Currently, the fast-paced lifestyle and irregular daily routines have led to an increasing number of people with acne-prone skin. This trend has not only contributed to the rapid expansion of the acne treatment market but also intensified the competition and highlighted the issue of homogeneity.
So, in the brand-new year of 2024, as we step into the billion-yuan scale of the acne treatment market, what new stories can be told? What are the noteworthy trends?
Recently, the “Insights Report on the 2024 Acne Products Market” (referred to as the “Report”), jointly produced by CENKON and CHAILEEDO, was officially released. The “Report” comprehensively analyzes the current acne treatment product market from multiple perspectives, including consumer demand insights, market development status, and future trends. It serves as a “compass” for brands in the ever-changing acne treatment market, helping them seize market opportunities.
Acne treatment market heading towards billions; refined demands highlighted
Currently, acne treatment has shifted from being a “source of distress” for many consumers during their adolescence to a long-term skin issue they face.
According to a survey conducted by CHAILEEDO among 645 consumers with different ages and skin types from 28 provinces across the country, 53.02% of the respondents had whitehead pimples, 42.33% had blackhead pimples, and 32.56% had pustule-type acne. These three types of acne are the most prevalent and span across various age groups.
Research data shows that consumers’ breakouts are closely related to the fast-paced lifestyle of today, with 78.14% of consumers considering long-term sleep deprivation and irregular lifestyles as the core reasons for their acne breakouts.
The popularity of the keyword “acne treatment” on social media platforms has also been rapidly growing. Looking at the search popularity of the keyword “acne treatment” on the Douyin platform in the past six months, consumers’ interest in content related to this keyword has shown a fluctuating upward trend, with a 404.39% increase compared to the same period last year. By the end of October last year, the total views for the topic “how to treat acne” on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) platform reached 1.151 billion.
Meanwhile, unlike other skin issues, acne often has a long cycle and is prone to recurrence and leaving acne marks, which is the biggest concern for consumers with acne-prone skin. According to CHAILEEDO’s research, only 9.81% of consumers experienced acne for less than a year, while 33.64% had been dealing with acne for more than five years. Moreover, over 60% of consumers reported experiencing recurring breakouts.
The changes in societal environment and the unique nature of acne problems provide strong growth momentum for the acne treatment market. According to CHAILEEDO’s statistics, the market size of acne skincare products in China reached 86.4 billion yuan in 2023, with an average annual growth rate of 7.3% from 2017 to 2023. It is estimated that the skincare acne treatment market in China will surpass 95 billion yuan by 2025.
Regarding consumer demands, there is an increasing diversification in the desired efficacy of acne products. The research shows that consumers are not satisfied with acne products solely focused on treating acne. According to the “Report,” 31.63% of consumers hope acne products have the dual effect of treating acne and controlling oil.
More than 80% of consumers not only expect acne products to effectively treat acne at present but also aim for long-term prevention of acne recurrence. Additionally, nearly 70% of consumers hope to achieve a fading effect on acne marks.
In terms of ingredients and pricing positioning of acne products, 73.49% of consumers prefer products containing natural plant extracts, while 50.23% of consumers find a price range of 100-200 yuan acceptable.
It is worth noting that in recent years, there has been a growing trend towards precision and fast-acting acne products. Nearly 70% of consumers want to purchase skincare products that accurately target specific acne issues, and around half of the consumers expect acne products to show results within a week. Slow efficacy is considered a core reason for consumer dissatisfaction with acne products.
Overall, the three most crucial factors that consumers consider when purchasing acne products are product efficacy, ingredients, and price. Unlike daily skincare products, over half of consumers usually buy acne products or follow a treatment regimen when they have acne breakouts.
Professional acne treatment brands are still relatively few, and the concept of acid-free acne treatment is receiving attention.
According to research conducted by CHAILEEDO, although the acne treatment market is relatively mature and highly competitive, there are still many untapped potential growth points.
The report shows that among the population interested in the efficacy of acne treatment, males account for 46.08%, which is close to the proportion of females. This indicates that male consumers have a strong demand for acne treatment efficacy and represent a potential consumer group in the acne treatment market. Therefore, how to break through in the male acne treatment market becomes an opportunity for companies in the field of acne treatment.
In addition, CHAILEEDO’s research found that based on the sales performance of online platforms from January to September 2023, products claiming to have the effect of fading acne marks have the highest market share in the acne products category, while products claiming to have the effect of purifying and clearing acne have the fastest-growing sales.
This indicates that consumers’ demand for acne products is still focused on addressing skin issues during the breakout period and resolving post-acne problems such as acne marks. However, there is not enough emphasis on early intervention and prevention of acne. Therefore, how brands educate the market and promote scientific intervention and prevention of acne among consumers may give rise to new market demand in the future.
The rapid growth of the acne treatment market and the evolving consumer demands are driving more companies to enter the acne treatment sector and constantly innovate to capture a larger share of the market.
Looking at the brands entering the acne treatment sector, as of October 2023, there were a total of 2,655 brands focusing on acne skincare products, representing a 10.7% increase compared to the previous year. However, most of these brands are positioned as general skincare brands with acne treatment products, and only a few brands claim to specialize in the field of acne treatment. This indicates that there are currently not many professional acne treatment brands in the market. In terms of sales contribution from popular products, most brands are implementing a strategy of promoting a single highly effective acne product, with the efficacy of acne products accounting for over 50%.
Currently, in the competitive landscape of acne products, the market share of acne masks/cold patches is significant, and acne patches are growing rapidly. For example, based on online platform sales from January to September 2023, acne masks/cold patches have the highest market share in the acne products category, accounting for 22.5%, while the market share of acne patches has increased, with a sales growth of 32.9%.
Regarding the development trends in the acne treatment market, due to the prominence of sensitive skin consumers, mild acne products will be more favored by consumers. At the same time, as more sensitive skin consumers become aware of the risks of acid exfoliation, such as excessive irritation and potential skin damage, acid-free acne products are expected to become a new trend.
The report shows that the demand for fading acne marks remains high. For example, on the platform Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), over 40% of consumers are concerned about acne mark issues. In the future, how brands integrate various types of acne marks and launch multi-stage acne mark treatments, combination acne mark treatments, and comprehensive acne mark treatment sets will be a major focus in the acne treatment market.
Increased entry barriers in the acne treatment market
“Powerful” contract manufacturing companies stand out
According to the “Cosmetic Efficacy Claim Evaluation Standards” and other regulations issued by the National Medical Products Administration in 2021, the efficacy of acne treatment cosmetics should be evaluated through human efficacy evaluation tests.
At the same time, the definition of acne treatment efficacy has become clearer. It should help reduce or slow down the occurrence of acne (including blackheads and whiteheads) and aid in the recovery of the skin after acne occurs. Products that regulate hormone influence, have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties do not fall under cosmetics.
It can be seen that these regulations undoubtedly promote the survival of the fittest among acne products and further increase the research and development requirements for OEM/ODM contract manufacturing companies in the field of acne products.
In the context of stricter regulations for acne products and a major reshuffle in the market, contract manufacturing companies with strong research and development capabilities and compliance abilities have seized development opportunities. For example, CENKON, which focuses on providing professional functional skincare solutions, has achieved outstanding results in the contract manufacturing market for acne treatment.
It is reported that CENKON was established in 1996 and is an international cosmetics company that integrates research and development, manufacturing, marketing, and services. It is also a leading domestic OEM/ODM manufacturer of cosmetics. Currently, CENKON has a 20,200 square meter industrial park and a 13,000 square meter production workshop. It has obtained multiple quality management system certifications, ensuring production capacity and quality.
At the same time, CENKON’s research and development capabilities should not be underestimated. It currently holds more than 50 authorized patents, has over 8,000 mature formulations, and has established an efficacy evaluation laboratory with over 1,400 testing items to ensure product effectiveness.
The strong hardware and software enable CENKON to provide services from 0 to 1 for enterprises. Currently, CENKON’s research and development center has a team of over 40 people, with six departments including formulation development, packaging development, legal and standards, research and technology, natural plant extraction, and testing evaluation, covering formulation development, packaging development, technical support, and testing evaluation. It can provide comprehensive services for brands, from project planning to product proposals, production, packaging, and transportation.
It is precisely because of the research and accumulation mentioned above that CENKON can develop and produce acne products that meet consumer demands, are safe and effective, and provide multiple solutions for the acne treatment market.
For example, in response to the current lack of a fast-acting acne patch that can add active acne-fighting ingredients, CENKON has developed the Qingrui Acne Patch. This product mainly uses water-soluble high polymer materials as the main matrix and incorporates active acne-fighting ingredients. It is formulated into an external preparation coated on non-woven fabric and other backing layers. It has unique three-layer structural design, gel-like texture (long-lasting without burden), precise acne treatment in different areas, and the addition of four major active ingredients.
In addition to products, CENKON also launched Fendouji Extract, a acne-fighting ingredient specially researched for sensitive skin. As a traditional Chinese medicine ingredient, Fendouji not only has good antibacterial and acne-fighting effects but also has anti-allergic effects. It can effectively inhibit the excessive secretion of type III collagen around acne, thereby reducing acne marks and achieving a comprehensive acne treatment effect.
Competitive products have also won the favor of many customers for CENKON. Currently, CENKON’s cooperative brands include Plant Doctor, Marubi, Yves Rocher, and many other well-known brands in the industry.
CHAILEEDO noticed that CENKON also has its own brand, BeDook. Among them, BeDook Acne Soothing Essence is a leader in acid-free acne treatment. By adding two self-developed ingredients, Huangbo and Fendouji, as well as a self-developed “sustained-release carrier,” it can effectively treat acne while soothing the skin.
Currently, BeDook has grown into a leading brand in acne skincare, winning multiple awards such as the Watsons HWB Health and Beauty Awards for “Best Acne Products” and “Popular Acne Products.” Its sales exceeded 400 million yuan as early as 2012.
In addition, CHAILEEDO recently learned that the highly anticipated 63rd China International Beauty Expo will be held from March 10th to 12th. CENKON will showcase its many highly competitive products at the event.
Despite the challenges, the acne treatment market, which is about to reach billions, is still full of opportunities, especially for companies with innovative capabilities and insights into consumer demand changes in the trend of refined acne treatment. These companies will have greater development space in the acne treatment market.
