Best known as the singing voice of Rumi in the hit animated Netflix movie KPop Demon Hunters, Ejae is becoming a household name and face regardless. The brain and vocal powerhouse behind “Golden” has been gracing our screens, from sharing her demos of tracks, to explaining how she got into character, and of course, singing. Her Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade performance alongside fellow HUNTR/X singing voices Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami solidifies her growing recognition, and her signature beauty routine helps, too.
Like her character Rumi, Ejae is often seen wearing her hair back, though she opts for an updo instead of a long purple braid. With her face-framing money pieces, she also highlights her signature makeup style. Ejae has honed in on the formula for her look: thin eyeliner, long and sleek lashes, undereye blush, and a touch of glitter. And every detail plays a key part. To get all the intel, tips, and tricks on Ejae’s makeup, we chatted with makeup artist Kelly Zhang, who had previously worked with Ejae during the KPop Demon Hunters press tour.
At a glance, “her makeup style is a mix of K-beauty softness with a touch of Thai glam,” Zhang tells Teen Vogue. “It enhances her natural features without ever feeling heavy.” For the base, “the focus is always on clean, bright skin, subtle definition, and balanced accents that bring out her natural beauty.” To do so, “I set only the areas that need it so her skin stays fresh and radiant under stage lights,” Zhang says.
Fittingly, her eyeliner is inspired by K-pop, precisely the thin, sharp line often seen on idols. Zhang’s pro tip is to sketch the eyeliner with eyeshadow first, that way you can make adjustments easily. Then, she’ll use it as a guide to apply the more pigmented liquid eyeliner. But Zhang says, “The real secret is using a tiny pointed Q-tip with makeup remover to sharpen the edges. That’s what gives it that precise, effortless finish.” That’s only the surface though. Zhang takes an extra step to complete the look. “I always tightline her upper lash line to make the eyes look bigger without visible heaviness,” she says.
For finishing touches on the eyes, Zhang opts for a few more tricks. “Instead of a full strip, I use individual lashes on the outer corners to lift the eyes naturally,” she says, referring to fake eyelashes. And highlighter is what makes it all pop. Zhang says that Ejae’s favorite is Rare Beauty, and its placement is very intentional. A tiny touch in the inner corner, a soft stroke along the bridge of the nose, and a little tap on the tip of the nose brighten the whole face while still looking soft on camera.
Ejae’s blush makes a big difference in the finish as well. Zhang says, “I keep the blush slightly above the apples of the cheeks. This lifts the face, keeps the look youthful and fresh, and gives color without overwhelming her features.”
Perhaps the most pressing question on the mind throughout her performance of “Golden” is how her lip gloss stays on as she belts the high notes. “A great trick is to anchor the gloss with a long-lasting base,” Zhang says. “I start by filling the lips completely with a long-wear lip liner, adding a thin layer of tinted balm or semi-matte lipstick to grip onto, and tapping gloss only in the center so it catches the light but doesn’t slide around.”
And, in case you’re wondering, the hair is indeed also a key part of the look. “Face-framing pieces soften the overall look and help highlight her bone structure. They keep the updo looking romantic, modern, and effortless while complementing her facial features,” Zhang says.
As Ejae continues her work, now balancing the success of KPop Demon Hunters and her solo music, time will only tell how her makeup evolves. But if you’re feeling inspired, there’s plenty of lessons to take away from her signature style.
Editor's Note: This post has been updated for clarity.
