You may have heard of “jamsu”, the Korean makeup trend that gives you long-lasting matte skin in seconds. We put it to the test and found the ups and downs that come with this technique.
What Is “Jamsu?”
“Jamsu,” which roughly translates to “submerge,” consists of basically patting handfuls of baby powder on your face after you put on your primer, foundation, and concealer. Then you plunge your entire face into a sink or bowl filled with cool water for 15 to 30 seconds. After that, you pat dry with a towel and finish the rest of your makeup. The result is perfectly matte skin that lasts all day.
I gave this technique a shot last week to see if the results were really worth the buzz. I chose a weekday so I can test its mattifying power throughout the workday plus a late dinner out with friends. Here is what I did, what I learned, and my final thoughts about “jamsu:”
The Process
After my morning skin care routine, I applied a cushion, one that I knew is neither long-lasting nor matte. I also applied a little bit of concealer here and there. Then I took heavy handfuls of baby powder and applied it with a clean cushion puff. You can use your hands, a makeup sponge, or a brush, depending on what you prefer.
Tip: This part can get pretty messy, so never ever try “jamsu” wearing black clothes. Also remember to use a headband to protect your hair from getting wet or dirty.
The “Diving” Part
The drier your skin, the less you should stay with your face underwater—no more than 30 seconds, even if you have oily skin type. Since I have normal to dry skin, I held it there for 15 seconds.
I made sure that all the areas where I applied powder were actually submerged. This included the sides of my face and the area near my ears. Once I finished submerging, I used my face cloth to pat my skin dry.
Immediate Results
My skin didn’t feel tight at all, but man did I look pale! Luckily, I didn’t see clear streaks of baby powder left on my face. I followed with my normal makeup routine and, by the end, my skin tone wasn’t bothering me anymore. But there were some dry patches on my face, especially around my nose and all the way from the corners of my lips to my chin.
I went to work and then out to dinner with friends and, 14 hours later (!) I returned home.
Final Thoughts
My skin still looked fine (not perfect, but good enough) after all this long day and I guess that “jamsu-ing” definitely made my makeup last longer. It gave me very matte skin, for sure. My biggest surprise was actually being able to see a little bit of blush on my cheeks at night—this is usually the first thing to disappear from my face!
For the “flawless skin” part of the “jamsu” promise, my skin ended up looking a bit cakey and feeling dry during the day—I guess these things don’t exactly spell out “flawless skin,” do they? I even sprayed some mist on top to see if it would get any better, but my skin still felt uncomfortable.
Removing my makeup before going to bed didn’t feel any different. There’s nothing double cleansing can’t take care of!
I can’t stop thinking that this beauty trick, which is like the “polar bear plunge” for your face, would work way better for someone with combination to oily skin who really appreciates completely matte skin. Maybe next time I will try a “spot version” of this Korean trend, applying baby powder only on my T-zone. I’ll keep you guys posted.
+ Have you tried this Korean beauty makeup trick to get matte skin instantly? Tell us how was your experience like in the comments!