It's the ultimate accolade, coming from a star for whom looking great is vital: Singer Kit Chan says Singaporean make-up artist Alvin Goh (right) makes her look younger. Chan, 35, says: "His make-up doesn't feel like make-up. He makes you look like you were 'born with it'."

Other celebrities on whom the make-up maestro has worked his magic include Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins and Hong Kong actresses Maggie Q and Michelle Yeoh.

It's no wonder Goh, who is based in Hong Kong, earns from $4,000 to more than $10,000 for a day's work. Yet he has had no formal training.

"I picked up my skills by reading a lot and practising all the time," Goh, 29,says.

After graduating from Temasek Polytechnic with a diploma in hospitality, he pursued his passion for make-up, working for local brand Inuovi before setting up his own business.

In 2005, he moved to Hong Kong. At first it was a struggle. "I survived on Maggie Mee and porridge every day," he recalls. But it all paid off.

His beauty tip? Less is more. "Apply light and sheer make-up so that your natural skin tone shines through."

Why did you decide to become a make-up artist?

Make-up's a powerful tool. It can enhance a person's features, boosting confidence. When I think about all the women who have been happy with the jobs I've done, I feel really good inside. I once worked with a woman who hadn't used make-up for 10 years because she hated the way her make-up was done on her wedding day. After I did her make-up, she had tears in her eyes. She had never looked more beautiful.

What inspires you?

I've travelled to more than 40 countries and the people and places I see have always inspired me. One of my favourite places is Tibet. It's beautiful and colourful.

Who are your favourite celebrities?

I work with Kit Chan quite a bit. She's become a friend now and she's always believed in me. I've also worked with Maggie Q. She's really gorgeous. She turns heads wherever she goes. She's not very tall but has a fantastic body. We hit the gym together whenever we travel.

What are your favourite cosmetic brands?

M.A.C has the greatest variety of lipsticks. They've got shades for the lightest skin tones to the darkest. I also love Shu Uemura's blushers because they come in nice, soft colours. They're very sheer and don't make you look overdone. I also use M.A.C and Shu Uemura make-up brushes.

Beauty tips for readers?

If you're Asian, stick to Asian brands such as Shiseido and Ipsa. Their products are usually more suitable for Asian skin tones because they are yellow-based. Powders from other international brands tend to look ashen on Asian skin. The heat and humidity oxidise the powder, making it change colour.

What do you think of local make-up artists?

There's a lot of talent and they're very creative. But it's difficult to tell if someone is good unless I see his work on a live model. In magazines, pictures are touched up heavily. What you see isn't always what you get.

Has anything ever gone horribly wrong?

When I started out I had a lot of trouble with fake eye-lashes. I couldn't get them to stick properly. I also had problems with getting lip shapes even. Achieving the right shade of foundation was difficult, too. But I think I've perfected it now. Clients say I make skin look like skin.

Who are your biggest influences?

People like Kit Chan and hairstylist David Gan have influenced me a lot.They've worked hard, built themselves up from scratch and made something of themselves. Look at David Gan - he's bought a $5 million apartment. That'sreally something.

What are the most important lessons to you?

How to deal with people. When I was running my own business, I had to manage all kinds of clients. Sometimes, it's impossible to please people. But the trick is to put yourself in their shoes, to understand where they're coming from.

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