The Beauty Breakdown on the Do’s & Don’ts of Korean Makeup Trends

Sometimes we can get carried away in trying to force our skin tone and features to fit a certain aesthetic, whether that's a Western beauty standard or one you see in popular Korean dramas. In her popular video, Morgan Stewart of The Beauty Breakdown shows us how we can get the K-beauty look without sacrificing our own unique beauty. Here, we break down The Beauty Breakdown for you.

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When it comes to tips on Korean beauty and skincare, look no further than Morgan Stewart, the Korean American beauty guru behind The Beauty Breakdown. Considered one of the top bloggers focused on Korean beauty in the U.S., Stewart has been featured in numerous media outlets including Teen Vogue and Marie Claire. Today, she has over 61,000 followers on Instagram and over 420,000 devoted followers on YouTube.

But beyond her wonderfully made content and killer makeup skills, what truly sets Stewart apart is her deep understanding of why certain trends are popular and her advice on the most wearable approach to these trends. (Because let’s be honest — that beauty product may look great on that K-drama actress, but that doesn’t mean it translates well in real life.)

Recently, Stewart released a video on her YouTube channel featuring the do’s and don’ts of Korean makeup trends and how to avoid common mistakes. To make things simple, we’ve gone ahead and broken down the basics for you.

Eyebrows: Do Fill In, Don’t Force

For years, straight brows have taken over the Korean beauty scene. But do we all have naturally straight eyebrows? Definitely not. Instead of giving a tutorial on how to draw on straight brows, Stewart encourages her viewers not to try and force your eyebrows into a certain shape, especially since straight brows simply do not work on everyone’s face. Instead, you can fill in your eyebrows with Clio Tinted Tattoo Kill Brow. By focusing less on the arches, you can get the slight appearance of a straight brow without steering away from your natural brow shape.

Eyes: Do Shimmer, Don’t Smoke

It’s no surprise that an enduring standard in Korean makeup is enhancing the eyes and making them look bigger. That means many American makeup trends — such as heavy black liner and even dark smoky eyes — are a big no-no as they can close up the eye and make them look tired. Instead, focus on brightening the eyes to give a fresher, more youthful appearance. After using 3CE Eye Primer to make sure there is no fallout (because we all know having glitter in your eye is just about the worst), Stewart applies a shimmery wash of gold, with a little bit of brown on the outer corners, and brown eyeliner. For this look, she uses Laneige Pure Radiant Shadow in Shine Gold and a brown shade of Holika Holika Waterproof Eyeliner.

Lips: Do Layer, Don’t Tint

The fact that ombré or gradient lips have been trending in Korea for years definitely speaks to its appeal. And though instinct may have you reaching for a liquid lip tint, Stewart points out that this isn’t the best option for people with dry lips. Instead, she opts for layering creamy lipsticks such as the Etude House Talk Jelly. Layering multiple colors definitely gives a smoother gradient look as opposed to an abrupt transition of color.

Face: Do Glow, Don’t Contour

Above everything else, Stewart notes the importance of moisturizing your skin and protecting it from the sun. (She likes Skinfood Aloe Watery Sun Water Gel.) And though skincare is rather straightforward, makeup can get a little tricky.

The biggest takeaway she has for her viewers is that the current Korean beauty trend is all about looking natural. So she encourages her viewers to embrace their skin color and stay away from foundation that is too light or grey. Similarly, she warns viewers that too much concealer and powder also takes away from the natural glow of the face. In the video, she uses just a small amount of Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder. Finally, achieving this look means staying away from contouring and reaching for products that leave your face looking glowy and fresh such as Skinfood Rose Essence Cream Blusher and Son&Park Cube Highlighter.

Watch the full video below:

How do you make a Korean makeup look work for you? Join the discussion in the comments below!