by Priya Mukhopadhyay – Stony Brook University
Gone are the days when being beautiful and being fair went hand in hand. With shows like Jersey Shore as evidence, today people are investing hundreds of dollars a month purchasing self-tanners and going to tanning booths to make themselves sunkissed and toasty brown. Lucky for many of us South Asian ladies, we came out of the womb toasty and brown. Many of us get criticized for being ‘dark’ among the rest of our siblings and within the South Asian community but its about time we turn this so called ‘flaw’ into a prized feature that we can wear proudly and naturally. With a few tips, tricks, and rules, makeup can help enhance our skin color whether we are fair, medium, or dark.
Skin: The number one rule for foundation is to keep it looking as natural as possible. No one wants to look caked. Sadly, for those of us who are darker, looking ashy and overdone because of the wrong foundation color is a major problem. It is a really good idea to have a professional match your foundation color for you. A liquid foundation and powder should be all you need for a flawless finish. Remember, a little goes a long way! Apply the liquid foundation as if it’s a concealer and use the powder all over for an even finish. Complete the look with a sheer golden highlighter/bronzer on the apples of your cheek, your chin, your nose, and forehead, these are the spots that the sun naturally hits your face and gives you a warm glow.
(What I use: M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid foundation in NC44, M.A.C. Mineralize Foundation in Medium Dark, Colorworks Faceglow Stick in Crystal Glow)
Eyes: The eyes are the window to the soul so make sure you play them up as much as you can! You want to make them stand out, not blend in. Colors like purple, green, and gold look great on most South Asian skin tones and go especially well with dark eyes. Black eyeliner on the waterline, smoky eyes, and black mascara give you that smoldering, piercing look and always look good when you’re going lighter on the rest of the face. Applying a shimmery white or gold shadow to the inner corners of your eyes gives them that extra oomph.
(What I use: Maybelline the Falsies Mascara in Brownish Black, Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush Chubby Eye Stick in Glampagne, Beauty Rush Luminous Eyeshadow in Petal to the Metal, Styli-Style Flat Eyeliner Pencil in Black, Wet and Wild Liquid Eyeliner in Black)
Cheeks: Think natural! A warm peach or coral color lightly applied to the apples will give you a warm beachy look regardless of your skin color.
(What I use: Ultima II Blush Stick in Spice)
Lips: Nude lips are in this season! Once again, this can be dangerous on darker girls and can come off as being too harsh or garish. Make sure you find a warm nude with more brownish tones than pink ones. Apply a lip balm to prevent against the chapped lip look and then apply the lip color with your fingers. This warms up the color and ensures a more even and natural coverage. If you’re using a matte color, apply a nude or clear lip gloss on top to add a little bit of shine.
(What I use: Burt’s Bees Lip Balm in Honey, M.A.C. Matte Lipstick in Honey-Love)
Keep these easy tips in mind when you are getting ready to go out. Your natural beauty along with a little makeup can serve as the perfect confidence boost that will let you embrace your skin and yourself. It’s time to stop hiding behind makeup and trying to look like something we are not. Instead, let’s all take what we have and flaunt it. And be happy and proud knowing that tanning salons aren’t making a profit out of us South Asian ladies.
Photos courtesy of the author
“Brown” Girl Magazine. Does the newly minted word “Brown” for those hailing from South Asia unify the disparate South Asian cultures under a single color cloak or does it create another barrier for South Asians to identif with those who are not descendants of the subcontinent? Again, I ask you…should South Asians really come together under the banner of skin color? Moreover, is a light skinned Nepali considered brown if he has “Asian” eyes? Is a dark skinned Sri Lankan brown if he has nappy hair? Aren’t some “Latinos” and “Blacks” brown skinned? I’m not espousing a politically correct standpoint, just addressing a concern about identity for your magazine to munch on.
In response to the elaborate comment above, just wondering, what does that have to do with this article in particular? I personally enjoyed the makeup tips and plan to use them. Thanks!
Dear OneLove,
Thank you for your inquiry in regards to our magazine. We hope to answer your question through future posts. Also feel free to explore our site to get a better understanding of what we are all about and who we represent. Feel free to send future comments to comments@browngirlmagazine.com or staff@browngirlmagazine.com.
Priya,
Great advice! I love Mac Foundations. I def need your help in putting on my make up though!
More photos of the rest of the make-up, please!
@OneLove.
Wondering out loud: What difference does it make? (No tone in my voice.)
I’ll take a swing at what OneLove was trying to get at. Not one characteristic, trait, or gene distinguishes members of one “race” from another “race.” Humans have not been around long enough or isolated long enough to evolve into races. Most traits are inherited independent of one another, so genes for eye color, hair texture, musical talent, and so on have nothing to do with one another. Genetic variation is as likely to be found within nations, as it is between nations. Two Biharis are as likely to be genetically different as a Bihari and a Swede. Race is not biological. Race is a social construct. In fact, the race categories in every American census, every ten years, changes. However, racism is real. Race is a powerful social tool that gives opportunities and resources. This affects everyone. Should we continue to contribute to socially constructed views of race by adding another category to the America color spectrum? Do you want who you are to be tied to the color of your skin? Are you a proponent of ideological self-segregation?
Keep doing your thing BrownGirlMag! If people don’t “get” it they’re thinking too hard! I think it’s healthy for peoples and cultures traditionally ignored/stereotyped/downplayed by traditional media outlets to assert themselves especially when they’re bombarded with images of beauty “standards” that don’t speak to/for them directly on an almost daily basis. And since you aren’t condemning anyone from being more different than yourself I don’t see what the big deal is. I’ll be watching! (Found you guys through onebrowngirl.com)
*for being different, NOT “from being more different” LoL Hey it’s a quick response, not a college essay
There is color, and then there is culture.
There are many flavors of ‘brown’… and there are many cultures within ‘brown’. I personally think this site has tried to cater to such concerns. And I really appreciate that.
@ OneLove and PeaceLoveTruth: I like your thoughts, definitely an interesting way to look at things! Maybe you guys can write up something and enter it to be published on this blog… I’d be interested in reading it.
While I understand the coolness of “brown” as a desi, OneLove’s comment made me wonder. Maybe we shouldn’t be tying our identity to a color. For example, as an outsider, I might feel odd if an East Asian mag was named “YellowGirl.”
Interesting. I never thought about the name of this mag before, but now that I have, I can’t help but think that OneLove has a valid opinion.
P.S. — Wouldn’t we feel a little weird if there was a mag called “WhiteGirl”?
I’ll take a stab at answering why for me personally, I like the title “Brown Girl.” The difference between a magazine called “Brown Girl” and “White Girl” is that people of color have been historically marginalized all throughout history, leaving many us uncomfortable in our own skin. This website has many articles on how dark skin is discriminated against in almost every culture in the world. I like the title “brown” instead of “Indian” or “Hindu” because there are women of all nationalities and religions who can identify with Brown Girl Mag’s message. Also, the word brown does not have the negative connotations associated with colonialism like the word yellow does. It is an inclusive way to take pride in our appearance and culture.
Hope this helps!