K-beauty hacks to give you flawless makeup!

We all know Korean skincare is amazing at restoring your skin’s health, but what about makeup? K-beauty takes inspiration from K-pop idols and K-drama stars' makeup looks, since they’re fun, playful, and easily replicable. But what do they do to leave their makeup looking perfect?

Firstly, prepping your skin with a Korean skincare routine will provide a clean base to get started with makeup.

A good, fresh face is exactly what you need to get started with your K-beauty makeup! A 10-step Korean skincare routine will help deliver hydration, radiance, and protection - essential to prepare your skin for foundation. 

In particular, sunscreen is important when starting your K-beauty makeup routine. Not only does it protect your skin from UVA and UVB, it also provides a good base for your makeup to sit on, ensuring foundation glides on smoothing onto your skin. 

MARY & MAY’s Vegan Peptide Bakuchiol Sun Stick SPF50+ PA++++ is formulated with Bakuchiol to help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles on the skin. This ensures your complexion is bouncy and firm. As well as having a matte, non-sticky finish with no lingering white cast, this provides a sebum-controlled base perfect for placing foundation on top of. 

Cool your skin before applying foundation

A top tip recommended by K-beauty makeup artists is to make sure your skin isn’t too hot. This is because if you apply foundation onto hot skin, it won’t only glide off the skin, it’ll make it last longer.

A face mask like SOME BY MI’s Real Hyaluron Hydra Care Mask is a great way to quench and refresh your skin. Infused with Hyaluronic Acid and Panthenol, this mask ensures moisture penetrates deep into your skin. Also formulated with Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, it soothes and calms irritation and redness, giving you a balanced complexion ready for face makeup. 

K-beauty swears by cushion foundation

If you're tired of the heavy, cakey look that Western foundations often give, why not try K-beauty cushion foundations? While Western makeup typically focuses on high-coverage foundations, K-beauty foundations offer light coverage and are often enriched with skincare ingredients to keep your skin hydrated and glowing all day. These foundations come in a compact cushion form, making it easier to apply and create an even base for blush.

TIRTIR’s Mask Fit Red Cushion SPF40 PA++ is a multi-award-winning cushion foundation - and for good reason! Not only does it provide a natural, buildable coverage for your skin’s needs, it’s also enriched with skin-loving ingredients like Niacinamide and Propolis Extract, which gives you a bright, soft complexion that lasts.

Face mists - K-beauty’s secret weapon for dewy, long-lasting skin!

Investing in a face mist before AND after you apply your foundation is a K-beauty makeup artists’ top tip for radiant, glowy skin! They work to deliver deep hydration to prevent moisture loss. You can use it multiple times throughout the day, as well as a setting spray. Don’t worry - your makeup won’t slide off! Instead, it should stick to your skin longer than without a mist.

THE LAB’s Prebiotic-Cera Cream Mist is designed with the brand's patented Prebiotic-Cera formulation which blends Ceramides and Probiotics that support the skin’s microbiome and barrier. As a cream-infused spray, this also keeps your skin fresh, ensuring that your foundation doesn’t crack throughout the day.