Our simple brief for this subtly sexy look: Make it as OL-friendly as you want, just not boring, please. We totally pulled it off, if I do say so myself: Our model Sherena looks polished and professional, but fabulous enough to boogie from the boardroom to the bar. A win!
Want to catch the eye of that geeky-cute colleague from the other department down the office corridor? Here are some quick and dirty pointers to nail this K-Beauty-inspired nude look, all in under 10 minutes, too:
STEP 1. The first course of action is to even out your canvas. Skip heavy foundation and veil your face with a sheer layer of tinted moisturiser. Don’t overthink it: Simply dot your face with your go-to fluid foundie and blend with bare fingers.
While waiting for it to absorb, mix a twenty-cent coin's dollop of creamy foundation into roughly the same amount of moisturiser. Use this extra-moist custom "highlighter" on your cheekbones, for a sexy, out-of-the-gym-shower look.
STEP 2. To breathe depth and dimension into flat facial features, feel free to experiment with the latest bronzing palettes on the market, which yield a sunkissed effect that’s a world away from the overdone and over-baked contouring of yesteryear.
Do it the Korean way by lightly buffing a brick hue into the hollows of your cheeks and along the temples. Blend well in natural light – do your makeup next to a sunlit window, if possible – to make sure you're not overdoing things.
A trio of naked beauties, for your consideration: Marc Jacobs Beauty #InstaMarc Light Filtering Contour Powder, $60, available from April; Bobbi brown Limited Edition Cheek Palettes, $75, available from March; Stila Shape & Shade Custom Contour Duo, $55
STEP 3. Set with a light dusting of translucent powder. Apply powder using a soft brush and deft circular motions, then pat off excess by lightly cupping your palms against your face.
STEP 4. It might take some getting used to, but you'll look more youthful if your visage isn't caked over with pancake product. Dot and dab concealer only on the undereye and any visible spots. If you have dark circles, warm up a bit of creamy concealer between your fingers, look down onto a mirror placed flat on a table to locate the crescent shaped shadow beneath your eye, then carefully pat in with your ring finger.
STEP 5. It's absolutely essential that you anchor your minimal makeup look with strong brows. Fill in sparse areas with a brow pencil, then darken and set with a clear gel.
STEP 6. On to the lids. Using a damp brush, pick up some champagne or bronze shadow and press onto your lids instead of sweeping it on – this will lend your eyes a pearlescent luminosity.
STEP 7. Nearly there! You may skip liner if you wish, but curl your eyelashes and add a slick of glossy-formula mascara onto your upper lashes. If you're blessed with generously fringed eyes – lucky you! – you can consider omitting mascara altogether. Instead, amp up the shine by using a clean mascara wand to wiggle clear petroleum jelly onto your upper and lower lashes.
STEP 8. A satiny peach lippie is all you need to round up this look. To avoid looking shellacked, press the tint into the centre of your lips using warm fingers, then purse your lips together for an ultra-natural stain.
Tadah, OL-ready makeup that should pass muster with your tight-lipped HR director and googly-eyed admirer alike. Practice this a couple of times and you should be able to whip this up on bleary-eyed weekday mornings before the kettle pot starts whistling. Jiayou!
Photography: Vernon Wong; Art direction: Eugene Quek and Sabrina Tiong; Hair and makeup: Rina Sim using Guerlain (9762 6084); Model: Sherena Ng / Basic Models