The Princess of Philippine TV and Film was a stunning sight in Seoul as she accepted the Most Outstanding Asian Star Award. Discover how makeup artist Jake Galvez achieved her look and how you can recreate it
Filipinos have a knack for cementing our name on the international stage. We’ve watched Lea Salonga bring home a Tony and Jaclyn Jose make history as the first Southeast Asian to win Best Actress at Cannes. Now, we see a newer generation of talents and it’s led by a modern-day princess—not exactly riding a chariot, but showing up in a peach Francis Libiran gown and a Korean-inspired glam to match. Chinita Princess Kim Chiu graced the Seoul International Drama Awards stage to receive the Most Outstanding Asian Star Award for her performance in thriller-drama Linlang.
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Beyond her heartfelt acceptance speech, there’s no denying that it’s her glowy, luminous makeup a-la-K-drama star that captivated audiences near and far. MEGA talks to Kim’s trusted makeup artist Jake Galvez about how he achieved the look, the exact products he used, and expert tips for those looking to recreate her glam.
Barely-There Beauty
It takes one glance at the Fil-Chi actress to be stunned by her light-as-air makeup. Inspired by the iconic Korean beauty beat that’s all about a fresh and youthful glow, Jake Galvez crafted a soft look that put radiance and minimalism at the forefront. “The focus was on luminous skin, soft eyes, and a gradient lip, which are classic elements of Korean glam but elevated for the red carpet,” Galvez shared.
To bring this vision to life, Jake went all in on skin prep, building a dewy base that clothed Kim’s skin with that coveted ‘lit from within’ glow. He chose a lightweight cushion foundation–a Korean cult favorite–and applied it in delicate layers, ensuring that her skin still looked like skin–only better. The pièce de résistance was a perfectly blended gradient lip that added a flush of color and youthfulness to her look. With a face like Kim’s, there’s no need for heavy makeup or a magic wand; her timeless charm shines through without effort, proving that less truly is more with a natural beauty like hers.
The Ombré Odyssey
Jake was equipped with the finest products to achieve this look, including items from his recent collaboration with global brand O.TWO.O. For the gradient lip, he applied the Misty Kiss Lock Color Matte Lipstick in KAWAII and HEOL on the outer and inner parts of her lips respectively. The soft ombré effect added a sheer depth to her lips that perfectly highlighted her fair complexion.
Taking that gradient finish to her cheeks, Jake used the same lip product in the shade SUAY which served double-duty as a cream blush. For a natural flush, the pigment was focused and lightly blended on the apples of her cheeks.
Jake’s Beauty Blueprint
With a face that has landed countless TVCs, magazine covers, and lead roles in some of the country’s biggest dramas, Jake Galvez usually doesn’t need much to make her shine as her natural beauty does half the job. “Kim’s features are naturally stunning, so I wanted to enhance them while keeping the makeup light and fresh,” he shared. In other words, he kept it real simple–a luminous base, a soft wing, a gentle flush, and a dewy lip–because perfection needn’t be complicated.
For a glow that matches Kim’s, Galvez’s beauty tips boil down to three essentials: hydrate generously, layer lightly, and opt for softer hues. Think of it as your beauty trifecta for not only achieving Kim’s award-winning elegance but also that effortless radiance straight out of a K-drama.
Featured Image and Photos: DOOKIE DUCAY (via Instagram)