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Report
en_GB
Future opportunity in edible beauty lies in expanding the conceptual boundaries of a healthy complexion, unlocking everyday consumption potential by segmenting food and drink scenarios and driving category breakthroughs via…
China
Beauty and Cosmetics
simple
China Attitudes towards Edible Beauty: 2025
Future opportunity in edible beauty lies in expanding the conceptual boundaries of a healthy complexion, unlocking everyday consumption potential by segmenting food and drink scenarios and driving category breakthroughs via cross-sector integration using the concept of food both as medicine and a source of beauty.
Edible beauty market enters a competitive ‘red ocean’ phase marked by volume expansion and price compression
Graph 1: value sales, volume sales and growth rate of edible beauty products on major ecommerce channels, 2025
Clear market segmentation: beauty supplements offer professional solutions with higher entry barriers, while beauty-boosting food and drinks support everyday usage
Graph 2: volume sales and growth rate of edible beauty sub-segments on major ecommerce channels, 2025
Graph 3: average transaction price and growth rate of edible beauty sub-segments on major ecommerce channels, 2025
Market factors
Internal and external approaches remain central for consumers seeking beauty, with edible beauty still having penetration potential
Graph 4: ways to enhance beauty, 2024-25
Beauty-boosting food/drink is the entry point for the everyday adoption of edible beauty
Expanding consumer demand for a good complexion drives the continuous evolution on complexion management
Graph 5: social media mentions around ‘healthy complexion’, 2024-25
Graph 6: understanding of a good complexion, 2025
The consumer
Major consumer usage changes
Internal, external and lifestyle approaches are important ways to enhance appearance
Graph 7: ways to enhance beauty, 2024-25
Skintone management remains the top priority in edible beauty, followed by anti-ageing and sensitive skin repair
Graph 8: purpose of consuming edible beauty products, 2024-25
Broaden the definition of a healthy glow to expand the range of complexion management products
The wellness boom is prompting consumers to prioritise complexion management
Graph 9: social media mentions around a healthy complexion, 2024-25
Three main ways to manage complexion, with edible beauty retaining significant expansion potential
For consumers, a good complexion means a rosy, radiant skintone with healthy skin and a positive mental state
Graph 10: understanding of a good complexion, 2025
Women aged 18-24 place greater emphasis on an even skintone, those aged 25-29 focus more on an overall healthy complexion, detailed skintone management and a relaxed expression
Graph 11: definition of a good complexion among women, by age, 2025
The evolving scope of a healthy complexion is driving continuous innovation in complexion management
Graph 12: demand* for a good complexion, 2025
Profile of consumers seeking a healthy complexion
Segment scenarios like quick fixes and social sharing to make beauty-boosting food and drink part of everyday life
Beauty-boosting food and drink have a lower entry barrier, making them easier to be incorporated into everyday edible beauty routines
Efficacy is the main driver for consuming beauty-enhancing food and drink
Efficacy is the main driver for consuming beauty-boosting food and drink
Graph 13: motivations for consuming food/drinks with added beauty ingredients, 2025
Beauty-boosting food and drink consumption scenarios are closely linked to lifestages and women’s physiological cycles
Graph 14: consumption occasions of food/drinks with added beauty ingredients – daily, 2025
Graph 15: consumption occasions of food/drinks with added beauty ingredients – special occasion, 2025
Beauty-boosting food and drink show clear differentiation based on consumption scenarios and motivations
Everyday quick fix: antioxidation and brightening after staying up late, metabolism support after unhealthy eating
Social sharing: light beauty and daily care benefits, with emphasis on snack-style formats and share-pack design
Special care for the menstrual cycle: incorporate the concept of cycle wellness to relieve discomfort
Special care for menopause: expand the target group to include perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause
Consumer profiles by consumption scenario and motivation
Explore cross-industry integration of health, beauty and food and drink
Diverse competition emerges in the edible beauty market as health, beauty and food and drink brands enter
Consumers have different perceptions of edible beauty products across brand categories
Graph 16: perception of different edible beauty brand categories, 2025
Health, beauty and food and drink sectors show a trend of mutual integration and expansion
Case study on category expansion in beauty and skincare: Shiseido’s journey from skincare to edible beauty to beauty wellness
Case study on category expansion in health supplements: Swisse’s transformation into a comprehensive health and beauty brand
Case study on category expansion in food and drink: crossing over into beauty wellness, from flavour to health and beauty
Consumer profiles by brand category preference and suitability for category expansion
New product trends
Edible beauty innovation in the China market still lags global levels, but beauty supplements have surged over the past five years
Graph 17: share of new launches with beauty claims in food*, drink and vitamins & dietary supplements, 2021-25
Graph 18: share of new launches with beauty claims in food*, drink and vitamins & dietary supplements, 2021-25
Clear regional divergence in edible beauty innovation activity across key global markets
Graph 19: share of new launches with beauty claims in food*, drink, oral rehydration and vitamins & dietary supplements, 2021-25
Food and drink focus on core beauty benefits, while vitamins and supplements show broader expansion
Graph 20: top beauty claims in new food* and drink launches, 2021-25
Graph 21: top beauty claims in vitamin & dietary supplement launches, 2021-25
Appendix – keyword selection and methodology for the edible beauty market in ecommerce channels
Search criteria for the edible beauty market in ecommerce channels
Future opportunity in edible beauty lies in expanding the conceptual boundaries of a healthy complexion, unlocking everyday consumption potential by segmenting food and drink scenarios and driving category breakthroughs via cross-sector integration using the concept of food both as medicine and a source of beauty.
Lucy Yang, Senior Analyst, BPC Client Advisory, China Insights
Market Definitions
For this Report, Mintel defines edible beauty as follows:
Food/drink (eg yogurt) with added beauty ingredients (eg collagen, vitamin C)
Health supplements with beauty benefits (eg collagen supplements, vitamin C supplements)
Traditional tonic products with beauty benefits (eg fish maw, bird’s nest)
This Report only covers edible beauty products for adults; products for infants, children and adolescents are excluded from the consumer survey and scope.
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