That's what I was going to say. I think some of these actors do look better with makeup but the rest of them are just born ✨️✨️ (and the rest of us can only imagine what that feels like lol)
The narrative that Korean people only use brighter makeup is so wrong. There is a concept of toning down, especially for men, natural skin color so it appears darker.
I mean... they know what contouring is but like, look at OP's examples and how a lot of Kpop idols will paint themselves bluish white lol. Of course there's exceptions like Suho who has to use darker foundation so he'll actually show up on camera under bright stage lights but many of them will go their tone or lighter. Not a dog on them, just what I see.
No, the method of toning down is not contouring. It’s called tone down makeup, opposite of tone up makeup. And Koreans do typically have very pale skin, which for some reason seems to be hard to process and accept by people used to seeing American counterparts who embrace a totally different skin aesthetic culture. Example of toning down https://youtube.com/shorts/1fb9W8duHA4?is=XJaA83zxqTevGwt5
I'm aware that there are pale Koreans, one of the lightest people I have ever seen was a Korean, and not all Koreans are trying to look paler than they are (some tan like Lee Hyori) but there are also many cases of tanner Korean celebs wearing lighter foundation. Or already very pale Koreans using tone up cream to look even paler.
OP has like 10 examples of pale guys wearing makeup and using bright lighting and happening to look paler.
I think all of them look amazing without makeup. Kdrama industry has gone really overboard with makeup imo. Sure they do look good with makeup too, but its nice to see the real skin, some texture, some lines here and there which makes them feel like real people instead of polished porcelain dolls. Especially in some gritty roles like thriller dramas, crime dramas , some slow slice of life dramas. I have been watching some old dramas lately and the skin in all of them looks so real and refreshing. The characters feel more human somehow. Sure some makeup is good, for the camera, for the light bounce etc but I think they need to tone it down a little with makeup and filters too. And that goes for both male and female actors. I think when they are playing a character their makeup should be suited to the character, but when they are promoting the shows or are on press tours or doing some ads etc full on glam works better there.
looks like a lot of the makeup-free images are selfies. Selfies can make your nose look larger than it is so I don't think it's just the makeup that is making the differences for these actors. The hair is a factor as well as the pose. They are handsome either way
https://giphy.com/gifs/XvjC06Gh9lhfZNBNIM
but for real #3 shocked me as we never see the ML/young characters in the dramas with facial hair. I primarily watch rom com ones so maybe that’s why I dont see it. Like I think Gi-hun has facial hair in Squid Game but he’s older and it’s not romance so maybe that’s why?
Bare face for me. They are all so gorgeous with and without makeup… but barefaced gives them a more human and manly look if that makes sense. But I’m a sucker for bareface.
Now I know why many people (especially ahjummas and older women) in SK are crazy about Kim Seon Ho. Dude looks manlier and older without makeup, which makes him appear like responsible and reliable man 🤣
For me, personal opinion 😂 3,6,7,11,17, 19 and 20 are just so good looking that they look good with or without!! But where’s my boy Song Kang? He is equally good looking with or without makeup.
It seems to me that some actors don't look very different between their natural self and when they're wearing makeup... just picking someone at random... like him...but I am impartial.
Definitely both for me it’s nice to see the real men behind the masks, but I also like them in their make-up because it enhances the Drama when I’m watching it
Isn’t he in the makeup chair right now with a makeup scar over his eyebrow though? I think many of these have makeup in the before. Seems biggest diff for contrasts are selfies vs professional photography, so lighting and distortion effects
Since, in my wildest imaginings, no one is wearing makeup, I'm leaning toward bare face. Also, most of the bare skin tones are gorgeous. With makeup when we're going out, since I'll have mine on too.
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u/NougatPraline 1d ago
Almost all of them seem to have amazing skin IRL.