Korean makeup is about effortless beauty—it’s all about enhancing what you have instead of covering it up. At the core of this style lies the belief in celebrating healthy, bouncy skin, subtle definition, and a dewy, youthful radiance.
Step by step, here’s how you can replicate this fresh, luminous finish—right from that initial cleanse to that final burst of radiance.
Begin With Skincare: Create the Ideal Canvas for Flawless Makeup
In Korean beauty, skincare isn’t just important—it’s everything. The idea is simple: flawless makeup starts with healthy, well-nourished skin.
Begin your routine with a double cleanse:
Use an oil-based cleanser first to remove makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil.
Follow up with a gentle water-based cleanser to wash away any remaining dirt or sweat deep inside your pores.
Then, hydrate. Following cleansing, use a hydrating toner, followed by a light essence that primes your skin to soak up moisture. Top it all off with a moisturizer that nourishes to lock it all in.
To give your skin an added radiance boost, use fermented ingredients such as rice water or galactomyces. They will lighten and hydrate your complexion gradually, giving it that characteristic healthy sheen.
Make a Fresh, Dewy Complexion With Lightweight Base Products
A radiant base is at the center of Korean beauty. Rather than heavy, flat foundation, a sheer, natural finish that resembles real skin—only more so—is the goal.
How to do it:
Begin with a radiance-boosting primer to smooth and give your skin a subtle glow.
Apply a lightweight cushion foundation or sheer formula. Cushion compacts are particularly well-liked because they’re easy to apply, buildable, and leave skin looking dewy.
Mix thinly and evenly with a soft brush, sponge, or applicator of the cushion.
Add more coverage only where you need it—such as under the eyes, around the nose, or over blemishes—using a brightening concealer.
Soft Eyes and Natural Brows for Youthful Definition
Korean eye makeup is understated and clean, flattering your features without appearing too done.
Brows:
Leave them soft, ever so slightly straight, and natural in appearance. Gently fill in thinning areas with a brow pencil or powder, and steer clear of severe, dramatic arches.
Eyeshadow:
Opt for neutral or soft earth tones. Light peach, rose beige, or champagne shimmer is perfect for day-to-day wear. Use one or two shades and gently blend them to create definition on your eyes.
Mascara:
Use a lengthening or volumising mascara to make your eyes open. Pass over heavy eyeliner for a fresh, subtle finish.
Add a Natural Flush of Colour to Cheeks and Lips
Colour in Korean makeup is all about appearing healthy and rosy, not trying too hard.
Cheeks:
Apply a cream or liquid blush for a dewy, natural-looking flush. Tap it gently onto the apples of your cheeks so that it blends into your base.
Lips:
The trademark look is a gradient lip tint.
Apply your soft lipstick or lip tint to the center of your lips.
Smoothly soften the edges outwards with your fingertip or a cotton bud.
This produces a pale, petal-like look that appears fresh and romantic.
Lock It In With a Dewy Finish and Setting Mist
Rather than applying everything with dense powder, apply a setting mist that hydrates. A lightweight, radiant-boosting spray keeps makeup in place without suffocating the skin. It also causes all the layers to blend together into a super-smooth second-skin finish.
Maintain Your Skin’s Glow Beyond Makeup With Healthy Habits
Keep in mind, genuine glow begins with healthy skin.
Gently exfoliate twice or thrice a week to shed dead skin cells.
Add a facial massage to your skin care routine to increase circulation, eliminate puffiness, and enhance your skin’s natural radiance.
Also Read : Why Do Koreans Look So Young? Here Are 5 Simple Secrets You Can Actually Try
