Currently, with the unprecedented surge in China’s national confidence among consumers, Oriental aesthetics and Chinese ingredients have not only brought new vitality to Chinese cosmetics but also offered a fresh perspective for the global cosmetics market. On May 9th, on the occasion of its 18th anniversary, which signifies growth and transformation, UNIFON embarked on a grand journey of researching Oriental skincare brands through a momentous press conference, based on its long-standing market insights and understanding of consumer demands.
From the brand’s new slogan, “Devoted to Researching the Orient, Mastering the Art of Beauty,” to its new positioning as a “Chinese brand that provides Oriental skincare solutions specifically for Oriental skin,” and the forward-looking, scientific proposal of the “2+3 Oriental skincare equation,” UNIFON has dared to break out of its comfort zone. It has taken up the mantle of Oriental skincare brands by introducing its first bottle of anti-aging essence, specially developed for Oriental skin, which directly stimulates the production of six major types of collagen. So, why does UNIFON have the audacity to break free from the comfort zone and carry the banner of Oriental skincare brands?
UNIFON unveils its first bottle of anti-aging essence specially developed for Oriental skin
From 2006 to 2024, this year marks the 18th anniversary of the UNIFON brand. Throughout the journey, UNIFON has been continuously pushing boundaries and advancing upward. Well-known in the industry, UNIFON once led the innovation wave in the facial mask category. From 2012 to 2015, UNIFON secured the top sales position in the facial mask category on Alibaba’s Double 11 shopping festival for four consecutive years. As a result, consumers’ perception of UNIFON has mostly remained within the era of facial masks.
The market is ever-evolving, and with both imported and domestic facial masks showcasing their excellence, UNIFON has turned its focus towards exploring and researching cutting-edge technology and Oriental skin. This is to embrace the era of cosmetics efficacy. In the new phase of efficacy skincare, anti-aging products have gained significant popularity among consumers. According to CHAILEEDO data, the anti-aging skincare market in China is expected to reach 154 billion yuan in 2024. In the past year alone, there have been over 50 new anti-aging products launched in the Chinese cosmetics market.
During this press conference, UNIFON publicly announced its first bottle of anti-aging essence, named “Black Ginseng Firming Essence,” specifically developed for Oriental skin, which directly stimulates the production of six major types of collagen.
According to the introduction, the uniqueness of this new product lies in its strong targeting, unique ingredients, and deep compatibility with the specific needs of Oriental skin. It directly stimulates the production of six major collagen proteins related to anti-aging in Oriental skin, addressing the issue of collagen loss at its root. At the same time, it combines recombinant Type III collagen, which can directly supplement collagen externally, providing precise and efficient solutions to the aging concerns of Oriental skin.
In addition to incorporating newly approved Oriental ingredients by the China’s National Medical Products Administration, the product adopts the 4D-ESFS Oriental Skin Four-Dimensional Formula System. The packaging of the Black Ginseng Firming Essence also embodies Oriental philosophy and aesthetics, reflecting the harmonious balance of strength and softness in Oriental women. It can be considered as the first bottle of anti-aging essence specially developed for Oriental skin, directly stimulating the production of six major types of collagen.
Exclusive anti-aging new ingredient, UNIFON’s new product enhances the binding power with Oriental skin collagen genes by 42%
The ability to create products that are more suitable for Oriental skin fundamentally stems from UNIFON’s dedication to creating rare Oriental ingredients. In search of more efficient, gentle, and suitable anti-aging ingredients for Oriental women, UNIFON selected 15 out of 37,793 Oriental raw materials for research. They conducted over 11,000 experiments, ultimately achieving success.
In October of last year, UNIFON officially obtained the National Medical Products Administration’s approval for a new ingredient called Black Ginseng Extract. This new ingredient not only fills the research gap for black ginseng anti-aging in the global international raw material market but is also the world’s first anti-aging ingredient derived from black ginseng. It is worth mentioning that this black ginseng extract not only follows the traditional Oriental process of “nine steaming and nine sun-drying” but also combines modern technology – rare ginsenosides targeted extraction technology, achieving a high concentration of rare ginsenosides.
According to data from UNIFON’s laboratory, the black ginseng extract can truly achieve a “trinity” anti-aging effect. The “trinity” refers to the black ginseng extract’s ability to promote collagen production, reduce collagen loss, and inhibit the development of inflammatory aging, ultimately achieving integrated anti-aging effects.
Furthermore, UNIFON utilized big data analysis to identify anti-aging genes specific to Oriental individuals and employed molecular docking simulations to assess the binding strength of ingredients. Regarding anti-aging ingredients, boswellia extract, peptides, and retinol are widely recognized as the “three giants” of anti-aging. Compared to these Western anti-aging ingredients, the black ginseng extract exhibits an average binding power to Oriental skin collagen genes that is 42.24% higher. Compared to boswellia extract, the binding power is 57.58% higher. The black ginseng extract stimulates the production of Type I collagen at a rate 68.25 times higher than boswellia extract. Compared to not using the black ginseng extract, the generation of Type I collagen is increased by 546%. The anti-wrinkle effect of the black ginseng extract is 1.59 times that of boswellia extract, and the firming effect is 1.31 times.
If we consider that the innovation of cosmetics largely depends on ingredient innovation, then the black ginseng extract undoubtedly continues to empower Oriental skincare brands. Similarly, looking at the birth of UNIFON’s unique new ingredient, “Heishen Essence,” we can feel UNIFON’s determination to “create Chinese-owned ingredients.”
UNIFON announces the groundbreaking “2+3 Oriental skin formula”
The presentation of research findings in products may appear as simple numbers, but it brings about visible changes to the consumer’s user experience. Therefore, providing skincare solutions specifically tailored to Oriental skin from the very beginning is fundamental.
During this event, UNIFON also forwardly and scientifically proposed the “2+3 Oriental Skin Formula.” Specifically, the “2” represents Oriental history and Oriental skin, which are the foundation of UNIFON. The “+” symbolizes the brand’s years of exploration into consumer needs and insights into Oriental women. The “3” represents Oriental rarity, Oriental craftsmanship, and Oriental aesthetics, which are what UNIFON concretely delivers when providing Oriental solutions.
“We hope to protect the unique Oriental raw materials and techniques and make the century-old national pride visible to more people by being a good brand,” said the person in charge of UNIFON’s brand. To be a brand that represents the Orient, it should first originate from Oriental history, be based on the characteristics of Oriental skin, select Oriental rarities, and inherit Oriental craftsmanship while conveying Oriental aesthetics as its brand values. These five elements constitute the core of building an Oriental brand, and none can be omitted. The “2+3 Oriental Skin Formula” is the core differentiator of the brand and represents our positioning of an Oriental brand, as summarized over 18 years.”
Behind this, no step is achieved overnight. Therefore, UNIFON has established a comprehensive research and development system, gathering a group of top scientific research talents in the industry. With a research and development team of over 200 people, they are dedicated to the research and innovation of new materials, new formulas, and new processes. Based on a deep understanding of the characteristics of Oriental skin, UNIFON has accurately extracted the four-dimensional key elements of skincare products from the six traditional Chinese ancient methods, namely ingredients, fragrance, skin feel, and technology. Additionally, UNIFON has created a new “Four-Dimensional Formula System for Oriental Skin” – 4D-ESFS (4D-Eastern Skin Formula System) – which includes Oriental ingredients, Oriental fragrance, Oriental skin feel, and Oriental technology.
Building upon 18 years of accumulated knowledge at the core of the formula center, behind the Four-Dimensional Formula System for Oriental Skin, UNIFON has also developed eight innovative technologies: microfluidic technology, AI fragrance adjustment technology, skin feel mapping module technology, surface activity and intelligent cleaning technology, nanomaterial technology, innovative emulsification technology, innovative packaging materials, and green technology. These have resulted in 39 relevant national patents and nine research papers.
In summary, UNIFON’s pioneering “2+3 Oriental Skin Formula” encompasses systematic research and development, scientific formulation, intelligent production to empower the brand, and provide comprehensive services to Oriental consumers.
18 years of scientific exploration, UNIFON unravels the mysteries of Oriental skin
So why did UNIFON propose the “2+3 Oriental Skin Formula”? Perhaps providing a convincing “Oriental skincare solution” to consumers has been UNIFON’s unwavering original intention over the past 18 years.
It is well known that many consumers nowadays complain on social media, saying, “I’m using international big brands, but why don’t I see any results?” This situation fundamentally stems from the differences in the skin between Eastern and Western women. Therefore, UNIFON has quietly “immerged” in the past few years, seeking new solutions to meet the skincare needs of Oriental skin.
To objectively explore the differences between Eastern and Western skin, over the past 18 years, UNIFON has spent 67,116 hours conducting 135 surveys and communicating with 44,744 consumers to gain in-depth understanding of the skincare needs of contemporary Oriental women. At the same time, the brand has returned to the essence of skin, conducting skin characterization and sensory tests, covering 21 testing indicators and involving 43,400 individuals, ultimately uncovering six major characteristics of Oriental skin:
- Oriental skin is more prone to sensitivity. Data shows that the probability of allergic reactions to cosmetics among Oriental women is as high as 33%, three times that of Western women.
- Compared to Western women, Oriental skin has smaller pores.
- Oriental skin is more prone to redness and acne. Approximately 30% of Oriental women experience acne problems.
- Oriental skin is more prone to tanning.
- Oriental women’s skin is drier compared to Western women, and moisture is easily lost.
- The differences in skin quality between Eastern and Western populations are not only due to genetics but also significantly influenced by their respective climatic environments. Experimental data shows that the skin hydration level of Eastern people living in China is lower than that of their counterparts in France, with higher water loss and less sebum secretion.
During the press conference, UNIFON also released the “Oriental Skin White Paper.” It is evident that UNIFON’s dedication to researching the differentiated needs of Oriental skin is not merely empty slogans but rather a comprehensive scientific exploration that has been put into practice.
UNIFON raises the banner of Oriental brands towards the world
While focusing on scientific research and cultural expression, UNIFON’s apparent transformation is actually a fresh start. Over the past 18 years, UNIFON has deeply embedded the inheritance of Eastern culture in its brand DNA. Public records show that in the Ming and Qing dynasties, people in the Xiangxi region used locally unique minerals and traditional craftsmanship to create a fine paste that resembled mist. It was applied to paper to achieve fair and oil-free skin, and it was known as “fragrant powder paper.” In 1890, fragrant powder paper was presented to Empress Dowager Cixi and was called “imperial mud fragrant powder paper.” Upholding the inheritance of unique Eastern historical and cultural elements, UNIFON derived its name from this.
The essence of culture lies in the values and spiritual core it embodies, and UNIFON has already formed a new brand connotation, aiming to promote a youthful Eastern beauty rooted in Eastern aesthetics. Inspired by the phrase “Man is connected to heaven and earth, and responds to the sun and moon” from the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, it signifies the idea that “humans should refer to heaven and earth, respond to the sun and moon, and form an integrated whole.” Drawing inspiration from the relationship between Eastern people and heaven, earth, the sun, and the moon, UNIFON has developed its aesthetic design philosophy.
For example, the brand’s main colors are rouge red and mutton-fat white, symbolizing the brand’s constant connection with consumers. The brand logo combines traditional meticulous brushwork with a modern metallic texture, adding a delicate sense of softness while conveying the strength of Eastern women through the concept of “harmony between the strong and the gentle.” Furthermore, by incorporating the elements of “squares, circles, curves, patterns, and people,” UNIFON cleverly interprets the philosophical approach of Eastern women in their interactions with the world. By incorporating the design of a sundial, UNIFON aims to bring the timeless beauty of Eastern classics to Eastern women, conveying the brand’s positive and optimistic spirit.
The more rooted in one’s culture, the more universal it becomes. In the era of online influence, it is not wise to simply emphasize the functional benefits of products to consumers. Brands must create unique “personas” to resonate with the new generation. UNIFON achieves this by specializing in Eastern skincare brands, providing exclusive skincare solutions for Eastern consumers, and employing the spirit of Eastern craftsmanship to showcase Chinese products and brands as carriers of Eastern aesthetic vitality. With perseverance and determination, UNIFON will proudly raise the flag of Oriental brands and march towards the world.
