Korean makeup deserves just as much attention as Korean skincare, which has already become hugely popular in the U.S. These cosmetics feature innovative formulas that double as skincare, offering lightweight foundations with SPF for easy touch-ups, velvety blushes packed with antioxidant fruit extracts, and hydrating balms infused with peptides.
“In Korea, makeup isn’t just about color—it has to make your skin look incredible,” says Michelle Lee, a beauty expert and former editor-in-chief of Allure. “The products are affordable and often include skincare benefits.”
Another standout feature of Korean beauty? Customization. “There’s a strong focus on personal color in Korea,” Lee explains. “People usually know whether they have warm or cool undertones and which shades suit them best.” This attention to detail means every product feels tailor-made for your skin.
### Vogue’s Top Korean Makeup Picks
– Best Setting Spray: Neogen All Day Locking Fixer ($28)
– Best Lip Gloss Balm: Rom&nd Glasting Melting Balm ($18)
– Best Multi-Purpose Color: Fwee Blurry Pudding Pot ($20)
– Best Eyeshadow: Unleashia Glitterpedia Eye Shadow Palette ($19)
– Best Subtle Blush: House of Hur Moist Ampoule Blusher ($15)
– Best Cushion Foundation: TirTir Mask Fit Red Cushion ($25)
– Best Lip Treatment: Sulwhasoo Perfecting Lip Color ($38)
Korean makeup also stands out for its playful yet thoughtful packaging and luxurious textures—think airy, pudding-like creams and silky balms. In short, it’s fun, functional, and meticulously designed.
Here are 14 standout K-beauty products, from blushes to lip tints, loved by Seoul’s trendsetters—plus expert insights on what makes them special.
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### Best Lip Gloss Balm: Rom&nd Glasting Melting Balm
Price: $18 (Nordstrom), $14 (YesStyle)
Why We Love It:
“Rom&nd is the top lip color brand in South Korea—their products are amazing,” says Lee. This balm is ultra-moisturizing, with a glossy, oil-like finish that isn’t sticky. It works beautifully alone or layered over lip liner.
Key Ingredients:
– Jojoba seed oil
– Shea butter
– Camellia seed oil
Finish: Glossy
Best For: Hydrated lips with a hint of color
Size: 3.5g
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### Best Mascara: Clio Kill Lash Superproof Mascara
Price: $14 (Amazon), $18 (YesStyle)
Why We Love It:
“I have short, straight Asian lashes, so I swear by Korean and Japanese mascaras—they hold a curl like nothing else,” says Lee. This waterproof formula adds volume without clumping or flaking. For even better results, she recommends pairing it with a Korean lash curler.
Key Ingredients:
– Panthenol
– Olive fruit oil
– Hydrolyzed collagen
Best For: Volumizing, long-lasting curl
Size: 0.24 fl ozFoundation: TIRTIR Mask Fit Red Cushion
$25 (Amazon, YesStyle)
Why We Love It:
Cushion foundations are a staple in Korea, offering various finishes and skincare benefits. “It’s common to see people touch up with a cushion after meals, so the formulas are lightweight—never cakey or heavy,” says Lee. This one lasts up to 72 hours, provides SPF 40, and delivers full coverage without feeling thick. Infused with red propolis extract, it soothes sensitive skin while covering blemishes—just one pump is all you need.
Key Ingredients: Water, iron oxides, dimethicone, titanium dioxide, propanediol, glycerin, hibiscus flower extract, red propolis extract
Finish: Satin
Best For: Lightweight, buildable coverage
Size: 0.63 oz
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Best Multi-Purpose Color: Fwee Blurry Pudding Pot
$20 (Amazon)
Why We Love It:
This cream blush has the airy texture of whipped mousse and the bounce of chilled pudding. “Korean brands master playful yet functional textures, especially in blush formulas like Fwee’s,” says Lee. The velvety matte finish works on cheeks and lips for a seamless flush.
Key Ingredients: Dimethicone, cocoa seed butter, agave leaf extract
Finish: Blurred
Best For: A dual lip-and-cheek tint
Size: 0.17 oz
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Best Lip Tint: Etude Dear Darling Water Tint
$8 (Amazon), $7 (Etude)
Why We Love It:
An affordable, hydrating tint that stains lips with a glossy finish. The watery formula absorbs quickly, leaving a long-lasting, blurred color. Enriched with a berry fruit complex, it keeps lips moisturized.
Key Ingredients: Berry fruit complex
Finish: Glossy
Best For: A lightweight, long-wearing tint
Size: 9 g
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Best Eyeliner: Merzy The First Pen Eyeliner
$8 (Amazon), $7 (YesStyle)
Why We Love It:
A smudge-proof, transfer-resistant liner with a precise felt tip—ideal for hooded eyes. The water-resistant formula stays put all day without flaking.
Key Ingredients: Acrylates copolymer, anise fruit extract
Finish: Matte
Best For: Sharp, long-lasting wings
Size: 0.017 oz
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Best Setting Spray: Neogen All Day Locking Fixer
$28 (Amazon)
Why We Love It:
More than a TikTok trend—this spray is a makeup artist favorite. Soothing aloe and panthenol keep skin hydrated, while fixing polymers lock in makeup. Tea tree extract controls shine for a fresh, glowy finish.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, aloe leaf extract, panthenol, tea tree leaf extract
Finish: Natural
Best For: Makeup that stays put (and mimics glass skin)
Size: 2.7 fl oz
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Best Contour: (Content missing—let me know if you’d like this section completed!)Too Cool for School Artclass By Rodin Shading
$14 (Amazon) | $13 (YesStyle)
Why We Love It:
This contour palette from the trendy brand Too Cool for School blends seamlessly into the skin with cool-toned shades that enhance your natural bone structure. The trio of silky, buildable shades gives you versatile contouring options. Enriched with skin-conditioning silica and mineral powder, the formula glides on smoothly without clinging to dry patches. The micro-milled texture ensures a flawless, second-skin finish that works beautifully over foundation or bare skin.
Key Ingredients: Micro-milled powders, silica, mica
Finish: Natural
Best For: Fair to light-medium skin tones seeking an everyday contour staple
Size: 0.33 oz
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Best Eyeshadow: Unleashia Glitterpedia Eye Shadow Palette
$18 (Amazon) | $32 (YesStyle)
Why We Love It:
Want to take your makeup from day to night? A touch of shimmer adds instant glam. Unleashia is a Korean brand known for its vegan, cruelty-free, and biodegradable glitters. If a full sparkly lid feels too bold, just a swipe on the inner corner brightens your eyes effortlessly.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin crosspolymer, mica, tocopheryl acetate
Finish: Pearlescent, metallic, shimmer
Best For: Eye-catching looks with nine versatile shades
Size: 2.89 oz
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Best Subtle Blush: House of Hur Moist Ampoule Blusher
$15 (YesStyle)
Why We Love It:
This liquid blush doubles as skincare, with over 50% moisturizing essences for a soft, blurred matte finish that plumps the skin. It gives a natural, healthy glow while letting your skin shine through.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, chlorella extract, strawberry fruit extract
Finish: Soft matte
Best For: Long-lasting, hydrating liquid blush
Size: 20 ml
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Best Lip Treatment: Sulwhasoo Perfecting Lip Color
$38 (Nordstrom, Amazon)
Why We Love It:
Sulwhasoo, a top Korean skincare brand, also makes this luxurious tinted lip balm. Infused with ginseng seed oil, it deeply hydrates, smooths fine lines, and leaves lips plump and radiant. The elegant Moon Jar-inspired packaging adds a chic touch.
Key Ingredients: Ginseng seed oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, pomegranate seed oil, jojoba oil
Finish: Subtle glossy
Best For: A non-sticky, hydrating lip tint
Size: 0.1 oz
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Best Blurred Lip Liner: Rom&nd Lip Mate Pencil
$14 (YesStyle)
Why We Love It:
This two-in-one pencil features a rounded tip for a soft, diffused outline and a brush for blending. The matte texture creates a plump, natural look—perfect for overlining subtly.
Key Ingredients: Synthetic wax, mica, candelilla wax
Finish: Soft matte
Best For: A blurred, fuller lip effect
Size: 0.5 g
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Best Water Blusher: A’pieu Juicy-Pang Water Blusher
$8 (YesStyle)
Why We Love It:
Don’t let the nail polish-like bottle fool you—this liquid blush has a tiny brush for precise application. The lightweight, buildable formula is packed with antioxidant-rich fruit extracts for a fresh, dewy flush.
Key Ingredients: Fruit extracts
Finish: Dewy
Best For: A natural, juicy glow
Size: 15 mlKey Ingredients: Pomegranate seed oil, grapefruit extract, raspberry extract, blueberry extract, glycerin
Finish: Dewy
Best For: A natural flush with a lightweight, non-greasy feel
Size: 9 g
### Best Matte Lip: Peripera Ink the Velvet Lip Tint
Price: $11 ($7 on Amazon)
A weightless, highly pigmented lip tint that glides on smoothly and stays put all day—available in 45 shades.
Why We Love It:
Peripera’s matte lip tint is a Seoul beauty staple for its non-cakey formula and velvety finish. Think of it as a matte liquid lipstick that feels comfortable and lightweight while delivering bold color. The mousse-like texture blends effortlessly, creating a soft, blurred effect thanks to a double-layer elastomer that smooths over lip lines. The result? A silky, emollient finish.
Key Ingredients: –
Finish: Soft matte
Best For: A velvety matte lip that won’t flake or look heavy
Size: 0.14 fl oz
### Everything You Need To Know
What defines Korean makeup trends?
K-beauty stands out for its finish and placement. “No matter the product, the finish is always soft and blurred—never harsh contours or overdrawn brows,” says Lee. Trends like aegyo-sal (enhancing under-eye bags with concealer or highlighter) and bold blush placed high on the cheeks are key.
What makes K-beauty formulas unique?
Like Korean skincare, K-beauty makeup is thoughtfully formulated. “Brands prioritize ingredients,” notes Lee. From biodegradable glitters to vitamin C-infused lip balms, Korea leads in skincare-makeup hybrids. “People expect K-beauty to include complexion-loving ingredients—it’s the standard.”
### Meet The Expert
Michelle Lee is a Korean beauty and skincare expert with 25+ years of experience. Former editor-in-chief of Allure and Nylon, she also served as VP of Global Editorial at Netflix, blending editorial excellence with deep cultural insight.