The Met Gala red carpet arrivals are a must-see event for fashion fanatics everywhere. And with this year's Chinese-inspired theme, it'll be interesting to see how fashion and Hollywood elite incorporate the latest Asian makeup trends.
For a possible preview of what we'll see come Monday, we—with the help of E! Style Collective's celebrity makeup mavens—are breaking down three makeup trends popular among Chinese beauties today.
Exaggerated Smokey Eyes
Recently, Chinese model Fei Fei Sun stepped out in New York with a new approach to the classic smokey eye. The 26-year-old beauty (who is often found on the pages of glossies and on the Chanel and Alexander Wang runways) complemented the dramatic eyes with bold brows, neutral lips and bronzed skin.
"This smokey eye is beautiful in that it has just enough color and saturation without taking away from the beautiful dress she's wearing," commented celeb makeup artist Ashley Rebecca. "Most people think that smokey eyes have to be black, but that is not the case. You can create a look like this using bronze eyeshadow and softly blending it outward with a crease brush. Finish it with a waterproof eyeliner on the top and bottom of lid."
Contoured Cheeks
At first glance, Chinese makeup trends may appear like they skew toward a less-is-more approach, but they really emphasizes the use of foundations, primers and powders, according to celebrity makeup artist Tina Turnbow.
"Asian beauty is very much based on bone structure," she added. "Contouring the cheekbones with blush really highlights that area."
Chinese model Liu Wen may look like she went light on the makeup, but note the even skin coverage.
"The most important thing to remember for emphasizing skin is keeping it hydrated and also dewy," Ashley suggested. "You can hydrate by using a serum, such as Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Refresh Infusion, and add highlight to the apples of cheeks for glowing skin (try Benefit Cosmetics High Beam Face Highlighter). Finally, choose a long-wear lipstick that has just enough shine to keep it from looking flat, like Giorgio Armani Rouge Ecstasy Lipstick in #509 Boudior."
Modern Graphic Liner
When Vogue asked Sun and Wen to pinpoint their beauty icons, both models cited their admiration for Chinese actress Gong Li. Here, the porcelain-skinned beauty opted for a dramatic eyeliner look paired with a pearly lip.
For skin, focus on eliminating shine and minimizing the appearance of pores by using a primer, foundation with matte finish, and powder, Turnbow suggested.
Couple it with inventive eye makeup. "A classic makeup look, the winged eyeliner on the top and bottom lid give it a modern twist, which is perfect for any major event," Ashley noted. "Apply liquid liner to the top and bottom lids slightly winging each line out to create a slight gap. then, soften the liner by applying shadow on top with an angled eyeliner brush." The professional's top product pick for this effect? Chanel Linge Graphique De Chanel in Noir.