Beauty in the East

IN CHINA, there is an old saying: “Fair skin hides three ugly traits.” In Japan, the saying goes: “Fair skin hides seven flaws.”

Fair and flawless skin may be dismissed as a preoccupation of the aristocrats of the past but the converse is true. The fact is that skin exposed to the sun – while looking a healthy golden and olive – can develop permanent pigmentation that tarnishes the complexion.

The most logical solution in today’s world of instant fixes: skincare products that protect the skin from UV rays and ageing, and claimed to help eradicate spots.

Miriam Yeung: ‘It’s not about being fair; it’s about evening out skin tone and making your skin more radiant with proper skincare.’

Aimed at educating the masses on the importance of proper skincare and skin whitening, Shiseido recently launched a whitening campaign in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore from February to September 2009.

Hong Kong actress-singer Miriam Yeung has been selected as Shiseido’s whitening ambassador. Her experiences and information on brightening products will be broadcast through the media and a dedicated website developed exclusively for the campaign at shiseido.com/whitening.

Despite being blessed with a naturally flawless complexion, Yeung has skin problems just like any other woman and admits that constant care has helped make her skin look better.
“Constant shooting under the sun sometimes gives me patches, and they tend to be more visible when the camera takes close-ups during shoots,” she told a press conference.
Being in the limelight constantly requires her to always look her best, despite her hectic schedule as an actress.

For Yeung, moisturising is particularly important, and she carries sunscreen and under eye cream wherever she goes. Her preferred product: Shiseido White Lucent.
“My skin gets dry easily, and I used to have to apply sunscreen many times. And I also have very dark circles under my eyes,” shared the 35-year-old.
Yeung echoed the increasingly popular belief that outer beauty helps increase self-confidence, but placed greater emphasis on the importance of inner beauty.
Laughing is her secret to keeping her emotions in check, which is why the actress is always so upbeat.
As skin whitening ambassador for Shiseido, Yeung said: “It’s not about being fair; it’s about evening out skin tone and making your skin more radiant with proper skincare.”

雅诗兰黛 VS Jay Strongwater-2008雅诗兰黛圣诞臻藏系列香氛膏

　　自1967年开始，Estee Lauder家族每年都会在圣诞期间推出金粉饼香氛膏系列，从传统的贝壳宝石到艺术装饰设计，以及古怪的人造钻石，令人艳羡和色香双全的精致手工珍品，不仅赢得了全球收藏人士的拥戴，更是雅诗兰黛奢华臻贵的历史传承。
　　早期的设计，大多作品则由雅诗兰黛女士亲自操刀。继雅诗兰黛女士本人后，不少兰黛家族成员也都为之奉献了自己的天赋灵感。同时，本着对艺术和设计的完美结合的初衷，Judith Lieber和Jay Strongwater等世界著名设计师都曾受邀参与设计。其中，Jay Strongwater更与雅诗兰黛多次合作。今年圣诞推出的18款金粉饼香氛膏中，4款就出自他的手下，它们分别是(从上到下)：马到成功、如意中国结和华贵成双。优雅、怀旧的设计与配色，中世纪情调的浪漫花卉和可爱动物的造型，精致的选材与手工，正是他独有的设计特色。

资生堂 VS Christopher Kane-心机恒妆系列

　　2008年，资生堂特别邀请到时装设计师Christopher Kane合作为心机彩妆融入更多时尚的元素。时尚外盒与彩妆配色，均来自心机彩妆与时尚设计师Christopher Kane的创意结晶。
　　设计灵感源自于宝石的特调晶钻彩盒，令人感受到华丽闪耀的美丽氛围。开启彩盘，眼影上压印着象征宝石皇冠的标志，修容粉上印有Christopher Kane的签名，更显珍贵精致的奢华，内含混搭对比色与渐层色的四色眼影色一组，与能完美修饰肤质的修容粉一色。

M.A.C VS Manish Arora-印度风情彩妆系列


　　充满神秘感的印度，总令人联想到色彩斑斓的鲜艳打扮及珠光宝气的配件。虽然Bollywood是亚洲中首屈一指的电影市场，但能令人留下印象的印度出品始终欠奉，直至鬼才时装设计师Manish Arora的出现，才令潮流世界文化耳目一新。　　

1. Background: Cosmetic industry has been evolving into full-fledged market in which flourishing brands emerged. Among 300 brands, 20 of them have taken the leading position and joint venture took 80% of market share. The preponderant manufacturers in China are located along the Eastern Costal line and inland cities. It shares 90% as nation while sales value is above 60%. In respect of types, skin-care products is topping the list sharing 35%, hair-care products sharing 28%, make-up products sharing 29%, others being perfumes. According to insiders, total sales will reach to RMB 80 billion and level up at 12.9% annually. Proportion of output of Chinese cosmetics Following decade of years’ development, China has emerged as the eighth cosmetic market in the world and second in Asia. The competition within the sector has been pushing the cosmetic industry into the combination of industrialization, market and internationalization. In 2005, the market scale has reached to RMB 46 billion. Retail sector has been RMB 33.05 billion above the limit growing 19.1%. In 2005, the cosmetic industry featured number of characters as followed: 1. The market is developing in a physically sound way. 2. The cosmetic product for kids and men grow steadfast. The cosmetic has not been the patent of women but children and men as livelihood of mass has been dramatically improved. The fast growth in that area reflected by special store in growth. 3. White collar is major customer for up-scale cosmetics. The expanding middle class has formed the loyal customer basis for this market, especially ladies. Their spending on cosmetic is outgrowing over other areas. From 2004, in the light of lowered tariffs, many Europe brands are flowing into Chinese market. 16 out of 20 top brands have been presented on China’s market. They have got their market flourishing by M&A towards Chinese companies through advantage in capital and technology along with products. The monitoring data over major retail companies showed that the sales by big stores and foreign products especially color cosmetics. The top 10 grabbed majority market are foreign brands.
2. The motives behind cosmetic industry in China. There is great potential in cosmetic market under 9% of economic growth with market capacity expanding at 20% annually. In this backdrop, international famous brands have stepped in China as to stake territory early on. In March 2004, the HQ of Estee Lauder Companies moved to Shanghai from Singapore and the first Asian-Pacific present appeared in China. L’Oreal, the biggest cosmetic group has come to the headline recent as invested USD 0.1 billion and added USD 0.1 billion while engaged in second and third phases of Shang Mei Factory, a production basis in Suzhou. Amway will chip in RMB 50 million to China after amazing profit it achieved in 2003. In addition, NUSKIN has 200 outlets nationwide. China has done what it promised in WTO entry while a favorable environment has been created for foreign participation. After 2006, the tariff was lowered 10% for imported product. Thanks to low cost in export to China, it was not hard to image the big hit against Chinese market. In the age of changing, easy-got money within market get diluted in that more human resources, material and capital have been move in due to fierce competition have drive up the cost. The change in market environment also trim down the success rate of cosmetic companies. In that sense, the room for small and medium size firms has been squeezed out with eroded market. That has offered the golden opportunity for M&A among big companies, which will get frequent in the near future. Case Time Case briefLoreal purchasing Mininurse On Dec. 2003 Mininurse has 280,000 outlets nationwide form 1992, and there have been 1,000 staffs and 2,000 advisories working for it. All of this is in the eye of Loreal. On the other hand, the take-over will make relationship with domestic distributors blossoming drawing in potential employees. SOFTTO purchasing Nanjing Golden Ballet with RMB 40 million Aug, 2004 ] Nanjing Golden Ballet has 70 years of history with famous brand and RMB 0.16 billion of annual sales. Loreal purchasing Yue-Sai Jan, 2004 The reason behind the purchasing case of Loreal is the localization offered by Yue-Sai that has got its outlets in ranked 800 stores within 240 cities as to bring home the image to high-brow female in China. It is what Loreal concerned about. China-Liby purchasing COGI 2006 China-Liby purchasing COGI, a brand in Shanghai is an attempt as what it spearheaded in public goods.
3.Trend of cosmetic industry in China, the personal spending on cosmetic is lower than the industrialized nation which is US$35-70. In that sense, the potential in China’s market is large. With economy expanding and mass livelihood improving, spending power in this product will grow.The golden opportunity is introduced with consumption tax. The new tax policy laid out by the State Administration of Taxation painted a rosy picture for less competitive brands while upscale product was not mentioned in this policy. Especially in rural market, domestic ones stood a bargaining position with foreign ones based on advantage in price. Upon the analysis of Beijing Heading Century Consulting Co., Ltd., this has offered momentum and opportunity for capable domestic companies to develop. With the purpose of staking out more territory and lowering cost in marketing channel, foreign capital will gear in M&A to domestic ones and production line as well so as to push forward a broad portfolio of products. In 20 years to come, the market capacity shot at RMB50 million at least which means more room is there to be scooped out and conducive to development among domestic brand. The outlook in this sector remains clouded though, one thing is certain that domestic companies need to sharpen their edge as facing eroded market eaten out by foreign counterparts.

The first archaeological evidence of cosmetics usage is found in Egypt around 3500 BC.[citation needed] The Ancient Greeks and Romans also used cosmetics. The Romans and Ancient Egyptians used cosmetics containing poisonous mercury and often lead. The ancient kingdom of Israel was influenced by cosmetics as recorded in the Old Testament—2 Kings 9:30 where Jezebel painted her eyelids—approximately 840 BC. The Biblical book of Esther describes various beauty treatments as well.
In the western world, the advent of cosmetics was in the middle ages, although typically restricted to use within the upper classes.
Cosmetic use was frowned upon at some points in Western history. For example, in the 1800s, make-up was used primarily by prostitutes, and Queen Victoria publicly declared makeup improper, vulgar, and acceptable only for use by actors.[3] Adolf Hitler told women that face painting was for clowns and not for the women of the Master Race.[citation needed]
By the middle of the 20th century, cosmetics were in widespread use by women in nearly all industrial societies around the world.
Cosmetics have been in use for thousands of years. The absence of regulation of the manufacture and use of cosmetics has led to negative side effects, deformities, blindness, and even death through the ages. Examples of this were the prevalent use of ceruse(white lead), to cover the face during the Renaissance, and blindness caused by the mascara Lash Lure during the early 1900s.
The worldwide annual expenditures for cosmetics today is estimated at U.S. $19 billion.[4] Of the major firms, the oldest and the largest is L'Oréal, which was founded by Eugene Schueller in 1909 as the French Harmless Hair Colouring Company (now owned by Liliane Bettencourt 26% and Nestlé 28%, with the remaining 46% are publicly traded). The market was developed in the USA during the 1910s by Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubinstein, and Max Factor. These firms were joined by Revlon just before World War II and Estée Lauder just after.
Like most industry, cosmetic companies resist regulation by government agencies like the FDA, and have lobbied against this throughout the years.

Recently a report I read on Marketing Daily from the US was saying that the under the effect of recession, the high-end beauty industry was affected. The industry's sale was falling, especially for fragrance and make-up, the sales declining rate is higher. For premium skin care, it keeps flat even there is no decline. From a consumer point of view, skincare is more a necessity compared to fragrance or make up, so it is not a surprise to see make up and fragrance's sales drop more compared to skincare.

In China, the drop seems not as much as the west, but I think the market is still affected especially for those minor brands. For stronger or major brands, the effect may be less. But one thing which is true is that consumers are still spending, but their spending habit has been changed, becomes more selective and careful.

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=102876&passFuseAction=PublicationsSearch.showSearchReslts&art_searched=skincare%20industry&page_number=0

--Posted by Cosmetic Surgery Review on December 31, 2008

With the weakened economy, skipping plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures in 2008 made sense; however, experts predict that 2009 may be the year to finally get that tummy tuck.
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the editors of the Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery have reviewed the nip tuck trends in the U.S. this past year, and created a list of predictions for 2009.

2009 looks to be another year for injectable filler ‘liquid facelifts’ and fat injections for breast augmentation, but there are also some new procedures and treatments to look forward to. From eyelash extensions to fat-freezing liposuction, here’s a preview of the top 2009 cosmetic surgery trends:

Facelift alternatives - consumers will still be conscientious about their spending habits in 2009, which means the pricey facelift may not make it to the most coveted list. More people will be turning to injectables such as Restylane and Juvederm instead; these can help fill out fine lines and wrinkles, and improve the appearance of sagging skin.
Botox alternatives - men and women will continue to count on Botox fora quick-fix antiwrinkle solution, bt there is another alternative to Botox on the horizon. Reloxin has proven to have similar effects as Botox, but may have fewer risks of side effects; the injectable will finally be available in 2009.

Gummy bear implants - also known as cohesive gel implants, these implants have enjoyed ongoing success in Europe and South America. They may soon be available in the United States; research and trials are currently underway.

Final word on Lipodissolve - hundreds of consumers reported adverse side effects from Lipodissolve procedures in 2007 and 2008, and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery followed up with a set of clinical trials. Results from these studies are expected to be released in mid-2009, and may provide some insights on the vtrue safety and efficacy of this liposuction treatment.

Breast implant alternatives -using ones own body fat to augment the breast tissue is expected to become a common procedure in 2009. Women who want to balance out asymmetric breasts or only slightly enlarge their natural breast size may enjoy better results with fat injections.
Eyelash extension treatments - The FDA has approved LATISSE, an eyelash lengthening treatment that promises thicker and fuller lashes, and the drug Lumigan has also been linked to eyelash enhancement. Consumers may soon see these treatments at their area cosmetic surgeon’s office.

This entry was posted on December 31, 2008 at 9:00 am and is filed under Cosmetic Surgery Trends. Tagged: Cosmetic Surgery, cosmetic surgery 2009, Cosmetic Surgery Trends, plastic surgery trends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.