Round-up review
The prominent show that is a key date on ingredients, fragrances, lab equipment, testing and regulatory exhibitors’ calendars, welcomed 214 exhibitors and over 7,000 leading companies at COEX in Seoul from 20th-22nd June 2017.
Professionals from leading APAC companies including AmorePacific, Kolmar, LG Household & Health Care, TonyMoly and Shiseido were present to network and explore current and upcoming trends that are set to transform the beauty and personal care industry.
Organised by Reed Exhibitions, the 2017 instalment of in-cosmetics Korea was 20% bigger than 2016 and witnessed a 17% rise in attendance compared to last year’s show.
Specific emphasis was placed on R&D efforts in China and Taiwan, with the event’s Gold Business Guest programme inviting VIP R&D visitors to discuss existing efforts to innovate formulations, improve efficacy, update packaging designs and explore current trends.
Korean power
The exhibition, which concentrates on personal care ingredients in Korea, industry insights that are crucial for new SMEs looking to enter the marketplace and existing competitors tipping their business towards obtaining greater market share.
As LG Household & Health Care prepares to launch a hair care brand, Sooryun Tak, Senior Researcher at LG Household spoke with suppliers and explored new formulation options: “I was also really inspired by the range of non-silicone solutions available from suppliers here, that’s why it’s really good to have a personal care ingredients event like in-cosmetics Korea in our country.”
“in-cosmetics Korea balances raw materials and presentations. You can learn about ingredients and the latest innovations but also about market trends, consumer insights and finished products, which is important for suppliers like us,” said Carla Perez, Asia Pacific Beauty Care Technical Manager at SEPPIC.
New exhibitor Elizabeth Cambar-Roney, International Sales Director from Connoils, accentuated the significance of the Korean cosmetics industry for their growth: “Korea is the biggest international market for us.”
Favourite features
The cosmoceutical ingredient manufacturer and distributor highlighted that next year it will turn its attention to the event’s sensory bar as “Korean visitors enjoyed experimenting” with the brand’s products. With visitors, from China, Japan and Thailand, in-cosmetics Korea offers Connoils an opportunity to expand international connections.
Product trails and the sensory bar, which were new additions at in-cosmetics Korea 2017, emphasised key natural actives, moisturisers and anti-ageing products that are increasingly popular amongst Korean and APAC buyers.
Global connections
“The 91% average satisfaction score for this year’s seminars demonstrates how beneficial this programme is to our attendees,” stated Sarah Gibson, Exhibition Director, in-cosmetics Korea.
As organiser Reed Exhibitions focuses on the 2018 edition of the event, Gibson highlights that next year’s show will “feature a 4th exhibition hall to accommodate more exhibitors and the launch of [its] first ever Formulation Lab in Korea”.
Of the personal care leaders that attended the event, including Clariant, Croda and DSM Nutritional Products, 58% of exhibitors hail from outside the Korean marketplace. This number emphasises the importance of K-beauty innovations and K-pop celebrity endorsements in the global cosmetics industry.
Next year’s in-cosmetics Korea will take place at COEX in Seoul between 13th-15th June 2018.