Today, we can use any product we desire to enhance our natural looks without being labeled a harlot – well, most of the time anyway. I mean, we’ve all witnessed the Aunties who are a little too color happy (think Moulin Rouge – on crack). But, the point is, today we have options. We don’t have to get our blood flowing to our face by jumping up and down in place or slapping ourselves silly. Blush is now a staple part of a woman’s beauty routine – and the one item I could never do without.

Now that summer is over, and I begrudgingly greet the wintry air, I’ve shelved my “warm weather” blush shades and unpacked my favorite go-to pinks for the cold season. While peaches and corrals are still acceptable if paired with the right colors, now is the time to use the products that will further heighten that “just came in from the cold” cheek look and will also look fabulous with a winter smokey eye and nude lip. A few of you wrote in asking for my favorite pink blush shades, which for me, is akin to asking Angelina Jolie to pick the best of her umpteen children. But, for the sake of sparing your time and in order to suggest some universal colors, here are my two most-used products: .

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For those who like a natural, understated look:

MAC Blushbaby: A beige-pink in Sheertone formulation.

Color: At first glance, Blushbaby looks quite dull in the pan – when the MA tried to use it on me I rolled my eyes at her – until she applied it to my cheeks and I was hooked. Yes, MAC has plenty of gorgeous pinks available. But, Blushbaby has a beige base which works great with almost all desi skin tones – it is a “your flush but better” color.

Consistency: Because this blush is a Sheertone, it takes a few swipes to get the look you want to achieve. The good thing about this is that the color is buildable – i.e. you won’t end up with clown cheeks. The Sheertone consistency also allows the product to almost melt into the skin for a natural looking effect with no shine or shimmer.

Price: $18.50 maccosmetics.com

Bottom Line: Blushbaby is great for the day and for the workplace/school. The natural flush it creates helps perk up and brighten even the most tired-looking faces. Like most MAC blushes, the amount of product is very generous – I went almost a year of daily use before I hit the pan.

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For those who love a more vibrant look:

NARS Outlaw: A Rose with the right amount of shimmer

Color: Like most NARS cosmetics, Outlaw is highly pigmented so it is very important to use a light hand at first and build up to the color you want. This is a darker shade of pink than Blushbaby, and with the shimmer it’s perfect for a nighttime look (I also use it in the day because I love the color). It is great for both fair to dark skin tones – it seems the natural rosiness combined with the golden shimmer almost mold with individual skin tones. Darker skin tones can carry off a deeper application while fair tones should go for a sheerer application.

Consistency: The shimmer is subtle and not piecey like most glitter found in makeup. The blush itself is light and finely milled. Again, the product is very pigmented so be sure to use a light hand or a skunk brush to assist you in sheerer application.

Price: $25 narscosmetics.com

Bottom Line: Because Outlaw is so pigmented, you only need a trace amount to get the look you want, which means this product will last you FOREVER (I’ve had mine for almost two years and I have not yet seen the bottom of the pan). Although the price seems steep, the fact that it lasts forever along with the color payoff, this product is a must-have.

I realize both the products listed are department store brands. However, I have not yet found a pink drugstore blush I love as much as these two. If I do, you’ll be the first to know! For now, I find the pigmentation and consistency of these products are well worth the $$$. Plus, these two shades look spectacular with a smokey eye!

*We’d like to know:* Do you have a pink blush that you absolutely love, either drugstore or department store brand? Share your favorites in the comments section. Our readers would love to hear what you use!!!

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Photo Credits:
http://www.glamour.com/beauty/2008/12/blush-new-tips-for-doing-it-right
http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/mac-blush-powder-blushbaby
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yutongzhou/2861871329/
http://www.zoomtv.in/wm/zen-cms-images/photo/650×700/m/mughda_godase-10-650×700-2009-01-08.jpg

Like many of you, I have been the victim of sales assistants at makeup counters that don’t want to take the time out or simply don’t know enough to explain the use of certain products. When I’ve asked the difference between loose and pressed powder, I’ve been told “oh, it’s just the consistency you prefer and what’s easier for you.” Ladies, this is not the case. Yes, ease of transportation and application is a vital point, but cosmetics companies would not waste time and energy finely milling powder into two different consistencies just because they are nice and want to give us a choice. There is more to the loose versus pressed decision.

Loose Powder:

- Used to initially set your makeup/foundation. Because of the fine particles, the loose version is made to melt into the skin rather than sit on top of it and to give your foundation a finished look.

- Consistency is very finely milled and fluffy like baby powder. Is not portable as most containers tend to leak, is better left at home.

- Because it is finally milled, loose powder looks more natural on the skin rather than the matte look from pressed powder.

- Contrary to popular belief, loose powder offers thicker coverage than pressed, as more amount of product can be picked up by your tools. The great thing about loose powder is that it is very buildable. Use a big, fluffy powder brush for sheer/light coverage, and a powder buff for heavier coverage.

Caution:
-    Some loose powders contain talc for oil control that may be drying for sensitive skins.
-    It is very easy to overdo it with loose powder. Applying more won’t prevent your face from greasing up later in the day if you have oil-prone skin. In this case, pressed powder is a good back up (see below).

LM Recommends:

Department Store: Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (limited color choice but is translucent rather than colored so goes with many skin tones) $34 and Nars Loose Powder, also $34.

Drugstore: L’Oreal Translucide Naturally Luminous Loose Powder $11.99 and NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder $2.99

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Pressed Powder:

- Used more for touchups and covering up any shine throughout the day rather than for initially setting makeup. Because the powder is compressed, less product is picked up by puff or brush, resulting in lighter coverage than loose powder.

- Not as finely milled as loose powder so results in a matte look. Great for ladies who are active and prone to shine.

- Very portable due to compressed consistency, usually comes with sponge and attached mirror for ease in application on the go

- If you wish to use pressed powder to set your makeup, it’s best to use a fluffy brush to buff into the skin rather than a sponge or puff that will absorb most of the pressed powder.

- When shine appears, first blot excess oil with a tissue and then apply pressed powder touchup, or result will be cakey.

Caution: Although pressed powder is more portable and generally costs less than loose powder, the product is less finely milled to be pressed into a cake and inserted into plastic packaging. This means oils and bonding ingredients like waxes are used to make the powder compact. Pressed powder, therefore, usually results in more clogged pores than loose powder. Also, most users place their dirty sponge right back into the compact after using it, which means more bacteria and breakouts.

LM Recommends:

Department Store: MAC Pressed Blot Powder $21 and Origins Silk Screen $24.50

Drugstore: Maybelline Dream Matte Powder $8.49 and L’Oreal True Match Powder $10.95

Remember: If you use a cream-to-powder or liquid-to-powder foundation you do not need a separate setting powder, only for touchups. Once you’ve chosen a consistency that’s right for you, make sure to find a color that is very close to your original skin tone or half a shade darker. Never go lighter! Powder isn’t just for setting makeup – foundation can make the skin seem lifeless, and powder can work to add a little warmth back into the face. Just make sure not to go too dark or orange – or you’ll end up looking like Paris Hilton, or worse, Lindsay Lohan. Not cute.

But, before you excitedly reach for your favorite makeup brush, stop for a minute and inspect the consistency of your blush. What most ladies tend to forget is that just as with products like foundation and eyeliner, it is important to find the right formula for your cheeks before settling on a color. The wrong consistency can exacerbate red, bumpy skin while the right one can give off the impression of “just coming in from the cold” winter cheeks.

We are given a myriad of options when it comes to blush: cream, liquid, creamy liquid, cream sticks, stains, tints, powder, the list is endless. So, which one to choose? The answer is a mixture of preference, weather and most important, skin type.

Here are the three main categories:

Liquid:

This category includes tints and stains and gels. Some artists claim this is the most natural looking product as it “sinks” into the skin. Make sure to start out slow and apply a little product, then build it up as you go along, as it is hard to remove.

Pros: Stays put in high heat, does not slide off your face by the end of the day (long lasting power), natural looking flush, can also be used as a lip tint.

Cons: Have to work fast to apply as it is difficult to blend, will stain your fingers along with your cheeks, if you have bad skin will emphasize your spots.

Great for: Oily-skinned gals
Avoid: Dry-Skinned ladies (will emphasize any flakiness, is not moisturizing in the least)

We recommend: “Cheek Stain” by Tarte and “BeneTint” by Benefit, both available at sephora.com

Cream:

Includes sticks, pots and tubes. The best choice for a “dewy” look, great all year round, but especially youthful and fresh looking for the spring/summer.

Pros: Easy to apply and blend, if too much is applied is easy to remove, moisturizing, most have good lasting power

Cons: Can look caked on if not applied or blended correctly, can make skin look oily in humid climates

Great for: Dry-skinned and mature skin types
Avoid: Oily-skinned gals (the moisturizing properties will make you look shinier than a disco ball)

We recommend: “Cream Blush” by Revlon and “Crème Blush” by MAC, revlon.com and maccosmetics.com, respectively.

Powder:

The most commonly used blush available mostly in pressed and loose powder forms as well as minerals. Extremely wide variety of pigments and ranges from fine to regularly milled consistency.

Pros: Matte finish, easy to apply and blend, can be built up and blotted off if too much excess, great for both warm and cold climates

Cons: Lasting power can vary greatly from product to product, but generally not as long lasting as cream and liquid, more “made up” look than cream and liquid, can appear cakey or clownish if too much applied

Great for: Both Oily-Skinned (will help reduce shine) and Dry-Skinned (do not exacerbate flakiness) ladies

We Recommend: NARS for the deep pigments and Milani for the price, narscometics.com and milanicosmetics.com, respectively.

Lipstick Masala Suggests: Because summer is here and light, fresh looks are all the rage, set aside your normal powder and try out the liquid and cream blushes. Once you have determined the consistency that is right for you, choose a shade that reflects the colors of the season we’ve shared with you, i.e. girly pinks and corals, and leave the darker colors for when the cool air sets in. Happy hunting!

The first mistake most girls make is in picking the wrong consistency of concealer, understandable seeing as there are enough options out there to confuse anyone. Textures range anywhere from dry, solid sticks to creamy pots to tubes and wands of liquidy cover-up. So what is the best choice for you? Several factors come to play in this decision, your age, your skin type, what exactly you are trying to conceal and obviously, your skin tone.

Types of Concealer

Solid Stick:
Description: Most companies that make these concealers claim they are lightweight with a creamy consistency. The truth is, these products are generally drier than other forms of concealer. These are best for younger skins, as concealer sticks tend to almost settle in fine lines. They are easy to apply because of the packaging and can be carried in your purse for touch-ups, but make sure to blend blend blend as this formula is thick and can make your flaws stand out if not properly applied. However, it is also the best for dark circles thanks to the thicker coverage.

Our recommendations: The Bobbi Brown face touch up stick for the creaminess and the NARS concealer for the desi tone color match. We are not fans of MAC studio stick concealer – almost everyone we know has gotten panda eyes/a grey cast from using it.

Concealer pot:
Description: For those ladies with fine lines and dry skin, you will want to reach for this one. Concealer pots tend to have a more moisturizing feel to them and are easier to blend, as they are generally creamier. They do not settle into or accentuate fine lines as much as the solid stick formulation. Coverage is medium to heavy, buildable.

Our recommendations: Vincent Longo Cream Concealer – good color range, but has moderate coverage, Bobbi Brown creamy concealer kit – many shades available and buildable coverage.

Tubes/Wands with brushes:
Description: This is the creamiest and most liquid form of concealer on the market. The coverage is lighter than other formulations and is best for those with fine lines or wrinkles. This consistency is the easiest to blend so can also be used without a foundation as it almost melts into the skin. However, lightweight coverage can be too light for dark circles, so you have to test out different brand formulations.

Our recommendations: Stila illuminating concealer for a natural look with mica particles that, according to the website “further fool the eye,” and Full Cover Concealer by Makeup Forever for the color range. A product that the fashion world raves about is Touche Eclat by Yves Saint Laurent cosmetics, however we have not personally tried this one and have heard very mixed reviews from other desi girls – it really is a hit or miss product and many have complained of the panda effect with this one. Try it out and let us know how it works for you!

If you have drier skin lean toward the most lightweight consistencies, while those with oily skins should reach for the solid sticks for better adherence and lasting power. Also, if you are looking to cover blemishes and capillaries, try out the sticks and pots, the drier texture lasts longer on breakouts. Creamier textures work better for the skin under the eye, as it does not produce as much moisture as the rest of the face. You can test out the texture of the concealer by trying it on the veins on the inside of your wrist.

How to pick the right color:

Magazines will always tell you to pick a foundation that is one to two shades lighter than your foundation color. While I agree that this is the general rule of thumb, you have to incorporate several factors into your decision, for example, how dark the skin around your eyes is, what your actual skin tone is and most importantly, what if you don’t use foundation?

- If you don’t use foundation: you should choose a concealer that either matches your skin tone closely or is one shade lighter depending on how dark your circles are.

- If you do use foundation: once again gauge how dark your circles are. I don’t believe in going more than one shade lighter than your foundation, but according to beauty experts you can go up to two shades. Just be sure that you never go lighter than two shades or you will definitely end up on panda express. Also, the lighter you go with very dark circles, the more grey cast your circles will look, which will only draw more attention to them.

- For those with fair and medium skin tones, yellow-toned concealers are best, and orange-based tones work well for those with dark or black skin tones. I have found that pink-toned concealers do not work well with the average desi skin and can end up looking ashy.

9-0-2-1-Oh Dear

If you recall the post on choosing the right foundation color, you can try the strip test, but this time on the skin on your neck under your ear rather than on your cheek. Smear three shades on this area and the one that melts into your skin is closest to your color. However, this is not always fool proof, again, because the darkness of undereye circles varies and contrary to popular belief amongst department store salespeople, many ladies do have faces that are lighter than their necks.

Finally, again, like choosing your foundation, you must keep in mind that your skin tone changes from the winter to summer so you may need two shades of concealer for the different times of year. Also, concealer is a trial and error process just like foundation so make sure to see it in different light and take pictures privately beforehand to see how it looks under the flash – or else you may end up tagged and panda-eyed in photos that appear on your crush’s Facebook newsfeed. And no one wants that.

Stay tuned for our post on concealer application techniques!

Photo Credits (In order they appear):
http://www.ehow.com/video_4407882_apply-lip-concealer.html
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P2858&categoryId=B70#
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P218431&categoryId=B70
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P2679&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=5318
http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Beauty/Beauty-s-Best-Sellers.html
http://www.celeb-invasion.com/tag/annalynne-mccord/

Photo Credit: images.blastro.com

How many times have we all flipped through magazines and lusted after that seemingly unattainable glow-y look that radiates on faces like Jennifer Lopez and Gisele Bundchen? Don’t worry, cosmetics companies have you covered. With Summer drawing near, shimmer powders that made their debut in the winter will be disappearing off shelves, and we’ll be flooded with new lotions and liquid highlighters promising to help our face gleam, shine, all of the above. However, don’t put away your winter shimmer powders just yet, Spring is the best time to use them – they add a little glow to your face that’s safe for the crossover of the seasons and are not overwhelming to those around you. Even though it’s April, it’s still cold outside. Arriving to work, a party or class with your face dripping with “dew” like it’s the middle of July is just not okay (trust me I’ve been there). It’s best to keep it low key and stick to the winter products for just a little bit longer.

So what exactly is the deal with the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick? We’ve all had our eye on it, but we just can’t decide whether or not to go ahead and buy it. There are just too many conflicting reviews and at almost $40 a pop, we don’t want to invest in something that won’t work, or that we just won’t know how to apply. Here’s the honest truth: Some people are lucky and don’t have to do much with it to look good. However, if you’re in the other 95% of people who try it on and aren’t too impressed, you’ll have to experiment a lot until it looks amazing. Trust me though, once you get your own routine down, it really will be worth the $40.

There are 5 permanent colors in the range plus two limited editions that are currently available. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Photo Credit: designmom.com

Beige: Looks pretty in the pan, but has two brown-ish strips that I thought made my complexion seem slightly muddy. The overall effect was somewhat a streak of pasty shimmer on my face. Definitely not the subtle glow I wanted. Better for lighter skin tones.

Pink: The shimmer base is silver, which does not look good on brown skin – gold complements our skin tone and brings out the warmth, while silver just makes the skin look dull. Unless you are very fair or have cool skin tones, I would suggest staying away from this one.

Apricot: Gives medium skin tones a great glow. Definitely look “candlelit” with this one. The peach tones in this will warm your skin if you have a sallow skin tone.

Rose: Is pigmented enough to use without a blush underneath. Looks great on all skin tones, but is more of a shimmery blush than a highlighter.

Bronze: (pictured above) Recommended for our skin tone. I personally feel it is too dark copper for my skin. However, it looks breathtaking on a friend of mine. In the same category as the Apricot – can give the perfect glimmer, just match to your skin tone.

Finally the two limited editions: my personal favorite is the Copper Diamond, which I have used in the picture to the right. It’s not actually copper but a true golden glow. It’s still available in some stores and online so go check it out. The new Platinum Pink Shimmer Brick is a big waste of money and time – no gleam, no color, just slight sparkles.

Things to remember when picking out your Shimmer Brick or any other shimmer powder:

- Most of the bricks have to be used on top of a blush or they won’t show up. On areas of your face that you don’t apply blush, the shimmer will gleam when the light hits your face at that spot. However, the brick will last longer and look better on your cheeks if they have a base to adhere to and be held in contrast to.

- Despite what magazines say, shimmer powders don’t hide by reflecting, but actually tend to accentuate flaws! If you have dry skin, you MUST moisturize or your skin will look flakey. Also, try not to apply any where near wrinkles.

- The flecks in the Shimmer brick like most other highlighters settle into pores. So if you have large or very visible pores, only apply to the tops of the cheekbones, stay away from the rest of your cheeks.

- If you are going to be photographed under bright lights, the rule of thumb is to try not to use highlighters – when the camera hits your face, the light will reflect off your highlighter and you will look GREASY, not glow-y.

- The strips in the Shimmer Brick can also be used as eye shadows.

How and where to apply:

- Every cosmetics brand will tell you to use a different brush – powder, skunk, or blender. Just use something similar to the one below and you should be good to go. At almost $40, you don’t need to be spending money on an additional brush. Yes, the brush does matter in application and I prefer to use a light fluffy brush, but at the end of the day, $$$ are more important. You can buy a nicer brush later.

Photo Credit: Neiman Marcus

- Apply blush first. Then swirl your brush in the Shimmer Brick pan, and apply on your cheekbones starting near your hairline and slanting down towards the apples of your cheeks.

-  Dust some on the center of your forehead, down the center of your nose (don’t do this if your nose is oily!), and on the temples of your forehead. Basically, form a sideways V (<- ->) from your cheekbones out to your hairline and up towards your temples. Apply the highlighter wherever the light hits your face naturally. You can even apply some on your chin if you wish, but I prefer not to.

- You might feel the inclination to over apply because the color is so sheer. Trust me, we can see it even if you can’t – don’t make yourself look like a disco ball, less is more!

- Lastly, blend blend blend. Highlighters are supposed to be natural; we shouldn’t see the line between the highlighter and your cheek/blush.

My personal favorite user of the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick is pictured here (full face covered for privacy, of course). She uses the Bronze Shimmer Brick on top of Orgasm blush (reviewed here). The results are phenomenal and look stunning in person, too. However, she has a very creamy complexion so she can get away with the double shimmer. If you have a similar skin type, then try it out. If not, stick to a more neutral blush under your bronze brick.

If you’ve debated this one for a while like I did, go for it. Just make sure that you find the color that suits you and remember you must pair it up with a blush that complements the one you choose. If you don’t have the right blush underneath, applying the Shimmer Brick is pointless. Also, the Brick lasts forever; even after using it daily for the last 6 months I haven’t even made a dent in it. I’m just praying Bobbi makes the Copper Diamond a part of the permanent collection, or I’ll be spending the next few years of my life making desperate bids on EBay.

Photo Credit: www.beautysource.com

Winner of multiple beauty awards, NARS Orgasm blush is hailed as one of the best on the market. For those of you that either use the product or know friends who do, you will agree when I say girls everywhere gush about the gentle flush and natural glow brought on by Orgasm. At a recent wedding event for a friend I was not surprised to find that more than half the Desi females there have used or wish to try out this supposed wonder product, my mother included!

So is Orgasm blush really worth all the hype? Or, is it just another overrated product that continues to sell because of genius marketing?

Photo Credit: www.hqhair.com

The NARS Cosmetics website describes the color as “a peachy pink with gold shimmer.” It comes in both powder form as well as a “multi-purpose stick for eyes, cheeks, lips and body,” great for those who prefer creamier blushes. As you can see from the picture above, the color in the pan is not that impressive. However, don’t be fooled by the way it looks in its packaging – always remember that many blushes appear to be a lot lighter (or darker) than they are when actually applied on your face. You have to try them on to be sure of how they will look. One of my favorite blushes actually looks pale and translucent in the pan but gives me the most amazing rosy cheeks ever.

My fairer-skinned girlfriends have had amazing experiences with Orgasm blush. So much so, that every time I see them I contemplate re-buying the blush. On lighter skin tones it comes off as more coral than peach (i.e. slightly more pinky), and appears as a natural flush with a Gisele Bundchen-esque glow. Some find the shimmer overpowering so if you prefer matter formulations, I would stay away from Orgasm blush.

A quick rundown of my own experience: I am a medium-toned Desi, with yellow undertones. When my sister bought me the blush I excitedly put in on immediately and wore it every day for the next week. I really wanted to love it, but unfortunately, despite what they say, Orgasm blush doesn’t look good on everyone. It made me look washed out, whereas pinker blushes give me a healthier, rosier look. A lot of friends with the same skin tone as me, and those a little darker felt the same, or felt like it barely showed up at all.

At first I assumed I should just stay away from peachy tones. However, upon some research I found a very similar color made

Photo Credit: soloverly.blogspot.com

by MAC called Springsheen that many use as a replacement for Orgasm blush. The MAC color is not only a great dupe for the NARS but is also lower priced for those who are looking to save a few $$$ (7 dollars saved may not sound like a lot – but in this economy every penny counts!). The MAC version is also less chunky glittery and a little more consistent gold. It is slightly more pigmented than the NARS as well, which makes a great difference for those of us who aren’t so fair. I still find Springsheen somewhat light for my taste so I actually prefer to layer it over another blush, as I feel the color is slightly translucent and does better as a highlighter (same goes for Orgasm).

So, ladies, if you’re a fair-skinned Desi and like a lot of shimmer, go and check out the famed Orgasm blush. There is a newer version called Super Orgasm that is described as the same as the original, but with glitter instead of shimmer – sounds like it’s for the really brave, maybe I’ll use my mother as a guinea pig – she can never get enough shimmer/glitter!

For the rest of us medium to dark skin tones – I suggest we leave the Orgasm blush to the fair-skinned ladies and go for the Springsheen.

Photo Credit: www.mundorecetas.com

Springsheen (left) vs. Orgasm (top right)

If you’re darker-skinned and have had good results with Orgasm, let us know, we’d love to hear about your experience!

Photo Credit: www.planetbollywood.com

For those of us who grew up watching Bollywood movies in the early 90s, the image of Madhuri Dixit smiling and dancing across the screen is still quite clear in our minds. But, for those of us who were into makeup even back then, the awful three inch thick foundation caked on her face is an even more vivid memory. As we entered the age of high-definition television and digital cameras, cosmetics companies began working harder at providing us with weightless makeup that made the foundation from the 1990s look like it belonged in the 1890s. Yes, we are lucky to be living in this age, but an HD lifestyle means we need to be all the more careful about finding the right color foundation, or our makeup blunders will be forever captured and posted for all to see on the latest social networking site (evidence: the foundation faux pas I shared with you in my last post).

Choosing the right foundation shade can be nerve-wracking, but there are a few tried and tested ways to make it (slightly) easier. Let me begin by saying, girls, please, do NOT let department store sales assistants pressure you into buying a foundation before you have tested it out the right way! They may mean well and seem to know what they’re talking about, but only you and those who are familiar with your features (a sister, a close friend) can truly determine if a color is right for you and your daily needs. Trust me, I’ve been through a LOT of different foundations. And by a lot, I mean almost every brand out there. Don’t stop until you find the perfect one!

The first step to choosing the right color is to determine the undertone of your skin. Most people automatically assume that because they have brown skin, they have yellow undertones. This is not always the case, many Desis tend to have pink undertones as well. There are several ways to determine your tone. Some makeup artists suggest looking at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If the veins are blue, you are pink-toned, and if they are green you are yellow-toned. If you cannot make out the color, then you are most likely neutral-toned. Another technique is to first wash your face, pat it dry and place a white towel around your neck. Inspect your skin in the bathroom mirror and you should be able to make out your tone against the contrast of the towel. Buying a foundation based on your undertone helps to prevent you from looking pale and washed-out or kind of dirty (à-la-Lindsay Lohan).

Now, while I agree it’s key to determine your undertone, it’s also important to remember this is only a starting point. For example, not all Bobbi Brown foundations (which are mostly yellow-toned) will suit you just because you have green veins. A couple of years ago I had a makeover done at Bobbi Brown and was contemplating buying the foundation they matched me with. I have very yellow skin so I assumed it would look great – that is, until my mother saw me and asked if I had jaundice and needed to go to the doctor. I washed it right off.

Photo Credit: narscosmetics.com

Photo Credit: www.makemeheal.com

The next step is to try out a few different brands. Don’t restrict yourself to a cosmetics company just because it suits some of your other South Asian friends. A lot of Desi girls tend to gravitate toward MAC Cosmetics, which has gained a reputation of catering to women of color. A few years ago, MAC was the go-to brand in foundation for almost all skin tones. That may have been true then, but ladies, times have changed. Although you may not know it because cosmetics companies do a shoddy job at advertising for South Asian women, many brands have recently been dedicated to adding more shades to their makeup lines to cater to different ethnicities. While MAC may work for some, it did absolutely nothing for me – I either looked ashy or orange, they simply could not color match me. I turned to another company NARS that like MAC, focuses on women of color in their ad campaigns. I happened to find what I consider to by my perfect match and haven’t strayed yet. If you have the $$$ to spend, I would suggest checking out the Giorgio Armani line – the feel of their foundation is absolutely divine and their shade levels are pretty decent. If you’re a bit strapped for cash, drop by the Clinique counter, they are constantly introducing new formulations and colors. There are also brands created for women of ethnicity like Maven Cosmetics (the co-founders are Chinese and Pakistani), which we will be discussing later.

When actually trying on the foundations, you or the sales assistant should swipe three different shades of foundation in your color and skin tone range on your cheek (never match the color to your hand as your face color is very different). The one that melts into your skin and can barely be seen is the one for you. I know some girls are tempted to go for the lighter shades because it’s culturally encouraged, but ladies, we are no longer in the 80s – tan is beautiful. Also, you are not fooling anyone into thinking you have a lighter complexion, we can still see the rest of you

Alas, if only that were the end of it! The next step is actually the most important. What many people are unaware of is that your foundation color changes a little while after you first apply it. The oil in your moisturizer or skin (even if your skin is on the drier side), as well as using the wrong toned shade, can oxidize the foundation and change the shade. As a result, you may end up with orange-y looking skin. Similarly, if you buy too light of a shade, the color can start to look chalky and even though you might think it looks all right on your face, it is very visible against your neck.

Photo Credit: www.desifashionpolice.com

Finally, (yes finally!) you should ask to take a sample of the foundation home. Try it on yourself with your own blush and lipstick. Your foundation is not worn alone, it’s a base for the makeup you already own and therefore must complement it! Also, most cosmetic companies offer foundations in both oil-free and normal consistencies, so make sure you’re buying a color that’s right for your skin type (oily, acne-prone, dry, etc). Be sure to test your shade out in the day vs. the night, take a mirror outside your house and make sure you don’t look orange in the sunlight (yes, I’ve had that happen to me too). If you’re completely satisfied, then congratulations, you’re one of the 10% of girls who is actually happy with her foundation. If you’re like the rest of us and are not completely content, keep searching, there are many options – the world no longer revolves around MAC!

This may sound like a lot just to find a foundation, but as I said, your foundation is the base to the rest of your makeup. If your foundation is off, no lipstick or blush can make up for it, people won’t notice how great your eyes look – they WILL be focusing on your ashy/orange face, trust me. So, spending a little time searching for the right shade is worth it.

One last tip on foundation shades: no matter how dark-skinned you are, your skin color will change slightly with the seasons. Most people can’t use the same foundation color for winter and summer – some tan so much they need to move down two shades. Even if you look fabulous in the winter, you may be looking scary by summer. Do yourself a favor and consider looking into a second foundation when the weather gets warmer. You’ll save yourself the hassle of having to untag all your Facebook photos this summer.

Photo Credit: amean j. (www.ameanj.com)

Happy hunting!