The festive season has kicked in already. And With your calendar brimming over with weddings and parties, you will obviously want to look good at all times. Priya Chaphekar offers you all the help you need—by talking to experts and putting together eye-catching make-up trends of the season.
The modern woman prefers to experiment with make-up rather than toeing the traditional line. From highlighted cheekbones to eyes dipped in gold and Swarovski-studded talons, take a look at these festive trends that celebrate the unconventional. Sparkle and shine.
Fresh and dewy
While we all enjoy experimenting with make-up, nothing beats a flawless, barely-there finish. Luminous skin tops the list of make-up trends this season. Begin by moisturising your face to enhance its natural glow. Next, apply a lightweight foundation all over your face and neck. A well-done contour using a contouring stick highlights the best features. Apply a cream blush on the cheeks and blend it in the upward and outward directions.
Set the look with setting powder. “Strobing works better for darker skin tones. Work this technique using an iridescent highlighting powder with a smooth finish and blend it in with a powder blush,” shares Celebrity Make-up Artist Clint Fernandes.
Mixing metal
Ditch make-up that’s high on shine; instead embrace metallic make-up in its latest avatar. If you’re a gold digger, apply an eye primer as base and top it with a creamy nude eyeshadow. Next, mix some gold pigment in water or a creamy nude base. Trace a line using an eyeliner brush along the lash line. Finish up with generous coats of mascara. “Copper is one shade that’s fail-proof on Indian skin tones. To incorporate copper into eye make-up, apply a highlighter on the lids and dot a metallic copper eyeshadow on the inner corners of the eyes. Team the look with a nude lip colour with copper undertones,” shares International Hair and Make-up Artist Marianna Mukuchyan.
Cat call
The well-defined smouldering cat-eye is bound to turn heads. Master the iconic cat-eye trend by adding hints of sheer champagne or platinum eyeshadow on the inner corners, and team it with a winged eye. And if you’re brave enough, adorn it with crystals.
Classy, sophisticated, yet understated, the black liner is to the eyes what red lips are to the mouth. “Take the cat-eye to another level with glittering peepers and a glossy pout. Using an eyeshadow brush, apply glitter on the eyelids and extend the line to create cat-eyes. You can also stick a tape on the outer corners to get the desired shape. Wet the brush a little so the glitter sticks. Team the look with ombré–line them with a dark lip liner and fill in the centre with a light pink gloss. Let the colours merge into each other,” advises Clint.
Paint it red
A red pout is strong, confident, ultra-glam and will never go out of trend. But first, make sure to prep the lips well. Use a matte foundation and primer on the lips to prevent the colour from bleeding. Hydrate the pout with a nourishing lip balm and allow it to stay for at least 10 minutes. Next dab the lips with a tissue and outline the lips using a pencil. Apply a creamy, matte shade using a lip brush. Fill the lips with a lip pencil to make the shade last longer. Finish up with a dash of clear gloss. A red lipstick works well to refresh a tired look and brighten up your smile. The plus: your teeth look whiter.
Chasing rainbows
Coloured eyeshadow definitely isn’t enough for us, so we’re going full throttle and rimming our eyes with rainbow shades. For a youthful appeal, ditch the ordinary eyeliner for coloured ones. “Go all out by lining the whole eye, focus on the inner edges, both the lash line and the crease, or just create a floating effect by lining the crease—the choice is yours. For a modern statement, opt for graphic eyes and show off your contouring skills to draw attention to your cheekbones,” shares Beauty Blogger Tazeen R.
Shimmy shimmy ya
Jewel-toned polishes such as emerald and sapphire are really big this season, and so are burnt orange and olive green. For those with brittle or bitten nails, acrylic nails are a great solution—these last for about four to five months. You could also get a permanent nail paint, in which the nail colour is painted on and sealed with a gel that is dried under a UV light. If plain nails are not your thing, opt for the liquid stone nail art. “Think creamy white-tipped and deep red nails, three-dimensional glitter embellishments, metallic glitter polish just across the tips and vibrant half-moon manicures. You could even pair interesting colours together—a silver chrome with a pop pink tip if you wish,” shares Tazeen.
