Top Korean Skincare Trends to Rule 2025, From Hydrogel Toner Pads to Advanced Anti-ageing Ingredients (2024)

Korean skincare has always been a step ahead, constantly innovating with cutting-edge ingredients and techniques. As we embark on 2025, the K-beauty scene is poised to take another leap forward, promising a new era of skincare solutions that cater to our ever-evolving needs.

Here’s a look at the top Korean skincare trends in 2025, as shared by our panel of experts, and why they’re set to redefine beauty routines in the coming year.

Meet the Experts

• Liah Yoo: As the founder and CEO of KraveBeauty, Liah has revolutionised the skincare industry with her minimalist approach. She shares her expertise and passion for skincare on YouTube with over a million followers worldwide.
• Jungmin Lee: A true beauty multi-hyphenate, Jungmin is the founder of Ksisters and Jung Beauty. As a licensed aesthetician and face yoga instructor, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the beauty world.
• Xenia Wong: A visionary in the local beauty scene, Xenia is the founder of Sigi Skin. Her brand’s commitment to clean, effective skincare has garnered a dedicated following.

Korean Skincare Trends 2025: Skin Immunity Boosters and Microbiome Care

In 2025, the focus on skin immunity will grow stronger, with ingredients that support and strengthen the skin’s microbiome coming to the forefront.

Jungmin Lee notes that “ingredients aimed at fortifying skin immunity, like prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, will continue to gain traction, providing a deeper layer of resilience for the skin.”

This trend builds on the understanding that healthy skin starts from within, with probiotics and similar ingredients working to foster a balanced skin microbiome.

Xenia Wong mentions, “There is a rise of probiotics and microbiome-focused skincare as people are increasingly paying attention to skin health. By nurturing the microbiome, we’re able to create stronger, more resilient skin from the inside out.”

She observes that consumers are now more knowledgeable about the importance of probiotics and are seeking products that specifically support this delicate balance. Reflecting this approach, Sigi Skin offers products tailored to maintain a balanced microbiome.

The Tea-Tox 20% Sheet Mask and Youth Beam Anti-Ageing Night Serum, which contain pre-, pro-, and postbiotics, are designed to promote a healthy microbial environment on the skin, enhancing its natural immunity and overall health.

Korean Skincare Trends 2025: Barrier Repair Is the Foundation of Healthy Skin

In recent years, maintaining a healthy skin barrier has become a cornerstone in skincare, but experts agree this is no passing trend.

Since 2021, skincare brands have placed significant emphasis on barrier repair, recognising its essential role in overall skin health. Xenia affirms that this focus is “not just a fleeting trend – it’s a foundational aspect of maintaining healthy skin.”

Sigi Skin’s approach underlines the importance of strengthening the skin barrier with products like their bestseller, Idyllic Fields Daytime Moisturiser, which features 75% oat extracts known to soothe and restore damaged barriers.

Jungmin echoes this sentiment, highlighting the skin barrier’s role as a protective shield against environmental stressors and pollutants. “Having a healthy skin barrier is pivotal in maintaining overall skin health,” she remarks, as it helps retain moisture and prevents inflammation.

The founder acknowledges that while barrier repair initially gained attention as a trend – partly due to the overuse of potent actives and exfoliants – it’s now a fundamental priority in skincare.

“Brands recognise this and are continually evolving products to support a healthy, resilient skin barrier,” she adds, spotlighting ingredients like ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids that strengthen and fortify the barrier.

For Liah Yoo, barrier health transcends any trend-driven approach. She points out that a compromised skin barrier can lead to issues such as dryness, sensitivity, and inflammation, which no amount of topical products can fully remedy.

Instead, Liah recommends a gentle approach, favouring hydrating products and avoiding harsh ingredients to support barrier strength and ensure long-term skin health.

If you’re looking to repair a damaged skin barrier, pare your routine back with KraveBeauty’s skin-strengthening products. The Oat So Simple Water Cream is a minimalist, gentle moisturiser that contains only nine ingredients, including oats, to soothe and support a balanced, healthy barrier.

Similarly, Great Barrier Relief Reparative Skin Soothing Serum is packed with ingredients like tamanu oil and ceramides, which target and soothe compromised skin barriers, helping to alleviate sensitivity and restore resilience.

The consensus among industry experts proves one thing: the role of barrier repair is an enduring, essential element of skincare – one that brands will likely prioritise in the years to come.

Korean Skincare Trends 2025: Herbal Fermentation and Traditional Ingredients

Expect a return to fermented ingredients and traditional Korean botanicals.

Jungmin declares that “a resurgence of fermented Korean herbal ingredients, such as kombucha, mugwort, and ginseng, will appeal to consumers interested in natural, time-tested remedies with potent skin benefits.”

Herbal fermentation enhances ingredient potency and absorption, with products like Lavien’s Kombu Biome Deep Hydration Toner showcasing how these ingredients can improve the skin barrier and hydration.

Adding to this trend, Xenia sees red ginseng as a standout ingredient poised to gain even greater global traction.

Sigi Skin incorporates red ginseng into its Gentle Gaze Anti-Ageing Eye Cream, valued for its high antioxidant levels and anti-ageing benefits. This ingredient aligns with the modern consumer’s preference for holistic skincare, where wellness and efficacy intersect.

As Jungmin and Xenia observe, herbal fermentation and traditional ingredients not only honour heritage but also meet the demands of today’s skincare enthusiasts looking for effective, natural solutions.

Korean Skincare Trends 2025: Hydrogel Masks and Toner Pads

Hydrogel technology continues to captivate Korean beauty enthusiasts and is said to expand beyond masks to hydrogel toner pads.

“After the popularity of the viral Biodance Hydrogel mask, lots of brands are launching their own version of hydrogel masks this year,” says Jungmin.

The appeal of hydrogel lies in its ability to deliver hydration without leaving residue, a quality that will likely drive its popularity in 2025 as more brands explore its versatile applications.

Korean Skincare Trends 2025: Biotech Ingredients and Advanced Anti-Ageing

According to Liah, biotech ingredients will bridge the gap between efficacy and sustainability.

“As natural resources dwindle, the perception of synthetic ingredients may shift,” she explains, pointing out that biotech innovations can replicate the benefits of natural ingredients without environmental costs.

Coupled with biotech, advanced anti-ageing ingredients like peptides, spicule technology, and PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotide) offer regenerative effects that mimic treatments like Botox, providing powerful, non-invasive anti-ageing solutions.

One of the most exciting advancements for 2025 is also the rise of exosome-based skincare.

“Exosomes represent a new frontier in anti-ageing, offering benefits that surpass traditional ingredients,” Xenia enlightens. “This technology aligns with consumers’ growing interest in cutting-edge, science-backed skincare.”

Sigi Skin’s Daylight Oasis Vitamin C Serum is a great example. While exosomes help deliver growth factors and signals for cell repair, vitamin C supports antioxidant protection and collagen production, boosting the skin’s vitality.

Known for enhancing cell communication and boosting skin regeneration, exosomes promise to address signs of ageing at a cellular level, potentially setting a new standard for anti-ageing treatments.

Korean Skincare Trends 2025: “Slow Ageing” and Holistic Wellness

With Millennials and Gen Z embracing slow ageing, a gentler approach to skincare is becoming mainstream.

“For K-beauty, this trend will likely mean a stronger focus on products formulated to promote the skin’s natural resilience,” shares Liah. This approach prioritises hydration, elasticity, and overall health, with ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and probiotics becoming central.

Jungmin points to wellness practices like face yoga and ginseng-infused supplements that support overall health, adding that “Korean wellness traditions resonate globally, aligning with consumers’ focus on health and efficiency.”

This reflects a broader understanding of beauty that includes mental and emotional well-being, giving rise to products and rituals that blend physical care with self-connection.

Korean Skincare Trends 2025: Slow Beauty and a Sustainable Approach

The trend of underconsumption is gaining traction in beauty, aligning closely with the principles of slow beauty and slow living.

Underconsumption is all about stripping back excess and focusing on essentials – using only what you genuinely need. This shift reflects a growing consumer desire to simplify routines and make more mindful choices, mirroring the sustainable and intentional approach embodied in slow beauty.

For Korean skincare brands, the move toward slow living presents specific challenges.

“While consumers are increasingly seeking more mindful and sustainable beauty practices, the industry’s current model, driven by rapid innovation and constant product launches, often conflicts with this trend,” Liah admits.

Embracing slow beauty would require brands – Korean and beyond – to address complex supply chains, reshape investor expectations, and potentially adjust their business models.

Achieving this shift may, as Liah explains, “involve longer product development cycles, reduced product launches, and a greater focus on product quality and efficacy over quantity.”

By prioritising essentials over excess, brands can create thoughtfully crafted products that align with the values of today’s consumers who seek more mindful beauty practices and a sustainable approach to skincare.

“The ‘slow living’ trend is a powerful cultural movement that is undoubtedly influencing many industries, including skincare,” Xenia shares. This shift encourages brands to prioritise quality over quantity, launching fewer but more impactful products.

Jungmin expands on this, noting that “the concept of slow living will encourage brands to develop longer-lasting and high-quality products with multi-functional ingredients, moving away from short-lived fads.”

As slow beauty gains traction, Korean skincare may see longer R&D cycles focused on sustainability and efficacy, presenting a thoughtful alternative to rapid product launches.

Eco-conscious packaging, such as reusable and refillable containers, is becoming essential, aligning with consumers’ environmental awareness.

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A post shared by KraveBeauty (@kravebeauty)

KraveBeauty is pioneering sustainable packaging solutions with its innovative “egg packaging.” Introduced in the brand’s hero products, the Oil La La Linoleic Acid-Rich Oil Serum and Great Barrier Relief, this unique design features a silicone insert within a pressurised, vacuum-sealed bottle.

As the product is dispensed, the silicone insert shrinks, ensuring that every last drop is utilised. This clever approach not only minimises waste but also simplifies the recycling process, as you won’t have to rinse the inside of the bottles.

The brand is now exploring the potential to extend this sustainable packaging to other popular products, offering refill options to further reduce environmental impact.

The future of K-beauty is bright, with a focus on holistic wellness, personalised skincare, and sustainable practices. As consumers become more discerning, brands will need to adapt to meet these evolving needs.

By embracing innovation, tradition, and a mindful approach, K-beauty will undoubtedly continue its reign as a global beauty powerhouse.

Featured image credits: @charinecheungg/TikTok, @notbbyambi/TikTok, @kravebeauty/TikTok