Marutake Cosmetics made face powder for 101 years — last owner too old to continue

Marutake Cosmetics (丸竹化粧品) was founded in 1925 on Zhulian Street in Hsinchu, a city whose dry climate made it ideal for producing traditional face powder. For over a century, the brand handmade fine-textured, lead-free face powder (香粉) and mugwort soap (艾草皂) using techniques passed down through three generations. Its products were affordable, natural, and once sold overseas, becoming a staple for generations of Taiwanese women.

The brand experienced a brief revival when discussions on PTT and Dcard attracted younger customers curious about traditional cosmetics. But the online attention could not overcome structural problems: the third-generation operator was ageing, the traditional production techniques were difficult to pass on, raw material costs were rising, and the market for traditional face powder had shrunk to a niche. New brands and changing consumer habits had permanently shifted demand away from the products Marutake made.

In May 2026, the brand announced it would close by the end of June. Google reviews filled with farewell messages from customers urging others to stock up before the closure. The closure of a 101-year-old brand with no successor illustrated a pattern common across traditional Asian manufacturing: cultural heritage and customer loyalty cannot substitute for a viable succession plan and a market large enough to sustain the business.