The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
The Chinese skincare brand has secured Series A financing totalling more than 100 million yuan ($15.66 million).
The brand, founded by a medical doctor, focuses on skin data analysis and targeted skincare products for women, with strong emphasis on research and development capabilities and medical expertise.
Like many other high-profile C-beauty brands, Uniskin started out selling via online channels such as Tmall, JD.com, WeChat and Xiaohongshu, before branching out into offline channels. Its stockists include Lane Crawford and local beauty-focused select store, Heat.
According to its own data, Uniskin’s total sales for 2020 reached 150 million yuan ($23.49 million), and sales in the first quarter of 2021 increased more than 350 percent on the year.
Chinese beauty brands have traditionally concentrated on the mass market, with international players dominating the country’s prestige beauty market. Uniskin is part of a new generation of C-Beauty brands that are gaining market share at higher price points, especially among younger consumers, by doubling-down on R&D capabilities and an elevated brand image.
As the country’s economy moves into deflationary territory, manufacturing output declines and a real estate crisis worsens, some consumers are becoming increasingly cautious.
Its flagship brand struggled following the departure of its creative director but better growth was seen at other labels.
After years of outsized growth in prestige cosmetics, consumers have pulled back on the typically recession-proof category.
Last year’s harsh pandemic restrictions and recent raids on foreign firms have made it harder for Western fashion companies to persuade top international talent to move to the country.