Today, February 17, the day of the Lunar New Year, China enters a period of reunion marked by the great migration of the chunyun .

With the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse, a symbol of momentum and renewal, this celebration opens a promising dynamic, conducive to innovation, new projects, and the development of professional initiatives.

Business opportunities and observations of beauty brands in China

The 2026 edition marks a new cultural imperative: consumers are no longer swayed by traditional festive codes. The most effective campaigns are those that express a genuine cultural intent, capable of creating emotion and telling a resonant story.

This year, brands have transformed the celebration into an experience: immersive worlds, reimagined rituals, artisanal collaborations, and staging centered around location, memory, and sharing. What matters is no longer decorative adaptation but the sincerity of the gesture, the cultural depth, and the coherence of the message.

For French brands, this evolution opens up a real opportunity: our heritage, our know-how and our craftsmanship constitute unique assets for

To resonate with Chinese expectations, the challenge lies in building cultural bridges, subtly integrating our own heritage into Chinese traditions, and identifying points of convergence that demonstrate a genuine understanding of the culture. It is in this ability to combine French excellence with Chinese sensitivity, to show that we have grasped the gestures, symbols, and rituals, that the difference will be made.

In the Year of the Horse, the expression 马到成功 mǎ dào chéng gōng, literally "may success come as fast as a galloping horse," pervades New Year's greetings and campaigns. It's a wish for rapid, dynamic success, a perfect summary of the momentum the Chinese like to give to the new year. Join the FFCE China to continue deciphering the codes and enriching your projects in China.

Your FFCE contacts: Dorothée Nicolle: [email protected]

Laurence Moreau: [email protected]

On February 3 at 9:00 a.m., registered participants for the webinar "China: Market Access and Economic Dynamics" logged on.
A digital event presented and coordinated by the FFCE China team, and hosted by Sophie Wieviorka , economist at Crédit Agricole, and Maria Galan , CEO of Open2Beauty.

In this context rich in economic and sectoral challenges, the speakers offered a precise insight into the changes in the Chinese market and their implications for French companies in the sector.

China is currently experiencing a more challenging economic phase, but it remains a key market for the cosmetics industry. France maintains its position as the leading supplier and benefits from a consistently strong demand for beauty products.
The country has now entered a "New Era", where cosmetics is recognized as a strategic industry , fully integrated into national priorities.

This transformation is based on a rise in R&D , biotechnology and artificial intelligence , which are reshaping the entire value chain.

In this context, French brands must strengthen their differentiation , their scientific evidence and their regulatory robustness to continue to perform in a market that has become more selective and demanding.

📅 Mark your calendars: Training – Cosmetic Export Regulations

Next session: Thursday, April 2, 2026 – Paris
Format: In-person, 1 day
Target audience: inter-company training (groups of 4 to 10 participants)

This training will enable you to master the keys to regulatory compliance and strategies for accessing the Chinese market, essential for securing your international projects.

👉 Registration is open on the COSMETIC VALLEY FORMATION platform

China Beauty Expo from May 12 to 14, 2026 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre .

This unmissable event brings together more than 3,200 exhibitors , 15 national pavilions and attracts more than 500,000 professional visitors from 62 countries.

The COSMETIC VALLEY FRANCE Pavilion , located in International Hall E2, offers premium visibility for your brands, alongside global leaders. By participating, you will benefit from:

• From a turnkey stand within the collective pavilion.

• Targeted communication actions to enhance your presence.

• Personalized support before, during and after the event.

  Why participate?

• Proposal for a unique program

• Direct access to Asian distributors, buyers and influencers.

• A unique opportunity to develop your exports and forge strategic partnerships.

• Showcasing your expertise under the "France" banner.

Don't delay! Registration deadline: January 31, 2026

To guarantee your location, find out about available packages, and reserve your booth, contact [email protected]

On November 21st, we organized a webinar for French SMEs looking to establish themselves in the Chinese market. The event provided an opportunity to analyze the major trends in the beauty sector in China, identify growth drivers, and share concrete experiences.

On the agenda:

• Analysis of the Chinese market by Matthieu David (Daxue Consulting), highlighting the rise of lower-tier cities, the growth of local brands and new consumer expectations, particularly in terms of personalisation, ingredient efficiency and digitalisation (explosion of e-commerce via Douyin).
• A closer look at the China Beauty Expo , a leading B2B platform, with impressive figures: more than 3,200 exhibitors, 453,000 professional visitors and a strong international presence.
• Feedback from Laboratoires Expanscience and Florihana, who shared their market entry strategies, logistical, regulatory and competitive challenges, as well as the keys to success in a complex but promising environment.
• Interactive session : rich exchanges around the challenges of NMPA certification, regulatory developments and the expectations of Chinese distributors.

This webinar confirmed that China remains a major opportunity for the cosmetics industry, provided that a reasoned approach is adopted, regulatory developments are kept well informed and strong local partners are relied upon.

Next event: January webinar on regulatory affairs

COSMETIC VALLEY is pleased to invite you to an exclusive webinar dedicated to the actions of the FFCE in China, a market undergoing rapid change and rich in opportunities for French companies.

This meeting is a unique opportunity to better understand the specificities of the Chinese market and to exchange ideas with experts in the field.

On the agenda:

1. Opening & Introduction

By Franckie Béchereau
→ Context: issues and objectives of the webinar.

2. Understanding the Chinese market

Analysis by DAXUE Consulting
→ Trends, opportunities and challenges for the cosmetics industry.

3. A closer look at the China Beauty Expo

Presentation by INFORMA
→ Why is this trade fair a must-see? Key figures and practical advice.

4. Lessons learned: key players

Testimonial from EXPANSCIENCE Laboratories
→ Successful strategy and implementation in China.

5. Lessons learned: French SMEs

Testimony of FLORIHAN A
→ The keys to success

6. Interactive Session

Questions & Closing
→ Exchanges with the participants and summary of key points.

Speakers:

• Franckie Béchereau - Deputy General Manager COSMETIC VALLEY
• Matthieu David - CEO and Founder - DAXUE CONSULTING
• Bo Jie Chen - Overseas Representative - INFORMA
• Millie Durante - Managing Partner- FLORIHANA
• Cédric Ertle - GENERAL MANAGER CHINA - EXPANSCIENCES LABORATORIES

Moderators:

• Dorothée Nicolle, Export Project Manager - COSMETIC VALLEY
• Laurence Moreau, Project Manager, FFCE China - COSMETIC VALLEY

Looking forward to seeing you on Friday.

At CAFFCI conferences and exhibitions, the Chinese cosmetics industry asserts its dynamic of innovation, agility and international openness.

The advances on display include new active molecules (peptides, acids, plant extracts optimized using AI), local and sustainable raw materials, bioproduction processes and the use of skin chips to assess efficacy and safety.

Companies such as Bloomage Biotechnology and Proya are on the lookout for partnerships with French innovation players.

Would you like to meet C-Beauty representatives in Paris ?

Go to COSMETIC 360 where a number will be present.