15 best beauty looks from Song Hye Kyo (and how to achieve them)

Press play on this Instagram reel because this is a hairstyle that is begging to be seen from all angles. At this year's MET Gala in New York City, the leading lady opted for a middle parted braided pony adorned with a draped hair chain.

Get the look:  Before braiding your hair, add some grit to your strands and keep the look in place with Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray ($47).

Since the start of her career, Song Hye Kyo has been making the case for playing around with blush placement. To enhance her naturally-rosy complexion and create the illusion of full and flushed cheeks, she applied a baby pink blush almost directly under her peepers.

Get the look:  The key to nailing the look is to use a liquid formula like AMUSE Soft Cream Cheek ($23) and blend properly to ensure that there are no harsh edges.

Our favourite part of the actress's makeup look has to be her hazy, blurred-edge lips, with her apricot blush falling not too far behind. Her purposefully messy pout paired perfectly with the blush colour that contrasts ever so slightly with her porcelain complexion.

Get the look: To mimic her pout, apply the Yves Saint Laurent The Slim Velvet Radical Lipstick in 316 ($62) with a fluffy brush, extending the colour out to the edge of your lips for that diffused effect. Follow up with a layer of clear lip gloss.

Song Hye Kyo often sports the monochromatic makeup trend where the same colour is applied to her cheeks and lips.  This technique is not only simple to execute but it also helps your makeup look more cohesive and polished.

Get the look: RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek Tint ($62) is a cream stain that can used on both the lips and cheeks. With your fingers or a damp sponge, tap the tint onto the apples of your cheeks.  Blend and spread out any excess product on your pout.

Dewy, radiant skin always looks healthy and youthful. But if you're worried that your makeup will slip and slide in Singapore's heat, use a primer first and strategically set areas of your face that will get oily. Pro tip: have a clean  sponge or cushion puff on hand for touch-ups on the go.

Get the look: Nars Sheer Glow Foundation ($74) is a cult-favourite you can rely on if  you're in the market for a glow-giving foundation. Not only is there an extensive shade range, but the foundation also boasts skincare benefits and brightening properties.

If you find yourself always reaching for your usual pink or red lipsticks, it may be time to take inspiration from Song Hye Kyo and switch things up a bit. We adore how she kept the rest of her makeup simple and let her lips take centre stage with a vampy mauve shade that complements her skin tone perfectly.

Get the look: If you've got dry lips, just remember to give your lips a good scrub before application so the lippie glides on smoothly. We're in love with the Tom Ford Beauty Lip Colour Lipstick in Night Mauve ($76) — it's similar to the shade that the actress rocked and its full-coverage colour lasts all day so you don't have to worry about re-application. Top it all off with your favourite clear gloss to dial up the glam factor.

Dark glamour

Credit: Instagram/kyo1122

7/15

The megawatt star posed on Korea’s W Magazine with an unforgettable look that tells everyone she means business. While it was her pixie cut that first got our attention, her vampy makeup ultimately stole the show. It was definitely a refreshing change to her usual iconic natural makeup look.

Get the look: Recreate Song Hye Kyo’s eye look with a matte black liner and apply it to your upper and lower lash line to create definition and get that sultry look. The intensely pigmented KVD Beauty Ink Liner in Trooper ($32) that promises to stay all day should do the trick.

Pair your fierce eye look with an iconic red lip using Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipstick in OR570 ($44). This satin lip colour hydrates your lips while smoothing out those frustrating lip lines. Even though it has a long-lasting formula, be sure to re-apply throughout the day to keep your pout in that perfect crimson shade.

Lady in red

Credit: Instagram/kyo1122

8/15

Even though Song Hye Kyo rarely sports a red lip, she looks incredibly chic and sophisticated when she does.

Get the look: A red-hot hue is an effortless way to elevate your look. If you are not too sure which red lippie suits your skin tone, go with a classic blue-toned red lipstick that works with all colourings. Also, for a more subtle and understated red lips look, go with a tinted lip balm to create a flush of red on the lips.

Barely there

Credit: Instagram/songhyekyo1

9/15

The actress looked breathtaking in this wedding inspired photo-shoot for the jewellery company, J. Estina. While most K-pop idol group members might opt for bold eyeliners, actresses like Song Hye Kyo prefers thin lines that accentuates the natural shape of the eyes without drawing too much attention to them.

Get the look: Recreate her understated eye makeup look by lining the entire upper lash and outer third of your lower lash line with a creamy pencil in a brown hue such as the Fenty Beauty Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner in In Big Truffle ($33). Keep as close to the lash line as possible and follow your eye’s curvature. Instead of winging it out, stop lining at the farthest end of your lash line for that natural look. Pair this barely-there look with fresh skin and a nude lip.

Brave

Credit: Instagram/kyo1122

10/15

Doesn’t Song Hye Kyo remind you of Merida from the Pixar animation Brave in this picture?

Get the look: Recreate Song Hye Kyo’s playful hairdo by creating some texture in your hair. You can alternate between doing a rope braid and ordinary three strand braid before grabbing a diffuser to diffuse the hair to create tousled waves. Alternatively, you could also achieve the same messy waves by crimping your hair with a triple barrel curling iron.

Pretty in pink

Credit: Instagram/kittiya1988

11/15

Instead of going for the heavily contoured makeup look, Song Hye Kyo tends to highlight her cheeks by applying pink blush on the apples of her cheeks for that youthful and approachable look.

Get the look: Recreate Song Hye Kyo’s dewy look by swapping your powder blusher for a lightweight cream one like the Clinique Cheek Pop Blush in Pink Pop ($40) that melts into your skin. For a natural finish, tap the cream blusher on the apples of your cheeks with your ring finger.

Ice queen

Credit: Instagram/hyekyo_fans

12/15

By juxtaposing soft brows, dewy skin and glossy lips with smudged eye makeup, Song Hye Kyo managed to pull off a look that’s at once glamourous and natural in her campaign with clothing brand Esprit.

Get the look: According to South Korean celebrity makeup artist, Hyung Seok Yeo, the smudged makeup look is a trend. The smudged makeup look is all about being deliberately stained and smudged in its application. For that Song Hye Kyo inspired smudged eye makeup look, smudge your eyeliner with a tapered makeup brush.

Full House

Credit: Instagram/songhyekyo1

13/15

This is a classic Song Hye Kyo beauty look. While her eye makeup is kept to a minimum, her brows are full and well-groomed to frame her features.

Get the look: With a brow powder kit like the Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zing Pro Palette ($68), shape and fill in sparse brows for a soft, natural look. A lighter brow colour will look more natural as it recedes, filling in the gaps of your brows without overshadowing your natural brow hairs.

Elegant smokey

Credit: Instagram/laneige_kr

14/15

Who says you can’t wear a bold eye and lip at the same time? Song Hye Kyo makes it look easy by pairing a bold smokey eye with bright red lips.

Get the look: Add intensity to your smoky eye by contrasting the darkness of your eye makeup with the white in your eyes. You can do so by lining the waterline and inner rim of your eyes with creamy eyeliner, making sure to run it in between your lashes.

Two is better than one

Credit: Facebook/SongSong Couple Descendants of the Sun

15/15

Song Hye Kyo is always seen with softer lipstick shades like light pink or colour with a shiny finish that gives off a girl-next-door vibe.

Get the look: The K-beauty gradient (ombre) lips look was made popular by Song Hye Kyo when she played the role of Kang Mo Yeon in Descendants Of The Sun. To get the perfect pout, prep your lips with a sleeping mask for the lips like the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask ($27) before adding colour, focusing on the centre of your lips with a lip tint like the Moonshot Cream Paint ($27). Alternatively, you can also achieve a virtual ombre pucker by swiping a two-toned lippie like the Laneige Layering Lip Bar ($39) across your lips.