From The Straits Times    |

 

Associate beauty editor Melissa Chew tries on a typical Korean makeup look and a classic American makeup look. 
Makeup: Rina Sim; Hair: Kenneth Ong

I usually don’t go to such extremes as doing my entire makeup look to resemble celebrities or to create a whole trending look, but for our latest Beauty In A Minute video, for the sake of comparison, I am wholly embracing a typical Korean makeup look AND a typical American makeup look.

Korean makeup is all about dewy skin, tinted lips, pretty flushed cheeks, shimmery eyes, and soft, full brows. A classic American look on the other hand is all about contouring and definition, matte finishes and dramatic eyes. As different as chalk and cheese.

 

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All the steps of the makeup for both looks are really vastly different. Here’s a step by step breakdown:

 

Base makeup

Korean: Sheer coverage with a dewy, glowy finish. A sure bet is to use a cushion foundation, which is ideal for creating that luminous complexion. Makeup artist Rina Sim used NARS Aqua Glow Cushion Foundation SPF23/PA++, $68.

American: Full coverage with a semi-matte finish. Try a two way cake foundation or one with a creamy liquid formula like Yves Saint Laurent Beaute All Hours Foundation, $98.

 

ALSO READ: HOW TO GO FOUNDATION-FREE AND STILL LOOK FLAWLESS

 

Brows

Korean: Full with a straight-ish shape and a soft blended in look. Try a brow powder kit like Kate Designing Eyebrow 3D in EX-5, $20.50, available at Watsons.

American: Arched and super defined. Only an eyebrow pencil or a brow gel applied with a flat brow brush can give you sharp looking brows. M.A.C Fluidline Brow Gelcreme, $31, was used.

 

ALSO READ: 7 EYEBROW MAKEUP FOR PERFECT LOOKING BROWS

 

Eye makeup

Korean: Shimmery eyeshadow in pretty pastel shades, soft kohl eyeliner and a coat of mascara. Rina used Clé de Peau Beauté eye color quad in #301 Marmalade Sky, $80, and NARS Velvet Shadow Stick in Goddess, $45, to create the line of shimmer under the eyes.

American: Deep-set eyes with brown eyeshadows to define double eyelids, winged eyeliner and dramatic lashes. Urban Decay’s Naked Heat Palette, $83; and Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Liner, $22.90, were used.

 

ALSO READ: 5 EYESHADOW MISTAKES YOU’RE PROBABLY MAKING

 

Face colour

Korean: A pretty pink flush on the cheeks. Go for a cream blush in a pretty coral or pop pink hue, dabbing onto cheeks with your fingers. We like Moonshot Cream Paint in #804 Dragon Fruit, $27.

American: Contour and highlight to define cheekbones, jawline and the nose bridge. A palette like Kat Von D Shade & Light Contour Palette, $73 is perfect for adding definition  to the face and for dimension, use a highlighter like Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Moonstone, $58.

 

ALSO READ: MAKE THOSE CHEEKBONES POP: THE BEST CONTOUR KITS FOR ASIAN SKIN

 

Lips

 

Korean: Of course the K-beauty ombre or gradient lip look. Laneige’s Two Tone Tint Lip Bar in No.4 Fruits Candy Bar, $32 is a classic lippie specifically to create this look. Or try Dior’s new Rouge Dior’s limited edition Double Rouge, $50.

American: Matte lips in a dusty pink or nude hue. Reach for liquid lipsticks in matte formulas to deliver that rich, velvety colour. Rina used Dior Rouge Dior Liquid in #614 Jungle Matte, $50.

 

Beauty in a Minute: 
We know how busy you are. So we’ve just the quick video for you to know what’s the latest beauty products and how to use them. 
For more stories from this series, click here.

 

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