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Karen Pittar

THE BETTER  MODELS are at adapting their looks, the more successful they become.  'I know how to make every part of my body appear different than it  is,' Christy Turlington   once told Vogue. 'I can make my eyes and my lips appear bigger by putting my chin down. You can manipulate everything by photography.'

It's no secret that modelling relies on  lighting, makeup and retouching, but  the raw material still has to be exceptional.

The flawless faces and bodies on billboards and television make beauty seem effortless, but the reality is that  most models have to work hard to  look fresh and gorgeous.  How do they do it? And what are the secrets of Hong Kong's most successful models?

Jac Ann Yim

As one of Elite's faces of 2006, 19-year-old Yim is used to wearing makeup 10 hours a day, five days a week. She varies her beauty routine according to her skin's needs and seasonal changes.

'Avoid putting too much on your skin, and keep it clean,' she says. 'I use moisturiser day and night and clean my skin more often when I'm not working. I like to use Biotherm products. I also use face masks and sometimes make my own by mixing egg yolk with honey, and leaving it on my face for 15 minutes. It leaves the skin soft, smooth and clean.

'I still have baby fat on my face, so to make my features stand out I focus on shading and using highlights to make it appear skinnier. Estee Lauder has a great powder with shine.

'To keep my weight down, I eat more in the afternoon and less at night,  usually skipping carbohydrates at night. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables. I prefer vegetables to rice.'

Vanessa Yeung

The model, actress, presenter, author and jewellery designer balances her busy schedule with a healthy approach to eating.

'I  eat as much organic food as possible,' she says. 'Simple, fresh food provides the best ingredients for your body. My home-cooked meals include lots of tofu and seafood. Basically, it's all about a well-balanced diet. Everyone has a specific body type and you have to find out what's right for you. I  take lots of vitamins.

'I believe the secret to good skincare is prevention rather than repair. People are paying more attention to this nowadays. It's never too early to start looking after your skin. If you use make up or even just a sunshield every day, it's important to thoroughly cleanse your face, because small molecules in the products and from the environment will block the skin's pores. I use a cleansing oil every day.'

Cara Chan

A catwalk regular for  the likes of Levi's, Jean Paul Gaultier and Quiksilver, Chan spends a lot of time  flying, and  says her skin becomes easily dehydrated.

'I just started taking evening primrose oil and it's made a real difference to my skin,' she says. 'My face isn't so dry. The most important thing for me is to keep my face really clean. I cleanse, tone and moisturise on a daily basis. I like Biodermal products.

'I don't like putting too much on my face and I don't use foundation every day. I believe if you keep your face clean you'll have great skin. I have regular facials and use masks once a week. In the summer when I'm tanning, I might do it more often. I look after my hair and regularly go to the salon to get treatments. I like a Japanese deep moisturising, three-in-one treatment.'

Sevara Mirkhusanova

Eurasian cover girl Mirkhusanova  says her natural approach to skin- and hair-care keeps her looking  fresh.

'Recently, I found a really good natural foundation from Red Earth, and I like Maybelline mascara,' she says. 'I love to experiment with makeup, especially black eyeliner. In my job, I use a lot of different brands, and they can look really nice, but they're not so great for the skin.

'I don't think you need to take supplements or vitamins, and I don't have regular facials, but every week I do a mask for my hair and my skin. When I was in Tokyo on an assignment, I found a shop selling natural oils and powdered plant extracts, and now I mix my own masks, using lots of different oils and flower essences. They're really good for skin, eyelashes and hair.'

Janet Ma

Having walked the runways for the likes of Balenciaga,  Gucci, Chanel, Fendi and Hermes, Ma now juggles being the  wife of film star Michael Wong Man-tak  and mother of three with the demands of modelling, acting and television presenting. She knows better than most the importance of making sure you look as healthy as you feel.

'For me, exercise means taking my kids to their activities,' she says. 'With three children, it's a lot of work - and a lot of walking. Of course, I also need to relax. I love massages and detox wraps, and I have a facial every now and then. I find wraps help to detox the whole body, and because you're lying down it's a good way to unwind.

'I eat simply, try to avoid greasy and oily food, and drink lots of water and fresh fruit juice.'



Face the facts