From The Straits Times    |

Photo: Shutterstock

Selena Gomez has come a long way since her days as a child actor in Barney & Friends. She found fame in her role as Alex Russo in the Disney series Wizards of Waverly Place, released a couple of studio albums, acted some more, and went on to produce the acclaimed but controversial drama series Thirteen Reasons Why. She also battled lupus and then revealed that she had undergone a kidney transplant in 2017 due to her illness via a post on Instagram, where she had the most-followed account for a period of time.

While we are in no position to judge her relationship choices (though this writer cannot resist throwing a side-eye at Justin Bieber) or offer anything more than an encouraging word when news of her going into rehab for a nervous breakdown emerged, there’s one aspect of her life we think she has taken few missteps: her makeup looks.

And it’s all thanks to makeup artist Hung Vanngo, who seems to be her MUA of choice both in her music videos and when she attends red carpet events. In celebration of her 27th birthday this July, we’ve compiled a list of her best beauty looks that you can bookmark for inspo here:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Hung Vanngo (@hungvanngo) on

 

A glittery purple graphic eyeliner look is the way to go if you want to play with colour at a formal event like what Selena did at WE Day California, a one-day forum which brings together students and celebrities to celebrate social change. While we may not all get invited to speak at motivational forums, there’s always the annual company D&D to attend, right?

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Hung Vanngo (@hungvanngo) on

 

Bookmark this classic look for your next dinner date with your BFFs – an impeccable winged eyeliner and chilli red lips make for a sophisticated look. Bun your hair up if you want to look more formal, or leave it loose for a more casual look.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Hung Vanngo (@hungvanngo) on

 

Blond hair, dark roots, and dark brows sound like a disastrous beauty combo, but Selena made it work by keeping the rest of her makeup muted with nude lips and just a hint of highlighter and blusher. You can skip the eyeshadow, but not the mascara or false lashes so the attention’s drawn to your eyes. Remember to flat iron your hair to keep it sleek and chic.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Hung Vanngo (@hungvanngo) on

 

We can’t forget this pink eyeshadow look that Selena wore to the Met Gala in 2017. The key here is to create a gradient that’s lighter from the inner corners of the eye to a more intense and brighter shade of pink to the outside of the eyes. A centre-parted sleek bob and nude lips completed the trend-setting look.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on

 

Unlike stars such as Ariana Grande or Bella Hadid who have a signature snatched-ponytail look, Selena’s always switching up her hairstyles. We love this big, wavy hair look which is allowed to take centrestage as the rest of her makeup remains simple and neutral.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Hung Vanngo (@hungvanngo) on

 

This picture – and the makeup and hair, of course – is the perfect #FOTD or #MOTD or #OOTD (and whatever hashtags you can throw at it) shot. The glittery mint green eyeshadow, the coral lipstick and the slicked-back, wet-look hair is To. Die. For. Plus that glint reflected from her earrings. Magic.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Hung Vanngo (@hungvanngo) on

 

This is the makeup look everyone wishes they could rock to the office. It’s sophisticated, classy, not overdone, and not overly dramatic (for those who are more faint-hearted when it comes to trying out makeup looks). It’s just a touch of everything – foundation, blusher, highlighter, contour, shimmer eyeshadow, nude-ish cream lipstick and bronzer – to define features and blur out flaws. Don’t forget the well-groomed brows and falsies (those that help accentuate your lashes, not the extravagant ones, of course).

ALSO READ: THE BEST KOREAN MOISTURISERS TO TRANSFORM YOUR SKIN