How Ejae Keeps Her Signature Beauty Look Fresh and Flawless on Stage: Makeup Artist Kelly Zhang’s Tips
Ejae is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about stars in the entertainment world, and her makeup look is as iconic as her voice. Best known as the singing voice of Rumi in the animated Netflix series KPop Demon Hunters, Ejae has been taking over the screen and stage, showcasing her vocal talent and her signature beauty style. Whether it’s sharing behind-the-scenes moments, discussing her character, or performing live — such as her unforgettable Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade appearance — Ejae’s beauty routine is an integral part of her growing appeal.
In collaboration with makeup artist Kelly Zhang, Ejae has perfected a stunning and enduring makeup style that blends K-beauty influences with Thai glam. This look enhances her natural features while keeping everything fresh, youthful, and camera-ready. From her flawless skin to her signature lip gloss that stays put during high-energy performances, every detail of Ejae’s makeup is carefully crafted to complement her talents and personality.
We spoke to Kelly Zhang to get an inside look at how Ejae’s stunning beauty look is created, including how she keeps her lip gloss intact while belting out high notes, and how every detail plays a part in ensuring that she looks as good as she sounds.
The Perfect Base: Radiance Without Overdoing It
At the core of Ejae's makeup is a glowing, radiant complexion that always looks natural, even under bright stage lights. Zhang explains, “Her makeup style is a mix of K-beauty softness with a touch of Thai glam.” The goal is to keep Ejae’s skin fresh and bright, avoiding a heavy look but still providing enough coverage to ensure that she looks flawless on stage and in front of the camera.
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| Courtesy of Kelly Zhang. |
Zhang focuses on clean, bright skin with subtle definition. To achieve this, she avoids setting Ejae’s entire face with powder. “I only set the areas that need it,” Zhang notes, emphasizing that this helps to maintain the natural radiance of Ejae’s skin, especially when she’s performing under the spotlight. The result is a face that glows but never looks cakey — a key element in creating Ejae’s effortlessly youthful vibe.
K-Pop Inspired Eyeliner: Precision and Softness
When it comes to Ejae’s eyes, the look is all about a precise, thin eyeliner, inspired by the iconic K-pop aesthetic. “It’s very much the sharp, thin eyeliner often seen on K-pop idols,” Zhang says, adding that this style emphasizes the eyes without feeling heavy or harsh. The process starts by sketching the eyeliner with eyeshadow, allowing for easy adjustments before applying the more pigmented liquid eyeliner on top. Zhang’s professional tip is to use a tiny, pointed Q-tip with makeup remover to sharpen the edges of the liner for a perfect, crisp finish.
Zhang also tightlines Ejae’s upper lash line, which means applying eyeliner to the waterline to create the illusion of bigger eyes, while maintaining a soft, natural look. This technique enhances Ejae’s eye shape without the visible heaviness often associated with traditional eyeliner.
The Magic of Lashes and Highlighter
To finish off the eye makeup, Zhang uses individual lashes on the outer corners of Ejae’s eyes, rather than a full strip of lashes. This technique lifts the eyes naturally and helps to avoid the overly dramatic look that can come with full strips. The focus is on creating a subtle but noticeable enhancement that complements Ejae’s already stunning eyes.
Highlighter also plays a key role in Ejae’s makeup routine. Zhang recommends using Rare Beauty’s highlighter for a soft, radiant glow. The highlighter is placed in very specific spots — a tiny touch in the inner corner of the eyes, a soft stroke along the bridge of the nose, and a tap on the tip of the nose. These strategic placements brighten Ejae’s face without being too overpowering, especially on camera, where harsh highlights can often look artificial.
Blush: Lifting the Face and Keeping It Fresh
Blush is another key element in Ejae’s makeup routine. “I keep the blush slightly above the apples of the cheeks,” Zhang says, explaining that this placement helps to lift the face, creating a more youthful and fresh appearance. This technique gives Ejae a natural flush of color without overwhelming her features, maintaining a delicate balance between enhancing her natural beauty and keeping the look fresh for performances.
The Secret to Long-Lasting Lip Gloss
Perhaps the most pressing question on everyone’s mind, especially during Ejae’s performance of “Golden,” is how her lip gloss stays intact while she belts out high notes and performs energetically. According to Zhang, the secret lies in anchoring the gloss with a long-lasting base. “I start by filling the lips completely with a long-wear lip liner,” Zhang explains. “Then, I add a thin layer of tinted balm or semi-matte lipstick on top to create a base that grips onto the gloss.”
The final touch is applying gloss only in the center of the lips, which catches the light and creates a full, plump effect without making the gloss slide around. This technique ensures that Ejae’s lips stay glossy and vibrant throughout her performance, without the need for constant touch-ups.
Hair: Softening the Look with Face-Framing Pieces
Ejae’s signature updo is another integral part of her look, but it’s not just about the style — it’s about how the hair frames her face. “Face-framing pieces soften the overall look,” Zhang says, noting that they highlight Ejae’s bone structure while maintaining a romantic, modern feel. These soft pieces help keep the updo looking effortless, ensuring that it complements Ejae’s facial features without drawing attention away from her beauty or her performance.
Ejae's Evolving Look
As Ejae continues to rise in prominence with KPop Demon Hunters and her solo music career, it will be exciting to see how her makeup style evolves. For now, the signature beauty look she’s honed with Kelly Zhang — fresh, youthful, and perfectly balanced — has become a defining feature of her stage presence, helping her shine both on and off-screen.
For fans looking to recreate Ejae’s look, there are plenty of takeaways from her beauty routine, from K-beauty inspired soft glam to long-lasting lip gloss tricks. It’s a signature style that’s both effortless and striking, just like Ejae herself.
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