Makeup artist defends Lee Hyori's 'thick eyebrows' look

When a netizen expressed disappointment regarding singer Lee Hyori's eyebrow styling, makeup artist Oh Hyeon-jeong, who was responsible for the look, stepped in to explain the technique. She clarified that the eyebrows were not artificially drawn thick, but were instead styled to maximize Lee's natural eyebrow texture.

On the 18th, Oh posted several photos of Lee's makeup on her SNS, writing, “Hyori-ssam, who is healthy and natural, and where everything is naturally beautiful. An unrivaled superstar.” She continued to praise Lee's natural beauty, noting, “The feel of a digital camera and a phone camera are different, but this is also great.”

In the photos, Lee reveals her signature healthy and chic aura through makeup that highlights her tanned skin and deep eye sockets. Rather than using heavy color to artificially emphasize facial contours, the focus was placed on bringing out Lee's unique features, such as her natural skin texture, eyes, and eyebrows.

The eyebrows, in particular, appeared relatively thick and distinct. After the photos were released, one netizen commented, “You are so beautiful, but why are your eyebrows getting thicker and thicker? The sophisticated feeling is disappearing and the elegant feeling is dominant. Personally, it is disappointing.”

In response, Oh personally replied to the comment to explain the actual makeup method. She answered, “I am just using the existing eyebrow texture without even filling in much color, just bringing out the texture ^^ Thank you for the feedback.”

While the eyebrows may appear thicker in the photos, her response implies that instead of applying additional pigment to darken them, the process focused on grooming and enhancing Lee's existing eyebrow texture.

This aligns with recent makeup trends. While it was once common to redesign eyebrow shapes and fill in colors to balance the face, "natural brows"—which preserve an individual's original texture and hair quality while tidying up the overall impression—have recently been gaining attention.

In Lee's case, by utilizing her original thickness and texture rather than creating a new shape, she simultaneously highlights her characteristic intense features and a natural atmosphere.

Oh has styled various stars throughout her career. Recently, she gained recognition among viewers by appearing on Coupang Play's "JUST MAKEUP," where Lee served as the MC, showcasing her makeup philosophy and unique style.

Rather than standardizing her face—which has been familiar to the public for a long time—to fit specific trends, Lee consistently demonstrates a style that highlights her unique characteristics, such as her skin tone, facial features, and eyebrows. These photos drew attention as the makeup emphasized her original impression rather than excessive retouching or heavy color.

Lee married Lee Sang-soon in 2013. Having lived on Jeju Island, she moved her residence to Seoul in 2024. Last year, she opened “Ānanda Yoga Center” in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul, where she personally conducts classes as an instructor. She is also currently active as an MC for the JTBC variety show "War of Romance.""