Sometimes, you don’t want to feel and look caked up with makeup, yet you need that extra push in confidence that makeup gives. You don’t need to be a makeup expert to look flawless on day to day basis and to enhance you features. All you need to do is to get the right products for your skin and understand the basics of how to use them. Here are a few cosmetics that we feel are good enough for daily use, to get the ‘naturally’ beautiful look. You might want to use all of these, or you might want to use a few, it is based on your needs.
1. Moisturizer/BB Cream
Why: The idea is to keep your skin looking supple, nourished, as well as reduce the visibility of marks and spots. If you are blessed with flawless skin, go for a moisturizer that suits your skin type. If you feel you need an extra push for clean skin, go for a BB cream. BB creams generally provide skin coverage, with some added benefits like SPF, etc., so you can find one answering your needs.
Tip: Some BB creams are harder to spread evenly. Sometimes mixing a tiny bit of moisturizer to a dot of BB cream helps in even application. Also, don’t forget to cover the neck, back (if you are wearing something with a deep back), and ears.
Recommendation: Ponds BB cream (INR 325 for 50g) has the benefit of SPF, is good for all skin types, and provides good coverage.
2. Compact
Why: Some of us have oily or combination skin which looks dirty and shiny due to oil. Applying compact on the oily areas helps. Also, if you are wearing a foundation or a base, compact powder helps to set the makeup and give it a matt finish.
Tip: Layering compact multiple times during the day gives a very made-up and caked up look. Clean the face with a normal tissue first and then apply it. Also, applying some compact on dark circles using fingertips can help instantly brighten the face.
Recommendation: BeYu Catwalk Compact Powder No. 4 (~INR 1000) has been one of the best compacts that I have used. It is very light on the skin.
3. Mascara
Why: Skip the eyeliner if you want, skip the kajal if you want, but never miss the mascara. Very few of us have long and thick lashes and our eyes tend to look naked without eye makeup. Mascara helps the lashes appear thicker and darker, hence more beautiful and feminine. The dark lashes also outline the eyes to give them definition without eyeliner and kajal.
Tips: For daily use, opt for the volumising variety. From experience, for a beginner, mascara usually ends up with sticky, clumpy, and stiff lashes. Go for a mascara with primer. It really works. There are some decently priced options available.
Recommendation: Revlon lash fantasy (INR 675) is a good option.
4. Blusher
Why: If you feel you look too dull or pale, just put on a bit of blusher on the apple of your cheeks. Go for a colour that blends in with your skin tone, and doesn’t look like you’ve applied something.
Tips: Our fingers are great paint brushes. If you do not have proper brush, use your fingers to apply and blend it in.
Recommendation: BeYu has an awesome shade, No. 270, that works for Indian skin tones. It doesn’t seem like you are using blusher, yet gives you a healthy pink blush.
5. Lip balm/Lip colour
Why: Go for a lip balm that you like to have healthy looking, nourished lips.
Tips: Some of us have naturally dark lips that we want to hide. A nude lipstick works really well.
Recommendation: I got a Palladio Meadow Sweet lipstick which came as a part of my Fab Bag. I love the colour as it is pretty close to my actual lip colour.
Before: No Makeup
After: Natural Makeup
Obviously, these cosmetics won’t change your appearance drastically. And that is the intention after all, to get the natural look.
