Makeup and masculinity aren't mutually exclusive — a fact that is finally on full display, colorfully and unapologetically. No matter how you identify, you deserve to play with beauty, free of shame and secrecy. Makeup is for everyone, and through Mascara & Masculinity, we're celebrating just that. In each edition, we ask men and masculine-identifying people to share their stories of falling in love with makeup, plus the products that shaped their relationships with beauty — and with themselves.
The power of smoky eyes isn't lost on dudes, let me tell ya. For 25-year-old beloved K-pop star Taemin, sooty black shadow diffused on the outer corners of his lids has helped emphasize his signature duality. Through his fluid choreography, playful personality, and sensual songs, the K-pop star has become known for his sexy-yet-pure image, as Taemin describes it to me. Dramatic eye makeup, specifically, intensifies his impressive aura, and that's incredibly intentional.
"As an artist who performs on the stage, I try to express my feelings and convey my inner thoughts through the looks I give the audience," he explains. "So, I tend to focus on making sure that my makeup highlights my eyes properly."
For many, Taemin needs no introduction. In case you need one, though, I got you: In 2008, a then-15-year-old Taemin debuted with K-pop group SHINee as the youngest member and charismatic main dancer, and the quintet quickly became one of the most influential acts in the industry. Taemin, in particular, stood out with his androgynous aesthetic. At the start of his career, his long hair drew so much attention that he jokingly apologized for being "too pretty" on TV in 2012. Now, 10 years into his flourishing career, he's not apologizing for his androgyny anymore. His hair may be shorter now, but he's owning the way he marries masculinity and feminity in his stunning performances. If this is the first you're hearing of Taemin, I strongly suggest watching his music video for his incredibly popular solo song "Move" to put all of this into perspective.
While preparing for his series of solo concerts at Seoul's SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium, which will take place March 15 through 17, Taemin took a break to reveal how makeup has shaped his thriving career and why he believes a standard for masculinity doesn't exist.
Black eye shadow and eyeliner, of course.
When Taemin shares his earliest makeup memory with me, I find myself overcome with déjà vu. Like me, Taemin first began dabbling in cosmetics occurred around age 12 for picture day — mine was for school, his for, well, not school.
At the time, Taemin was an SM Entertainment trainee getting a profile photo taken. Although he doesn't remember which products were used, his first experience with makeup has stuck in his memory. "It felt like as if I’m wearing a mask — not because it was uncomfortable but because I looked kind of cool yet a bit unfamiliar at the same time," he recollects. "It felt like my attitude changed as my looks changed." I, on the other hand, snuck into the bathroom at my private school in South Florida to etch a black eye pencil along my water lines and swipe on mascara before my yearbook photo was taken. We weren't allowed to wear more than lipgloss to class, but I was a dramatic teen dedicated to having smudgy liner for my official school portrait.
Once Taemin debuted three years later, he realized makeup is another way to convey the vibe of his concept and music. "As I utilized makeup, I found the increasing need to build my own artistic image," he says. "The synergy created from clothing, hair, and makeup combined is truly amazing, so makeup has been, is, and will be a key factor in establishing my identity as an artist."
His interest in bold eye makeup, in particular, piqued when his first solo single, "Danger," dropped in 2014. "I remember using a lot of dark eyeliners and black smoky eye shadows," Taemin shares. In the music video for the song, metallic gunmetal and asphalt pigments were blended all over his lids. Sometimes, the deep shadows completely blanketed his eyes all the way to his bleached brows or jutted upward in sharp winged shapes.
Compared to his typically fresh-faced SHINee look, his solo aesthetic was strikingly darker and stronger, which shocked even Taemin at first. "I clearly recall looking into the mirror for a while with the heavy eye makeup," Taemin continues. "[It] was really new to me."
Over the past 10 years in the K-pop game, Taemin has tried so many makeup products, but he points to eye shadow as a staple. "There are so many colors and types of eye shadows, and each one of them has different moods and vibes, which immensely helps to highlight the concept of my music," Taemin explains. "I guess I will continue using them going forward!"
With the release of his recent title track, "Want," Taemin knew he wanted to his trademark sexy-and-charismatic-yet-pure charm to stand out more than ever in the music video and on stage. "In order to portray this, I aimed towards light-but-sexy makeup," he says. The rich, satiny gold, bronze, and pewter shadows that rimmed his lash lines glimmered whenever the light hit his eyes.
The first time I watched the music video, I remember thinking, "This is the most Taemin makeup I've ever seen." The shimmery shades had an ethereal quality that echoed his dancing, but at the same time, they boosted the intensity of the video. Honestly, Taemin's golden smoky eyes perfectly paired with the snake slithering over his arm. This scene exemplified the theatricality that makes Taemin tick.
"It was overall very elegant and androgynous, which might have gained mixed reactions," Taemin notes. "However, I have no regrets on taking risks to express and differentiate myself from others as an artist." Above all, he thanks his fans for being able to continue to do so and supporting his artistic career and the daring looks that come with it. They're the reason why he won't stop experimenting with makeup any time soon. "I think it’s important to keep on trying and finding new looks that can amplify my music and performance," he adds.
No matter what his makeup looks like or how he presents androgyny in his work, Taemin doesn't seem to believe he's defying any sort of stereotypes of masculinity. As a matter of fact, he doesn't think masculinity should look a certain way at all. Makeup isn't even a part of the equation because it's another layer of his art.
"For me, I think there is no absolute standard on masculinity," Taemin states. "Nowadays, there are a lot of men who care about skin care and even use makeup to express themselves. I feel like there was a strict gender classification in the past, but the boundaries have become more blurred and our society is more about accepting and respecting each other’s differences these days. If makeup highlights and empowers my unique appeal, why not use it?"
Read up on past editions of Mascara & Masculinity:
