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, […]
2026 China Beauty Market Trends Report
China’s beauty market rebounded an estimated 5% from 2024 to 2025, a significant rebound after years of hindered growth. This rebound gives beauty brands in China a lot to be optimistic about. This report highlights the China beauty market trends to expect in 2026, along with a deep dive in the fragrance category – which […]
Beauty standards in China: How society, economy, and technology shape modern aesthetics
Beauty has never been a fixed concept. It evolves with time, culture, and societal transformation. Beauty standards in China have been continuously reshaped by the country’s rapid modernization, global exposure, and shifting social values. As the economy grows and society transforms, so too does the way people define and express beauty. Understanding these changes requires […]
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 […]
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 […]
Tripling sales and halving prices: China’s samples market revolutionizing purchases
Product samples have increasingly influenced full-size purchases in recent years, reshaping the Chinese B2C market. The astonishing popularity of sample-sized products has given rise to a thriving samples economy in China which has not seen similar growth in the West. Chinese consumers are increasingly embracing sample-sized shopping, leading to a shift from samples being purely promotional to […]
Is China’s sample’s economy a beauty market disrupter?
According to JD.com’s data, the sales of sample-size products (小样) in China have grown 4.3-fold between 2019 and 2023. Vending machines distributing sample-size products are popping up around malls, Harmay (話梅), a sample-size retailer born on Taobao has hopped offline to run 11 stores in 8 Chinese cities. Chinese consumers are then going to Xiaohongshu […]
China’s samples economy report
Product samples are incredibly popular in China, driving the growth of a unique economy that hasn’t seen the same rise in the West due to specific economic factors and consumer preferences. In China, product samples are evolving from a promotional tactic to a packaging option, as consumers are increasingly willing to buy sample-sized products. This […]
China’s skincare market: From ingredient-savvy “skintellectuals” to moms and teens
While color cosmetics were negatively impacted after COVID-19, skincare in China remained resilient. Even new groups of consumers, such as teenagers who didn’t widely use skincare much in the past, are showing greater interest. In 2023, China’s skincare market was worth USD 55 billion, and it is expected to reach USD 59 billion in 2024. […]
Consumer pain points in China’s beauty market
In the very competitive beauty market in China, many brands are fiercely and rapidly innovating to satisfy the needs of consumers. However, there are still remaining pain points that have not been addressed at all or have not been addressed effectively by brands. To identify some of these pain points, we conducted social media listening […]
Biotech beauty in China: global alliances are reshaping the future of cosmetics
By 2024, China’s beauty & personal care market is expected to yield a revenue of RMB 499.7 billion with a projected annual growth rate of 4.84% (CAGR 2024-2028). The driving forces behind this growth primarily stem from the cosmetics and skincare segments. Driven by Chinese consumers’ higher expectations for effective but safe and sustainable cosmetics […]
China’s fragrance market: daily life embraces scents, from wearables to cars and homes
The fragrance market in China has experienced significant growth in recent years. In 2022, it reached RMB 16.9 billion, and forecasts suggest it will surge to RMB 38.7 billion by 2026. In 2021, the fragrance penetration rate in China stood at a mere 5%, a marked contrast to the United States (50%) and Europe (42%). This significant […]