Elegant Evening Makeup

I was in Goa this Sunday for an art event with Bharti Kher. The event was amazing, and I have no qualms in admitting that I am Bharti Kher’s groupie. If you haven’t checked out her art, please do so and be prepared to get blown away. Anyway, I digress. The point of this post is makeup. Now, when it comes to makeup I like to take the shortest route possible. A dab here, a smudge there and I’m ready in five minutes. So a while a cat-eyeliner is okay for picture, I rarely do it on a night out because it takes too much time. After all, YOU have to look amazing, not your makeup. And with these simple steps, you will look your best, I promise you. So here’s what I did:

STEP 1: Moisturise and Prime.
I rubbed in a ton of Kiehl’s Ultra Facial moisturiser as my face was feeling a bit dehydrated after my flight. Then I took a drop of face primer and rubbed it on my T-zone and cheeks. I used the Dior Pore Minimizer Skin Refining Matte Primer, but you can use one that adds glow, removes redness…depending on what you want your skin to look like.

STEP 2: Even out your skin.
I personally don’t enjoy using too much foundation and concealer on my face. It’s either foundation or concealer, never both. I believe that you don’t need to erase imperfections completely. When they show a little bit, then skin looks like skin and not like a mask. I used a pea sized drop of Chanel’s Vitalumière Velvet and spread it all over including the under eye area.

STEP 3: Define your eyes.
Forget powder shadows and liquid liners…they take too much time. First define your brow by drawing with a brow pencil (Lancôme Le Crayon Sourcils) using short strokes only towards the middle and end of the brow. Don’t define the front of the brow because it will look unnatural. On my lids, I prefer using a gold shadow stick on the middle and inside of the lid, and the brow bone. Smudge with your finger. I used the Lakmé Absolute Drama Stylist Eye Shadow Crayon in White. Then I smudged a brown pencil (Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Pomme De Pin) between my lashes so there’s a bit of soft definition on the lid. Finish with lashings of volumising mascara. I used the Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara, which is still to be launched.

STEP 4: Highlight your bone structure.
I find contouring too harsh for my taste. I just run a liquid highlighter over the tops of my cheekbones for a subtle lift. My favourite highlighter is Benefit’s Girl Meets Pearl.

STEP 5: Finish with lipstick.
I like using plums in the evening and reds during the day because it is unexpected. I wore Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge Definition in Le Pourpre, straight from the tube.