In 2023, the market size of the whitening and spot-removing cosmetics industry in China reached 100.836 billion yuan. Among the skincare market segments, whitening is one of the few categories with a trillion-yuan scale.
Whitening has always been a popular segment in the skincare industry, serving as the face of many brands. Moreover, as young consumers pay increasing attention to the health and natural radiance of their skin, the pursuit of professional and precise whitening has led to a constant stream of new products and technologies in the whitening market.
Among them, HBN, a brand well-known for its true anti-aging effects, has also recognized the demands of the younger generation for whitening. Recently, they launched the HBN a-Arbutin Clarifying Micro Essence Emulsion, a heavyweight product that focuses on professional whitening and redefines skin brightening power.
At the same time, on May 13th, HBN announced actor Zeng Shunxi as their whitening spokesperson. By unlocking the secret to the spokesperson’s clean and translucent skin with the HBN a-Arbutin Clarifying Micro Essence Emulsion, they also showcase HBN’s strength in achieving whitening both internally and externally.
HBN Announces Whitening Spokesperson Zeng Shunxi
As one of the pioneers of the “morning c night a” skincare concept in China, HBN has long been flourishing in the field of anti-aging, whitening, and other skincare effects with its innovative concept of “visible results.” In addition to the well-known A-Retinol series, HBN’s star product has sold over 16 million bottles and has consistently held the top position in the essence water category, greatly loved by consumers.
Based on a deep understanding of the whitening market and consumer demands, HBN continues to innovate and upgrade, recently presenting a new offering to the professional whitening market—the HBN a-Arbutin Clarifying Micro Essence Emulsion.
With the launch of the new product, in order to accurately convey the concept of professional whitening to consumers and achieve a breakthrough effect, HBN recently announced that rising actor Zeng Shunxi would serve as their whitening spokesperson.
Since his debut, Zeng Shunxi has continuously pushed himself and garnered professional recognition. It is known that he has received numerous accolades, including the Best Male Actor in a Web Drama Production at the 6th China Television Good Actor Awards in 2019 and the Silver Award for Best Male Actor at the 2020 Golden Lion International Advertising Film Festival. He is regarded as a dark horse among the new generation of male actors.
Zeng Shunxi’s steady progress and determined pursuit of his professional path align perfectly with HBN’s brand philosophy. Since its inception in 2019, HBN has chosen the “A-Retinol anti-aging” track, which few Chinese brands dared to challenge, and has overcome obstacles along the way to create its unique competitive advantage.
From the A-Retinol anti-aging series to the Radiance Water and the Original White Lotion, each of HBN’s classic products represents the brand. Among them, the HBN a-Arbutin Clarifying Micro Essence Emulsion redefines the power of skin brightening, providing users with a more valuable essence-level whitening experience.
If Zeng Shunxi meticulously shapes every character and establishes a solid position in the entertainment industry through steady work, then in the field of cosmetics, HBN has solidified its position as the “Chinese pioneer of A-Retinol anti-aging” and the “Chinese benchmark brand for efficacy skincare” with each genuine and effective product. The collaboration between HBN and Zeng Shunxi undoubtedly marks a mutual journey.
Certification Required, HBN Advances in Whitening
Just like a coin has two sides, everything has its dual nature. The rapid development of the skin whitening market also has its downside, with numerous whitening brands advocating for “powerful ingredients” and claiming that higher ingredient concentrations lead to better whitening effects. Some even promote the idea of achieving instant whitening results in 3-7 days, emphasizing that the whiter the skin, the better. However, there have been continuous reports of false advertising and prohibited additives associated with whitening products.
To guide Chinese consumers towards a healthy and confident concept of whitening, encourage individuals to showcase their unique and natural beauty, and promote the positive development of the whitening industry, HBN, in collaboration with the Guangdong Cosmetics Association and the Cosmetics Innovation Center of Jiangnan University, released the “The White Book of Skincare for Natural Fair Tone.” This paper introduces the concept of “natural white” for the first time in the industry, revolutionizing and leading the new trend of healthy whitening.
The white paper also reflects HBN’s research on α-arbutin, known as the “golden standard” for whitening. According to the white paper, through rigorous formulation efficacy and comparative experiments, HBN’s biological laboratory confirmed that α-arbutin is an effective ingredient for inhibiting melanin production and providing antioxidant benefits. This research provides a theoretical foundation for the development of subsequent whitening products.
Furthermore, with HBN’s continued in-depth research on α-arbutin, the HBN biological laboratory recently published an SCI paper as the first author in an internationally renowned academic journal, filling the research gap in the industry regarding α-arbutin’s anti-photoaging properties. It is worth mentioning that this research on α-arbutin mechanisms also serves as a reliable scientific research foundation for achieving “natural white” and the birth of the HBN a-Arbutin Clarifying Micro Essence Emulsion.
The a-Arbutin Clarifying Micro Essence Emulsion is not only the latest research achievement under HBN’s “natural white” concept but also represents the brand’s relentless exploration in the field of professional whitening.
It is understood that when choosing whitening products, an increasing number of Chinese consumers are paying attention to their skin’s unique characteristics and value products that are “efficient, safe in composition, and non-irritating.” In order to find a whitening solution that combines “efficiency and gentleness,” HBN identified α-arbutin as its flagship whitening ingredient early on, making it one of the brands with the highest usage of α-arbutin raw materials in China.
Thanks to HBN’s dedicated research on α-arbutin, the HBN a-Arbutin Clarifying Micro Essence Emulsion is the first to utilize the self-developed whitening raw material composition, TIMR94™pro, which is centered around high-purity α-arbutin. It is reported that the TIMR94™pro formulation combines high-purity α-arbutin, 377, glycyrrhetinic acid, and ethyl ascorbic acid, four powerful whitening ingredients that work synergistically to interfere with the processes of melanin generation, translocation, and deposition, achieving comprehensive inhibition of melanin and whitening effects.
Additionally, the HBN a-Arbutin Clarifying Micro Essence Emulsion incorporates the brand’s research on ACTCOCOON® Brightening Microcapsule Encapsulation technology, providing long-lasting freshness, sustained release, and a 36.76% reduction in skin discoloration. It also features a quadruple antioxidant and antiglycation system composed of “ethyl ascorbic acid, kojic acid, VEZ ester, and Edelweiss extract” which enhances antioxidant activity by 63% and reduces glycation protein by 55%, taking the power of whitening to the next level.
It is worth mentioning that the HBN a-Arbutin Clarifying Micro Essence Emulsion has received special certification for whitening and spot reduction. The product has undergone tests such as chicken embryo testing, zebrafish testing, human patch experiments, and authoritative evaluations by skin experts to verify its safety and efficacy stability. According to human efficacy testing conducted by an authoritative testing agency, SGS, using the HBN a-Arbutin Clarifying Micro Essence Emulsion for 28 days effectively whitens and inhibits melanin production, significantly reduces yellowness, and lightens pigmentation. The product has also passed a special assessment for sensitive skin, meeting consumers’ demands for both effective and gentle whitening solutions.
From the beginning with the Radiance Water, HBN has rejected highly irritating ingredients and opposed unscientific and irrational extreme whitening concepts. Today, through in-depth exploration of the needs of millions of Radiance Water users, the meticulously researched HBN a-Arbutin Clarifying Micro Essence Emulsion will further elevate the brand’s position in the field of whitening.
Redefining Whitening Power, HBN Leads the Era of Professional Whitening
Throughout the beauty industry, the growth strategies of most leading brands share a common pattern. They start by promoting a “star product” to drive brand growth and increase brand influence. Once the brand has established a certain position in the niche market, they transition from a single product strategy to a comprehensive strategy encompassing various product categories.
HBN has also followed this growth formula, extending its popular Radiance Water to create the Original White Essence and Lotion series, continuously solidifying the brand’s reputation and influence in the whitening market while expanding its boundaries.
However, HBN’s product development logic is not based on chasing market trends but rather on its innovative concept of “visible effects.” The brand is committed to ensuring that users spend every penny on effective ingredients, making the promise of “real efficacy” a reality.
This stems from HBN being a skincare brand with a research-oriented DNA, firmly rejecting tactics such as “ingredient stacking” and treating every research and experiment seriously. It is known that HBN has established joint laboratories with multiple research institutes and assembled a research and development team of over a hundred members, including post-doctoral fellows, doctors, and masters from renowned Chinese and international universities. Currently, the brand has more than a hundred independent research and development patents, authoritative SCI publications, standards, and exclusive raw materials.
Furthermore, HBN leads the way by conducting third-party human efficacy testing and validating product efficacy through independent research and development, ensuring that 100% of the brand’s facial care products pass rigorous third-party human efficacy testing. HBN remains steadfast in fulfilling the brand promise of making “real efficacy” a reality.
In the era of efficacy skincare, research has become the key factor for brands to maintain a leading position in fierce competition. Thus, although HBN has a relatively short history, it has already become a leading Chinese player in the field of retinol anti-aging. According to the brand, from 2019 to 2022, HBN’s retinol anti-aging skincare series ranked first in sales in the Chinese retinol anti-aging skincare market for three consecutive years.
At the same time, HBN has accumulated a wealth of research and a user base in the whitening market. The Radiance Water has consistently ranked first in the essence water category, helping HBN become one of the brands that best understands the brightening needs of young people’s skin. The Original White Essence and Lotion are another powerhouse developed by the brand during the era of efficacy skincare.
In the trend where professional whitening is gradually becoming the mainstream consensus, the HBN a-Arbutin Clarifying Micro Essence Emulsion, born in response to this trend, not only provides consumers with a new perspective on healthy whitening but also drives further research in the whitening industry, leading to the comprehensive arrival of the era of professional whitening.
It is not difficult to foresee that with the strong empowerment from the brand’s new whitening spokesperson, Zeng Shunxi, who perfectly aligns with the brand’s philosophy and image, the new Original White Essence and Lotion, as well as the HBN brand, will unleash even more powerful growth momentum in the arena of professional whitening, demonstrating the strong development potential of Chinese efficacy skincare brands.
