By: Kaylin Chang
Korean beauty and skincare products have taken the world by storm. You’ve probably noticed common features in the Korean makeup style—glass skin, muted shades, soft glitters, and of course, the emphasis on under-eye bag fat (aegyosal). But have you ever wondered how specific products are used to get these features? If you’re new to makeup, here’s a beginner’s guide for learning the basics of Korean-style makeup — with product recommendations you can buy right here from K-Beauty Makeup LLC!
Step 1: Skincare
Skincare is the most important step to having a flawless base throughout the day. You don’t want a dried-out, cakey T-Zone after piling on layers and layers of foundation and concealer. Start with the most basic products: toner, serum, moisturizer, and, of course, sunscreen applied in that specific order!
Recommendations:
As someone who’s tested multiple Korean skincare products, I always go back to my favorite brand, Torriden, for the basics!
Step 2: Base Makeup
Korean girlies love a natural, dewy base, and often avoid matte finishes as opposed to Western makeup styles. Cushion foundations are used for higher coverage, while BB creams are perfect for that natural, skin-like finish! For even more coverage, spot conceal with a lighter shade than the main base product for a natural highlighting effect, particularly underneath the eyes, on the nose, and on the center of the forehead! For a seamless blend, apply setting spray to both your face and the cushion as well.
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Step 3: Contour
Korean makeup styles specifically utilize cooler shades of contour, avoiding the warm bronzy effect that other makeup styles prioritize. With a cream contour stick, focus on the nose, cheekbones, and jawline for a subtle but powerful shading effect. Don’t overdo it; you don’t want to use too much product! Blend, blend, blend.
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Step 4: Liquid Blush
We aren’t done with the liquids just yet! A soft, muted liquid blush is perfect for a beginner routine. High-pigments are not entirely prioritized in K-Beauty because of its focus on muted colors, so don’t sweat it. Apply the blush to the center of your cheeks, making sure not to add too much product—it’s always buildable! However, if you’re a complete beginner to blush, I would recommend skipping liquid blush altogether and opt for powder blush instead! Do what you’re comfortable with!
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Step 5: Powders
Powder usually helps to mattify the base and give the skin a flawless, smooth finish. However, for Korean styles, the specific application of the powder is of utmost importance to achieve that glowy, glass skin look. Using a very light hand, either with a powder brush or puff, apply a fine, loose powder specifically on the T-Zone, around the nose, and on the chin. Do NOT apply the powder on the entire face, as this will take away from the natural glow and shine from the base products. People often have concerns with the makeup slipping off due to the lack of powder, but if the skin prep is done correctly, there should be no problem!
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Step 6: Powder Blush and Contour
Remember the original placements of the liquid blush and contour from before? In this step, now with a powder formula, go over those same areas to solidify the colors on your skin. This adds a new layer of product and increases longevity.
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Step 7: Eyeshadow
In my opinion, the eyes are the most important step of a Korean makeup routine! It all depends on how you apply the colors and the natural undereye fat to showcase this particular style of makeup. For the most basic looks, first apply a nude shade close to your skin color all over the eyelid and underneath the eyes. After this, use a soft brown muted shade to add dimension to the eyes. Apply the brown color closer to the eyelid at the edges and corners of the eye, blending it out with the nude color from before!
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Step 8: Aegyosal
Aegyosal—or “charming fat” in Korean—refers to the natural pocket of fat underneath the eyes, prominent when smiling. When emphasized using makeup, it creates an enlarging effect on the eyes and gives off a youthful and charming look. There are products specifically catered for drawing on aegyosal, but the standard eyeshadow or contour palette will also do the trick. With a dense, flat brush, gather a brown shade similar to the powder contour shade originally used for the other areas of your face and smile in the mirror. When you see the natural aegyosal protrude, use a light hand to draw over the line and emphasize it even more. With another flat brush, blend out the line, making sure it does not appear harsh or overpowering.
After this, with a small brush, highlight the area between the waterline and the aegyosal line with the same nude shade originally used for your eyelids.
Recommendations:
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For the recommendations, I would refer to the eyeshadow palettes or powder contours listed above!
Step 9: Highlight
With either your fingers or a brush, gather a highlighting shade and place it on your cheekbones, the tip and bridge of your nose, and the center of your forehead. With a smaller blush, don’t forget to slightly highlight the inner corners of your eyes and the area between your waterline and aegyosal line to further emphasize the fat. If you’d like to add a glitter highlighting shade on top of the pocket of fat as well, that is also an option (see glitter shades in eyeshadow palettes above).
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Step 10: Eyeliner
If you are a complete beginner to makeup, you do not have to start with liquid eyeliner. Instead, you can use the same dense, flat brush used for your aegyosal earlier, and slightly extend the outer corner of your eye with the same brown eyeshadow shade. With this rough outline, take a gel or pencil eyeliner and slowly go over the eyeshadow. There is always room for mistakes!
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Step 11: Mascara
If you have short, stubborn lashes, don’t fret—you’re in the right place. As someone who’s dealt with eyelash fall-out and short stubby lashes all my life, I’ve perfected my mascara routine with these tricks! Firstly, get whatever eyelash curler that works for you, but heat it up for a few seconds with a blow dryer! This will improve the lasting effect of the curl. After curling your lashes, get a fixing primer first and apply a layer on the top and bottom lashes. Then apply the mascara over it!
Recommendations:
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I can’t recommend the Etude House Dr. Mascara Fixer enough!
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01 Natural is my go to!
Step 12: Eyebrows
Koreans love lighter eyebrow shades. With an eyebrow mascara, apply a lighter color directly onto the hairs to achieve the soft look!
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Step 13: Lips
A hydrated, youthful, and soft lip finish is definitely the vibe for Korean makeup styles. Start by applying a more natural shade to the entire lips. After, grab a shade with more color and apply it to the center of the lips to create a juicy and gradient effect!
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