Local department stores have said they expect sales of cosmetic and skincare products to soar following the lifting of an outdoor mask mandate on Thursday.
The mandate had come into effect on May 19 last year, requiring people to wear masks outdoors at all times.
Cosmetics sales have since been dominated by eye makeup products, Uni-Ustyle Department Store in Taipei said.
Photo courtesy of Global Mall via CNA
However, it has recorded a surge in the sales of lipsticks and other cosmetic products since the lifting of the mandate, it added.
A senior official at Far Eastern Sogo Department Store yesterday said that cosmetics sales usually peak near Mother’s Day and during anniversary sales.
However, many people did not purchase cosmetic products for Mother’s Day this year, as they were still using the products they had bought during anniversary sales near the end of last year.
Sales of cosmetic products at the store fell about 20 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that people were not concerned about beauty care, the official said.
In addition to lipsticks, sales of foundations and other skincare products also soared since Thursday, they said, adding that the company expects the sales of such products to rise 10 to 15 percent in the short term.
International cosmetics brands have been focusing on the Taiwanese market as China continues to implement harsh lockdown measures to stamp out COVID-19 cases there, the person said, adding that Taiwanese consumers can expect a variety of new product launches.
Global Mall said that sales of cosmetics, electric toothbrushes and razors rose after the mask mandate was lifted.
Female office workers aged 30 to 40 were the main buyers of electric toothbrushes, while razors were mostly inquired about by males aged 40 to 50, the mall said.
The mall expects its sales of cosmetics to increase 30 percent amid soaring demand for lipsticks, foundations, primers and blushers.
Appointments for facial skincare sessions also increased, it said.
The mall said it is offering discounts for its anniversary sales and the Christmas shopping season.
Its sales this year have surpassed those from before the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of customers has almost reached pre-pandemic levels, it said.
It expects sales of food and beverages to grow 20 percent due to end-of-the-year gatherings and shopping sprees, it said.
AGING: While Japan has 22 submarines, Taiwan only operates four, two of which were commissioned by the US in 1945 and 1946, and transferred to Taiwan in 1973 Taiwan would need at least 12 submarines to reach modern fleet capabilities, CSBC Corp, Taiwan chairman Chen Cheng-hung (陳政宏) said in an interview broadcast on Friday, citing a US assessment. CSBC is testing the nation’s first indigenous defense submarine, the Hai Kun (海鯤, Narwhal), which is scheduled to be delivered to the navy next month or in July. The Hai Kun has completed torpedo-firing tests and is scheduled to undergo overnight sea trials, Chen said on an SET TV military affairs program. Taiwan would require at least 12 submarines to establish a modern submarine force after assessing the nation’s operational environment and defense
Yangmingshan National Park authorities yesterday urged visitors to respect public spaces and obey the law after a couple was caught on a camera livestream having sex at the park’s Qingtiangang (擎天崗) earlier in the day. The Shilin Police Precinct in Taipei said it has identified a suspect and his vehicle registration number, and would summon him for questioning. The case would be handled in accordance with public indecency charges, it added. The couple entered the park at about 11pm on Thursday and began fooling around by 1am yesterday, the police said, adding that the two were unaware of the park’s all-day live
The coast guard today said that it had disrupted "illegal" operations by a Chinese research ship in waters close to the nation and driven it away, part of what Taipei sees a provocative pattern of China's stepped up maritime activities. The coast guard said that it on Thursday last week detected the Chinese ship Tongji (同濟號), which was commissioned only last year, 29 nautical miles (54km) southeast of the southern tip of Taiwan, although just outside restricted waters. The ship was observed lowering ropes into the water, suspected to be the deployment of scientific instruments for "illegal" survey operations, and the coast
A former soldier and an active-duty army officer were yesterday indicted for allegedly selling classified military training materials to a Chinese intelligence operative for a total of NT$79,440. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Chen Tai-yin (陳泰尹) and Lee Chun-ta (李俊達) for contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法) and the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例). Chen left the military in September 2013 after serving alongside then-staff sergeant Lee, now an army lieutenant, at the 21st Artillery Command of the army’s Sixth Corps from 2011 to 2013, according to the indictment. Chen met a Chinese intelligence operative identified as “Wang” (王) through a friend in November
RSS