The bride’s make-up at a South Indian wedding is a marriage of traditional and modern. We give professionals a cheat sheet on getting the make-up bang-on for their South Indian brides
South Indian brides have a distinct timeless charm about them. And, here’s what make-up artists need to keep in mind while doing their make-up.
To know more about this, we spoke with According to Lekshmi Menon, FRSA, Creative Head, Managing Director and Makeup Expert, The Face Palette (Dela Beauty Products and Services Pvt. Ltd.). She said, “There are instances where a South Indian wedding ceremony has got over in a few minutes and also those that last for hours. Most would-be South Indians brides often express concern about getting their base too light, as many have warmer complexions leaning more towards yellow/olive and brown tones. Sadly, make-up artists often lighten the bride’s skin to make it ‘brighter’. This is a major concern as they don’t want to look ashy. Another concern is the humidity, which can cause many foundations to oxidise, due to excessive oil production in the skin. Therefore, doing a thorough trial and giving the base routine time to settle into the skin, and observing its finish and shade are mandatory.”
Menon’s tips to make-up artists for styling South Indian brides:
- Study your would-be South Indians bride’s skin well and get the right base, appropriate to her undertone without making her look ashy.
- Match the formula of the foundation and primer based on the skin type to make it last longer even in humidity. Some primers need to be applied as a base before foundation and some need to be mixed with the foundation to suit the skin. Work it, accordingly.
- Kohled eyes and lashes are key elements! South Indian women are known for their dramatic eyes and thick lashes, so work with these. Many don’t prefer a lot of colour eye-shadows and generally lean towards neutral tones. But, if the would-be bride is ready for it, work with dramatic eye make-up that matches her sarees and outfits.
- Don’t overuse powder. Use it strategically and not randomly. It has the tendency to absorb moisture from the skin and make the area heavy and cakey. Set it only where required, using a very light hand. Blot rather than cake!
- Always start your make-up on clean skin and prep it using a cleansing-toning-moisturising routine that suits your client’s skin type. A make-up routine can last longer, depending on how well the skin is prepped.
Text: Benaifer J Mirza
