Explainer / BTS make-up for men: a beginner’s guide to flawless K-pop skin in 5 easy steps

May 18 , 2021

BTS appear at the 2021 Grammy Awards in a video link from South Korea. Credit: RIAA

For men who have never worn make-up but want to look Dynamite, here’s how to get a complexion to rival BTS boys Jin, Suga, RM, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook

STYLE breaks down the process into five easy steps to prepare and apply make-up like the hottest male Korean heartthrobs

The interest in men’s make-up is growing, fuelled in part by K-pop idols such as BTS proudly experimenting with looks on and offstage. But while flawless K-pop skin might seem like a glossy magazine dream – or Blood Sweat & Tears, to quote a song – to guys who have never worn make-up, it needn’t be.

Breaking the process down into segments and key products, STYLE shows how a poster-perfect, BTS complexion – complete with signature glossy lips and smokey eyes – can be achieved affordably at home, by just about any first-time Boy with Luv.

Step one: the detox

BTS’ RM without make-up. Photo: @jiminsmallhands95/Instagram

First, let’s clear the canvas. Start with an exfoliating scrub containing microbeads to remove dead skin cells, or if your pores are already unclogged, a light cleanser. I used a scrub from Lush to gently strip them away and then a toner to restore my skin’s PH balance, dabbing it on with cotton wool.

Scrubbed and toned; my face is clear and ready for BTS magic. Photo: James Wong

Step two: hydrate

BTS’ Jin regularly uses face masks to hydrate and brighten his skin. Photo: @jin.bts/Instagram

The Bangtan Boys use Korean sheet masks for rehydration. They endorse Mediheal, but Press Refresh by ZitSticka is better for acne-prone skin, like RM’s and Jungkook’s (and mine after a week of neglect). Gents with beards will appreciate that it comes in two parts, and even without a beard this means you can target specific problem zones.

This sheet mask is drenched in exfoliating acids and skin soothers which I decide to target on my T-zone. Photo: James Wong

Explainer / BTS make-up for men: a beginner’s guide to flawless K-pop skin in 5 easy steps

For men who have never worn make-up but want to look Dynamite, here’s how to get a complexion to rival BTS boys Jin, Suga, RM, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook STYLE breaks down the process into five easy steps to prepare and apply make-up like the hottest male Korean heartthrobs

For men who have never worn make-up but want to look Dynamite, here’s how to get a complexion to rival BTS boys Jin, Suga, RM, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook

STYLE breaks down the process into five easy steps to prepare and apply make-up like the hottest male Korean heartthrobs