2024
8
China Suncare Market Report 2024
2025-01-28T16:02:09+00:00
REP106AC01F_E9B5_4040_BF6F_3F04A6C70116
3695
179127
[{"name":"Suncare","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/beauty-personal-care\/skincare\/suncare"}]
Report
en_GB
Weak growth in the wider economy and the rapid rise of sun protective clothing/accessories are putting pressure on the suncare market. However, core suncare users show signs of trading up…
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  2. All Industries
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  4. Beauty and Personal Care
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  6. Skincare
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  8. Suncare
  9. /
  10. China Suncare Market Report 2024

China Suncare Market Report 2024

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Weak growth in the wider economy and the rapid rise of sun protective clothing/accessories are putting pressure on the suncare market. However, core suncare users show signs of trading up in their daily usage. Brands can consider leaning into current trends, engaging in proactive product innovation and marketing tailored towards specific occasions, skintone/skin type needs and fragrance experiences.

Tina He, Senior Analyst, China Insights

Market Definitions

This Report examines the retail market for suncare products, including sunscreen of different segments such as sprays, gels and lotions.

Men’s sunscreen products are also included.

Excluded:

Suncare products for babies and kids, and beauty and personal care products, such as facial moisturisers and colour cosmetics, that include SPF, are not included in the market size or sales data but are covered in the consumer analysis.

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  1. Executive summary

    • Key issues covered in this Report
    • Definition
    • What you need to know
    • The market for suncare is growing slowly, chiefly driven by upgrade demands from core users
    • Market share is increasing for Chinese products, while Japanese brands perform poorly and active innovation emerges on the supply side
    • Three ways to encourage trading up
    • Keys to success
    • What we think
  2. The market

    • Market size and forecast
    • The pandemic affected suncare demand, with the market experiencing ups and downs over the past five years
    • The suncare market saw slow growth in 2024
    • Market factors
    • Retail sales are declining in cosmetics categories, and consumer sentiment is sluggish
    • Graph 1: total YoY growth rate (%) of retail sales of consumer goods in the cosmetics category, 2022-24
    • Sun protective clothing/accessories experience rapid growth, putting pressure on the suncare market
    • Graph 2: penetration of facial suncare products*, 2020-24
    • The ongoing surge in travel and outdoor activities is driving the development of sun protection demands
    • Graph 3: overall participation rate in outdoor sports, 2024
    • Graph 4: interest in travel participation over the next 12 months, 2024
    • Core suncare users have a strong awareness of the need for UV protection, while potential lies in segmented products
    • Graph 5: usage habits – existing users, 2024
    • Innovation is active on the supply-side, while patented technological innovations are injecting vitality into the market
    • Graph 6: patents related to suncare, 2014-24
    • Improper use of sunscreen spray leads to white lung pneumonia, and safety concerns see volume sales plummet in the short term
    • The emotional value of scented products comes to the fore, and could be extended to the suncare category
    • Graph 7: changes in usage habits of BPC products, 2022-24
  3. COMPANIES AND BRANDS

    • Brand competition
    • Japanese suncare products face setbacks, while domestic brands perform strongly, leading to a decrease in overall market concentration
    • The nuclear wastewater incident continues to affect the performance of Japanese suncare
    • L’Oréal has become a model for multi-brand operations
    • Better Way focuses on a single brand
    • Domestic brands perform well, with many up-and-coming players
    • Market segmentation
    • Polarisation can be seen in purchases on Tmall in 2024, with stronger performances from goods priced at RMB0-50 and RMB301+
    • 2024 saw mid-range products (RMB51-150, RMB201-250) perform well on Douyin, breaking the dominance of low-priced items
    • Domestic brands’ share of volume sales on Tmall is relatively stable, with an increase in the proportion of products from France, while Japan, Thailand and South Korea see a noticeable decline
    • Chinese products account for 80% of volume sales on Douyin, while the share of Japanese and Thai products sees a slight increase
    • ‘Moisturising’ is the top claim on Tmall, but its importance is declining year on year; suncare products with waterproof/skin lightening functions show steady sales
    • Product innovation
    • Each of the major global markets has its own focus, with ease of use and waterproof claims leading in the Chinese market
    • Graph 8: leading claims of new suncare launches in major markets, January-November 2024
    • Convenience, safety, and environmental friendly claims are on the rise in China; last year saw clear growth in long-lasting and skincare benefit claims (eg antioxidant and anti-ageing)
    • Graph 9: leading claims of new suncare launches, 2020-24
    • New suncare products for sensitive skin show upgrades in both free-from claims and protection efficacy
    • Extend product safety claims to use after specific beauty procedures
    • New suncare products in China are mainly lotions, while creams and sprays are most common in the South Korean and Japanese markets
    • Graph 10: leading formats/textures of new suncare launches in major markets, January-November 2024
    • Textures/formats are diversifying in China, with essences surging in 2024
    • Graph 11: leading formats/textures of new suncare launches, 2020-24
    • Suncare products in essence formats carry varied efficacy claims, while sprays emphasise convenience and antioxidant benefits
    • Graph 12: leading claims of new suncare launches, by format/texture, January-November 2024
    • Skin lightening, repair and antioxidant claims are seen in essence and spray formats
    • Driven by the combination of multiple sunscreen ingredients, the sunscreen applications have become more diverse
    • Graph 13: leading sunscreen ingredients in new suncare launches, 2020-24
    • Sunscreen formulas with patented ingredient combinations achieve broad-spectrum high-efficiency sun protection
    • Biological sunscreen makes its debut, as patents endorse its effectiveness
    • Moisturising and soothing ingredients are common, and niacinamide is the most commonly used skin lightening ingredient
    • Graph 14: leading skincare ingredients in new suncare launches, 2020-24
  4. The consumer

    • Satisfy basic sun protection needs and leverage segmented products to exploit the potential of suncare across multiple usage occasions for existing users
    • Suncare products see a decline in penetration…
    • Graph 15: suncare-related product usage, 2022-24
    • …but existing users show a strong awareness of the need for sun protection, and demonstrate segmented suncare demands
    • Graph 16: ways of increasing usage frequency, 2024
    • Segment products by occasions that align with lifestyle trends
    • Graph 17: perceptions of suncare product segmentation, 2024
    • Occasions linked to suncare on social media include travel, sports, going out and post-cosmetic procedures
    • Suncare is commonly used during outdoor recreation or when playing sports, while commuting could be a high-potential occasion
    • Graph 18: sunscreen product usage, by occasion, 2024
    • Outdoor travel/recreation occasions see high usage and high user stickiness, while usage is slightly lower when playing outdoor sports
    • Graph 19: sunscreen product usage, by outdoor occasion, 2024
    • Suncare brands partner with sports stars and KOLs to promote usage during outdoor sports occasions
    • Awareness of the need to use sunscreen when playing sport indoors is relatively weak, with only half of consumers using sun protection every time
    • Graph 20: sunscreen product usage, by indoor exercise occasion, 2024
    • Application is common during daily outings/commutes, while awareness of the need for sun protection is weakest in indoor work/study environments
    • Graph 21: sunscreen product usage, by daily occasion, 2024
    • Consumers want suncare for the commute to be long-lasting, refreshing and multifunctional
    • Consumers struggle to reapply sunscreen, while ‘no reapplication’ claims appeal to those looking for sun protection while commuting
    • Graph 22: consumers who ‘didn’t reapply sunscreen every time’ as a share of consumers who ‘used sunscreen every time’, by occasion, 2024
    • Introduce new skincare benefits to meet diverse needs, such as skintone management and adaptations based on skin type
    • Consumers now expect suncare products to provide more skincare benefits
    • Skintone management is most closely linked to sun protection
    • Graph 23: skincare needs from sunscreen, 2024
    • The secret to success for top-selling products is combining whitening and suncare benefits
    • Consumers with different skin types have different demands for suncare benefits
    • Graph 24: skincare needs from sunscreen, by skin type, 2024
    • Graph 25: skincare needs from sunscreen, by skin sensitivity, 2024
    • Consumers with oily or dry skin demonstrate different demands for sunscreen textures
    • Suncare is less likely to be segmented by skin type than other facial skincare products, offering opportunities for innovation and upgrades
    • Graph 26: share of new launches with ‘for oily skin’ claims, suncare vs face/neck care, 2020-24
    • Graph 27: share of new launches with ‘for dry skin’ claims, suncare vs face/neck care, 2020-24
    • Introduce diverse fragrances to enrich the sensory associations of the suncare category
    • Scented suncare products are appealing, especially to young consumers
    • Graph 28: attitudes towards the fragrance of suncare products, by age, 2024
    • Graph 29: I would be encouraged to purchase a suncare product if it carried a scent which I like, by age, 2022
    • Scented suncare products are appealing, especially to young consumers
    • Very few suncare products carry fragrance descriptions
    • Consumers most want to see floral, fruity and citrus scents in suncare; cross-category learning/borrowing could be a shortcut to success
    • Graph 30: preferred scent type of facial skincare products (eg facial cream), 2024
    • Graph 31: preferred scent type of suncare products, 2024
    • Younger consumers are interested in diverse suncare scents
    • Graph 32: average number of preferred suncare fragrances, by age, 2024
    • 18-29s particularly like fruity scents
    • Graph 33: preferred scent types for suncare products – fruity, by age, 2024
    • Consumers in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities especially like marine scents, which aligns with their vacation preferences
    • Graph 34: preferred scent types for suncare products – marine, by city tier, 2024
    • Woody fragrances and oriental scents are a gender-neutral option
    • Graph 35: preferred scent types for suncare products – woody and oriental, by female respondents’ age, 2024
  5. Issues and insights

    • Focus on everyday outings/commutes and offer long-lasting performance to overcome frustrations with reapplication
    • Patented technology drives the evolution of sunblock films, eliminating worries about sunscreen being rendered ineffective if not reapplied
    • Leverage work-related buzzwords to capture mindshare among young commuters
    • Graph 36: engagement with work-related internet buzzwords on social media channels*, 2024
    • Leverage product innovation through targeted skincare to precisely meet the needs of consumers with different skin types or skin issues
    • Segment star products by skin type as an additional growth driver
    • Make suncare products inclusive, targeting all skin types
    • Provide solutions for consumers with different skin types, from formula design to usage method
    • Promote fragrance experiences, tapping into the emotional value offered by suncare products with the help of playful innovations
    • Develop scented suncare products for the younger generation, offering a relaxed, enjoyable and playful experience
    • Amplify the ‘vacation feel’ of sunscreen to cater to consumers’ desire for relaxation and leisure
    • Infuse the daily suncare routine with a richer and deeper sense of spiritual fulfilment and pleasure
  6. APPENDIX – MARKET SIZE AND FORECAST, RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND ABBREVIATIONS

    • Market size and forecast
    • Methodology
    • Abbreviations

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