Some of the best makeup tips we know have been generously passed on to us by beauty queens. That's why when we got a chance to catch up with newly-crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo, asking her about all things makeup was on top of our list. The beauty queen gladly spilled her tricks, even sharing her recommendations for other morena beauties like her.
Find out Rabiya Mateo's makeup secrets below:
On her everyday makeup look
Being a lecturer, makeup has always been a big part of Rabiya's daily routine. " I need to really look good in front of my students, so before pageantry, I've already been into makeup and my friends know that," she tells Preview. "I would always go for a simple look, but I would always have bold lipstick." Her go-to color? A classic red, so she can look and feel powerful every day.
On her signature hair and makeup for Miss Universe Philippines 2020
From the start of the competition to the day she was crowned, Rabiya stuck to a formula that highlights her roots well, taking inspiration from traditional Indian makeup. "I focus on the eyes, because I want to have dark, striking eyes, and then during the competition I would always go for nude lipstick," says the beauty queen.
She was firm about maintaining a specific hairstyle all throughout, too. "I wanted my hair to be in big loose curls because that's how I want people to remember me," she admits. "[It's a style that] flatters my face, too, because my face is kind of round."
On her ultimate makeup hack
Even our Miss Universe Philippines deals with dark circles, but thankfully, she's discovered a way to make everyone none the wiser. "The thing is, because I have Indian blood, my undereye is kind of dark and it's deep," Rabiya explains. So while makeup artists would usually color correct with an orange corrector, she prefers something with better coverage: Red lipstick. This is a popular technique among women of Indian descent, and now we have even more proof that it works!
"I put concealer on top [of the lipstick] and it erases the dark circles and evens my skin tone," she says. "This is my secret."
On her best makeup advice for fellow morenas
Rabiya believes that your foundation shade can make or break your look. You have to find your correct match, and the best way to do that is to swatch the color in person. And to be extra sure, try the product on your face instead of just putting it on the back of your hand.
"When I go to a makeup store, I swatch [the product] on my face, and then after that I'll go around the mall for one hour," she tells us. That hour will give the product time to set, which is important if like Rabiya, foundations tend to turn dark on your skin. "If it matches, then I'll go back to the store and buy that foundation. So don't just buy something you just tried. You need to see if it oxidizes or not."
On her must-have makeup product
"Concealers. I love concealers," the beauty queen answers right away. "My skin is not perfect, I experience acne problems, so it hides my blemishes."
She swears by doing her brows, too, and shares that changing up its shape is one of her other beauty tricks. "Different eyebrow shapes give me a different personality. When I go for a straight shape, it looks good when I have simple makeup. But I go for more of an arched brow when I want to have a stronger appeal to people," Rabiya explains.
*Answers have been condensed for clarity.
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
