I don’t think I’m an over-sharer. I’m not on Facebook. My tweets tend to be of the "read this", "watch this", "eat this" variety. And when I’m asked to contribute a four-line description of myself to the contributors’ page of a book, there a genuine moments of panic. What on Earth should the world know about me? And how much will the world glean from what I’m NOT telling them.
But when it comes to my face, I’m happy to report that the world sees only what I choose to show. No indication that I was watching Season 4 of The Wire until 4am the previous night, no sign that I have hereditary dark circles. No discolouration on the bridge of my nose that point to years of wearing spectacles. All they see is, well, a regular face. Nothing that merits suspicion.
For this, I have make-up to thank. And special gratitude is owed to one product – the salmon- or peach-toned corrector. Correctors go over your moisturizer but under your concealer – and yes I am recommending that you apply bright-coloured something right on to where your skin is darkest.
Here’s how it works. When matched correctly to your skin, the salmon or peach colour covers up and cancels out the deep blue discolouration that is the hallmark of under-eye shadows. Brown or skin-tone shades can’t do this on their own because brown over blue ends up grey (think of a bride in mismatched foundation looking like Edward Scissorhands at close range). Peach however overpowers what lies beneath, blends into the colour of your regular skin and gives concealer much less work to do when it finally is applied over.
Not every make-up brand carries correctors and certainly, none of the cheaper ones do. So you do have a bit of a hunt ahead of you. Just remember that you need to use very little, and with a good brand, you can comfortably get 6 months of daily use from a pot that’s no bigger than eye-shadow (I get 8 months and my coverage is pretty extreme). Get the sales assistant to test every shade you choose on you and test every corrector with a concealer before you buy. All creamy formulas need to be set with powder if you want it to last more than 20 minutes.
Sounds like a lot of money and a lot of work, eh? What if you just bought an under-eye cream instead? Well, you could. But why spend Rs 1,000 on pricey skincare that MAY improve your dark shadows AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, when you can spend the same amount on a three-minute make-up routine that WILL present you as radiant, rested and wide awake STARTING TOMORROW?
Here are some products that women have had success with: Mac Orange Corrector (scary bright, but applies sheer), Inglot AMC corrective illuminator (in an easy-use pen-brush), Kryolan Dermacolor Camouflage Cream (even covers tattoos), Kryolan Coverstick (looks like a lipstick), Make Up For Ever Camouflage Cream (get one shade or a palette of 5 to mix a stronger cover-up for hangover days). Should you be travelling abroad, look up brands like Bobbi Brown (not cheap but your best bet), Eve Pearl (lots of shades) and Laura Mercier (expensive but good quality). And stock up!
From HT Brunch, July 22
Not every make-up brand carries correctors and certainly, none of the cheaper ones do. So you do have a bit of a hunt ahead of you. Just remember that you need to use very little, and with a good brand, you can comfortably get 6 months of daily use from a pot that’s no bigger than eye-shadow (I get 8 months and my coverage is pretty extreme). Get the sales assistant to test every shade you choose on you and test every corrector with a concealer before you buy. All creamy formulas need to be set with powder if you want it to last more than 20 minutes.
Sounds like a lot of money and a lot of work, eh? What if you just bought an under-eye cream instead? Well, you could. But why spend Rs 1,000 on pricey skincare that MAY improve your dark shadows AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, when you can spend the same amount on a three-minute make-up routine that WILL present you as radiant, rested and wide awake STARTING TOMORROW?
Here are some products that women have had success with: Mac Orange Corrector (scary bright, but applies sheer), Inglot AMC corrective illuminator (in an easy-use pen-brush), Kryolan Dermacolor Camouflage Cream (even covers tattoos), Kryolan Coverstick (looks like a lipstick), Make Up For Ever Camouflage Cream (get one shade or a palette of 5 to mix a stronger cover-up for hangover days). Should you be travelling abroad, look up brands like Bobbi Brown (not cheap but your best bet), Eve Pearl (lots of shades) and Laura Mercier (expensive but good quality). And stock up!
From HT Brunch, July 22
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