GITNUXREPORT 2026

Korean Skincare Industry Statistics

The Korean skincare industry is thriving globally through innovation and strong domestic demand.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Amorepacific global sales 45% from skincare exports.

Statistic 2

LG H&B (The Face Shop) skincare revenue 1.5 trillion KRW in 2023.

Statistic 3

COSRX global market share 8% in sheet masks.

Statistic 4

Laneige lip sleeping mask sold 10 million units overseas 2023.

Statistic 5

Sulwhasoo top premium brand, 500 billion KRW sales.

Statistic 6

Innisfree Jeju stores contribute 30% to Jeju brand revenue.

Statistic 7

Dr.Jart+ Cicapair sold 5 million tubes in US alone.

Statistic 8

Missha BB cream pioneer, 20% domestic market share.

Statistic 9

Etude House youth segment leader, 15% Gen Z share.

Statistic 10

Benton clean beauty brand grew 60% internationally.

Statistic 11

Abib sheet masks top Amazon K-beauty seller.

Statistic 12

Isntree hyaluronic line 2 million units exported.

Statistic 13

Round Lab birch juice toner 1.5M units sold globally.

Statistic 14

Torriden dive-in serum entered top 10 US Sephora.

Statistic 15

Haruharu Wonder black rice serum viral on TikTok.

Statistic 16

Purito centella line 25% repeat purchase rate.

Statistic 17

Mixsoon bean cleansing 800K units exported.

Statistic 18

Jumiso all day vitamin toner top Ulta seller.

Statistic 19

Anua heartleaf 77% soothing toner 3M units.

Statistic 20

Klairs fresh vegan masks 40% e-com growth.

Statistic 21

Beauty of Joseon sunscreen 1M units in SEA.

Statistic 22

72% of Korean women aged 20-39 use skincare products daily in 2023 surveys.

Statistic 23

Millennial consumers (25-40) account for 55% of skincare purchases in Korea.

Statistic 24

68% of Gen Z in Korea prefer multi-step skincare routines with 7+ products.

Statistic 25

Male skincare users rose to 45% of male population aged 18-35 in 2023.

Statistic 26

82% of Korean consumers prioritize natural ingredients in skincare choices.

Statistic 27

Online reviews influence 76% of skincare buying decisions among urban Koreans.

Statistic 28

61% of skincare buyers aged 30+ seek anti-aging solutions per 2023 poll.

Statistic 29

Sustainable packaging preferred by 55% of female consumers under 30.

Statistic 30

40% increase in male skincare spending among 20-29 year olds since 2020.

Statistic 31

K-pop idols influence 67% of teen skincare product selections.

Statistic 32

75% of high-income Koreans (>10M KRW/month) buy premium skincare monthly.

Statistic 33

Regional disparity: Seoul skincare spend 2.5x higher than rural areas.

Statistic 34

58% of consumers aged 40+ focus on hydration products daily.

Statistic 35

Social media drives 49% of skincare discoveries for Gen Z users.

Statistic 36

63% women prefer Korean brands over Western for efficacy.

Statistic 37

Average skincare routine steps: 8.2 for women, 4.5 for men in 2023.

Statistic 38

70% of consumers check ingredient lists before purchase.

Statistic 39

Budget skincare (<50,000 KRW) popular with 52% students.

Statistic 40

65% prioritize hypoallergenic products post-COVID awareness.

Statistic 41

Korean skincare exports to China reached USD 1.2 billion in 2023.

Statistic 42

US K-skincare imports from Korea grew 28% to USD 650 million in 2023.

Statistic 43

Southeast Asia K-skincare market share hit 25% of Korea's exports.

Statistic 44

EU imports of Korean skincare up 22% YoY to EUR 400 million.

Statistic 45

K-beauty exports totaled USD 3.2 billion in 2023, skincare 85%.

Statistic 46

Japan K-skincare imports USD 450 million, up 18%.

Statistic 47

Amazon US top K-skincare brands sales +40% in 2023.

Statistic 48

Vietnam emerged as top 5 export market with USD 200 million.

Statistic 49

1,200 Korean skincare brands now in 100+ countries.

Statistic 50

Sephora global K-skincare sales doubled to USD 500 million.

Statistic 51

Australia imports grew 35% to AUD 150 million.

Statistic 52

TikTok Shop K-skincare sales USD 100 million in SEA 2023.

Statistic 53

UK market penetration 15%, sales GBP 120 million.

Statistic 54

500+ pop-up stores opened globally for K-skincare in 2023.

Statistic 55

Brazil imports surged 50% to BRL 80 million.

Statistic 56

Middle East exports USD 150 million, Dubai hub key.

Statistic 57

Canada sales CAD 90 million, +25% growth.

Statistic 58

India K-skincare market USD 50 million exports.

Statistic 59

Global duty-free K-skincare sales USD 400 million.

Statistic 60

40% of K-skincare exports now via e-commerce platforms.

Statistic 61

The Korean skincare market reached a value of 5.96 trillion KRW in 2022, marking a 4.5% year-on-year growth.

Statistic 62

K-beauty skincare segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030 globally.

Statistic 63

Domestic Korean skincare sales hit 6.2 trillion KRW in 2023, driven by premiumization trends.

Statistic 64

The overall K-beauty market was valued at USD 13.9 billion in 2022.

Statistic 65

Skincare accounted for 52% of total Korean cosmetics market revenue in 2022.

Statistic 66

Korean skincare exports surged 15.7% to USD 2.8 billion in 2023.

Statistic 67

Functional skincare products grew 12% in market share to 35% of total skincare sales in 2023.

Statistic 68

Online skincare sales in Korea reached 40% of total market in 2023, up from 32% in 2021.

Statistic 69

Premium skincare segment expanded 18% YoY to 1.8 trillion KRW in 2022.

Statistic 70

K-skincare market in Asia-Pacific grew to USD 8.5 billion in 2023.

Statistic 71

Total Korean cosmetics market, led by skincare, hit USD 10 billion domestically in 2023.

Statistic 72

Skincare innovation drove 7.5% market growth in 2023 per MOTIE data.

Statistic 73

Clean beauty skincare sub-market in Korea valued at 450 billion KRW in 2023.

Statistic 74

Vegan skincare products sales increased 25% to 200 billion KRW in 2022.

Statistic 75

Anti-aging skincare dominated with 28% market share in 2023.

Statistic 76

Korean skincare e-commerce grew 22% to 2.5 trillion KRW in 2023.

Statistic 77

Global K-skincare market expected to reach USD 21 billion by 2027.

Statistic 78

Domestic market CAGR for skincare projected at 6.8% through 2028.

Statistic 79

Skincare R&D investment reached 1.2 trillion KRW in 2023.

Statistic 80

Luxury skincare imports into Korea grew 10% to 300 billion KRW in 2023.

Statistic 81

Sheet masks used by 89% of Korean women weekly in 2023.

Statistic 82

Ampoules/serums segment grew 20% to 1.1 trillion KRW in 2023.

Statistic 83

Snail mucin products sales up 35% YoY globally from Korea.

Statistic 84

Centella asiatica featured in 42% of new skincare launches in 2023.

Statistic 85

150+ new patents filed for probiotic skincare in Korea 2022-2023.

Statistic 86

Customizable skincare devices market hit 100 billion KRW in 2023.

Statistic 87

Rice extract products increased 28% in formulation usage.

Statistic 88

LED mask innovations boosted home device sales 50% in 2023.

Statistic 89

300+ SKUs with cica ingredients launched in 2023.

Statistic 90

Fermented ingredients in 55% of premium serums.

Statistic 91

Micro-needle patches sales rose 40% to 250 billion KRW.

Statistic 92

75 new green tea derivative patents in skincare 2023.

Statistic 93

Essence market share 22%, toners 18% in skincare hierarchy.

Statistic 94

Pads/exfoliators segment expanded 15% with AHA/BHA trends.

Statistic 95

200+ brands introduced barrier repair creams in 2023.

Statistic 96

Galactomyces ferment filtrate in 30% top-selling essences.

Statistic 97

Sleeping masks market grew 32% to 180 billion KRW.

Statistic 98

50+ stem cell tech products approved for skincare.

Statistic 99

Hydrogel masks overtook sheet masks with 25% market shift.

Statistic 100

Peptides featured in 65% anti-aging launches.

1/100

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Forget the ten-step routine you've heard about; the Korean skincare industry is now a multi-billion dollar global juggernaut, powered by relentless innovation, a data-driven obsession with ingredients, and an export surge that has placed its products on vanities from Seoul to San Francisco.

Key Takeaways

The Korean skincare market reached a value of 5.96 trillion KRW in 2022, marking a 4.5% year-on-year growth.
K-beauty skincare segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030 globally.
Domestic Korean skincare sales hit 6.2 trillion KRW in 2023, driven by premiumization trends.
72% of Korean women aged 20-39 use skincare products daily in 2023 surveys.
Millennial consumers (25-40) account for 55% of skincare purchases in Korea.
68% of Gen Z in Korea prefer multi-step skincare routines with 7+ products.
Sheet masks used by 89% of Korean women weekly in 2023.
Ampoules/serums segment grew 20% to 1.1 trillion KRW in 2023.
Snail mucin products sales up 35% YoY globally from Korea.
Korean skincare exports to China reached USD 1.2 billion in 2023.
US K-skincare imports from Korea grew 28% to USD 650 million in 2023.
Southeast Asia K-skincare market share hit 25% of Korea's exports.
Amorepacific global sales 45% from skincare exports.
LG H&B (The Face Shop) skincare revenue 1.5 trillion KRW in 2023.
COSRX global market share 8% in sheet masks.

The Korean skincare industry is thriving globally through innovation and strong domestic demand.

Competitive Landscape and Brands

Amorepacific global sales 45% from skincare exports.
LG H&B (The Face Shop) skincare revenue 1.5 trillion KRW in 2023.
COSRX global market share 8% in sheet masks.
Laneige lip sleeping mask sold 10 million units overseas 2023.
Sulwhasoo top premium brand, 500 billion KRW sales.
Innisfree Jeju stores contribute 30% to Jeju brand revenue.
Dr.Jart+ Cicapair sold 5 million tubes in US alone.
Missha BB cream pioneer, 20% domestic market share.
Etude House youth segment leader, 15% Gen Z share.
Benton clean beauty brand grew 60% internationally.
Abib sheet masks top Amazon K-beauty seller.
Isntree hyaluronic line 2 million units exported.
Round Lab birch juice toner 1.5M units sold globally.
Torriden dive-in serum entered top 10 US Sephora.
Haruharu Wonder black rice serum viral on TikTok.
Purito centella line 25% repeat purchase rate.
Mixsoon bean cleansing 800K units exported.
Jumiso all day vitamin toner top Ulta seller.
Anua heartleaf 77% soothing toner 3M units.
Klairs fresh vegan masks 40% e-com growth.
Beauty of Joseon sunscreen 1M units in SEA.

Competitive Landscape and Brands Interpretation

The Korean skincare industry has masterfully packaged the nation's dew-soaked, snail-trail essence into an irresistibly exportable phenomenon, where even a lip mask can sleepwalk its way to ten million sales while bean cleansers and heartleaf toners build a billion-dollar empire one viral TikTok at a time.

Consumer Demographics and Preferences

72% of Korean women aged 20-39 use skincare products daily in 2023 surveys.
Millennial consumers (25-40) account for 55% of skincare purchases in Korea.
68% of Gen Z in Korea prefer multi-step skincare routines with 7+ products.
Male skincare users rose to 45% of male population aged 18-35 in 2023.
82% of Korean consumers prioritize natural ingredients in skincare choices.
Online reviews influence 76% of skincare buying decisions among urban Koreans.
61% of skincare buyers aged 30+ seek anti-aging solutions per 2023 poll.
Sustainable packaging preferred by 55% of female consumers under 30.
40% increase in male skincare spending among 20-29 year olds since 2020.
K-pop idols influence 67% of teen skincare product selections.
75% of high-income Koreans (>10M KRW/month) buy premium skincare monthly.
Regional disparity: Seoul skincare spend 2.5x higher than rural areas.
58% of consumers aged 40+ focus on hydration products daily.
Social media drives 49% of skincare discoveries for Gen Z users.
63% women prefer Korean brands over Western for efficacy.
Average skincare routine steps: 8.2 for women, 4.5 for men in 2023.
70% of consumers check ingredient lists before purchase.
Budget skincare (<50,000 KRW) popular with 52% students.
65% prioritize hypoallergenic products post-COVID awareness.

Consumer Demographics and Preferences Interpretation

The Korean skincare landscape reveals a meticulously researched and socially-driven arms race where nearly everyone is in on the game—from K-pop idol-influenced teens with seven-step rituals to ingredient-checking urbanites and men whose spending is skyrocketing, all united by a serious, data-backed devotion to achieving flawless skin, one natural, sustainably-packaged, and heavily-reviewed product at a time.

Export and International Expansion

Korean skincare exports to China reached USD 1.2 billion in 2023.
US K-skincare imports from Korea grew 28% to USD 650 million in 2023.
Southeast Asia K-skincare market share hit 25% of Korea's exports.
EU imports of Korean skincare up 22% YoY to EUR 400 million.
K-beauty exports totaled USD 3.2 billion in 2023, skincare 85%.
Japan K-skincare imports USD 450 million, up 18%.
Amazon US top K-skincare brands sales +40% in 2023.
Vietnam emerged as top 5 export market with USD 200 million.
1,200 Korean skincare brands now in 100+ countries.
Sephora global K-skincare sales doubled to USD 500 million.
Australia imports grew 35% to AUD 150 million.
TikTok Shop K-skincare sales USD 100 million in SEA 2023.
UK market penetration 15%, sales GBP 120 million.
500+ pop-up stores opened globally for K-skincare in 2023.
Brazil imports surged 50% to BRL 80 million.
Middle East exports USD 150 million, Dubai hub key.
Canada sales CAD 90 million, +25% growth.
India K-skincare market USD 50 million exports.
Global duty-free K-skincare sales USD 400 million.
40% of K-skincare exports now via e-commerce platforms.

Export and International Expansion Interpretation

The world has developed a serious crush on Korean skincare, as evidenced by its $3.2 billion global takeover where everyone from Chinese giants to Amazon shoppers and TikTok teens is clamoring for a piece of the K-beauty glow.

Market Size and Growth

The Korean skincare market reached a value of 5.96 trillion KRW in 2022, marking a 4.5% year-on-year growth.
K-beauty skincare segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030 globally.
Domestic Korean skincare sales hit 6.2 trillion KRW in 2023, driven by premiumization trends.
The overall K-beauty market was valued at USD 13.9 billion in 2022.
Skincare accounted for 52% of total Korean cosmetics market revenue in 2022.
Korean skincare exports surged 15.7% to USD 2.8 billion in 2023.
Functional skincare products grew 12% in market share to 35% of total skincare sales in 2023.
Online skincare sales in Korea reached 40% of total market in 2023, up from 32% in 2021.
Premium skincare segment expanded 18% YoY to 1.8 trillion KRW in 2022.
K-skincare market in Asia-Pacific grew to USD 8.5 billion in 2023.
Total Korean cosmetics market, led by skincare, hit USD 10 billion domestically in 2023.
Skincare innovation drove 7.5% market growth in 2023 per MOTIE data.
Clean beauty skincare sub-market in Korea valued at 450 billion KRW in 2023.
Vegan skincare products sales increased 25% to 200 billion KRW in 2022.
Anti-aging skincare dominated with 28% market share in 2023.
Korean skincare e-commerce grew 22% to 2.5 trillion KRW in 2023.
Global K-skincare market expected to reach USD 21 billion by 2027.
Domestic market CAGR for skincare projected at 6.8% through 2028.
Skincare R&D investment reached 1.2 trillion KRW in 2023.
Luxury skincare imports into Korea grew 10% to 300 billion KRW in 2023.

Market Size and Growth Interpretation

The world is increasingly convinced that glowing skin is the ultimate flex, as evidenced by Korea's skincare industry meticulously plotting—and profiting from—global domination one hydrating serum and export shipment at a time.

Product Segments and Innovations

Sheet masks used by 89% of Korean women weekly in 2023.
Ampoules/serums segment grew 20% to 1.1 trillion KRW in 2023.
Snail mucin products sales up 35% YoY globally from Korea.
Centella asiatica featured in 42% of new skincare launches in 2023.
150+ new patents filed for probiotic skincare in Korea 2022-2023.
Customizable skincare devices market hit 100 billion KRW in 2023.
Rice extract products increased 28% in formulation usage.
LED mask innovations boosted home device sales 50% in 2023.
300+ SKUs with cica ingredients launched in 2023.
Fermented ingredients in 55% of premium serums.
Micro-needle patches sales rose 40% to 250 billion KRW.
75 new green tea derivative patents in skincare 2023.
Essence market share 22%, toners 18% in skincare hierarchy.
Pads/exfoliators segment expanded 15% with AHA/BHA trends.
200+ brands introduced barrier repair creams in 2023.
Galactomyces ferment filtrate in 30% top-selling essences.
Sleeping masks market grew 32% to 180 billion KRW.
50+ stem cell tech products approved for skincare.
Hydrogel masks overtook sheet masks with 25% market shift.
Peptides featured in 65% anti-aging launches.

Product Segments and Innovations Interpretation

Korean skincare innovation is racing toward a future of bio-fermented essences and LED-powered devices, yet the enduring love for a simple, snail-slime-laden sheet mask proves the heart of the routine remains a deeply personal ritual of repair.

Sources & References

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