The major cosmetics regulatory issues on the agenda in 2025
CosmeticsDesign-Asia dissects the regulatory challenges set to impact the Asia-Pacific cosmetics sector, with expert insights from leading industry insiders.
In China, from May 1, 2025, cosmetic companies will be required to submit the full version of the safety assessment report registering/notifying their products. This would include safety assessments for all ingredients used in a formulation.
These measures were put in place to “enhance the cosmetics safety assessment system and improve the safety and quality of cosmetics products comprehensively”, said the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).
K-beauty 2024 exports to US, Japan rise while China declines
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) confirmed that K-beauty exports surpassed the USD10bn milestone for the first time in 2024.
China remained the largest importer of South Korean cosmetics with total export value of USD2.5bn, accounting for 24.5% of total exports. However, MFDS noted that China’s share has continued to decrease since 2021, dropping to the 20% range for the first time.
Exports to China decreased across most product categories, with the largest decline seen in basic skin care products, which fell by 11% from USD2.16 billion to USD1.92bn.In contrast, colour cosmetics reported a slight increase of 5.7% from USD300m USD320m.
Croda eyes major opportunity to develop ceramide solutions for hair and scalp care
Croda wants to expand the potential of ceramides to hair and scalp care as the skinification trend shows no sign of slowing down.
Consumers increasingly prioritise skin barrier protection, seeking products that prevent moisture loss, combat environmental stressors, and restore the skin’s natural defences.
Naturally, ceramides have become a popular ingredient as they help to restore the barrier, prevent moisture loss, and protect against environmental damage, making them ideal for maintaining healthy, hydrated, and resilient skin.
Cut above: New skin data on China women could aid cosmetic efficacy
The Cutometer is a globally recognised tool for assessing skin elasticity, offering valuable insights for skin research and cosmetic development. However, previous studies have thrown up inconsistencies in data, and few have been undertaken on Chinese women.
A study recruited 60 healthy Chinese female volunteers in the east of the country aged between 18 and 70 years, with an average age of 41.2 years.
The Cutometer was used to create new facial skin data on multiple Chinese women and its correlation with signs of ageing, in the hope of aiding future new product development.
Keune Haircosmetics to launch in China, sharpening Asia focus
Keune Haircosmetics announces plans to enter the Chinese market in 2025, marking a strategic shift towards strengthening its presence in Asia.
Today, the family-owned hair care brand is available across the globe, from its home country of the Netherlands to countries including Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, India, and the US.
In Asia, Keune has a relatively modest presence, but the region holds significant growth potential for the brand.
“We started in Indonesia five years ago; India was two years ago. It’s relatively new. You could say Asia is an untapped territory for us,” said Philip Berlijn, chief commercial officer and in-coming chief executive of Keune.
