Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the positive performance of the healthcare sector, particularly in the fields of collagen and skincare products, with significant growth opportunities identified [1] - The Medical Industry ETF (159877.SZ) increased by 4.05%, and Lepu Medical surged by 19.99%, indicating strong market interest and investor confidence in the sector [1] - Jianghai Securities emphasizes the multi-dimensional investment logic in the healthcare industry, particularly in the collagen sector, where new entrants like Chuangjian Medical are gaining traction with their cross-linked collagen implants [1] Group 2 - The approval of cross-linked collagen products by Chuangjian Medical positions it as a strong competitor in the market, following the successes of Jinbo Biology and Juzhi Biology [1] - The "oil-based skincare" segment is projected to see sales exceeding 9.5 billion yuan from March 2024 to February 2025, reflecting a 36% growth, driven by advancements in domestic brands [1] - Continuous improvements in ingredients, technology, and formulations are enhancing industry standards, further propelling growth in the healthcare sector [1]

Core Insights - In November 2025, 14 new consumer-related projects completed financing, totaling approximately 900 million RMB, with notable projects including "LAN" and "Thunderbird Innovation" not disclosing specific amounts [1] - The financing landscape includes 7 food and beverage projects, 3 in smart technology, and single projects in new retail, apparel, beauty, and pet sectors [1] Group 1: Food and Beverage Sector - The food sector saw 5 completed financings, with "Xianbing Sister" and "Houxishi" being restaurant chains, while "Maisen" is a professional sports nutrition brand under Mengniu Group, and "Ruiyun Cold Chain" and "Jiajixian" are backend supply chain companies [1] - Mengniu Group announced its entry into the professional sports nutrition market in February 2023, launching the "Maisen" brand, which has been recognized for its performance and market presence [2] Group 2: Supply Chain Innovations - "Ruiyun Cold Chain," established in 2020, focuses on enhancing cold chain logistics efficiency through digitalization and has established a cross-border cold chain network in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong [3] - "Jiajixian," founded in 2019, specializes in AI-driven fresh supply chain services, ensuring product freshness and quality through comprehensive monitoring from source to consumer [3] Group 3: Coffee and Beverage Brands - "Xinyue NEAVES" and "Bixing Coffee" have completed financing, with Bixing Coffee's recent round being particularly noteworthy as it marks its fourth financing amidst a competitive market [4][5] - Bixing Coffee has expanded its franchise model, surpassing 500 signed stores nationwide since opening its first store in Suzhou in 2022 [4] Group 4: Beauty and Personal Care - "LAN," a clean beauty brand, received minority investment from L'Oréal's Shanghai Meici Fang Investment Co., marking L'Oréal's first investment in a local skincare brand [7] - "LAN" has achieved significant sales success, leading the market in facial oil sales for two consecutive years, with its products entering the "billion club" [7] Group 5: Market Challenges and Trends - The bankruptcy of POLYVOLY Technology highlights the challenges faced by brands that rapidly scaled without sustainable foundations, indicating a shift away from the era of quick brand creation through capital and traffic [8] - In the pet sector, Yunnan Hezhong Lian Investment completed a 12 million RMB angel round financing, while "Paiteshengxian," a pet fresh food venture, announced the closure of all offline stores due to unsatisfactory performance [8][9]

Core Insights - Multinational beauty companies are increasingly seeking growth through minority stake investments in local brands, as exemplified by L'Oréal's investment in the Chinese skincare brand "LAN" and Estée Lauder's investment in the Mexican fragrance brand NINU [3][5] - This trend reflects a strategic shift from traditional acquisitions to strategic investments, allowing companies to tap into local market insights and consumer preferences more effectively [6][9] Investment Trends - L'Oréal's investment in LAN marks its first investment in a local skincare brand in China, with LAN being a leader in facial oil sales for two consecutive years [3] - Estée Lauder's investment in NINU represents its first foray into Latin American brands, showcasing a growing interest in regional market characteristics [3][5] - Unilever's investment in the Indian brand indē wild and L'Oréal's stake in the Omani brand Amouage further illustrate this trend of investing in culturally rich local brands [5] Market Dynamics - The shift towards minority investments allows multinational companies to gain access to local consumer insights and distribution channels without taking on the full risks associated with acquisitions [9] - Local brands are often better positioned to understand and respond to consumer preferences, enabling them to capture market trends more swiftly than their international counterparts [5][6] Historical Context - Historically, multinational companies entered the Chinese market through acquisitions, but many of these resulted in the marginalization of local brands [6][7] - Examples include Johnson & Johnson's acquisition of Dabao and L'Oréal's purchase of Little Nurse, both of which faced challenges in maintaining market share post-acquisition [6][7] Consumer Behavior - Post-pandemic, consumers have become more discerning, often opting for local brands that offer high-quality products at lower prices, which has led to increased competition for multinational companies [7][8] - The rise of local brands is characterized by their ability to create compelling brand narratives rooted in cultural heritage, resonating with younger consumers who seek personalized and unique products [7][8] Strategic Implications - Multinational companies are adapting to a changing market landscape where traditional growth strategies are no longer sufficient, necessitating a more nuanced approach to investment and brand management [9] - The collaboration between local brands and multinational companies can lead to mutual benefits, with local brands gaining access to resources and expertise while multinationals gain insights into local markets [9]

Group 1 - L'Oréal Group announced a minority stake investment in the Chinese skincare brand "LAN" through its Shanghai Meici Investment Co., marking its first investment in a local skincare brand [1] - "LAN" has achieved significant market success, ranking first in facial oil sales in China for two consecutive years (2023-2024), showcasing its innovative positioning in the market [1] - This investment reflects a strategic shift for international beauty giants from acquisition to strategic investment in the Chinese market, allowing for deeper collaboration with local brands while maintaining their independence [1][9] Group 2 - Meici Investment, established in 2022, aims to discover and nurture innovative forces in the Chinese beauty market, expanding its investment focus from fragrance to skincare technology [2] - The investment in "LAN" signifies a broader strategy to build an ecosystem in the beauty industry by focusing on brands with technological innovation and local market insights [2][7] - Previous investments by Meici include a high-end fragrance brand and a biotech company, indicating a clear investment logic centered on innovation and market understanding [4][7] Group 3 - The investment in "LAN" is part of a growing trend among international consumer giants to engage with the Chinese market through strategic investments rather than traditional acquisitions [10] - This shift is driven by changes in the Chinese market, including the rise of local brands and more mature consumer behavior, necessitating a deeper understanding and collaboration with local players [10][12] - Other international companies, like Unilever, are also adjusting their strategies in China, focusing on partnerships and acquisitions to enhance competitiveness and product offerings [12]

Market Performance and Platform Characteristics - The online essence oil market is experiencing significant growth, with a market size of 9.524 billion yuan and a sales volume of 39 million units from March 2024 to February 2025, representing a year-on-year growth of 54.91% [1][22][20] - Douyin has emerged as a key growth driver, achieving sales of 5.828 billion yuan, also reflecting a year-on-year growth of 54.91%, significantly outpacing the 13.02% growth of Taobao and Tmall [1][22] - The average transaction price varies significantly across platforms, with Taobao and Tmall's facial essence oil averaging 166.62 yuan, while Douyin's average is 138.86 yuan, indicating a trend of "Tmall high-end and Douyin mass-market" [1][24] Category Differentiation and Product Innovation - Facial essence oil remains the core category, accounting for 89% of the overall market, with strong demand for anti-wrinkle, firming, and anti-aging effects, showing year-on-year growth of 153%, 175%, and 112% respectively [2][16] - Plant-based active ingredients like camellia oil (volume of 47,000, up 261% year-on-year), rose, and squalane are highly favored, with the "plant + clinical" concept becoming a significant selling point [2][16] - Body essence oils are seeing refined upgrades, with specific needs for areas like buttocks, chest, and intimate care experiencing explosive growth, with year-on-year volume increases of 307% and 239% [2][16] Brand Competition and Marketing Trends - Leading brands are solidifying their market positions through differentiated positioning and marketing strategies, with international brands like Helena Rubinstein leveraging rare ingredients to enhance their high-end anti-aging image, achieving a year-on-year increase in promotional volume of 1805% [3][26] - Domestic brand Lin Qingxuan, focusing on camellia oil, saw a promotional volume increase of 304%, maintaining a leading position in facial essence oil [3][26] - Douyin has become a crucial platform for niche brands, with brands like Miga and Fuyumampu utilizing influencer live streaming and scenario-based content to rapidly reach consumers, forming a "high cost-performance + precise marketing" path [3][26] User Demand and Future Trends - User demand for essence oils is characterized by "precise efficacy" and "refined experience," with facial care focusing on ingredient effectiveness and lightweight texture, while body care emphasizes scenario adaptability and targeted area care [4][16] - The essence oil market is expected to evolve towards four major trends: universal applicability, ingredient technology, professional care, and refined body care, driving product innovation in blue ocean markets like chest and intimate care [4][16] - Overall, the essence oil market is transitioning from "category expansion" to "quality cultivation," with brands needing to focus on user needs through ingredient breakthroughs, scenario innovation, and precise marketing to build differentiated advantages in a competitive market [4][16]