Korean Beauty Secrets

So let’s start with that flaw-free canvas. If you’re new to Korean beauty and don’t yet have that dewy, flawless skin that’s the hallmark of the Korean aesthetic, there are some products that can help you fake it till you make it.

Unless you’ve just escaped a cult compound in the middle of the desert, I’m sure you’ve heard of BB cream. Depending on who you ask, the BB stands for beauty balm, blemish balm, or even beblesh balm. The origins of this cream can be traced all the way back to 1960s Germany, where a dermatologist formulated the balm to soothe and protect her patients’ delicate new skin after facial peels and even surgery. Later, in the mid 80s, BB cream gained a huge following in Korea, thanks to actresses singing it’s praises.

Today’s formulations are marketed as a welcome replacement for heavy, cakey foundations. They usually contain skincare friendly ingredients, SPF, and have light reflecting properties that even out one’s skin tone and blur blemishes. Since the BB creams of today are marketed mainly in the Asian market, sadly there are not a lot of shade options as of now. Most brands offer only two, perhaps three shade options on the light end of the spectrum that promise to oxidize within a few minutes to match your skin tone. That’s all well and great if you are fair-skinned, but for those with darker skin, it can be frustrating finding a brand that you can rock. I’m hoping the huge surge in exports to other countries and the swelling popularity of Korean cosmetics will spur these companies on to produce a more generous offering of shades.

If you do fall within the very narrow shade spectrum, there are so many wonderful formulations for you to try. The majority of BB creams come in a traditional pump or squeeze tube, which you can apply with your fingers, a sponge, or a brush. I have a handful of such BB creams that I find myself purchasing again and again, recommending to friends, and using on photoshoots.

Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++

The first is Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++. This is Missha’s most popular product; their website claims over 30 million have been sold worldwide. What I really appreciate about this product is its wider range of shades compared to other BBs. It may not sound like much compared to how many colors are available in other foundations, but with Missha’s five shades options, we were able to match every girl at our photoshoot for this book. Missha’s shade #31 Golden Honey is one of the darkest, if not the darkest, shade available in Korean BB creams. Conversely, #13 Milky Beige, is one of the fairest.

M Perfect Cover BB has medium-to-full, buildable coverage, and will easily cover minor flaws, even out skin tone, and help conceal under-eye discoloration. It also contains ingredients that are skin friendly, such as jojoba oil, rosemary extract, algae extract, caviar extract, and ceramides.

Dr. G Gowoonsesang Brightening Balm

If you want to reach back to the early origins of BB creams, there’s Dr. G Gowoonsesang Brightening Balm. According to Gowoonsesang, the company was established by a team of medical skin professionals, including eight doctors, forty-three dermatologists, 114 nurses and 110 medical estheticians. This BB cream truly pays tribute to its doctor developed roots with a focus on skincare ingredients that brighten and even skin tone. However, I would only recommend this BB cream for cool, fair skin. It can read a little gray on warmer and darker tones. That said, it is excellent for addressing uneven skin tone and removing redness with its light, concealer-like coverage. It also does a bang-up job controlling oil and leaves a very natural matte finish as it melts into the skin. It’s a must try for pale, cool-toned complexions seeking to balance out ruddiness!

Lioele Triple The Solution BB Cream

Another top pick is Lioele Triple The Solution BB Cream. This is one of the fuller coverage BB creams I’ve tried. I’d say it’s more akin to a foundation in terms of coverage, but unlike a foundation, this covers without being cakey. Yogurt powder and licorice root extract are two of the notable ingredients in this formulation, along with an SPF rating of 30 PA++. It applies extremely smoothly and creamy.

Another thing that makes this high-coverage BB stand apart from foundations is that it doesn’t cling to dry patches or settle into fine lines. The major drawback is that it’s only available in a single shade, so this is going to work for only a very limited selection of people. It does oxidize, brighten, and then adjust to your color, but that’s only if you fall within the narrow fair-to-medium toned family.

Innisfree Forest for Men Handsome BB SPF30 PA++

There are also BB creams marketed to men. They’re billed more as a sunblock/moisturizer/skin treatment with some color correction, while avoiding the label “makeup.” Spending an estimated $900 million a year on skincare and cosmetics, men in Korea are just as concerned about their skin as women.

There are several popular men’s BB creams, and I actually have a favorite. My husband, who is a professional model, uses Innisfree Forest For Men Handsome BB SPF30 PA++ when he’s on set or on the runway. Forest For Men BB has a lighter, more watery texture than any of the BB creams I use, and has a much more natural finish. It also works very, very well for oily skin. I say screw gender lines, if you’re a female and you think that formula sounds appealing to you, or a male who wants a thicker, more dewy formula found in women’s BB creams, go for it!

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Dr Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45

Lastly, my other favorite BB tube is Dr Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45. This BB is very similar to the Lioele cream in terms of wear and feel, but offers slightly less coverage. What it really has going for it is that it’s very easy to purchase across the world since it’s available at Sephora. It also has a leg up on the Lioele BB in the sense that Dr Jart is at least available in two shades: light to medium, and medium to deep. The tube is very sturdy, coated in a hard plastic, it travels well without fear of puncture.

As if BB cream wasn’t enough, there’s also CC cream (and DD, EE, etc. cream but those are few and far between and not really worth getting into). CC cream is a branch of the BB cream/foundation family tree. CC usually stands for Color Correcting, and in that case, is designed to be used as color-correcting primer used under your BB cream. Promising to keep ruddiness and dull skin at bay, some formulas have enough coverage to even out skin tone and be worn alone.

Banila Co. It Radiant CC Cream SPF30 PA++

Banila Co. It Radiant CC Cream SPF30 PA++ is probably the most popular CC cream in the Korean beauty blogger world. With an herbal water complex, micro powders, and brightening capsules, this product lightens and brightens. So much so that I would only recommend this to fair-skinned people. Many CC creams are only available in a single shade. Therein lies the problem with a lot of traditional Korean CC creams: because of the trend of wearing foundation/BB cream a few shades lighter than your actual skin tone, these creams are incredibly whitening. Unless you are on the fairest end of the spectrum, many Korean CC creams are going to give you major “ghost face.”

TonyMoly Pure Aura Luminous CC Cream

TonyMoly Pure Aura Luminous CC Cream does a good job providing a soft luminous finish that could be substituted for a BB cream if you don’t have a lot of imperfections that need covering. This formula has the aforementioned micro capsules that break to reveal a bright, neutral beige color, housed inside an upright plastic tube with a pump, but again, only the very fair will benefit.

Borntree Bloom Mineral Avenue Ampoule CC SPF25 PA++

There’s even an ampoule-style CC. Borntree Bloom Mineral Avenue Ampoule CC SPF25 PA++ comes in a glass jar with a dropper-style applicator, just like you’d find in an ampoule. It promises to moisturize and treat skin, as well as provide light coverage of imperfections. It’s very shimmery and glowy upon application. I actually quite like this CC, and would love to see more ampoule-style CC’s on the market!

Hera CC Cream Complete Care Cream SPF35/PA++

Now, for my absolutely favorite CC cream, the Hera CC Cream Complete Care Cream SPF35/PA++. Unlike the first two I mentioned, this one comes in two shades instead of the single shade. I still wouldn’t recommend it for very tan or dark skin, but I’m happy there’s at least the two options available. There is 01 Pink Beige, for cool pink undertones, and 02 Natural Beige for light to medium beige undertones. This cream blends smoothly, and gives an instant incandescent glow. While it’s very moisturizing, it’s loved by both oilier and drier skin types. It can very easily be worn both under and in place of a BB cream. Hera is the priciest CC cream, but I find it’s also the very best, a pleasure to use, and worth the money if you’re going to give one a try.

In addition to the conventional tube packaging for CCs and BBs, there’s also the now ubiquitous cushion compact. It features a chubby compact that opens up to reveal a sponge soaked in BB cream that you apply with a provided silicone puff. The silicon pad gives an airbrushed finish when used with a light stamping or patting motion.

Some people were concerned that a sponge might not be sanitary with multiple uses, so now there are metal cushions available that dispense a squirt of BB when you depress the pan with the provided round sponge. In the case of CC creams, there are compacts much like the metal BBs, but with plastic pans that offer up a single squirt of product with each touch. For ease of use, portability, and flawless application I personally love BB cushions and their many ever-changing manifestations.

It’s important to note that when using a cushion BB, you must hold the sponge flat in your fingers, and then stamp or pat on the foundation with a light touch. If you bend the applicator or press too hard, two things will happen: (1) the BB will not have that lovely airbrushed look that we usually get from the cushion, and (2) eventually, your sponge will split and tear. A bonus to the prescribed cushion-compact method is that you don’t have to worry about buffing, blending, or getting a streaky application with your BB cushion.

This product is great for beginners and pros alike! I have tried so many different cushions for the purpose of blog reviews, and each time I thought it couldn’t get any better I found more and more must tries.

Iope Air Cushion

The Iope Air Cushion is a very popular version that I really love. Iope would be akin to a brand like Lancome in terms of pricing and prestige in Korea. It’s on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, but is truly a great option. It comes in a couple of different finishes, natural (medium coverage) and cover (medium to full coverage). Sadly, as with most BB creams, there are only three shades available.

Iope brought the first BB cushion to market in 2008, and they have dominated the market ever since. With a formula that includes plant peptides, mineral water, and various vitamins, Iope boasts sales that average about one unit sold every four seconds. With a revenue of 200 million dollars in 2014, Iope has the number-one Korean market share for foundation products. Iope’s parent company, Amore Pacific (which owns many major Korean brands), claims that one out of every 2.4 women between the ages of twenty and sixty-nine used Iope’s Air Cushion.

And if you’re wondering, yes, it really is that good! I find myself going back to it time and time again. Never cakey, never falling into fine lines, and with a broad spectrum SPF 50, it’s an excellent choice. I’ve known both oily skin types and dry skin types to like this one, so it’s suitable for just about anyone. It normally retails somewhere around $40–$45, and usually comes with a free refill for each compact.

Innisfree Ampoule Intense Cushion

Another BB cushion I’ve not only enjoyed, but also repurchased, is the Innisfree Ampoule Intense Cushion. Like Iope, it’s available only in three shade selections, but it is approximately $10 cheaper. It’s billed as being for the drier months of the year, but I think anyone with normal to dry skin would enjoy this at any given time. Containing green tea leaf extract, green tea seed oil, sodium hyaluronate, orchid, and niacinamide, and scoring exceedingly low on the acne trigger scale, this cushion provides a glowing, dewy finish without being greasy.

My only complaint about this cushion is that it only has an SPF of 34, but you shouldn’t be getting your only sun protection from your BB cream anyway, so that isn’t much of a drawback.

Innisfree Water Glow Cushion

A sister product in the Innisfree line, the Water Glow Cushion, has a higher SPF of 50. It also boasts green tea extract, an excellent moisturizer, antioxidant, emollient, and astringent as its first ingredient. This product, as its name indicates, gives a watery, glowing finish. The cushion’s ingredients will give your skin moisture without any kind of heaviness or stickiness. Like the others, it also scores very low on acne triggers, so anyone battling breakouts has little to worry about with this product.

The Missha M Magic Cushion

All of the cushions I’ve talked about so far have dewy finishes, but if you’re looking for something a little different, Missha has a great option for you. The Missha M Magic Cushion has a very unique finish that strikes the perfect balance between matte and dewy. Housed in substantial packaging that includes a mirror, this cushion feels very high end. This BB pats onto the skin slightly orange, but oxidizes into a nice warm shade. The coverage is medium and is applied best with a light touch. Since the formula skews toward matte, it’s not as forgiving to a heavy hand as an ultra dewy finish would be. The Missha cushion also has a very pleasant, clean, scent that is very fresh and floral.

One of my favorite things about this BB besides the finish is how powdery soft your skin feels after application. You’ll have a hard time stopping yourself from touching your face; I know I did. With ingredients like baobab fruit extract, witch hazel, bamboo water, niacinamide, xylitol, and cactus flower extract, this BB is very friendly to oily skin and has very low acne trigger content. The driest of skins might want to do with a more emollient BB, but I’m normal to dry and I really like it. It’s the perfect cushion for all the matte looks that are gaining in popularity.

Although BB cushions are my preferred method of application, there are times when I do need a traditional BB tube. One of those times is when I’m using volumer-type products. What is a volumer? Well, if you’ve ever watched any Korean television shows, movies, or music videos, you might have noticed that the stars have this ethereal, youthful, dewy, glowing skin. It’s mesmerizing and almost otherworldly. Yes, that is in large part thanks to their skincare, but you can also achieve this look with a volumer! It’s a clear, or slightly iridescent liquid or cream that you can mix in a 1:3 ratio with your favorite BB cream, or directly add it to areas that you would normally apply highlight to, such as the tops of the cheeks, cupid’s bow, forehead, and nose bridge. It’s called a volumer because it adds a dewy “volume” to your face.

I know that glowing skin flies in the face of the matte, powdered-down, North American aesthetic that’s been popular for years, but I think it’s such a beautiful look. As you age, the first thing you notice is that your glow disappears, so adding a volumer can help your skin look more youthful.

Volumers can also be used on any skin color, so even if you are shaded out of the BB cream market, you can still use a volumer-type product with your foundation of choice. Anyone can have that enviable dewy look, from the very lightest to the very darkest skins.

Etude House Nymph Aura Volumer

My favorite is the original Etude House Nymph Aura Volumer, which comes in two options, a transparent and a pinky-iridescent shade. They also contain argan and avocado oil.

VDL Lumilayer Primer

If you want a more subtle glow, another favorite of mine is the VDL Lumilayer Primer. Although billed as a primer, which you can absolutely use it as, it can also be mixed with your BB or foundation at a 1:1 ratio. The Lumilayer Primer is iridescent, reflecting a gorgeous violet, red, and blue color that presents as a clear reflective surface on the skin.

According to their ad copy “VDL’s Lumilayer Primer contains a Violet Lightflects pigment which evens out the skin tone while creating a clear, radiant and healthy skin for the next step of makeup. This primer is also creates a 3-dimensional face line by reflecting light from all angles of the face. I also appreciate that it has almost no acne triggers, so it’s very friendly to those prone to breakouts.

Beauty Oil or Essence as Volumer

Another trick for anyone of any skin tone trying to get that dewy glow is to mix a few drops of your favorite beauty oil (such as argan, or maracuja) with your foundation. If you’d still like to have soft-lit skin with a little extra oomph, but are going for a more matte look, swap out the oil for your skincare treatment essence of choice. I always like to try to find ways for my products to pull double duty, and marrying your skincare to your makeup is always an added bonus.

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Iope Twist-On Highlighter

Iope Twist-On Highlighter delivers a iridescent highlighter powder with one twist of the package. Twist the product to reveal a cushy, cotton-y applicator, then click again for the highlighter. Each click measures out the perfect amount of product to tap onto your face. A powder highlighter like this works especially well if you’d like to go with the more subtle dewy look that’s cropping up on the streets of Korea.

For that look, apply your normal dewy-but-not-overly-glossy BB cream, such as Missha’s M Magic Cushion, which is a more matte finish BB cushion. You could possibly even go over it with a mattifying powder such as Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Pact (which is my very favorite), then apply the highlighter on the “C zones” which are around the orbital bone. You can also apply across the forehead and tops of the cheeks.

Basically, apply it anywhere you want the illusion of volume, since a loss of volume is a visual signifier of aging. Those areas are some of the first to show a depletion of the youthful fat in faces, and where injectable fillers are usually targeted. Trust me, it’s the saddest I’ve ever been over losing fat.

Nature Republic Botanical Highlighter Stick

Another highlighting product that stands out to me is the Nature Republic Botanical Highlighter Stick. I was on set with two other makeup artists and brought this product along with me, and as the day went on, both of them reached for it continuously. It ended up on every model we handled that day, which was six girls ranging from dark mocha to vanilla skin tones.

This creamy, twist-up, stick highlighter comes housed in a plastic bullet tube. It’s available in two shades, 01 Shine Pink and 02 Shine Gold. The silvery sheen in Shine Pink can read a bit ashy on very dark skin, but Shine Gold makes for a wonderful highlight on just about any skin color. Fairer skins will enjoy both Shine Pink and Shine Gold and can choose either depending on what direction they’d like to go in with their makeup. Shine Pink is good for sweet, cotton-candy-pink looks, and Shine Gold lends itself well for golden goddess looks. We especially liked Shine Gold with bold orange lips; it was the perfect shimmery complement to a warm citrus look.

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Innisfree Mineral Glow Stick

One more handy highlighter stick I like is the Innisfree Mineral Glow Stick. This highlighter is a lot more subtle than the Nature Republic Botanical Highlighter Stick. It comes in just a single shade and delivers a beautiful sheen. It looks darker and more bronze in the tube than it does on the skin, where it reads as a perfect, peachy shine. It has a fine microshimmer, so it’s never chunky and very much suitable for daytime wear. It’s also surprisingly tenacious and lasts on me for hours.

Innisfree Mineral Moisture Fitting Base

If you’re looking for a liquid highlighter, wow, I don’t even know where to begin, there are so many options! We’ve already touched on the Nymph Aura Volumer and the VDL’s Lumilayer Primer, which are certainly a good option as a stand-alone highlighters. There’s also Innisfree’s Mineral Moisture Fitting Base, which is billed as a three-in-one shimmery primer, lotion, and cream, but could certainly be used as a highlighter alone. It contains ingredients such as shea butter, abalone pearl mineral, prickly pear, citrus, camellia, and orchid, which makes me feel like a fancy nature princess when I use it.

When buffed out as a primer, it leaves behind a subtle sparkle, but when used in concentration as a highlighter, it leaves behind a still subtle, but more obvious iridescent red-pink incandescence.

Innisfree Smart Make Up Blender (Shimmer)

If the “moisture” part of Mineral Moisture Fitting Base isn’t right for your oily skin, worry not, Innisfree has an almost identical product called Smart Make Up Blender that will work better with oily-to-combination skins. If you have trouble with excess sebum in the T zones, this one comes without the heavy duty moisturizers.

It also has a tiny price tag because it comes in a tiny tube. Compared to the Mineral Moisture Fitting Base which is around $18 USD at 40ml, Innisfree Smart Make Up Blender (Shimmer) weighs in at a featherweight 15ml and retails for about $8. Innisfree offers Smart Make Up Blender in four options: shimmer, cover, moisture, and long lasting.

Billed as being a primer of sorts that can be mixed in a ratio of 1:2 with your foundation or BB, once again this can pull double duty as a highlighter. This settles into pretty much the same color as the Mineral Moisture Fitting Base. I’m looking at both of them on the back of my hand right now and I would say the Smart Make Up Blender (Shimmer) is ever-so-slightly less pink and has a smidge more peach in its iridescence. If they weren’t side by side you probably wouldn’t notice much difference.

Innisfree Smart Make Up Blender (Shimmer) also contains the amazing nature-derived ingredients that are the hallmark of the Innisfree brand. Products of note, are the amethyst powder, coral powder, pearl powder (which explains that ethereal shine), along with green tea leaf extract, citrus peel extract, and sodium hyaluronate.

Finally, here’s a little pro tip for highlighters: apply them to your collar bones, tops of shoulders, and down your arms, for an unexpected sexy-all-over luminosity. It’s a little detail that not everyone might think of, that makeup artists sometimes employ during runway shows and photoshoots. Overall, there a lot of great options—the world of highlighters is your oyster; time to pick your pearl!

I can’t talk about complexion makeup and not cover concealers (haaa!). My only grievance with Korean concealers is the same annoyance I have with the BB and CC creams, the lack of shade selections. There are just as few, if not less, color options for concealers marketed in Korea. So keep that in mind as I talk about my favorites, because sadly, they made them only for fair-to-medium skin tones. However, if you do fit in this small slice, be prepared to find your next crown jewel.

I am completely enamored with Korean concealers. With North American or European concealers I was always in a constant battle with it seeping into fine lines, highlighting dry patches, and giving cakey coverage. I had tried just about every major brand and formula and I was never happy. I’ve since found concealers from Korean companies that I’ve fallen head-over-heels for.

Skinfood Salmon Darkcircle Concealer Cream

My top pick is definitely Skinfood Salmon Darkcircle Concealer Cream. This rich, creamy concealer never ever settles into my fine lines and completely covers my dark circles, no matter how much I’ve aggravated them with lack of sleep. With its buttery consistency, this concealer is perfect for those with mature and/or dry skin.

Available in only two shades, this would be best for fair to very-light medium skin. It brightens, conceals, corrects, all without getting cakey or tacky. I would use this strictly under or around the eyes; for blemishes I would recommend a more viscous formula, such as Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Concealer.

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Clio Kill Cover Pro Artist Liquid Concealer

Clio’s Kill Cover concealer is available in five shades to match a wider variety of skin tones, has a matte finish, and is very high coverage.

3 Concept Eyes Full Cover Concealer

3 Concept Eyes Full Cover Concealer is another high coverage concealer, but is available in just two shades. This concealer is liquid, but creamy, so I like to use it on lips to cover natural pigment when doing a dramatic gradient lip.

Missha The Style Under Eye Brightener

I have one more selection that I love to recommend to people who want to cover up dark circles, but hate concealer. I’ve called Missha The Style Under Eye Brightener my “anti-concealer” before, as it does everything you want a concealer to do without the concealer look. Available in only two shades, it uses light reflective properties to diffuse the look of discoloration under the eye. It’s very subtle but very, very effective. I always look refreshed, bright-eyed, and ready for the day after using this product. The fact that it retails for $5 makes it a must-try for anyone that fits within it’s narrow shade range.

To wrap up all things complexion, I’m going to take you back to the very first step: a primer. In Korean makeup, primer doesn’t always mean a base coat on your skin that helps makeup adhere to it; it can also mean a pre makeup skin prep. A lot of primers would be better suited being called “preppers.” With skin-beneficial ingredients, light diffusers, and sometimes, emollients, these primers are a great way to ready your face for the masterpiece you’re about to apply to it.

The Face Shop Mango Seed Glow Date Prep Butter

One such “prepper” is The Face Shop Mango Seed Glow Date Prep Butter. I’m so glad I discovered this product, which was introduced to me by Mariella at The Face Shop’s Montreal location (who by the way, was one of the most helpful, professional people I’ve ever encountered on a sales floor—shout out to Mariella for all of her help!).

I went in looking for something to prime my dry winter skin to receive makeup and came out with a must-have. This creamy primer helps makeup adhere to the skin by providing a smooth, moisturized base. It has a delicious, yummy smell, and provides a beautiful, moist glow for dry-to-normal skin types. I brought this primer with me on set and we used it on all the girls who were getting a dewy look. Every one of them loved it and asked me about the product afterwards.

It comes in a substantial jar and has a spatula included in the packaging so you needn’t contaminate your product with germy fingers. This primer/prep would probably not be suitable for oily skins, as they might find the cream texture to be a bit much, but if your skin is dry or normal, you should really check this stuff out!

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Etude House Mineral Magic Any Cushion

There are also primers aimed at correcting color. My top pick is Etude House Mineral Magic Any Cushion. Yes, this primer has the same delivery system as the BB cushions in their line, and it’s wonderful! It comes in three color-correcting shades: mint for combating redness, pink to liven up pale complexions, and peach to brighten any dullness in tanned skin.

These primers go on extremely light and work with just about any skin type. I sometimes use the pink version of this to create a soft, pretty sunset look, which I’ll demonstrate later.

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VDL Lumilayer Primer

I talked about how much I loved the VDL Lumilayer Primer in the Volumer and Highlighters section. I also really love it when used as a stand-alone primer. The Lumilayer Primer leaves a soft, diffused shimmer on your face without being overpowering and without feeling heavy or greasy. It’s exceedingly lightweight, and therefore, oily and combination skins looking for a little extra something would enjoy this primer.

Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Primer

For those with oily skin who are looking for something to help soak up excess sebum and soften the look of open pores, Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Primer might be just the thing you’re looking for. This primer removes shine, smooths skin, and leaves you with a matte complexion instantly.

For a longer-lasting matte finish you could follow it up with a sebum control powder. I like the Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Pact which is a no-frills workhorse of a powder that really goes the distance.

Peripera Oil Capture Pact

I also love the Peripera Oil Capture Pact, which comes in an adorable compact that keeps the puff separated from the product, much like a cushion compact. It has a mirror inside the pact that’s great for touchups on the go.

Dr. Jart+ Pore Refine Recover Primer

Another, higher-end option for oily skins looking for a primer is Dr. Jart+ Pore Refine Recover Primer. If you’re not a fan of talc in your products, then this would be a great option for you as it’s completely talc free. It’s long lasting, and does wonders for assisting your chosen BB cream or foundation to overcome destructive oil to perform the way it should.

Etude House’s Proof 10 Eye Primer

Another type of primer that’s just as, if not more, important is your eyeshadow primer. To keep your shadow’s color true and long-wearing, a good primer is essential. One of my absolute favorite Korean cosmetics products of all time is Etude House’s Proof 10 Eye Primer. I used to be devoted to Urban Decay’s Primer Potion until I discovered this product. The Proof 10 Eye Primer is a quarter of the price of Urban Decay’s primer, and performs even better in my experience. This is hands-down the only primer I reach for whether on set or at home.

It comes in a small bottle with a doe foot applicator wand, and a few swipes blended onto your eyelid is all you need to carry you through the day and into the night. This primer helps my shadow apply so much more vibrantly than it would sans primer, which is something that’s very important when it comes to many Korean eyeshadows.

Eyeshadows have come a long way since I started exploring Korean cosmetics, but they are still less pigmented than North American or European formulations.

Since skincare and complexion makeup is the main focus in Korean looks, a lot of the point makeup is very subtle and not heavily pigmented. There are some notable brands that do focus on bold color (VDL, 3 Concept Eyes) but for the most part, eyeshadows and blushes are a softer wash compared to, say, a NARS or MAC offering, but the formulas are wonderful and very interesting.

Blushes from Korean lines have recently received the same treatment that BB creams did: there are now many available in cushion form, and they’re some of my top picks.

Iope Cushion Blusher

Iope Cushion Blusher comes in the same (but smaller) packaging as its BB Cushion sister. The application is a dream; it’s almost impossible to mess up. Simply press the cushion with the provided silicone sponge and then pat onto your cheeks.

The blush itself is a creamy, sheer liquid that imparts a translucent dewy wash of color onto the cheeks, so you don’t have to worry about going overboard and getting a severe 1980s streak of blush. This blush’s color can be built somewhat, but for the most part, it is a very sheer product that’s best suited to natural looks.

It’s a great blush, but it’s only available in two shades, sherbet peach and rose pink. Once again, I love the cushion packaging for its portability and ease of touch-ups.

PeriPera Ah Much Cushion Blusher

A slight variation on the cushion blusher compact is the PeriPera Ah Much Cushion Blusher. What makes this one different is that it’s a tube with the cushion on the end. This cushion itself is also a bit different from the others. The typical cushion is a porous sponge-type material; this one is more like a soft, flocked, material—almost like a firm sponge coated with a soft velour-feeling texture.

To use it, you squeeze the tube and it delivers the blush to the cushion. From there, you tap it onto your cheeks straight from the applicator. It gives the same wonderful, soft wash of color as the cushion compact blush, but this one is even more portable and easy to apply, as it eliminates the need for the middle man: the sponge. It’s a completely self-contained delivery system, so it’s very easy to slip into your bag on the go. That’s practically unheard of when it comes to blush.

PeriPera Ah Much Cushion Blusher is available in five shades, which is a more generous shade selection than the Iope Cushion Blusher. They are mostly pastel-type shades, so if you’re looking for something crazy pigmented, this isn’t the blush for you. However if you’re looking for a dewy-sheer color wash, check out Sweet Pink, Oh! Blissful Coral, Yay! Happy Orange, Oh! Heart Fluttering Pink, and Haha! Crisp Lavender. Ranging from a warm beige pink, true coral, bright orange, and a fun, bubblegum-pink, one of these is sure to be just what you’re looking for.

The Face Shop Lovely Me: Ex Pastel Cushion Blusher

If you’re longing for something super-matte, sweet, and innocent, try The Face Shop Lovely Me: Ex Pastel Cushion Blusher. Now, this is not a cushion blusher like the ones we spoke about before. This is a traditional powder cake and puff blusher. The “cushion” in the name is referring to how cushiony-soft the puff is.

The blush shades are all very pastel as the name tells you; it’s also very soft toned, like a baby’s flush. These blushes can read as chalky on darker skin, so it’s best to use these if your skin is fair-to-medium. It is available in five shades: 01 Rose Cushion, 02 Coral Cushion, 03 Plum Cushion, 04 Pink Cushion, and 05 Peach Cushion.

Although this current version is a rerelease and is in different packaging, the first releases were actually one of my first Korean cosmetic purchases. I got them from my first visit to The Face Shop in Pallisades Park, New Jersey. I ended up purchasing every color. They’re so economical that I ended up buying every color in this updated version as well!

The Face Shop Lovely Me: Ex You & Face Blusher

The Face Shop also carries an equally cheap (in price, not quality!) blusher: Lovely Me:Ex You & Face Blusher. They come in a mix of matte and shimmer finishes and the line even includes a bronzer, contour shade, and two highlighter shades.

Choose from 01 Pink Glow, 02 Gold Glow, 03 Purple Fantasy, 04 Baby Pink, 05 Pink Affair, 06 Fuzzy Peach, 07 Pink Peach, 08 Orange Syrup, 09 Cinnamon Dream, and 10 Sandy Brown.

The Face Shop Soft Cream Blusher

I can’t talk about The Face Shop blushes without including their Soft Cream Blusher. The Face Shop Soft Cream Blusher comes in only two shades, 01 Pink and 02 Coral, but they’re both lovely. 01 Pink is a cool-toned, blue-based, bubblegum pink that can be buffed out into a very striking but natural flush on fairer skins. 02 Coral is a true traditional coral that lends itself a little better to more tanned skins, but could also work for fair skin if it’s applied with a light touch.

These blushes give bold color without being overpowering and wear really well throughout the day.

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3 Concept Eyes Color Pots

Speaking of bold color, 3 Concept Eyes is always a brand when that’s what you’re looking for. They have several options for blush in their lineup, from pots, to powder, to cream. Their pots are meant to serve three functions, but I find that they perform best as blushes, although in a pinch, they could work on the eyes and lips. I’ve tried them that way before and while the results are very pretty, as an eyeshadow and lip color, there are much better wearing options out there. However, the color pots are great little blushers that travel well since they’re in a pot and can be applied with your fingers.

3 Concept Eyes Powdery Lip & Cheek

3 Concept Eyes Powdery Lip & Cheek are available in five bright, cheery colors. Tibet Orange is a true bright orange—it’s a bold choice and looks great with summery orange looks. Lingogo Hoho (yes, that’s really what it’s called) is a tomato red that errs on the side of true dark pink once it’s buffed out. Pink One Piece, a neon, corally pink, is the lightest and most natural of the bunch when blended. Neon Pink is a bold, vivid, neon blue-based pink that gives major flush. Popo is a light purple lavender color and the hardest to pull off, but if you have a very light complexion it’s cute and fresh. My Peach is exactly what it sounds like, a true peach color that’s great for warming up pale skin.

3CE also has many, many, traditional powder color options—too many to name here—but I will tell you about some of my favorite shades I’ve tried. All That Peach is described as a “matte calm apricot” but it’s my perfect warm peach shade. The blush is very finely milled and applies smoothly.

Love Filter is a pinky coral with pearlescent sheen, and it’s what I wished NARS Orgasm looked like on me. It gives a beautiful, soft glow without being too orange or too pink.

Peach Sleeve is a soft apricot shade with a slight golden shimmer that’s really good for the fairest of skins because it’s almost impossible to overapply. It warms up your complexion without looking spray-tan-orange. The color is very soft, and while a blush that is not obviously pigmented is usually a detraction, in this case, it ends up working as a plus.

Since healthy skin and a smooth complexion are the main focus of Korean looks, the eyeshadows don’t normally take a prominent role. When I first got into K-beauty, almost every shadow I tried was glittery, sparkly, and sheer. But that’s not to say there aren’t some wonderful formulations or vibrant, fun colors, because these certainly are.

The Face Shop Styling Triple Eyes

If you’re looking for highly pigmented, finely milled, easily blendable shadows, The Face Shop Styling Triple Eyes are great little trios of eyeshadow that come in five selections. Brown Nuance, Orange Nuance, Grey Nuance, Violet Nuance, and Mocha Nuance. Mocha Nuance is a particular favorite of mine as it comes with two beautiful, warm, matte nudes, and one glittery gold highlight. It’s the perfect blend of glamorous and low key, depending on which configuration you choose to wear them in. When I travel, I like to take this trio with me, since they go from day to night very easily.

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VDL Love Mark Festival Mineral Eyes

VDL is a brand that reminds me very much of MAC, both in packaging and in color choices. Their Festival Mineral Eyes (Love Mark) shadows are baked, shimmery, marbled shadows, that apply pigmented and smoothly with little fall-out. They are oversized, have two shades in a single pot, and lots of fun color choices. With names like N.Y. 34th Street, Sky Lounge, and Cafe Terrace, there are eight different duos to choose from, and none of them are boring. Made with a formula that catches the light, these are highly flattering, long-lasting, and a lot of fun.

Etude House Look At My Eyes

One of the things that never ceased to amaze me, is how Korean cosmetics, even the most budget-friendly of options, are of such high quality. Etude House, for example, has eye shadow singles that retail for $3.50, but perform just as well as eyeshadows I’ve paid $30 for. Etude House Look At My Eyes eyeshadow solo pots are highly pigmented, rich, velvety, and available in sixty different shades.

The Look At My Eyes collection is split into three different lines: Look At My Eyes, which comes in an array of finishes; Look At My Eyes Cafe, which contain eighteen beautiful matte selections, and Look At My Eyes Jewel, nineteen shades of sparkly pearl-finish shadows. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s bound to be something you’ll love in this collection.

Etude House Eyeshadow Palettes

Etude House has been known to release limited edition palettes every year, sometimes every season, and they are always highly pigmented, on trend, and affordable. Some of my past limited-edition favorites (that are sadly no longer available) included Etude House & Rose Flowering Eyes, and Etude House Fantastic Color Eyes palettes. Be on the lookout for their palettes on their website, they always seem to be winners!

3 Concept Eyes Glam Cream Eyeshadows

If cream eyeshadows are your thing, 3CE Glam Cream Eyeshadows come in five different, long-lasting shades. You can apply these with a synthetic brush, or even your fingers for a more natural smudge.

The shade Golden Nude is one that I really like for light, quick eye looks. This shade would work on any skin tone, from the fairest to the darkest. Simply buff it onto your lid for a gorgeous slick of golden beige shimmer. Smoky Gray is a shade that can be used for a super-quick, but super-glam smoky eye. Pair it with a deep black liner and throw on a pair of false eyelashes and you’re ready for a night out in no time. Golden Nude and Smoky Gray also pair quite well together, so if you have both, you can use them together to create a soft, fun look.

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Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Shadows

If simplicity is your game, you’ll love Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Shadows. I absolutely love these chubby pencils. They have proved their waterproof status to me in extreme conditions, and are exceedingly easy to blend and work with. Available in six shades with fun names like Beer Pong, Moving Lovings, Hold Me Tight, In Your Place, Bottoms Up, and In The Dark, they apply very pigmented and once they set, they stay.

For a pretty look reminiscent of the sky at sunset, use Hold Me Tight on the lid, blending the shadow into a gradient, then follow with Moving Love along the lower lids. It catches the light in the prettiest way and always gets compliments.

TonyMoly Crystal Stick Shadow

TonyMoly Crystal Stick Shadow has the same delivery system as the Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Shadows, but is a little different. Containing rosehip oil, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E, this stick shadow gives a softer wash of color. I especially like using shades #01 White Beam and #02 Luxury Gold, to highlight and create aegyo sal (more on that later in the makeup looks section!).

Your eyebrows frame not only your eyes, but your entire face. A poorly shaped brow can make the most beautiful person look completely “off.” A healthy, well-shaped, thicker brow takes center stage in Korean beauty.

This look dates all the way back to antiquity when aristocratic women of the Joseon era (1392–1897) would make a mixture of indigo plant ash, soot, and gold powder to enhance the eyebrow. Even the poorer commoners made it a point to give their brows the same attention the aristocrats did, substituting the expensive mixtures with cheap, easily found charcoal. There was even a handbook of sorts written in 1809 called images

, Gyuhap Chongseo, or “Women’s Encyclopedia,” which gave all sorts of advice to women, including ten different fashionable shapes for eyebrows, the most popular being the “willow leaf” shapes.

The willow leaf is a long, thicker, straight shape, which has had a resurgence in popularity in Korea in recent years. The straight brow is all the rage right now, and the most desirable shape, as it’s said to make one appear more youthful. Arched brows are not a very common naturally occurring shape amongst Koreans, so settling on this flatter, straight shape, makes sense. No matter what shape of eyebrow you choose, there are some amazing Korean products to help you get a beautiful brow, whether is be a pencil, powder, or “browcara,” there are plenty of options to choose from.

The Face Shop Brow Master Eyebrow Kit

Starting with the traditional brow powders, I really like The Face Shop Brow Master Eyebrow Kit, a tiny little powder duo housed in a small, book-shaped compact. It also comes with an angle brush and spoolie, giving you everything you need to fill your brows. The powder is finely milled with nice pigmentation. It comes in two shades, 02 Beige Brown, a warm brown that would be suitable for blondes and lighter brunettes, and 01 Grey Brown, a cooler-toned darker brown. I like the Brow Master Eyebrow Kit because while they are pigmented, they’re not too pigmented. Especially when attempting to fill in sparse brows, you don’t want something too dark or you’re going to look cartoonish. If you have naturally black brows, it’s best to shade down a notch or two when trying to make brows bolder, but you want to avoid looking like Shin-Chan or Bert from Sesame Street.

Holika Holika Wonder Drawing Eyebrow Kit

Another great brow powder comes from the Holika Holika Wonder Drawing Eyebrow Kit. It’s almost identical in formula and wear to The Face Shop version, but this kit is a trio, giving you three different colors in each compact. It also come with two brushes for application. Like The Face Shop’s, this Holika Holika version is only available in two different shade choices, 01 Dark Brow and 02 Natural Brow.

Holika Holika Wonder Drawing 24hr Auto Eyebrow

Holika Holika has an entire line of different brow products in their Wonder line. There’s also a great little brow pencil line called Wonder Drawing 24hr Auto Eyebrow. This pencil comes in a larger range of shades including 01 Grey Black, 02 Dark Brown, 03 Light Brown, and 04 Red Brown.

The Auto Eyebrow is an automatic twist-up type pencil with a unique, flat, slanted edge. It makes drawing in your eyebrows so much easier compared to a traditional pencil point. It also features a spoolie at the other end of the pencil so that you can comb and blend the color into your brows. The 03 Light Brown shade in this line would work really well for blondes and light brunettes, while 02 Dark Brown works well for darker brunettes.

Holika Holika Wonder Drawing 1 Sec Finish Browcara

Also in the line is the Holika Holika Wonder Drawing 1 Sec Finish Browcara. What is a browcara? It’s exactly what it sounds like, a mascara-type product for the brows. A browcara both grooms and colors brows as you brush it on, and this formula promises to dry quickly without smudging. The packaging looks like a small mascara wand, with a brush head about a quarter of the length of a mascara. This browcara is highly pigmented and available in three shades, #1 Natural Brown, #2 Light Brown, #3 Red Brown, and #4 Dark Brown.

It’s possible to go overboard with a browcara, so please apply lightly at first until you’re comfortable with the way it goes on and the opacity.

There are several Korean brands with their own browcara formulations, so if one brand doesn’t work for you, don’t give up just yet, there are plenty more to try. Etude House, The Saem, Banila Co, PeriPera, Nature Republic, and Innisfree all have their own versions. Eyebrows are serious business in Korea!

Etude House Tint My Brow

Another brow product formula available is the brow tint. Etude House Tint My Brow is one of the more budget-friendly ways to try out a brow tint; it retails at well under $10 USD and is available in two shades, #1 Gray Brown and #2 Natural Brown.

Brow tints usually stain the skin (like a lip tint or stain) and offer a natural tint to fill in the brow. They’re long lasting, but not very dramatic. Some people like to start with a base of a brow tint for definition, and then follow up with a pencil or browcara to change the overall color of the brows. Brow tints usually have a fine point tip like a liquid eyeliner pen to deliver a precise application. Some tints claim to last for twenty-four hours; some claim to last for days.

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Clio Tinted Tattoo Kill Brow

Another option is the Clio Tinted Tattoo Kill Brow, which manages to combine both the tint and the browcara into one handy tube. The tint end has a fine-tipped, but chubbier nib compared to the Etude House Tint. On the other end it has a matching shade of browcara.

Clio Tinted Tattoo Kill Brow claims to last for up to two days, even after washing your face. While that’s partially true, I find that a good oil cleanser will remove the tint. Still, it is very long lasting and good to wear if you’re going swimming or doing intense activity.

This product is available in three shades: #1 Earth Brown, a soft light neutral brown; #2 Soft Brown, which has more of a red tint, and #3 Dark Brown, which is a dark, ashy brown. I especially like that it is a combination product, so it’s travel-friendly. Whenever I go on long trips this always makes its way into my makeup bag.

Korean eyeliners are, in short, amazing. When I’m trying to get someone to convert to K-beauty, eyeliners are always my gateway product. Once someone tries my liner recommendations, they inevitably come to me saying, “OMG, show me more!”

TonyMoly Backstage Gel Eyeliner

For instance, I used to swear by Mac’s Fluidline. I would buy two at a time just to ensure I would never be without it. That all changed one day when I ended up running out unexpectedly due to an unscrewed cap dying out the product. In a panic, I went to the Korean cosmetics store located across the street from my building in a search of a gel eyeliner. I came across a very interesting glass pot with a detachable brush built into the lid that looked like a minimalistic genie bottle. Upon further inspection I saw that this product looked exactly like my beloved Fluidline, so I quickly purchased it and ran back across the street to finish my makeup.

Wow. The formulation is buttery, smooth, applies without dragging, and was an even deeper, richer black that my former gel liner. As if that wasn’t enough, it was even more tenacious than the Fluidline.

Let me give you an example: I am a practitioner of hot yoga. That means I do sixty- to ninety-minute long classes in temperatures of 105°F (40.6°C). I often head into class at night wearing the makeup I applied that morning. When I exit class, after copious amounts of sweating and exertion, my eyeliner remains as flawless as when I first applied it. It does not budge. It doesn’t even come off in the shower unless I first remove it with a balm or oil-type cleanser. This product is amazing.

It’s available in your typical shade range, from black, to brown, to grey, with seasonal colors sometimes released in limited edition. I’m also a fan of the built-in brush: it’s flat, slightly wider than a fine-point liner brush, and it works especially well for doing a puppy-dog eyeliner look. If there was just a single product I would recommend to you in this book, it would be the TonyMoly Backstage Gel Eyeliner. Seriously, it’s a must try.

Clio Waterproof Kill Liner

If you prefer liquid liner to gel, Clio Waterproof Kill Liner is what you’re looking for. This fine-tipped liquid pen liner is tenacious: no running, no flaking, and once it’s set, no smearing. It’s available in two shades, Kill Black and Kill Brown, and both are very deep, rich colors. Lots of people are singing its praises for staying put and never creating the dreaded raccoon eye.

Etude House Play 101 Pencil

Coming in at a close second for my favorite eyeliner product is the Etude House Play 101 Pencil. These wonderful little multifunctional pencils come in fifty shades with five different finishes (creamy, matte, glossy, shimmering, and glitter). The different finishes have different properties and recommended uses.

From the Etude House website, “Creamy” is described as “soft drawing texture with rich colors,” shades #1 and #50, which are a rich black and darkest brown, and are my picks for that finish.

“Matte” is “soft drawing but powdery finish.” Recommended for use as eyebrow, eyeshadow, concealer, and base, #08 is a perfect, heavy concealer for me that I use in the inner corners of my eyes next to my nose. I also like shade #42 as a brow pencil. Shimmering and glitter finishes are exactly what they sound like. The shimmery and glittery colors include some of the best highlighter shades I’ve ever used: #6 and #28 are notable choices.

The finish “Glossy” is “recommended for use as blusher or lips.” I love making my own lipsticks with all of their glossy shades. I customize them by making them lighter or darker with the #08 or #50 shade to create the color I want.

When I say they’re multipurpose, they’re truly multipurpose. You could do a whole look with just pencils. In fact, the famous Korean YouTube personality, and makeup artist, Pony, has several tutorials online showing exactly how to do that. They’re worth a Google for some great inspiration.

Another neat thing about this liner is that it has a removable sharpener built into the back of the pencil. It’s like a little self-contained makeup kit, with everything you need on the go.

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3 Concept Eyes Under Eye Flash

In many popular Korean eye looks, dark lower liner is passed over in favor of a bright flash of liner, usually in a neutral tone. This is to make the eye appear bigger, brighter, and more lively. Just as a dark liner makes light eyes pop, bright, highlighter-type liner makes dark eyes flash with brilliance. But your eyes needn’t be dark to make this look work. It also makes for a sweet, innocent, wide-eyed look, which is good for days that you need to look alert, no matter what your eye color is.

3 Concept Eyes Under Eye Flash does exactly that. Long-lasting and waterproof, this “flash” liner glides on smooth and lasts all day long. I love this line and ended up purchasing all six available shades.

My favorite is #1 Romanticism, a brilliant pinky beige. It makes for a gorgeous, coppery neutral look that’s anything but boring. #4 Brown Sugar, a creamy beige, is another beautiful shade that’s great for test-driving the fresh, sans-dark-lower-liner-look. #06 African Sunset, a burgundy rust color, is a bit more dramatic. Applied on the top and bottom lid, and then smudged, it gives you a new twist on smoky.

Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner

Another Clio product I’d be remiss not to mention is Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner. This is the sister product of the Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Shadow we touched on earlier. This gel liner is in pencil form, and like the TonyMoly Gel Liner, has serious waterproof lasting power.

These Gelpresso Eyeliners don’t have any traditional eyeliner colors so speak. For example, you won’t find a matte black or brown shade. There is, however, a black flecked with gold glitter, and a glittery brown. The other colors are a shimmery beige, jade, and silver, along with a glittery khaki, purple, and navy.

This automatic twist-up pencil also has a built in detachable sharpener like the Etude House Play 101 Pencils. They certainly don’t have the range of shades that the Play 101 Pencils do, and they aren’t as multipurpose, but they smoothly apply very saturated colors, and shine brilliantly when they catch the light. I love using the shimmery shades to highlight the inner corners of my eyes.

Etude House Tear Drop Liner

When I’m looking for the most dramatic eye highlight possible, I like to turn to the liquid glitter liner products that have been the hallmark for Korean eye looks for some years with young women. Etude House Tear Drop Liner is a liquid liner packed with micro glitter meant to be applied outside around the tear duct area in the inner corner of your eyes.

Unlike the pure shimmer highlights that come in pencil form, this liquid liner has a more intense glitter effect. Definitely not for a wallflower, these are fun and the sparkle is attention grabbing. These are also nice to pair with smoky eye looks for that added oomph and drama when going out at night. The crystalized look also pairs well with a neutral eye for a sweet, pretty, innocent look.

You’re not just limited to a pure white with these: there are four dazzling shades available, a crystal white, a pink pearl type, an opal, and even a light golden bronze.

The finishing touch to any eye look is probably the most important: mascara. Nobody looks finished without mascara. It’s probably the product you’d choose to wear should you be limited to only one.

I struggled for a long time to find a Korean mascara that really spoke to me. It was the last Korean product that I made the switch to. I was very partial to the gigantic, fluffy brushes common to European and North American mascara companies. I had it in my head that I couldn’t get the volume I wanted without them, and I was paying close to $40 a tube without batting a lash (ha).

As soon as I found my favorite Korean mascaras, I was mad at all the money I’d wasted over the years on the expensive stuff. Not that there’s anything wrong with treating yourself to a little luxury, but I was spending that much thinking I had to in order to get the results I wanted. The Korean mascaras I found gave me everything I wanted, at a fraction of the cost. As was proven to me, time and time again, the Korean versions were just as good, if not better than what I previously used.

TonyMoly Circle Lens Mascara

The first Korean mascara that I recommend to people is also the best deal out there. TonyMoly Circle Lens Mascara retails at just under $5, and performs just as well as my $30+ tubes. The Circle Lens Mascara line is named as such because it’s meant to make your eyes look defined and dramatic, like when you’re wearing eye-enhancing circle contact lenses.

It comes in three versions: #1 Volume Circle, #2 Curling & Long Lash Circle, and #3 Clear Circle. Volume Circle creates serious volume with a precision, bullet-shaped brush, and is my favorite version since I’m a volume junkie. #2 Curling & Long Lash Circle has a curved banana-shaped brush that builds nice length and curl. #3 Clear Circle is a clear mascara meant to be used as sealant, or you could use it as I do, on the brows after filling them in with powder or pencil. If you’d like to define your lower lashes but always manage to get mascara all over and under your eyes, the clear version is a good way to do that mess-free.

Although these are not waterproof, they do stay put and don’t flake or smear easily. And yet, they remove pretty easily, which is good news to those of you concerned about irritation or unnecessary roughness around the delicate eye skin during removal.

It’s Skin Babyface Mascara

Another great mascara option is from the brand It’s Skin. It’s Skin Babyface Mascara comes in a cute little tube with a cartoon winky face, and brags that its formula contains aloe, soy, royal jelly, and gives moisture and nutrition to lashes. Available in two different options—Volume Setting and Long & Curling—and both do exactly what they claim. The finish is natural and not overly dramatic, but not at all wimpy. This mascara also has the added benefit of being a great choice for those with sensitive eyes.

The Face Shop Face It All About Mascara

Rounding out my favorites is The Face Shop Face It All About Mascara line. It comes in six different types, Transparent, Power Volume, Power Curl, Long Long, Mini Power, and Under Lash, which comes with a mini brush for lower lashes.

My two picks from this line are definitely Mini Power, which is great for people with small straight lashes since it has a thin brush that easily grips puny lashes, and Long Long, which is a fiber mascara that makes for some serious length. Out of the six different options, there’s bound to be one that works for you.

Whether it be a natural flush or something a little more daring, Korean lip products are one of my very favorite things to shop for. You can change your whole mood with a good lipstick. Ranging from the extremely cute (TonyMoly Petite Bunny Gloss Bars) to modern and sophisticated (VDL Expert Color Lip Cube), Korean brands offer just about anything you could ever ask for in a lip color.

Korean lip products aren’t just limited to run-of-the-mill lipsticks or glosses, there are many unique formulas that are currently enjoying a lot of popularity. Thanks to the gradient lip trend, stains are particularly sought after to achieve this look. Since the original gradient lip was meant to look as though you have just eaten a popsicle, a stain works particularly well to mimic that effect.

Applied only on the innermost part of the top and bottom lip, and then either left alone or gone over with a lighter gloss, this is the default gradient look. You can also apply all over for a sexy dark color wash that won’t smudge.

The Face Shop’s Lovely Me: Ex My Lips Eat Cherry Aqua Tint

I particularly enjoy The Face Shop’s Lovely Me: Ex My Lips Eat Cherry Aqua Tint. It has a watery consistency that stains lips perfectly without drying them out. There is little to no transfer of this product onto cups or straws, so it’s great to wear while out to a coffee or a lunch date.

There are three shades, 01 Juicy Cherry, which honestly reads as tomato orange, 02 Juicy Red, which when blended looks like a darker hot pink but can build to a pinky red; and 03 Bloody Red, which is a deeper, more burgundy tint.

While they don’t explicitly say so, you can use these tints as blushes as well. I’ve used these on set when I want a naturally flushed look.

The Face Shop Lovely Me: Ex The Aqua Proof Marker Tint

Also from The Face Shop Lovely Me: Ex lineup is the Aqua Proof Marker Tint. I love this tint for two reasons, the cute natural stain it gives, and the unique applicator. It’s housed in what looks exactly like a magic marker, and I suppose it is, of sorts, only it goes on your lips instead of on paper.

This tint is water-based so it’s not sticky or tacky, it doesn’t smudge or smear at all once it sets, and it sets pretty much instantly. My personal recommendation would be the shade 02 Pink, which is a really flattering, true baby pink. It’s hard to get that shade right, and this one is cute without being childish. There’s only one other shade available in this tint and that’s 01 Cherry, which is also a very nice choice.

This tint marker lasts and lasts; however, it can dry out your lips a bit, so I would recommend you apply a balm beforehand. The finish is matte, but if you’re into shine, popping a gloss on over this looks great.

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Clio Virgin Kiss Lipnicure

If you want all of the staying power of a tint, but with the intense color of a lipstick, you absolutely must try the Clio Virgin Kiss Lipnicure. If you’re wondering what a “Lipnicure” is, you’re not alone. When I first heard about this product I had to look it up myself. Apparently it’s a marriage of the words manicure and lipstick, as this product claims it has the staying power of a manicure.

Let me go ahead and confirm that for you: it really does. Once this liquid lipstick is applied to your lips and sets, it ain’t goin’ nowhere. Completely transfer-proof, waterproof, and smudge proof, this is one hell of a tenacious lippie. You have to use an oil-based remover to fully erase all traces of it.

I would recommend the darker hues in the thirteen-shade line, as I find the lightest shades tend to apply patchy. #8 Guilty Pink is probably my favorite; I like to wear this when I’m going on dinner dates, as it’s a fun, bold color, and unless I’m eating something greasy like fried chicken, isn’t going to budge.

Lipnicure applies with slight shine at first, but dries to a matte finish. It doesn’t necessarily dry out your lips, but make sure you apply balm beforehand.

There is also another version of the Lipnicure that offers a high-gloss finish. Clio Lipnicure Glass gives you all of the staying power of the original matte Lipnicure, all of the gloss of a lipgloss, and none of the stickiness.

3 Concept Eyes Creamy Lip Color

Speaking of gloss, there’s a lip product I love by 3 Concept Eyes that straddles the line between gloss and lipstick perfectly. Traditional tube glosses have fallen out of fashion as of late, but if you still want all the moisture and shine without any of the sticky feel, then I encourage you to give 3 Concept Eyes Creamy Lip Color a try.

Whereas the lip glosses of yore were tacky to the touch, the Creamy Lip Color glides on like melting butter, leaving behind a glossy shine. It comes in a slim lipstick form, and boasts a formula that is made up of twenty percent moisturizing ingredients such as argan oil and cupuacu butter, so your lips are left incredibly soft and supple. Don’t expect a lot of staying power from a formula this rich and creamy, but it does impart a vivid flash of color.

I absolutely love this product and own almost every shade, of which there are twelve to choose from. Notable favorites are #2 Cotton Pie, which is a wonderful warm nude, and #9 Kitsch Biker, a dazzling, insanely bright, head-turning, orange-based red.

3 Concept Eyes Lip Lacquer

3 Concept Eyes also makes another favorite of mine that occupies several worlds at once. 3 Concept Eyes Lip Lacquer is a liquid-type product, housed in a tube (like a gloss), has the thick consistency of a lacquer, and gives intense color like a lipstick. It’s applied with a doe-foot wand and dries to a semi-matte, powdery finish with a slight kick of shine. It’s not forgiving to dry lips like the Creamy Lip Color (so be sure your lips are exfoliated and moisturized before application), but it does have more lasting power.

My favorite shade out of the 10 available is Bon Bon. It’s one of the most fun nude type hues I can think of, falling somewhere between a pinky brown and a salmon color, and it gives lips an unexpected twist on neutral.

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TonyMoly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar

If something cute and light is what you’re looking for, you can’t get any cuter than TonyMoly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar. Even its scent is sweet and cute! It comes in a slim tube and each lid has is shaped like a little bunny head, each with a different facial expression. It applies semi-sheer like a gloss, and comes in nine adorable shades.

Pulling this gloss bar out of your makeup bag, you’re guaranteed to elicit grins from everyone around you. It’s impossible to swipe this across your lips and be in a bad mood. I love giving these out as gifts, they’re both functional and smile inducing. How many products can you say that about?

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VDL Expert Color Lip Cube SPF 10

I’d like to close out this section out by introducing you to my favorite lipstick—not just my favorite Korean lipstick—but my favorite lipstick period. VDL Expert Color Lip Cube SPF 10 is hands-down my holy grail lipstick. I think the VDL Cosmetics website says it best: “The architectural depth of color and shape created by the lines and planes of the cube takes the lipstick to a whole new level. Enhanced with a luxurious, velvety texture and long-lasting, elegant colors defined with cubic edges, VDL Expert Color Lip Cube presents to you inimitable attitude and confidence”.

The gimmick of the square-cubed lipstick bullet drew me in, but the sophisticated, luxurious, color palette and formulation kept me coming back time and time again. The packaging is very sturdy and sleek; you can tell it’s not cheaply made, especially in comparison to lower-end offerings. The lipstick itself applies like a dream and has a very high-end, luxury-brand feel. It has a faint sweet floral scent that I find so pleasant.

The color selection is so gorgeous, there’s not a dud in the bunch; they’re all winners. The jewel-toned shades coat your lips in a rich color, and the lighter shades are never, ever boring. Shade 101 Witch Flower is my power lipstick. When I attend important meetings or need to feel like a boss, this is my go-to shade. It’s both sexy and powerful: I love it! I’m also a big fan of the deep, rich red found in shade 501 Outbloom.

Not only is the unexpected lipstick shape cool to look at, but the cube’s edges make applying this lipstick very easy and precise around tricky areas like the cupid’s bow.

You would think that with such a pigmented intense color, these lipsticks might dry the lips. Not so. They are actually very plush and cushy. There is just so much to love here!

This lipstick does cost a bit more than a lot of other Korean lipsticks, retailing at around $20, but it’s worth its price. I’ve never once pulled this out of my bag and not had someone who’s not familiar with it make eyes at it and ask me questions. I absolutely adore this lipstick and can’t speak highly enough of it—it’s an absolute must try.

So, that was our walk through the alluring world of Korean makeup. After introducing you to some of my favorites, I hope you’re inspired you to get out there and discover your own treasures. The beautiful frustration of the innovation of the Korean beauty world is that by the time this book goes to press, I’ll know I’ll have discovered a hundred new products I’d wish I could share with you.

Now, let’s take a peek at some beautiful Korean-style inspired makeup looks I’ve put together for you!