Desi Diva

By Shweta Govindarajan

Secrets for a Flawless Face

It’s astounding, isn’t it, just how radiant celebrities can look. What magical elixir do they drink to posses faces untouched by blemishes and blessed with the softness of youth? From Aishwarya’s dewy, fresh-faced visage in Taal to Madhuri’s sleek, perfectly polished countenance in Devdas, the seemingly ageless beauty of South Asian women is a hard act to follow.

The good news is that airbrushing has a lot do to with it. The extra-good news is that make-up plays a pretty significant role, too. The only difference between them and us is the luxury of time, which they use to take painstaking care of their skin and bodies (in between spending hours in front of a mirror primping and plucking to perfection).

Still, believe not that a flawless face is the sole property of Hollywood and Bollywood. Below are some easy and effortless routines you can follow to look as stunningly amazing as they do -- or pretty darn close.

Moisturize. Nobody wants to paint on a bumpy canvas. Keeping your skin supple is one of the most important requirements for lovely, youthful skin. Use a dollop of a

moisturizer that’s right for your skin type and gently massage the lotion into your skin in a circular motion. Adding an eye cream -- you can find them at drugstores or department stores for a higher-end brand -- to your regimen is also a good idea, especially if you wear foundation and undereye concealer regularly.

Wash your face. We know this is common sense, but surprisingly, washing one’s face clean of the day’s grime is not a ritual many women follow. For skin to be healthy, it has to breathe and be cleansed of pollution and other impurities, and this goes for women who don’t wear makeup as well. Just make sure to stay away from soap -- it’s a detergent and will strip your face of natural oils -- and go with a gentle cleanser instead. Wash with water that’s lukewarm, not hot, to avoid drying out the skin. Apply face lotion right after you wash to lock in moisture.

Drink. And by drink we mean water only, and plenty of it. Great skin starts from the inside, and water refreshes your skin and adds a glow that no make-up product

can replicate. The general wisdom is to drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water everyday, which seems daunting. A good trick is to keep refilling a medium-sized water bottle (they’re as as big as 20 oz. sometimes) and by the end of the day you’ll have gulped down your daily quota, and then some!

Maintain your eyebrows. In the same way a great hairstyle adds extra oomph, groomed eyebrows can be an instant makeover for your face -- no make-up necessary! Shapely, manicured eyebrows open up the eye area and lend definition to your face -- it’s a bit like putting a photograph in a fabulous frame. No matter how lovely your make-up looks, raggedy eyebrows will be a sure detractor. While you’re waiting for your next waxing appointment, be sure to clean up any stray hairs that grow in and fill in any bare spots with a pencil eyeliner or eye shadow should you overpluck.

Consult a dermatologist. The aforementioned airbrushing is quite possibly a gift from the technology gods for celebrities with troubled skin, but unfortunately not an option for us. A little zit here and there is more annoying that anything else, and probably nothing to worry about, but a dense patch of pimples or several acne cysts that hurt and start deep under the skin can are incurable for even the deftest make-up artist. Clear, healthy and confident skin is the crème de la crème of a flawless face, so if you feel like your acne could be a medical problem, save yourself the headache of buying weak drugstore formulas and visit a dermatologist to find out what treatments are available.

Exfoliate regularly, even your lips. Wearing foundation over flaky skin is dreadful, but walking around with a flaky face slathered in make-up as well as dry, cracked lips is akin to rocking panty lines under a designer gown. Famous faces aren’t known for ashyness around the mouth and nose, so take a cue from the flake-free and banish peeling skin by exfoliating regularly -- Clinique makes an exfoliating scrub that can be used a few times a week -- and running a toothbrush lightly over your lips reduces cracks and dryness.

Don’t reach for your friend’s foundation. To avoid looking like you’re wearing a mask, make sure your foundation exactly matches your skin -- even an almost-match won’t cut it. Every woman has a distinct undertone that dictates the shade of foundation to wear. Undertones for South Asians can range from olive to yellow to red, but chances are you’ve got a drawer-full of foundations that are made for pink or blue undertones, which is perfect if your goal is to look gray. To find the right color, apply a line of foundation at the jaw line and see if it disappears into the skin. If you’re still not sure, ask for a sample to take home and wear it in natural light. Sue Devitt Studio’s line of 70 percent Triple Seaweed Gel Foundation is a six-shade, yellow-based line that might be a good option for South Asian skin, according to Lorraine Yokota, Sephora make-up artist.

Wear undereye concealer. Tips for dealing with dark circles under the eyes are a request we get a lot. Unfortunately, the problem afflicting many South Asian women is largely genetic -- similar to the appearance of stretch marks. Still, undereye concealers can go a long way in minimizing dark circles and helping to even out your skin tone. The general rule of thumb is to find a pink or peachy shade to counteract the bluish or purplish tinge under the eyes. A stick concealer, like those made by Stila, is the easiest to apply. Yokota advises, “It's best to go with a shade that is slightly lighter than your foundation color. If you find that it’s too light, you can put a little bit of your foundation over the concealer to even out the color.” Use light strokes and don’t put too much on -- the color can set into the fine lines under the eyes. Put a little powder over the area after you’ve finished to avoid creasing.

Spot treat blemishes. Weekends are a great time to abandon the ritual of 9-5 foundation -- but this doesn’t mean you should be walking around without first covering up any pimples or other blemishes. Flawless skin implies a spotless complexion, but an easy way to fake perfect skin without looking painted is to moisturize and then dab concealer on any problem spots. Make sure to use an undereye concealer for dark circles. Once you’ve covered up any spots, add a little lip gloss and mascara and you’re ready to go!