Cosmetics: Because it’s no longer worth it

Foreign cosmetics-makers are scaling back their ambitions in China

According to the Economist (2014), beauty is big business in China. However, the world’s biggest cosmetics firms are moving away from the market citing a number of issues. L’Oreal has cited that it will stop selling its Garnier line of beauty products in China as a change in strategy. However, this is seen as a way of avoiding the mandatory animal testing the firm is subjected to in the Chinese market in this line of products. The animal testing issue is costing the western firms and causing them numerous public relations problems back home. The withdrawal of the line is seen as a promise to cruelty free products.

Reference:

Economist (2014) ‘Cosmetics: Because it’s no longer worth it’, 11 January, Available at:

http://www.economist.com/news/business/21593466-foreign-cosmetics-makers-are-scaling-back-their-ambitions-china-because-its-no-longer-worth (Accessed: 22 January, 2014)