Makeup Artist Seungwon Kim - a Beautiful Man's "Self-Makeup" Skills Revealed

A common preconception about makeup artists is that they are either female or feminine men. However, one Korean man is confounding that notion and finding himself in the spotlight both at home and abroad for his makeup artistry and status as the first Asian makeup artist to the stars at the Cannes International Film Festival. In today's post we will introduce Seungwon Kim.

From office worker to the woman's world of makeup

As a young man, Kim decided to study animal husbandry at agricultural college for the purely practical reason that he thought it would be easy to find a job in that field. After graduating, he joined a chemicals company and settled into a position in its pesticides department.

Nevertheless, finding his work unfulfilling he started to ask himself, "What is it that I am really good at?" It was then that he felt an urge needed to express his artistic nature and discovered the world of makeup.

At the time, male professional makeup artists were a rarity - something that he decided he could use to his advantage. So despite a lack of support from his family and the absence of any guidance in his new career path, he persevered, spurred by a belief that he could make it to the top.

Success did not come overnight, however. When he first joined the cosmetics company Dior, he was so consumed by his work that he managed to sleep only every other day. Yet, his hard work was rewarded and when he demonstrated makeup tips in Taiwan using himself as a model, product sales jumped five-fold.

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Women Love Kim's "Self-Makeup"

In his "self makeup" demonstrations, Kim shows how to achieve eye makeup effects by applying cosmetics on his own eyes. But how did a macho guy in a sharp black suit manage to invade the traditional domain of women and demonstrate eye makeup?

Kim responds, "Makeup is something you can easily learn just by watching other people. That is how you do it effortlessly. It doesn't require any special skills and its is not especially difficult".

At first thought, a makeup artist who shows you how to do your own makeup instead of doing the makeup for you might seem the wrong way around.

However, as most people do their own makeup without the aid of a professional, Kim takes satisfaction in helping them use makeup to make themselves beautiful.

Since Kim demonstrates his makeup techniques on himself, he doesn't use any models. He doesn't even often use applicators such as brushes or puffs. Instead he shows how to achieve results using just a hand mirror, his face, and his fingers, which he prefers to use for convenience. It was a desire for simplicity that inspired him to develop a series of makeup techniques that beginners could easily follow and apply. He has published two books of his makeup tips and methods.

- Beauty Everyday with Self-Makeup

- Harmonious Makeup by Seungwon Kim the Makeup Man

A dreaming artist

Kim calls himself a dreaming artist - the dream being freedom and the ability to live an independent life. While people find much in life about which to be anxious, for Kim the only thing worth worrying about is finding something worth doing, and he rejects the idea of working only for financial gain.

When the makeup is complete

When his clients look in the mirror after his job is done, their look is transformed and they break into a broad smile. Happiness comes when the heart is ready.

Watching his clients leave, Kim hopes he has made their day a little brighter - and his happiness feels a litter closer.