In today’s era of global economic integration, Chinese brands have evolved from mere followers to becoming important forces leading global trends. Especially in the beauty industry, the combination of Chinese traditional elements and modern technology has injected new vitality into Eastern skincare.
However, true needs can only be discovered by delving deep into the users. Due to various factors such as geography, environment, and genetics, Eastern consumers have skincare and emotional needs that differ from Western consumers.
UNIFON, a Chinese beauty brand that has been deeply rooted in the Chinese market for 18 years, has emerged as a pioneer representative of Eastern skincare solutions in the trillion-dollar Chinese beauty market. It has achieved this through its unique “2+3 Eastern Skin Formula.”
For 18 years of dedicated research into Eastern skin types, UNIFON has pioneered the first solution specifically tailored to Eastern skin with the “2+3 Eastern Skin Formula”
After years of rapid growth, the cosmetics market has reached a saturation point. According to data released by CHAILEEDO Intelligence, the scale of China’s cosmetics market in the first quarter of this year was 219.63 billion yuan, a decrease of 0.28% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, data from 40 listed domestic beauty-related companies showed that in 2023, the total revenue of these companies was 102.143 billion yuan, a year-on-year decline of 2.3%.
Behind the slowing growth, the cosmetics market has entered a stage of fierce competition, where efficacy, ingredients, and comprehensive technological advancements are being contested. Against the backdrop of the rise of national trends and China’s self-confidence, advocating for Eastern characteristics has become another breakthrough for many Chinese brands seeking advancement. However, the vast historical and cultural heritage, abundant natural plant resources, and distinct skincare needs of Eastern consumers, different from those of Western consumers, cannot be mastered through mere gestures.
CHAILEEDO has noticed that in the increasingly intense beauty competition, UNIFON has not only innovated traditional Eastern skincare methods through the groundbreaking “2+3 Eastern Skin Formula,” but also redefined Eastern brands with a forward-looking vision. Unlike most brands that use Eastern elements as embellishments, UNIFON, which has dedicated 18 years to researching Eastern skin, is not just making empty slogans but has a more complete and clear roadmap for building an Eastern brand.
It is understood that the “2+3 Eastern Skin Formula” is the result of UNIFON’s 18 years of dedicated craftsmanship. The “2” represents Eastern history and Eastern skin, the “+” symbolizes the brand’s exploration of consumer needs and insights into Eastern women over the years, and the “3” represents Eastern rarity, Eastern craftsmanship, and Eastern aesthetics.
“The ‘2+3 Eastern Skin Formula’ is the core differentiator of the brand, it is the positioning we have summarized for Eastern brands over 18 years,” said the person in charge of the UNIFON brand. To create a brand that represents the East, it should first be rooted in Eastern history and based on Eastern skin characteristics. It should select rare Eastern ingredients to inherit Eastern craftsmanship and convey Eastern aesthetics as the brand’s values. “These five elements form the core of building an Eastern brand, and none can be omitted.”
Therefore, the newly proposed “2+3 Eastern Skin Formula” by UNIFON is not only based on market trends and consumer insights but also based on a comprehensive deployment of Eastern skincare research. This allows the brand to possess Eastern attributes in terms of cultural heritage, skin research, exclusive ingredients, scientific formulations, and aesthetics, thus achieving the goal of becoming a global Eastern brand.
Exploring the characteristics of Eastern skin and delving deep into rare ingredients exclusive to Eastern skincare, UNIFON has pioneered the creation of a four-dimensional formula system for Eastern skin and established a systematic engineering approach to serve Eastern consumers
In fact, whether in the past, present, or future, to be a brand that represents the benchmark of Eastern skincare, it must be a systematic engineering effort that comprehensively and multi-dimensionally serves Eastern consumers. It is evident that UNIFON has done this engineering work fundamentally well.
First and foremost, UNIFON is a Chinese beauty brand that emerged from the inheritance of Eastern history and culture. To protect the intellectual property of traditional culture, UNIFON registered the trademark “UNIFON” from the beginning, making the century-old “Yunee Xiang Fen Zhi” that was once exported overseas truly become the brand. Moreover, UNIFON’s first developed product, a cleansing mud mask, is the same unique mud inherited from the 1890s “Yunee Xiang Fen Zhi.”
Furthermore, in order to objectively explore the differences between Eastern and Western skin, UNIFON has spent 67,116 hours over the past 18 years conducting 135 surveys and communicating with 44,744 consumers to gain in-depth understanding of the skincare needs of contemporary Eastern women. As a result, they have identified six major characteristics of Eastern skin: increased sensitivity, smaller pores, a tendency to develop redness and acne, increased susceptibility to tanning, drier skin compared to Western individuals, and differences in skin types between Eastern and Western populations not only due to genetics but also significantly influenced by their respective climates.
Based on 18 years of research on Eastern skin, UNIFON has also released the “Research White Paper on Eastern Skin.” This can be considered as China’s first professional research report focused on Eastern skin. It not only comprehensively reveals the secrets of Eastern skin but also reflects UNIFON’s in-depth research and insights into the characteristics of Eastern skin. The public release of this white paper showcases UNIFON’s achievements as a Chinese beauty brand and provides more possibilities for research on Eastern skin in the industry.
At the same time, in search of more efficient, gentle, and suitable anti-aging ingredients for Eastern women, UNIFON has conducted research on 15 selected ingredients from 37,793 Eastern raw materials, accumulating over 11,000 experiments. Ultimately, the new ingredient, Black Ginseng Essence (INCI name: Panax Ginseng Extract), has been successfully registered with the National Medical Products Administration. It not only fills the research gap in the global international raw material market for anti-aging effects of black ginseng but also represents the world’s first anti-aging ingredient derived from black ginseng.
It is worth mentioning that in order to adapt to Eastern skin comprehensively, UNIFON has not only focused on “internal integration” with Chinese brands but also possesses the confidence to compete with Western luxury brands. In terms of anti-aging ingredients, Boswellia, peptides, and retinol are recognized as the three giants of anti-aging. However, in comparison to Western anti-aging ingredients, Black Ginseng Essence shows an average 42.24% higher collagen gene-binding affinity to Eastern skin and a 57.58% higher affinity compared to Boswellia. The effect of promoting the production of Type I collagen by Black Ginseng Essence is 68.25 times that of Boswellia, making it more suitable for anti-aging in Eastern skin.
In addition to the selection of rare Eastern ingredients, UNIFON has established a four-dimensional formula system for Eastern skin based on Eastern craftsmanship: the 4D-Eastern Skin Formula System (4D-ESFS), which includes “Eastern ingredients + Eastern fragrance + Eastern texture + Eastern technology.” “Western skincare products often use heavier formulas and more irritating preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and parabens. To better meet the needs of Eastern skincare, UNIFON has developed unique encapsulation technology and gentler compound technology,” said Geng Yun, the Director of Research and Development at UNIFON Essence Center.
Behind the four-dimensional formula system for Eastern skin, UNIFON has also developed eight innovative technologies: microfluidic technology, AI fragrance blending technology, skin texture mapping technology, surface activity and intelligent cleansing technology, nanomaterial technology, innovative emulsification technology, innovative packaging materials, and green technology. These have obtained 39 related national patents and published nine research papers.
It can be said that in terms of dedicated research on Eastern skin, UNIFON has built a solid research foundation for the brand. It has established the 2+3 Eastern Skin Formula Research Institute with over 100 research and development personnel, all of whom are Ph.D. holders leading various specialized research sub-projects. In other words, from systematic research and development to scientific formulations, and to intelligent production, the 2+3 Eastern Skin Formula embodies the highest standards of UNIFON’s research and production.
To be a brand that represents the East, in addition to strong scientific research capabilities, it is essential to uphold the banner of Eastern aesthetics. According to UNIFON’s first packaging designer, Xiao Zi, inspired by the concept of “harmony between humans and nature, and correspondence between humans and the sun and moon” recorded in the “Huangdi Neijing” (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon), UNIFON’s design philosophy follows the principles of balancing strength and softness and capturing time in Eastern philosophy. It deeply conveys the unique beauty of Eastern women, who embody both strength and softness.
Insight into the genetic differences in aging between Eastern and Western skin, UNIFON has launched a groundbreaking anti-aging product that scientifically validates Eastern skincare methodology
From in-depth research to delving deep, the “2+3 Eastern Skin Formula” not only brings new solutions for Eastern skincare but also establishes the brand’s credibility through existing achievements. This month, UNIFON unveiled its latest masterpiece, the Black Ginseng Collagen Bottle, which is the result of two years of development, 128 rounds of formulation testing, and an investment of over 200 million yuan, emerging as the “king of efficacy” among 56 anti-aging essences.
Simultaneously, as Chinese consumers’ understanding of beauty products becomes more sophisticated, their skincare demands have evolved from basic care to immediate and long-lasting effectiveness. This aligns with UNIFON’s approach to formula development. The uniqueness of this new product lies in its strong targeting, unique ingredients, and deep compatibility with the needs of Eastern skin. It directly stimulates the production of six major collagen proteins related to anti-aging in Eastern skin, addressing collagen loss at its root cause. Additionally, it combines and restructures Type III collagen with precision and efficacy to address aging issues specific to Eastern skin.
According to experimental data released by UNIFON, the Black Ginseng Essence at a 30% concentration can significantly stimulate the production of supportive collagen. It promotes a 546% increase in Type I collagen, a simultaneous 16.74% increase in Type III collagen, a 175% increase in Type VII collagen, a 73% increase in Type XVII collagen, an 86% increase in Type IV collagen, and an 18% increase in Type V collagen. This demonstrates that UNIFON not only achieves its goal of using domestically sourced ingredients but also develops anti-aging products specifically tailored to Chinese individuals.
Building a company takes a decade, while establishing a brand takes a century. A prominent Eastern brand must possess technical expertise, quality products, vision, and the ability to assume responsibility. The vast cosmetics market and evolving consumer demands provide Chinese beauty brands with a broader space to make global strides. For UNIFON, it is both a mission and a responsibility to lead the world in Eastern skincare by conducting substantial research and development in the field.
