L'Oréal is hosting the first-ever North Asia Beauty Industry Innovation Summit focusing on the future of beauty empowered by technology and innovation through co-creation in China, Japan, and South Korea.

"The North Asia region represents more than one-third of the world's total beauty market," said Fabrice Megarbane, president of L'Oréal North Asia and CEO of L'Oréal China, at the event. "It has a unique ecosystem of what we call the 'beauty triangle' of C-beauty, J-beauty, and K-beauty. There are many factors of cultural relevance, as well as commonalities, in the beauty needs of those in the region, while each market brings unique strengths. This dynamic is what makes the North Asia region special, not only as a growth engine but also inspiration for technological advancement and innovation. The purpose of this event is to bring together the different wisdom in the region and accelerate technology and innovation through co-creation."

"At L'Oréal, our sense of purpose is to create beauty that moves the world. We believe that together with our partners and stakeholders, we can co-create the future of beauty with game-changing technologies and innovation that truly inspire our consumers in North Asia and beyond," added Megarbane.

The summit took place during the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai and was attended by key stakeholders from different industries and markets. Speakers included experts from beauty, green science, AI and digital and medical sectors, as well as institutions such as Business France and Shanghai Institutes for International Studies. During the Summit, L'Oréal decoded the latest consumer trends in the "beauty triangle" around four key themes, including "self-expressive beauty," "supercharged efficacy," "skinification," and "sensorial matters." The company also illustrated key innovation breakthroughs that echoed these trends, such as 3CE's New Color Effects, Lancôme's Dual LED Youth Treatment, YSL's Touche Eclat Glow-Pact, Prada's Paradoxe Fragrance, and Shu Cleansing Oil's "Shu Purifying Ritual."

Speaking about how the brand is leveraging the best science and technology to bring breakthrough innovations, Maxime De Boni, vice president of L'Oréal Research & Innovation (R&I) North Asia and China, said: "We have an open R&I strategy that anchors on co-creation. Internally, we maximize the synergies across our three R&I centers in Shanghai, Tokyo, and Seoul in North Asia. Externally, we partner and collaborate with some of the most innovative start-ups, fast and agile suppliers, and renowned academics and institutions in the region for innovation. This summit is about our belief in the power of co-creation and commitment to lead in this direction."

The summit also featured a panel discussion including leading experts across beauty, AI and digital, and R&D specialties from China, Japan, and South Korea. A recent example of cross-industry co-creation was showcased when L'Oréal Japan partnered with Morishita Jintan to develop its first capsule made of plant-derived active cosmetic ingredients through cutting-edge "active delivery capsule" technology.

As the largest fast-moving consumer goods exhibitor for five consecutive years and the rotating chairman of the CIIE Enterprise Alliance for the third year, L'Oréal unveiled its latest beauty tech innovations at its main booth under the theme "Co-Create the Future of Beauty." Three state-of-the-art beauty tech products – YSL SCENT-SATION, the first in-store fragrance finder based on neuroscience; Lancôme Absolue Dual-LED Youth Treatment, a device that provides an enhanced skin care experience enabled by eight patented technologies; and Colorsonic, a hair dye magic wand marketed as being able to solve any at-home hair coloring disaster – made their Asia debut at the expo, showing Chinese consumers the beauty of tomorrow. Lancôme Skin Screen, an AI-enabled personalized skin diagnostic service, was also presented for the first time at the expo.

In addition to the four new beauty techs, L'Oréal has also displayed a record-high number of 225 exhibits at the CIIE, including a new brand, new experience, and many new products. The group also brings its latest investments, including DOCUMENTS, a Chinese high-end fragrance brand, invested by Meicifang, L'Oréal's first investment company in China, and YOUTH BANG, a new program to empower young entrepreneurs to co-create the future of beauty, to the expo. It will also hold a series of events celebrating the 25th anniversary of L'Oréal's entering the Chinese mainland market.

L'Oréal, the world's largest beauty company, entered the Chinese mainland in 1997. L'Oréal China is headquartered in Shanghai and has five offices across the country. L'Oréal China currently has 31 brands and one R&I center in China, as well as two factories in Suzhou and Yichang, with more than 14,000 employees. After 25 years of growth, China has become its second-largest market, making the country a leader in the North Asia "beauty triangle" and one of three beauty tech hubs worldwide. To drive more synergy within the region, L'Oréal established the North Asia Zone in 2021, covering five markets, including the Chinese mainland and regions of Hong Kong and Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, and its vision is to strategize, create, and activate the powerful "beauty triangle" ecosystem for sustainable growth.

"L'Oreal is the witness, participant, and beneficiary of China's opening-up process in the past quarter of the century. Now we are full of confidence in China's economy and market, in China's commitment to expanding opening up and sharing opportunities, and in L'Oreal's development prospects in China," Megarbane said, marking the anniversary. "L'Oréal keeps pursuing its beauty dream by offering diversified products and services to satisfy people's beauty aspirations in China. At L'Oréal, we believe no matter who we are or where we are, beauty is essential."

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