In recent years, Korean beauty products have gained immense popularity and have taken the beauty world by storm.
Korean makeup is all about achieving a natural, dewy and glowing look, that is both simple and effortless. It is not just a beauty trend, but a lifestyle that focuses on taking care of your skin, and enhancing your features in a subtle and elegant way.
This beginner's guide will take you through the basics of Korean makeup, from skincare to makeup application, so that you can achieve the perfect Korean makeup look.
Whether you are a makeup enthusiast or a beginner, this guide is for everyone who wants to learn more about Korean beauty and wants to achieve a flawless and radiant complexioneup. We'll talk about the basics of this type of makeup and tips and tricks for applying it correctly.
Korean makeup is a beauty focuses on achieving a natural, radiant and glowing look. It is characterized by its emphasis on skincare, as Korean beauty routines prioritize taking care of the skin as a crucial step in achieving a flawless makeup look.
Korean makeup is known for its minimalism and subtlety, using light, sheer textures and soft, pastel colors to enhance the natural features of the face.
In addition, Korean makeup products often have cute, quirky packaging, which has also helped them become popular in other parts of Asia. Some popular Korean brands include Laneige, Mamonde, Etude House, Sulwhasoo, and Innisfree.
Korean makeup has a long and rich history dating back to the Three Kingdoms of Korea. At that time, women would use natural ingredients such as jujube fruits and red beans to enhance their beauty. They would also apply rice powder to their faces to make them look whiter.
Over the years, Korean makeup has evolved and become more sophisticated. Today, women use various products such as BB Korean cosmetics, CC Korean cosmetics, and contouring powders to achieve a beautiful complexion.
They also use eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, and Korean skincare, to enhance their features. The permanent makeup was also developed in Korea and has now become popular globally.
Korean makeup differs from Western makeup in its focus on achieving flawless, radiant skin, the use of gradient lips, natural-looking brows, emphasis on brightening the eyes, lower blush placement for a youthful flush, and a more subtle, natural approach to enhancing one's features.
Overall, Korean makeup focuses on enhancing natural beauty rather than covering it up with heavy makeup products.
What makes Korean skincare particularly effective?
First, there's a strong emphasis on natural ingredients. Ingredients such as green tea extract, rice water, turmeric, and hyaluronic acid, sourced from plants and naturally occurring substances, are extensively researched and harnessed for continuous product improvement.
Second, Korean skincare is highly individualized. There is a wide range of specialized formulas designed for different skin types, whether dry, oily, or a combination of both. These products come in various forms, each with specific application instructions, such as puddings, jelly creams, and the iconic sheet masks that have redefined traditional skincare.
Lastly, K-beauty takes a distinct approach to achieving radiant skin. Instead of simply addressing or concealing issues, the primary focus is on preventative care and long-term skin health. This is achieved through multistep daily routines, some encompassing up to 12 steps. These routines prioritize the application of thin, purpose-specific layers of active ingredients in a sequence that includes cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing. The goal is to achieve naturally glowing, well-hydrated skin, rendering makeup unnecessary.
This is a lightweight, hydrating foundation that comes in a compact with a cushion applicator. It provides a natural, dewy finish and is perfect for everyday wear.
Korean lip tints are known for their long-lasting, pigmented formula that gives a beautiful, gradient effect on the lips. They come in a wide range of colors and finishes, from matte to glossy.
BB cream is a multi-functional product that acts as a primer, foundation, and skincare all in one. It provides lightweight coverage, while also hydrating and protecting the skin from the sun's harmful rays.
Korean blushes come in soft, pastel shades that provide a subtle, natural-looking flush to the cheeks. They are often formulated with nourishing ingredients like shea butter and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin.
Korean eyebrow products are known for their precision and natural-looking results. They come in a variety of formulas, including pencils, gels, and powders, and are often formulated with ingredients like vitamin E and panthenol to nourish and strengthen the brow hairs.
Korean highlighters come in a variety of formulas, from liquid to powder, and provide a subtle, radiant glow to the skin. They are often formulated with pearl pigments to give a luminous, ethereal effect.
Now that you know a little bit about the history of Korean makeup let's talk about the basics. Here are the essential steps for achieving your perfect Korean makeup look:
1. Prep Your Skin: By cleansing, toning, and moisturizing your skin. This will ensure that your makeup has a smooth and even base to work with.
2. Apply Foundation: Choose a foundation that matches your skin tone perfectly. Use a damp beauty sponge or brush to apply it evenly over your face.
3. Conceal and Brighten: Use a concealer to cover any blemishes or dark circles. You can also use a highlighting concealer to brighten the bridge of your nose, chin, and cheeks.
4. Contour and Highlight: Add definition to your face with contouring powder. Then, use a shimmery highlighter on the high points of your face (cheekbones, brow bone, nose bridge).
5. Add Color: You can use blush to add a natural flush of color to your cheeks. For eyes, you can apply eyeliner and mascara. And for lips, opt for a tinted lip balm or lipstick.
6. Set Your Makeup: Set your makeup with a light dusting of translucent powder to finish your look.
7. Sun protection: Sun protection is not just a skincare step but a vital component of achieving a flawless complexion. Korean beauty brands offer a wide range of lightweight, non-greasy sunscreens. Apply sunscreen as the final step of your skincare routine, ensuring complete coverage over your face, neck, and any exposed areas.
These are just a few tips to help you get started with Korean makeup. With practice, you'll soon be able to create beautiful looks with everyone asking how you do it!
gradient lip technique is a popular trend in Korean makeup, known for its youthful and playful appeal.
To achieve this look, start by selecting a lip tint or lip stain in a shade of your choice.
Begin by applying a generous amount of color to the center of your lips, focusing on the inner parts. Gently press your lips together to distribute the color naturally.
Using your finger or a lip brush, blend the color outwards towards the edges of your lips. The goal is to create a gradient effect, with the center being more intense and gradually fading towards the outer corners.
Take your time to blend and smudge the edges for a seamless transition. This technique gives the illusion of plumper lips and a just-bitten, natural flush of color. Experiment with different shades and intensities to find the perfect gradient lip look that suits your style.
Use a spoolie brush to comb your eyebrow hairs upward. Trim any excessively long hairs that extend beyond the natural shape of your eyebrows. Trimming helps create a neater and more polished look.
Using an eyebrow pencil or powder that matches your hair color, fill in any sparse areas. Make light, feathery strokes in the direction of hair growth, focusing on creating a soft and natural look. Avoid applying too much product to maintain a natural appearance.
Unlike arched eyebrows, Korean eyebrows are typically straighter. To achieve this look, follow the natural curve of your eyebrows and avoid creating a pronounced arch. Use light strokes to define the bottom and top edges of your brows, maintaining a soft and straight appearance.
Use a spoolie brush or a clean mascara wand to comb through your eyebrows. This helps blend the product and soften any harsh lines, ensuring a natural finish. Gently brush the hairs upwards for added fullness.
To keep your eyebrows in place throughout the day, apply a clear or tinted brow gel. This will help maintain the desired shape and hold the hairs in position.
Get inspired by Korean beauty trends with the puppy eyeliner style, which features a downward curved winged liner, while the cat eyeliner curves the wing upward.
Korean beauty trends have introduced a unique twist on traditional eyeliner styles with the puppy eyeliner technique. Puppy eyeliner is characterized by a distinct downward curve in the winged liner, which creates a subtle and charming effect. In contrast, the classic cat eyeliner style is known for its winged liner that curves upward, creating a bold and feline-inspired look.
To further enhance the allure of the Korean eye makeup look, some individuals opt to incorporate false lashes for added depth and dimension. False lashes can instantly make your eyes appear wider, more open, and defined. When choosing false lashes for a Korean makeup look, it's best to opt for styles that are lightweight, wispy, and natural-looking.
Now that you know the basics of Korean makeup let's answer some frequently asked questions.
Korean makeup is often known as K-beauty, which encompasses makeup and skincare products, techniques, and trends originating from South Korea.
K-beauty focuses on achieving healthy, radiant skin using innovative and high-quality products suitable for different skin types and concerns.
It has gained worldwide popularity due to its effectiveness and unique formulas.
While the majority of Korean makeup products and techniques are designed for lighter skin tones, it is possible to adapt them for dark skin. Here are some tips on how to do Korean makeup for dark skin:
The main difference between Japanese and Korean makeup is the emphasis on natural-looking skin. While Japanese makeup focuses on heavy contouring, Korean makeup tends to be more dewy and luminous.
Koreans often use natural-looking eyeshadow shades such as soft browns, warm neutrals, and pastel hues for a subtle and youthful look.
In the previous, we saw some trending Korean looks that you can recreate for the perfect Korean glow, added some tips, and promised you that we will be back with the Korean makeup tutorial for beginners. And look here we are! In this article, you will learn everything from a Korean makeup look for tan skin to getting that glassy and natural look. Without any delay, let’s move ahead with the topic!
Table of Contents
The Korean makeup look is a trending technique of makeup application. It is inspired by the Korean people. Their way of doing makeup is mostly about enhancing the natural glow and make you look youthful with a dewy skin. The makeup product used are lightweight, comfortable, and less pigmented. Along with the Korean skincare routine, their makeup techniques and look have made a place in everyone’s heart. Whether you want to kpop makeup look cute or sexy, they have it all. Also you can read more about Korean makeup look.
Well, our inhouse makeup experts have finally come up with a tutorial that will help you learn the how to do korean makeup like a pro. Let’s set the table for our tutorial, here are the things you will need to create an amazing Korean makeup look:
Now, as you know which products you will need to move ahead with Korean makeup tutorials for beginners, there is one more thing you need to know. Korean makeup is all about enhancing the natural glow of the skin and making you look gorgeous. Follow all steps of this kpop makeup tutorial natural look to get a hang of it:
The very first step in kpop makeup tutorial is prepping the face, the usual procedure is applying primer and concealer. However, for a Korean makeup routine, the prep is a lengthy procedure. As we all know the Korean skincare routine is the secret to their plumpy and glowing face, the before-makeup prep is kind of that only.
The next step is to do the eyebrows and apply the eyeshadow. Keep your brow shape natural, you just have to touch up, add shape, and fill in gaps (if there are any). Secondly, remember, that Korean eye makeup is a mixture of matte, shimmer, and sometimes glitter.
For eyeshadow here are some of the De’Lanci products that you might like to add to your vanity to create a natural and Korean makeup look for tan skin:
The next step is to apply eyeliner and mascara. The Korean makeup tutorial for beginners will also help you learn a new type of eyeliner shape–puppy eyeliner. Start from the outer corner of the eyelid and take it up to the middle. You don’t have to give a wing to your eyeliner. Then take the brown shade with an angled brush and swipe it over the eyeliner to blend it well with the eyeshadow.
If you are a fan of glitter eyeliner, you might want to take a look at De’Lanci glitter liquid pen eyeliner.
Now, we will move ahead with the face makeup. The first step is to use a cushion foundation and apply it all over the face. The reason Koreans use cushion foundations is because of the full coverage it gives and is also lightweight. If you don’t have one, you can also use liquid foundation, but make sure it gives you the full coverage.
Image Credit: creatrip
Next up is the concealer, apply concealer, where you see the blemishes and blend it well. If you have black or blue-colored blemishes, use the concealer before applying the foundation.
Image Credit: stylecraze
Once you've applied the concealer, it is time to set all that base makeup. Use loose powder and apply it to your face. The finishing powder should also be cushioned, if possible.
Image Credit: cloudfront
Next up is contouring. Unlike our routine, we just have to put in a very little amount of contouring. You can say just a few swipes in the necessary places. The most important is nose contouring. Take a little amount of contour on the brush, remove excess, and swipe it on the sides of the nose bridge. Then do the light contouring on the forehead, cheeks, and jawline.
Now it's time to blush just like you do after seeing your crush! As for the blusher color choice, it would be better if you pick the peach or pink tone. Apply the blusher to your cheeks. Then move with a highlighter. Apply highlighter on your nose tip, nose bridge, a little on forehead, chin, and minimal on your cheekbones. To get that kpop makeup look perfect, pick De'Lanci blusher and highlighter palette.
It’s lipstick time! Now for the lipstick, very few Koreans go for the matte one. For that glossy look, the cream-based lipstick is what you want. You can apply either the full lipstick or go for the gradient lips as well. If you are applying liquid lipstick, here’s how you can apply it. And for the product, you can pick an Everlasting matte liquid lipstick set from De’Lanci.
If you are going for the gradient lip look, pick De’Lanci 25 color lipstick palette.
And there you have the gradient lip look. Wasn’t that easy?
The last step of the makeup routine is common in any type of makeup–setting spray. Pick the setting spray and fix the makeup look for good.
This article had information on how to do Korean makeup flawlessly and helped you learn the tiniest details. Now when you have learned a Korean makeup tutorial for beginners, practice to ace it and help others be the Lisa or Seo Ye-Ji of the group. Create a flawless Korean makeup look and tag us on Instagram to get featured, till then Saranghae. Stay tuned to De’Lanci for more tips on Makeup and its trends.