The sunscreen market in China is becoming more functional and premium
Among Chinese consumers, the preference for pale skin as a beauty standard is alive and well, and one of the products benefiting from this trend is sunscreen. With the continuous improvement of Chinese consumers’ awareness of skin health, sunscreen is no longer just for sunny summer days. Many now use it daily in the cold […]
“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 […]
How skin whitening in China impacts more than just the beauty industry
Skin whitening in China is a prevailing beauty standard which has persisted throughout history. In ancient China, white pale skin was a key differentiator to highlight one’s elite social status. Since Chinese farmers and low-level laborers spent a lot of time on the sun, they had darker complexions. In addition, ancient Chinese literature further emphasized […]
Olympic marketing 2021: Chando challenges China’s beauty standards featuring female Olympic athletes
On July 12th, when its 20th anniversary coincided with the Olympics Games, Chando, a Chinese beauty brand, released a short video promoting their new high-end Moisturizing Series cream and a surprise gift box made in collaboration with Tmall. (Read more about TMall Heybox). With the slogan “自然而燃 ” (Burn naturally), Chando plays on the idiom: […]
INSBAHA x Sanxingdui Museum campaign: Marketing “antique” products to Gen-Z
On July 12th the Chinese make up brand INSBAHA (原色波塔) released their new collaboration with the Sanxingdui Museum (三星堆博物馆) on all their Chinese social media accounts. INSBAHA is a make-up brand founded by a Chinese cosmetics company, Proya Cosmetics (珀莱雅), which targets ‘health nuts and trend lovers.’ The Sanxingdui Museum is located near Chengdu and […]
How foreign cosmetics and skincare brands in China can succeed: China Paradigm transcript #123 with Jean-Philippe Benoist
GED localizes and establishes foreign cosmetics and skincare brands in China. Currently, GED is partnering with about 20 cosmetics brands. Having initially started with offline channels and distribution with SEPHORA, they are now focusing on digital online sales and marketing channels such as RED, WeChat, Weibo, Bilibili, TikTok, Tmall, JD, VIPshop, and others. Their target […]
The Chinese Daigou industry explained | The future of surrogate shopping in China
Daigou (代购) is a form of surrogate shopping in China as a means to receive cheaper luxury goods from duty free shops and foreign countries. Along with the growth in tourism, the luxury market, and increased disposable income, the Daigou market in China has developed rapidly in the past ten years. Until 2014, the market […]
Required cosmetics animal testing in China is loosening: “Ordinary” products no longer required to do animal testing
At some point, all major cosmetics brands were faced with the difficult decision: enter the Chinese market or stick to their principles. This is due to China’s requirement of cosmetics to undergo animal testing. However, on May 1st 2021, China has loosened its requirement for animal testing. In short, pre-market animal testing is no longer […]
How Winona became the #1 brand for sensitive skin in China
Winona, founded in 2008, is a Chinese skincare brand that specifically targets sensitive skin. Although faced with many strong incumbents in the industry, Winona was able to appeal to customers and rank number one in the sensitive skincare category in 2020. In June 2020, Winona’s parent company Yunnan Botanee Group, a biotechnology manufacturer, filed for […]
C-beauty gone global: Behind Perfect Diary’s western market entry strategy
If you are looking for a brand that best represents the craze of C-beauty consumption in 2020, Perfect Diary has no rivals. Founded in 2017, the Chinese makeup brand Perfect Diary gained widespread support on social media, with its unique brand positioning “high-end quality at a lower price point”. Its products mainly range from lipsticks, […]