Everyone wants to look beautiful. It is in the nature of every human being to want to be attractive and good-looking. “Wow! You look amazingly beautiful.” Hearing this one sentence at the beginning of the workday, or when you go to a party or even at school just boost up your mood. It is the one easy sentence to see a confident smile on someone’s face. Physical appearance sometimes matters. Whether you are going for a job interview or to a fancy party, you have to look appealing. You may contradict from my next statement, but it is a fact, the first thing that everybody notices is your face. At a first glance, a bright and shiny face with fine skin is what lure you the most. I do believe in the saying that “first appearance deceives many” but I surely believe in the maxim that “first impression is the last impression”.

With more than 7 billion people living on this planet, there are different beauty standards that exist. In some regions, tanned skin is the measure of beauty while in some areas pale complexion is considered as attractive skin tone. Even in some areas of the world, women are being tattooed on their chin and lips as a symbol of having an adorable face. There are so many standards of beauty around the world that I will keep telling until the cows come home. But I will stick to two main beauty criteria that surrounds half of the world. Keeping this in view, I am presenting to you the two whole conflicting genres of makeup, the Korean and American style makeup. Koreans are worldwide famous for their beauty. The porcelain like shiny, soft and clean skin is the hallmark of Korean beauty. It is somewhat strange that almost everyone in Korea has perfect skin. Most importantly, they look 5 years younger than their actual age. American men usually preferred tall, tan and muscular women. Antagonistic to it, Korean men favoured petite, thin women with ice white complexion. The Korean fashion, clothing and cosmetics are 180° opposite to American style. The makeup parameters in Korea are drastically different than in America. Let’s start one by one.

Lip styling

Lip makeup is a characteristic difference between Korean and American makeup style. In Korean makeup, “Gradient lips” are tremendously famous. Dark on inside and light on outside lips give a very attractive look overall. The glossy effect is highly used. I usually do my lips in gradient and believe me such lips with glossy ombre effect make me appear like I have just eaten a cherry popsicle. Whilst full nude, dark and matte lip colours are utilized in American makeup. Big pulpy lips are favoured mostly. Lips outline is clearly defined in American makeup and dark coloured lip liners are used.

Blush and Contouring

Contouring is a mega hit in the American makeup. Full contour makeup is practiced with high definition in cheekbones, straight nose and highlighted jawline i.e. nearly all of the facial features are heavily blended. This concept is totally antithetical to the Korean style makeup concept as very minimal to low contouring is adopted. Similar is the case with Blushing, the blushes used in American style makeup are more of bronze shade and heavy blushing is done under the cheekbone to give sharp effect. But in Korean makeup, light pink peachy shades are used which rest on the cheekbone to give a baby fresh look. Having V-shaped jawline and an egg face is must in Korean beauty. Korean makeup standards can be followed by teens. If you are a college going girl, you can adopt Korean light tone makeup for your everyday routine. The easy-to-do-five-minute makeover is what every school going girl wants.

Skincare

Considering the regional climatic conditions; American skin is inclined to burn more and tan less. The skin epidermis layer of Caucasians is less compact so the skin cleansing is quite easy. While Asians have dense epidermis due to which the absorption of skin products is relatively slow. This is why 8-10 steps skincare products have been adopted by Koreans. Asian skin tends to tan more and burn less, this is why you will find a significant amount of sunblock in most of the Korean skincare products. This noticeable amount of SPF in Korean products allows the face makeup to give a sheen effect and a dewy skin tone. Koreans are so keen about the sun damaging effects that they make sure to wear proper clothing and sunscreens to protect from UV rays, this imparts the wrinkle free and glossy skin.

There is an historical reason behind why Korean love pale skin. Back in the times, the commoners like peasants in Korea had tan or moderate brown skin so the concept of having such complexion narrows to the conclusion that Korean don’t want themselves to come in the same category as those peasants. They adore pale white skin which symbolizes a high class concept. The exact opposite of this concept, American adore olive skin because it symbolizes the warm spent vacations and fun whilst people having white skin are considered to be having monotonous retreats without any luxury.

Eye makeup

There are certain categories of doing eye make including; eyeshadows, eyebrows, eyelashes and even contact lenses. It is surprisingly amazing that the use of contact lenses is very popular in South Korea. Almost anyone can afford them and wear them casually. The contact lenses come in a vast range of colours with all types of powers even for astigmatism. The contact lens trend in not so common is American makeup. The eyebrows pattern in Korean makeup matches to hair tone and is light coloured. The straight across eyebrows with soft lines give a natural look. Whilst in American style makeup ombre blend, dark and high arched eyebrows are done.

A significant difference between Korean and American style eye makeup is having mono eyelids and double eyelids. The eyeshades in American makeup are dark, bold matte and makeup goes all the way to the eyebrows. Most of this styled makeup deals with double lids and cut creases while Korean style makeup is usually compatible for mono eyelids. The shades of pink and peach colour eyeshades are used mostly which only cover the eyelids. Lately, fake eyelashes have been a fit and fad in American makeup. Perfect long and bold top eyelashes are a trend in America but in Korea, natural, thin short length top and bottom lashes are considered nice.

Foundations and Primers

As I have discussed earlier that Koreans want dewy looks so the foundation range is quite narrow and it comes with very light or pale skin options having liquid or light formulas. While American foundations are with a large variety of darker and tanner shades having full coverage formulas and thicker texture.

Americans use matte and thin primers but Koreans utilize thick and very moist primers. One of the parameters of K-beauty is moist and radiant skin tone.

There are clear cut differences in both of the above mentioned genres of makeup. American makeup encircles all the western areas of world while Korean makeup is followed all around the eastern parts. You can’t wear bright makeup in your average routine. Soft and nice makeup is what most of the women want to do. Wearing less makeup allows your natural beauty to shine more and is a cut above the heavy makeup.