GS25 launches new makeup line amid intense competition for convenient, cost-effective cosmetics
South Korean convenience store chain GS25 has pushed out a new makeup line, as consumer demand and competition for “cost-effective cosmetics” intensify.
GS25 first introduced “KRW3,000 (USD2.20) cosmetics” in its stores in December last year.
Branded under Hatty (a portmanteau of handy and beauty), its latest portfolio expansion is in collaboration with local colour cosmetics brand SON&PARK.
According to GS25, there is an emerging “dupe culture” where consumers are looking for cost-effective products with quality comparable to high-end brands.
Shampoo sensation: South Korea’s Grabity continues sold-out streak with Taiwan launch
South Korean hair care brand Grabity has launched in Taiwan with a sold-out debut on a live-selling broadcast in May.
The brand is owned by Polyphenol Factory, a start-up founded in 2023 by renowned MIT scientist Professor Haeshin Lee and researchers from Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) university.
Since its release, its flagship product, Hair Lifting Shampoo, has surpassed 1m units in production and raked in KRW20bn (USD15m) in cumulative sales, among other records.
The performance in Grabity’s Taiwan debut is seen as a strong signal for further expansion across Asia’s premium beauty market.
RAAIE touts first NZ skin care brand to enter Sephora Oceania amid active global expansion
RAAIE says it is the first New Zealand skin care brand to launch in Sephora Oceania, as it actively seeks opportunities to expand into markets around the world.
This follows over a year of discussions that began in early 2024.
With products harnessing the bioactives found in native botanicals, RAAIE’s goal is to elevate brand awareness on a global stage, and to position New Zealand as a credible source of innovative, high-performance skin care.
JUNGSAEMMOOL to continue market and portfolio expansion on the back of Singapore gains
K-beauty brand JUNGSAEMMOOL looks to continue its global expansion and broadening its product offerings to “better reflect” the diversity of international consumers.The brand commemorated the first anniversary of its flagship store in Singapore in May.
Judy Kim, General Brand Manager of JUNGSAEMMOOL, told CosmeticsDesign-Asia that the response in Singapore has been very positive so far, with a growing customer base appreciating the brand’s commitment to professional-quality, skin-focused cosmetics.
JUNGSAEMMOOL is actively working on expanding its portfolio to include a wider range of shades to suit various skin tones, as well as creating formulations tailored for different climates, skin types, genders, and age groups.
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.
