JOIN USFestivals call for bright lights and brighter make-up. But the trick to distinguish regular night-out make-up from special occasions is by applying extra touches. Here’s how you do it.
Cleanse your skin first. Apply moisturiser if you have dry skin or astringent if the skin is oily. Then, apply a foundation on your face. Don’t forget the neck. Using a moist sponge, spread it evenly and blend well. Gold-tinted foundation can be used for special occasions, to add a glow to the skin.
Dab your face with powder and dust off the excess. A gold-tinted face powder would be ideal for the evening. Or you could apply compact powder. It helps the make-up last longer and reduces oiliness.
Apply a blusher on your cheeks. Brush it upwards and outwards. Apply a highlighter on the cheekbones.
Tip: Highlighters should not be white. Choose either ivory, light beige or pale pink. Blend well so that there are no lines or demarcation.
Evening make-up for the eyes can also do with some shine or gloss. Deepen the shadowing at the crease of your eyelids. This adds more depth. Use browns, bronze and gold. Apply a shade of brown on the upper eye lid and dark brown around the crease. Highlight the area under the brows with gold or ivory. Gold eye shadow may be applied to give the eyes shape.
Work on your eyes
Outline the eyes with a dark brown or black. Line your eyes close to the lid and make sure it is even. Use a line of kajal or eye pencil on the lower lid for emphasis. If you want a lighter look, just apply some eye shadow below the lashes on the lower lid (no kajal). Apply mascara in two or three coats, but remember to brush the lashes after each coat dries.
Pout, please!
Gloss for the lips is very much in. So are red and shades of red. Try cherry, rose or plum.But if you’re just not in the mood for such a daring colour, try coral, burgundy (dark wine), dark mauve, bronze, along with shimmer. Avoid very dark colours, like dark brown or dark maroon. They tend to add on years to your face.
Wear a decorative bindi, studded with small sparkling stones in gold, silver, or a colour to match your clothes. During festivals, a traditional Indian attire is most appropriate. You can wear a sari with rich borders.
Or try a plain crepe or chiffon sari with a brocade blouse. Blouses adorned with mirror work, sequins and crystals makes a great statement. A churidar-kurta ensemble with a heavily-sequinned dupatta looks glamourous. One-colour outfits allow you to experiment with accessories. The same outfit can look different with different accessories.
For an evening out, wear warm and rich colours — like shades of red, magenta, orange, maroon or dark pink. During the day, go for lighter colours like yellow, light pink, lime green, pista green, mauve, light blue and so on.
The demand for Indian traditional jewellery will never die out. And this festive season, bring out your jhumkas and kadas. When you go shopping, look for unusual pieces of jewellery that also match your outfit. Smart accessorising does not always require a big bank balance. You can choose jewellery made from metals like copper or bronze. You can get traditional or antique-looking pieces. An old earring, for instance, can be turned into a brooch, pendant, or attached to a hair clip. It can even be pinned on to an evening purse.
For formal night wear, set off your outfit with one piece of heavy jewellery, either with long earrings or an exotic choker. A single, dramatic piece of jewellery should be worn by itself. Heavy long earrings may just need a slim bracelet or bangle.