i♥makeup

Chanel's Pre-Fall 2012 Metiers d'Art Beauty Breakdown

2011-12-07T11:06:00.001-06:00

When Chanel creative director of makeup Peter Philips got the word from Karl Lagerfeld that this year’s Métiers d’Art show was to be a nod to classic Indian decadence, his mind went to one place: black kohl. “We wanted a graphic interpretation of an iconic Indian beauty ideal,” Philips said of the almond-shaped black-rimmed lids that were the focal point of the beauty look he created backstage at the Grand Palais. Once Philips built a base out of his Perfection Lumiere foundation dusted with “a touch” of Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Brume d’Or for a hint of cheek color, he devoted his attention to that eye, which he described as “something between mysterious and rock ‘n’ roll.” Key to skirting that line was a new shade of Philips’ ultra-luxe Illusion d’Ombre in Nirvana, a deep onyx shimmering cream eye shadow that he blended beneath the lower lash line and through the crease, dragging his brush upward into a slight wing toward the temples. Chanel Le Crayon Kohl Eyeliner in Noir drawn along the water line and its Inimitable Intense Mascara in Noir achieved what Philips called a “pitch black” finish.

To keep the focus squarely on the eyes, lips were painted a muted shade of pink courtesy of Rouge Coco Shine in Empreinte for a natural dewy effect before Philips got to work on gilded accents, which he used to bring out the metallic embroidery and lace in Lagerfeld’s collection—not to mention the sparkling pieces of Chanel Fine Jewelry peeking out of hairstylist Sam McKnight’s dread-ed updos. “At the last minute I added some golden highlights on cheeks and eyes,” Philips said, dipping into Chanel’s forthcoming, limited-edition Route des Indes Palette due out in June. Fingertips were treated to a few coats of a golden lacquer fittingly named Diwali “in homage to the famous ‘celebration of light’ that takes place in India,” according to Philips. It’ll likely prompt a similar excited frenzy when it hits shelves this summer.

Video Feature: L'Oreal Paris Make up Diaries: Sonam Kapoor's Gothic Queen Look

2011-07-07T11:56:00.000-05:00

Make-up Trend: Two-Tone Eye Shadow

2011-06-30T08:57:00.000-05:00

On the latest issue of Verve, Chitrangada Singh looked every bit of a diva. Make up artist Mickey Contractor rimmed her eyes in black liner, then followed with a wash of citrusy gold liner on the bottom lashline. Next, he layered icy turquoise and silvery gray-green shadow along the crease, extending the colors, to wing them slightly. The effect was sculpted and dimensional, but still lighthearted thanks to the splash of color.

Rec: tokidoki Cromatico Eyeshadow Palette in Mozzarella

Hair Trend: Twisted Bun

2011-06-29T12:56:00.001-05:00

To try Sonam Kapoor's famous Cannes hairstyle, follow these easy steps, on either side of your head, roll back the strands along your hairline, adding more hair as your work your way backwards, just like you do with a French braid. (Tuck in a few pins if you find the twists are heavy and tipping forwards.) Wrap the two twists into an untidy bun and secure with pins and elastic. This style isn't meant to look prim, so don't worry about asymmetries or imperfections.

Rec: Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin

Courtesy: Instyle

Make-up Trend: Simple Smoky Eyes

2011-06-28T08:00:00.008-05:00

Sonakshi Sinha usually favors playing up her lips on the red carpet, but fon the cover of the latest issue of Vogue India, her makeup artist Mickey Contractor turned it up a notch. "I chose a combination of jet black shadows to bring out her gorgeous dark brown eyes," he said. Mickey started with a layer of long wear gray shadow, winged on the corners topped with a few swipes of a creamy black formula. "I lined her top lashline with kohl liner, then coated her lashes with black mascara for a feathery effect." Simple and stunning.

Rec: M.A.C Wonder Woman Eye Shadow Quad in Lady Justice

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's New L'Oreal Commercial

2011-06-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's new commercial for L'oreal Paris Excellence Creme.

Make-up Trend: Dramatic Eyes & Lips

2011-06-04T08:16:00.000-05:00

Usually it's a beauty no-no to pair dark lips with anything other than clear, flawless skin. But on the latest issue of Verve, Deepika Padukone's makeup artist Mickey Contractor helped the star get it exactly right, combining a matte burgundy lip with dramatic lashes and bronzy shadow. The brown and gold shadow make Deepika’s beautiful brown eyes radiate, plus, the lips tie the look together. The reason the two elements didn't compete? The absence of dark shadows like black and gray. By using warmer tones and just a touch of natural shimmery cheek color, the focus stayed on her gorgeous skin, eyes and lips.

Make-up Trend: Frosty Pink Lip Gloss

2011-06-03T21:13:00.001-05:00

You know summer is close on the horizon when make-up gets angelic and icy tones. Take Sonam Kapoor's look on the latest issue of Marie Claire India. Frosty finishes used to have an '80s stigma, but thanks to warm undertones, the look is romantic and flirtatious. If you want to try a similar look, keep the rest of the makeup on your face matte and subtle—here, Sonam paired her gloss with a flat but rosy blush and simple, mascara. That way, the iridescent tone avoids looking costumey.

Make-up Trend: Magenta Lips

2011-05-26T21:31:00.000-05:00

In the pages of the latest issue of Filmfare, Shraddha Kapoor made a fittingly bold statement with magenta pink lipstick. Skintone is key when selecting a punchy shade—what may look clownish on someone can be just right on someone else. Always try lipstick on your lips—not the back of your hand—and remember to account for the natural pigment of your mouth, which can shift a lipstick formula a few shades in either direction.

Rec: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Damned

Katrina Kaif's Hair & Beauty Must-Haves

2011-05-22T08:17:00.000-05:00

Katrina's Must Haves:

Pantene Shampoo

Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat

Yves Saint Laurent Pressed Powder

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1

Make-up Trend: Maroon-Burgundy Nail Polish

2011-05-20T18:16:00.002-05:00

Funky new nail polish shades are always fun, but there is something to be said about returning to classic, flawless hues. Take Freida Pinto's burgundy tone at the amFAR Cinema Against Aids Gala at Cannes. The shimmery gold cocktail dress was sweet with an edge and the dark burgundy went perfectly with the tones of the dress. The reddish jewels picked up the gold in the dress and the clutch beautifully.

Rec: Sephora By O.P.I Nail Color in What's Your Point-settia?

Make-up Trend: Coral-Orange Lips

2011-05-16T20:12:00.000-05:00

Orange lipstick may sound frightful, but one glance at Sonam Kapoor at the Chopard Party at Cannes will change your mind. Thanks to coral undertones, the shade isn't harsh or garish, and it feels playful when contrasted with a white dress. If you're experimenting with a new hue, top it with a swipe of gloss. The added shine is more forgiving than a strict matte finish.

Rec: L'oreal Color Riche Lipcolor in Volcano

Sonam Kapoor's Cannes 2011 Make-up Breakdown (Face Chart) & Backstage Pics

2011-05-16T19:21:00.001-05:00

Sonam's makeup was inspired by David Bowie, highlights on the eyes. The eyelids are dresses in a copper-burgundy and gold mix. joined by a line of black eyeliner. You get a totally feline look. To soften it up a bit, choose a fairly mellow bronzing blush for the hollow of the cheeks and a gold nude for the mouth. The result is a glamorous, feminine and very sensual look.

Sonam getting ready for her debut at Cannes 2011!

Sonam Kapoor Cannes 2011 Day 5 Make-up

2011-05-15T23:01:00.002-05:00

Her hair was styled in an updo with a curly bouffant top.

Her enchanting smoky eye makeup, by the L'Oreal France makeup artist Rie Omoto, included L'Or, L'Or, L'Or gold eyeshadow and highlighter riding right upto her thick and arched eyebrows; and silver eyeshadow on the inner corners of the eyes and under the lower lashes.

The look accentuated and emphasized her chiseled features rather than the color itself. Nude lip gloss, fuchsia blush and gun metal nail polish rounded her mesmerizing looks. Explaining the use of gold, Rie said, "Gold is a transformational color that can take a woman from day to night and back again by simple adjustments in its application and blending."

Aishwarya Rai Cannes 2011 Day 2 Make-up Breakdown (Face Chart)

2011-05-13T23:20:00.005-05:00

"A duo of blue and gold eye shadow highlights her incredible eyes and enhances her Giorgio Armani Prive sheath. A touch of color is all her mouth and cheeks need." Karim Rahman

Aishwarya Rai Cannes 2011 Day 1 Make-up Breakdown (Face Chart)

2011-05-13T23:03:00.003-05:00

"Piercing eyes, highlighted with lovely gradation on her eyelids and enhanced with plenty of mascara." Karim Rahman

Aishwarya, Freida & Sonam's Looks at Cannes 2011

2011-05-11T10:58:00.000-05:00

L'Or L'Or L'Or Look # 1

L'Or L'Or L'Or Look # 2

L'Or L'Or L'Or Look # 3

L'Or L'Or L'Or Look # 4

Actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and Freida Pinto will be given new looks by internationally renowned make-up artists as they walk the Cannes Red Carpet this year. From May 11-22, L’Oréal Paris, official make-up artist of the Festival for 14 years, will introduce its first dream team of three make-up artists: Karim Rahman, Billy B and Rie Omoto.

They have created the new ‘L’Or L’Or L’Or’ make-up Collection especially for Cannes, which will be used to design exclusive make-up looks for all the spokeswomen present at the Festival including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and Freida Pinto. Aishwarya will be sporting interpretations of the ‘L’Or L’Or L’Or’, look by Karim Rahman as she walks the red carpet with Aimee Mullins, Gong Li and Ines de la Fressange on Wednesday.

“Gold is something that inspires me to create an opulent, luxurious, bold make-up look. This is the perfect theme for Cannes and perfect for the strong personalities of the L’Oréal Paris spokeswomen. I want to bring out all their radiant, luminous sensuality,” said Rahman.

Rie Omoto will be creating the L’Or, L’Or, L’Or, look for Sonam Kapoor using gold to highlight, accentuate and emphasize the actor’s features rather than the color itself. Sonam will be walking the red carpet on May 15 with Fan Bing Bing. Rie Omoto said, “Gold is a transformational color that can take a woman from day to night and back again by simple adjustments in its application and blending.” Freida Pinto’s ‘L’Or, L’Or, L’Or’ look created by Billy B will reflect her radiant beauty as she attends the amfAR dinner and after party on May 19. “Gold is flattering; it reflects light beautifully and makes you immediately luminous and radiant. Gold can be and really should be considered a Classic like the famous and timeless Little Black Dress,” said Billy.

Smoky, Purple Eye Shadow

2011-05-09T08:23:00.000-05:00

A smoky eye doesn't always have to be black and gray. Take Shraddha's version on the cover of Adorn Magazine. A dash of black shadow pulled across the lid and upwards at the corner is innocent with just a touch of vamp. An allover wash of bluish-purple finishes the dark but striking look. FInish the look off with highlighting your inner corners and brow bone with a pearly white shadow.

Rec: Tarina Tarantino Floriculture Palette

Make-up Trend: Smudgy Eyeliner

2011-04-29T19:37:00.000-05:00

On the latest issue of Vogue India, Katrina Kaif looked grungy chic with smudgy eyeliner all around her eyes. Smudging the line after you apply it can work to create a lived-in feel, but is also difficult to perfectly execute. Next time you try the look, dip a cotton swab in eye makeup remover and gently dab it along your top and bottom lashlines. Then top with liner, allowing the outward flick of the cat-eye shape to line up with the tail of your eyebrow. The remover step may seem counter-intuitive, but makeup artists swear it's a fail-safe way to create a diffuse, nonrigid line.

Rec: Stila Onyx Kajal Eye Liner

Make-up Trend: Crimson Red Lips

2011-04-27T08:14:00.001-05:00

At the Louis Vuitton Celebration for this month's Glamour covergirls Freida Printo added color with red lips with a black and white outfit. If you want to try crimson, but are afraid of it looking messy the second you leave the house, prep by exfoliating your lips and topping them with balm. Let the balm absorb for five minutes before applying the lip formula—it prevents feathering and provides a smooth base for the lipstick to adhere too. And always apply red shades just inside your natural lip line. The color is bold enough without exaggerating the shape of your mouth.

Rec: M.A.C Red Lipstick

Priyanka Chopra's Make-up Favorites via The New York Times Style Magazine

2011-04-06T21:12:00.000-05:00

Thank you to Meena Ansari, (my blog's biggest fan) for this article.

Priyanka Chopra, won both Miss India and Miss World in 2000, at the age of 17. Soon after, in 2002, she began her Bollywood career with the The Hero. She now shoots about four movies a year, among many other projects. She’s not afraid of a 20-hour work day — or junk food. I recently got to share a few beauty moments with her.

T Magazine: I am a huge fan of eyeliner. First off, I want to know about kajal kohl. Is it always a cone shape? How is it applied?
Priyanka Chopra: The cone-shape kajal is actually Arabic. With that, a woman closes her eye on on the tip and runs it back and forth along the rim. Traditional Indian kajal kohl comes in a long, slim box. A woman takes her fingertip, rubs it into the kohl and applies it directly to the rim of her eye. It also has eye-brightening ingredients in it, such as eucalyptus. Modern-day Indian women don’t use it very much, though. They use pencils.

T: I suppose a pencil is a bit neater than having black fingertips. What pencils do you like?
PC: M.A.C Teddy Eye Kohl, a bronzy brown, is my favorite. I usually smudge that into Armani Smooth Silk Eye Pencil in Black. But the most magical is the M.A.C. black liner in a pot, in Black Track. I apply this to the inner rim of my eye with a firm brush, and it doesn’t move at all. It never irritates my eyes. It is great for swimming, rain or crying scenes.

T: I’m checking out your everyday makeup now. The colors meld into your skin tone beautifully, the way natural looking makeup should. What do you rely on to create this effect?
PC: I must have my Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Honey. There are so few that are yellow enough for my skin. I apply that where needed and then M.A.C. Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NC43. My favorite blush is Nars Orgasm Blush. My lips are usually M.A.C. Spice Lip Pencil, or a Laura Mercier Mulberry Lip Stain. Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara is a must.

T: I know threading is of Indian origin. Is that how you keep your brows in such lovely shape?
PC: Yes. Threading is wonderful! It stays clean for a week. So it lasts longer that plucking.

T: Are you into yoga or any ayurvedic practices?
PC: No, not really.

T: What about your diet?
PC: I love junk food! The pizza in Bombay, where I live, is so good. French fries are like my soul food. Great to cure the blues. I also like Indian food, but not the healthy kind.

T: You would never know it looking at your skin, it’s so clear and smooth. How do you take care of it?
PC: No. 1, I have good genes. But it’s also very important to drink a ton of water. I think it’s the best way to keep it moist from within. It also cleanses all the toxins out of your body, helping your skin look clearer. At night it’s essential to remove all makeup and dirt thoroughly. You must let your skin breathe and regenerate.

T: What products do you use at night?
PC: Usually, Clarins Instant Eye Makeup Remover, followed by Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri Pure Detoxifying Cream Cleanser or Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel. I use Garnier Vital Restore Night Cream. For eye cream, Strivectin works best for me.

T: Are there any fragrances you are loving right now?
PC: I’m a huge fan of Jo Malone fragrances. Especially, Lime Basil & Mandarin and Vintage Gardenia. Sometimes I switch off and go with Dolce and Gabbana The One.

T: Any secrets to achieving your silky, shiny hair?
PC: Most come from the kitchen. Beer and egg are great for the hair. Yogurt is excellent for helping with dandruff. And in India we do a lot of warm coconut oil deep-conditioning treatments. Massage coconut oil directly into scalp. This way it gets to the root, so the hair grows in healthier. For puffy eyes, I like to freeze any kind of steeped tea bags. Let them sit a minute, so they’re not too cold, before placing on the eye area. You’ll see an instant difference.

T: Do you have any comfort items in your bag?
PC: My fragrance, Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil and Dentyne Ice gum. I always have some sort of candy in my purse … did I mention how much I like sugar?

Make-up Trend: Bright Pink Lipstick

2011-04-05T06:01:00.000-05:00

On the latest issue of Elle India, Lisa Haydon dared to wear a juicy fuchsia lipstick, in key with the spring/summer color blocking trend with purple and yellow. When you're selecting an edgier hue, don't consider a swipe on the back of your hand an adequate test-drive. Instead, dab it on your fingertip, where the skin is closest in color and texture to your actual lips.

Rec: Sephora Rouge Cream Lipstick in Love Test 11

Make-up Trend: Winged Eye Shadow

2011-04-04T08:44:00.000-05:00

Winged eye shadow was all over the Spring runways—but usually in bright summer color. Defying the colors was Anushka Sharma on the latest issue of Verve- who went with a smokier purple. To rock a similar look, prep your lids with primer to be sure the shadow holds it's flattering, flicked-out shape.

Rec: M.A.C Nocturnelle Eye Shadow

Make-up Trend: Pastel Pink Lips & Cheeks

2011-03-30T06:45:00.003-05:00

Glamour released three covers for the month of May, and Freida Pinto was on one of them. Her cover was themed "Goddess", and looking like every bit of one, she rocked some pastel pink lips and cheeks to go with her floral Peter Som bathing suit. To get her look, apply a pastel pink lip and cheek stain on your lips and cheeks. Stains can double as a cheek stain, and it's a particularly handy trick in the winter months. The creamy, highly pigmented formula is the perfect antidote to winter complexions—and stays put longer than powder blushes, which can easily rub off. Dab the stain on the apples of your cheeks and work in the smear with your fingertips for a naturally flush glow.

Rec: Stila Yumberry Crush Lip and Cheek Stain

Make-up Trend: Smoky Lavender Eye Shadow

2011-03-30T06:10:00.006-05:00

A smoky eye doesn't have to be black and gray. Take a cue from Genelia D'Souza's lavender version on the latest issue of Marie Claire India. To get her look, apply a dash of blueish lavender shadow pulled across the lid and upwards at the corner. The look is both innocent with just a touch of vamp. An all over wash of the lightest sparkly pink finishes the sweet but striking look. Genelia went with a bright coral look to keep with the color blocking theme, and a light dusting of peach blush on the apples of her cheeks.

Rec: YSL 5 Lilac Sky Eye Shadow Palette