In town for an aromatherapy workshop organised by YFLO at Veda, aromatherapy specialist Blossom Kochhar shared make-up tips and a quick guide to essential oils with t2...

Go traditional and what better way to do it than with heavy eye make-up. Bengalis have such gorgeous eyes! Bring out those dark eyes and long lashes with liner and lots of mascara.

If you’re uncomfortable with heavy eye make-up, go for vibrant shades of lipstick.

Experiment with eyeshadow too, but keep to earthy tones like brown for a day look. Make sure you use lighter hues for your lips.

For an evening out, go for a darker lipstick and lots of shimmer for the eyes.

Use a light foundation. The natural look is in now, and also the weather being what it is, a heavy foundation base is not advisable.

Leave your hair open during the day and tie it up at night. If you want an edgy haircut before the Pujas, go for lots of layers or an asymmetrical bob.

Make a spray with drinking soda mixed with a big pinch of salt. Before you do your make-up, spray it on your face as it helps the make-up last longer. Spray it before you step out too. It keeps your pores closed for at least an hour or two. And always keep a compact handy.

Lastly, take care of your skin because nice skin lets you get away with any kind of make-up.

Text: Shweta Keshri
Blossom Kochhar’s picture: B. Halder

Know your Essential Oils

Lavender

Lavender: It is good for burns, cuts and wounds when applied directly. It helps heal sunburns. When inhaled as an aroma oil, it helps lower blood pressure. It relaxes you and is an anti-depressant as well.

Cedarwood: It helps prevent puffiness of the eyes and face. If you’ve got plans for an all-night pandal-hopping this Puja, do keep this one handy. The morning after, take warm tea liquor, a pinch of salt and a drop of cedarwood oil. Mix well, dip cotton eye-pads in it and put them on eyes. Change it thrice. To deal with a puffy face, mix half a teaspoon of any carrier oil with one drop of cedarwood oil and apply on your face.

Ylang ylang: Perfect for those moments when you’re feeling low. Pour it in a diffuser and the aroma peps you up in no time. It’s also an aphrodisiac! Ylang ylang also helps reduce high blood pressure and stress. Pour a drop on your palms, rub well and apply on your hair for a shine.

Patchouli: This anti-ageing oil was said to be used by Mumtaz Mahal. It is an aphrodisiac and when used in a diffuser it relaxes you. Add two to three drops with a carrier oil and massage your face to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles.

Geranium: It is a very good mosquito repellent. Take a bottle of baby oil and mix it with 10 drops of geranium oil and apply it all over your body. It will keep mosquitoes away. Geranium oil is also good for blood circulation and helps one calm down.

SMELL WELL

Use a mix of aphrodisiac essential oils, wood-based ones, citrus oils and a flowery note. Here’s a sample:

You need:

2 drops of ylang ylang oil

3 drops of sandalwood oil

2 drop of lemon oil

1 drop of jasmine oil

Mix all the oils with five drops of any carrier oil and your perfume is ready! Never mind if you pour more drops, this might result in a different fragrance all together.

Shopstop

A quirky clock — part of Fullhouse exhibit this time

What: Fullhouse, partnered by t2

When: October 4-7, 10.30am to 8pm

Where: Kanoi Hall, Agri-Horticultural Society of India at 1 Alipore Road

What to expect: A wide range of home decor and furnishing items including artefacts, water fixtures, candles, lights, wall-hangings, garden furniture and swings — all imported from countries like Indonesia, Thailand and China.

Organiser speak: “We’ve been bringing this exclusive exhibition dedicated to home decor and accessories for two-and-a-half years and this year is going to be more exciting than the previous,” said Nikhil Kothari and Rajesh Harlalka.