Many Asian cultures have an obsession with pale skin, and the women of those cultures go to great lengths to lighten their complexions. This looks to be an overly-hasty attempt to do this; probably spent too much time getting dressed/ready to leave, and realized at the last minute that she forgot the face powder.
Nope, caused by powder with ingredients that reflect light in flash photography. Here’s proof:
http://www.venusianglow.com/2015/01/how-to-chose-flashback-safe-makeup-for.html