Star Of The Month - II

21. What's your take on tanning? Natural or artificial?

Artificial tanning is the most preferred way as it is safe! But in India, who needs tanning? We need to get fairer! Bronzers hardly work here!

22. Any backstage experiences?

It's a pandemonium! Backstage with makeup, brushes and what not flying here and there! Love the adrenaline rush! Model tantrums, designers fainting and all that happens! The best thing to do is to make sure your made-up model looks flawless on the ramp! Nothing makes me happier!

23. Would you like to share any tips and tricks learnt so far, which you think are not taught at Beauty Schools?

I have many many many of those! Using two foundations on the face for a flawless natural effect, using loose powder in a dusting as a primer before foundation, apply eye liner by taking product from the mascara, using crème highlighters, the no makeup look etc! The best trick to keep your lips from looking wonderful with a lipstick on is to use a lip tint! Preferably the colored ones from Bourjois under your lipstick! The silicones in the liptint keep the lip color lasting for hours and hours! You learn something new everyday and every minute! Kindly follow the link! http://beautytraveller.blogspot.com/2009/02/legendary-makeup-tips.html

24. What's your favorite look? I love a lot of iridescent makeup and transparent skin! Lately, I have started liking a lot of rosy-flushed looks with tones of mascara and lipgloss! I love the Estee Lauder Double Wear Collection and their signature blush in Plum Nuance, which is ultra gorgeous! Its in the line for review!

25. What's your take on nude lips and smokey eyes?

It's a conventional way to look glamorous! The key in this makeup is to get creative! Sometimes strong and sometimes demure is the essence of such makeup!

26. Would you like to share the latest trends in makeup? What colors are in this Spring?

Coral is the IT color this Spring/Summer! Various shades of apricots, salmon pink, oranges, tangerines etc follow as lip colors! I have always been biased to turquoise and lilac as true spring colors! Yet, I am loving teal this season! Maybe a teal liner from Lancôme’s new collection paired with Beach Coral lipstick and Precious Posy blush from Clinique!

27. What does your professional kit look like? What products do you take on a daily basis?

Its about 5 train cases of makeup and overflowing! I generally ask the photographer or wherever I work to give me a basic idea about makeup looks and pack accordingly! Or else, it goes haywire! Sometimes just a small bag is all I need! I am looking forward for products from MUD Cosmetics, Eve Pearl and My Face Cosmetics that are considerably good and easy to carry!

28. Your pearls of wisdom to our readers who want to choose Makeup Artistry as their profession! Preferably, the ebbs and tides!

Doing makeup is not easy as it looks like! It needs a lot of creativity, patience, urge to learn more, new contacts, cosmetics, energy and most of all ambition to be a makeup artist and not to give up easily! This is not a glorious field as we see successful makeup artists doing Vogue and Elle! But, its fun. It's a job that gives 100% satisfaction! You can see the results of the work you do immediately and the transformations are mind blowing! When becoming a makeup artist, you should choose which path you want to opt for like film makeup, television makeup, fashion and editorial makeup and special effects makeup! There are others like bridals and all which are not branches per se thanks to the reason 99% brides do not get married again LOL! Makeup is truly enticing if its considered as an ART and not a business!

29. Do you think a person should be certified by an organization to launch his/her career as a Makeup Artist? Like professional courses?

Any form of education never goes waste! There is always something to learn in class! It's not just a waste of time! Sometimes, we do end up paying exhorbitant amount of money for learning makeup! But, at a point of time its the "satisfaction" that matters! Another reason I feel everyone should do a makeup course because they teach you the color theory, makeup in different lightings and so many things which you can only learn there or through your mistakes! In a gist, once we come to know the rules in makeup from a makeup course, we know how to break them better!

30. To what extent do makeup books help? Any must-have recommendations?

Makeup books make sure that you don't look dumb in front of the makeup counter! You either know or at least guess what is what! If you read and then practice what you have read, they really help! I love Robert Jones, Kevyn Aucoin and some random books I got from Amazon, but lost with time! I also love the book written by Francois Nars! The only bad thing about reading books is that they compare many models and actresses who are almost perfect and this only acts as a source of inspiration! They never talk about the common woman!

P.S - Final session! I can't thank you enough for taking your time, Dr. Neeraj! We look forward for more sessions in the near future, but expect wiser questions!

Star Of The Month - Series II

Continuation of Series II...

11. What skin type do you find the most challenging?

I find dry skin very challenging as I have seen foundations cracking and falling on people's clothes! They have so many wrinkles and their skin looks dead! The "greying" of makeup can be best seen on dry skins! But I love dry skin as whatever you put them is taken in! The other challenge that I love and face is blending a cream blusher on the cheeks! Its tougher than applying a straight line with an eye liner and needs to be really mastered especially on a lady with dry skin! On dry skin, foundation can go horrendous and I have seen people looking literally haggered! By the way, powder is a no-no for dry skin!

12. Must-have products for oily skin?

Clinique 3 steps in skin type 3 and 4, Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint SPF 15, Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Refinisher Serum, YSL Matte Touch Foundation Primer, MAC blotting sheets, Shiseido Pureness compact powder, Clinique Pore Minimize Instant Perfector, Elizabeth Arden Intervene Fluid SPF 15, Lancôme Aqua Fusion Tint! I swear by Shiseido Dual Balancing Foundation, Clinique Superbalanced makeup, Clarins Instant Smooth Perfect Touch, Benefit Complexion Balm, Guerlain Parure Aqua Light Foundation, Dior Diorskin nude natural makeup and Clinique blended loose powder! I do love products from Body Shop and Dermalogica, but I am doubtful of recommending them as they feel very harsh on my skin!

13. Must have products for dry skin?

Clinique 3 steps in skin type 1, Shiseido Benefiance Day & Night cream, Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15 moisturizer, Estee Lauder Time Zone moisturizer and all La Prairie products! Not seen many dry skin products yet! In foundations, I like Clinique Supermoisture makeup and MAC Studio Tech foundation!

14. Must have products for normal skin?

There is nothing like a normal skin concept in India! People have mixed skin types and its funny to place anybody under normal skin category!

15. Must have products for combination skin?

For combination skin, the above mentioned products work in a fine manner depending on the oily and dry side of the face! I love to dab a little more oil-free-moisturizer on the cheeks to hydrate them so that they dont feel dry! Nothing particularly helps, so its seasonal!

16. Any advice on skin care routine for teenagers?

Its all about acne control and banishing oil and its problems in teenagers maximally! Thankfully blame the raging hormones, bad eating and sleeping habits and too much of addictions of any sort! First of all, one should correct those! For blemishes and acne, I swear by the entire range of Clinique anti-blemish solutions as that's the thing that really works on acne and cures them gently! Other skin care product every teenager should use is a sunscreen to prevent their skin from future damage by sun and environmental aggressors! A dab of liquid foundation, a little gel blush, mascara and gloss suits young girls well!

17. Any advice on skin care routine for women in 20s?
Use products that "protect"!

18. Any advice on skin care routine for women in 30s?

Use products that "protect and prevent" environmental and stress induced damage!

19. Any advice on skin care routine for women above 40?

Use products with "anti-ageing" label only when your skin is really concerned! An antioxidant and peptide rich moisturizer does wonders!

20. Must-have SPF product recommendations?

SPF should be really strong and effective! Clinique Solar Smart range is one of its kind sunscreen that is tested for photo-allergies, photo-sensitivity and photo-stability on application! Antioxidant-rich, oil-free and go well as makeup primers and do not break on exposure to sun! I also love Dr.White SPF 20 from Givenchy and Stila Illuminating tinted moisturizer SPF 15!

P.S - To be continued in the next post!

Star Of The Month - Series II

Where do I begin? Blogosphere has known him as another beauty blogger! Not many know him in real, save his followers! His blog speaks his true love for makeup! He is passionate about Estee Lauder, which paved a way for his current career! His blog might end your search if you are brand-conscious! He appears very composed, but that's not the real "him"! He appreciates sincerity on his blog! He proudly calls himself the "makeup man"! Want to know the real person whose destiny changer was just a lipstick? I feel so honored to present to you Dr. Neeraj Navare, skin care consultant, Clinique!

1. About you in your own words!

I am a bachelor in medicine and surgery! MBBS doctor with diverse interests! I always loved the art of beauty, thanks to the paternal genes! My father is a commercial artist and an amazing painter! I got more interested in makeup when my best friend gifted me a Lakme lipstick for fun and I thought why not make a career out of it! I feel makeup is an art! I am a beholder trying to do the best and contribute the best I could in this field to make things easier and better!

I am 27, single, fair and trying to be fairer! I use a lot of products that I generally write about on myself and my clients, colleagues, friends and whomsover I meet including professional models and all! I work as a skin care consultant with Clinique @ Mumbai! I love my work! I teach people how to maintain their skin, look the best on occasions and also teach makeup as a part of my profession! I am a freelance makeup artist, as well! My lovely blog is a medium to tell my friends all over the world what I know about makeup!

I also like gardening, reading everything and love my new Alsatian puppy Zeus a lot! My inspiration is the day-to-day woman who has to do everything at her work and home and still look beautiful! I try my best to translate the latest in the fashion trends to this woman of today through my blog! I sometimes do write articles for guys and shall write more!

2. How did you land on your current job?

For me, Clinique is a dream job! This is where I wanted to work after I was introduced to their skin care and makeup! I think no other brand can do so much and make so many people happy over the entire world! I always considered MAC, but when I saw the MUA there I changed! MAC, which I use in copious amounts did not cater to my taste in makeup and I was somehow too demure and conservative to work in a brand like that! Estee Lauder Companies are fabulous employers and thats the bliss I enjoy! Its tough to land in a field with too much of competition! But if you have faith in yourself, nothing's impossible! One should always dream and find out ways to fulfill it!

3. You come from a place where make up for men is considered a big NO-NO! What brings you to makeup artistry?

I always considered makeup as an art and a way of self expression! In India, its always the "makeup-man"! Makeup is also a male-dominated field here, especially films and TV! I love to play with colors and enjoy seeing them transform someone! If you see a dirty caterpillar turning into a butterfly, you would admire the nature's work! That's the metamorphosis I love to see in the woman and man of today! Makeup is about enhancing someone, but not changing someone's identity! This is what I love doing everyday!

4. How were the first days of your profession?

I had to struggle a lot as I shifted from medical profession to full-time cosmetology and makeup artistry! Lot of my time went in discovering brands and seeing what works! It was only when 90% of what I used hardly worked, I started writing my blog! I thank my parents a million times everyday for being so supportive and patient enough when I chose this career! They were the ones who invested on all these expensive products I write about today!

5. Do you remember the first faces you worked on?

I got a chance to work with many people, but this is something that happened quite long time back! Finding the traces of my memory though! By the way, my first model was my mother!

6. Name your personal favorite brands!

Somehow, I dont admire Indian makeup brands and make it a point to look past them as they dont appeal to my taste of makeup! Something extraordinary is always loved, but it is the rarest! International brands that I love and rave are too many, but let me write a few! Clinique, MAC, Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown, Benefit, Clarins, Shiseido, Smashbox, Elizabeth Arden, YSL, Chanel, Dior, NYX Cosmetics, Scott Barnes, Too Faced, MAX Factor, Cover Girl, Guerlain, Bourjois and Lancome!

7. Name your favorite brands @ work, preferably on clients!

Shiseido, Clarins, MAC, Estee Lauder and YSL! Skincare, predominantly Clinique!

8. Which brands do you feel are most hyped?

Guerlain, La Mer, Chanel, Lancome and YSL! They are overtly priced and ridiculously expensive! But, this is only in India and not anywhere else! I do understand that they fall in the luxury division, but that doesnt mean we should pay almost 40% more of what people pay in other countries!

9. Which brands do you feel are under-rated?

MUD Cosmetics and Eve Pearl Cosmetics! They have genuinely the best products to offer in the market, but unfortunately no one knows them!

10. Do you believe a makeover can really change a person's appearance and attitude? Does it help boost their confidence levels?

Compared to women without makeup, studies show that makeup boosts confidence in very high levels in women with makeup! Makeup is about hiding nooks and corners of the face and revealing the best ones! I never felt makeup should alter someone the way they look! It should always be enhancing the best features that are always the unique identity of an individual! Makeup can create wonders and add in the effects that God forgot to give us! Long lashes and high cheekbones, for instance! Makeup is always a medium of self enhancement and putting the best face forward! I hate women who hide themselves in veils of makeup trying to lose their true self somewhere! I admire women who take care of themselves, look gorgeous and carry themselves inspite of wearing a bright fuschia lipstick for work everyday!

P.S - To be continued in the next post! He was very kind to oblige for the session! Thank you, Dr. Neeraj! If you can spare a couple of minutes, do check his amazing blog with wonderful brands! Blog that speaks about discontinued and "IT" brands!

Star Of The Month - Series I

Continued...

1. What latest range you would love to try? Sweet Lemon range, especially the shower gel! Very refreshing! Very summery! Very fruity!

2. What is the latest launched luxury range? Spa Wisdom range, which is revamped! Previously, the bath salts were discontinued!

3. Do you wish any discontinued range to come back? I normally stock up those products! Otherwise, I find a suitable alternative! Body Shop is great in bringing back alternatives! For instance, Cassis Rose range was discontinued! Moroccan Rose range was launched, instead! Exciting part is Japanese Cherry Blossom and Moroccan Rose ranges are made permanent, thanks to the demand!

4. What are the best sellers? Hemp hand cream, Vitamin E range, Coconut body butter and Love Your Body cards! Then comes Moringa body butter, Shea body butter and Cocoa body butter! Many want the Moringa perfume to be launched!

5. Whats your insight on perfume oils? Doesnt contain alcohol, so its great for sensitive skin! Lasts full day long! Concentrate on your pulse points!

6. What products do you think are under-rated? Body Shop makeup! Its definitely worth a try! Vitamin C range as well! We are about to discontinue a product from Vitamin C range! Warming Mineral mask! Its kaolin clay treatment, which warms up on your skin! Opens the pores for deep cleansing! Contains ginger and cinnamon oils!

7. Whats your take on bath accessories? Bath lillies last ages as they dont break up! Holds great shape! Lathers up well! Very good for exfoliation! My favorites are Cactus bath brush, ultra fine bath lillies and bath gloves! Our foot filer, which retails for £4.50 is our best seller ever!

8. Can you be more specific about Cactus bath brush and bath gloves? Cactus bath brush works wonders for cellulite! It helps boost circulation! Very healthy! Makes any sense? Compared to the Body Brush Round, Cactrus bath brush bristles are harder like toilet brush! But, they soften over time! It has a great grip as well! Bath gloves contains anti-bacterial solution, so they dont go mouldy! Great to use!

9. What about your facial accessories? I know they are a bit expensive, but they have got more to them! The facial buffer, especially! It works wonders!

10. Do you want to convey any message? Not a message, but wanted to share something! People tend to forget our community trade ethics! Near enough everything from the store is a fair trade product! Great quality and ethically sourced! A percentage of every product goes to The Body Shop Foundation!

P.S - Vicky is not paparazzi-friendly! Hence, the interview sans picture! Thank you very much for the interview, Vicky! So kind of you to oblige! Good luck!

Star Of The Month - Series I

She is beautiful, soft-spoken, patient-enough and always willing to help! At the store, I keep observing her way of handling the customers, especially when the customer is not sure of how to apply a particular product with a specified tool! She comes to their rescue beaming! Her customers are her celebrities! She frankly admits her faults, just in case! After a zillion visits to the store, I finally got hold of her! She is none other than Vicky, The Body Shop makeup artist!

1. How long did you work for TBS? How does it feel? 2-1/2 years! Didn't feel so long! Its same everyday, but enjoyable! Great brand to work for! I love their charity work!

2. What was your experience like so far? Mixed, I can say! I like to build rapport with loyal customers! I look forward to speak to them, in fact! I love to learn things from a different level! Fun part is to experience the latest launch! Shop lifters put me off!

3. What kind of techniques did you learn so far? Its hard to know what a trick is! Its a natural way of doing things for a makeup artist! Not a technique, basically! As per the customer specification, we do a make-over, lip-over, eye-over etc!

4. Share your Pick 1 from Body Shop? Body butter, obviously!

5. Share your Pick 3 from Body Shop? Body butter, Sea weed Clarifying toner and face powder!

6. What products does your skincare routine include? I was given Philosophy's Hope In A Jar, so I have to use it to the last drop! Otherwise, my skincare routine includes only Body Shop products!

7. What products does your haircare routine include? Because of my hair extensions, I have to use Pro range! Otherwise, I use Olive range, Honey range and Amlika Leave-In Conditioner from Body Shop!

8. What brands does your makeup include? We don't do waterproof makeup @ TBS! My eyes tend to water, so liner comes off easily! Hence, I use Gosh waterproof eyeliner! Otherwise, I use Body Shop makeup!

9. Did you ever try MAC? Would you like to? I did not try MAC! Do you think I should?

10. Drugstore or High-end makeup? In between like Body Shop range! If I did not work for TBS, I would have chosen high-end stuff! I don't like to use cheap stuff as they don't work for me!

11.What would you recommend straight away to a new customer? Body butter and Vitamin C Skin Reviver! It helps brighten the complexion! Boosts skin's smoothness, radiance and vitality! Has Orange oil and Grapefruit oil! Instant gratification product!

12. Assume you dont work for TBS, what would you buy? Makeup, body butter, skincare and Love Etc perfume!

13. Do you like any specific line of your makeup? I am a more eye makeup person! Partial, I can say! I like to coordinate my eyes and lips!

14. What Body Shop makeup tool is under-rated according to you? Foundation brush! Retails for 12 pounds, but is worth every penny! Lasts long! Doesnt shred! Every wash, it looks new!

15. What's your insight on fragrance oil? Makes a great gift! Great alternative when you are not sure what to choose for your friends or family, especially when sensitive to cosmetics! I love Satsuma, Coconut, Exotic and Line Dried Cotton!

Will be continued later...

P.S - From now, I will feature a makeup artist on my blog whenever possible! In my opinion, makeup artist doesnt have to be a celebrity artist! If thats what you are looking for, kindly ignore! As mentioned earlier, Series I includes only Vicky! If you think I can interview you in the most silly way possible, please mail me!

Cory Walia

Fashion Moksh had a chat with Cory Walia aka Karamjit Singh Walia, ace Indian makeup artist. Here are some of the key excerpts!

Which is the time-tested, faithful and a must-have makeup tool?

Eyelash curler

Which complexion is more exciting and challenging?

I must confess that I'm very excited by deeper and darker skin tones. I love working with them because with very little makeup there is a zing factor. Like Sheetal Malhar, many really really dusky girls. Something happens with my make up on that face. That really excites me. I'm passionate about dark skin. Also in this country, I'm against fairness creams, complexion enhancement creams and whitening system. And so I always feel that you know women with the darker complexion and darker skin tones in India are not given a fair chance, if you forgive the expression. I make it a point actually when I'm choosing somebody from the audience at the seminar or the demonstration to pull out the darkest person and then do the look on them and people are just shocked. I like that. I like to show off like that.

Who would you rate the most beautiful person?

I think I would rate as a most beautiful person someone with an inner strength that comes out in her face and someone who doesn't require my help at all. Some one like Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, the leader who was jailed in her house for some years. Or Medha Patkar. Or I think without makeup Smita Patil, that's one face which I would have loved to have worked on because I know it would take only small tichkies to do it. But basically she didn't require make-up and I have seen movies in which she has been putting up extra makeup. She always looked not as good as when she is without makeup. So, yeah, I think they are the most beautiful women. Where the inner shakti comes out through the eyes and in the face, actually main adhura rah jata hun because I don't have any work to do.

What's the current trend?

The current trend is extreme glamour in the most natural manner. So it should not look painted. Your skin should look like skin yet your eyes should be extenuated fairly strongly, your lips should not leap off the crease of your face but should look full and sensuous and expressive. And it's all about very good looking skin basically. Then your eyeliner, kajal, eye shadows. These things are just accessories. But basically current trend at the moment is all about beautiful skin and there is makeup available that gives the illusion, but there are also products available that actually help you to make reality of beautiful skin. They are just there to help you to make that reality instantly. Beautiful eye shadows and eye liners and eye pencils in lots of jewel tones, mauve, lilac, certain shades of coral , rust for Indian skin tones, shades of green, deeper greens combined with blacks and browns are looking very nice. And on lips also it's a lot about a smooth creamy texture, not too glossy, not too matt not too pouty, not too much.

Which products you recommend for the masses which are trendy yet affordable?

I would say the color liquid eye liner, kajal pencils, other eye liner pencils, lip pencils and lip balm. A combination of lip balm and full lip pencil to outline and fill in it is long lasting and it looks very nice and gives the correct effect because of the heat and the humidity of the current climate. I would say that compact, a good oil absorbing compact, water proof mascara.

Your advice to upcoming makeup artists?

Be sincere to your job. Be sincere to your profession. Be humble and keep learning on a daily basis, even after you are established. It's not about money as much as it's about integrity. Keep innovating and use yourself as your benchmarking, keep trying to be better, compete with yourself at every level and be hygienic. Don't eat onions and garlic. Don't smoke. If your dental hygiene is not good you maybe a very good makeup artist, but there will always be bitching about you behind your back. Always be aware of that dental and personal hygiene is very important for a makeup artist.

(Courtesy: Fashion Moksh)