As we amble through the second week of May, Heeramandi continues its reign as one of the top ten shows on Netflix. Set in the backdrop of the British Raj between the 1920s and 40s, cinema extraordinaire Sanjay Leela Bhansali captured the lives of elite courtesans in moments of resilience and beauty in his signature grandiose fashion. Being the beauty fanatic I am, I couldn’t help but keep my eyes glued to the skillfully done makeup of the leading ladies. This prompted me to not only watch the show but stalk the divas on social media to take in the roster of makeup looks they served during the show’s promotional affairs. So, here are 6 makeup looks inspired by the star-studded cast.
1. Rose-Bud Lips & Bold Brows
As a girl forever smitten by Aditi Rao Hydari’s beauty and expressiveness, I was spoilt for choice but eventually settled for this makeup look where she sports plush, rose-bud lips and full, feathery brows. It’s an easy combination that can be worn on either a bare face or with a skin tint varying in coverage. For this look, we recommend the transfer-proof and lightweight matte pink stain in the shade Coral Kiss from the record-breaking global brand, Huda Beauty. For best results, dab the colour on the centre of the lips and blend it out with your fingers for a soft, velvet finish. For the brows, we recommend the Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil from Benefit, a brand that specialises in brow styling products. Draw feather-light hair strokes in the direction of the natural brows and use a brow gel to set it in place.
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2. Subtle Wing With Deep, Vampy Lip
Sonakshi Sinha was a force to reckon with in her dual role performance, but I must admit that I was most enamoured by her character Fareedan’s retro style 20s deep red lips and subtle eyeliner. For this look, trace a thin line of liquid eyeliner across the lash line and continue building the boldness to your liking with the smudge-proof and water-proof 48H Dip In Liquid Eye Liner from Maybelline’s Tattoo range. If you’re an eyeliner novice, trace the wing with a black powder eyeshadow and go over it with the liquid eyeliner. For the lip look, the Set & Attack Liquid Matte Lipstick in the shade Dark Night from newcomer indie brand, FLiCKA, will give your lips a berry-licious pout.
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3. Dewy & Fresh-Faced
Sanjeeda Sheikh sure looks like she’s basking in the ‘glow’ry of a successful comeback with this fresh, dewy makeup look. Give your face the same diamond-like glow with two simple steps in your makeup routine. For a dewy base, we suggest trying the Dot & Key Strawberry Dewy In-The-Spotlight Strobe Cream. It has strawberry extracts to give the skin a refreshing dewiness, niacinamide to correct discolouration and boost radiance, and panthenol to soften and moisturise the skin. Mix a pea-sized amount of it with a hydrating, lightweight base like the House Of Makeup Face Anything Luminous Skin Tint. For an extra flushed glow, top the cheeks with some cream blush.
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4. Red Lip With Fluttery Lashes
All hail Heeramandi ki chaand ! Manisha Koirala is one such Bollywood veteran who shows you how to do method makeup with this classic bold red lip look. To replicate this clean crimson pout, I recommend the shade Calcutta Red from the sensational Sabyasachi x Estée Lauder lipstick collection. From the velvety, matte finish of the lip colour to the golden and black bullet, the lipstick comes in, it truly matches the regal setting of the Netflix topper. To prevent the lipstick from bleeding, use a red lip liner to define the perimeters of the lips before filling in the lips with the lipstick. Add extra drama to this look with fluffy, fluttery fake lashes from Huda Beauty in the style Hoodie.
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5. Dreamy, Rosy Cheeks & Dreamy Eyes
While Miss Lajjo shone like a heera in her brief yet impactful presence on the Netflix show, mom-to-be Richa Chadha looked ethereal in this flawless pink-toned makeup look. What I loved the most was the blush placement, which gave her face a soft, sculpted look. We recommend using the cult-classic M.A.C Mineralize Blush in Petal Power. It has the perfect golden highlighter-like sheen to give the cheeks a soft, rosy, sculpted look. For the eyes, give your lashes length and colour with the Clinique High Impact Mascara that has a thin wand to evenly coat the lashes without any clumps.
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6. Classic Soft Glam
If you love soft glam makeup, then take cues from Heermandi’s romantic wordsmith, Alamzeb . To achieve the soft definition of Sharmin Segal’s face, use a face palette that has similar undertones and warmth. The Smashbox Cali Contour Palette is a great one-and-done product that has a bronzer and contour shade with the right undertones to define the cheekbones, jawline and eye sockets. The palette also has a beautiful dusty rose blush for a natural flush. Add a dab of neutral-pink shade across the lips with Praush Beauty’s best-selling Plush Matte Lipstick in the shade High Tea. Barring some mascara on the lashes, keep the eyes bare.
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From ox-blood red lips to shimmery eye makeup, here’s our round-up of some of the many makeup looks we loved on SLB’s leading ladies. Go on and take it up a notch by pairing these looks with ethnic outfits inspired by the show.
