Karen Yeung, AKA IAMKARENO, has emerged as one of the top influencers in the beauty world right now. And it’s not just us who think so, her over 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube would have to agree. Read on to find out what we talked with her about:
Karen offers a unique and refreshing style give her a cutting edge in beauty, and her honesty and openness with her audience leaves you feeling more like a friend than a fan. She opened up to us about where she finds beauty and style inspiration, her ultimate K-beauty fave, and drawing lines between public and private in a world obsessed with being online.
Who first taught you about makeup, fashion, and skin care?
Watching early beauty YouTubers like Michelle Phan was crucial for me. I still get most of my beauty and fashion education from YouTube nowadays. Michelle taught me to dream and believe in yourself. She’s a big dreamer and has accomplished so much because of her positive beliefs.
What does your current skin care routine look like?
My skin care routine focuses on maintaining a dewy complexion. I love using serums and gel masks to lock in moisture. I tend to favor Korean and Japanese products for my skin care routine. Consistency is key. You cannot take a day off when it comes to your skin care routine! I imagine keeping up with my skin care routine just like exercising—even a little activity, over time, goes a long way!
What is your best skin care tip?
Drink water! Our skin is our biggest organ, and it’s very easy to overlook hydration. Drinking more water helps flush out toxins and keeps skin hydrated.
Are there any products that you won’t try?
Anything with alcohols or otherwise harsh chemicals meant to exfoliate your face. I’d much rather take a gentle but slower approach that won’t scar my skin.
How do you test new products?
Very cautiously. I’ve developed my skin care routine for many years—since I was 16 years old—so I know what products work well for my skin type. I’m hesitant to try new products and test in small batches at first.
You talked a little bit about finding confidence to wear your bare skin with new products, what has that journey been like?
It has been great! There will be days when I wear very little make-up and I’m still confident to go outside as if I had a full face on. For this year, I’m focused more on skin care not instead of just cosmetics. It’s important to have a healthy base, and cosmetics serve to enhance that base.
How long does it take you to develop a new makeup look?
It’s different for each look—it might take a couple minutes if the inspiration is clear, but it might take several days if I’m really focused on something innovative. It all depends!
Where do you derive inspiration from?
Mainly the streets around me. No matter your level at life, you’ll be out on the street at some point or another throughout your day. I love watching the mix of life, hustle and commotion stir up action and inspiration.
You’re very open and honest in your videos and with your followers, is that difficult? Where do you find the confidence to do so and how do you draw the lines between public and private?
I used to be very scared to share myself online, but I grew to learn that the internet is a very smart place. You can’t be a fake online—people will sniff you out. It’s so much easier to share who you are and show your real struggles rather than trying to be perfect 100 percent of the time. We are all human—we all have insecurities, weaknesses and defeats. Understanding that made it easier for me to open up and share who I am online.
We know you listen to some K-pop. What K-pop songs are you loving right now?
My boys at BTS keep me locked down. DNA is my current favorite.
What’s the beauty trend you’re most looking forward to this year?
I’m looking forward to seeing people play more with eyeliner—I’ve been seeing some creative looks lately and I’m excited to see what else people are creating!
+ What else would you love to ask IAMKARENO? Share your questions below!
