I binge-watched K-dramas only to get obsessed with these makeup trends

I've become a huge fan of Korean dramas after binge-watching several series. While I love the romantic storylines, I'm equally captivated by the characters' delicate makeup looks. From Seo Yea-ji’s muted cryptic glam in It’s Okay To Not Be Okay to Son Ye-jin’s dainty elegance in Crash Landing On You, you’d notice that the basic structure of Korean makeup remains the same, apart from a few variations for different moods and tones.

I often pause during intense scenes to admire the eye makeup or other details. Not to say my heart doesn’t flutter every time the characters share a fairy-tale moment on screen. These dramas aren't just here to up our standards in romance, but they also bring major inspo when it comes to K-beauty. While everyone's obsessed with how Koreans do it, here's decoding K-beauty trends you should take note of. 

Aegyo sal

This translates to “cheery fat”, which refers to the pocket of puffy fat found under the eyes. Koreans believe in enhancing this area with the use of a light brown shadow and shimmer that highlights their under eyes, lending a sort of a 3D effect. Popular among celebrities and other Koreans alike, this makeup technique is designed to make your face appear more cheerful and innocent. P.S: Do not mistake your eye bags for the Aegyo sal. Eye bags are darker, bigger and saggier! 

Doll lenses

Inspired by anime characters, doll lenses are a game-changer. Often referred to as the “big eye” contacts, these lenses exceed your natural iris, making your eyes look bigger and inevitably prettier. No wonder K-drama characters have such dreamy, expressive eyes, easy to get lost in!

Straight brows

Being a professional makeup artist, I have been taught to comb the brows upwards and master that lifted arch. However, the Korean approach to creating the perfect brows is quite the opposite! The Koreans don straight brows and sometimes, even have their brow hair brushed down. This unique technique is aimed towards achieving a more approachable appearance, whereas lifted brows are said to look too harsh on Asian features. You’ll even notice popular male actors like heartthrob Kim Soo-Hyun flaunt straight brows. And oh boy, do they look good on him. What a charmer!

Puppy dog eyes

It is the prominent use of peach-coloured eyeshadow to soften the lids and create a delicate blur around the eyes, complete with a puppy eyeliner, a line that doesn’t wing upwards but rather droops downwards following the natural eye shape. Tried the puppy liner and loved it! Glitter in the inner corners is common too. This perfectly compliments the Aegyo sal and Doll lense aesthetic to forge that childlike sparkle in the eyes! Park Min Young’s character in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim is a perfect example of this makeup look.

Clean skin

Known for their skincare, I’m not sure if Koreans are just blessed with beautiful glass skin or work hard for it. Nonetheless, such good skin allows taking a minimalistic approach in acing a flawless base. Less is more, and they know it. Skin tints over full-coverage foundations and BB/CC creams to even out any imperfections; they resort to heavier products like concealer only if needed. The application of blush or any other pigments is minimal, enough to add a natural flush of colour and nothing over the top. Kim Ji-won manages to look effortlessly pretty with little to no makeup in the currently trending drama series Queen of Tears.

Gradient lips

Now, this is a trend I’m obsessed with because dabbing a lip tint only to the inner centres of your lips makes them pop ever so beautifully, giving the illusion of a natural cherry pout. This is topped with a transparent lip balm all over the lips to make them look plump, juicy and hydrated. Not powder blushes, but Koreans are big on lip and cheek tints as they look more natural especially when applied monochrome i.e. same shade for your eyes, lips and cheeks.

K-Beauty trends are here to let you get creative and experimental with your makeup. They are super fun and if you watch any of the K-dramas, like me, you’d be dying to try out some of the looks! 

Leaving you with a parting note since you made it to the end—Watch Queen of Tears and What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim. You can thank me later. The onscreen romance will leave you blushing without needing any of that tint!

Lead image: Netflix

Also read: Products you need to do the 10-step Korean skincare routine

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