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Recently, China's NMPA clarifies the transitional management requirements for the implementation of revisions to the STSC for Cosmetics (2015 Edition).

Cosmetic efficacy testing has become an essential step in developing compliant, evidence-based cosmetic products. Whether launching a new skincare product, validating sunscreen SPF claims, or supporting anti-ageing marketing claims, brands increasingly need scientific evidence to demonstrate that their products deliver the benefits promised on the label. Consumers today expect greater transparency from cosmetic brands, while regulators worldwide are placing increasing emphasis on ensuring that cosmetic claims are truthful, substantiated, and supported by appropriate evidence. As a result, cosmetic efficacy testing plays a critical role in product development, regulatory compliance, and successful market access.

CIRS Group has compiled the data from China's NMPA and Guangzhou authorities to help enterprises track regulatory trends and mitigate compliance risks.

On May 29, 2026, China's STSC underwent a significant update. To accompany this update, China's NIFDC simultaneously released official supporting Q&As. CIRS Group has compiled and organized the information below for your reference.

In April 2026, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, and the Sichuan Provincial Medical Products Administration successively issued announcements on cosmetic supervision and sampling inspection. A total of 103 batches of cosmetics were found non-compliant, and 47 batches were detected with prohibited ingredients.

Recently, China NIFDC issued two technical guidelines for hair perming cosmetics. CIRS Group provides an in-depth interpretation covering nine core aspects-offering comprehensive and professional technical support and practical guidance for cosmetics enterprises. Additionally, a detailed comparison between the official versions and the drafts for comments of both guidelines is attached, helping enterprises quickly grasp the key revisions and accurately adapt to the new regulatory requirements.

On April 15, 2026, China’s NIFDC published two trial technical guidelines for hair dye cosmetics, clarifying their scope of application and core requirements for research and quality control. CIRS Group provides a comprehensive interpretation of the key points of both guidelines to help cosmetic enterprises quickly capture compliance essentials and accurately grasp core requirements.

Today, let’s talk about tear trough and lacrimal groove evaluation. Currently, many skin care products claimed that they could mitigate the tear trough and the lacrimal groove. Actually, tear trough and lacrimal groove are two different periorbital issues. Sometimes they conflated, likely because they often coexist.

Two-photon microscopy (TPM), a high-resolution three-dimensional imaging technology based on nonlinear optical effects, has demonstrated significant application potential in the field of cosmetic efficacy evaluation in recent years. Its core advantages lie in its non-invasive, in vivo, in situ, label-free real-time imaging capability, enabling deep observation of dynamic changes in cells and the extracellular matrix within skin tissue. This provides a scientific basis for evaluating the safety and efficacy of cosmetics.

Cosmetic Testing Insights - Key Trends, Explanations to Testing Items and New Studies