Koreans are famous for their fresh and youthful look. The reason lies in rigoristic skincare, but a special way of putting on the make-up also has a strong contribution to the effect. In this article we will introduce you what exactly do you need to try the Korean way from the very basics.
1. BB/CC cream or cushion foundation
Korean women do not prefer obviously looking, strongly covering matt foundation. Way of make-up promoted by Kim Kardashian doesn’t get a huge applause here.
BB cream foundation gives bright and moist look, covering uneven spots rather than making a wall-like mask. Recent trend id cushion foundation – a latest invention, easier and more even in application than traditional BB cream.
Average price in Korea: ₩ 10,000 – 35,000
@Photo: Kim Kardashian by Michael Loccisano
2. Blusher
Blusher gives a youthful touch, recalling those teenage days and first love’s burning cheeks – the greatest metaphor of youth and innocence.
Korean girls do not apply blusher under the cheekbone but slightly over it. It gives round baby-face look, rather than western-style sexy look, with defined cheekbones. No wonder, contouring – so popular on the West, hasn’t found many fans in Korea.
Average price range in Korea: ₩ 5,000 – 15,000
3. Highlighter
It’s a must if you want to get this shiny, moist look, beloved by Koreans. Latest trend is a liquid highlighter, which gives the effect of young, well-hydrated skin. We apply it slightly over the place we applied the blusher.
Average price in Korea: ₩ 6,000 – 15,000
4. Eyebrow liner
Eyebrow liner is a next must have for Korean style make-up. However, you must know that the way of applying it differs a lot from the western one. In the West, the eyebrow must be sharp and defined; there’s no fear of using even blackish colours. In Korea they prefer to use natural colour and the eyebrow line is thick but straight.
Average price in Korea: ₩ 8,000 – 20,000
5. Eyeliner
There are many choices of eyeliners in Korea – liquid, marker and pomade one. What is characteristic for them is their precise. It’s because the Korean eye-line is very thin, and if you are used to use the eyeliner, then you know that the thinner the line, the easier to mess it up. Unlike western-style curved eyeliner which goes much over the eyelid, sometimes meeting the eyebrow, the Korean style one, goes just slightly past the eyelid making the eyelashes look thicker and the eye wider.
Average price in Korea: ₩ 9,000 – 18,000
@Photo: stylecraze.com
6. Eye shadow
If you have ever been to Korea or saw some famous shopping streets on TV, then you must have spotted, that in every cosmetics shop there are plenty of various cute and fancy looking palettes. Korean girls love eyeshadows! Although they tend to be kind of fixed on one or two colour preferences. Pallettes in Korea dominate in pinkish, peachy and gold colours. Korean women often use those pinkish, peachy or baked tones on the outer eyelid and gold or any shiny ones on the inner one and whole lower eyelid. It makes eyes look bigger and enhance the effect of so-called aegyo-ssal. It covers well the symptoms of tiredness and lack of sleep.
Average price in Korea: ₩ 12,000 – 30,000
7. Mascara
Of course you must buy one to at least tint your eyelashes. Similarly to other things, when applying the make-up, you must make it more natural. Sticky, thick eyelashes are an absolute NOPE!
Average price in Korea: ₩ 10,000 – 25,000
8. Lip tint
The newest trend in Korean make-up is a lip tint. On the contrary to the western way they paint slightly only inner lips, making the outer line look little blurred into the skin around. Lip contouring and matt lips? NOPE!
Average price in Korea: ₩ 8,000 – 20,000
@Photo: Instagram – @kyliejenner
Shopping list:
To make it quick and easy, we made a shopping list for you.
- BB Cream/ Cushion foundation
- Blusher
- Highlither
- Eyebrow liner
- Eyeliner
- Eyeshadow palette
- Mascara
- Lip tint
Concerning average prices in Korea, you might spend from ₩ 68,000 up to ₩ 178,000 ($58 – 150). That’s not that much to spend on good quality make-up, right?
Where to buy? Cosmetics shops in Korea are almost everywhere, but it is always better to have plenty of choices. They offer enormous cho
- Myeongdong Shopping Street: Myeongdong-yeok, exit 6
- Hongdae Shopping Street: Hongdaeipgu-yeok, exit 9
- Dongdaemun Market: Dongdeamun History and Culture Park station, exits: 9-14
- Gangnam Station