When it comes to makeup in Asia, the current trendsetters are China and South Korea, thanks to the influence of K-pop idols, K-dramas and C-dramas. Their rise in influence has pushed Japan, the previous major Asian influence, to the side.
Even though Japan took a step back from influencing the makeup world in Asia, its fashion publications such as PopTeen, CanCam and ViVi highlight fashion and makeup trends to readers far and wide. Scanlations of magazine pages are available on Pinterest and Twitter for those who would love to adopt Japanese fashions into their daily wear.
Here are some Japanese makeup looks that would be a nice addition to your catalogue of styles:
Igari Makeup Style
Named after renowned makeup artist Igari Shinobu, Igari makeup is all about blush. This look gives the illusion of a flushed complexion with its blush placement. The application blush isn’t just limited to the cheeks for Igari Meiku, the blush extends from cheek to cheek and crosses the nose bridge as well. It’s also a form of minimalist makeup in Japan.
Gyaru/Gal Makeup
The Gyaru makeup style initially had negative press with its very first iteration using darker foundation to enhance the eye makeup, which could be misinterpreted as ‘black facing’. However, the modern take (the 2010s) of Gyaru makeup, with influence from Popteen magazine, only emphasizes the use of eye makeup and false lashes.
The false lashes are used to enhance and provide the appearance of larger eyes. Most of the time, you’ll see them wearing circle lenses to enlarge their irises and, as a result, their eyes.
Natural Look
Unlike China and Korea’s makeup looks which favour a more Westernized influence, Japanese girls prefer sticking to more natural looks with their makeup. More glitter, a lighter colour palette and pastel colour tones create a cutesy look.
Mature Makeup Look
大人ぽいメイク (Otona poi Meiku) is a more mature take on Japanese makeup, as most Japanese fashion publications are targeted towards young girls, and only a few are geared towards older women (Cancam, ViVi and AnAn). However, the mature makeup look is quite popular across all ages, as it could be worn on a daily basis and to work.
In contrast with the natural makeup look, the mature makeup look favours darker colour palettes to signify the maturity of a woman. In addition, the cute mature look is also a choice for those who prefer lighter colour palettes for their makeup.
Japanese makeup could be paired with any style of clothing, and suits most occasions. You don’t have to worry about your makeup not being in sync with your clothes of the day. There are lots of magazine scans available on the internet ready for you to experiment with on your own to find a J-makeup style that would fit you perfectly.
