CJ OLIVE YOUNG announced on September 8 that its latest O.Y SALE has revealed how K-beauty trends and consumer interests have evolved over the past year. In skincare, products featuring targeted ingredients are gaining traction amid the growing slow-aging trend. Meanwhile, as consumers increasingly extend their skincare routines to the scalp and body, demand for functional hair and body care products is also on the rise. PDRN, peptides and niacinamide drive ingredient beauty trend, while pack cleansers emerge as new favorite In skincare, the ingredient beauty trend, where consumers select products based on key ingredients that address their specific skin concerns, stood out during the latest sale. A comparison of keyword search data from OLIVE YOUNG's online store during the latest sale (August 29–September 4) and the sale period last year showed that searches for PDRN surged 695%. Derived from salmon, PDRN has emerged as a notable skincare ingredient this year for its potential to support skin repair and improve elasticity. Searches for peptides also increased 72% over the same period. Peptides help stimulate collagen synthesis in skin cells and are often paired with retinol to enhance slow-aging benefits. Searches for niacinamide, known for its brightening benefits and ability to strengthen the skin barrier, and zinc, which helps regulate sebum production and soothe the skin, each rose 65% compared with last year's sale. “Slow-aging, a lifestyle trend that has recently gained momentum, is translating into skincare routines that combine serums, ampoules and creams formulated with ingredients targeting specific concerns, including enlarged pores, dark spots, blemishes and post-acne marks,” an OLIVE YOUNG representative explained. The cleansing category also saw a new product segment take off. Searches for pack cleansers, a category OLIVE YOUNG has been actively developing, surged approximately 1,700% year over year during the latest sale. Pack cleansers accounted for five of the top 10 best-selling cleansing products during the event, with products from Arencia, fully, HANYUL and Whipped leading the way. Applied to the face like a mask and left on briefly before rinsing, these next-generation cleansers offer skincare benefits such as pore cleansing, hydration and improved skin elasticity. In sun care, a wider variety of product formats gained popularity. Beyond traditional sunscreens and sun sticks, lightweight formulas such as sun gels, sun serums and sun ampoules began appearing on the best-selling products list. Examples included SKIN1004's sun serum, Shingmulnara's sun gel and FROMRIER's sun ampoule. Products combining sun protection with skincare benefits also performed well, including MEDIHEAL's Madecassoside Moisture Sun Serum and Cell Fusion C's Dark Spot Toning Sunscreen. Limited-edition makeup sets and liquid blushes gain momentum In makeup, limited-edition sets available exclusively at OLIVE YOUNG proved particularly popular. CLIO's Pro Eye Palette Air set, created in collaboration with the Korea Heritage Service, came with a hair scrunchie inspired by the traditional Korean daenggi ribbon. Both color variations temporarily sold out. ROM&ND's The Juicy Lasting Tint also drew a surge of online orders for special sets featuring mini tints as gifts with the Nu-Cadamia and Bare Grape shades. Meanwhile, liquid blushes are gaining ground in a category traditionally dominated by powder formulas. DEAR DAHLIA's Liquid Blush and WAKEMAKE's Shaking Blur Cheek were among the popular products during the latest sale. Consumers are also increasingly looking for products that care for the scalp and body as part of a more comprehensive beauty routine. During the latest sale, searches for scalp ampoules, tonics and serums rose by more than 80% year over year. Products designed to strengthen the scalp featured prominently among popular hair care items, including LABO-H's Scalp Strengthening Clinic Hairline Ampoule, lilyeve's GROW:TURN Exosome Brush Ampoule and vivelab's Revive Therapy Hair Scalp & Brow Ampoule. In body care, functional products highlighting specific ingredients also gained traction. Examples included nutseline's Aroma Nut Slim Fit Body Guasha Serum, which features a slimming-focused formula, and BEYOND's Bodytamin Brightening Body Lotion, formulated with niacinamide. In response to growing interest in targeted body care, brands such as growus, W.DRESSROOM and EGA have also introduced hand creams with added benefits, including sun protection and wrinkle improvement. “Many K-beauty and K-wellness brands have developed hit products around trends introduced by OLIVE YOUNG, including slow-aging and inner beauty,” an OLIVE YOUNG representative said. “We will continue to identify emerging trends early and discover promising new brands, supporting their growth alongside our own.”