In-Cosmetics Asia, a leading event in Asia Pacific for personal care ingredients, has announced its full agenda for 2024, specially curated to welcome APAC’s best R&D scientists, creators and innovators.

Taking place on Nov. 5-7 at BITEC in Bangkok, Thailand, the show will feature four key themes – science, innovation, trends and community.

The 2024 edition will reportedly showcase the largest exhibitor participation in the event’s 15-year history, reflecting the growth of the industry in Asia, which is projected to reach $253.1 billion this year, 40% of the global market. Last year, the Asia Pacific region accounted for nearly a third (32%) of the global beauty and personal care market, led by its top four countries: China, Japan, India and South Korea.

As these markets continue to rise in global influence, the event will feature strong representation from APAC, with over 200 of the 600 exhibitors introducing their innovations, and over 80 keynote sessions dedicated to exploring key themes within these regions. Shanghai-based global ingredient supplier, Cosroma will present its Cosroma FFJ-004, a nearly colorless and odorless solvent, moisturizer and solubilizer, which locks in skin moisture and reduces trans-epidermal water loss.

Jingkun Chemistry Company, a leading manufacturer for guar derivative products headquartered in Kunshan, will exhibit its guar derivatives for skincare and haircare, while KingPowder – one of the leading Chinese manufacturers of raw materials for color cosmetics and skincare – will showcase its array of products from its organic pigment pre-dispersion and surface treated pigments to its wet stripping boron nitride.

Product Innovations

Tokyo-based Nikko Chemicals will introduce two new products: CC-880, a rice ball-shaped, 100% natural carbon-sourced powder that improves texture, prevents make-up breakdown and eliminates sticky skin and Mineral UV filter dispersions. The dispersions offer high UV-blocking with enhanced transparency by controlling the particle size of TiO2 and ZnO.

Osaka-based Seiwa Kasei will present Amitose 3LGA, a ceramide and glutathione booster; Vistanol GDHR-Pure, featuring botanical lanolin; and Promois WR-CAQ, an anti-frizz rice protein, amongst others.

TriBeaute – known for developing unique active ingredients for skincare, haircare and nutrition – will showcase Wasabi Flavone, an anti-ageing ingredient, derived from the wasabi leaf extract (Wasabia japonica), which targets dandruff, scalp redness, and sebum while promoting hair growth.

Representing the K-Beauty industry, Humanchem Inc, will highlight several innovations, including HUSIL SILICA, a high-purity spherical silica powder; Snow Sapphire, a synthetic sapphire powder ideal for makeup and pearl pigments; and Exphere, a cross-linked polymethylmethacrylate powder. South Korea’s Sunfine Global, will display its key product lines; the SunPEP Series, a collection of high-efficiency peptides designed to address fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of ageing, and the Sunsorb/UVsol Series, featuring advanced sunscreen agents for cutting-edge protection against harmful UV rays.

Other exhibitors from the APAC region, such as Moksha, Ajinomoto, Gway Cosmetics, Hermosa Naturals Co., Ltd. and Ikeda Corporation, will be joined by global companies including Actichem from France, Mibelle AG Biochemistry from Switzerland, Henry Lamotte Oils GmbH from Germany, Moellhausen from Italy and many others.

Over 130 companies making their debut at the event will include Agrana, an Austrian industrial group with global operations in fruit, starch, and sugar; Bernardi Group, a French producer of natural raw materials with sites in over eight countries; and CIDOLS, a specialty ester chemical manufacturer focusing on emollients and emulsifiers.

Inaugural Cosmetic Conference

This year marks the inaugural cosmetic conference, a new initiative in association with the International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC) and sponsored by DSM-Firmenich. Running from Nov. 5-6, the conference will bring together leading R&D experts from around the world to explore the latest advancements in high-level cosmetic science.

Featuring expert keynote speakers from L’Oréal, Shiseido, A*Star Skin Research Labs, Formulae 8 and more, the two-day event will focus on technical topics, including the microbiome, pigmentation, AI, and the role of beauty in ageing skin, catering specifically to scientific experts and industry leaders.

At the conference, Perry Romanowski, chair of education at IFSCC and vice president of Element 44 Inc. (USA), will lead the opening session, “The future of beauty: how AI will affect cosmetic chemists and formulation.” Romanowski, an industry authority with broad expertise across multiple areas, and the public face of The Beauty Brains – a group of chemists with over forty years of combined experience at major cosmetics companies like Procter & Gamble, Unilever and Alberto Culver – will investigate how AI is revolutionizing cosmetic formulation, shaping marketing narratives, and transforming ingredient research. He will also present “Haircare formulations: is innovation still possible?” examining the latest advancements in haircare through historical examples and modern techniques.
Dr. Tarun Chopra, director, advanced research at L’Oréal, will discuss “Microbiome sciences: from knowledge to effective dermo-cosmetic solutions,” offering a comprehensive exploration of the challenges and opportunities presented by microbiome science in the cosmetic industry. His presentation will delve into the ecosystem of the skin microbiome, how it evolves over time and how it interacts intimately with skin’s biology and clinical condition.

Also at the cosmetic conference will be Tomo Osawa, regional Asia Pacific Innovation Center director at Shiseido, who will deliver a presentation on “The power of beauty effect: well-being of the elderly.” With Japan’s status as the country with the highest proportion of elderly citizens and the anticipated acceleration of ageing across Asia, Osawa will investigate the profound impact of beauty on both physical and mental well-being in aging populations. In a separate session, Osawa will also address, “The power of beauty effect: well-being of people with skin concerns,” presenting research on how beauty interventions can significantly improve the wellbeing of individuals facing severe skin issues.

Tomorrow’s Market Trends

The Marketing Trends Theater will boast over 18 sessions on topics such as 2025 global beauty trends, AI’s impact on the personal care industry, sustainability and ingredient trends in Asia, with insights from leaders at Mintel, Euromonitor, The K Beauty Science, Kline, Fashion Snoops, Innate Motion, Asia Cosme Lab and more.

As AI plays an increasingly significant role in the beauty industry, driving innovation and change, Yann Chilvers, founder and Co-CEO of Covalo, will delve into how AI is transforming the personal care sector in his session :10 ways AI is changing the personal care industry.” He will explore its impact on revolutionizing work processes, redefining industry standards and addressing skilled labor shortages.

Another of the most anticipated trends at the show will be the evolving perspective on aging, with a growing emphasis on embracing the natural process and challenging unfair and unrealistic beauty standards. According to Mintel’s 2024 APAC Beauty and Personal Care report, 24% of Chinese women aged 18-24 believe beauty brands often portray unattainable female images. In Japan, there is a shift towards accepting aging while valuing youthful looks, while South-East Asia is addressing both the needs of older populations and educating younger consumers on healthy aging.

Addressing this growing theme, Cilla Henriette, business humanizer and partner at Innate Motion, will present her talk, “The meaning of ageing across life stages,” investigating how the perception of ageing has shifted over time, noting that while aging was once associated with turning 40, discussions about procedures like Botox are now emerging as early as one’s 20s. Moreover, Henriette will explain how the highlights and challenges experienced at different life stages significantly shape our evolving understanding of ageing. Additionally, Arpapat Boonrod, Ph.D., managing director at Client, TH and head of growth SEA, will present the session titled, “Beauty trend Thailand: the new, the old, and the future,” offering insights into how Thailand is redefining beauty standards to celebrate “aging with grace.”

Other sessions will focus on emerging trends, offering attendees valuable insights and a comprehensive, future-gazing outlook at both current and upcoming developments. Pierre Zolghadri, senior business development manager for Asia-Pacific & the Middle East at Kline, will host a session, “Emerging trends and market dynamics of personal care ingredients in Asia” providing an in-depth analysis of these key markets. Mallory Huron, director of beauty & wellness at Fashion Snoops, will discuss “Top wellness trends influencing the beauty market,” while KinShen Chan, principal beauty and personal care analyst at Mintel, will talk about critical trends to monitor now and in the future in his session, “2025 global beauty and personal care trends.”

The Innovation Zone

This year, the Innovation Zone, sponsored by Mibelle Biochemistry, will feature over 100 new ingredients from the likes of Ten Co., Ltd, Special Chemicals and more. Demonstrating an array of both functional and active ingredients – all of which have been launched within the last eight months – visitors can explore, test and experience these advancements firsthand. Spotlighted ingredients will be entered into the prestigious in-cosmetics Asia Awards.

Elsewhere, the Formulation Lab, presented in association with Shieling Laboratories, supported by NSG as well as equipment partner IKA, will offer attendees a chance to enhance and perfect formulation skills in an interactive environment. Experts from Clariant, Ashland, Nikko Chemicals, Innospec and more will lead laboratory sessions with hands-on instructions in formulation techniques, with a particular focus on UV and suncare products, including encapsulated filters for ultra-light sunscreens with high UV protection.

The Technical Seminars are crafted for personal care creators, offering highly advanced insights into new ingredients and technology from companies like DSM-Firmenich, LipoTrue, Mibelle Biochemistry, Hallstar Beauty, Gattefossé Asia Pacific and Ichimaru Pharcos. The sessions will provide a deep dive into personal care ingredients, with a focus on key trends such as glass skin, peptides, fragrance ingredients and exosomes.

Notable sessions include Ryutaro Matsubayashi from Seiwa Kasei, who will address TikTok’s “glass skin” trend in his presentation, “How to get glass skin without make-up: increasing inner ceramide & glutathione.”

Julie Droux from Lucas Meyer Cosmetics by Clariant will explore “A new era of peptides: a natural cyclic peptide with retinol-like properties,” highlighting the growing global market for retinol-based cosmetics and the stability benefits of cyclic peptides. Additionally, Dr. Fred Zülli from Mibelle Biochemistry will present his session titled, “Exosomes: structure, function, and cosmetic application,’ discussing the role of exosomes in cell communication and their emerging applications in regenerative medicine and anti-ageing cosmetics.

Another key session, “From traditional to sustainable – tailored solutions for effective preservation,” will be led by Dr. Adrian Cheong from Lanxess. Cheong will explore the range of Laxess’ preservatives options and how they can be tailored to meet different formulation needs.

Skin Screen

In-cosmetics Asia’s Spotlight On returns with a new emphasis on the rapidly growing global trend of skin screen, divided into four key subcategories: skin protection (SPF, blue light, anti-pollution); skin repair and healing (anti-inflammatory); skin support and maintenance (microbiome, probiotics, vitamins); and skin change and alteration (anti-aging, lightening, brightening). As the importance of protecting skin from UV rays and cancer risks gains momentum, this trend continues to rise, driven by increasing rates of skin conditions like acne, allergic reactions and dermatitis. Mintel’s 2024 report highlights that the surge in skin issues has led to a boom in products marketed as sensitive skin-tested and noncomedogenic, with new launches targeting specific concerns like redness and acne.

Claims for sensitive skin-friendly products rose from 26% to 35% between 2021 and 2023, while the percentage of Chinese consumers reporting sensitive skin increased from 35% in 2021to 41% in 2022, remaining steady through 2024. Additionally, the report reveals over half of Thai consumers (52%) describe their facial skin as sensitive, with elevated air pollution driving interest in skin protection and sensitive skin treatments.

Exhibitors including Ashland Singapore, Bloomage Biotechnology Corp, Spec-Chem Industry, MyMicrobiome, IMCD APAC, Galaxy Surfactants, and Clariant Singapore will introduce their latest advancements in anti-inflammatory products, microbiome support, probiotics, skin lightening, blue light therapy, and more, through the dedicated Spotlight On seminars. All formulated ingredients on show will compete in the prestigious in-cosmetics Asia Awards.

Nine Faces of the APAC Beauty Industry

New this year, In-Cosmetics Asia introduces the inaugural “9 Faces of the APAC Beauty Industry 2024” initiative, celebrating professionals who have made significant contributions to the region’s personal care industry. The initiative aims to highlight the remarkable individuals driving innovation and success in the Asia Pacific beauty sector, including R&D professionals, scientists, innovators and role models. The 9 Faces will be selected by an expert judging panel including Dr. Oliver Hofmann, technical advisor of In-Cosmetics Asia; Dr. Kilala Tilaar, CEO of Martha Tilaar Group; and Dr. Awanthi De Silva, innovation manager at Vitex Pharmaceuticals. Winners will receive a certificate, recognition, and will be honored at the In-Cosmetics Asia Awards.

The In-Cosmetics Asia Awards celebrate the most innovative ingredients from the Innovation Zone and Spotlight On categories. Judged by a panel of international R&D experts, the awards recognize standout ingredients launched in the last eight months of the show. This year’s ceremony will be held on Nov. 5 at 5:15 pm.

To register, visit the In-Cosmetics Asia website here.