The Gold Mine of K-Beauty Tips Inside 'Just Makeup'

If you’re not watching Just Makeup, you might be overlooking one of Korea’s most engaging new reality competitions, even for viewers who aren’t interested in makeup.

“We used makeup as the theme, but we designed the show as a pure survival competition,” said producers Park Seong-hwan and Shim Woo-jin in an interview.

Much like how Culinary Class Wars captivated people who don’t cook, Just Makeup hooks a wide audience with its high-stakes format, intense artistry, and the pressure of watching elite professionals compete under unforgiving conditions.

For casual viewers, it’s compelling, strategic, and visually fascinating. But for K-beauty enthusiasts? This show is a rare, unfiltered masterclass revealing exactly how Korea’s most respected makeup artists think, prep, and create, when required to bring their A game.

South Korea Surpasses US in Beauty Exports

Between January and April 2025, South Korea exported $3.61 billion worth of cosmetics, surpassing the U.S. for the first time. France has held the number one spot for decades. K-beauty has exploded in popularity, and Culinary Class shows the depth of talent, creativity and innovation propelling this movement.

Discovering viral how-tos on the internet has been one of the biggest drivers of the Korean beauty boom and if you’ve ever watched a K-beauty make-up artist (MUA) in a YouTube video, chances are they are either competing in this show or are one of the hosts.

The Competition on the Show is Varied and Fierce

The show gathers 60 of Korea’s most accomplished makeup artists across the industry including K-pop idol MUAs, runway specialists, brand executives, viral creators, and even top salon owners. Placed in direct competition with each other, the contestants go head-to-head to prove who is the best at meeting a variety of challenges. Hosting the show is Lee Hyori, an iconic singer turned actor/moderator. The judges are from a cross-section of the beauty industry:

Jung Saem-mool – A legendary name in K-beauty, founder, and innovator.
Seo Ok – Celebrated makeup artist with over 30 years of experience.
Risabae (Lee Sa-bae) – Popular beauty creator and influencer.
Lee Jin-soo – Chief Makeup Artist at AmorePacific.

Eliminations happen quickly, and some of the most famous artists are sent home in the very first round. The judging is fierce, just in case you think a show about beauty is only skin deep. And I dare you to watch episode 8 without reaching for some tissues.

All 10 episodes of Just Makeup is available now on Prime Video. But in case you are still wary of watching the whole series, here is a cheat sheet of the best products and techniques from watching the top pros in action.

The Best Lessons From Just Makeup

1. “Less Is Luxury”

The signature aesthetic of K-beauty is a natural look with a focus on great skin. This elevated minimalism reflects a growing international trend: the most luxurious makeup looks effortless with compliments going not to the makeup, but to the person’s natural features.

Less is luxury is a look that starts with flawless skin.

This look can be a lot harder to achieve than more flashy makeup looks where carelessness can be better hidden. Judge Jung Saem-mool continually emphasizes transparency and authentic skin texture as the foundation of this look. Some non-negotiables:

Skin prep for optimal makeup absorption and natural finish
Ultra-thin layers of radiant base makeup
Soft, super-blended color placement
Gentle sculpting that enhances rather than transforms
Delicate highlight for natural-looking dimension
Glossy, healthy-looking lips

2. Toner Pads/Masks for Pre-Makeup Prep

One of the most distinctive K-beauty techniques on Just Makeup is the use of toner pads attached directly to the skin before makeup application. Artists place large, saturated pads on areas like the cheeks and chin for several minutes, often while they work on brows and before starting base makeup.

Why this works:

Hydrates and cools skin
Softens skin texture
Calms redness
Helps foundation grip evenly
Prevents cakiness
Creates the ideal base for “less is luxury” skin

3. Brow Grooming Sets the Tone

Just Makeup demonstrates that Korean professionals never begin makeup without grooming the brows. Before applying any base products, they:

Brush brow hairs
Trim long hairs with precision scissors
Create symmetry with minimal tweezing
Establish a clean frame before makeup application

In the “less is luxury” approach, brows must look refined but natural. This understated grooming step gives every look a structured, polished foundation.

4. Real Kits = Real Techniques

Because contestants use their actual working makeup products, viewers get insight into the true habits of professional artists. Certain patterns become very clear: