K-beauty has taken the world by storm with the 10-step skincare routine, glass skin, snail mucin and bee venom products, hydrocolloid pimple patches, and eye-catching makeup and packaging. No other foreign beauty movement has made more of an impact than K-beauty, and the fascination with their innovative formulas hasn't stopped yet. Vogue writes that Allied Market Research has predicted that by 2026, the K-beauty market will be worth around $21 billion. Jenni Middleton, the beauty director of trend forecasting company WGSN, adds that during the lockdown last year, more people went for K-beauty products to add to their self-care routines.

As the world of beauty is ever-evolving, K-beauty also goes with the times. Middleton observes that even the famous 10-step routine has been pared down to the minimum as most people have simplified their beauty routines at home, with most going for quality than quantity. Sustainability and clean beauty have also been gaining a foothold in the beauty industry. For 2021, here are the latest K-beauty trends to watch out for.

Hanbang Ingredients

According to Charlotte Cho of Soko Glam, one of the biggest online sources of K-beauty products, Hanbang ingredients are traditional Korean ingredients used in herbal medicines. They've long been a staple in Korean, and they'll be making their way back into modern skincare formulas. Some of these anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative ingredients include ginseng, houttuynia cordata, sacred lotus, and rehmannia.

Also read: Snail Slime is A K-Beauty Secret That Targets Dry Skin and Acne Scars

Carrot Seed Oil

Carrot Seed Oil has been used in K-beauty for many years but remains unsung. As to its properties, it's widely known that carrots are rich in vitamin A and is also a great antioxidant. It's a good ingredient for skin brightening thanks to its anti-aging, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Centella asiatica

Centella asiatica, also known as cica or pennywort, can be found in a lot of anti-acne K-beauty products right now. Cica is an anti-inflammatory herb that has been proven to calm angry skin. With stress-related breakouts and maskne as constant issues these days, it may be time to add Centella asiatica products to your regime. Check out brands like COSRX, Dr. Jart+, The Face Shop and Iunik for their centella or cica product lines.

Double Seruming

K-beauty is known for layering multiple products. Refinery29 lists "double seruming" as a new trend since we may need to target different concerns at one time. For example, skin that is both dull and dry can use doses of vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid to help brighten and moisturize skin. It's a matter of mixing and matching, with due research, to find a combination for your issues.

Undereye Bling

In makeup, L'Officiel says that it's still all about the eyes, and undereye bling can be seen on multiple K-pop stars now. Chunky glitter, tiny pearls, and rhinestones can be used to adorn the undereye. Concealer is no longer the only option to cover dark undereye circles.

Dark Maroon Lips

If you've noticed, pinks, corals, and oranges are the most popular lipstick colors in K-beauty. However, edgy K-pop groups are now experimenting with deeper shades like maroon, wine, deep mauve, and chestnut brown. Look to beloved K-beauty brand Rom&nd (or Romand) for their richly pigmented and wider range of colors.

Related article: South Asian Beauty Brands You Need To Know