Twice’s Nayeon Shares the K-Beauty Essentials She Swears By

Twice’s Nayeon is full of surprises. For example, fans affectionately call her the Spoiler Queen because of her habit of casually dropping confidential information before it’s supposed to be announced. Then there’s the new sound she shared through her 2022 debut EP IM NAYEON (a play on her full name, Im Nayeon), and her unexpected MBTI or Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test.

In South Korea, your MBTI type has become almost as common a question as “How old are you?” According to a 2020 YouTube video, Nayeon’s result is ISTP (Introverted, Observant, Thinking, and Prospecting.) Is it still?

“I don't really take MBTI tests regularly, so I’m not sure if it’s still the same. I haven’t taken it since then,” she says when she hops on Zoom from a record label conference room in Seoul. “But I think I’m a different person depending on a situation and an occasion. That’s what I think, but from our YouTube content and what my fans see, they see my ISTP side quite often.”

It’s been two years since IM NAYEON dropped, famously making Nayeon the first Korean soloist to claim a number one debut on the Billboard charts. In the days leading up to our call, I listen to a top-secret preview of her second solo album, NA, a slice of her name that also means “me” in Korean. Out June 14, it contains seven tracks that skip from upbeat to mellow and groovy and back again, with Nayeon’s signature bright vocals soaring over them all. The EP features collaborations with artists including AKMU’s Lee Chan Hyuk and Kiss of Life’s Julie, an announcement that caused plenty of commotion on Twice’s YouTube channel.

“I picked the artists to collaborate with for this album, but unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to meet them face-to-face yet,” she says. “But soon we’ll be able to meet and I’m hoping to make great memories together.” In the teaser video for the title track “ABCD,” Nayeon is twirling down a black-and-white lamplit street lifted from another decade. But after our conversation, I already know I should expect a plot twist.

“The performance for this title song is quite powerful, which is a departure from what I’m used to,” she says. “Overcoming that was a challenge for me, but at the same time it gave me the chance to grow.” In comparison to her 2022 EP, Nayeon says NA has given her even more room to explore and evolve as an artist. After the undeniable success of her first solo, a little of the pressure has lifted. “I’m not gonna say that the pressure was absent,” she adds. “It wasn’t zero this time around, but I’m a little bit more relaxed.”

But today’s biggest surprise is the list of eight favorite K-beauty products she loves most. As a writer who’s spent more than a decade asking celebrities about their beauty routines, I can usually guess the products they love most. Although Nayeon has given a few hints on the contents of her makeup bag in the past (most notably in her 2018 VLIVE stream with group member Chaeyoung) she presents me with a lineup of favorites she’s kept under wraps—until now.

Any Once knows that Twice derives its group name from the concept of making a double impact on both your eyes and ears. With NA’s upcoming performances, Nayeon has plenty of room to play with both her sound and signature looks. Then again, there’s not much left to try when it comes to the latter.

“As a member of Twice and a solo artist, I tried many different looks in my career so there’s nothing that I really want to challenge myself with,” she says. Aside from her usual bright blush and colorful lip tints, she and her makeup artist Won Jung Yo are currently “fixated on an early 2000s shimmery makeup look” that she's been wearing on repeat.

“Like the viral trend inspired by Lee Hyori's iconic ‘10 Minutes’ makeup?” I ask. She nods in confirmation, and adds she still feels “most comfortable and like myself when I'm wearing really natural makeup.”

Before we start talking about her beauty favorites in detail, I can’t resist asking Twice’s Spoiler Queen if she has any intel on the future.

“I have to know something in order for me to give spoilers, but right now nothing is known yet,” she says, not letting anything slip. Well, maybe just one hint. “I can’t really say for sure, but I think before the year ends, there will be an opportunity for us to meet the fans.”

Ahead, Twice’s Nayeon shares her eight favorite beauty products (and a bonus beauty snack), from her most-loved lip balm to the makeup remover she’s been using since the debut for Glamour’s Great 8.

Naming Fluffy Powder Blush in Halo

I’m an ambassador for this brand, but even before I became an ambassador, I enjoyed using this. I’m not really good at putting makeup on myself so I like this blush because it doesn’t require skills; the formula is very lightweight so it looks natural.

NAMING. Fluffy Powder Blush

$20.00, Olive Young

Healingbird Ultra Protein No Wash Ampoule Treatment

I bleach my hair a lot and it’s really hard to comb through—it’s so damaged right now. But I can just use this at any time of the day because it’s not oily. It’s just very refreshing and makes my hair very smooth.

Healing Bird Ultra Protein No Wash Ampoule Treatment

$21.00, Stylevana

Johnson’s Bedtime Baby Lotion

I’m a huge fan of body lotion—I have a collection of them at my house and I try different ones depending on my mood. The name “bedtime” really appealed to me because it sounded very relaxing, so recently that’s my favorite product. I think it helped me to fall asleep better and it really smells like my skin so I love it.

Johnson's Bedtime Baby Lotion

$8.00, Amazon

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

I always put a lot—like a huge amount of lip balm on my lips before going to bed. I tried many different ones but ultimately I always come back to this. It takes me a while to finish one but I always get a new one so that I don’t run out of it.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

$33.00, Sephora Canada

Banila Co Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm

I’ve been using this since debut. When I like a cleansing product, I don’t usually switch around; I stick with the one that I really like and this is one of them. It’s really mild but it cleanses well. They recently came out with a travel kit so I always carry it even when I travel on the plane.

BANILA CO Clean it Zero Original Cleansing Balm

$21.00, Amazon

La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream

I know it’s really a famous product and it's also very expensive. So one day when I was with [Twice’s] Jihyo at the duty-free shop we got a really small—like 10 ml—travel-size cream and we tried it. Ever since I used it, a lot of people complimented my skin, so I bought a big one and I’ve been using it since then. It’s so good that I even bought it for my parents, my grandmother, and acquaintances.

La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream Moisturizer

$515.00, Sephora

d’Alba White Truffle Double Mask Pack

I first got it as a gift and I felt that it really cooled down my face. I apply it when I have a long ride—I put it on before makeup and I think it helps my swelling go down.

d'Alba White Truffle Double Mask Pack

$23.00, Dodo Skin

Dr. Jart+ Dermask Water Jet Vital Hydra Solution Sheet Mask

It’s very soothing. I’ve been using it for a really long time—it helps me cool down and soothes my skin. I recently recommended it to [Twice’s] Sana. She used it as well and she’s very satisfied with it, so we're both happily using it.

Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution PRO Glow Face Mask

$14.00, Sephora Canada

Bonus: Veganery by d’Alba Plant Collagen Sticks in Shine Muscat Flavor

It’s a jelly-type snack and I enjoy the shine muscat flavor. I first got it as a gift from someone and it was so delicious. Since it’s collagen, it’s healthy as well. I keep it in my refrigerator and every time I go somewhere, I always take one out and eat it on my way.

Veganery by d'Alba Plant Collagen Sticks in Shine Muscat Flavor

$38.00, Ibspot

Sarah Y. Wu is a Glamour beauty contributor. Follow her on Instagram at @say.wu.

Originally Appeared on Glamour