If you’ve ever stopped and admired the dewy, lit-from-within makeup base or a natural, nude pout on your favourite Gen Z star, chances are, you’re already familiar with Mehak Oberoi’s work, without even realising it. One look at the makeup artist’s star-studded Instagram feed and it’s clear—she is behind some of the most popular celebrity makeup looks you’ve seen in the past few years. With over 180k followers on Instagram alone, she’s worked her magic on Kiara Advani, Suhana Khan, Navya Naveli Nanda and Alaya F to name a few. While the looks differ according to the occasion and individual preference, her signature remains a constant in most looks—she has mastered the much-coveted luminous base that’s taken over the red carpet and our social media feeds alike.
Most recently, she teamed up with Tira to create Suhana Khan’s glazed shimmer look. We’re talking ethereal shimmery lids and an ultra-glazed complexion replete with juicy, high-shine lips. As we got chatting with the makeup artist, she revealed some of her favourite makeup hacks to use, her makeup pet peeves and the most fun memories from shooting with Suhana Khan. Plus, her expert tips on tackling some of the most common makeup concerns, from making your blush last through the day to avoiding a heavy, cakey base
Tira: Who is your all-time favourite fashion and beauty icon?
Mehak: My favourite icon has to be Rekha ji. I love Rihanna, too. These two are my all-time favourites for sure.
Tira: What’s a makeup hack that you actually use?
Mehak: Instagram makeup hacks are super popular these days. I don’t know if this is an Instagram hack but this is something I use all the time. I dip my makeup sponge in ice and I keep setting my makeup on and off with it throughout. I find that the cooling dampness from the sponge really helps the makeup melt into the skin and blend very effortlessly too. It feels lightweight on the skin but lasts long without smudging or fading. Also, it helps achieve a glowy, luminous finish that I love.
Tira: Do you have a makeup pet peeve?
Mehak: I think there's a list of them! But to start with, I cannot stand seeing anyone using dirty brushes or sponges. It's a big no. And extra-heavy lashes, or falsies. I mean, it's a bit too much for me. It's not something that I can get my head around.
Tira: How was your experience working with Suhana Khan on the sets of Tira's anniversary film?
Mehak: Tira shoots never really feel like work. Everything comes together so easily and comfortably. And still, there's so much that we get to do and explore. Every time Suhana gets on set, she looks like a dream in front of the camera. My favourite part is when she is filming with the products — I really enjoy playing around with colours and the ‘mess’ we end up creating is always just so beautiful.
Tira: If you had to, what would you choose:
- Perfectly plucked-out arches or fanned-out, laminated brows?
Fanned-out, naturally filled brows. I don’t like over-plucked or laminated brows for that matter. Just nicely fanned-out, filled in mildly and flattering the shape of the face.
- Matte lips or glossy lips?
I personally love matte lips on myself, but for a lot of people, I end up doing gloss because it works better for them.
Tira: How can one avoid these common makeup concerns?
- My foundation always looks cakey: This happens because you're most likely layering and putting on a lot of it. If your skin prep is good, you can literally minimise the quantity of your foundation. Then, it will not look cakey and it will also blend well. So that’s the trick essentially. Use a little bit and blend it out well for a sheer, lightweight coverage.
- My blush disappears by noon: If your blush is disappearing, the first step is to know your skin type. If it's oily, ensure that you are not using creamy products. A water-based tint or powder is usually ideal for oily skin and lasts longer. If you’re still using a cream-based product, what I suggest is always set it or just pack it in with a powder blush from the same colour family.
