Armani beauty, pop culture, and high fashion collide, something magical happens. That’s exactly what we witnessed in the short-lived—collaboration between Armani Beauty and Hanni from the global K-Pop girl group NewJeans. From dreamy visuals to discontinued compacts, this campaign stirred up curiosity—and now, it’s almost impossible to find online.
Let’s take a look at who Hanni is, why her presence in the world of luxury beauty matters. We will also be looking at how compact foundation and lipstick have shaped beauty in Korean history.
This post may contain affiliate links and professional skincare commentary. For full details, please read my disclaimer.
Who is Hanni from NewJeans?
Hanni is a Vietnamese-Australian singer and dancer. She is best known as a member of the girl group NewJeans, managed under ADOR, a subsidiary of HYBE (home to BTS). With her delicate visuals, expressive face, and charming presence, Hanni became one of the breakout stars of the group shortly after their 2022 debut.
The song that I like from them is called “Super Shy” and it has a sample of The Powerpuff Girls theme song in it. It’s super cute. I’ll put the music video here for you to enjoy:
Their fresh, youthful aesthetic made them a natural fit for fashion and beauty campaigns, and Hanni in particular has already represented Gucci in high fashion. Her short stint with Armani Beauty was brief but iconic—a rare example of Gen Z luxury beauty done right.
The NewJeans Lawsuit: Why the Group’s Future is Uncertain
Although NewJeans is still officially together, the group has been caught in a high-profile legal dispute between their label head, Min Hee-jin, and parent company HYBE. The lawsuit accuses HYBE of trying to oust Min Hee-jin from her leadership role and interfering with ADOR’s creative decisions.
While fans wait for clarity, individual members like Hanni continue to thrive in their solo pursuits—including luxury beauty campaigns, magazine covers, and more. Hanni’s ability to gracefully navigate chaos with style, poise, and softness makes her presence in the world of beauty all the more powerful.
Armani Beauty and Hanni: A Short but Sweet Campaign
Armani Beauty has always embodied sensuality and subtle strength. Known for its chic packaging and second-skin formulas, the brand makes sense for a rising style icon like Hanni.
In a now-archived campaign featured by Harper’s Bazaar Korea, Hanni was seen holding the Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Compact Cream Foundation Balm, along with several lip products. Mysteriously, many of these posts have since been removed or archived—and the foundation balm she held was quietly discontinued.
Let’s break down the products she featured and what’s still available to shop.
Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Compact Cream Foundation Balm
- images belongs to Armani Beauty
This balm-to-powder formula was a K-Beauty dream: portable, flawless, and softly matte.
Benefits:
- Long-lasting coverage: Medium-to-full coverage for all-day wear.
- Matte finish: Powdery, shine-free, natural skin effect.
- Blurs imperfections: Smooths pores, redness, and texture.
- Lightweight: Doesn’t feel cakey or heavy.
- Waterproof formula: Resists humidity and sweat—ideal for stage wear or hot climates.
- Easy to blend: Can be applied with a sponge or brush.
Why Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Compact Cream Foundation Balm Was Discontinued
Reviews were mixed: some people adored the finish, while others felt it exaggerated dry patches. As someone who focuses on skincare, I believe proper exfoliation and hydration are key—many “cakey” foundations are actually being applied over dehydrated skin.
Still, formulas change. Whether due to feedback, demand, or ingredient reformulations, the Power Fabric Balm has quietly vanished from Armani’s site.
Is There an Armani Dupe?
No need! The Power Fabric Foundation Compact is still available at select retailers.
Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Foundation Compact (Still Available!)
- images belongs to Armani Beauty
Benefits:
- Full coverage with a natural-matte finish
- Balm-to-cream-to-powder transformation
- Long-wear, non-greasy, flawless skin effect
How to Use:
Swipe the applicator into the compact and press gently into the skin. The applicator’s shape allows for easy, even application.
If you would like to purchase this foundation, you can find it at Macy’s by using my link here.
Featured Lip Products from the Armani Beauty x Hanni Campaign
Lip Power Long-Lasting Matte Lipstick in Shade 405 – Power
- images belongs to Armani Beauty
This lipstick was featured in the Harper’s Bazaar editorial. It’s a punchy, modern red—fitting for someone like Hanni, whose strength lies in softness. You can find this lipstick on the Armani Beauty website. I’m not sure how long it will stick around for so get it while it’s there. Shop Armani Beauty.
Lip Maestro Velvet Liquid Lipstick in Shade 109 – Tan
- images belongs to Armani Beauty
This velvet formula offers a plush, slightly blurred look. Great for gradient lips or a soft glam finish. You can find this liquid lipstick on the Armani Beauty website. Shop Armani Beauty.
Armany Beauty To Go Cushion Refill
- images belongs to Armani Beauty
This item is nearly impossible to find. It’s not listed on Armani’s site, and although some search results suggest Harrods carries it, that’s not currently true. The only reliable listing I found was on David Jones, an Australian beauty retailer. Shop David Jones (Australia) if you’re feeling adventurous—but be aware of shipping, tariffs, and the risks of international returns. Shop David Jones.
A Brief History of Korean Beauty
Compact Foundations in Korea
Compact foundations have long been a symbol of elegance, transformation, and personal ritual. In the West, they first gained popularity in the 1920s and 30s, when women began to carry small, mirrored compacts filled with powder to discreetly touch up their makeup in public. But in Korea, the use of facial makeup—particularly powders—goes back centuries, with roots in both court beauty rituals and traditional herbal medicine. Women during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897) often used baekbun (white powder) made from ground rice or lead-free minerals to achieve a pale, smooth complexion—a symbol of refinement, purity, and high status.
Empress Sunjeonghyo, the last empress of Korea, was known for her elegance, poise, and quiet strength during a time of profound political change. Though little is documented about her personal beauty rituals, noblewomen of the late Joseon and Korean Empire era often favored a natural, powdered complexion using baekbun (white rice powder), similar in appearance to modern-day compact foundations. These powders were kept in ornately crafted containers—early versions of today’s compacts—and applied to create a soft, porcelain-like finish symbolizing purity and status. Empress Sunjeonghyo’s refined appearance reflected the timeless ideal of inner dignity and outward grace, echoing today’s minimalist Korean beauty traditions rooted in subtle radiance and natural harmony
- Portrait of a Beauty (미인도 美人圖). a giseng by Shin Yoon-bok.
- Empress Sunjeonghyo 순정효황후
- Sin Yunbok, Beautiful Woman, 18 c.
The Rise of Modern Compact Cream Foundations
That desire for clear, porcelain-like skin still influences Korean beauty today. When compact cream foundations entered the modern market, they were welcomed for their convenience, blendability, and ability to even out the skin tone with a soft, skin-like finish. The balm-to-powder texture offers a natural look without the heaviness of liquid foundation, echoing the minimalist-yet-flawless ideal that Korean beauty has long embraced. It’s more than coverage—it’s a skin ritual, a small sacred moment of caring for the self and enhancing what already exists.
Lip Color Traditions in Korean Beauty
Lip color, too, has a long, layered history in Korea. During the Goryeo and Joseon eras, natural dyes made from safflower petals were used to tint the lips a delicate pink or red—a look associated with youth, beauty, and romantic innocence. Women would often apply the color just to the inner part of the lips, a practice that interestingly foreshadows the modern-day gradient lip trend.
Fast forward to today, and lipstick in Korean beauty still walks the line between statement and softness. Shades like muted rose, soft coral, and dusty beige-pink have become iconic for their subtlety and everyday wearability—tones that express emotion and mood without overpowering the face. There’s often a poetic element to the way lip products are described in Korea, with names like “Morning Dew,” “Whisper Beige,” or “Petal Rain” that reflect beauty as an emotional, even seasonal experience.
Armani Beauty and the Korean Legacy
In the Armani Beauty collaboration with Hanni, this legacy comes through in the choice of products. The Power Fabric Compact Cream Foundation Balm reflects a longstanding tradition of valuing smooth, matte skin—something elegant, timeless, and effortless. And the lip colors featured in the campaign, like Lip Power Matte in 405 Power and Lip Maestro in 109 Tan, channel the softness and emotion of Korean lip aesthetics, blending luxury with intimacy.
Final Thoughts: Hanni’s Signature on a Moment in Beauty History
Hanni’s collaboration with Armani Beauty may have been brief, but it left an impression. In an industry full of overexposure and fast trends, her campaign stood out for its quiet elegance and dreamlike aesthetic. She didn’t need theatrics—her presence alone spoke volumes. That’s the magic of Hanni: soft, magnetic, and deeply memorable.
Even though some of the featured products are now hard to find, this campaign captured a perfect intersection of K-pop influence, luxury beauty, and modern femininity. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on any of the items from this shoot, it’s more than makeup—it’s a little piece of beauty history with Hanni’s name on it.