Lee Sung Kyung was a 25-year-old model and the new face of the Korean beauty brand Laneige when she came to the reveal of the label’s store at ION Orchard in Singapore. At the launch she gave eight tips for getting the dewy, natural K-beauty look. They covered skincare order, sunscreen, massage, lips and foundation.
Here are the tricks she shared then, followed by what she has been doing in 2026.
Skincare, massage and patience
Lee’s first rule was to be careful with skincare. She said she liked to cleanse and apply her products in the proper order, especially when she wasn’t short of time. Her full routine had eight steps, starting with a cleansing oil and moving through lotion, essence and emulsion. She also said that the right number of steps varies from person to person. Some people might need fewer than eight, others more, depending on what their skin responds to.
Sunscreen was the one step she would not skip. She said she wore it every time she left home, even on days off. The advice that came with her tips went beyond the face: protect the neck and upper chest too, and stay out of the strongest midday sun, because sunscreen alone does not make a whole day outdoors safe.
Her second trick was massage. Lee said she tapped her skin gently after each layer and found that it helped to define the contours of her face. The method linked to her tips was to always work upwards and pay attention to the sides of the jaw and the inner and outer corners of the eyes, which are treated as drainage points.
The third trick was about timing. To make make-up last, Lee recommended letting each layer sink in fully before applying the next. One simple test went with this: press a fingertip to the face, and if it comes away damp, wait another minute and try again.
Base, lips and colour
Foundation was Lee’s eighth and last point. She said the makeup artists she had worked with all agreed on one thing: apply base as thinly as possible. She preferred hydrating formulas, which she said stop make-up from caking, and blending carefully so the face does not look masked. One finishing step was suggested alongside her advice. Once foundation is on, press a soft two-ply tissue against the face without rubbing. This lifts off excess product so a little real skin shows through.
For colour, Lee followed a rule of emphasising either the eyes or the lips, never both. Her usual look was brown eyeliner with a coral lip. She said she avoided cat-eye flicks and liked her eyes to look natural so the lips stood out.
Her favourite product at the time was Laneige’s Two-Tone Lip Bar, priced then at S$34 each. She liked that each bar gave two shades in a single swipe. She also said the creamy texture meant it could be used as blusher when needed. To use it, sweep the angled tip across the mouth and press the lips together for a gradient effect.
Lee also recommended trying shades before buying. She praised the Laneige Beauty Mirror app, which let users test colours virtually on their own faces. She added that she used it for fun while waiting for friends to arrive.
Singapore’s weather came up as well. Lee said she enjoyed the heat and humidity and thought the climate was good for keeping skin hydrated. She compared it to the saunas many Korean women visit so they can sweat and clear their pores.
From Laneige face to Radiant Season
Lee has since worked mainly as an actress. In February 2026 she returned to television in the MBC romance drama In Your Radiant Season, playing opposite Chae Jong Hyeop. Soompi reported in December 2025 that MBC showed a first preview of the series during the 2025 MBC Drama Awards.
Lee Sung Kyung played Song Ha Ran, the head designer at high-end fashion house Nana Atelier. Soompi described the drama as the love story of Sunwoo Chan (Chae Jong Hyeop), a man who lives each day like an exciting summer vacation, and Song Ha Ran, a woman who has shut herself away as if stuck in a long winter.
The series premiered on 20 February 2026. It aired in a Friday and Saturday slot on MBC until its finale on 3 April 2026. It was written by Jo Sung-hee and directed by Jeong Sang-hee and Kim Young-jae.
Before In Your Radiant Season, Lee starred in the drama About Time, which Soompi recommended to viewers waiting for her 2026 series.
FAQ
– What drama is Lee Sung Kyung in in 2026?
She played Song Ha Ran in the MBC romance In Your Radiant Season, which ran from 20 February to 3 April 2026. Chae Jong Hyeop played the male lead, Sunwoo Chan.
– How many steps were in Lee Sung Kyung’s skincare routine?
As the face of Laneige, she described an eight-step routine that included cleansing oil, lotion, essence and emulsion. She also said people should adjust the number of steps to suit their own skin.