‘Just Makeup’ Extreme Semi-Final Mission, Who Will Be the TOP 3 Finalists?

Coupang Play’s entertainment show 〈Just Makeup〉 surprised viewers by simultaneously releasing episodes 7 and 8 on the 24th (Friday), marking its fourth consecutive week at the top of the popularity charts and once again becoming the center of attention. After the K-POP stage makeup mission, only 8 contestants survived, and the twist of the loser revival ‘Lipstick Mission’ confirmed the final TOP 10. Following this, the unimaginable ‘New Face’ mission towards the final TOP 3 began, showcasing an extreme survival challenge that pushed limits.

Coupang Play’s entertainment show 〈Just Makeup〉 is a massive makeup survival competition where makeup artists representing K-beauty fiercely compete with their unique styles, transcending beyond South Korea to the world. In the Tours (TWS) stage makeup mission, after a close battle between fan votes and judges' evaluations, ‘Team Paris Gold Hands’ achieved a dramatic victory. The subsequent stage of STAYC’s ‘Flexing On My Ex’ featured a showdown between ‘Team McTeest’ and ‘Team Firstman’.

‘Team McTeest’ dynamically expressed positive and self-directed energy with a concept of ‘flexing’ sparkle. They captured the attention of fans and viewers by showcasing a glossy self-image with citrus colors and Y2K preppy looks that matched each member's vibe. In contrast, ‘Team Firstman’ portrayed the freedom and maturity that comes after the pain of love through muted colors and hippie styling, delicately capturing the nuances of emotion and achieving a 5:0 victory, winning over both fans and judges.

As a result, the survival of 8 contestants including Paris Gold Hands, Luxury Collector, Swag Maker, Oh Dolce Vita, Firstman, Beauty Inheritor, Makeup Nerd, and Beauty Heiress was confirmed, while a revival battle was announced where only 2 more could pass, exciting viewers. An unprecedented mission unfolded where models recreated their initial appearances from the first episode, expressing their current emotions solely with ‘lipstick’. The eliminated contestants poured their hearts into capturing various emotions such as nostalgia, anger, confidence, and self-blame through different colors and textures of lipstick. After an intense judging process, Son Tail and McTeest were additionally accepted, making it to the TOP 10.

In the 8th episode released together, the semi-final featuring the final 10 contestants and the ‘New Face’ mission was revealed. This extreme artistic competition involved interpreting three themes through their own perspectives to create completely new faces, conducted with a level of difficulty that pushed all contestants to their limits, raising the tension to its peak.

Mission 1: High Fashion

A mission to reinterpret designer Park Yoon-hee’s 〈GREEDILOUS 2025 S/S Collection〉 combining the cultural fervor of the 1970s with modern design was conducted. McTeest, who emphasized the intense colors and lines of eye makeup to amplify the runway mood, and Luxury Collector, who brought past emotions through texture and color to complete a visually harmonious look, were nominated. However, Paris Gold Hands, who expressed a unique makeup style using LED lighting to represent the past, present, and future, took first place and successfully advanced to the finals.

Mission 2: Painting

A mission to reinterpret artist Ko Sang-woo’s painting ‘Ka-madhenu’ through makeup was conducted. Under the theme of coexistence between humans and animals, Firstman left a strong impression with a gender-fluid interpretation that transcended gender boundaries, while Beauty Inheritor received high praise for modernly expressing a classical goddess. Son Tail drew attention with painterly details and delicate expressions that made it feel as if one were actually seeing the cow in the painting, with all three participants nominated for first place. Meanwhile, Oh Dolce Vita’s stage, modeled after her real mother, maximized the emotional amplitude, moving not only the participants and judges but also the viewers. Leaving a deep resonance beyond competition, anticipation builds on who will secure the second spot in the finals.

〈Just Makeup〉 continues to create a sensation, ranking first in Coupang Play’s popular shows and viewer satisfaction for entertainment content (source: Consumer Insight) even in its fourth week of release. It airs every Friday evening at 8 PM on Coupang Play, available for free to both Coupang Wow members and general members.