Hello. I'm Min Kim, a makeup artist based in Paris. I participated in the Just Makeup competition under the nickname Paris Golden Hands. It's great to meet you all.

When I first got a DM from the production team, I thought it was spam. (laughs) Later, I checked the email and realized it wasn't. The idea sounded exciting, so I set up a meeting. A few months later, I met them in person, heard the details, and accepted right there on the spot. I loved the concept of spotlighting makeup ‘artists.’ I thought it was an excellent opportunity to show why makeup is the only field where we use the title ‘artist,’ and I wanted to be part of showcasing the world of creative makeup, not just makeup in a limited sense.

I was. But it wasn’t nervousness about skill or winning and losing—it was more about whether I could really understand K-beauty well. Since I work in Paris, I wondered whether I could compete with people at the forefront of K-beauty here in Korea. But then I thought, I myself am K, Korean. Just showing who I am is K-beauty.

The first mission was to show your signature style, and that’s when I showed them something that was totally me. They loved it. After that, I just flowed with it—whenever a mission came up, I participated with excitement and joy. Once the pressure lifted, my mind cleared, and everything became more fun. I was thrilled to show them something new every single time.

All the time. I especially do it in the car while traveling. On the way to a destination, I listen to classical music or read a book, trying to calm my emotions and empty my mind completely. When I settle down like that and my thoughts deepen, new ideas start to emerge. In my case, rushing and pushing myself don't produce good ideas. Instead, when I arrive on set with a clear mind, everything I want to do just bursts out. When something important is coming up or things aren't going well, I especially do mind control in the morning. Starting my day by completely emptying myself and creating a clean slate—that’s how I begin each day.

I listen to music, read books, drink tea, and sometimes I do nothing. I think it’s okay to do nothing. Actually, doing nothing is really hard. Emptying yourself sounds simple, but it doesn’t happen right away. I’ve been building this habit and practicing it since I was young. Once I realized how crucial it is to have time to empty myself so I can pour everything out when it's time to show who I am, I trained myself to do it regularly. You can only fill yourself with the real you when you’re empty. That’s why this competition became increasingly difficult. Without time to empty myself, I felt suffocated. I went into the final mission without emptying myself, but then there was a subject there—Hyojung Ban. Once I immersed myself in her, the direction I wanted emerged, and from that point, everything flowed naturally.

On the outside, I looked steady, but that day I was nervous for the first time. I really never get nervous. I’m always laughing, excited, and cheerful backstage. But with the final mission, I started wondering, ‘Am I really doing this right?’ and that made me nervous. It was a makeup for legendary actors. Could I really express the enormous depth of their time and experience? What if I couldn’t express it adequately? I worried a lot—would the makeup convey well the intent and meaning? Fortunately, the little things the actors said gave me strength, helping me center myself and focus. At first, I thought they’d brought in the actors to create a touching finale, but as we worked, I realized the production team had something more profound in mind. I think it was about showing that makeup isn’t just for young people—it’s for everyone, including those in their 60s and beyond. I approached it with the mindset of being a good bridge between the actors and the public, and I’m proud that it came through. It was a warm and deeply moving mission.

Paris is simply ‘life’ to me. I’ve lived here for 19 years—nearly half my life—so it feels comfortable. I think living in Paris has made it possible for me to live a life of emptying. Life in Paris itself is tranquil. My space is simple too. I only have the furniture I need, and my daily routine is straightforward. But when I get a vacation and come to Korea, it’s full of vitality. Actually, I feel more like a traveler when I’m in Korea. I meet friends I haven’t seen in a while and explore new places. I really love the gap between the two. Each gives me different inspiration.

Not that often. I go when something comes to mind, when I need inspiration, or when there’s an exhibition I really want to see. During the team mission this time, I was stuck, so I ran out to see an exhibition. It was by the American photographer Irving Penn, famous for his photographs of people’s hands. While looking at his work, I came up with the keyword ‘hands.’

Yes, friends around me buy products from various Korean brands and tell me about them. There are many I don’t even know about. Sheet masks, skincare lines, makeup products—they’re all popular. Seeing this, I feel that it’s not just a trend but something naturally seeping into people’s lives worldwide. I think K-beauty's enormous appeal lies in clear makeup centered on skincare. Also, whether skincare or color cosmetics, everything is so meticulous. Not missing even the smallest detail—that’s the charm.

The second one-on-one mission, ‘Red Horse.’ I got a lot of support, and I heard a lot of feedback from people I know. I love using various elements when doing makeup, and ‘Red Horse’ was a result that really showed that side of me. Out of all the missions, I think it expressed me the best.

I wanted to capture the fans’ love and the song’s meaning. More than anything, I focused on the message those guys were trying to convey through their music. I wanted to express the story of youth—’becoming yourself when dreams and love are by your side’—through a makeup artist’s interpretation. I attached Swarovski crystals to their hands to symbolize shining youth, and I think it captured that brilliant moment when lights intersect and connect with each other. I put so much care into every detail with meaning, though not everything made it into the video. Still, the team put our heads together to create a beautiful moment, and it's the most memorable mission for me.

It was intense. Hard and intense, but looking back, it was so beautiful and brilliant. That’s another reason I wanted those 2 minutes and 30 seconds of TWS’s performance to shine brilliantly. I guess that feeling came through because people said watching our team mission felt warm. My youth had difficult moments—adapting to a foreign place, being cautious—but because I left to pursue what I wanted, every moment sparkled.

Everyone really thought hard together, and it was a work that came from endless communication, so it means a lot. As you said, team missions are challenging, but that’s why they stay in your heart. Since I was in Paris, we'd meet whenever we could make it work, regardless of the time—lunch, dinner, whatever. When I was sleeping, my teammates would search for references, and when they were sleeping, I’d search. We’d each share opinions and discuss, and when we finally aligned perfectly, there was joy and exhilaration. Even now, when I watch that episode, I get emotional. I still have those feelings from that time. We all wanted to win, and we gave it our all, determined to win. Our team was the best.

While studying fashion, I did a lot of magazine scrapbooking, and I loved the makeup in the photos. During a period when I had various concerns, I considered checking out a makeup academy, and that became the turning point. I just loved it. You always have to find something ‘fun and enjoyable’ when you work, right? Even now, I mostly try to do what I love. Even interviews like this are engaging and fun.

Oh, what’s important here is to try everything first. If you don’t try, you’ll never know if something’s fun or good—you’ll just pass it by. I try everything. That’s why I have no regrets about the time I’ve lived so far.

That’s right. If I’m curious about something, I try it. If it doesn’t fit, okay—that time was still a good experience, wasn’t it? You might encounter something you hate later, but that experience will help you someday. If you try it and love it, even better. You’ve found what you truly love, and that’s all that matters. I think life is a continuous process of finding what suits you. Try things. Try a lot of things. Try all kinds of makeup too. If something doesn’t suit you but you love it, that’s it—you’re done. People will have to accept it. Because even if it doesn’t suit you, you’ll have confidence since you’re doing what you love. You don’t need to follow trends—find your own thing, what you love. Just don’t get too stuck on it. Acknowledge that what you love can change over time and in different situations, and I recommend letting yourself flow freely toward what you love right now.

Well, taking care of your basics is fundamental. If I had to give a tip, I’d say try self-massage before makeup. It’s actually not difficult. When you press on pressure points, facial puffiness goes down and circulation improves. With massage, your complexion comes alive so much that you'll need only half the foundation—plus your eye area brightens and your lip color becomes more vibrant. If you want to do makeup well, take just a minute to gently care for your face and connect with yourself.

It's a ritual of mine. Our work happens between people, usually people we're meeting for the first time. So I thought it was necessary to have time to understand the other person when working. Massage was a great way to consider the makeup direction while looking at each other's faces and building intimacy. While touching their face, I become curious about them, feel their energy, and learn their rhythm. We connect during those 15 to 20 minutes. There’s also the advantage that makeup absorbs better after a massage.

New Beauty Icon, me? (laughs) I thought that unique beauty isn’t about being some grand version of myself, but about affirming myself as I live my life naturally. Thank you so much for selecting me!

Um... my parents. They're getting older now, so they're not the same as before and they nag more, but they raised me to live authentically and taught me how to do that. I think my parents show authentic beauty the best.

Be honest, don’t worry about what others think, and live doing what you want to do. That’s how I live. Let’s move forward together, living each day sincerely and naturally as our complete selves. I sincerely support each of your unique beauties.