Whether you’re someone who can never have enough lipsticks, or you prefer to stick to your trusted nudes, do you ever really need a reason to buy new makeup? There’s a new launch flooding your Instagram feed every day—from blinding highlighters to lipsticks that promise to last all day without a single touch-up. It’s easy to want to get your hands on every new launch that looks like it simply needs to be on your shelf. But how do those who create breathtaking makeup looks every day go about with their shopping? These professionals have to ensure that they use the absolute best, so how do they decide? Three Mumbai-based makeup artists tell us all about the decision-making process that goes into their makeup buys.

Bianca Louzado

• An eyeshadow palette that contains earthy/muted tones in all shades—black, dark brown, antique golds—so that I can utilise it for both my day as well as night makeup looks.

• A lip palette that contains primary and secondary colours so I can mix and create brand new colours.

• Long-lasting eyelash glue for the bridal season, so that my brides don’t have to worry about their lashes detaching after a long night of dancing.

When I'm shopping in-store, I'll be sure to test for these issues beforehand, so I am not faced with any issues when I am working on a client—or on myself. 

1. Mascaras that are too drying or flaky.

2. Lip glosses or lipsticks that bleed.

3. Eyeliners that are too creamy (which means that they would definitely smudge!)

4. Foundations that are too thick—you’d know when you test the product with just one tiny drop of application.

5. Blushes that are too pigmented, which means they will be patchy and difficult to blend easily.

6. Lip liners that do not glide on smoothly and are too grainy, plus lipsticks that are too drying.

7. Glitters and eyeshadows that have too much fall out—they'll be too messy.

8. Products that oxidise on the skin.

“It is important to try new and emerging technologies of a new brand or product. I buy new foundations in three shades—one dark, one light and one medium, so that I can mix and use it on a client."

Mallika Bhat

“I always give preference to hypoallergenic makeup products, products that are not tested on animals and products that are classics and not overnight fads.”

“A lot of research may have gone into formulating the product and that’s why the price may be on the higher side. If it’s just a high-end product with a designer tag, it may not interest me." 

"Makeup is a combination of art, research and technology and I love to take each aspect into consideration before making my purchases. In makeup, the touch and feel is everything which is why I try all the products on myself before using them at work.”

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