L’Oréal China “The Way of Beauty” Forum Launches, Eponymous Themed Film Premieres

Decoding the Deep Value and Socioeconomic Impact of Beauty in the Age of Algorithms

SHANGHAIApril 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — When we talk about “beauty,” what are we really talking about? Is it superficial decoration, or a deep-seated driving force for social progress? For 117 years, L’Oréal has been dedicated to a single mission: creating beauty. Based on this, the Group has globally introduced the “Essentiality of Beauty” concept, which has been uniquely interpreted in China as “The Way of Beauty.” At the L’Oréal China 2025/2026 Annual Development Strategy Meeting, themed “Grand Beauty, Wisdom for the Future,” held on April 27, the “Way of Beauty” theme film premiered grandly, followed by a forum of the same name. Multiple cross-sector thinkers gathered to jointly decode how “beauty” serves as a core driving force, illuminating personal lives and empowering the development of the times.

As a pioneering thought piece, the theme film systematically answers the essential significance of “beauty” in the course of the times. The film features L’Oréal North Asia President and China CEO Vincent Boinay, L’Oréal China Deputy CEO and General Manager of the Luxury Division Ma Xiaoyu, and L’Oréal North Asia and China Public Affairs President Lan Zhenzhen, alongside four cross-sector guests: Dr. Yan Jiangying, Medical Doctor and Chairwoman of the China Association of Fragrance Flavour and Cosmetic Industries; renowned host Zhou Tao; Qin Shuo, founder of Qin Shuo’s Circle and founding editor-in-chief of China Business News; and Jiang Changjian, Associate Professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University. Together, they transform the arguments from L’Oréal China’s first socioeconomic monograph on “beauty,” “The Way of Beauty: Decoding the Essence of Beauty,” published last year—which posits that “beauty is a core driver of productivity and consumption”—into a resounding declaration for the era.

Following the release of the theme film, the “Way of Beauty” forum kicked off, hosted by Jiang Changjian. Guests including Yan Jiangying, Qin Shuo, Lan Zhenzhen, and leading domestic knowledge blogger Zhao Jian gathered on stage for a feast of ideas about “beauty.” From diverse perspectives such as government regulation, industry trends, and media observation, the guests comprehensively explored the deep value of “beauty” as a driving force for civilizational progress, embedding the unique role of “beauty” in a better life and socioeconomic development, paying tribute to a grand future of beauty.

Irreplaceable “Beauty”: The Human Warmth Called for in the AI Era

At the start of the forum, host Jiang Changjian, referencing the use of AI-assisted special effects in the “Way of Beauty” theme film, raised an unavoidable question in today’s AI era: When “beauty” can be so precisely calculated and generated, is the authenticity and originality of “beauty” still necessary?

In response, Zhao Jian hit the nail on the head: “AI analyzes our lives, but AI has never lived a single real day of life.” Based on his observations in the cultural field, he proposed that Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am” should, in today’s world, become “I am beautiful, therefore I am,” because authentic “beauty” allows people to confirm their identity and resist mediocrity—a trait that distinguishes humans from AI.

This pursuit of authentic beauty is also etched into L’Oréal’s DNA. Lan Zhenzhen traced the company’s century-long history: founder Eugène Schueller invented the first non-toxic hair dye in response to consumers’ need for safe hair coloring. This “beauty,” born from real needs, can contribute to high-quality social development. She stated: Today, L’Oréal insists on respecting the authenticity of “beauty” and does not use AI testing to replace real user feedback on products.

Qin Shuo’s reflections from the perspective of human civilization were thought-provoking: The corpora and data used by AI are all products of existing human civilization. From the “Guoyu” to ancient Greek philosophy, such profound human “beauty” is something AI cannot replace.

The more perfect the content produced by AI, the more society must clarify the value coordinates of the authenticity and originality of “beauty.” Ultimately, this concerns the position and situation of “humanity” itself.

“Beauty” as Productivity: From a Better Life to Economic Growth

If the authenticity and originality of “beauty” are necessary, the next question follows: Does investing in “beauty” yield returns? Thus, the forum delved into the core issue: “Beauty” is often seen as an embellishment, but can beauty itself create value?

Qin Shuo gave a resounding answer from two angles: On a personal level, valuing “beauty” can help people achieve true holistic development; on a business level, “beauty” should be regarded as a strategic investment, a source of resilience to help brands navigate uncertain cycles.

Lan Zhenzhen used a set of figures to demonstrate the prominent value of “beauty” in society and people’s livelihoods: “For every one job at L’Oréal China, 20 additional jobs are created upstream and downstream. We have directly or indirectly created over 330,000 job opportunities in China.” On an individual level, investing in and earnestly cultivating “beauty” yields the most genuine return: a more confident and fulfilling life.

Beyond job creation, Yan Jiangying confirmed the weight of “beauty” from an industrial perspective: “‘Beauty’ is a healthy necessity, a driver of economic development, a driver of technological progress, and also a driver of culture.”

From personal happiness to the beauty economy concerning people’s livelihoods—”beauty” is no longer a supporting role embellishing life but a core driving force propelling society and business upward, toward goodness, and toward improvement.

Aesthetic Judgment: The Core Competitiveness of the New Era

Currently, discussions about “aesthetic downgrading” and “aesthetic upgrading” are rife. As the forum drew to a close, the guests further debated the standards of aesthetics and how to enhance public aesthetic literacy.

Regarding how the beauty industry should grasp the standards of “beauty,” Yan Jiangying succinctly summarized it as the “Four Degrees”: maintaining regulatory rigor while creating beauty, upholding moral depth while pursuing beauty, embedding cultural richness while designing beauty, and fostering communicative warmth while conveying beauty.

While acknowledging that “beauty” is subjective, Qin Shuo emphasized the responsibility of leading companies: “Leading enterprises should open up a broader, larger, and more upward space for industry development, defining its connotations and extensions; otherwise, the industry will fall into involution.”

Shifting from industry standards to public aesthetic practice, Lan Zhenzhen shared her reflections, sparking deep thought across the audience: “In an era where AI pushes everything toward perfection, aesthetic judgment is an irreplaceable true skill for humans.” She further stated that encouraging everyone to enhance their aesthetic literacy is to stimulate the creativity of the entire society, ultimately revitalizing the socioeconomic landscape.

Finally, Zhao Jian poetically summarized the importance of cultivating an awareness of “beauty”: “People have different standards for ‘beauty,’ but the core pursuit of ‘beauty’ lies in maintaining a silent, noble non-cooperation with ‘what is not beautiful.'”

This dialogue about “beauty” ultimately points back to humanity itself. When technology accelerates everything, “beauty” allows us to slow down and feel; when the world becomes increasingly fragmented, “beauty” lets us see wholeness again; when standards are constantly eroded, “beauty” reminds us: some things are worth protecting together.

“The Way of Beauty” has never been a predetermined path but a proposition that each era must continuously answer. L’Oréal China poses this question and answers it in kind: May beauty ultimately become a powerful force accessible to everyone.