Brand story: APAC updates from Kosé, Shiseido and L’Oréal and more big beauty brands

Kosé’s makeup simulator reproduces ‘ultra-realistic’ colours and textures that ‘AR cannot achieve’​

Kosé Corporation has developed a makeup simulation system that replicates the colour and texture of makeup on the skin in a more realistic way that augmented reality (AR) cannot, the firm claims.

The Mixed Reality Makeup (MR Makeup) Colour Machine employs the use of high-speed projection mapping technology developed by the Yoshihiro Watanabe Laboratory of the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

This technology is what allows the makeup simulation to be projected on the face instantaneously.

Decorté extends flagship Liposome range with new eye serum to strengthen brand​

Decorté Cosmetics is set to extend its bestselling Liposome skin care range with a new eye serum to reinforce its presence in the high-end beauty market.

Liposome Advanced Repair Eye Serum will launch on March 1 in 14 countries across Asia Pacific, the Americas and Europe. The new product will then launch in its home market on March 16.

The new formula is hypoallergenic and can be used regardless of age or skin type. It contains a new technology the brand has dubbed Nanobicelle.

Shiseido will make ‘proactive investments’ for revenue growth from 2023 – CEO​

Japanese beauty major Shiseido will start to prioritise strategic investments in three key areas – brands, innovation and people – to drive revenue growth, according to its CEO.

Speaking during the firm’s 2022 annual earnings conference, chairman and CEO, Masahiko Uotani said: “From 2023, we will shift from defence to offence, making proactive investment for top line growth. We will make strategic investments in three focus areas which are brands, innovations, and people.”​

The company will continue to expand its global and regional heavyweight brands while fostering new ones.

L’Oréal CEO reveals India market holds vast potential for the firm​​

L’Oréal chief says India’s booming beauty market could potentially be its next billion-dollar market as middle-class population doubles in the next five to 10 years.

Considering its current performance in India and the market trends, CEO Nicolas Hieronimus expressed that the market could surpass EUR1bn (USD1.1bn).

It’s growth in India so far has been attributed to the firm’s consumer products division (CPD), which consists of household names such as L’Oréal Paris and Maybelline.

Hourglass makeup sales grows 109% in Korea after mask mandate lifts​

Hourglass Cosmetics has experienced year-on-year growth of 109% in South Korea after it scrapped its face mask mandate for most indoor public places.

In January, Hourglass sales increased by 109% year on year (YoY) just as local authorities lifted its mask mandate for the majority of indoor public places on January 30.

The impact on makeup sales was immediate, with Hourglass sales jumping by 146% from January 28 to Feb 1.