I clearly remember the first encounter I had with K-Pop. It was back in 2005—I had just started 6th grade, and my mom and I discovered the channel, Arirang. We would watch MUSIC BANK every week, and I would dance to the random songs featured on their countdown. Though the Philippines was already in love with Taiwanese boyband, F4, from the ever-so-popular drama, Meteor Garden, it wasn’t until the boom of the Hallyu Wave around 2007 to 2008 that East Asian songs started appearing on local music channels like MYX, thanks to the resurfaced familiar face that is Sandara Park. And ever since, the wave has taken over the Filipinos, not only in terms of music, but even in our primetime shows, which have been replaced by the latest K-Dramas that have broken worldwide rating records (dubbed in the local language of course). Nowadays, Korean Pop stars are household names and not only have they influenced our taste in music, but also our taste in makeup looks. As a girl with chinky eyes and fair skin, I tend to follow Korean makeup trends more than western trends, only because I feel like it suits my face more, and they make better selcas (Korean version of the word selfie, meaning “self” + “camera”).
I always look forward to K-Beauty month here on Calyxta, because it means that I could write an article or two about my favorite culture in world. As the company’s in-house (self-proclaimed) K-POP KWEEN, I always make sure that I stay up to date with the newest trends that idols are sporting. And because of this, they asked me to make a list of my favorite Korean makeup Looks, and the K-Pop Idols that sported them! If you’re a K-beauty stan (used to describe a very passionate fan) like myself, maybe one of these trends would suit your kimchi-loving taste buds!
This might be the biggest trend in the K-Beauty world right now. We were all taught that blush should only be placed on the apples of our cheeks for a natural flush. With this trend, you just put it all over the center of your face for that natural drunk and dazed look, and finish with a sprinkle of faux freckles. Every K-Beauty brand out there now sells their own version of lip and cheek tints because of this craze. From water tints, to jelly tints, and even cloud-tints, the multi-tasking beauty product is now a must-have in every girl’s makeup kit.
Suggested Product: Pixi Sheer Cheek Gel
Red used to be a color that was only for the lips or cheeks, but now, Koreans wear the color even on their eyelids! Red eyeshadow is the new smokey eye since 2016. I remember being weirdly attracted to Baekhyun’s vampire-y red eyeshadow in EXO’s “Monster” music video. Now pinks and reds are neutral colors in an eyeshadow palette.
Suggested Product: Paprika Matte and Shimmer Eyeshadow Palette
I learned about this trick on the Korean show, Get It Beauty, when they featured my Red Velvet bias, Joy’s makeup. She was spotted with these spidery bottom lashes, that were actually falsies, in her recent selcas! The hosts tried to cop her look using some lengthening mascara, and OMG, it was an instant game changer! I was cursed with short and straight Asian lashes, so I never really wore mascara on my top lashes. But spidery bottom lashes became my saving grace (I always had fomo because I wanted to wear mascara). Just make sure you use a waterproof formula so you won’t end up with panda eyes.
Suggested Product: L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara
Groups with 4 to 12 members aren’t a weird thing in South Korea. So when you’re a soloist, you’ve got to be more glammed up to make an impact! And what’s glam without a little glitter? I’m not talking about metallic eyeshadow. I’m talking about literal chunks of glitter! It’s go big or go home with this one. Stage lights are so bright and crucial for an idol’s performance, so you have to work with what you’ve got and blind the audience with glittery eye makeup on a live show. And that’s what Sunmi of Wonder Girls, for her solo comeback “Gashina” and soloist, Chungha, were caught doing.
If glitter wasn’t extra enough for you, how about sticking some jewels on your face instead? This isn’t just limited to the eye area only. Idols like BlackPink’s Lisa put them on their lips. Former Girl’s Generation member, Jessica, was also spotted with a spread of jewels under her eyes on her W Magazine feature way back in 2011 (that’s what you call a trendsetter!). Or go all out and take a jewel shower like SECRET’s Song Ji Eun (as seen on her solo album cover).
One trend I have yet to try is face flowers. Kind of like the glitter trend, but more whimsical. Some do it to add accent to their eye makeup, and some use it as faux freckles. There’s just something magical about the idea of idols growing flowers on their faces (Yes, I know I have a weird imagination). If you don’t want people to look at you weirdly, maybe try this look for a photoshoot. I’m sure it’ll make a kyeopta (Korean for “cute”) profile pic!
Around 60% of Asian women have monolids. It’s a daily struggle for us. You take an hour to do your eye makeup, and it ends up getting lost in the depths of your creases. But thank God falsies and eyeliner were invented! If you’re like me, I have four different types of eyeliners in my makeup kit. Because I’ve given up on my upper lashes, I tend to do a thick wing to hide my monolid. Some opt for the falsies option (I can’t wear falsies because I wear glasses). But if you’re a K-Pop queen, one pair of falsies might not be enough. CL, former leader of disbanded group 2NE1, revealed in an interview that she actually stacks on two pairs of falsies on a daily basis! But then again, I don’t expect anything less from the queen Gizibe (Korean term meaning “bad girl” or bad “female”).
Suggested Product: Huda Beauty Classic Lash in Scarlet
If you’re a newbie in the K-Pop world, I imagine you’d be having a hard time distinguishing members when you come across a group with more than five members. So their agencies tend to go ham with every member’s styling and makeup, just so they all look different from each other. You either go the colored hair route, or the colored contacts route. I know it’s not really a makeup look, but light contacts really make a big difference in an idol’s look.
We’re almost at the half point of 2018, but it’s never to late to try a fresh, new look. Until the next K-Beauty month, Gorgeous! Annyeong! 🤞
Written By:
Ming Bagaforo
GRAPHICS AND MEDIA ARTIST
Ming is Calyxta’s crazy in-house Graphics and Media Artist. You may have already seen her in some of our quirky Product Reviews and Videos. Her favorite Calyxta find is the CLIO Kill Black Brush Pen Eyeliner, which she uses for her signature Ming-liner look!
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