China Focus: Our top stories featuring China’s cosmetics industry

1 – WATCH: Three ways China’s young consumers are changing the beauty landscape​

The ever-changing demands and expectations of China’s younger consumers are changing the way international beauty brands cater to its demanding beauty market.​

A report by Reuter Communications has uncovered how changing the mindset of younger consumers are impacting the tastes and expectations of China’s young beauty consumers.

Researchers spoke to several hundred beauty consumers across first-tier cities in China to learn how brands can stay head of the rapidly changing consumer and stay ahead in this competitive arena.

2 – How virtual beauty meets reality: Meitu highlights brand benefits of new AI-powered skin analysers

Chinese app and tech developer has launched two new skin analysing devices​, which it believes hold huge potential for beauty brands spanning consultations, product recommendations and customer relationship management.

Debuting at the China Beauty Expo in Shanghai, MeituEve is the company commercial-grade AI skin analyser.

The second new device, the MeituKey, is targeted at Chinese beauty consumers who want access to professional-level analysis in the comfort of their own homes.

According to Euromonitor International, the personal care device sales in China has achieved a compounded growth rate of 11% and 8% in 2018 and 2017 respectively. The facial cleansing device segment alone is expected to hit 8.26bn yuan ($1.19bn) in 2020.

3 – Biodiversity awareness blooming in Asia: Consumer awareness higher than UK, US or Germany, says new report

A new report revealed that Asian consumer awareness of biodiversity has increased​ over the last decade and they now expect companies to have morals in line with their own – a development that could have profound implications for cosmetics and personal care firms.

 “We see consumer awareness rising every year, including in Asia,”​ said Dr Cristiana Paşca Palmer, executive secretary of the UN convention on biological diversity.

“Businesses must embrace conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in response to consumer expectations on biodiversity, and assure a liveable future for all.”​

4 – L’Oréal develops acne-fighting tech for problematic skin

In what the companies are calling the first mobile acne analysis app powered by AI (artificial intelligence) on the market, global beauty giant L’Oréal has teamed up with Alibaba Group​, a major international e-retailer, to launch Effaclar Spotscan on Alibaba retail channels.

Effaclar Spotscan by L’Oréal’s La Roche-Posay brand is the world’s first web app providing analysis of acne-prone skin, the beauty giant says.

It combines L’Oréal’s expertise in the field of dermatology with Alibaba’s world-leading AI technologies.

The app will now be available on Alibaba’s Tmall and Toaboa platforms, meaning it will be accessible by consumers in China.

“With 80% of young people suffering from acne and only one dermatologist per 60,000 habitants available in China, there is an increasing demand for accessible, accurate and professional advice on acne,” L’Oréal explains.

5 – China, Hong Kong and Malaysia shine for L’Occitane as net sales soar by 8.7%

Cosmetics manufacturer and retailer L’Occitane saw net sales grow 8.7% to €1.4bn ($1.6bn) for the last financial year, with the rise in China outstripping the global growth rate.​

On a like-for-like basis, the Group's sales grew by 4.2%, an improvement from 3.7% last year. Overall same-store sales growth remained healthy at 1.8%.

This excludes its acquisition of LimeLife, which became a subsidiary of the group in January 2018, as well as Le Couvent des Minimes, which was sold off in 2017.

Chairman and CEO of L’Occitane, Reinold Geiger said: “We continued our solid growth momentum through to the end of FY2019, a year that brought many highlights. This included the launch of highly popular products, particularly the Immortelle Reset serum, as well as the successful acquisition of ELEMIS.”​

He highlighted that the firm’s refocused strategy helped its flagship brand, L’OCCITANE en Provence to grow at an accelerated pace compared to the previous year.