A Journey to Sophisticated and Delicate Base Makeup
Recently, base makeup has entered a new era that goes beyond simply covering skin imperfections to delicately expressing inherent beauty. From innovative technology-packed foundations to new base products that subtly refine individual skin tones, and secrets from Cheongdam salon artists, we will delve deeply into all the changes for perfect skin expression.
Foundation, Opening a New Era
Breaking away from the past trend led by cushion foundation, foundations are making a strong resurgence this year. Esteemed global brands like Christian Dior Beauty, Estee Lauder, and NARS are putting foundations at the forefront, with Hermes Beauty joining the competition by introducing its first foundation. This signifies not just an increase in new product launches, but also the emergence of a new chapter in ‘skin expression technology’ competition, incorporating skincare technology into formulas, ensuring comfort even when layered multiple times, and providing a delicate presentation that naturally enhances skin tone.
Estee Lauder has significantly upgraded its iconic Double Wear Foundation, a product that has led the base makeup market for nearly 30 years since its launch in 1997. It maintains the existing powerful lasting and covering power while focusing on implementing buildable textures that allow users to adjust the level of coverage they desire, and offering a lighter texture that provides more comfortable usability.
We have retained the coverage and adherence beloved by original Double Wear customers, and added a lively finish and comfortable lasting power to newly define the meaning of ‘high-performance makeup’.
Natural Skin Expression, the New Base Trend
While the primary goal of base makeup in the past was to perfectly cover skin imperfections, it has now shifted towards preserving the natural characteristic of the skin while only meticulously covering necessary parts. This approach focuses more on naturally correcting the inherent tone and texture of the skin rather than completely hiding skin imperfections.
The change in texture is also noteworthy. Previously, matte and glow textures alternated in trend, but now the lines between them have blurred. NARS Education Head Makeup Artist Hyungseok Yuh explains that the core of current base makeup lies in a semi-matte texture that lightly smooths out the skin texture without excessive glossiness or thick coverage, and naturally reveals the original skin tone.
The focus of this base makeup is on the semi-matte texture that is neither too glossy nor completely matte.
Why are beauty brands so focused on ‘naturalness’? The backdrop is the delicate change in the base trend. In the past, base makeup trends like ‘flawless skin’ or ‘dewy glow skin’ had clear concepts, leading many to pursue a standardized skin expression. However, following the pandemic, movements like ‘fewer base products’ spread, promoting the act of skipping or minimizing base steps.
In response to these changes, beauty brands have started offering various shades and textures of base products, suggesting personalized options tailored to individual skin tones and types. As a result, rather than everyone chasing the same skin expression, a new era has dawned where individuals choose their base according to their skin condition and preference, naturally allowing makeup that highlights their inherent skin texture instead of completely covering it. In this trend, ‘Skinimalism’ emerged as a crucial keyword, blurring the boundaries between skincare and makeup and aiming to create the appearance of healthy skin itself. Hana Lee from Clarins’ marketing team emphasizes that in the Skinimalism trend that combines skincare and makeup, makeup that highlights the original skin texture with a thin base is gaining attention, and it has become more important to express one’s original skin as healthy and nice-looking rather than perfectly hiding skin imperfections.
With the expansion of the Skinimalism trend, which combines skincare and makeup, makeup that brings out the original skin texture with a thin base is gaining recognition. It’s more important to express one’s original skin as healthy and nice-looking rather than completely hiding skin imperfections.
Intricate Skin Expression Completed with High-tech
Today’s foundations have evolved beyond mere skin covering tools to products equipped with advanced technologies. They encompass formulas containing skincare ingredients, textures that adhere comfortably to the skin, and natural coverage, showcasing a highly developed appearance. Alongside this, ‘Base Prep’ has also emerged as an important keyword. High-quality skin expression is determined by well-prepared skin even before makeup begins.
While natural skin expression is the trend, not everyone is naturally endowed with good skin. To address this concern, many brands are introducing ‘smart foundations’ that incorporate various technologies into base products. Estee Lauder has newly applied ‘Polymer Mesh Matrix Technology’ to allow relaxing comfort as if the skin is breathing. It features a light and comfortable fit akin to yoga wear. Furthermore, 20 trillion micro pigments encapsulated in every drop of foundation naturally correct the skin, akin to how a chameleon absorbs surrounding colors.
Clarins has also introduced a foundation that incorporates skincare technology. The brand combined its representative skincare product, Double Serum, with foundation into one, ensuring the two formulas blend right before use, thanks to dual-chamber construction. This product not only adds natural radiance to the skin but also offers skincare effects like wrinkle improvement, nourishment, and hydration, introducing a hybrid foundation. Thus, recent foundations have evolved into technology-centered products that go beyond merely covering imperfections to complete skin tone and texture while delivering a skincare effect.
NARS’ Natural Matte Long-wear Foundation Mont Blanc offers a thin, seamless base akin to the precision of a professional artist’s touch, cleanly covering blemishes and imperfections. Christian Dior Beauty’s Dior Forever Skin Glow Radiant Foundation SPF50+/PA+++ 0N organizes the skin tone to be bright and even with a blur filter effect, while its skincare ingredients maintain moisture and elegant radiance for an extended period. Estee Lauder’s NEW Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup SPF10/PA++ 1W1 Bone delivers a soft, flexible formula that finishes matte without feeling heavy even when layered multiple times. Clarins’ Double Serum Foundation L2C incorporates the skincare benefits of firming, nutrition, radiance, and moisture from the original Double Serum, completing a clear and translucent skin texture without stickiness.
Expert Prep Know-how and Tips for Perfect Base
With the elevated role of prep, newly launched primers are also enhancing their functions. MAC National Artist Sukjeong Bang advises that prep is not just a step to tidy up the skin before makeup but a core procedure that determines the completeness of skin expression, suggesting that how skin tone, texture, and glow are orchestrated defines the impression of the base. She explains that creating optimal conditions for skin expression is the role of prep.
Hence, selecting appropriate prep products according to skin condition has become important. For rough skin texture, choose prep products that refine dead skin cells, while for enhancing the adhesion and longevity of base makeup, choose products specializing in these aspects. Kim In-ha, ABM of The History of Whoo, explains they have created an all-in-one base with correcting power, functionality, and a comfortable feel, introducing base products in blue and pink colors. They packed skincare ingredients into the formula, completing it freshly to naturally correct skin tone without feeling heavy. Sulwhasoo has also introduced a primer based on skincare know-how, where Boyoung Lee from Sulwhasoo BPI Team shares that Breathable Makeup Technology has been applied to maintain a clear tone all day long, and its Silk Lodge texture naturally smooths out pores and skin texture.
Sulwhasoo’s Perfecting Veil Primer smooths out pores and coats the skin finely with a silk-like texture. Givenchy Beauty’s Prisme Libre Serum Primer Purple enlightens yellow skin while maintaining moisture with hydrating ingredients. Touch in Sol’s No Poreblem Primer Prep fills in pores to aid seamless adhesion of the next base layer. Lancôme’s Idôle Milk Primer Matcha Shake corrects redness, blemishes, and uneven skin tone with its lotion-type texture. The History of Whoo’s Royal Complexion Essential Base Blue creates a transparent, glowing inner skin from within with delicate pearlescence. Espoir’s Makeup Bonding Primer fills gaps to create a firm skin texture. MAC’s Glow Play Lightful C3 Tone-up Primer SPF50+/PA+++ Rosy Peach naturally enhances the skin’s inherent flush. Hermès Beauty’s Plain Air Perfecting Primer organizes skin tone brightly and maintains hydration for a long time. VDL’s Rose PDRN Prep Base soothes uneven texture with hydration while adding a subtle glow. YUNJAC’s Skin Perfecting Protective Base Prep smooths skin texture with its comfortably spreadable serum formula.
The ‘Cheongdam Salon Pick’ base products consistently boast high popularity on SNS and YouTube. This is because makeup artists use these products in actual field settings, establishing exclusive credibility. Cheongdam salon artists, handling pictorial shoots and celebrity makeup, meticulously select base products and adjust application methods depending on the skin condition to create the best results.
Dahyun, Director of Wee Wee Atelier, shares that when using a moist base, rolling it with hands like applying serum can neatly tidy up the skin surface. If the base doesn’t adhere well due to dry skin, Crooks Woo, Vice Director of Pure Seonmyung, suggests choosing a product that makes the skin base sticky and applying it thin and uniformly with a brush for even expression of base makeup.
When the skin condition is poor, it may be helpful to check the ingredients. Eun-jin, Director at Allure, mentions using base with PDRN ingredients can strengthen the skin texture and quickly improve its condition. Yewon Kang, Director at Jenny House, advises that when the skin tone is dull, using tone-up products to organize the skin tone, rather than applying a thick layer of base, can be effective. If you’re worried about the base makeup slipping after applying primer, you may utilize Keung Mi Shin of Joy187’s tip: Apply the primer thinly with a brush, then gently tap it with a sponge or hand to enhance adhesion and longevity.
Why not refer to artists’ precious product selection tips and advice, and find a base product and application method that suits you perfectly?
In Conclusion
Amid changing beauty trends, base makeup is evolving from merely covering imperfections to an artistic realm that delicately expresses each person’s inherent beauty. Products advancing based on technology and user experience offer us broader choices, enabling perfect skin expression tailored to individuals. This trend is opening a new horizon of beauty that respects individual character and beauty.
Industry/Field: Cosmetics
Tone: Professional and Trustworthy, Formal yet Warm
Tone Examples: Useful, Practical, Excellent, Trustworthy
Your journey to finding the perfect skin expression amidst changing base makeup trends is more practical and trustworthy with the excellent information provided by Yuricos.
