THE AGE OF KOREANISATION

Beauty beat

Korean make-up artist Lee Hyun Ah shares with 'Muse' the secrets behind Korean divas' beauty.

Lee Hyun Ah has worked her magic on numerous familiar faces in Korea. From heart-throb Rain to television series princess Yoon Eun Hye, she was behind their sparkling charms.

So, what exactly are the secrets of these shining stars?

"Korean girls have naturally beautiful skin, but they do not take it for granted. They do put a lot of effort in taking care of their skin," said the world-renowned make-up artist.

She says the most important step is to properly cleanse the face after a long day of wearing make-up. The daily beauty regime should include thorough cleansing, moisturising, eye cream, applying serum and using a facial mask at least twice a week. Sounds like a lot of work? "You can't be lazy if you want to be beautiful!"

Lee Hyun Ah also recommends using eye make-up remover on a daily basis, followed by cleansing cream and then a gentle facial foam. Start with warm water or room-temperature water and finish with cold water to close the pores.

Next is to make the skin look fabulously flawless. The key is to use the right concealer, which should be a little lighter than the actual skin tone. The texture should be lighter than concealer for other areas, too, because it might fall into the lines under the eyes and cake up.

The best way to try a concealer before purchase is not to try it on the back of the hand. "People often make the mistake of trying a concealer on the back of their hand. The truth is the colour of your hand is not the same as your face. Also make sure you test it under natural light, not just department store lighting. There's a big difference."

Given the weather conditions in Thailand she suggested liquid foundation rather than a creamy texture, and to use it minimally. Matte foundation works better in hot weather because it doesn't make the face look too shiny. The moisturiser should also contain as little oil as possible.

Powder with shimmer is the trend in Korea right now since it gives you a radiant glow you see on Korean actresses. Lee Hyun Ah says, however, the shimmer doesn't complement the T-zone at all. "For the T-zone area, matte powder is always better because it doesn't add shine to the already shiny parts."

Once you have the perfect canvas, now it's time to put on the colours. For this upcoming Spring/Summer season, pastel colours are the biggest trend. She particularly emphasized that the make-up should always go with the fashion. "If you are wearing sophisticated clothes, pastel make-up isn't going to cut it. If you cannot match the face with the fashion, it is better not to wear colour make-up at all."