Model/Maybelline Ambassador Diana Penty's Beauty Secrets

Flawless skin secret
Pretty simple actually, I cleanse, tone and moisturize manically each night before I crash. Yes, whatever the level of exhaustion. And I always use sunscreen before stepping out. Good skin is actually the result of following some pretty basic guidelines, the ones we all know — drinking tonnes of water, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly and eating healthy. The reason they're so commonly bandied about is simple: they work! I'm also a Maybelline addict and absolutely love every minute of being the new face of the brand. Gives me a chance to play around with my look.

Five beauty products you can't live without
Mascara, kohl, lipstick, moisturizer and lip balm!

Vimi Joshi on Mineral Make-up

Everyone knows that mineral make-up is the new rage. ‘New’ is a subjective term, however, for minerals in make-up have been around for decades. What is new are the formulations and mixes, the combination of ranges as well as the new marketing (not to mention prices!) by companies all around the globe.

The new ranges are promising much: this loose powder is often hypoallergenic, without perfume, alcohol or preservatives.

Make-up artists and dermatologists are recommending it highly, especially for more sensitive areas like the eyes, which they say is a particularly good investment.

“Mineralized eye make-up is fast becoming a huge beauty trend,” says Vimi Joshi, M.A.C Make-up Artist. “The eye shadows blend into the skin creating a smooth finish that looks like satin. That’s why a lot of women are turning towards mineralized make-up. It’s finish is very natural and appears dewy on the skin”.

Since the prime ingredients used in mineral make-up are inorganic this means that bacteria and microbes cannot live in the make-up and infect the skin. Mica, titanium dioxide, zinc and iron oxides and ultramarine pigments are used.

“The mineral oils in the eyeshadow are very nourishing and conditioning for the skin. They contain a blend of 77 mineral oils that are infused in water as part of a yeast extracting process. Pigments are added and the mixture is baked and shaped for 24 hours,” adds Joshi.

Given below are some tips and information you may require to master this powdery medium which may be harder to apply but is worth the results

Eye these advantages
Mineral make-up not only has the benefit of being a natural product that is good for your skin, it also stays put until you wash (or perspire!) it off. The ability of minerals to adhere to skin means that mineral eyeshadows are very crease-resistant and won’t fade. Mineral make-up’s texture is lighter and different. Even with more coverage, experts say you’ll see a natural, translucent radiance and more of your skin, which can breathe.

Pick the right shades
The eyeshadow shades selected are based on personal taste and the colors that look good with the skin tone and eyes.

Daytime eyeshadow
For less dramatic daytime colors use just one or two shades of shadow; a medium shade on the lid and a lighter shade under the brow and towards the inside of the eye.

Dramatic eyeshadow for the night
To achieve a more dramatic night-time look, use three shades of color. Start with the technique for day-time application, and then add a third, darker shade to the crease and outer eye.

Applying Mineral Eye Shadow

To look like a pro while applying mineral eyeshadow, follow the steps below:

Step 1: After selecting the right match of colors sprinkle some of each powdered mineral eye shadow into the lid of its jar. This will help avoid using too much and reduce wastage.

Step 2: Using an oval or angled eyeshadow brush, dip the tip into the loose powder and then tap the bush on the edge of the lid to remove excess minerals.

Step 3: Swirl your brush in the lid, to help the mineral powder adhere evenly to the bristles of the brush. Then tap the brush on the lid to remove any excess minerals.

Step 4: Sweep the light shadow under your brow and towards your inner eye, blending for a natural look. Then dip the brush into the medium shadow, again tapping on the jar lid to remove excess powder. Sweep the medium color over your lid, and blend.

Tip: A little bit of mineral shadows goes a long way.

Make-up Trend: Apricot, Peach Lips

At Kolkata mall's inauguration Karisma Kapoor, glowed in no make-up except peach lip gloss. She looked absolutely radiant, apricot brings out the peachy undertones in your skin which makes you look healthy and glowy. A sheer peach lipstick works too.

Rec: M.A.C Jist Lipstick

Katrina Kaif Signed As Olay Brand Ambassador

In addition to brand ambassador Sushmita Sen promoting Olay Total Effects, Katrina Kaif has been signed as the brand ambassador of international cosmetic giant Oil of Olay that launched the newly formulated White Radiance range in India.

A source close to Kats adds, "Katrina is a youth icon of today. The international brand found Kats to be the apt model to market their product."

Make-up Trend: Chocolate Brown and Gold Eye Shadow

In Kareena Kapoor's latest Globus ads, Mickey Contractor used metallic chocolate and gold, because matte colors look too dull for the evening. Stand out by applying M.A.C Mulch Eye Shadow in the crease and at the outer corner of the eye, then brush M.A.C Goldmine Eye Shadow in the inner corner and the middle of the lid, blending the edges well.

Rec: M.A.C Mulch Eye Shadow and M.A.C Goldmine Eye Shadow

A-Lister's Tips and Tricks

In an age when beauty comes at a price, with botox having become a lunch-time necessity, one would think the search for glowing skin and shiny eyes would end at a cosmetic surgeons table. While short cuts could be temporarily gratifying, some of the most beautiful women in the country still swear by age-old methods to preserve that beautiful face.

Like fashion buyer Rita Dhody who says yoga and meditation has helped her slow the aging process. “Nothing has helped me more than that. It is not a quick-fix method, but the results of yoga are tremendous on your skin and general well-being. You realise that your ageing process gets slowed down too. Do not sacrifice your workouts for anything. Keep your fitness level high and your skin will remain glowing,” she says.

Sultry siren Bipasha Basu agrees. She says nothing works better than a disciplined life. “I have always emphasized on maintaining discipline. If you have too wild a life, it reflects on your skin. Regular exercise, balanced diet, mandatory eight hours of sleep and lots of water makes your skin glow and stay glowing for the longest time.”

While H20 seems to be the elixir of beauty, former model Anna Bredmeyer has some other natural beauty secrets. “I use malai for moisturising my skin and I drink white pumpkin juice every morning to cleanse my system. I have been doing this for many years and it works wonders.”

“Eating healthy is of foremost importance,” asserts actor Deepika Padukone. “However much you outwardly take care of your skin, if you are not eating right, nothing works.”

Actor Simone Singh's weapon is cucumbers. “I eat loads of cucumbers through the day. I eat lots of carbs and proteins during the day which are more or less acidic in nature and cucumber is alkaline — it helps keep the balance. But yes, if you want a quick-fix method to look beautiful, then use a voluminizing mascara. Its effects are miraculous!”

Actor Urmila Matondkar enthuses, “Scrub your skin squeaky clean, no matter how tired you are. And use as little make-up as possible. Trust me, in the long run your skin will thank you for not assaulting it with make-up all the time.”

And if you are still looking tired, model Noyonika Chatterjee advises, “One beauty trick is to use a lot of kajal as it brightens up the entire face. So when in doubt, be sure to use kajal. Also, rubbing ice wrapped in a cloth is another great idea to give that fresh feel to your skin.”

Tip of the Day by M.A.C Senior Artist Vimi Joshi [5]

"For 'Rocker-Chic Eyes' use M.A.C Tarnish Eye Kohl and smudge around the eye with M.A.C Brush #219. Then blend M.A.C Club Eye Shadow over it."