COVID-19

Helping hand: Korea announces measures to increase logistic support for SMEs under export pressure

28-Jul-2021 By Amanda Lim

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency is expanding logistics support services and creating an emergency budget to help small and medium-sized enterprises that are under pressure.

Pressing ahead: Struggling Sa Sa finds respite in e-commerce progress as it endures sales dive

26-Jul-2021 By Amanda Lim

Beauty retail group Sa Sa International’s pivot towards e-commerce appears to be paying off as it recorded a year-on-year sales increase of 108.8% during the April to June quarter.

Digital transformation: Kao Corp pumps $136m into digital as it seeks to offset cosmetics sales slump

14-Jul-2021 By Amanda Lim

Kao is investing $136m on its digital transformation to enhance the competitiveness of its cosmetics division, which has experienced a sales slump during the pandemic.

Fighting back: Sa Sa to pilot experiential retail ‘zones’ as brick-and-mortar business continues to decline

05-Jul-2021 By Amanda Lim

Hong Kong-based beauty retail group Sa Sa International will begin piloting experiential in-store concepts this year in Hong Kong and Macau to salvage declining business.

Problem solvers: More mask-friendly product launches aiding recovery of make-up spend in Japan

30-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

Japanese consumers appear to be slowly increasing their expenditure on make-up as more new product launches help them adopt more mask-friendly cosmetic habits, according to a new report.

‘Human approach to beauty’: L’Occitane online sales grow 69% thanks to social selling initiatives

29-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

Hong Kong-listed L’Occitane International has credited the growth of its online sales in part to its successful social selling initiatives in markets including South Korea, Europe and the US.

K-beauty boost: S. Korea’s cosmetics exports soar to make it the world’s third-largest cosmetics exporter

28-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

South Korea’s cosmetics trade surplus exceeded U$6bn for the first time in 2020, advancing its position on the global stage as the third-largest cosmetics exporter behind only France and the US.

Post-pandemic beauty: Skin care to take ‘brightest spot’ globally with €152bn sales by 2025

23-Jun-2021 By Kacey Culliney

The global beauty and personal care market is bouncing back from a difficult COVID-19 period, and skin care will be the frontrunner in future growth as consumers continue to prioritise ‘skinimalism’ routines, according to Euromonitor International.

Sunscreen still needed: Protective surgical face masks ineffective against UV protection, says Kao

22-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

People still need to protect their skin from ultraviolet sun rays with sunscreen even when wearing protective surgical face masks, according to new research from Kao.

Go big or go home: Wiz Care’s strategy to balance sustainability and affordability in India’s personal care mass market

21-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

An Indian personal care and hygiene company is walking the fine line between sustainability and affordability by launching jumbo-sized packs and multifunctional products for the mass market.

‘Ultimate consumer experience’: How P&G’s SK-II turned to social retail to create contactless engagement with shoppers

08-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

Skin care brand SK-II has tapped into social retail to engage with beauty consumers who have increased their time spent online in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Skin shield: Multifunctional and natural claims key for protective beauty following COVID-19

03-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

The COVID-19 pandemic will heighten demand for skin products that protect ‘against a host of aggressors’ beyond pollution, claims the founder of a New Zealand natural ingredient firm.

Hybrid sun care: Anessa to launch multifunctional skin brightening sunscreen in response to changing pandemic needs

01-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido is set to launch a new multifunctional sunscreen under the Anessa brand that has skin brightening properties as a response to the changing consumer needs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beauty, streamlined: Sephora pinpoints demand for multipurpose beauty products that won’t compromise on skin TLC

31-May-2021 By Amanda Lim

Beauty retailer Sephora says consumers are looking for skin care, hair care and make-up products that offer more while allowing them to do less.

Smells like success: Growth of men’s fragrance surpasses make-up and skin care in China

27-May-2021 By Amanda Lim

The men’s fragrance category is leading the way in China, exceeding make-up and skin care in terms of annual and quarterly growth, according to data from one market research company.