How I achieved the “incognito K-idol” look for just 500 pesos (and change)
I have been a Kpop fan for more than 10 years now, and I have them to thank for my love of K-beauty as well! Following idols have given me the chance to see the evolution of Korean makeup trends, from the era of thick eyeliners paired with nude lipsticks, to adventurous burgundy eyeshadows, and to the current obsession with more natural, almost bare-faced looks.
Image credits: @airry (for SEVENTEEN’s S.Coups)| @moonlight (for IU)| @marshmallow (for Twice’s Jeongyeon)
I remember what it was like being a teen with a student’s budget and wanting to cop the looks that I saw. Luckily, there are so many affordable drugstore options now that can help you achieve that same “incognito K-idol” look they often do when traveling to look fresh-faced but polished. I found five products that can cop that glow, for just a little over P500! Indeed, there’s no need to go broke for beauty.
Create a glowy face base with the QuickFX CC Cream
The QuickFX CC Cream (P99 from Watsons) looks stark white when you squeeze it out of its tube, but it has small color particles that burst and adapt to your skin tone when you start to blend it in. The light coverage is enough to even out my skin discolorations and give me a healthy, well-rested glow. You just need a couple of dots for the whole face and it’s easy to blend out with clean fingers! It looks like skin but better, and although it fades, it does so evenly so no need to worry about hulas.
Draw on soft brows with the Vice Gandoll Micro Brow Pencil
I had never used micro-tip pencils before and really liked this Vice Gandoll Micro Brow Pencil (P195 from BeautyMNL)! The shape is great for doing precision brow work, and the hardness of the pencil makes it easier to mimic strands of hair. The result is very natural looking brows, also because the Natural Brown shade I used works perfectly with my light-medium skin tone and black hair. Just make sure to expose a small amount at a time so you don’t break the exposed pencil.
Contour eyes with the Nichido True Colors Collection Eyeshadow in Cocoa Pearl
I couldn’t believe that this eyeshadow is just P68! Cocoa Pearl is a neutral brown eyeshadow with the slightest tint of red and very fine silver shimmer. It has minimal fallout and although it’s not as creamy as higher end brands, the color shows up easily whether I am using my fingers or a brush. For this look, I used my fingers to apply it as a wash all over my lids and lower lids, then added another layer under my eye fold to make my eyes look deeper and lightly contoured.
Add eye definition with Babydoll Mascara
At just 99 pesos, this sachet makeup find is a decent beginner mascara. It has a thick wand that can grab most of my lashes easily. It also has a tinting effect that make my lashes look more volumized but unfortunately doesn’t hold the curl. I applied two coats of mascara, and it layers well without clumping.
Polish your pout with Apollo Lip Balm in Pretty Pink
I’ve been using the Vaseline Rosy Lips ever since BTS’s Jungkook was spotted applying it, and finally emptied my tub a few months ago. Vaseline is not so expensive as P125 but the Apollo Lip Balm looks just like it and is only P49. I thought it would be the same as both are petroleum jelly based, but Vaseline barely has any color while Apollo looks bright pink with a few layers! I applied about 3 layers so the camera could better capture the color, but a single layer is actually enough to get that juicy pink effect. As a balm, it works well to make my lips soft, plump, and moisturized.
Just throw on a hoodie or a black face mask and ball cap combo, and you’ve copped that K-idol incognito look! It’s actually a super quick and easy look that you can wear everyday, and looks natural enough to make people wonder if you’re actually wearing makeup. Best of all, this whole look costs just P510 and you can source everything from the department store.
Do you like this natural K-idol look? Can you recreate it for less than P500? Tell us about your more budget-friendly finds!
