Beyond winter relief: How China’s hand cream market extends year-round
In China’s hand cream market, basic moisturization, especially in the dry winters, has become the minimal requirement. Chinese consumers now assess hand creams using criteria similar to facial skincare, seeking products with brightening, anti-aging, and SPF benefits, driving them to use multiple hand cream products and extend hand cream use year-round. More pronounced in hand […]
Sunscreen market in China: From SPF protection to skincare-driven daily use
Ultraviolet (UV) protection alone is not enough in the sunscreen market in China. Sunscreen is becoming more deeply integrated into daily skincare routines, outdoor lifestyles, and beauty regimens. This is raising the standards of sunscreen among Chinese consumers. According to Qingyan Intelligence, the sunscreen market in China was valued at RMB 27.5 billion in 2025, […]
China’s organic cosmetics market: Navigating regulation, scale, and consumer trust
Organic cosmetics are personal care products that leverage natural ingredients grown without synthetic pesticides. Under minimal processing, they retain active nutrients that the skin easily absorbs. Driven by these benefits, Chinese consumers are embracing natural skincare, causing China’s organic cosmetics market to boom rapidly. Although strict local laws disabled explicit “organic” packaging labels, analytical shoppers […]
Chinese anti-aging market is no longer about age, it’s about timing, ingredients, and precision
In China, conversations around aging are starting earlier and becoming more specific. It is increasingly common to see younger consumers paying attention to subtle skin changes, while older groups focus on maintaining overall condition rather than reversing it. At the same time, people are becoming more selective in what they use. Consumers are reading ingredient […]
Chinese cosmetic market shift: Domestic rise, foreign compete
The Chinese cosmetic market is a global powerhouse, accounting for approximately 20–25% of the total global industry value. Building on earlier observations of rising interest in domestic brands among younger consumers, the market has now shifted. While international heritage brands once dominated, domestic “C-beauty” players have successfully converted early consumer curiosity into sustained market leadership, […]
Cosmetics market in China: How consumer preferences are evolving and what trends are emerging
In 2023, China’s cosmetics market surpassed RMB 517 billion, recording a healthy 6.4% growth over 2022. With sustained interest in beauty, appearance enhancement and skin health, the market is projected to reach RMB 579 billion by 2025. China’s cosmetics market, which comprises of skincare, makeup, and other products used to enhance or alter one’s appearance, […]
Sephora in China: Losing ground in a new era of beauty
Once hailed as the go-to destination for premium beauty in China, Sephora in China now finds itself at a crossroads. Backed by LVMH, Sephora entered the Chinese mainland in April 2005 with its first store in Shanghai, introducing a globally inspired, sleek retail concept. Its stylish interiors and exclusive offerings—including localized brands like SkinVital, Fusion Beauty, […]
From beauty ideals to black market: The changing face of plastic surgery in China
In the bustling streets of modern China, a new trend is quietly reshaping the nation’s perception of beauty and self-improvement. Plastic surgery, once a taboo topic, has surged in popularity from both reconstructive and aesthetic aspects. Cosmetic surgery, a subset of plastic surgery, is now reshaping beauty standards, particularly among younger generations. Propelled by social […]
Shifting tides in China’s clean beauty market: navigating opportunities, changing regulations, and growing consumer interest
The clean beauty market in China presents both opportunities and challenges for international beauty brands. Despite the potential challenges, certain brands such as Kiehl’s from the United States and La Roche-Posay from France have successfully established a strong presence in the Chinese clean beauty and personal care market. This indicates that there are avenues for […]
The influence of local brands, Gen-Z consumers, and at-home trends on the booming beauty device market in China
Chinese consumers’ appetite for technology and customized recommendations, along with the rapid development of the lazy economy and the rise of the Gen-Z, is inducing more and more beauty brands to invest in at-home beauty devices. This has led to a rapid boom in the market for at-home beauty devices in China. During the pandemic, […]
How Gen-Z and COVID-19 reshaped China’s US$80 billion beauty industry
The beauty industry covers a wide variety of categories such as personal products (cosmetics, skincare, hair care, fragrances), beauty appliances (hair dryers, brushes, combs), and services (salons, day spas, medical aesthetics). On a global stage, China’s beauty industry is a force to be reckoned with. The country ranked second in terms of cosmetics market revenue […]
“Beauty value” economy in China (颜值经济): How social media made ‘face score’ a valuable asset
The “beauty value” economy in China, known in Chinese as 颜值经济 (yán zhi jing ji) is a recent internet slang, in which “yan” means face and appearance, and zhi represents the value of a person’s appearance. Several psychological aspects of the “beauty value” economy in China make it so prosperous. Firstly, working on one’s own […]