Gouri monsoon make-up tips for this season are:

Morning maiden

She suggests that one must go easy on make-up in the first place during monsoon. Water proof make-up is the mantra for rains yet keeping it natural. Gouri advises to go light and pastel for the day. Underplay your lips. Go with light tinted lipsticks. Use lots of gloss. Dark shades add age. Tinted pastel eye shadows can brighten up your face and still give you a no make-up look. Light bronzers with slight sheen work brilliantly for a natural look,” she explains. Besides lips, eyes are a prominent feature on a woman’s face and a little effort on it can do wonders. She believes that every woman must own a mascara among other make-up items. “Please use a mascara. It really opens up your eyes. One can get rid of under-eye dark circles by using a concealer with a yellow tone. Complement coloured eye pencils without fits. Colours are in and the fact is that Indian skin can take on any colour beautifully,” emphasises Gouri, who strongly believes that looks are important to have an edge over others in any field, including home.

Do not miss the nails, hands reflect one’s personality. Gouri adds, “French manicures are great. Since colours are really in, one can try red fuschia nail enamel. Neutral colours are a safest option.”

Damsel at dusk

Go for lots of shimmer and shine at night. It’s all about gold glamour this season. “Use lots of golds. Gold shimmer can accentuate your cheeks beautifully. Don’t overdo body glitter. Use bolder colours for an evening party with lots sheer and gloss. It’s perfect to wear make-up a little darker, smokier and more dramatic,” says Gouri adding that never overdo your eyes and lips together. “Choose one. Smokey eyes look great at night. Again never skip the mascara and a kohl if you are a kohl addict. If lips are what you want to dramatise, brighter colours on the lips work better than deeper colours, even at night,” she advises. For the dark complexioned, Gouri suggests deeper shades. She says, “No brown fixation please. Deep shades like deep pinks look great on dark skin. Again, shine works well. Use a nice bronze and apply kohl generously on the eyes.” So, brush up on the tricks of the make-up trade and go glam this monsoon. Of course, Gouri confesses that her first make-up portfolio was a “disaster” and that one can learn the art of make-up only through trial and error. “You need to be a painter to be a make-up artist,” ends Gouri on colourful note.

You can contact Gouri at gourikapur@gmail.com