As the first major event of the year in the personal care ingredients industry, the 2025 edition of PCHi, held in Guangzhou, China, from February 19–21, set a new benchmark for the sector.

I had the pleasure of attending this year’s event and was truly impressed by its scale, the number of attendees, and the vibrant atmosphere that could be felt while walking through the various booths.

To give a clearer picture: the event featured six exhibition halls, over 800 exhibitors, and more than 50,000 professionals from 63 countries and regions. This represents a significant increase from the 30,000 participants in 2024, highlighting PCHi’s growing influence as a key global event, not only for the Chinese market but for the entire industry.

Staying true to its commitment as "Source of Beauty, Choice of Excellence," PCHi once again provided a comprehensive platform for knowledge exchange, business opportunities, and technological advancements. Through a dynamic program of exhibitions, conferences, specialized seminars, and technical discussions, industry professionals had the chance to gain insights into regulatory updates, explore emerging market trends, and discover the most innovative ingredients and formulation technologies shaping the future of the beauty and personal care industry.

The event also served as a global meeting point for key players in the cosmetics and personal care sector. Experts and business leaders from around the world came together to share perspectives on the industry’s most pressing challenges and explore potential collaborations. In particular, discussions emphasized the rapid expansion of the Chinese beauty market and its ability to drive innovation through cutting-edge technological advancements, further solidifying China’s role as a key influencer in the global industry. Indeed, one of the standout aspects of PCHi was the unparalleled opportunity to engage with hundreds of Chinese personal care ingredient companies under one roof. This unique access provided international professionals with direct insights into China’s booming beauty and personal care sector, adding immense value to the event.

It is clear that PCHi is on track to grow even further, becoming an unmissable opportunity for international industry players seeking the latest trends and advancements.

After three days of full immersion in the event, several key themes stood out. The rapid pace of new ingredient development was undeniable, with a strong focus on creating more effective, innovative, and safe formulations. There was a clear emphasis on technological advancements and sustainability, as companies presented breakthrough solutions designed to meet both industry demands and evolving consumer expectations. Overall, PCHi reaffirmed its role as a major hub for innovation, where global professionals could gain valuable insights into the future of personal care and homecare ingredients.

As a matter of fact, one of the most important moments of the event was the PCHi Fountain Awards, which celebrate pioneering advancements and recognize contributions that propel the personal care industry forward. This year, submissions covered 28 categories, including sustainability, skin health, and sensory experiences, attracting outstanding entries from both well-established brands and emerging innovators. Notably, 13 of the winning ingredients at the PCHi Fountain Awards were developed by Chinese companies, showcasing China’s increasing role in driving global beauty and personal care innovation. These developments could play a crucial role in shaping global trends, serving as a source of inspiration and influence for the entire industry. For the full list of winners, please refer to link: https://www.teknoscienze.com/a-resounding-success-pchi-2025-wraps-up-on-a-high-note/.

Global Launches

The event featured six new product launches from leading multinational suppliers, including Lucas Meyer Cosmetics by Clariant, Ashland, Croda, and Gattefossé, alongside prominent Chinese companies such as JAKA and Shandong Freda Biotechnology. These industry leaders showcased their latest innovations, introducing cutting-edge ingredients and formulations that are set to drive the next wave of advancements in the personal care sector. Innovation in raw materials and technology once again played a crucial role, reflecting the industry’s ongoing push for high-performance solutions.

Here is a brief overview of the products:

• JAKA: Erythcalm™ SC is a natural active ingredient mainly composed of lignans and terpenoids. It regulates the response of four major receptor targets on keratinocytes and neuroblasts involved in redness. Extracted from Saururus chinensis using innovative techniques, it helps relieve skin redness, repair the skin barrier, and brighten the skin.
• Lucas Meyer Cosmetics: GlowCytocin™ and Melicica™ are two natural extracts. GlowCytocin™ activates oxytocin receptors, enhancing skin touch sensoriality, improving elasticity, reducing wrinkle appearance, and promoting a healthy glow. Melicica™, rich in leptosperin, optimizes the skin’s natural repair process, reducing the appearance of scars and redness while improving skin uniformity and luminosity.
• Croda: Sphingo’HAIR™ Drypure™ is a bio-fermentation-derived ceramide NP that replenishes the skin with essential long-chain ceramides. It promotes a healthy scalp and hair barrier structure while regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines, heat-activated channels, and atopic skin markers.
• Gattefossé: Noxifense™ is a 100% plant-derived bioactive sourced from overlooked sea buckthorn leaves. Rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory polyphenols, it calms the oxidative-inflammatory environment triggered by lipid oxidation. Acting through the NF-kB pathway, it helps prevent inflammation and protects sensitive skin from pollution, UV exposure, and other environmental stressors.
• Ashland: Collapeptyl™ Biofunctional is a hybrid natural collagen peptide solution combining hyalupeptides and collagen peptides. It mimics and boosts 20 types of skin collagen, offering synergistic and multifunctional benefits superior to individual bioactives. It delivers an instant glass-like glow and reduces wrinkle appearance.
• Shandong Freda Biotechnology: Matrix-Colla-1 is a novel collagen designed to repair and firm the extracellular matrix (ECM), reconstruct the full dermal structure, and restore skin elasticity. It provides anti-aging, repairing, and soothing benefits.

I had the opportunity to interview representatives from all these companies, and one of my main curiosities was understanding why international brands chose to launch their global innovations in China rather than in Europe.

The answer was clear: PCHi is recognized as the first major industry event of the year, making it the ideal stage for unveiling new developments. Additionally, it is regarded as an excellent platform to showcase technical expertise and comprehensive solutions for the personal care market—not only in China but across Asia and globally. Another key factor is that certain manufacturing processes and testing phases were conducted in China, where state-of-the-art innovation centers provide high precision and efficiency. It is evident that companies are eager to invest in the Chinese market. Furthermore, the most of the newly launched products were tailored specifically for the Asian market, addressing sensitive skin and hair defense and care, pollution and UV protection, and the popular glowing skin effect—all highly relevant themes in the region.

Sustainability was a key focus across all the new product launches. The majority of ingredients were 100% natural, sourced from botanical extracts cultivated using eco-friendly farming and sustainable techniques or from upcycled waste materials. Additionally, advanced extraction methods—such as green sustainable biofermentation and ethanol-based extraction—were employed to minimize environmental impact and reduce raw material waste.

Looking Ahead: PCHi 2026

PCHi is set to embark on an exciting new chapter as it moves to Hangzhou for its next edition. Scheduled to take place from March 18–20, 2026, the event will be hosted at the newly inaugurated Hangzhou Grand Convention and Exhibition Center, a cutting-edge venue designed to accommodate large-scale international events. With this expansion into a new city, PCHi 2026 promises to deliver an even more immersive experience, bringing together R&D pioneers, ingredient innovators, and industry leaders to shape the future of personal care. More details about next year’s edition will be unveiled in the coming months. For further information, visit www.pchi-china.com/en or follow PCHi on social media for the latest updates.

Looking forward to the next edition!

Monica Nizzardo

TKS Editorial Consultant