Listen to this story being read by Anisha Premawardhana, here.
I didn’t properly start wearing makeup until I finished high school.
It wasn’t that makeup didn't fascinate me growing up - I was into beauty as much as anyone else my age.
My YouTube subscriptions were filled with the most popular "beauty gurus", my bookshelf was stacked with books by Bobbi Brown, Michelle Phan and Zoë Foster Blake.
Yet, when I’d accompany my mum for our weekly grocery shop and sneak off to browse the cosmetics aisle, I’d come face to face with the fact that makeup wasn’t made for brown skin.
Watch: How to add colour to your makeup. Story continues after video.
Eventually I learned which brands I could rely on - which brands included quality options for people like me.
Now, with influencers like Rowi Singh at the forefront of the makeup game, South Asian beauty is way more accessible. And it feels good to finally enjoy makeup without feeling like a bystander!
I’ve always admired natural, glowy makeup, and after much trial and error over the past few years, I’ve finally figured it out.
Here are six makeup tips that help me nail my look, every time.
1. Match your concealer to your undertones.
Let’s start with the base.
If you’re struggling to find the perfect concealer that matches your skin, just remember: it’s all about the undertones.
For my dark circles, I’ve found that a concealer with pink/red undertones helps to colour-correct without it looking unnatural.
The aim is never to change the colour of my skin - rather, to even out the tone, reduce the appearance of pigmentation and add some life back into it with a gentle glow.
Never Have I Ever lead actress Maitreyi Ramakrishnan once said, "NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($46) is the go-to brown girl concealer," and respectfully, I couldn’t agree more.
I’ve tried many other incredible, mention-worthy concealers - like the Bobbi Brown Corrector ($55), or the Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Concealer ($51) - but I always seem to gravitate back to my holy grail.
2. Treat each step as a layer.
While I love playing with different looks, I’m not patient enough to sit in front of my mirror for a whole hour doing my makeup.
That’s why this next trick took a while for me to master, but I’m so glad I did because the results were 100 per cent worth it.
Each step of my routine, I treat as a layer. And I consciously factor in time to let each layer set before moving on to the next step.
I let my primer sink in before moving onto concealer, then I let my concealer sit before blending… even if it’s just for a minute.
I’ve also learnt to very lightly set each layer with a setting spray for a smoother, poreless finish.
Right now, I’ve been reaching for my Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray ($49), which has been a big factor in helping me get that dewy, refreshed look I’m after.
3. Leave your eyebrows alone.
So many South Asian girls grow up with the same eyebrow story.
One day you wake up, look in the mirror and realise you’re getting dangerously close to having a monobrow. You then run to your mum to make your first eyebrow appointment and never look back.
It took some time, but I’ve finally learnt that our eyebrows are our assets - they frame our face and give us character.
Yes, they may grow back fast, but once you’ve figured out the right shape for you, you don’t have to do much else.
You can brush them out and neaten them up, maybe fill in a few gaps, but for the most part, South Asian eyebrows tend to carry their weight, au naturel.
4. Place your blush higher.
With darker skin, when you blush, it doesn’t show (and I'm thankful for that considering how frequently I embarrass myself).
I do enjoy the look of blush when intentional, however - so when I get the chance to rose up my cheeks I don’t hold back.
Recently, I’ve been blending my blush into my temples and sweeping it across the apples of my cheeks.
This placement helps to naturally lift my face and give me that contoured look without having to actually contour.
I know makeup is as much about the application as it is about the product and I’ve found using a big fluffy brush to apply my blush has worked wonders.
And in case you're wondering: my all-time favourite blush is Trinny London’s Lip2Cheek in the shade Freddie ($45).
5. Ever heard of invisible liner?
The trick of tight-lining your eyes is not new but I’m here to throw up my hands and attest that it still works wonders.
For those days I want to make my eyes pop but I’m too lazy to commit to an eyeshadow look or attempt an even winged eyeliner, I’ll opt for the invisible liner trick, using a pencil to tight-line my upper waterline.
The trick is subtle enough that it looks like you've done nothing, but makes a dramatic difference once you’ve done the rest of your makeup.
6. Go for gold.
When it comes to highlighter, I will always steer away from using any silver, white-based shimmers as they can appear ashy on my skin.
Instead, I’ll opt for bronze or gold-based highlighters to complement my complexion.
My all-time favourite highlighter is the M.A.C Cosmetics Mineralize Skinfinish Gold Deposit ($66).
I purchased it around five years ago and it’s still my favourite product to dip my brush into and complete my natural, dewy makeup look.
Do you have any tips to add? Share them in the comments below!
Feature image: Supplied.
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