tête-à-tête

A favourite of Selena Gomez and the Victoria’s Secret Angels, this makeup guru knows how to glow

Celebrity makeup artist Hung Vanngo reveals his tips and tricks (including how to get Selena Gomez’s sultry smoky eye).

PREPPING BEFORE MAKEUP IS I do this technique ESSENTIAL. on every client, and they love it. First, I exfoliate – I like Lancer for a strong exfoliator, or Tatcha has a gentler one. Then I apply a mask. I always stock up on sheet masks when I’m in Korea or Japan, but the ones from Tatcha and SK-II are great, too. Then I apply Ole Henriksen’s vitamin C serum. Lastly, I use Marc Jacobs’ coconut primer.

DON’T THINK THAT IF YOU HAVE OILY SKIN THEN YOU DON’T If NEED MOISTURISER. you get shiny, apply moisturiser like normal, then blot it with a tissue before applying foundation to take off any excess on the surface. The other secret to flawless foundation is blending. I never stop on the jawline – I blend down the neck and even on the ears if my client has her hair up.

SELENA GOMEZ AND THE VICTORIA’S SECRET GIRLS LOVE A BROWN SMOKY EYE. I do the whole look with Marc Jacobs’ eyeliner in Brownie, smudging it out like a shadow over the eye. It’s not a normal flat brown eyeliner – it’s very warm so it pops. But I usually never stick to one texture – incorporating matte, shimmer and metallic helps to create dimension and trick the eye so the makeup doesn’t look flat.

EVERY WOMAN WANTS TO HAVE A LITTLE LIFT ON HER When I approach blush, FACE. bronzer and eyeshadow, I always go in with the mentality of applying it upwards, instead of out or down. To me, beautiful makeup has no harsh lines, so I try to avoid using really light highlight shades on the inner corners of the eye or the brow bone. Everything should be blended together to create an illusion of dimension.

I EMBRACE EVERY KIND OF I think MAKEUP – IT’S AN ART. the way people address makeup is their own way of addressing art. But I do think too much lip gloss can cheapen a look, and I’m not a fan of stencilled-on eyebrows. Go in with a light hand with everything you do – you can always add more makeup, but it’s harder to take it off without starting again.

I LOVE HOW WOMEN ARE STARTING TO HAVE MORE COURAGE TO USE COLOUR. Using purple, blue or pink eyeliner is always more exciting than classic black. Selena didn’t know she was going to have a pink eye look at the Met Gala, but we’ve built up a relationship over the years so she trusts me. Her dress was very soft and she had just cut her hair so it was down and simple. I saw the detail of pink on her dress so I used Marc Jacobs’ eyeliner in Popular and just blended it out across her eyelid.