StyleSpeak: Bridal Color Palette [September '10]

Kajol for Olay Total Effects

After Sushmita Sen and Katrina Kaif, Kajol has now been signed as an Olay ambassadress. I think she looks stunning in the new ads. Your thoughts? Who's your favorite of the three?

Sushmita Sen's Beauty Secrets [Vogue India]

As an actress, my skin is exposed for long hours to damage from heavy make-up, lights, pollution and UV rays which have a long-term detrimental effect on skin. My advice is to drink a lot of water, get enough sleep, use sun protection and wear products that enhance your looks but don't cover up your natural beauty. Use Besan Ka Aata (Gram flour) with malai (clotted cream) as a scrub to soften and cleanse the skin. And a concoction of neem (azadirachta indica) and honey to drink; it's not as bad as it sounds! An in-flight ritual I have is that, I make sure I take off all my make-up. If I've been shooting outdoors in too much mud and dust, I oil my hair before boarding.

Make-up Trend: Subtle Liquid Eyeliner

Liquid liner doesn't have to look vampy, especially if you apply it as artfully as Sushmita Sen did at the launch of the Charcoal Exhibition by Gautam Patole. Rather than using the tip of the brush, draw the side along your upper lashline. You'll create a broader, steadier line, which means tiny imperfections won't be as visible. Top with a wash of sheer pink shadow to set the line and tone it down.

Rec: Lancome ARTLINER - Precision Point EyeLiner in Noir

Make-up Trend: Perfectly Shaped Eyebrows

At a promotional event for her upcoming movie, Dulha Mil Gaya, Sushmita Sen rocked light waves, mauve lips, and perfectly placed brows. To keep yours in check, alternate between brows every few plucks when you're grooming to be sure they're even. And never use a magnifying mirror; it distorts your eyebrows and can prompt you to over-pluck.

Rec: Tweezerman Slant Tweezer

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.

Make-up Trend: Berry-Stained Lips

If you've always avoided red lipstick because it feels too severe, try a natural-looking wash of color that won't rub off on your teeth. Sushmita Sen went for a hint of berry tint, giving a youthful I-just-ate-a-popsicle flush to her pout. It looks puckery and stays on pretty well.

To make the look stay-put, apply balm once the stain sets in to bare lips.

Rec: Vincent Longo Lip and Cheek Gel Stain in My Sunshine

Sushmita's Beauty Secret

Would you like to know what beauty product Sushmita Sen swears by?? She discloses the properties of Olay Total Effects — which fights the seven signs of aging and keeps women looking young. She adds, "I don't swear by it only because I endorse the product, it really works in forming and tightening my skin." Does the Miss Universe ever have a bad skin day herself? “All women, young, old or midlife, have good and bad days, even me!” she says smiling.

For Sushmita, beauty is all about taking good care of one’s skin. “Being an actor I use a lot of makeup, face tons of harsh lights and outdoor activities. I’m impatient and couldn’t be bothered with layers of treatment for my skin. I’m lucky to have this ‘spa in a bottle’ which takes me just about five minutes,” she reveals.

The actress believes looking good isn’t everything, feeling good is. “I like to spend time with myself,” she explains. A staunch believer of ‘me time’, she adds, “Me time means a lot of musical silence, it’s a time of minimal talking or thinking. When I do absolutely nothing.” Busy with films like Dulha Mil Gaya, Do Not Disturb and her own production Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmibai, how does Sushmita Sen squeeze ‘me time’ into her day? “I make time for it even if it's at 2 in the morning,” she admits. “Often, after a late night packup, the drive back home is my ‘me time’.”

Cory Walia on His Favorite Bengali Beauties

"Naturally, there's an adorable, charming princess and a fierce, energetic tigress hidden inside every Bengali girl!" says make-up guru Cory Walia. Cory talks animatedly about the Bengali beauties he enjoys working on that include: Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Bipasha Basu, Sushmita Sen, and Konkona Sen Sharma. "Their creamy skin, thick, dark hair, almond eyes weave magic around you," he says.

Kajol

• Her looks: Her sensitive eyes and broad smile are the best parts of her face. Her eyes light up her face and make it look beautiful, whether she wears make-up or not. Her prominent nose and high cheek-bones need some special attention. Her skin is dusky, but clear. Clear skin is always easy to work with.
• Make-up mantra: Less is more for Kajol. Light, matte shades and neutral looks suits her dusky skin.
• Tips: If you have dusky skin, make sure you always use a foundation in the same shade as your skin tone, don't go light. Lip colors in earthy tones look better. Use sparkly or light eye liners carefully, opt for earthy browns, greens, and black. Test them out before purchasing.
• Recs: M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid; M.A.C Eye Shadows in Bamboo, Soft Brown, and Charcoal Brown; M.A.C Technakohl Liners in Brownborder, Jadeway, and Graphblack
  
  

Rani Mukherji

• Her looks: Her face has the typical Bengali qualities - it's round, with big eyes, a prominent nose, slightly chubby cheeks that give a fuller look. Her hair has a slight wavy texture, which she prefers straightened out.
• Make-up mantra: If you have Rani's brown eyes, be careful of the shades you wear on your face. For example, all pastel eye shadows won't work with light eyes.
• Tips: For a round face, you need to focus on a single feature to define it. If you are highlighting eyes, leave the rest of the face alone. If it's your cheeks, keep the rest of the face subtly covered.
• Recs: M.A.C Eye Shadows in Woodwinked, Mulch, and Espresso
  
  

Bipasha Basu

• Her looks: Her eyes are the most exciting part of her face. They are a perfect almond-shaped, tapering towards her temples. Her high cheek bones and sultry pout add sultriness to her face. Her face is sculpted well. You can do a lot with her face.
• Make-up mantra: Very sultry, sexy
  
• Tips: For a glow on your skin, eat a lot of proteins. Fish and mustard oil in your diet can work wonders for your skin. Apply bronze and gold shimmer powder. Use the shimmer on the apples of your cheeks, nose and forehead for a glamorous look. Lastly, Bipasha's look can't be complete without thick rim of kohl around your eyes. Outline your eyes first and then darken the lines.
• Recs: M.A.C Iridescent Loose Powder in Golden Bronze; M.A.C Eye Kohl in Smolder
  
  

Sushmita Sen

• Her look: Her look is Hollywood-esque. Her face is thin and a little sallow, but her sharp features make up for it. The best part is her hair. She has silky hair that has a lot of volume.
• Make-up mantra: If you have an oval, thin face like Sushmita, make sure you stick to subtle make-up. Deeper shades will make your face look thinner and over done.
• Tips: You will never catch Sushmita in very dark lip colors. Neutral or earthy tones suit her lips. Condition your hair well to maintain the sheen. More so, if your hair is colored or treated. If your eyes are not too big, go easy on kohl. Simply define your eyes with a liner.
• Recs: M.A.C Lipstick in Taupe and Spirit
  
  

Konkona Sen Sharma

• Her look: It's simple. That sums it. She never wears pretentious shades or loud accessories. Even her make-up adheres to the girl-next-door look. It's always refreshing to look at her.
• Make-up mantra: For an ever fresh look, keep your face scrubbed clean.
• Tips: Always take off all your make-up before you sleep. Wear minimal layers of make-up during the day. Nude and glossy lip colors make you look dewy and fresh.
• Recs: M.A.C Tinted Lipglass in 1N, Underage, Viva Glam 5
  

Make-up Trend: Defined Cheekbones

Movie stars are eager to sculpt more than just their abs and arms. By adding contour below your cheekbones, you can create the illusion of a more prominent bone structure, which is both slimming and flattering.

Using a small stiff blush brush (M.A.C 169 Angled Brush), sweep face powder under the raised line of your cheekbones, starting at your temples. Use one shade darker than your skintone—it looks natural, not like war paint.

Rec: M.A.C Sculpt and Shape Powder in Accentuate and Sculpt

Mickey Contractor Talks Make-Up

Mickey Contractor, the make up man to stars including the lovely Aishwarya Rai, sets about busting some long cherished make up myths.

"What looks best on a woman is always in," he said. "Trends will come and go. Like for instance the bright red/pink lips and cat eye liner of the Seventies is back with a bang. There are three or four trends, which keep rotating. You have the minimalist, the liner-based look and the color centric look. These are shuffled back and forth. You need to pick up what you like and what suits you. Yellow is very hot now."

From here

....to here

Mickey, who has worked in movies from Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya to Salaam E Ishq says: "Bollywood has the tendency to go overboard. That is because we wear embellished clothes, and culturally we take great care of our hair. In the process the face tends to get ignored. We need to highlight the face with make up. You must also remember that it is for the big screen and one needs to accentuate features or they will not be seen."

Preity Zinta

Mickey feels one should not be overawed by make up. "Makeup need not be the whole nine yards. It could be just a bindi and kohl."

Mickey says: "Fluidlines come in a great range of colors, be adventurous."

While kohl qualifies as makeup, Mickey says people are getting more adventurous about color. "I tell them instead of M.A.C Fluidline in Blacktrack, why not try M.A.C Fluidline in Blue Peep? And believe me it is these little things that gives a whole new look."

The makeup artist, who counts screen siren Helen as his inspiration says: "Bollywood is huge reference point. I have brides coming up to me saying they want to look like Kajol or Rani. It helps me as I know what they have in mind."

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai's Wedding

And talking of brides, what did he do for Ash on her wedding day? "Ash is a personal friend and I dressed her as a friend."

While Ash is a personal friend, Mickey says he has no favorite celebrity clientèle. "I have enjoyed working with everyone. It is very difficult to work in close proximity with someone you do not like."

"The relationship between makeup artist and star is a very intimate one. Bonds build over the years. Imagine, you are thrown together for fifty days on an outdoor, it is the closest one gets to having a confidant, a friend. It is a two-way thing. Even I let off steam."

Mickey's brushes and Fluidline are a staple in his train case

Ask Mickey what he cannot step out without and he says: "My set of M.A.C Brushes. I do not allow anyone to touch them. The one product that is always in my train case is M.A.C Fluidline. It works wonders."

Mickey obviously loves working in Bollywood. "I was fated to be here. I do share my opinion with the directors. With Karan Johar I can tell him what I feel about whether a scene would work or not."

Sushmita Sen

Mickey works according to the personality of the client. "A little bit of groundwork always helps. For someone like Sushmita Sen, I know she has this huge diva personality and I work with that."

Mickey has been associated with M.A.C for the past two years and will work on "customizing foreign trends to suit our needs. I am also involved in master classes where we share knowledge and information."

All fans of fluffy, furry creatures can take heart when Mickey, who loves animals and has a Labrador and parakeet says: "M.A.C products are not tested on animals."

Mickey, whose upcoming projects include Goldie Behl's Drona and Harry Baweja's Love Story 2050, has one bit of advice to give out: "Always do what suits you."

Make-up Artist: Mickey Contractor, His Beauty Tips & Tricks

Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Aishwarya Rai, Tabu, Preity Zinta, Sushmita Sen. The most beautiful screen faces have been under Mickey Contractor’s brushes, all for that one stroke here and one touch there.

Director of cosmetic major M.A.C India, Mickey feels that beautiful is “anyone who is herself and has a personal style” and that “clear complexion” is a sure pre-requisite for beauty.

So what role does make-up play in creating those picture-perfect faces? “Lots actually,” he says. “Because you can’t really form a whole base on make-up but you can surely lend yourself a distinct personality, an all-new spark.”

Bare basics
Preity Zinta

Mickey believes that he is most famous for his “no make-up look”, but this, he says, “involves more effort than full make-up”. Here’s the how-to from the make-up artist himself:

• Choose a foundation that is closest to your skin color. He recommends M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid.
  
  
• The eyeshadow should be very neutral, just enough to help contour and bring out the best. He recommends M.A.C Eyeshadow in Bamboo
  
  
• No false eyelashes feature in this natural look.
  
  
• Use lots of mascara and separate your lashes well, leaving no clumps. He recommends M.A.C Zoomlash Mascara
  
  
• Blend the eyeliner well. Very fair skin can use brown liner. He recommends M.A.C Fluidline in Dipdown
  
  
• Keep the lip color natural and pale. He recommends M.A.C Mattene Lipstick in Flattering
  
  
• The blush, a shade of peach or pink (M.A.C Powder Blush in Pinch O' Peach and M.A.C Powder Blush in Fleur Power), should begin from the apple of your cheeks. Work upwards and outwards.

Sultry smokey

Kajol

Aishwarya Rai

Rani Mukherji

This dark-eyes-and-pale-mouth look is always a winner. Be it Kajol’s sexy act amongst the pyramids in Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham, Aishwarya Rai in Shabd or Rani Mukherjee’s sultry peepers in Chalte Chalte, the smoky look is always a stunner. Here’s the rocking explanation:

• Prepare your face with the right shade of foundation (M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid).
  
  
• Use darker colors on your eyelids and blend well (M.A.C Eyeshadows in Embark, Cranberry, Sketch, Deep Truth, Humid, Bronze, Black Tied).
  
  
• Line your lower lids with kohl and smudge it with some black eye-shadow (M.A.C Eye Kohl in Smolder, M.A.C Eyeshadow in Carbon).
  
  
• Top off with at least two coats of mascara (M.A.C Plush Lash Mascara).
  
  
• Line your lips with a liner (M.A.C Lip Pencil in Oak) and blend well with a pale shade of lipstick (M.A.C Lipstick in Sandy B), leaving no sharp lines.
  
  
• Finish with lots of gloss. He recommends M.A.C Tinted Lipglass in Oyster Girl
  
  
• Accentuate your cheekbones with a deeper shade of blush. He recommends M.A.C Blushcreme in Pleasureful
  

Old is gold

Jaya Bachchan

Remember Jaya Bachchan as the super-glam Ma of K3G? Here’s Mickey’s advice for the middle-aged divas in the making.

• Choose appropriate skin products and look after your skin regularly. From the M.A.C Skincare line he recommends M.A.C Studio Moisture Cream, which reduces the appearance of fine lines
  
  
• Always remember that less is more.
  
  
• Use make-up not as a cover, but as a highlighter of your beauty.
  
  
• Use minimum foundation as it tends to show up in the creases and folds. For older skin Mickey recommends M.A.C Studio Tech
  
  
• Eyebrows form the frame of the face and at this age, they tend to get sparse. Concentrate on them to get the look right. He recommends M.A.C Brow Finisher
  
  
• Choose colors for the shadows, liners and lipsticks that suit your personality. (M.A.C Eyeshadows in Satin Taupe, Vanilla, Era; M.A.C Lip Pencil in Spice; M.A.C Lipsticks in Taupe, Honeylove, Cherish, Sparks Can Fly)
  
  
• Keep with the make-up trends but always re-work them to complement you.

Perfect points

Aishwarya Rai

“The crux of perfecting your art of make-up lies in the finer details,” stresses Mickey. Here are some expert tips, to make all the difference:

• Choosing the right foundation is half the beauty battle won. There are tons to choose from, M.A.C Studio Mist, M.A.C Select Tint, M.A.C Face and Body, M.A.C Mineralize Satinfinish, M.A.C Select SPF15, M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid (Mickey's personal fave), M.A.C Hyper Real, M.A.C Studio Fix, M.A.C Select Moistureblend, M.A.C Studio Tech, M.A.C Full Coverage, M.A.C Studio Stick. Take your pick accordingly.
  
  
• Use an eyelash curler to open up the eyes, especially if you put kajal inside your eyes (M.A.C Eye Kohl in Smolder).
  
  
• Understanding your source of light is vital.
  
  
• You can use M.A.C Clear Lipglass on your eyelids. Try not to smudge it with liner; stick only to mascara (M.A.C Zoom Lash Mascara).
  
  
• To look dramatic, introduce some color to highlight and some glitter (M.A.C Glitter) wherever you are comfortable.

Make-up Trend: Intense Black Eyeliner

To get a perfectly straight line, paint in sections. Draw three short dashes—one at the inner corner, one in the middle and one in the outer corner—and connect the dashes.

For a sexy cat-eye effect, extend the line slightly on outer corners.

Rec: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack