By Trisha Chawla

After months of working from home and trading makeup in for mini beauty treatments between virtual meetings, it is no surprise to us that joyous shades of cobalt blues, pastel lilacs and ruby reds are making a comeback into our beauty kits.

Admit it, we know that you have binged video tutorials at midnight and tried on bright lipsticks and eyeliners in the comfort of your bedroom. But the idea of wearing them outside can seem pretty daunting, right?

Well luckily, we asked Bollywood’s favourite makeup artist, Elton Fernandez, the easiest way to take your bright hues from the bedroom to the bar. Get ready to take some notes:

THE COLOUR PALETTE
When incorporating bright shades into your look, it’s all about picking the right colour. Fernandez says, "Indian skin tone is a beautiful, neutral tone which goes well with almost any colour. We tend to have darker irises, so colours like blues, greens, purples, greys, plums and deep berries sit really well against them.”

THE TREND
Fernandez believes that makeup is truly an extension of your personality. It should make you feel confident and add a spring to your step each day, no matter how you wear it. If you’re a beginner wondering how to introduce colour to your look, he recommends a bright kajal or eyeliner.

“You can also apply a little eyeshadow on the outer corner of the eyelid and blend it well. Or try wearing a pop colour on the insides near the tear duct to be more experimental,” he adds. If you want to go all out glam, Fernandez recommends a cut crease liner that’s concentrated in the upper crease of your lid or a wash of colour that extends till your eyebrow.

THE PRO TIP FOR YOU
Have you ever tried wearing a bright colour on your eyes only to have it look washed out in the next few hours? We know how that feels! Fernandez says the key to avoiding this and making the colour pop lies in the correct prep.

Step 1:
“Start by making sure your skin is well hydrated. This ensures that it doesn’t absorb moisture from the makeup and dull the colour.”

Step 2:
“Use a primer all over your eyes and allow it to set for a minute before you add any product.”

Step 3:
“Use a thin veil of cream eyeshadow and layer it with a powder in the same colour you want to wear. The powder will latch on to the cream formula to give you a long-lasting colour that pops.”

THE FINISHING TOUCH
When you’re making a statement with your eyes, there’s always the million-dollar question of what shade to wear on your lips. Sure, you could pair a cobalt blue eyeliner with a striking red lip - we know you’re all for experimentation!

But if you really want the colour to be the hero, Fernandez says, “Focus on one feature and leave the rest of your makeup neutral. A healthy, dewy base created with a little bit of foundation or concealer is the perfect canvas for bright makeup looks.”

How To Make A Statement With Pop Colours