China’s most valuable beauty brands revealed for 2025
The combined value of China’s four most valuable cosmetics brands has declined by 14% to USD5.5bn in 2025, according to the Cosmetics 50 2025 report by Brand Finance.
This decline can be attributed to evolving challenges faced by brands and regulatory developments.
Despite a drop in its brand value by 9% to USD3.0bn, PECHOIN remains as China’s most valuable cosmetics brand. The brand also ranks among the top 15 most valuable cosmetics brands globally.
Key drivers of India’s booming sun care category and how brands can stand out
While sunscreens have been the talk of town in India following the courtroom battle between Honasa Consumer Ltd and Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), the sun care category has been experiencing a significant boom in the market over the past five years.
Sun care product launches in India have grown by over 20% between 2019 and 2024, according to Mintel’s Global New Product Database. This surge has been attributed to several key drivers.
These include increased awareness and education among Indian consumers about the harmful effects of UV exposure on skin health, the country’s tropical climate and high UV index, and growth of e-commerce, which brands could capitalise on to differentiate themselves.
‘Alternative to microneedling’: sisua brings spicules-containing lip tint to Japan
South Korean derma cosmetics brand sisua has released a lip tint product containing spicules, which it says is an “natural alternative to microneedling”, in Japan.
This comes after a pop-up event held at beauty retailer @cosme in Osaka last June, where the product was first introduced to the market.
A key feature of the Berry Shot Lip Tint is the incorporation of spicules — tiny, needle-like structures, often extracted from marine organisms and sponges, that are said to function as an exfoliator and help boost collagen production.
Peptide progress: New ginseng extracts identified with anti-ageing skin care potential
A combination of pharmacology, machine learning, and experimental validation has revealed key ginseng peptide extracts (GPEs) that have potential for skin care products.
This is believed to be the first study where, unlike previous research into ginseng saponins and polysaccharides, academics have identified that ginseng extracts containing water-soluble small molecules and polypeptides exhibit potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ageing properties.
Writing in the journal Cosmetics, the research team from China stated that in vitro assays revealed that GPE reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β) in RAW264.7 macrophages while enhancing collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblasts.
CHANEL Fragrance & Beauty expands footprint in India with Nykaa launch
French luxury fashion house CHANEL’s fragrance and beauty business is expanding its footprint in India via a recent launch on Nykaa’s online and offline channels.
An e-commerce site dedicated to India, delivering to more than 27,000 postcodes in the country, was launched last year. This provides local consumers outside the metro cities easier access to the brand’s fragrance, beauty, and eyewear products.
A select line-up of CHANEL’s cosmetics will be available at Nykaa Luxe stores in Palladium Mall in Mumbai, 100 Feet Road in Bengaluru, and Nexus Elante Mall in Chandigarh, as well as on Nykaa’s app and website.
The firm targets to expand into over 10 Nykaa Luxe stores by the end of 2025.
Prime Skin bucks overconsumption trend with multifunctional, barrier-protective product
Australian skin care brand Prime Skin is seeking to buck the overconsumption trend in the beauty industry with its multifunctional product that claims to help maintain the skin’s barrier function and moisture levels.
The brand took nearly three years to debut its first product Jelly Plump last November, as the founders focused on sourcing the ingredients predominantly from Australia and developing the formulation locally.
This three-in-one product functions as a makeup remover, cleanser, and overnight mask.
CLEAR debuts scalp-focused range in China to meet rising demand for premiumisation
Unilever-owned CLEAR has released its first scalp-focused range in China to meet the growing demand for premium products and drive the shift towards science-backed hair care.
China’s premium scalp care market is currently experiencing massive growth, expanding at a rate of 190% and valued over RMB33bn (USD4.6bn), according to the company.
With evolving consumer demands and diverse needs for scalp health, simply focusing on cleansing is no longer sufficient to satisfy their desire for a premium experience.
‘Premium yet accessible’: HANYUL debuts local bestsellers in the US via Sephora
Amorepacific-owned skin care brand HANYUL is entering the US via a partnership with Sephora, with the aim of extending the reach of products that have been well-received in the domestic market.
HANYUL, which means “Korean principal of balance”, focuses on combining traditional Korean ingredients with modern skin care science to develop products that capitalise on the benefits of the country’s four-season climate.
Its bestselling products are now available at over 300 Sephora stores across the US, with plans to roll out to more outlets throughout 2025.
Sephora boosts APAC portfolio with Haus Labs by Lady Gaga launch in SEA, Oceania and HK
Sephora is strengthening its prestige beauty offerings in Asia-Pacific (APAC) with the launch of Haus Labs by Lady Gaga in South East Asia (SEA), Oceania, and Hong Kong.
Haus Labs was first released via Amazon in nine countries in 2019, before its exclusive global retail partnership with Sephora began in 2022.
According to Jenny Cheah, Managing Director of Sephora SEA, Oceania and India, Haus Labs has been a beloved brand within Sephora’s global beauty community since its debut, and that the retailer’s prestige beauty offerings in APAC now comprise nearly 250 brands.
Givenchy Beauty releases collagen-focused, anti-ageing skin care range in Japan
French luxury brand Givenchy Beauty has launched a collagen-focused, anti-ageing skin care range, targeted at restoring youthful contours of the face, in Japan.
The Sculptural anti-ageing range was introduced in January this year through the release of a face-tightening product called Sérum. Three new products have since been added to the line-up.
A key ingredient in this series is Phoenix Ciste, an extract of rockrose (Cistus monspeliensis) known for its regenerative properties and ability to protect skin from various environmental stressors.
