The zero-pore,zero-blemish glow
For more traditional foundation that offers full yet lightweight coverage, trendy Japanese brand Kate Tokyo has developed its Secret Skin Maker line to create the look of zero pores and blemishes.
Kate Tokyo found that the No. 1 concern of young women is a “poor complexion” with pimples and other skin imperfections, so they tend to layer on foundation to cover these blemishes, leading to a heavy, cake-y look and feeling. But, through a high-tech polymer formula that spreads easily and merges with the skin, Kate offers high coverage with a lightweight feel.
There’s Kate Secret Skin Maker Zero liquid foundation and powder, which come in six shades tailored to Asian skin, from light to tanned. The powder is also great for oil control and mattifying, for those with oily or combination skin. The Kate claim is that with one stroke you can even out skin, so no need for heavy layering. If you do need color correction, the line also features a Secret Skin CC Base Zero with pearl powder that visibly brightens and can be applied under the liquid foundation or powder.
If you want a more contoured look, which makeup artist Floe Tapayan says is hot in the Philippines right now, use a deeper foundation shade like No. 5 on the parts of your face you’d like to minimize. Again, the products are so lightweight you won’t feel like there’s a mask on your face.
To go with the season’s glowing skin, the trend in Tokyo is “dark metal” — faking wider-looking eyes with the help of shimmer and sparkle. Kate’s eyeshadow palettes contain five shades that you can mix and match confidently to get sexy, deep-set eyes. Tapayan showed us how on model Mia Ayesa: apply the highlight color all over the eye area, then the medium shade from lid to crease. With a contouring brush, apply the darkest shade from the outer corner into the crease to get depth. Use the top sparkly shade on the center of your lid, and the bottom sparkle on the inner corners to really make your eyes pop.
Other Kate innovations include a Super Sharp eyeliner that’s so fine you can actually draw on lashes with it; Glamorous Lash doubleended mascara with a volumizing base on one end and curved mascara brush on the other; and the bestselling brow palette, with which you can achieve the look of 3D brows. Kate Tokyo is available at The SM Stores and Watsons.