With a few strategically applied makeup tricks, it's possible to create the illusion of a perfectly shaped face. You can downplay the sharpness of a square face, add chiseled cheekbones to a round face, or de-emphasize a longer face. We're not recommending the piled-on "contouring" makeup of the past; these tips are more about producing a subtle effect that's surprisingly simple to achieve.

1. Create a rounded effect on an elongated face shape.

Have an elongated face shape like Sarah Jessica Parker? Longo says to start with shading: Use a fluffy brush to blend a matte, neutral-toned blush or eye shadow along your hairline and chin to create the illusion of shadows, which will help minimize the length of your face. On eyes, concentrate color on the outer corners, and keep the color darker at the lash line; use an eye-shadow brush to blend the color upward. This will help create a rounder look, as will applying blush in a circular motion to the apples of the cheeks; applying it along the cheekbone will create an angular effect, which you want to avoid. Slightly rounding the upper lip line also helps give a softer, rounded appearance.

2. Add angles to a round face shape.

A few simple application tips can help give angles to a round face shape (think: Cameron Diaz). Longo says to focus on creating the illusion of upward motion with your makeup. On the eyes, draw eye pencil or shadow up slightly at the outside of your upper lids for a cat's eye effect; finish by curling only your outer lashes. Give the appearance of a more chiseled look by applying blush in long strokes toward the ear, shadowing underneath the cheekbones for a subtle sucked-in-cheeks look. Use lip liner to make the cupid's bow of your lips a bit more angular and less pouty.

3. Minimize the sharp lines of a square face.

Strategic shading can help play down the sharp lines of a square face shape, such as Gwyneth Paltrow's. With a large makeup brush dipped in neutral blush or eye shadow, sweep color along the four corners of the face to add some softness. Longo suggests keeping the eyebrows more rounded and arched rather than straight and angled, which can be too harsh on a square face. Make sure to keep the inner edges of the brows slightly rounded as well. On the cheeks, apply blush along the lower part of the apple, in an upward sweep toward the temples in a U shape to break up sharp angles.

4. Balance the proportions of a heart face shape.

With a heart face shape, like Rihanna's, the key is to use makeup to reduce the difference between a wide forehead and a smaller chin so that they appear more similar in width. Longo says to brush matte neutral eye shadow or blush along the hinge of the jaw to add shadows and make the face seem more proportioned. On the eyes, keep your liner and shadow on the lash line, but avoid extending it outward, and curl only the lashes in the middle. Apply blush to the apples of the cheeks in a circular motion, and make the lip lines a touch rounded. These tricks will help create a vertical effect that gives a more balanced shape to the face.

5. Play up a balanced oval face shape.

Women with an oval face shape, including Beyoncé, are lucky to have more flexibility when it comes to makeup application. Longo suggests a few tricks that can really play up your perfectly proportioned face. To maintain balance, the arch of your brow should be closer to the temple instead of above the iris of the eye. Curl all your lashes to give an upward sweeping appearance, and apply blush in a circular motion on the upper part of the apple of the cheek. A full, angled lip will give a more sophisticated look than a rounded effect.

As if putting on a swimsuit doesn't provide enough reason to feel self-conscious, having pimples around the bikini line adds a whole other dimension to bathing suit embarrassment. Through shaving and even waxing, small, red bumps can quickly appear in that tender region of the skin. Many creams and serums exist to offer support with this specific issue and can be used for both prevention and treatment. Eliminating these unsightly bumps can be simple and quick with proper applications of trusted and time-honored techniques.

Step 1

Use hair-removing creams instead of shaving. Using a razor can deposit bacteria directly into the open pores of the skin and often causes irritation and infection within the pores. "The skin in the bikini area harbors a lot of bacteria that your razor can pick up and drag into hair follicles," says the book "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Women: Women Doctors Reveal over 2,000 Self-Help Tips on the Health Problems That Concern Women the Most."

Step 2

Scrub the area around the bikini line well with anti-bacterial soaps that will thoroughly disinfect the area. This step is really important for both before and after you have shaved the necessary areas of the bikini line.

Step 3

Apply an astringent over the treated area. Astringents are substances that cause contraction of tissues on application. They can offer protection from bacterial infection and promote the contraction of open pores to keep them clean and tight. Good options for gentle astringents include any solutions that use witch hazel or rose water.

Step 4

Purchase an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream and smooth it over the affected area according to package directions. This can soothe irritation and reduce redness to help the problem heal effectively.

If you have coloured or highlighted hair, you'll want to protect it and ensure that it doesn't fade aways. Chlorine, sun and salt water can all wreak havoc on a dye job. Oxidation, which is a chemical reaction that changes the colour, is the biggest problem. Both chlorine and sun can cause oxidation; chlorine can turn blonde hair the dreaded green and can give an ashy hue to brunette hair. Prevention is the best thing you can do so you don't have to deal with the aftermath of oxidation. So, we looked for advice from hair expert, Shailesh Moolya, technical director, Juice hair and beauty salon in Mumbai.

Bottled savers
Moolya suggests regular use of a combination of a specially formulated colour care shampoo and conditioner, like the Fashionista and Brunette Goddess range from Tigi or Kerastase by L'Oreal Paris. Colour-enhancing conditioners help blend root areas. Regular use of a good hair protect mask, specially formulated for coloured hair, is also a must.

Go sulphate-free
A sulphate-free shampoo has fewer chemicals than a regular shampoo, so the colour stays intact. A sulphate-free shampoo gently cleanses the hair while replenishing moisture and protecting the hair from environmental elements.

Keratine treatment
Opt for a keratine treatment regularly. It's like lamination for your hair. This in-salon treatment doesn't allow colour to fade faster. The keratine coating gives hair a shiny smooth finish that makes it amazingly easy to style too.

One at a time
Don't combine hair colouring with another treatment. Follow the one at a time rule. If you absolutely must get a perm or straightening treatment, then opt for it before you get your mane dyed since the colouring gets affected post-treatment. To avoid damage, leave a gap of at least one month before getting your hair coloured.

Tips to maintain the colour

• Avoid using hot water on your hair. Hot water opens the cuticles and allows the colour to be stripped away.
• Chlorine found in the water in pools can be bad for your hair. The best way to protect your hair when getting into a swimming pool is to wet your coloured hair first with regular water.
• Be careful in the sun. Use hats, scarves or products with sunscreens to help protect against colour fade and the drying effects of the sun.
• Shampoo gently. Rough shampooing can strip colour or dry out hair.
• Do not wrap in a towel turban when you get out of the shower with wet hair. The added friction can knot and damage vulnerable wet hair. Instead, carefully blot hair dry.
• Don't brush hair when wet. Comb with a wide-tooth comb, working tangles out as you move from the ends toward the scalp.
• Don't overdry. When you blow dry, dry the hair until it is almost, but not completely, dry. Leave some moisture in to prevent static.
• Be careful when styling. Avoid aggressive manipulation of the hair.
• Use hairspray or a spritz with moisturisers and sunscreens to finish the hair. These products will provide continual protection throughout the day.
• Don't spray lightening agents or put lemon juice in your hair.

Hair colour trends

What's hot in India and abroad?

• Global colour is in, both internationally and  in India.
• Permanent blonde, red and platinum are out. Gone are the days of Kareena Kapoor and Ameesha Patel's all-blonde locks. Even the actresses themselves have left the bleached look far behind.
• Indian women are now opting for sun-kissed colours and highlights. The trend is to work with the tones that complement the natural skin tone. Subtle tones like cinnamon, coffee, chocolate brown, honey and caramel work best with Indian skin tones.
• Aishwarya Rai, Penelope Cruz and Mila Kunis' hair colours are most sought-after.

When colouring at home

• Choose `demi-permanent' colour, which doesn't contain ammonia.ÿDemi-permanents are very safe because they don't remove natural pigment, but they can give you a nice brightening and grey coverage. Going with an ammonia-free formula is especially a good idea if you're buying from a chemist instead of a professional beauty store, since the boxed kits that contain ammonia often contain more than professional products.
• Consult an expert on colour choice. No one wants her hair to turn green or orange. To make sure that you are picking a colour that will look good with your underlying hue, ask staff at a beauty supply store or your colourist for advice.
• Enlist a friend.ÿOne reason that home results don't always look as good as salon results is that you can't see your whole head.
• Leave highlights to the pros. A salon professional is skilled in the mixing and application of colour when only certain strands are to be dyed.

Checklist before salon visit
Here are some easy rules to adhere to:

• Before you try out another of your hair colour ideas, check your mane to see if it's strong enough to withstand an additional colouring. To do this, shampoo your hair and analyse it for general dryness before you apply conditioner. If your hair feels like straw, don't opt for colouring.
• Then, take an individual hair strand and test it for breakage. Simply apply tension to the hair strand till it breaks. If it breaks easily without stretching, you definitely can't colour. When in doubt, consult a hair specialist.
• Apart from checking your hair to determine if it can be coloured, you ought to prevent particular colour combinations to get rid of or reduce damage. Avoid drastic differences. For instance, don't reduce your dark brown hair to platinum blonde only to put deep red on it and then try to lighten it once again. What you will end up with is mush.

Here are some regimes for your specific skin type.

Dry Skin  

This kind of skin has a lack of moisture and sebum. As a result, it looks dry, rough and is prone to flaking and chapping,

1. Massage a cream cleanser gently on the face. Wipe off with a wet cotton ball. This will clear sweat, dirt, bacteria and grease accumulated on the skin during the day without stealing the moisture.
2. A special toner for dry skin should be applied to close your pores.
3. Use a heavy moisturising cream with Vitamin E to replenish and rejuvenate skin cells.

Oily Skin
"Oily skin has active sebaceous glands. The continuous secretion of oil from the pores makes it susceptible to environmental pollutants and dust.
Dave recommends a deep-cleaning regime for oily skin:  
1. Clean the skin with a medicated or a non-alkaline soap to remove the film of dirt and oil.
2. Use a scrub to gently remove dead cells, oil and dirt lodged in the pores. Scrubbing will also remove any debris left over after the first step.
3. Apply a toner that heals and shrinks the pores.
4. Use a water-based moisturiser to avoid making your skin oilier.

Combination Skin 

1. Figure out the dry and oily areas. The dry area should be cleaned with a hydrating cream. The oily portion should be washed with a medicated soap.
2. Scrub the oily area to remove dirt and black heads.
3. A light skin toner made of rose water is effective for combination skin.
4. Use moisturiser generously on the dry area and go light on the oily parts.
5. Use an anti-pimple cream or lotion on eruptions after consulting a dermatologist.

When choosing your skincare products, do you go by the packaging, the celebrity endorsing them or your friend’s recommendation? Well, ideally none of these factors should influence your choice. Here are four things to consider when choosing your skincare products.

Discover what your skin needs
Everyone’s skin is different. So what suits your friend may not suit you. For instance, if your friend has normal skin but yours is oily, you both will need different products. First determine what type of skin you have. Is it oily, dry or normal? Do you have any skin problems like acne, blackheads or patchy skin? Then choose a face wash, scrub and other skincare products that help deal with your skin concerns.
If you suffer from clogged pores, choose a face wash like Garnier’s Pure Active Pore Unclogging Wash that deeply purifies pores and removes inlayed impurities that accumulate due to outdoor pollution during the course of the day.

Do a patch test
With sensitive skin, it is always better to be on the safe side. Do a patch test to determine whether or not a particular skincare product is suited to your skin. You can use the product on just a patch of your face closer to your jaw line for a couple of days to make sure it does not produce any allergic reaction. Once you are sure the product suits you, go ahead and make it a part of your skincare routine.

Choose natural products
More than medication, good natural products can do wonders for your skin. So choose products that are not harsh but contain natural extracts that have a soothing effect. Certain properties in herbal formulae penetrate the surface of your skin to help regenerate and repair damaged cells.

If you have blackhead-prone skin, choose a natural scrub like Garnier’s Pure Active Blackhead Uprooting Scrub. It contains HerbaRepair which is extracted from Vaccinium myrtillus that has exceptional regenerating and skin-repairing properties. 

Look for effective ingredients
Different ingredients in your skincare products have different cleansing and healing functions. The important thing is to find products with ingredients meant for your skin. For instance, if you have pimples, a non-greasy product that contains alcohol and salicylic acid like Ganier’s Pure Active Pimple Relief Cooling Roll-on can help dry them out. The roll-on's HerbaRepair content will also work to clear those imperfections in your skin. 

Twice a year (once before the summer season and once before the winter holidays), treat yourself to an intensive professional pedicure. Choose a treatment that includes the following steps:

 

 

1. A salt bath to soften feet.
2. Callus removal, which therapists usually carry out by first brushing a special softening solution onto the affected area and then using a brand-new or properly sanitized tool.
3. A sugar scrub to exfoliate the whole foot.
4. A foot massage, using a natural oil such as grapeseed, which deeply penetrates your skin, returning feet to supple form.
5. A hot paraffin wrap, which seals in moisture.
6. And finally, the fun part: the classic pedicure, during which your toenails are cut and filed, cuticles are softened and nails are painted.

Do-it-yourself Daily Maintenance

1. Sit at the edge of your bathtub and apply a foot scrub. Choose one that contains your favorite essential oils or make your own by combining 1 tablespoon olive oil with 1 tablespoon raw sugar, oatmeal or chickpea flour. Massage the scrub into your feet and leave it on for five minutes. If time permits, soak hand towels in warm or hot water, and wrap them around your feet. This seals in moisture and works in the same way as a paraffin wax treatment.

2. Keep a foot brush or designated washcloth in the shower. Pour liquid soap onto your chosen scrubber and rub until your heels and toes are thoroughly clean. Three times a week while showering, run a foot file vigorously across your heels and soles. Be sure to replace your file once a month to avoid bacteria buildup.

3. Immediately after your bath or shower, slather your feet with a thick body butter, taking care to massage the lotion into your heels and soles.

4. For an added moisture boost, twice a week before you go to bed, rub olive oil all over your feet and soles, and sleep with socks on.