I've always been proud of being a Filipino but I also can't deny (and it shows on my facial features) having Chinese and Spanish mix, although one appears more prominent than the other. I can't remember ever attending a Chinese event until I was in college but those were more of partying rather than enjoying Chinese culture. In this blog post I am wearing an old cheongsam of mine from high school which I wore for school activities. I have actually ordered a cheongsam from Amazon for this post but it turned out to be the wrong size and coincidentally my mom is going to a Chinese themed event soon and the cheongsam I ordered fits her so that dress isn't going to waste at all.
Let's get started on the makeup which is easier than it looks.
Face/Cheeks:
- Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation in Shade 2.25 - Apply a lightweight foundation that is one shade lighter than your skin tone. Asian makeup particularly, Japanese, Chinese and Korean favor a fair skintone for their makeup base. If you are using a lighter or darker foundation, make sure you blend down to the neck for a seamless look. I have a light-medium complexion so I just used my regular foundation instead of using lighter shade.
- Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Medium and Sand - I always layer Medium and Sand concealers to cancel out my dark circles and to brighten the under eye area. If you have really dark under eye circles,you might want to color correct with a peach or orange shade before you apply your concealer. The Maybelline Fit Me in Medium has a peachy undertone that slightly cancels out the darkness so thats what I use as a color corrector.
- NYX Cream Blush in Glow - The main part of this makeup look is the blush. It has been on trend lately in Korean and Japanese makeup to apply blush right below the eyes and higher on top of the cheekbones. As I was researching traditional Chinese makeup looks, this was how traditional Chinese makeup was actually done. I used a bright pink cream blush as a base for the two other blushes. This will make the colors pop and stay on for a longer period of time. Tip: Layering makeup is always the way to go to extend makeup wear.
- Hikari Blush in Tango - Tango is the brightest pink blush that I own so I layered this on top of Glow. I applied this on the highest point of my cheeks, right below the eyes and blending it towards the back of my cheeks.
- Becca Cosmetics Blush in Fowerchild - I could actually stop with just using Glow and Tango, but adding Flowerchild right on top and on the front part of the cheeks gives the blush a different dimension and a more blended look because of the peachy undertone that this blush has.
- Becca Cosmetics Highlighter in Champagne Pop - a light dusting of highlighter on top of the blush gives it a more glowy look. Also apply this on the tip of the nose.
- Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Palette - Using the shade Shadowplay which is the middle contour color, I used it to contour my cheeks ever so lightly. This look doesn't need drastic contour but only to add a little dimension to the face. Using a small blending brush, I used the shade Sombre, which is the contour shade to the left as my nose contour to slim my nose slightly.
Brows:
- Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade in Medium Brown - A full, slightly arched brows is beautiful with this makeup look.
Eyes:
- Anastasia Modern Renaissance Palette - The eyes are very simple, I just applied the shade Tempera, a satin cream shade all over the lids and the shade Love Letter, a deep fuchsia pink, on the outer half of the lids. I concentrated Love Letter right by the lash line and just bended it out with a blending brush for a blended look. I also added Cyprus Umber, the chocolate shade on the outer half of my lower lash line to round my eyes more and add dimension.
- Sephora Waterproof Eyeliner in Black - I used this eyeliner only on my upper waterline for fuller looking lashes
- Kanebo Kate Spider Liner - Line your eyes but only make a small, extended wing. Do not flick upwards to make a cat eye and don't make it too long and dramatic. We want only a small, extended wing.
- Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Waterproof Mascara - Curl the lashes and apply a coat of mascara to prep for false lashes!
- Ardell Demi Pixies - I'm using the Demi Pixies for a spiky looking lashes. We don't want overly dramatic or full lashes with this look but we want a spiky, natural looking lash.
Lips:
- MAC Riri Woo Lipstick - If I were to stay true to traditional Chinese makeup look, I would conceal my lips and draw smaller lips and apply a bright red lipstick, but I didn't do that mainly because I am very happy with my lip shape. I could probably make my bottom lips more narrow to stay true to the makeup look but the natural shape of my lips isn't that bad with the makeup look so I just decided to forego entirely drawing my lips and apply a red lipstick.
For the hair, here's my inspiration:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/212724782379416856/
What do you think about this look? You think I nailed it? ^^
I would like to thank Fenny of LadiesJournal for the idea of doing a Chinese New Year makeup look. Please visit her and tell her I sent you!
