Korean makeup has long won millions of hearts around the world. It captivates with its naturalness, freshness and slight emphasis on youth. No heavy contours, sharp lines or flashy colors - just radiant skin, as if illuminated from within, and alluring asian eyes full of charm.
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Korean Makeup Secrets
by @girinbt
Korean makeup is not just a set of techniques, but a philosophy. It teaches you to love and accept yourself for who you are. It encourages you to avoid wearing thick layers of makeup and highlight your natural beauty!
by @_makeupbyginamarie_
On the one hand, Korean makeup does not have strict rules and allows you to experiment, creating unique images. But on the other hand, South Korean women do use certain techniques and tips. So what are the makeup secrets of Korean beauties?
Perfect Skin Tone
by @girinbt
Flawless skin is something without which Korean makeup is simply impossible. Note that you won’t be able to achieve it in one day, and once achieved, you will have to maintain it twice a day. You need to cleanse, tone, moisturize and nourish your skin in the evening. The morning multi-step Korean routine includes cleansing, moisturizing and protecting your skin from the ultraviolet rays.
by @girinbt
Decorative part of Li Ki Rin's makeup (which is among the top 10 skincare influencers in South Korea) starts with creating the ideal skin tone, which is achieved with the help of the following products that hide imperfections but do not create a tonal mask on the face, leaving the skin its naturalness.
by @girinbt
Depending on the skin condition, this may be:
- Primer. Korean face primer does not contain color pigments and thus does not mask skin imperfections. It creates a base for makeup, smoothing the skin and improving the durability of subsequent cosmetic products. Depending on its components, the primer can perform additional functions, for example, tighten pores, mattify, moisturize and protect skin from the sun.
- BB cream. Combines the functions of a primer and foundation. BB creams are produced with different coverage density. The higher it is, the stronger the masking effect. In addition, it contains useful plant extracts, vitamins, and minerals.
- CC cream. In addition to the primer and natural foundation functions, this product has special corrective properties. It hides redness, yellowness or pigmentation in the skin. Li Ki Rin uses Lancôme Teint Ultra Wear SPF15.
Korean Cushions
by @girinbt
Korean cushions like Hera UV Mist Cushion Cover or Espoir Pro Tailor Be Glow are now wildly used to achieve ideal complexion. Not only they combine all the functions and properties of the products listed above, they also have the SPF and PA filters, as well as shiny particles that make the skin glow from the inside. Thanks to its special shape and design, a cushion is easy to carry and use for refreshing makeup in any situation.
Application Tips:
- Use small patting and dabbing motions to distribute cushion evenly all over your face. In this way, you'll get much more control over the application process than when using a makeup sponge.
- Along with the foundation, Korean makeup suggests using cushions for brows, lips, and cheeks.
Korean Eye Makeup: Gentle Look
by @girinbt
Delicate “watercolor eyes” are the calling card of Korean ladies. When doing eye makeup, they adhere to the following principles:
- Maximum natural texture. Light gel or creamy eyeshadows are used instead of dense-textured ones.
- Smooth gradient eyeshadow for everyday looks. The standard Korean eye makeup for every day is smoky eyes made in watercolor tones.
- Clear lines and sharp color transitions are to be avoided. Opt for smooth stretches, thorough shading and color transitions that create the effect of depth and volume.
Popular color schemes for the light and refreshing everyday Korean eye makeup include:
- Peach palette (from soft peach to terracotta).
- Pink shades (from soft to dusty pink).
- Brown shades (from light beige to dark chocolate).
"Puppy Eyes” Effect
by @girinbt by @girinbt by @inngenue
While western ladies are enthusiastically trying to create a cat-eye shape with their winged eyeliner, in Korea, puppy dog eyes are all the rage. Korean-styled eye arrows are thin and graceful, and create an open, naive doll-like look. They are made with a brown eyeliner or pencil, while black color is mainly used for evening makeup.
Styling Tips:
- The arrow tip should not extend beyond the eyelid, but only slightly upward and to the side, creating the effect of “puppy eyes.”
- Bring the flick a bit lower than you normally do with a cat-eye.
"Smiling Eyes" Effect
by @espoir_makeup
Ironically, Korean eye patches are one of the best at dealing with puffiness, laughing lines, and dark circles. However, it seems like Korean women don't struggle with these issues, simply because they because they perceive them differently. Instead, they think of these small under-eye fat pockets that show up when we laugh as cute. This eye look (which is called aegyo-sal) is so much on a roll now that some ladies even resort to plastic surgery in pursuit of gaining or enhancing these bags.
Styling Tips: You can achieve more or less the same effect by highlighting your under-eye area and creating a shadow underneath.
Thoroughly Colored Eyelashes
by @inngenue
Korean makeup puts emphasis on long and fluffy eyelashes achieved with the help of mascara or lash extensions. To begin with, the lashes must be curled with a curler to make eyes look more open. Once mascara is applied, the eyelashes must be separated and brushed thoroughly with a special brush. Glued eyelashes are something Korean makeup does not tolerate!
Shape Your Brows Straight-Across
by @espoir_makeup
It's no secret that brows help you frame the face. They're almost crucial when it comes to the impression you give. The brow shape can add mystery, seriousness, softness or even anger to your look. Korean natural makeup fully employs the feature, and instead of making their brows look curved, Korean women get along with a straight-across brow shape that makes the face look more youthful.
Korean Lip Makeup Tips
by @inngenue
Juicy and plump doll lips are another feature of Korean makeup. The nude beige palette is rarely used on lips in Korea. Preference here is given to moisturizing lipsticks, tints and glosses of berry, pink, coral or peach colors. The color should be soft and delicate, as Korean makeup traditionally focuses on the eyes rather than the lips.
by @girinbt
Gradient ombre lips made with the Glow Fixing Tint #03 Dewy Fig by ETUDE are also very popular among Korean ladies. Note that the transition from a darker shade to lighter one can not only add volume to lips, but also reduce it, depending on the application sequence. Contouring lips with a pencil and darkening their central part also helps to achieve the desired effect.
Golden Eyeshadow with Smokey Effect
by @_makeupbyginamarie_
Golden shades are considered one of the most advantageous in makeup. They add warmth to the face and enliven it. This is a win-win option for the summer. And smokey eyes makeup is very beneficial for Korean women, as it helps to make their eye crease more pronounced. Besides, it's a nice way to team a puppy eye makeup. A nude glossy lipstick would be a perfect accompaniment to this soft yet so chic look.
Pink Ombre Lip Makeup
by @girinbt
You'll hardly ever see a one-colored ripe fruit or berry. Usually, they combine two or even more shades that gradually melt in one another. Apparently, that's where the Korean makeup trend on ombre lip makeup comes from. Use a darker berry-pink color in the inner contour of your lips and blend it with a lighter pink color applied to the outer contour to achieve the look.
Pink Lemonade Lips
by @espoir_makeup
The trick with the pink lemonade lip makeup is that the coverage is so sheer you can barely notice it. However, the color fades as it approaches the outer contour of the lips and perfectly blends into your skin tone.
Glossy Coral Lips
by @girinbt
Korean lips shouldn't necessarily stay neutrally-nude or matte. If you gravitate to a glossy finish more, go for it! Just follow the color code and try to stick to fruit and berry shades. Coral will do too though.
Reminder: Coral shades highlight redness, pimples and other skin imperfections. Therefore, any coral lipstick or gloss must be paired with the ideal skin.
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Many Korean makeup trends are warmly welcomed all over the world. The main reason for this isn't that it's just fun, but that Korean beauty techniques allow you to look way much younger. Hopefully, we've given enough insights to inspire you to try one if not all the trends yourself. Read about ulzzang trend to find out more about Korean style!
FAQ: Korean Makeup
What does glass skin mean?
Glass skin is a perfectly looking skin. The notion originated from Korea. It describes skin that looks clear, poreless, moisturized, lustrous and reflects light like a piece of glass. The surface of such skin has a perfect texture without pimples or bumps. It is achieved by sticking to a consistent skin care routine together with using a cushion foundation rather than a full coverage foundation.
How to make Korean lips?
1.Apply light lipstick to the entire surface of your lips and blend it along the contour with a cotton swab.
2.Apply medium lipstick shade to the middle of your lips, closer to the mucous membrane. Blend the layer’s contours as well.
3.Draw a line in the middle of your lower lip with the darkest lipstick shade and put three dots on your upper lip, creating a “V” shape. Blend everything with your finger.
- Korean beauty standards have become a well known feature of Korean culture. Source
- Cosmetics comprise a range of products that are used to care for the face and body or to enhance or change the appearance of the face or body. The products include skin care, personal care, cosmetics and fragrance. Source
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