Diwali is knocking, the outfit is finally sorted, the jewellery is out of its box and the festive invitations are piling up. There’s just one tiny problem: your makeup. Between getting the family ready,
making last-minute mithai runs and figuring out which lipstick goes with that gorgeous new saree, spending an hour in front of the mirror isn’t exactly an option.
But who says you need an elaborate makeup sesh to get your festive glam game sorted?
This festive season, we’re taking the shortcut to looking fabulous, and our favourite Bollywood divas are showing us exactly how. From dreamy mocha eyes and glossy pink lips to sultry metallics and sun-kissed bronze skin, there’s a beauty look for every kind of festive mood. The best part? You can recreate these looks in just 10 minutes. So, put that elaborate makeup routine on hold, grab your brushes and get ready to steal a few beauty tricks from the Bollywood glam squad.
1. Janhvi Kapoor’s Mocha Rose Makeup
If your makeup mood board is filled with warm browns, flushed cheeks and lips that look like your natural pout, only better, Janhvi Kapoor has just the inspiration you need. Her look is a delicious mix of mocha makeup and romantic soft glam, borrowing from the latte makeup trend that’s been all over Instagram and TikTok. Think diffused chocolate-brown eyes, softly sculpted cheeks and peachy-nude lips. It’s understated, feminine and has just enough drama to make you look like you’ve spent considerably longer getting ready than you actually have.
Let’s start with those gorgeous eyes. Sweep a warm taupe or soft brown eyeshadow across your lids, then take a deeper chocolate shade to the outer corners and blend it upwards towards the crease. Don’t worry about making everything look too precise; the beauty of this look is in those softly blended edges. Run a little of the same brown along your lower lash line, add brown or black kajal close to the lashes and finish with two generous coats of mascara. Huda Beauty’s Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette is a lovely high-end pick, while Maybelline New York’s The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette will get the job done without making your wallet cry.
For the complexion, ditch the heavy, cakey base. You want fresh, satin-like skin that looks healthy rather than overly perfected. Apply a lightweight foundation or skin tint, dab concealer under the eyes and around the nose, and blend everything seamlessly. Now comes the fun part: a peachy-rose blush swept across the apples of your cheeks and blended towards the temples. Kay Beauty’s Matte Blush is a great everyday option, while Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush is worth the splurge if you love a more pigmented, buildable formula. Add a little highlighter to your cheekbones and the bridge of your nose. For the lips, a nude-brown liner paired with a peachy-nude lipstick completes the look beautifully. M.A.C’s Powder Kiss Lipstick is a gorgeous high-end option, while Maybelline New York’s Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick is a wallet-friendly alternative. And there you have it: mocha, rose and a whole lot of festive charm!
2. Rashmika Mandanna’s Rose Gold Siren
Some makeup looks whisper, while others know exactly how to make an entrance. Rashmika Mandanna’s rose-gold eye makeup belongs firmly in the latter category. With metallic pinkish-gold eyelids, a sharp black wing, bronzed skin and a rich rosy-brown lip, this look is serving festive glamour with a side of old-school Bollywood drama. The eyes deserve your undivided attention here. Sweep a champagne or rose-gold shimmer across your lids, concentrating the pigment towards the centre for that beautiful metallic finish. Blend a soft brown shade into the crease, then pick up a black liquid liner and draw a wing that extends just beyond the outer corners. The trick is to keep the flick sharp and slightly elongated. Add black kajal along the lower waterline, smudge a little brown eyeshadow beneath the lashes and finish with volumising mascara. For a high-end option, explore Huda Beauty’s eyeshadow palettes for their metallic shades, while Maybelline New York’s City Mini Eyeshadow Palette in Rooftop Bronze is a more affordable pick. MARS’ City Strokes Charming Eyes Liquid Eyeliner can help you nail that precise wing.
Keep the rest of your face bronzed and luminous. A lightweight foundation, a little concealer and some warm-toned bronzer along the cheekbones, temples and jawline will give you that softly sculpted finish. Add a champagne highlighter to the cheekbones. For the lips, skip the pale nude and reach for a muted rose-brown or rosy mauve lipstick. M.A.C’s Satin Lipstick range is worth exploring if you want a polished finish, while Maybelline New York’s Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick has several wearable shades. Let the eyes steal the show and you’re ready to turn a few heads!
3. Kangana Ranaut’s Old-World Indian Charm
Not every Diwali beauty look needs glitter, dramatic eyeliner or a bold red pout. Sometimes, a beautiful silk saree, heirloom jewellery and a perfectly placed bindi are all the drama you need. The trick is to keep the eyes softly defined. Sweep a warm taupe or muted brown eyeshadow across the lids and blend it gently into the crease. Add a touch of champagne shimmer to the centre of the eyelids and inner corners to brighten the eyes without going overboard on the sparkle. Define the upper lash line with a thin stroke of brown or black eyeliner and finish with a coat of mascara. MAC’s Connect In Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Unfiltered Nudes is a lovely high-end option, while Maybelline New York’s The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette is a more affordable alternative.
For the base, think fresh skin rather than a full-coverage mask. Apply a lightweight foundation, conceal where needed and lightly dust a warm peach or muted rose blush over the cheeks. A little bronzer around the temples and cheekbones adds warmth, while a restrained touch of highlighter gives the skin a healthy finish. MAC Powder Blush is a lovely investment, while Lakmé 9 to 5 Pure Rouge Blusher is a more budget-friendly option. Keep your lips in the nude-peach family with a hint of warm pink. M.A.C’s Matte Lipstick in Mehr is a lovely rosy pick, while Maybelline New York’s Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick range offers several affordable alternatives. Now add a tiny bindi, groom those brows and spritz on some setting spray. Who needs a complicated makeup routine when timeless Indian glam looks this good?
4. Tamannaah Bhatia Serves Blush-Pink Doll
For those who believe you can never have too much blush, Tamannaah Bhatia’s look is practically a love letter to pink makeup. With luminous skin, flushed cheeks, champagne-pink eyelids and glossy rose-pink lips, this is a pretty take on the doll makeup and coquette beauty aesthetics doing the rounds on social media. The fluttery lashes and delicate pink palette give it a youthful, romantic finish, while that little red bindi brings in a lovely traditional touch. If your festive outfit is pastel, floral or embellished in soft shades, bookmark this one immediately.
Start with a wash of champagne-pink shimmer across the lids, then blend a soft rose or dusty-pink eyeshadow into the crease. A little warm brown on the outer corners will add definition without taking away from the softness of the look. Dab some champagne shimmer on the inner corners, subtly define the upper lash line and reach for your eyelash curler. Seriously, don’t skip this step! Two coats of a lengthening mascara will give you those fluttery, wide-eyed lashes. Huda Beauty’s Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette in Light is a lovely option for rosy and champagne tones, while Maybelline New York’s The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette is easier on the pocket. L’Oréal Paris Lash Paradise Mascara is a great pick for adding volume.
Now, if there’s one product you shouldn’t be shy with, it’s blush. Apply a rosy-pink or peach blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend it upwards towards the temples. You can even dab a little across the bridge of your nose for that fresh, just-pinched flush. Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush is a gorgeous high-end pick, while Kay Beauty’s Matte Blush makes for a more affordable alternative. Add a little liquid highlighter to the cheekbones for a pearlescent glow. For the lips, ditch the heavy matte lipstick and embrace a glossy rose-pink pout. Dior Addict Lip Maximizer is a luxurious treat, while Maybelline New York Lifter Gloss delivers that juicy finish at a friendlier price. Add your little red bindi and you’re all set. Pretty, playful and positively camera-ready!
5. Sharvari’s Soft Cocoa Makeup
If you’re someone who likes her makeup subtle but still wants people to notice how good she looks, Sharvari’s beauty look deserves a spot on your Diwali mood board. Think warm caramel eyes, softly flushed cheeks and a rosy-brown nude lip, all coming together in a beautifully blended, monochromatic finish. It borrows from the latte makeup aesthetic, but is softer and more understated. No dramatic wings, no glitter overload and definitely no complicated contouring. Just a little cocoa-toned magic!
Start with a soft caramel or warm taupe eyeshadow across the lids, then blend a deeper chocolate-brown shade into the outer corners and crease. Add a hint of champagne shimmer to the inner corners to brighten the eyes, followed by a thin line of brown eyeliner close to the upper lashes. Skip the dramatic wing and let your mascara do the heavy lifting. Huda Beauty’s Empowered Eyeshadow Palette has a gorgeous mix of warm neutrals and metallics, while Maybelline New York’s The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette is a wallet-friendly pick.
For the complexion, you want that ‘my skin but better’ finish. Use a lightweight foundation or skin tint, blend concealer under the eyes and around the nose, and lightly set your T-zone while allowing the rest of your face to retain its natural radiance. Sweep a muted peach or warm rose blush across the cheeks and add a touch of bronzer along the cheekbones and temples. Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Foundation is a high-end option, while L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation is a more accessible alternative. For blush, try Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush if you like a pigmented formula, or Kay Beauty’s Matte Blush for a softer finish. The lips are deliberately understated, with a soft rosy-brown nude tying everything together. M.A.C’s Matte Lipstick in Whirl is a lovely high-end choice, while Maybelline New York’s Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Nude Nuance is a more affordable alternative. The result? Effortless, elegant and just the right amount of glam.
6. Rakul Preet Singh’s Sun-Kissed Bronze Goddess Look
And finally, for those who like their festive makeup warm, glowy and just a little bit bronzed, Rakul Preet Singh has the perfect inspiration. Her look is all about softly smoked eyes, bronzed cheeks, a luminous complexion and glossy nude-pink lips. Borrowing from the bronze goddess and sunset makeup aesthetics, it brings together warm golden, caramel and peachy tones for that gorgeous sun-kissed finish. This one is particularly lovely with coral, peach, orange and gold outfits, especially if your Diwali plans involve an evening party.
Start with a warm terracotta or caramel-brown eyeshadow across the lids, blending it into the crease. Add a deeper chocolate shade to the outer corners for dimension, keeping the edges soft and diffused. A touch of champagne or bronze shimmer on the centre of the lids will catch the light beautifully. Finish with a thin line of brown eyeliner and a generous coat of mascara. Charlotte Tilbury’s Luxury Palette in The Golden Goddess is a beautiful high-end choice, while Maybelline New York’s The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette offers a more affordable way to recreate the colour story.
Now for the glow! Begin with a luminous foundation or skin tint, using concealer selectively to even out the complexion without masking its natural texture. Sweep a warm bronzer across the cheekbones, temples and jawline, then blend a peachy-coral blush onto the apples of the cheeks and towards the temples. A little highlighter on the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupid’s bow adds that coveted sunlit sheen. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is a gorgeous luxury investment, while L’Oréal Paris True Match Foundation is a more accessible alternative. Try Benefit Cosmetics’ Hoola Matte Bronzer for a high-end sculpting option or Makeup Revolution’s Ultra Cream Bronzer if you’re watching your beauty budget. For the lips, choose a glossy nude-pink or warm rose-brown shade. Charlotte Tilbury’s K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick range offers beautiful polished nude shades, while Maybelline New York’s Lifter Gloss is an easy, affordable way to achieve that juicy finish. Finish with a setting spray and get ready to glow your way through the festivities!
The 10-minute beauty cheat sheet: Here’s a little trick for those mornings or evenings when you’re already running late. Spend two minutes evening out your complexion, three minutes defining your eyes, two minutes adding blush, bronzer and highlighter, and the final three perfecting your lips, mascara and setting spray. You don’t need to use every product in your vanity, either. Pick one feature you want to highlight, keep the rest of your makeup complementary and remember that blending is your best friend. Now go enjoy the festivities, eat that extra piece of kaju katli and make sure someone gets a good picture of your makeup before the party is over!
