Industry News

Record Attendance at In-Cosmetics Asia 2024

The trade show recorded a new high of 43% international visitors.

In-Cosmetics Asia 2024 welcomed nearly 20,000 visitors (including revisits) in Bangkok Nov. 5-7, 2024, making it the biggest turnout in the show’s history.

Boasting 13,103 unique attendees (11% up on 2023), the event also recorded a new high of 43% international visitors. In total, 5,591 attendees traveled from beyond Thailand, marking a 19% increase compared to 2023.

The event at BITEC featured 637 exhibitors, including major multinational ingredient suppliers like Ashland, BASF, Clariant and Croda. Dynamic and niche suppliers from 36 countries – including Australia, Brazil, Egypt and the US – showcased their innovative ingredients, targeting the expanding opportunities in the Asian market.

A Launchpad for Product Development

This year’s exhibition was what officials called a celebration of innovation, with many companies using it as a launchpad for their latest product developments. Eurofragrance showcased Scentphony, a sensory collaboration blending fragrance and music, while Kaffe Bueno introduced Kleanstant, a bio-based anionic surfactant upcycled from coffee by-products, used in shampoos, body washes and cleansers. LipoTrue also introduced two new ingredients: Deepstrine, a marine ferment aimed at nurturing and repairing stretch marks and Lightmony, a botanical blend designed for a radiant glow.

The Innovation Zone

For the first time, The Innovation Zone, sponsored by Mibelle Biochemistry, reached a significant milestone with 100 new ingredients launched within the last eight months. Entries were automatically entered to the Innovation Zone Best Ingredient Awards. Givaudan secured Gold in the Actives category for Neuroglow, an ingredient that mimics sunlight’s beneficial properties. In the Functional category, Lucas Meyer Cosmetics by Clariant took home Gold with Pickmulse, the first quinoa starch-based ingredient allowing easy formulation of Pickering emulsions.

The event united R&D experts from across the region, including representatives from P&G, L’Oréal, Shiseido, Estée Lauder, Unilever and Amorepacific who came together to network with industry peers, hear about upcoming trends and meet with current and potential business partners. Future industry trends were a key focus of the educational program, with themes such as technology, science-backed beauty, AI and anti-aging solutions, and K-Beauty, C-Beauty and T-Beauty.

One of the most popular sessions was led by KinShen Chan, principal beauty and personal care analyst at Mintel, looking at “2025 global beauty and personal care trends.” Chan highlighted expected growth in the Southeast Asian cosmetics industry, pinpointing three significant trends: consumers will “work smarter, not harder,” leveraging knowledge, tools and technology for personalized, high-impact solutions; they will prioritize eco-ethical practices, connecting sustainability with high-performance beauty; and adopt “slow beauty,” focusing on prevention over repair and embracing simplicity.

Cosmetic Conference

This year marked the debut of In-Cosmetics Asia’s first Cosmetic Conference, held in association with the International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Scientists (IFSCC) and sponsored by DSM-Firmenich. Featuring experts from IFSCC, L’Oréal, Shiseido and Shieling Laboratories, the conference focused on key topics like AI, skincare and haircare, with a keynote from Perry Romanowski, chair of education at the IFSCC.

More science-based sessions were held in the Formulation Lab—10 presentations showing attendees how to formulate finished products. These included a demonstration by Clariant on encapsulated UV filters that enable lightweight; high-protection, flexible sunscreen formulations UV filter system; as well as Nikko Chemicals running a training session on Skinified serum sunscreen with a combination UV filter system.

An Unparalleled Hub of International Influence

The 2024 edition highlighted the growing prominence of Asian suppliers, as European companies increasingly turn to the region for sourcing and local operations, due to global political uncertainty and supply chain disruptions.

Several leading companies demonstrated the significant strides made in ingredient innovation and product development, evidenced by Singapore-based Wilmar securing the Silver Award in the Innovation Zone Best Ingredients – functional category, and China’s Bloomage Biotechnology Corp., Ltd. earned Silver at the Spotlight On Formulation Award.

Japan also made a strong impact, with 23 exhibitors showcasing their advanced ingredients; notably, TriBeaute introduced AzePore, a multifunctional moisturizing, anti-aging and anti-acne agent, while Thailand’s Speciality Natural Products Public Company Ltd. presented a natural extract developed in collaboration with local agricultural networks.

“This year’s event has emerged as an unparalleled hub of international influence, witnessing a 19% increase in attendance from outside Thailand, alongside a significant representation of brands from beyond the Asia-Pacific region,” said Sarah Gibson, event director of in-Cosmetics Asia. “Most importantly, we are thrilled to see the flourishing collaborations and valuable partnerships that have taken root, fostering a profound sense of camaraderie among all attendees. In-Ccosmetics Asia 2024 stands as a pivotal milestone for both the business sector and the community within our industry.”

In-Cosmetics Asia 2025 will take place Nov. 4-6 at the BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand. For registration information go here.

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