Core Viewpoint - The beauty market in the first half of 2025 shows a mixed performance, with a historical high in retail sales but a decline in certain segments, indicating a competitive and structurally adjusting market landscape [2][5][29]. Retail Performance - The retail sales of cosmetics in China reached 229.1 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, marking a year-on-year growth of 2.9%, which is lower than the overall retail growth of 5% [2][6]. - In June 2025, the retail sales of cosmetics experienced a 2.3% year-on-year decline, marking the first month of decline this year [2]. Online Sales Dynamics - Online beauty sales exceeded 300 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, with a year-on-year growth of 8.6% and a transaction volume increase of over 10% [5][9]. - The five major e-commerce platforms (Taobao, JD, Douyin, Kuaishou, Pinduoduo) achieved a total transaction amount of 3210.75 million yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 8.59% [9][10]. Category Performance - Skincare remains the largest category with a transaction amount of 1971.82 million yuan, accounting for 64.4% of total online beauty sales, showing growth of 8.17% in transaction value [12][13]. - Makeup sales increased by 15.26% to 551.81 million yuan, while hair care emerged as a strong performer with a 20.67% increase in sales [15][29]. - Oral care saw a slight increase of 2.49% in transaction value but a decline in transaction volume, indicating a trend towards premiumization [15][19]. Brand Landscape - The top three brands in the beauty sector are L'Oréal, Proya, and Han Shu, with domestic brands making significant inroads but still trailing behind international brands in market share [21][23]. - In the makeup category, domestic brands captured 11 out of the top 20 positions, with notable performances from brands like Mao Geping and Huaxizi [26]. Market Trends - The rise of men's beauty products and refined personal care categories indicates a shift in consumer preferences, with significant growth in men's skincare and hair care [20][29]. - The overall market is experiencing structural adjustments, with brands needing to adapt to changing consumer demands and competitive pressures [29].