Ulzzang: What is it?

Ulzzang is a popular South Korean term that literally means "best face" or "good-looking guy." A person wanting to achieve ulzzang status will participate in contests where their photos are judged and chosen by voters to gain popularity on social media. This trend is practiced by both men and women

If you browsed the internet in the early 2000s, especially on web pages dedicated to fashion and makeup, you probably encountered or saw at least once some of their photos. To summarize their presence on the internet at that time, I would say they were the influencers of the 2000s. They were the techies, their photos scattered all over the web, and their style of clothing and makeup became one of the most widespread.

2020 gave us Instagram models with photos taken by professionals and YouTubers to consult for inspiration in fashion, style, and makeup. But back then, we only had these web celebrities and their self-taken photos, a mediocre background, natural lighting, and simple, comfortable clothes.

Even though they reached their peak in the early 2000s, we can still see the impact their fashion and makeup have left up to today. Let me introduce you to Ulzzang.

What is an Ulzzang?

The Korean term ulzzang translates to "best face," and commonly refers to a person with a beautiful face. It does not necessarily mean celebrities or models, but ordinary citizens, men or women, who share their lives. If you want to be discovered as an ulzzang, popular Korean forums like Daum Cafe and social networking sites like Cyworld launched Ulzzang Cafes which serve as a beauty ranking page. It became even more popular after the launch of Haduri, a webcam application and photo-sharing platform designed to cater to ulzzang culture (think Instagram).

The Ulzzang look is probably the embodiment of the no-makeup look, very similar to the style used by Koreans up to today. The focus is generally on incredibly perfect skin, paired with natural tones of eyeshadow and eyeliner, light blush, and soft-colored lipstick.

Ulzzangs may be known as the "best face," but the term is not limited to being pretty and attractive. Ulzzangs are also quite known for their sense of fashion. Their clothing style is a mix of comfort and trendiness, and most of the time (maybe even all the time), it is aesthetically pleasing. Ulzzangs know the perfect combination of colors and patterns, making their outfits a sought-after inspiration.

The best way to be inspired and recreate the "Ulzzang look" is that this fashion trend is usable every day of your life. Makeup can be used in both formal and casual settings, and is aimed at both students and young active adults. Their fashion style is not flashy and is actually very comfortable if you just want to enjoy a beautiful day. You might even turn heads with a few simple matching pieces.

Ulzzang Boy

Here are some photos of ulzzang boys that might give you an idea of the kind of inspiration fans look for when they decide to follow these personalities.

Ulzzang Girl

Ulzzang Girls are also highly sought after and very inspiring; here are some photos of models beautiful in their simplicity.

Now that we have an overview, let's discuss in depth what awaits you if you decide to walk the ulzzang fashion path.

Ulzzang Makeup

If you look at it head-on, you might think that ulzzang makeup is a very simple and effortless makeup. It is true that it is not that complicated when you look at it, but, like all other makeup trends in the fashion world, there are always key elements and products to achieve this particular look.

First, the skin. It plays an important role in achieving a perfect, youthful, and radiant look. But that does not mean you should apply a full-coverage foundation on your face. Instead, ulzzangs use a very light BB cream (Blemish Balm) and a concealer to hide imperfections. BB creams are incredibly light on the face. Using BB creams instead of foundations really gives the impression that you are not wearing makeup at all. This kind of tip is nice to know and you don't see them in beauty tutorials.





Second, the eyes. Ulzzangs are famous for their doll baby eyes. If you already have them, you can move on to the next step. If you really want to have big doe eyes, one solution is to use circle contact lenses. Not only do they give you doll eyes, but you can also opt for colored lenses that will give more depth to your gaze.

Third, and still on the eye theme, there is your eyeshadow. Ulzzang makeup, as we mentioned, is usually done from lightest to most natural. Pinks and natural tones of brown and taupe are always the safest colors if you want effortless makeup. However, even though light and natural makeup is the most common, that does not mean ulzzang makeup can never try the darker and smokier look. If the TPO (time, place, and occasion) calls for a more sensual and seductive look, a smoky eye with dark brown shades or maybe a burgundy color is also a good choice.

As you can see, how you choose your eyeshadow theme actually depends on the look you are going for. But the next thing I will mention will always be present, whatever the TPO, and that is eyeliner. You can emphasize your eye more by lining it with your trusty eyeliner. Depending on your look, you can opt for a thinner or a slightly thicker line. If you want the "cat eye" look, you can draw a line on your lower eyelids, which will give you a chic look.

We have put so much effort into the eyes that it is only fair to do everything to make them as noticeable as possible. So apply your mascara or use false lashes. One tip though, stay as far away as possible from those many spectacular false lashes. As much as possible, stay true to natural lashes or, if you are not a fan, invest in a very good mascara to highlight your natural lashes.

Fashion Ulzzang

The best word to describe ulzzang fashion is Korean streetwear. Of course, there can be occasional evening dresses if that interests you. Remember, TPO. But most of the time, ulzzang fashion boils down to comfortable, trendy, and basic clothes. By basic, I mean shirts, shorts, and sneakers. It all comes down to mixing and matching clothes and how you style them.

Now that you know these are basics, you might have rushed to your closet wondering where to start and, once again, I am here to give you advice!

One, and don't be surprised. An oversized shirt, and you read that right. You might have one or two oversized shirts in your closet, maybe because you ordered the wrong size but don't be afraid! You have now found the fashion that revolves around oversized shirts that are actually beautiful and trendy. The basic style of an oversized shirt is to tuck it into your buttocks and it looks especially nice if your buttocks are high-waisted. Oversized hoodies are another type of clothing that could make you feel like an ulzzang. They hide your silhouette but give you that comfortable, cute, and simple look.




Speaking of high-waisted pants, this is also a basic element of ulzzang fashion. But who doesn't love high waists? First, they hide and compress the flabby parts of our bellies, the love handles, right? Then, they cinch our waist and highlight our curved hips. Third, they showcase our legs, and if you are one of those who have long legs, I am sure high-waisted bottoms suit you well. It is best to pair them with tucked-in shirts or, if you feel a bit summery, you can also pair your high-waisted bottoms with crop tops.

Since we are mostly talking about ulzzang fashion as casual streetwear, let's not forget our most loved sneakers. I tell you, nothing can go wrong with a good pair of sneakers. And to be really honest, they look really nice when matched with almost anything. There are even evening dresses that are fabulous with a nice pair of sneakers.

So, that's it! These are the basic tips to get into ulzzang fashion and styling. It is probably one of the easiest fashion styles you can venture into. You can use the clothes you already have at your disposal. To get a clearer idea of clothes that go well together, you can check YouTube and search for ulzzang fashion. If you want a step-by-step tutorial on ulzzang makeup, YouTube has plenty of those too! References are everywhere; it's hard not to get inspired.

Remember that the essential point of ulzzang fashion is to emphasize its simplicity and casualness. Both makeup and clothes require basic products, and it is really up to you to mix and match them. Simplicity and comfort are key. Once you understand which pieces go well together and which do not, ulzzang fashion is as simple as 1,2,3!