For a lasting monsoon look

Rains are beautiful when seen from the window while sipping coffee, but a pain when you have a day planned out and it refuses to let up. And you get maungy thinking about how to dress up in the dripping weather, and if it'll smudge your makeup. Getting your makeup to stay is a Herculean task in the monsoon when 'makeup disasters' like dripping mascaras, patchy foundation and smudged lips, are commonplace. Fret not as we bring you expert-backed tips on how to manage your makeup in the rains and look gorgeous too.For the face: Dense makeup, a no-no Says Dishita Mehta, Chambor makeup expert, "In the monsoon months, dense makeup runs the risk of smudging and getting washed out. It is advisable to go for light makeup with waterproof mascara and eyeliner. Simply put away the kohl until winter, as it has a tendency to run in the rains." Agrees Shaan Muttathil, celebrity makeup artist and hair stylist, "Less is more in monsoon. Go for waterproof mascara if you must. But make sure you don't rub your face when it gets wet, always dab it." Dark, smoky eyes Shaan uses water-based black mascara to go with peach blusher and eye shadow by Benefit on his model and actress clients. "Dark eye shadow gives you a gorgeous look for an evening do," shares he. Of dark eye shadows, the rich espresso brown shade is 'in' this season and gives you a gorgeous and sophisticated look. "It is a very beautiful shade. You can wear the dark brown kajal by Revlon and Corduroy eye shadow by MAC. For a softer look, apply the brown kajal under your eye, and then on the eyelid and smudge it with your finger. Top it off with a waterproof mascara; you can go for the ones by Chanel, MAC and L'Oreal," he explains. The L'Oreal mascara stays for very long, sometimes even days, and is your best bet on a rainy day. Eye makeup for office Apply waterproof eye pencil on the upper lid of the eye. Dishita suggests you choose from the six different colours of Chambor. Dazzle smoothening eye pencils to get the best waterproof eye look in the wet months. Eye makeup for a luncheon "For a lunch meeting, go for smudged or smoky eyes. Apply waterproof eye pencil (Chambor Eye Tattoo) on the upper lid, then close the lashes and apply Chambor Eye Art 03 Pencil and smudge it with the help of an onion applicator to complete the smoky eye look." Eye makeup for a cocktail party You are recommended to use dark eye shadows with a sheer finish. Says Dishita, "Complete the cocktail look by applying a coloured waterproof eyeliner (Chambor Eye Definer) which matches with your dress and apply a waterproof mascara (Chambor Volume Plus Mascara) for a gorgeous, party look. Brilliant nude lips Advises Shaan, "Don't go for dark reds and browns, instead use a nude shade of lip gloss or a mild, baby pink gloss. Lust by MAC is a gorgeous nude shade of lip gloss. You can even go for the monsoon-fit nude lipsticks by MAC like Fast Play, a tinge of natural pink, and Jubilee, a natural brown colour. Actress Deepika Padukone wears the light brown shade a lot. Even L'Oreal has a range of waterproof, long stay lipsticks in natural pink, red and orange colours." Dishita too feels that soft brown and pink lipsticks work very well in the rains. "Soft light brown and pink matte shades in lipstick with sheer gloss are preferable in this season." Would she also tell us the apt way to apply lipstick? "First smile and start applying the lipstick from the cupid bow of your lips and work to the edges. Using a lip liner is a sure shot way to make the colour stay longer," she explains. Water-based foundation "Use a silicon-based waterproof foundation for the face. Mineralised powder is, however, not advisable as they can get patchy in the damp weather," shares Shaan. For a sheer finish you can go for a liquid foundation (Chambor Enrich Revitalising Foundation or the Chambor Lightening Wet & Dry Foundation). Says Dishita, "For maximum coverage, remember to blend it with a sponge. But for a dewy look, don't forget to dampen the sponge with a few drops of water before use." Accentuate cheekbones "Use a darker shade in the hollow space below the cheekbones," advises Dishita. "Further on, brush a medium blush right along the cheekbone and highlight the lightest shade on top of the cheekbone. This completes the cheekbone accentuation process. During the monsoon, it is best to use cream-based blushes as they last longer." Hairstyling tips: Keep it short and simple Shaan cautions to never blow dry your hair if you plan to step out of the house in the rains, as it makes them dry and frizzy. You can do better by going for a messy, out-of-bed look. A tight ponytail or side bun also looks stylish. Agrees Dishita, "Simple and easy to manage hairstyles are in. Elaborate hairstyles can get cumbersome, even limp, damp hair, which happens a lot during monsoons, does not look good. Long hair can be layered whereas the ones with short hair should go for bangs."