The Tamesis
Ahead, our Korean beauty experts break down the top four Korean makeup trends you need to know about in 2026, from refreshing makeup techniques to playful, expressive colors so you can wear your favorite makeup products in a Seoul-approved way.
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blurred lips
Arguably, the entry point for Korean cosmetics is lip products – from lip oils to lip balms, lip glosses and more – which are always prominently displayed in major retailers such as department stores. Although it’s important to go back to basics, the blurred lip shape is like the little black dress of Korean beauty. “Some iteration of blurred lips has been hot in Korea over the years. But this year’s changes are a little tame,” Lee previously told Fashion. “The lips don’t have an obvious ombre look, but instead are outlined with a thick, rounded, soft lip liner that is blended artfully.”
Chung Park points to Unleasia’s thick lining as a leading contender in the category, while Rom&nd is an equally popular choice. Both help create rounder, plumper lips without the need for Botox. For the lip combo, there’s the velvety long-wear liquid lip formula, enriched with emollients for an incredibly lightweight feel.
Egiosar
Eye fillers and photo retouching are very popular in Korea. Lee says this is a theme across the entire product category dedicated to creating this current makeup trend. So what is it? “Aeygo sal accentuates the puffy ‘cute fat’ (on-trend) area under your eyes when you smile,” she explains. “It’s a popular technique for creating the illusion of brighter, wider eyes, especially for people with East Asian eye shapes.” While aegyo sal has been popular in Asia for a while, Lee explains that it’s just entering the Western mainstream this year—which is why we can attribute the democratization of beauty to TikTok.
