Kimchi, the drag queen who rose to fame as a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7, is known for her bold and unique makeup style that combines elements of avant-garde art with exaggerated glamour. Her signature drag makeup look is both cartoonish and high-fashion, blending bright colors, sharp angles, and flawless blending with a fun, whimsical approach. If you’re a fan of Kimchi’s look or simply curious about how to replicate her style, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know—from skin prep to finishing touches.
Understanding Kimchi’s Drag Makeup Style
Kimchi’s makeup is characterized by a few signature elements: flawless skin, exaggerated contouring, sharp brows, bold eyeshadow, and dramatic lips. The key to achieving the Kimchi drag makeup style lies in accentuating the facial features while maintaining an element of fun and creativity. It’s a balance of cartoonish exaggeration and chic refinement.
Core Features of Kimchi’s Makeup Style:
- Flawless, Matte Skin: Kimchi’s base is always smooth, even, and full coverage.
- Exaggerated Contouring and Highlighting: Kimchi is known for her sharp cheekbones, a snatched nose, and a strong jawline, achieved through heavy contouring.
- Bold, Angular Eyes: Her eyes often feature dramatic, sharp angles with bold colors and defined eyeliner.
- Overdrawn, Glossy Lips: Kimchi’s lips are always larger-than-life with a defined cupid’s bow and a glossy finish.
- Colorful and Playful Palette: Kimchi isn’t afraid to experiment with color, often opting for bright and vivid shades on her eyes and lips.
Now that we’ve broken down her signature style, let’s dive into how to recreate it step-by-step.
Step 1: Skin Prep and Base Foundation
The first step in any drag look is creating a flawless canvas, and Kimchi’s look is no exception. Her makeup is built on a full-coverage base that provides a smooth, matte finish and conceals any imperfections.
What You Need:
- Cleanser
- Moisturizer
- Mattifying Primer
- Full-coverage Foundation
- Color Corrector (optional)
- Setting Powder (translucent)
- Setting Spray
How to Do It:
- Cleanse and Moisturize:
Start by cleansing your face with a gentle cleanser to remove any dirt, oils, or old makeup. Follow up with a hydrating moisturizer. Even if you have oily skin, moisturizer is important for ensuring that your makeup applies smoothly and doesn’t dry out throughout the day or night. - Prime the Skin:
Kimchi’s makeup has a matte finish, so a mattifying primer will help you achieve that oil-free look. Apply the primer to your face, focusing on your T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) where you tend to get oily. This helps to minimize pores and create a smooth canvas for your foundation. - Apply Full-Coverage Foundation:
For Kimchi’s signature porcelain-like skin, you’ll need a full-coverage foundation. Choose a shade that’s 2-3 shades lighter than your natural skin tone for that dramatic drag look. Apply the foundation using a beauty sponge or a flat brush, and make sure to blend it evenly across the face, including your neck and ears, to avoid any harsh lines. - Color Correct (Optional):
If you have any redness or dark circles, apply a color corrector before your foundation. Use a green color corrector for redness or a peach/orange corrector to cover dark circles. - Set with Powder:
Set your foundation with a translucent setting powder to lock everything in place. Use a fluffy brush to lightly dust powder all over your face. Then, for extra security, “bake” your face by applying a heavy layer of powder under the eyes, along the jawline, and down the nose. This will set your makeup in place and provide that flawless, matte finish.
Step 2: Contouring and Highlighting
Contouring and highlighting are the backbone of Kimchi’s makeup. She’s known for her sharp cheekbones, a well-defined jawline, and a slim, straight nose.
What You Need:
- Cream or Powder Contour (2-3 shades darker than your skin tone)
- Highlighter (Shimmery or Cream-based)
- Blush (optional)
- Contour Brushes and Sponges
How to Do It:
- Contour the Cheeks:
For Kimchi’s signature sharp cheekbones, apply contour just beneath your cheekbones in a “3” shape. Start at the ear and draw the line down toward the mouth, stopping about an inch before your lips. Blend the contour upwards into the temples for a more lifted look. Use a contour brush or sponge to blend the product out so there are no harsh lines. - Contour the Jawline and Forehead:
To define the jawline, apply contour along the edge of your jaw and chin, blending it downward to create a sculpted effect. For a smaller forehead, contour along the hairline in a “C” shape, blending into the temples. This will add more definition and make the forehead appear smaller. - Slim the Nose:
Kimchi’s nose contour is one of her most iconic features. To recreate it, apply contour along the sides of your nose, making the lines as straight as possible for a slim effect. Blend the contour so it’s seamless, and apply a small highlight down the center of your nose to give it an even sharper appearance. - Highlight the High Points:
Apply highlight to the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, the center of your forehead, and your chin. You can also highlight the cupid’s bow for a fuller lip effect. Kimchi’s highlight is often intense and bold, so don’t be afraid to pile it on for that glowing, dramatic look. - Add Blush (Optional):
Kimchi doesn’t always use blush, but if you want to add a touch of color, apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend it upward towards your temples.
Step 3: Eyebrows
Kimchi’s eyebrows are one of her most distinctive features. They are bold, high, and angular, often drawn much higher than natural brows to create a dramatic lift and accentuate the eyes.
What You Need:
- Brow Gel or Pomade (2-3 shades darker than your hair)
- Concealer
- Brow Brush
How to Do It:
- Shape the Brows:
- To create Kimchi’s high brows, you’ll need to cover your natural brows with a full-coverage concealer or brow gel. Use a thick, creamy concealer to blank out your brows, and set it with translucent powder.
- Draw High Arched Brows:
Kimchi’s brows are often drawn much higher than her natural brow shape. Use a brow pencil or pomade to draw your new brows several inches above your natural brow arch. Keep the top line sharp and the bottom line more rounded for that lifted effect. - Define with Concealer:
Once your brows are drawn on, use a small brush and concealer to clean up the edges, making them appear sharp and precise. This will give your brows the clean, angular look that Kimchi is known for.
Step 4: Eyeshadow and Lashes
Kimchi’s eyeshadow is often bold and colorful, with sharp angles that enhance her eyes and give her face even more structure. She frequently uses vibrant shades and dramatic eyeliner to create an exaggerated, larger-than-life eye look.
What You Need:
- Eyeshadow Primer
- Eyeshadow Palette (Bold colors like pink, blue, purple, and gold)
- Gel or Liquid Liner (For sharp wings)
- False Lashes (Large, dramatic lashes)
- Mascara
How to Do It:
- Prime the Eyelids:
Apply an eyeshadow primer to your lids to ensure the eyeshadow adheres well and doesn’t crease. Blend the primer evenly across your eyelids. - Create Bold Eyeshadow:
Kimchi often uses bold, saturated colors. Apply a bright color to your lids and blend it upwards and outwards toward your brow bone. Use contrasting colors for the crease and outer corner to add depth and dimension. - Cut the Crease:
Kimchi’s eye makeup often includes a sharp cut crease to define the eye shape. Use a concealer or eyeshadow base to carve out the crease, making sure to blend the edges smoothly. This step will make your eyes appear larger and more defined. - Apply Dramatic Eyeliner:
For Kimchi’s signature cat-eye, use a gel or liquid eyeliner to draw a sharp, bold wing. Extend the eyeliner outward and upwards for maximum drama. - False Lashes and Mascara:
Kimchi’s lashes are always voluminous and exaggerated. Apply a pair of large, full lashes to complete the look. Coat your natural lashes with mascara to blend them seamlessly with the falsies.
Step 5: Lips
Kimchi’s lips are typically drawn larger than her natural shape, creating an exaggerated pout that complements her bold makeup style.
What You Need:
- Lip Liner (One or two shades darker than your lipstick)
- Lipstick (Matte or Glossy)
- Lip Gloss (Optional for extra shine)
How to Do It:
- Overline Your Lips:
To achieve Kimchi’s full lips, overline your lips using a lip liner that’s a few shades darker than your lipstick. Follow the natural lip shape but extend the lines outward to create a fuller, more exaggerated pout. - Apply Lipstick:
Kimchi often goes for reds, pinks, and purples, but feel free to experiment with colors that suit your look. - Add Gloss (Optional):
To make your lips even more dramatic, apply a clear or shimmer gloss over your lipstick. This will add dimension and a juicy finish.
Step 6: Final Touches
Once you’ve completed the base, brows, eyes, and lips, it’s time to set your look and lock everything in place.
What You Need:
- Setting Spray
- Highlighter (Optional)
- Body Glitter (Optional)
How to Do It:
- Set with Spray:
Apply a generous amount of setting spray all over your face to keep your makeup in place for hours. This will ensure your Kimchi-inspired look stays flawless. - Apply Extra Highlight:
If you want to go all out like Kimchi, apply additional highlighter to your collarbones, shoulders, and anywhere else you want to catch the light. - Optional Body Glitter:
For an extra touch of glamour, you can apply body glitter to your décolletage or shoulders, channeling Kimchi’s love for sparkle and shine.
Conclusion
Kimchi’s drag makeup is a beautiful blend of sharp angles, bold colors, and exaggerated features, all designed to create a larger-than-life persona. By following these steps, you can recreate Kimchi’s iconic look, from the flawless skin to the dramatic eyes and lips. Whether you’re performing, doing drag for fun, or simply experimenting with your makeup, this Kimchi-inspired makeup tutorial will give you the tools to create a striking, polished look that turns heads. So, unleash your inner diva, get creative with color, and embrace the art of drag—Kimchi-style.