Spice Up Your Lunar New Year Looks with these Beauty Trends

If you’re in charge of taking care of preparations in the morning and simply don’t have time to glam up before your visitors come over, consider trying Zendaya’s no-makeup-makeup-look. All you need to do is fluff your brows, apply a coat of mascara, pat on some blush, pop on a gloss, and voilà – there you have it. To make it a little less subtle, smear on a lip tint before layering your gloss to bring a slight colour to your lips.

You can’t go wrong with a classic cat-eye like Tessa Thompson’s – especially if you want a look that’s effortless yet striking at the same time. Simply get your sharpest liquid or pen eyeliner and start defining the ends of your eyes with precision. We recommend layering on a primer as a base before drawing your liner of choice for a longer-lasting look.

According to Chinese customs, the colour red can be used to invite prosperity, wellness, and luck for the New Year. And what better colour to wear as you’re gambling the day away with your family and friends for the most luck? This year’s must-try look is Megan Fox’s subtle red underliner. Take a red eyeliner pencil or eyeshadow and run it along your lower lashline with a narrow brush. To finish the look, draw your upper eyeliner as per normal and glue some falsies on.

Going for a dreamy, floral ensemble this year? Try Sydney Sweeney’s pastel lids to complement your fit. This is by far the easiest look to create – just layer on a primer and get patting away with your pastel eyeshadow colour of choice. If you’re feeling extra, smudge some holographic white glitter onto the inner corners of your eyes and you’ll look like you’re just out of Euphoria High. Fabulous.

If you’re more of a bold lipstick kind of person, a red lip like Jisoo’s is just the thing you need this Lunar New Year. It is also perhaps one of the most traditional beauty looks for the season. To make sure your statement lip colour stays on throughout the day, make sure to line your lips with a lip liner, smear on your lipstick, and set it with a translucent powder for a long-lasting effect.

Channel your inner Gigi Hadid with cute bubble braids this New Year. Simply get two mini elastics and tie them symmetrically on both sides of your head. Next, tie two more directly under them with a small gap in between and follow up by puffing your hair. Repeat the process until you get to the ends of your hair. Lastly, spray on some hairspray to make sure they stay in place for the rest of the day.

Keep things sleek and sexy with a high ponytail like Lisa’s. If you’re going for a fitting cheongsam and high heels kind of look that is typical of the power-hungry women in Wong Kar Wai’s films, the high pony will be the perfect hairstyle to tie your look together. The longer the hair, the hotter the look.

Add a touch of class to your hair with some elegant hairpins. Like Maude Apatow, these gold accessories will help you achieve a clean, almost Breakfast at Tiffany's-esque look to accompany your ensemble this Lunar New Year. To accentuate the vibe a little more, pair the pins with a matching necklace and earrings.

When it comes to nails, go all out with some floral acrylics. Take Saweetie’s pastel pink and white creation as an example for this year’s go-to look. 

According to customs, flowers are a recurring theme in traditional Chinese poetry and art, and some come with very specific meanings that are significant to Chinese culture. 

For example, magnolias were precious and exclusive to Chinese emperors as they represented beauty back in the day. Irises are also believed to repel evil spirits when hung on doors and can prolong one’s life when consumed. These are just two of the many that stem from the customs of Chinese folklore and beliefs.