Who knew dark circles could look this good? aespa takes on dark yandere vibes, turning that worn-out look into something so chic you’ll want to copy it ASAP
Makes me want to throw out every concealer I own～
aespa kicked off this pre-release track, “WDA,” with every member wearing dark under-eye makeup with a deliberately broken-down feel. Rather than looking tired in the conventional sense, the look uses cool-toned shadow blended broadly across the lower lids to create a sickly yet high-end visual effect. Against Winter’s fair skin, the deep purple haze beneath her eyes and casually loose strands of hair heighten the mysterious atmosphere. A far cry from the bright, wide-eyed makeup typically favored by K-pop girl groups, it instead conveys a cool, keep-your-distance attitude.
- Related reading: The allure of imperfect romance: Jennie’s “bandage beauty” trend is taking off. Would you dare try this broken, uncanny look?
The key techniques behind dark-circle eye makeup
The essence of this eye look lies in its layers of color. Rather than applying shadow haphazardly, makeup artists first use a dusty gray-pink as a broad base around the eyes, then deepen the lash line with dark brown or cool purple. The edges are deliberately blurred to create a naturally diffused, sickly beauty. The key is to keep the upper lids relatively clean, using only a light contour shade to define their shape so the focus falls entirely on the lower shadow. This technique can effectively make the midface look shorter while giving the eyes a hazier, more enigmatic look.
The beauty of restraint in base makeup
To keep the broad sweep of eye shadow from looking messy, the base makeup is finished in an ultra-matte texture with almost no visible sheen. This subtly cool base brings out the icy feel of the sickly-sweet style. It also keeps the overall makeup from losing focus, allowing the worn-out eye look to be the face’s sole focal point.
Join POPBEE Circle and subscribe to POPBEE Newsletter to get the latest updates in real time, and be the first to know about exclusive perks and discounts. Beyond this piece, here are a few recent stories you should check out:
- Karina off-duty look search: 5 chic pieces she’s been obsessed with this summer that keep showing up, add them to your list now!
- Lisa returns to her Thai roots with new album PRESS PLAY, pre-orders now open as new single SaWaDiKa counts down to release
- Purely the definition of sexy and rebellious! Jennie’s new album "Fallen Angel," release dates for 3 new songs confirmed!
