Hair Care

Indonesian Minister and RSPO open to collaboration on joint sustainable palm oil standard

10-Jun-2014 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the Indonesian Vice Minister of Trade have announced that they are open to a collaboration to produce a joint sustainable palm oil standard.

Is it time up for beauty boxes in Asia already?

03-Jun-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

Just last year we were reporting that beauty boxes were making in-roads in Asia, particularly in the Southeast and Korea. Now, some analysts say the market may be over saturated with the ‘all too easy to replicate’ subscription services.

Could new law make celebrities cautious with brand endorsement in China?

03-Jun-2014 By Lucy Whitehouse

Though globally the rise of celebrity brand ambassadors is proving a key trend for beauty brands, China’s recently implemented ‘Revised Consumer Rights Protection Law’ means that in the key emerging region, celebrities are now liable for the claims made...

Male grooming market in Nepal sees influx in products catering to demand

28-May-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

The business of men’s cosmetic goods grew to more than Rs 3 billion in Nepal in 2013 with fairness creams and face washes with the likes of Emami Fair, Nivea and Garnier dominating the domestic market.

El Nino will have no effect on Malaysian palm oil production… just yet

21-May-2014 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

According to the Malaysian Palm Oil Association, the weather phenomenon referred to as ‘El Nino’ will have no immediate effect on palm oil output in the country.

Asia in Focus

Expert reveals scalp care to be as vital as facial treatments with Asian consumers

21-May-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

This month we're focusing on the rise of the scalp care market in Asia, where our expert, Florence Bernardin, says consumers place treatment of this area on the same level of skin care. After all, she says, the skin of the scalp is connected to the...

Certified Sustainable Palm Oil use increases 49% on last year

14-May-2014 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

The uptake of certified sustainable palm oil has seen a 49% increase in the first quarter of 2014 compared to last year which many believe is a positive landmark for the industry that has been threatening to destroy rainforests in Indonesia and around...

Australia recommends ban on DMEP phthalates in cosmetics

13-May-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) has assessed the health risks of DMEP, particularly from repeated or prolonged exposure, from its use in cosmetics and recommended a ban.

Attention turns to the growing trend of green actives

12-May-2014 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

With the demand for green actives growing at a quick rate and many ingredient suppliers producing innovative ingredients, the topic will become a key focus at this week’s Sustainable Cosmetics Summit in New York.

Japanese cosmetic innovation leading the way

07-May-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

Regional experts predict Japan’s knack for innovating product textures, concepts and formulas, particularly in the hair and skin care segments, will be tempting consumers from its fellow markets.

India’s FMCG market slowdown a concern for personal care

06-May-2014 By Lucy Whitehouse

The most recent financial quarter saw a slowdown in India’s fast moving consumer goods market’s growth, with personal care brands listed among those which are losing out as a result. 

Hair-raising research: Shiseido to open regeneration facility in Japan

23-Apr-2014 By Lucy Whitehouse

Japan-based cosmetics giant Shiseido has announced it will open a new facility in the country next week, which will conduct research into hair regeneration.

Unilever takes advantage of mobiles’ novelty in rural India

23-Apr-2014 By Lucy Whitehouse

In the latest move from beauty brands mobilising to leverage the increasing number of consumers from rural areas of India, Unilever has launched a music streaming marketing service for its beauty brands. 

Western consumers are now demanding skin care influences from Asia

22-Apr-2014 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

It is important for ingredient suppliers to stay relevant and follow the trends – which in skin care right now, is coming from Asia…

Suppliers need to listen to global consumers so they can use the same language as manufacturers

22-Apr-2014 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Two years after launching its Care Creations brand to reach all consumers from different markets around the world, BASF has now developed new innovations based on consumer needs, which are just as important to ingredient suppliers.

First ever 'Kosmetica' beauty event caters to India's rapid growth

09-Apr-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

With the Indian cosmetic industry forecaste to reach $200 billion by 2020, more beauty focused events are springing up all over the country, Kosmetica being the first of its kind in New Delhi. 

Cosmeceuticals expecting double digit growth across Asia

09-Apr-2014 By Lucy Whitehouse

China, India and Japan will all participate in the upcoming growth of cosmeceuticals in the Asia Pacific region, according to Ken Research’s latest market report.

Hair loss and fat – it’s all linked finds new study

08-Apr-2014 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

A new study combining science from Australia and the UK has suggested that losing weight and halting hair loss could go hand-in-hand after findings show that the skin can regulate fat production.

Colgate-Palmolive commended for sustainable palm oil sourcing plan

27-Mar-2014 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Colgate-Palmolive has become the latest company to join the movement towards deforestation-free palm oil, which many believe adds weight to the movement towards a more sustainable industry.

Luxury beauty on the up in Thailand

20-Mar-2014 By Lucy Whitehouse

New statistics from the country’s finance ministry reveal that the luxury goods market in Thailand is proving increasingly robust, suggesting the country is succeeding in its aim to offer an attractive option for tourist consumers.

*Cosmetics Vision Special*

Time for brands to look outside the box

19-Mar-2014 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

When it comes to marketing and advertising, brands need to abandon the pre-existing rules that their categories have, and focus on engaging with the consumer and their needs.

*Cosmetics Vision Special*

Suppliers need to stay on top of trends to win over consumers

18-Mar-2014 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Ingredient suppliers need to stay on top of the trends and work with finished goods manufacturers to ensure they win over consumers, says Lubrizol’s Adrian Holland.

Asian cosmetic brands to see 'top table' success with Korean wave

18-Mar-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

A 'Korean wave' is helping Asia's brands to take a strong foothold of the market share which will see them take their place at the top table amongst Western players once and for all.   

UBM Asia launches Thai beauty show

11-Mar-2014

A key exhibition organiser in Asia, UBM, has announced its intention to launch a further show in Thailand, 2015.

Industry association works towards forging greater ties between Japan and China

05-Mar-2014 By Simon Pitman

According to Jianzhong Yang, founder of the Japan-China Cosmetics Exchange Association, there is much that cosmetics players in these two countries can offer one another.

ASEANbeauty first to cater to fast evolving market in Thailand

04-Mar-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

UBM Asia has launched ASEANbeauty, a trade event supported by the Thai Cosmetics Manufacturers Association in an effort to keep up with the growing cosmetics sector in Thailand.

Rural consumers to lead India's boom: Unilever looking to profit

27-Feb-2014 By Lucy Whitehouse

Unilever has announced its intention to join the Facebook-led alliance ‘Internet.org’, which seeks to provide web access to India’s rural population, in a move which looks to make the most of reaching the key consumer group.  

As Shiseido refocuses on Asia, L’Oréal snaps up brands

27-Feb-2014 By Lucy Whitehouse

In a mutually beneficial agreement, Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido has announced the sale of two of its luxury beauty brands, Carita and Decléor, to French beauty brand L’Oréal.

Mary Kay further invests in China

20-Feb-2014

In a move which counters that of some of its retreating rivals, US beauty brand Mary Kay is looking to establish itself further in China with the purchase of an office building in Shanghai.

China’s online market still ripe at home

18-Feb-2014 By Lucy Whitehouse

VIPshop, a prominent Chinese flash sales site, has acquired a majority stake of cosmetics e-store Lefeng for $132.5 million, in an expansion which confirms that China’s e-commerce beauty market continues to strengthen.

China luxury goods market to slow down in 2014

11-Feb-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

According to market consultants, Bain & Co, China’s luxury goods market has slowed from 7% growth in 2012 to around 2% in 2013, with expectations of similar figures in 2014.

India's Marico lowers hair range by 30% to compete with L'Oreal

04-Feb-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

Indian personal care products company, Marico has expanded into the hair care segment with its Livon brand, a product it priced 30% lower than those of the leaders of the segment, L'Oreal and P&G.

Researchers convert adult cells to hair generating stem cells to beat the bald

30-Jan-2014 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

In news that may please the follicly challenged among us, researchers have come up with a method to convert adult cells into epithelial stem cells for the first time.

The squalene debate: China under the spotlight for cosmetics focused slaughters

30-Jan-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

Despite various cosmetic companies investing in more sustainable alternatives to squalene, some specialised producers have been found to still be dealing in the shark liver in China.

CFDA publishes amendment of cosmetic registration

29-Jan-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

China’s FDA has welcomed public comments on the amendment of new cosmetic ingredient registration management rules.

Asia in Focus

Japanese anti-aging hair care category sees major innovations

23-Jan-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

Hair care in Japan reached 523 billion yen in 2012 and rose by 6% last year. Although this represents only a slight rise, our regional expert says the category is not to be underestimated, considering many segments have remained stagnant.

Halal holds just 4% of cosmetics market despite vast Muslim population

22-Jan-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

With the global cosmetics market placed at $335 billion, the halal segment still remains relatively small in comparison to the 1.6 billion Muslim population made up of potential consumers.   

India’s cosmetics industry set to treble

14-Jan-2014 By Michelle Yeomans

The retail beauty and cosmetics market in India,  currently estimated at $950 million, is predicted to grow to $2.68 billion by the year 2020.

Stem cell answer to beat the bald

06-Jan-2014 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

A trio of studies have delved into the regeneration of hair follicles and described some of the factors that determine when hair grows, when it stops growing and when it falls out.

Update: India to ban importing animal-tested cosmetics

19-Dec-2013 By Chris BARKER

India is in the process of developing a bill which will prohibit animal-tested cosmetics from being imported into the country, according to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization.

2013: A year of rising awareness for sustainable palm oil

19-Dec-2013 By Chris BARKER

With palm oil becoming one of the most important ingredients used by many cosmetics companies, sustainability has become a hot-button issue in 2013.

Hong Kong cosmetics market 'yet to reach its peak'

18-Dec-2013 By Michelle Yeomans

Specialty cosmetics chain Sa Sa reckons the HK market has yet to peak as it sees a major shift in shopping trends amongst certain consumer groups.

Online retail the wave of the future for Asia-Pacific region

18-Dec-2013 By Chris BARKER

E-commerce is becoming an increasingly important trend throughout the world, but nowhere more than in the Asia-Pacific region with its fast-growing base of internet users and enormous population.

South Korea proposes to recognize animal testing alternatives

17-Dec-2013 By Chris BARKER

Another country may soon be moving towards alternatives to animal testing, as South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has created a policy proposal to recognize these methods for functional cosmetics.

Popularity of multifunctional products expected to continue in China in 2014

12-Dec-2013 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

The ‘Mixologiste’ trend of multifunctional products blurring the lines between different markets and technologies is on that is already popular and China and is expected to grow in the future in the region.

Revlon ordered to test cancer-linked cosmetics in Vietnam

11-Dec-2013

Cosmetics company Revlon is facing another obstacle as the Vietnamese Drug Administration orders an investigation into claims that their personal care products contain cancer-causing chemicals.

Record number of companies 'offsetting' palm kernel oil

10-Dec-2013 By Chris BARKER

Record numbers of palm kernel oil producers are offsetting their production by supporting sustainable growers, according to certification company Green Palm.

Oriflame warehouse fire will affect service in 2014

04-Dec-2013 By Chris BARKER

A fire which destroyed one of Oriflame’s main warehouses in the vicinity of New Delhi is likely to have an effect on service levels in India in 2013 and the first quarter of 2014, according to the company.

Korean cosmetics continues success on AP markets

04-Dec-2013 By Michelle Yeomans

As Korean cosmetics brands continue to see success on their neighbouring AP markets, factors such as affordability and an ever expanding male grooming segment are found to be the key driving forces.

DTAB recommends ban on importing animal-tested cosmetics

03-Dec-2013 By Chris BARKER

The Indian Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) has recommended an import ban on cosmetics which have been tested on animals, according to animal rights organization Humane Society International.