Peter Philips, Creative and Image Director of Christian Dior Makeup, responded to a question about K-beauty’s unique trends in a Vogue Korea video, noting that its distinguishing feature is “a radiance that serves as a game-changer, combining youthful dynamism with creativity.”

Writing makeup columns covering the four primary fashion weeks has led me to take particular interest in the makeup looks of Dior’s Beauty Director, Peter Philips. Sometimes, he feels distant, creating Dior’s looks and hit products since 2014 at the forefront of the Western beauty industry, which sets the standard for today’s beauty market. Yet here he is discussing Korean K-beauty! As a professional in the K-beauty industry, this confirms our growing influence.

Whenever I consider global economic issues, I often find myself envying the significant powers, thinking they must have more excellent opportunities. As the Korean saying goes, “Even as a servant, it is better to serve in a noble house,” suggesting that attempting transformation requires appropriate support. I believe this “noble house” concept also influences the beauty industry. I take pride in working at Amorepacific, especially now that Korea has become a beauty industry powerhouse. It’s both an honor and an opportunity for us to create beauty standards originating from Asia, specifically Korea, when Western standards once dominated.

Now, I would like to share the collection details that Amorepacific can reference when entering larger markets to introduce ‘Seoul Beauty’ as a global trend.

1. Matte Venetian Red Lip

Vivid colors remain an essential signature of S/S collections. Alongside nature’s colors of blooming flowers, lips were perfected in Venetian Red tones.

This season’s look, characterized by a matte skin finish, can create everything from punk moods to elegant, luxurious makeup. While previous seasons featured dewy, flawless skin makeup paired with glossy lips, this time, the focus shifted to ultra-matte lips combined with nearly pale matte skin.

To create clearly defined lip lines, outline the lips with a lip liner before filling in the color to prevent bleeding. If you don’t have a liner, you can use the pointed tip of the lipstick to draw the outline first. The makeup was simplified through precise color application and clear outlines. For those wanting to try this S/S collection’s trend color regardless of warm or cool undertones, HERA’s Rouge Classy #108 Pink Charm can help achieve a pink coral mood.

2. Gleam Radiance

The skin appears taut with a glow as if enhanced with highlighter luminosity. With increased emphasis on highlighters, from metallic to diamond-like radiance, highlighting has taken precedence over contouring and shading. This trend seems to focus on minimizing contour while maintaining facial radiance and glow, presumably aimed at creating a ‘small face’ effect. The continued focus on highlighters, which provide instant results, addresses concerns about losing skin transparency when applying multiple layers of product.

Unlike 2024’s makeup trends, which featured striking shimmer effects from beam highlighters, including strobing finishes and duo-chrome effects under lighting, this season notably emphasizes natural luminosity that follows facial contours.

Precise point application is another key characteristic. Instead of broad blending, the highlighter is precisely dotted and only slightly diffused at the edges, allowing it to catch light at the nose tip, forehead, and upper cheekbones. The shimmer creates harmony between finely dispersed pearl pigments and light-reflecting glow formulas, appearing like a filter on the skin.

For those seeking to enhance their glow with an additional boost, try HERA Reflection Skin Glow Cushion Foundation #00N1 DIA Color. This highlighter, containing 80% skincare ingredients, delivers clear radiance without a base color and creates transparently luminous skin on any matte or glowy texture.

3. Moonlit Glow

We’ve entered an era where “slow aging” is preferred over anti-aging. Korean consumers, who have established K-beauty’s unique position in the global beauty industry, demonstrate sophisticated knowledge about skincare. Perhaps this explains the growing interest in inevitable skin aging, leading to exploring slow aging through diet, habits, and other methods of “aging gracefully.” In beauty, the skin health of the face is paramount, as it’s the area where aging is most visible and where we most want to slow its progress. No matter how beautiful the makeup, achieving a polished look becomes challenging when skin condition deteriorates.

‘Inner moisture glow’ continues to dominate skin trends, with the increasing popularity of glow looks that deliver brightening and exfoliation through moisture care, creating a subtle luminosity reminiscent of moonlight. The Retinol Green Tea PDRN Skin Booster Ampoule, featuring retinol and Green Tea PDRN, contains 56% Green Tea PDRN core ingredient instead of purified water, addressing both pore refinement and inner glow. Emerging as a slow-aging ampoule, it’s recommended for those who haven’t seen results despite trying various skincare products during seasonal changes.

4. Cinnamon Roll Makeup

Keywords like rest and recovery are trending. In response, the catwalk showcased ‘cinnamon roll’ makeup matching comfortable and natural mocha mousse colors.

As a warm color scheme with inclusive meaning, this look combines multiple textures, from hyper matte to glitter and creamy formulations, without being confined to a single texture.

The makeup aligns with current emotional trends, seeking comfort and warmth in life. The application requires no special techniques. Colors are layered according to brightness to create contrast and add depth to the eyes, while cheeks are blended with brown contour similar to shading, focusing beneath the cheekbones. It’s almost like watching a masterclass in fundamental makeup techniques.

The look simultaneously presents natural and comfortable aesthetics alongside ‘business makeup’ and ‘geek chic makeup,’ embodying monotone modern chic moods. Makeup and fashion show striking contrasts, with pinky makeup featuring bold point colors coexisting with understated Pinterest-inspired looks.

Try eSpoir Eye Core Palette #06 Honey Oat Latte for effortless eye contouring. Its low-saturation, medium-brightness warm colors connect eye makeup with cheeks, creating a soft mocha mood.

5. Duo Perl Eye Shadow

The most haute couture-worthy makeup in this collection is the eye glitter makeup. Eyes are distinctly emphasized by large pearl particles visible even from a distance.

A key characteristic is the enhanced longevity and maximized shine achieved by combining cream-type transparent gloss or cream shadow with fine pearl particles. Unlike the earlier vivid lip colors, the eye makeup stands out through low-saturation colors or classic glitter shades of gold and silver. The look maintains cohesion by matching accessory colors with makeup shades, while lips are finished in nude tones.

To increase makeup sophistication, unify the focal point. Minimize moisture in skin and lips to concentrate shimmer in one area. Using a damp sponge for thin application prevents base makeup from becoming thick or creasing over time.

For those wanting to try this look in real life, we recommend ETUDE Look At My Eyes #Twinkle Turquoise shade. The blue-green pearl is a game-changer, transforming the overall atmosphere into a grungier mood.