Along with the products you need to recreate them at home
Diwali this year is going to be brilliant. We say that with such confidence because it has to be brilliant – it barely happened at all last year because of lockdown. But beyond the firework displays and feasts, we’re also really excited for the opportunity to look as fabulous as possible. And we’ll be doing that with make-up. So, here are our three favourite Diwali looks and how to achieve them at home. Happy Diwali!
The bold blue eye Diwali look
If you want to keep things big, bold, beautiful and blue for your Diwali make-up look, there’s no better tutorial than this one by make-up artist and TikTok user @makeupbymonicaa.
Start by defining your brow arch with a bit of concealer before blending down onto the lid. Then, with a blue matte eyeshadow and a brush, draw a graphic winged contour around the entire lid. Fill half of the lid towards the wing with a dark blue shimmer eyeshadow and the other half with a brighter blue shimmer eyeshadow. Then, use black liquid eyeliner to do another graphic winged contour beneath the first one that you made.
To us, base is always a matter of personal preference, but, along with lots of mascara or even false lashes, a bit of contouring definitely won’t go amiss here! And don’t forget a nourishing nude lipstick either.
Recreate it
XX Revolution XXpress Eyeshadow Palette XXperiment (£10)
• Vegan
You won’t want to wear anything but blue eyeshadow once you get your hands on this XX Revolution eyeshadow palette. Containing matte, shimmer and foil eyeshadows, the possibilities it offers are endless. Plus, it scores extra points for being vegan.
Rimmel London Exaggerate Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (£5.99)
• Size: 2.5ml
• Waterproof
Whatever the occasion, no make-up bag is complete without a waterproof liquid eyeliner. And, because it’s as durable as it’s affordable, Rimmel London’s Exaggerate Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is among one of our favourites.
Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Full Coverage Liquid Foundation (£34)
• 35ml
• Fragrance-free
• Non-comedogenic
• Waterproof
It may seem a bit strange to refer to a foundation as one of our best friends, but hear us out. The Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Full Coverage Liquid Foundation makes us look luminous and – because it’s waterproof – is even the perfect pool party companion. If that’s not best friend material, then what is?
Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Whole Lotta Honey (£18.50)
Who said lip balm had to be undetectable? A Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm will make your lips look as good as they feel quicker than you can say ‘mwah’. And ‘A Whole Lotta Honey’ is the perfect caramel nude shade for this Diwali look.
Check out the full video here.
The luminous pink Diwali look
Being an actor, dancer and model aren’t Nikkita Chadha’s only talents – she’s also great at make-up. So great, in fact, that a Diwali look she created back in 2020 remains one of our favourites.
Start with a clean face, grab your favourite pink shimmer eyeshadow and cover your entire lid in it. After blending that out, get a purple metallic eye pencil and apply that on the lash line. As Nikkita herself says in the tutorial, “It doesn’t have to be neat at this point because you’re going to blend it out anyway.”
After you’ve done that bit of blending, take the same brush underneath your eye to deposit any remaining pigment. While you can just leave this here, there’s also the option to make the eyes smokier by using a black eye pencil just below where you used the purple metallic eye pencil. But Nikkita stresses the importance of not going too far in with the eyeliner. “I like to keep my eye open,” she says.
When it comes to the base for this look, the most important thing is that your skin glows. You also want to make your cheekbones look wonderful, which is where contour comes in. And then some bronzer and blush for good measure. After the face is done, it’s time to complete the eyes with a dash of mascara and make lips subtly defined but glossy.
DIOR Forever Skin Glow Foundation (£37)
• Size: 30ml
• SPF 35
The Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation doesn’t just make you glow at the point of putting it on your face, its skincare ingredients – like the pansy extract hydration booster and protective rose hip extract – work to improve your skin itself for a glow that’s positively long term.
Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipstick in Glossed up Rose (£8.99)
A lipstick formulated with hyaluronic acid that smooths out imperfections and plumps lips while delivering colour that’s best described as ‘luscious’? That would be the Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipstick.
Check out Nikkita’s full how-to here.
The nude glam Diwali look
This ‘no-make-up make-up’ look by YouTuber Preet Aujla is the epitome of understated glam – and we love it!
After applying lip balm and a hydrating primer, it’s time to apply your base. If your skin doesn’t require colour-correcting, you can skip straight to a light foundation and concealer before setting the concealer with powder and finishing with a setting spray blended with a sponge to ensure “your skin looks like skin.”
Then, apply bronzer in the contour of the eye socket and add some winged black liquid eyeliner. If you don’t want to use false lashes like Preet does, now is the time for mascara – on your top lashes only. After the eyes are complete, grab the bronzer that you used as eyeshadow and use it – you guessed it – as bronzer. If you accidentally apply too much and want to tone it down a bit, just apply powder over it (as Preet does herself in the video).
Next, get a liquid highlighter, which should be applied on the high points of your face as usual and blended with a sponge, before putting a powder highlighter in a similar shade on the inner corners of your eyes. End with a nude peachy matte lipstick and another spritz of setting spray. Gorgeous!
Benefit Roller Liner Liquid True Matte Eyeliner (£19.50)
• Size: 1ml
• Waterproof
All we really ask of our liquid eyeliner during this time is that it stays with us through all the socialising that Diwali requires. Quick to dry and waterproof, the Benefit Roller Liner Liquid True Matte Eyeliner does exactly that.
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in June Gloom (£19)
• Size: 3g
• Vegan
Vegans, rejoice! Urban Decay’s Vice Lipstick serves long-lasting colour that – thanks to a boost of avocado oil and aloe vera – is a joy to apply.
See Preet’s full make-up tutorial here.
