Makeup artiste Cory Walia (seen doing model Indrani Dasgupta's face at the Lakme beauty salon) lists five common makeup mistakes:

* Using too much foundation or foundation that is the wrong colour.

"Most people think foundation is a mask they can hide behind!" says Cory.

People who have dark complexions tend to use a pink-based foundation. As a result is their skin looks purple, which Cory dubs as the 'Krishna look'.

* Not using mascara

Most women do elaborate eye makeup and forget to use the one thing that will make a difference: mascara. "Women use kajal and eye shadow but no mascara. All makeup is incomplete without mascara. It lifts your eyes and really makes them stand out," says Cory.

* Using a dark brown lipliner and filling the lips with a lighter shade of lipstick.

Women tend to go for very dark brown or almost black colored lipliner and then fill it with a lighter brown coloured lipstick. This, says Cory, is a big no-no. Use a lipliner that blends in.

* Sticking with matte

Matte lipsticks are out. Lips that are dry, wrinkled looking and filled with dark colours like brown, burgundy or chocolate are out. Gloss them, says Cory. "Make your lips look juicy.  Matt/desert dry is out. Brown and burgundy are nice colours but put some gloss on it," he says.

* Imitating actresses or models you see on television

Cory says many women walk up to him and ask him to give them the 'Ramola Sikand' (of television serial Kahiin Kissi Roz fame) look or make them look like (veejay-model-actress) Malaika Arora. "Don't try to imitate others. Develop your own personality, self-confidence and attitude. Any kind of makeup will then look good on you," he says.

Finally, get rid of the complex you have about your skin tone. "Indians think being dark or tanned is bad. That's their biggest complex. Learn to love your skin tone, only then can you highlight it," he says.

Five makeup must-haves

1. Lip pencil

2. Mascara

3. Kajal

4. Blush

5. Gloss

Get these, pair them with of self-confidence and attitude, and you are set to look great, says Cory.

Photographs: Jewella C Miranda
Editorial support: Imran Shaikh