What I Noticed About Ingredient Trends at PCHi 2025

On February 21, the China International Personal Care and Homecare Ingredients Exhibition (PCHi 2025) successfully concluded in Guangzhou.

In this article, I'd like to share some ingredient trends I observed at this exhibition from an attendee's perspective.

Ingredient innovation is evolving along two main lines: in-depth technological advancements and interdisciplinary integration.

• The segmentation of efficacy skincare is deepening, with targeted concepts such as mitochondrial anti-aging and cellular-level repair gaining prominence.
• Natural plant extracts and plant-derived exosomes remain evergreen favorites.
• Cross-disciplinary integration has become a highlight—emotional skincare combines neuroperception with fragrances to build emotional value, while AI algorithms accelerate the development of targeted delivery systems.
• Notably, the trend of “skincare-like hair care” is emerging due to the younger demographic experiencing hair loss, driving shampoo and conditioner formulations toward more refined and systematic iterations.

Overall, technological iterations are increasingly centered on quantifiable efficacy, while consumer demand for personalization and emotional value is steering R&D toward a more human-centric approach.

01 Natural & Sustainable: A Green Wave Sweeping the Industry

The global pursuit of natural, safe, and eco-friendly solutions is accelerating the transformation of the personal care industry, with plant-based ingredients and biotechnology at the core of sustainable innovation. From algae extracts to plant stem cells, natural ingredients are being revitalized through modern technology, while bio-fermentation and green synthesis techniques empower eco-friendly production.

02 Efficacy-Driven: Precision Skincare Leading the Future

Refining consumer demand drives ingredient innovation toward targeted repair and multifunctionality, making “ingredient precision” and “visible efficacy” key competitive factors.

03 Tech-Driven: Smart Ingredients Revolutionizing the Industry

AI and nanotechnology are propelling ingredient research into an era of efficiency and intelligence, with “technological crossover” and “sensory innovation” emerging as key differentiators.

04 Regulatory Compliance & Transparency

With policy changes and increasing consumer awareness, safety and transparency have become essential industry standards. Several companies showcased complete safety assessment reports alongside their ingredients, highlighting their commitment to both innovation and safety.

On February 6, 2025, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced measures to accelerate cosmetic ingredient innovation, including faster approvals, technical guidance, and synchronized registration of new cosmetic ingredients with related products. These changes are expected to shorten innovation cycles and reduce compliance costs, giving companies a competitive edge in the Chinese market. With these policies in place, businesses are encouraged to take full advantage of these opportunities, driving technological advancements, ensuring product safety, and achieving successful market outcomes.

*All images and ingredient information in this article were sourced from the PCHi 2025 exhibition.