Insights for the Cosmetics Industry in the Era of Slow Aging
Recently, the pursuit of healthy aging, known as 'slow-aging',
has emerged as a key consumer trend in overall dietary habits.
In response, the food industry is reinforcing its
'Healthy Pleasure' strategy, focusing on products that are low in sugar, high in protein, and low in calories.
Convenience store GS25 has created a new demand with its
'protein bread' series, highlighting protein enhancement,
reporting over a sixfold increase in sales of the product
compared to last year. Seven-Eleven, in collaboration with Professor Hee-Won Jeong from Seoul Asan Hospital,
launched convenient slow-aging meals considering nutritional balance.
CU also reported a 33.7% increase in second-quarter sales year-on-year,
amid continuous growth in the chicken breast category.
Changing Consumer Awareness and Practices for Slow Aging
Consumer research also confirms high interest in slow-aging.
According to Lotte Members data,
over 65% of respondents reported having purchased
slow-aging products in the past year, along with
increased interest in overall health management,
such as consuming health functional foods and
participating in exercise programs.
Lessons for the Cosmetics Industry
This shift should be seen as a signal for a significant structural transformation in the cosmetics industry.
There is an increasing demand for an 'integrated internal and external approach' including functional cosmetics for external skin care, skin barrier improvement, antioxidant functions, and skin microbiome health.
As approaches to delaying aging reflect dietary habits, exercise,
and lifestyle patterns, cosmetics should not be limited to short-term beauty effects but focus on maintaining long-term skin health.
Especially, just as low-sugar, low-calorie foods are classified as 'ultra-processed foods', raising concerns about their long-term health effects, cosmetics, too, are faced with the essential task of securing clinical data on ingredient safety and continuous usage.
The Importance of Technology-Driven Response
Moving beyond simple product provision,
securing skin science technology based on accurate efficacy data
will determine brand trust.
The use of next-generation technologies such as skin genomics analysis, AI-based skin type classification, and low-molecular-weight technology can act as crucial turning points for advancement.
Furthermore, the market competitiveness will depend on how quickly and accurately domestic companies respond to trends, in line with government R&D support projects and new material evaluation systems.
In Closing
Far beyond a fleeting trend,
slow-aging is expanding as a structural trend
permeating consumer values and consumption lifestyles.
The cosmetics industry, too, should view this
as an opportunity for building sustainable foundational technologies and consumer trust, rather than as a temporary trend.
'Build the fundamentals strongly, adapt flexibly to changes'
— the principle that cosmetics should make people's time healthier
and more beautiful should remain unchanged even in the slow-aging era.
The slow-aging and healthy pleasure trends offer significant insights for the cosmetics industry. Maintaining long-term skin health through high-quality ingredients and products ensuring safe usage will become important values for consumers.
If you need more information or have inquiries, please feel free to contact YURICO5.
