The Philosophy on the Face, A World of Its Own Crafted by Three Makeup Artists
Among ever-changing trends, some artists have defined the beauty of the face in their own unique ways. Their works go beyond basic makeup, expanding into art that embodies emotion and narrative.
Defining Natural Beauty, Oh Hyun-Jung
“Makeup is not about creating something new but about finding and enhancing the charm that already exists within the face.”
NARS senior makeup artist Oh Hyun-Jung starts with the question of ‘why is it beautiful?’ and focuses on highlighting the unique allure each individual possesses. Instead of using a multitude of colors, she prefers the tone-on-tone technique, adjusting depth and texture within a single color, preserving the natural flow of the face. This aligns with her forecast for the 2026 makeup trend, focusing on refined expressions of one’s original self.
Runner-up in ‘Just Makeup’, she garnered public attention and proved her ultimate makeup philosophy with her mother as a model. This work aimed to capture the complexities of emotions within the wrinkles of time through makeup. This long-breath artistry is at once restraint and a respect for existence.
Majoring in art, Oh Hyun-Jung honed her sense of reading the structure and individuality of the face. Creating harmony between brand and personal philosophy, she develops her own archive through ‘storytelling’ that interprets the ‘reason for the face.’ Her endeavor is to encapsulate inner self, time, and relationships within the canvas of the face beyond the mere exterior of beauty. This reads not as a mere makeup skill but as an art act linked to an understanding of human existence.
Freedom Without Forms and the Language of Color, Raero
“A child who loved drawing portraits became an artist who uses the face as a canvas.”
Raero’s name was serendipitously created by quickly typing her birth name, ‘Jeon Chae-Hyun’. She aims for creation that starts with coincidence and freedom. Her signature color, ‘purple’, femininely bears subtle tension, representing her multi-layered work.
The genre of special effects is still unfamiliar in Korea, but Raero turned it into her artistic language. While general makeup tidies beauty, special effects are an expansive imagination extension. Handling materials like latex, Pros-Aide, and silicon, she creates ‘other faces’, allowing for expressions beyond reality. Her creations are not simply alien or eerie but approach a dramatic beauty.
The medium that inspires Raero the most is ‘music.’ From the images conjured when listening to music, she designs makeup concepts, progressively enhancing the mood through shooting, lighting, and styling. Thanks to this meticulous world-building, she maintains a global presence with about 9.52 million TikTok followers.
The increasing use of special effects in pop culture is encouraging. Hollywood pop artists incorporate special effects in visual performances, making strong fixation products and bold color trends. Similar trends increase domestically in K-pop concept shows and pictorials, expanding the makeup spectrum visibly.
Between Technology and Art, The Observations of Sim Hwa-Pyung
“AI brings convenience to our lives, yet it gives a strange tension as though it might encroach upon the creative realm at any moment.”
Beauty creator Sim Hwa-Pyung holds a perspective that questions how far technology can interfere with the genetics of art. Having worked for a long period as an artist at the global brand M.A.C, she transitioned into a creator at a new crossroads presented by the pandemic.
Video became her new language, and even in the short-form content world, she maintains her presence as an artist. Prioritizing content that can ‘offer helpful information’ over mere entertainment or trends, she ponders the ethics of being a creator. For her, makeup is more ‘self-expression’ than a technique, and the process is more vital than the outcome.
The trend she mentions is ‘the coexistence of diversity’. In a time flooded with countless beauty contents, the era when one trend applied to everyone has passed. Still, it might be an opportunity for the most free and experimental flows possible in such an age.
She is witnessing firsthand how makeup styles that started in Korea are spreading worldwide. The worldwide sensation of cover makeup for K-pop artists and the move by many to directly experience K-beauty in Korea signify the global expansion of ‘Korean beauty,’ with her leading this forefront with ongoing experiments and studies.
The Next Makeup is ‘Refined Personalization’
The common trend pointed out by all three artists is the ‘individual’s uniqueness’. Rather than lavishly layering colors, the focus is on how profoundly existing shades are made to stand out. The addition of subtle differences in shade, texture, and brightness completes a personal look.
As Raero mentioned, makeup considering personal tone and structure has become more sophisticated, and styles like grunge or gyaru that once remained in subcultures have now seamlessly blended into everyday faces. Makeup is no longer a metric to fit people under; it has shifted to a flow where color and technique move to suit people.
In Closing
The three makeup artists in this story transcend the canvas of the face with their unique language and senses. They emphasize that makeup, before being a skill, is a viewpoint and art that reads individuality and emotion. The strength of diversity and originality will continue to shape new directions in the cosmetics industry.
Combining expertise and sensibility in the cosmetics industry, offers practical cosmetic solutions while respecting the individuality and value of artists. Discover your unique self with and experience the true value of cosmetics.
