Expert Speak-Skin care tips for Indian skin

The question that vexed Sigmund Freud till the age of 83 was "What do women really want?

The question that vexes all us Women instead is "what does our skin really want?"

I mean we have all had those days when our skin just refused to make up its mind and acted up really bad, being oily and yet flaky at the same time!!

So today we have Dr. Kiran Lohia, a trained M.D, specializing in Dermatology walk us through the special Skin care tips for our Indian skin.

"Indian skin needs specialized care. As a dermatologist, I have seen all different skin types. However, in my experience, Indian skin suffers the most from its environment. India has very strong sunlight, weather fluctuations and an excess amount of pollution, leading to pigmented, dull and often sensitive skin."

To prevent these skin woes, follow the below skin care tips for Indian skin!

1 – Avoid the Sun!

The sun in India is very strong. It even penetrates the windows in your car and your home. The more sun exposure you have, the greater the risk of pigmentation disorders and the more aging your skin suffers from! So, try to avoid the sun if possible, particularly during the hours of 10am-3pm when the sun is the strongest.

2 – Use Sun Block!

Unfortunately, the sun cannot be avoided entirely. So, always remember to apply sun block of at least SPF 30++ where there is both UVB and UVA protection. UVB protection will help prevent tanning, while UVA protection will help prevent both pigmentation and aging. Remember to apply it 30 minutes before sun exposure and repeat every 3-4 hours so the effect does not wears off.

3 – Omega Fatty Acids Help Protect Your Skin!

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are increasingly being shown to have a beneficial effect on the skin and the heart. Data has shown that it helps prevent and protect against UV light induced injury while also strengthening the epidermal barrier! Try to eat these super powered macronutrients daily by consuming nuts, flaxseed and fresh fish. If you cannot get them in your diet, then start supplements! 

My meeting with Ellis Faas at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week

Ellis Faas is a Celebrity Makeup Artist who has worked with the world's most pre-eminent fashion designers, photographers, stylists, hairdressers and models & has been featured in top magazines in the world. Ellis has worked for make-up brands, such as Clinique, Lancôme and MAC Cosmetics – and she was asked by L'Oréal to create a make-up line for their skin care brand, Biotherm. 

Ellis Flaunts her Makeup arsenal

Ellis did the makeup for the show "Dutch Fashion Here & Now India presents *DIED* & Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna / Suneet Varma & Jan Taminiau" at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week.

Check out Ellis's prolific portfolio here 

 
Ellis Faas as a brand with its avant garde makeup looks always seemed inaccessible to me,like something you would expect to see only on a Karl Lagerfield,Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Jean-Paul Gaultier, show or on the cover of Vogue photo shoot, but never in real life.

The first thing you notice about Ellis upon meeting her is how statuesque she is,she is extremely tall & graceful. In a free wheeling chat spanning over 1.5 hours Ellis showed a great sense of humor and a very real and instinctive approach to makeup.

I never expected that an iconic make-up artist whom Vogue Paris has called "one of the most influential make-up artists of her generation" to be so down to earth, warm & friendly.

I was very curious on how a Makeup artist actually envisages a shade or a concept for a makeup line and translate that at production stage in the labs.
Ellis told me she spent 5 years as Designer for Biotherm (owned by L'Oreal) and her experience proved invaluable when she developed her own line.Ellis actually mixes her own colors at home and then gets the same replicated in the lab. She also shared the technical issues that are faced in lab manufacturing the products that would work on almost everybody.Ellis's makeup is absolutely against animal testing and the tagline of the brand is 'Tested on Supermodels'

Ellis swatched the products & discussed the idea behind her product's color palette and textures.The shades are inspired by the colors you'd find on human body-her Reds are inspired by blood, and deeper hues by the veins & bruises.All the shades Ellis swatches looked extremely natural and wearable and something that would work on a vast spectrum of skin tones.

Ellis felt the vast variety of packaging in different shapes and sizes meant inconvenience for both the MUAs and the end consumers.She wanted a very sleek & compact casing for her makeup items.Ellis's concept behind the unique and iconic bullet shaped packaging for almost all her products (barring foundation & powder compact) was militaristic designs.The concept was converted in to bullet shaped pen packaging by Industrial designer Arnout Visser.

IBC Exclusive Interview with Sonic Sarwate, Senior Artist – M.A.C India

Wondering how to perfect your smokey eye makeup or if a concealer is right for you or the 5 must have M.A.C. lipstick or the the must have eyeshadows from M.A.C.? 

Well to answer all your Makeup & Beauty queries, I present to you SONIC SARWATE- Senior Artist, M.A.C.

In a freewheeling IBC exclusive interview Sonic shares some awesome smokey eye makeup Pro tricks.Also if you are looking at putting together your makeup kit and want to know know the must haves from M.A.C. this interview has all the dope you need to know about M.A.C.

Ladies ,say Hello to Sonic!

When Sonic Sarwate was a teenager, he was picking up fashion trends from TV and magazines and dressing up his mom and sisters
in the same styles. At 14, he became the family’s hairstylist after going with his mom to the salon. “I watched the hairdresser throughout the session. When we came back home I tried to do the same thing with my sister’s hair. After that day, my mom never had to go to
the hair salon again,” recalls Sonic. Transforming his family into visions from the media was just the beginning of a lifelong passion
that would launch him into a career filled with Indian celebrities, shoots with internationally acclaimed fashion magazines and Fashion Weeks around the world.

Immediately after high school Sonic took a fashion design course where his sketches always included hair and makeup styles to complete the outfits. After graduation, Sonic worked in a design house for a time, but took a job at United Colors of Benetton because he was missing direct contact with people. As store manager at Benetton he discovered he had an affinity for styling when his
customers would buy every outfit he put together for them, which launched his career as a stylist. Wanting to add to what he could offer his clients, Sonic enrolled in makeup school. On the first day, he found himself the subject of his teacher’s laughter who,seeing the makeup on his finished model, called in the head of faculty believing Sonic had no future in the field. The head of faculty however, saw otherwise and immediately enrolled Sonic in an advanced fashion makeup course. Sonic started freelancing and during the first three months of his career he had already participated in his first Fashion Week.
In 2005, he made his leap into the world of M·A·C, joining the Events Team as an Artist at M·A·C’s first store in Mumbai and soaking up inspiration at various fashion events including Indian Fashion Week, as well as working with talent at the Dubai International Film Festival and the International Film Awards. “When M·A·C decided to open in India, I got a call from the Dubai office saying that the brand manager for M·A·C Middle East wanted to meet me. I was oblivious that it was for an interview – I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go back into a retail environment and give up freelancing,” he confesses. “What inspired me to do it was the M·A·C AIDS Fund and the work that M·A·C does in this respect, and the credo of ‘All Ages. All Races. All Sexes.’” By 2010, Sonic had become Resident Trainer for West India. “This gave me the opportunity to train the Artists who work at M·A·C Counters and learn from their techniques at the same time.” In 2010, Vogue India listed Sonic as one of the Top Five makeup artists in India. In 2012, Sonic moved up the ranks to his current role, Senior Artist for India.
Not surprisingly, given his current home in Mumbai, or “Bollywood,” the hub of Indian movies and fashion, Sonic cites period makeup as a key reference in his work. “I like to take elements from different eras and modernize them.” Among these references,Marilyn Monroe is a particular favorite. “It’s a classic makeup look of the ‘50s which can make anyone look like a million dollars.”Working on shows like Alexander McQueen, DSquared2 and Roberto Cavalli during Milan Menswear Fashion Week AW2012 was a dream come true. Having that under his belt, Sonic’s determined to continue strengthening his craft and has set his
sights on becoming Director of Artistry at M·A·C. 

 So here are my top 10 questions for Sonic which he has answered in such great detail.

 

1)  Please suggest an everyday skincare routine and makeup tips for Indian skin tones. Your 5 must Have MAC products in every vanity case.

Good skincare regime is key to beautiful skin. Cleansing, moisturizing and toning should be part of everyday routine. It’s essential that you prepare your skin properly before makeup, as Skincare is the first step of good makeup, followed by primers.

Always choose a foundation that's closest to your skin tone and a concealer that works for shadows and discoloration on the skin. Most of the Indian skin tones have golden or honey undertone, so choose a foundation accordingly.

5 must Have MAC products:

• ·         MAC Kohl Pencil in Smolder
• ·         MAC Mascara in Zoomlash
• ·         MAC Studiofix
• ·         MAC Lip Conditioner in Petting Pink
•          MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation  

2)  Which is a must have MAC black kohl for creating dark smokey eyes. Any MUA tip or trick for keeping the smokey black eye makeup into panda eyes?

MAC Kohl Pencil in Smolder is the key product for sexy smouldering eyes. Use Smolder on the water line generously. Draw a thick line on top and bottom lash line making sure that it’s not covering more than half the eye lid. Smudge the line towards the crease with MAC brush #219 and MAC Eyeshadow in Embark to soften the look. Same way smudge the lower lash line keeping in mind the thickness you would prefer. Curl the lashes and finish your eye make up with several coats of MAC Mascara in Zoomlash. Powder under the eyes well to give a clean smokey eye look, this also prevents from smudging of the smokey eye makeup too soon.

3)  Which are 5 must have MAC lipsticks shades for Indian skin tones?

• Viva Glam1 – A perfect red for any skin tone
• Meher – It’s a dirty pink, not too bright, part of the India Lipsticks line too
• Double Shot - Double shot has a pinky brown undertone which works very well from medium to dark complexions. It gives enhanced natural colour to the lips, very popular shade which is also re-introduced now to a part of the permanent lipstick lineup for India
• Mocha – Pleasant mocha with coral tinch, making it favourable for most Indian skin complexion
• Viva Glam 5 – Sheer, neutral colour with luster texture, which makes it perfect nude shade preferred by a lot of people

4)  Which are 10 must have MAC eyeshadows as per you?

• Amber Lights – It’s a deep gold with burnt orange undertone
• Woodwinked – It’s a nice, antique gold,
• Folie – Reddish brown, gives a natural shadow on the eyes for Indian skin complexions
• Carbon –Its blacker than black, ideal for Smokey eye look
• Sketch – It’s a Plumy brown
• Humid – Elegant emerald green
• Deep Truth – It’s a jewel tone inky blue
• Star violet – A pink with gold sheen in it
• Antiqued – Deep copper
• Rice Paper – It’s a beige gold, preferred by a lot of people, especially used for highlighting

5)  For sheer coverage and demi matte finish which MAC foundation would you recommend?

MAC Matchmaster foundation is developed with a New Foundation technology using translucent pigments to enable a fully personalized finish and adapting to your own skin's undertone.

6)  Do I need a different concealer type and shades to cover under eye dark circles and skin blemishes?

Dark circles are mostly dried blood under the eyes and it has different color as compare to blemishes. You may use the same concealer but additional color corrector would be required for under eyes to neutralize the undertone. Most preferred corrector for Indian complexions is MAC colour corrector in Pure Orange.

7)   Top 3 must have MAC blushes

Mocha – Its subtle pink that blends with skin tones
Coppertone – One of my favorites for a sun tanned look
Sunbasque – Perfect choice for a naturally glowing cheeks

8)  Juicy coral lips or blood red lips?  Which is your favorite coral lippie (suitable for MAC NC 40- 45 skin tones)

Well it all depends on the look. If you want to look vibrant and modern use MAC lipstick in Coral Bliss. If you prefer classic and chic look, go for Red. Try MAC Ruby Woo with MAC lip pencil that suits your skin tone.

 9)   Which are top 3 makeup trends on runway that you are loving at the moment?

One major trend this season is hone structure skin. This trend is all about working on basic architecture of face and enhancing the beauty with invisible make up. Color palette that's picked up from existing colors in the skin.
Key products are MAC sculpting creams and MAC mineralize skinfinish natural.

Reds and nudes are the colour of the season for lips. Reds that are classic, shading from rosy reds to deep reds. MAC lipstick in Ruby Woo with Cherry lip pencil is reference color this season. In nudes it varies from skin color to just enhancing the natural lip color. MAC Lipstick in Yash and Double Shot were the most popular shades backstage this season.

Liners and smokey eyes had a new, cool and edgy direction. Graphic and deconstructed shapes made makeup very edgy and modern. It’s about making a statement with one focus on the face. For eyes black is the color of the season. Key products were MAC fluideline in Blacktrack, MAC eye shadow in Carbon and MAC power kohl pencil in Feline.

 10) How to work latest runway trends on the streets?

Out of the 3 trends choose the one which represents best who you are. Play around with the trends according to the outfit, occasion and most importantly what’s suits you the most.

To see some of the amazing looks created by Sonic for JJ Vallaya and Ashima & Leena  during the recent Delhi Couture week click here & Here,you can also find the MAC face charts used in the show.

Hope you enjoyed the interview with Sonic,I personally got some great tips on concealers and must buy MAC eyeshadow and blushes (My Makeup lust list just got a little longer *winks*)

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