Date:11/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2009/07/11/stories/2009071150350400.htm
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A touch of beauty

Neetu Nichani discovered her talent in make-up by accident and is loving it



Here come the brides Neetu believes make up should enhance features

Neetu Nichani discovered that she has the talent to become a make-up artiste by accident. “I realised my creativity in make-up during my cousin’s wedding. On an impulse I corrected her make up. She was light skinned and the blush place ment was wrong and her lipstick was spreading. I put everything in place. After seeing the result it was my mother who pushed me into the art of make up, I got into a beauty school and did a cosmetology course in the US,” recalls Neetu.

That was not all. She participated in contests and landed up as the runner-up at the Sunsilk South Zone make-up artiste contest.


“I gave my bride a rustic look,” says Neetu. She went on to enhance her skills with artistes like Cory Walia besides working with in the fashion and the advertising world. Based in Atlanta, Neetu travels across the world and uses Indian and international products in her make-up. She is very strict about hygiene. “As a make-up artiste you can spread fungal infections, when you use the same sponge and brush for every skin. I don’t re-use . And the brush is cleaned with a disinfectant shampoo and then sprayed with alcohol.”

She goes on to explain how she goes about working on a face. “I retain the identity of the person. Make-up should enhance the features. For the Indian skin tone we can take the peach and pink and blend in earthy tones. It looks good on us. We need to use the right shades to enhance the best.”

Her favourite part of the make up is the kohl. “We are really blessed to have beautiful eyes and eye brows. Today, in the fashion world dusky skin is in . Look at Beyonce and Tyra Banks. I try and convince Indian girls not to feel conscious of their skin tone. ”

Some of her past clients include Deepika Padukone when she had just began her career.


“She has a beautiful face to work on. Ditto for Bipasha Basu ,” says Neetu who has also worked with Mallika Sherawat, Anushka Sharma, Yana Gupta, Sameera Reddy and Milind Soman to name a few.

Neetu is trained in air-brush make up. “It is done with the help of machines. One needs just an hour to complete a make-up up .”

She says “It is important to look good. But, what if you are hard pressed for time ?

“You can do your make-up even at traffic signals. One must give at least 10 minutes to their face everyday. Use oil free compact powder that suits your skin type.”

“ Kohl is a must have, one basic eye shadow (in rust, peach, pink or dull gold), a black and a brown eye liner (brown for the day and black for the night). Make-up boosts your confidence and I believe every woman should go for it.”

Neetu can be contacted on neetu_nichani@hotmail .com.

SHILPA SEBASTIAN R.

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