Got two minutes to spare? Then say annyeonghaseyo to the beyond sexy skin sported by just about every K-Drama starlet in Seoul.
It’s incredible how ingenious the Koreans are, really. Tip of my Philip Treacy hat to Choi Hee Seon for introducing me to one of the best beauty hacks ever.
The Lancôme Korea national makeup artist is one formidably talented face painter – he’s gilded the faces of girls walking Gucci and Escada – so when he was here for a press pow-wow with Singapore’s beauty scribes, I had to ask him for his take on the nude look that’s virtually de rigueur in his hometown.
Choi’s top tip? Express DIY masks first thing in the morning. Grab three or four pieces of cotton – off-the-counter stuff will do in a pinch, although I’m partial to the poshest pads courtesy of Clé de Peau Beauté’s Le Coton – and douse them in your go-to toner (or softener or refiner or emulsion, tomato, tomahto).
Toner recommendation? Choi says the best product for this purpose is the excellent Visionnaire [LR 2412] Pre-Correcting Advanced Emulsion (from Lancôme, natch), a thirst-quenching treatment with patents-pending botanical derivatives said to reduce redness and fine lines.
Sidebar: Choi suggests sticking your skincare in the fridge; like I discovered with scents, this neat storage trick makes them go the extra mile, and is especially handy for cooling ruddy complexions.
In any case, when the cotton pads are wet all the way through, slap them on your face – but only on select areas: One across the forehead, one for each side of your cheeks, and one you press into place across your nose bridge (see image above). Twiddle your thumbs for two minutes, then take the pads off. Pat in any excess and proceed with the rest of your regimen.
Now, there’s method to this madness (and you will look mad with those white cotton sheets mummifying your mien!) Notice how said areas of the face are also the very same you’re often told to brush on with skin-illuminating powders?
Bam, seeing the "light" yet? By bumping up the plumpness of the cheeks with a skin-tightening toner, you’re giving your makeup a "highlighting" head start.
The moisture will also imbue your mien with a subtle inner sheen that’s very intriguing; Choi says this speedy spot treatment is the secret to the beguilingly bare dewiness so coveted in today’s K-Obsessed world.
Well, now you know. Pass on this tip to your beauty buddies, and try it for yourself, pronto. You can thank me later!
Lancôme Visionnaire [LR 2412] Pre-Correcting Advanced Emulsion, $$125, is available at all Lancôme counters. For more information, visit www.lancome.com.sg and follow Lancôme Singapore on Facebook and Instagram.