East Asia

Hainan debut: Rituals lays down ‘ambitious’ growth plans for China travel retail market

23-Feb-2022 By Amanda Lim

Beauty and wellbeing brand Rituals has “ambitious” growth plans in place for China’s travel retail market, which it believes will be key to its business in the APAC region.

‘Strong progress’: Coty China prestige beauty grows ‘six times faster’ than the market

22-Feb-2022 By Amanda Lim

Beauty and fragrance manufacturer Coty reports that the growth of its prestige beauty business in China is outstripping the market, with the firm predicting that the luxury sector, in particular, is ripe for future growth.

Feeling the squeeze: China regulator set to tighten toothpaste rules amid ‘anti-Helicobacter pylori’ claims

22-Feb-2022 By Gary Scattergood

Regulators in China are set to tighten oral care and toothpaste regulations after raising the alarm over products that make ‘anti-Helicobacter pylori’ claims.

Expanding coverage: Estée Lauder preparing to increase presence across all China retail channels

16-Feb-2022 By Amanda Lim

Beauty major Estée Lauder Companies says it will be increasing its coverage across all channels in China this year to capitalise on the growth potential of its beauty market.

What’s tatt? Korea’s LG H&H ventures into beauty tech with mini tattoo printer for North American market

14-Feb-2022 By Amanda Lim

South Korean firm LG Household & Health Care is set to enter the beauty tech space with a mini tattoo printer that it plans to launch in North America in the fourth quarter of this year.

Minimising risk: Scientists say Chinese should not wear facial sheet masks for more than 20 minutes

09-Feb-2022 By Gary Scattergood

Scientists say people in China should not wear facial sheet masks for more than 20 minutes at a time, claiming that their insights provide the first ‘realistic risk assessment’ of such products among the local population.

Pretty different: Urban Decay enters travel retail channel in China amid animal testing changes

01-Feb-2022 By Guan Yu Lim

L’Oréal brand Urban Decay has made its first mark in China’s travel retail channel, following previous launches on Tmall and in Sephora outlets, after being buoyed by changes to the animal testing regime.

New year, new me: Aromababy to refresh brand in 2022 as it works to take brand to ‘the next level’

31-Jan-2022 By Amanda Lim

Australian baby care brand Aromababy is set for a major branding update in 2022 as it gears up to strengthen its overseas business and diversify its product offering.

China focus: Top 10 most-read stories on China’s booming beauty industry 2021

27-Jan-2022 By Amanda Lim

Here we reveal the biggest cosmetic stories in 2021 from China, featuring the hottest trends, the biggest regulations developments and more.

Clean label for kids: China’s Pula launches kids’ skin care range on Tmall and Douyin

27-Jan-2022 By Guan Yu Lim

Pula, a new cosmetic brand from China, has launched a range of clean label skin care for children on two of the largest e-commerce sales channels, Tmall and Douyin.

Portfolio enhancement: Beauty retailer Sa Sa to expand product offerings as COVID concerns grow

26-Jan-2022 By Amanda Lim

Beauty retailer Sa Sa will be expanding its product portfolio to boost sales and negate the adverse impact of Hong Kong’s fifth COVID-19 wave.

Zero-waste hero: Four LG H&H brands launch solid personal care products to boost eco-credentials

25-Jan-2022 By Amanda Lim

South Korean conglomerate LG Household and Health Care has launched zero-waste beauty options from four of its brands – Dr. Groot, Elastine, Veilment, and Himalayan Pink Salt.

Processed foods including pickles linked to higher risk of eczema in adults – China study

19-Jan-2022 By Guan Yu Lim

The frequent consumption of processed foods leads to an increased risk for atopic dermatitis, according to a study conducted on adults living in China.

Amorepacific confirms the effects of ceramide moisturiser in treating chemotherapy-induced skin dryness

19-Jan-2022 By Amanda Lim

A joint research effort by Amorepacific and Samsung Medical Centre has demonstrated the efficacy of a moisturiser with high ceramide content in treating skin dryness in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

New hot shots: POLA to expand bestselling White Shot range with skin care essence and supplements

19-Jan-2022 By Amanda Lim

Luxury J-beauty brand POLA is set to expand its bestselling White Shot range in late January with a skin care essence and beauty supplement which are based on the company’s new research and development.

Online phenomenon: Why beauty brands can expect e-commerce boom to continue in 2022 – Shopee

18-Jan-2022 By Amanda Lim

Premiumisation, improved augmented reality services, greater sampling opportunities and the growing popularity of e-commerce outside of Asia’s major cities can propel online sales growth across the beauty category in 2022, says Singapore-based site Shopee.

Space paste takes-off: Japan’s Lion develops easy-rinse foam toothpaste for astronauts

17-Jan-2022 By Amanda Lim

Japanese personal care company Lion has developed a foam toothpaste that will require less water to rinse off that will be used specifically on the International Space Station in 2022.

Surface defence: Kao study finds that skin pH and temperature affect hand barrier antibacterial function

12-Jan-2022 By Amanda Lim

New research published by Kao Corporation has demonstrated that skin pH and temperature can affect the antimicrobial activity on the surface of the hands.

Taking the leap: North American expansion on the cards for LG H&H in 2022 – CEO

12-Jan-2022 By Amanda Lim

South Korean multinational LG Household & Health Care is set to expand and strengthen its position in the North American beauty market in 2022.

J-beauty trends 2021: Cica, beauty from within, Osmanthus among the top trending keywords

10-Jan-2022 By Amanda Lim

Centella asiatica, beauty from within, and Osmanthus were among the top trending beauty keywords in Japan, new data has revealed.

Social selling: Yatsen sees Douyin channel as ‘very important factor’ for brand growth

05-Jan-2022 By Amanda Lim

Douyin is becoming an increasingly important channel for Chinese cosmetics firm Yatsen Holdings, which is seeing promising sales growth for brands like Perfect Diary on the video-sharing platform.

Not made for kids: China lawmakers emphasise that make-up is unsuitable for children under three

22-Dec-2021 By Amanda Lim

China’s food and drug regulator has declared make-up to be unsuitable for children under the age of three and warns parents against cosmetic products that are presented as toys.

Sun and surf: Kao to relaunch sun care brand Allie with ‘ocean safety’ focus in 2022

21-Dec-2021 By Amanda Lim

Kao Corporation is relaunching its sun care brand, Allie, with a series of new ‘ocean safe’ products that align with recent sunscreen regulations implemented to preserve the marine ecosystem.

The right choice: Retailer A.S. Watson sees P&G collaboration as opportunity to expand sustainable beauty offerings

15-Dec-2021 By Amanda Lim

Health and beauty retailer A.S. Watson says it has taken another step forward in sustainability by co-creating a skin care brand with Procter & Gamble that aligns with its Sustainable Choices product range.

Collagen collection: Japan’s Tenshi no RaRa maker aims to increase Taiwan sales fivefold, secures Thai approval

14-Dec-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

The Japanese manufacturer of the popular Tenshi no RaRa brand of collagen drinks and soaps is aiming to increase sales by fivefold in Taiwan next year.

Doubling down in China: Coty aiming to more than double sales over the next three years

14-Dec-2021 By Amanda Lim

US beauty major Coty is aiming to more than double its sales in China by tapping into opportunities with prestige beauty and e-commerce.

K-beauty’s evolution: Cosmetics showed highest export growth for Korean SMEs in past 10 years

13-Dec-2021 By Amanda Lim

South Korean cosmetic products from SMEs and start-ups have chalked up the biggest growth in exports in the past decade and is now the second-largest category, according to a new report from trade chiefs.

Something to crow about: Shiseido research shows men form crow’s feet wrinkles more than 10 years earlier than women

08-Dec-2021 By Amanda Lim

A new study by Japanese cosmetics firm Shiseido has discovered evidence that men tend to form wrinkles at the corners of their eyes more than a decade earlier than women.

Next stage of growth? The firm behind Perfect Diary refocusing efforts on skin care as make-up wanes

07-Dec-2021 By Amanda Lim

Yatsen Holdings, the firm behind popular make-up brand Perfect Diary, is channelling its efforts and resources into skin care, where it believes will be key to the firm's future growth.

Monster hit: KATE struggling to keep bestselling mask-friendly lipstick in stock as demand swells

06-Dec-2021 By Amanda Lim

Japanese make-up brand KATE is facing supply issues as demand for its bestselling mask-friendly lipstick, Lip Monster, soars among consumers.

Zen for your skin: Taiwanese brand Phytoflow claims to unlock benefits of meditation with natural extracts

02-Dec-2021 By Amanda Lim

Taiwanese cosmetics firm 3dL Inc. launches a new series of skin care products that claim to mimic the effect of meditation on the skin with natural extracts by increasing beta-endorphin release.

Evolving tech: Shiseido to expand capabilities of Second Skin to target nasolabial lines

01-Dec-2021 By Amanda Lim

Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido is to extend the capabilities of its Second Skin technology for use on the nasolabial lines – or smile lines – to prevent ‘sagging cheeks’.

L’Occitane H1: China sales rise 23% on the back of new launches such as Osmanthus fragrance

01-Dec-2021 By Amanda Lim

L’Occitane International has recorded sales growth of 23% in China during the first half of its 2022 fiscal year aided by investments and new launches of core brand L’Occitane en Provence.

‘No reason to be worried’: China’s ‘common prosperity’ drive will be positive for beauty – L’Oréal CEO

25-Nov-2021 By Amanda Lim

French beauty company L’Oréal believes that China’s policies aimed at bridging the widening wealth gap will ultimately be a boon for the beauty industry.

Turning the grey tide: Menard Cosmetics new study suggests red ginseng and truffles can prevent greying hair

23-Nov-2021 By Amanda Lim

Japanese cosmetics company Menard has published a study on the causes of greying hair that suggests that Korean red ginseng and truffle can help prevent the process by targeting pigment stem cells.

No child’s play: China’s regulations of children’s cosmetics will become ‘more stringent’

23-Nov-2021 By Amanda Lim

China’s measures to regulate the children’s cosmetics market are expected to be tightened further as the demand continues to swell and safety concerns surface.

Like bees to honey: US-based Honey Girl debuts in China after winning over Alibaba

22-Nov-2021 By Amanda Lim

Honey Girl Organics, a company that uses bee-derived products, was fast-tracked to enter China’s beauty market after winning over Alibaba in the firm’s second annual Go Global 11.11 Pitch Fest.

Testing the waters: Lack of in-store testers fuelling the sales of cosmetics on second-hand marketplaces – new survey

17-Nov-2021 By Amanda Lim

A new joint survey conducted by Japanese companies Mercari and istyle Inc has found that Japanese beauty consumers are turning to second-hand marketplaces as a means to try products before committing to a full purchase.

Vegan boost: LG H&H’s first vegan make-up brand completes line-up with seven new product launches

16-Nov-2021 By Amanda Lim

LG Household & Health Care’s has completed the product line-up of its first-ever vegan make-up brand, Belif x VDL, with the addition of seven more products to the existing line-up.

Ready to fly? First insect-based skin oil brand Point68 eyes China and Macau as potential markets

10-Nov-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

The brand behind a skin oil derived from black soldier fly larvae extract is looking to expand into China and Macau following its recent launch in Hong Kong.

‘Substantial shrinkage’: Kao reports skin care sales dip as hand hygiene demand falls

09-Nov-2021 By Amanda Lim

Japanese firm Kao Corporation has recorded a sales decline in skin care in the third quarter as the demand for hand soaps and sanitisers tumbled.

Eco Deo: HK’s Coconut Matter takes first steps to achieve circularity with new compostable paper deodorant tube

04-Nov-2021 By Amanda Lim

Hong Kong-based brand Coconut Matter is rolling out a new compostable paper tube for its natural deodorants on its quest to become a circular enterprise.

‘Be wary’: China issues warning to consumers against stem cells, acid peels, eyelash growth and ‘edible’ cosmetics

03-Nov-2021 By Amanda Lim

China’s food and drug regulator has published a series of alerts cautioning consumers against claims relating to stem cells, acid peels, eyelash growth and ‘edible’ cosmetics.

Shaving off the excess: China mandates food and cosmetics firms to limit excessive packaging and lower prices

02-Nov-2021 By Pearly Neo

China has issued new, stricter packaging regulations covering food and cosmetics products to prevent what has been dubbed the ‘excessive packaging’ phenomenon, citing a need to prevent unnecessary extra costs to consumers and impacts on the environment.

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