Steal the Look: Twinkle Khanna

A big thanks to our reader Lolita for pointing out this effortlessly chic makeup worn by Twinkle Khanna.

Here's how you can get the look:

Eyes

Apply MAC Tete-A-Tint eyeshadow from the lashline to the crease, and MAC Vanilla on the brow bone to highlight. Then line the upper and lower lashlines (including the inner rims) with Loreal Le Grande Kohl eyeliner in Black Sable. Swipe Loreal Voluminous Mascara on the top and bottom lashes and the eyes are set.

Blush

Twinkle seems to be using a bronzer here, but you can easily substitute a blush for it. (I myself am not a big fan of bronzers, I prefer using blush). But if I've got some picks for you to try either way. If you're a bronzer gal, try Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna. If you like blush better, try MAC Mocha blush. Swipe it on your cheeks, your temples, and your chin. Avoid dusting it on the bridge of the nose. Unless you're an expert at applying bronzer, it's too easy to overdo it and look like you have a cold instead of a naturally sunny glow.

Lips

The lips here are achieved by using MAC Taupe lipstick, MAC Subculture lipliner (line only, don't fill in the lips with this), and topping it off with MAC Plushglass in Wildly Lush. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Kohl Girl helped me find some more picture of Twinkle from that night and it seems that the lipstick and eyeshadow are most definitely not from the Bobbie Brown Cocoa Mauve collection as originally posted. I've updated the color recs and added the new pics to give a more accurate depiction of the look.

header photo via highheelconfidential.com

Full Color Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish

Full Color Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish, $18, via Ulta.com

Even though their mineral makeup didn't work for me, it wasn't enough to keep me from sampling some of Bare Escentuals other products. For what it's worth, their makeup is pretty reasonably priced and I like the array of colors they have to offer.

One product I like right now is their new Full Color Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Polishes. Like a lipstick, lipgloss, and lip plumper all rolled in one, these glosses infuse your lips with high shine opaque color while making them appear fuller. Although they are supposed to be "lip plumping" I don't really see plumping results with these polishes, just a feeling that my lips are tingling (as if I just ate a York Peppermint Patty), a feeling that's not entirely unpleasant. The plumping effect is more visual than anything else, due to the high amount of shine in these lip polishes. I also liked the staying power of the color. Even after meals, the color stayed put (although the "gloss" part faded away).

A little goes a long way when applying these glosses, so use a light hand and build up color as you go. I found out the hard way that if you put too much gloss on, the color starts to feather/bleed out of your natural lipline, ruining your pout.

My favorite colors of the bunch are Vanessa, Carmen, Chloe, and Stella. Vanessa is a berry/fuschia color, perfect for the plum trend in fashion this fall. Carmen is more of a magenta color, with more purple in it than pink. Chloe is like a light pink, perfect to pair with smokey eyes or if your skin is on the fair side. And finally, Stella, this is the perfect neutral lip color, a plummy bronze color that works well both for everyday and nighttime, and looks absolutely beautiful on light tan to dark skin. If you're a desi looking for a neutral gloss that won't wash you out, try Stella, the color works with every outfit and every woman of color.

Steal the Look: Padma Lakshmi's Makeup at the Emmy's

Forget the hair and makeup of Heidi Klum and America Ferrera at the Emmy's that have been posted all over beauty blogs...I came across these photos of Padma Lakshmi and in my opinion, she looks the most gorgeous of all the ladies! And I'm not just saying that because she is a fellow desi.

Padma really kicked up her look a notch with the shimmery gold dress, monochromatic bronze makeup and a sleek ponytail. The monochromatic makeup that she wears is super easy to copy and I have the perfect shade of lipgloss to get her bronze lips. I also love that she is wearing her hair up rather than in her trademark waves. To get the look:

Face: Create a perfect canvas for bronzer with concealer and foundation (or tinted moisturizer if you don't need that much coverage) as needed. Dust bronzer (I am currently using Lorac's Bronzer in Warm Glow)on the perimeter of the face, i.e. at the temples down to the cheekbones down to the jawline. Blend bronzer on the cheeks to create dimension on the face. Sweep a little highlighter on the tops of the cheekbones.

Eyes: Eyes are kept simple and monochromatic as well. Dust a bronze shadow such as MAC Shadow in Bronze (or alternatively just use the bronzer as shadow) all over the lids. Finish with a little black eyeliner on the top and/or bottom eyelashes depending on how dramatic you want to go. Complete with black mascara.

Lips: Go for a shiny bronze finish (not matte) so as to prevent the monochromatic look from appearing flat. The bronze lipgloss I love for this look is Chanel's Cristalle Lip Gloss in 22 Cappucino.

Get the Look: Deepika Padukone

One of our lovely readers asked for a breakdown of Deepika Padukone's makeup at a recent event - this is a wonderful choice for a breakdown as Deepika (or more likely her makeup artist) showcases the recent trend of the bronze smokey eye that was all over the Fall 2008 runways. Deepika complements the earthy tones on her eyes with a pretty wine lip color. To get the look:


Eyes: Three different earth tones are used on Deepika's eyes to give them dimension and to prevent muddiness. First, sweep a shimmery bronze or copper shadow such as the darker shade in NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Isolde all over the lids until just past the crease. In the outer third of the lids, with lids closed, apply a dark brown shadow such as MAC Shadow in Tempting in the shape of a side triangle. Blend the bronze shadow with the dark brown shadow. Wet a liner brush and apply the dark brown shadow as eyeliner on both the upper and lower lashes. Apply a light gold or champagne shadow such as the lighter color in NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Isolde in the inner corners of the eyes. I included a picture of Deepika looking down below so you can really see where the different colored shadows go.

Finish eyes with black mascara. Also, Deepika's eyebrows are always very neat and clean. Use a brown pencil and gel such as Revlon Brow Stylist in Dark Brown to fill in and brush eyebrows.

Cheeks: Use a fan brush to very lightly apply a wine colored blush such as MAC Powder Blush Plum Foolery to the cheeks. Remember to use a very light hand - Deepika's look is one where she is glowing rather than blushing.

Lips: Deepika has a wine color on her lips but it is applied lightly so skip the liner. Apply a creamy wine lipstick such as MAC Lipstick in Plum to the lips.

Get the Look: Priyanka Chopra

Readers often ask about a makeup look they can wear to work - something sophisticated and pulled together but not too trendy or over the top. I particularly like Priyanka's Chopra's grey lined eyes and matte pink lips in the photo below for this kind of makeup. To get the look:

Eyes: Line eyes lightly with a smudgy black eye pencil such as MAC Eye Pencil in Smolder. Go over the liner with a medium matte grey eye shadow such as Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Grey and blend the shadow with liner with a brush. Apply mascara.

Cheeks: Lightly dust cheeks with bronzer such as Bobbi Brown Bronzer in Medium, Natural, Deep or Dark (depending on your skin tone).

Lips: Line lips with a rose colored pencil such as MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl. Fill in lips with matte rose pink lipstick such as MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy.