China Sees Growth of Premium Skin Care Products

In China, sales of prestige premium products with a price point of approximately $113 and above grew from 28% of the dollar share in the first half of 2007 to 31% in the second half of the year. There is also growth in the super premium skin care products in China, with price points starting at approximately $214. This segment made up 10% of all facial skin care sales in the first half of 2007 and grew to 15% of sales by the second half of the year.

Skin care is the biggest category in the prestige beauty industry in China. Nearly 70% of all dollars spent on beauty products in China are spent on skin care. Facial skin care products make up a large portion of the overall skin care category.

The Chinese beauty industry is an emerging market, says Edward Wang, manager of China Beauty, The NPD Group. "We are seeing more advertisements in China, both in magazines and on television, for premium-priced antiaging products. These ads play an important role in educating women about skin care useage in China."