next »

[ahkil]

Make-up to go!

From the times of Cleopatra, the quest of looking good is on. However, take a sigh of relief as we don’t need to take a milk bath to look beautiful in this expensive era; good make-up, well applied, is all you need to transform your appearance.

And admit it or not, whether it’s a marriage, a cocktail party, a day-out with friends or just a normal day at office, going under the makeup brush is the ultimate confidence booster. You look and feel more attractive and therefore, happier in your skin.

However, most of us, especially the working genre of women, are always running short of time. On a typical day that requires multi-tasking 24x7, dedicating a special hour to get ready for an evening party can be quite demanding. From the basket of experts, here are a few must haves that you can carry along for a quick make-over.

Mascara
Irrespective of whether you want a nearly natural day makeup or a glamorized party makeup, mascara is surely a must-have for your makeup box. And even if you choose not to apply any make-up at all, mascara can give you a chic and seductive look by dramatising your eyes and highlighting the eyelashes. However, it is recommended to carry waterproof or water-resistant mascaras that do not wash off easily and are great for summer and monsoon.

Kajal pencil
Carry a kajal pencil with a smudger behind it. You can have that smoky look in no time, all you need to do is apply the kajal and smear it, just remember to keep the lash line darker. Or, you can go for the girl-next-door look by simply applying a dark layer of kohl on both lower and upper lash lines.

Blusher
Blusher adds colour and depth to the skin and gives a healthy glow to colourless cheeks. If applied properly, a blusher holds the potential of transforming your complexion. Carry a blusher that goes with the rest of your makeup. Though blushers are available in both warm and cool colors, choose a soft colour with a touch of red, pink or plum, whatever is closest to your own skin tone.

Lip gloss
To keep lips protected and moisturized, forgo any pencil or lipstick and carry a lip gloss. It looks and feels fabulous, especially in summers. While selecting a lip gloss, go for juicy look and pick soft reds, corals, pinks and oranges. If you want to intensify your lip colour, carry a light-coloured, similar-toned lipstick to apply underneath the gloss. Make sure that the blusher and lip gloss are in harmony and belong to the same family of colour.

[ahkil]

 Moisturiser
Skip the foundation and opt for a tinted moisturizer. However, if you have a really bad skin and foundation is unavoidable, limit its application to the center of the face, steering clear of the hairline. People with dry skin must carry a light moisturizer.

Sunscreen
Sunscreen is the most strongly recommended must-have in your makeup kit. It should be applied irrespective of the season as nothing damages the skin more than harmful sun rays. Always carry a sunscreen that has minimum 30 SPF and if your work involves a lot of outdoor activity, use sunscreen that has SPF above 60. It is also important to read the instructions and applying techniques that comes with the sunscreen of your choice. The mistake made by a majority of people is that they apply sunscreen only once - before leaving their homes; however, it would come as a surprise for some, but the effect of most of the sunscreens last only for 45 minutes.

Compact
A compact is basically a lightweight foundation with all day staying power. In summer and monsoon, a compact is just inevitable as it provides a balanced texture, even skin tone and natural finish in minutes. A wide variety of compacts are available in the market. Pick the one that promises to last all day and resists perspiration and oil.

Concealer
A concealer is ideal for covering facial imperfections and if carefully applied it can do wonders by giving you a flawless complexion. It’s a must-have to neutralize and balance the look of blemishes, pimples and dark circles. Always pick a concealer which is one to two shades lighter than your skin tone, has a high pigment level and essential oils. For better results, use it in conjunction with foundation. Also carry a fine tipped brush which will help you apply it perfectly.

Shimmer
Shimmer is a glittery magic which can make you look glamorous. Apply it on your eyes, lips, hair, cheeks - any feature that you want to accentuate. A shimmer also acts as a quick fix when you are running out of time and your oomph has vanished after the day’s work. However, remember that less is more when it comes to cosmetics that shine.

[ahkil]

Eyeshadow
A little work on the eyelids can completely alter your looks. You can play with the colors for the look that you want. However, our experts’ advice differs on the shades of the eyeshadows. While Komal thinks one should pick bright colors like peach, lime and orange, Blossom Kochchar advises to go for light-colours.

Cleanser and Toner
It’s a known fact that at the end of the day you must remove makeup, dirt, oil and other impurities from your skin. It is necessary to use a soft, creamy cleanser that wipes away every grain of dirt and toner that soothes your skin and leaves it with a soft feel and a tingling freshness.

Pick a gentle, cleansing formula that rinses away without stripping your skin of essential moisture.

Makeup removal wipes
There are situations when we are too tired or in a rush to cleanse or wash out that makeup. Be prepared for such times by keeping a pack of Makeup removal wipes in your makeup kit. They unfold to a full size to deep clean and lift away dirt and impurities while removing long-lasting makeup.

Face wash
Soaps are harsh on skin and difficult to carry in the makeup box. Carry a mild face wash gel that doesn’t leave your skin dry. There is a large variety of face washes available in the market these days, pick the one that suits your skin.

Deodorants/Perfume
There’s nothing as bad as body odor. Carry a perfume or deo in your makeup box as you never know when the morning spray deceives you and you start needing it again.

(With contributions from Komal Gulati, Technical Director, Brushman (India) Limited and Blossom Kochchar, Beauty Expert)