BARING ALL

JUNG SAEM MOOL!’s make-up for one movie forever changed beauty standards around the world. She contemplates the things close to heart and what beauty means to her.

- NATASHA LI

A pioneer in the realm of Korean beauty, Jung Saem Mool is hailed for her accomplishments as a make-up artist, a mentor, an entrepreneur, and an outspoken activist on issues of equality. Her empire comprises her own beauty academy, a cosmetic brand, a long list of celebrity clients and a booming YouTube channel with close to 600,000 followers.

If, somehow, her name doesn’t ring a bell, then surely you’re familiar with – and probably a fan of – her “no make-up make-up look”. The subtle style, described by American celebrity make-up artist Jillian Dempsey as “you on a very good day with a lot of rest”, was designed by Jung for Korean actress Jun Ji-Hyun’s breakout role in My Sassy Girl. The film launched Jun to superstardom – or yeo-shin (goddess) status – with many praising her character as “real”, “relatable” and “the approachable girl next door”. Jun deserves every ounce of adoration for her impeccable acting, but you can’t help but wonder whether Jung’s genius – and, at the time, audacious and innovative make-up – played a part in bringing her character alive on the big screen.

“The goal is to align the character with the actor, to morph them into one person,” Jung says, explaining how she ultimately landed on Jun’s eventual look for the movie. “As make-up artists working on a movie set, our job is to push the audience to believe in the story, to embrace the make-believe. We’re not there to make the actors look their best; we’re only successful if their performances are enhanced by the deliberate contouring and colouring we brush and dab on their faces. The make-up is, quite literally, the costume for the most expressive part of an actor’s body.”