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A look at leading skincare brands and popular ingredients.
June 1, 2026
By: Melissa Meisel
Personal care products often chase a single, high-potency “hero” ingredient; in K-Beauty, the efficacy comes from layering multiple actives across several steps to build cumulative benefits, according to industry experts.
At NYSCC Suppliers’ Day, there was K-Beauty programming and the topic of K-Beauty ingredients is even all the rage on Reddit—the chat platform that is becoming well-known for consumer research.
What K-beauty ingredient are you most excited about in 2026? byu/dbaseas inAsianBeauty
Last summer, K-Beauty World rolled out at Ulta. And popular K-Beauty skincare brand Medicube just arrived at Target stores. And, Kendall Jenner was named first global spokesperson for K-Beauty brand Anua to promote its PDRN serum spray, as seen here.
According to a NielsenIQ, K-Beauty sales in the US surged to $2 billion—up 37% year-over-year—with facial skincare leading the way.
In the first quarter of 2026, K-beauty brands in prestige retail grew +23% in dollars and +24% in units sold, signaling strong consumer demand, noted Circana. This growth is partly fueled by an influx of new brands, with skincare dominating the category.
In mass retail, K-beauty has a slightly larger presence, with a 6% share of the market, added Circana.
In layman’s terms, K-beauty is an umbrella term for skincare products made in South Korea. South Korea is the world’s second-largest exporter of cosmetics, and its influence continues to expand across global beauty markets, especially in the US, according to a recent report from Mintel.
K-beauty products include skin are, personal cleansers, haircare and wellness.
Much of the focus of K-beauty products is on skin aesthetics such as health, hydration and luminous “glass” skin. Rather than having layers of makeup, it is preferred to have a multi-step skincare regimen with a focus on toning and clarifying.
According to Mintel in its report, What’s Next in K-Beauty, this growing category features a skincare-first philosophy – rooted in the belief that makeup should enhance natural beauty, not mask it.
With K-beauty, the ultimate goal of glowing skin requires consistent, layered care that prioritizes prevention and protection, barrier strength and long-term health over short-term fixes, said Mintel.
Korean beauty innovation is setting new standards in efficacy, experience and consumer engagement.
Read More: K-Beauty Secrets: Accessible Beauty for Every Woman
K-beauty ingredients include centella asiatica (cica), snail mucin, copper peptides, exosomes and PDRN, to name a few.
Cica, also known as centella asiatica and tiger grass, is an herbal hero with many names, according to K-Beauty brand Dr. Jart+ that uses this ingredient in its skincare. The name tiger grass comes from the legend that injured tigers roll in it to help soothe their skin. It is said to reduce the look of redness or visible irritation.
Snail mucin, or snail secretion filtrate, is a nutrient-rich, gel-like substance snails produce for hydration, repair and movement in skincare. CosRx Snail Mucin is a popular Korean skincare product containing 96% snail secretion filtrate.
Exosomes are tiny, naturally-occurring vesicles released by nearly all types of cells that carry and protect proteins, lipids and genetic material. They help regulate how nearby cells behave. As it pertains to skin care, exosomes facilitate cell to cell communication and give a pathway for skin cells to talk to each other.
Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is a trending Korean skincare ingredient derived from salmon DNA that promotes skin healing and collagen production. Known as “salmon sperm” skincare, it works as an anti-inflammatory ingredient. According to Spate, consumer interest in PDRN has increased by more than 1,000% over the past year. It is commonly featured in serums, ampoules and sheet masks that promise smoother, more radiant skin.
Naturally occurring complexes of copper ions and amino acids, copper peptides are act as potent regenerative and anti-aging agents in the skin and hair. They boost collagen and elastin production. According to Spate, the term “copper peptide serum” averages 4.7K monthly searches and has seen a +68.3% increase in interest compared to last year. Analysts say copper peptide serum is popular for its ability to promote skin rejuvenation, reduce signs of aging and enhance overall skin appearance—key concerns for consumers as they age.
Glass skin is a Korean beauty term for smooth, even-toned skin that appears translucent, or “glass-like” to others. It focuses on a healthy barrier rather than just coverage. In fact, Korean glass skin facials are the most in-demand spa treatment for 2026 with a 140% increase in interest, according to a Spa Seekers report. Key ingredients to create “glass skin” span from snail mucin to centella asiatica (also known as cica, gotu kola or tiger grass).
Global beauty trends have been refined and scaled through Korea’s beauty ecosystem, said Nielsen IQ in a report.
K-beauty products include sheet masks, hydrocolloid acne patches.
Dive Deeper: K-Beauty Evolves Into K-Wellness
Korean beauty brands are making a big push in the US. Since 2020, there’s been a 20% increase in launches of Korean-made skincare products, found Mintel. Popular K-beauty brands include:
AmorePacific
Beauty of Joseon
Biodance
Dr. G
Dr. Jart +
Goodal
Innisfree
Kaja Beauty
Laneige
LG Household and Healthcare
Medicube
Peach & Lily
Skin 1004
Skinfood
Sulwhasoo
Tonymony
Voesh
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