6 Steps to Contouring like a Pro!

There are too many of us out there still trying to get a grasp on perfect contouring and highlighting. Just remember these six simple steps and you're set to go! 

Step 1

Prime it: Using a foundation the same colour as your skin evens your skin tone and provides a base you can build upon when you contour and highlight. Contouring your face without first applying foundation is more difficult, since skin tends to be uneven in colour. Your face could end up looking patchy instead of smooth and contoured. 

I use L'Oreal Infallible, it provides great coverage and sets in like there is nothing on my face. I don't use a primer but I have heard elf and Urban Decay primers are really good.The brand is obviously not much important and you can a lot of surprisingly good stuff locally as well. 

Step 2

Highlight: Highlight the areas you wish to focus on (ones that reflect light naturally) with a foundation or concealer two to three shades lighter than your skin. The concealer I use is not branded, is in a lipstick form and available at Jumbo which is a local store in here in Karachi. I just match the shade on my hand, that is how pick them. These are cheap and good to use! The areas to highlight usually include:

Centre of your forehead

 ·        The top of your brow lines

 ·        The bridge of your nose (but not the tip)

 ·        The apples of your cheeks (to find them, smile)

 ·        Your cupid’s bow (the section between the tip of your nose and the top of your lip).

 ·         Centre of your chin

Step 3

Contour: Choose a foundation or concealer three to four shades darker than your skin. The darker tone will shade parts of your face that you want to draw attention away from, creating strategic shadows that make your cheek bones appear sharper and your chin narrower. The dark shade creates depth perception.

I use this dark brown eye shade that I have in matte, it is just perfect! This is a great hack. You can use eye shade to highlight and contour if you run out of products. You can use any light brown blusher as an alternative product too. Areas you need to contour are:

 ·        Below your hairline at the top of your forehead

 ·        The temples to make the oval as it is considered the ideal face       shape

 ·        Sides of your nose bridge

 ·        Under the cheeks bones

 ·        Along your jawline on both sides, from your ears to the tip of         your chin (especially if you have a square face shape)       

Step 4 & 5

Blend: Since your face will be wearing several different shades, it’s important to get a good blending brush, else the make-up will look unnatural. Make sure the edges are blended well so that there are no     sharp divisions between the lighter and darker foundations. For this, use a good beauty blender sponge or brush.

Powder:  Set your makeup using a translucent powder all over the face. You can just emphasise on your contoured areas using any light brown blush or a matt bronzer and on the highlighted areas using a shimmery – but not glittery – highlighter. I usually just use my Maybelline Mineral Powder compact to set the face,

Step 6  
Eyes: Make the eyes pop using a dark colour on the eyelid and/or under the brow bone. This will create depth illusion too. And highlight the brow bone.
Lips: Line the perimeter with a lip liner of your choice (nude or earthy shade with dark eyes and vice versa) starting from the centre towards the edges, draw small strokes in the inner lip area an fill in with a lipstick of the same colour. 

And you are done! Try this at home (you need to get practicing for Eid) and share your experience below xx

Say YELLOW to Summer with Style

In summers and spring, yellow becomes the most happening colour with everyone trying to incorporate it in their looks somehow or the other. There are some basics to keep in mind when going with the colour. Check out below how to style in yellow

               

1. You don’t necessarily have to go full out in yellow to embrace the colour. As it’s a bright colour; details such as shoes or accessories will also give you that extra flair.

           

2. As cheery Jacqueline Fernandez shows us, the best colour to pair yellow with is white. The neutral colour keeps the focus on the bright.

  

 3. In order to not get mistaken for a bumblebee or a taxi, steer colour of combining the bright yellow colour with black.

4. Avoid wearing bright red lipstick when donning this hue as it will clash. Neutral tones and soft pinks will work better with the look.

SSK

D-I-Y: 15 Minutes Cleanses

The glow in summers not only depends on your water intake and diet but also on how much you take care of your face. With all the dirt and sweat in your pores, start right away by giving yourself 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at bedtime.  

Tip 1

Halve a tomato, gently rub over face and neck and wash after 15 minutes.  

Tip 2
Take a thick slice of cucumber. Don't peel the slice, rub in a circular motion all over the face and neck areas. Wash after 15 minutes.

Tip 3
Take one tablespoon of un-boiled milk, dip a small pad of cotton wool in this and rub on the face gently. Use circular movements, use upward strokes on the neck area. Leave this on for 15 minutes. Wash with cold water.

Tip 4
Take the half of a lime peel, from which the juice has been extracted, rub this firmly on the face and the neck for 15 minutes and wash your face.

Tip 5

Rub the face well with an ice cube as much as you can, this will help to cool down the skin. Use rose water to cleanse the face and neck, it is the best natural cleanser and toner.

Tip 6
Take a teaspoon of gram flour (besan). Make a paste with a few drops of water and rub the face and neck gently with this for 15 minutes. This will slough away the dead cells and gives the face a glow. Don't use soap, just splash on cold water that will act as an astringent and close the pores.


Tip 7
Slice an apple into thin slices. Place these on the face and leave for 15 minutes. These will soak up the extra oil and help to close pores.

Tip 8
Plain yogurt is a great natural cleanser. To make a lemon yogurt cleanser, mix one teaspoon of lemon juice with approximately one tablespoon of yogurt. Leave yogurt on the skin for a minute or two (if you have time), then wash off with warm water.


SSK

TBCW 2015 Roundup: The Good and The Ugly Part II

Now *sigh* on to the difficult part. Even though this ought not to be the case, being fashionably late and a bit of haphazardness especially on the last day is quite the norm at fashion weeks. Since I am not just a victim but also a perpetrator of the former sometimes, I wouldn't mention that here. And I think I speak for a LOT of people when I say the commercials being played endlessly really get on the nerves, as important as it might be. But this post is not about such troubles.

Here I am just going to mention the few things that stood out, and not in a good way.

Volunteers sitting in the first row while journalists and other media members present to cover the show seated at the back really appalled me. I love fashion weeks so I am always tempted to just sit back and enjoy the show. But I am also a journalist and a blogger, so my presence there makes more sense and puts more responsibility on me to cover the event properly. The perfectionist in me compels me to make my own notes there and then and not rely on the press kits given to us.

And it just breaks my heart that someone like me would be treated like this and I similarly feel for my other journalist and blogger friends too. It is quite demotivating. Moreover, the volunteers are there for assistance. These poor young girls don’t know anything about anything and seem more scared and confused than anyone else. They might have been instructed to fill the seats if the show starts, but they should be on the lookout and give the seat up as soon as they see a guest in need of one. This fashion week in particular, did not do much to help them as there were no labels on the seats, or rather vague ones like, ‘media’. I am confused as to how much they can be blamed alone.

As I saw, the second day, there were three volunteers sitting in the front row and calling their friends from the back to join them. They were also sitting in different rows at different points to hold the seats for some ‘important people’.

Non fashion fraternity invite list was something else that confused me to the extent! Sau baat ki ek baat, it is a fashion week, you need promotion and media, only media will give you that. Be smart with the invite list. I did not see a lot of people that should have been there and way too many families there to do something fun over the weekend. This just shows your priorities. The invite list can be about creating a good pr too, but again it is to be with the media and not your personal contacts.

Call me whatever you will, but the souvenirs are something I really look forward to, too. And I get extremely agitated if mine get stolen, of course. As unrealistic as I might be, I expect the crowd at such events to be classy but I am always left disappointed. Despite the fact that there were three volunteers at my row alone, my souvenirs got taken away by some lady in the 10-15 minutes that I was late. Makes me wonder what those girls are even standing there for. Upon asking one to get me a set since I will be writing about everything and explaining everything to her, she told me she'll get me one in a while. She then went right in the front to enjoy the show and very conveniently came back at the end of it to tell me she could not find anything. She probably did not know, I could see her not doing a thing!

What’s more is, upon expressing my concern to a lady of authority there, she out rightly just pointed out that this happens in every fashion show, is not surprising or new. ‘Loag tou chaltay chaltay utha ke le jatay hain. You come on time, you get stuff.’ I was already upset at what had happened and quite hurt by her attitude and the response I got from her. *sigh*

This one is for the ones who handled pr for the fashion show. I talked to the CEO of the company for not more than two minutes perhaps, and she was nothing but a sweetheart during that time. So this pains me when I say, the management had quite a few lackings on its part. I think she really needs to make a proper team soon because she clearly has a long way to go and lack of a proper team is what’s stopping her. Among other things, I did not get the pictures for the event on time even after mailing them. I have never gotten a reply from them, I have started doubting if it’s even their correct email address though it could very easily be just the reason I mentioned earlier. Even after I asked one of my friends to forward me the mail they sent to others, the links just contained four pictures per designer which is too less! Even the other pr team sent the pictures 4-5 days after the fashion week had ended. This is one reason I am so late at posting about the event.

I’d love to know what you think and what you agree/disagree with. Leave a comment below!

SSK

TBCW 2015 Roundup: The Good and The Ugly Part I

Let’s face it; it has been a little over a week since the Telenor Bridal Couture Week 2015 ended, which is more like a decade in the fashion world, and no one wants to hear, see and talk about it any more. So I’m just going to cut to the chase and make it short and simple.

I present to you, the best things about the fashion week and the complete turnoffs!

                                            
    

Top: HSY   Middle: Mansoor Akram   Above: Sana Abbas   Below: Zainab Chottani

  

  

The breathtaking collections are obviously the most important part of a fashion week, and rest assured have the power to make or break the event. Every fashion week witnesses some really good collection while some just fall short of expectations. But there are those few that become synonymous with the show they are showcased at. At the top my head, HSY, Mansoor Akram, Sana Abbas, Zainab Chottani are the few that were able to make a long lasting impression credit to their creative geniuses!

  

TBCW 15, like some previous ones, opened its arms, so to speak, as a creative platform to international designers. Amato Haute Couture from UAE really stood out with its fairytale elegant gowns, something the local fashion scene lacks. The absolutely gorgeous designs belonged nowhere else other than the red carpet and I sincerely hope that we get to see a few of our ladies donning the pieces promoting the many movies that are slated for release soon.

The general population gets really excited to see their favourite stars in a never-before kind of avatar walking the ramp, waving and flying kisses around. I believe its an important part of the entire glamour associated with such events and really provides the boost in energy, which sometimes becomes necessary as the crowd gets cranky sitting through the collections which are not always too enjoyable and waiting through innumerable breaks and ads from sponsors. The songs and dances are enjoyable either way.

Frankly, this one surprised me as well and I never thought I would notice something like this so much. But the perfect combination of presentation, pairing and designs caught my attention like a collection should of a spectator at a fashion show. Mohsin Naveed Ranjha, who himself seems to have some modelling potential, paired all my favourite models together (what a coincidence) who looked gorgeous in their beautiful wedding attires, tin suitcases and laaltain pouches. Take a look at the pictures and if you’re still not convinced, just know that Zurrain Imam and HSY stopped the show too. Need I say more?

  

Left: Ayesha Ibrahim   Right: Sadaf Kanwal   Bottom: Omer Shahzad

The fashion week also brought forward a few designers new to the bridal couture under the Telenor Karo Mumkin initiative. Ayesha Ibrahim’s collection was quite impressive and the work showcased by others was worthy of applause too. The selection process and its credibility remain in question though, since I don’t know anything about it, I won’t comment. The initiative is encouraging nevertheless. A male (Omer Shahzad) and female model (Sadaf Kanwal) were also picked to be awarded the style and excellence award. A little birdie told me they got a cell phone as gift! 

To be continued...

SSK

Sarah Sarfaraz: On Staying Fit & Healthy

"I try to shun fatty food from my diet."

Sarah Sarfaraz is no new name in the fashion industry. In a short time, she has managed to make her mark through selected, high quality work, something not all models can boast of. But what many of us might not know is that this young lady has an MBA and is actually working in the HR department of a multinational company.

I recently caught up to her to ask how she manages to stay so fit and healthy with such a crazy routine.

"I don't believe in crash diets; healthy eating habits should be a part of your lifestyle and that leads to a good health and physique that's long lasting."

The Diet

Breakfast: My morning starts with 2 boiled eggs or cereal with milk and honey with a cup of tea/coffee.

Lunch: If I'm working, I order grilled chicken from Rotisserie or chicken tikka. If I’m home, I eat whatever my mom cooks. She's health conscious herself so she makes sure the food she cooks is healthy.

Dinner: My dinner time is usually with my sister (Sana Sarfaraz) which is mostly a sandwich from Subway. We eat noodles sometimes or K n Ns easy cook meals like nuggets, seekh kabab, shami kabab. When I'm dining out with friends I eat everything because it's difficult to resist good food at all times *guilty as charged* ;-) but I make sure that I keep a check on the quantity I indulge in. I try to eat less if I'm eating something fattening. If you know you are going to attend a wedding or dine out, have a light lunch and it will balance out.

The kickass duo, Sarah Sarfaraz with younger sister Sanah Sarfaraz

 The Exercise Regime

 I eat my supplements prescribed by doctor so that my body gets the nourishment it needs. Physical activity and exercise has immediate and long term health benefits. Most importantly regular activity improves your quality of life. My workout time is my ME time. I try to workout at least thrice a week. I'm not a morning person so I workout in the evenings.

My exercise routine includes running, sprint, skipping, squats, burpees, lunges, sit-ups and many more exercises that not only target my problem areas but increases my stamina and make me stronger. I keep a stopwatch with me during the workout so I can evaluate my progress.

I recently got into crossfit and I'm loving it!  It's a unique combination of strengthening and cardio exercises. The best thing about it is we do it in a park where you can breathe the fresh air and be close to the nature. No gym, boring machines or treadmill. I start with my stretch routine which has made me very flexible over a period of time. I prefer targeted workout routine so that you can target and burn fat from your trouble spots only because I believe a girl should maintain her curves.

"I don't work out to become skinny, I workout to become strong"

This girl doesn't only have a healthy physical routine but also a healthy set on ideal! Wishing her many more years of health and happiness! xoxo

SSK

The Gorgeous Norwegian Repunzel - Sanam Bokhari shares her secret to those lush hair!

                            

This Norwegian beauty obviously needs no introduction as she has been walking the ramp for some of the most incredibly talented designers and has been appointed ambassador for the biggest fashion brands. Even apart from her work, there are a lot of commendable qualities about her- she’s one of the sweetest people you will ever meet, has a pure heart, has a beautiful dusky complexion but her enviable locks of hair remain on top of the list.  

Not being able to wait further, I finally asked Sanam to share the secret to her lush hair!

                                                                                                                                                            

   

1-     I normally wash my hair 3-4 times a week and only use good hair products from hair salons.

        2-     For Shampooing, I use L'Oreal Professional Expert Absolut Repair Cellular and conditioner from the same series.

        3-      Occasionally, I use masks as well and once in a while when I have time, I oil an hour before I wash my hair.

4-  I also switch between Kerastase Nutritive Bain Oleo Curl Series for my wavy hair.

5-     I'm also very careful about using heat protection  before all styling. My favorite is KMS Freeshape Hot  Flex   Spray but you can also get cream instead of spray   if u prefer. Schwarzkopf OSIS+ Flattening Iron Serum is very good.

 6-     And not to forget; I get my hair ends cut every 6th week, if I don’t have time in a busy schedule, I survive with Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure Repair Rescue to seal the ends.

I feel lucky to still have this long and shiny hair after all the styling so I'm sure these products have done their work!

                                                              -Reflects a happy Sanam

Of course adding to this, the products that I use and can vouch for

1- It's been a while since I have started using the combo of Sunsilk Straight Locks shampoo and Sunsilk Dream Soft & Smooth conditioner. One word - Amazing! No idea whether the shampoo is for straight locks or supposed to make you locks straight (I have wavy hair) but the combo leaves my hair so soft, light and fragrant!

2- Being victim to dandruff and hair fall, I have started oiling a lot. I make sure I oil my hair at least 2 hours before I know I'm going to bathe. It makes such a huge difference! Mustard oil is the best for nourishment while Olive oil is good for shine and Coconut oil gives fragrance and lengthens.

3- I either get a good blow dry once or twice a month or straighten my hair with same frequency with continuously straightening my bangs. So I don't really use a hair protectant but when I used heat instruments regularly, I'd use Schwarzkopf got 2b Guardian Angel. Don't really know how to tell whether it worked. But I have heard good things about it so worth a try.

SSK