Maybe She’s Born With It, Probably It’s Maybelline: Modern Day Whiteface

I love watching makeup tutorials on YouTube. It’s a great way for me to learn about makeup techniques and tools without having to take cosmotology lessons.

Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of makeup gurus shade and contour their faces so that they look white (try searching for “Asian Angelina Jolie Makeup”). Although most of them do this for the sake of costume, is this another way in which Asian-Americans are trying to look more white?

I recently discovered Promise Phan, sister-in-law to YouTube superstar Michelle Phan. She has her own channel about makeup transformations ranging from Mystique to Chris Brown. She’s also done Adriana Lima, Megan Fox, Marilyn Monroe, Taylor Swift, Angelina Jolie, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Kate Middleton, and more; she essentially dons whiteface. As amazing as her transformations are (and I’ve tried a few of them on myself), I find the idea of drawing in eyelids and nose bridges a bit extreme, especially since some girls actually do this on a day to day basis. Check out Promise Phan as Angelina Jolie.

Ultimately, is this style of makeup just a form of costume or a way to fit into the Western look? What do you think?