How to Master the Korean Beauty Trend Mul-Gwang
Korean beauty trends never fail to delight us. They’re wacky (snail facials?!), adorable and NEVER boring. The latest look to steal our hearts is the Mul-Gwang trend AKA a glowing face that gives the illusion that you are indeed a gorgeous water nymph who subsists on a diet of dew drops, organic produce, and light beams. In other words: having a shiny, wet complexion that looks gorgeous. We first heard about the trend after watching one of our all-time fave YouTuberoos Lisa Eldridge.
Ready to get your fresh face on? Here is a quick tutorial on how to get all glimmering like a chic, fantastic glowworm.
Complexion: Use A ‘BB’ Cushion + Spot Concealer
Laneige BB Cushion:($34) Mul-Gwang is all about the glow so skin is #1. Products like BB’s are huge in Korea and will restore your skin to pure luster. The Laneige Cushion is a revolutionary 5-in-1 BB housed in a convenient compact ideal for travel. This BB offers a broad-spectrum SPF 50 and skin perfecting Optimal Mineral Water to cool and hydrate (we love that!) which is great for the dog days of summer! This little ditty also prevents shine and brightens skin by visibly reducing dark spots. We also love the packaging—the patented air cushion helps your finger collect just the right amount of BB cream with one swipe—keeping application quick, simple, and less wasteful. Catch additional juicy application tips here. Set your look with a little bit of powder (only if you’re oily).
Nars Immaculate Complexion Concealer: ($25) This gem delivers spot-on concealing, as the focus with Mul-Gwang is to keep your facial glow intact and only use concealer on the very spots you need it. A little bit goes a long way!
Banila Co Shiny Shimmer Base: ($29) Next up, build up the shine on the apples of your cheeks by patting on a shimmer base to keep your fresh, dewy vibe going! This product casts a soft pink beige pearl finish to the skin while also providing whitening benefits so it’s great to wear underneath your foundation as well.
Eyes: Do A Minimal Shadow + Tight Line
MAC Pro Longwear Pain Pot: ($22) A statement eye is not really the focus here so just doing a soft wash of color is all you need. Try this long-wearing, highly pigmented cushion-y color for a creamy application that dries to an intense, pearlized finish.
MAC Fluidline: ($16.50) For this look, try to draw a very thin line close to the lash line. Click here for a quick tutorial. FYI: the tight line was made popular by the “K Dramas” (Korean pop culture TV) and is applied by using a finely thin or slant brush like this one or this one.
Lashes: Go Defined + Separated
Clio Long Lash Masacra: ($13.28) This Korean mascara delivers clump-free, super defined lashes—which are an integral part of the Mul-Gwang look. The waterproof film coats the lashes with “hairbrush” technology (picture: what a hairbrush does for hair during a blowout). Keep in line with the trend by applying to top lashes only.
IOPE Air Cushion Blusher: ($21.98) This Air Cushion Blusher contains SPF30 and casts a soft, natural glow to your cheeks. Contains over 30% mineral water—keeping your skin moisturized and dewy. We’re all about the peaches, apricots and soft roses in this liquid blush collection. You’ll love the look and feel of this product so much you may drop powdered blushes for the time being. The finish is subtle and glowy.
Lips: Go For Bright, Bold Color + Loads of Shine
Etude House Lip-Fit: ($11.70) The focus on the lips is bright color pay-off. This revolutionary liquid lipstick finishes with a weightless powdery texture while still providing sheen! The final result is a non-sticky, plush, mega-pigmented gloss.
Banila The Kissest Plumping Stick ($14.56) We all love juicy drama but it’s much healthier in ref to your lip product, versus your personal life. This product is high shine, super bright and SO colorful. Just pulling this wild Crayola-bright ‘stick out of your bag will make you smile. Watch as Lisa truly demonstrates its amazing effects here.
So are you going to try this hot Korean look? Let us know in the comments below.
Featured Image via Lisa Eldridge
