整形級メイク
Meaning
Makeup so skillfully done that it transforms the face as dramatically as plastic surgery.
整形級メイク is a compliment for makeup artistry that achieves such a dramatic transformation it rivals cosmetic surgery. This includes techniques like contouring, strategic highlighting, eye-enlarging tricks, and nose shading. The term emerged from social media beauty culture where dramatic before-and-after transformations go viral. It is generally used admiringly, celebrating skill rather than implying deception.
Examples
- 整形級メイクのテクニックすごすぎてもはやアートでしょ。 Surgery-level makeup techniques are so incredible it's basically art at this point.
- ノーズシャドウとハイライトで整形級メイクできるよ。 You can achieve surgery-level makeup with just nose contour and highlighter.
- 整形級メイクの動画、再生回数やばいことになってる。 That surgery-level makeup video is racking up insane view counts.
Usage Guide
Context: beauty, YouTube, TikTok, social media
Tone: admiring, impressed
Do Say
- 整形級メイクのやり方マスターしたい！ (I want to master surgery-level makeup techniques!)
- このYouTuberの整形級メイクすごくない？ (Isn't this YouTuber's surgery-level makeup amazing?)
Don't Say
- 「整形級に変わるってことは素が…」みたいなことは言わない (Don't imply that needing dramatic makeup means the bare face is bad — it's about celebrating the skill)
Common Mistakes
- Using 整形級メイク as an insult — it is intended as a compliment praising the makeup artist's skill
Origin & History
Compound of 整形 (plastic surgery) + 級 (grade/level) + メイク (makeup). Emerged in the late 2010s through YouTube and TikTok beauty content where creators showcase dramatic transformation skills.
Cultural Context
Era: Late 2010s, social media era
Generation: Gen Z and Millennials
Social background: Beauty enthusiasts
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. A popular video genre on YouTube and TikTok. Reflects the growing acceptance of dramatic makeup transformation as a legitimate skill.
Related Phrases
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation and spaced repetition