Jirai Kei

'Landmine' girl. Red-rimmed eyes (to look like crying), pale skin, helpless but unstable vibe.

Jirai Kei is a modern Japanese alternative makeup style that translates to "landmine girl," characterized by a flawless, pale complexion and red-rimmed eyes designed to mimic the look of recent crying. This edgy, youth-driven aesthetic embraces a juxtaposition of fragile innocence and underlying instability, utilizing drooping "puppy" eyeliner and exaggerated tear bags to cultivate a helpless, emotionally raw vibe. It has surged in popularity across social media platforms for subverting traditional beauty standards into something intentionally melancholic and dark.

To create Jirai Kei, start with a notably pale, ultra-matte base set with translucent powder. Sweep matte red eyeshadow around the eyes and heavily under the lower lash line to mimic a post-crying flush. Exaggerate the under-eye tear bags with bright shimmer, draw downward-sloping puppy eyeliner, and finish with high-placed berry blush and a blurred cherry lip tint.

Full Look Eyes Face/Base Alternative Edgy Youthful Daily Social Media Costume/Theme

~15 min 5 steps 11 products

The Kit

Light Matte Foundation
Translucent Setting Powder
Fluffy Eyeshadow Brush
Matte Red Eyeshadow
Bright Shimmer Eyeshadow
Small Detailing Brush
Cool-Toned Contour Powder
Black Liquid Eyeliner
Berry Powder Blush
Blush Brush
Dark Cherry Lip Tint

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How to Create Jirai Kei

Create Pale Matte Base

Apply a light matte foundation evenly across the face. Set the entire face with a translucent setting powder to achieve a flawless, doll-like finish.
Apply Reddish Eyeshadow

Using a fluffy eyeshadow brush, sweep a matte red eyeshadow across the upper lids and heavily along the lower lash line to mimic a tearful look.
Define the Tear Bags

Highlight the under-eye area with a bright shimmer eyeshadow. Use a small detailing brush and cool-toned contour powder to lightly draw a shadow beneath the highlight, creating a puffy, innocent appearance.
Draw Drooping Eyeliner

Use a black liquid eyeliner to draw a downward-sloping wing at the outer corners. This puppy-liner technique creates a helpless, rounded eye shape.
Apply Blush and Lip

Blend a berry powder blush high on the cheekbones directly beneath the eyes using a blush brush. Press a dark cherry lip tint into the center of the lips and blur the edges.

Pro Tips

When creating the tear bags (aegyo sal), smile gently to find the natural plumpness under your eye, then place the cool-toned contour shadow precisely in the natural crease to avoid it looking like dark circles.
Keep the red eyeshadow concentrated close to the lash lines and blend outward meticulously; taking the red too far down the cheek can easily cross from a stylized aesthetic into looking like an actual infection.
For the most authentic doll-like "puppy" eye, connect your downward-sloping upper eyeliner to a slightly shaded outer lower lash line, leaving a tiny gap of bare skin at the outer corner to visually round and widen the eye.

Common Questions

What does Jirai Kei makeup look like?

Jirai Kei features a doll-like, matte base paired with intentionally red-rimmed eyes to mimic the aftermath of crying. It relies heavily on downward-sloping eyeliner and exaggerated, shimmery tear bags to create a vulnerable appearance with a dark, alternative edge.

What makeup products do I need for Jirai Kei?

You will need a light matte foundation, translucent setting powder, and black liquid eyeliner to establish the core look. The signature color palette requires matte red eyeshadow, a cool-toned contour powder for the tear bags, a bright under-eye shimmer, berry blush, and a dark cherry lip tint.

Is Jirai Kei makeup good for beginners?

Jirai Kei is moderately difficult for beginners because it requires precise placement of red tones and under-eye contouring to look intentional rather than genuinely unwell. However, mastering the signature puppy eyeliner and blurred lip tint is highly achievable with a little practice.

What is the difference between Jirai Kei and Igari makeup?

While both Japanese styles utilize prominent blush placement, Igari makeup focuses on a healthy, flushed, "hangover" look using warm pinks and peaches. In contrast, Jirai Kei heavily concentrates red and berry tones around the eyes to create a darker, "post-crying" aesthetic.

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