Updated
Updated · WWD · Jul 21
Azulene Ranks South Korea’s Top 3 Beauty Ingredients With 29% Search Growth
Updated
Updated · WWD · Jul 21

Azulene Ranks South Korea’s Top 3 Beauty Ingredients With 29% Search Growth

1 articles · Updated · WWD · Jul 21

Summary

  • Naver searches for Azulene averaged about 15,300 a month from June 2025 to May 2026, putting the anti-inflammatory ingredient among South Korea’s three fastest-rising beauty actives.
  • That 29% increase trails only PDRN and minoxidil in the ranking, while outpacing PDRN’s growth rate by about 2 percentage points despite a smaller overall search base.
  • Azulene is derived from plants such as chamomile and yarrow and is used to calm sensitive skin, a positioning that could help it follow PDRN from Korean buzzword to broader global demand.
  • U.S. adoption remains limited, though products from From Medi+, Then I Met You, Biossance and Adwoa Beauty already use the ingredient in masks, eye creams and hair treatments.
  • South Korea’s latest ingredient trends also show hair care gaining ground, with minoxidil, ketoconazole and caffeine all drawing rising attention alongside skin-care actives.

Insights

Why is a little-known chamomile extract suddenly outpacing salmon DNA as the most sought-after skincare secret in South Korea?
As azulene quietly infiltrates prestige beauty channels, what hidden supply chain challenges might prevent it from becoming a global phenomenon?