Welcome to Step by Step, a new series where influencers, beauty professionals, Klog readers, and Soko Glam staff will be sharing every step in their current skin care routines. Have someone you want to be featured, or think YOU should be? Let us know in the comments below!
In 2016, drag queen and self-proclaimed “sheet mask muse” Kim Chi made her television debut as a contestant on Season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Through a tasteful combination of her delectably unique costumes, witty and fierce one-liners, and bold, beautiful drag makeup, she quickly became a fan-favorite and an Internet sensation.
Not only was she the first Korean-American contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race, but she was also the first Korean-American drag queen on a nationally-televised American show.
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Here at The Klog, we’re huge fans of Kim Chi; we’re consistently wowed by her fun makeup looks and drag costumes. She recently visited our headquarters in New York City to chat about her time on Drag Race, how she went from being a graphic design student to one of the most beloved contestants on a cult-favorite reality show, and how her background in fine arts lends a hand when she creates costumes and makeup looks.
Between the layers of makeup required for drag and the products it takes to accompany her elaborate head to toe looks, it’s no wonder that Kim Chi uses a carefully formulated skin care routine to keep her skin clear and bright. Of course we needed to get the full scoop. Read on to find out what we learned!
Kim Chi loves the Patchology Sheet Masks for taking care of her skin. While many sheet masks require 10-20 minutes of settling time, Patchology is known for its 5-minute sheet masks, which are perfect for someone like Kim Chi with a busy schedule
To cleanse, Kim Chi swears by Then I Met You’s Cleansing Duo. The Living Cleansing Balm and Soothing Tea Cleansing Gel are nourishing yet powerful enough to strip off heavy makeup and sebum buildup from the day and allow Kim Chi’s “canvas” to be smooth and clear. If she’s without her favorite cleansing duo, one great beauty trick she learned from other queens is, “When you don’t have an oil cleanser with you, applying a [hair oil sheen spray] on your face will remove everything including spirit gum residue.”
She also loves the Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Green Tea, a gentle yet effective chemical exfoliator, the CosRx Triple C Lightning Serum, which is excellent for improving hyperpigmentation, and Son & Park Beauty Water.
On days she wears drag makeup, she moisturizes more heavily and uses an oil cleanser twice to make sure all the heavy makeup has fully been removed.
And the best beauty tip she learned from appearing on television? Kim Chi tells us that “heavier lashes cast a shadow under your eyes with overhead lighting. If you can’t predict what the light situation will be, always go with lighter and smaller lashes that are aimed higher upon application.”