Make-It Up: Winter’s Necessary Friends
by, Saima Ashraf 
Winter make up should reflect the need for heavier clothing and darker colors; it should reflect the ice cold wind that cuts through those layers of clothing. That means you put away the light foundations and summery shadows and bring out the oil based moisturizers, protective foundations and matte eye shadows in fall and winter colors like jade, grey and brown, with a focus on heavier eyes. Here are NEEM’s make up MUST HAVES for winter.
Shine & Shimmer without the Glitter: Mannequin Skin Complexion Enhancer by Jemma Kidd
Pretty new on the beauty scene in the US, Jemma Kidd blew us away with this pearl-like primer. When the 
beauty experts call for radiant skin… us South Asian women sit back and think, “we can barely find foundation, what the hell is primer?” Primer is what can take your normal foundation go from “nice” to “va va va voom.” And Jemma Kidd’s affordable line of JK gives you supermodel glamour at the tip of your fingers. The best way to apply the primer is dab it onto your skin and then smooth it throughout the face. Then follow with foundation or tinted moisturizer. We at NEEM were speechless when we tried on various skin colors and found that it worked all of us!
Not a Single Color – Too many to choose!
Like we said in our last go around, greys don’t flatter South Asian women. But since the make up look for winter calls for more somber colors compared to the summer’s wistful hues, we decided that we were going to make all the colors work for us: jade, black, rose, blue and various shades of brown. South Asian women are blessed with skin that allows us to wear numerous colors without looking…overdone. So NEEM recommends Urban Decay’s Ammo Shadow Box to fulfill your color needs this winter. Remember – keep it heavy, but don’t keep it dull. Use your skintone to your advantage.
Play Up Them Eyes: Oscillation Mascara by Lancome
We have been searching for the right mascara for South Asian women. From Dior to Maybelline we wondered: who are these mascaras targeted to? South Asian women have naturally dark eyelashes… but what we want is HEAVIER looking lashes that extend beyond mercy. Our prayers were FINALLY answered with Lancome’s Oscillation Mascara. Just turn the switch on and enjoy the super lush results. Despite the vibrating mascara wand, you hardly feel anything and the results are great. Oscillation mascara will thicken your lashes with each application – but we don’t recommend more than three coats (to prevent the look of tarantula eyes!).
Blush a Little
With the rest of your focus on the eyes, leave the lips lightly stained and add on a creamy blush. The good news is that creamy blush is still the rage and the stay on better during cold winter months – and they give you a more dewy look than powder blush. This season, NEEM recommends Benefit’s Cheekies Cream Blush in Gotta Crush On You. It’ll give you a naturally flushed look, and your friends will wonder what you’ve been up to..
No go out and rock the look!
