Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive outlook on the international cosmetics and medical beauty industry, indicating a recovery trend in the Chinese market and a cautious approach towards North America due to economic factors [2][3]. Core Insights - The global beauty market is projected to grow at a rate of 4.5% in 2024, a decline from the 8% growth seen in 2023, with significant regional disparities in performance [3][13]. - The Chinese market showed signs of recovery in Q3 2025, with major international brands reporting positive revenue growth after a period of decline [3][19]. - Companies like L'Oréal and Estée Lauder are adjusting their strategies to enhance their market presence in China, with Estée Lauder reporting an 8.6% revenue growth in Q3 2025 [3][47]. Summary by Sections Global Market Overview - The global beauty market is experiencing a slowdown, with North America showing signs of weakness while Europe outperforms other regions with a 7.5% growth [3][13]. - The North Asia market, particularly China, has faced a decline of 2%, marking it as the weakest among major beauty markets [3][13]. L'Oréal - L'Oréal's revenue growth for the first three quarters of 2025 is 1.2%, with a slight improvement in Q3 2025, indicating a recovery from previous declines [3][27]. - The company is focusing on acquisitions and enhancing its brand portfolio, particularly in the Chinese market, where it aims to leverage online channels [3][24]. Estée Lauder - Estée Lauder's Q3 2025 revenue growth reached 8.6%, marking a significant turnaround after four consecutive quarters of decline [3][47]. - The company is implementing a strategic overhaul to address previous challenges, including inventory issues and competition from local brands [3][47]. Shiseido - Shiseido reported an 8% revenue growth in the Chinese market for Q3 2025, although it continues to face macroeconomic challenges [3][19]. - The company is experiencing a K-shaped recovery, with its premium brands performing better than its main brand [3][19]. Investment Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on companies with strong channel and brand matrices, such as Mao Ge Ping and Shanghai Jahwa, as well as those expected to see marginal improvements in growth, like Marubi and Betaini [4][5]. - In the medical beauty sector, companies with high R&D barriers and strong profitability, such as Ai Meike, are highlighted as key investment opportunities [4][5].

Core Insights - Shenzhen Pengai Medical Aesthetic Hospital celebrated its 20th anniversary, coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, highlighting its growth alongside the city's development [1][2] - The hospital aims to continue advocating for "three regulations, safe beauty" and to enhance its medical technology and service details, focusing on lifecycle management of aesthetic services [1] - The "Shangxing Aesthetics" project was launched in collaboration with Aimeike, emphasizing a positive spirit and cultural significance beyond mere external beauty [2] Company Development - The celebration included participation from over 40 supply chain enterprises, showcasing Pengai's resource integration capabilities within the medical aesthetics industry [2] - The hospital's general manager, Pan Yousheng, reflected on the growth from inception to becoming a regional benchmark, emphasizing a commitment to safety and quality in aesthetic services [1][2] - A recognition ceremony was held for employees with over 15 years of service, underscoring the company's appreciation for long-term dedication [2] Future Strategy - Pengai Hospital views its 20th anniversary as both a milestone and a new starting point, pledging to drive progress in the Chinese medical aesthetics industry with a focus on customer-centricity and technological support [2] - The company aims to collaborate with excellent partners to create a more brilliant future in the next twenty years [2]

Core Insights - The medical beauty industry is projected to show diverse trends by 2025, with light medical beauty becoming mainstream, accounting for 52% of the market, driven by its low trauma, quick recovery, and low risk [1][6][9] - The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for both light medical beauty and injection categories is expected to reach 20%-30% over the next five years, with popular treatments including water light needles and photon rejuvenation [1][10] - The male medical beauty market is rapidly growing, with 73% of men planning to increase their investment, focusing on anti-aging and minor adjustments [1][21][24] Light Medical Beauty - Light medical beauty is characterized by minimal trauma and short recovery times, making it appealing to first-time consumers [8][13] - The interest demographic is predominantly female (89%), with over 60% of interested individuals aged 18-29 [1][14] - Key concerns for consumers include product compliance, safety, and efficacy, with 72.4% prioritizing compliance [16][17] Male Medical Beauty - The male medical beauty market is emerging as a significant growth area, with a focus on natural and youthful appearances [21][24] - Core pain points for male consumers include nasolabial folds and tear troughs, with anti-aging and minor adjustments being the primary demands [28][29] - Social media plays a crucial role in reshaping male beauty perceptions, with a notable increase in male interest in medical beauty [25][31] Cross-Border Medical Beauty - There is a growing trend for cross-border medical beauty, particularly to South Korea and Hong Kong, driven by high cost-effectiveness and professional services [1][34][35] - The proportion of consumers planning to seek cross-border medical beauty services is expected to rise, with 62% favoring South Korea as a destination [35][36] Youthful Trends - The youth demographic, particularly students after high school, is becoming a significant consumer group for medical beauty, favoring procedures like double eyelid surgery and photon rejuvenation [1][6] - The market for medical beauty products is projected to reach 25.38 billion yuan by 2026, with a CAGR of 30% [1][37] Cross-Industry Integration - Beauty companies are increasingly entering the medical beauty sector, with medical-grade dressings becoming popular entry products [1][6] - Companies like Huaxi Biological and Shanghai Jahwa are launching products focused on collagen and hyaluronic acid, indicating a trend towards combining beauty and medical treatments [1][6]

Core Insights - The luxury beauty brands Helena and La Mer are facing a trust crisis due to issues such as order cancellations and subpar packaging during the 618 shopping festival, leading to a disconnect between sales and reputation [1][2][3] - Despite the negative publicity, these brands still ranked high in sales on platforms like Tmall and Douyin, indicating a complex market dynamic where brand prestige remains but consumer trust is eroding [2][3] Group 1: Sales and Market Performance - Helena's high-end cosmetics division showed the lowest growth rate in L'Oréal's 2024 financial report, with sales declines noted for brands like Helena and Lancôme in China, while YSL and others maintained strong growth [3] - La Mer's parent company, Estée Lauder, reported a 7% and 12% year-over-year revenue decline in Q3 and Q4 of 2024, primarily attributed to decreased sales of La Mer and Estée Lauder products [3] Group 2: Pricing and Service Issues - The traditional pricing control that maintained the high-end image of luxury beauty brands has collapsed, with significant price discrepancies observed across platforms during the 618 festival [5][10] - Consumers reported confusion over pricing, with some products being sold at nearly half the price in duty-free shops compared to official retail channels, leading to concerns about product authenticity [8][10] Group 3: Consumer Behavior and Market Trends - The rise of domestic brands offering high cost-performance ratios is squeezing the luxury beauty market, as younger consumers increasingly question the value of high-priced foreign brands [14][15] - The shift towards medical beauty treatments is also diverting consumer spending away from traditional luxury skincare products, as consumers seek more effective solutions for skin issues [15]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" outlook on international cosmetics and medical beauty companies for Q1 2025 [2]. Core Insights - The global beauty market is projected to grow at a rate of 4.5% in 2024, a decline from the 8% growth seen in 2023, with significant regional disparities [3][12]. - The North Asia market, particularly China, has shown signs of improvement, but overall performance remains subdued, with North America exhibiting signs of fatigue [3][12]. - International beauty groups are still grappling with performance declines or slower growth, which may become the new normal due to various factors including the pandemic and macroeconomic conditions [3][15]. - Companies are adopting localization strategies and investing in local brands to maintain market share amid fierce competition from domestic brands [3][19]. Summary by Sections 1. Global Beauty Market Trends - The beauty market continues a stable trend from 2024, with Europe outperforming other regions at a 7.5% growth, while North Asia has seen a 2% decline [3][12]. - The international beauty groups are facing a challenging environment with performance fluctuations and strategic adjustments [15]. 2. L'Oréal Performance - L'Oréal's Q1 2025 revenue growth slowed to 4.4%, with the Chinese market remaining flat and tourism retail channels under pressure [3][27]. - The company is actively investing in local brands and expanding its product matrix to compete with domestic brands [3][27]. 3. Estée Lauder Performance - Estée Lauder reported a 9.9% decline in revenue for Q1 2025, continuing a trend of three consecutive quarters of revenue decline [3][51]. - The company is undergoing strategic reforms to address issues related to brand and product positioning [47][51]. 4. Shiseido Performance - Shiseido's revenue decreased by 8.5% in Q1 2025, with its main brand struggling while the ELIXIR brand showed growth [3][18]. - The company is focusing on strategic product launches and price adjustments to enhance profitability [3][27]. 5. Investment Recommendations - Recommended companies include Up Beauty and Proya for their strong brand matrices and growth potential, as well as Marubi for leveraging Douyin traffic [4]. - In the medical beauty sector, companies with strong R&D capabilities and broad product pipelines, such as Aimeike, are highlighted as key investment opportunities [4].