Cold cream is used in China (8)
I believe the answer is:
ceramics
'china' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'cold cream is used' is the wordplay.
'cold' becomes 'C' (abbreviation, eg on taps).
'used' is an anagram indicator.
'cream'+'is'='creamis'
'creamis' anagrammed gives 'eramics'.
'c'+'eramics'='CERAMICS'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ceramics that I've seen before include "Andy -, US artist, filmmaker" , "Eric's mac (anag.)" , "Pottery, etc" , "Articles of clay" , "The art and technique of making pottery" .)