With K-pop and Hallyu culture seeming to never go out of style, it looks like Korean beauty trends are here to stay as well. What’s great about K-beauty is its subtlety–they like it natural, nothing too heavy or garish to look at. That means no contour, no heavy blushes, no matte lips or foundation. And you know what that means: absolutely anyone can rock that innate shine without too much effort. No need for those thin jawlines or milky white skin. You don’t have to look like a K-pop idol to feel like one.
So we got a couple of our friends to wear these famous K-beauty trends that you could try at home. Sometimes, less is more.
KAT wears:
Puppy Eyeliner – While the cat eye is meant for a fierce, intense look, the ‘puppy eye’ is the exact opposite. Instead of swiping your eyeliner up, you swoop it down to create a softer, rounder, and more innocent look. Puppy eyeliner is said to make the eyes seem bigger (and cuter, if you will), while accentuating their natural shape.
(Almost) Straight Brows – The straight brow trend has shifted a bit the past year. Beauty gurus are now moving from having their brows completely straight to having a very slight arch on the bottom of the browbone, all while maintaining a sweeter and less intimidating facade.
TIMO wears:
Dewy Skin – In Hangeul, it’s called ‘chok chok,’ meaning plump and moist. Koreans also apparently have an aversion to anything matte. The dewy skin fad again makes the face look more glowing and healthy. There’s even a beauty hack to get it done called ‘jamsu,’ which is to dump your freshly made up face in a bowl full of water to seal in products and come out with primed skin and a natural shimmer.
KAT wears:
Gradient Lips – Kylie Jenner’s matte lip has no place in the SoKo glam scene. Korean beauty followers are all for the most natural hint of color on their puckers–the gradient lip. This look makes you seem like you got your lip color by eating some fresh cherries or strawberries straight out of the farm.
TIMO wears:
Pink and Orange Eyeshadow – Orange anything is pretty much all the rage in Seoul. From hair color, to blush, to lips, Seoulites are obsessed with the color. Orange eyeshadow is often blended with pink to make the eyes pop without them looking too extreme.
Photography by Ralph Mendoza