From rice water to Korean-Indian hybrid routines — what’s trending this year?

🌸 Because glowing skin is always in — but 2024 just did it better.

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✨ The 2024 Skincare Glow-Up Was Different

If 2023 was about slugging and barrier repair, 2024 was the year Indian girls blended traditional skincare wisdom with cutting-edge Korean beauty routines to glow like never before. From Gen Z college queens to boss babe millennials, everyone had one mantra: “Skin first, filters second.”

Here’s what took over vanities, went viral on Instagram, and actually worked in 2024.

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1. Rice Water Everything 🍚💧

Search Trend Score: +280% (Google India, March 2024)
Why it blew up: Inspired by Korean and Tamil Nadu beauty rituals, rice water became the holy grail toner, face mist, and DIY mask base.

“I use rice water ice cubes every morning. My skin’s brighter, smoother, and my acne scars faded in two weeks!” — @GlowWithRhea on Threads.

DIY Tip: Soak ½ cup of uncooked rice in water overnight. Strain and refrigerate. Use as a toner or freeze into cubes.

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2. Haldi-Chandan Face Packs Got a 2024 Upgrade 🌿

Move over, basic turmeric masks. Girls in 2024 started mixing kasturi manjal, sandalwood powder, aloe gel, and a drop of niacinamide serum for a viral “yellow glow” look.

TikTok Tag: #HaldiHack2024 — Over 14M views.

Pro tip: Always patch test haldi before applying to avoid staining or reactions.

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3. Korean-Indian Hybrid Routines 🇮🇳🇰🇷

K-beauty routines went local. Instead of 10 steps, 2024 saw the “4-2-1” Routine take over:

• 4: Double cleanse

• 2: Toner + Serum (Desi herbs like ashwagandha + K-beauty hyaluronic acid)

• 1: Moisturizer (with saffron or snail mucin)

“I use Forest Essentials toner + COSRX serum + Laneige sleeping mask. Skin: chef’s kiss!” — @AnkitaLooks

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4. Clay Masks Made a Comeback — With a Twist 🧖🏽‍♀️

Multani mitti wasn’t just slapped on anymore. Girls added:

• Green tea water (for acne)

• Rosehip oil (for dry skin)

• Niacinamide drops (for oil control)

TikTok Trend: #IndianSkinFix with over 6.2M views.

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5. Sun Protection Became Non-Negotiable 🧴

The message finally landed: Melanin still needs sunscreen.
Top SPFs every Indian girl swore by in 2024:

• Aqualogica Radiance+ Dewy Sunscreen (₹399) – Doesn’t leave a white cast.

• Fixderma Shadow SPF 50+ (₹590) – Perfect under makeup.

• Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun (₹1,150) – Korean fave for Indian oily skin.

Read Also: 5 Sunscreens Every Indian College Girl Should Own in 2024

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6. The Ice Facial Craze ❄️ (with Haldi Cubes!)

Cryo therapy got a spicy desi twist with haldi and rose water cubes. It went viral on Instagram Reels for depuffing and glowing up instantly.

“5AM haldi cubes are my wake-up call!” — @ThatBengaliGlow

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7. Facial Yoga + Desi Lymphatic Drainage 💆🏽‍♀️

Indian girls ditched face rollers for:

• Kansa wand massages

• Desi gua sha using coconut oil

• Jal neti & Kapalbhati for detoxing skin from within

Bonus: It sculpted jawlines too. #NoFilter.

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8. Minimalist Serums That Worked for Brown Skin 💯

These were the MVPs for Indian skin tones in 2024:

• Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 2% for pigmentation

• Dot & Key CICA + Niacinamide for sensitive skin

• Deconstruct Vitamin C Serum 10% for dullness

Price range: ₹349 – ₹699
Available at: Nykaa, Amazon, and Purplle

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💬 X Reactions to This Year’s Glow-Up:

@SkinWithRuchi:

“2024 was about glowing smart, not glowing white.”

@DelhiSkinBoss:

“Our naani’s skincare + Korean science = unbeatable.”

@GlowGodessShruti:

“If you’re not icing your face with rice water, wyd?”

🔥 Final Thoughts: 2024 Proved Glowing Skin is Desi AF

This year was all about reclaiming desi skincare rituals while embracing the efficacy of science-backed K-beauty. The blend wasn’t just beautiful — it was genius. And as Indian skin continues to get the love it deserves, one thing’s clear: we’re done gatekeeping our glow.