Not gonna lie, I have been told, on more than one occasion, that I am beautiful.  This is always instantly backed up with a “You’re so exotic!”

…

Uh, mood-ruiner much?

Why is it that South Asians, and South Asian girls in particular, are complimented through a telescope like this?  Are we only attractive because we have browner skin, bigger eyes, and darker hair than our Caucasian peers?  That does not seem quite right. For a country boasting a series of global pageant winners and Anchal Josephs from cycle 7 of ANTM, I must say we got it going on.  I do not think for a second that the Miss Universe judging panel gave Sushmita Sen or Lara Dutta their respective crowns just because they have gorgeous coffee-colored skin.  It has to be that our collective beauty transcends our immediate “exotic” looks.  Otherwise, these awards and recognitions are worth nothing – they would be like a handout or a pat on the back for existing.  South Asian beauty should not be seen as simply exotic; that reduces it.  Every country has gorgeous women with ethnic looks, but that does not mean that is where their physical beauty ends.

I am not necessarily talking about typecasting our favorite South Asian actresses, because that’s a double-edged sword.  I mean, it is both commendable for a South Asian actress to be part of mostly white cast, and yet it is strangely ignorant for a character of obvious South Asian descent to have a highly Westernized name and back-story, think Rebecca Logan from Greek, played by Dilshad Vadsaria.  In this case she was not cast the role based on her skin color, but rather her unquestionable good looks.  At the same time, it does get tiring to see gorgeous girls like Freida Pinto constantly sequestered into purely “brown” roles (apparently she is set to play an Arabian princess in her next movie… seriously, Hollywood?).  I think, in the long run, it hampers progress to limit attractive brown actresses to either only attractive, yet color-blind, roles or to simply typecasted roles.  It is a difficult line to toe, and I am fully aware that qualms about color will rarely be fully alleviated in the movie industry, but it would be nice if they would at least try to do us brown girls justice.

And to bring it back to the awkward elephant in the room, “brown fetish” bothers me so much.  For those who say they love brown girls, or, rather, for those who say we are “exotic,” I have to wonder where they picked up that word.  I feel like I should have heard it more on the Discovery Channel than I should have when describing a person.  It is a silly word used to put rain forests, bright colors, dark skin, and toucans all in a neat, pretty box tied with a neat, pretty ribbon.  It does nothing to get at the inner beauty that Western society loves to place on a pedestal.  And it almost sounds demeaning as though we of the almond eyes and golden skin are something out of an encyclopedia rather than present in every nook and cranny of American life.  So, to say you love brown girls, and you love how exotic they are, is to dismiss all of it – the history, the culture, the sizzling good looks – with a dumb phrase.

South Asians are gorgeous.  It is a fact.  But that does not mean the simple label of  “exotic” is gonna fly.  South Asia is not a fetish for our paler-skinned peers.  This is a culture extending back thousands of years and a culture that encompasses the world with its diasporas.  It is over a billion strong, so take back that “You’re so exotic!”  This is pure, all-natural, coffee-colored, tragically progressive beauty.  There ain’t nothing type-castable about it.

This lady knows what I’m talking about:

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

By default, most Indians around the world associate Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as the brand ambassador to Bollywood. And thus, she becomes the face for Indian women all over. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with her representation in terms of her grace and stature, it would be unfair to equate every Indian woman with Aishwarya. What’s more, is that quite honestly, the country is filled with ladies who could easily be bestowed with this title and would probably do innate justice to it; more so than Ash. As a country whose democracy has been challenged numerous times, it has still managed to house woman who have sat on the Prime Minister chair, been to space and even won the Nobel Peace Prize. So it is really fair to associate sheer beauty with representation? It’s almost as though nothing else matters. Morals, tradition, culture and intellect; all these qualities are simply thrown out the window simply because XYZ exhibits Indian exquisiteness. But the modern Indian woman is much more than that.

There is a reason as to why Aishwarya Rai Bachchan lost out to Sushmita Sen with the latter becoming Miss Universe while the prior took on the Miss World crown. While Ash may be beautiful, Sush is ten steps ahead of her in the intellect arena. In fact, when it comes to public speaking, Sen is known for being honest, forthright and incredibly candid. That cannot be said about Ash unfortunately who chooses to hide behind her diplomacy and giggles. Granted as an actress Sen has seen little success but on a humanities level, the ex-Miss Universe is regarded as one of the most giving and compassionate Indian women in the subcontinent. After adopting a baby girl in her mid-twenties, she went on this year to become a mother again after she adopted another child. Her contribution to society is often perceived as selfless. But besides being benevolent and beautiful, it is her magnetic personality that has people flocking to her. And this is pertaining to every issue she associates herself with. Whether she is out and about talking about a film or an organization she has chosen to add her name too, her choice of words often has the media asking for more. Educated and in tune with international affairs, there is never really a moment the actress is stumped for words. She represents the New Age Indian woman.

If not Sush, then how about Shabana Azmi. The veteran actress who is shies from the media is well known in both acting and political fields; yet again, a woman often shocks as she mixes her modern and traditional thoughts. Meshed together, she has created a persona for herself that can hardly be imitated. On a global platform, she never fails to mesmerize audiences convincing them that India is a country to truly watch out for as she just out numbers and pieces of information that is truly ravishing. Beautiful needless to say, Azmi knows her poets from shayars and speaks with a great amount of dignity. While her statements may get her into trouble, she always manages to swim away from them looking yet again like the hero(ine) that she is. Women like Shabana Azmi tell the world that despite the global influence on India, the country still houses the same traditions that existed years ago.

Kiran Bedi, India’s Top Cop, as she is known, is a foreign name abroad sadly. At 61 she stands tall as she aims to create a safer India through her organization, Safer India. After retiring from the Indian Police Service, she realized the need to form Safer India when many complaints that were lodged by locals were simply ignored. But her accomplishments post her stint as a police officer has found her more accolades than ever. In the past, many of her antics have put her in the news which she would simply call, “doing her job”. Her fearless attitude and willingness to bring change to the Indian society has been saluted. Even now, she feels her work is not done and her service to the country is still pending.

Three out of hundreds of women who would and could represent the country more effectively and correctly abroad. And besides being beautiful, they inhibit much more. As a rising nation, it is important for the world to realize and recognize that there is more to the Indian woman than simply being beautiful. The modern day Indian woman is contemporary and yet orthodox, intelligent and fearless, sacrificial with reason and yet, independent. And yes, she is beautiful.

Fall is all about that FUNK!

One of the first things people notice about someone is their eyes. Look at the mirror right now, what does your eye look say about you?

I spent the day at Sephora trying on some fun and funky looks and found out that this season its all about color. The best part about being a Brown Girl is that we really can pull off funky colors, believe it or not! Fun young colors can give other people better insight into your personality. Break away from those boring neutral tones that we use everyday and make a statement. Don’t be afraid to stand out and express yourself through makeup. Try these looks for a fun night out on the town:

Mellow Yellow

Lighter colors around the eyes emphasize those areas. So if you are trying to make your eyes pop this is the look for you. The green set into the crease gives the shadow effect that everyone tries for, this look uses the same techniques as the normal night look but it uses COLOR instead! The most important part of this look is the mascara, light feathery strokes for application creates fluttery lashes while using less product.

Plum Power

Purple is probably the most versatile color out there, since it is made from warm and cool tones. It compliments every skin tone. Just make sure to use a matte color for the crease in order to create just the perfect shadow. Why not go out for a night on the town with the girls in this look?

Starchild Odyssey-Tarina Tarantino

This look screams funk, with its use of silver, teal, blue, and crèmes. It uses the shadows from the Tarina Tarantino line at Sephora. The silver in the corners, gives a more feminine appearance to the face, while the teal gives it a rocker finish.

BG is asking for your support for one of our fellow staffers. Foram Mehta (University of Texas) is auditioning to win her very own show on Oprah’s new network. Amongst thousands of submissions, Foram stands out as a bubbly personality and a fellow brown girl that’s definitely smart, hip, and beautiful!

Check out Foram’s audition and vote her now!

Building a winter wardrobe takes hours of relentless searching and pairing until you find pieces that are functional while classy. The worst thing is when you have to pack away your peacoats and gloves until the next winter. Well fear not! Here are some fabulous pieces that you can take from your winter wardrobe and reinvent them into fab summer outfits!

Boots

You spent a good deal of money on your chic boots to help you survive through the winter and now they’re rotting away in the back of your closet. Well pull them back out and pair them with a cute summer dress! Boots are perfect for events like concerts, festivals, and fairs where you want to be comfy but keep it cute. Add some chunky bangles or some Hollywood sunnies to protect your eyes and finish off the look.

Pieces from the ‘Boots Look’ can be found on www.oldnavy.com, www.zappos.com, www.forever21.com, and www.etsy.com.

Blazer

This winter I loved dressing up a casual outfit by throwing a blazer on top of it. Luckily, you can keeping rocking your blazers through the summer by pairing it with a feminine detailed top or a plain tank. Make sure you wear it with shorts so that you don’t die of a heat stroke and add a pair of strappy heels to add a girly edge.

Pieces from the ‘Blazer look’ can be found on www.urbanoutfitters.com, www.modcloth.com, and www.forever21.com.

Flannel

All winter long girls were diving into their boyfriends (or buying the boyfriend looking) flannel shirts. The grunge effect is a perfect summer look that won’t make you break the bank. Find a vintage or message tee and throw it under your favorite flannel shirt. Pair it with a pair of distressed shorts (essential summer piece!) and add a cute hairpin or a hat and you’re ready to go!

Pieces from the ‘Flannel look’ can be found on www.delias.com, www.walmart.com, www.ae.com, www.forever21.com, and www.piperline.com.

Scarf

I think I own too many scarves. That being said, I justify them by using the ever so versatile pieces throughout the year. Scarves are a perfect way to mix patterns and color blocks in the winter. Wear your favorite tank and wrap the scarf around your neck like a cowl and pair them with some great jeggings! (Side note: This is a great outfit to throw on when you’re running late but still need to look great!)

Pieces from the the ‘Scarf look’ can be found at www.asos.com , www.oldnavy.com, www.payless.com, and www.forever21.com.

Vogue India has faced quite a bit of criticism in the past for featuring “fairer” models that don’t necessarily showcase the real Indian color-scape. However, the new issue is garnering some attention for finally breaking the mold and featuring darker models on its cover. Check out the full Vogue article here and tell us what you think of the cover.

In the latest issue of Lucky, the magazine shows us a cool spin on the smoky eye. Basically, work black eye liner into the top and bottom lashes, then lay teal down directly over the black. This teal will be surprisingly subtle, yet catch anyone’s attention!

Here’s some great teal products:

L’Oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner

Stila Convertible Lash + Line #05 Teal

NARS Single Eye Shadow in Tropic

I was six or seven when a fellow Indian playmate informed my skin was darker than hers because I didn’t bathe enough.  Even at that age, I was aware her claims were false.  But it didn’t stop me from staring at myself in a mirror when I got home that day or on all the other days I looked at my body and wished for my skin to be lighter since.

It’s no secret India isn’t the only country to prefer light-skinned women.  This phenomenon is worldwide and as old as the first civilization.  Those with dark skin were laborers who worked outdoors in the sun and their social status was determined accordingly.

But why now, when those rules are considered outdated, does Indian society still value light-skinned women (and men, though to a lesser extent) over darker-skinned ones?

Actresses like Shilpa Shetty and Kareena Kapoor are routinely airbrushed in magazine shoots and films.  Heavy makeup and lighting covers up their true skin color.  In a country where culture and history is valued, why do we insist on changing ourselves to look different from our ancestors?

The “most beautiful woman in the world” as she is dubbed by some, Aishwarya Rai, has very light skin and green eyes.  She certainly does not represent a majority of Indian women.

Take a look at any Indian wedding arrangement ad on the Internet or in a newspaper – all the woman describe themselves as “fair skinned.” Everyone can’t be fair skinned, but is stretching the truth the only way to snare a husband?

I always thought I was ugly because of my skin color growing up, though my relatives assured me it would eventually lighten. My mom encouraged me to apply homemade face masks like she did while growing up to become lighter.  I always brought a tube of Fair & Lovely back home when visiting India and vowed to use it every day.  It never worked and I usually lost patience.

Young girls looking up to an ideal that physically cannot be achieved is damaging to their self-esteem.  And skin-lightening creams have proved to be more and more dangerous.  As the Internet grows are and transportation becomes easier, toxic steroid creams are becoming widely available and inexpensive, causing health problems in users not educated in their risks.

But Indian society and Indian-Americans in America are rapidly changing.  There is reason to think this obsession with light skin will eventually fade.  To hasten this process, I offer some suggestions:

1. Embrace the cultural variety in India. Brown IS beautiful.  Honor our ancestry by refusing to be ashamed of our skin color.
2. Encourage the media to portray more dark-skinned women in their natural shade.  Even if we can’t march into movie studios or magazine offices, take a closer look at the stars you admire and see how their appearance is altered in photographs.  Write a statement denouncing airbrushing on your facebook, twitter, or blog.  Technology has become a great equalizer – we can all share our opinions and important people take notice.
3. Share your feelings with younger female relatives.  Most of my relatives had lighter skin so I felt self-conscious in pictures.  It’s always great for younger girls to have a positive female role model, especially at the tween/teen stage.

I will be waiting for the Indian community here and abroad to move away from outdated stereotypes about skin color.  In the meantime, I will do my part by simply accepting my own.

Remember that awkwardly shaded eye shadow that made you feel like you were dressing up more for Halloween, rather than a night out on the town? How long has it lingered around in your make-up bag?

What about your mascara?

As you shift around items in your collection, you may have wonder if your make-up ever goes bad or expires. The answer is an astounding: YES!

Continual exposure to air and bacteria causes your make-up to loose its effectiveness and may cause infections. Most make-ups contain preservatives that prevent common-use bacteria from growing, but improper storage and extended use will increase the chances of you breaking-out or getting something ghastly, like pink eye!

There are some easy things that you can do to stretch that dollar and keep your make-up in tip-top shape.

• DO NOT share your make-up! That’s the quickest way to a downhill spiral. You love your friends, not their germs.
• Store your make-up in a cool, dry place.  Keep all bottles and containers tightly sealed when not in use.
• Wash your brushes with a mild detergent at least once a month if they’re natural, at 3-4 times a month if they’re made from synthetic fibers. Baby shampoo will do the trick.
• Sponges should be washed after every use and thrown out monthly.
• Before you put on your face, wash it and your hands with soap and water.
• Try not to touch your make-up directly with your fingers, pour some out or scoop it up with an applicator.

The FDA doesn’t require cosmetic companies to print expiration dates on their products. So, here are some general guidelines on the shelf life of some of your make-up items.

MASCARA: 3 months! – ‘Pumping’ your mascara (pulling it in and out quickly) only introduces more bacteria, so don’t do it!

LIQUID FOUNDATION: Water-based foundations – up to 12 months; Oil-based foundations – 18 months. Wider mouthed jars should be let go earlier. If the ingredients settle or separates, thickens or thinks, or if the smell changes – let it hit the road. CREAM FOUNDATION: 4-6 months.

CONCEALER: 6-8 months

POWDER: 2 years

CREAMS AND GELS: 1 year

PENCIL EYE/LIP LINER: Up to 3 years, if regularly sharpened. If the pencil dries or crumbles – it has gone bad.

EYESHADOWS: Up to 3 years. Dark eyeshadows can also be used as eyeliners – dampen an extremely flat-brush (Aveda, MAC, Sephora have some good ones) dab it in your eyeshadow. Wiggle the brush into your lash line (focusing on the little spaces between your lashes), and sweep the color just above it.

LIPSTICK: 1-2 years, longer if refrigerated. If it starts to smell – out it goes!

NAIL POLISH: Up to 1 year, depending on quality.

Most importantly, if your make-up changes color, texture, or smell, toss it out immediately.

So that’s it ladies, if your make-up isn’t making you feel like it used to, or is getting out of shape…let’em go. It’s not you, it’s them.