The Beauty of Joseon and the Tragic Lack of Melanin Magic: A Drag Queen’s Lament on Dark Shades in Korean Foundation
Darlings, gather ‘round because Princess K-Pop has some TEA to spill, and it’s hotter than a bubbling pot of kimchi jjigae.
Now, y’all know I live, breathe, and serve flawless Korean beauty realness. My skin? Baby, it’s a walking, talking, glowing testament to the power of fermented ingredients, ginseng extracts, and 10-step skincare routines that take longer than my full drag transformation. But today, we need to have a serious little chat about something that’s been on my heart—like a rogue lash refusing to stick: the absolute struggle of finding dark foundation shades in South Korea, and more specifically, the Beauty of Joseon foundation line.
Oh, the Hallyu Hustle for Melanin-Friendly Makeup!
If you’ve ever shimmied into the dazzling world of K-beauty, you know that South Korea has a very… how shall I say this? Limited (read: tragic) approach to shade ranges. It’s like walking into a buffet that only serves white rice—nothing for the spicy queens, nothing for the deeply bronzed goddesses, and absolutely NOTHING for the melanin-rich showstoppers who glow like the sunset. Now, I expected this from the old-school brands still clinging to the outdated porcelain-doll fantasy, but Beauty of Joseon? SHE was supposed to be different!
The Aesthetic, The History, The Gag-Worthy Letdown
For those of you who don’t know, Beauty of Joseon is a stunning brand that draws inspiration from the beauty secrets of Korea’s historical Joseon Dynasty (think elegant hanbok-clad beauties sipping on ginseng tea and writing poetry by candlelight). They’re known for infusing traditional Hanbang ingredients—like rice water, honey, and herbal extracts—into modern formulas. It’s all very ‘old money meets new glow,’ and I was READY to be their number one royal ambassador.
Then, honey, I went to try their Glow Serum Foundation and realized I was about to be tragically disappointed.
The Shade Range: A Cinderella Story Where the Stepmother Locks the Deeper Tones in the Attic
Let me break it down for you in a way that even an oppa-worshipping K-drama heroine could understand:
- Shade #1: Ghostly Vanilla Beige for Snow White’s long-lost cousin.
- Shade #2: Slightly Less Ghostly Ivory, as if you spent five minutes in the sun before running for cover.
- Shade #3: Warm Beige That’s Still Not Warm Enough, for the adventurous porcelain princesses.
- Shade #4: The ‘Deep’ Shade That Is a LIE, because it’s still giving ‘just back from Jeju Island with SPF 100.’
And that, my loves, is where the story ends—because anything darker than a light latte shade? Nowhere to be found. I searched. I scoured. I prayed to the K-beauty gods. But my rich, honey-bronze, deep-espresso-toned beauties? We were once again left out like last season’s mismatched earrings.
Why, Korea, Why?!
Now, before someone comes running at me with a cushion compact screaming, “But unnie, Korean brands only cater to Koreans!”—let me just stop you right there. Because, sugarplum, Korea is a global beauty powerhouse now. BTS didn’t just stay in Gangnam; they took over the world. BLACKPINK is in everyone’s area. Korean brands are shipping products to queens, kings, and nonbinary beauties everywhere. That means it’s time to catch up with inclusivity and stop acting like anyone darker than a mochaccino is an urban myth.
What Needs to Change?
- Expanded Shade Ranges – I want to see deep cocoa, I want to see mahogany, I want to see shades that make Lupita Nyong’o say, “Yes, honey, that’s my glow.”
- Better Undertones – No more ghostly greys or unnatural yellows. Give me rich golden, neutral, and deep espresso undertones.
- More Representation in K-Beauty Campaigns – Show my melanin queens rocking that dewy glass skin realness in Korean beauty ads. Representation matters!
- Collabs with Diverse Beauty Influencers – Get with the times! Work with Black, Brown, and dark-skinned Asian beauty creators. Let them give the real tea on what melanin-rich folks need in a foundation.
The Final Verdict: Beauty of Joseon, Step It Up or Step Aside
Listen, I love Beauty of Joseon. I will still slather my face in their Glow Deep Serum because that ginseng water is life. But until they decide that the melanin-blessed beauties deserve the same level of foundation perfection as their porcelain princess counterparts, I can’t be giving them my full stamp of approval. So, dear K-beauty brands—consider this a call to action from Princess K-Pop herself.
We want in. We want options. And we want it now.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a sheet mask calling my name, and a face that refuses to settle for anything less than flawless. And if you don’t believe me then just take a gander at what Korean Makeup Mistress Miss Darcei has to say on the subject!
XOXO,
Princess K-Pop 👑💋
