LGBT Nude shoot with Bangalured

Surgical tape!

Over the 15th and 16th of December, I was busy with a nude shoot with people from the LGBT community in Bangalore..

My Favourite YouTube Beauty Gurus

I've learned most of what I know about makeup by watching tutorials on YouTube  and reading articles wherever I could find them. Watching videos is a great way to learn certain things because you get to see exactly what you need to do, step by step, the entire process. I would never have been able to come up with eye makeup looks if I hadn't stumbled upon video tutorials on YouTube.

How it all started..

I've loved makeup for as long as I can remember! I thought it would be fun to post one about my journey(?) :) Keep reading..

When Death Knocks..

Hey guys! I decided to create this post for those of you who have sent me emails regarding how my passion for makeup is useful in life. Well, for starters, I make-up models for fashion photography shoots! Keep reading to know a little more about a concept shoot called "When Death Knocks".

Formal Makeup for the Workplace

The time you spend at work everyday can be very stressing on your body and your mind. Why not ease the stress that too much makeup puts on your skin and follow a light-makeup routine for everyday purposes?

The Purrrfect Cat Eye + Berry lips

Here's a simple tutorial on how to achieve a winged eyeliner look. Winged eyeliner is a very versatile look. It's like a black shirt- you can dress it up, or dress it down. This look is a simple daytime look...

Peacock inspired Makeup

India's national bird, the Peacock is one of the most beautiful birds I've seen. It's shimmering blue body and golden plumage seem to have been put here on earth to inspire artists... And so, I just had to do this tutorial. I hope you guys enjoy it!!

Blue and Plum: Fashion request

I finally got around to preparing a tutorial for this look. I got a couple of requests by email, so here it is! I tried to make it as easy as possible, but it requires a steady hand and a Q-tip dipped in makeup remover (or moisturizer) to achieve perfection :P

Sand 'n' Sea

I love beaches!! The golden sand and the blue water look so beautiful in sunny weather! I just could not resist doing a look inspired by the sand and the sea...

Anytime, anywhere- Gold & brown

Gold and brown is one of the most perfect combination for Indian skin tones. Whether a person is dark skinned or fair skinned, gold and brown are two colors that always beautify Indian eyes. The best part about this combo is that it suits all eye colors too! Find out how to create a look that can be worn anytime, anywhere, by following these steps!

Blue and Purple

Blue and purple is one of my favorite color combos for eye makeup. Both colors suit most skin tones, if worn in the right shades, and between a heavy and light look, these colors can be worn casually and formally, on jeans and saris. Check out this tutorial!

You Crazy Leopard!!

How's about a crazy leopard print look? Follow the jump to learn how to use fun colors and leopard prints!!

Lime Green and Lavender Glitter Eyes

Glamorous without being overdone!

Glitter always adds an element of fun and excitement to makeup. It can look tacky if overdone, but if done the right way, it can make up for a really cute look. Here's a step by step tutorial on how to achieve a glamorous, glitzy look with cool colors that can be worn as a day look without the glitter!

Tropical Sunset Eyes

The beautiful South Indian city of Vizag is my hometown. It is a scenic port city with amazing beaches and lovely hills. I always thought the sunset skies were beautiful and romantic, so I decided to do an eyeshadow look inspired by this awesome blend of colors.

Wearable Cleopatra Eyes

Cleopatra VII, the Egyptian queen has always been a mysterious and powerful personality in the pages of literature and history. She has been linked with great men like Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and has always been described as an exotic beauty. The fact that she was an Egyptian Royal, and also the way she has been depicted in the Asterix and Obelix series was enough for me to want to recreate a makeup look inspired by her beauty.

On a completely unrelated tangent..

Everyone hides behind a mask. What's underneath is generally never pretty

This post isn't really about makeup. But it is about disguises. Disguises that people around us hide behind every single day...

Easy Trick: Thick Lashes using Loose/Talcum Powder

Apart from a healthy diet and gentle care, do you know what can help you get thicker and longer looking lashes? Talcum Powder!! Yes, that's right! When used sensibly, talcum powder is actually a very handy tool. It can:

-Help mattify oily areas on your face. Just rub a small amount between your palms, clap a few times and blot your face.
-Save you from oily roots. Just rub a small amount on your palms and finger comb through your roots. Brush your hair.
-Make your lipstick last longer by first applying it, then blotting on a tissue. Pat a small amount of powder on your lips to mattify and re apply the lipstick.
- Make your lashes look thick & long (I will show you how)

These are my fav uses of Talc. What are yours??

How to make your lashes thick and long?

 You will need:
-Eyelash curler (optional but recommended)
-Mascara (I'm using Maybelline's Colossal Volum' Express Mascara- waterproof)
-Talcum powder
-Fluffy brush.

This is how my lashes look before and after curling and mascara:

Mascara

Normal

 

Curled

 After applying a coat of mascara, Using a fluffy brush, dust your lashes with talcum powder. Gently wipe away the excess with the same brush.

Now apply the second coat of mascara, and Voila!

Haha! You can see the reflection of my camera in my eyeball!!

Here is a before after comparison of normal mascara and powder trick mascara:

If you want to use this trick when you apply eyeshadow, simply apply one coat mascara and powder beforehand, finish your eye makeup and the apply the second coat!

What are your favorite Rescue Tricks?

Super Easy Smokers

Say hello to my first official smokey eye post! I remember how when i had just started experimenting with makeup, my basic smokey eye looked like i had used the burn tool on my eye lid. I would smudge my kajal and mattify the whole thing by using talcum powder. T'was actually a very simple and decent look.

Up and till Maybelline released it's Colossal Kajal, I did not find a single, affordable drugstore Kajal that did not smudge. I tried Biotique, Shahnaz, Himalya, VLCC, Elle 18, Lakme and Lotus. All of then smudged even though some claimed to be smudge free. Obviously, now i only use Maybellinebut all hope is not lost for the oily smudgy kajals out there! Here's a technique that lets you create a very simple smokey eye using colored eyeshadow.

All you need is:

Kajal: "I have seen better days".

 A kajal stick (I am using my Ell8 18 Kajal.)
Eye shadow
Q Tip or Ear bud
Fluffy Brush

Glittery Royal Blue

1. Start with your normal foundation routine and fill in your eyebrows. DO NOT apply concealer or primer on your eyes. This step comes later. Just draw a thin line with your kajal stick.

2. Using a Q tip or ear bud, smudge the kajal all over your eyelid, till just above the crease. Depending on the kajal that you use, you may have to re-draw and re-smudge till you have the desired gray base. You may also use your finger to smudge the kajal, but using a Q tip gives better control over the shape.

3. Load a fluffy brush up with eyeshadow and pat it on to the eye lid. Here, the smudged kajal acts as a primer base for the pigment to stick on to.








4. From here, there are two kinds of smokey eyes that can be done. a) where the lid is darker than the crease and b) where the crease is darker than the lid.

a) Draw another line on the lid with the kajal. This time do not smudge it, just gently blend the harsh line away. Apply another layer of eyeshadow. You will notice that you will get a dark to light gradient effect. If you feel that your eye makeup is still greasy, lightly dust it with more eye shadow till you are satisfied. You can also adjust the darkness of the look by adjusting the amount of kajal you use.Highlight you brow bone and inner corner. Line your eyes with a liquid eyeliner, apply kajal on your waterline and mascara to finish the look.

b) Use the Kajal on the outer corner of your lid. Use the Q tip or ear bud to blend it inwards. Using the fluffy brush, apply eye shadow. If your eyelid is still greasy, then use more eyeshadow. Repeat these steps till the look is dark enough and till you are satisfied. I had to do it twice. Highlight your brow bone and inner corner. Finish off with liquid liner, kajal and mascara.

 5. Now, use concealer under your eyes (if required) and set it with powder. Finish off with your favourite, most natural looking blush and pinkish-nude lips.

Look A

Look A

Look B

Look B

Here are photos of Look B (My fav) in Lavender and Beige:

Lavender

Beige

Sometimes, depending on the shape of your eye, one of the two techniques will look better on you. So experiment, and figure out your smokey eye look! Have fun experimenting with different colors and do comment if you want to see a picture of any particular color. Good Luck!

Salma Hayek Makeup

Another post on olive skinned Hollywood women! I found this picture of Salma Hayek. Its from a photo shoot for some Magazine.

I'm not sure which magazine this was for, but her makeup is just GORGEOUS isn't it? It such a nice look for her skin tone. Fun, vivid and yet not too overboard. I would say it's a pretty wearable look for really dressy occasions like weddings (you know how Indian weddings are, 100 different affairs).. Here's a close-up of her face:

So here's a simple and easy tutorial showing you how to achieve this look:

1. Start with your regular foundation routine. Fill in your brows (if necessary) and apply primer to your eyelid. Use a heavy duty one for this look, or simply apply a very thin layer of Vaseline to your eyelid.

2. Use a bright bubble gum pink on your eyelid. Stay within the crease line, and extend it outwards as if you are creating a wing. In this look, the eyeshadow colors are very solid, so layer on the color. That is why I mentioned a heavy duty primer.








3. Use a hot purple color above the pink. This color will partly visible above the crease line. Extend this color out too, and using an ear bud or Q Tip dipped in makeup remover (you can even use cleansing milk or moisturizer) Sharpen the wing created with the two colors.







4. Take an angled brush, eyeliner brush or any tiny brush that you have, and apply a bright sky blue color on your inner corner. Pull it down while making a small cat eye wing. Again, use an ear bud or Q tip to sharpen the shape.








5. Highlight your brow bone and line your eyes with liquid eyeliner. I have used black, but you may also try a dark purple, midnight blue or dark brown eyeliner. Just make sure that you use a liquid or gel liner, not pencil, because the line need to be sharp and crisp. Create a wing inside and outside like so. I lined my waterline with kajal, but you could also use a white pencil to make your eyes look bigger and brighter. Finish off with Mascara.





6. To finish off the look i used a peachy blush on my cheeks and lip color. In the photo her lips look like they are stained and a gloss has been used. I don't own that particular color so i custom made the color for myself. I used a lip balm on my lips, and patted in a bright pink eyeshadow. Then i topped that with my red lipstick (I did not directly apply, but used my finger to give a very thin cover) and blended. Finished off with clear gloss.





Personally, I really like the bright colors on my dusky skin tone. Because of the bubble gum pink, this combo will look very pretty on fair skinned people too, but I recommend using a baby pink blush instead of a peach one. Here are some more photos of the completed look!