What’s trending: Top stories on APAC beauty market and consumer insights

How to win over… evolving post-pandemic travel retail shoppers​

Insight from travel retail experts at Elizabeth Arden, Kenvue, L’Occitane, L’Oréal and more have highlighted the challenges facing the duty-free sector and reveal what it takes to navigate the evolving habits of the post-pandemic passenger.

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), 2024 marks the year travel and tourism returns to form, with its contribution to global GDP expected to reach pre-pandemic levels this year.

Amidst the positive expectations, in reality, the numbers have been more varied across Asia Pacific, signalling that each market was recovering at its own pace.

Higher acceptance and demand for hemp-based products closely aligned with booming wellness trend – Hemp Co Australia​

Consumer acceptance and take-up rate of hemp-based products in Australia are on an upward trajectory, driven by several factors including health and wellness trends, regulatory support, and product diversity, says Hemp Co Australia.

According to the firm’s co-founder Fran Power, the adoption rate of hemp-based products in the country has shown “significant growth” in recent years.

“Hemp-based products are integral to the wellness movement, offering multifaceted benefits that resonate with health-conscious consumers, as more Australians look for natural, plant-based and non-toxic alternatives.

Lotus Herbals aims to ‘dominate’ India’s sun care market on the back of range expansion​

India’s Lotus Herbals is set to expand it range of sun protection products as part of goals to expand its dominance in the country.

Lotus Herbals chairman and managing director, Nitin Passi, said its Sun Safe range was among the top market leaders in the category.

“We’ll expand our sun care dominance through advanced R&D, diverse offerings, and strategic partnerships, aiming to surpass expectations with unparalleled innovation and quality,”​ he said.

Brick-and-mortar presence vital as more brands seek India entry - Nykka​

India’s beauty and fashion retailer Nykaa sees the need to reinforce its physical retail network to entice more global brands to work with them on India market entry.

In March, the company unveiled a new luxury flagship store in Mumbai.

“This is the first new flagship model which we have launched, and you’ll see more of this type of stores launching in the coming months and years,”​ said Anchit Nayar, executive director and CEO of Nykaa’s beauty business.

Demand for safety and efficacy drive Asian consumers to seek out skin-identical ingredients – Evonik​

Asian consumer demand for products that offer visible results without compromising on safety is leading Evonik to focus on skin-identical ingredients, most notably with a new vegan collagen range.
While efficacy is paramount, Asian consumers are not willing to compromise safety, leading to a rising interest in skin-identical ingredients.
Collagen is a sought-after cosmetics ingredient for its ability to improve skin elasticity, hydration and overall help to reduce the signs of skin ageing.