Eoljjang: The difference between American and Korean makeup styles | Lifestyle.INQ

OCTOBER 27, 2022

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If you’ve watched a Korean drama and have followed even one Korean star in any social media platform, I bet you’re thinking the same thing: Koreans are so good-looking!

Even if someone isn’t a celebrity, when you scan through Instagram, you will definitely come across a good-looking, normal Korean citizen with thousands of likes. And although we’ve all adored the “on-fleek” look of Western beauty, there’s something about the innocent style of Koreans called “얼짱” (eoljjang).

Eoljjang literally translates to “best face” or “good-looking person.” Here are some key differences between the Korean eoljjang style and the American style of makeup.

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1. Eyeliner
While Western style makeup prefer to apply winged liners for a sharper look, and although a lot of Koreans also appreciate the winged liner for time to time, eoljjangs prefer to line their eyes downwards for a soft, puppy-like look.

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2. Lipstick style
People who prefer American makeup style use lip liners and bolder colors and prefer matte lippies, while people who prefer Korean style makeup or eoljjang style use peach and pink colors or pigmented colors on the inner part of the lip to achieve a gradient lip effect.

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3. Eyebrows
Most people who use American makeup style prefer to apply a natural arch shape and put concealer under the brow to achieve a sharper look. In Korean style, however, they prefer to put on straighter and thicker brows with a softer, powder-ish color, as they want to achieve a lighter and more natural effect.

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4. Under eyebags
Nobody likes eyebags. Most, if not all, of us prefer to hide our eyebags with concealer. Eoljjangs, however, see this differently. In Korean style makeup, people tend to lightly brush eyeshadow or highlighter under their bags to highlight them. They call this “애교살” (aegyosal) and is believed to give you a younger-looking effect on the face.

And of course, no Korean look is complete without Korean fashion. Luckily, Zalora has a whole plethora of Korean-inspired looks just for you! Make sure you’ve memorized, by heart, the style of your K-drama favorite character so you can rock the style! If you haven’t, head on to Viu to get started. JB

Zalora and Viu have partnered to celebrate Viu’s 1st year anniversary! Use the promo code CHECKOUTVIU when making a purchase and a 20 percent discount will automatically be deducted for a single transaction with a minimum purchase of P1,500. You also get free 3-month’s worth of Viu premium subscription when you use the promo code. 

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