Core Insights - The global beauty industry is projected to exceed $677 billion by 2025, indicating strong growth, while the Chinese cosmetics market is undergoing significant structural changes, moving away from reliance on single blockbuster products or marketing gimmicks to a focus on genuine brand strength [1][2]. Market Performance - The Chinese cosmetics retail market is expected to maintain moderate growth in the first half of 2025, with retail sales reaching 2.291 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.9%, although this is below the overall retail growth rate of 5.0% [2][4]. - International beauty giants are facing pressure in the Chinese market, with L'Oréal leading with sales of 186.19 billion yuan, a 3% increase year-on-year, while Estée Lauder reported a 10.88% decline in net sales, marking its lowest sales in five years [4][6]. Domestic Brand Performance - Domestic brands are showing resilience, with the retail scale of the Chinese cosmetics market reaching 1.0738 trillion yuan in 2024, and domestic brands capturing 55.2% of the market share [6][8]. - The top ten domestic beauty companies reported a total revenue growth of 11.72% in the first half of 2025, with Proya, Shiseido, and Shanghai Jahwa leading the rankings [7][8]. Consumer Trends - The beauty market is witnessing a shift towards rational consumption, with consumers increasingly sensitive to price and favoring cost-effective products. The sales of beauty and skincare products reached 235.23 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, a 10.1% increase year-on-year [12][13]. - The anti-aging market is experiencing significant growth, with total sales reaching 65.49 billion yuan, a 30.3% increase year-on-year, and the demand for anti-aging products is expanding to younger demographics [13][14]. Brand Strategies - Brands are increasingly adopting multi-brand strategies to address diverse consumer needs, moving from a single product focus to a more comprehensive brand matrix [14][19]. - Investment in research and development is on the rise among leading domestic brands, with a focus on building technological barriers and enhancing product efficacy [15][16]. Marketing and Distribution - Douyin (TikTok) has solidified its position as a growth engine for the beauty industry, with daily views of beauty videos exceeding 2.5 billion, reflecting a shift towards more refined and systematic marketing strategies [17][18]. - The competition is evolving from a focus on single-channel strategies to an integrated approach that balances online and offline resources, emphasizing the importance of brand experience and customer loyalty [18][19].