The small, V-shaped face has long been an ideal coveted by Asian starlets - and most Asian women - as it is seen as feminine, youthful and photogenic.

Celebrities with the so-called "melon-seed" face include Chinese actresses Fan Bingbing, Tang Wei and Zhou Xun.

Mr Galvin Lin is part of the prestigious Dior International Pro-Artist Team of make-up artists who work backstage at Dior shows during fashion weeks and train the brand's make-up staff around the world.

He shows you how to get the V-shaped face - even if you were not born with one - with skincare and make-up.

Product recommendations are from Mr Lin and Urban.

1. Prep skin with skincare

Before you create the illusion of a smaller face with make-up, first use skincare products that can lift and slim the face slightly.

Try: The Dior Capture Lift range, especially the V-Liner Ultra Stretch Corset Mask (right, $168, from June 1); or Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Lipo-drain serum ($102).

2. Highlight the T-zone

This will draw attention to the centre and make your face look smaller.

Apply a thin layer of liquid foundation that matches your skin tone all over the face.

Then use a liquid foundation that is a shade lighter than your skin colour and dab it along the forehead, nose bridge and chin (right).

Using a foundation brush, blend the make-up across the forehead to the temples; from the middle of the brows to the tip of the nose, and from the middle of the chin to just below the chin.

Apply the lighter foundation around the eyes with fingertips to brighten them too.

Dust on a powder that matches your skin tone around the eyes, cheekbones and temples to set the foundation on those areas.

For liquid foundations, try: Dior Capture Totale Radiance Restoring Serum Foundation ($98); or Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup ($62, from Sephora stores, such as 01-05 Ion Orchard).

For powder compacts, try: Chanel Mat Lumiere Perfection Long-Wear Flawless Compact Powder Make-Up ($91); or Laneige Forever Definite Compact Foundation ($49, from Laneige stores, such as B3-66A Ion Orchard).

3. Sculpt the face

These steps will help to define your features.

Use a foundation that is two shades darker than your regular skin tone and draw a line under and along the cheekbones with a concealer brush (right). The stroke should start at the hairline and end at the middle of the cheekbones. Blend the make-up with a foundation brush in small circular motions.

Use the same foundation and draw two lines that start from the inner brows, along the nose bridge and end at the sides of the nose. Blend the lines with a foundation brush in small circular motions until they are not visible.

4. Shade

This will create the illusion of a slimmer face.

Pick a loose powder that is two tones darker than your regular skin colour and use it to add shadow under the cheekbones and jawline with a contouring brush.

With a blusher brush, sweep a brownish blusher along and under the cheekbones. Then, further blend the colour lightly towards the jawline (right).

For loose powders with a wide variety of shades, try: M.A.C Select Sheer/Loose powder ($40); or Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Loose Powder ($60).

For brownish blushers, try: Tom Ford Cheek Colour in Savage ($85); or Nars Blush in Lovejoy ($50, from Nars at Tangs Beauty).

5. Make your lips the focus.

Use a lip brush to create a brightly coloured and defined pout, which will take the attention away from a wide face (right).

Try: Dior Addict Extreme lipstick ($45); or Lancome L'Absolu Rouge Lip colour ($44).

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