As a makeup artist I’ve accumulated far too much of my favourite addiction - makeup. Over the years I’ve tried and tested pretty much all kinds of makeup, so I thought I’d put together a list of some of my absolute faves and must haves that I regularly use on my Asian clients.

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Skin 
My Holy Grail moisturiser is the Embryolisse and I literally buy bucket loads of the stuff. Not only does it hydrate and nourish the skin, it provides the perfect base for your makeup, leaving no need for a primer. Skin feels delightfully plump fully prepped for the next step – foundation.
£13.00 30ML | Boots

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Foundation
Boy oh boy...what a topic! Like finding the perfect pair of jeans, finding the right foundation can be an all too similar struggle! 
It’s such a unique and personal purchase that there’s really no right of wrong product. It’s what works for you, your skin type, tone, wear, coverage and longevity.
I like to have a selection of foundations in my kit, however the one that comes up trumps for me are the Nars foundations. 
They offer such a wide array of colours and tones to suit all types of skin. Most popular ones for Asian tones being, Punjab, Stromboli, Barcelona, Syracuse and Tahoe to name a few.
Prices vary based on foundation

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Eyes
With a rise of new up coming brands the choice of eye shadows is now endless. Palettes often work out the best in terms of value for money and 
offer a great selection. Some of my most used palettes are from Anastasia Beverley Hills (ABH). It’s hard to pick which one I’d have to save from a raging fire! However my top 3 are the Modern Renaissance, Soft Glam and Sultry palettes. 
The Norvina is another great one if I had to push it to 4! There is a lot of fall out so the gentlest of touch is all that's required with your brush. This in turn will give you better control when blending them out. (Which is a dream with these eye shadows by the way).
Other palettes that fare very well are by Morphe. These are inexpensive and you get a ton of colours in one handy palette which retails for approx £23. 
£23 for 56g | cultbeauty.com

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Eyebrows
Thank goodness the fuller brow doesn't seem to be a passing trend, with the likes of instagram phenomenon’s Plouise, Stacey Marie and mmmmitchell rocking the larger than life fluffy eyebrows.
 A toned down version is definitely a trend I’m happy to see stay. One of the main brow products in my kit is the Spiked brow pencil from Mac. It’s quick and easy to use, self propelling and self sharpening. It not only fills the brows but helps to create your desired shape, similar to the Brow Wiz from ABH.
At a whopping £15.50 for only 0.9g product, if you’re using it everyday your fleeky eyebrows will look great but won’t come cheap.
Another must have which many of us own is the Dipbrow Pomade, this cult classic is great addition to your kit and the most popular shade I tend to reach for is Dark Brown.
Like gel liners, store them upside down to avoid drying out. Remember to go easy and not deposit too much product too quickly. Go in with a light touch and build up slowly especially at the start of your brow where fluffiness is life!
Benefit Cosmetics also do another great range of brow products, becoming quite the expert in this field it’s worth checking them out too!
Prices start from £13 for mini sizes | Boots

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Colour correctors
Sadly dark circles, hyperpigmentation, rosacea and acne blemishes feature all too common within Asian skin types. 
A great way to combat this is to first colour correct prior to the application of your concealer/foundation. 
Without getting too technical the main aim is to neutralize the areas of concern by applying a corrector of the opposite colour to the darker areas of your skin. Skipping this vital step can make your skin look ashy in those areas. My favourite colour correctors are by LA Girl and NYX, both fairly inexpensive and do the job really well. 
£5 8g | beautybay.com

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Concealer
Just like its big sister the foundation, finding the perfect concealer can also be a bit of a challenge. However in recent times with the introduction of a well highlighted insta worthy face, concealers have come on leaps and bounds in terms of shades and coverage.
Some of my staples are the Custard and Ginger shades from Nars and Medium and Light Sand from Tarte. 
For a fuller coverage the Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer is definitely the big daddy. At an eye watering £39, it has to be said you do get a lot of bang for your buck, despite the price tag a little goes a long way offering maximum coverage. 
Be mindful it can be hard to work with due to its very thick consistency, and has the potential to sit heavy on the skin if not blended well. Definitely do your research on this one before committing to such a hefty investment.
If you prefer a cheaper alternative, the Maybelline Age Rewind is a must for me. Its affordable, has great coverage and blends really well. New shades have been released, however I tend to stick to nude and neutralizer, which is a bit lighter for that extra kick!
£8.99 6ML | Boots

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Setting Powders
I’m not going to spend too long on this subject. There are some other great setting powders on the rise however the Laura Mercier translucent setting powder does a great job if you are looking for an all round product. It’s finely milled and is a good basic tone for most types of skin. However darker skins may benefit from a banana type shade. 
Ben Nye do one and so do Makeup Revolution for a cheaper alternative.
£30 29g | John Lewis

Blush 
Mac Peaches is one I will always love, It’s a colour I use all year round, however I do love a good blush palette and Zoeva do two fantastic quads that come in pink and coral hues, great value at £15.00 each from beautybay.com

This column is featured in the March Edition of Asian Life here