From Glass Skin to Aegyo Sal: Korean Makeup Techniques Loved by K-Pop Idols

With the rise in popularity of K-pop, Korean dramas and skincare, Korean makeup has also been attracting the interest of people all over the world.
Korean makeup is known for being feminine, soft and youthful. It makes the face appear fresh and flawless. There are some makeup tricks that Korean men and women both use to make looks more appealing.



A smooth flawless and glass skin is the most important part of makeup for many Korean celebrities. They focus on prepping the skin by taking care of it through hydration and brightening. They also usually use cushion foundation for coverage that does not look too cakey.

For lips Korean celebrities usually use lip tints or lip stains instead of heavy and drying lipsticks. They create a gradient effect on the lips by applying a little darker shade of the tint in the middle part of the lips and blurring it outwards. It adds dimension to the shape of lips, making them look fuller and pouty.

Aegyo sal refers to the fat beneath the eyes that usually appears when a person smiles. Many K-pop idols use makeup tricks to enhance the aegyo sal underneath their eyes to make them bigger and give a doll-like effect. It is to be noted that aegyo sal is different from eye bags or dark circles. Aegyo sal makes eyes appear brighter and more youthful.

Korean women usually prefer soft eye makeup instead of bold dramatic eyeshadows or smokey eyes especially for everyday looks. They use soft, peach or pink tones for eyeshadow and keep the eyeliner thin that enhances the natural shape of their eyes.



In Korean makeup, instead of applying blush on the cheekbones, it is applied on the apples of the cheeks. They usually use light peach tones that match the eyeshadow to give natural and feminine flush to the skin.

Instead of harsh contouring, Korean celebrities usually focus on soft shading. They focus on slimming down the nose and make the jawline appear V shaped.
Natural dewy highlighters are used to highlight cheekbones, nose and cupid’s bow sometimes without overpowering.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What makes Korean makeup different from Western makeup?
   Korean makeup focuses on skin hydration, light coverage and soft features, while Western makeup often uses bold eyes, heavy contour and matte finishes.
2. Can Korean makeup work for Indian skin tones?
   Yes, Korean makeup works well on Indian skin tones when the right shade products are used.
3. What is aegyo sal and is it the same as eye bags?
   Aegyo sal is the small puff under the eyes that appears when you smile. It is different from eye bags and makes the eyes look brighter and younger.