in-cosmetics Asia 2024 smashes attendance record 

With Asia rising, organisers reveal details of biggest event in the show’s history.

Nearly 20 000 visitors (including revisits) attended in-cosmetics Asia 2024, the leading event in Asia Pacific for personal care ingredients. The trade show took place in Bangkok from 5 to 7 November, making it the biggest event in the show’s history. 

Boasting 13 103 unique attendees (11% up on 2023), the event also recorded a new high of 43% international visitors. In total, 5 591 attendees travelled from beyond Thailand, marking a 19% increase compared to 2023.

Overall, the event at BITEC featured 637 exhibitors, including major multinational ingredient suppliers like Ashland, BASF, Clariant, and Croda. Dynamic and niche suppliers from 36 countries – including Australia, Brazil, Egypt, and the United States – showcased their innovative ingredients, targeting the expanding opportunities in the Asian market.

Looking to the future

This year’s exhibition was a true celebration of innovation, with many companies using it as a launchpad for their latest product developments. Eurofragrance showcased Scentphony, a sensory collaboration blending fragrance and music, while Kaffe Bueno introduced KLEANSTANT®, a bio-based anionic surfactant upcycled from coffee by-products, used in shampoos, body washes and cleansers. LipoTrue also introduced two new ingredients: Deepstrine, a marine ferment aimed at nurturing and repairing stretch marks and Lightmony, a botanical blend designed for a radiant glow. 

For the first time ever, the Innovation Zone, sponsored by Mibelle Biochemistry, reached a significant milestone featuring 100 ingredients launched within the last eight months. Entries were automatically entered to the Innovation Zone Best Ingredient Awards. Givaudan secured Gold in the Actives category for Neuroglow™, an ingredient that mimics the beneficial properties of sunlight. In the Functional category, Lucas Meyer Cosmetics by Clariant took home Gold with Pickmulse™, the first quinoa starch-based ingredient allowing easy formulation of Pickering emulsions.

Learning from the best

The event united R&D experts from across the region, including representatives from P&G, L’Oréal, Shiseido, Estée Lauder, Unilever and Amorepacific, who came together to network with industry peers, hear about upcoming trends, and meet with current and potential business partners. Future industry trends were a key focus of the educational programme, with themes such as technology, science-backed beauty, AI, and anti-ageing solutions, as well as K-Beauty, C-Beauty and T-Beauty.

One of the most popular sessions was led by KinShen Chan, Principal Beauty and Personal Care Analyst at Mintel, who explored 2025 global beauty and personal care trends. Chan highlighted expected growth in the Southeast Asian cosmetics industry, pinpointing three significant trends:

1. Consumers will “work smarter, not harder,” leveraging knowledge, tools, and technology for personalised high-impact solutions
2. They will prioritise eco-ethical practices, connecting sustainability with high-performance beauty
3. They will adopt ‘slow beauty,’ focusing on prevention over repair while embracing simplicity.

This year marked the debut of in-cosmetics Asia’s first Cosmetic Conference, held in association with the International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Scientists (IFSCC) and sponsored by dsm-firmenich. Featuring experts from IFSCC, L’Oréal, Shiseido and Shieling Laboratories, the conference focused on key topics like AI, skincare, and haircare, with a keynote from Perry Romanowski, Chair of Education at the IFSCC.

There were further science-based sessions held in the Formulation Lab with 10 action-packed presentations showing attendees how to formulate finished products. These included a packed demonstration by Clariant on encapsulated UV filters that enable lightweight, high-protection, flexible sunscreen formulations UV filter system, as well as Nikko Chemicals running a training session on Skinified serum sunscreen with a combination UV filter system.

The rise of Asian suppliers

The 2024 edition highlighted the growing prominence of Asian suppliers, as European companies increasingly turn to the region for sourcing and local operations, in part due to global political uncertainty and supply chain disruptions.

Several leading companies demonstrated the significant strides being made in ingredient innovation and product development, evidenced by Singapore-based Wilmar securing the Silver Award in the Innovation Zone Best Ingredients – Functional Category, while China’s Bloomage Biotechnology earned Silver at the Spotlight On Formulation Award.

Japan also made a strong impact, with 23 exhibitors showcasing their advanced ingredients; notably, TriBeaute introduced AzePore, a multifunctional moisturising, anti-ageing, and anti-acne agent, while Thailand’s Speciality Natural Products presented a natural extract developed in collaboration with local agricultural networks.

Sarah Gibson, event director of in-cosmetics Asia, said: “This year’s event has emerged as an unparalleled hub of international influence, witnessing a 19% increase in attendance from outside Thailand, alongside a significant representation of brands from beyond the Asia-Pacific region. Most importantly, we are thrilled to see the flourishing collaborations and valuable partnerships that have taken root, fostering a profound sense of camaraderie among all attendees. in-cosmetics Asia 2024 stands as a pivotal milestone for both the business sector and the community within our industry.”

in-cosmetics Asia 2025 will take place from 4-6 November at the BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand. For more information or to register interest for the event, click here.