Korean Beauty Overview! Cosmetics & Skincare Vocab

Along with K-pop and Korean dramas, Korean beauty is a huge draw for people interested in the country, language, and culture. Now, luckily enough for us, a lot of Korean makeup and skincare terms are just the English flipped into Korean! But I’ll run through a lot of things from products, skin types, makeup-specific verbs, and more, so let’s get into it.

Use Your Interest in Korean Beauty to Help You Learn!

Similar to English, there are many Korean people showing off their makeup and/or skincare on social media and YouTube. Take advantage of this! For everyone interested in Korean beauty, you can get double the benefit of learning about trending or new products in Korea, makeup techniques, styles to fit your look; and practicing your Korean! Many YouTubers have Korean subs, and some even have English subs, for you to read along as you listen and learn.

Here are some popular channels with diverse videos, so you can see who fits your style!

• @체스CHES (makeup focus – has eng subs)
• @ANDA (makeup focus – has eng subs)
• @sunnyschannel (makeup focus – has eng subs)
• @LeoJMakeup (makeup focus – has eng subs)
• @스완_현실남자뷰티 (men’s skincare focus – has eng subs)
• @동네의사이상욱 (doctor, skincare focus – has eng subs)
• @director_pihyunjung (cosmetic analyst, informational focus – has eng subs)

Common Korean Cosmetics/Makeup Words

메이크업: makeup
화장품: cosmetics
남성용 화장품: men’s cosmetics
천연 화장품: natural cosmetics
고급 화장품: high-end cosmetics
화장품 가게: cosmetics store
화장품 회사: cosmetics company
리무버: Make-up remover

Korean Beauty Cosmetic Verbs

화장하다/메이크업하다: to put on makeup
브러시로 바르다: to apply with a brush
화장품을 쓰다: to use cosmetics
덧바르다: to layer on/apply over
매트하게 하다: to make matte
매끄럽게 하다: to smoothen
톤을 맞추다: to match skin tone
섞이다: to blend together

지우다: to erase
제거하다: to remove
번들거리다: to be greasy/oily

섞다: to mix
흔들다: to shake
스크럽하다: to scrub
녹이다: to melt
블러러지다: to blur
세정하다: to cleanse
부드럽게 하다: to soften
담그다: to soak

Korean Makeup Products

립스틱: lipstick
립글로스: lip gloss
립틴트: lip tint
립라이너: lip liner
립라커: lip lacquer
립밤: lip balm
크레용 립: crayon lipstick

눈화장: eye makeup
아이섀도우: eyeshadow
마스카라: mascara
브로우 마스카라: eyebrow mascara
아이브로우 파우더: eyebrow powder
뷰러: eyelash curler
아이라이너: eyeliner
오토 아이라이너: automatic eyeliner
젤 아이라이너: gel eyeliner
워터프루프 아이라이너: waterproof eyeliner
크레용 아이즈: jumbo eyeshadow pencil

쉐도우: shadow
파우더: powder
리퀴드: liquid
쿠션: cushion
구션팩트: cushion foundation
스폰지: sponge
브러시: brush
톤업크림: tone up cream
워터 틴트: water tint
틴트: tint
컨실러: concealer
하이라이터: highlighter

베이스 메이크업: base makeup
메이크업 베이스: makeup base
메이크업 팔레트: makeup palette
메이크업픽서: makeup fixer
포인트프라이머: point makeup primer
파운데이션: foundation
프라이머: primer
블러셔: blusher
비비크림: BB cream
씨씨크림: CC cream

Common Korean Skincare Terms

스킨케어/피부관리: skincare
주름 방지 크림: anti-wrinkle cream
스팀: steam
딥클렌징: deep cleansing

Describing Your Skin

모든피부: all skin types
건성 피부: dry skin
복합성 피부: combination skin
지성 피부: oily skin
정상 피부: normal
민감 피부: sensitive
주근깨: freckle
주름: wrinkle

모이스처: moisture
보습: hydrating
진정: soothing/relaxing
영양: nourishing
탄력: elasticity
탱탱: firm/tight
유분기: oiliness
모공: pore

Korean Beauty Products

기초 화장품: skincare products
에이씨: acne care products

에멀젼: emulsion (light moisturizer)
모이스처라이저: moisturizer
에센스: essence (lighter serum, almost a combination toner and serum)
바디에센스: body essence
미스트: mist (spray)
앰플: ampoule

팩: pack (face mask)
마스크: mask
핸드마스크: hand mask

필링: peeling (exfoliating)
스킨: skin (toner)
토너: toner
워터: water (cleansing toner)
클렌저: cleanser
엑스폴리에이터: Exfoliator
블랙헤드: blackhead remover
선스크린: sunscreen

Body Products

로션: Lotion
바디로션: Body lotion

크림: Cream
바디크림: Body cream
핸드크림: hand cream

바디워시: Body wash
바디클렌저: Body cleanser
바디미스트: body mist
바디오일: Body oil
바디밤: Body balm
바디스크럽: Body scrub
바디파우더: Body powder