6 ways to jazz up your CNY makeup

1. Glam up with pink

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Cotton trench, Bottega Veneta

You can rock an all-pink makeup ensemble and still look grown-up. The trick, says makeup artist Nikki Fu, who created the looks here, is to wear it bold and bright on one or two features. “Go for deep or vibrant pinks, not pastel ones, which can seem girlish. Also, try lending more depth to the eyes by using eyeshadow with different finishes. For instance, use a strong matte pink as the main colour, blending out to a pearly or shimmery shade at the inner and outer corners of eyes.”

GET THE LOOK WITH:

Hera Sensual Spicy Nude Lip Balm in #134 Pink Smokey, $43

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Available at Zalora

Shu Uemura Pressed Eyeshadow in M Rose #165 and M Soft Apricot #243, $25 each

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Available at Tangs

2. A lighter spin on bright lips

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Pearl gold-tone earrings, Kate Spade New York

Pair powwow lips with dewy skin to create a more delicate, youthful look. Nikki says: “Use a sheer liquid foundation with glow-enhancing properties. If you’re using a setting powder, dust on sparingly and avoid the high points of the face, like the cheekbones and nose bridge.” To keep the look fresh in between CNY visits, lightly blot away excess oil and spritz on face mist.

GET THE LOOK WITH:

Shu Uemura Unlimited Glow Foundation, $74

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Available at Sephora

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Eyeshadow 5 Color Palette, $90

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Available at Tangs

3. Play with pretty pastels

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Silk dress, Kate Spade New York

Get spontaneous with a rainbow palette of pastel eyeshadow. “The great thing about this soft but upbeat look is that there are no rules – use any combination of pastels you feel like,” says Nikki. To prevent the colours from mixing and becoming muddied, apply them separately on different parts of the eyelid and blend only at the edges – don’t layer them over one another.

GET THE LOOK WITH:

Huda Beauty Pastels Obsession Eyeshadow Palette Rose, $48

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Available at Sephora

YSL Beaute Rouge Volupte Shine in #49 Rose Saint Germain, $52

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Available at Tangs

4. Make like you went on holiday

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Silk dress, Longchamp

Combining bronzer with silver highlighter gives you a lustrous tropical vacay complexion that’s just right – neither too tanned nor too icy-pale. Nikki says: “Lightly dust on a bronzer that’s not overly orange-toned, starting from the edges of the face towards the centre. Skip the nose, cheekbones and brow bones so the face doesn’t look flat. Apply a little silver powder highlighter on those areas instead.” The finishing touch: a dash of silver eyeshadow.

GET THE LOOK WITH:

Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette in #01 Universal, $77

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Available at Sephora

Dior Backstage Custom Eye Palette, $83

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Available at Sephora

Nars Cream Lipstick in Immortal Red, $40

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Available at Zalora

5. Sport a sunset flush

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Silk chiffon dress, Pinko

Swop the usual rose and mauve blushers for a tangerine or coral shade. It lends a warm, healthy glow to your complexion and creates a look that’s a little unexpected, a little different, but very pretty.

GET THE LOOK WITH:

Urban Decay Stay Naked Threesome in Rise, $52

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Available at Sephora

6. Create arresting eyes that pop

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Denim jacket, Moschino. Wool turtleneck, Bottega Veneta

Red, gold and maroon aren’t just auspicious colours, they’re also a power combo for vivid-looking eyes during CNY. “Dab gold eyeshadow onto your lids – cream formulas work best as powder ones tend to be less pigmented. Line with a red eyeliner, and complete the look with purplish or reddish-brown mascara,” says Nikki. Alternatively, you can line eyes with red eyeshadow using a wet eyeliner brush.

GET THE LOOK WITH:

Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Acqua Metal Shadow in #01 Reflects Gilt, $94

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Available at Sephora

Fenty Beauty Longwear Pencil Eyeliner in Cherry Punk, $33

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Available at Sephora

Giorgio Armani Beauty Lip Maestro #400, $55

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Available at Tangs


PHOTOGRAPHY Phyllicia Wang
STYLING Debby Kwong
HAIR Zoel Tee, using Kevin Murphy
MAKEUP Nikki Fu
MODEL Yukee/Basic Models
This article first appeared in the February 2021 issue of Her World.