These Korean Makeup Trends Will Be Everywhere in 2026 – Here’s What’s Coming Next

South Korea has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to beauty trends – and in 2026, it’s rewriting the rules of makeup once again.

This new wave of Korean makeup is science-backed, rooted in skincare, and infused with sensory joy. It blends clinical benefits with playful textures and a growing emphasis on self-expression. And yes, it’s all over your FYP for a reason.

To find out what’s coming down the pipeline, Daily Vanity spoke to Lucie Shin, Chief Industry Analyst at Trendier.AI. She shares five K-beauty makeup trends poised to dominate 2026 – from formulas that treat your skin, to keychain-ready lipsticks and the rise of gender-fluid glam.

Korean Makeup Trends 2026: Care-Fused Makeup

We’ve all heard of makeup with skincare benefits, but 2026 is pushing this concept even further. Hybrid products are becoming smarter and more effective, combining high-performance actives with everyday makeup staples.

“Makeup products that seamlessly integrate skincare benefits – BB/CC creams with treatment ingredients, lip balms that bridge lip care and makeup, and base products designed for sensitive skin with acne and redness concerns,” says Shin.

She adds, “It aligns with wellness-driven routines and ‘professional home care’ culture, meeting needs of busy lifestyles that want clinical-level treatment without salon visits.”

This trend, sometimes called “skincaring makeup” or the “skinification of makeup,” speaks to how beauty is becoming both functional and mindful.

Products to try:

• MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB Cream (RM58.11): Hydrates, perfects, and protects with SPF42 PA+++, all in a featherlight, skin-loving formula.
• TIRTIR Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation (RM70.12): A breathable, full-coverage cushion that gives a natural, semi-matte finish.
• ATHÉ Authentic Lip Glowy Balm (RM70): A tinted lip balm that treats and tints at the same time.

Korean Makeup Trends 2026: Sweet Treat Formulas

Food-inspired beauty isn’t just a passing phase – in 2026, K-beauty is doubling down on dessert-like textures, flavours, and packaging.

“Food-inspired texture cosmetics that create playful, dessert-like experiences,” Shin explains. “These products feature textures, colours, and concepts inspired by sweet treats and beverages.”

These products aren’t just cute for Instagram; they activate our senses and feel as indulgent as they look. “Brands are leveraging the flavour and sensory qualities food evokes to recreate favourable tastes and textures in cosmetic products,” she adds.

Products to try:

• Laneige x Baskin-Robbins Rainbow Sherbet Lip Sleeping Mask (Not available in Malaysia): A limited-edition collab packed with rainbow sherbet scent and served with a pink spatula.
• Dasique Chewing Glow Pot (RM74.25): A glossy jelly balm that melts into lips for a hydrated, dewy finish.
• lilybyred Sweet Liar Milky Tint (RM70.88): A milky pink lip tint with a smooth, blurred finish – soft-focus lips in seconds.

Korean Makeup Trends 2026: Makeup as Accessories

Miniature, wearable makeup is on the rise – think lipstick keychains, travel-sized mascaras, and compact cheek pots you can hang from your handbag. These charm-sized collectables are adding personality to our beauty routines.

“From bag charms to beauty,” says Shin, “the ‘Charmification of Beauty’ takes over as consumers’ bags become ‘jangling menageries of trendy, mini-sized beauty products.’”

Even global icons like Rihanna are hopping on the trend, with Fenty Beauty dropping keychain-sized glosses. Over in K-pop, stars like Twice and BLACKPINK’s Jennie have made charm-fuelled fashion mainstream.

Products to try:

• AMUSE Powder Lip & Cheek (RM70.88): A tiny pop of colour you can snap onto your bag for instant glow.
• Etude Curl Fix Mini Keyring Mascara (RM24.46): A long-lasting, non-smudge mascara in a keyring format.
• Clio Glaze Lip Serum (RM62.02): A juicy lip tint housed in a charm-like tube.
• Entropy Charm Tint Matte (RM75): A pro-level matte tint packed in a pocket-sized keychain tube.

Korean Makeup Trends 2026: Soft-Focus Perfection

Forget heavy matte – 2026’s K-beauty mood is all about blurred, soft-focus finishes. Think airbrushed cheeks, hazy lips, and pore-blurring powders that let skin breathe.

“Makeup techniques and products that create naturally blurred, soft-focus effects, making skin appear filtered in real life while maintaining natural radiance,” Shin says.

It’s a step away from social media’s harsh filters and a move towards real-skin beauty – perfected, but not overly polished.

Products to try:

• Fwee Lip & Cheek Blurry Pudding Pot (RM81): A whipped tint for lips and cheeks that blends like a dream.
• Wakemake Shaking Blur Cheek (RM53.16): A lightweight blush with soft-blur colour pigments and a glowing finish.
• Luna Pro Photo Finisher Blur Powder Pact (RM124.04): Blurs pores and sets makeup with a silky-soft feel and SPF protection.

Korean Makeup Trends 2026: Neo-Gender Neutral Glam

Korean makeup is also embracing edgier, more inclusive looks. 2026 is bringing in androgynous aesthetics, metallic tones, and smoky styles that blur traditional gender lines.

“Androgynous makeup featuring metallic finishes, grey tones, and semi-smoky techniques that transcend traditional gender boundaries, creating striking, editorial-inspired looks,” says Shin.

“Japanese dancer Kyoka from the well-known TV dance competition show World of Street Woman Fighter has become hugely popular in Korea for her androgynous ‘쇠맛’ (metallic/edgy) aesthetic,” she adds.

Expect to see this bold, expressive style influence everyone from K-pop idols to everyday beauty lovers.

Products to try:

• Laka Bonding Glow Lipstick in Boy (RM65.88): A greyish mauve lipstick that adds shine without stickiness.
• Risky Pigment Eyeshadow Palette in Shatter (RM162.30): A statement palette full of cool shimmers and metallic payoffs.
• Wakemake Soft Blurring Balm Stick in Wild Taupe (RM56.71): A genderless lip shade with a smooth matte finish.

As Shin puts it best, K-beauty continues to be “aspirational, expressive, and intentional.” In 2026, Korean makeup is proving that beauty can be fun, sensorial, and culturally impactful all at once.

Related read: Aespa’s Makeup Artist Reveals the Exact Products She Uses on the Members