Hwahae Monthly Ranking - February 2026 (Body care)

A look at February's fastest-rising products across all categories reveals a common thread: high-viscosity, stretchy textures dominating the top ranks.

At No. 4, the Arencia Fresh Cleanser gained popularity for its "rice cake soap" formula—a satisfyingly elastic, taffy-like texture. At No. 5, the COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Essence went viral on TikTok thanks to its signature stringy, stretchy consistency. Meanwhile, the Sunlee Kelp Ampoule Cleansing Foam (No. 6) and the Beplain Mung Bean Mild Acidic Cleansing Foam (No. 8) are also drawing attention for their dense, pull-apart textures.

Two factors are driving this trend. First, late February marks the tail end of winter, when indoor heating and dry winds leave skin at its most dehydrated. Dense, high-viscosity textures adhere to the skin longer and form a protective moisture barrier—delivering the kind of deep hydration that lightweight water-based formulas simply cannot match. Second, there's the rise of "TikTokable" content culture. Essences that stretch between fingertips and cleansers that whip into satisfyingly bouncy foam create instant visual impact in short-form videos.

Stretchy textures satisfy both what the season demands—intense hydration—and what the algorithm rewards—visual appeal. This dual functionality is establishing "chewy texture" as the new winter beauty formula cutting across every K-beauty category.