Make-up Trend: Liquid Eyeliner

Makeup artist Cory Walia used Mark products on Deepika Padukone, including Liquid Eyeliner in Cleo (a rich, black shade) and four coats of plumping mascara to get her eye-enhancing look.

Experiment a little with liquid liner. If the line looks uneven or too heavy, top it with the eyeshadow you applied to your lids—flaws are hidden and the thickness of the black is toned down.

Rec: mark On the Edge Hook Up Liquid Eyeliner in Cleo

Clint Fernandes for Avon: Blush N Lights

Embrace the season with Avon 2008 Make-up Collection – Blush n Lights. The collection has been created by Avon India's very own celebrity make-up artist Clint Fernandes to give you a fresh and natural look that will make heads turn wherever you go.

The delectable color palette has been carefully researched and formulated for you in shades straight from the runway. The collection comprises of cool summer pastel shades of whites, pinks and beige. Together these shades render you with a sheer glow and a translucent effect that perfectly complements desi skin.

The exclusive collection is a must have this year “…for a pure & natural look” as Clint says.

This chic collection by Avon and Clint Fernandes has been exclusively created to offer the wearer an opportunity to create illusion with trendy colors. Experiment with the pure & natural colors to enhance your best features and look delightfully alluring.

S/S 09 Make-up Trend: Raghavendra Rathore

A conservative collection for Raghavendra Rathore marked a rich conservative hair trend for the models on his catwalk, who appeared with sleek, poker straight hair offset with a pop of color on the face: red (YSL Pure Lipstick in 131 Opium Red) or fuchsia lips (YSL Pure Lipstick in 19 Fuchsia Pink).

"The idea is to emphasize quiet luxury," explained make-up artist Clint Fernandes. "The look is sensual but at the same time fresh and contemporary. Think rich girl; it's about polished skin and a natural perfection; I achieved this look by pressing a few drops of foundation (Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation) on to their skin to warm up the complexion. Next I blended a cream blush (NARS The Multiple in Riviera) on the cheeks in a triangular shape to create a fresh, natural flush."

Beauty Dictionary: A to Z for Fall 2008

A: Artsy

Vimi's inspiration: Monet's Water Lillies painting

“This trend is about using the ‘art’ of make-up to create a mood,” says M.A.C senior make-up artist Vimi Joshi. “Inspired by Monet’s Water Lillies painting and Andy Warhol’s pop art, the face becomes a canvas for artistic effects,” she says. Bold and artistic, this look is all about the brush strokes being used to stipple, blend, wash and dust. Try dipping your brush in to M.A.C Paint Pots, for a colorful finish.

B: Baby-doll eyes

Alberta Ferretti, circa Fall 2008

As seen at Alberta Ferretti, the swinging 60s are back with soft baby-doll eyes. This look is easy to achieve: sweep a layer of white eye-shadow from the lid, blending it in to the brow. Now add a subtle charcoal grey to the lids and use a black eye pencil (try M.A.C Eye Kohl in Smolder) to line the bottom lids before smattering your lashes with mascara.

C: Chocolate decadence

Estée Lauder Fall Collection

We want to eat Estée Lauder’s latest fall collection, nevermind wear it! With delicious chocolate hues of truffles and pralines mixed with caramel gold and sugared berry tones, this look is perfect for winter. “Each of the warm and cool shades is very wearable and can be used alone or blended together for a softly luminous yet natural look,” says Tara Cohen, executive director for Estée Lauder.

D: De-Vined

Chloe, circa Fall 2008

Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana and Marc Jacobs made sure their models were pouting the hottest lips of the season at their F/W shows. “This trend was all about the sumptuous berry-bitten lip – think berry, cherry and plum stains,” says Vimi. To get the same look, she recommends M.A.C Pro Longwear Lipcolor in Stuck On You.“A heavy Bordeaux-rich lip makes a decadent statement this fall – it’s luxurious without being overtly glamorous.” Opt for a matte finish lipstick for a perfectly full pout or dab with a gloss for a ‘stained’ finish.

E: Eyeliner

Vijay Arora, circa Fall 2008

Who’d have thought that Amy Winehouse’s signature look would become one of the hottest trends of the season? Everyone wanted a piece of the winged eyeliner pie, and in 2008 liquid liner got a glamorous overhaul. Eyeliner is a great way of looking polished when it actually took you all of five minutes, but you do need a steady hand to pull it off. If not, try Bobbi Brown's Long-wear Gel Eyeliner, which is easy to apply. Using a two-dab brush technique, the gel-like liner has the same precision as a liquid liner, but is easier to use as you can slowly build up your line. The gel comes in a range of colors, so if black is too heavy for you, chose a plum, cobalt blue or graphite shimmer.

F: False Eyelashes

Riya Sen wearing false eyelashes, make-up by Cory Walia

Make-up artists and celebrities use false eyelashes far more often than the average person might suspect, and you too can become an expert at applying whole strips and individual lashes with precision and delicacy. Insider tip: Wait for glue to dry completely before applying any other makeup. Careful mascara application will blend your true eyelashes with your new false ones. To give your eyes an extra oomph, use M.A.C 7 Lashes.

G: Gothic glam

Yves Saint Laurent, circa Fall 2008

Beauty takes on a hard edge this season with pale skin and super dark lips and eyes. The Yves Saint Laurent show was rocking gothic glam with dark pouts on show and eyes peeping through jet black bobs. However the look is far from teenage angst as flawless complexions make for a sophisticated finish. Try sweeping Chanel Eyeliner Duo in Noir Lame, over your lids for dramatic results.

H: Honed

Shreya Saran donning the nude look, make-up by Aniruddha Chakladar

“This beauty trend is all about beautifully sculpted skin,” says Vimi. This season’s nude is not your slap-dash minimalist effort we’ve seen in recent years, achieving a ‘natural’ look this winter is going to take effort. Give your skin a refined finish with Ingrid Millet High Definition Teint Lumiére and Clarins Loose Powder.

I: Inspiration

M.A.C, Kemps Corner; Mumbai, India

Like our fashion sense, our ‘look’ can often get in a style rut. Some women have the tendency to find what works for them, and stick to it – for 20 years! But just like our clothes, our beauty products and look can become dated and the pressed powder that worked for you in the 80s may not work for you today. Take inspiration from the seasonal collections, visit beauty counters and try out new products. You can still stick to the color palette that suits you, but beauty products develop and move on all the time, and so should you.

J: Jazzy

Clarins Jazzy Colors, Fall 2008

Inspired by starlets of the 1920s, Clarins’ fall look is “the essence of elegance and seduction – flawless complexions, deep red lips and bewitching eyes,” says make-up artistic director Thibault Vabre. With its sultry soft eye palette and juicy red lips, this is definitely a favorite for the party season ahead.

K: Kit

Barry M. make-up bag

Just like you, your make-up bag should be cleared out and updated, it’s the most important asset for a woman on the go and you should look after it. Beauty essentials you should have in your kit include powder, compact mirror, lipstick, eyeliner, a blush and shadow (a duo compact preferably), mascara and hair bands. And remember, beauty products have a shelf life – mascara should be renewed after four months max, liquid foundation can last between a year and 18 months, powder, lipsticks and liners last longer (up to three years), and any creams and gels in your cabinet should be thrown out after a year.

L: Luminous complexion

La Prairie opened its first India-based location this past summer

In the scientific way that La Prairie has perfected, skincare and make-up. This season through The Cellular Treatment Center. The product range uses formulas to nourish, firm and hydrate skin, while creating a luminous, flawless finish. At its core is the Anti-Aging Foundation, which effortlessly covers at the same time as stimulating skin cells and enhancing collagen. The range is complimented with a matte or loose powder finish and blush, and comes in eight different shades to suit varying skin tones.

M: Metallics

Nina Ricci, circa Fall 2008

What season would be complete without a smattering of metallics? Models smoldered down the runway at Nina Ricci is sassy shades of copper, bronze and gold. The David Bowie-esque slash through the eye may be a bit extreme it but for party season, shiny eyes are bang on trend – theatrical, opulent and glamorous! Try Bobbi Brown’s new metallic range for eyes and lips which come in Champagne Quartz, Gold Dust, Rock Star and Gilded Pink. They’ve got plenty of shimmer-factor and don’t crease in all the wrong places. Also, Chanel Gold Fever Highlighter, is a fab way to add an all over sparkle.

N: Nude

"Pixi: Pretty and Simple," Petra Strand (owner Pixi Cosmetics)

Pixi’s Dina Makiya says achieving this season’s flawless look is easy. “Start by exfoliating your skin with Pixi Honey & Almond Polish, before applying Pixi Mask-Quick Fix, to hydrate and cleanse,” she says. “Your skin is now ready for make-up and I recommend using Pixi Flawless Vitamin Veil. It’s an excellent lightweight base for flawless skin.”

O: Overnight creams

Clarins Night Creams

Using an overnight cream is more important that using your day cream. Night creams are proven to be more effective as they can get on with the job at hand, which is why it is also important to choose a night cream that targets your ‘troubled’ spots. Whether it’s anti-aging, rejuvenation, hydration or helping with pigmentation, your skin will benefit more from using a ‘specific’ night cream than it will using a ‘specific’ day cream. For daytime protection, try using a good sunblock instead, such as Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 55 PA+++ . Go to a Clarins counter and choose from five different night creams: Bright Plus HP Repairing Brightening Night Cream, Extra-Firming Night Cream "Special" for Dry Skin, Extra-Firming Night Cream for All Skin Types, Gentle Night Cream, Line Prevention Multi-Active Night Cream.

P: Purple

Dior Fall 2008

Miu Miu, Bottega Veneta and Dior were all sporting ‘the’ beauty color of the season: purple. A great transitional color between seasons, purple is a sultry shade that wraps up autumn. Give blue eyes a flash of pop for the party season ahead and wash a purple shimmer over the lids right up to the brow. Add a deeper purple across the lids, and finish with a dark plum liner across the top lid. For lips, opt for an allover matte pout, but keep the rest of face neutral. Try Sephora Colorful Eye Shadow Pour De Prunes its varying purple shades, and M.A.C Technakohl Liner in Purple Dash, to finish.

Q: Question and Answers

The best advice anyone could ever give a budding make-up or skincare junkie is to ask questions. Asking questions can educate a person as well as tell people how to use a certain product correctly. Many sites offer beauty advice, as well as my blog offers many tips, and I personally answer all the comments and questions that are addressed on this blog.

R: Red siren

Kareena Kapoor wears red lips like no other

Go for vampy siren this fall with full red lips to rival Angelina Jolie. “Start by exfoliating your lips,” says Dina Mikiya, “followed by a lip treatment to nourish and condition. I love Pixi Rose Lip Treat, which is a lip plumper and comes with a delicious rose extract. Next, line your lips with a liner – if you want to make them bigger, use the liner outside your natural lip line. All that’s left to do is finish with your favorite red lipstick!” We love Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick in Clarins Red

S: Seventease

Amrita Rao does glam rock

“This trend is revisiting the Glam Rock era with its chic and intensive look. Its back to the discos at Studio 54,” says make-up artist Vimi. “Think morning after with melted liners and smoldering eyes. Plush metallic eye shadows underpin the eye scene this fall.” Try M.A.C Goldmine Eye Shadow, with M.A.C Smolder Eye Kohl and M.A.C Zoom Lash Mascara to recreate this look.

T: TheBalm

Shady Lady is one of the palettes from this girly, sexy line; it includes nine shadows/liners

Youth is both a state of mind and a product of your makeup bag," says Marissa Shipman, founder and CEO of TheBalm. "The brand is fun and nostalgic—perfect for women of all ages." With a "beauty in five minutes" philosophy, TheBalm's multi-use, mega-fabulous products have become their calling card, offering quick fixes and wondrous solutions for a wide range of beauty wants and needs. And their plethora of striking colors and fantastic formulas allow you to release your inner artist to create looks that will keep you looking and feeling forever young.

U: Urban Decay

Eyeshadow Primer Potion is an eye prep for smoother, longer-lasting, crease-proof eyeshadow

Urban Decay is beauty with an edge. It is feminine, dangerous, and fun...appealing to anyone who relishes her individuality and dares to express it. Known for their daring shade names and innovative products (which are all cruelty-free), Urban Decay carries one of the widest selections of color at Sephora—a main reason their brand is so much fun! From a myriad of unique eye products, to performance foundations, and lickable, sexy powders, Urban Decay has always found new ways to excite beauty junkies and makeup artists alike.

V: Vivid colors

Manish Arora Fall 2008

Eyes continue their playful reign with saturated hues of violet, orange and peacock blue as seen at Vivienne Westwood. Brown eyes work best with burnt oranges and gold while blue gleam in cobalt and plum. If you are going for an extra bold look for the eyes, team it with a neutral face for more impact. NARS has fabulous matte and shimmer duos in Jezebel and Rated R, for an instant flash of color.

W:Wow brows

Karisma is known for her full and perfect eyebrows

Brows are making a statement this year – think Brooke Shields circa 1986! Thick, natural and full, you should put away your tweezers because the days of painful plucking are finally over. Invest in a good brow kit and you can’t go wrong. Try Benefit Brow Zing, or Givenchy Eye and Brow Prism, which both include colors that compliment your natural shade and all the tools to shape and blend your brows.

X: X-tra long lashes

Kareena's lashes make her gray green eyes pop even more!

Prepare to be bold with your lashes this season as they just got bigger than ever before. Use everything you can to pump up the volume – if you don’t or can’t do false lashes, then try just adding a few to your outer lash line to create a fuller look. Use everything you can to pump up the volume – try Dior Diorshow Mascara in Azure Blue which offers immediate volume and comes in a sassy navy blue. Or opt for Smashbox Bionic Mascara or Sephora Atomic Volume Mascara, to amp up your lashes.

Y: YSL Touche Eclat

Katrina Kaif swears by YSL Touche Eclat

When Yves Saint Laurent launched Touche Eclat, we’re sure he didn’t think he was about to revolutionize the make-up industry. But with one simple design, this little magic marker became THE must-have beauty product. Covering a multitude of sins, the Touche Eclat is every girl’s best friend, and far from being a seasonal buy, this one is for life!

Z: zzzz

The most important beauty tool is sleep, yet it is often the most ignored. We should be getting a good eight hours a night, but research shows that most women only average between six and seven. While we sleep, our skin renews itself, improving its texture and luminosity – nothing can give you that healthy glow like sleep can. Without enough shut eye your skin will become tired and dull looking, so make sure you include it on your beauty agenda everyday. Try to go to bed before 11pm as this is the time that our vital organs also start to regenerate themselves, and lie flat on your back – burrowing your face in your pillow can create mores lines!

Vimi Joshi: Red She Said

As make-up junkies, chances are you love the bold, fearless vibe of red. But red may freak you out equally, because so many women might get it horribly wrong.

Paint the town red!

Few things look sexier than red on red, yet few things are more difficult to carry off. Start with finding your perfect red dress— look for deep, not bright. Accessorize with a red lippy that's suited to your skin tone. Karima looks almost Grecian in a gorgeous red dress, M.A.C Senior Make-up Artist Vimi Joshi gives us the breakdown:
GET THE LOOK: Dressed in red, your skin tone needs to look perfect. Start with a foundation mixed with a little moisturizer for a dewy look (Vimi loves M.A.C Select SPF 15 Foundation). Apply a soft cream color base (M.A.C Cream Color Base in Bronze is perfect) over the upper eyelid. Vimi used a brown creamy eyeliner (M.A.C Technakohl Liner in Brownborder) to line the eyelids. Extend the liner toward the temples from the lower lids for an Egyptian feel.

A single coat of mascara opens out those peepers even more (M.A.C Plush Lash Mascara works great). Use a crème blush (M.A.C Blushcreme in Lilicent) to highlight the cheekbones. For the lips use a deep red glossy lipstick (On Karima M.A.C Lip Glass in Russian Red).

M.A.C Red She Said Look

EYES

Fill in brows with Lingering Eye Brows and Espresso Eye Shadow using a 266 Brush. Highlight the browbone by sweeping Word-of-Mouth Mineralize Eye Shadow Beige using a 239 Brush. Apply Word- of- Mouth Mineralize Eye Shadow Beige to the inner lid and Grey and Copper to the outer lid with a 252 Brush. Add depth to the crease of your eye with Word- of-Mouth Mineralize Eye Shadow Copper and Grey using a 239 Brush. Line the upper lashline with Engraved Power Point Eye Pencil and a 219 Brush. Amp your lashes with Plushblack Plush Lash Mascara.

CHEEKS

Add a hint of color by applying Enough Said and Stark Naked Beauty Powder Blushes with a 166 Brush lightly on to the cheeks and temples.

LIPS

Line the outer edge of the lips with Brick Lip Pencil. Apply "Red" She Said and Crazee Lipsticks with your 318 Brush. Polish off by using Love Alert Dazzleglass over entire lip

Pro Tips

Just like there's no two girls that seem to have the exact same skin tone, there's no two girls who can swipe their reds and carry it off. If you've lived with the lifelong conviction that red isn't for you—that it makes you look too ghostly, too tarty, too flashy, whatever, take heart; you're not alone. But you are, however, wrong! Here, pro tips by M.A.C Senior Make-up Artist Vimi Joshi to your most fabulous red ever, the color of this season!

Help! My red lipstick makes me look !
There's really so much to choose from when it comes to red! From bluebased violets, orange-based, pink-based to richer browns and tawny golds, choose the right shade of red and it can make you come alive! Pale skinned: Wear reds with a blue, violet or brown undertone. These will merge with your skin. Peachy or orangey reds on the other hand, will stand out strikingly against your complexion. Medium-to-dark skins fare well with deeper reds, with brown or tawny bases. Try deep reds, dark orangey shades or reds tinged with browns. Steer clear of overly pink or violet reds. Dark brown skins look dramatic with pinkish reds, strong fuchsias or orange-based poppy reds. A brown-red will simply fade away, melting into your natural skintone.

Red makes my lips look thin and unattractive!
A dark red lipstick will make your lips appear thinner and smaller, just like a dark-colored outfit lends you a leaner silhouette. If your lips aren't as full, wear peachier or coral shades of red with a generous amount of gloss. Use a lipliner to define the shape of your lips, but please do not let it run outside the edges! Can't stress this one enough—match your lippy and lip liner to a T! A fuller mouth can go with either. However, not with heavy eye makeup. Go lighter on the lips unless you want to do a Goth number. Matte shades look great on thick lips, gloss may be a bit OTT.

Cory Walia and Vimi Joshi's Tips to Look Gorgeous in Minutes

Cory Walia advises not to do the following when in a rush:
It's better to go simple than look like an experiment- don't forget to look at the mirror one last time!

• Hold the foundation: Foundation is not a mask you can hide behind, and applying it in a hurry will always result in a patchy look. The solution: Mix even quantities of foundation and moisturizer and apply for a smooth, glossy, even skin tone.
  
  
• Forgetting mascara! However much you may be pressed for time, do not forget the mascara. It really opens out the eyes and gives you a more 'awake' look!
  
  
• Skip the lip liner: A lip liner takes a bit of talent and time. If in a hurry, skip it and use the lipstick or better still, lip gloss directly.
  
  
• Switch to gloss: Matte lipsticks take time to apply evenly. Just go for lip gloss.
  
  
• Do not experiment: Hold back that new shade of eye shadow or lipstick or even blush if you are not sure how it will look on you. Stick to tried-tested formulas when in a hurry!

Vimi Joshi, M.A.C Senior Artist, gives tips on makeup in a hurry:
If you are running out of time, here are five things she thinks you should do!

• Run to the bathroom and wash your face well; and use a makeup remover to get the day off your face.
  
  
• Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Dab on a cream, body butter, moisturizer, and smooth on till your skin is glossy.
  
  
• Use a kohl pencil and apply mascara for your eyes to really light up!
  
  
• Use a blush from your temples to mid-cheek for a youthful appearance. You may use a darker color on the contours of your cheek to add a more defined look.
  
  
• Lastly, swipe on a glossy lippy, spritz on perfume and step out with confidence!

Make-up Trend: Matte Smokey and Sultry Eyes

Aishwarya still looks bronzed from her World Tour, so Mickey played up her glow with makeup that suited her luminous skin. To give her a, matte smokey eye, Mickey swept a M.A.C Ambiance Eye Shadow from M.A.C Fascinating Ruby Smokey Eye Palette all over her lids followed by M.A.C Gorgeous Eye Shadow on the lids below the crease. He lined her eyes with M.A.C Carbon Eye Shadow by wetting it to define the line, and then smudging that same line with dry eye shadow. He then piled on four layers of M.A.C Plush Lash Mascara to make the eyes pop.

To prevent clumpy mascara, wiggle the wand at the lash roots to separate individual hairs before sweeping the wand along your lashes.

Rec: M.A.C Fascinating Ruby Smokey Eye Palette

Herbal Goddess Shahnaz Hussain Speaks to Vogue India

On skincare tips for winter, particularly on the possibility of an astringent or toner drying out skin during the three-step skincare routine
Oily skin can be an advantage especially during winters and is less likely to age. It is most important to regularly cleanse the face and body to prevent blocked pores that may lead to breakouts of blackheads, whiteheads and acne in general. After washing your face, use a toner made of rose extracts or rose water. Those with oily skin should continue only with an oil-free moisturizer.
An astringent is to remove excess oils; after cleansing your face follow it up with cold compression or a splash of cold water. You can also wipe your skin with cotton ball dipped in cold mint extract. Sometimes it can dry the skin out but one can avoid the situation by applying a moisturiser after wiping the skin with a toner or astringent.

On a cleanser for oily or combination skin
Add lemon juice and rose water to ripe papaya pulp. Apply on the face and wash it off after 20 minutes. Or blend half a cup of oatmeal and one tablespoon curd and apply on the face. Wash it off after 20 minutes.

On a toner for oily and combination skin
To 100 ml rose water, add one-fourth teaspoon pure glycerin and one teaspoon lemon juice. Mix and shake well, keeping in a glass or bottle in the fridge. Or take rose water and cucumber juice in equal quantities and apply on the skin. Rinse off with water after 20 minutes.

On dermabrasion for minimizing acne scars
Blend rice powder and curd, and apply on areas with scars. Rub gently with small circular movements, first clockwise and then anti-clockwise. Leave on for five minutes and wash off with water. This mixture should not be applied on pimples, acne, rash or any eruptions.

On a mask for oily or combination skin
Mix two tablespoons oatmeal, two teaspoon multani mitti, one teaspoon lemon peel powder and enough curd to mix into a thick paste, which does not drip. Apply on the face. After 20 minutes, dampen with water and gently scrub it off the face. Then rinse off.

On a face mask for dry, dehydrated skin
Mix four tablespoons honey, one cup milk and four teaspoons wheat germ oil and store in a refrigerated glass jar covered with a lid. Apply this lotion on the face, neck and hands daily. Rinse with water after 15 minutes. Another option is to blend two teaspoon curd, half teaspoon honey, half teaspoon lemon juice and one-fourth teaspoon wheat germ oil. Apply the mixture on your face and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse off with water.

On an almond meal
Almond meal or ground almonds can be used in scrubs. Pour hot water on the almonds and allow them to soak till the skin comes off. Dry them in an oven, or in the sun, and then grind them into a powder. Similarly, collect orange and lemon peels and dry them in the sun. Crush them and use in scrubs and masks.

On making dull skin glow
Mix one teaspoon each of yogurt, lemon juice and honey, four teaspoons oatmeal and egg white. Apply on face twice a week, avoiding the lips and area around your eyes and wash off after 30 minutes.

On essential nutrients for ageless beauty.
Oils, including flax seed oil, olive oil and sesame oil can also serve as internal moisturizers for smooth, wrinkle-free skin. Lastly, water is essential for skin hydration to keep it moist, soft, supple and clear and help the body to get rid of toxins. Drink at least eight glasses of water daily; intersperse these with fruit juices, including citrus, apple and pineapple; also vegetable juices, especially carrot, tomato and celery

On a remedy for dry hair
Trimming is the only solution to split ends. However, you can prevent its occurrence ensuring the following precautions: Twice a week, heat coconut oil and apply on the scalp and hair. Then dip a towel in hot water; squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for five minutes. Weekly henna treatments will add body and shine. Add four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs, two teaspoons oil and ‘tea water’ to the henna powder, mixing it into a thick paste. Make tea water by boiling used tea leaves again. Cool and strain. Apply the henna on the hair and wash off after an hour with plain water.

On curing blackheads on the nose
You can exfoliate the skin regularly and follow up with a moisturizer to avoid dryness. For skin cleansing you can make a pulp of raw papaya and apply. Papaya has a cleansing action, softening dead skin cells and aiding their removal. Else, mix half teaspoon honey with an egg white and one teaspoon lemon juice. Add fullers earth or brewers yeast powder; mix into a paste and apply. Remove after 20 minutes with water.

On lightening dark circles
Soak a few almonds in milk overnight. In the morning, grind them with the same milk and apply it around your eyes. Wash it off when it dries. If done regularly, it will help you in treating the dark circles to a large extent. Little potato juice mixed with a tsp. of curd and cucumber juice can also be used in the same way.

Make-up Trend: Smooth, Wrinkle-free, SPF-ed Skin

It's cold outside, but that doesn't mean the sun has stopped giving off damaging UV rays. To keep your skin wrinkle-free and baby soft like Juhi Chawla's, apply a good SPF product year round, even when the forecast shows no summer in sight.

If you forget your SPF, stock up on sunscreen towelettes and stash them in your glove compartment, purse and desk. These easy-to-use pads are spiked with anti-oxidants to treat and prevent damage on the go.

Rec: MD Skincare Powerful sun Protection SPF 30 towelettes

Make-up Trend of the Month: Gold Rush

"Gold spells glamour," believes Charmaine Rao, make-up artist, YSL. On Indian skin, it also spells sensuality, opulence and radiance. As most make-up artists will vouch, this is a color that creates a glow like no other. "Gold is a symbol of celebration; it has unbound energy and is a burst of pure luxury. The hue complements Indian skin; it gives it luminosity and ignites a dramatic interplay of light and color," says Dinaz Jehani, brand manager, Shiseido. And with the wedding season upon us, it’s just the color to don. "Yes, gold is definitely going to be big because of the bridal season. Plus the couture fashion week is just over, too. Gold adds an element of richness and sophistication to the entire look," confirms Shailesh Moolya, salon director, Juice Hair.

Pretty Radiance

“Do not overdo it... gold should enhance the skin in a light shimmer and should be blended with elegant tones of brown for a rich diffused finish,” says Jehani. “Use gold on either eyes or lips – never both or else it will look very gaudy,” cautions Meeta Awatramani, training manager, Clarins. She recommends a dull gold for dusky skins and a pale one for fair complexions. Wheat skins can try a bronze-gold shade. In fact, to avoid looking like a jewelery showroom, Moolya recommends using very little to start with and then increasing the color as you go along. He advises sticking to matte textures for the day. “For the evening though, you can just go wild with this color,” he says. Awatramani suggests blending gold with browns, peaches and pinks to get a softer look for the day and merging it with blacks, grays, copper and plums for an intense evening look.

Face Forward

Keep lips subtle and subdued with a warm, pearly golden gloss while eyes go sophisticated and elegant with shimmer. Try Shiseido’s Autumn/Winter 2008 Silky Eye Shadow Quad Q12 Wood Tones, luxurious wood tones that complement the gold lips perfectly, suggests Jehani. For the eyes, use a pure gold shadow or blend gold with bronze or copper for a more subtle effect. Alternatively, just use gold shadow on the center of the eyelid after applying your regular shade, says Moolya. The hot colors this season are graphite grays, electric blues, fiery reds, plums and black and gold, which can be blended well to complete the bewitching eye equation, advises Awatramani. For the rest of the face, a golden bronze rouge on the cheekbones looks fabulous. Make sure you underplay the lips and cheeks if you are focusing on the eyes. “Blend in gold eye shadow with a touch of midnight blue/black at the outer corner of the eyes. Use a cream blush and a beige shade on the lips. On the cheeks, you could dab gold shimmer over your normal blush. If you’re playing down the eyes, go for a luscious pout with a nude gloss with gold hints,” says Rao.

Make-up Trend: Self-Tanner

Usually the only place that will leave you streak-free is at tanning places. . . until now. To get Priyanka Chopra's subtle all-over glow in Dostana, indulge your skin with a body moisturizer spiked with a minimal dose of self-tanner.

Starting a week before you want your tan at its most optimal shade, apply True Blue Spa Glow and Steady each night before you go to sleep—and wake up one shade darker with no blotches in sight!

Rec: True Blue Spa Glow and Steady Daily Moisturizer and Gradual Self-Tanner

Vimi Joshi Tells us How to Get the Bollywood Look

Bollywood is all about drama and color and the vibrant make-up looks never fail to dazzle and amaze. If you love the flawless beauty of Bollywood’s leading actresses, why not bring a touch of Bollywood glamour to your makeup regimen? To help translate the vibrant Bollywood face to everyday, we’ve enlisted Vimi Joshi, Senior Makeup Artist for M.A.C in India to give us some insider tips on how to get the look without going overboard.

“This look takes Bollywood Blue to the extreme,” says Joshi. The heart of any Bollywood look is in the eyes and this is no exception. The drama here comes from the moody blue eyes highlighted with sparkly gold shadow. As is often the case, the makeup is directly inspired by the clothing and jewelery. The key to translating this look to the real world is to simplify.
Face
Bollywood skin is flawless so start with a good foundation/tinted moisturizer (M.A.C Select Tint). “For this look create a beautiful bronze skin tone (M.A.C Powder Bronzer) and define cheekbones with a warm peachy blush (M.A.C Melba Powder Blush),” says Joshi.
Eyes
The best way to approach this look is to think of it as a smokey eye using blue instead of black or grey. Remember, it can be easy to get carried away so build the color gradually—a little goes a long way and you don’t need a lot of shadow to capture the essence of this look. Give your eyes a little extra glimmer with a touch of gold shadow dotted on the inside corners of the eyes.
Vimi's Recs: M.A.C Electric Eel Eye Shadow; M.A.C Plumage Eyeshadow; M.A.C Gorgeous Gold; M.A.C Auto De Blue Technakohl Liner
Lips
The lips here are intense and red but in real life, if you have a smokey blue eye, the last thing you want to do is create an equally strong lip. Go instead for a nude, peachy gloss (M.A.C Love Nectar Lustreglass) to create a lip that’s subtle but full.


The emphasis here is on the eyes (again!) but instead of being moody and smoldering, this look is young, fresh and sweet. Want to carry your Bollywood look into the spring season but aren’t sure how (or even if) it can be done? Vimi Joshi shows us how.
Face
Instead of glowing, bronzed skin, this look calls for porcelain perfection. Use a good foundation (M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid Foundation) and concealer (M.A.C Studio Finish Concealer) to cover up any blemishes and a pressed powder (M.A.C Select Sheer Pressed Powder) to eliminate shine. For the cheeks, the look is less sculpted sophistication, more blushing bride. Apply a pretty pink blush (M.A.C Pink Swoon Powder Blush) to the apples of the cheeks to help create a fresh, youthful face.
Eyes
The eyes here are lit up with the colors of Bollywood and heavily lined. “Bring this look into every day by using a green toned eyeliner (M.A.C Jade Way Technakohl Liner) to define the under eyes and a wash of pink eye shadow (M.A.C Pink Venus Eye Shadow) on the lids,” says Joshi. Accentuate the look using black gel liner (M.A.C Black Track Fluidline) along the lash line. Finish with a generous application of mascara (M.A.C Pro Lash Mascara).

Lips
This look is a celebration of youthfulness, spring and fresh-faced beauty. Capture the essence of spring renewal with the subtle shine of a pretty pink lip gloss (M.A.C Lust Tinted Lipglass). Add a dot of shimmer to the center of the lip to plump them up and capture the light.

Make-up Trend: Bright Pink Lips

Dia Mirza sported a pop of pink for a dark, yet sexy photo shoot. The darker your skin tone, the more pigment you can wear. If you have light skin, try either a deep color in a sheer formula or a light shade in an opaque lipstick.

Pink protocol: Make-up artist Ambika Pillai decided to keep with the rockstar/punk look Dia was aiming for. She gave her a loud mouth, even though Dia has a light complexion. To make it work, she echoed the color on her cheeks and kept her eyes smokey and sultry with loads of charcoal liner, to give it a girly twist she winged the liner on her top lids.

Rec: Make Up For Ever Flourescent Orange Pink 203 Lipstick

Make-up Trend: Peachy Cheeks

Time to warm up, ladies! With temperatures beginning to drop, a welcome burst of warm peach gives any face a touch of color, and a peachy shade works on every skin tone, like Amrita Rao shows us.

Even the softest blush brush can sometimes leave streaks of color. To blend away a goof, dust face powder over the area and swipe over it with a makeup wedge.

Rec: Makeup For Ever Sculpting Blush in Satin Light Peach

Vimi Joshi's Make-up Breakdowns

Nude doesn't mean that you wash all makeup off your face, and leave it plain without any. It means makeup so soft, glossy, and shimmery that no one notices you are wearing it. The idea is to look natural yet chic. In fact, most guys say they hate their girlfriends all caked-up! The trick is to use makeup to hide imperfections and to bring out your best features, subtly.

A dollop of moisturizer
Nude is about plump, soft, glossy skin. So moisturizing. Says Vimi Joshi, M.A.C, “I can't stress moisturizing enough. To make your skin look glossy and full of health, just apply a dollop of your favorite moisturizer and smooth it in, till your skin feels dewy!”
Vimi's favorite: M.A.C Lightful Daily Moisturizer

A flawless complexion
Stand in front of a brightly lit mirror; scrutinize your face carefully. Skip the foundation to avoid a caked-up look. Go with concealer (M.A.C Select Moisturecover) instead, and using a brush, dab it over each blemish (if any) and blend it in with your fingers. Now, for a soft glow: Use a luminizer (M.A.C Strobe Liquid) and dot it on the areas you would like to highlight, such as cheekbones and brow bones. Apply a soft pink blush (M.A.C Mineral Blush in Dainty) to the apples of your cheeks and apply a bronzer (M.A.C Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit) to the hollows of your cheeks as well as places the sun naturally hits first—your brow bones, nose, and collar bones. For all over radiance, dust the blush lightly onto your forehead, tip of the nose, and chin.

For soulful peepers
A nude look for the eyes to dazzle in the daytime: Kohl-lined eyes with just a plain cream-based eyeshadow base (M.A.C Cream Colour Base in Fawntastic); Pink or beige eyeshadow from the M.A.C Classic Eyes Palette, with mascara (M.A.C Plush Lash Mascara) to open up your eyes dramatically; Soft gold shimmer (M.A.C Goldmine Eye Shadow) on the eyelids, with or without mascara; Soft silver shimmer (M.A.C Silver Dusk Iridescent Loose Powder), with some kohl and no eyeshadow, but softly lined eyes in green, blue, black or gray (M.A.C Minted, Hyacinth, Smolder, Phone Number Eye Kohl).

A nude look to dance the night away
Smoky eyes, but not just in black. Create smoky in different Says Vimi, "Begin with lining your eyes with kohl (M.A.C Smolder Eye Kohl), lower and upper lid, for a dramatic effect. Now add color of your choice to lower lids: Navy, emerald, bronze, purple and of course black (M.A.C Naval, Humid, Espresso, Contrast, Carbon Eye Shadow). Using a Q-tip, the shadow from the outside corner in. Add more black and smudge it in for a darker, edgier look, some mascara (M.A.C Plush Lash Mascara) and soft beige on the upper eyelids (M.A.C All That Glitters Eye Shadow)... and you're done." Another look you could try is by applying shimmer on the upper and lower eyelids with a bronze eyeliner (M.A.C Rich Ground Fluidline) and silver shimmer on the eyes (M.A.C Silver Dusk Iridescent Loose Powder) with a grey smoky (M.A.C Print and Carbon Eye Shadow) on the lower lid.

For a kissable pout
Pink, beige, golden (M.A.C Lipglass in Nymphette, C-Thru, Instant Gold), use gloss in any of these shades, but keep it soft and shimmery. Dab an extra bit in the middle of your pout to add volume. It will create an illusion of fuller lips and give you that perfect nude look.

M.A.C'S NUDE LOOK

What happens when we get Vimi Joshi of M.A.C to describe her perfect nude look? Pure magic! Here’s her version of fashionable nude!

1. Vimi begins with Studio Fix Fluid Foundation to make the skintone even. Then perfect the face with dabs of Select Cover-Up Concealer.
2. Line the eyes with Smolder Eye Kohl, lightly smudged them for a smokey look. Fawntastic Cream Color Base adds gloss to the upper eyelids, and then Zoom Lash Mascara gave a dramatic and yet nude look.
3. Contour the with Mineralize Skinfinish Duo in Dark/Natural And Shimmer.
4. For the lips, use Pretty Plush Plushglass.

Make-up Trend: Drama-ful Lashes

Tara Sharma is anything but a drama queen. However, her lashes are another story. To get the same look, place long and medium individual lashes along her lash line, then sweep four coats of mascara on top once the lash glue is dry. The result was head-turning luscious lashes!

Before applying false lashes, draw a line of glue onto the back of your hand. Wait until it's tacky (about 10 seconds), then dip the root of the fake lash in. Press the root knot into the base of your lash line and hold for five seconds to make it stick.

Rec: Hourglass Superficial Mascara in Carbon

S/S 2009 Make-up Trends: Surily Goel

On the opening day of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, metallic textures was already being etched out as one of the biggest cosmetic trends for spring. "I used a combination of shimmer and cream textures around the eyes," said make-up artist Ambika Pillai, who was working to Surily Goel's youth-quake vibe with silver lids (Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Uzi) and fuchsia lips (NARS Lipstick in Funny Face).

Ambika began by evening out the skin tone with foundation (Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation). Next, she brushed metallic silver shadow liberally on to the lids, advising, "The best brushes are domed and fluffy, which makes the shadow easier to apply." (M.A.C Adoring Carmine Brush Sets) With the eye color in place, Ambika brushed the lashes with volumizing mascara (Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara) and perfected brows with a pencil (Anastasia Go Brow - Universal Brow Pencil). She then enhanced the cheekbones with a contouring and highlighting powder duo (Benefit 10), before patting a fuchsia color on the lips.

Make-up Trend: Fresh, Youthful Skin

Women everywhere are coming up with creative ways to use old products. Warm up a pale foundation by adding a touch of gel bronzer to the bottle. Shake well to blend. The goal is to give your too-pale base a nice lift of color. It's a great oil-free way to get a little extra glow

If beauty chemistry isn't your thing, Freedman suggests dabbing a touch of gel bronzer and pale foundation to the back of your hand, then blending into skin to get a youthful glow like Kareena Kapoor's.

Rec: Clinique True Bronzing Gel for the Face

S/S 2009 Make-up Trends: Shyamal & Bhumika

Shyamal Bhumika's collection was a colorful mix of ghumerdaar lehangas, kalidar angarkhas, anarkali kurtas, patchwork dresses and saris. Make-up artist Cory Walia unified the varying styles with strong enduring eyes and sixties-inspired winged eyeliner.

"Skip the kohl inside the eyes for it might end up looking like stage make-up," he advised. "The make-up was inspired by a young Sharmila Tagore. It was a modern interpretation of that look," he added, referring to the smoky eye, defined brow, and pale lip he fashioned for the show.

While it appears labor intensive, Walia maintains it can be recreated at home. The first step was thickening and defining the models' brows with a soft taupe brow pencil. For the eye, he applied charcoal shadows on the lid from the Tarte Eye Couture Day-To-Night Eye Palette, and then layered a darker hue above from the same palette. A creamy beige matte shadow was blended under the brow as a highlighter. For a night out on the town, he recommends playing up lashes with volumizing mascara.

Walia's winged lid called for minimal make-up on cheeks and lips. He used a mild peach blush (NARS Deep Throat Blush) to give cheeks a healthy flush. "The skin was left as fresh as possible to keep it youthful," he said. To make the complicated blush application simple, Walia shares, "The safest blush is when you apply along the cheekbone and blend in a circular motion outward, moving up towards your temple. If your blush is blended parallel to the angle of your jaw line you can't go wrong."