Getting Your Cosmetic Basics Right

What’s in Vogue This Season

1. In terms of makeup, Fall colors will tend to focus on corals, purples, jewel tones, gold-based shadows, and body glitters to add more sparkle, olive, pale rose, chocolate and classic reds.

2. Handbags this Fall are all about utility and functional pieces that last longer in your wardrobe. Some of the trends seen include leather satchels, picture-themed bags, feminine frame bags, fur-trim bags and cross-body bags.

3. Knee-length boots have become a hot trend this Fall season but unless you have a large array of boots it is impossible to wear them daily. This is where an alternative - the knee-length socks step in. These socks can be purchased in interesting colors too.

4. Rings are going to be another fashion favorite this season. Make sure to wear lots of rings and embellish all your fingers.

5. While skirts of all lengths, evening gowns and capes are back in fashion, the six yards is something that can never be out of fashion.

From your eyes to your lips to a curl playing mischief on your cheek, each feature you adorn says oodles about you and yet helps in keeping your mystery alive. Ever wondered how you slip from one role to another so effortlessly? It’s your makeup that lends you the freedom to decide what they want to be today – business women or a diva, a homely lady or a fun seeker, a party beast or a fairy princess.

Yet, knowing a few makeup tricks can ensure a more fluent and flawless transformation. Here is what you should avoid the next time you lay your hands on your makeup kit:

Different Skin Tones
That is the most horrendous mistake most Indian females are prone to make! In your over enthusiastic zeal to look fairer than you actually are, please do not use more foundation or face powder or both on your face than the other parts of your body like your neck, nape, hands, and the other visible parts.

Remember blending is the key to looking natural. So, if you wish to use a foundation, one, make sure you select a shade closest to your natural skin tone and apply it evenly to your face and neck. Next apply some face powder to avoid your makeup from smudging. Once again choose a shade closest to your natural skin tone. After all, your endeavor is to look beautiful and not a banshee, right?

A Visible Lip Liner
A lip liner is meant only to give you directions for the application of lipstick and not to stand out like chocolate chips on a White Forrest. Gently mark the natural border of your lips with a lip liner matching the shade of the lipstick you intend using. Then as you start applying your lipstick, go on blending it well with the borders.

You could also correct any irregularity in the natural shape of your lips with the help of a lip-liner, but once again make sure it looks natural and is blended well.

Joker Cheeks
Red or pink circles on cheeks are so not happening! Use bronze, peaches, and softer hues of pinks to highlight your cheek bones since these shades go well with the Indian skin tones. Remember to blend your blusher well with the color of your cheeks. Smiling a little while applying the blusher can help highlight your cheek bones and hence obtain better strokes.

Remember to use a dash of blusher on your nose, chin, and forehead too, but just a brush, not more!

Unsuitable Makeup
It’s the event or the time of the day that should decide the kind of colors you should use. A simple rule of thumb says you must wear light and nude shades by the day and dark and gaudy can do by night. Apart from this rule you will learn to distinguish between occasions to determine the ideal look.

You cannot look more out of place if you decide to go to an orphanage wearing red lipstick, shimmer and green eye-shadow, irrespective of the time of the day. Use a little common sense to decide what will look best where and when. You cannot have just one look to go on all occasions, be it your in-laws’ anniversary party or the New Year’s Bash!

Chapped Lips or Cracked Heels
With the winters setting in, it is important that you keep your lips from chapping. Moisturize them by using a suitable lip balm or petroleum jelly. The cracks on your lips can render all your hard work meaningless since no matter what lipstick you use, the cracks will always show.

Similar is the case with cracked heels. If your heels are prone to cracking during winters, soak them in warm water and cover them with a good feet moisturizer and socks to avoid cracks. Cracks are not only painful but will also make even a trendy footwear look shabby.

Not Following the Trends or Following Them Blindly
It is also important to follow the makeup trends. You must have a general idea as to what is in vogue with respect to the cosmetics you use. Make sure that you know whether it is glitter, shimmer or the matte look that most fashionistas are wearing currently. However, do not become a slave to these fashion trends and start following them blindly either.

It is important that you have a clear understanding of what might or might not look good on you. So, just because some show-stopper at the Lakme Fashion Week was pictured wearing a certain shade of blusher or lipstick, doesn’t mean you should get it for yourself too. Although, it is important to experiment but you must also know where to draw the line.

However, makeup can do just as much to enhance your looks; it cannot hide your real persona. A beautiful soul and a smiling face is what you will need to make people fall in love with you over and over again!