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Tag: beauty

  • Korea cosmetics industry eyes growth recovery in 2018

    Korea cosmetics industry eyes growth recovery in 2018

    South Korea’s cosmetics industry is looking to regain growth in 2018 after taking a big hit from China’s retaliation against Seoul over a missile row in 2017.

    In March 2017, China banned sales of group tours to South Korea in retaliation against Seoul’s decision to deploy an advanced US missile defense shield, which Beijing sees as a security threat.

    The move has dealt a big blow to South Korean cosmetics manufacturers and retailers, whose main customers were Chinese tourists.

    Top cosmetics maker AmorePacific Corp. was hit hardest. In the third quarter of the year, its operating profit plunged nearly 40 percent on-year to 132.4 billion won ($123 million), with sales falling 14.2 percent to 1.4 trillion won.

    The dismal records marked a drastic turnaround from its stellar performances over the past years. The company had registered double-digit growth in sales and operating profit in recent years.

    LG Household & Health Care Ltd., South Korea’s No. 2 cosmetics and household goods maker, was no exception. In the wake of China’s retaliation, its sales edged down in the second quarter after renewing records each quarter.

    But its sales climbed 2.9 percent on-year to 1.6 trillion won in the third quarter and operating income gained 3.5 percent to 252.7 billion won as the portion of cosmetics to its business portfolio is low.

    Industry watchers predicted cosmetics companies to recover their growth pace in the coming year thanks to efforts to diversify markets and launch new products.

    AmorePacific and other industry players have resumed their marketing activities in China by rolling out new products and ramping up efforts to meet the diverse needs of Chinese customers.

    Sources said South Korean cosmetics makers’ efforts to tap into new markets, such as Vietnam, the United States and Europe, may boost their competitive edge down the road.

    In contrast to the slump of the cosmetics industry, local health and beauty stores, the local version of drugstores, have posted solid growth this year.

    The health and beauty sector has been growing at an annual average rate of 22.5 percent over the past five years, with the market size expected to reach 2 trillion won this year. Market leader Olive Young, run by CJ Group, saw its sales jump to 1.1 trillion won last year from slightly over 300 billion won in 2012.

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  • Luxury cosmetic brand Giorgio Armani Beauty to Join Tmall

    Luxury cosmetic brand Giorgio Armani Beauty to Join Tmall

    Giorgio Armani Beauty will launch a flagship store on Alibaba-owned B2C shopping platform Tmall next month as part of the brand’s latest campaign to capture China’s fast growing appetite for high-end beauty products, Alibaba said Monday.

    The luxury beauty and skin care brand, owned by the world leading cosmetic giant L’Oreal, will hold a series of pre-sale events on Tmall for the next three weeks ahead of its official launch on Jan 16. As part of the rev-up, the brand is offering 4,000 cases of its iconic “My Armani To Go” cushion foundation exclusively to be sold on the platform during the period.

    On the day of the launch, the brand will also open a store on the Luxury Pavilion, the invite-only section within the shopping site for premium and luxury brands. Brands including Burberry, Hugo Boss, La Mer, Maserati and Guerlain (LVMH) have joined since the platform was first introduced in August this year.

    China’s beauty product sector has seen a boom in recent years in tandem with the rapid development of the Chinese economy. According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, retail sales of cosmetic items in the first 11 months of this year notched a 13.5% on-year growth, amounting to RMB $228.5 billion ($34.87 billion).

    Recognizing China’s fast-growing demand for high-quality cosmetic products and Tmall’s expansive reach with its 500 million active users, many top beauty names such as Lancome, La Mer, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Fresh and Kiehl’s have opened up shops on Tmall in recent years.

    In a recent interview with China Daily, Veronique Gautier, global president of Giorgio Armani Fragrances & Beauty, said Armani Beauty has seen stellar growth in China, at twice the speed of the rest of the markets combined.

    On Jan 12, several of the Giorgio Armani Beauty’s high-ranking executives will appear at an event in Beijing to announce the official launch of the flagship store on Tmall. The brand will also introduce a high-tech showcase of its 2018 spring-summer collection.

    As part of tie-up, the brand and Tmall will introduce interactive digital experiences for consumers to book offline make-up sessions with beauty advisors, explore its product offerings — from the latest Ecstasy Shine lipstick crafted specifically for the Asian market to its iconic fragrances and Lip Maestro lip gloss.

    Entertainment and gamification will also play a major role in attracting customers to Giorgio Armani Beauty’s new online store. By using their mobile phones, users can use the AR-powered interactive feature—Unlock Armani Codes—to scan anything that contains any of the six-letters in the word “Armani.” Those who have collected all six letters will have the chance to win sample kits priced at RMB 260 each.

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  • Estee Lauder launches mobile training via YouCam

    Estee Lauder launches mobile training via YouCam

    Using Perfect Corp’s YouCam, Estee Lauder has introduced mobile-based AR training for its beauty advisers internationally.

    Its ART (augmented reality training) is the world’s first such education program. Using interactive live streaming, it allows the company’s more than 17,000 beauty advisers to engage in real-time training and product briefings via their mobile devices.

    Beauty advisers will be able to interact with instructors, virtually try featured looks, watch presentations and ask questions.

    Estee Lauder will also be able to track attendance, engagement and overall performance of its trainers and participants.

    “We believe this is a turning point in beauty education,” says Estee Lauder global brand president Stephane de La Faverie.

    The training initiative builds on two other technology projects launched as a result of the Estee Lauder-YouCam partnership. In April, Estee Lauder used YouCam for the launch of Pure Color Love lipstick, allowing customers to virtually try all 30 shades in 30 seconds. It has since rolled out Virtual Try On on more than 800 devices in stores and on the YouCam app for its global makeup franchises.

    This month, Estee Lauder introduced YouCam “Look Transfer” technology as part of an influencer launch event for Pure Color Envy Paint-On Liquid Lip Color. The technology recognises the makeup shades used on models in an advertising campaign, allowing consumers to recreate the model’s look via Virtual Try-On. This will debut in stores and through the app next year.

    The YouCam Makeup app can be downloaded free from the App Store and Google Play.

  • K-beauty eyes Middle East

    K-beauty eyes Middle East

    The political tension between Seoul and Beijing has eased after a summit between the two leaders during the APEC Summit, but K-beauty companies are diversifying their overseas operations instead of returning to the Chinese market.

    Supermarket chain E-mart said  that it has signed a franchise deal with Saudi Arabia’s largest retailer Fawaz Alhokair. Under the contract, E-mart is set to sell its cosmetic brand Sentence at Fawaz Alhokair shopping malls.

    Fawaz Alhokair operates 21 shopping malls in Saudi Arabia, and E-mart said it will open one Sentence store in the Riyadh and Jeddah malls by March. Another four more stores are expected to be opened by the end of 2018.

    The nation’s largest cosmetic company AmorePacific also plans to open its first Middle Eastern store in the United Arab Emirates in January while preparing to open others in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

    AmorePacific signed a partnership deal with the Middle East’s largest retailer Alshaya Group.

    LG Household & Healthcare has already entered the Middle Eastern market. It now operates more than 60 The Face Shop stores in Saudi Arabia while another K-beauty brand Tonymoly has opened five stores in the country, including two in Jeddah and one in Riyadh.

    Market researchers say their surging interest in the Middle East is attributed to the market’s growth potential.

    London-based consultancy Euro Monitor said the Middle East cosmetic market was worth 19.5 trillion won (US$18 billion) in 2015 but is expected to reach 39.1 trillion won by 2020. The figure is double the average growth rate of the world’s cosmetic market.

    Likewise, Korean cosmetic firms’ exports to the market have soared.

    According to KOTRA, Korean firms exported only 150 million won worth of cosmetic products to the Middle East in 2008. The figure, however, jumped to 40.1 billion won last year, a 265-fold increase over eight years.

    “The cosmetics market in Saudi Arabia has grown 10 percent a year on average for the last decade. This is one of the most rapidly growing cosmetic markets in the world,” an E-mart official said.

    “Korean cosmetic products are expected to enjoy good sales there thanks to booming Hallyu popularity.”

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  • When tech meets beauty to create skin solutions

    When tech meets beauty to create skin solutions

    In 2013, L’Oréal Group, one of the world’s top cosmetics makers, launched an advanced skin care system for cleaning and firming for Korean women, who are known for their intensive skin care routines.

    Since then, global electronics makers, including Philips, Panasonic and Toshiba, and South Korea’s big two cosmetic firms — AmorePacific Co. and LG Household & Health Care Ltd. — have all launched various skin care gadgets.

    Their introduction of innovative beauty products comes as the niche market is expected to grow even more, with tech-savvy consumers being more willing to use them on their skin.

    According to P&S Market Research, the global beauty devices market is likely to grow from US$27.8 billion in 2016 to US$94.3 billion by 2023.

    “Introduction of new beauty devices, increasing utilization of electronic beauty devices and rising inclination of consumers towards easy to use at home beauty devices are some of the major trends observed in the global beauty devices market,” the New York-based market researcher said in a report.

    “Increasing prevalence of skin diseases, growing aging population, increasing hormonal disorders and high disposable income are some of the major factors driving the growth of the global beauty devices market,” it added.

    Eyeing potential in the market, South Korea’s tech giants have started to showcase new beauty technology as they see more consumers seeking convenient ways to maintain themselves.

    In September, LG Electronics Inc. launched its “LG Pra.L” beauty appliance lineup, showcasing four items — the Derma LED Mask, the Total Lift-up Care, the Galvanic Ion Booster and the Dual-Motion Cleanser. Their price tags range from US$200 to US$700.

    Its LED mask and lift care use high-frequency LEDs and microcurrents to improve skin tightening. Its booster helps cosmetics penetrate deeper into the skin, and the cleanser is capable of washing skin 10 times better than conventional methods, the company said.

    “The home beauty business was born with a vision of applying artificial intelligence and big data technologies to the market,” Seo Young-jae, a senior official from LG Electronics’ home appliance division, said in a launch event. “Data is a crucial part of the cosmetics industry.”

    Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s largest smartphone manufactuer, has introduced two devices that analyze users’ skin and offer solutions for any issues they might have.

    During a Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January 2017, Samsung’s Creative Lab unveiled S-Skin, a home skincare and analysis solution, and Lumini, a portable device that checks your skin to identify and prevent skin problems.

    Lumini and S-Skin can scan skin for issues such as dryness, blemishes, excess sebum, wrinkles and more. Both devices send users’ information to corresponding smartphone apps that will offer solutions, products, and even recommend dermatologists that they can chat with in the app.

    “The gadgets will take a picture of the whole face and will analyze the skin condition immediately, and even track the history of wrinkles,” said Lee Sang-myung, a public relations officer at Lumini, which spun off from Samsung Electronics in May. “We plan to launch the product in the first quarter of 2018, first targeting cosmetic shops and skin care clinics.”

    While some devices promise an “instant” or “dramatic” effect on the skin, dermatologists say careful application is needed to use products that utilize lasers or certain forms of light because they could damage skin if used improperly.

    “Dermatologists have used blue lights to kill acne-causing bacteria for years,” No Do-gyun, a dermatologist in Seoul, said. “But even medical-grade red lights may not drastically improve wrinkles. They’re best for calming inflammation. Those with sensitive skin should use home beauty devices carefully, especially laser or light gadgets.”

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  • MMUK to “make history” with first men’s make-up store

    MMUK to “make history” with first men’s make-up store

    Online make-up brand MMUK MAN has decided to make its first foray into brick and mortar retail by opening of the UK’s first make-up store for men, according to GlobalData.

    The brand has been one of the first ones to enter the nascent male make-up realm and made headlines earlier this year when it announced a deal to take its products into the mainstream market via Asos.

    10 MMUK products are now available on Asos, ranging from concealer and brow gel to ‘manscara’. While they were previously available online prior to this, the deal with Asos marked a step forward towards normalizing male beauty products in the marketplace and at a wider, societal level.

    And the new store will contribute to driving growth in the industry by providing a platform for consumers to interact, test and engage with products in real life, said GlobalData.

    “This development is indicative of a changing consumer landscape. Male cosmetics have traditionally only appealed to small niche groups. However, driven by the individualistic mindset of the millennial consumer in particular, the male grooming industry is seeing something of a revolution,” commented Lia Neophytou, Consumer Analyst at the data and analytics company.

    MMUK is tapping into a market that is ripe for growth, with 25% of European males willing to increase the number of products they use in their beauty/grooming routine to improve their appearance, according to research by GlobalData.

    And the launch of its first physical store could become a major catalyst for growth in the industry. “Both innovative products and effective marketing strategies are key in promoting the male beauty industry. However the availability of male beauty products in physical stores is an emerging opportunity that beauty manufacturers worldwide should tap into and will gain traction, particularly as the social barriers to wearing cosmetics and make-up among men continue to break down,” said Neophytou.

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  • Asia boosts sales for Estee Lauder

    Asia boosts sales for Estee Lauder

    It says the higher sales in China reflected strong gains for every brand except designer fragrances. Estee Lauder, Mac, La Mer, Tom Ford and Jo Malone led the sales growth.

    Sales benefitted, in part, from continued demand for makeup products, an acceleration in skincare sales and targeted expansion of consumer reach.

    Hong Kong’s increased sales reflected solid domestic growth and a rise in tourism. Growth was primarily driven by Estée Lauder, La Mer and Mac.

    Operating performance was lower in Japan.

    Overall, the company achieved net sales of $3.27 billion, up 14 per cent on the same period last year.

    Incremental sales from the company’s acquisitions of Becca and Too Faced contributed about four points of reported sales growth. Net earnings rose 45 per cent to $427 million.

    “Building on the global momentum of the past fiscal year, we benefitted from continued acceleration in China, Hong Kong, travel retail and global online, strength in several developed and emerging markets in Europe, and incremental sales from Becca and Too Faced,” says president/CEO Fabrizio Freda.

    “Our online and travel-retail channels and most luxury and mid-sized brands posted double-digit sales gains.”

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  • Aerin Beauty introducing its fragrances

    Aerin Beauty introducing its fragrances

    Lifestyle brand Aerin Beauty has arrived in Singapore, introducing its fragrance collection at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

    Founded by Aerin Lauder, a granddaughter of Estee Lauder, the brand also has beauty and home decor products, which may be introduced later.

    There are nine scents in the collection, each available as eau de parfum sprays or rollerball bottles as well as body creams.

    Each bottle has been designed drawing inspiration from the founder’s everyday life and featuring natural elements such as flowers and stones.

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  • Fashion group fails to block Mango Seed trademark

    Fashion group fails to block Mango Seed trademark

    Spanish fashion retailer Mango has failed to block Korean skincare brand The Face Shop from registering a trademark in Singapore for its Mango Seed range.

    Consolidated Artists, the trademark owner of Mango, objected to The Face Shop bid on the basis of its earlier trademarks for Mango and Mango Adorably, under which it produces goods such as soap, perfumes and cosmetics.

    However, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) registrar has ruled that the trademarks look and sound different, and are “more dissimilar than similar in totality”.

    While the Mango trademark had “some level of distinctiveness” in terms of its font, it was nevertheless “not highly distinctive” as it could otherwise be considered descriptive of the products in that they could be mango-flavoured or scented.

    The registrar said the same considerations applied to the Mango Seed trademark of The Face Shop, as the retailer was legally defined in the application. The registrar noted the Korean brand’s trademark included the “particularly long word The Face Shop”, which was “allusive and can be regarded as distinctive of the relevant goods”.

    Regarding the likelihood of confusion, the registrar ruled there was no risk of misperception of co-branding or any likelihood of confusion in the sense of an economic link between the parties.

    While Mango had consistently used its trademark in a particular font, it could not be confused with the Mango Seed trademark, even though the word “seed” was related to the word “mango”.

    IPOS also said that cosmetics and self-care products were “highly personal” and consumers would be more particular about the origin or trademarks of such goods, and trust some brands more than others.

  • Mecca Maxima to launch in Auckland

    Mecca Maxima to launch in Auckland

    Cosmetics brand, Mecca Maxima, will open its first Auckland store in the first week of August.

    The 263sqm beauty emporium will stock over 50 global brands in makeup, skin, hair and fragrance categories. It will have 12 stations for makeup applications and skin consultations.

    After first launching in Christchurch then Wellington, the Auckland store will be the first of many to open in the region.

    “New Zealand, you have embraced us with open arms,” said Jo Horgan, Mecca founder. “I have been nothing but humbled by your response to Mecca Maxima and I am very much looking forward to opening more of our stores in this beautiful part of the world and delivering more of our inimitable beauty experiences to you.”

    Mecca Maxima Auckland is the sixth in New Zealand’s Mecca store network of Cosmetica and Maxima beauty destinations, with the company planning on significantly expanding its footprint over the coming years.

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  • H&M Beauty is coming to Malaysia this Fall 2017

    H&M Beauty is coming to Malaysia this Fall 2017

    An affordable cult beauty line worldwide, H&M Beauty is finally making its way to Malaysian shores and it is set to launch in the coming Fall 2017, which means September onwards.

    Featuring over 1,000 makeup and beauty products, H&M Beauty will be launching in selected Malaysian stores, where it will have its own dedicated area within.

    Packed in its signature ivory, black and gold cases inside makeup/toiletries bags, the collection will also include an assortment of fragrances, bodycare, hair care and styling products.

    To top it off, H&M Malaysia will also bring in two subsidiary collections: a premium bodycare range, and the ‘Conscious’ range of Ecocert-approved sustainable products.

    And not to forget, seasonal limited edition collections, much like its fashion designer collaborations.

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  • L’Oréal targets middle class Chinese travellers with Bangkok upgrade

    L’Oréal targets middle class Chinese travellers with Bangkok upgrade

    L’Oréal Paris has revamped and upgraded its Bangkok Downtown duty free store and is particularly aiming to appeal to the Chinese middle class traveller. It describes the segment as “the driver of today’s growth in travel retail”.

    The refit is in line with L’Oréal’s travel retail strategy “to enhance desirability by increasing retail effectiveness in travel retail shops”.

    Based on the idea of making a premium product accessible, the new store offers a showcase of  L’Oréal Paris’ key products for the market including its anti-ageing and moisturising ranges, an expanded make-up area and a focus on global best-sellers Revitalift and Men Expert.

    Described by the brand as the number one men’s grooming brand in China, Men Expert was given a prominent display featuring Hydra Energetic, the campaign for which stars celebrity Daniel Wu, alongside Pure & Matte and Hydra Sensitive.

    A spokesperson for King Power explained: “The overall look is now more attractive with multi-colour impact. The make-up zone is magnificent and delivers a better shopping experience. Traffic flow inside the shop is improved and customers have better access to their favourite products. Customers are given more insight to the products with a product box display provided for each travel retail exclusive best-seller.”

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  • Sephora to open store in Doota mall in Korea

    Sephora to open store in Doota mall in Korea

    Sephora, the world’s largest cosmetics multi shop, will open a store in Doota Mall, Dongdaemun, Seoul.

    According to officials, Sephora is in the process of making contract with Doota Mall.

    Sephora, that started in 1969 as a small cosmetics shop in France, is a famous cosmetics shop that is often found in famous shopping streets around the world, where customer can buy and test various cosmetic brands.

    Especially in 1997, the power of Sephora became stronger when it was sold to the LVMH group of world famous brand Louis Vuitton.

    It has been reported that Doosan’s owner, Park Seo-won, in charge of distribution strategy of Doosan (CSO), has contacted officials of Louis Vuitton and It is now presumed to open Sephora in Doota Mall.

    Park Seo-won met Bernard Arnault, who is president of LVMH group in the eve of Louis Vuitton Exhibition held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul in early June, and also attended the “Viva Technology” conference, a start-up company road show held in Paris, France.

    At the time of opening the Doota Duty Free Shop, Park visited Louis Vuitton and Chanel‘s headquarters to try and attract luxury brands. However, one year later, they are facing difficulties in attracting luxury brands compared to other duty free shops. In addition, Doota duty free sales was directly affected by Thaad.

    However, it is now possible to expect to boost the Doota mall through the opening of Sephora.

    Sephora is expected to attract not only foreign customers but also Korean customers by having a PB brand that can be sold only in Sephora as well as luxury cosmetics brands such as Dior, Hermes, Prada and Tom Ford.

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  • SK-II launches exclusively at Changi Airport

    SK-II launches exclusively at Changi Airport

    Japanese beauty brand SK-II will launch new Magnetic Booster, part of its Radical New Age Power (R.N.A) line, exclusively with The Shilla Duty Free at Changi Airport on 1 July.

    The Magnetic Booster will be sold in sets with the R.N.A Power Cream (80g) in the R.N.A Power Magnetic Kit (S$200/US$145) or with the R.N.A Power Essence (50ml) in the R.N.A Power Essence Magnetic Kit (S$187/US$136). Magnetic Booster will be available at all Singapore SK-II counters from September.

    Magnetic Booster features Magnetic Micropulse Technology which is claimed to deliver consistent yet gentle pulsations at 7,000 magnetic vibrations per minute with magnetism. According to SK-II, the product is three times better at improving penetration than finger application.

    To support the launch, top Chinese celebrity make-up artist Wu Miao will host sessions on 7 July for beauty media, influencers and selected customers at the SK-II PITERA Lounge at The Shilla Duty Free. Miao, who contributes to Marie Claire, SELF and OnlyLady magazines, was named as one of the top ten beauty bloggers by Weibo. SK-II Associate Director Travel Retail Global Shweta Sharma, The Shilla Duty Free Head of Global Merchandise Division Raelene Johnson and Changi Airport Group Senior Vice President Airside Concession Division Teo Chew Hoon will also attend the event.

    The SK-II PITERA Lounge, which launched in October 2015, is the brand’s first and only lounge facility in an airport and offers facial and massage services. Miao will share his tips for using the Magnetic Booster along with the R.N.A Power Cream and will provide insight on his inflight and travel skincare regimen by curating his own inflight beauty essentials. Guests will then be invited to experience the new Magnetic Booster and curate their own inflight beauty essentials followed by a shopping tour at The Shilla Duty Free.

    SK-II Associate Director Travel Retail Global Shweta Sharma said: “We are again honoured to be celebrating our ninth year of solid partnership with Changi Airport Group, and our fourth with The Shilla Duty Free with the first-in-the-world launch. We are excited to delight travellers with this exclusive access to our latest skincare innovation and for them to experience the power of the award-winning SK-II R.N.A Power anti-ageing range.”

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  • YSL Beauty opens largest store in KL

    YSL Beauty opens largest store in KL

    YSL Beauté has officially opened its first flagship boutique in Malaysia, the luxury retailer’s flagship store for Asia.

    It’s a milestone move for YSL. Spanning over 1,057 square feet, the new boutique is currently the largest YSL Beauté boutique in the world and also the first in Asia to offer gifting and engraving services to its patrons.

    Conveniently located in the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, the new French cosmetics store boasts glossy black panelling licked with the iconic YSL gold embellishments.

    Better still for local shoppers, it offers the full range of YSL Beauté products, including the bestselling YSL Touche Éclat concealer and its new summer 2017 collection.

    Dubbed “Solar Pop,” the new line features four of YSL’s flagship products revamped for the season with exclusive packaging and colours.

    This includes Yves Saint Laurent’s “Les Sahariennes Bronzing Stones,” a bronzing palette formulated with ultra-fine pigments to smooth and illuminate skin with a natural effect, and YSL’s “Full Metal Shadow” glossy eye colours, which get two new shades: Gold Source and Violet Wave.

    YSL classic “Baby Doll Kiss & Blush” comes in two bright new shades with Orange Intrépide and Mauve Aventureux, and for nails, the new Malaysia store will sell “Laque Couture” in two new colours: Jungle Green and Jungle Orange.

    With scores of YSL Beauté counters and concessions already open across Asia, including Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Japan, no further indication has been given from the brand regarding more standalone boutique openings in the near future.

    The new YSL Beauté is located at Lot 3.63.00, Level 3, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

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