[Japan-Korea Trend Comparison] The Frontline of 'Inner Beauty' from South Korea
iHerb released a trend report analyzing 2025 sales data in Japan and South Korea. South Korea shows a high interest in functional ingredients like Omega-3 and AHCC, prioritizing product specifications. Japan shows a preference for ingredients related to skin clarity and anti-aging, such as glutathione and Vitamin C. The report predicts how these trends may influence the Japanese market in 2026.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 27, 2026 at 14:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 1, 2026 at 00:35 (106h 35m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 00:24 (23h 49m after Collected)
iHerb (Headquarters: California, USA; CEO: Iman Zabih) has released a trend report analyzing consumer interest in beauty and health ingredients based on 2025 sales data from Japan and South Korea. Analysis reveals that in South Korea, there is a strong tendency toward ingredients that support daily condition and internal health, such as Omega-3, magnesium, and probiotics. The movement to select products based on function and formulation rather than just brand names reflects South Korea's high level of health and beauty literacy. Conversely, in Japan, ingredients associated with skin clarity and anti-aging, such as glutathione, Vitamin C, and NMN, dominate the top rankings. This report interprets the signs of 'inner beauty' that may spread in Japan in 2026, building on the movements of high-concentration Omega-3 and AHCC already prevalent in South Korea. Comparing 2025 data, it is clear that Japan focuses on anti-aging, while South Korea prioritizes inner beauty and ingredient concentration. We highlight high-concentration Omega-3 and AHCC as ingredients that are top sellers in South Korea but not yet fully recognized in the Japanese beauty context. High-concentration Omega-3 is known for supporting circulation and cardiovascular health, with high-purity versions favored in Korea. AHCC, a plant-based polysaccharide extracted from mushroom mycelia, is expected to enhance the immune system and is popular in Korea due to the rise of 'immune beauty.' iHerb is one of the world's largest e-commerce platforms, serving 15 million customers annually across 180+ countries.
FAQ
What is the implication for the Taiwan market?
Since Taiwanese consumers often prioritize ingredient specifications similar to the Korean market, the trends for high-potency Omega-3 and AHCC are likely to resonate well in Taiwan.