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To have a radiant complexion and maintain the texture of skin and keep it supple, correct diet, Sun protection and Vitamin C are key. A good skin is a report of good health. Drink a glass of water every hour to keep it hydrated and detoxed. To achieve radiant skin, it is important to have a combination of all types of colourful foods like, red, yellow, purple, orange, white, and green, which help nourish the skin. Skin looks dull if you have an empty stomach for more than two hours. The moment you eat, there is an instant glow. We are introducing a weekly column, Beauty Basics, every fortnight, beginning this Thursday. Nyra, an upcoming cine star, is our Beauty expert, will give you invaluable tips to look and feel beautiful, exclusively in Different Truths.
We Indians are lucky to have widely varied shades, tones, and textures of skin. Though most people have a fascination or a bias about fair skin, the texture and health of the skin and importantly, the features, enhance the beauty of a face much more than just the colour as they add to your unique look. Ranging from yellowish in the northeast to whitish-pinkish in Kashmir to peaches in Bengal to wheatish to coppery to honey to brown and darker coloured skin, we are born with different contents of melanin as per region. A South Indian needs to have enough melanin in the body to survive the sunlight as melanin protects the skin. Trying to reduce melanin to look fairer may lead to complications and diseases. We are blessed with natural complexion and typical features to enhance our beauty, health and identity.
To have a radiant complexion and maintain the texture of skin and keep it supple, correct diet, Sun protection and Vitamin C are key. A good skin is a report of good health. I drink a glass of water every hour to keep myself hydrated and detoxed. You can also have a cut lime in the water bottle.
To achieve radiant skin, it is important to have a combination of all types of colourful foods like, red, yellow, purple, orange, white, and green, which help nourish the skin. White foods like garlic and white onions are a major source of antioxidants. The Beta-carotene and Vitamin C in orange foods add radiance and a fairer look by protecting the cells. The anthocyanin in purple foods increases blood flow. Papaya and reds like tomatoes, strawberries and cherries are natural anti-oxidants and cancer-preventers. Green foods help fight disease. Even the spicy raw green chillies can add a ruddy glow to the skin!
Two cups of green tea or green coffee act as energy-boosters and anti-oxidants. I drink green tea after my main meals, sometimes infusing it further with mint and coriander leaves. If you notice, skin looks dull if you have an empty stomach for more than two hours. The moment you eat, there is an instant glow.
Let’s talk about skin colour enhancement with correct products. In order to look naturally radiant, it is important to use the appropriate foundation for your particular skin type and colour. Make-up should be used only to enhance what is God-gifted, not change it. As I have a fair, tender and sensitive skin, I 
use minimum foundation – just a dab to enhance my T-zone. Foundations mixed with sunscreen gives an illuminous look and protects as well. For looking naturally radiant, you can use foundation two shades lighter than your real skin colour as your face and hands are darker than the rest of your body. Blending your foundation with your moisturiser or using sunscreen-based foundation is very important to prevent looking chalky. Hydrating your skin internally and externally helps makeup set quickly and sustains it for a longer time. I suggest never to try foundation compacts and concealers, which are not closer to your real skin colour. For North-easterners, proper contouring should be done with two shades darker than your natural skin to give a good sharpness and curvature. For broad foreheads, contouring can be done along the hairline and highlight the T-zone. Nose can be made to look sharper. Those who do not have high cheek bones can give a good shape using bronzers or the matt-finish ones for office wear. Use contouring to sharpen your jawline, which helps define the face. Peach colour blush-on go great with honey-coloured skin, whereas bright pink looks stunning on peaches, wheatish and fair skin.
A lot also depends on the shape of your eyebrows. You must fill up your eyebrows or define them with the colour closest to your hair.
©Nyra Banerjee
Pix from the Net.
