Core Insights - The beauty industry is increasingly leveraging technology, with significant investment activity observed in May, indicating a recovery in the financing market after a brief lull [2][3]. Investment Overview - In May, there were at least 63 disclosed financing events globally, with a total financing amount of approximately 21.9 billion RMB [2]. - The beauty sector accounted for 12 financing events, totaling 9 billion RMB, while the AI sector had 35 events totaling 9.9 billion RMB [3]. Financing Characteristics - Among the 12 beauty financing events, 2 were in skincare (17%), 3 in color cosmetics/fragrance/personal care (25%), and 7 in raw materials/manufacturers/R&D (58%) [4]. - Notably, seed and angel rounds comprised 38% of the total financing events, indicating a strong interest in innovative investment opportunities [3]. Major Acquisitions - A significant acquisition in May was the purchase of the skincare brand Rhode, founded by Hailey Bieber, by Elf Beauty for 1 billion USD (approximately 72 billion RMB) [7][9]. - Another notable transaction involved Shinsegae Group and Ascent Equity Partners acquiring a controlling stake in C&C International for 285 billion KRW (approximately 14.9 billion RMB) [9][10]. Emerging Trends - The beauty financing landscape shows a trend where leading companies are actively pursuing large-scale financing, with multiple 1 billion USD deals emerging [6]. - Companies with strong founder backgrounds are more likely to attract investment, as seen with PMD and its founder's extensive experience in the skincare industry [11][12]. Focus on Synthetic Biology - Synthetic biology companies are leading the beauty sector's financing in May, with several firms receiving significant investments, including a strategic partnership between L'Oréal and the company Weiming Shiguang [14]. - The trend indicates a sustained interest in innovative materials and technologies within the beauty industry [14]. New Consumption and E-commerce - In the new consumption and e-commerce sectors, 16 brands received financing, with a notable focus on short video and cross-border e-commerce services [21][22]. - The pet industry also saw significant investment, with companies like Paitexian Sheng and Guochong Blood receiving angel round financing [24][25].