Regulations and Market
1.New Rules for Cosmetic New Ingredients Take Effect on July 15
On June 26, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) issued the Provisions on the Administration of Registration and Filing Materials for New Cosmetic Ingredients (No. 59 of 2026), effective July 15, 2026. The General Technical Rules for Registration and Filing Materials of New Cosmetic Ingredients was also released concurrently. The new regulations reduce the categories of “high‑risk” functional ingredients from 10 to 5, retaining only preservatives, sunscreens, colorants, hair dyes, and spot‑removing and whitening agents. Five other functional categories—anti‑hair loss, anti‑acne, anti‑wrinkle, anti‑dandruff, and deodorant—are removed from the high‑risk list.
2.Cosmetic Retail Sales Reach New Highs
According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics, retail sales of cosmetics in May 2026 reached RMB 44.9 billion, up 2.5% year‑on‑year. Cumulative sales from January to May totaled RMB 198.5 billion, a year‑on‑year increase of 4.9%, exceeding the average growth rate of total retail sales of consumer goods.
Channels & Consumers
1.618 Full‑Cycle Beauty Sales Reach RMB 56.1 Billion Across All Platforms
During the full cycle of the 2026 618 shopping festival (including pre‑sales and spot sales), online sales of skincare, fragrances, and color cosmetics across all platforms reached RMB 56.1 billion. Taobao and Tmall together accounted for 44.8%, Douyin for 31.9%, and JD.com for 10.7%, with the three combined representing nearly 90% of the total.
International Companies
1.Vietnamese Cocovie Completes Beijing Registration, Entering with Natural Coconut Concept
Vietnamese beauty start‑up Cocovie is preparing to enter the Chinese beauty market, offering coconut‑based skincare and haircare products that emphasize natural ingredients and affordable pricing, using a direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) model. The Ho Chi Minh City‑based company has completed registration in Beijing and plans to launch sales in major Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Guangzhou.
2.CPL Flavors Invests RMB 101 Million to Expand in China
Recently, CPL Flavors (Far East) Limited signed an investment agreement at the Zhuhai Economic and Technological Development Zone. The project involves a total investment of USD 15 million (approximately RMB 101 million), focusing on high‑end daily chemical fragrance production. Upon completion, the annual output value is expected to exceed RMB 180 million. The company plans to build a fragrance production base in the zone and establish a global raw material procurement center. CPL Flavors (Far East) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British international fragrance family business CPL Aromas, registered in Hong Kong.
3.U.S. Fast‑Fashion Brand Forever 21 Crosses into Beauty
Globally renowned fast‑fashion brand Forever 21 has officially entered the beauty sector, launching an independent beauty product line. Its first two lip products were recently unveiled at a Marilyn Monroe‑themed pop‑up event in Shanghai, testing the market with a youthful, visually appealing, and low‑price strategy.
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