Monday, November 30, 2009

Make-up Trend: Bronzy, Luminous Skin

On the latest issue of Harper's Bazaar India, Lara Dutta shows us that you don't have to look like a porcelain doll to have glowy, reflective skin. Smooth a few drops of liquid foundation over your entire face in a shade one touch darker than your natural skin tone, then top the look off with a slighty shimmery translucent powder. The effect has plenty of color and plenty of light.

Make-up Trend: Sheer Violet Shadow and Plum Lips

Usually I don't like match your eyeshadow to your clothes, but Isha Koppikar changed that make-up no no in a second. She wore a gorgeous Neeta Lulla lehnga—and had coordinating shadow and lips. To try violet colored lids, choose a shimmery formula and apply with your fingertips—the oil from you hands will keep it looking sheer, not heavy. To compliment the lips apply a plummish-brown stain with a coordinating lip gloss.

Rec: NARS Duo Eye Shadow in Violetta for the eyes; NARS Lip Stain Gloss in Victoire for the lips

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Mughda Godse's Beauty Magazine Scans

Mughda Godse in the pages of Beauty Magazine

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Friday, November 27, 2009

Make-up Trend: Fuchsia Lips

From Anamika Khanna to Manish Arora, fall runways are jam-packed with acid-bright neon colors. We could add a flirty neon dress or a pair of funky stlettos to our wardrobe. But instead, why not stick to basic black and add a burst of color on your lips like Genelia D'Souza did on the latest issue of Filmfare? If bright lips are not your thing, try a tinted lip balm to get a hint of brightness.

Rec: YSL Pure Lipstick in 19 Fuchsia Pink

Amrita Rao's Beauty Scans from Beauty India


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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Fall Bridal Beauty Trends 2009

Mauve Maiden
Purple is the signature hue this season. And it complements our skin tone wonderfully. Look for a warm shade of purple in creamy texture to get the maximum impact. To get the look, sweep an aubergine hue over the lid till the crease. Extend at the outer corner. Sweep a dark brown shadow under the lower lashes. Complete the look with a plum blush on the apple of your cheeks and a light-berry stained lip. This hue is great for dusky dames.

Golden Girl
Gilt shaded eyes are very graphic this season. It truly complements an Indian bride’s look. But instead of bright gold, the look is more burnished. So blending is the key. To get the look start by sweeping a gold shadow over the entire lid. Then apply a bronze hue at the outer corner, and copper at the crease line. Blend well. Draw a thin line close to the lashes with a black liner, and sweep on mascara. Dab some bronzer on the cheeks, and a glossy earthy red-pink lipstick.

Peach Princess
Give a new twist to safe peachy look by combining various textures in the same color -try blending creamy, pearly, and matte. To get the look, use a pearly peach or a light coral shadow all over your lid till the brow bone. Apply a copper hue close to the upper and lower lashes. Line your eyes with a kohl pencil, extending at the corners. Brush a matte peach blush on the apple of your cheeks. Then blend in shimmery coral blush on the cheekbones. Finish the look with an earthy nude lipstick in creamy texture.

Blue Belle
Be bold and play with color. Blue remains a hot hue this season as well. The hue goes from bright aqua to deep midnight with a pearly sheen. To get the look, apply an aqua blue hue over the lid, rounding off at the corner. Then draw with a midnight blue liner close to the lashes and apply a navy blue shadow under the lower lashes. Blend in a cobalt blue shade on the crease. Use a copper shadow as the highlighter. Sweep a pearly pink shadow and a rose pink lipstick to finish the look.

Cory Walia Speaks to Beauty India

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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Make-up Trend: Plum and Mauve Smoky Eyes

At Shilpa Shetty's wedding reception, Rani Mukherji stood out in a soft and subtle look that made her eyes pop like no other. To try her smoky eyes, blend a mauve colored eye shadow along the lid and up to the crease. Follow by working a plum eye shadow just above the crease and blend it to a fade. Apply black eyeliner in the waterline and add a few coats of black mascara on the top and bottom lashes to finish the look.

Rec: YSL 5 Colour Harmony For Eyes in 2 Indian Pink

Make-up Trend: Crimson Pink Cheeks/Lips

Amisha Patel looked fresh and glowy at Shilpa Shetty's wedding reception. The actress had flushed cheeks with very minimal eye make-up. To wear this hue, use a few extra drops of foundation to be sure your skin tone is as even as possible. Then, blend the stain on the rounded apples of your cheeks—the waxy formula has stronger pigments and a more sheer, natural finish. Apply the same stain on your lips and finish with a lipgloss with the same hue.

Rec: Stila Convertible Color in Fuchsia

Make-up Trend: A Classic Smoky Eye

Gorgeous makeup doesn't have to be trendy or edgy. Take Kareena Kapoor's simple (and stunning) slate smoky shadow on December's issue of Vogue India. To get this classic look just right, prep lids with a creamy eye primer before adding any color. Then layer on gray shadow with a soft brush and rim the eyes with black liner. The primer holds makeup in place—which means you decide exactly how smudgy you want to get.

Rec: M.A.C Smoke and Mirrors Eye Shadow Palette

Make-up Artists' Advice in Beauty India Magazine

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Shilpa Shetty's Wedding Reception Make-up Breakdown

First, apply a champagne-gold shadow over your lids just up to the crease, and extend it a bit to make the eyes look elongated and cat-eye like. The important thing is to choose one with a shimmer, powdery consistency—glittery, creamy shadows reflect too much light. Try something like Stila Starlight Eyeshadow Then line both the upper and lower lash lines with a soft-tipped deep-black pencil Stila Kajal Eye Liner in Onyx, and smudge with your fingertips. Apply a charcoal, brown eye shadow like M.A.C Espresso Eyeshadow in your crease and blend the shadows well. Apply faslse lashes and finish off with mascara on your upper and lower lashes and you're all set!

Beauty Talk With Priyanka Chopra

Good looking means:
I would define it as someone who is ‘comfortable’ in their own skin! I think more than good looks, it’s a person’s attitude and the way they dress that determines how they are viewed.
Her skin care regimen:
It’s simple! Cleansing, toning and moisturizing everyday and drinking lots of water.
Her hair care regimen:
My hair is very healthy and naturally strong and shiny. Because of my profession, my hair is battered and abused! Therefore, I make it point to oil my hair regularly and shampoo and condition it as well with Sunsilk shampoo and conditioner. I trim my hair once in about 2 months or as and when I feel the need and avoid highlighting my hair.
Her favorite make-up, hair and skin products:
I use YSL Luxurious Mascara, M.A.C Studio Fix Powder, M.A.C blushes, The Body Shop Lip Balms, Clarins HydraQuench Cream. Aloe Vera is great for the skin. I love Sunsilk shampoo and conditioner.
On bad hair days:
When I have bad hair days, the first thing I do is send a text to my hair stylist.
When skin feels bad:
Firstly, I make it a point to drink lots of water to hydrate my skin and apply my mother’s secret recipe… a face mask!
Favourite make-up trick:
I would say highlight your assets. If it’s your eyes then applying kajal and a little liner works best. For your cheek bones, the right blush will do the trick. It’s important for one to know the colors that complement you and what your best features are.
Any make up tips:
Moisturize and when you’re confused about what to do… just keep it simple!
Her wellness and fitness mantra:
I work 19 hours a day… am over stressed, over worked and under paid!!!!! I would love to visit a spa as often as I can but with my hectic schedule, I don’t really get a chance to.
Favourite spa treatment:
I enjoy all aspects of a spa experience and don’t have a particular favourite. But if I was forced to make a choice it would have to be the Kerala Ayurvedic Spa treatment.
Her relaxation technique:
Music is very therapeutic for me. It’s something that has always been a passion.
On look Created By Jawed Habib For Sunsilk Thick & Long
Sunsilk shampoo and conditioner gives me full control over my hair. A girl’s hair is truly one of her best assets. The exceptionally trendy and stylish hairstyles created by Jawed give out a very strong message which is – If you’re lucky to have thick, gorgeous hair, show them off. My firm belief is that if a woman has thick, healthy-looking hair she is bound to get a second glance. I think these looks created by Habib do the trick—they are very striking. I make sure to pamper myself to a regular head message—it does wonders for your hair texture and feels so good. I eat healthy, drink lots of water and of course, I use Sunsilk Thick & Long with yogurt protein, which is a natural remedy for damaged hair. When you buy shampoo look for yogurt in its ingredients. Sunsilk Thick & Long has yogurt protein which nourishes hair right to the tips.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Bridal Checklists

Shilpa Shetty on her Engagement Day
  1. The beauty regime, long before D-day:
    To look good on D-day, start a beauty regime way before… A complete body care plan should be started about 6-8 weeks before the wedding. Talk to your beautician about having regular facials and manicures. Don't get too much sun before your wedding. Sunburns and peeling skin shouldn't ruin your wedding day.

  2. Beauty, inside out:
    Inside turmoil or stress shows on the face. Not getting enough sleep or not eating properly will without a doubt show on your face! If you are really stressed out consider having a relaxing massage once a week for a month and also a day before the wedding. Burn some relaxing aromatic candles around the house to help calm your nerves.

  3. Choose your look:
    While the style you choose for your wedding make-up will ultimately depend on your personal preference, but there are some other factors you should consider: the time of the ceremony, the time of the year, your skin tone and hair color. Choose colors according to the season — a spring-summer wedding should be more inclined to soft pastels while deeper reds work well in winters. Your make up should be more dramatic than your everyday make-up else you'll look pale and washed-out in photos.

  4. Trial:
    Organize a trial around 1-2 weeks before the wedding and get dressed in your full regalia — clothes, jewelry and make-up in place. It is a good idea to have your friends with you to give their input and also for them to pick out a look way different from yours. Keep the trial at the same time of the day or night as the wedding is supposed to be.

  5. Touch-up:
    For D-day, ask your Mom or one of your friends to carry a powder compact, tissues and lipstick for touch-ups during the event.
Shilpa Shetty on her Wedding Day

Choose the right colors
Before you can begin to choose colors that suit your skin tone, you must first figure out your complexion type. Generally, Asians have a warm, yellow skin tone. The simplest test: try on a white shirt and then a cream or off-white top. If you look better in the white blouse, you most likely have cool skin. If the cream top is more flattering, your skin is probably warm.
  1. Foundation: Foundations generally have either a golden or blue-toned base, with variations that flatter a wide group of faces in the warm and cool ranges. If you have cool skin, choose a foundation that has blue or pink undertones and use a yellow-base foundation for warm skin. Test the color on your face and have a look at yourself in sunlight to make sure that you have a good match.

  2. Blush: Fair skin tones are best suited to pink, tawny, and beige blushes. Darker skin tones look best in plums if they are cooler and auburns or rich bronze if they are warmer. For olive to yellow skin tones, try blushes in copper, almond, and warm brown shades. Finally, tanned skin looks best in warm colors like peach, coral, apricot, and orange.

  3. Powder: Avoid using pressed powder compacts, which can streak foundation or clump in spots. Follow the same rules you would with foundation.

  4. Lipstick: Examine a tester version of lipsticks on a sheet of white paper to discover their dominant colour. If they are mostly brown, warm red, or very pale, they will look excellent on yellow skin. As for dark skin, try rose, magenta, and shades of purple. Tanned skin is flattered most by a variety of true pinks. If you have very light skin, try pinks, orange/red shades, and light purples.

  5. Eye Shadow: Eye shadows are often more about colour choice than color matching. If you have warm skin, experiment with different tones of bronze, cream, light brown, red/pink, soft green, and coral. For cool skin, white, silver, pale blue, purple, dark green, and gray are good choices.
Look good; smell divine
Stress can be tackled with perfume too. And do remember that while weddings are a social occasion, it is ultimately about you, him and your life. Perfumes are great aphrodisiacs.
  1. Wear your favorite perfume: Though floral romantics are a safe choice, by all means wear a sporty fragrance if he thinks it's irresistible!

  2. If you're determined to wear something new, be sure to start experimenting the perfume at least a month before the wedding.

  3. Apply the same fragrance in all its forms and layer it—starting with the bath and ending with your perfume application to the pulse points.

  4. For an especially dreamy effect, apply fragrance to the palms of your hands. This way, you'll leave a lingering scent every time you touch him.

  5. Arrange your entourage's scents to complement each other—and you—for perfect harmony. Their scent should be in the same fragrance family as yours.

  6. Remember to keep mints handy.

Shilpa Shetty at her Sangeet

Finding the Right Make-up Artist

A prelude to the right make up is the right makeup artist, make sure you pick with care. Here are some basic moves to help pick one:
  1. Experience: Experimenting with an amateur isn't a great idea at a wedding. Instead, ensure the artist you choose is qualified to do the job. Ask each artist for references and call those brides to ask them about their experience. Also take a look at each artist's portfolio to make sure you like his or her work.

  2. Availability: Ask for the artist's availability and if they plan on booking another wedding before or after yours. Also ask what the cost would be for the artist to stay with you the entire day, if you want to ensure you are covered.

  3. Type of make up: Check out the latest in make-up technology. Ensure the make up artists you are working with are well versed in the kind of make up you want. Be sure to ask the artist what they recommend for your face and think about what suites your style.

  4. Trial: Ask the make up artist for a trial before your big day. And carry your wedding dress with you to give him an idea of the colors he or she would need to use.
Shilpa Shetty at her Mehendi ceremony

Bridal Make-up Tips
Here is a common sense guide to bridal make-up.
  1. Use waterproof eye makeup: Even if you don't think you're the crying type, hot and sweaty weddings can make your perfectly made-up face look wilted. With so many waterproof products out there, why take a chance?

  2. Use a lip stain. Apply the color once at the beginning of the day, and moisturizer a couple of times to keep lips luscious and picture-perfect.

  3. Employ a 'spot checker': This could be a friend, or your mum. Ask them to keep an eye on you and let you know if you need a touch-up.

  4. Stash backups: Find out the bathrooms or changing facility at the venue, and stash an emergency kit including powder, a hairbrush, hairspray, lipstick, and a sewing kit, along with anything else you may need.

  5. Do a test run: Make sure you test out your beauty products—you wouldn't want to find out the morning of your wedding that you're allergic to your lipstick!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Lakme Bridal Drapes

Not only is Lakme telling us about the different bridal make-up trends and the latest bridal hair trends the site also offers different ways of draping your dupatta on the big day. The biggest complaint brides have are the draping of the dupatta, every salon always wants to do it the way it's been done for years. But, now you have eight different ways of choosing your dupatta setting.

Indo Western Style Drape

Devdas Style Drape

Mumtaz Style Drape

Western Innovative Drape

Maharani Style Drape

Classic Indian Drape

Northern Pride Drape 1

Northern Pride Drape 2

Friday, November 20, 2009

Lakme Bridal Hair Trends

With bridal season in full force, Lakme has given us some gorgeous wedding make-up trends over here, now they've ventured into giving us the perfect bridal hair looks as well.

Radiant Curls

Floral French

Three Roll Bridal Bun

Five Roll Bridal Bun

Wavy Wonder

Royal Ringlets

Long Braid with Corn Rolls

Traditional Indian

Make-up Trend: Pink Nailpolish with A Twist

At the Elle Carnival for Breast Cancer Awareness Vidya Balan shows us a pretty twist on regular pink nail polish. All the manicurists were lined up to give people Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Nail polish with tiny little white ribbons painted on the fourth nail. To get the same kind of nails, apply two coats of a dusty rose polish, and on the third use a nail art pen and draw a white ribbon. For the last step, don't forget to seal it all in with a top coat. A fun and pretty manicure, with a great cause!

Rec: Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen in White Creme (01)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Heidi Klum's Exotic Jewels for Victoria's Secret

After a successful collection with Christian Siriano, Victoria's Secret's spokespeople seem to be bitten by the Indian bug. In Christian's collection he showed us how to get gorgeous black lined eyes with his Kajal, which he claimed is the blackest of blacks. Now, Heidi Klum fresh from her trip back from India has released a gorgeous limited edition collection inspired by none other than India.

The excerpt on the website says, "Introducing the limited-edition Heidi Collection 2009, Exotic Jewels. Inspired by Heidi's life-changing trip to the spiritual city of Varanasi, India, it's her most personal creation yet. The collection interprets her exotic discoveries into a sparkling and rich palette of irresistible shades in packaging as beautiful and precious as Heidi's favorite jewels. Imported."

Moving on to the collection, it consists of six pieces which include a lip gloss, a lipstick, illuminating face powder, glitter liquid eyeliner, an eyeshadow palette, and mascara.