12 Japanese Makeup Tutorials That You Should Try

Getting tired of your daily makeup routine? Looking for something a little different? Here are 12 makeup looks that originated from Japan. Each one has a tutorial video from YouTube. 

1. Everyday Look

The basics are same: mascara, eyeliner, eyebrows. But I think Japanese people concentrate on eye makeup, using eye shadow, and fake lashes. Lips are colored with natural colors in pink tones.

2. Everyday Office Look

As I have stated above, Japanese makeup concentrates on the eyes. However, unless you're in a work field associated with heavy makeup, most people tone down their makeup when they go to the office. This look has no false lashes and has the lip color as a neutral pink beige. This tutorial uses Japanese cosmetics that can be purchased in drug stores.

3. No Makeup Look

This look is often called Suppin Makeup (すっぴんメイク). Suppin means a face with no makeup. Suppin looks are popular for people who want to apply makeup but not so much that people will notice. Great for office and school. 

4. Schoolgirl Look

Most schools in Japan have regulations for makeup. Naturally, the students find a way to get through the rules by inventing a look that looks like you're not applying makeup (like the suppin look stated above), or applying makeup after school. This look puts emphasis on the tear duct, which is a huge makeup tip that is popular in Japan. By applying eye shadow or a eye shadow pencil (usually in white or pink glitter), it emphasizes the eye, thus making it look larger.

5. Idol Look

The word "idol" doesn't hold the same meaning as it does in English here in Japan. Idol are girls (though there are male idols) usually in their teens or in their younger twenties who sing and dance on stage. Most of them interact with their fans through social media, or events such as hand shaking or photo ops. Idol looks underline innocence, thus using more eye liner, mascara and less colored eye shadow.

6. Gyaru Look

Gyaru (ギャル) is a form of culture made from Japanese woman. It's becoming more of a umbrella term lately, but basically it refers to a fashion style idolizing Barbie dolls. This makeup look concentrates on eye makeup, using a lot of mascara and eyeliner.

7. Seiso Gyaru Look

Seiso (清楚) means neat or trim. Seiso looks are looks that are toned down, suitable for schools or office. Suppin makeup is a good example of Seiso. Here, they show a Gyaru look toned down to Seiso. They are using brown eyeliner instead of black, thus softening the whole look. 

8. Hime Gyaru Look

Hime Gyaru (姫ギャル) is a type of Gyaru culture that has been influenced by Lolita culture. Their looks contains more frills, pastel colors and princess styles than Gyaru looks, but not too much to be Lolita.

9. Lolita Look

Lolita puts a heavy emphasis on looking innocent. Lolita outfits show almost no skin, and has lots of decorations such as frills and ribbons. Therefore, Lolita looks use a lot of eye makeup, and foundation lighter than a person's natural skin tone, overall making a cute look.

10. Gothic Lolita Look

Gothic Lolita is Lolita influenced from punk. It does share some heavy eye make up with Lolita, but tones down on the cheeks, uses heavy black eye liner and uses grey or blue eye shadow.

11. Harajuku Look

The Harajuku looks uses bright colors such as pink, blue, or yellow, and places stickers or glitter on their faces. The concept is to create impact. Eye makeup is heavy too, using full eyeliner and fake lashes.

12. Kimono Look

This look refers to the traditional makeup of Oiran. Oiran (花魁) were high-ranked sex workers in the Edo period. They painted their faces white, and emphasized their eyes by using red powder, Beni (紅). 

Cover photo: PresenPic