East Asia

Ripe for the picking: J-beauty brand THREE re-releases exclusive inner beauty supplement to alleviate common summer ailments

17-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

Japanese natural beauty brand THREE Cosmetics has re-launched a beauty supplement containing plum extract, which it claims can help improve common summer-related skin conditions.

Harnessing hemp: Koru Pharmaceuticals develops K-beauty skin care made with hybrid Korean variant

16-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

South Korean biopharmaceutical start-up Koru Pharmaceuticals has launched a new skin care brand made with hemp seed oil derived from a hybrid Korean hemp variant.

New life for old plastics: Kao furthers circular beauty goals with plans to use chemically recycled plastics for cosmetics

14-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

Japanese personal care major Kao Corporation has piloted a new initiative to use chemically recycled plastic for its cosmetics packaging in effort to further its efforts to improve its circularity.

China CBD ban: Retailers ‘encouraged’ to pull products off shelves as regulators formally ban use in cosmetics

14-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

Retailers in China are being advised to pull any cannabis-based cosmetics off the shelves after China’s drug regulator formally banned the use of cannabis compounds in cosmetics.

Indie Pioneers Podcast episode 20

PODCAST – Local flavour: Founder of Maison Dixsept on capturing the essence of modern China through perfume

11-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

In this episode of Indie Pioneers, we’re speaking to Catherine Zhou, the founder of China’s Maison Dixsept, a niche fine fragrance brand that is trying to reclaim Chinese culture and how it is represented around the world.

China cosmetics advertising: Shanghai association sets new standards that align with CSAR regulations

09-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

The Shanghai Advertising Association has released new advertising standards for cosmetic products to align with revisions to the country’s newly implemented cosmetic regulations.

Gender neutral: New Japan survey reveals potential for cosmetic products that can be used by both men and women

07-Jun-2021 By Amanda Lim

More than 60% of Japanese women would be willing to share their cosmetic products with men, indicating opportunities for brands to develop genderless products, according to a new survey.

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.

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.

Short-form success: Japan’s istyle inc sees Douyin as the ‘next major battleground’ in China’s e-commerce space

27-May-2021 By Amanda Lim

istyle inc’s live commerce company Over The Border is channelling its resources into Chinese social media platform Douyin with hopes to develop it into a ‘core business' in China.

Ginseng beauty: Cheong Kwan Jang’s Donginbi extends US reach to offer ‘quality effective products’ in men’s market

25-May-2021 By Amanda Lim

A South Korean beauty brand that specialises in products with red ginseng extract has expanded its brand in the US to capitalise on the growing male skin care market.

Word-of-mouth influence: KOLs such as top stylists crucial to establishing trust and recognition of Oribe in Japan

25-May-2021 By Amanda Lim

Kao Corporation has kicked-off off Oribe’s launch in Japan through premium beauty salons to tap into the influence of key opinion leaders such as hair stylists, which it believes are extremely effective at conveying the value of the brand to consumers.

Custom craze: Amorepacific introduces four more bespoke services as it banks on personalised beauty demand

24-May-2021 By Amanda Lim

From cushion foundations to bath bombs, K-beauty giant Amorepacific has launched a slew of bespoke beauty initiatives in the past few months as expects demand for personalised cosmetics to rise.

Accelerating recovery: Kao outlines plans to raise cosmetics business back up to pre-pandemic levels by 2023

17-May-2021 By Amanda Lim

Japanese conglomerate Kao Corporation is working to put its cosmetics division back on a path of high growth with a series of moves including ‘structural reform’ and ramping up marketing spend.

Emerging trends: Cica creams, hair oils and eyebrow make-up among most popular products in Japan

10-May-2021 By Amanda Lim

Cica creams, hair oils and eyebrow make-up are among the most sought-after products among Japanese consumers today, according to new data.