Where's the party?

GLIMMER & SHINE

Everyone wants to look good, especially when it is the time to party and you are trying to impress your guests with an impeccable look. First things first, getting ready for a party does not just mean flaunting the perfect ensemble and hairstyle — it’s also about wearing the right makeup.

And ladies and gentlemen, if you want to be the star of a party, there is no better place to start than making sure that your makeup is on point. Yes, grooming is for men and women. Here are some easy, yet effective makeup tips, to help you stand out in the crowd:

For her

To look your best at a party, you need to put on makeup that complements your ensemble. Here’s how:

To add shimmer to day makeup, apply a light colour shadow like mauve or light brown over the entire upper eyelid. Then use dull gold or silver shadow on the upper lid, closer to the lashes and under the brows to highlight them.

Choose a pink blusher and be subtle in its use. Powder blushers are easier to apply. The aim should be to give the complexion a healthy glow. Remember to add shimmer above the cheekbones with a highlighter.

If you want to line the eyes, use an eye pencil or eyeliner, close to the lashes. Go light on the use of liner, but apply more mascara. Brush out the eye lashes after applying mascara. For the night, try the smoky-eyed look. Apply liner very close to the lashes and then smudge them with a sponge-tipped applicator.

To give your eyes a light touch of mascara, first make sure that the lashes do not stick together. It’s a good idea to brush them with an eyelash comb.

Use coloured lip gloss, like light pink or mauve. Avoid using lip liners and just brush the lips with lipstick — going for shades of pink, from pale to rose to tawny pink.

To add body to your hair, comb all the hair to one side, blow-dry the hair and then comb it to the other side. Then, repeat the blow drying. Or bend down and blow-dry the hair upside down, brushing the hair from back to front.

The classic ponytail is dictating trends. Wear it high or low, with a fringe or without. Wisps or curls falling down can add a romantic touch. Feel free to experiment with ribbons or hair accessories. For a long face, wear a low pony-tail and have a light long fringe falling straight down. For an oval face, wear it with a side-swept fringe. For a square-jawed face, have wisps of long curls falling down on either side of the face, just beyond the jaw level. This will suit a round face too.

Use natural materials for accessories, like necklaces and chains made of colourful wooden beads or shells, wooden bangles, terracotta earings and necklaces. The outfit too should be casual, yet classic. How about a long skirt with floral prints, or wide pants with a colourful top with crochet, lace or embroidery work?

For him

Women aren’t the only ones who need to look at the top of their game for parties. With a little bit of forethought and good grooming, men can also look their best. To do that, here’s what you need to focus on:

Use a facial scrub two or three times a week. Apply it on the face and rub gently with small circular movements. Wash off with water. This helps to prevent blackheads and brightens the skin.

Always wash or cleanse the face at night, to remove pollutants that have been deposited on the skin during the day.

Wash hair frequently, especially if you travel a lot for work. Take half teaspoon of shampoo and dilute it with a little water and then apply. Work up a lather and rinse well with water. For oily hair, add the juice of a lemon to a mug of water and use as a last rinse after shampoo. For dry hair, apply a few drops of hair serum or leave-on hair conditioner after shampoo.

Makeup for men? Why not? Men’s makeup should be subtle, so that others don’t know about it! Use cosmetics with a matte (non-shiny) finish. Use compact powder of a beige shade to achieve smooth skin. To cover blemishes, take very little foundation on a fine brush and apply it on the blemish or pimple mark. Then use compact powder or foundation close to the colour of your complexion. If you have a beard or moustache, avoid applying foundation on those areas.

 Pluck stray hair from eyebrows with a tweezer for a better shape. To make the eyes look brighter, a hint of shadow can do the trick. A dark grey or dark brown shadow can be used to line the eyes, just below the lashes. The aim should be to achieve a natural look. Blending helps.

Look for lip balms to make your lips look smoother. They also add a hint of shine. A neutral colour or transparent lip gloss would be best.

(The author is a beauty expert)