Darphin's 48th Anniversary Launches Two New Whitening Products

New Products and Clinical Verification

On September 5, Darphin celebrated its 48th anniversary in Shanghai, announcing Liu Haoran as its first spokesperson and launching two new whitening products: the new 8% Almond Acid Essence and the new Polishing Toner. The brand emphasized its 48-year history of medical research. The new 8% Almond Acid Essence uses patented Almond Acid PRO technology, claiming a 7x boost in exfoliation, 99% oil control, and a 4.3x increase in gentleness. It includes tranexamic acid for dual "acne treatment + print fading" benefits. Clinical tests showed that after 56 days of use, facial trans-epidermal water loss decreased, and skin gloss improved. It also showed synergistic whitening when combined with photofacial treatments.

Polishing Toner and Formulation Logic

The new Polishing Toner addresses consumer concerns about rough skin and dullness. Darphin's Science Officer, Lu Wangwang, noted that over 52% of consumers face both issues. The product follows a "polish first, then whiten" logic. It uses a triple acid and dual enzyme formula to gently exfoliate, delivering ingredients like 377 and whitening peptides to the skin's base via dual-layer encapsulation to inhibit melanin, achieving a 2.6x melanin suppression rate. The brand aims to metabolize dead skin cells for health, not to thin or sensitize the skin.

Brand Evolution and R&D Investment

Founded by a dermatologist in 1978 in Taipei, Darphin began by translating clinical skincare into home care. In 1983, R&D focused on almond acid for its large, lipophilic molecular structure that gently acts on the stratum corneum. Over decades, the brand built a full product matrix covering exfoliation, repair, whitening, and anti-aging. It established China's first single-discipline research fund for acne and published the "2026 National Skin Research and Scientific Exfoliation White Paper." The brand holds 25 exfoliation-related patents and has published over 30 academic papers, frequently appearing at the IFSCC conference.

Implications for Procurement and Brands

After Yatsen E-commerce acquired Darphin's mainland China business in 2021, the brand integrated into the group's global R&D system. H1 financial reports showed skincare revenue of 1.39 billion yuan, accounting for 64.32% of total income. Darphin was certified by CIC Zhoushi as "World No. 1 in Almond Acid Skincare Sales" and entered the top 15 personal care brands on Douyin. For B2B procurement, this case highlights that "clinical evidence + certified efficacy" is key for acid-based products. Brands should prioritize R&D for specific skin types and build trust through tertiary hospital data, avoiding homogeneous price wars.