We love scrutinising celebrities’ makeup looks as they contain a treasure trove of knowledge and tips that we can use in our own daily beauty routine. And in celebration of the October birthdays (happy birthday!) of these celebrities ranging from Bae Suzy to Kim Kardashian, we are teaching you how to recreate their makeup looks and the tips they use even without a team of stylists.
The power and allure of the red lip are undeniable. Take Bae Suzy here. A simple monochromatic black outfit consisting of a turtleneck sweater and tulle skirt is instantly jazzed up with the addition of a blue-toned red lip. The colour choice is also especially smart as it helps brighten the complexion and make your teeth appear whiter.
We recommend: LANCÔME L’Absolu Rouge Ruby Cream Lipstick, $49 from Sephora
Many people rely on contour to sculpt and reshape the face. However, blush is equally useful to accentuate different facial features. Bae Doona, for example, places her blush on the apples of the cheeks and going as far as to the sides of the nose. This method creates fuller-looking cheeks and helps the face appear more youthful. Conversely, if you want to create a more sculpted look, try applying your blush nearer to the temples away from the apples.
We recommend: M.A.C Cosmetics Glow Play Blush, $49 from Sephora
On the other end of contouring is highlighting – the use of lighter or shimmery shades to bring attention to areas such as the cheekbones, cupid’s bows, nose bridge and more to define your features. Notice how Kiko Mizuhara’s face has a slight glow around the forehead and nose bridge? You can mimic the look by choosing a highlighter closest to your skin tone to accentuate these features. If you have textured skin, pick a highlighter that doesn’t contain glitter particles and opt for finely milled pearls instead.
We recommend: Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette, $77 from Sephora
A dewy and perfected base seen here on Kim Ji-won has always been the gold standard in Korean beauty. Unfortunately, with Singapore’s hot and humid climate, a dewy complexion can quickly look oily and break apart, leaving splotches of coverage – not a good look on anyone. But if you want to recreate that look, try a semi-matte or glow finish cushion foundation and use a setting powder to strategically mattify areas that quickly get oily such as the T-zone.
We recommend: Hera Black Cushion SPF 34/PA++ Foundation, $75 from Sephora
Now we can’t possibly talk about Kim Kardashian’s makeup with mentioning contouring. The media mogul, after all, did popularise the technique that aims to slim the face and create more defined features such as the cheekbones and jawline. But if you’re unsure of how to get it right, try using a cream contour instead of powder. The former can be blended easily using your fingers and any mistake can be masked with a layer of foundation.
We recommend: Tom Ford Beauty Shade & Illuminate Face Palette, $132 from Sephora
A red lip can make a statement, but some, like Emilia Clarke, sometimes prefer to go the au naturel route with an understated nude lipstick for its simplicity and fuss-free application. For a foolproof colour, pick one that is complementary to your skin tone. People with medium or olive skin tones can shades of browns, beiges and even mauve, while those with fair and light skin tones suit pink and rose-based colours better. If you have darker skin tone, you’ll look amazing with browns or brown-based tones. Experts recommending picking a colour that’s one shade lighter than your skin tone.
We recommend: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick, $50 from Sephora
While straight brows are no longer a K-beauty trend, some people still embrace it as it is better suited for their face shape. Moreover, straight brows can make you look younger! To achieve the soft, straight brows seen here on Krystal Jung, go in with a brow pencil that is one to two tones lighter than your hair and slowly shape your brows with hairline strokes, using minimal pressure. Use a spoolie to diffuse any harsh lines and foundation or concealer to clean up the area.
We recommend: Hourglass Arch Brow Micro Sculpting Pencil, $47 from Sephora
Eyeliner works wonderfully well in framing the eyes and making them stand out. However, if you don’t apply it properly, you risk making your eyes look more tired. To nail it, take a leaf from Winona Ryder’s book… or look. Line your top lash line 3/4 way in, leaving the inner corners unlined. Then, do the same for your lower lash line. You can add a pearlescent eyeshadow in the inner corners for a more dramatic finish.
We recommend: Pat McGrath Labs PermaGel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil, $43 from Sephora
Anyone with long, straight locks share a common struggle: the lack of volume and fullness at the crown of the head. This is especially so if you have thin, fine hair. To achieve maximum volume like what you see on Jun Ji-hyun, flip your hair when you are blowdrying and dry the roots first. Finish up with a powder-based volumising spray to soak up any excess oils for a greater lift.
We recommend: Sachajuan Volume Powder Volumiser Spray, $38 from Sephora