Bb LABORATORIES: Bold Skincare That Transitions Boundaries

J-beauty products have often faced competition from Western competitors and Korean beauty with solid marketing power. Still, behind the scenes, a little-known fact is that many of these active ingredients are produced by Japanese brands with strong OEM manufacturers. Currently, there is a change in trends towards people looking for a cleaner, "less is more" approach, and your brand is good at that. What is the advantage of J-beauty products over your competitors?

I think the appeal of cosmetics made in Japan is still the high quality and safety. As various regulations regarding cosmetics become stricter, the quality of overseas products is also improving daily. Still, the commitment to careful manufacturing, from the formulation to the design of the container and cosmetic box to logistics, leads to the reliability of Japanese products. I think this is one of the reasons why active ingredients that have been researched and produced in Japan are used globally. I believe that one of the strengths of J-beauty is that it appeals to the active ingredients or raw ingredients that have gained trust in this way in an easy-to-understand way and creates products with them as the main ingredients.

You also mentioned that global trends are changing and more straightforward products are in demand, which is in keeping with the Japanese philosophy of stripped-down simplicity. In that sense, Bb lab. brand's Water-soluble Placenta Extract Concentrate is a product that "adds nothing" and "takes nothing away." It is a product that appeals to the active ingredients simply, and the usage method is also very simple, "use immediately after washing your face." This formula and simplicity of usage are also among the attractions of our products.

Recent concerns about sustainable material sourcing and reducing products' environmental impact have led to changes in design. For example, the EU Chemical Agency recently reported that cosmetics account for 8% of the world's microplastics. Manufacturers have begun reevaluating how they source microplastics, especially in products and items that are washed off.

Bb LABORATORIES is working to ensure the safety of our ingredients and reduce their impact on the climate. How do you think this effort to reduce the environmental impact will affect product design in the future?

Sustainability is not something special for Gen Z; it comes naturally. At Bb LABORATORIES, we take it for granted and would like to actively work on it, including communicating it to society. This also applies to the Bb lab. brand, as well as the BOTANIZM brand, developed by our younger generation employees, focuses on using environmentally friendly and upcycled materials and reducing and simplifying packaging. Unlike large companies, it is difficult to create materials and raw materials on our own, so we strive to procure materials and raw materials that are more sustainable. We will shift to product development that faces sustainability, such as choosing containers that reduce CO2 emissions and using more environmentally friendly Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) paper when presentation boxes are required.

It is interesting that you mentioned that the BOTANIZM brand was developed by the younger generation because, in Japan, demographic changes are going in the opposite direction. It is estimated that in just 15 years, one in three Japanese people will be over 60 years old. This creates problems of labor shortages and production bottlenecks. Still, it also represents an opportunity for the cosmetics industry to pivot to products targeted at this different demographic, who have more needs and wealth. What strategies are you pursuing to respond to Japan's changing demographics?

Some of our customers who have grown older with Bb LABORATORIES since the company was founded in 1997 are parents and children who use Bb LABORATORIES products. Our loyal customers, who were in their mid-30s when we first started, are now reaching their 60s. In 2017, our 20th anniversary, Bb LABORATORIES launched the Arcana series, a step above the rest, for customers who have continued to use our Placenta The Arcana series is a series that focuses on anti-aging and contains placenta extract as the main ingredient. It has been well-received by those who want to take their skin to the next level.

On the other hand, we believe it is also essential to focus on a broader range of customers, especially the younger generation. The BOTANIZM brand is working to appeal to a wide range of generations with the concept of gender and age-free. As the population decline accelerates, we also focus on new groups of people who use cosmetics—for example, teenagers who are interested in skincare. The age at which people, both men and women, first pick up cosmetics is becoming younger, but we are also hearing voices of people suffering from skin problems because they do not know the correct way to care for their skin. Therefore, through the BOTANIZM brand, we are actively working to communicate with the younger generation, such as holding skin care seminars for teenagers in cooperation with beauty writers and promoting the BOTANIZM brand to increase awareness. A teenage boy who attended a seminar the other day gave us the happy impression that "my skin has improved a lot after practicing the correct face washing for a month." We will continue to consider the growth of our company and products in line with our customers' needs.

You mentioned that the company's history dates back to 1997, so tell us about your product line. When the company was founded, we started with our flagship product, water-soluble placenta extract, and we've been producing it for over 25 years now. We've refined our extraction methods to preserve the nutrients better. Can you talk a bit about how your research and development has evolved over time and where you see the company heading in the next five years?

The effectiveness of placenta extract depends on how it's extracted. The placenta is the source of life and a treasure trove of nutrients, including amino acids and a wealth of beauty ingredients. The Bb original placenta extract was used in the Bb lab. Brand Kiss is carefully extracted using our unique technology without compromise. One of its features is that "Triple Amino" supports the skin's natural condition and approaches various skin problems from various angles. Placenta extract is said to have hidden powers that are still unknown, unlike a refined single ingredient. We will continue to obtain and verify evidence regarding the anti-aging properties of Bb original placenta and use it in new product development.

Placenta has been used in cosmetics for over 60 years for its anti-aging effects. Although there are concerns about the ethical sourcing of placenta, collagen has been used as a protein source in cosmetics for many years due to its ability to reduce wrinkles and provide a more beautiful experience. What are the advantages of using placenta compared to collagen-based skincare products?

Placenta-based products

The placenta is something that is actually quite simple when you really think about it. Placenta has been used since ancient times, as a medicine for immortality and longevity, as a nourishing and strengthening herbal medicine, and as a medicine used by beautiful women such as Cleopatra and Yang Guifei to maintain their beauty and youthfulness.

The placenta, as a medicine, is used for liver dysfunction and menopausal disorders. Placenta extract as a cosmetic ingredient is known as an active ingredient for "whitening" in quasi-drugs, and you can expect different effects from collagen. The placenta is also used as a supplement like collagen and is an ingredient that can be expected to promote inner beauty.

Japanese companies are known for partnering with local producers to source raw materials. This is also true for the Bb lab. brand. The Bb lab. brand sources pig placenta in partnership with local farmers. This has the advantage of not only sourcing local raw materials but also creating a diverse source of income for local farmers and the development of rural areas. There is also an evidence lab that conducts research in collaboration with medical associations. What role do these collaborations play in product development? Also, are you looking for overseas collaborators in the future?

The placenta used in Bb lab. brand placenta extract is collected from domestic contract farms. We work closely with these farms, but this is still only a tiny part of our support and contribution to the local community. However, we feel that this type of collaboration could lead to future growth for the company.

Bb LABORATORIES is also a member of the Soiken Holdings Group, and we actively collaborate with other group companies in areas such as product development and research.

I would like to ask you about another part of your product line. We focused on your placenta products, but you also have them in your Pro series products and in your BOTANIZM brand, which you mentioned earlier. Of course, in the cosmetics industry, you face competition from Shiseido, L'Oreal, and others, as we have already mentioned. What is the competitive advantage of your Bb products, and how do you differentiate between your various product lines?

One of the features of the Bb lab. brand products, which mainly use "water-soluble placenta extract concentrate," are loved by people of all ages and skin types. Bb original placenta extract approaches various skin problems from multiple angles to improve skin strength. We would like to continue to promote this powerful appeal and strengthen the Bb lab. brand products, and provide solutions to beautify the skin.

I would like to ask you about your cosmetics export business overseas. There are a wide variety of rules that must be followed, not only for pharmaceutical and cosmetic regulations but also for packaging, and these are different in the US and the EU. How do you adapt your products and services to various local regulations?

Regulations regarding overseas exports vary from country to country and are very complicated, which has become a high hurdle when exporting products. This is not only true for us, but also for other companies. We have a specialized department that handles international regulations. We work closely with local agents to comply with local regulations. We also believe that in product development, it is important to not only follow regulations, but also to visit the local area and learn about the culture of the country or region.

As mentioned earlier, you provide online training materials to various companies around the world. You also operate an online store and export to countries such as Taiwan, China, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Please give us a brief overview of your international business. Also, are you considering new distributors, partners, or any expansion in the future?

Currently, the main market for our overseas business is China, and we have partners that we have been working with for many years, but we recognize that market needs are expanding to other parts of the world, and we would like to build cooperative relationships with new agents and partners to develop and sell products suitable for each market. Currently, we are focusing on the Chinese and ASEAN markets, but we are also considering other possibilities.

If we were to return in 2026 for the 30th anniversary, what would you like to achieve as president by then? What are your ambitions and goals?

I sincerely hope that by the time of our 30th anniversary, placenta extract will be even more widely recognized in society.

At Bb LABORATORIES, we value the idea of "listening to you." In Japanese, "listening to you" has two meanings: "listening to you" and "working for you." We listen to our customers' voices and are always taking on new challenges to provide products that are better for their skin. The possibilities for beauty are endless. Bb LABORATORIES makes it happen. We do everything we can for your precious skin and smile.

For more information, visit their website at: https://www.bb-lab.com/