Create the Perfect Kawaii Makeup Look in 2024

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  Alyssia Chang

   - Published November 25th, 2023

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

Ever wanted to create an adorable, expressive, unexplainable “kawaii” (cute) version of yourself?

This unique and playful style combines the cuteness of Japanese kawaii culture with the creativity and versatility of makeup artistry.

From soft pastel palettes to edgy goth-inspired looks, there’s a kawaii makeup look for everyone to explore. So why not dive into this delightful realm of beauty and unleash your inner kawaii girl?

Key Takeaways

• Master essential kawaii makeup techniques to showcase your inner cuteness.

• Achieve a flawless base with primer, foundation and setting powder for an innocent look.

• Enhance natural beauty with pastel eyeshadows, contouring & highlighting for a captivating style!

Essential Kawaii Makeup Techniques

In the captivating world of kawaii makeup, it’s all about the details. From a flawless base and perfect cheeks to vibrant colors that light up your eyes, mastering essential kawaii makeup techniques will set the stage for your transformation into a kawaii girl.

Key elements of kawaii fashion is having bold black eyeliner, pink blush, colored wigs, and a pastel color palette that brings your inner cuteness to life. Here are the key kawaii makeup basics!

Flawless Base

A beautiful kawaii makeup look begins with a well-prepared face canvas. Start by washing and moisturizing your skin to ensure it’s clean and hydrated. Next, apply your go to skincare routine, a smoothing face primer in circular motions, focusing on the T-zone and blending outwards. This will create a luminous and flawless base for your kawaii makeup look.

With your face and eyes are primed and ready, it’s time to even out your complexion. For the kawaii look, a brighter foundation or tinted moisturizer is ideal. Apply your chosen product from the center of your face and blend it outwards for a natural, soft finish.

Don’t forget to use a concealer to brighten up your complexion and give you that radiant kawaii appearance.

Now that we have achieved a flawless base, the next step is to perfect your cheeks!

Perfect Cheeks

Blush, colorful shapes, glitter, stickers, even cute Band-aids are key to unlocking the adorable essence of kawaii makeup.

To achieve the perfect blushed cheeks and rosy glow, apply blush under the eyes and along the front of the cheeks near the sides of your nose.

Another youthful blush method, is to apply blush along the cheek bone and nose in a straight formation. Don’t forget the important step of applying blush on the tip of your nose as well! This unique placement not only produces a vibrant and youthful look but also adds a touch of color to your cheeks.

When it comes to blush colors, popular choices include:

• vibrant pinks

• peaches

• corals

• light rose shades

Having achieved the perfectly flushed cheeks, it’s time to delve into the world of pastel makeup colors!

Pastel Makeup Palette

What makes kawaii makeup stay current and look super doll-like?

Light, pastel colors throughout the makeup application can make your eyes appear bright and innocent, perfect for capturing the essence of kawaii girl style. Apply pastel eyeshadow colors to the outer corner of your eyes and into the crease, emphasizing the shape of the eye without overdoing it.

To complete your eye makeup, use the same or different shades throughout the under eyes, cheeks and lips. Don’t forget to define your eyebrows with a soft shade of eyebrow gel or pencil, bold black liquid liner, and fun fake lashes for a charming anime-inspired look.

Eye-catching Kawaii Eyes

The eyes are the windows to the soul, and in kawaii makeup, they take center stage. Captivating kawaii eyes can be achieved through various eyeliner styles, eyeshadow choices, and lash techniques that make your eyes truly mesmerizing. From white eyeliner on the lower waterline to bold black liner creating a stunning anime eye, the possibilities are endless.

Eager to draw attention to your eyes? Welcome to the realm of kawaii eye makeup!

Eyeliner Styles

Eyeliner can work wonders in transforming your eyes and giving them that kawaii touch. Dramatic wing eyeliner, either on the top or bottom of the eyes will create the doll cute look.

A classic winged cat-eye is a popular choice, as it elongates the eyes and adds a playful flair. For an eye-opening effect, try using white eyeliner on the lower waterline, making your eyes appear larger and more vibrant, with fanned out pointed liquid liner tips on the bottom outer edge of the lash line.

There are countless eyeliner styles to choose from, so don’t be afraid to get creative! Tightlining, puppy eyeliner, aegyo sal, and inner corner highlights are just a few examples of other styles that can create captivating kawaii eyes.

Eyeshadow Choices

Kawaii eye makeup is all about bright and cheerful colors.

Pastel shades and vibrant colors like greens, purples, and blues are perfect for creating a stunning kawaii eye look. Adding a hint of shimmer to the inner corners of your eyes and below will further enhance the colors vibrancy and make them truly eye-catching.

Lash Love

Lashes play a crucial role in achieving that cute, doll-like appearance in kawaii makeup. They open the eyes upwards and give a fuller effect. To enhance your eyes, you can:

• Curl your natural lashes for a beautiful lift using a lash curler or using a lighter to warm up the ends of two wooden Q-tips and gently create a “C” like lift between the lashes.

• Add plenty of volumizing mascara for a dramatic effect.

• Apply strip or individual false eyelashes on both the upper and lower lash lines, especially focusing on the lower lash line for an extra pop of glamour.

Colored circle lenses can also be added to help achieve a stunningly wide set of eyes for a truly kawaii look.

How to get the Perfect Kawaii Lips

A kawaii makeup look wouldn’t be complete without full, lifting lips. The proper lip placement and color choices can make all the difference in achieving that perfect kawaii style. Whether you’re going for a soft, innocent look or a bold and vibrant one, the right combination of lip liner, lip color, or gloss will bring your kawaii makeup to life.

Here are our top tips to achieving plump, big lips!

Step-by-Step Kawaii Lip Guide

Creating the perfect kawaii lips involves a few lip products and of course, your creativity. Here’s our favorite way transforming your lips to be irresistibly kissable:

1. Start with a clean canvas: Before applying any makeup, make sure your lips are clean and exfoliated. This will ensure a smoother application and longer-lasting results.

2. Apply a lip balm: Hydrate your lips with a moisturizing lip balm or mask. This will prevent your lips from drying out and create a smooth base for your lip color.

3. Use a lip liner: Choose a lip liner that’s close to your natural lip color or lip product. Outline the shape of your lips, focusing on overdrawing and optionally curving the cupid’s bow, and the center of your lower lip to create a cute, pouty effect.

4. Apply your chosen lip color: For a classic kawaii look, choose a light pink, peach, or cherry lip color. Apply the color to the center of your lips, using your ring finger to buff out the outer edges to create a gradient effect.

5. Optional, add a touch of gloss: To finish off your kawaii lip look, apply a clear or slightly tinted lip gloss to the center of your lips. This will make your lips look plump and add a youthful, glossy finish.

Kawaii Makeup Styles & Inspirations

Kawaii makeup is incredibly versatile, allowing you to explore a variety of styles and inspirations. From soft kawaii, goth kawaii, to gyaru-inspired looks, there’s a kawaii makeup style for everyone.

Eager to find your signature kawaii makeup style? Here’s out top inspo!

Soft Kawaii Makeup

For those who prefer a more subtle and innocent kawaii makeup look, the soft kawaii style is perfect. This delicate look features pastel shades, minimal makeup application, and a focus on enhancing your natural beauty.

To get the soft kawaii style, start by using light, pastel eyeshadows or blush, natural eyebrow products, nose blush, freckles, and inner corner eye and nose highlight. These key elements with help you achieve a bright, innocent kawaii look!

Goth Kawaii Makeup

Who says cute can’t be goth?! If you’re looking for a unique and edgy twist on kawaii makeup, the goth kawaii style is for you.

Focus on a full dark lip or a lighter color paired with a deeper lip liner. Then experiment with darker shades of eyeshadow, thick sharp winged eyeliner, and statement false lashes to create a stunning goth kawaii makeup look that’s equal parts adorable and daring.

Gyaru-Inspired Makeup

Incorporating elements of the popular Japanese gyaru (gee-ya-roo) subculture, gyaru makeup is a kawaii makeup style that is dramatic, glamorous, and full of personality.

This style often features large eye makeup, fake bottom and top lashes, bronzed skin, and a sun-kissed look achieved with self-tanner.

Elongate the eyes with white pencil eyeliner on the lower outer edges and circle contact lenses. Use light shimmer highlighter on the tip of the nose, bright eyeshadow colors, dramatic eyeliner, and lush false lashes, all while maintaining that essential kawaii cuteness inspired by anime characters.

E-girl Makeup: A Modern Take on Kawaii

E-girl makeup has emerged as a modern interpretation of the kawaii aesthetic, blending elements of internet culture, anime, and street fashion into a unique look that’s both cute and edgy.

This style typically features bold eyeliner, vibrant eyeshadows, lots of nose highlight, and high-contrast blush, often paired with long lashes and colored hair.

The lips are typically made to look fuller and over drawn, allowing the eyes and cheeks to compliment the overall look. Accessories such as toques, chains, chokers, and oversized glasses are often added to complete the look.

Overall, E-girl makeup is a seductive and expressive style that offers a fresh, modern twist versus the adorable style of the kawaii aesthetic.

Easy Kawaii Makeup Tutorial

Now that kawaii makeup has caught your interest, let’s teach you all that you need to know to nail the basics! Follow our step-by-step kawaii makeup tutorial to create a stunning look that’s perfect for you, from preparing your face to adding those all-important finishing touches.

Ready to master the art of being super cute? Let’s get started with these kawaii girls essential tips!

Preparing the Face

Proper face preparation is a prerequisite before applying your kawaii makeup. Your skin will look smooth and hydrated even with foundation or powder on. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Start by cleansing your face using a gentle cleanser or micellar water to remove any dirt, oil, and impurities.

2. Next, apply your daily eye cream, face serum, a lightweight moisturizer, and face SPF to ensure your skin is hydrated, protected, and ready for makeup application.

Building the Base

With your face clean and moisturized, it’s time to build your kawaii makeup base. Here’s how:

1. Apply a primer to make your makeup last and stay on all day.

2. Next, apply your chosen foundation or CC cream, starting from the outside of your face and blending inwards for a even finish.

3. To brighten your complexion and cover any imperfections, use a concealer in areas that need extra coverage.

To set your foundation and concealer, apply a translucent setting powder using a fluffy brush. This will help to keep your makeup in place and prevent it from transferring or smudging throughout the day. Having completed the base, we can now proceed to the exciting part – the kawaii eyes!

How to Apply Kawaii Eye Makeup

Creating captivating doll eyes starts with selecting the perfect eyeshadow colors. Choose pastel or bright shades that complement your kawaii aesthetic.

Apply your chosen eyeshadow color to your eyelids, focusing on the inner corners and blending outwards to the outer corners. To further enhance your eye makeup, experiment with different eyeliner styles, such as winged cat-eye or white liner on the lower waterline, to make your eyes appear larger.

Next, it’s time to focus on your lashes. This is key to making your eyes look super cute!

1. Lightly curl your natural lashes for a beautiful lift.

2. Apply a thin layer of mascara to look unison and blend with the fake lashes.

3. Next, apply false eyelashes on both the upper and lower lash lines with water-proof lash glue.

Now that your eyes are bright, bold, and beautiful, it’s time to shift our focus onto another crucial aspect of the kawaii look – achieving a cute, button-like nose through contouring and highlighting!

Nose Contour and Highlight

Contouring and highlighting your nose can create a cute, button-like appearance that’s perfect for kawaii makeup. To contour your nose, follow these steps:

1. Apply blush, contour powder, or cream a few shades darker than your skin tone to the sides of your nose, starting from the inner corner of your eyebrows and blending it downwards towards the tip of your nose.

2. Then on the upper sides of your nostrils, under tip, then shade upwards and along the top of the tip. Use your ring finger to blend.

3. Next, apply a highlighter a few shades lighter than your skin tone down the center of your nose, starting from the bridge and blending it towards the tip.

4. Finally, use the same highlighter right on the tip of the nose in a dot-like shape to create a lifting effect!

Now that your nose is looking absolutely adorable, it’s time to focus on glowing skin, rosy cheeks, and lips!

Finishing Touches

To complete your kawaii makeup look, follow these steps:

1. Apply a light pink lip color or tint to your lips, focusing on the center for a natural, gradient effect.

2. Add an optional glossy finish for a plump and hydrated appearance.

3. Flatten your blush brush between your fingers and sweep a brighter blush along the nose and upper cheek area.

4. For an extra touch of kawaii cuteness, consider adding optional decorations such as hair clips, stickers, or glitter to your makeup look.

Now that your kawaii makeup is complete, you can confidently flaunt your adorable new style!

Kawaii Makeup Accessories

Having mastered the art of kawaii makeup, having the right tools and products at hand is key to achieving your desired look. Here is a list of our must have extra products that you need to kick this look from average to Kawaii pro!

1. Liquid lower lash making pen.

2. Colored circle contact lenses.

3. Japanese character hair clips, bows, drawings or symbols on the face, clothes, and band-aids across the nose.

4. Colored hair wigs with blunt bangs, pony-tails, or space buns.

So, stock up on your favorite kawaii makeup essentials and let your creativity shine!

Tips for Mastering Kawaii Makeup

Perfecting your kawaii makeup look takes practice, so here is our easy professional makeup tips and tricks that will make your a kawaii makeup pro in no time.

1. Chunky sparkle glitter trickled under the eyes, or applying intentional glitter shapes between freckles will create a better aesthetic.

2. If you feel like you’re putting on too much blush on the nose and under the eyes, you’re doing it right!

3. Drawing dramatic liquid liner bottom lashes will make your eyes pop.

4. Applying matching wig color into your eyebrows will also level up your kawaii makeup look.

5. The BEST kawaii statement is to make fun shapes like hearts, stars, candy, or clouds across the nose and cheeks as fun faux “freckles”.

Summary

Kawaii fashion, makeup, and accessories all have the same lighthearted adorable theme. These fundamental basics will bring you exactly where you need to be to channel your inner Japanese alter-ego.

Be flirty, whimsical, and dress up to embrace all that the kawaii culture has to offer. We are here for you and can’t wait to see your self-expression radiate!

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