Friday, August 10, 2012

Girl Crushing on Shu Pei or How To Fake A Higher Nose


I usually drool over every editorial scoured by the lovely people of Asian Models Blog, but this one of Shu Pei in the June edition of Vogue China just evoked such feelings in me. The location, the styling, the makeup, and for goodness sake can Shu Pei be a more perfect specimen of the human race?

I'm not and can never hope to be Shu Pei, but that shouldn't stop me from having some fun.


The look is ridiculously simple. Eyes are Giorgio Armani Waterproof Eye Liner #1 (limited for fall) tightlined and smudged out with Shu Uemura 10F, a light touch of smokey grey eye shadow to blend the edges, Burberry Trench Eyeshadow on the brow bone and inner corners, and Burberry Effortless Mascara for just-there eyelashes. I shaded a barely-there contour with Chanel Orchid Rose Blush (think a sideways triangle) and highlighted with Burberry Fresh Glow. For lips, a slick of Cle de Peau Enriched Lip Luminizer #201.


More importantly, Shu Pei's nose. I've never seen her in real life so I can't say for sure, but I want to bet that it is flatter than it seems. If you've been here long enough (or have me on Twitter/Facebook), you've probably heard me say I have no nose. While obviously not strictly true, glasses or anything that requires a nasal bridge to function is a bane, if not impossible for me to use.

Since I can't alter the height of my nose, I'll settle for the appearance of one. Note: pictures show accentuated shading so you can, well, see it. I usually go with a much lighter hand.


here's a close-up, and mandatory funny

People with tall noses have different kinds of shadows on their faces, and as I've explained in my face contouring tutorial, it's all about manually creating light/shadow. I used a contour powder one shade darker than my skin to darken the hollows (the two triangles) by the nasal bridge, blending it into the eyebrows. Then, I shaded the sides of my nose (the two straight lines).


Also, a sorely-needed update to my brow tutorial (cringe). While the specifics of where your arch and tail should be have not changed, I've since found out where your brows start does affect the perceived height of your nose. A brow specialist at Shu Uemura told me I should only have the space of two fingers between my brows, and I realized it really does make a difference.

26 comments:

  1. I can't do all these contouring things to save my life but I LOVE YOUR PHOTOS! Am cursed with having no nose too - a bane when I wear sunglasses :(

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  2. I've only recently started experimenting with contouring and good god it is HARD. This is your most impressive illustration yet and I wish you could mark up my face irl

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  3. I love Asian Models Blog, they inspire me a lot. Your pics are just fenomenal! I love your brows here. just perfect <3

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  4. you do resemble Shu Pei. Nice photos!

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  5. Love it, Xiao! I used to HATE my nose with all my heart when I was younger, and now I've made peace with it. This is not to say I don't want a taller nose bridge, but with the general shape of my nose I just don't think it'll look too credible! But you look uber lovely! Love your brows too :)

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  6. Wow! Now i have a really really flat nose. so hopefully i can get the shading right. :)

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  7. Lately i have been learning how to contour my face and I love how it turns up! Btw this is really helpful and your nose looks incredible! :D

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  8. Hi Xiao, while I now fully grasp conceptually the process of contouring the nose to make it appear higher, I am still struggling to find the appropriate shade to contour with. May I ask what contouring product do you use?

    Thanks!

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  9. Xiao, you are very pretty in these photos! You definitely did a great job resembling Shu Pei.

    Did you draw your eyebrows darker this time? I think darker brows looks so good on you with your beautiful dark hair.

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  10. You look phenomenal in these photos! And I love the darker brows. You are altogether stunning :)

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  11. oh i loooove these super edgy brows on you! and this smoked eye!!!!! <3 <3 <3
    i also like to contour the nose ;)

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  12. Can you come teach me out to contour? Pretty please? I fail. I think the problem may be the colors I try to use, but I don't know how to choose the right colors. X_X You are so pretty. SO PRETTY.

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  13. I´m going to try it but the problem is that my nose is not straight so it needs more help.

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  14. For a moment I seriously thought the second photo was of Shu Pei too! Great look, Xiao. And now I'm going to go measure my brows in the mirror.

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  15. Ok, I am in love with this look that you created, Xiao. The makeup is amazing, your hair is flippin amazing...even your shirt is to-die-for! I love everything! Maybe you're not Shu Pei, but you're every bit as gorgeous!!! :D

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  16. YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

    Do my eye brows please. :(

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  17. your skin looks so luminous and fresh, and you look just as stunning as shu!

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  18. Hi Xiao, this is my fav look of you so far! O think you look great with the new brow shape, length and colour! The darker colour pulled everything tog amazingly! And tightlining FTW!

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  19. I don't normally comment on stuff, but I couldn't help myself this time. You're prettier. Seriously !

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  20. Oh my god! //fans self This look is amazing on you, soulmate <3

    (Esp. those brows -- they're quite dramatic, of course, but I absolutely adore the shape.)

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  21. I LOVE how you've recreated this look (bold brows and all). I think I need to try this shadow trick too.. the upper part of my nose could use a little contouring!

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  22. Nice one Xiao. Your face structure's quite close to Shu Pei. Your rendition's great too. I'm never quite sure about spacing between the eyes. I mean what if you have fingers too fat or thin?

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  23. Nice post, you're as amazing as shu pei!
    And oh your eye brow, i love it!

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  24. You are as pretty as Shu Pei! I'm Asian too and need to contour my nose often to get a higher nose illusion. And some highlighter as well. Thanks for sharing!

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