Over the past year or so, our festive celebrations have undergone a major change. From celebrating in full swing with family and friends to having intimate gatherings, we’ve (been forced to) come a long way. But is that any reason to forgo the glam and opt for subtle makeup looks? Absolutely not! In fact, we'd go so far as to say that 2021 has been incredibly generous when it comes to makeup trends that are suitable for all occasions and skin types too.

And to help you look nothing less than bomb AF, we roped in celebrity makeup artist Reshma Merchant — who’s dolled up Bollywood celebs like Nora Fatehi, Esha Gupta, Mrunal Thakur, among others — to share her expert tips on achieving the perfect festive makeup look. Read on for all the inside scoop, and don’t forget to take notes, ladies!

 

01. Prep for that flawless base

01. Prep for that flawless base

In order to get a flawless base, ensure your skin is well hydrated. Follow a basic CTM routine, and don’t forget to slather on sunscreen to keep your skin looking flawless. When it comes to your base makeup, avoid caking up too much product. Apply a thin layer of foundation and concealer at first and build up if you need more coverage.

 

02. Let your eyes do the talking

02. Let your eyes do the talking

Since everything is essentially a 'mask up' gathering, it's important to play up the eyes. Switch things up a little by trying a burnt pink or rich red smokey eye instead of a black smokey eye. Team it with a dark brown eyeliner, smudged into the lash line, and you'll be surprised at how flattering your eye makeup looks.

 

03. Make that pout count

03. Make that pout count

Don’t forget to prep your lips with a lip balm before applying lipstick. It’ll hydrate your lips and make the lipstick glide on smoothly. As for the lip colour, you can go bold with a striking hue or play it safe with nude lipstick — whichever you prefer.

 

04. Highlighters, FTW!

04. Highlighters, FTW!

Do not shy away from illuminating highlighters. Take your pick from cream-stick formulas, liquid highlighters, or powder options. Apply the highlighter of your choice on the high points of your face, such as the brow bones, cheekbones, bridge of your nose, and cupid’s bow. Gold-toned highlighters are great for duskier complexions, silver-toned ones work beautifully for fair skin, and rose-gold highlighters work wonders for wheatish complexions.

 

05. Blush it out

05. Blush it out

While matte blushes are always a good choice, try out blush tints for a stunning, natural glow this festive season. Blend the blush tint well so that it doesn't look patchy. Using the right amount of blush and placing it right can really enhance your cheekbones.

 

06. Quick pro tips to note:

Quick pro tips to note:

 

Psst… We know you want more, so here are some quick bonus makeup tips shared by Reshma Merchant:

Contour: When contouring, start light and build up slowly. This will give you a more natural-looking contour.

Brows: For the brows, always start by filling in any gaps with brow powder or eyebrow pencil before shaping it up.

Lip-liner: Wearing a light lip colour? Fill your lips with a lip liner before applying your lipstick to make the lipstick stay on longer.

Images courtesy: @Reshma Merchant