Eye Makeup Shines as Face Masks Cover the Rest

Eye makeup is booming as masks cover every other part of the face in coronavirus purdah.

One cosmetics shop near Ewha Womans University is offering eye-makeup services for just W10,000 (US$1=W1,117). Owner Shin Si-ah (46) said, "The service targets students who go into job interviews wearing face masks. Normally around 10 people a week come to be made up, but we have 20 a week during job interview season."

Another makeup shop in Gwangju is trimming eyebrows and offering eye makeup for W30,000.

Men are also jumping on the bandwagon.

University student Yang Byung-ah (25) had his eyebrows tattooed for W50,000 last month. "I'm always wearing a face mask these days and felt I needed to make at least my eyes look good," Yang said. "Now my eyebrows are darker, I'm more confident about my looks."

Many YouTubers are posting videos of ways to accentuate the eyes when wearing a facemask, and product sales are soaring.

Beauty chain Olive Young said mascara sales increased 12 percent in the second half of 2020 while eyebrow product sales grew 10 percent.