Natural and Organic Chinese Cosmetics: The Next Cosmetic Wave?

Ever since 2006′s SK-II affair to 2009′s Johnson & Johnson incident, the quality and safety of cosmetics in China is a large issue for Chinese youth consumers.

According to a recent survey from Sina.com, 80.4% of female cosmetic consumers worry about the safety of cosmetic products, especially the ingredients. For most Chinese girls, putting on make-up is a daily task. However nowadays they no longer blindly pursue beauty, instead cosmetic buyers are becoming more and more conscious of the health and safety of the cosmetics they purchase.

Niu Er (牛尔), is a Taiwanese beauty expert. As a 12 year old boy, Niu Erbegan using materials in his kitchen to make  facial masks. Niu Er was strongly influenced by his mother who sold cosmetics. After graduating from medical school he started working in the beauty industry and continued on this path for more than 10 years. He later worked for The Body Shop, Sisley, and other cosmetic companies as a marketing – training officer, and a spokesman.

In 2006, Niu Er began to sell his own DIY nature cosmetic brand, ”Nature Beauty Easy” at Taobao Taiwan. His signature product is his red wine facial mask which sold out in a very short time. Because of his natural cosmetic preference and well quality products, he became a cosmetic expert for well-known brands like L’Oreal, appearing on famous Chinese and Taiwan TV programs such as”女人我最大” and ”美丽俏佳人” and being feature by many international well-known beauty magazines such as Marie Claire, Rayli, Elle, Cosmopolitan, etc.

This past September he launched his first official online store on Taobao so that girls from all over China can buy his natural products. Presently, the only series you can buy there is cream called “京城之霜’ which was specially designed for female customers that live in mainland China. The cream contains 60 natural ingredients which are approved by French organic certification organization ECOCERT. In the future, Niu Er plans to have many more natural products coming out.

Since the LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) lifestyle is becoming more and more popular in China, the concept of “organic cosmetics” is being more and more accepted by consumers. According to the report released by organic product observation organization, Organic Monitor, in 2008 the global sale of natural organic cosmetics is 7 billion U.S. dollars which is an increase of  1 billion from 2007! And as trends percolate, American brands follow: a few months ago, American organic brand, Nature’s Gate entered the Chinese market hoping to capitalize on this burgeoning trend.