K-Beauty has had a chokehold on the beauty industry for years, particularly in skin care, but we’re starting to see a shift once more. Plant-based K-Beauty is taking the spotlight, with vegan formulas that upgrade viral skin care trends with effective products without animal-derived ingredients.
Keep reading to discover what exactly plant-based k-beauty consists of, the ingredients to look for when shopping, and recommendations for building your new routine.
What is Plant-Based K-Beauty?
Plant-based skin care means common animal-derived ingredients get swapped out on the ingredient list, not for synthetic alternatives, but for plant-derived, fermented, or upcycled botanical ones.
It’s important to note that not all plant-based beauty products are vegan. While plant-based refers to the source of ingredients, vegan refers to the absence of animal-derived materials and animal testing for both the ingredients and final product, making it cruelty-free as well. This also applies the other way: a product labelled vegan is not necessarily plant-based, as it could contain synthetic actives instead of ones derived from natural sources.
Why Plant-Based K-Beauty is Trending
After the late 2010s, which were rife with heavy makeup application and harsher skin care, the 2020s became all about reparative routines and bouncy moisture. K-Beauty as a whole has brought hydration and barrier care to the forefront, influencing beauty trends like glass skin, or routine techniques like skin flooding.
We’ve started to see ceramides, peptides, enzymes and plant extracts highlighted while stripping and irritating ingredients fall by the wayside. And as the beauty industry advances, the myth that “natural” ingredients are weaker is being disproven again and again.
As social media peels back the curtain on product marketing, the demand for transparency is higher than ever when it comes to ingredient sourcing, sustainability, and overall brand ethos. As Gen Z and Gen Alpha start making independent shopping decisions, vegan skin care supports their value-driven purchasing habits.
Take PDRN. It's having a massive social media moment, but it's also divisive, because it's traditionally derived from salmon sperm. Yep, you read that correctly. Some people swear by it. Plenty of others can't get past the source. Which is why rose PDRN, a vegan alternative, has become more common with newer product launches. Extracted from Damascus roses, this plant-based alternative is rich in antioxidants and helps boost collagen, and bridges the gap between effective and conscious skin care.
Our Approach
At haruharu wonder, we use cruelty-free, plant-powered active ingredients to formulate completely vegan skin care. Committed to transparency, we also provide an Ingredient Library so you can research the purpose behind everything we put in our products. You’ll notice that we keep our ingredient lists short, because we believe only the most effective ingredients earn a spot in the formula.
Our products are certified by The Vegan Society, EVE Vegan, PETA, ISO 9001 and ECOCERT COSMOS to ensure that we are creating skin care that meets strict standards across quality, sustainability, and ingredient sourcing. Clinical tests are performed to gauge efficacy, so our claims aren’t guesses. They’re based on real results.
Fun fact: haruharu means “day by day” in Korean. Our philosophy centers around taking a more sustainable approach to life with little changes, day by day, to make a big impact. One way to do this is transitioning to a plant-based or vegan skin care routine.
Curating a Plant-Based K-Beauty Skin Care Routine
Plant-based K-Beauty ingredients can be broken down into six categories that you’ll start recognizing on labels, even without memorizing them. Becoming familiar with these categories can help you make smart swaps when transitioning your own routine.
Nourishing Oils for Cleansing
Plant oils are great for cleansing, gently dissolving makeup and removing impurities while softening and moisturizing skin. Some oils you’ll start to recognize in plant-based cleansers include sunflower seed oil, macadamia seed oil, and jojoba seed oil.
Our Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil is formulated with just 9 ingredients, staying true to our minimalistic approach, and helps remove makeup (even waterproof), sunscreen, and dirt without stripping the skin. It contains the three oils mentioned above, as well as rice bran oil, olive oil, and vitamin E for a boost of antioxidants and skin protection.
Together, these oils help nourish and soften, while offering sebum control by providing balance and strengthening the skin barrier. This is a non-comedogenic cleansing oil, meaning it won’t clog pores, so it’s suitable for acne-prone skin and actually helps clear congested skin and minimize blackheads.
Gentle Acids for Exfoliating
There are plenty of plant-based exfoliators that can help smooth and brighten your complexion without irritation or tightness. Citric acid, mandelic acid, and tartaric acid all offer gentle yet effective exfoliation that’s safe for the skin barrier.
Combining our cleansing oil with the Black Rice Triple AHA Gentle Cleansing Gel creates the perfect double cleansing duo. Made for all skin types, including sensitive skin, this exfoliating gel cleanser utilizes all three of the above acids in its Triple AHA complex, combined with fermented black rice extract to deliver a dose of antioxidants. It’s pH balanced to protect the skin barrier, and cleanses while brightening, moisturizing, and improving skin texture.
Ferments & Lipids for Barrier Repair
Fermented plant extracts in skin care have become more mainstream over the past few years, due to their ability to provide antioxidants with better absorption. Fermentation breaks down larger compounds into smaller structures that can penetrate the skin more effectively, and not just sit on top of it. Studies have suggested that fermentation can improve the antioxidant potency and anti-inflammatory properties of plant extracts while remaining gentle on the skin’s microbiome.
Lipids also do heavy lifting in skin barrier repair. Your skin barrier is naturally made up of lipids that hold skin cells together to keep moisture sealed in. In skin care, they commonly show up on ingredient lists as ceramides or fatty acids.
For a plant-based barrier care option, try the Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence. Containing exfoliating probiotics, this lightweight milky essence helps smooth skin texture and fortifies the skin barrier to deliver supple, glowy skin. Use it morning and night after cleansing, and it’s clinically proven to improve moisture by over 33%, and skin barrier function by over 20% after two weeks of use. The formula features fermented black rice extract, Galactomyces and Bifida ferment filtrates, a 5-ceramide complex, a cholesterol complex, and a 5-fatty acid complex, all balanced in a 3:1:1 ratio for barrier repair that mirrors your skin's own composition.
Peptides and Antioxidants for Target Treatments
Peptides and Antioxidants are the final two categories, and they target specific concerns around anti-aging and skin damage. Plant-based peptides extracted from rice, peas and oats support collagen and elastin production, softening the appearance of fine lines and improving elasticity. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and protect the skin against premature aging caused by sun damage.
Peptide creams are a favorite among those who want hydration with increased bounce. Our Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream features a 5 Peptide complex that’s been clinically shown to soften the appearance of wrinkles by 29% after four weeks of use. It also helps repair UV damage, protect skin cells, and improve elasticity. Paired with the antioxidants from the caffeine, and the moisturizing properties of the squalene, this cream delivers skin-quenching hydration and long-term barrier care.
The Routine
How would these recommendations work in a full skin care routine? Here’s the framework:
Morning Routine:
1. Black Rice Triple AHA Cleansing Gel
2. Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
3. Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream
4. Finish with SPF
Night time Routine:
1. Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil
2. Black Rice Triple AHA Cleansing Gel (double cleansing dissolves makeup and SPF on the surface first, then goes deeper to remove impurities)
3. Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
4. Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream
But the face isn’t the only area that benefits from plant-based skin care. If you also want to bring more natural formulas into your body care, try our Black Bamboo Daily Smoothing Body Oil. This milky oil provides deep hydration without a greasy or sticky after-feel, and checks nearly every category for plant-based skin care. Mandelic acid exfoliates and brightens, fermented bamboo shoot extract hydrates and soothes, sweet almond oil delivers moisturizing antioxidants and urea breaks down dead skin cells while protecting the skin barrier.
Another easy vegan skin care addition that hits on the most trending skin care: our Rose PDRN Peptide Glowy Balm. The PDRN sourced from Damascus roses (instead of salmon sperm, remember?) supports skin rejuvenation, boosts collagen and reduces inflammation. The 5 Peptide complex plumps and smooths texture, ceramide NP protects the skin barrier, antioxidants defend against environmental damage, and shea butter and jojoba seed oil deeply hydrate.
Small Swaps Add Up
Since our personal philosophy is all about small changes adding up to a meaningful outcome, we’re not telling you to start your skin care routine from scratch. Whether you add just a lip balm or overhaul your entire routine, even one swap to plant-based K-Beauty skin care is an upgrade you can feel good about.
Meet the Author
Miranda has been a trusted voice in the online beauty community since 2012, sharing her reviews, tips and tutorials on social media. Her expertise has earned her recognition as a repeat judge for the Glamour Beauty Awards and features in publications like Seventeen Magazine and Allure Magazine. When she’s not playing with makeup, you can find her curled up with a book and her two cats, alongside her gamer husband. Connect with her on Instagram.
How to Build a Plant-Based K-Beauty Skin Care Routine
K-Beauty has had a chokehold on the beauty industry for years, particularly in skin care, but we’re starting to see a shift once more. Plant-based K-Beauty is taking the spotlight, with vegan formulas that upgrade viral skin care trends with effective products without animal-derived ingredients.
Keep reading to discover what exactly plant-based k-beauty consists of, the ingredients to look for when shopping, and recommendations for building your new routine.
What is Plant-Based K-Beauty?
Plant-based skin care means common animal-derived ingredients get swapped out on the ingredient list, not for synthetic alternatives, but for plant-derived, fermented, or upcycled botanical ones.
It’s important to note that not all plant-based beauty products are vegan. While plant-based refers to the source of ingredients, vegan refers to the absence of animal-derived materials and animal testing for both the ingredients and final product, making it cruelty-free as well. This also applies the other way: a product labelled vegan is not necessarily plant-based, as it could contain synthetic actives instead of ones derived from natural sources.
Why Plant-Based K-Beauty is Trending
After the late 2010s, which were rife with heavy makeup application and harsher skin care, the 2020s became all about reparative routines and bouncy moisture. K-Beauty as a whole has brought hydration and barrier care to the forefront, influencing beauty trends like glass skin, or routine techniques like skin flooding.
We’ve started to see ceramides, peptides, enzymes and plant extracts highlighted while stripping and irritating ingredients fall by the wayside. And as the beauty industry advances, the myth that “natural” ingredients are weaker is being disproven again and again.
As social media peels back the curtain on product marketing, the demand for transparency is higher than ever when it comes to ingredient sourcing, sustainability, and overall brand ethos. As Gen Z and Gen Alpha start making independent shopping decisions, vegan skin care supports their value-driven purchasing habits.
Take PDRN. It's having a massive social media moment, but it's also divisive, because it's traditionally derived from salmon sperm. Yep, you read that correctly. Some people swear by it. Plenty of others can't get past the source. Which is why rose PDRN, a vegan alternative, has become more common with newer product launches. Extracted from Damascus roses, this plant-based alternative is rich in antioxidants and helps boost collagen, and bridges the gap between effective and conscious skin care.
Our Approach
At haruharu wonder, we use cruelty-free, plant-powered active ingredients to formulate completely vegan skin care. Committed to transparency, we also provide an Ingredient Library so you can research the purpose behind everything we put in our products. You’ll notice that we keep our ingredient lists short, because we believe only the most effective ingredients earn a spot in the formula.
Our products are certified by The Vegan Society, EVE Vegan, PETA, ISO 9001 and ECOCERT COSMOS to ensure that we are creating skin care that meets strict standards across quality, sustainability, and ingredient sourcing. Clinical tests are performed to gauge efficacy, so our claims aren’t guesses. They’re based on real results.
Fun fact: haruharu means “day by day” in Korean. Our philosophy centers around taking a more sustainable approach to life with little changes, day by day, to make a big impact. One way to do this is transitioning to a plant-based or vegan skin care routine.
Curating a Plant-Based K-Beauty Skin Care Routine
Plant-based K-Beauty ingredients can be broken down into six categories that you’ll start recognizing on labels, even without memorizing them. Becoming familiar with these categories can help you make smart swaps when transitioning your own routine.
Nourishing Oils for Cleansing
Plant oils are great for cleansing, gently dissolving makeup and removing impurities while softening and moisturizing skin. Some oils you’ll start to recognize in plant-based cleansers include sunflower seed oil, macadamia seed oil, and jojoba seed oil.
Our Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil is formulated with just 9 ingredients, staying true to our minimalistic approach, and helps remove makeup (even waterproof), sunscreen, and dirt without stripping the skin. It contains the three oils mentioned above, as well as rice bran oil, olive oil, and vitamin E for a boost of antioxidants and skin protection.
Together, these oils help nourish and soften, while offering sebum control by providing balance and strengthening the skin barrier. This is a non-comedogenic cleansing oil, meaning it won’t clog pores, so it’s suitable for acne-prone skin and actually helps clear congested skin and minimize blackheads.
Gentle Acids for Exfoliating
There are plenty of plant-based exfoliators that can help smooth and brighten your complexion without irritation or tightness. Citric acid, mandelic acid, and tartaric acid all offer gentle yet effective exfoliation that’s safe for the skin barrier.
Combining our cleansing oil with the Black Rice Triple AHA Gentle Cleansing Gel creates the perfect double cleansing duo. Made for all skin types, including sensitive skin, this exfoliating gel cleanser utilizes all three of the above acids in its Triple AHA complex, combined with fermented black rice extract to deliver a dose of antioxidants. It’s pH balanced to protect the skin barrier, and cleanses while brightening, moisturizing, and improving skin texture.
Ferments & Lipids for Barrier Repair
Fermented plant extracts in skin care have become more mainstream over the past few years, due to their ability to provide antioxidants with better absorption. Fermentation breaks down larger compounds into smaller structures that can penetrate the skin more effectively, and not just sit on top of it. Studies have suggested that fermentation can improve the antioxidant potency and anti-inflammatory properties of plant extracts while remaining gentle on the skin’s microbiome.
Lipids also do heavy lifting in skin barrier repair. Your skin barrier is naturally made up of lipids that hold skin cells together to keep moisture sealed in. In skin care, they commonly show up on ingredient lists as ceramides or fatty acids.
For a plant-based barrier care option, try the Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence. Containing exfoliating probiotics, this lightweight milky essence helps smooth skin texture and fortifies the skin barrier to deliver supple, glowy skin. Use it morning and night after cleansing, and it’s clinically proven to improve moisture by over 33%, and skin barrier function by over 20% after two weeks of use. The formula features fermented black rice extract, Galactomyces and Bifida ferment filtrates, a 5-ceramide complex, a cholesterol complex, and a 5-fatty acid complex, all balanced in a 3:1:1 ratio for barrier repair that mirrors your skin's own composition.
Peptides and Antioxidants for Target Treatments
Peptides and Antioxidants are the final two categories, and they target specific concerns around anti-aging and skin damage. Plant-based peptides extracted from rice, peas and oats support collagen and elastin production, softening the appearance of fine lines and improving elasticity. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and protect the skin against premature aging caused by sun damage.
Peptide creams are a favorite among those who want hydration with increased bounce. Our Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream features a 5 Peptide complex that’s been clinically shown to soften the appearance of wrinkles by 29% after four weeks of use. It also helps repair UV damage, protect skin cells, and improve elasticity. Paired with the antioxidants from the caffeine, and the moisturizing properties of the squalene, this cream delivers skin-quenching hydration and long-term barrier care.
The Routine
How would these recommendations work in a full skin care routine? Here’s the framework:
Morning Routine:
1. Black Rice Triple AHA Cleansing Gel
2. Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
3. Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream
4. Finish with SPF
Night time Routine:
1. Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil
2. Black Rice Triple AHA Cleansing Gel (double cleansing dissolves makeup and SPF on the surface first, then goes deeper to remove impurities)
3. Black Rice Probiotics Barrier Essence
4. Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream
But the face isn’t the only area that benefits from plant-based skin care. If you also want to bring more natural formulas into your body care, try our Black Bamboo Daily Smoothing Body Oil. This milky oil provides deep hydration without a greasy or sticky after-feel, and checks nearly every category for plant-based skin care. Mandelic acid exfoliates and brightens, fermented bamboo shoot extract hydrates and soothes, sweet almond oil delivers moisturizing antioxidants and urea breaks down dead skin cells while protecting the skin barrier.
Another easy vegan skin care addition that hits on the most trending skin care: our Rose PDRN Peptide Glowy Balm. The PDRN sourced from Damascus roses (instead of salmon sperm, remember?) supports skin rejuvenation, boosts collagen and reduces inflammation. The 5 Peptide complex plumps and smooths texture, ceramide NP protects the skin barrier, antioxidants defend against environmental damage, and shea butter and jojoba seed oil deeply hydrate.
Small Swaps Add Up
Since our personal philosophy is all about small changes adding up to a meaningful outcome, we’re not telling you to start your skin care routine from scratch. Whether you add just a lip balm or overhaul your entire routine, even one swap to plant-based K-Beauty skin care is an upgrade you can feel good about.
Meet the Author
Miranda has been a trusted voice in the online beauty community since 2012, sharing her reviews, tips and tutorials on social media. Her expertise has earned her recognition as a repeat judge for the Glamour Beauty Awards and features in publications like Seventeen Magazine and Allure Magazine. When she’s not playing with makeup, you can find her curled up with a book and her two cats, alongside her gamer husband. Connect with her on Instagram.