I'm back

Hi All,

Its been really late but even after 4 months of internet spacing and mental torture (to some extent) I got my personal lappy and I’m free again to make posts.
Though 4 months don’t seem much long time, it’s a pretty long time for bloggers. Writing a makeup blog means lots of researching and lots of updates. I’m over loaded with updates these days and was dying to write things.

India has always been first priority for brands and more and more brands have started pouring in seeing the potential of an indian customer. But an indian customer is not very updated with these brands and sorry to say but the SA’s are no well versed at what they sell. So I’d always recommend makeup and cosmetic shoppers to believe in doing research before they go to counters.

Anyways one brand I always waited for has launched. None other than GUERLAIN. A legendary french brand that has loved and had connections with India even before we were born. The perfume Shalimar says so and so do the bronzers and their latest Kerala inspired makeup line.

Have you tried Guerlain before? If no, then you should try their Powder kohls, terracotta bronzers, the liplicious Kiss Kiss lipstick, Meteorites, the Le 2 Guerlain mascara and so many more……

Another brands rumored to come in are Bobbi Brown, Nars and Benefit. Known for their cutting edge makeup products, these brands are excellent players in the market and I have used some stuff of theirs which is mind blowing….and I shall be writing about it in the coming posts.

I had a chance to got to Kolkata Fashion week to work backstage for fashion shows as a makeup artist, thanks to my friend, teacher and mentor Lippi and her amazing Max Factor team. I did this as a part of my freelancing time that I get after working as a part time skin care consultant with another amazing dermatologist developed brand Clinique. I shall give a makeup breakdown of some looks that we did for the show. They were not extra ordinary but the models who sported them were goddesses and makeup gets enhanced on an already beautiful face.
In these 4 months I realised a lot of mistakes that brides do and have made certain realisations that I need to tell inspite of any comments that I get on them.

My article on makeup for Black women got good and horrible reviews at the same time. Some women don’t realise that my reviews are my personal ones and I have got nothing to do with other’s opinions on what I write. Even today when I look at my manager at Clinique Vidula I still feel that a dark skin feels like velvet. Btw I don’t publish comments writing by such witchy women on my blog as they are anonymous. Btw if I get a chance I’m going to ban anonymous comments from my blog. At the end of this conversation, “I would always love dark complexions however fairer sides they have and would advice people with bad opinions to rant about them with themselves.”

So you’ll see me soon writing interesting stuff and would urge all my wonderful readers to please give their opinions and suggestions.

Till then,


Ciao

New year comes with NEWER FUN

Dear Readers,


Let me be a little frank about my limited access and really not finding enough time to write my blog.I'm overwhelmed with the response I got from my beloved readers and since I have taken a new connection I can give u a gentleman's promise for restarting my blog writing from 2010 onwards....

I would as always said love to get ideas from all of you and love to share the newer aspects in beauty...


Till then,
Ciao

Giveaways...

I've started feeling generous these days.
Here's your chance to win a gift hamper from MAC of Rs.4000 with goodies chosen by me.And not only that you also win a free makeup class with me (Mumbai India only) where I will teach you personal makeup enhancements of Rs.20000 value.
This contest is open for all boys and girls. Boys can learn tips to become a makeup artist or surprise their girlfriends where as girls can learn makeup for an occasion and get a chance to outshine others.

Just need to answer a simple question asked below and I choose the winner on the basis of his/her answer.This contest closes on 31st August 2009.Please mail me on neerajnavare@yahoo.com for any special classes or services though.

The Question is:

My makeup makes me ----------------------------------------------------------.

Complete the slogan in one-two sentences.


I shall declare the results as soon as the last date comes.So be fast and get a chance.

Till then,
Ciao

Glow On......

Seen a baby on whom sunlight falls? Its skin is lit in a warm glow and shines ethereally. Unfortunately this happens when we are not even aware of makeup. And when we take the blush brush first time in our hands, we dream of getting that same glow that we sported 20 yrs ago.

How do we get the glow back? How can we make our skin luminous and radiant? These questions pop up all the time but we are clueless about where to find the products that could do all this for us.

I’m going to tell you my insights about getting this amazing baby glow again. Lets see how the skins glow differently: -

Fairer skins with pink undertones have a heavenly whitish pink to ivory colored glow on the areas of their face where light hits. Please do not forget that our FACE has dimensions.

Fairer skin with warm undertones dream to have peaches and cream complexion. They have a slight peach-y golden halo.

Medium skins range from a rosy to a peach-y glow.

Tanned skins have this sultry coppery bronze glow that makes them look very attractive and heavenly.

Darker skins have a bronze orange halo on the light hit areas with golden tinge.


This sounds so heavenly but we should learn how to sport it.

Lets begin with skin care. The skin that is regularly exfoliated shed a lot many dead cells and reflects light readily. The dullness in the complexion happens when the skin is not reflecting light and is flaky in appearance. A gentle daily exfoliation that removes only surface dead cells and allows the cells below to get their daily dose of moisturizer is enough to get s speedy cellular turnover and glowing skin. A weekly peel or a scrub having micro jojoba beads exfoliates the flaky rough dead cells revealing a smooth complexion underneath. AHAs not only exfoliate but also retain the pH balance of the skin making it much more blemish free and glowing.

On this smoothened cellular surface, treatment and makeup products slip better and stay put for a longer time combating chalkiness and an artificial masked makeup look.

A daily skin routine and once a month visit to a salon is all that you need if you are already blessed with an amazing skin. These products could be of your choice or recommended by your cosmetologist.

Makeup too has innovations that can impart a dewy skin that is hassle and mess free. I covet on some of these products that have been staples in my beauty kit for sometime and completely vouch on them for that eternal glowing skin.

FOUNDATIONS et al : -

Clinique Super Moisture foundation for drier skin gives that ultimate radiance.
MAC Hyper Real does the same thing blessed you are with a very dry skin.
I love Clarins True Radiance foundation that is sleek enough for oily skins to sport as well and so is Dior’s Nude skin foundation that feels like a Fendi bag for your skin. Love YSL’s Teint Parfait Complexion Enhancers in all colors being particularly biased to shade no.3 with beige gold highlights.

CONCEALERS: -

Concealers have photo optic light reflectors to conceal and brighten under eye area and reveal a brighter complexion. YSL Touche Éclat, Clinique Air brush concealer, Dior Flash Radiance and Clarins Instant Light Perfecting Touch are unbiased winners in this category. Just love them.

BLUSHES and ILLUMINATORS: -

Clinique makes an oil free illuminising lotion called UPLIGHT ILLUMINATOR that looks like rocket science. Just a few dots and you look radiant and glowing. I also love the Clinique Fresh Bloom All Over Color that has three coordinated colors with a thing for contour, color and highlight and the Shimmer tones in Bronze which gives just from the beach effect. MAC makes sheer tone and sheer tone shimmer blushes that are a must have in everyone’s makeup kit. I especially love TRACE GOLD, SUNBASQUE and PLUMFOOLERY in their regular line. Not being a pink highlighter person my favorite shades are gold and peaches that impart warmth on Indian skins.
Shiseido Accentuating Sticks are cream to powder formulations that give this wonderful halo on the skin.
MAC’s Naked Honey Collection has this ultra flattering mineralize skin finish in Honey Light which give s a subtle hint of color and an amazingly radiant complexion.
Others I trust are Benefit Blushes, Tarte Cheek stains and Smashbox Cosmetics Fusion Lights which are truly mesmerizing.


To apply these highlighters I strongly recommend a fan brush that is made for subtle applications. Do grab one from MAC or NYX cosmetics, but I love my Benefit Fan Brush.


I would love to hear from you, your glowing secrets and recipes. So do write them in COMMENTS.

Till then,
Ciao

Love that LINER!!!

Eye liners are like a couple of brush strokes towards being GLAMOROUS. Eye liners are all about creativity and freedom.

An eye liner can alter the eye shape and always make it look better if done the right way.

These things are very easy to say until you really do a liner yourself. Being a makeup artist for quite sometime I believe using a liquid liner like an occupational hazard. You really need to do liners everyday to get the skill correct. Its like meditation, the more you concentrate the better the chances to go into trance.

I have used all types of these dangerous devices and never got results until a new discovery. This new discovery is actually an old one for many of the ladies I know, but I was a little ignorant. If you are scared of liquids why not try GEL LINERS.

Makeup artists are using these since the day they were invented and I got a chance to use them too. I love a nice matte black line and this does the work for me.

Of course my favorites are Clinique’s Brush on cream liner in True Black, MAC Fluid line in Blacktrack and Shiseido’s Accentuating cream liner in Noir.

The former being the best one, I’m going to review it.

Clinique as you know offers products that are allergy tested and 100% fragrance free. This is an extension of the cosmetic line and it is Ophthalmologically tested. This holds true as the liner works on sensitive eyes and lens wearers in the same way it does on common ladies.

What I love about the liner is that it is jet jet black. Its dark enough to remind you of midnight and matte enough for a cloudy night. It is a gel based formula that dries and sets to perfection. Water proof and smudge proof, makeup removers are the only companions that can remove it, of course gently.

Has crying in public been an issue with you while you were wearing your best dress and best 80’s makeup? Then you are the first one I recommend to buy this.

The gel liner pot carries around 5 g. of this jet black gooey liner. (It can dry up if the pot is kept open for a long time.) This tiny pot holds a magic potion in it. As a friend so that you don’t have to buy another one, a tiny brush is included with it. It’s the first time that a cosmetic company gives a brush in its packaging tat is user friendly and more or less useful. I love the flat tip of the brush tht is handy and convenient enough for carrying out any look. Yes the cons would be that the gel liner dries and makes the brush hard. So a regular tissuing off and some soap and water care is all that makes the brush ready for its next application.

Doing the cat’s eye is as easier as it gets with products like these. Lets learn how to do it: -

Apply a shimmer beige colored eyeshadow all over the eye lid that is primed with an eye primer like Benefit’s Lemonaid Correcting Primer. I love MAC’s Ricepaper with some gold in it. A much wearable option is MAC’s Orb or Grain for a subtle dose of shimmer. Contour the crease with a beige-y brown like Clinique’s Color Surge Mono Eyeshadow in Twiglet or MAC’s Buckwheat which is a bronze brown laden with golden shimmer flecks.

Then trace the upper lash line with a smoldering black eye pencil like Clinique’s Quick Liner for eyes in Really Black. It comes with a handy smudger which can be used to smudge the line or just paint the lash line so that it looks intensely tinted and darker.

The eye pencil also acts like a base for the cream liner to glide on easily and give a better hold.

Then trace the gel liner along the lash line giving it the desired thickness. I follow the rule of making it thin in the inner corners and gradually thickening it till it goes in the end of the lid and then abruptly thinning it out.

Don’t forget the lower lid. Apply an eye pencil in the inner rims from the outer ¾ th of the eye. Then with a flat liner brush, blend it in the lower lash line. Apply a beige shimmer in the inner corners and with a pointy eye brush trace a brown eyeshadow that was used in the crease to seal of the eyeliner at the lid. Apply the gel liner only in the outer corners and life it to join the upper line.

Look at this fabulous picture of Angelina Jolie and you’ll understand the technique….

Till then,

Ciao

Makeup Breakup with Bipasha Basu

Bipasha Basu is not only an actor par excellence, but also a beauty icon in the country. She is known for her retro eye liner looks, absolutely flawless skin and nude lips. I’m happy the way her makeup artists don her and always get her perfectly right. Since I know her makeup artist (shall not reveal names) I got to learn his tricks for creating this sultry look. I might not suggest all the products that he uses but I’m sure I’ll be able to put the look well.

Makeup artists are actually face choreographers and they know how to put up a look anywhere with anything.

Anyways, lets see what we would need for Bipasha’s look: -

- CLEANSE, EXFOLIATE AND MOISTURIZE
- CLARINS INTANT SMOOTH PERFECTING TOUCH
- BENEFIT LEMONAID CORRECTING EYE PRIMER
- MAC POWERPOINT EYE PENCIL IN SMOLDER
- MAC FULL COVERAGE FOUNDATION
- MAC PREP+PRIME FINISHING POWDER
- CLINIQUE UPLIGHTING ILLUMINATOR IN PEACH OR BRONZE AS PER SKIN TONE
- MAC POWDER BLUSH IN SUNBASQUE AND TRACE GOLD
- MAC GRAND DUO BLUSH IN LIGHT OVER DARK
- CLINIQUE FULL POTENTIAL LIPS IN EXTRA APRICOT
- CLINIQUE HIGH IMPACT LIPSTICK IN POH POSH
- CLINIQUE SUPERBALM MOISTURIZING LIPBALM IN MANGO
- CLINIQUE BRUSH ON CREAM LINER IN TRULY BLACK 02
- CLINIQUE EYE DEFINING LINER IN BLACK
- CLINIQUE HIGH IMPACT CURLING MASCARA IN BLACK
- CLINIQUE LASH POWER MASCARA IN BLACK ONYX
- CLINIQUE BLENDED LOOSE POWDER IN 04 TRANSPERENCY
- CLINQUE SUPERFINE LINER FOR BROWS IN DEEP BROWN
- MAC EYESHADOWS IN REMOTELY GREY, DARK EDGE, SMUT, RICE PAPER AND GLEAM
- CLINIQUE EYESHADOW PALETTE IN SPICY AND COLOR SURGE MONO EYESHADOW IN BUFF

Now lets see how to put all that on. These are the makeup products in an ideal environment and have a scope of alternating or removing certain products.


FACE: -

Its very important to exfoliate especially for olive, medium and dark skin otherwise your makeup could give an ashen cast on the face because of dead cells.
Cleanse with a foaming cleanser and then swipe on Clinique’s Clarifying lotion with a cotton pad on the face and finish with a light weight oil free moisturizer like Clinique’s Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief in patting motions all over the face. If it’s a day look then do not forget to add a sunscreen or a primer with sunscreen like Moisture Sheer Tint spf 15 from Clinique which is an oil free tinted moisturizer that loves to behave like a primer as well.

On certain areas like cheeks, nose and middle of the forehead, the foundation is likely to wash off or flake due to oiliness or dryness. This concern can be taken care with Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch which is a balmy primer that minimizes shine and appearance of pores and makes the foundation glide better and make it stay put for long..
A pinkie size primer should go a long way. It needs to be dabbed and then spread across in circular motions to fill in pores. Do not forget the sides of the nose that can be flaky and red at times.

For priming the eyelids I love Benefit’s Lemonade Concealer that hides the appearance of under eye circles and purplish haze and broken veins and capillaries on the eyelids and yet prepares them for a smooth eyeshadow application. Put a little product and blend on the lids. Build it up as required in layers and see to it that all layers are blend.

MAC full coverage foundation is a perfect all over foundation and concealer that hides flaws and makes the makeup long lasting. Other options would be Clinique’s Perfectly Real Makeup Foundation which is very good for oilier skins and for ones who want their skins to see through and make the makeup look real.
I love to mix some MAC’s Fix + spray on a glob of foundation to make it thinner and help it spread better. For applying the foundation I prefer using a buff brush made with natural hairs that gives it a smooth and blended appearance. Scott Barnes foundation brush is an amazing natural bristled brush that blends creamy products like dream.

Apply foundation all over the face and the eye area and smooth and buff it out with the above mentioned brush. Apply some foundation even in the space between inner corners and the nose bridge as that areas has the maximum darkness and bluishness.

Set the foundation with MAC prep n prime powder. The best way to apply powder is with a fluffy brush and apply very less amount as powders can give a mask like appearance. To correct the color apply Clinique’s Blended Loose Powder in minuscule amounts over the T zone. This will also help prevent any shine on the face.

EYES: -

I prefer to do my foundation first and then go with eye makeup. This invites emergencies like eyeshadow fall outs and color getting applied everywhere. To prevent eyeshadow fall outs, I tap the excess color from the eyeshadow brush and apply the eyeshadow in buffing motions rather than swiping. This also gives me a better color loading and results in a better color payoff.

Start with lining the lid with an eye pencil applied as near as possible on the lash line. This stains the lash line and gives an illusion of fuller lashes. Plus it also acts like an extra base for the eyeshadow to sit on.

Then apply SMUT eyeshadow in the outer corners and blend it in the crease. In the outer corners buff a dark bronze eyeshadow from SPICY Quad and blend it towards the crease. Apply the metallic brown in the crease and blend it inwards and till the sides of the nose. This needs to be done under professional assistance.

Apply the peachy bronze eyeshadow from the quad all over the lid with a fluffy eyeshadow brush. To highlight the brow bones mix the gold color from the quad with Buff mono eyeshadow and with a large buffing eyeshadow brush dab it over the brow bones blending downwards. In the area immediately under the brow use some BuFF eyeshadow to open up the eyes. Use Ricepaper eyeshadow in the inner corners and inner parts of the upper and lower lids.

On the lower lids smoke an eyeliner pencil from outwards within and shade in SMUT eyeshadow till the outer third. This gives an illusion of big and beautiful almond eyes.

Take the brush on cream liner on a thin eyeliner brush or a flat liner brush and walk its way in the inner rims of the lower lid. With extra precision draw a thin line over the upper lid with the liquid liner. I like to start from the outer corner coming inwards and love a line that is thin in the inner corners and gradually gets thicker till the outer corners and again fades away thinning outwards. This gives a perfect winged appearance to the liner and lifts up the eye area.

Two coats of curling mascara on the upper lid and two coats of lengthening mascara on the lower lid finishes the look.


CHEEKS: -

Apply a liquid illuminator on the highlight areas of the face. Apply Sunbasque which is a bronzy peach blush all over the cheek bones and highlight the apples using Trace Gold blush which is a sheer tone shimmery gold and looks amazing as a blush.

The overall effect is peachy and luminous with a perfect looking skin.

LIPS: -

Apply high impact lipstick in POSH POSH by dabbing it over the lips to create a base for the lipgloss. Mix extra apricot lipgloss with mango superbalm and glide them on the lips.



This look is very easy to sport and very flawless. Hope you try it on.

Till then,
Ciao

Beauty Essentials for PROs

We have so many talented makeup artists who want to make big in the business and who dream big. As starters they have limited access to products and a limited budget to start their profession. Just like ideas even the makeup products are limitless and artiste nouveau are confused of what to buy.

So I thought of dedicating an article to all pro and amateur makeup artists who want make their own stand and their own makeup kit. You need not have to get all branded stuff and invest worth lakhs of money, just by buying essentials you can start off and build your makeup case slowly and steadily. Hope this article helps..

Here’s a list of things I find perfect for a beginner: - (these are my recommendations. And that doesn’t mean its mandatory to buy what I have recommended. This article is for an Indian makeup artist who is a beginner. Others can update their kits according to the need of their clients.)

- Skin care: - Any good skin care brand helps you get a very good canvas to work on. I recommend Clinique’s Wash away gel cleanser, Mild Clarifying lotion and Moisture Surge Extended thirst relief or Moisture Sheer Tint spf 15 in Beige.

- Foundation: - MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC 40, NW 40 and NC 42 to begin as a liquid foundation. Kryolan Supra foundation palette of 24 colors for heavier makeups. Custom fit foundation colors according to needs but start off with these as basics.

- Concealer: - Clinique All about eyes concealer in No. 5 Medium Beige and No. 8 Deep Honey.

- Powder: - Clinique Blended Loose Powder in no. 4 and no. 8 and MAC Prep+Prime Powder

- Blush: - Some universal shades like Clinique Blushing blush in Smoldering Plum and Bashful blush, MAC Powder blush in Tender Gold, Sunbasque, Coygirl and Peachykeen.

- Eyeshadow Primer from Oriflame

- Face Primer from Clarins Instant Smooth Perfect Touch

- Eyeshadows colors from MAC in Smut, Carbon, Tempting, Sumptuous Olive, Gleam, Shroom, Nylon, Amber Lights, All that Glitter and Silver Ring.

- Mascara in MAC Zoomlash Black or Clinique High Impact Mascara

- Eye liners Clinique Quickliner for eyes in Really Black and Dark Chocolate

- Brows from Clinique Super Fine liner for Brows in Deep Brown

- Lipsticks in some basic colors like red, pink, beige, brown, burgundy and coral or orange.

- Lipglosses in peach, pink, nude, beige, gold and brown.

- NYX brushes as they are a good substitute to MAC brushes and have equal professional touch.


The more you buy, the better it gets. But one needs to start some where.
Till then,
Ciao

Le Grand Duo………

I’m a huge fan of MAC Mineralize blushes and eyeshadows and have been collection entire collections over years from their limited edition launches. Guys from MAC @ Juhu would agree with me on how fast these collections move and how they have to handle the “Out of stock” anguish of flustering customers like me.

There is a reason for this. The pay off of these Mineralize products is out standing with an amazing pigment quality and fairy like textures. The products create a lovely intermix of colors on eyes and a supernatural halo on the cheeks of which one could only dream of. Let me keep away from blabbering more and talk about the amazing Grand Duo collection that MAC launches yesterday.

If you have seen the duos and trios from the Mineralize collection and if you have owned them, I’m very sure at the back of your mind somewhere you would have craved to have blushes in these duo textures too. I think the craving paid off. MAC launches a duo collection of Mineralize blushes that goes hand in hand with their eyeshadow collection and is something that every girl and every makeup artist using MAC must have dreamt.

The Grand duos are duo blushes with a solid half and a marble half what MAC calls MELANGE. The colors are exquisite and the intricate veining of gold and lilac with copper and bronze and even purple make them a must have in the vanity case. (I believe the word VANITY in the vanity case comes from the vanity a woman or a professional has to store so many products in a makeup case….lol…whatever)


The pay off of the blushes is amazing and one needs to be very cautious in using them. I would not advice using the same technique that you use for other MAC blushes where the color is loaded on the blush brush and then applied on the face. Since these blushes are highly pigmented just a whisper of color is enough for the blush to show on your face. That’s why MAC promotes their brush no. 188 a duo fiber brush to apply the blush delicately on cheek bones.

Though the blushes are frosted, they do not impart that chunky and tacky shimmery look on the face. Instead they create a halo on the cheeks and the shimmer is very subtle yet powerful and pronounced. The marble side gives a mélange of colors that blend together to give a radiant shine whilst the solid side is packed with blush pigments enough to make one look like a Raggedy Ann if used in excess.

The best part of owning this blush duo is the number of colors that you can actually get from a single product. It has all the colors necessary to accentuate cheeks but MAC do not recommend this product to be used on eyes so be cautious.

Since I was not very keen on Intenso and Moon River which are for the extreme dark and extreme fair complexions respectively, I ended up buying the rest of the five. Btw these blushes are priced at Rs.1350 and I strongly recommend them.

Lets see the shade description: --

Moon River Blue pink mélange / Pale yellow pink

Love Rock Gold violet mélange / Bright blue pink

Grand Duo Copper pink mélange / Plum

Light Over Dark Orange yellow mélange / Deep brown

Earth to Earth Purple bronze mélange / Yellow brown

Hot Planet Copper yellow mélange / Mid-tone plum

Intenso Pink gold mélange / Terracotta rose


Do try them at MAC stores all over India and do write about how the products are…

Till then,
Ciao

Bye bye fake cake….Real skin is in?

Foundations are like small genies in bottles. They come in all shapes and sizes, all textures and finishes and are made for all. Hasn’t that been a discussion for eons? But today’s woman is choosy. She takes her own time to decide and has the patience to select the right shade. This shade that she chooses remains with her for her life (of course until the formula stays).

Since today’s concerns are different, so are the foundations…. I have seen a lot of women with concern of pigmentations or uneven skin tone applying a pasty thingy on their face which masks their features completely. These foundations are not only cakey and fakey but also they are of the wrong undertone and horrible to look at. Such women lose their confidence and are desperate for measures.

I was able to find an answer for this solution. After trying out many formulations the best out of them was Clinique’s Perfectly Real Makeup, an oil free foundation known to do wonders. Let’s see the features of this foundation: -
- Its oil free so does not add any extra oil into the face that could create some other problems.
- Its has a micro mirror technology that instantly blurs imperfections and light diffusers reflect light in different directions wishing discoloration adieu.
- It gives full coverage but looks like real skin.
- Perfectly Real makeup helps hiding rudiness, discoloration and imperfections without looking cakey and its ultra light in texture.
- Its light but lasting.

Most of all it is allergy tested, 100% fragrance and dermatologist developed.

How to apply?

Perfectly Real Makeup glides on the skin like silk. To make it glide even better its very important to cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize. The exfoliation is a gentle daily exfoliation that does not cause skin injury and can be done by Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion. Since the surface flaky cells are wiped out and the smoother cells drink the moisturizer, the foundation sits better on the skin. Using a primer or a moisture booster helps the foundation last longer. Since it does not have sunscreen, a moisturizer with sunscreen in advisable during the day for women with concerns of discoloration and environmental damage.

After prepping the skin, peanut size amount on the back of the hand. First dot in the areas of concern and blend. Then with a foundation brush dab the foundation onto the skin and blend side wards from the middle of the face going out wards and down wards. This gives the most natural coverage. Since it’s a buildable foundation, layers of it can be applied wherever needed.

If there is too much of blotchiness on the skin or deeper discoloration a full coverage concealer like Clinique’s All About Eye concealer can be used underneath the foundation and then the foundation should be dabbed onto it.

Not only because of the availability but also because its meant to assist the coverage that the foundation gives, a powder called Perfectly Real Compact Makeup can be used. This powder is silky and gives full coverage by itself but also enhances the effect of the liquid foundation and seal it.

This foundation can be used by everyone as its not necessary that you need to have a concern on your face. Its ultra light weight and goes well with everyone.

I strongly recommend this foundation and you’ll see yourself transforming within minutes.

That’s why bye bye fake cake, now a days real skin is in !!!


Till then,
Ciao

The Midas Touch

I think GOLD is one of the most understated and underestimated color in makeup. Probably because it highlights and blends into our complexions very well, or because it is less obvious when used and even more because it blends with any color without changing the color’s identity. But I want to give GOLD its own identity and its own uniqueness.

Gold works with all colors right from cool blues to hot reds and imparts its own signature to that color. But on its own Gold could be used in many unique ways. First lets see which are the GOLDS that we could choose.

Since GOLDS go well on any skin colors its not so difficult to choose the right GOLD color. Pink and fair complexions should choose a Pink or Coppery gold, where as warm tropical complexions should choose slightly bronzed golds and darker complexions could look effervescent with antique golds. A yellow gold which is the purest form of gold color in makeup could virtually go good on anyone and enliven anybody’s complexion.

GOLD could be used on any place on the body to highlight it. But I believe gold to be used as an accent more than an all over color.
Here’s a few tips to apply GOLD as a color for the face: -

-Use it in the inner corners or on the bulge of the eye ball or as a brow highlighter or as a liquid liner or some gold flecks on the eye brow to open up the eye makeup.
-Use it on the heights of the cheeks to give an appearance of a sculpted face or use on the cheek bones and apples for an all over halo.
-Use on the centre of the lips to make an visual pout or apply over the cupid’s bow to change the shape of the lip making it appear larger.
-Dust or spray gold shimmer on the décolletage and look like a goddess.

Some unusual tips would be: -

-Dip mascara wand in a gold pigment and use it as a highlight on the lashes keeping rest of the makeup neutral.
-Mix it with pinks and teals to create a duo chrome effect and see the fun.

So friends do let me know if you have some tips on how to use GOLD and please feel free to share it with all of us.
You can write to me on neerajnavare@yahoo.com

Till then,

Ciao

Legendary makeup tips.......

Makeup artists are a source of inspiration all the time and always strive to give something new and innovative to the ever hungry fashionistas and beauty addicts….here are some tips I read recently and fell for them…..

1) Francois Nars the creator of Nars Cosmetics had once used a single peachy orange colored lipstick on a super model’s face and thus was born one of the favorite products in the world, the Nars Multiple. This was and is an inspiration for many other brands that come with the names like accentuating stick, blush in a stick and many more.

2) Pat McGrath, one of the greatest makeup artists in the world uses her fingers to apply makeup and told that they are the best and god gifted artistic tools anyone could have. Her makeup finishes are know to be something better than an air brush and bless her for her magical fingers.

3) Pat is also famous for brewing her own makeup concoctions which are so inspiring that cosmetic companies just die waiting to her what coming new from the maestro. She is known to mix paints in tiny pots and create magnificent arrays of colors ever known to man.

4) Stephane Marais had once used real garage grease on models at a fashion show and the shimmery look was born.

5) Pat McGrath applies foundation and powder on lips and then coats with some super thick transparent gloss to create those ultra nude and ultra natural glistening lips at the Versace show.

6) Dick Page, the makeup magician had once told to apply an iridescent foundation in a crescent shaped manner from the brow bone to the cheeks. This leads to one of the most flattering finishes in makeup and no wonder who is taking the credit for that.

7) Dick Page also advised to use a red clear thin lipgloss on the cheeks to create a healthy flush.

8) To create a dewy look for people with combination skin Pat advises using a tinted moisturizer all over the face and a mattifying foundation on the T zone and viola you look Dewy.

9) MAC makeup artists have attributed to some of the craziest colors in makeup and one of them I believe is a red colored crème blush which looks horrendous in the packaging but one of the most flattering on cheeks.

10) In earlier times mascara used to be applied with clients on recumbent position.

11) Makeup artists are known to apply eye drops and crushed aspirin on the face, the worst being toothpaste, meat and hemorrhoids cream.

12) Makeup artist Bobbi Brown once said, that the lipstick that matches to the upper lip color (without the lipstick) when on the lower lip is the best shade a woman would ever find for her.

13) To set makeup trends, makeup artists really think beyond thinking…..YSL’s black lipgloss is one of the major thoughts this season.

14) We heard about battery operated toothbrushes and razors and now its mascaras….Lancome’s Oscillation and Estee Lauder turbo volume are two of its kinds….

15) The ball at the end of the wand mascara called Phenomen’eyes by the brains behind Givenchy beauty Nicholas DeGennes is patented for 25 yrs and no company could copy it till then…..what a thinking….

16) Pat McGrath showed the world that Kabuki theatrical makeup could be done using all other colors that white like pink and powder blue…and not necessarily white……..

17) Lancôme’s Aaron De May brings a new punk-i-ness using a smokey eye unheard of, “the pink smoky eye”…

Makeup artists have always been mesmerizing us with their creativity and shall do it forever, thinking of the stuff never thought of and doing things that were not done….