New Woman: Shades N' Tresses Part 2 [April 2010]

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Genelia D'Souza's Speaks to Vogue India Beauty

Genelia's beauty must-haves: Use a good moisturizer for a cleaner, fresher look and some tinted blush on cheeks to add an instant pop of color to the face.

Day and night looks: I like my day look to be as simple as possible; fresh skin, some kajal, a light blush, mascara and sun block. Bright eyes are a must for a night out. I love experimenting with different colored eye shadows: sky blue and aquamarine to name a few, and hues of purple for eyeliners. They work amazingly in accentuating my eyes.

Date-night look: Sun-kissed skin, nude or pink lips and bright eyes.

Spa fix: A protein treatment and hair spa from Kroma Kay is an absolute must.

Hair Tips: You should condition your hair before a blow-dry and it is vital to get all the conditioner washed off your hair. I don't like to use a lot of product on my hair and set it in a particular way while blow-drying; I usually just ease it out a bit, I like my hair shiny and full of volume.

Vimi Joshi's Pro Tips for Winter '10

• Dark and smoky eyes are in.
  
  
• Neon orange and neon magenta lips are fashionable and apply in layers.
  
  
• In order to get to the contours of your skin, always apply a generous amount of moisturizer to soothe and even the skin before applying makeup. This immediately refreshes sallow skin.
  
  
• Dab some lip liner if you don't want heavy coated lipstick.

Verve's Beauty Forecast [January]

Beauty and make-up trends tend to change subtly from season to season. So, every year the color schemes follow a palette similar to the previous one – though usually with a slight noticeable twist. We would normally not change the colors for the foundation and concealers that we use as they depend on our skin tone, but while making up our eyes, lips, hair and nails it’s best to keep in sync with the current trends. Verve asks experts for the latest lowdown for 2010!

Emphasized Eyebrows

At one time the eyebrow was probably one of the most undervalued features of the face but as fashions changed, people began paying more and more attention to it. The 1920s were all about thin and straight brows; arches dominated the 1950s and Brooke Shields’ infamous bushy eyebrows brought us the ‘untamed’ look in the 1980s.
The current trend focuses on accentuating your brows. “Eyebrows are important this season; the emphasis is on thick and dark brows which highlight the expression of your eyes. The trick is to fill in your brows with the appropriate color – black or brown – using a dark pencil, depending on what works best for you. You need to emphasize your eyebrows and make them stand out,” says Meeta Awatramani, training manager, Clarins, India. This look works best for Indians as we are already blessed with nice, shapely eyebrows; it balances the face and is easier to maintain.

Power Eyes

Eye make-up visibly changes every season, particularly from summer to winter. Make-up and hair stylist Vipul Bhagat says, “Bright colors always work well for me. My current favorites are black or silver glitter over the eyelids.” He recommends even shades like blue, green, bronze and yellow. Applying a shade of grey or black to the corners of your eyelids tones down the bright effect.
The long slanted liner is a big rage now. “You need to exaggerate the contour all the way to the temple. If you have a really steady hand then follow the shape of your eyelid with an eye-liner and just pull a bit at the ends. If you are not comfortable using the liner, use a brush and eyeshadow for a similar look,” advises make-up artist, Kapil Ghatge.

Voluptuous Lips

Dark, bold lips in almost neon shades are huge this season. Focusing on just the lips and keeping the rest of your make-up – like eyes and cheeks toned down – really brings out this look. Although deep shades of reds, pinks and oranges are in, remember that these shades are ‘high maintenance’. They need to constantly be touched up, as the colors start wearing off. “Use them in the day only if you are sitting in an air-conditioned environment or when you are going out in the night,” suggests Bhagat.

Voluminous Lashes

An essential part of making a fashion statement, they are now available in different colors and according to the size of your eyes. The most commonly used colors are brown and black, as they are the most natural and easy to pull off. People are even adorning their lashes with crystals and sequins! Artificial eyelashes open out your eyes making them look bigger, bolder and prettier. But they are tricky to wear on your own. If you are unable to put them on, the best option would be to double up on the mascara to enhance your peepers. “Make your lashes long and extremely voluminous in 2010!” says Tashnu Khariwala, brand manager, Shiseido.

Lustrous hair

Straight hair is out! Waves are in. Volume will continue to be a big trend this year. “For people who don’t like to experiment too much with their hair, it is advisable to maintain mid-length locks with soft waves. If you don’t mind a little bit of experimentation, you can try anything from the ’60s-inspired short bobs to the pixie cuts that are back,” urges hair stylist Raika Vaswani. Hair colour seems to have changed quite a bit for the upcoming year. Deep shades of brown, plums, shades of auburn and mahogany along with bright bold red and black undertones, with maybe a lavender hue, would work best for us.

Bright/Dark Nails

We use our hands for everything we do, so maintaining them is important. The nail polish can speak volumes about a woman – if it’s a shade of red you know that the woman wants to look sexy; black indicates daring and a French manicure is a clue that someone is playing it safe and simple. Matte manicures are making a strong comeback for 2010. Gel and acrylic nails have also been around for sometime now and are still in, in a big way – be it digital prints on nails or the regular French manicure. Make-up artist Ritika Karna says, “French-manicured acrylic nails are the most practical as they don’t need to be constantly touched up and look very elegant.” For nail colours the palette is varied, they can be anything from bright orange, yellow, red, pink, cool blues, purples and black which is still trendy.

Cory Walia on Bollywood's Emerging Make-up Trends

From Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Raveena Tandon, Salman Khan to Aamir Khan, Shilpa Shetty to Vidya Balan, Cory Walia knows their faces like the back of his hand. Not known to be a man who minces words when it comes to advising stars on skincare, Cory credits former Miss World, Aishwarya Rai with having good skin. "But she is so hyper and does not rest enough," he says.

Of the former Bollywood actors, he rates Late Divya Bharati's skin as the best he has seen. ‘‘She had gorgeous skin. Hema Malini still maintains great skin and so does Dimple Kapadia," he says. As for male stars, Cory says Dino Morea has great skin. ‘‘He is careful about his skincare regime and is paranoid about it.''

How much has make-up on the big screen changed over the years?
It has changed drastically and dramatically! There is a new crop of internationally-trained, sophisticated make-up artists. Then there is the opening up of the Indian economy, and especially the cosmetics industry. Cosmetics were considered frivolous and heavily taxed. Today, it is the other way round. It is a hungry and growing market: big money, an influx of producers, globalization, sophisticated directors, producers, technical crew, the stars themselves and make-up artists, advances in lighting and camera technology and equipment have all contributed to the change! Today, the make-up that a socialite wears to a party is easily translated to a Bollywood look.

Which actors have really good skin?
There are quite a number of them. Raveena Tandon, Malaika Arora, Amrita Arora, Tabu, Manisha Koirala, Kareena Kapoor, Sushmita Sen and Dia Mirza. Hema Malini still maintains great skin, and so too does Dimple Kapadia. Sarika, Poonam Dhillon and Jayalalitha have such beautiful skin. But Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Asha Parekh did not. Nor did Madhuri Dixit Nene have very good skin.

When it comes to skincare, many of the present day actors are lazy. They over-work and don't give their skin time to revitalize. They do not take enough vitamins, drink enough water, eat a balanced diet or exercise; it's a combination of everything. A lot of people rely on genetics but like everything else, skin is prone to the effects of gravity. The new advances in technology are helping a lot of women, and hopefully everyone will care enough about themselves and not about their bank balance.

In fact, male actors are more conscious and aware of skincare than many of their female counterparts. Examples? Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Shahid Kapur and John Abraham. Salman Khan had good skin, but it's not so now. Arjun Rampal has naturally good skin.

Are there any companies that make make-up products for teenage skin?
There is no such thing like a range of make-up for teens. In today's world, all make-up brands emphasize skincare strongly and, if the quality of make-up is good, anybody from 16 to 60 can use it.

Are there actors for whom make-up has really worked wonders?
If an actor's features are in the correct proportion and if the person is really talented, he or she can look like a million bucks – just look at Konkona Sen Sharma. Nargis Dutt used to have very masculine features but look what great camera work, lighting, styling and sheer acting talent made her look like on screen. There were so many unglamorous roles that the Late Smita Patil took on, but even in them she looked gorgeous. My muse is Chitrangada Singh; I love her looks. She is such a wonderful girl with earthy demeanor and sophistication. She is very intelligent too.

What colors work best on people with dark skin tones?
If used correctly, every color looks great on any skin. It is important to learn about proportions. Strong deep metallic eye shadows are the way to go. I swear by kajal [kohl] and I also like the classic, deep, matte red lipstick, when combined with a basic eyeliner, you get a great look.

How best can one translate reel life make-up to real life?
Find an identifiable person that you actually resemble. Do not just go chasing your dreams and desires; be realistic. Then emulate and observe, emulate and observe. Look at magazines, check out interviews and find out where your personal individual styling stands. Read tips and learn more about them.

You have a strong view about the role of eye brows in make-up...
I feel they are the welcoming features of our face. The way you shape your eyebrows can make or mar a look. If your eyebrows are untidy and unkempt, your eyes may not look attractive. Sadly, there is a new trend of shaving off eyebrows. Imagine, actors shaving off their eyebrows!

Which Bollywood film stars' life completely changed after you gave them some tips?
Raveena Tandon, for one. I did her eyebrows for the very first time in her life. I told her to not to worry about her nose. I told her how to combine dark eyes and light lips and light eyes and dark lips. The other person who took my advice seriously a long time ago was Salman Khan. I told him how he needed to hold himself taller. There are a few things a man should do to look sophisticated, like use a deodorant and mouthwash.

How much make-up do you use on yourself?
I used to apply a lot of make-up on a daily basis and even at night. Now I use it only when I am preparing for television shows. When I was younger, I used to wear make-up when heading to a club. In fact, I was the pioneer of the make-up on men movement in India.

So are actors using make-up in their day-to-day life?
I do not know of men who use make-up in their day-to-day life but I can tell you for sure that in old Bollywood, it was a norm. Before Eastman color hit the big screen in India in the 1960s, actors like Shammi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Rajendra Kumar and Pradeep Kumar wore foundation base in purple and, over this, pink make-up. They always wanted to look fair. When you see some of the old films Jeetendra's acted in, you can't miss the way his face was painted.

Tells us about your tie up with Inglot?
My association with Inglot is pretty new but for the last couple of years, I've been a big fan of the brand – of their quality and of the payoff. Color payoff is very important; what you see in the container and what appears on the face usually differs hugely. But I am very happy with Inglot. Besides, they have a huge range available.

Finally, what are a few things every woman must keep a check on?
Water intake (eight glasses a day), shapely eyebrows, regular skincare and maintaining a good body posture. If you have a good posture and carry yourself well, even an average person can look enigmatic and dynamic.

Fall Make-up Trends: Dark make-up

Make-up is a creative art. That fact cannot be stressed enough. For women who are adventurous, there are no rules except the rule of aesthetic excess. While colors come and go, what never fails to stake its claim in make-up repeatedly is the deep and dark look. A look that deliberately keeps colour, as we often see it, off the palette. The result is a portrait of pure mystery powered by the enigma of black and shades that approximate it without being it.
Black is an absolute and it wields absolute power. When used well (in make-up), it is a mark of genius artistry that combines intrigue, temptation and even rebellion. It is a perfect way to highlight the beauty of a woman while cloaking her in a deep mystery and allure. But black is not a place where no light or color can reach. It's a place where the two attributes appear in a completely new context.
This season, trendsetters have been drawn to this bold ‘color' with pure passion. "Fall-Winter 2009 is all about the black eye and the black lip," says Vimi Joshi, M.A.C senior make-up artist for Middle East and India. "I celebrate any woman who dares to go all out and wears black make-up."
Years ago, Chanel was among the pioneers who ushered in a dark make-up palette with rich, dark lipsticks and pure black nail lacquer. This season, reprising its original theme, Peter Philips, global creative director of Chanel make-up, offers the Noirs Obscurs collection.
"Classic black make-up is a popular look that was inspired by a few women rebelling against society," says Joshi. "In contemporary times, films like Twilight have contributed strongly to promoting this look."
Sarah Baldry, chief make-up artist for L'Oréal Paris at the Dubai Fashion Week, has another view of the allure of dark make-up. "Your eyes," she says, "reveal a lot about your personality. But when you use dark make-up on them, you are creating intrigue as your true self is camouflaged. Black is a very mysterious look, an attention getter like no other."
But before you get tempted to use this glamorous camouflage on yourself, a word of advice: such make-up oscillates between a softer, romantic look (aimed to create a dark seductive quality) or a daring, rebellious look (that does well to raise images of the gothic era). While the softer version goes very well on women in their thirties, the classic goth look is more for youngsters burning up the club floor. Dark make-up is also endlessly creative and amenable to clever tricks and streaks. If you don't wish to be full-on daring by wearing black lips, veer off a bit and mix in deep plums or intense violets. For eyes, the smoky look is a timeless classic and the darker it gets, the more interesting it becomes. The slept-in look that works so well on waifish, sultry, pouty faces can be adopted by others even if their pouts are not a mile long or their designer sulks anything close to traffic-stoppers.

How to wear Black

L'oreal

According to Sarah Baldry, chief make-up artist for L'Oréal Paris at the Dubai Fashion Week, the focus in this look is on the eyes. The best way to achieve intense eyes is to keep the skin as light as you can without looking deathly white. As powder tends to dehydrate certain skin types, use a good moisturizing cream to nourish your skin. Use a foundation that creates a matte flawless effect and set it with loose powder. Take into consideration your skin tone (lighter or darker) in order to choose the correct shade of foundation and powder.
For the eyes, use a beige eyeshadow as a base over the lids and as a highlight under the brows. Then apply two shades of black eyeshadow over the lids. Use black kohl to define the upper and lower lash lines and draw a fine line with a silvery white kohl pencil inside the lower lash line. This works like a light bulb! Use a peach blush to contour cheek bones. For lips, use a coral lipgloss after lining them with a nude lipliner. A sultry, flawless overall effect is guaranteed.

Chanel

The key is to experiment and explore all dimensions of black, according to Peter Philips. He recommends deep and intense tones to compose a bold and graphic palette. Regardless of age or skin tone, the collection can be adapted to any occasion as long as you calibrate the intensity accordingly. For daytime, it's either dark lips or dark eyes. Not both at the same time. For the evening look, creating the perfect complexion is a must to show off the black. Choose a luminous foundation that will electrify the effect of black. Shade the eyes subtly by applying a light layer of eyeshadow.
For very intense and dramatic eyes, intensify the eyeshadow by using more layers. Use other eye shadows to complement, structure and intensify eye make-up. Apply black pencil in the inner waterline of the eyes and an eyeliner too for more intensity. Finish by dressing eyes with Exceptionnel de Chanel Mascara or Inimitable Mascara. Perfect the lips with your choice of dark color.
And yes, most importantly, don't forget to color coordinate your nails. It's black down to the fingertips.

M.A.C Cosmetics

"Dark make-up is meant to be worn either way: a classic black smoky eye with a nude lip which is very trendy or the bold smoky black eye with a black lip," says Vimi Joshi. To get more comfortable with it for real-life wear, pale down the skin tone and go for smoky eyes with nude lip!
Apply M.A.C Studio Tech Foundation, making sure it matches your skin tone exactly. The foundation starts off as a cream and sets to a powder. To create a beautifully contoured face, add Mineralize Skinfinish in Dark under the cheekbones, on the temples and around the jawline. Create a black smoky eye: black eye pencil lined in inner and upper corners of the waterline (inside eyes), smudged with a pencil brush and blended to a smoky effect. Add black eyeshadow on the lids and blend into the socket line using a blending brush. Coat the lashes with black mascara. If you want extra drama, add on a dark lip: M.A.C Burgundy Lip Pencil and M.A.C Diva Lipstick are perfect for this glamorous Twilight-inspired look.
Women in their thirties; create a smoky black eye, but go for classical red lips. Teenagers Be as daring as you want. Age is on your side.

Make Up For Ever

This look is all about dark eyes, lips and nails. To prepare your skin to offset this darkness beautifully, lighten your complexion using a light shade primer (blue shade). Go for a lighter shade of foundation (one to two shades lighter). Fix your foundation with a loose powder.
Sculpt your face to show contouring. Focus on the cheeks. Use a light shade of waterproof eyebrow gel as the eyebrows should appear colored. Apply a matte concentrated and long-lasting black eyeshadow around the eyes. Pay special attention to the outer corner of the eyes to perfect the smoky look. Add a hint of dark shadow under the eyes. An intensely black kohl pencil to line under the eyes works as a masterstroke. Stick on false eyelashes and dress them in pure black waterproof mascara. Outline your lips with a waterproof lip pencil - matte dark plum. Fill in with dark maroon lippy. As a final touch, spray a light film of make-up fixer to give your make-up longer after-hours.

Vimi Joshi's Pointers on How to be Red Carpet Ready [DIFF '09]

She's been in charge of the Dubai International Film Festival for years together, today she shares her tips on how to look camera ready all the time.

• Ensure that your skin is hydrated.
  
  
• Use M.A.C Prep and Prime Skin to achieve a gorgeous velvety texture for your skin.
  
  
• Choose a foundation shade that matches your skin tone exactly.
  
  
• Groom your eyebrows and ensure that they look clean and well balanced.
  
  
• Contour your cheek bones with dark powder and add a wash of pink blush on the apples of your cheeks.
  
  
• Define your lips using a lip pencil and add a fresh coat of lip gloss that matches your lip liner.
  
  
• Smokey eyes are great for the red carpet: line your inner, lower and upper eyes with eye kohl and blend around the shape of your eyes.
  
  
• Round it off with generous amounts of mascara.

Lip service

• No time for a makeover? Lipstick will take your look from day to night.
  
  
• DARK SKINTONES: Opt for red/bronze and burgundy colors. Try M.A.C Burgundy Lip Pencil with M.A.C Ornamental Lustreglass.
  
  
• FAIR SKINTONES: Opt for pink and plummy colors. Try M.A.C Plum Lip Pencil with M.A.C Lust Lustreglass.

Essentials for your clutch:

• M.A.C Blot Film for quick touch-ups.
  
  
• Your lip gloss to reapply or freshen your lip color.
  
  
• Mascara and kohl to intensify your smokey eyes.
  
  
• A camera to take pictures!

Make-up Artists' Advice in Beauty India Magazine

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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!
   

Deepika's Take on Beauty, Fitness and Make-up

She’s gorgeous, successful and stunningly beautiful. Compliment her about her looks and she says matter-of-factly, “Beauty is merely skin deep. Yes, I need to look good but I am not overly obsessed with being beautiful. In fact, I am quite happy with what God’s given me. Beauty to me is basically looking after myself.”

Gorgeous Skin: “As an actress , makeup is my best friend. But when I am not shooting, I avoid wearing makeup. My skin needs to breathe so I stick to the basics like moisturizer and lip balm. My daily skincare regimen involves cleansing, toning and moisturizing. Healthy skin needs mild cleansing, for which I use gentle soaps. I also keep my skin clean by going for regular cleanups. I am really not into facials so I mostly avoid them. Also, I am very particular about removing my makeup before I go to bed.”

Body Beautiful: “A healthy body should be a priority for everyone – I make it mine too! My dad (former badminton champ Prakash Padukone) has inculcated in me the value of being fit. I start off with a rejuvenating weekly body massage with lukewarm coconut or baby oil. I also drink a lot of water as the body needs proper hydration. It also keeps the skin supple.”

Fit Facts: “I work out as often as possible. Since I am regularly traveling, it becomes difficult to have a daily workout routine but whenever I hit the gym, I do cardio and light weights. I have an athletic body, thanks to the years I dedicated to badminton, but I do concentrate on my butt area.”

Eating Right: “I absolutely love food but I always make sure I have a balanced diet with enough carbs and proteins, and am also very particular about dietary proportions. I have three main meals in a day, breakfast being the most important of them all. I love eating South Indian food but since it can be heavy sometimes, I try and balance it by say, having a dosa minus the potato filling. If I am having eggs, I eat egg-whites only and if I have idlis, I substitute coconut chutney with mint chutney.”

Beauty Buzz: “Simple and quick! A healthy lifestyle, nutritious diet and the correct skincare and fitness regimen all go hand in hand to make possible a beautiful you today and tomorrow. I am a firm believer in skincare... the natural way. One should never try to go overboard on any products, as I think the more you experiment with your skin, the worse it gets. Always stick to the basics of skincare.”

Make-up Fixes: “Makeup artistes can give you any amount of makeup tips but just remember one should never put too many good things together; they all get lost. Let few great things shine through. For instance, if I enhance my eyes with kohl, I keep my lips bare or just dab some lip balm. And honesty, the less the makeup, the less plastic you look.”

Tip of the Day by M.A.C Senior Artist Vimi Joshi [8]

Vimi's tweet tip of the day: What a beautiful look to do! Mix Studio Sculpt Foundation with the new oils make the skin look incredible. Its my new favorite technique.

Verve's Bridal Beauty Handbook

A bride is expected to look her glowing best. Add to that seasonal and environmental woes and you have a recipe for potential stress. Here are the experts to give you the latest lowdown on different looks for winter, summer and monsoon. Be eternally gorgeous!

Brrr Beauty

“Winter light is softer and more diffused, which allows you to use deep jewel tones,” suggests Asif Rajan of Asif - The Salon. If you’re getting married during the cold season, think of a sensual palette that includes browns, gold, burgundies, deep greens and plums. “If you’re a day bride, stay away from shimmer and glitter. Instead, keep it subtle and soft. Leave the bling for after sunset,” advises Stafford Braganza, head make-up artist, Lancôme. Colors like topaz, quartz and jade enhance the beauty of the eyes, while shades like metallic browns and pinks look very bridal and festive on the lips. Complete the look with a bronze or sun-kissed blusher, says Sushma Khan, national trainer, skin, Lakmé Salon. “Use a bit of sheen on the lips to make them look voluptuous. Smokey eyes look beautiful. And you can use coffee and cinnamon shades to get a sultry effect. A winter bride can use black or dark brown mascara after using eyeliner,” Tashnu Khariwala, brand manager, Shiseido, says.

“You can tie up hair for the day while soft curls look great for the evening,” recommends Placid Braganza of Placid Salon. Dr Snehal Sriram, head medical services, Kaya Skin Clinic, advises you to drink 12 glasses of water every day even if you don’t feel thirsty. “In winter, cellular growth slows down so there is accumulation of dead skin cells. To recharge skin, take a gentle exfoliation like microdermabrasion or light peels. Follow it up with hydrating treatments – moisturising masks, deep moisturisers and see your skin looking soft, supple and fresh,” she adds.

Rainy Days

“Keeping in mind the rain, sea blue tones look lively. Colors close to nature like earthy hues and rose also work depending on your skin tone,” says Asif. Monsoon light is very dull. So use a waterproof foundation with a light dusting of strong vibrant powder to add a healthy burst of colour. The humidity will create a natural sheen to your skin, so stick with a matte application of foundation. “Soft matte lipsticks are preferable but you can also use a soft brown or pink shade with sheer gloss. Be careful as glosses can be washed off in this weather,” says Stafford. For eyes, go with lighter, more natural shades like aqua and green. Light colors like light brown, beige and pink are equally nice for the monsoon bride. Apply one or two coats of waterproof mascara. Instead of the regular eyebrow pencil, go for creamy waterproof filler. Keep up with your tweezing/threading.

“Hair will get fizzy and will be harder to maintain for more detailed styles. Use a good leave-in conditioner and hair serum through your length. Get your stylists to blow dry post a good spritzing of an anti-frizz setting lotion to help prolong the look and smooth finish of your hair,” says Asif.

During monsoon, skin gets wet more often than usual and can either become very dry and prone to acne or it can become oily and attract dirt and pollutants. “To reduce skin-related problems, clean your face twice a day with a suitable cleanser, preferably one with salicylic or lactic acid. Apply a suitable moisturiser twice a day and an alcohol-free tonic only on oily areas. Ensure you use a water resistant sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going out even on dull days,” advises Snehal.

Summer Stunner

“The summer bride is a delightful contrast to the winter bride; she’s marked by delicacy and sensuality,” observes Khan. Soft bronzes, pastels and tans are all excellent choices in creating a fresh summer look. Set your foundation with a translucent powder and apply an iridescent powder over cheekbones and temple to give a luminous glow to the face. With a large rounded brush, contour jawline and hollow of cheeks with a powder, then apply a rosy blush on the apples of the cheek, creating a natural glow. Experiment by trying colours like orange-red, orange-gold, copper and warm beiges, creams and caramels or cool fuchsias, magentas, blue-reds, shades of lilac and pinks that make lips look plush and full, suggests Stafford. Eye make-up during the day should also be light. In fact, you can leave out eyeliner and pencil and line your eyes with brown eye-shadow. Then apply mascara. This helps darken eyes without heavy eye make-up. “For night, make-up can be heavier, lining the lids with eyeliner or pencil. If using eyeliner, smudge the line with a sponge applicator. This gives a smokey effect and is better than that harsh black line. Use a frosted highlight (white or very pale colour) on the brow bone and shine on the eyelids,” Tashnu says.

For hair, try not to experiment with too much colour or excessive chemical treatments. Instead condition your hair generously. Stafford suggests trying the following styles - Bun On The Side style, a variation of the traditional Indian wedding hairstyle. Here, rather than placing the bun high on the head, it’s moved it to the side. Alternatively, try the Spanish Up Do that works best if you have long, thick hair. Hair is blow-dried to give more volume, then parted horizontally. The upper part of the hair is done up with elaborate curls while the other is left to flow down the back. This up do can be adorned with flowers, crystals, or even bows depending on your outfit.

Finally, drink lots of water to help you flush out toxins from your system. This will help avoid breakouts as well. Get a body scrub for your body because your body sheds skin cells at a phenomenal rate. “The excess build up of dead cells creates a dull film on your skin. Scrub off and glow,” urges Asif.

Perennial Prompts

• Undertake a skin, hair and nail care program at least six weeks before the wedding. Start going for regular facials and manicures.
  
  
• Ask your sister, friend or some other female relative to carry a powder compact, tissues, lipstick and a small bottle of water for you. This will help you do touch-ups and keep you hydrated, especially if your wedding is going to be a long affair.
  
  
• Avoid junk and processed foods. Put a limit on your caffeine consumption and stay away from foods that contain too much sugar or are high in calories.
  
  
• In the months preceding your wedding, it’s advisable to undertake light exercise on a regular basis. Apart from helping you keep in shape, it will improve blood circulation and bring a glow to your skin.
  
  
• Keep make-up as simple as possible as the focus is mostly on your outfit which for most brides is an elaborate affair.

M.A.C Senior Artist Vimi Joshi: Behind The Scenes

Lipstick and kajal are so yesterday. Makeup's now an art form that can transform you. It's governed by trends and let's admit it, Bollywood would not be half as glamorous if it were not for the magic of makeup. M.A.C Senior Artist Vimi Joshi, gives us the lowdown on the makeup secrets of her famous clientele, what it's like behind the scenes at a fashion show and what are the latest trends to adopt.

On the sets
The look in Bollywood is classic. Actors work under harsh lights and the camera misses nothing, so the makeup has to be flawless and needs touching up and refreshing often. However, most actors want to look like themselves onscreen, preferring smoky eyes and nude lips.

Backstage at a fashion show
To the untrained eye, the buzz around most fashion shows seems similar gorgeous models slip into fabulous dresses while the glitterati take their seats in the front row. But Vimi says that each fashion capital has its own unique vibe. "It really depends on which city you are in. New York is arty and there are many celebrities. London is edgier. Milan is sexy and Paris is sophisticated."

If you have been backstage at a fashion show, you will see makeup artists frantically working on models with clockwork precision. This is courtesy many trials and rehearsals. It's the entire team, comprising the designer, hairdresser, stylist and the makeup artist who work on the look. However, Vimi says that it's finally the designer's vision. She says, "There is so much creativity. Once we might be doing a geisha, the next time a Marilyn Monroe, then an Audrey Hepburn."

But it isn't all peachy when you have tired models and a stressed-out designer going hysterical. "You just breathe and pray and keep your cool. But if no one yelled, it would not be Fashion Week." she says. What also helps is that Vimi does a two-minute aromatherapy facial massage on all the models to calm them, after which they "melt in my hands".

Looks you can try out
The 80s are back with a vengeance. But you don't have to copy their makeup brush stroke for brush stroke. Be tactful and employ what is now being called Punk Couture. Vimi says, "This look is inspired by punk rockers, but is more edgy, glamorous and sophisticated. It's more punk perfection. Couture means tailor-made. So take this look and adapt it to your face." This look is all about strong eyes that scream attitude. Smudge the kajal or eye shadow to get that sultry smoky look.

To replicate the next trend, turn to the Hollywood red carpet. All the beauties strutting their stuff have perfect, almost glowing skin. For this, you need perfectly hydrated skin so use a water-based moisturiser. Pick a foundation closest to your skin tone and finish off with a light pink blush on for that sweet-girl blush and a light layer of lip-gloss. Jennifer Lopez is a great reference, as her makeup is minimal to highlight her glowing skin.

For the festive season
Festivities have begun. Navratri, Diwali and the wedding season will soon be around the corner. With every look that you change, you must make sure your makeup changes accordingly. Vimi suggests you celebrate your Indianness. "I travel around the world and Europeans are spending thousands on buying products for an ideal skin tone. Look for inspiration in the Indian textures and colors." For the festive season, mix matte and shimmer so you don't overdo either. You could have a shimmer eye shadow with a matte finish one applied into the crease of the eyelid, hence pushing forth the shimmered eyelid. Use colors from your outfit in your makeup as well.

Starry eyes: Vimi on her famous clientele

Freida Pinto: Vimi says, "I love her. I have worked with her a couple of times and she is one of the nicest, most down-to-earth people I've met. We first worked together on a photo shoot and then for the Toronto and Dubai film festivals (above). We started off with the nude look, but then got creative. She is open to new looks and ideas."

Bipasha Basu: "We did the Harper's Bazaar shoot with her in London and she was incredible. First we did a nude-gold look and then she said, 'Come on, let's get creative.' So we looked at the clothes and settled on this forest-murky-green look. Bipasha is constantly pushing the creative boundaries."

Dita Von Teese: "With her, you know you are going to be doing the pale skin and red lips; the 1950s look. But the key is that you retain her image."

Amitabh Bachchan: "He is such a gentleman. I met him backstage at an awards function. He literally needed just a touch-up."

Helen: "I love her. She is a beauty icon for India. She does her makeup herself. Helen is a beautiful woman inside out. Her makeup is more subdued and natural now."

Vidya Balan: "I see her for who she is. She is one of the most spiritually grounded women I have met. I love working with her. We actually did a green and blue look for her for a newspaper and she loved it."

Katrina Kaif: "Stunning is the only word I can use for her. How can you improve perfection? Whenever I have worked with her, it was always a very natural look."

Tip of the Day by M.A.C Senior Artist Vimi Joshi [7]

Vimi's tweet tip #7: For skin that looks like ice cream, add generous amounts of M.A.C Fix+ to your face. Then buff with M.A.C Mineralize Skinfinish Natural with the M.A.C #182 Brush.

Tip of the Day by M.A.C Senior Artist Vimi Joshi [6]

Vimi Joshi's tweet tip #6: Mix a few drops of essential oils into M.A.C Studio Moisture Cream for a beautiful dewy finish.

Editor's note: Aveda has great essential oils, like Tangerine, Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Patchouli, Eucalyptus and many more.