My Diwali Makeup Looks | POPSUGAR Beauty

The diyas are lit throughout the living room, flowers decorate the doorway, and my lehenga hangs at the back of my door ready for the night. Diwali, also known as The Festival of Lights, is a five-day celebration that is probably my favorite time of the year. But, the best part leading up to the festive season is not just the food and decor, but also my beauty prep. Given how many events, gatherings, and parties there are throughout the holiday, I make sure to pay special attention to my skin so that my Diwali makeup looks turn out exactly the way I want.

I’ll be the first to admit that my usual makeup routine consists of swiping on some blush, a single coat of mascara, and a little lip oil before running out the door. However, Diwali is when I unleash my makeup enthusiasm and attempt looks that I would not otherwise dare that complement my outfit, jewelry, and venue for the evening. Whether it’s going to a glitzy cocktail party, an intimate family affair, or larger gatherings, here are breakdowns of my Diwali looks this year.

Diwali Makeup Look 1

For a glitzy Diwali Gala, like the one I attended at The Mandarin Oriental, I knew I had to go with a lot of glitter to dress for the “South Asian Splendor” dress code. First, I started with skin care. Since the holiday always happens in the fall, my skin tends to be a little dryer due to the cooler weather, so I moisturized with the Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream ($72) for a dewy, healthy glow. Then I took a few drops of my favorite foundation from Haus Labs by Lady Gaga ($45) in shade 350 Medium Cool and gently applied it to my face to cover my hyperpigmentation and blemishes. Personally, I’m lazy so I just used my fingers and skipped the makeup brush. Since it’s medium coverage, I opted not to apply any concealer or setting powder.

For an Indo-western look, where I wanted my outfit to do the talking, I opted for a softer makeup look. To prepare for this look, I got my eyebrows threaded a few days before so that any excess hairs would be groomed. I don’t use eyebrow gels, so I just used a light brush to comb the hairs and make them appear fuller. For my base makeup, I used the same Haus Labs foundation, only this time I added a little bit of Live Tinted Hueskin Serum Concealer ($26) in shade 8 since I was tired from the week and it instantly lightens my dark undereye bags. I finished the concealer with the Fenty Beauty Pro Filtr Instant Retouch Setting Powder ($36) in Hazelnut, which is my favorite thanks to its weightless, photo-ready finish.

For my eyeshadow, I wanted a subtle finish so I took my same Anastasia Beverly Hills palette but only used the color Mulberry (a soft matte pink) and skipped the eyeliner. I finished my eye makeup with a swipe of the the Glow For It Brown Lash Growth Mascara ($30), a tubing formula that applies easily and longer without the clumps. I added a slight contour to my face using the Axiology Shape Stick ($24) in Medium Tan; because the sticks are multi-functional, I also lightly dabbed my lips with the hue before applying a glossy layer of Rinna Beauty Lipstick ($24) in Dirty Talk on top.

Diwali Makeup Look 3