Korean Beauty Brands Riding The Wave Of K-Pop Interest in China

A survey from FT Confidential Research on the Chinese cosmetics market found that South Korean brands were catching US and European labels, especially among young consumers, reflecting their interest in K-pop culture. L’Oréal is still the most popular brand, but the popularity of US and European brands generally is waning as Korean brands strengthen their hold. Popular Korean brands include Laneige and Amorepacific, and western brand companies are not ignoring this trend. LVMH has invested in Korean cosmetics company Clio, and last year Estée Lauder acquired a stake in Have & Be, which owns the DR Jart+ and Do The Right Things brands. Chinese cosmetics purchasers are particularly interested in BB and CC skin creams, but the cosmetics market generally is seeing strong growth in China, helped by the Government scrapping the 30 percent consumption tax on mass cosmetics products and halving it for premium items. E-commerce was the favored channel for younger shoppers, but the over-35s still prefer to buy in malls and supermarkets.