Bappa arrived on September 14, and with him came a packed calendar. From morning pujas and relatives dropping in to evening pandal visits, your phone gallery fills up faster than the modak plate empties. In the middle of all this, the last thing you want is to keep running to the mirror to check if your foundation has slipped or your kajal has smudged. The good news is that long-lasting makeup isn’t really about piling on more products. It comes down to how you prep your skin and which formulas you pick. Monika Khullar, DGM Training & Artistry at Anastasia Beverly Hills, shared her advice for creating a festive look that lasts from the first aarti to the last photo of the day.
Give your lips some attention before the lipstick
Between the cooking, the running around, and the crowded pandals, your base needs to handle a bit of heat. Look for a long-wear foundation with good coverage, and if you tend to sweat, a waterproof or sweat-resistant formula is worth the investment. The trick is to work in thin layers. Start with a small amount, blend it out, and only build up where you really need it. You’ll end up with skin that still looks like skin, not a mask that starts to crack by evening. A good lip pulls the whole look together, but lipstick rarely sits well on dry lips. Slick on a hydrating lip balm and let it soak in for a few minutes while you get on with something else. Then outline your lips with a liner and fill in with your lipstick. It’s a small step, but it makes the colour look neater and helps it stay put. Prep your lips before adding colour. For colour that lasts, liquid lipsticks and other long-wear formulas are your best bet. Prefer something softer? Dab a little gloss or balm in the centre of your lips for a fresh, festive finish. Well-hydrated lips change everything. When the lips are smooth and comfortable, lipstick glides on evenly, and the entire look ends up more polished.
Prep decides how long your makeup will last, according to Monika. She says, “If the skin is prepped well and you layer your products in the correct order, makeup holds on better and stays even for much longer. It’s tempting to go straight for the foundation when you’re running late, but a few extra minutes on skincare pay off later. Wash your face, apply a moisturiser, and follow with sunscreen. Then wait. Letting your skincare absorb properly gives makeup a smoother surface to grip and stops your skin from feeling tight or dry by the afternoon. Setting spray is the final step. Mist it evenly over your face, then leave it alone. Let it dry on its own, and try not to touch your face for a while. That last spritz helps everything blend so the makeup looks less powdery and more like your skin, and it means fewer trips to the mirror later. Now go enjoy the festival. At its heart, Ganesh Chaturthi is about welcoming Bappa and spending time with the people you love. Take a little care with your skin prep, choose products made to last, and lean on these easy tricks. Your makeup will take care of itself. So dress up, bring Bappa home, click as many pictures as you like, and let your makeup be the one thing you don’t have to think about.
