From Matcha to Red Bean: A Shift in Ingredient Trends
In recent years, the beauty market has seen a strong rise in naturally derived ingredients. While matcha, also known as green tea, became popular for its antioxidant and soothing benefits, a new ingredient is now gaining attention: red bean, also known as adzuki bean extract.
This shift is not simply about replacing one ingredient with another. It reflects a broader change in skincare trends, moving from formulas focused mainly on soothing the skin to products that address more visible concerns such as enlarged pores, excess oil, and dead skin cells.
Key Components of Red Bean Extract and Its Skin Benefits
1) Antioxidant Properties (Polyphenols & Flavonoids)
Red beans are naturally rich in antioxidant compounds, including polyphenols and flavonoids. These components help reduce the effects of free radicals, one of the key factors behind visible skin aging, while supporting the skin against daily environmental stress.
They also help maintain overall skin condition and promote a more even looking skin tone. In this way, red bean extract can be seen as a natural continuation of matcha within the growing category of antioxidant focused clean beauty ingredients.
2) Sebum Control and Pore Care
One of the key functional components found in red beans is saponin. Saponins help absorb excess sebum and clear impurities from the pores, supporting a fresher, cleaner, and more balanced skin condition.
Traditionally used for cleansing and skin purification, red bean is now being reinterpreted in modern cosmetics as a functional ingredient for pore care and oil control. Its ability to address both excess sebum and surface buildup is one of the main reasons red bean is gaining attention as the next ingredient trend after matcha.
3) Exfoliation and Skin Texture Improvement
Red bean powder and extract offer gentle physical exfoliation, helping remove dead skin cells and refine uneven skin texture. This can leave the skin feeling smoother while also supporting better makeup adherence.
Recently, red bean has become recognized as a low irritation, naturally derived exfoliating ingredient. Its use is now expanding across a variety of skincare formats, including clay masks, wash off packs, and cleansers.
4) Soothing and Redness Reduction
Saponins and other plant based components found in red bean also help soothe the skin. They support the calming of irritation, reduce the look of redness, and help maintain a more balanced skin condition.
These properties can help minimize discomfort during the cleansing process while leaving the skin feeling comfortable afterward. As a result, red bean is considered a versatile ingredient that supports both cleansing and soothing benefits.
3. Market Applications: Expansion of Red Bean Skincare
Recently, K beauty brands have been actively introducing products formulated with red bean extract, helping shape this ingredient into a growing skincare trend.
① beplain
The red bean line by beplain focuses on a skincare first cleansing concept, using red bean extract to support the skin from the very first cleansing step.
Its representative product, the Red Bean Collagen Pack to Foam Cleanser, features a texture that transforms from a pack into a soft foam. This allows the formula to help purify pores while delivering nourishing care to the skin. Rather than offering simple cleansing alone, it presents a multifunctional approach that combines cleansing with skincare benefits.
② SKINFOOD
SKINFOOD’s red bean line is built around a natural exfoliation concept, highlighting the use of naturally derived ingredients.
By incorporating red bean into scrubs and wash off masks, the products help remove dead skin cells, absorb excess oil, and refine skin texture. The use of natural particles allows for effective exfoliation while helping minimize irritation.
③ Beauty of Joseon
Beauty of Joseon’s red bean line centers on a balancing skincare concept, with a focus on pore care and oil control.
Products such as the Red Bean Refreshing Pore Mask and Red Bean Water Gel are designed to manage excess sebum, refine the look of pores, and maintain moisture balance. By leveraging saponin, these formulations help gently smooth the skin while offering a lightweight, refreshing texture, making them suitable for oily and combination skin types.
4. The Meaning Behind the Red Bean Skincare Trend
The shift from matcha to red bean reflects more than a simple change in ingredients. It points to a broader change in consumer needs and purchasing behavior.
While earlier clean beauty trends focused heavily on soothing and low irritation care, today’s consumers are paying closer attention to visible skin concerns such as excess oil and enlarged pores. As a result, ingredients are now expected to offer clear, functional benefits, rather than relying only on a positive or natural image.
Changes in the skin environment after prolonged mask use have also influenced this trend. Increased sebum production and clogged pores have made cleansing and oil control more important, bringing ingredients like red bean into the spotlight for their ability to support both sebum care and exfoliation.
Consumers today also tend to choose products based on a clearer understanding of function, not ingredient image alone. Red bean stands out because its benefits are easy to understand, from sebum control and skin purification through saponins to antioxidant support for maintaining overall skin condition.
At the same time, the wider K beauty trend of reinterpreting traditional ingredients in a modern way has helped accelerate the rise of red beans. With its familiar image and practical functionality, red bean is well suited for connecting brand storytelling with product performance.
Ultimately, the move from matcha to red bean reflects a broader market transition, from emotionally driven ingredients to function driven skincare.
5. Conclusion
Red bean extract is a multifunctional, naturally derived ingredient known for its antioxidant, sebum control, and exfoliating benefits. It is becoming increasingly recognized as a key ingredient in the growing demand for pore and oil focused skincare.
Looking ahead, red bean is expected to move beyond cleansers and masks into a wider range of formats, including toners, serums, and creams. This positions it as a next generation K beauty ingredient following the rise of matcha.
As the trend continues to develop, interest in creating functional skincare products with red bean extract is also expected to grow.
✔ If You Are Planning to Develop a Product Like This
Developing functional skincare products with red beans requires more than simply adding the ingredient to a formula. It calls for careful formulation stability, balanced ingredient composition, and texture design that suits the product concept.
Neo Mirae provides a one stop OEM/ODM solution, covering every step from ingredient selection and formulation development to production, quality control, and logistics.
If you are considering a red bean skincare line, Neo Mirae can help bring your brand vision to life with a complete development process tailored to your product goals.
