No, this is not a joke - Fujifilm just introduced its skin care/beauty product line:
Fujifilm introduces Astalift skincare products to the European market — To be launched in France in February 2012
FUJIFILM Corporation (President and CEO: Shigetaka Komori) is introducing skincare products based on its proprietary technologies to the European market with a view to expand its healthcare business operations. The Astalift series of skincare products, which have earned high user acclaim in Japan and China, will be launched in France in February 2012, to be followed by other countries in Europe.
The Astalift series is a comprehensive anti-aging skincare*1 brand, developed by using the findings of collagen research, anti-oxidization technology and nano-technology accumulated over many years of research and development of photosensitive materials. Containing the skin-replenishing collagen and astaxanthin, an increasingly-popular skin conditioning agent approximately 1,000 times*2 more powerful than the coenzyme Q10, the products have received overwhelming support from women who seek to maintain beauty of natural youthful skin since the launch in 2007. The brand includes base makeup items that control light absorption and reflection launched in Japan this September. In the worldwide market, Astalift skincare products were introduced in Hong Kong and Mainland China in September last year, with the sales region already expanded to Southeast Asia.
In 2011, the European skincare market is worth approx. 1.8 trillion yen, with France, U.K. and Germany making up over half of the total demand. The market has made solid growth since 2005, riding over the financial crisis triggered by the Lehman Shock. Demand for anti-aging products, in particular, has made the most prominent increase. Convinced that the Astalift series will address the needs of many women in the European market as well, Fujifilm has decided to introduce the brand to France and other European countries, following its introduction to China and Southeast Asia.
Details of the brand's European deployment
- 1)Fujifilm's 100% subsidiary “FUJIFILM Europe GmbH”, responsible for the company's European operations, has set up a new cosmetics business division in order to coordinate all operations of cosmetics marketing across Europe. Sales operations will be handled by Fujifilm subsidiaries in respective countries.
- 2)The Astalift skincare series of products will be sold at cosmetics stores and department stores in France starting in February 2012 through Fujifilm's local subsidiary “FUJIFILM France S.A.S.”. An online sales website will also be launched in France in February.
The brand will also be introduced to other countries in Europe, including U.K., Germany and Spain.
Fujifilm will continue to use its core technologies accumulated over many years to provide highly distinctive products that address the needs of many customers, thereby making contributions to people's health and beauty.
