Step by step breakdown of the Korean Makeup Hacks video by ig/alxandra

How I recreated this with my existing products and tools.



The original video goes fast, with many steps compressed. The content creator has a hilarious version where she goes into detail. Worth checking out on IG. Note that some hacks presented are chinese from douyin/xiaohongshu/rednote. The subsequent detailed video is thus titled Asian Douyin Makeup.

The features of this look:

  • bright, toned up base

  • straight eyebrows

  • contour and highlights:

    eyes, specifically, the aegyosal area

    nose

    sides of face and chin

  • blush placement all over the face

  • straight winged liner

  • clumped mascara

  • overlip and ombre lips

All together, it’s a pretty look for East Asian features.

Anyway, let’s get this started:

Step 1: Color contacts

I don’t wear contacts so I skip this.

Step 2: Cushion Foundation

Products: Jung Saem Mool Essential Skin Nuder Cushion in medium

Tools: THE TOOL LAB 101b Brush and Cover Tension Puff

Brush on all over face and neck, pat with the puff to blend.

Step 3: Brows

Products: Shu Uemura Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil in seal brown, Shiseido INTEGRATE Eyebrow Fuwa Mayu Mascara in clear

Tool: Etude House brow spoolie brush

Brow shape is straight with slight downward slope towards the end.

Step 4: Color Correction, Highlight and Contour

Products: Nyx Color Correcting Palette, Bobbi Brown Corrector in peach, Jung Saem Mool Star-cealer concealer in medium, Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer in 6

Tools: Real Techniques concealer brush, fingers, THE TOOL LAB Cover Tension puff

This color correction is my own step. Video doesn’t do that.

Under eye: Bobbi brown corrector + Jung Saem Moon Starcealer concealer

Sides of nose: Nyx mix of green and yellow+ Jung Saem Moon Startcealer concealer

Brow bone and cheekbones: Nyx purple

For the highlight and contour, I follow the screenshot guides in the video. So helpful since I usually don’t contour to this level.

Contour: Nyx brown

Highlight: Nyx yellow and Kevyn Aucoin SSE

Mid: Nyx peach

Step 5: Blush

Products: Glossier Cloud Paint in Dusk, Fwee Pudding Pot in without, Nars blush in deep throat

Tools: fingers, Real Technique blush brush

I follow the screenshot guide in the photo. Blend. Blend. Blend. So much blending!

Step 6: Powder

Product: Canmake Abloom Face Powder in 3

Tool: Real Techniques buffing brush

I have oily skin so I lock things down with powder all over the face.

Step 7: Eyeshadow and Liner

Products: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in original, Chanel Les Beiges in soleil tan bronze, Chanel Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick in sculpting, Armani Beauty Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow in rose gold chrome, D-up Silky Liquid Eyeliner Waterproof in brown black, Bbia Last Auto Gel Eyeliner in soul brown

Tool: Real Techniques accent brush, fingers

I have oily lids, so need to use Urban Decay Primer potion.

Chanel soleil on lid up to crease, Armani eye tint in middle of the lid, Chanel highlighter on top with fingers

Chanel highlighter on inner corners and middle lower lash line with eye definer brush

Bbia eyeliner outer lower lash line and aegyosal contour line

D-up eyeliner straight wing out from 3/4 of the outer eye




Step 8: Mascara

Products: pdc Pmel Perfect Curl Lock Base, SIM;PLAIN Mascara in black

Tools: Shu Uemura Lash Curler, Tweezerman tweezers

Curl lashes, apply primer and mascara. Then, clump the lashes into about 12 sections. I’m not very good at this. Would need to practice.




Step 9: Lips

Products: Rom&nd Lip tint in fig fig, Jung Saem Mool Cushion Foundation, Kevyn Aucoin SSE concealer

Tools: Real Techniques concealer brush, The TOOL LAB puff


Apply leftover foundation on lips, apply concealer around lips following screenshot guide. Apply lip tint in the cupid’s bow, 2 triangles on inner upper lip, and inverted standard deviation shape in inner lower lip. Blend gently.


It looks deceptively simple but in fact uses a considerable amount of products, tools and techniques. It took me 45 minutes(!) from start to finish. of course that’s with stopping to watch the video to see what to do next and I’m just a slow makeup applier.


My recreation is a more subtle and subdued version due to the shades I have in my stash. I imagine if I used more pigmented color, I’d get even closer to the same result.


I discovered The Tool Lab brushes and puff from Happyrim, a Korean makeup influencer who has these excellent collabs. I find her videos so soothing to watch.

Sheila Lina