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Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI (Fashion Design Council of India), the much-talked-about fashion extravaganza, concluded with a bang on March 13, 2022. Celebrated Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra headlined the grand finale with an electrifying showcase of his latest collection - Diffuse. Bollywood stars Aditya Roy Kapur and Ananya Panday were the showstoppers for the closing show. And while everyone is raving about the retro meets new-age designs and the showstoppers, we just can’t take our minds off the mesmerising makeup and hair looks created for this and the other Lakmé shows of this season.
The credit for these noteworthy beauty looks goes to celebrity makeup artist Daniel C Bauer and his team. He works with the likes of Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma, and Deepika Padukone. On this season of the said fashion week, his creative process included classic fiery red lips, crystal headbands, bold black eyeliners, metallic brows, and free and flowing hairstyles.
In an interview with Zee Zest, Daniel talks about being unapologetically yourself, emerging trends for summer, fun challenges the fashion week throws at artists, and his inspiration, and also lets us in on a bunch of secrets to ace the beauty game this season.
Read the edited excerpts below:
1. Across your shows at LFW, what are the emerging hair/makeup themes that one should sit up and take notice of?
We played with lots of colours and bold looks this time. We had bold black liners with golden eyes and colourful graphic liners as well. The red lips made a statement this season along with bright pinks and nudes. The hair owned the runway, we kept it free to flow, wild and sexy.
2. What is the most stressful or limiting makeup to do during fashion week?
Firstly, it feels amazing to be back at the Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI. Everyone at the Lakmé Fashion Week knows the joys of a three-designer show. You have three designers sharing a show slot and there are sometimes just three minutes between shows. In these three minutes, 16 models change their outfits from one designer to another and at the same time, we might be required to change their hair and makeup. It’s beyond stressful but so addictive and that’s why we come back every season of Lakmé Fashion Week.
3. What’s your favourite colour to use now? Why?
The human eye can recognise over a million unique colours, why would you ever want to pick one as your favourite? Life is better with different colours!
4. What keeps you creatively inspired?
People fuel my creativity, there is something to learn from everyone from every walk of life. Being open to ideas, naturally inquisitive, and being humble generates endless creativity.
5. What are the three beauty trends that women should follow this summer?
I recommend all women to follow these tips: Don’t follow any trends, love yourself and set your own makeup trends. If I must mention a summer tip, it would be light sheer makeup to keep your skin moisturised. I’d recommend the Lakmé Absolute Lip Mousse and Lakmé 9To5 CC Light Mousse to create a perfect lightweight, moisturised summer makeup look.
6. Celebrities and influencers on Instagram have become a major influence on the beauty industry. Who is your favourite?
Instagram is like instant glam. One filter can trick the world into believing something which is not true. Real influence is what you see around you - people not living their lives on their phones, but those embracing our beautiful world and living in it. We have had fads, fashion, and style. Instagram is just a fad, full of opinions on how not to look like yourself so it’s better to be yourself.
7. When it comes to bridal makeup, the biggest faux pas is…
Bridal Makeup is such a fun topic, I think the biggest faux pas is when people show a before and after video of the wedding makeup look. Having the bride look her most horrendous self at the start and then miraculously showing how makeup has transformed her beyond recognition. All brides should feel beautiful and be treated with respect, with or without makeup.
8. Most trendsetting Bollywood celebs, according to you are...
Whoever I am doing makeup for!
9. With the constant use of makeup, what is the one hack that celebrities follow to ensure clear skin?
This is quite simple; they never go to bed with their makeup on. The best makeup is your best skin.
10. Which famous artists have influenced you, and how?
I am influenced by the genius Alexander McQueen! He was one of a kind, and nothing ever seems to come close to what he did all those years ago. This genius inspires me every day.
11. What is the most important beauty advice that you can give to both men & women?
Be you, unapologetically!
Photo: Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI and Instagram/Daniel Bauer