Coronavirus-hit Japan dumps high fashion for health and hygiene

Masks and sanitizers now in vogue as cosmetics sales dive

20200521 mask and lip

With the spread of the coronavirus, lipsticks and motion sickness remedies are no longer selling well, while masks and thermometers are flying off shelves.

NANA SHIBATA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japanese consumers are spending more on masks, cleaning products and personal sanitizers while sales of makeup and motion sickness medicine take a major hit.

Cosmetic companies are seeing demand plummet for lipstick, rouge and other beauty products as social-distancing becomes the new norm. According to Tokyo-based market research company Intage Holdings, on-year sales of lipstick fell 69.7% in the second week of May while cheek rouge dropped 47.4%.

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