Korean makeup looks do not have to mean a full routine. The Seoul Fashion Week shows of October 2015 offered five clean, wearable ideas that translate easily to an office day, including a humid one.
The common thread was skin that looks fresh rather than heavy, with one colour doing the talking. Here is how each look worked, and how to adapt it.
Looks for colour lovers
1. S=YZ: metallic accents, fuchsia lips
The base was a tinted moisturiser or cushion compact, aiming for radiant skin that is not oily. Glossy lids were skipped, as they tend to melt in the heat. The eyes kept two metallic touches: blue along the waterline and bronze liner on the upper lashline. A fuchsia gradient lip finished it, and the whole look took about 15 minutes.
2. Ti:baeg: coral and navy
Velvety matte skin set the scene for a girly coral paired with cool navy. Coral went lightly on the lids and cheeks, with a moisturising, satin-finish lipstick. The upper lashline was tightlined and given black mascara. On the lower lashline, liner covered only the outer third of the eye, with blue mascara beneath. A touch of glitter sat on the aegyo-sal, the small rim of muscle just under the eyes.
Matte, berry and red
3. Mag & Logan: matte, with shine only on the eyes
This look was a reminder that K-beauty is not always dewy. In a short interview and how-to video made with the Korean magazine Ceci and beauty vlogger Kyung Sun, M.A.C senior makeup artist Byoun Myeong Suk explained that similar tones on cheeks and lips created an overall matte effect. Only the eyes had a glossy sheen. For daily wear, a translucent glittery eyeshadow gives a similar glint that lasts longer.
4. Jarret: a sophisticated berry lip
For anyone unsure how to wear berry to work, the Jarret show gave models gradient plum lips. These were matched with satin skin, lightly contoured eyes and thin eyeliner on both the top and bottom lashlines. Keeping everything else soft stops the lip from feeling too dramatic.
5. Ordinary People: the 15-minute red lip
For red-lip loyalists, this look took about a quarter of an hour. It began with tinted moisturiser mixed with an illuminator, then powder on the T-zone to keep shine down in humid weather. The brows were filled in. Brown and gold eyeshadow went on the top and bottom lids, winged slightly at the outer corners, with brown liner on both lashlines. A velvet red lipstick was blended softly at the edges, so the colour looked stained rather than sharp.
What the five have in common
- Light bases. Tinted moisturiser or cushion compacts, with powder only where shine builds.
- One focal point. A gradient lip or a single eye detail, never both at full strength.
- Soft edges. Gradient and blended lips look less formal and are more forgiving by mid-afternoon.
- Quick application. Two of the looks were pitched at roughly 15 minutes.
The brands named at the time included Chanel, Burberry and YSL Beauté for the lip and illuminator suggestions. Those were the shades and lines available in 2015, so check current ranges for equivalents.
FAQ
Can these looks work in humid weather?
Yes. Several were designed with heat in mind, avoiding glossy lids and setting only the T-zone with powder so skin stays luminous elsewhere.
Which look is easiest for beginners?
The Jarret look is the simplest to copy. It keeps skin and eyes understated and puts the effort into one blended berry lip.