Shahnaz Husain
The latest global trends in make up are being seen in the cosmetic capitals of the world.
The “no make-up” also called the “nude make-up” look is very much “in.” In other words, the make-up looks so natural that it is not visible. The face has a sheer and natural texture and the colours used are natural, with subtle use of foundation and bases. Many people prefer the no make-up look when the weather is warm and humid, for the daytime, or when one needs to underplay the make-up. The products that are useful are tinted moisturizer, light textured foundation, light loose powder, natural colours in lipstick – like beige, pink, peach, browns; eye pencil, mascara, eye liner, powder eye shadows, light and natural toned blushers.
As far as foundations are concerned, the shade should be as close to the natural colour tone of the skin as possible. It is not the shade, but the texture which gives the skin the natural look. Heavy foundations tend to leave a mask-like effect. So, go for a light textured foundation with a matte (non shiny) finish. A light loose powder can be used over the foundation. If the skin is very pale, slightly pinkish shades may be used. For olive complexions, a more beige tone would be suitable.
Leave out foundation during the day or for the casual look. Instead, apply moisturizer and then translucent powder. Use foundation at night. For dark skin, go for liquid foundation. Aim for a lighter coverage. Pay special attention to blending.
During the day, use less eye make-up, leaving out eyeliner and using only strokes of mascara. This helps to darken the eyes, without heavy eye make-up. For the night, eye make-up can be heavier, lining the lids with eye liner or pencil. Even lining eyes with shadow gives a softer effect. If you use eye liner, smudge the line with a sponge applicator.
Avoid the lip lined look. Apply lipstick with a brush to make it look more natural. Go for natural shades like light pinks, rose and beige.
Red lips are very much in vogue. Lately, orange and shades of orange, like tangerine, or amber, have also been trending. Red lips seem to have caught on, not only for the night, but also for the day. However, I feel that one should go for less intense reds during the day. For the night, one can wear brighter and bolder colours, especially in winter. Keep the shape of the lips in mind. If the lips are too thin avoid very dark red colours. Go for shades of red that are not so intense. Coloured eye shadow also seems to be making a comeback and the most popular one seemed to be blue eyelids…..in fact, shades of blue, like turquoise will be trending. Of course, for Indian skin tones, one has to experiment with colours to find out what suits.
Dramatic and heavy eye make-up, with the winged-eyed look is in fashion. I feel that this winged eyed look suits Indian features and traditional Indian clothes too, more than Western attires. It also helps to create the effect of larger eyes.
To achieve this winged eyed look, first apply a light shadow over the eyelid and a dark one in the crease of the eyes. Apply a thick line of black eye liner close to the lashes on the upper lid. A useful tip is to smudge the liner and then apply it again. Extend the liner outwards and slightly upwards, beyond the outer corner of the eyes. Use plenty of mascara. In fact, black shadow on the outer corners of the eyes can also help to achieve the same look. If you join it with the crease line, it is easier to create the winged eyes look. For the lower lid, apply liner as close to the lower lashes as possible, but start from the middle of the lower eyelid and take the line towards the outer eyes. Apply lots of mascara.
Or, you can go for smoky eyes, a trend that is still in. For smoky eyes, line the eyes with eyeliner. Then smudge it with a sponge-tipped applicator, so that it is not a harsh line. You can also apply dark eye shadow over the eyeliner for a smudged effect.
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