Lancôme Oscillation Mascara Rs 2,200 Patented, battery- operated and performs 7,000 vibrations per minute

Estee Lauder Fleur de Lys Shimmer Powder Rs 2,250 Gives a fabulously even complexion and naturally glowing skin.

It’s a tough life for the mirror on the wall these days. For, women are adding lots of drama to their looks with a little help from magic wands and potions. Luxury cosmetics seem to be flying off designer shelves even in these times of cutbacks.

The fact is that the make-up arsenal for every woman who can afford it is getting more luxury-oriented than ever before. Cutting-edge technology, pushed by state-of-the-art research, combined with smart packaging is making for a heady and expensive combo.

So women are getting to flutter their lush eyelashes at Lancôme’s Oscillation Mascara, a patented and battery operated cosmetic gizmo, which reportedly performs some 7,000 vibrations per minute. They are also batting their eyes at Diorshow Iconic Mascara that flaunts a patented angled brush for dramatic doe-eyes.

And it doesn’t stop just at applicators using patented technology. There are bridal cosmetics from Lancôme designed with creative inputs from ace Indian designer Rohit Bal.

As the beauty business continues to create a huge buzz, the top notch brands are battling it out on the frontlines of the cosmetic business by offering ever more expensive products.

So, get ready to look good and feel great as we bring you a low-down of the make-up must-haves at the top of the market.

Cosmetics calling

Slapping on the war-paint has never been so much fun. “It’s about glamour and more glamour,” says Ambika Pillai, celebrity hair-stylist and make-up artist. “And in this age of high glamour, everyone needs to conceal their facial and bodily imperfections at all times. Women are opening their minds to wearing more make-up because they understand that a well-groomed look works for them,” she adds.

Make-up artist Samantha Kochhar believes that Indian women are lipstick horses and love their make-up — and the more expensive the better. “There are women who are constantly in the line of visibility and who are increasingly opting for exclusive make-up from luxury brands. If you are flaunting haute couture you could just as well go for a complementary line of make-up,” she explains.

According to Kapil Bhalla, hair and make-up expert, whose fine hand was visible in the femme fatale looks of the models at the recent Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, luxury cosmetics are the ‘only’ way to go. “More often than not, luxury cosmetics are loaded with certain ingredients that are gentle on the skin which also makes them expensive. So, if a woman is wearing make-up all the time, it’s best to invest in cosmetics by luxury brands,” he says.

And just one look at the Lady Dior Radiant Couture Touch-up: Face Cheek Lip explains this beauty addiction. Described as an ‘exceptional collectible’, this complexion illuminator comes in a beauty It-bag, which is actually a miniature of the iconic Dior quilted handbag.

This ultra-chic wallet —which is designed to look like the handbag that every woman desires —has a quilted black leather-like look with the legendary Dior cane pattern and shiny metal detailing (read: half-moon handles, eyelets and more). A Dior stamped chain and hook have been added so that it becomes easy to attach this accessory to your regular handbag. This handy make-up kit has all the glamorous ingredients you need to touch-up your make-up any time of day.

The highlighter — in this collection — should be applied under the eyes and on the cheekbones to achieve a flawless complexion. The tinted cream should be applied to enhance the natural colour of the cheeks and lips. Perhaps it’s needless to add that the price for this exclusive kit is on request.

Chanel Sublimage4 Texture Universelle Rs 15,650 Restores skin density, evens out the skin tone and gives a luminous complexion

Then there are products that promise to smooth away the hints of age. Chanel’s Lift Lumiere is more than a foundation base as it promises to visibly diminish wrinkles and fine lines. The smooth fluid is loaded with firming polymers that should give you an impeccably smooth complexion. This neat product also carries a ‘price on request’ tag. “The idea is to enhance the complexion and provide a facelift,” says Marilou Phillips of Chanel.

“You can feel the difference in your looks if you slather on products by smart brands. If one is splurging on signature labels for clothes, spending heavily on cosmetics does no harm,” says actress Adah Sharma who has to sport different looks for her films and be under the constant media glare.

In this world of beautiful people, make-up majors are trying everything to spice up a beauty regime. Estee Lauder has just introduced its limited edition cosmetic range called Fuchsia Now.

Lady DiorRadiant CoutureTouch-up Price on request Complexion illuminator, comes in a collectible miniature of the Dior handbag

The line takes its cue from fashion trends ruling international runways this spring. The fashion gurus are harping on stylishly mixing muted neutral tones with bold, berry shades. So, Fuchsia Now pairs warm honey and tender peach shades with vibrant fuchsia (that’s flattering to most skin tones).

The chic limited edition line has everything from eye to lip make-up and what have you. And if you are dying to get that fabulously even complexion, Fleur de Lys Shimmer Powder from this range is your best bet. This radiance with a hint of colour can be yours for Rs 2,250. A style tip from the brand: Apply generously to face, neck and décolletage for naturally glowing skin.

And if you are going to be a spring bride, Lancôme has just launched a bridal make-up range with inputs from fashion designer Rohit Bal. The Lotus Collection is a bridal package brimming with goodies.

Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lifting Créme Rs 12,110 Locks in moisture and shields the skin against environmental damage.

Along with Bal, there’s celebrity make-up artist Stafford Braganza, who has focused his beauty spotlight on this niche line (Braganza, has selected the colours on behalf of the company, along with Rohit Bal). “I believe in the quality of make-up over the overly done up face,” says Braganza.

A prize pick from this collection is Teint Idole Foundation (Rs 2,015), an oil-free make-up base that lasts for 14 hours which is long enough to see you through even the most elaborate Indian wedding ceremonies.

Skin is in

If make-up helps to enhance your looks, a relaxing and pampering skin care regimen goes a long way in fine-tuning it.

Lancôme Secret De Vie Bath Serum Rs 11,000 Increases skin’s cellular activity by 118 per cent to give a supple and rejuvenated skin

What really does the trick, according to Julie De Clermont Tonnerre, marketing manager, Lancôme, is a healthy balance of good skin and an expert touch of make-up. “Nothing can go wrong if you manage to achieve that,” she says.

Lancôme has introduced the Secret De Vie range consisting of bath serums, cleansers and toners which offer to keep your skin in sparkling condition. The daily skin care routine begins with the bath serum that’s enriched with select ingredients which aim to increase the skin’s cellular activity by a whopping 118 per cent. The reward, according to the company, is soft, supple and rejuvenated skin for just Rs 11,000 for a 50ml package.

These new skin care products are expensive as they not only use top-class ingredients but are also research driven (laboratory-generated or based on indigenous medicinal knowledge that has been scientifically improved on). “It makes a lot of sense to buy extravagant skin care products even if they are expensive. What you are paying for is the huge R&D that these brands have put behind such items,” says Ambika Pillai.

Some lotions and potions aim to positively activate the skin’s cellular activity through laboratory generated active ingredients. Others are going back to the roots to use components that were traditionally valued for their cosmetic properties.

Among the scientific flag bearers, Chanel plans to woo the beauty brigade with its high-profile skin-care range called Sublimage Texture Universelle which claims to restore the skin density by boosting the main components of the skin (collagen, elastin, etc). It also promises to even out the skin tone by harmonising melanin production that results in a luminous complexion. The price tag: Rs 15,650 for 1.7oz.

Biotherm Pore Reducer Rs 2,500 Reduces the appearance of large pores and creates a matte effect

Meanwhile cosmetic conglomerate Clinique has just introduced the Derma White C10, a formulation primarily hailed for its anti-ageing qualities. The product costs Rs 5,650 with two distinct divisions called AM and PM, denoting the time of application.

Each division has six vials each for a week long supply and one has to prepare a fresh supply every week. The method of application for this avant-garde product is pretty complicated as well.

There’s pure vitamin C sealed in the cap of the vial which has to be released into it with a push of a button. Subsequently, the contents of the vial have to be mixed with the vitamin C released by shaking, and applied with the help of a dropper. After the completion of one week, a fresh batch of vials have to be mixed and the process repeated.

Estee Lauder too went into bio-technological research overdrive to come with the Re-Nutriv Ultimate Lifting Crème with 54 prized ingredients that claim to lock in moisture and shield the skin against environmental damage. Expect to pay Rs 12,110 for this product.

Even Biotherm, which specialises in skincare products, has the Intensive Pore Reducing concentrate priced at Rs 2,500 with absorbent, micronised mineral powder which reduces the appearance of large pores and creates a matte effect.

Simultaneously there are other cosmetic mavericks that are walking along the back to nature route. One such niche brand is Jean-Claude Biguine, with salons in Mumbai and Bangalore, which has launched a premium product called Argan Mask. The face rejuvenation formula uses argan oil that’s extracted from the nuts of the argan tree which are found only in the drought-affected areas of Morocco.

Biguine Argan Mask Rs 2,190 Nourishes the epidermal cells, regenerates new cells and repairs old ones

The mask intensely nourishes the epidermal cells of the skin, regenerating new cells and repairing old ones along the way. The exotic ingredient-infused beauty product will leave you poorer by Rs 2,190. Says Bhalla: “Premium skin care products are a good investment. Your skin gets to benefit in the long run. Make-up merely enhances what you already have.’’

Even Dior has gone all out for the exotic and rare natural elements. Its premium range of products called Dior Prestige use the nectar of the Kniphofia flower that’s usually found in the arid deserts in parts of Africa. Check out the 20+1 Nutri-Restructuring Rich Crème from this line, a formula protected by eight patents that combines 20 rare ingredients apart from the Kniphofia flower nectar.

Not only is this product effective in restoring skin radiance but also compensates for hormonal imbalances. The price for this item is on request only.

A face-off between the make-up biggies is ensuring that dressing up your face will never be out of fashion.