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From technology and product innovations to business and market expansion, K-beauty remains a non-negligible part of the global cosmetics industry.
Founder of skin care brand Jelly Ko and consultancy firm STYLESTORY, discussed the key areas that are expected to shape the development of K-beauty in 2026.
These include shifts in consumer behaviour, product categories in demand, and regulatory enforcement that she hopes to see this year.
A liquid formula combining natural parts from the Centella asiatica plant with growth-boosting proteins can greatly improve hair health in under two months when applied to the scalp.
This was the key finding from a clinical study conducted by researchers at Hungkuang University, Chinese Medical University, Kyoto University, University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University.
The study, which involved 60 participants, found that the combined formula resulted in thicker, denser, and longer hair. It also led to less hair loss and lower oil levels on the scalp, compared to a placebo.
South Korean beauty giant Amorepacific has jointly developed a beauty tech system with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which it says goes beyond observation to prediction and management of skin changes.
Named Skinsight, the “electronic skin” platform is able to analyse causes of skin ageing in real time and propose personalised skin care solutions tailored to individuals’ needs.
It consists of an ultra-thin wearable sensor patch, a compact Bluetooth transmission module, and an AI-powered mobile application.
LG Household & Health Care (LG H&H) is set to double down on its R&D for next-generation beauty tech devices that integrate personalisation and wearability.
Named Hyper Rejuvenating Eye Patch, the wearable device was named an honouree of CES 2026 Innovation Award in the beauty tech category in November. It marks the first time that LG H&H has been recognised by the major tech event.
Since its acquisition of beauty device brand LG Pra.L in June 2025, the company has been making various efforts to solidify its position in the beauty tech sector.
A new scientific review has mapped how plant-based ingredients are reshaping cosmetic science, and where evidence and safety still fall short.
The review linked the surge of interest in plant-based actives to three drivers: distrust of certain synthetic chemicals, demand for sustainability, and the growth of cosmeceuticals.
While the researchers positioned botanicals as strategic tools in global beauty, they warned that the category would only mature if industry closed gaps in clinical data, standardisation, and regulatory alignment.
Researchers in Thailand have found that an extract from cashew apple, a typically discarded part of the plant, could be a powerful new ingredient for anti-ageing skin care and wound healing.
The effect was especially strong when the extract was placed inside tiny, protective spheres called liposomes. This helped keep its key nutrients, including vitamin C, stable, and boost its ability to be absorbed into the skin.
When delivered in liposomes, the absorption of vitamin C into the skin roughly doubled, and the vitamin degraded much more slowly under challenging storage conditions.
K-beauty veteran Lee Kaja sheds light on how the perception of beauty, including hair care, has shifted in South Korea, with personalisation becoming an important area of focus.
“In the past, Koreans had a fixed image of what beauty looks like and everyone tended to chase after that ideal appearance. But now, thanks to K-pop and other K-content, people have been exposed to and are more receptive of different looks. This is also why personal colour analysis is trending,” Lee told CosmeticsDesign-Asia.
Her hair salon brand, LEEKAJA, which has opened its first flagship in Singapore, is partnering Kao for the next four to five years on hair care products used and sold in the salon.
A new electrokinetic study compared how four workhorse cationic surfactants deposit on healthy and damaged hair, and confirmed behentrimonium chloride (BTMC) as the strongest performer on both absorption and combability.
Conducted by researchers at A*STAR Skin Research Labs in Singapore, the study used streaming potential and zeta-potential measurements to track in real time how conditioner actives moved onto and off the hair surface.
They stated that this gave formulators a more quantitative way to tune deposition, rinsability, and in-use performance.
Beauty tech firm Revieve believes technology, especially AI-powered personalisation, is no longer an option but a vital asset to stand out in an increasingly saturated beauty market with sophisticated consumers.
While there are digital tools focusing on static quizzes or generic recommendation engines, which do not allow for “truly, deeply personalised solutions”, Revieve seeks to provide an experience that not only benefits the consumer but also helps companies achieve higher conversion or retention rate.
Through its Skin Analyzer tool, users receive numerical scores for their concerns, such as acne, pores or wrinkles, making consumers feel that they are being educated in the process and not just being sold products.
A new study from Taiwan has reported that a blend of Astragalus membranaceus and Centella asiatica saponins (ACS) improved multiple markers of skin health when used both as a topical cream and as an oral supplement.
Researchers at Kaohsiung Medical University and Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science found the strongest effects when the two routes were combined.
The results positioned ACS as a candidate for cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics targeting brightness, texture, hydration, and collagen support in healthy adults.
