Second edition of in-cosmetics Korea attracts 6,152 unique visitors

 

The highly anticipated in-cosmetics Korea event did not disappoint. In just its second year, the show attracted 6,152 unique visitors who travelled to Seoul for the annual event from 6-7 July – 97% more than in 2015. The success highlights the importance of the country to the global cosmetic industry and the value manufacturers now place on the event.

 

Success in numbers

With the Korean market a hotbed of innovation, the event was particularly popular domestically, with more than 5,300 visitors – an 81% increase – searching for innovative ingredients and seeking out future trends.

 

However, it was the global appeal of the event that stole the headlines, with the organisers reporting a dramatic 470% rise in international visitors. In total, 804 visitors (13% of the total)   travelled from outside Korea, with a large number of formulators and R&D professionals making the trip from China, Thailand and Japan in particular.

 

As a clear sign of the event’s success, all of the leading Korean cosmetic manufacturers were in attendance. Specialists from Able, AmorePacific, Aekyung, Charmzone, Coreana, Cosmax, Doori, Enprani, Hankook, Kolmar, LG, Nature Republic and TonyMoly all spent time browsing exhibitors’ stands and attending the show seminars. Plus, international brands including Amway, Beiersdorf, Estée Lauder, Henkel, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberley Clark, La Prairie, L’Oréal, LVMH, Procter and Gamble, Shanghai Jahwa and Shiseido, were also seen exploring ingredients for the next generation of finished products.

 

Commenting on the event’s visitor profile, exhibitor Kelley Dwyer, Senior Vice President, Sales and Market Development at Floratech, said: “We welcomed hundreds of guests to our stand during in-cosmetics Korea. Our guests were mostly from Korea, but we received many visitors from many other important Asian markets, including Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and India.”

 

Sarah Gibson, Exhibition Director for in-cosmetics Korea, said: “The second in-cosmetics Korea was a remarkable success, as our visitor and exhibitor numbers confirm. The Korean cosmetic market continues to make an impact on the global stage and is really becoming a region of major significance. As one of the world’s most important countries for R&D advancements, we will continue to bring our event to Korea for years to come.”

 

Product innovation takes centre stage

The 6,000-plus visitors departed with a wealth of ingredient information that will help form the base of future cosmetic products. In addition to meeting new suppliers on the exhibition floor, in-cosmetics Korea provided an Innovation Zone, which showcased some of the most exciting ingredients launched within the past eight months.

 

Mirroring the increase in visitor attendance, in-cosmetics Korea featured 10 percent more exhibitors, with a quarter new to the show. 219 ingredient suppliers showcased ingredients, including dynamic new exhibitors such as Croda, Lamberti and Neelikon, as well as major international suppliers like Akzo Nobel, Clariant, Dow Chemical, DSM and Wacker.

 

However, there was no shortage of home-grown innovation either, with Korean exhibitors accounting for 38% of the floor space. Bioland, Caregen, CQV and KCC were among the many domestic suppliers who left in-cosmetics Korea with an enhanced reputation.

 

A focus on education

in-cosmetics Korea ran a comprehensive, free-to-attend, educational programme throughout the event. The Theatres were packed and, in many cases, standing room only. Seminars focused on topics at the forefront of the industry such as skin-whitening, anti-ageing, preservatives, halal certification and anti-pollution. Seminars were grouped into three themes: Cosmetic Science and Technology, Innovation and Marketing Trends and Regulations.

 

Cosmetic Science and Technology

On the first day, themes including biotech, stem cells, nanotechnology, nutricosmetics and in-vivo skin analysis were covered across eight seminars. Leading cosmetic professionals covered the latest scientific developments in these areas, organised in association with Korea’s National Coordinating Centre for Global Cosmetics R&D (NCR).

 

Dong Wook Shin of the AmorePacific Corporation R&D Centre about the ‘Development of novel skin stem cells-based anti-ageing bio-cosmetics’ – some of the industry’s most ground-breaking work.

 

Nanoscale emulsions and neurocosmetic anti-inflammatory agents were covered by Professor Yunhi Cho from Kyung Hee University, who presented research on how nutriceuticals, such as borage oil, can balance skin pH.

 

With the heavy focus on ‘natural products’ across the consumer market, part of the programme was dedicated to the latest trends in this area. This included talks on plant-derived alternatives, neurotoxins and developing cosmetic materials based on traditional Korean medicine prescriptions.

 

Innovation Seminars

The Innovation Seminar stage hosted 16 further seminars, tackling key topics in cosmetic technical innovation. Focusing on new active and functional ingredients, discussions included pollution protection and peptides, emollients and biosurfactants. Visitors left the presentations armed with information about the future of technical innovation in cosmetics.

 

Chang Wang, APAC Regional Sales & Marketing Manager-Skincare at Lipotec, presented a session on pollution protection and introduced Pollushield^TM, the supplier’s newest dual action anti-pollution ingredient, tested in vivo in Beijing.

 

As a result of the global trends in skincare and the popularity of emollients, Tiffany Oliphant, Clinical Services Manager at Floratech, introduced visitors to L22 – a new natural, functional cosmetic emollient that mimics human skin surface lipids using botanically-sourced lipids.

 

Floratech’s Kelley Dwyer, highlighted the popularity of the Innovation Seminars: “We presented to a standing room only crowd, many of whom visited our stand requesting samples and more information.”

 

Anti-ageing, another huge trend in the Asian market and in the cosmetic market overall, was given plenty of airtime at the seminars. Paulo K.R. Yoon, Ph.D, Director, Gattefossé Asia Pacific, gave his insights on the global market for anti-ageing and spoke about the company’s new Gatuline Renew. This is a product that targets and improves skin texture.

 

Highlighting the importance of anti-ageing products to the global market, in-cosmetics launched a report (downloadable at www.in-cosmeticsasia.com/antiageing) on the subject at the Korea event. Authored by Global Skincare Analyst Nica Lewis, the report gives in-depth insight into what the future holds for anti-ageing products and the four key areas that will be key to achieving growth.

 

Visitors were also able to watch a presentation delivered by Keedon Park, President and CEO of Incospharm, about the biotech firm’s newest vitamin-peptide hybrid that reduces wrinkles and increases collagen synthesis.

 

Marketing Trends and Regulation Seminars

As at other in-cosmetics events around the globe, the Marketing Trends sessions were hugely popular and visitors gathered to hear the latest developments in the cosmetic and personal care industry.

 

The hottest topics were covered, from anti-ageing and skin lightening to K-beauty and Halal products. Presentations were unmissable for those interested in the trends side of the market, with Belinda Carli from The Institute of Personal Care Science, informing visitors how they should go about ‘Formulating brand leading products’.

 

Other highlights included Antoinette van den Berg of FutureTouch, who delivered a presentation on ‘Future raw material trends that go beyond colour and texture’, while Kunal Mahajan from the Kline Group spoke on ‘Trends within the global personal care ingredients market’ and also about ‘the current state of preservatives’.

 

Following on from the rise in popularity of Halal ingredients and products, James Jangsuh Noh of the Korea Institute of Halal Industry discussed ‘Strategies for Korean cosmetics to successfully penetrate the global halal cosmetic market’, while David Choi of Big Detail spoke more generally on ‘What is the nature of new beauty trends originating from Korea?’.

In addition, sessions on regulations took place, where a range of topics including computer-based animal testing alternatives, Chinese regulations and global ingredient regulatory compliance were discussed.

 

Sarah Gibson, Exhibition Director, concluded by saying: “What is clear is that K-beauty products are now in the spotlight and there is some fantastic innovation originating from the region. We thank everyone who visited this year and has made this such a fantastic event. We look forward to seeing you in 2017.”

 

The organisers announced during the show that in-cosmetics Korea 2017 will now be a 3-day event and will take place at Coex, Hall C, Seoul from 20 to 22 June 2017.

 

-Ends-

For further press information, please contact the in-cosmetics group press office on +44 (0) 207 240 2444, or email in-cosmetics@stormcom.co.uk.

 

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