something lighter
I've never believed in the term 'less is more' when it comes to applying makeup. You either put on makeup, or you don't. No pathetic barely-there white eyeshadows, or smudged off lipgloss for me. I've noticed that the standard of makeup on most women and girls in Singapore is horrendous. The usual look we see - a dab of single-colored, frosty light eyeshadow, pink blush that is not blended well, and loads of lip gloss. OR, you see those with overly-done, harsh colors and look like they're made up for a 'wayang cina' (Chinese opera). A total disaster.
EYES
Most Asians and Chinese women have small eyes and/or single eyelids. The light-colored eyeshadows that these women like to wear only makes the eyes appear smaller and more squinty. It seems not many women have heard of blending. That's when you use 2-3 colors of eyeshadow, and blend them well, to achieve a nice effect. Not simply slapping a layer of light color over the entire eyelids and then feeling good about it. Small -eyes should go for darker colors around the eyes - plums, browns, dark greys - and lighter colors on the brow-bones. Women with bigger eyes can experiment with shading techniques and eyeliner. For those without steady hands, stick to pencil liners instead of struggling with liquid. Also, color-coordination is very important. For e.g, yellow-skinned girls should avoid most yellow-toned shadows.
As for eyebrows, trimmed eyebrows look best compared to thick, unkempt ones. If you don't know how to shape/fill your brows, get it done by a pro first, then subsequently you can maintain your brows yourself.
Absolute no-no: Double-eyelid stickers. If you're among the unlucky ones who do not have double eyelids, don't bother using this, because it looks totally fake. It looks exactly like what it is - putting a sticker on each eyelid. That looks stupid. Instead, use makeup to enhance your eyes.
LIPS
I wonder many women like to apply a whole tube of lipgloss on their lips and look like they have melting, out-of-shape lips. If you have thin lips, apply lipgloss more towards the center of your lips, to make them look fuller. Full-lipped women can just apply a matt lipstick and a thin layer of gloss afterwards. Lip gloss is meant to add some 'gloss' and shine to your lips, and not to make them look like a melting glob.
Absolute no-no: Using lipliner to line outside of your lip lines. If you don't have full lips, this is not the way to achieve that full-lips look. It only looks like you don't know how to line your lips properly.
CHEEKS
Not everyone is born with sculpted cheekbones. But stop using that big make-up brush to apply a line of blush upwards towards the corner of the eyes to achieve that 'cheekbony' look. Using makeup to sculp facial features is best left to the experts and makeup artists. Instead, just use blush on the apples of your cheeks.
Absolute no-no: Harsh blush lines. The key to applying blush is to blend, blend, blend.
Since I am extremely bored now, I shall go on to how I apply my makeup.
#1 - Moisturiser
After cleansing and drying face, I apply moisturiser. Everyone should use moisturiser(including men, really), especially those that come with SPF(15 and above), to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the good ole' sun.
#2 - Foundation/Powder
I would apply foundation on top of the moisturiser. For nights out or a long day outside, I would use a light layer of liquid/gel foundation, followed by powder. For normal days, for e.g. to work or shopping, I just use 2-way foundation. The lightest part of my face is the apple of my cheeks, and I choose my foundation to exactly match the color there(normally a shade lighter than the chin).
#3 - Concealor
For dark eye rings.
After applying concealor, I would finish it off with a light dab of foundation around the eyes.
#4- Eye makeup
Firstly, I apply a layer of eyeshadow in Nude over the entire eyelids.
Then, an off-white of frosty-beige eyeshadow on the brow-bones.
Sometimes, I would apply black or dark brown eyeshadow on the creases and lower rims for that smokey-eyed effect. Otherwise, I'd just leave the 2 light colors alone for a more natural look.
Eyeliner comes after that. I like liquid eyeliner for those dark, defined lines.
Finish off with clear mascara. On some days, I use super black mascara for extra effect.
#5 - Blush
I like to use the palest pinks around. Deep pinks or darker blush colors look too harsh on my skin color and are better suited for very tanned women. I apply it just on the apples of my cheeks for that flushed look. And of course, blend, blend, blend.
#6 - Lipstick and gloss
Since I like dramatic eyes, I usually play down my lips.
I usually use a light pink lipstick, or a deep pink lipgloss for daytime.
For night, I use something with more metallic shine, but still taupes/pinkish hues.
I usually avoid:
- Deep shades of blush. They look very unnatural on me, and make me look sunburnt.
- Red lipstick. Looks too harsh on me, and makes my lips look so much fuller than they already are.
- Super-dark lipstick. Although I love them, they come off too easily because I have naturally wet lips.
- Yellow eyeshadows. Who wants to look jaundiced?
- Green eyeshadows. I just don't like them.
Of course, there are some days when I don't use any makeup at all. Either too lazy, too tired, or too late for work(hah!). I know I still look pretty good, but it's always been a part of me to dress well and doll up. I mean, we all have nice hands, but we still wear rings as accessories, right? Or bangles, or necklaces, or earrings. It's not just a matter of looking good. It's about how you carry & present yourself to the world. To me, women who go out without makeup simply don't bother to look prim & polished. Less is not more. Less is boring.
Maybe in my next entry, if I'm bored enough, I'll move on to clothes and accessories...
Maybe not.
EYES
Most Asians and Chinese women have small eyes and/or single eyelids. The light-colored eyeshadows that these women like to wear only makes the eyes appear smaller and more squinty. It seems not many women have heard of blending. That's when you use 2-3 colors of eyeshadow, and blend them well, to achieve a nice effect. Not simply slapping a layer of light color over the entire eyelids and then feeling good about it. Small -eyes should go for darker colors around the eyes - plums, browns, dark greys - and lighter colors on the brow-bones. Women with bigger eyes can experiment with shading techniques and eyeliner. For those without steady hands, stick to pencil liners instead of struggling with liquid. Also, color-coordination is very important. For e.g, yellow-skinned girls should avoid most yellow-toned shadows.
As for eyebrows, trimmed eyebrows look best compared to thick, unkempt ones. If you don't know how to shape/fill your brows, get it done by a pro first, then subsequently you can maintain your brows yourself.
Absolute no-no: Double-eyelid stickers. If you're among the unlucky ones who do not have double eyelids, don't bother using this, because it looks totally fake. It looks exactly like what it is - putting a sticker on each eyelid. That looks stupid. Instead, use makeup to enhance your eyes.
LIPS
I wonder many women like to apply a whole tube of lipgloss on their lips and look like they have melting, out-of-shape lips. If you have thin lips, apply lipgloss more towards the center of your lips, to make them look fuller. Full-lipped women can just apply a matt lipstick and a thin layer of gloss afterwards. Lip gloss is meant to add some 'gloss' and shine to your lips, and not to make them look like a melting glob.
Absolute no-no: Using lipliner to line outside of your lip lines. If you don't have full lips, this is not the way to achieve that full-lips look. It only looks like you don't know how to line your lips properly.
CHEEKS
Not everyone is born with sculpted cheekbones. But stop using that big make-up brush to apply a line of blush upwards towards the corner of the eyes to achieve that 'cheekbony' look. Using makeup to sculp facial features is best left to the experts and makeup artists. Instead, just use blush on the apples of your cheeks.
Absolute no-no: Harsh blush lines. The key to applying blush is to blend, blend, blend.
Since I am extremely bored now, I shall go on to how I apply my makeup.
#1 - Moisturiser
After cleansing and drying face, I apply moisturiser. Everyone should use moisturiser(including men, really), especially those that come with SPF(15 and above), to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the good ole' sun.
#2 - Foundation/Powder
I would apply foundation on top of the moisturiser. For nights out or a long day outside, I would use a light layer of liquid/gel foundation, followed by powder. For normal days, for e.g. to work or shopping, I just use 2-way foundation. The lightest part of my face is the apple of my cheeks, and I choose my foundation to exactly match the color there(normally a shade lighter than the chin).
#3 - Concealor
For dark eye rings.
After applying concealor, I would finish it off with a light dab of foundation around the eyes.
#4- Eye makeup
Firstly, I apply a layer of eyeshadow in Nude over the entire eyelids.
Then, an off-white of frosty-beige eyeshadow on the brow-bones.
Sometimes, I would apply black or dark brown eyeshadow on the creases and lower rims for that smokey-eyed effect. Otherwise, I'd just leave the 2 light colors alone for a more natural look.
Eyeliner comes after that. I like liquid eyeliner for those dark, defined lines.
Finish off with clear mascara. On some days, I use super black mascara for extra effect.
#5 - Blush
I like to use the palest pinks around. Deep pinks or darker blush colors look too harsh on my skin color and are better suited for very tanned women. I apply it just on the apples of my cheeks for that flushed look. And of course, blend, blend, blend.
#6 - Lipstick and gloss
Since I like dramatic eyes, I usually play down my lips.
I usually use a light pink lipstick, or a deep pink lipgloss for daytime.
For night, I use something with more metallic shine, but still taupes/pinkish hues.
I usually avoid:
- Deep shades of blush. They look very unnatural on me, and make me look sunburnt.
- Red lipstick. Looks too harsh on me, and makes my lips look so much fuller than they already are.
- Super-dark lipstick. Although I love them, they come off too easily because I have naturally wet lips.
- Yellow eyeshadows. Who wants to look jaundiced?
- Green eyeshadows. I just don't like them.
Of course, there are some days when I don't use any makeup at all. Either too lazy, too tired, or too late for work(hah!). I know I still look pretty good, but it's always been a part of me to dress well and doll up. I mean, we all have nice hands, but we still wear rings as accessories, right? Or bangles, or necklaces, or earrings. It's not just a matter of looking good. It's about how you carry & present yourself to the world. To me, women who go out without makeup simply don't bother to look prim & polished. Less is not more. Less is boring.
Maybe in my next entry, if I'm bored enough, I'll move on to clothes and accessories...
Maybe not.
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