To help stakeholders stay informed of the latest developments and gain insights into market trends, CIRS Group has conducted a systematic review and in-depth analysis of the cosmetic ingredient filings published by China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in May 2026. The report mainly covers the number of new ingredient filings during the month, basic information about the filing enterprises, the regional distribution of domestic filers, ingredients that have been filed multiple times, and interpretations of selected ingredients. It aims to offer valuable data support and information references for the cosmetics industry.

I. Number of New Cosmetic Ingredient Filings in China – May 2026

According to data from the NMPA, a total of 20 new cosmetic ingredients were filed in May 2026. As of now, the relevant technical specifications for these ingredients have not yet been disclosed, and none of them have entered the post-filing monitoring period. For detailed information, please refer to Table 1 below. Compared with the same period last year (20 filings in May 2025), the number remained unchanged. As of the end of May 2026, a cumulative total of 93 new cosmetic ingredients have been filed in 2026.

Table 1

Note: The English names of the companies listed above are for reference only. Please refer to the official registered or commonly used names for formal use.

II. Overview of Enterprises Filing for New Cosmetic Ingredients

(I) Distribution of Domestic and Overseas Filing Entities

As shown in Figure 1, among the 20 cosmetic new ingredients that obtained filing numbers in May 2026, 18 were filed by domestic entities, accounting for 90.0%. Two were filed by overseas entities (one from the United States and one from Japan), representing 10.0%. The number of domestic filers significantly exceeds that of overseas filers.

Figure 1

(II) Analysis of Domestic Enterprises

Based on the analysis of new ingredient filing data, the 18 new cosmetic ingredients filed by domestic entities were filed by 14 companies. Among them, Beijing DR's Plant Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangdong Danlan International Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Yunnan Botanee Biological Technology Group Co., Ltd., and Beijing Shangjie Youlan Technology Co., Ltd. each filed 2 new ingredients. All other companies filed 1 new ingredient each.

III. Distribution of Domestic Enterprises Filing for New Cosmetic Ingredients by Province

According to the analysis of new ingredient filing data, 18 new cosmetic ingredients were filed by domestic enterprises, involving 14 companies across 7 provincial-level regions, including Guangdong, Beijing, Zhejiang, Fujian, Yunnan, Shanghai, and Liaoning.

As shown in Figure 2, among all domestic provinces and municipalities where the filing companies are located, Guangdong recorded the highest number of new cosmetic ingredient filings, with 5 filings, accounting for 25.0% of the total filings in May 2026.

Figure 2

IV. Frequently Filed New Cosmetic Ingredients

According to the statistics, among the 20 new cosmetic ingredients that obtained filing numbers, 4 ingredients had previous filing records. Camellia petelotii Flower Extract has been filed a total of 4 times, Anoectochilus roxburghii Extract a total of 4 times, Dihydroxyphenylethanol a total of 6 times, and Antarctic Krill Oil a total of 2 times.

V. Interpretation of Selected Ingredients

Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi/Reishi) is a fungus of the Polyporaceae family, found in Anhui, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and other regions of China. It primarily contains amino acids, peptides, proteins, fungal lysozyme, as well as sugars (reducing sugars and polysaccharides), ergosterol, triterpenoids, coumarin glycosides, volatile oils, stearic acid, benzoic acid, alkaloids, vitamins B2 and C. The spores also contain mannitol and trehalose.

Dendrobium officinale is a plant of the Orchidaceae family, genus Dendrobium, mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Oceania and Asia. In China, it is primarily found in provinces south of 32°N latitude, including Yunnan, Zhejiang, Guizhou, and Guangxi. Dendrobium officinale has been documented in many ancient Chinese medical texts. Compared to common Dendrobium species, D. officinale is richer in various vitamins, polysaccharides, and lactone-type alkaloids, with more pronounced effects in heat-clearing, detoxification, yin-nourishing, deficiency-supplementing, and immunity-enhancing. In November 2023, China's National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation issued Announcement No. 9 of 2023, incorporating Dendrobium officinale into the directory of substances that are both food and traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is a biodegradable, highly biocompatible synthetic polymer material. It is characterized by being non-toxic, non-irritating, biodegradable and absorbable, high in strength, highly plastic, and easy to process. In the medical aesthetics field, it can be injected into the dermis layer of the skin to slowly stimulate autologous collagen regeneration, thereby filling wrinkles, improving skin texture, and enhancing facial contours.

Camellia petelotii is an evergreen shrub of the Theaceae family, genus Camellia. It is distributed in the limestone montane evergreen forests of southern Guangxi (China) and northern Vietnam, and is a Class II nationally protected plant in China. Camellia petelotii has both edible and medicinal value. Research indicates that it is rich in over ten trace elements important for human health, including natural organic germanium, selenium, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, and zinc, as well as tea polyphenols and essential amino acids, offering various health benefits such as blood lipid reduction and immune enhancement.

Thesium chinense is a perennial herb of the Santalaceae family, genus Thesium. It was first recorded in the "Bencao Tujing" (Illustrated Materia Medica) compiled by Su Song et al. during the Song Dynasty. In ancient times, the root was used medicinally, while in modern times, the whole plant is used. Research indicates that it has heat-clearing, dampness-resolving, and detoxifying properties, and commands a high market value and demand in the traditional Chinese medicinal materials market.

Tuber sinense, also known as black truffle, is primarily distributed in the southwestern plateau regions of China, including Yunnan, Sichuan, and Tibet. Research shows that Tuber sinense is rich in 17 amino acids, 8 vitamins, moderate amounts of protein, and over 50 bioactive components including androstenone, sterols, sphingolipids, and fatty acids.

Akebia trifoliata is a deciduous woody vine of the Lardizabalaceae family, genus Akebia. It is distributed in Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, southern Shaanxi, southeastern Gansu, and provinces along the Yangtze River basin in China, and is also found in Japan. Research shows that the roots, stems, and fruits of Akebia trifoliata can all be used medicinally, providing diuretic, lactation-promoting, and tendon-relaxing effects. The fruit can be eaten fresh or used to make wine, and the seeds can be pressed for oil.

Pyropia haitanensis, commonly known as zicai (purple laver) or wucai, is a seaweed species endemic to China that can be artificially cultivated. It is a warm-temperate species and serves as the main cultivated algae along the coasts of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong in China. It is rich in proteins, polysaccharides, and vitamins, and can be used for food or medicinal purposes.

Global CosIng, independently developed by CIRS Group, serves as a one-stop search tool for global cosmetic compliance information. You can visit Global CosIng and find out more via the following link: https://globalcosing.chemradar.com/.

About CIRS

Established in 2007, the CIRS Group is a leading product safety and regulatory consulting firm. CIRS has branch offices in the Republic of Ireland, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and China. CIRS Group utilizes its technical expertise, various resources, and international network to provide one-stop compliance services from regulatory compliance, laboratory testing, R&D to data services across multiple industries. This includes chemicals, cosmetics, food and food beverages, medical devices, agrochemical products, disinfectants, and consumer goods. It helps clients gain a competitive advantage by reducing business risks associated with regulatory affairs.

The CIRS cosmetic team provides expert support to ensure that cosmetic products meet stringent global cosmetic regulations and safety standards. 

We offer comprehensive, lifecycle-based solutions for personal care products, from early-stage cosmetic ingredient development through to final product registration. Our services include:

• Cosmetic ingredient development and regulatory strategy,
• Physical/chemical and analytical tests, 
• Toxicological tests (in vivo & in vitro),
• Efficacy and claim substantiation studies (in vivo & in vitro), and
• Ingredient and product registration across global markets.

With deep expertise in cosmetic regulatory compliance and safety evaluations, our team enables brands to bring products to market efficiently and with confidence.

Our Services 

• China Cosmetics Registration and Filing
• China New Cosmetic Ingredients Registration and Filing
• China Toothpaste Filing
• Cosmetics Safety Test
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• Being a Domestic Responsible Person
• Safety Assessment Report
• Cosmetic Ingredient Quality and Safety Info Code Application
• Formula/Label/Ingredient Review
• Regulatory Consulting/Reporting/Training
• Custom Clearance

If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.