What’s trending? The most-read stories on APAC beauty market and consumer insights

1 – Instant gratification: Sephora, Amorepacific and Watsons among retailers stepping up on-demand delivery services in China

Beauty majors like Sephora, Amorepacific and Watsons are stepping up their on-demand retail services in China as consumer preferences for speedy deliveries​ show no sign of waning post-COVID.

On-demand deliveries have gained huge strides in China following the outbreak of COVID-19, which saw movement restrictions and lockdowns across China.

Dada Group is one of the leading on-demand delivery and retail firms in China backed by JD.com and Walmart. The company operates two on-demand delivery platforms – JD Daojia (JDDJ) and Dada Now.

The company grew on the back of the need for grocery deliveries, propelling the company to becoming the largest local on-demand retail platform in the supermarket segment by gross merchandise value (GMV) by the first nine months of 2020.

2 – Factor in this: Smashbox founder Davis Factor tips make-up enriched with skin care ingredients for success

Smashbox Cosmetics founder Davis Factor, a great-grandson of Max, says the pandemic has created more demand for “hardworking” make-up products​ that are enriched with skin care ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

Smashbox Cosmetics was founded in 1996 by Davis Factor, the great-grandson of make-up mogul Max Factor.

Factor and his brother Dean were photographers and owners of Smashbox Studios. They developed the brand’s cosmetic products to withstand the tough environment of a professional photography setting.

The brand is best known for its primers, such as the original Photo Finish Foundation Primer, which was created to minimise touch-ups and help make-up last longer under the glaring studio lights.

3 – Virtual value: Kao expands digital tester offerings for KATE under competitiveness push

Japanese multinational Kao Corporation has been expanding its digital tester capabilities​ as part of its K25 goals to enhance the competitiveness of its cosmetics business with digital offerings.

The company behind brands such as Kanebo, Sensai and KATE has experienced a significant decline in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kao was hit especially hard in its cosmetics business division because of the decline of colour cosmetics, which accounts for a larger ratio of its business, approximately 10% higher than the market.

As part of its K25 medium-term plan, Kao said it would accelerate its digital transformation efforts by 2025.

4 – Tiny but mighty: Foreo believes future of beauty tech lies in portable devices that give pro-level results

Beauty tech firm Foreo is betting big on small, handheld devices​ that can produce the same results as professional equipment at home, believing it to be the future of the beauty device business.

Foreo is a Swedish beauty technology firm that rose to prominence with Luna, a facial cleansing and massage device. According to the company, it has sold over 20 million Luna devices.

The company, which is celebrating its eighth anniversary this year, witnessed an unprecedented uptick in demand in the wake of the pandemic.

According to the firm, it saw a 30% increase in online sales alone.

5 – Freshness first: Korean start-up Kuoca aims to lead the market with novel made-to-order concept

A beauty company specialising in made-to-order skin care inspired by fine cuisine believes fresh beauty, products that are made-to-order in small batch production​, will be the next trend to follow the clean movement.

Kuoca is a South Korean beauty start-up founded by Benjamin Yu and Jisu Kim. The firm debuted in 2014 as a made-to-order skin care brand catering to Korean ‘celebrities and VIPs’ before launching to a wider audience in 2019.

Inspired by concepts of fine cuisine, Kuoca emphasises the freshness of its formulations. The products are made to order in small-batch productions and contain ingredients like truffles and chaga mushrooms.

All products are made within 30 days of sale to maintain freshness and perform best within 18 months after opening, said the firm.