Market Overview

More and more people are worried about their sensitive skins caused by atopic dermatitis, allergic constitutions, seasonal changes, stresses, etc. The domestic sensitive skin cosmetics market size for FY2018 rose by 8.7% to attain 77,800 million yen, based on the shipment value at brand makers.

Sensitive skin cosmetics used to be mainly comprised of skincare products that do not cause inflammation in skins. The sales of such cosmetic items have expanded after a series of releases of those with specific functions or added values, such as aging care and skin-whitening. In the status where more women are recognizing themselves as having sensitive skins, the brands of sensitive skin cosmetics that mainly use mail-order channel are increasing, which boosted the entire market of such cosmetics.

Noteworthy Topics

Diversified Products and Concepts

Sensitive skin cosmetics used to traditionally be comprised of simply, face wash, cleansing, skin lotion, and serum. Ever since the releases of sheet masks for face moistening by the brand MINON by Sankyo Healthcare Co, Ltd., skincare and base make-up items by the brand “d-program” by Shiseido Co, Ltd., and "Avène Hydrance Water Gel” an all-in-one gel by Pierre Fabre Japon Co, Ltd., sensitive skin cosmetic products have become diversified and began attracting new customers by having a concept or functions that they never had before.

In addition, development of more new concept products resistant to each of various stresses caused by internal or external factors is on the way at major cosmetics companies. The following are some of such products already released: KOSE Corporation’s moisturizing lotions and serum from its CARTÉ CLINITY brand for the skins that temporarily become sensitive; DECENCIA, a sensitive skin cosmetics brand, released products for worsened skins stemming from lack of sleep; and La Roche-Posay by L'Oréal Japan developed the products that protect the skins from UVs and dust particles in the air.

Future Outlook

The domestic sensitive skin cosmetics market size for FY2019 is projected to rise to 81,600 million yen, 104.9% of the size of the preceding year, based on the shipment value at brand makers.

Not only they have become indispensable to sensitive skins, a series of releases of new concept products for solving each of various skin problems is likely to grow the market stably. In addition, the brands that are dealt by drugstores and department stores can expect sales by continuously expanding inbound demand.

Research Outline