Make up for V Day

Shahnaz Husain
To add romance and shimmer to day make-up, 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 also to highlight under the brows.
Choose a pink blusher and be subtle. Powder blushers are easier to apply. The aim should be to give the complexion a healthy glow. Remember the 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. Make sure the lashes do not stick together. Brush out the eye lashes with an eyelash comb. For the night, try the smoky eyed look. Apply liner very close to the lashes and then smudge them with a sponge tipped applicator.
Use coloured lip gloss, like light pink or mauve. I think subtlety is far more attractive. Avoid using lip liners and just brush the lips with lipstick, going for shades of pink, from pale pink, to rose or tawny pink.
To add body to the hair, comb all the hair to one side, blow-dry the hair and then comb the hair to the other side and repeat the blow drying. Or bend down and blow-dry the hair upside down, brushing the hair from back to front. It is particularly convenient if the hair is short.
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. So can 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 jaw level. This will suit a round face too.
Use natural material 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 and yet romantic, like long skirts with floral prints, or wide pants with colourful tops with crochet, lace or embroidery.
For Him
Use a facial scrub two or three times a week, applying it on the face and rubbing gently with small circular movements. Wash off with water. This helps to prevent blackheads and brightens the skin. Facial scrubs are easily available. 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 shampoo, dilute with a little water and then apply. Work up 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.
What about make up for Men? Why not? In fact, since male models started walking the ramp, make-up for men has steadily caught on. Men do take the help of foundation, concealers, or tinted moisturizers to look good and cover up blemishes. Men’s make up should be subtle, so that it is difficult to know that the look is the result of make-up! Men should use cosmetics with a matte (non-shiny) finish. Avoid glossy and shiny make up.
Foundations or pressed powder help to achieve a smooth skin texture. Foundations and concealers also help to cover blemishes, like pimples or dark patches. Take very little concealer or foundation on a fine brush and apply it on the blemish or pimple mark. The foundation for the face should be the same shade as your normal skin tone. If you have a beard or moustache, avoid applying foundation on those areas.
Compact powder (pressed powder) can also help, especially for oily skin. Leave out foundation and use the powder. It helps to reduce shine. It can be used on oily areas, like the forehead, nose and chin. Opt for a light matte powder in a beige tone. Avoid pinkish shades.
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 balm to make the lips look smoother. They also add a hint of shine. A neutral colour or transparent lip gloss would be best.

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