Manhwa Review: The Makeup Remover Vol. 1

In a world where makeup is often seen as the key to beauty and self-worth, The Makeup Remover by Lee Yeon challenges that narrative by redefining cosmetics not as a requirement to feel pretty, but as a form of artistic expression. This manhwa beautifully captures the insecurities people face under society’s beauty standards while delivering powerful character growth and meaningful life lessons all within its very first volume.

She might have the plainest face in the country . . . and that’s exactly why he wants her. Lee Yeon’s beloved webcomic is now available in English print for the first time.

Kim Yeseul has always heard that everyone glows up in college . . . so why does she feel like the least pretty college student ever?! All of her peers look effortlessly put together 24/7, but Yeseul has no idea how to put on makeup or style her hair. With neither the looks nor the confidence to stand out, Yeseul resigns herself to hiding behind her camera as she completes her photography degree.

Enter Cheon Yuseong, the most sought-after makeup artist in Korea. He needs a model for an upcoming TV competition series, and he’s certain that Yeseul’s plain face is the perfect canvas to showcase his skills. Yeseul isn’t interested in fame or glory—she just wants to look pretty enough to catch the attention of her longtime crush, Seungwoo. But as Yeseul plunges face-first into the cutthroat world of cosmetics, she begins to question whether appearance really is everything.

The Makeup Remover Vol. 1 Story Review:

The importance of makeup is deeply rooted in society, with many people thinking that appearance has to conform to a particular standard of beauty in order to be attractive. Makeup, like a canvas, allows for creativity and expression, while also assisting us with developing confidence. Yeon Lee’s manhwa The Makeup Remover conveys this idea using its characters to reflect how insecurity develops as a result of feeling obligated to wear makeup in order to gain the approval of others. While there are many ways in which makeup may enhance your external appearance, it can also be used as an artistic medium, a mode of expressing feelings, a means to communicate, and a reflection of personal evolution.

Even though the first volume of this manhwa has just been finished, it has a well-defined concept for developing characters. Most stories of today lack this quality, but strong character development is one of the most important parts of helping the reader develop alongside the character they’re reading about. The Makeup Remover was published a long time ago but the themes it presents are just as real today as they were at the time of publication and continue to help readers reflect on their personal growth and development.

What I really enjoyed in this manhwa was being able to observe the two main characters Yeseul and Yuseong develop through each other’s experiences with each other. I felt like the two of them were working on a project together and sharing their thoughts in order to develop something that had meaning. Yeseul is someone who has very little experience with makeup and is very self-conscious about how she looks therefore she wants to look good but has no experience with applying it or knowing where to find it. Throughout the volume, Yeseul learns patience through her experiences and learns that applying makeup is a process in and of itself, while Yuseong is a professional artist and enjoys his work but has issues applying it outside of a limited perspective of himself.

For example, spoilers ahead: during a makeup challenge in which they had to make Yeseul look strong, Yuseong initially envisioned a sexy, strong woman. But Yeseul helped him realize that strength doesn’t have to be sexualized. Even today, many people still believe that women need to be sexy to be seen as powerful, but that’s simply not true. Yuseong learned from Yeseul that there are many ways to express strength and other qualities without relying on stereotypes. Their collaboration shows how they care for and challenge each other in meaningful ways.

Although their first impression of each other wasn’t great, they moved past it naturally, unlike many stories that rush character development just for the sake of progress. In this webtoon, the growth feels earned. The dialogue and actions show they’re genuinely helping each other, and nothing feels forced. They take time to reflect on things and communicate openly, and even those reflective moments don’t drag on it tells naturally into just a few lines of dialogue. That’s something I really appreciated.

I’d been wanting to read this webtoon for a long time, and I’m grateful I finally got the chance. Even in just the first 14 chapters, it’s already an amazing story with so much to learn from. I’m 22, the same age as Yeseul, and I don’t wear makeup either. I tried it in high school, but it wasn’t for me. Back then, I tried copying others’ styles, and like Yeseul, I learned that copying someone else’s look doesn’t work if it doesn’t suit you. While I can appreciate different styles and techniques, I’ve come to realize that makeup just isn’t my thing. This story reinforced that for me. I see makeup as art now, and I know I don’t need to wear it to feel pretty. And if others view makeup as a way to enhance their beauty, that’s perfectly okay as long as it doesn’t turn into something that harms their mental health.

Overall, this first volume offers a meaningful life lesson, and I truly enjoyed it. I’m excited to read more. As for the other characters, I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say that all the important characters so far are well-written. I went in assuming certain things about them based on first impressions, but the story pleasantly surprised me by showing that people aren’t always what they seem and that can be a positive thing.

You can use the following link to check out The Makeup Remover Vol. 1

The Makeup Remover Vol. 1 Cover Review:

As I normally do when I talk about covers, I like to compare the original Korean version with the licensed English version. It’s interesting to see how they have different cover art, and it’s not just a simple reproduction, the illustrations themselves are distinct. I’d say I do prefer the Korean version because it shows a quieter moment in the characters’ relationship, while the English cover depicts them much further along in their dynamic. That said, I still really love the English cover I have. I especially like the use of the font. It looks like it’s been applied with blush, which fits the theme since makeup brushes are used to apply products like that. It’s a thoughtful detail. On the back, they’ve included illustrations from the Korean covers, similar to what they did with The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway. I really appreciate getting to see both interpretations of the art it feels like a special addition.

---

Copyright @ 2019 Lee Yeon / C&C Revolution Inc.
Translation copyright © 2026 by Penguin Random House LLC
Illustrations © 2019 Lee Yeon / C&C Revolution Inc.
Disclaimer: anime corner received a copy of The Makeup Remover Vol. 1 in exchange for a review.