ to its existing line-up this February in response to the changing lifestyles and habits of consumers.

The Anessa Day Serum was developed in response to the new habits that have emerged because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Namely, the increased awareness of skin care and lifestyle changes such as remote working.

With consumers increasing their investment in skin care, parent company Shiseido saw an opportunity to develop a sun care product that people would “want to use every day” regardless of environment.

The result was a sunscreen developed in a serum format that simultaneously protected and improved the appearance of the skin.

4 – ‘From a lens of strategy’: Hindustan Unilever chairman explains the FMCG giant’s measured approach to beauty M&As

Indian consumer goods giant Hindustan Unilever says is taking a cautious approach to any possible beauty acquisitions​ that could potentially put its position as the beauty and personal care market leader at risk.

During its recent earnings conference, the consumer goods giant did not appear to be phased by the many up and coming start-ups and disruptors that have bloomed domestically over the past few years.

“When we hear a lot of compliments being given to disruptors, we often forget the power of the big brands. One should never forget that the incumbent power through big brands is a very powerful force,” said Sanjiv Mehta chairman and managing director of Hindustan Unilever (HUL).

In 2021, India’s beauty and personal care space heated up with several mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and funding drives among enterprising start-ups and established names and alike.

5 – New hot shots: POLA to expand bestselling White Shot range with skin care essence and supplements

Luxury J-beauty brand POLA is set to expand its bestselling White Shot range in​ late January with a skin care essence and beauty supplement which are based on the company’s new research and development.

The flagship brand of Pola Orbis Holdings has drawn from the company’s research into skin whitening and pigmentation spot spots.

The new White Shot SXS essence was developed in line with the firm’s research into the role nerves play on skin pigmentation spots.

Most recently, a study by POLA Chemical Industries, discovered that Geranium robertianum, commonly known as herb robert extract, could suppress the activation of melanocytes in the nerves and prevent the formation of age spots on the skin.