Applying mehndi when I was little was a really fun event. When I was growing up, mehndi cones were not readily available in Toronto, so every Eid our mom would mix the mehndi and apply to our awaiting hands with a toothpick.

I bet some of you remember that very well! My absolute favourite design was a chanda mama with a star. (chand is the moon, chanda mama is the kiddy way of referring to the moon). So my mom would make this really cool moon and star design, which I thought was the awesomest thing, and I would be a happy little camper.

To this day, no Eid is complete without mehndi and I always run out the the desi store to buy a cone…(they are everywhere now) and put henna on my hands. I just love it! Of course I don’t make the star and moon anymore…I have evolved with the selection of patterns. LOL. I think why I love applying mehndi to my hands on Eid is the anticipation of having a joyous celebration. It is part of the anticipation, fun and excitement of enjoying the festivities and I have such wonderful memories attached with mehndi and Eid that it, (mehndi) has become a must for me on special occassions. Mehndi is simply beautiful and I just love it!

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My latest discovery is in the form of foundation. The winner is Face and Body Foundation from MAC.

I have been trying to find something for awhile now for those times that I want good coverage, like special occasions where I know the cameras will be out in full force. Digital cameras are brutal for showing detail, and if you have the wrong shade or amount of foundation on…well it shows up a bit too clearly in photographs.

What I like about this product is that it is a water based foundation, therefore it is sheer and light. It goes on very smoothly and evenly, which makes life easy with almost no chance of making a mistake. Even in natural light, it looks like you have nothing on! Nothing on your face of course. What were you thinking!?

This foundation is much better in terms of looking natural and it feels very light on. If you are looking for heavier coverage, you might want to try another product. But I feel that this foundation does the trick and is more than sufficient for those evenings that I want to add a little more coverage than the usual loose powder.

There are plenty of shades to match desi skin tones. I am using C3. I find that Face and Body Foundation by MAC is a great alternative to other bottled foundations, and it provides a more natural and even coverage. The next time you’re at the mall, check it out and see what you think!

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My lip saviour is ‘Sheer Lip Shine’ lipstick from The Body Shop. I’ve been using it for more than 2 weeks now, and it’s been amazing! No allergic reaction whatsoever, and it feels great on my lips.

I purchased my first Sheer Lip Shine lipstick after I tested it on the back of my hand. I didn’t want to use the tester on my lips, and confirmed with the Body Shop sales associate that I could return the lipstick, even if it was used, in the event it gave me an allergic reaction. She said it would not be a problem. So I took home colour ‘02′, which is called Guava, and I haven’t looked back since. In fact, over the weekend I picked up another colour called Sheer Pink, number ‘01′, and I am very satisfied with my purchase.

The Sheer Lip Shine has a sweet scent when it’s applied. (yummy). It’s luxurious, soft, and is sheer so it looks natural. It’s perfect for the summer months when barely there is a necessity, not a choice, because of makeup melt.

Most of the colours go with desi skin tones, and are olive complexion friendly. There is something for everyone and you have 8 colours to choose from. I am very happy with this product because I did not get any allergic reaction from it, and it looks great on! You should definitely visit The Body Shop, and check out Sheer Lip Shine. I just love it!

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“Khaadi” is really in right now. It’s a cotton material and is coming in a neat stripe pattern. Bright colours are dominant and are worn with confidence. What’s cool is that guys are not shy of wearing the vibrant palettes. No more ‘that is a girl’s colour’. It’s all game.

Also, in fancy suiting, party wear just doesn’t have to be worn with a plain white, cream, or black shalwar. That rage is to match the shalwar with the embroidery in the kameez. So if the embroidery is maroon, then the shalwar is maroon instead of cream. The men’s clothing stores have every colour available.

It’s good to see that men’s fashion in the desi scene is getting more elaborate and things are spicing up. The down side is that us girls have to work a little bit harder to look better…the competition is no longer from females only.

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One of those naturals is Makeup Artist Jessmyn Bal. She has an innate flair that I really admire. Jessmyn specializes in bridal makeup, but also does runway as well. The one thing that I like about her the most is that she works with her clients to get the best possible look for them. With her expertise and instincts, the result is always breathtaking.

Jessmyn does the entire package for your wedding day, including hair and makeup. She’s available for consultation and does trials as well so you can get a feeling for different looks. I love the fact she’s friendly and fun, which makes a hectic and nervous time go by very smoothly.

If you would like to look at Jessmyn’s portfolio or book a consultation, she can be reached at: 416.805.8225. Check out her website as well: www.vogue-studios.com

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I loved her first look when she played Shantipriya. Soft and simple lips and cheeks, with done up eyes. All my friends know that I love eyeliner, and Deepika’s look is the perfect example of a fantastic bold line. I guess that is why I appreciated the makeup in the first part of Om Shanti Om.

Personally, I would recommend Loreal Lineur Intense with the soft tip sponge for getting the perfect “Shantipriya” look for your eyes. It works well for beginners and the sponge tip is user friendly, as opposed to other brush varieties that make life hell when trying to apply perfect eyeliner. I’ve used black and brown in the Lineur Intense for many years and they are awesome.

If you are advanced with putting on eyeliner, then you can also try MAC’s Fluidline. You need a brush for this because it comes in a little pot. Fluidline also comes in a variety of colours and can help with creating a dramatic line. I have the colours “dipdown”, which is a dark shade of brown, and and deep green called “shade”.

For me, eyeliner is always in. Whether it’s a bold line like Deepika’s in the first part of Om Shanti Om, or if it’s used softly to frame the entire eye, like her look in the second part of the film when she played “Sandy”.

Eyeliner is just a desi woman’s trademark and it simply looks amazing!

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