Beauty Front Benchers
Recreate Huda Kattan’s ultimate shaadi look in 8 easy steps
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Working in the beauty space means you’re constantly learning, unlearning and relearning what makeup can actually do. Every day, someone on the team walks in with a new technique, a niche tip or a ‘trust me, just try it’ hack that somehow works. So, this time, instead of keeping the tricks to ourselves, we decided to give you a little peek.
We went around the Tira office and asked the most clued-in members of the team to spill the makeup hacks they swear by. And to be clear, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill hacks pulled from a scroll session. These are lived-in, tested-on-Monday-morning tricks that our team has perfected over time. Read on for a full download.
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The viral blush that lives up to the hype. It delivers that fresh, post-run flush with a smooth, cooling texture that melts into skin. The finish? Natural, dewy, and just glossy enough to catch the light without looking shiny.
If you want that natural winter flush, this is it. The Love Cake shade melts into your skin for a soft, healthy glow that looks like it’s coming from within. It’s lightweight, blendable and gives just the right amount of colour. A few dabs on the cheeks and you’re good to go.
Douse your cheeks in the dusty hues of a beach sunset with one of the best blushes for summer: Huda Beauty’s Blush Filter Liquid Blush. Designed to deliver an airbrushed finish, the pigmented hue offers a generous amount of playtime with the first swipe of the doe foot applicator. As a sweet bonus, the perfumed blush will envelop your visage with a candied scent for the day.
If you’re looking for a cleansing water that goes beyond makeup removal, COSRX delivers with this low pH, niacinamide-infused micellar formula. Designed to respect your skin barrier, this cleanser has a gentle pH of around 5.5 and includes 3 percent niacinamide to help reduce oiliness and improve uneven skin tone. It removes dirt, sunscreen and makeup effortlessly without leaving a greasy film or stripping your skin. Free from drying alcohols and artificial fragrances, it’s especially well-suited for sensitive and acne-prone skin types.
This powder gets the job done without overdoing it. It sets your base, smooths everything out and leaves your skin looking bright but still real. The Cherry Blossom shade adds a soft pink tone that lifts your under-eye area and gives that awake, natural finish. It’s weightless, blends easily and never feels heavy.
Looking to keep shine at bay on busy summer days? Maybelline’s loose finishing powder will be your new beauty bestie. Available in four shades to suit diverse skin tones, the mineral-based powder works on erasing shine and covering up blemishes for an airbrushed finish. The best part? It plays well with both full glam and no-makeup makeup days.
When your skincare routine for acne starts stretching your wallet, it’s time to bring in a budget-friendly hero. Enter this cult-favourite concealer—a full-coverage staple that won’t break the bank. Available in 25 inclusive shades, it’s non-greasy, featherlight formula is designed to keep your breakouts at bay for long hours.
“My everyday makeup is usually light, breathable and out-the-door-in-five. I’ve tried a bunch of tricks to get a second-skin, naturally flushed finish: ice rollers, mixing foundation with moisturiser, even tapping on leftover lipstick. But nothing has worked like the one hack I’m absolutely obsessed with right now.
Take a liquid blush—any one you love—and pump a tiny bit onto your palm. Warm it up between your hands like you’re about to do a mini face massage. Then gently press it onto the higher points of your cheeks. Don’t swipe or drag it. Just light dabs. The result will be a super believable, post-run kind of flush that makes you look fresh in two seconds. It’s literally my go-to, especially on mornings when I’m already running late.”
“When I run out of brow gel—it happens more often than I’d like to admit—I just reach for the OG multitasker sitting in almost every Indian household: good old Vaseline balm or petroleum jelly. I take the tiniest amount on my spoolie, brush it through my brows and shape them like usual. Honestly, the hold and shine mimic a proper brow gel.
I even use the same trick for my lashes. A super light coat of Vaseline works beautifully as a primer before mascara—it separates the lashes, adds a bit of moisture and makes your mascara glide on smoother. It’s one of those simple little beauty hacks that saves the day.”
“I’m always experimenting with my makeup products in ways they were never intended. Like I use a wine-coloured lip liner as an eyeliner. I have brown eyes and I’ve read everywhere that deep red tones make them instantly pop. So now, instead of limiting the lip liner to just my lips, I run it along the outer corners of my eyes and flick it out into a soft, subtle wing.
It sounds a little difficult but, trust me, it works. This tiny trick pulls everything together and makes it look like I actually put in effort (even when I didn’t). It’s honestly one of those hacks that just delivers every single time.”
“While I don’t really have a makeup hack, I do have a hack for removing it. On days when I’m running late, which is… often, I rely on my little trick: I pour my go-to micellar water into a tiny spray bottle and keep it in my bag. When it’s crunch time, I just spritz it all over like a face mist and the makeup comes off real quick.
It’s the quickest reset ever—you don’t even need cotton pads. I swear the level of creativity that kicks in when you’re five minutes away from stepping out again is wild. And this one has saved me more times than I can count.”
“Here’s the funny thing about being a lipstick hoarder: somehow, in the moment you really need a specific shade, you won’t find it. Happens to me all the time. So, when I can’t find the shade I want, I take a little bit of my regular stick balm, swipe some onto my fingertip and then dip into the eyeshadow shade I’m feeling that day. Mix them and tap it onto your lips. Because you’re blending eyeshadow pigment with a formula that’s made for lips, the finish turns out surprisingly smooth, soft and hydrated. And the best part is you get the exact colour you imagined, every single time.”
“There’s this one concealer hack I’ve sworn by for years and it changed my entire under-eye routine. It’s ridiculously simple too. I just tap a tiny bit of loose powder onto the tip of my concealer applicator—just a soft coat so it doesn’t cake up. Then I apply the concealer slightly below my under-eye area and let it sit for a few seconds. That little pause makes all the difference.
When I blend it out with a concealer brush, it somehow blurs everything—pores, fine lines, any patchiness—and it sits so much smoother without creasing halfway through the day. Remember to blend it towards your under-eye area. It’s one of those tricks you discover after a million trial-and-error moments, where suddenly something clicks and you’re like, ‘Wait… why does this work so well’. But it does. And now I can’t imagine doing my concealer any other way.”
“I’ve been obsessed with that tiny inner-corner eyeliner flick every creator seems to nail so effortlessly. So here’s what works: a bobby pin. Just use the rounded ends to gently pinch the top of your nose bridge—right where it meets the inner corners of your eyes. It subtly stretches that area, giving you a steadier, more precise surface to slide your liner in without tearing up. It sounds a little chaotic but it works. Just be super gentle and take your time. It’s a fun little trick to try, especially if you’re still mastering the inner-corner flick—and please, hack safely”
“My everyday makeup is usually light, breathable and out-the-door-in-five. I’ve tried a bunch of tricks to get a second-skin, naturally flushed finish: ice rollers, mixing foundation with moisturiser, even tapping on leftover lipstick. But nothing has worked like the one hack I’m absolutely obsessed with right now.
Take a liquid blush—any one you love—and pump a tiny bit onto your palm. Warm it up between your hands like you’re about to do a mini face massage. Then gently press it onto the higher points of your cheeks. Don’t swipe or drag it. Just light dabs. The result will be a super believable, post-run kind of flush that makes you look fresh in two seconds. It’s literally my go-to, especially on mornings when I’m already running late.”
“When I run out of brow gel—it happens more often than I’d like to admit—I just reach for the OG multitasker sitting in almost every Indian household: good old Vaseline balm or petroleum jelly. I take the tiniest amount on my spoolie, brush it through my brows and shape them like usual. Honestly, the hold and shine mimic a proper brow gel.
I even use the same trick for my lashes. A super light coat of Vaseline works beautifully as a primer before mascara—it separates the lashes, adds a bit of moisture and makes your mascara glide on smoother. It’s one of those simple little beauty hacks that saves the day.”
“I’m always experimenting with my makeup products in ways they were never intended. Like I use a wine-coloured lip liner as an eyeliner. I have brown eyes and I’ve read everywhere that deep red tones make them instantly pop. So now, instead of limiting the lip liner to just my lips, I run it along the outer corners of my eyes and flick it out into a soft, subtle wing.
It sounds a little difficult but, trust me, it works. This tiny trick pulls everything together and makes it look like I actually put in effort (even when I didn’t). It’s honestly one of those hacks that just delivers every single time.”
“While I don’t really have a makeup hack, I do have a hack for removing it. On days when I’m running late, which is… often, I rely on my little trick: I pour my go-to micellar water into a tiny spray bottle and keep it in my bag. When it’s crunch time, I just spritz it all over like a face mist and the makeup comes off real quick.
It’s the quickest reset ever—you don’t even need cotton pads. I swear the level of creativity that kicks in when you’re five minutes away from stepping out again is wild. And this one has saved me more times than I can count.”
“Here’s the funny thing about being a lipstick hoarder: somehow, in the moment you really need a specific shade, you won’t find it. Happens to me all the time. So, when I can’t find the shade I want, I take a little bit of my regular stick balm, swipe some onto my fingertip and then dip into the eyeshadow shade I’m feeling that day. Mix them and tap it onto your lips. Because you’re blending eyeshadow pigment with a formula that’s made for lips, the finish turns out surprisingly smooth, soft and hydrated. And the best part is you get the exact colour you imagined, every single time.”
“There’s this one concealer hack I’ve sworn by for years and it changed my entire under-eye routine. It’s ridiculously simple too. I just tap a tiny bit of loose powder onto the tip of my concealer applicator—just a soft coat so it doesn’t cake up. Then I apply the concealer slightly below my under-eye area and let it sit for a few seconds. That little pause makes all the difference.
When I blend it out with a concealer brush, it somehow blurs everything—pores, fine lines, any patchiness—and it sits so much smoother without creasing halfway through the day. Remember to blend it towards your under-eye area. It’s one of those tricks you discover after a million trial-and-error moments, where suddenly something clicks and you’re like, ‘Wait… why does this work so well’. But it does. And now I can’t imagine doing my concealer any other way.”
“I’ve been obsessed with that tiny inner-corner eyeliner flick every creator seems to nail so effortlessly. So here’s what works: a bobby pin. Just use the rounded ends to gently pinch the top of your nose bridge—right where it meets the inner corners of your eyes. It subtly stretches that area, giving you a steadier, more precise surface to slide your liner in without tearing up. It sounds a little chaotic but it works. Just be super gentle and take your time. It’s a fun little trick to try, especially if you’re still mastering the inner-corner flick—and please, hack safely”
“My everyday makeup is usually light, breathable and out-the-door-in-five. I’ve tried a bunch of tricks to get a second-skin, naturally flushed finish: ice rollers, mixing foundation with moisturiser, even tapping on leftover lipstick. But nothing has worked like the one hack I’m absolutely obsessed with right now.
Take a liquid blush—any one you love—and pump a tiny bit onto your palm. Warm it up between your hands like you’re about to do a mini face massage. Then gently press it onto the higher points of your cheeks. Don’t swipe or drag it. Just light dabs. The result will be a super believable, post-run kind of flush that makes you look fresh in two seconds. It’s literally my go-to, especially on mornings when I’m already running late.”
“When I run out of brow gel—it happens more often than I’d like to admit—I just reach for the OG multitasker sitting in almost every Indian household: good old Vaseline balm or petroleum jelly. I take the tiniest amount on my spoolie, brush it through my brows and shape them like usual. Honestly, the hold and shine mimic a proper brow gel.
I even use the same trick for my lashes. A super light coat of Vaseline works beautifully as a primer before mascara—it separates the lashes, adds a bit of moisture and makes your mascara glide on smoother. It’s one of those simple little beauty hacks that saves the day.”
“I’m always experimenting with my makeup products in ways they were never intended. Like I use a wine-coloured lip liner as an eyeliner. I have brown eyes and I’ve read everywhere that deep red tones make them instantly pop. So now, instead of limiting the lip liner to just my lips, I run it along the outer corners of my eyes and flick it out into a soft, subtle wing.
It sounds a little difficult but, trust me, it works. This tiny trick pulls everything together and makes it look like I actually put in effort (even when I didn’t). It’s honestly one of those hacks that just delivers every single time.”
“While I don’t really have a makeup hack, I do have a hack for removing it. On days when I’m running late, which is… often, I rely on my little trick: I pour my go-to micellar water into a tiny spray bottle and keep it in my bag. When it’s crunch time, I just spritz it all over like a face mist and the makeup comes off real quick.
It’s the quickest reset ever—you don’t even need cotton pads. I swear the level of creativity that kicks in when you’re five minutes away from stepping out again is wild. And this one has saved me more times than I can count.”
“Here’s the funny thing about being a lipstick hoarder: somehow, in the moment you really need a specific shade, you won’t find it. Happens to me all the time. So, when I can’t find the shade I want, I take a little bit of my regular stick balm, swipe some onto my fingertip and then dip into the eyeshadow shade I’m feeling that day. Mix them and tap it onto your lips. Because you’re blending eyeshadow pigment with a formula that’s made for lips, the finish turns out surprisingly smooth, soft and hydrated. And the best part is you get the exact colour you imagined, every single time.”
“There’s this one concealer hack I’ve sworn by for years and it changed my entire under-eye routine. It’s ridiculously simple too. I just tap a tiny bit of loose powder onto the tip of my concealer applicator—just a soft coat so it doesn’t cake up. Then I apply the concealer slightly below my under-eye area and let it sit for a few seconds. That little pause makes all the difference.
When I blend it out with a concealer brush, it somehow blurs everything—pores, fine lines, any patchiness—and it sits so much smoother without creasing halfway through the day. Remember to blend it towards your under-eye area. It’s one of those tricks you discover after a million trial-and-error moments, where suddenly something clicks and you’re like, ‘Wait… why does this work so well’. But it does. And now I can’t imagine doing my concealer any other way.”
“I’ve been obsessed with that tiny inner-corner eyeliner flick every creator seems to nail so effortlessly. So here’s what works: a bobby pin. Just use the rounded ends to gently pinch the top of your nose bridge—right where it meets the inner corners of your eyes. It subtly stretches that area, giving you a steadier, more precise surface to slide your liner in without tearing up. It sounds a little chaotic but it works. Just be super gentle and take your time. It’s a fun little trick to try, especially if you’re still mastering the inner-corner flick—and please, hack safely”
