Young Korean consumers turn to functional skincare items

Jysandal’s Ceramic Sleek Cream and Serum [Courtesy of Jysandal]

South Korean consumers in their 20s and 30s are actively seeking to maintain healthy skin from an early age, leading to a shift in the consumer base for functional cosmetics that help with wrinkle improvement and pore reduction.

According to market research firm Kantar Worldpanel, the size of Korea’s skincare market was around 4.1 trillion won ($3.02 billion) as of the first quarter of 2023, with functional products accounting 53 percent of the market.

Demand for functional cosmetics has been on the rise, particularly among young consumers who are interested in slow aging. This has led to an increased demand within that demographic for functional skincare items that help with wrinkle improvement and whitening, which were previously popular among those in their 40s.

Young people have now become the main customer base and various forms of functional cosmetics and beauty devices that increase skin absorption are gaining in popularity.

Jysandal’s Ceramic Sleek Cream and Serum combines peptides with an invisible needle-like micro-spicule carrier to induce collagen synthesis and promote cell activation deep within the skin.

Despite causing a tingling sensation, the product quickly gained the public’s attention and sold out within a week of its release.

The young consumer group is becoming more interested in skincare, and even affordable brands targeting this consumer base are gaining attention with effective cosmetics.

Nacific’s Fresh Herb Origin Serum is famous for its strong exfoliating effect thanks to its raw materials such as mandarin and citrus, with over 1 million bottles sold since its release.

VT Cosmetics’ Reedle Shot is a cosmetic where silica processed into fine needles is applied to the skin, allowing it to absorb the product’s ingredients effectively.