Asian VS Western Beauty Rules: Which Ones Do I Follow?

Skin as fair as snow or a sun-kissed tan? Lips as red as blood or as pink as cherries?

Asian and Western beauty gurus tend to have polarising beauty regimes, so how do you know which one suits you best? We walk through different skincare and makeup how-to’s as popularised by both cultures. See which ones fit you best!

SOURCE: elle.com

Fair and dewy skin is generally coveted by Southeast and East Asians as fair skin in the past indicated higher economic status because the wealthy avoided excessive sun exposure from manual labour.

Since the K-wave took the world by storm, Korean skincare followed suit by preaching a 10-step flawless skin routine.

The most distinguishing step? A facial essence right after washing and toning. To apply, gently tap a few drops of facial essence into your skin for an added layer of hydration. This improves your skin’s absorption of serums and moisturisers.

If you’re new to facial essences, start by browsing your nearest Guardian or Watsons for the Hada Labo or Cremorlab ones.

SOURCE: thesundaygirl.com

The Western skincare routine is the widely used three-step routine: cleansing, toning, and moisturising. Just don’t forget to remove your makeup before you begin!

If you’re thinking of adding new steps to your skincare routine, try incorporating one product at a time, so as not to shock your skin too much. Always test products individually in case of an allergic reaction.

If your current skincare routine works just fine, then lucky you! Don’t fix what’s not broken, right?

SOURCE: fashioninnet.com

Healthy skin is the foundation of Asian makeup and hence, the goal of the finished look! Foundation favourites are mostly light and sheer options such as BB and CC creams.

BB (Blemish Balm) cream is a mineral-based cream that offers coverage while treating spots and scars, with added benefits like SPF. As it isn’t as heavy as liquid foundation, it gives the skin a youthful and dewy look.

Meanwhile, CC (colour correcting) creams balance out skin redness and sallowness. Have a go at brands like Dr. Jart from Sephora and Maybelline from pharmacies.

SOURCE: maxmade.com.au

Western beauty standards favour the sun-kissed look achieved via bronzers and contouring. Celebs like Kim Kardashian have popularised the technique which defines bone structure and creates the illusion of sharper features. Contrary to Asian foundation, this gives a full and heavier makeup look as opposed to a lighter look.

If you’re not used to the harsher look that contouring gives you, use an angled brush to apply bronzer beneath your cheekbones for a touch of definition.

When you’re ready to dive into the world of contouring, read our guide for beginners here.

SOURCE: mizub.wordpress.com

Asians tend to prefer straight eyebrows with little to no arch as it creates a more youthful and innocent look, much like the dewy foundation!

To copy the look without committing to shaving off your arch, use foundation to hide the top and ends of your arch. Then, draw on a straighter and fuller brow. Voilà, you’ve got kawaii brows!

SOURCE: aelida.com

Western ideals prefer brows with a high arch. It give an illusion of bigger, fiercer eyes.

If you’re not sure whether straight or arched brows are your thing, visit Benefit’s Brow Bar. The trained beauticians will help you find your natural arch and solve your brow woes, elevating you to fleek status.

SOURCE: clinique.com

Sticking to the cute and youthful look, Asian eye makeup uses extended eyeliner to make the eyes look rounder and bigger – the puppy-dog effect. To achieve this look, trace your eyeliner down along the natural curve of your eye.

Enhance the wide-eyed look by drawing white eyeliner along the insides of your lower lash line.

SOURCE: makeupbymeggan.com

For sultry and dreamy eyes, the classic cat eye is your go-to look. This iconic look was made famous by the likes of Hollywood legends, Elizabeth Taylor and Brigitte Bardot, resulting in impossibly high eyeliner goals.

Not all eyeliners are created equal; liquid and gel liners have smoother consistencies for drawing the wing-tipped ends. Try Sephora Collection’s Smart Liner which is ergonomically designed to keep your hand steady, resulting in cleaner lines.

SOURCE: beautylish.com

First popularised in Korea (where else?), this makeup technique gives you a carefree, I-just-ate-a-popsicle kind of look.

Just use a nude lip liner or lipstick on the lips, and dab a little colour on the insides of your top and bottom lips.

SOURCE: weddingpartyapp.com

Sticking with the classics, a bold red lip is a trusty go-to look. Simple and elegant, full lips featuring that perfect shade of red will never go out of style.

A red lip does not necessary mean lipstick. Play around with lip glosses and matte creams to achieve this classic look. Just don’t forget to use a lip liner in a matching shade to outline and fill your lips before, for a perfect pout that lasts.

Check out our guide to the perfect pout here. 

Makeup and skincare are all about experimenting to see what works best for YOU! Go out of your comfort zone and try new styles, then let us know what works for you. Have fun!