K-Pop Idols' Lip & Cheek Picks, on the Baerry Shelf

K-pop idol lip and cheek picks on the Baerry shelf

If you watch enough idol get-ready clips you start noticing the same three steps, in the same order, on completely different people. A watery tint. A balm over the top. A cream cheek pressed in high with fingers.

That's it. There's no fourth secret step. I spent a while assuming there was.

What makes it read as idol makeup rather than just makeup is that every one of those is sheer and slightly wet-looking. Nothing is matte. Nothing has a hard edge.

First the tint, and don't line it

Rom&nd Bare Water Tint, a sheer watery lip tint

A water tint gives you colour that sinks in instead of sitting on top. That's the whole difference between a lip that looks like your lip and a lip that looks like lipstick.

The mistake I made for ages was applying it like lipstick, edge to edge. It looks flat and it shows every bit of wear.

Bare Water Tint (4.5g)

How to apply it: Dab it on the centre of both lips, then press your lips together two or three times to spread it. Leave the outer edge softer than feels right.

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Then the balm, for the glass finish — JIHYO, TWICE

JIHYO of TWICE wearing Rom&nd Glasting Melting Balm in 06 Kaya Fig

This is the one you see on Jihyo, in 06 Kaya Fig. The balm is what turns colour into that glassy look, and it stops the tint drying your lips out, which watery tints absolutely will if you leave them bare.

Centre of the lip only. Gloss to the corners flattens the whole thing and migrates within the hour.

Glasting Melting Balm (3.5g)

The bit that matters: One dab top and bottom, press together. When it wears off you only need to redo the middle.

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Cheek last, higher than you think — WONHEE, ILLIT

WONHEE of ILLIT wearing Peripera Pure Blushed Sunshine Cheek

Cream cheek goes on after the lip, and it goes higher on the face than most tutorials suggest. Up on the cheekbone, blended toward the temple, not down toward the mouth.

Placing blush low is the fastest way to make a face look heavy. I did it for years because that's where the apples of my cheeks are and it seemed logical.

Pure Blushed Sunshine Cheek (4.2g)

Fingers, not a brush: Warm a small amount on your fingertip and tap it on. Cream over cream blends into skin properly; a brush tends to drag it around and lift the base underneath.

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And the powder one, if cream isn't your thing — WONHEE again

WONHEE of ILLIT with Rom&nd Better Than Cheek powder blush

Same idol, different finish. This is the powder blush version, and it is the one to reach for if cream cheek slides around on you or you have oilier skin.

She is wearing N01 Nutty Nude in the shot. We carry the range in the Chip and Milk shades rather than that exact one, so pick the closest neutral if you want the same effect.

Better Than Cheek (4g)

Powder over cream: If you want it to last, a whisper of this on top of a cream cheek sets the cream and keeps the colour where you put it.

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The whole thing, in order

Tint in the middle. Balm on top of that. Cheek high and blended out. Three products, and none of them fully opaque.

It takes about ninety seconds once you stop trying to be precise about it. The sheerness is doing the work, not your technique.

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FAQ

Which lip is best for a natural idol look?

A sheer water tint gives that blurred, just-bitten finish, and a melting balm adds glossy shine. Layer them for more depth.

Are these good for beginners?

Yes. Water tints, melting balms and cream cheeks are forgiving and easy to apply with your fingers.

How long does Baerry take to ship?

Usually about 5 to 7 business days from Seoul, with duties prepaid so there are no surprise fees.

Written by Esther Kim

ESTP, Perfectionist, ingredient nerd, and champion of the 4-step routine. She believes good skin is a system, not a shopping spree, and builds every recommendation like she's the one paying for it.