How to apply make up: tips for asians

If your ethnic background is Asian, you likely have so many beautiful features-- give thanks for such a beautiful canvas! With the right makeup techniques, you can enhance your natural beauty and emphasize those gorgeous features that make your look so stunning!

Any good beauty routine is going to start with skin care to prepare your skin, keeping it healthy and clear. A skin care routine for healthy skin has 5 steps-cleanse, exfoliate, freshen, hydrate, and protect. Some cleansers on the market today simplify the process by offering a cleansing formula that cleanses, exfoliates, and protects. And don't forget the moisturizer! Even oily skin needs hydration, but with a light, oil-free formula that won't clog pores. These skin care steps, used morning and night, will leave your skin soft, with a healthy glow.

The fifth step in your skin care program is protection-- a great foundation! Foundation is the #1 product where quality matters, so invest in a good foundation. High quality foundation protects your pores from pollution, smoke, and dust, without clogging your pores, so it is an essential part of healthy day-time skin care. Cosmetically, foundation evens out skin tone for a clean, clear look. After applying the right foundation for your skin type, you'll want to "set" it with a light dusting of loose or pressed powder. As for the right shade for you, many Asian women have an olive skin tone, so using a foundation with an olive or yellow undertone is important. Never use foundations with pink undertones! And if you're between two colors, choose the lighter shade-- never go darker, as darker foundation will dull the look of your face.

To brighten your face, you'll want a cheek color that is natural and neutral-- perhaps a soft peachy-pink swept along the cheek bones and upon the apple of your cheeks. Remember, the goal isn't to shape your face by carving out cheek bones, but to brighten your face with a beautiful color that complements your olive skin. Seek out colors that imitate your natural blush!

Many Asian women have what are called "hooded" eyes-- eye whose crease directly lines up with the lash line. Sometimes hooded eyes appear more closed or small than they truly are. To open up your eyes, you'll want to highlight the entire eyelid, taking care not to over-highlight underneath your brow bone, which can make your eyes appear even smaller. You want to draw attention toward the eye, not away from it! After highlighting the eyelid with a not-too-light color (perhaps an off-white, light tan, or light peach), you’ll want to smooth a medium shade (such as taupe, warm brown, or golden honey color) along the lash line and up just above the crease. With your eyes open, you should be able to see this color just above your lashes-it should be visible! Use an eyeliner that isn’t too heavy to accentuate the eyes, or use your medium shade of eye color to add a little drama. Finish with a mascara that defines the lashes without adding weight or darkness to the eyes.

For lips, use neutral colors that complement your olive skin tone. Colors with a hint of warm tawnies are nice-think peach, apricot, light bronze, reds, browns, and berries! Find a lip liner a bit darker than your lip color, and outline your lip line. If you have very thin lips, you may want to line just outside the line to create the illusion of fuller lips. If you have very full lips, you may want to line just inside the line to minimize your lips. Finish with a bit of shine-a clear or complementary shade of lip gloss!

Don’t forget the details! Nicely shaped eye brows (not too thin, not too bushy) can really add sophistication to your look. Powder brow liner creates a soft and natural look.

There you have it-your own customized, personalized, gorgeous look to bring out the best of your Asian features!