East Asia

Blooming potential: Lilies possess properties suitable for wide range of beauty products – Review

19-Sep-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

The Lilium plant, commonly known as lilies, possesses a slew of properties suitable for use in various cosmetics, including sunscreens, cleansers, masks and conditioners, according to a new review.

Spanish prospects: Korean trade body identifies opportunities in for nail care, high-tech beauty

19-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

Korean trade chiefs have identified untapped opportunities for K-beauty in Spain, specifically in nail care and high-tech beauty.

Reaping rewards: Lancaster sees double-digit growth on the back of China expansion

14-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

American multinational Coty has reported double-digit growth globally for its skin care brand Lancaster thanks to its successful expansion in China.

Low risk entry: istyle strives to boost Japanese beauty brands in China travel retail channel

13-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

Japanese retail and media conglomerate istyle Inc is aiming to boost the fortunes of Japanese beauty brands in China with a new @cosme duty-free store at the new Haikou International Duty Free City.

‘Outpacing the plan’: Orbis U relaunch surpasses initial sales expectations – Japanese beauty giant

12-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

The relaunch of Orbis’ flagship U series has exceeded initial sales expectations and is expected to reach its first-year sales target of JPY2.5bn (USD17.6m), claims the firm.

‘Growing steeply’: Silicone-free ‘one of the most important’ hair care trends in Korea

07-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

The pervasiveness of the clean beauty movement and the increasing emphasise of health is driving the demand for silicone-free hair care products in South Korea, with one supplier believing it to be among the most crucial trends in K-beauty.

Size matters: Givaudan eyes gap in the men’s cosmetics market for pore-reducing products

07-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

Ingredients firm Givaudan says there is gap in the men’s segment for cosmetics that can reduce large pores, particularly among Chinese males.

‘Capturing consumer changes’: Three new launches to expect from Shiseido in the H2 of 2022

05-Sep-2022 By Amanda Lim

Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido is set to debut three new innovations in the second half of this year as a response to the recent changes in consumer behaviours.

Superdrug expands premium to give ‘beauty choices for every budget’

01-Sep-2022 By Shane Starling

The UK’s second-biggest health and beauty retailer Superdrug is defying the cost-of-living crisis and upping its game in premium beauty brands as it broadens its offer beyond its lower price point core.

Innovation breakthrough: Yatsen R&D investments ‘most important driver’ for future growth – CFO

31-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Chinese cosmetics firm Yatsen is shifting investment focus from marketing to research and development in the second half of 2022 in order to drive future long-term growth.

Bio-based biotin: Biosynthia targets Asian hair care market with sustainably sourced biotin

31-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Ingredient firm Biosynthia has identified South Korea and Japan as two top targets as it seeks to grow in Asia’s hair care market with a ‘natural and sustainably sourced’ biotin.

Retail woes: Yatsen set to shut more Perfect Diary offline stores in H2 this year

31-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Chinese cosmetics company Yatsen Holdings will close more underperforming Perfect Diary brick-and-mortar stores considering the worsening retail environment in China.

China luxury skin care: Consumers refocusing on ‘essentiality and real value’ – Shiseido

30-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Chinese beauty consumers are zeroing in on the efficacy and functionality of luxury skin care products in the wake of repeated lockdowns and the threat of unemployment, says the CEO of Shiseido China.

Dazzling debut: L’Oréal touts Hainan as the ‘perfect venue’ to introduce J-beauty brand Takami

29-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Hainan Island’s reputation as the “go-to beauty destination” makes it the ideal place to introduce Takami, the newest “jewel” in L’Oréal’s high-end skin care portfolio, claims the firm.

China focus: Latest developments in China’s booming beauty market

25-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

We round up the most recent developments in the exciting Chinese beauty market, featuring news from Maybelline, A.S. Watson, La Prairie and more.

A cleaner solution: Innerbottle aims to replace silicone insert with new material for easier recycling

24-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

South Korean sustainable packaging start-up Innerbottle is working to replace its current silicone inserts with a new thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) it has developed called TPX, which will make it easier to recycle.

Recovery plan: Estée Lauder outlines six-month strategy to recoup market share loss in China

24-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

The Estée Lauder Companies has put in place a six-month plan to recover the market share it has lost in China due to the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions that occurred in the first half of 2022.

La Prairie China expansion: Luxury brand to open 10 more doors by end of 2022

23-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

German personal care major Beiersdorf has plans to expand La Prairie’s offline presence in China with 10 more touchpoints as the brand rebounds strongly in the pandemic-plagued market.

A hairy situation: Kao CEO highlights need for ‘dramatic’ change to invigorate hair care business

23-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

The CEO of Japanese consumer goods company Kao Corporation has underlined the immediate need to revitalise its declining hair care business amid stiff competition in the mass market sector.

New must-haves: Olive Young facial guasha sales increase six-fold in the first half of 2022

22-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

South Korean retailer Olive Young data has revealed that facial guasha sales have increased over six times in the first half of the year, signalling the growing importance of self-care among beauty consumers.

China reopening: Recovery of consumer sentiment ‘will take some time’ – A.S. Watson MD

17-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Retailer A.S. Watson has cautioned that consumer sentiment in China will take time to fully recover, despite an uptick in footfall following a turbulent few months due to COVID-19 restrictions.

‘As fast as possible’: Carbonwave targets Asia’s clean beauty market with upcycled seaweed emulsifier

16-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Upcycled seaweed could soon be available as an emulsifier in the Asian beauty and personal care market, with one firm keen to tap into clean beauty interest ‘as fast as possible’.

Powder power: Est to launch new powder foundation that mimics liquid foundation

15-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Japanese beauty brand Est will be launching a new powder foundation that resembles liquid foundation thanks to a new powder gel technology developed by parent company Kao Corporation.

Going on the offensive: Shiseido to invest over $75m in brand equity and employee training

15-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

Japanese beauty major Shiseido is planning to invest JPY10bn (USD75.5m) in both brand equity and its employees as part of plans to go on the offensive and buck the declining trend of the market.

Staying put: L’Oréal confirms that Maybelline will continue to have offline presence in China - CEO

10-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

French beauty giant L’Oréal will not be stamping out Maybelline’s physical presence in China and migrating online completely, despite the strength of e-commerce and plans to close 14 standalone stores, its CEO has confirmed.

Natural repellent: Strong demand for novel Taiwanese black root citronella in Singapore as dengue cases surge

09-Aug-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

A novel Taiwanese black root citronella oil brand Dong Sheng is experiencing sales success in Singapore as dengue cases spike, with at least 21,000 units of 10ml roll-ons being sold out monthly.

L’Oréal has set ‘clear roadmap’ for North Asia’s carbon neutrality achievements to be replicated – SVP

08-Aug-2022 By Amanda Lim

French beauty major L’Oréal Group believes it can replicate the carbon neutrality achievements of its North Asia division, with one executive confirming the firm has outlined a “clear roadmap” to do so.

China focus: Latest developments in China’s booming beauty market

28-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

We round up the most recent developments in the exciting Chinese beauty market, featuring news from L’Occitane, Sa Sa, Orbis and more.

‘Sustainable and premium’: Sharp rise in demand for glass packaging from Chinese ‘masstige’ market

27-Jul-2022 By Lynda Serby

Glass packaging supplier SGD Pharma has plans to increase the capacity of its Zhanjiang plant in China by 15% on the back of “explosive” demand at home and an aggressive expansion strategy in the Americas.

Tressed to impress: Semi-permanent hair dyes the next big thing to hit APAC mainstream market

25-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

Semi-permanent hair dyes that can be applied as a shampoo and conditioner are set to be one of the biggest hits in the Asia Pacific beauty market, as evidenced by success in South Korea.

Post-pandemic brand strategy: Simplification and sophistication – Research

21-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

Simplification and sophistication are key strategies to drive cosmetics sales in the post-pandemic era, with consumers willing to spend more on natural, sustainable care and tech beauty.

Worldwide wonder: K-beauty retailer Olive Young sees global orders increase by 125% during mid-year sales

19-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

Olive Young has seen its global orders increase by 125% during its mid-year sales period, signalling strong overseas opportunities for the South Korean beauty retailer.

Nailing the look: East Asian Gen Z males increasingly open to using cosmetics, nail care – studies

18-Jul-2022 By Nurul Ain Razali

East Asian Generation Z males are more open to using cosmetics and have even developed a proclivity to nail care, with at least one in two having already tried nail art.

Replicating online success: Sa Sa targeting Malaysia, Australia, Europe, N. America with online revamp

14-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

Hong Kong-based beauty retailer Sa Sa International is eyeing opportunities in Malaysia, Australia, Europe, and North America with a revamped international online store.

Relaunch goals: Orbis aiming to achieve $18.5m sales target with new skin ageing care range

13-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

J-beauty skin care brand Orbis will relaunch its best-selling skin ageing care range, Orbis U, with three new products, with the firm targeting sales of JPY2.5bn ($18.5m) in its first year.

Celebration and colour: Olive Young mid-year sales data reveals demand for colour and fragrance

06-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

Colour cosmetics, ‘fashion’ hair dyes and perfumes were among the most in-demand categories among South Korean beauty consumers, according to new mid-year sales data from leading beauty retailer Olive Young.

Transition to normal: Top products in Japan highlight state of ‘rehabilitation’ among beauty consumers

05-Jul-2022 By Amanda Lim

The latest collection of top ranked products on the @cosme beauty platform have revealed that consumers are choosing products that can help them transition back into pre-pandemic beauty habits in a gradual manner.

Mask relief: Salmon complex moisturiser eases sensitive skin problems caused by face masks

04-Jul-2022 By Gary Scattergood

Wearing a face mask causes physiological changes in sensitive skin, but applying a salmon complex moisturiser after removing it improved conditions, according to a new study.

Fresh new face: LG H&H launches vegan make-up brand targeted at younger consumers

28-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

South Korean consumer goods conglomerate LG Household & Health Care (LG H&H) has launched Freshian, a vegan-certified colour cosmetic brand in bid to attract the young set of millennial and Generation Z beauty consumers.

Back with a vengeance: New data reveals top emerging beauty trends as ‘revenge spending’ soars in Japan

27-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

Coloured brows, K-beauty, sustainability, and genderless cosmetics are among the top trends to keep an eye on in Japan as beauty consumers embark on revenge shopping sprees, according to new data.

Filling a grey space: K-beauty giants see mega demand for shampoos that conceal grey hairs and prevent hair loss

22-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

South Korean cosmetic titans Amorepacific and LG Household & Healthcare (LG H&H) have both recently launched shampoos that can conceal grey hairs to great success, signalling a huge demand for anti-ageing hair care products.

‘Half a step ahead’: FIVEISM x THREE outlines post-COVID market expansion plans to tap into growing men’s beauty market

17-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

Genderless make-up brand FIVEISM x THREE is embarking on an overseas expansion as the COVID-19 situation abates, with new markets including Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan on its cards.

K-beauty vs eco: Cosmetics industry most significantly impacted sector by post-pandemic demand for greener products

14-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

A new survey by Korea International Trade Association (KITA) has revealed that South Korea’s cosmetics industry was the most significantly impacted sector by the post-pandemic demand for eco-conscious products.

New horizons: EZZ Life eyes opportunity to grow business two-fold on the back of new beauty business

08-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

Australian healthcare company EZZ Life Science Holdings has entered the beauty and personal care space with a new hair care range which it hopes can help double its business in the next couple of years.

Summer essentials: Warm weather driving sales of spray-type sunscreens and humidity-proof hair styling in Japan

08-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

The arrival of summer is heralding the demand for spray-type sunscreens and humidity-proof hair styling products in Japan, according to new data.

K-beauty brand Dear Dahlia eyeing major expansion in the Middle East to capture luxury beauty opportunities

07-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

Luxury vegan beauty brand Dear Dahlia from South Korea is set on expanding its presence in the Middle East, with new markets including Egypt, Kuwait, and Bahrain on the cards for this year.

Kosé pushing forward with Decorté expansion in ‘worrisome’ China market

01-Jun-2022 By Amanda Lim

Japanese cosmetics company Kosé Corporation is pushing ahead with the expansion of its ‘high-prestige’ brand Decorté in China despite tough market conditions.

A perfect plan? Yatsen hinges bets on Douyin and offline retail to ‘ease sales decline’ of Perfect Diary

31-May-2022 By Amanda Lim

Chinese cosmetics company Yatsen Holdings is moving to help flagship make-up brand Perfect Diary recover from its recent decline amid the sluggishness of the colour cosmetics market in China.