How do shared makeup rooms work in China? A curious business model

A new trend of "shared makeup rooms" is generating discussion in China as companies look for new ways to make slice of one of the world's largest beauty markets.

These rooms for women in big cities represent a new frontier in the great collaborative economy of China.

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For many, this modality makes it affordable to wear expensive makeup. Others cringe at the thought of sharing lipstick with a stranger.

While these cubicles have appeared in many Chinese cities since late last year, the recent opening of one in Wuhan, in the eastern part of the country, has sparked extensive debate online.

But how are they used and what are the chances of them being implemented in other countries?

HOW DO I USE THEM?Users must scan a QR code to pay for a ticket that allows them to enter the room. There they find a chair and a small table with lots of makeup products, including expensive Western brands.

The user can use all products: from moisturizers to powders, shadows and lipsticks.

The room also has brushes, brushes, and other tools needed for makeup.

The products in the Wuhan cubicle have an estimated value of US$590. For this reason, CCTV cameras monitor the facility.

Using them for 15 to 45 minutes is relatively cheap. In the Wuhan room, the most a client can spend for a session is US$8.50.

WHAT DO POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS SAY?The young women who have tried the cubicles, interviewed by the BBC, appreciated the initiative.

"I thought it was very cool. It's a very creative and novel idea," said Liu, a woman in her 20s from Wuhan.

However, he added: "I don't think I use them very often becausethey don't seem very practical to me."

Another woman in Shanghai said she would use them again because her skin was very damaged and therefore required high-quality products.

On the forums, the response is mixed.

My response to recent comments by Japan's Justice Minister Masako Mori in the FT. https://t.co/0KomdnPSF1

— Carlos Ghosn カルロス・ゴーン Tue Jan 21 17:13:23 +0000 2020