• If you have dry skin...
• If you have oily skin...
• If you have combination skin...
• If you have sensitive skin...
• If you have large pores...

If you have dry skin...

You know how oily skin girls envy you because your skin isn’t an oil well but you know your troubles when your foundation looks patchy, and tells the world the story of your problematic skin. This is why you need a primer. You should rely on one that hydrates, one that has a gel texture, like the Lakmé Absolute Undercover Gel Primer. Its enriched with vitamin E formula nourishes your skin, blends seamlessly, gives you an even looking skin and smooth finish. Remember that you’re not fighting enlarged pores, you’re fighting flaky skin and only a hydrating primer can save your skin type.

If you have oily skin...

A primer can be magic for your skin—it will cover your enlarged pores and ensure that the oiliness from your skin has disappeared. Think of it like this—without the primer, even a matte foundation might end up looking greasy eventually because a primer will ensure that your foundation sets right and stays in place while looking matte for the rest of the day.

If you have combination skin...

You have the worst of both the worlds—your T-zone is oily while the rest of your face is dry. You’re battling both oily and a dry skin type at once. Naturally then, finding the right primer for your skin type might be a bit of a task. What you need is a primer that doesn’t mattify, doesn’t overtly hydrate—look for something in between that will just simply help your makeup glide on perfectly.

For oily and combination skin, we would recommend anything better than the Lakmé Absolute Blur Perfect Matte Face Primer, as it shows its mattifying properties when transferred on to the skin. Moreover, it's waterproof and perfect for those who's looking for an oil-free primer.

If you have sensitive skin...

Have skin that suffers from redness every now and then? You need a correcting primer with a green pigment that helps your sensitive skin. Why green? Green cancels out redness. So look for a primer that’s green—something that will not only prime your skin but also let your foundation stay on for as long as you want.

If you have large pores...

If you need to reduce large pores appearance, we recommend you trying the Lakmé Absolute Glow Primer, that blends seamlessly, is light and easy to layer, makes your look last longer, and provides a highlighter like glow due to luminescent pearls.

• You want to use a lightweight base…
• For intense hydration…
• To conceal the redness…

You want to use a lightweight base…

Your skin is feeling parched; It’s dry and flaky. When you have flaky skin, a thick foundation won’t do the trick for you. What you need is something lightweight that doesn’t irritate your skin further. Remember that for those of you with redness, your skin is extremely sensitive and adding a thick base to your face will only worsen things for you. This is when you need a BB cream in your winter skin care regime—your hero product for the winters and beyond as this is the one product that feels feathery light on the skin and gives you decent coverage.

For intense hydration…

Winters are when your skin yearns for added hydration. So even if you’re using an intensely hydrating moisturiser in your winter skin care regime, know that your base makeup should also leave your skin hydrated instead of drying it out. This is when the goodness of a BB Cream comes into play because not only does that act as a foundation but it also intensely moisturises your skin. We suggest going with the Fair & Lovely BB Cream. It lends your skin a matte feel along with hydrating your skin. Remember that any amount of added hydration is welcome during this season.

To conceal the redness…

We’ve been relying on the Fair & Lovely BB Cream because it conceals imperfections. The skin often suffers from redness and scars during the winters because anything and everything can irritate your skin. This is why the Fair & Lovely BB Cream helps as it can be used daily to hide spots and blemishes to achieve a fairer look. It’s enriched with the goodness of multivitamins that work from within to give you a radiant look.

• How did this trend emerge?
• Place It Right:

How did this trend emerge?

The rage began when an avid Instagrammer, who goes by the name @thestudyofmakeup, uploaded her selfies, donning this new look. Her photographs instantly went viral, causing waves in the beauty world and earning her over 21,000 followers. In an interview with Allure Magazine, she tells the world how it's done, citing her inspirations as Disney princesses, Barbie dolls, and drag queen, Farrah Moan.

So what does this look comprise?

The Flare Highlight is all about creating a glow on your face that's so intense and reflective, it actually creates a lens flare when a photograph is snapped, thus bringing your features into focus.

Place It Right:

For correct placement of the Flare Highlight, sweep it on specific areas of the face; namely, the highest part of the cheekbones, along the brow-bone and above eye-brows, the tip of the nose and lips, and the inner corner of the eyes.

Okay, but how do I achieve this look?

Easy-breezy. As the popular Instagrammer tells Allure, getting this look right comes down to two basic things: Using the right brush and an unexpected product. "Most people apply their highlight with a large fan brush, but that will only give a natural look", she says. "If you want to condense the pigment in your highlight product and make it really glow, use a very dense, wet, eyeshadow brush." The technique in turn, centralizes the product, concentrating it on a smaller area.

That's not all, though. By unexpected product, the makeup Goddess employs the use of Swarovski crystals to intensify the flare. She places one atop each cheekbone, right in the centre. She claims her inspiration for this, comes from a crystal tiara, gifted to her by her boyfriend. "Every time I wore it, it would sparkle and flare from the lights and reflect rainbows. So I thought, 'What if I place a crystal in the centre of my highlight and tried to capture the lens flare?' "I'd say the results speak for themselves.

Well, you know what to do. Brush on this latest makeup trend, and dazzle everyone for miles around!

• Take Care of Your Skin
• Choose the Correct Formula
• Use and Blot

Take Care of Your Skin

Rule 1, the most important. You can do everything in your power to apply foundation in such a way that it looks flawless, but unless your skin is healthy, it's pointless. No amount of skincare and makeup tips can save you.

Exfoliate, cleanse, tone and moisturise are the 4 mantras for your skincare regimen.

Dirt clogs your pores resulting in makeup that looks blotchy. Exfoliation and cleansing will take care of this. Exfoliating your skin with a gentle scrub will remove some of the dirt and dead skin cells from your face.

After exfoliation, use a good quality cleanser that suits your skin type-normal, dry or oily.

A toner will seal open pores, so particles of dust and dirt can't seep into it quite as easily.

Once your skin is cleaned up, use a moisturizer to seal in the moisture and prevent your skin from drying out. This will give you a beautiful healthy glow, and will have your skin looking smooth, fresh and supple.

Choose the Correct Formula

The correct formula is the key to choosing the right foundation. Therefor you’ve got to keep these simple foundation tips in mind. For example, for dry skin, needs to be hydrated all through the day, so to keep your skin looking dewy, go with the Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Serum Foundation. Combination skin requires a partial-matte look, which keeps the skin moisturized, yet giving it a matte finish to tackle troublesome areas like an oily T-zone. For skin like this, the Lakmé Absolute Mattreal Skin Natural Mousse is the best bet. Oily skin needs a complete-matte finish, to ensure a shine-free complexion. A cream-based foundation on oily skin may cause acne, while a matte formula on dry skin can make the dry areas of the face more prominent.

Alternately, you can also use a few drops of face oil and blend it into your foundation to apply it on your skin.

Use and Blot

You may think foundation is something you use all over the face, but this isn't always true. For instance, if you have trouble-free skin, you need a lot less foundation than someone with acne or pigmentation. Choose the amount required depending on your skin type. Use a light foundation which suits your skin-tone, and start from the centre of the face, blending it outward, towards the cheeks, hairline and jawline. Next, conceal any trouble areas such as blackheads and acne. This will ensure you get the coverage you need, while applying as little foundation as possible.

Once done, lightly blot out the excess foundation. This lifts any left-over product that may remain on your face, while keeping the rest of your foundation intact. Blotting is important to ensure the excess is taken off so your face doesn't develop a 'cakey' look.

There you go; 3 simple foundation application tips to help make you look like the Goddess you are!

• What is the pastel makeup trend?
• Where did we see it?
• How to get the perfect pastel makeup look?

What is the pastel makeup trend?

If you’re a girlie girl and like to keep things fairytale-ish, the pastel makeup trend might just be up your alley. Dominated by soft pinks, pale turquoise and light lavender, the pastel makeup trend can be worn on your cheeks, eyes and lips. If you want to keep things rosy, the eyes can be pale pink, the cheeks a light hue of baby pink and lips a glossy peach. But if you’re looking to stand out with the pastel makeup trend, keep the rest of your face nude and just add a touch of icy blue eyeshadow on the eyes. So gorgeous!

Where did we see it?

Of course, we knew pastel makeup was going to make it big when Millennial Pink was everywhere. Then we had the Golden Globes where several stars from Emma Stone to Zoe Saldana wore pinky peach makeup and rocked pastel makeup on the red carpet. This is where it all began and there’s been no stopping ever since.

How to get the perfect pastel makeup look?

All you really have to do is add a couple of pastel makeup products to your vanity kit. If you want to get a peachy pink pastel makeup look, first finish off your base makeup like you’d usually do. Next, go with the Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Eye Shadow Palette, French Rose and use the pink on your eyelids. Post that, add some Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Shimmer Brick, Pink on your cheeks. Finally, go with the Lakmé Absolute Luxe Matte Lip Colour With Argan Oil, Freshly Pinked. If you think the lips look overtly intense, mix the colour up with a bit of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly so it looked paler to achieve the pastel-like look.

• You need: A primer
• You need: A concealer
• You need: A matte foundation
• You need: A powder-cum-cream
• You need: A compact

You need: A primer

You haven’t quite figured out the deal behind layering your makeup, haven’t you? If you happen to have oily skin, know that layering is like your bible to nailing base makeup. This means once you’ve used a moisturiser to hydrate your skin, you must use a primer. A primer is targeted towards oily skin since it helps control the oil in your skin as well as covers your pores. We suggest investing in a primer like the Lakmé Absolute Blur Perfect Primer for this purpose.

You need: A concealer

Base makeup without concealer? So incomplete! If you have some blemishes and scars, there’s only one route to cover them and that is by way of a concealer. Plus, the more products you layer your face with the longer your makeup will stay. We suggest relying on the Lakmé Absolute White Intense Concealer Stick with SPF 20. This one comes in fair and medium shades that give you coverage along with protection from the sun. Now that’s what we’re looking for in a concealer, aren’t we?

You need: A matte foundation

When it comes to dealing with oily skin, choosing a matte foundation is a must. But what if we told you that you could actually get your hands on a 3-in-1 product that gives you the power of a primer, foundation and powder? Well, it’s actually possible, thanks to the Lakmé 9to5 Primer+Matte Powder Foundation. While the primer in it will conceal fine lines, the foundation will blend effortlessly and the powder will give you a longlasting finish.

You need: A powder-cum-cream

If you really want to know how to apply makeup for oily skin, know that the answer lies in double coating. What you need is a product that works as a cream to hydrate your skin and a powder that removes the greasiness to reveal a brighter complexion. Do so by applying the Fair & Lovely Powder Cream. It stays put for 14 hours and lends you a matte look—just what the right makeup for oily skin.

You need: A compact

If you’re dealing with oily skin, one of easiest routes is sealing your makeup with a compact. If you’re looking for an oil free finish, go with the Lakmé 9to5 Flawless Matte Complexion that’ll work beautifully to give you an even finish. Plus, it contains Vitamin E that’s a blessing for the skin!

• You don’t blend enough
• You don’t use foundation according to your needs
• You don’t wash your hands before finger application
• You forget the neck
• You don’t layer

You don’t blend enough

Every makeup enthusiast knows the importance of blending and it’s about time you did too! If you want to know the answer to ‘how to apply foundation’, you must first know that unblended foundation means harsh edges and a patchy face. It’s only when you blend your foundation will you be able to give yourself the finish you desire. You can either blend using a sponge, a face brush or even your fingers should do the trick.

You don’t use foundation according to your needs

Before you apply foundation, ask yourself, “What does my skin need—am I looking to cover my spots or do I want a minimal look?” This is because foundations come in various textures and finishes. Some give your skin a sheer finish while others are high coverage. If you want a medium coverage foundation that lends you a dewy and hydrated feel, go with the Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Serum Foundation. But if you want a matte finish with a slightly heavier coverage, go for the Lakmé Absolute Mattreal Skin Natural Mousse. But if you don’t have much to cover and like to go light on your skin, there’s nothing as seamless as the Lakmé 9to5 Weightless Mousse Foundation.

You don’t wash your hands before finger application

Yes, most of us ditch the brushes and believe that fingers blend makeup beautifully. But when you miss out on washing your hands before blending foundation with your fingers, you give your skin enough reason to break out. The bacteria from your fingers can easily be transferred onto your skin causing itchiness and acne. Hence, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before beginning.

You forget the neck

You’ve often asked yourself how to apply foundation correctly but do you really know that one of the main rules behind applying foundation is applying it evenly and going beyond the face. You think only your face needs the foundation? You’ll probably realise that you’re wrong when your step out and your friends tell you how your face and neck are looking a shade different from each other. While you apply foundation to your face, you must understand that you cannot stop at the jawline because your neck needs the same finishing too in order to achieve a natural look.

You don’t layer

Just like layering your skincare routine is hugely important, layering makeup is also imperative. If you want your foundation to stay longer, there needs to be more than just that on your face. Make sure you start with a moisturiser that hydrates your skin. Next, use a primer—the holy grail of makeup that helps your foundation stay put and sucks in the oil from your face so your foundation looks flawless. Only after that should you go in with foundation application.

• What is hologram glazing?
• How is it done?

What is hologram glazing?

Inspired by Lakmé Fashion Week, Hologram Glazing has been conceptualised by renowned makeup moghul and Lakmé’s official makeup artist, Donald Simrock. It involves 3D blending with colour and shimmer. Think a burst of hues with dollops of glitter—the kind of makeup that’s sure to stand out!

How is it done?

As mentioned before, Hologram Glazing involves colour and shimmer. You first start with a bright shade of eyeshadow, say a blue and apply the shadow on your eyes leaving out the centres. We suggest using the blue from the Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Eye Shadow Palette, Royal Persia and applying it on the lids and lower lash line leaving out the centre of both the lid and lower lash line.

Next, take the gold from the same palette and using an eyeshadow brush apply it on the centre of the lid and the lower lash line. Blend well and then go for the lips. For a rich matte look, use the Lakmé Absolute Luxe Matte Lip Color With Argan Oil, Grand Fuschia and then add a gold wash in the centre of your lower lip by way of the gold eyeshadow you used on the eyes.

You’re done—the hologram glazing look is for you to flaunt.

• What?
• Why we love it
• A foundation that covers and hydrates
• A non-greasy crème that rejuvenates the skin
• A serum that adds radiance and intensely moisturises

What?

The Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Collection comprises the Lakmé Absolute Luxe Matte Lip Color With Argan Oil, the Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Serum Foundation, the Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Radiance Overnight Oil-in-Serum and the Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Radiance Oil-in-Crème.

Why we love it

A range of nourishing lipsticks with a matte finish

Is it really possible for makeup to be nourishing for your skin? Well, had this question come up years ago, we’d nod is disagreement but thanks to the new Lakmé Absolute Luxe Matte Lip Color with Argan Oil range, it’s totally possible. Barely few days into the launch and we’re wearing them everywhere—from boardroom meetings to dinner dates. Why? The colour pay off is so intense! Add to that the hydrating formula of argan oil and your lips would’ve never felt any better. Plus, it comes in a slimstick format, which is so light and easy to use. Oh and did we mention how the packaging is just as yummy—rose gold on the outside and black on the inside. Your lips are so ready for this colourful yet moisturised pout!

A foundation that covers and hydrates

There’s no shame in admitting that most of us have blemished skin and often resort to makeup to conceal the scars and spots. What if we told you that covering them with makeup could actually do good to your skin? The Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Serum Foundation has turned that into a reality. We’ve made this into our go-to foundation because it gives our skin a dewy and hydrated feel (thanks to the argan oil in it) along with a medium coverage. We love it because it has a silky texture that blends beautifully into the skin. Like that wasn’t enough, it gives us an SPF 45 and fights the harmful sun rays. Not to forget, it comes with a dropper pack, which is so on trend!

A non-greasy crème that rejuvenates the skin

What’s makeup without prep, right? Some of the biggest beauty experts will tell you how important it is for your skin to be ready for makeup. That’s done by ensuring that your skin is intensely hydrated. Infused with argan oil, the Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Radiance Oil-in-Crème is has a non-greasy formula that feels feathery light on the skin while revitalizing your face. It also lends your skin an SPF 30 PA++ so you get sun protection in your daily crème.

A serum that adds radiance and intensely moisturises

When it comes to skin care, never underestimate the power of a serum and when it’s an argan oil based one, its goodness only double up. Such is the impact of the new Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Radiance Overnight Oil-in-Serum, which brings together a lightweight serum with the nourishment of argan oil. Applying this overnight means you’ll slowly and surely start waking up to supple and radiant skin!

How’s it priced?

The Lakmé Absolute Luxe Matte Lip Color with Argan Oil is for ₹800

The Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Serum Foundation is for ₹750

The Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Radiance Oil-in-Crème is for ₹799

The Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Radiance Overnight Oil-in-Serum is for ₹899

• What is the brewed makeup technique?
• How’s it done?

What is the brewed makeup technique?

Created by Lakmé’s official makeup guru, Donald Simrock, brewing was one of the most notable makeup techniques on the Lakmé Fashion Week Winter/Festive runway. The result? A gorgeous bronzed look that looked flawless on the runway.

How’s it done?

You need to achieve a bronzy look with a dewy finish. Remember that while your look will be golden and brownish, the high points of your face need to highlighted—something that will lend you a glowy complexion. How does one do that, you wonder? Once you’ve moisturised your face and prepped it with primer, go in with the Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Serum Foundation. Along with giving you the hydration of argan oil, this foundation will lend you the coverage your skin needs. So apply the foundation generously along the jawline to give your skin a dewy finish. Next, use the bronzer bit of the Lakmé Absolute Moonlit Highlighter to bronze the cheeks. For that much needed glow, don’t forget to use the champagne toned pigment from the Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Shimmer Brick, Pink on your cheekbones and you’re done—the brewed look from Lakmé Fashion Week is for you to flaunt!

• Ethicus Organic Cotton
• Chola
• Matr Bihar Khadi X Kopal New York Because of Nature Australia
• Paramparik Karigar
• Doodlage
• Masaba
• Sanjay Garg
• Sunita Shankar

Ethicus Organic Cotton

Multiple braids woven into a bun? We’d be lying if we said we weren’t itching to try this one. Long hair girls, you know you want to make this look work for you.

Chola

We’re all about big, bold lashes. So when we saw spider lashes at Chola at Lakmé Fashion Week, we couldn’t contain our excitement. Take cues from this look if you’re trying spider lashes—keep the rest of your visage nude!

Matr Bihar Khadi X Kopal New York Because of Nature Australia

If the hair scene right now is trying to tell us something, it is that turbans are slowly and surely coming back. C’mon, you know you’d need this on a bad hair day.

Paramparik Karigar

Floral makeup was first spotted on the ‘gram. Who thought that it would actually make it to the Indian runways at Lakmé Fashion Week. So when we spotted it on this show, it was nothing short of delightful and of course, so gorgeous!

Doodlage

These double braids at Lakmé Fashion Week were sleek, unique and perfectly in sync with the designer’s anti fit designs. We told you—the schoolgirl look is back and you’d better try it right away.

Masaba

Intense gold eyes? They never go out of style except this look at Masaba’s show at Lakmé Fashion Week had gold even in the inner corners and plenty of it at that! When you want glitz and glam, no better way to do it than with gold makeup.

Sanjay Garg

Coiled retro wave buns took centre stage at this Grand Opening show of Lakmé Fashion Week. If you want a hairdo for the night to go with your traditional attire, this is just what you’ve got to try!

Sunita Shankar

Glitter lips went big at Lakmé Fashion Week at the Sunita Shankar show. Models sported big hair with glitzy lips—a hair and makeup combo that might be too OTT for you but was perfect for runway drama.

Prep

Models at Sanjay Garg’s show wore dewy skin—the kind that doesn’t reflect much makeup yet hides your blemishes while keeping the natural texture of your skin intact. As a part of the prep, use the Lakmé Absolute Perfect Radiance Skin Lightening Day Crème to ensure you do away with the dullness on your skin.

Base

Once you’re done prepping, use the new Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Serum Foundation that’ll give your skin the hydration of a serum as well as the coverage of a foundation. Its silky fluid texture blends beautifully into the skin while giving you a nourished feel. Make sure you use a sponge or a foundation brush to blend the makeup till you achieve a seamless application. Next, pat some compact powder onto your skin to set the foundation.

Eyes

The eye makeup is where the real drama of this look lies. Donald Simrock, the magical hands that put together this look at Lakmé Fashion Week, gave upside down makeup a shot—there was black kohl below the waterline—kinda like a thick upside down liner look. Before you go with that, use the gold from the Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Eye Shadow Palette, Gold and apply it on your eyelids. Now for the upside down eye makeup—use the Lakmé Absolute Kohl Ultimate Kajal and draw a thick line below the waterline but make sure there’s no space between the waterline and your kajal. Smudge it out a wee bit using the other side of the kajal pencil. Next, use your index finger to pick up product from the Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Eye Shadow Palette, Silver and apply the silver pigment on the inner corners of your eyes to make the eyes pop. Finish off by using the Lakmé Absolute Flutter Secrets Dramatic Eyes Mascara on your lashes. There you have it, the dramatic eyes of this show at Lakmé Fashion Week!

Contour

Clearly, there was a lot of contouring and bronzing involved while putting this look together. Use the Lakmé Absolute Moonlit Highlighter and apply the darker shade on your cheekbones and jawline to get the perfectly sculpted look as seen on the model.

Eyebrows

We’d say the brows were rather OTT—models sported bleached-like eyebrows for Sanjay’s show at Lakmé Fashion Week. While it was a great take on the international trend, it’s a tad edgy to be taken from ramp to reality. But if you wish to give this look a shot, apply some of the gold pigment from the Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Eye Shadow Palette, Gold on your brows and use a spoolie to brush it out.

Lips

The lips were kept pale pink to complement the look. To get this pout, use the Lakmé Absolute Luxe Matte Lip Color With Argan Oil in Dewy Spring. While it will keep your lips moisturised, thanks to its argan oil content, the finish is matte—just what you need to complete this look.

• 1. Foundation
• 3. Smokey eyes
• 5. Brow game
• 6. Lip colour
• 7. Bronzer

1. Foundation

By now you know which foundation suits your skin type – cream, sheer, liquid or powder. Remember the cardinal rules—use it sparingly and spread evenly. Apart from the right shade, use a foam brush, finger tips or a foundation brush to master the no make-up look!

2. Contouring

It’s a given that a wee bit of contouring can go a long way! So there’s no harm in relying on it to bring out your cheek bones, narrow and lengthen your nose or enhance your jaw line. But one thing’s for sure—nail the shade—else you’re going to be entering your thirties with your basis horribly wrong. 

3. Smokey eyes

Every woman’s eternal go-to, mastering the smokey eye is going to be an investment that keeps on giving. We agree—it does take a lot of practice and Youtube videos so there are going to be a few blotchy, Panda eyes that you’re going to have to go through, but trust us, once you master the look, and then begin experimenting with different shades, you’re going to more than happy you put in the effort!

4. Blush

It might seem like the most obvious thing but there are so many things that can go wrong with using blush. You might be using a shade too pink or blending it in the wrong direction. Read our handy guide and find the right way to apply blush on your face shape.

5. Brow game

Need we say more? If you haven’t already, work hard to get your eyebrow game on point. While it might be convenient to just sit in the chair and have your eyebrows threaded, you’ve got to pay attention to their shape, the arch, the thickness and lastly, use assistance in the form of brow pencils, powders and gels if you need to!

6. Lip colour

Experiment all you want in your twenties but by the time you reach your thirties, you should have figured our what lip colour suits your skin best—for the day time and the evening, how to fake a fuller pout and how to whip up a lip scrub to keep your puckers pink.

7. Bronzer

Just like the smokey eye, a reliable bronzing technique will never let you down—be it for the day or the evening. The trickiest part of this game is to find the right shade then master the direction of the application. Too much and you’ll end up looking like a disaster and too much in the wrong direction and your face is going to end up looking like…well…someone else’s!

8. Caring for your face

If applying make-up is an art then prepping your face for the pretty you, is an important ‘before’ step. It’s a given that as you age, your skincare routine will change but find the CTM routine that works best for you and stick to it for as long as you have to.

Now that you are equipped to handle and achieve the perfect look, enjoy your 30’s. Step out confident and bold. Every time! Every day!

• The Voo-doo Doll
  
  Excessive powder and foundation not only made Kim Kardashian look like painted porcelain but those fake eye-lashes made her look scary and possessed.
• ‘The mirror has two faces!’
  
  When your liner is perfectly winged on one side and the other looks like a jagged cliff… You know you can relate to this one! You don’t have to be OCD for this asymmetrical look to get under your skin.

• ‘I Just had a fist fight… And didn’t win.’
  
  Poor Leighton Meester chose to apply a sharply contrasted eye-shadow (purple) on her milky white complexion… Only to make us cringe and go ‘Oops she did it again!’ Not even the swankiest Upper-East side fashion labels could save her from this one.
• ‘She-Devil’
  
  We’ve all seen this. It’s unbearable and a true makeup travesty. That clumpy mascara so badly applied is such a blaring cry for help. Eerie looking spider lashes are not ‘Goth’ and never cool.

• ‘Kiss me NOT!’
  
  Ever looked at someone talking and just saw their parched, chapped lips staring back at you so much so that you have to really resist the urge to smear some balm on ’em immediately? When lipstick (mostly matte) starts to peel, it can be the biggest put-off… Definitely a huge date night faux-pas!
• The Powder Girl
  
  In such a hurry that you forgot to dust off the excess powder from your face, Ashley Judd? Clearly, she got caught in the wrong light but this really isn’t the kind of glow you want to have…period!

So girls, take that extra minute to look in the mirror closely especially under the right light. You don’t want to fall prey to these makeup mess-ups.

• Blend well
• Make sure you contour
• Play with the eyes
• Use a primer
• Keep it matte
• Concentrate on the brows

Blend well

Remember that the camera catches just about everything and there’s no bigger makeup sin than unblended makeup. Precisely why if makeup artists have one big rule to give away, it’s always to blend makeup. So make sure you blend using your fingers, brushes or sponges because only then will your makeup look seamless.

Make sure you contour

When clicking the perfect selfie, you need to ensure that your features are defined for them to be captured on camera. And we all know that the only way to do so is by contouring. Make sure you use a contouring powder on the shadows of your face—the cheekbones, sides of your nose and jawline. But remember, even in this case, blending should be your cardio.

Get the look with the Lakmé Absolute Moonlit Highlighter

Play with the eyes

When facing the camera, you’ve got to keep the eyes in focus. So make sure your lashes look big and remember that you can do so by way of an effective mascara. Add a pop of colour like a bright blue or a green liner to your lower or upper lashline for that much-needed drama.

Get the look with the Lakmé Eyeconic Kajal, Turquoise

Get the look with the Lakmé Eyeconic Curling Mascara, Black

Use a primer

Whether you’re taking a selfie or not, primer is essential for your makeup routine. But since we are getting ready for a selfie in this case, you should know that cameras have the power to catch imperfections (read: pores). So if you want to click a pore-free selfie, using a primer is an absolute must.

Get the look with the Lakmé Absolute Blur Perfect Primer

Keep it matte

Sure, we admit that we have an obsession with matte makeup. But in any case, when clicking a selfie, matte works best since it doesn’t reflect and create a glare. Shimmer is a complete no-no when it comes to selfie makeup. It will reflect back and make your face look unreasonably greasy—something you surely want to stay away from. So we suggest applying a matte base for this purpose.

Get the look with the Lakmé Absolute Mattreal Skin Natural Mousse

Concentrate on the brows

When your brows are defined, it makes your overall look seem more clean and groomed. So make sure you thread or tweeze your brows and then fill them in using a brow pencil in order to accentuate your arch or thicken your brows.

Get the look with the Lakmé Eyebrow Pencil, Black

• Makeup is not transformation… it’s creation!
  People need to stop thinking they don’t ‘need’ makeup because they are ‘naturally pretty’. What a misnomer. Makeup is for everyone. And if used well it’s more like a creation of beauty… a work of art!

• Half the fun is buying the makeup. The other half is putting it on.
  Like an artist and her paints. The joy is in mixing and matching and getting the right palate for that perfect look… even if its just to try out new looks in front of the mirror. Who says girls have to grow out of playing ‘dress-up’!

• You can never have enough makeup. Never. One product can bring out another and it makes perfect sense to buy both. Given that there are over a million shades of colour out there and oh-so many different skin types and endless techniques… a makeup collection is never truly complete!
• You know your makeup at the tip of your manicured fingers. ‘Are you wearing the Lakme Absolute Gloss Artist Eye Liner?’ you ask someone confidently without having to take a closer look. A makeup-holic knows her makeup and she knows it well.

• If the make-up looks great, you gotta find an outfit that will go perfectly with it… Not the other way round. Sometimes it helps to start at the top and work your way down.
• You say black, I say smoky grey. Makeup is more of a nuanced science with many layers (pun intended!). A true makeup addict knows her shades and would never describe it in solid colours like a novice.

• The day that you wear your most recent purchase gives you a high like none other. What a feeling! Like a secret that only you know, that adds an extra spring to your step. Of course the only thing more thrilling is when someone notices… and pays a compliment.

If you identified with one or more of these sure-shot signs of being a makeup-holic, then welcome to the wonderful world of crazy makeup addicts where life is never dull and it only takes a minute to change your day from normal to fabulous!

Before you try any of these makeup tips, ensure you have the right bronzer on hand. We recommend the Lakmé Absolute Moon-Lit Highlighter for the job. This handy beauty product has dual shades; the pearlescent light one is for highlighting and the warmer dark one is for bronzing. With its reflective, shimmery finish, this bronzer is all your makeup kit needs.

• To tint your cheeks
  
  When you are running out of time and want to give your cheeks a warm hint of colour, bronzer will come to your aid. Dab a fluffy brush in powdered bronzer, pat it over the apples of your cheeks and blend it upwards towards the temples. Especially on olive and dusky complexions, the yellow undertones of bronzer add glorious warmth to the cheeks!
  
  BB pro tip—Go light handed when applying it in place of blush because too much bronzer can make your face look muddy.

• To shape your décolletage
  
  If wide necklines and strapless dresses are your wardrobe staples, here’s a way to shape your décolletage when you slip them on. Dip a narrow angled brush in bronzer and dust it over and under the collar bone and on either side of the neck. Then go in with a powder brush and blend thoroughly so that no makeup lines are visible. This genius makeup tip is a sure-fire way to get a shapely, swan-like neck and décolletage.

• To colour your peepers
  
  No more is copper just an element on the periodic table. Thanks to metallic eyes making their way on the runway and into our hearts, sporting bronzy lids is now the trend du jour. To get runway ready peepers, dip a flat applicator brush in your bronzer and pat over your eyelid and into your crease. As bronzer is just a few shades darker than your own skin tone, it defines the lid naturally with a hint of warmth.

• To slim your nose
  
  Ever looked in the mirror and wished your large schnoz was a tad smaller? Now you can make that possible with the help of some clever makeup tricks. Dip an angled eye shadow brush in your bronzer and apply it vertically on the sides of your nose bridge and horizontally just below the tip of your nose. Blend it in thoroughly and look in the mirror to see yourself with a slimmer nose!

• Pink lips—cat eyeliner
• Nude eyes—mascara
• Red lips—highlighter
• Blue mascara—glossy lips
• Power brows—nude lips
• Dark eyes—peachy lips

Pink lips—cat eyeliner

If you’ve had enough of the red lips and winged eye makeup look, it’s time to shake things up in your makeup routine and wear every girl’s fave lip shade—pink. Not only doesn’t this colour make you feel feminine but it also adds colour to your look. Choose a bright pink or a baby pink shade and team it with the good ol’ cat eye liner. He’s sure to swoon over you!

Get the look with the Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Lip Color, Pink Satin

Get the look with the Lakmé Absolute Gloss Artist Eye Liner, Black

Nude eyes—mascara

If you have a brunch date, you need to steer clear of a jarring makeup look. This means no reds, no smokey eyes and no sparkle. Don’t be troubled because this totally means you can play with the nude makeup look. Try nudish brown eye shadow on your eyelids—the kinda colour that blends with your skin tone yet adds just a wee bit of hue to your eyes. But to make your eyes pop, go with mascara— get a volumnising, curling and lengthening one that will make your eyes stand out.

Get the look with the Lakmé 9to5 Eye Colour Quartet, Desert Rose

Get the look with the Lakmé Absolute Flutter Secrets Dramatic Eyes Mascara

Red lips—highlighter

If you can’t imagine your first date without the magic of red lips—just go with it. You know it works for you and nothing else makes you feel as sexy as that. So pick your favourite shade of red—whether it’s crimson, maroon or scarlet and paint your lips with it. While you do that, add a subtle glow to your face using a highlighter.

Get the look with the Lakmé 9to5 Primer+Matte Lipstick, Red Coat

Get the look with the Lakmé Absolute Moonlit Highlighter

Blue mascara—glossy lips

When it comes to eye makeup, mascaras are always the underrated heroes. And when it’s in a bright blue, their effect only becomes all the more impactful. So if you’re the experimental kinds who likes to give ballsy makeup a shot, colour your lashes in bright blue but balance out the look with nude glossy lips. We’re saying it—there’s no way he’s going home without asking you for a second date.

Get the look with the Lakmé Eyeconic Curling Mascara in Royal Blue

Get the look with the Lakmé 9to5 Primer+Matte Lipstick, Maple Map

Power brows—nude lips

Yes, we’re still suffering from power brow obsession. So give this look a shot on your first date. Create thick brows using an eyebrow pencil but because you’re going all out with the eyebrows, keep the lips nude—preferably a brown shade that doesn’t look overtly jarring because while you do want to look your pretty self on your first date, you also want to make sure you don’t cake your face up with excessive makeup.

Get the look with the Lakmé Eyebrow Pencil

Get the look with the Lakmé Enrich Lip Crayon, Cinnamon Brown

Dark eyes—peachy lips

Yes, you’re itching to use that brand new eye shadow palette for your first date look but the trick here is to then balance out the look. Go all out with the eyes—use your kohl, use your liner and use your dark eyeshadow. But stop right there—keep the face bare and the lips a peachy pink that will look subtle yet classy.

Get the look with the Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Eye Shadow Palette, Gold

Get the look with the Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Lip Color in Peaches n Cream

• MAKEUP
• SKIN
• HAIR

MAKEUP

• Lakmé Eyeconic Kajal
  
  The Lakmé Eyeconic Kajal one promises a smudge-free professional finish up to 10 hours! What’s more, its waterproof formula will ensure that the kajal doesn’t let you down even in the hot summers. Plus, totally in your budget! What’s not to love?
  
  Price: ₹144

• Lakmé Insta Eye Liner, Black
  
  Love cat eye makeup? It costs almost nothing! Just get your hands on the Lakmé Insta Eye Liner that’s deep black, water-resistant and feels oh so light on the eyes. C’mon, you know your eyes want it.
  
  Price: ₹92

• Lakmé Perfect Radiance Intense Whitening Compact
  
  What’s your base makeup product kitty without a compact, right? If you’ve been looking for one, try the Lakmé Perfect Radiance Intense Whitening Compact. Besides giving you coverage, it also offers an SPF of 23 with UVA/UVB protections and lends your skin an airbrushed finish!
  
  Price: ₹180

• Lakmé Enrich Lip Crayon
  
  You’ve got to agree that your makeup is totally incomplete sans some colour on your lips. If you want an effective makeup tip, try the Lakmé Enrich Lip Crayon that’s pigmented, sits light on your lips and is totally pocket friendly!
  
  Price: ₹185

SKIN

• Pond's White Beauty BB+ Fairness Cream
  
  If you want feathery light base makeup, you’ve got to try the Pond’s White Beauty BB+ cream that comes with a powerful mix of Vitamin B3, Vitamin E and SPF 30. So instant coverage and all day radiance—you’ve got both covered!
  
  Price: ₹119 for 18g

• Lakmé Lip Love Lip Care
  
  Want colour and hydration for your lips? Get your hands on the Lakmé Lip Love Lip Care. This one comes to a dual core—the inner core leaves your lips moisturised while the outer core lends your pout that much-needed colour.
  
  Price: ₹171

• Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash
  
  Want a body wash that buffs away dead skin and leaves your skin hydrated? It’s time to embrace the Dove Gentle Exfoliating Nourishing Body Wash. Its Nutrium Moisture technology will keep your skin supple while it exfoliates your body.
  
  Price: ₹99 for 180ml

• Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Restore
  
  Do we really need to tell you that there’s nothing better than the good ol’ Vaseline to keep your body intensely moistured? We suggest relying on the Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Restore Lotion that’s formulated with glycerin, pure soya extracts and stratys-3 multi-layer moisture. If you’re looking for something budget friendly, try its 200 ml bottle!
  
  Price: ₹145 for 200ml

• Lakmé Sun Expert SPF 24 PA Fairness UV Sunscreen Lotion
  
  If there’s a holy grail in skin care, it’s got to be a sunscreen. While you invest in a sunscreen, it can totally be done without burning a hole in your pocket. Do so by getting your hands on the Lakmé Sun Expert SPF 24 PA Fairness UV Sunscreen Lotion. Along with blocking up to 97% harmful sun rays, it prevents tanning and leaves your skin moisturised.
  
  Price: ₹160 for 60ml

• Fair & Lovely Anti Marks Treatment
  
  We get how embarrassing acne scars can be. This is precisely why we’re suggesting the Fair & Lovely Anti Marks Treatment as your go-to beauty product for dark spots. It’s almost like a laser treatment for your skin as it penetrates 3 layers deep to work on the marks from the roots. Plus, it also offers sun protection!
  
  Price: ₹115 for 40g

• Pond’s White Beauty Daily Spot-less Lightening Facial Foam
  
  Since the cleansing routine is crucial to your skin, include the affordable Pond’s White Beauty Daily Spot Less Lightening Facial Foam in your routine. This one deeply cleanses your skin in addition to fighting dark spots and removing dead skin.
  
  Price: ₹139 for 100g

HAIR

• Dove Hair Fall Rescue Shampoo and Conditioner
  
  Hair fall is often every girl’s worry. If you’ve been losing too much hair, try the budget friendly Dove Hair Fall Rescue Shampoo and Conditioner. This range is targeted towards hair thinning as it contains Trichazole—a protein that gives your hair the nutrients it needs. It also contains Nutrilock actives, which lock in nourishment in the hair helping it grow!
  
  Price: ₹125 and ₹158 for 180ml

• Sunsilk Long & Healthy Growth Shampoo and Conditioner
  
  All of us dream of healthy hair, don’t we? If this is your top priority, it’s about time you trusted the Sunsilk Long & Healthy Growth Shampoo and Conditioner. It’s enriched with biotin that nourishes your hair from the roots to the tip!
  
  Price: ₹107 and ₹100 for 180ml

• Always rely on a nudish-pink blush

  We all love our bright pinks and oranges but there’s no better glow than a nudish pink toned blush. So once you’re through with your base, just apply a hint of any blush in this shade to add that subtle colour to your face. If you ask us, our favourite is the Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Shimmer Brick in Pink that has the perfect pinks along with a blush toned shade that works wonders for nude makeup.

• Get that taupe on your eyes

  Unlike the no makeup look that largely depends on sheer coverage and pale lips and a hint of blush, nude makeup is all about using nude shades, one of which is taupe. Taupe is anywhere between greyish brown and even brownish grey. A perfect shade of nude, this looks gorgeous on the eyes. We suggest you rely on the Lakmé Absolute Illuminate Eye Shadow Palette in Gold that has just the right kinda brown or taupe that works perfectly for nude makeup.

• Use a natural shade on your lips

  Use a nude that you like—be it brown, pale pink or even a coffee toned colour. You can use a matte lipstick and then go for a gloss or even use a creamy lip colour. If you want a matte lipstick, we suggest going with the Lakmé Enrich Matte Lip Crayon in Cinnamon but if you’re looking for a deeply hydrating lipstick, we suggest relying on the Lakmé Absolute Argan Oil Lip Color in Buttery Caramel.

• Line your lips nude

  Since most of us have naturally nude lips, lining our lips with a nude shade like a light pink will help enhance our pout. We suggest going in with the Lakmé 9 to 5 Lip Liner in Beige Pink. Use this before applying a similar toned lipstick.

• Finish off with a champagne coloured highlighter

  What’s nude makeup without a hint of highlighter? Given that highlighters come in a range of nudes, you ought to try them out for this look. We suggest trying out the Lakmé Absolute Moonlit Highlighter. Use a fan brush to apply it on the high points of your face so that this nude makeup is easily visible when light hits your face.