Scroll through any beauty moodboard right now and the pattern is obvious: skin that looks like skin, that “clean girl” glow, and softly bronzed, sun-kissed cheeks. Much of this aesthetic traces back to broader Asian makeup philosophies that have emphasised a skin-first approach and a naturally light rosy glow.
One cannot talk about makeup and skincare without acknowledging the K-beauty wave that has taken over the industry. Laneige has been an early pioneer of such practices, while Seoul-based skincare brand Anua regularly goes viral every few months for their new serums. Over at Olive Young in Korea, the shelves of its green-tinted stores have become something of a pilgrimage site for influencers and beauty insiders, hoping to get an edge on the latest formulations.
Internationally, Glow Recipe is the breakout star of the beauty and wellness space among Gen Z and their younger counterparts, thanks to founders Sarah Lee and Christine Chang. On the makeup front, Patrick Ta’s dual-packaged cream and powder blushes quickly became a favourite online and among beauty editors. And if there were any doubt about where beauty’s centre of gravity sits right now, the awards circuit has made it abundantly clear. The most talked-about faces are the ones that look almost untouched, save for a strategic gleam and impeccably prepped skin. That effect is shaped by the Hung Vanngos and Jung Saem-mools of the world, alongside TikTok’s favourite MUA, Nina Park, all of whom have rewritten red carpet rules.
Put simply, the industry has never been more enamoured with Asian beauty than it is right now. Ahead, we break down the celebrity makeup artists behind the internet’s most coveted looks and how to steal their style.
Hung Vanngo
For almost two decades, Hung Vanngo has been a staple in the celebrity makeup scene, and has been the artist behind some of the most talked-about looks. Selena Gomez’s famous smoky eyes and sultry glam during her so-called “2016 era” was Vanngo’s doing. As was her more recent Old Hollywood aesthetic at the 2026 Golden Globes, where he contrasted a soft brown winged liner with a clean deep red lip. His most recent claim to fame was Anne Hathaway’s peachy blush and glowing complexion at the 98th Academy Awards.
The Look: Vanngo’s techniques are pleasantly beginner-friendly. The makeup artist emphasises skin prep above all else, with particular focus around brightening and hydrating the eyes with eye cream. A single rosy eyeshadow, placed near the lash line can be blended across and out towards the upper eyelid, creating dimension without needing to deal with a palette of shades to achieve a cohesive look. Jennifer Lawrence once called Vanngo a “plastic surgeon” after his lifted eyeshadow look sparked plastic surgery rumours about the actress. Vanngo is also not one to shy away from a bold red lip, which he recommends to overline before filling in with lipstick for a Marilyn Monroe-esque effect.
Nina Park
If Nina Park’s work feels familiar, it’s likely because you’ve already seen it, endlessly recreated on TikTok and worn by a rotating cast of It-girls from Emma Stone to Zoë Kravitz and Lily-Rose Depp. The Korean American artist has carved out a distinct lane in red carpet beauty, which trades obvious transformation for a subtle glam that one TikTok user described as an “American version of Korean makeup.” Jessie Buckley’s radiant glow at the 2026 Oscars was likely from her Best Actress win for Hamnet, but Nina Park’s signature technique certainly added a touch of refined beauty on the carpet that evening.
The Look: Park’s approach is less instinctual than it appears—every placement is considered and every layer intentional. Her eye makeup often hints at a siren eye look, with brown and taupe shades softly layered across the lid. Park favours tightlining, using black liner on the outer corners of the upper lash line and a softer brown toward the inner corners. The wing is usually softly drawn, which can either be achieved by gently smudging out the existing eyeliner or with a brush and brown eyeshadow. Lips follow a similar methodical process. A nude brown lip liner is applied to the outer corners of the mouth and overlined on the top and bottom, then blended out to create a contour effect. Colour is concentrated more on the middle of the lips—dabbed or brushed—and gently diffused out towards the corners to create that just-bitten pout.
Emily Cheng
If Nina Park is the patron saint of barely-there beauty, then Emily Cheng sits just adjacent, operating in that same soft-focus effect, but with a slightly more romantic, lived-in edge. The Taiwanese-Canadian artist first turned to beauty out of frustration with techniques that didn’t suit her own features, particularly with the tricky monolid eyelids dominant in Asian features. Since then, her client list has expanded to Billie Eilish, Squid Game’s Jung Ho-yeon, and Love Story’s Sarah Pidgeon. More recently, her work with Jennie Kim for Calvin Klein, as well as Gracie Abrams and Mia Goth’s Oscars makeup has pushed Cheng into the algorithm’s spotlight.
The Look: Cheng is a master at an airbrushed base, which strives for an even-toned skin finish that looks matte but never flat. Cheng opts for skin tints like the Hourglass Veil Hydrating skin tint, allowing natural skin texture to shine through, with pinpoint concealing for blemishes. When more coverage is needed, Cheng prefers matte foundations to even out the skin before layering colour over. A pop of warm-toned blush also doubles as contour for the face. On the lips, Cheng has sometimes used a cream blush instead of the usual lipstick-liner combination. She dabs the blush on the centre of the lips and blends, creating that softly-blurred effect she’s become known for.
Allan Avendaño
Examine enough red carpet close-ups and you’ll start to recognise Allan Avendaño’s handiwork before you see his name. The Philippines-born, Los Angeles–based artist has a knack for delivering high-impact glamour. Case in point: Jenna Ortega’s goth glam during her Wednesday press tour in 2022, where Avendaño created smoky eyes that were dark and dramatic, balanced out by a neutral nude lip. These days, Avendaño has been churning out makeup looks for Bridgerton’s diamond of the season, Charithra Chandran, as well as K-pop demon hunterJiyoung Yoo at the most recent Academy Awards.
The Look: A purveyor of the soft glam look, Avendaño often smokes out the outer corners of the eyes with brown or black shadow, sometimes using the same shade to soften a winged liner. In the centre of the eyelid, he blends warmer pink tones to add dimension. Luminosity, however, is his weapon of choice. His looks are never without an inner corner and brow bone highlight. Lately, Avendaño has been working with the Prada Beauty Dimensions Holo Nude Eyeshadow palette, which includes neutral or peach coloured shades and a duo-toned holographic shadow that can be packed onto the lids. Lash clusters added at the outer edges subtly widen the eyes, completing his signature look.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA Singapore.
READ MORE