Fun shades with cool, signature packaging. That’s Masaba Gupta’s new lipstick collection for her Masaba by Nykaa range. The shades are an ode to her friends Rhea Kapoor and Pooja Dhingra, the ‘muses’ for the collection. A candid chat with Masaba on the making of the line.
This is such a cool concept! What were Rhea Kapoor and Pooja Dhingra’s reaction when you told them this?
This Nykaa collection is really close to my heart since this range revolves around the unbreakable spirit of strong women that have inspired me throughout. Pooja is a hustler, and she really inspires me to innovate, learn and grow whereas Rhea has been my sounding board, my constant support, and always believed in me. Rhea is a true trailblazer whether it comes to producing trend-forward movies or rejigged fashion styling. In such saturated industries, she has made a mark by bringing her refreshing outlook. The warm plum shade by Nykaa is as fashion-forward as Rhea herself.
Tell us more about the shades — Believe in You, You Grow Girl and Make It Happen. Are there any anecdotes on the making of the shades?
I think I relate with both of them since they bring very different shades to my life. That’s why Nykaa’s You Grow Girl and Believe In You were the perfect names for these lipsticks. The third shade, of course, Make It Happen, truly depicts my own story.
The Masaba by Nykaa range has matte lipsticks at Rs 799
Sourced by the correspondentWe absolutely loved the red lipstick! It is such a classic. Tell us about your love for red lipstick?
Red lipstick is something that I have always loved. The shade always gives me the confidence that I can do anything and conquer anything in this world. It has always been my go-to shade.
Growing up, was lipstick one of your favourite make-up products?
When I was growing up, I always delved into my mother’s (Neena Gupta) cosmetics like lipsticks, bindis and foundation. So for me, lipstick has always been my personal favourite.
How many do you presently own?
I own an entire label of them (Masaba for Nykaa). That’s how many I own.
Tell us about your favourite shades...
As I said, red has always been a personal favourite lipstick shade. I love bold shades. They always represent an ode to fearlessness. They give me the drive to aspire to achieve what I set my heart on.
What is the most experimental colour you have tried?
I have tried out numerous bold and experimental shades. I can’t pinpoint and remember something specific, but I think I’ve tried pretty much all shades which are edgy, bold and have a certain quirk to them.
What is one edgy colour you definitely want to try?
I think a violet shade. I have seen women sport it with such finesse, but I think I’ve never been able to wear that out in public. So, I would say that would be something that I would want to try out some day and venture outdoors.
Who comes to mind when we say red lipstick?
I would say, Marilyn Monroe. She has been an iconic figure whom everyone in the world knows and remembers for the gorgeous red lipstick look. She has been an inspiration for millions of women all over the world when it comes to make-up.
