PEP.ph Masterclass: Nix Soriano gives tips for achieving K-Drama glam
by Nikko Tuazon Introducing PEP.ph Masterclass: your gateway to learning from seasoned pros and experts about lifestyle, beauty, fashion, career, and beyond.
Its premiere episode features celebrity makeup artist Nix Soriano, the founder of Nix Institute of Beauty and the official makeup team of the Miss Universe Philippines Organization.
Nix generously provides invaluable, beginner-friendly tips, and tricks for mastering various makeup looks honed in the style of Lim Ju-Kyung, the character portrayed by South Korean actress Moon Ga Young in the hit K-Drama series True Beauty.
She demonstrates how to apply some of the products she recommends on PEP.ph's Deputy Managing Editor Rachelle Siazon.
PRO TIP: USE MATTIFYING PRODUCTS
Nix recommends starting with mattifying products, a contrast to South Korean beauty norms for K-Drama glam.
Acknowledging the prevalence of oily skin among Filipinos, she highlights the effectiveness of matte products, offering accessible advice for anyone grappling with similar skincare concerns.
In her words, "The problem, sometimes, when we do Korean-inspired makeup here in the Philippines, we also copy every product that they use, which are often yung mga heavily moisturizing products or heavily moisturizing foundations.
"It doesn't usually work well with the Philippine weather... Because it's very mainit dito most of the time, and majority of Filipinos are actually quite oily.
"So you combine those with that type of foundation or type of makeup, they often don't adhere well here in our country.
"So every base that I place on her are actually something that would work well with our country and with our weather.
"Kapag oily ka kasi, I would lean towards something that is mattifying. Matte primers, matte foundations, and then I set with a setting powder, which sometimes looks very dry. Hindi nakaka-Korean, di ba?"
PRO TIP: FAKE THAT GLOW
For that coveted K-Drama actress glow, Nix suggests a "fake it till you make it" approach using highlighters and face mists.
She says, "What I can do, and what I can give you as a tip, is we're going to fake it. So we're going to fake that glow.
"So everything was matte here, so we're going to go in with our highlighters. So ipi-fake natin yung glow nila. So dadaan natin sa highlighters."
To demostrate, Nix applies on Rachelle the Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette, which is available in Lazada for PHP3,332.
Nix continues, "So after our highlighter, here's one major tip that I can give.
"When everything is matte, when everything is powdery, we are going to drench her with a mist.
"Since everything is powdery, the blush was powder, the contour was powder, and then all their foundation and the primer was mattifier.
"By misting everything up, parang natutunaw lahat yung powdery parts, leaving you with that sort of hint of glow that you would want to achieve the glass-like skin."
The multi-tasking mist Nix recommends is the MAC Prep + Prime Fix+, which is available on Shopee and Lazada for PHP1,800.
PRO TIP: SUBTLE GLITTERY EYE MAKEUP
Nix also notes that many K-Drama stars opt for a lighter touch with eye makeup. Subtle eye makeup with a touch of glitter can work wonders.
She says, "To make it even more Korean-looking, so we went for the subtle eyes.
"Usually kasi pag mga Korean looks, very light lang yung eyes, with a bit of glitter or more glitter."
PRO TIP: BLURRY LIPS
And lastly, the blurry lip trend perfectly complements the K-Drama glam.
Nix says, "The lips, we usually go with something that is a bit more on the brighter side. Pero if you notice, hindi ako nag-lip liner sa kanya.
"Parang medyo pabura ng konti yung edges, and then the colors are mostly concentrated in the middle, followed by a gloss. So very Korean-looking."
To achieve it, start by prepping your lips with a hydrating lip balm. Then, apply a soft, muted lip color.
With a clean lip brush, blur the lines by gently smudging the lipstick along the edges of your lips, softening any harsh lines and creating an out-of-focus effect.
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