Amp up your festive look with these make-up tips from two experts

Malaika Arora in an ‘Apsara Aali’ look. Pic Courtesy/@meghnabutanihairandmakeup

In a video captioned Apsara Aali, a track from the Indian Marathi film Natarang, and edited to the music of Pinga from Bajirao Mastani, Malaika Arora wears a festive glam make-up look to a quintessential Maharashtrian outfit offering inspiration for Dussehra. Here are similar looks to try.

Ishmin Kaur from @makeupbyishminkaur breaks down two make-up looks for Dussehra, beginning with skincare including a cleanser, toner, moisturiser, eye cream and sunscreen. "Before your make-up, put on a primer to prep the face and help your make-up last longer. Next, add a fixing spray or mist before and during make-up application to hydrate the skin," she explains.

Base: Add fewer layers to avoid a cakey mess due to Mumbai's humidity. Use less concealer focusing on spots like under the eyes, a thin layer of foundation for a light sheen and a little contour from the same foundation-blush-contour colour palette so that the face isn't flat or dull.
Cool tip: Use the same damp beauty blender to powder your face for an airy and long-lasting look. Fix it in with a setting spray.

Eyes: Pop of colour
For a colourful option, match your eyeshadow to your ghagra. If you're wearing red, try a reddish eyeshadow with a complementary contrast like blue gel eyeliner to line the eyes. Opt for false eyelashes over mascara to avoid smudges.

Eyes: Easy breezy brown
For a look similar to Arora's, start with brown eyeshadow on your lids with a darker brown on your crease to add depth. Use a black eyeshadow on the lash line and blend it out. Complete with a satin shimmer on the eyes in a copper, silver or gold pigment that matches your jewellery.

Oindrila Mukherjee in the easy breezy brown look by Kaur. Pic Courtesy/Rajdeep Das; (right) The pop-of-colour look on Maneka Thapar by Ishmin Kaur

Lips: If you don't want to
keep reapplying your lipstick, try this hack. Use a lip tint before you line your lips and then use lipstick. This way, if your lipstick wears off, you'll still have the tint. Don't forget to gloss for added shine.

Make-up content creator
Alareez D'souza who blogs at @curlsandsparkles breaks down the perfect smoky eye in two easy methods. "First prep the face with moisturiser, primer, foundation, concealer and a translucent powder at points that crease. Don't forget the highlighter on the high points of your cheek and eyebrows, and your favourite nude lip shade," D'souza suggests.

D'souza in her simple festive brown look; The glamorous make-up look by D'souza; D'souza demonstrates her Dussehra palette make-up look

Eyes: Simple festive brown
Start with a light brown on the crease of your eye, a darker shade on the inner and outer corners of the eyelid. Blend it towards each other. Add a glittery centre for a shimmer that stands out. Line your lower waterline and then smudge your kajal with a little dark brown shade on your lower lid close to your lower waterline.

Eyes: All-glam
Use an almost skin-like light brown colour for your crease. Add black eyeshadow on the outer corners of your lids and blend it across the lid. Line your upper eyelid with kajal and blend it. This will deepen the black. With your finger, pack a silver shimmer on the centre of your lid. Use a blush to blend it. Finish it with false eyelashes, and kajal on your waterline and kajal blended on your lower lid.

Cool tip: Balance this heavy-eye look with pink blush, highlighter and peachy lips.

Eye: The Dussehra palette
Start with concealer on your eyes. Use purple eyeshadow on the outer part of your lid and navy blue on the inner lid. Blend the two. With a cotton bud and micellar water shape the colour into a cat eye. Structure the eyes with a white eyeliner on the upper line and black kajal on the lower waterline. You can blend a little pink on your lower lid. Complete the look with mascara, and silver bindis placed at both ends of the eye. This goes well with a pink lip, less blush and oxidised jewellery.