Angela Pham // Photographer, Billy Farrell Agency

Angela's selections 1. Gilly Hicks underwear 2. Alexis Holiday 2013 3. Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid lipstick 4. Nars bronzer 5. Stila Stay All Day liquid eyeliner 6. The Perfect Panna Cotta recipe

In high school, my search for an identity is best encapsulated through my myriad of changing hairstyles. I experimented with angular bangs, neon colors, and finally settled in senior year for the most audacious look of all: a faux hawk. I had hair that length-ed down my whole back, so essentially the whole top of my head had been mowed.

I admittedly gleaned this look off of Tila Tequila, as this was 2006, and Ms Tequila reigned Myspace, but I still felt wildly individualistic. Now people could look at me and just automatically perceive I was "alternative" and maybe even perhaps "did drugs/drank" (although I certainly did not), and that was the most important thing, what other people thought. I went to a magnet high school with lots of studious asians aiming for Harvard, and I wanted every facet of my being to scream "I'M NOT LIKE YOU!", even though, like them, I religiously obsessed about my GPA and spent weekends studying for my SATs.

The realities of having a mohawk were really prosaic. I had to devise different ways to keep my hair erect: hair glue, super strong hair spray, waxes. At 16, I was working at a pizza shop, making the pizzas, but I was always touching my mohawk to ensure its structural integrity, and that was definitely unappetizing for patrons to witness. By the time college began and I moved to New York, I had given up on being drastic and let my hair grow out. I haven't changed my hairstyle ever since then and am pretty content with looking boring. - @phamgela

Instagram Round-Up

This week’s round up of our favorite Instagrams from our friends and fellow inspiring Asian muses (girls AND boys) all over the world. In easy, digestable bites. And be sure to look out for some in future SME features…

1. Japanese model @mona__offi previews an editorial look.
2. Chinese model @wanwan_lei looks downright cinematic.
3. Photographer @phamgela lounges around in Norma Kamali during Art Basel.
4. Supermodel @soojmooj chills out in Miami in a Reformation hat.
5. Makeup artist @hungvanngo creates a vivid eye look on Soo Joo.
6. Last Magazine’s @tenzinwild making a rare, handsome selfie appearance.
 7. Musician @jihaemusic sex’ing it up for the debut issue of 25 Magazine.
8. Supermodel @liuwenlw is the new face (and body) of lingerie brand La Perla.

Jessica Dang // Studio Manager, Kenneth Willardt & Blogger, Single Girl Dinner

Jessica wears a shirt by Jcrew, Acne jeans, and Van Cleef & Arpels necklace

I like to keep my makeup fairly straightforward as I’ve recently relocated from New York to ranch living in California. Even though I’m technically in the middle of nowhere, I still like to look polished yet not overdone. My routine starts with a thin layer of Origins’s Smarty Plants CC SPF 20 Skin Complexion Corrector to even out my skin tone, finished with Chanel’s pressed powder along the T-Zone because that’s where I get shiny by midday.

 For a healthy glow, Chanel’s Les Beiges is my secret weapon. I use No. 50, which looks dark in the compact, but, when you brush it on, it’s literally a whisper of color that somehow transforms your entire face. I like to add a touch of Giorgio Armani’s Blushing Fabric in Translucent Strawberry on the planes of my cheeks for that “just-pinched” look. Cream blushes are great to have in your bag because you don’t need a brush to apply it, and this one has a silky texture that blends easily.

The filling in of eyebrows is especially important, as mine are practically non-existent. Lulu tells me that it makes my face look more interesting and that if I had perfect brows, it’d be boring. I’m currently using the eyebrow pencil by Hourglass in Blonde, which gives a softer look.

When it comes to lips, though, I stick to a combination of Nars’ Honolulu Honey lipstick (classic nude) with a slick of YSL’s Glossy Stain in Brun Glacé (a reddish brown) on the inner lip for everyday. I’ve been wearing it that way for years now.

 That’s pretty much it.

Admittedly, there are times where I do crave a bit of glam at the ranch. It’s funny how something as simple as extending your eyeliner a little further than usual – (“No, further… Further… A little more…”) – can make such a statement. The trick to keeping it modern, as I recently learned from Lulu, is to keep the line straight and tapered, but not flicked up at the end like a traditional cat-eye. And that’s just enough glam for me. - @singlegirldin 

 For Jessica, we experimented with lengthening her eye. First, I had her draw a basic thin cat-eye (ie: “straight and tapered”), starting from the mid-eye and out using a combination of liquid and pencil (any will do). She lined her whole bottom eye with a very, very thin line starting from the tear duct. And when I thought Jess’ cat-eye didn’t go far enough, I demanded her to make it longer.

 Now, here’s my trick, it’s Kevyn Aucoin’s Curling Mascara in black. This mascara is all about separating; and the shiny, lightweight, narrow red tube is pretty to the touch. A good separating mascara is crucial when we apply it to the outer half of Jess’ lashes. This is something I do all the time when I don’t necessarily want my eyes to appear larger and doe-eyed… more like, longer and cat-like. And you can see the side-by-side results in the last photo. Meow. - @_luluchang

Jessica Mau // Model, Ford LA

Jessica wears Acne leather jacket

Maybe it’s the tomboy in me, but I’ve always wanted a black leather jacket. I love the ease of throwing on a classic jacket over jeans and a t-shirt for a complete look. It’s almost been a uniform for me lately. Really, it’s all I ever wear. Just jeans, a cotton tee and a pair of flats… done. I guess in the end I just wanted to look like Marlon Brando in the Wild Ones.

 When I started looking for the perfect leather jacket I knew I wanted something that would age well, something made out of quality leather that I would wear for years to come. And since a good leather jacket is kind of an investment, I knew I had to get the right one. I searched and searched online then finally narrowed it down to either a Theyskins’ Theory, Madewell, or Acne jacket. They were all great options but I ultimately decided on the Acne ‘Mape’ jacket because of its classic cut (not too long, not too short) and buttery soft lambskin leather. I love it! And now I will never need a black leather jacket again. - @jmaumau

Lulu Chang // Founder & Creative Director, Show Me Everything

Lulu wears Margiela bodysuit and Current Elliott jeans

What is sexy?

 The realization that I had a different definition of what is sexy came when the Director of Advertising for one of the world’s largest, most iconic brands deemed my style “too intellectual” to fit in with their sexy image. I swear, I wasn’t wearing any Margiela that day!

 But as someone who considers themselves a creative, rather than a model, it was difficult for me to accept. Even designer Phoebe Philo vamped it up for the cover of The Face. Because, after all, fashion can expand beyond our personal style. And if Phoebe is any indication, the eyes have it.

 I guess I’m a fan of sub-text. Since I moved to Los Angeles, about a year and a half ago, my general impression of sexy girls in LA has been that there is none. To show skin is to show skin. If you’ve got massive tits, flaunt ‘em. That doesn’t seem too fun to me. I mean… who doesn’t like a good chase?

 My favorite sexy piece of clothing is a nude bodysuit (YES! BY MARGIELA!). The material is spectacular because it molds to your body hiding all of your imperfections. The result is similar to real life air brushing. I like to wear this underneath boyish jackets or loose fit jeans. It looks like you’re wearing nothing at all except you’re actually completely covered and incredibly warm. It’s the tension the suit creates and the ease in which you wear it that oozes sex appeal. See? Intelligence is kind of hot. - @_luluchang

Jen Karigan // Special Events Coordinator, Bollare

I keep it simple and I like to be able to get ready fast. Before applying makeup, I wash my face, with something gentle like Cetaphil. To prep my skin, moisturizer is a must. I start with Kiehls’ Rosa Arctica cream, it has a light-weight, minimal, clean scent and doesn’t irritate my skin. Moisturizer helps me blend everything in naturally. Next, I use Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer. It has the SPF for protection, but won’t clog your pores and keeps your coverage flawless. I don’t like heavy foundations or cake-y make-up that covers everything up. 

For the face, I like a healthy, warm glow all year round. After all, this is LA. I tend to bronze the spots that sunlight naturally hits, like the forehead, swoop over the nose and brush over cheekbones and neck. For daytime and a more natural look, I go for a matte bronze, my go to is Bobbi Brown. For night, a slight bronzed, shimmer and blush in Nars’ duo Orgasm and Laguna is perfect. Since I will never have those bushy eyebrows like Cara or Bambi, I define and fill in my eyebrows with Smashbox’s Brow Tech - everything you need to have polished brows. 

For the eyes, eyeshadow primer is a must. I hate smudging and without it, I always get black creases. I use Urban Decay primer, its ultra sheer, nude, and my eyeliner lasts all damn day. I’m a huge fan of the cat eye, it accentuates the almond shape. Sephora is my go-to for long lasting, liquid eyeliner. To finish the eyes, I love my Shu Uemura eyelash curler - it makes such a difference! Mascara is probably the longest part of my beauty routine, I paint lots of layers. Not shy to play up the volume on my lashes, but I don’t do lash extensions, seems like such a hassle. Smashbox’ Full Exposure mascara is the best, it does wonders for volume and curl. 

Lastly, I cannot live without MAC Ruby Woo lipstick - longest lasting lipstick. Literally, it will not move (eat, drink, anything… no touch up required) and the color is like none other. Voila! - @jenkalllday

Raych Nguyen // Blogger, That’s Chic

Raych wears silk top, lace cardigan, and jacket by Raquel Allegra

Eyeshadow is foreign territory to me. No amount of YouTube videos I watch can convince me that there is a technique to make eyeshadow look good on me. So if I ever get around to playing with eye makeup, I do it in a way that isn't so conventional. Most days, this means mascara and maybe a little eyeliner.

Good brows are the perfect accessory to naked or dressed eyes. After years of trial and error, I finally found something that worked for me: $1 clear mascara gel from E.L.F., Bobbi Brown dark brown/ grey shadow, and an angled brow brush. The gel helps the eyeshadow stick onto the brow all day. This works so much better than pencils and lasts much, much longer. - @thatschic 

For Raych, we ditched the eyeshadow in favor of an unconventional "wet look" smokey eye using Kevyn Aucoin's eyeliner pencil in black. Simply line your eyes with the pencil (in this case, it should be a little messy), apply a small amount of Aquaphor to the smudgy end of your pencil or cue-tip, and go around your eyes again. - @_luluchang