Everyday Korean Makeup
In this post, Taylor takes us through the basics of the everyday makeup look that will keep you looking like you woke up like this!
Makeup can be intimidating, especially in a world where beauty trends zip in and out faster than you can say “The Flash”. Fret not, all you lipstick-loving, contour-crazy makeup lovers, we at Korea Monthly are just as excited about keeping up with the hottest new Korean beauty trends! We’ll be bringing you columns on anything and everything you need to know about Korean makeup, from nailing your everyday Korean makeup look to the most decadent of skincare routines to keep you looking as fresh-faced as Lee Sung Kyung.
Today, we present the perfect starter for anyone who’s new to Korean makeup – the Everyday Korean Makeup look; how to achieve it and what to look out for if you’re into this effortlessly glam, natural look.
Everyday Korean makeup might seem like a whole other world to those who might have never dabbled in makeup altogether, but with a few basic makeup items, anyone can achieve the effortlessly glam look of a Korean popstar. Let’s break it down.
Foundation
When we say the basics of Korean makeup, we really mean the base-ics.
When we say the basics of Korean makeup, we really mean the base-ics.
One of the most defining qualities of Korean makeup is the fresh-faced dewiness that foundations and BB-creams give any makeup look. Lauded for their naturally glowy finishes, Korean makeup looks often involve a highly hydrating foundation formula, or low to medium coverage formulas like BB or CC creams that accentuate, rather than mask, the natural dewiness of the skin.
This creates an approachable yet flawless, less “done-up” makeup base that’s perfect for day-to-day wear.
Eyebrows
The eyes may be the window to one’s soul, but the brows work to frame one’s face to complete any makeup look.
The current trend in Korean-style brows is the lightly-filled-in, straight brow with a slight curve at the end. Perfect for daily wear, this soft but structured brow is great for anyone who wants a more defined eyebrow look to complement their makeup without placing too much emphasis on their brows. Overall, a soft and slightly curved brow adds to the natural and effortless style of the Korean makeup look.
Eyes
Eye, caliente.
Korean makeup tends to complement but not emphasize any particular feature, for an overall natural look. This means a fine, winged liner on the upper lash line, followed by a little swipe of mascara on the upper lashes, just to enhance the eye shape and brighten the eyes, while keeping a simple, neutral and natural eye look. A little shimmery dash of eyeshadow is also a great addition to any day look.
Lips
Pucker up, girls.
A little lip product goes a long way to adding colour to the face. For a more casual, plump and fresh lip look, Korean makeup brands offer a range of lip tints and stains that add a touch of colour that compliment your natural lip.
Korean lip products (like the one above) tend to have really cute-sy, aesthetically pleasing packaging, which is a total bonus.
Some lip tints are also very buildable, for a darker and stronger lip colour.
The bonus with tints is that some of them can even double up as a cheek tint! Just swipe a little and blend across your cheeks for a soft flush.
For a bolder and more defined lip, Korean makeup also has its fair share of bold lipstick colours.
Cheeks
Oh, the cheek of her.
The secret to adding colour to your cheeks is to add a dash of blush on the apple of your cheeks to give a barely-there flush to your face, so you always look healthy and fresh-faced. Korean makeup is all about enhancing your natural glow, so go with a light blush to give your face a little pick-me-up.
With the wide array of affordable Korean makeup products in the market, getting into an everyday Korean Makeup look can be as easy as A-B-C for just about anyone. We hope we’ve helped you understand a little bit more about the basics of Korean makeup.
Stay tuned for more makeup how-tos and other exciting updates!