Lipstick Masala

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Dear Lovely Readers,

In addition to this site, Lipstick Masala is now also writing the beauty column “Beauty and the Brush” for the Express Tribune newspaper.

We’d love it if you would check out the latest article HERE and leave us some feedback. The column is printed (and posted online) every Friday, so check back weekly!

Hugs,

This article was first published in the Express Tribune, Pakistan on 4/16/10. It was written by Lipstick Masala for the column Beauty and the Brush.

The advent of spring coincides with the start of the wedding season, and mehndi invitations begin to arrive by the dozen. Panic sets in as one frantically runs to and fro from tailors and/or designers in a desperate attempt to have them sew knockoffs of designs from collections shown at fashion weeks. There is an equal frenzy in browbeating mothers into providing matching jewelery.

But when it comes to the “defining moment” that is applying makeup, most women devote relatively miniscule time and reach for the cliched black kajal and pink lipstick.

Why not break with worn out traditions and dare to embrace the bold accents and styles presented on runways this spring? Today’s beauty trends reflect the vibrant hues of nature – jewel-toned eyes mimicking oleander trees and azure skies, fruity lips evoking images of peach-lined fruit stands. Remember those bright purple and yellow eyeliners you pondered at the local Agha’s or Al-Fatah but elected in favor of your go-to black? Return to the store and grab the colorful liners. And while you’re in revolutionary mode, seriously think about tossing out your flatiron.
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Last Spring, I chopped off nearly ten inches of the hair I had so painstakingly grown out for two years. It was a bit drastic, and I wept for my lost locks for days. But, it was a much-needed change. For me, Spring is about reinvention. Even though I trim my hair several times a year, the Spring appointment with my stylist is the one where I experiment with new lengths, shapes and colors. After the last remnants of winter have faded away, I embrace a new look, a new season and a way to set the trend for how I plan to look for the rest of the year.

For those of you that, like me, have grown weary of your signature coif, there are dozens of trends you can try out in the Spring 2010 season. However, before you arrive at your salon with a ripped out magazine page of Reese Witherspoon’s new haircut, you must keep one important detail in mind – your face shape. Thousands of ladies each year are on the receiving end of a disastrous haircut, not because their stylist was snip happy with the scissors, but because they didn’t realize how different their bone structure was from said actress in the magazine photo.

So, ladies, before you venture out to reinvent yourself, here’s a quick breakdown on how to choose the right cut for your face type. You don’t want to spend the rest of the summer in a ponytail hiding the catastrophe that is your new hair ‘do.

Although there are dozens of face types, the four most common face shapes are: long/oval, round, heart and square.
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Ten years ago, when the countdown to the new Millennium began, I sat on the Washington Mall bundled up in three layers of clothes watching Bill Clinton and Ricky Martin ring in the New Year. I was so cold I could barely enjoy the huge fireworks display over the Potomac River. A decade later, I choose to avoid any outdoor festivities and instead stay inside with my friends, in the warmth of central heating and a comfy couch under my behind. This year, instead of picking out which down jacket will keep me the coziest, my biggest dilemma is whether or not to coordinate my sparkly shirt with dark lips or eyes.

For those of you contemplating a smokey eye look for New Year’s Eve but not comfortable with the technique, I’ve broken down a basic tutorial that’s both quick and easy. Don’t be afraid! What’s great about the smokey look is that you can adapt it to any color, and best of all, it doesn’t have to be perfectly tidy! The concept of “smokey” doesn’t apply to one specific look or color, rather, it is the blending technique used to “smoke out” an eye shadow. So, go ahead and use any combination you wish to!

This tutorial should take practiced hands about 5 minutes and beginners no more than 10-15. Don’t worry about perfecting each step – when it’s time to clean up and bring the look together, we will!

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What You’ll Need:

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It’s almost the most wonderful time of the year -New Year’s Eve – new beginnings, clean slates, and this year – a new decade. Because it’s the holidays and I know you have better things to do than listen to my ramblings, I’ll get straight down to business. For those of you heading out to the club or a friend’s party, you’ll surely want to get the right kind of makeup look to go with your sequined outfits. Later this week we’ll be sharing a quick basic smokey eye for those that want to bedazzle on Thursday night. For now, here’s a tutorial on how to get the perfect red lip without feathering, bleeding and smudging. Read the rest of this entry »

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Below is a contributed post by fellow blogger, Leia. Along with her best friend, she currently runs a fashion site from London that regularly updates readers with the latest high fashion looks and must-haves. As she was one of our first followers here at Lipstick Masala, I am honored that she has kindly taken the time to share some of her favorite beauty techniques with us. If your hair is suffering from winter woes, this post is for you! Leia has outlined some fantastic tips and tricks that have left her hair beautifully thick and silky. Check out her fabulous site over at http://hifashionsl.blogspot.com/!

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For most of us, winter has finally arrived. Whether you love the season or the cold makes you depressed and homesick, one thing is for sure: winter wreaks havoc on your hair! Wind, dry air, and central heating can cause dryness and split ends. Here are some of my tips for keeping your hair luscious when the temperatures drop. Read the rest of this entry »

We finally have sales codes for our lovely ladies in the UK! This offer is only valid until tomorrow so get on it as fast as you can! Products we recommend: Moon Beam iridescent liquid highlighter, Brow Zings brow shaping kit and Gilded gold pencil to draw attention to eyes, brows and lips!

Offer:

• Get 15% off your entire order on http://benefitcosmetics.co.uk

• Get Free Priority Delivery so your package arrives in time for the holidays!

•  Enter promo codes LASTXMAS and FREEPRIO at checkout.

*Terms and Conditions: Offer valid until 22/12/09, free delivery applies to priority delivery only, subject to availability.

If you’ve been tuned into any news channel over the past couple of days, you’ve by now surely heard about the fierce snow storm that continues to pound the East Coast of the U.S. Snowmageddon 2009 not only brought with it mountains of ice but has also subjected us to bone-chilling cold temperatures and glacial winds. Yesterday, driven crazy with cabin fever, I strapped on my fur-lined boots and mittens and ventured outside on foot. When I returned, my face was stinging from the brutal weather conditions. Today, I am regretting yesterday’s little adventure as my cheeks are chapped dry and so red that I could pass for Santa Claus’s offspring.

Unfortunately, dry skin does not just make an appearance during a rare snowstorm or two. Many ladies have complained to me recently that the winter air has been causing the skin on their face to tighten up and flake and no lotion or cream seems to be working to restore that moisture. Here is my answer: 1) If you live in a country where you have central heating on all the time, make sure to use a humidifier when you sleep at night – trust me, you will see a difference in your skin within a few days. 2) Don’t overdo it with the rich creams. Exfoliate regularly (for more information click HERE) and remove the dead skin cells on your face. This will help your regular winter lotion/cream penetrate better. If you still feel like you need something a little extra, then go a little heavier, but I feel like most of those result in clogged pores. I prefer treating my face in addition to moisturizing, which brings us to number 3) There are a number of moisturizing masks you can use that will bring your skin relief, my favorite of which is the Oatmeal mask below. It’s fast, easy, and best of all, costs next to nothing. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s shaadi season. If you’re not already there, most of you will soon be traveling back to the homeland for the winter holidays and over the next month or so will be attending at least two weddings a night. In theory, you will be there to wish the newlyweds well, but in reality you will be checking out members of the opposite sex decked out in their finest shaadi garb while simultaneously whispering with your friends about your competition. But, most importantly, you will be there to see what the bride is wearing. Did she get her jora made by India’s Tarun Tahiliani or did she go with Pakistani designer HSY? What kind of jewelry set is she wearing, is it authentic polki or is it kundun? And finally, who did her makeup – Tariq Amin or a no name?

The makeup, oh the makeup. It seems the bridal makeup industry in the desi world is truly hit or miss – you can look stunning on one event and frightful the next. Artists not familiar with your skin or those who take themselves so seriously they don’t care what you think cause catastrophes that include wrong foundation shades, scary black eyes with dark red lips and shimmer galore. Many ladies put all their faith into their artist, which may work at times, but generally this is a wrong move! Don’t go into your bridal appointment oblivious, ladies – this is the most photographed day of your life (and yes, these pictures really do last forever)! Whether you are in Bhawalpur or Bombay, you must walk into your makeup session with a few crucial pointers in hand. Read the rest of this entry »

Black Friday scares me. For those not in the U.S. and unfamiliar with the day, Black Friday kicks off the Christmas shopping season and is one of the biggest shopping events of the year. I’m not one of the enthusiastic shoppers that stands in line outside Best Buy at 5am for door buster deals, I don’t drive to the outlets to get my hands on that Burberry coat that is 50% off just for a day, and I pretty much avoid the mall at all costs until the weekend is over.

This is why I look forward to Cyber Monday, the day retailers roll out online deals for those who prefer to avoid the panicked masses the day after Thanksgiving. Thanks to Cyber Monday I can do my Black Friday shopping from the safety of my own living room.

For those of you that prefer holiday shopping online, or if you simply didn’t get enough on Black Friday, here is a quick list of some beauty retailers’ Cyber Monday promotions: Read the rest of this entry »