It’s Time To Decode the Festive Glow

 It’s festive season time again. From pant shopping to pandal hopping, people’s social calendars are a choc-a-block this month. But one thing that should never have to take a break is your skin care. Even if it is in between powder touch up or a swipe of a hydra serum. Here are six ways to bring the festive glow this season.

Festive Face Edit

Your makeup game can only be strong when you have the base for it ready. Start your preparation with the Dark Spot Clearing Turmeric Face Sheet Mask as a pampering step before makeup. Be careful before you touch turmeric powder since you don’t want to go too overboard with it.

Another trick is applying a thin layer of aloe vera on your skin to give it a refreshing feeling. Not only does it hydrate your skin, but also helps to maintain your skin barrier. It doesn’t have to be store bought; it can be directly sourced from the plant.

Adding a touch of tea tree oil on your acne prone areas do wonders overnight. It does the heavy lifting for you without you going to raid the cupboard. “Pre-event preparation should focus on a clean, comfortable base. Gentle cleansing and hydration help prepare the skin for makeup, while a nourishing shampoo can leave hair softer and more manageable. Avoid experimenting with too many new treatments just before a celebration.” says Ms. Nagaveni KS, Research Scientist, Personal Care R&D, Himalaya Wellness.

The Hydra Plum Skin

After a good skincare base, you need to have a skin that not only emits fresh but happiness… by choosing a medium coverage foundation or skin tint, it gives you an even looking base without trying too hard. For extra coverage for your acne scars you can apply a thin layer of concealer. Before an evening touch-up, gently blot excess oil and check where coverage is actually needed rather than adding another full layer. “Keeping your festive look fresh through the day does not require constantly adding more products. Keep lips moisturised, protect your skin from prolonged sun exposure and make small makeup adjustments when moving into an evening look. Refresh your hairstyle with minimal additional heat,” explains Nagaveni K.S.

The Rose Magic

Pink has been the colour many ladies, girls and gays have loved over the years. From using your mother’s lipstick as an eyeshadow base, blush pink cheeks and lipstick we have now evolved to tints that do the job for you without leaving the sticky feeling on your fingertips.

If you have a tan to deep skin shade then a purple lip and cheek tint adds a soft layer of elegance to your face. Red tints have been making rounds on the internet for giving the perfect rosy shade for your cheeks and lips. Blend a little onto the cheeks and lips for daytime, then build the lip colour gradually for evening. Choose a product specifically labelled for both areas and use clean fingers or an applicator.

“One needs to be careful with lip and cheek tints. As applying too much of it can cause one to look like a baboon,” says Neena Singh, a makeup artist.

The Pigmented Look

To grab the attention of your guests and others, kajal might just do the job for you. It offers an easy way to change the mood of your makeup. For evening, deepen the outer corners or softly smudge the line for a more dramatic effect. Going with different kajal colours like green, blue, white, gold and silver add an extra layer of uniqueness that comes along with the festivities. You can even go as far as to add a bit of sparkle to your eyelids to match the gold on your waterline. A touch of champagne or gold shimmer can brighten a daytime eye look. “Ive tried adding purple to my waterline and it brings out my deep brown eyes so well,” notes Helen Lobo, a homemaker and freelance beautician.

So, this festive season, run to your nearest beauty store and stock up on your most essential festive products. But remember that sometimes one of the most rewarding things this season might just be a homegrown plant that could provide you a festive glow. “But the most important thing is to pay attention to what you eat and drink, and get a good night’s sleep,” reminds Dr Karishma Singh, a dermatologist.

With these six essentials, a fresh daytime look can become evening-ready with a deeper lip, defined eyes and a touch of gold shimmer. Keep the touch-ups simple, let your personal style shine and leave more time for the celebrations.

One needs to be careful with lip and cheek tints. As applying too much of it can cause one to look like a baboon.”

— Neena Singh, Makeup Artist

I’ve tried adding purple to my waterline and it brings out my deep brown eyes so well.”

— Helen Lobo, Homemaker & Beautician

Gentle cleansing and hydration help prepare the skin for makeup, while a nourishing shampoo can leave hair softer and more manageable.”

— Nagaveni KS, Research Scientist, Personal Care R&D, Himalaya Wellness