How I Celebrate Diwali Through Makeup

The diyas are lit throughout the living room, flowers decorate the doorway, and my lehenga hangs at the back of my door ready for the night. Diwali, also known as The Festival of Lights, is a five-day celebration that is probably my favourite time of the year. But, the best part leading up to the festive season is not just the food and decor, but also my beauty prep. Given how many events, gatherings, and parties there are throughout the holiday, I make sure to pay special attention to my skin so that my Diwali makeup looks turn out exactly the way I want.

I'll be the first to admit that my usual makeup routine consists of swiping on some blush, a single coat of mascara, and a little lip oil before running out the door. However, Diwali is when I unleash my makeup enthusiasm and attempt looks that I would not otherwise dare that complement my outfit, jewellery, and venue for the evening. Whether it's going to a glitzy cocktail party, an intimate family affair, or larger gatherings, here are breakdowns of my Diwali looks this year.

Diwali Makeup Look 1

For a glitzy Diwali Gala, like the one I attended at The Mandarin Oriental, I knew I had to go with a lot of glitter to dress for the "South Asian Splendor" dress code. First, I started with skin care. Since the holiday always happens in the fall, my skin tends to be a little dryer due to the cooler weather, so I moisturised with the Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream (£67) for a dewy, healthy glow. Then I took a few drops of my favourite foundation from Haus Labs by Lady Gaga (£42) in shade 350 Medium Cool and gently applied it to my face to cover my hyperpigmentation and blemishes. Personally, I'm lazy so I just used my fingers and skipped the makeup brush. Since it's medium coverage, I opted not to apply any concealer or setting powder.

Because my outfit was black and silver (and quite loud), I added some shimmer on my eyelids for that dramatic smoky eye - after all, it's the season to sparkle. I used the Anastasia Fall Romance Eyeshadow Palette (£55), using the shades Leather (a matte beige) and Crown (a shimmery gold) to add that pop. I finished with a winged eyeliner using the Kevyn Aucoin Precision Liquid Liner (£32). No look is complete without a few drops of the Live Tinted Hueglow Liquid Highlighter Drops (£32) drops, which instantly left my skin looking radiant and ready to be photographed. Finally, I lined my lips with Samreen's Vanity "Nudie Patootie" and added a touch of beige lipstick to make my lips look fuller. I locked in the look with the E.l.f Cosmetics Setting Spray (£9).

Diwali Makeup Look 2

For an Indo-western look, where I wanted my outfit to do the talking, I opted for a softer makeup look. To prepare for this look, I got my eyebrows threaded a few days before so that any excess hairs would be groomed. I don't use eyebrow gels, so I just used a light brush to comb the hairs and make them appear fuller. For my base makeup, I used the same Haus Labs foundation, only this time I added a little bit of Live Tinted Hueskin Serum Concealer (£29) in shade 8 since I was tired from the week and it instantly lightens my dark undereye bags. I finished the concealer with the Fenty Beauty Pro Filtr Instant Retouch Setting Powder (£26) in Hazelnut, which is my favourite thanks to its weightless, photo-ready finish.

For my eyeshadow, I wanted a subtle finish so I took my same Anastasia Beverly Hills palette but only used the colour Mulberry (a soft matte pink) and skipped the eyeliner. I finished my eye makeup with a swipe of the the Glow For It Brown Lash Growth Mascara (£24), a tubing formula that applies easily and longer without the clumps. I added a slight contour to my face using the Axiology Shape Stick in Medium Tan; because the sticks are multi-functional, I also lightly dabbed my lips with the hue before applying a glossy layer of Rinna Beauty Lipstick in Dirty Talk on top.

Diwali Makeup Look 3

For family gatherings, I decided to go with a bolder lip colour but kept the rest of my face makeup simple. I opted for a classic combination of glowy skin (courtesy of some light concealer), a pop of Makeup Revolution Beauty Bronzer (£5), a coat of mascara, and a swipe of On Your Mark Dual Liquid Eyeliner (£15), and lipstick. For my lips here, I used the Kulfi Beauty Heirloom Satin Lipstick in Berry. I liked the creamy and buildable colour that had a satin finish, although in the future I might add a top layer of gloss for some extra shine. I find that dark purples and shades of red go really well with my South Asian skin and pair well with Indian outfits that are sparkly and glittery.

There you have it: three of my favourite Diwali makeup looks this festive season. If you're ever debating going all out for the celebrations, consider this your sign (and inspiration) to go for it.