8 tricks from top Korean model Lee Sung Kyung for the best K-Beauty look

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Sizzling hot It-model and fresh-faced Laneige lady Lee Sung Kyung spills all the secrets to nailing her Pinterest-perfect and incredibly Insta-friendly K-Beauty makeup

First impression of Lee Sung Kyung? She’s no Song Hye-kyo – which is sort of the point, maybe: She’s young, she’s now, she’s (more or less) just like us.

Having scrutinised her mug in person for a good half-hour at the recent reveal of Laneige’s Ion Orchard store, I’m happy to report that the newly minted face of the K-Beauty brand is the real deal; the 25-year-old model of the moment boasts the pouty puckers and delicate dewy complexion so coveted by aspiring Garosu-gil girls everywhere.

Here’s how to look like the ultimate ulzzang, Lee Sung Kyung-style:

1. Be scrupulous about skincare. Sung Kyung tells me that a flawless face begins and ends with a perfectly primed canvas: “I’m quite a stickler for cleansing and applying skincare in the ‘right’ steps, especially when time is not an issue for me.” How many steps, exactly? An auspicious eight; think cleansing oil, lotion, essence, emulsion, the works. Crucial caveats apply, of course: “ I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to discover for yourself what works for your skin,” Sung Kyung says. “You may find that you may require fewer or more steps than me.”

Oh, and call it nagging, but she also says that some form of sun protection is absolutely non-negotiable. “A good sunscreen is absolutely essential, and I don’t leave the house without it, even on my days off.” Some other practical tips: Don’t neglect your neck and upper chest; and seek shelter during the sweltering peak of noon. A swipe of sunscreen isn’t carte blanche for cavorting outdoors the whole day!



2. Give yourself a good rub down. Sung Kyung has a minuscule mien – so small, indeed, that she must surely qualify as one of those lucky ladies blessed with a “gua zhi lian”, or sunflower seed face. Her secret? Sung Kyung says she massages in her skincare to de-puff and detoxify her way to a V-shaped visage: “I use gentle tapping motions after each step as I find that this really contributes to the contouring of my face.”

Want to try it out for yourself? Always knead upwards against the forces of gravity and be sure to also focus on the pressure points at the side of the jaws and on the inner and outer eye corners, which are the key points for the drainage of toxins.

3. Indulge in some heavy “patting”. Sick of your foundation slipping and sliding off your face before lunchtime? Don’t throw in the sponge just yet. Sung Kyung says her secret to long-lasting makeup is a simple waiting game: “Always give your face some time to fully absorb each layer before adding the next,” she advises. Here’s a good rule of “thumb” (and I mean this quite literally): If your fingertips feel damp when you press them into your face, give the product another minute, then test again.



4. Test first, buy later. This tip ought to sit well with the Selca-snapping, Snapchat-shooting generation. “The new Laneige Beauty Mirror app is awesome for trying out virtual colours on your own face before committing to a purchase in real life,” raves Sung Kyung. “It’s also fun to use, especially when I’m bored and waiting for my friends to turn up at a gathering.”

5 . Lips or eyes, not both. When it comes to K-Beauty, it’s best to adhere to the cosmetics equivalent of the legs-or-cleavage rule: Choose to play up your lips or your eyes, not both. “My go-to look is all about a brown liner and coral lip,” Sung Kyung says. “But no cat eyes, please, as I generally prefer very natural-looking peepers that will make my puckers pop.” Key takeaway? Kylie Jenner was right, after all: Smackers are the ultimate style accessory!



6. Her #diediemustbuy beauty item? Drumroll, please: The Laneige lass is an enthusiastic endorser of the brand’s line-up of lippies. “I’m obsessed with the new Two-Tone Lip Bar ($34 each),” Sung Kyung gushes. “You get two hues for the price of one and in one swipe to boot, plus the creaminess of the formula means it can double up as a blusher in a pinch.”

Speaking as a lip lover, I can attest to the gorgeous glide and extreme emollience of the woman’s personal pick. It’s incredibly intuitive to use, too: Simply swipe the angled applicator across your mouth, press your lips together and voila! A virtually instant ombre pout.



7. Don’t be fazed by the blaze. Surprise: Sung Kyung says she adores the heat and humidity of sunny Singapore. “I know it can get quite sticky, but your climate is actually really hydrating and good for the skin,” she explains. “I know of many women in Korea who make it a point to visit saunas to perspire so as to purge toxins from their pores.” I suppose us Singaporeans should learn to be thankful that we’re steeped in a perpetual (and free!) steam sauna.

8. She’s all about that base. The holy grail of K-Beauty? Finding a fluid foundation that flirts on the edge of sheer and medium for almost-nude skin that’s yours, only better. “One universal bit of advice I’ve been given by the many makeup artists I’ve worked with is to apply your base makeup in as thin a layer as possible for a natural look,” Sung Kyung says. “Stick to hydrating formulas to prevent your makeup from caking, and blend well to avoid looking as if you’re wearing a mask.”

Here’s a handy trick to nailing that softly diffused, is-she-or-isn’t-she look the Koreans are so enamoured with: When you’re done with your foundie, press a piece of plush two-ply tissue onto your face. Don’t rub, just pat: This will take off excess product and allow a sexy glimpse of your real skin to glimmer through.

Right, then. Follow Sung Kyung’s tips and you’ll be well on your way to looking like one of those ruddy-cheeked, K-Drama lasses caught in a gentle garden drizzle – fresh, flirty and very Mul-Kwang-Pi-Bu!


11 February 2016 by Eugene Quek
herworldplus

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/psychedelico_/]

“...I generally prefer very natural-looking peepers that will make my puckers pop.”

istg singaporean entertainment newswriters have the most embarrassing writing style.

anyway i like how LSK gives solid advice like using sunscreen and cleanse well rather than the typical "just drink a lot of water ^^"

also does anyone know if someone has a list/spreadsheet/whatever of which cushion refills can fit into which cases? i would like to try more cushions but i already have 6 cushion cases and considering how hard they are to store, that's already way too many for me.

[mintchoc.livejournal.com]

There's a good collection of links that discuss bb cushion case compatibility in the first comment here (https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/3kn009/discussion_cross_brand_bb_cushion_case_and_refill/)!

[http://users.livejournal.com/psychedelico_/]

omg thank you!!!!!

[daikokudanji.livejournal.com]

i love this blog post (http://www.theoutletofmyconsciousness.com/my-korean-cushion-foundation-collection-korean-cushion-comparison/), she does talk about what cushions fit in what cases, but she also separetes everything by season and it's a super review of so many different brands~

[http://users.livejournal.com/psychedelico_/]

omg the number of cushions she has is making me anxious for some reason. but thanks to her, i can save money lol. thanks so much for the link!

[mspopstar.livejournal.com]

"Sizzling hot It-model and fresh-faced Laneige lady Lee Sung Kyung spills all the secrets to nailing her Pinterest-perfect and incredibly Insta-friendly K-Beauty makeup"

That sentence gave me a headache

[mem-mu.livejournal.com]

That two tone lip bar sounds interesting. I'm going to use this post as a chance to ask if anyone happens to know any good sunscreens without titanium dioxide in it?

[mem-mu.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'll look into it

[clicheaulait.livejournal.com]

I have been using INNISFREE perfect UV protection sunscreen and it is indeed perfect especially if you have oily skin. also it's spf 50+

[mspopstar.livejournal.com]

+1 The Innisfree rebranding was their best decision ever

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence is SPF50 and is good for dry skin. It's a Japanese brand that's pretty popular so I don't think it'll be hard to look for!

[klauses.livejournal.com]

THAT GUY IN YOUR ICON

that's the guy i liked from the chewing gum mv. what's his name?

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

Jaemin!

He's not part of the current NCT Dream promotions though. Bb's getting treated for a herniated disk. :(

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I'm actually surprised they called her that, tbh
I don't remember her being an ulzzang

[pseudo-shigure.livejournal.com]

the beauty youtubers who live in SK who i follow still use the term sometimes

[pseudo-shigure.livejournal.com]

i'm gonna say tho the ones i've been watching are korean american and an american living in korea lol so idk how accurate they are. but from them i get the impression like the ulzzang just move to instagram and be an instagram celeb now, they still got sponsored and stuff. i feel like probably it's the same.

[pseudo-shigure.livejournal.com]

well yeah, maybe those people are the ones the youtuber refer as ulzzang. i mean idk much about ulzzang other than that they are have zzang faces and get sponsored and have fans and stuff. so for me at least, that sounds exactly like ig celebs who's pretty lol.
giiiirl, you know the make up are definitely different between sk and western.

[pseudo-shigure.livejournal.com]

idk i think they probably have been contouring these whole time but they really subtle about it. not the everyday people maybe, but like for tv and stuff.

[pseudo-shigure.livejournal.com]

"your climate is actually really hydrating and good for the skin,”
crying bc i live in neighboring country of SG yeet still has super dry skin

[jinkiestabi.livejournal.com]

I need a good essence and I'm thinking of switching my moisturizer.

[meyouthisthat.livejournal.com]

"But no cat eyes, please, as I generally prefer very natural-looking peepers that will make my puckers pop." - So much of cringe when I read this lol. I don't know why SG beauty writers tend to always have this sort of cringe-worthy language in their articles.

I live in SG and this is the first time I'm hearing that our humid weather is hydrating for skin. LOL. Much the opposite I'm afraid. It causes oily skin, large pores, gathering of dirt, acne etc. There;s a huge diff between living in a humid climate versus sitting in a sauna, just saying.

I like that she gives proper beauty advice you can follow instead of just telling you to drink water and to place sliced cucumbers over your eyes XD

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I don't know
Back when I was living in Martinique I barely used any moisturizer and I didn't feel the need for it
But moving in France my skin was screaming for some love and care

[meyouthisthat.livejournal.com]

Quite alot of my friends and I are the opposite. We get breakouts/bad skin when we are home, but if we are in countries with 4 seasons, and especially during the drying winter months, my skin is gorgeous lol.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I guess it depends on everyone's skin type.
I have sensitive skin and the change of season (and humidity) is a disaster for me. I have to be careful with my routine and change it accordingly

[meyouthisthat.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on where we were born and what our skin is acclimatized to as a result.
Same, I have sensitive skin too. The weather here worsens it and I have random breakouts, redness and oily skin =/ I guess one upside is since we don't have the 4 seasons so we don't have to keep changing up our routines.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

If you have a miracle cure for redness let me know ;p

[meyouthisthat.livejournal.com]

Oh do you have redness too? How do you deal with it currently? I find that it slightly depends on what sort of toner I use but I usually have to slather on lots of concealer =(

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

oh yeah I have redness
It's even worst these days because the weather is very dry and windy and tbh I never found a way to completely get rid of it and I just accepted that my skin is like that.
I try to moisturize well, I even have an anti-redness moisturizer but I wouldn't say it has much effect so makeup is the only thing really working out in term of conceilling it but I don't like to wear makeup everyday

Right now I'm testing new product:
- I use Nature republic Snail Solution Foam Cleanser at night, then Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner, and a night cream (or overnight mask)
- in the morning I use April skin black magic stone, the same toner and a day cream with spf.

Overall it's doing a good job, my skin is clean, hydrated but the redness remain

[meyouthisthat.livejournal.com]

Hello! Those sound like pretty good products; it's great that it's hydrating and cleans your skin well. But it seems like despite that, the dryness of the weather/something in the air is still causing irritation to your skin. And perhaps it may even be something in your diet? Or a combi of a couple of these factors

I dislike wearing makeup everyday too =/ and I don't have any sort of go-to products for the redness right now. I just know i have to steer clear of thick creams/moisturisers, mask sheets with too much essence that my skin doesn't absorb (funny thing is Korean mask sheets do this so often to me compared to Taiwanese ones =/), toners with alcohol and I need to eat/drink pretty "clean" - less caffeine, more green tea/water and less "flavourful" food (less salt, spiciness, sugar etc).

[u-niverse.livejournal.com]

use a green base colour corrector to minimise redness! the new Etude House green and blue colour corrector works for me, and its a great first colour corrector product to use as it is affordable. It really minimises my redness around the cheeks and nose. Concealer can't help as much.

[meyouthisthat.livejournal.com]

Oh thanks! I've had that on my mind for ages (purchasing a green colour corrector) but haven't gotten round to doing it. I'll go check out Etude soon! Thanks so much :) Concealer doesn't work after awhile, as my face is oily..

[clicheaulait.livejournal.com]

I am using COSRX Centella Blemish Ampoule along with COSRX Centella Blemish Cream. My redness fades gradually and it's really soft on my skin. So far it is my holy grail skincare products.

[nickyromain.livejournal.com]

Idk when I'm in vietnam I find that my skin is doing much better in spite of the pollution. But then again I'm v dehydrated lol

[meyouthisthat.livejournal.com]

Interesting, I'm the opposite. Bad skin in SEA and at home, gorgeous skin in the winter months in Europe lol.

[nickyromain.livejournal.com]

"detoxifying your face into a v-shaped visage" sounds like some bullshit but I like the bit about foundation. I've only recently started using foundation again and I like the coverage, it's nice having your skin look not messy, but it's true it's very heavy

[ah0000.livejournal.com]

I really want to try the two tone eyeshadow sticks but will have to wait until I'm in Korea to buy it.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

these seems so weird to me but I'm also very curious about them

[froggster.livejournal.com]

I've worked in a make-up store and honestly it's amazing how little people know what actually works for them. They want too dark foundation or smear bronzer all over their face. Just why. And they want everything matte since it's the trend in the west, but it will only end up looking dull. Please never take a fully matte foundation T_T

[pseudo-shigure.livejournal.com]

and i just watched edward avilla's review on this and... i just dont get these liptints (in general) lol

[suggestivepeach.livejournal.com]

ia. They're just... lip balms. You can achieve the same look for much less $$$, but im sure most ppl are just buying for the "concept" behind it and not the actual product.

[bri-and-red.livejournal.com]

Tbh Laneige's marketing with LSK worked and I've been so tempted to buy one of the two-tone lip bars since they first showed up in WFKBJ

Skincare really has become my biggest beauty step and the past year or so I've been really good about following a night-time routine (the morning routine is a work in progress), I just can't get myself to do the sunscreen because I'm allergic to all the chemical ones and physical sunscreens are often so heavy (I got one from Cosrx though that might work for me)

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

Have you tried Biore's sunscreens? I've been loving mine and recommending it to everyone. Lol