K-beauty makeup - the tips that will help you succeed

Creating a smooth, radiant, and beautiful, yet natural, makeup base starts with a good skincare routine. With a Korean skincare routine you ensure that your skin is well taken care of and that the base is applied beautifully. Countless different makeup products can easily create a sense of helplessness; where should you really start? Although there are no rules for makeup, many small tricks and tips help build confidence in your makeup application.

In this article, we provide tips for creating Korean glass skin looks and explore the differences between Korean and Western makeup techniques. Additionally, we go through the order in which the products should be applied, as well as provide tips for enhancing different eye shapes.

Korean glass skin

The first step towards achieving glass skin is primarily created with a good skincare routine, but the effect is enhanced with the help of makeup. Learn how to achieve glass skin with skincare.

Perfect base

When the goal is a very even and radiant complexion, it's worth investing in an extra step in your makeup routine, namely a good primer. You create the wonderful glow with espoir Dewlike Jello Glowrizer primer.

Then either a foundation or BB cream is applied, which provides a radiant finish, adding more glow to the face.

We recommend that you try the super popular espoir foundations, such as Pro Tailor Be Natural Cushion. When it comes to BB creams, we recommend glow breathable blemish balm.

The trendiest way to apply BB cream or foundation is with a spatula, which gives an incredibly smooth finish. Choose lighter BB creams and foundations that provide a radiant finish and build up in layers as needed. Small pigmentation and dark circles under the eyes can be covered with a suitable concealer.

Add glow

The next step is to give the face a glow with a rouge that matches the skin tone. Koreans particularly prefer rouge on the highest points of the cheeks, and even under the eyes, to create as youthful and radiant a look as possible.

glow cocktail oil blush unique composition contains three color layers that blend together and leave a multidimensional finish.

The magical effect of powder

To create a clear, glass-like glow without excessive oily sheen, a moderate use of powder is the secret behind a successful glass skin look.

Apply powder lightly from the bridge of the nose to the corner of the mouth, a small amount under the cheekbone, and if necessary on the shiniest part of the forehead. You don't need much powder, but this gives a lovely glow instead of looking like you desperately need rice paper.

The powder does not necessarily have to be completely matte; you can ensure that the makeup stays in place for as long as possible and looks as radiant as possible, for example with TFIT Translucent Set Finishing Powder in the 05 Baby Pink shade.

 

The Secrets of Korean Makeup

The difference between Korean and Western makeup

While Western makeup trends in recent years have favored strong features, such as clearly drawn or shaped eyebrows, long false eyelashes, and boldly drawn lips, Korean makeup, on the other hand, prefers softer styles that particularly emphasize youthfulness.

Korean makeup

In Korea, it has been popular for a while to have soft eyebrows that are not particularly strongly shaped, plucked, or arched. Instead, Korean eyebrows are natural, even straight, and their color and fullness are easily highlighted.

The Korean makeup base is glossy and natural. BB, CC, and tinted moisturizers are primarily preferred over foundation. The use of contour or bronzer is not particularly popular; instead, the appearance of the face is warmed up with blush.

Eye makeup is usually soft, neutral, or even pastel, and cat-like eyeliner is also popular for creating a doll-like finish. Koreans often add a touch of glitter or shimmering eyeshadow to the inner corner or on the lower eyelid. In the famous aegyo sal makeup, the plump part of the lower eyelid is highlighted with shimmering eyeshadow, giving a youthful appearance.

On the lips, shiny and round, even glass-like results are preferred over matte. Long-lasting lip colors, that is, lip tints, are very popular and their formulations are unmatched in K-beauty products.

Discover our article about trendy Korean lip makeup!

In what order are the makeup products applied?

Even though the order is not set in stone, for example, makeup artists follow the order outlined below when applying makeup.

If you plan to create a very dark smokey eye makeup, we recommend that you start with the eye makeup so that the dark eyeshadow doesn't fall down onto the finished base.

1. Primer or tone-up cream
2. Foundation, BB or CC cream
3. Concealer
4. Pillows
5. Rouge and highlighter (if you use liquid products, apply them before the powder)
6. Eyebrow
7. Eye makeup
8. Lips
9. Setting spray

Basic products

If you want to create as sustainable and beautiful a base as possible, it's good to start applying a primer after your skincare routine. In a basic everyday look, this is absolutely not necessary, but a good primer helps the foundation apply more evenly and makes the makeup last better throughout the day.

Koreans love radiant skin, and to achieve that, it is good to use products that provide glow, along with a good skincare routine.

Tone-up creams

Those who have familiarized themselves with Korean cosmetics have surely come across tone up creams, which are truly multifunctional products. They often have a high sun protection factor, so they work excellently as a light tinted sunscreen. Additionally, they can be used as a primer to even out skin tone and improve the longevity of makeup.

BB and CC cream

How do BB and CC creams differ from foundation in k-beauty?

You may have also come across tinted moisturizers, which BB and CC creams are as well - but BB and CC creams also contain added illuminating ingredients and minerals. BB and CC creams are very light in consistency and create a good base; with these, you can create a slightly more even, very natural base, like your own skin, but a little better.

BB cream comes from the words beauty balm and provides a light, radiant coverage and is best for concealing small skin imperfections and creating a "no makeup makeup look." In contrast, CC cream, or Colour Corrector, is usually more airy in consistency and provides a matte finish.

In short, foundation, BB creams, and CC creams differ from each other in their caring properties, and they are also different in their consistency. All are suitable for creating a natural result.

Foundation and its application

The viral cushion foundations in Korean beauty are known for their smooth application!

Start applying foundation with a brush on the areas where you want to cover a little extra; for example, redness. Then, gently blend the foundation evenly with the accompanying makeup sponge.

Apply more foundation with a smaller brush on areas that need more coverage. Blend concealer with foundation so that the shades merge perfectly together.

Concealer

According to the name, concealer provides extra coverage. There is a wide range of concealers with different coverage levels, consistencies, and that offer both a glossy and matte finish.

Concealer is applied after the base product, that is, BB-/CC-/foundation, or directly on top of moisturizer or sunscreen if one does not intend to use other base products. With concealer, one can hide small and large skin imperfections and for example brighten dark circles under the eyes.

[Tip!] Concealer easily settles into the wrinkles under the eyes, so we recommend that you apply concealer, continue with, for example, the eyebrows, and then go back to finish the base makeup. By the time it takes to fix the eyebrows, it is usually already visible where the concealer has settled into the lines. Take a clean cotton swab and gently wipe away excess concealer from these areas, and finish the base with powder.

Test About Tone Hold On Tight Concealer, which has a thin, light consistency and soothing ingredients.

 

Powder finishes the makeup base

Foundation (or BB-/CC-cream) and concealer are set in place with powder. The use of powder is not mandatory in any way, especially if you want a very glowy result, but using powder extends the longevity of your base products.

There are also several different formulations of powders available (loose and pressed powders) as well as different finishes (e.g. matte, glowy, natural, and shimmery). K-beauty makeup also offers innovative powder shades for different skin conditions; for example, TFIT Translucent Set Finishing Powder has many options for different skin types.

Apply a small layer of powder with a brush to set the makeup under the eyebrows and on the eyelids. Try the translucent About Tone Air Fit Powder, which sets the makeup while evening out and smoothing the skin's texture. For oily skin, for example, Etude Zero Sebum Drying Powder is suitable.

 

Blush and highlighter

Add blush to the highest points of the face to give radiance and life. Highlighter should be applied to the areas where the light hits the face first and strongest; on the cheekbones, on the bridge of the nose, and under the eyebrow.

There are blushes in our range for all tastes, but we recommend that you check out About Tone Fluffy Air Blusher, a liquid blush that provides a beautiful velvety finish and is available in many wonderful shades.

Contour and highlighter products can be used to accentuate or soften facial features by creating desired shadows or, as the name suggests, highlighting specific facial features. The most common places to apply contour are directly under the cheekbone, on the sides of the nose, as well as at the hairline and jawline. Highlighter products, on the other hand, are applied where the light hits the face first or on the areas that one particularly wants to highlight. Add highlighter, for example, on the bridge of the nose, above the upper lip, as well as under the eyebrow and on the cheekbone.

The ABCs of color makeup

When you have created the foundation you desire, it's time to move on to so-called color makeup.

Eyebrow

Eyebrow trends change and depend a lot on where in the world you are. While Western countries have preferred a quite defined and full eyebrow trend in recent years, for example, it is more likely to encounter soft, even somewhat fluffy eyebrows in South Korea. The eyebrows are not heavily drawn, but rather more natural.

Regardless of the style you have for your eyebrows, there are today several different products to style them. Eyebrow pencils are perhaps the most familiar way for most to style their eyebrows as they are very versatile; you can, among other things, fill in sparse areas and enhance the shape of the eyebrows. There are both color pencils and liquid pencils.

Eyebrow gels keep the hairs in place and come in both transparent and colored formulas. With the gel, you can easily and quickly create well-shaped eyebrows with just one product. Eyebrow pomade is a creamy product that usually comes in a small jar. They provide a natural result if you want to fill in sparse areas in the eyebrows or enhance the natural shape of the eyebrows. Eyebrow powder works in the same way. Eyebrow wax "freezes" the eyebrows in place and makes them look fuller.

Eyeshadow and how the shape of the eyes affects its application

If you want a long-lasting result, first apply a creamy eyeshadow on the eyelids and then a powder eyeshadow. A primer also significantly improves the longevity of the eyeshadow, we recommend that you try Bbia Last Eye Primer!

Korean makeup brands offer a fantastic range of both the most eye-catching glitter shadows, as well as palettes to create a natural everyday look. Check out our eye makeup selection here.

Simplified, a rule of thumb for applying eyeshadow can be:

1. First, apply neutral eyeshadow all over the eyelid.
2. Create shape in the eyes with shadow by adding a slightly darker shade that matches the eyeshadow you first applied in the crease (where the moving eyelid meets the inner corner). For example, try light brown all over the eyelid and a slightly darker brown for shading. If you have heavy eyelids, check out a personal tip further down!
3. A darker shade is added to the outer corners of the eyes to enhance them. Create a V-shaped form from the base of the lashes towards the outer corners of the eyes. Start with a small amount of shadow and add more as needed to achieve the desired result.
4. If you want, you can also add a highlighter to your eye makeup in addition to shadows by choosing a light or even shimmering eyeshadow shade, which is applied to the inner corners of the eyes as well as under the highest point of the eyebrow.
5. Remember to carefully smooth out all sharp edges! 
6. "If you want more, an eyeliner can complete the look."
7. Finally, the lashes are curled and mascara is applied.

The above-mentioned instructions work regardless of whether the eyeshadows you choose are discreet neutrals or wonderful glitter shades.

Round eyes are equal in both width and height, and both the eyelids and the white part around the iris are clearly defined. Round eyes can be accentuated with a neutral eyeshadow. When doing a dark smoky eye makeup, apply the dark shade right at the lash roots. To highlight the shape, you should primarily apply mascara to the upper lashes and remember to curl the lashes to create an even more open look.

Monolid, or Asian eyes, are characterized by the fact that the movable part of the eyelid is not visible when the eyes are open. The shape of the eyes can be particularly enhanced with eyeliner. In the outer corner of the eye, it may be worth trying to create a curved shape while blending the eyeliner for a softer effect.

Downturned eyes can be identified by examining the outer corner of the eye – does the shape point downwards or upwards? If the outer corner is slightly lower than the inner corner, you have downturned eyes. To lift the impression, you can apply a touch of highlighter or concealer to the outer corner, curl the lashes, and apply mascara with upward movements instead of pulling them out in a cat-eye shape.

Upturned eyes: Just like downturned eyes, upturned eyes can be identified by looking at the outer corner of the eye – the outer corner is cat-like and slightly higher than the inner one. This eye shape works particularly well with a cat-eye liner, where the effect can be enhanced by placing extra focus on the outer corner and blending the eyeliner upwards for a softer transition.

Heavy eyelids: The movable eyelid is partially or completely hidden by the skin above. Often, the cheekbones are also pronounced and prominent. When applying eyeshadow on heavy eyelids, it is important to ensure that the makeup does not smudge from the movable eyelid or lashes to the cheekbone. It can be helpful to use waterproof mascara and eyeliner, as well as to prime the eyeshadow carefully.

Unlike regular application techniques, the shading should not start in the crease of the eyelid, as this can enhance the heavy impression. Instead, you should look straight into the mirror and apply the shadow where the moving eyelid meets the cheekbone when looking forward. This opens up the gaze and reduces the risk of the heavy eyelid negatively affecting your makeup.

Almond-shaped eyes are oval, meaning they are wider than they are tall. The outer corner curves upward and outward, and the edge of the eyelid is defined. The eye shape can be accentuated by making the eyelashes the focus of your makeup or by trying a dark smoky eye makeup.

Mascara

Mascara is definitely one of the most common makeup products, and there are many to choose from. One of Yeppo's bestsellers is BBIA Never Die Mascara, which, as the name suggests, stays put all day without budging. The absolutely most popular mascara color is black, but especially for skin types represented by softer shades in color analysis, we sometimes recommend trying brown mascara - it can quickly become a new favorite! The brown shade is often softer and more natural for the lashes than black. But of course, nothing else can create drama quite like black!

[Tip!] If you want to create more dramatic lashes, try adding some loose powder between layers of mascara. This creates more surface for the lashes in the same way that the fibers used in fiber mascaras do, allowing for even more impressive lashes.

Lip products

If you plan to create a strong lip look, it’s good to exfoliate the lips from dry skin the night before, if possible, and apply a lip mask overnight.

Just like with all other makeup, it is important to prep the lips carefully and follow a certain order, especially with a more eye-catching lip makeup.

1. Exfoliate the lips and apply a mask or lip balm
2. If you have just exfoliated and moisturized your lips before makeup, be sure to gently dab away any excess lip balm before the next step.
3. Apply a lip primer (or if you don't have one, a small amount of foundation or concealer).
4. For extra durability, you can easily powder your lips before applying the lip product, but if you have dry lips, you should be careful with powder.
5. Outline the lips with a lip pencil (if you wish). You can also apply lip pencil all over the lips as a base before applying lipstick or another product.
6. Apply lipstick or another lip product directly from the stick, with your fingers or a brush. For a more long-lasting color or more intense shade, press your lips against a paper napkin to remove excess color.
7. Apply a second layer of lip product.
8. For a matte finish, finish by lightly applying transparent loose powder.

Lipstick enhances the shape of the lips and comes in a variety of colors and textures.

Lip gloss and especially the Korean ones, create a very shiny, almost watery finish. They can also enhance the fullness of the lips.

Lip tints are a cross between lipstick and lip gloss. They give the lips a light color and last very well throughout the day.

Lip pencils enhance the desired lip shape and improve the durability of lipstick.

Lip plumper is a lip gloss that has a gentle plumping property for the lips, which can be used alone or as a finishing touch to the lip look. For example, try Keep In Touch Jelly Lip Plumper Tint where the gloss of the lip gloss, the durability of the shade, and the effect of the plumper are combined.

Settingspray

If you want your makeup to stay in place all day or night, add a setting spray as the last step. It works a bit like hairspray and keeps everything in place. Try Frudia Makeup Setting Fixer, which helps to balance the skin's oil production and keeps the makeup beautifully velvety all day.