POWER PLAYERS
This International Women’s Day, we’re giving a shout-out to all the smart, tough, cando women out there – like these five from #HerWorldTribe, who show us how to pull off striking, rock-inspired looks with style.
Five #HerWorldTribe women show us how to pull off striking, rock-inspired looks with style.
Dr Suhina Singh, 39, COO of investment firm Macan
“I love the cat-eye look. For me, it’s as essential as sunscreen, and I almost feel naked without liquid eyeliner. My mornings are very busy and I don’t have time to play around with eyeshadow, so cateyes are a super fast and easy option. This look is a dressier version of my daily makeup, but it looks a million times better. If you’re going out in the evening, it’s a fun way to look much more punchy. Also, if you don’t have the time to change your outfit, you can already create quite an impact with this amplified do.”
GET HER LOOK: “Anyone can wear this look, you just have to vary the length of the line to suit your eye shape. Take note that the drawn-out lines at the inner and outer corners should be fairly straight so that the eyes don’t look lopsided,” says makeup artist Lolent Lee, who created the looks here. For a softer version, use eyeshadow to draw the line instead of liquid or pencil eyeliner. Or, use a liquid eyeliner for the cateye and blend it out with eyeshadow.
TRY
•Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation
•Lancome Grandiose Liner
•Nars Afterglow Lip Balm in Torrid
Ginette Chittick, 45, DJ and Lasalle College of the Arts lecturer
“My makeup is usually a simple cat-eye or wing tip. I used to wear standout lip colours like neon pink or purple, but I’ve stopped because of mask-wearing. I love this bold, colourful do – it’s so much fun! It really brings out your inner rock star and draws attention to your eyes to make you stand out from a sea of covered faces.”
GET HER LOOK:
This look is a fun spin on darker rock-and-roll looks. Lee says: “The application is the same as a regular smoky eye – apply the darkest, most intense colour close to the lash line, blending outwards to the softer shades. Asian eyes are not as deep set as Caucasian eyes, so choose warm, earthy tones as these won’t make your eyes look puffy.”
TRY
•Chanel Ultra Le Teint Flawless Finish Foundation
•Shu Uemura Pressed Eyeshadow in #634 Matte Soft Blue, and #686A Metallic Medium Blue
•Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Colour in Infatuation
Jade Seah, 37, presenter, media consultant and content creator
“I change up my lip colour when I want to look dressier and more sophisticated – it’s quicker and a lot easier than doing eye makeup. Although I seldom use such dark shades, this looks surprisingly good. It’s a transformation and I feel instantly more glamorous. I can imagine that if I have a big event and am not feeling my best, this strong lip will help lift my spirits – and my confidence.”
GET HER LOOK: Before attempting this dark, glossy pout, Lee says to ensure that the lips are scrubbed smooth and well moisturised – you don’t want flaky skin and lines showing up. “To make lips look fuller, use a lip liner to shape them before applying lip colour. Top off with a generous coat of clear, high-shine gloss,” he says. A touch of highlighter around the eyes or on cheeks adds radiance to skin and balances the dark vibe.
TRY
•Sulwhasoo Perfecting Foundation
•Chanel Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Highlighting Fluid
•Fenty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Griselda
•Smashbox Gloss Angeles Lip Gloss Extra Shine
Charlotte Mei, 28, nutritionist and presenter
“This is such an edgy look! I don’t think I ever would have done or chosen something like this as I don’t usually wear colours on my eyes. But I absolutely love the red eyeliner. It makes me feel like a different person, playing a different character – it’s really fun. It’s nice to be able to break out of my usual mould.”
GET HER LOOK:
Red eyeliner makes a strong statement. But contrary to what you might think, it can be worn by most women without their eyes looking bloodshot. The trick is to balance the red with plenty of mascara, while keeping the rest of the face neutral and subtle – just a light blusher and sheer lip colour in a natural shade.
TRY
•Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup
•KVD Vegan Beauty Everlasting Lipliner in Vampira
•KVD Vegan Beauty Super Pomade Vegan Eyeliner, Shadow & Brow Pigment in Aubergine
Bella Koh, 40, founder of Slowhouse “I’ve never seen myself look this way before. I tend to use just eyeliner and blusher, and I always thought smoky makeup doesn’t suit me because my eyes are shaped a bit like Bambi’s. This look projects a certain inner strength, yet at the same time it’s quite soft, and not aggressive. It definitely boosts confidence, and I want to try and make it part of my everyday look.”
GET HER LOOK:
The soft, smoky eye tends to flatter most women. To give the look a ‘lift’ so it doesn’t come across flat, Lee blended in bronze and soft brown eyeshadow with black for a more glimmering, multi-faceted effect. “Make sure your foundation is not patchy or overly dewy so that the eyes stand out, and the overall look doesn’t come across as messy,” he says.
TRY
•Dior Forever Couture Perfect Cushion Foundation
•Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner in #42 Blacquer
•Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette