Colours and how
Today’s new hair-dye formulae help fix a number of problems, from frizziness to lacklustre texture, actually making hair healthier. (No, irreversible damage to hair is unlikely – provided you use the dye judiciously!) Others seal the hair shaft, preventing moisture loss and making hair glossy. For subtlety, opt for a shade close to your natural one (try L’Oreal Professionnel’s Diacolor). For drama, opt for deep burgundies, chestnuts, copper-golds and cinnamon highlights – great for Indian complexions. To extend the life of your colour, stick to shampoos and conditioners especially formulated for coloured hair. For more tips, see ‘Makeover: Get it Right’.
Expert: Aakanksha Thakkar, Juice, The Courtyard, Mumbai.

Eye on beauty
CAUSE AND EFFECT Puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and crow’s feet around the eyes are usually caused by ageing, stress, fatigue, allergies, sun damage, dehydration, sleep deprivation, and the fact that the area readily absorbs water and is lacking in oil glands. Solution Use an under-eye cream, and not your regular moisturiser. Choose one with lipids, retinol (to thicken skin), vitamin C (to lighten), vitamin K (bleaching), and a blood-vessel constrictor (witch hazel) or an anti-inflammatory extract (chamomile). We Suggest Vichy, Shiseido, Oriflame Eye Repair Cream, or Biotique Sea Weed Eye Gel. Expert: Lovina G Jha, skin and spa consultant, Frank Provost India, Mumbai.

Stylishly tousled hair, shimmery eyes, glossy lips... The season’s trends may seem daunting; but here’s how you can get started by Anubha Charan

Let them flow Immaculately structured hairstyles without so much as a single wayward strand are a thing of the past. This season’s hair is casual, with a hint of volume and masses of waves. Strands appear sun-kissed, with subtle highlights of cinnamon, caramel or red-brown. But don’t mistake this for the ungroomed beach-bum look either. The idea is to enhance your natural style (rather than forcing your hair into doing something that doesn’t come to it naturally), and then polish it with moisturising and anti-frizz products for a healthy, glossy effect. Bottomline: Elegance combined with looseness works best this summer!

Show them up Replace the dark shades with shiny beige, pink or berry colours. Pump up the care factor for lips so they remain smooth, unlined and untouched by summer chapping. Glosses and lip stains are back, especially for the daytime, and perfectly painted pouts fade into oblivion. The lighter formulations look pretty on all skin tones. A dressy gloss works well for the evening, but must not overpower.

d Magic eyes Gem tones aren’t only for your fingers, wrists or throat – this summer, they look just as dazzling around your eyes. The season is all about pure colours and shimmer to accompany pretty florals and breezy prints. The trick is to keep it simple – play up your eyes, leave the rest neutral, natural and understated.

Dress up your look in the 30s, 40s, 50s...

30s This is when you should have the confidence to make the most of glowing skin and a thick head of hair. Don’t be afraid of shimmer!

Hair: The style works best on medium to long hair, cut in layers. Simply spritz on a volumising spray (TIGI Catwalk Root Boost, L’Oreal Volume Energy) onto damp locks and blow dry. Tie up hair in a ponytail overnight and blow dry gently to restore bounce. Lips: Younger complexions can carry off a hint of glimmer (L’Oreal Glam Shine in Rose Crystal, Bourjois Rouge Pop Chic in Rose Pop). Or recreate the look by using your existing lipsticks – after applying, gently smudge lips with fingers to soften the lip line, then glide on shiny gloss in a sheer shade (Bourjois 3D-Effect, Chambor Gloss and Shine Lip Glaze). Eyes: Dress up lids with shimmery satin eye shadow (Bourjois Suveiz Mon Regard, Shiseido Silky Eye Shadow Quad/Accentuating Colour). Then try a soft metallic liner (Maybelline’s Cool Effect Cooling Shadow/Liner, Lakme’s Kohl Sparkler). Draw a thin line across upper lid, as close as possible to lashes, and lightly smudge with a cotton swab. Experiment with brighter shades – plum, pink or forest green. Or use shadow as liner with a moist brush. It will glide on smoother and lighter (L’Oreal Color Resist). Add some adventure with glittery powder (Lakme Sparkle Dust Roll-On). Follow up with mascara.

40s You could be losing moisture and perhaps a bit of colour. Prefer gentle, hydrating and exfoliating products for improved texture.

Hair: Conditioning is important to get the lustrous stresses that are in vogue this season. But in summer grime and sweat, hair demands a clarifying shampoo (Pantene Pro-V Lively Clean) at least weekly. For coloured hair, try a vinegar rinse if you’re worried about the effects of deep cleansers. Apply a mix of 1ž4 cup white vinegar with 1 cup water; leave for a few minutes; shampoo and condition. Lips: For a great daytime look, simply mix lipstick with a balm and dab on – there will be enough pigment to add colour to your face. Save heavier lipsticks for the evening (Revlon Lip Glide in Berry Dazzling, Shiseido Sheer Gloss Lipstick in Doll Pink). Colour aside, nothing can be a bigger summer turn-off than chapped, peeling lips. So apply lots of lip balm and exfoliate once a week with a super-soft toothbrush smothered in petroleum jelly. Eyes: Bored with brown? Try bronze – it’s universally becoming and makes eyes shine. For softness, mix bronze with pink or pinkish-gold and sweep over lids (L’Oreal Color Appeal Eyeshadow Duo in Chocolate Feast). Follow with soft liner close to lashes, and a sweep of mascara.

50s Don’t fear colour; rather, use it to boost your own natural tones. Extra protection and lighter formulations are the order of the day .

Hair: Even if you aren’t particularly inclined to highlights or dramatic hues, try a light, ammonia-free tint (L’Oreal Professionnel’s Diacolor) to even out your base colour, hide greys and add gloss to tresses. If you’d rather DIY, opt for a nourishing permanent hair colour cream (Garnier Nutrisse, Revlon Colorsilk). It takes years off without being obvious. Remember, coloured hair needs extra protection in summer, as harsh sun can bleach browns and make reds very brassy. Combat this with a colour-preserving shampoo (L’Oreal Elvive range Wella System Professionel Color Saver). Lips: With age, lips become thinner and lose definition, causing colour to feather and bleed. To solve it, extend foundation over your lips, then use lipstick. For definition, use a lip liner to create a barrier to keep colour in. Rich tones (Revlon Lip Glide in Sheerly Burgundy, Lakme Vitamin Enriched Lipstick in Berry Matte) look best with Indian complexions. Eyes: Opt for metallic browns, mahoganies or dark greys (easier to wear than black). Use two coats of mascara so eyes stand out (Revlon’s Lash Fantasy, Chambor’s mascara, Dior’s Ultimeyes). Keep cheeks soft, lips understated.

Source: India Today Group