Everyday · Chinese · 12 min · Beginner

New-Chinese 'Plain Water' Makeup

Soft, sheer, and quietly elegant

Clean and translucent like a glass of plain water, this look pairs softly filled brows and muted eyes with a gentle pink lip. No bold blocks of color — just a quiet, gentle, ethereal charm rooted in modern Chinese aesthetics. Perfect for commuting, running errands, or a casual walk.

Flatters face shapes

Oval faceRound faceLong face

Flatters eye types

Natural double eyelidInner double eyelidHooded eyelids

Flatters skin tones

Neutral fair to light skin for a clean, translucent finishWarm light-medium skin for a natural healthy glowCool fair skin for a soft, ethereal, cool-toned look

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The Steps

Step by Step

01
Primer
Take a pea-sized amount of hydrating primer, dot it evenly across your face, and pat it in with your fingertips until absorbed. This helps foundation glide on smoothly. Always follow with a thin layer of sunscreen before heading out.
Pro tipDry skin types can apply a little extra on the T-zone; oily skin should avoid the forehead.
02
Sheer base
Dip a damp beauty sponge into a small amount of cushion foundation and bounce it lightly all over the face. Keep it thin — you want your skin’s natural texture to show through, not a heavy mask.
Pro tipBuild coverage only where needed; don’t cake the whole face.
03
Concealer & under-eye setting
Use a flat concealer brush to pick up a tiny amount of concealer, dab it on dark circles and redness around the nose, then blend the edges out. Set the under-eye area with a light dusting of translucent powder.
Pro tipLess is more — too much concealer will crease.
04
Soften brows
Fill in sparse areas with a gray-brown brow pencil, following your natural hair growth. Keep the arch soft rather than sharp, and taper the tail naturally for an overall gentle shape.
Pro tipBrush through the front of your brows to avoid harsh blocks of color.
05
Light brown wash
Using a large eyeshadow brush, pick up a milky tea shade, tap off the excess, and sweep it lightly over the entire upper lid. Stay within the eye socket and bring it halfway along the lower lash line.
Pro tipAlways tap off excess product — the softer and lighter, the more natural it looks.
06
Subtle depth
With a smaller brush, pick up a slightly deeper light brown and run it along the lash line. Extend it just a little at the outer corner — skip any bold cut-crease blocks.
Pro tipOnly deepen the lash line; don’t blend it out too far.
07
Fine, soft liner
Use a brown kohl pencil to fill in gaps between the upper lashes. Drag a short, flat 2 mm tail at the outer corner — keep the line thin and soft, not a thick, sharp wing.
Pro tipBrown liner suits this soft, natural look far better than black.
08
Curl lashes
Curl your lashes in three sections, then apply one thin coat of black mascara to both upper and lower lashes. Keep it light — no clumpy spider legs.
Pro tipComb through any clumps with a clean spoolie.
09
Light nose contour
Using a nose contour brush, pick up a light gray-brown shade, tap off the excess, and sweep it along the outer sides of the bridge. Don’t touch the brows or eye socket, and keep the two sides separate at the bridge — it should be so light it’s barely visible.
Pro tipThe goal is natural dimension, not a visible gray line.
10
Soft blush
With a fluffy blush brush, pick up a pale peach shade, tap off the excess, and sweep it lightly onto the apples of your cheeks. Keep it above the level of your nostrils and blend the edges seamlessly.
Pro tipBuild it in light layers to avoid obvious patches of color.
11
Subtle highlight
Using your fingertip, dab a small amount of sheer highlight onto the high points of your cheeks, brow bones, and the tip of your nose. Don’t apply it all over — keep the glow natural.
Pro tipAvoid heavy application on the T-zone to prevent unwanted shine.
12
Soft pink lips
Start with a layer of lip balm, blot off the excess oil with a tissue, then apply a thin layer of peach-rose lip tint. Pat the edges with your finger for a natural, faded finish.
Pro tipDon’t fill the whole lip — slightly deeper in the center, blended outward, looks more natural.