As a beauty editor, I’ve been riding the Korean skincare wave for some time now and, happily, there are plenty of products that have earned a permanent place in my skincare routine. When it comes to Korean makeup, though, I’ve been a bit slower on the uptake, something I now bitterly regret. Having finally given these products a go and been majorly impressed, I think they deserve just as much of a spotlight as the skincare.
So, what’s the deal with Korean makeup, you ask? “Like Korean skincare, Korean makeup is all about achieving the glass-skin look,” reveals Dr Christine Hall, GP, aesthetic physician, emergency medicine doctor and K-beauty expert.
Forget covering the skin with a heavy foundation; the focus is on enhancing what you already have and creating a fresh, healthy-looking complexion with an impressive array of glow-boosting products. “Korean makeup is also known for being very innovative, especially when it comes to making products more practical,” adds Dr Hall.
Innovative, lightweight and affordable? What’s not to love? Below, I’ve put some of the most-hyped Korean makeup products to the test to find out which ones are actually worth the hype.
The Best Korean Makeup Products
1. About Tone Oh my Glitter Pop 03 Oh Dreamer
About Tone is a relatively new K-beauty makeup brand on the scene, with an ethos built around easy-to-use products that enhance rather than mask. Its products are also vegan and cruelty-free.
This palette is a 10/10. The shimmer catches the light beautifully, the shades work together seamlessly, and you can easily build the intensity for stronger definition. The formula also outshone some other well-known palettes that cost three times the price.
2. BBIA Never Die Mascara
Pros
- Great for hooded eyes
- Smudge-free formula
- Helped define lashes
Cons
- Formula does dry out quicker compared to others
BBIA is a Korean makeup brand that has been around since 2004 and is known for creating high-performing, affordable colour cosmetics. I really like this mascara. At first glance, I thought the brush would be too small, but it did a stellar job of creating long, defined lashes that stay perfectly curled all day without smudging.
3. TirTir Mood Glider Lip & Blush Stick
If you’ve spent any time on BeautyTok over the past year, chances are you’ve come across TIRTIR. The brand has become one of K-beauty’s biggest breakout stars, thanks to its viral complexion products that deliver the fresh, glowing skin the category is famous for. While it first made its name in skincare, TIRTIR is now best known for its bestselling cushion foundations, which is why I decided to try a few more of their other products.
This multi-tasker really packed a punch in terms of impressive staying power. True to the brand’s skin-first philosophy, it enhances your natural radiance with a breathable texture that looks and feels like skin. It’s highly pigmented and has a slight glowy sheen, which I loved as I didn’t need to bother with highlighter.
4. ROM&ND Juicy Lasting Tint
Rom&Nd
Juicy Lasting Tint in Bare Grape
Pros
- Wearable
- Nice sheen
- Good colour range
Cons
- Colour intensifies over time, so apply cautiously
If there’s one Korean lip product that’s achieved cult status, it’s the Rom&nd Juicy Lasting Tint. Beloved for its glossy finish and impressive staying power, I found the formula delivers the look of a juicy lip gloss with the longevity of a stain, leaving behind a soft wash of colour even after the shine fades.
5. Tir Tir Mask Fit Foundation
If you can’t quite get on board with a cushion compact, don’t panic; this pump foundation delivers the same signature TIRTIR glow in a more familiar format. Inspired by the brand’s cult-favourite Red Cushion, it offers buildable, full coverage with a lightweight, second-skin feel, leaving skin looking radiant rather than masked. Better still, I found the satin finish stayed put for up to 15 hours with minimal fading or transfer, making it an ideal choice for long days.
6. Eborian CC Cream
Pros
- Gives a second-skin finish
- Buildable
- Skin nourishing
Cons
- Shade range could be better
I’ve long adored this CC cream for how undetectable it looks on the skin while still effortlessly disguising breakouts, redness and dullness. For the days when you really don’t want a full beat, reach only for this.
7. Dasique Souffle Color Pot
Dasique
Souffle Color Pot in Burnt Sienna
Pros
- Whipped formula
- Natural-looking
- Foolproof to use
- Builable
Cons
- Can feel a tad greasy on oily skin
If there’s one product that sums up the soft, blurred aesthetic of Korean makeup, it’s the Dasique Soufflé Color Pot. Made for both the cheeks and lips, the airy, mousse-like formula blends beautifully into the skin, creating a diffused wash of colour that never looks heavy or overdone. I’m a big fan of the Burnt Sienna, a terracotta brown that adds natural-looking warmth to the complexion and doubles as a flattering lip tint. I also found this product almost impossible to overapply, while the soft-matte finish gives that coveted ‘just-pinched’ flush.
8. Beauty of Joseon Tinted Sunscreen
Beauty Of Joseon
Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen
Pros
- Multi-tasking
- Lightweight
- Great UV protection
Cons
- Formula can seperate so needs shaking
With its fluid, almost serum-like texture, this Beauty Joseon SPF melts into the skin without feeling heavy or cakey, making it perfect for those days when a full foundation feels like too much. The tint is subtle but strong enough to blur imperfections and enhance your natural skin tone, giving that effortless “your skin but better” finish that Korean makeup is known for.
9. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush
I wasn’t completely sold on this product at first as it took a few tries before I really understood the hype. But after giving it a proper chance, I found myself coming back to it again and again. The formula has that signature glow-boosting effect the brand is known for, helping to refine the appearance of texture while also leaving skin with a boost of colour so that it looks fresh, plump and luminous.
10. TIRTIR Mask Fit Ai Filter Cushion
TIRTIR Official
Mask Fit Ai Filter Cushion
Pros
- Matte finish
- Buildable
- Affordable
- Long-lasting
Cons
- Could do with more shade variety for darker skin tones
Dr Hall is a big fan of cushion compacts, and it’s easy to see why. ‘Instead of a traditional liquid foundation in a pump bottle, the formula is stored inside a compact cushion and applied using a puff. This makes it super easy to apply a thin layer and build coverage where needed,’ she explains.
While the formula is creamy, it doesn’t feel as though it sits on the skin, meaning you don’t get that mask-like feeling. It has a matte finish too, so it’s perfect for oily-prone skin. Prefer a glowier finish? Try the TIRTIR Red Compact instead.
11. Fwee Lip&cheek Blurry Pudding Pot
Another lip and cheek stain worthy of a spot in your makeup bag. It differs from Dasique Soufflé Color Pot in that its pudding-like texture feels bouncier and more cushiony. The biggest difference is the finish and payoff. Dasique delivers a delicate, romantic flush, while Fwee offers a more buildable pop of colour with a velvety blur that can be layered on both lips and cheeks.
What Makes Korean Makeup Products Different?
Korean makeup is different from Western makeup in a lot of the same ways that Korean skincare is different. “Korean makeup products are actually hybrid, and this comes from the K-beauty focus on looking after your skin, supporting the skin barrier and using gentle ingredients that help care for your skin while you’re wearing makeup,” explains Dr Hall.
Korean makeup is also known for being very innovative, especially when it comes to making products more practical, such as the cushion compact. “Korean brands also combine makeup with skincare ingredients to create products that target different skin concerns. Erborian is loved for its BB and CC creams, which are a great alternative to heavier foundation if you want a lighter base with ingredients such as centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid and SPF,” continues Dr Hall.
At a glance, Korean makeup is also different. “Solid lipstick colour is rare, with softer gradient lips being favoured. Eye makeup is often peach toned and not heavily pigmented, and even the styles differ,” reveals Dr Hall. “You will see many influencers doing split-face makeup US/UK vs Korean, and you will see it is a lot more subtle. Brows are straighter and thicker, winged liner tends to angle slightly downwards and colours slightly lighter than natural are favoured. For example, lighter browns for brow products,” she adds.
What Are the Best Korean Makeup Application Techniques?
One Korean makeup technique that has recently become popular in the West is applying blusher under the eyes, explains Dr Hall. “The under-eye blush trend went viral on TikTok and is heavily inspired by K-beauty. One of my favourite products for this look is the Fwee Lip & Cheek Blurry Pudding Pot.”
“Aegyo-sal is another interesting observation which refers to the small roll of fat under the eyes. It is something patients in the West complain to me about in clinic, whereas in Korea these are drawn onto the area and considered to be very cute,” she adds.
Korean makeup also often tends to favour softer and straighter brows compared to the more arched brow trends popular in Western makeup. “A straighter brow is often seen as giving a softer and more youthful appearance,” continues Dr Hall.
Finally, another technique is a soft shimmer or brightening shade in the inner corners of the eyes to make them look bigger, brighter and more awake. “It’s usually very subtle rather than a dramatic highlight,” adds the Korean beauty expert.
What Makes Korean Makeup Products Better?
“Rather than being better for everyone, Korean makeup products are great because many brands combine makeup with skincare, comfort and innovation,” says Dr Hall.
Korean beauty is also known for creating products that are easy to use and practical. From cushion foundations to lip tints and multi-use cream products, many formulas are designed to be quick, convenient and very easy to apply.
Another reason people love Korean makeup is the textures and finishes. “Korean brands are known for creating formulas that feel different from traditional makeup, ranging from lightweight cushions and watery lip tints to soft-blurring cream products. Many textures feel creamy, airy or almost whipped, making them easy to blend into the skin. Rather than sitting heavily on top of the skin, they melt in to create a more natural, comfortable finish,” she adds.
Who Might Suit Korean Makeup Formulas Best?
“Korean makeup is a great choice for anyone who prefers a lightweight and natural-looking makeup look rather than a full coverage or heavy base. If you like fresh and glowing skin and makeup that still looks like your skin, you’ll probably really enjoy Korean makeup formulas,” reveals Dr Hall.
She adds that people with dry, normal or combination skin often love Korean makeup because of the comfortable textures and a dewy finish. “There are also lots of options for oily skin too, as many Korean formulas are designed with warmer and more humid climates in mind.”
Equally, Dr Hall adds that Korean makeup might not be for everyone, especially if you prefer a full coverage or matte makeup look. “As many Korean makeup products focus on enhancing the skin rather than completely covering it, some formulas may feel too sheer if you like a very perfected and high coverage base.”
How We Test
To find the best Korean makeup products, I tested a range of base products, blusher pots, cheek and lip tints, mascaras and eye shadow palettes, evaluating each for ease of use, longevity, shade selection, and overall finish. Before selecting, I also tapped the expertise of Korean beauty expert Dr Christine Hall, who regularly uses Korean makeup products and whose opinion I highly rate.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
