SOUTH KOREANS STAY AHEAD IN MASKED FASHION

SEOUL: From tutorials on how to wear makeup with a face mask, to hats that incorporate a protective plastic face shield, South Koreans are seeking to make sure the coronavirus outbreak doesn’t damage their reputation for style. In one video that has gathered tens of thousands of views, 29-year-old beauty Youtuber SSUNZY gives tips for applying makeup in a way that looks good under a mask. “It’s very, very unfortunate that a mask hides your face,” she says in the video. “You can’t show off your charm. I’m going to do makeup that makes your face look good even when you’re wearing a mask.”

SSUNZY recommends that viewers use more moisturizer, and stick to more natural shades rather than heavy colouring. A hydrating foundation, for example, makes it easier to touch up makeup after removing a mask, she said. The ubiquitousness of face masks has made them an everyday fashion item for South Koreans, with K-pop music stars helping spread their popularity. “The public has become more comfortable with them as a countermeasure (to coronavirus) because G-dragon wears them, BTS wears them, everybody wears them, so why can’t I wear them?” Korean fashion designer Park Youn-hee, who often works with K-pop idols including BTS and Girls’ Generation, said at her showroom in Seoul while suggesting a fashion style that fits for a face mask. “To us, and to K-fashion, the mask is a signature item.”

“I think a mask is an item that can give you confidence since people don’t recognise you clearly,” she said. “Try bold colours and different looks.”