Despite lingering stigma, the male beauty market in China remains resilient

Beauty in China is shifting away from being an option to becoming a necessity. With growing awareness of beauty products and a desire to gain social acceptance, more men are turning to beauty products. Even the older generations, who tend to hold onto more stigma regarding beauty products, are slowly adopting them. While skincare is […]
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 […]
Will Chinese beauty brand Perfect Diary make a comeback with its skincare-infused makeup?

Perfect Diary (完美日记), a Chinese cosmetics brand, achieved early success through KOL (Key Opinion Leader) marketing, co-branding, and private traffic pools. However, despite being recognized as one of the leading makeup brands in China, Perfect Diary’s success has waned over time. To recover, it has been focusing more on product quality, integrating skincare functionalities into […]
Men’s rising influence in the lipstick market in China

Under the influence of the “beauty value economy”, the lipstick market in China continues to captivate beauty enthusiasts. China’s lip makeup market witnessed substantial growth in 2023, reaching RMB 26.28 billion, up by 13% year-over-year. This trend is expected to continue, with the market anticipated to expand to RMB 37.95 billion by 2028. Lipsticks remain […]
What is driving the trend of hair coloring in China?

With the increase of social tolerance, popular fashion, and pop culture booming in China, hair coloring has become a common trend, but prejudice and misunderstanding about hair color still exist in some people’s concepts. Influenced by various aesthetics and trends, people express their personalities and preferences through different hair colors. The hair coloring market in […]
Rebranding success: KANS’ transformation into a leading anti-ageing skincare brand in China

KANS (韩束) is a Chinese skincare brand founded by parent company Shanghai Chicmax cosmetics in 2002. Prior to its re-brand in 2021, KANS functioned as a medium-to-high-end skincare brand within the company’s portfolio, focusing on providing effective skincare products for Chinese women under the slogan “Science realises your beauty”. In 2021, the brand underwent a […]
LA MER in China: how LA MER became one of Chinese consumers’ favorite beauty brands

LA MER has a legendary brand story that distinguishes it from any other cosmetics company. While most skincare products come from laboratories, LA MER is developed by a space physicist – Max Huber. Huber had suffered burns during an experiment and therefore spent years searching for ways to heal his damaged skin but could not […]
How Pechoin, China’s oldest skincare brand, remains a top beauty player after nearly 100 years

China’s skincare market revenue in 2022 amounts to RMB 110 billion and is expected to grow by 8% annually. 2019 research by AskCI Consulting reveals that Pechoin (百雀羚) accounted for 4.5% of this market. Pechoin retains this position by staying on top of China’s skincare market trends which include embracing Chinese traditions, up to the […]
The green step towards less waste – A glance at China’s new packaging regulation

On August 10, 2021, the Chinese State Regulation for Market Regulation (SAMR) launched a set of new provisions restricting excessive packaging of food and cosmetics (GB23350-202X) in China under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The new packaging regulation in China replaces the previous provisions defined in 2009 and is to […]
A complete guide to cosmetics distribution channels in China

China’s cosmetic market has not stopped growing in recent years and it is estimated to generate about 495 billion RMB in 2021, vaunting a 15.1% increase from 2020. Nevertheless, China’s per capita consumption of skincare and makeup products is just 1/3 and 1/5 of that boasted by the US and Japan/South Korea respectively, showing a […]
Guerlain in China: Perfume market strategies from 1993 to today

French premier luxury brand Guerlain under the LVMH group is one of the most successful foreign brands who has built a wide presence in the cosmetics market in China, particularly skincare, make-up, and perfume. Over the years, it has learned to adjust its marketing strategies – particularly those involving its products, engaging campaigns, and consumer […]
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: […]