Beauty secrets of celebs

Our favourite leading ladies reveal the mystery behind their timeless looks

It really is a wonder how some female celebrities can look so fresh and young all the time, despite their hectic schedules. They might be making an appearance on a television serial or heading out on some mundane activities in the middle of the week but one thing is for sure: they will be looking fabulous! Despite the layers of makeup slathered onto their faces every day and the excessive hair styling, these beauties can put anyone to shame. While some of them might employ specialists to maintain themselves, not all of them do.

It is these evergreen ladies that we spoke with to find out the secret behind their appearance. And much to our surprise, most of them revealed tried and tested beauty rituals as part of their daily routines! Their skincare regimes are easy to follow and will spare you the expensive chemical products, so why not give them a shot? Read on to find out just how Zeba Bakhtiar, Sanam Saeed, Saniya Mumtaz, Mehreen Rahael and Meesha Shafi keep their skin healthy and happy.

Zeba Bakhtiar



Uncanny as it may seem, Zeba simply does not age! She still looks about as fresh as when she first ventured into the entertainment industry over 20 years ago and her youthful appearance shows no signs of waning. “My secret is that I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables which is key if you want to lock the ageing, wrinkles and saggy skin,” says Zeba. “A good night’s sleep is extremely important too so make sure you get into bed early.” The talented actor is firmly against the chemical-laden beauty products that are sold in the markets these days. Instead, she religiously applies olive oil to her face (to remove makeup, dirt and impurities) and almond oil on her hair. “Another point to note is that you must be burning up all the food you consume so regular exercise is a must!” Zeba adds.

Samiya Mumtaz



For Samiya, acting is secondary. Her love for nature is and always will be her top priority. Few people would know this but she is learned about farming practices and actually manages her own organic farm herself. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the simple Samiya includes a whole lot of fruit in her diet and avoids junk food strictly. “Your skin is a direct reflection of whatever is in your food palette,” explains Samiya, which is why she drinks warm water throughout the day. For this acting powerhouse, less is always more: the fewer products one uses on their skin, the more the skin will be able to breathe. And therefore, Samiya only signs up for roles that demand minimal makeup. “I am very particular about what is being applied to my skin,” she admits. “I have never used any moisturisers or cleansers which have been formulated chemically. I would rather apply whatever I have in front of me whether it’s the skin of a fruit or vegetable.” Samiya reveals a secret beauty recipe as well: “Mix some basin (gram flour) and apricot oil to make a natural moisturiser.”

Mahreen Rahael



Soon to be a mother for the second time, Mehreen is becoming increasingly cautious about packaged foods and their impact on the human body. “Our skin is a clear reflection of what is going on inside so skincare is not only about what you apply on top. It should cover what is being put into our bodies as well,” she says. “I think if a person is content and thankful inside, they will glow on the outside naturally.” She prescribes fruits but points out one distinction. “Try and have the whole fruit, not just its juice. The fruit is more nutritional.” Sunblock is a must for Mehreen, as is supplementing her diet with multi-vitamins as these can help alleviate all skin problems. “Vitamins cured some pigmentation that I developed earlier in my pregnancy,” shares Mehreen.

Sanam Saeed



This fresh-faced beauty shows that all your skin needs is a little bit of tender love and care to reach its utmost potential. Sanam’s immaculate skin and self-confidence can be attributed to her loving approach towards skincare: she does not believe in excuses. Instead, she pushes herself to get up and raid her kitchen for ingredients to conjure her own scrubs. “It is amazing what you can whip up with sugar, coffee grains and different fragrances! It makes me feel so good inside,” says Sanam. Her favourite recipe includes ground oats mixed with water for gentle, bi-weekly exfoliation. She also often indulges in the popular apple-cider vinegar mixture to add quick and long-standing shine to her hair. “Just mix one cup of vinegar into a jug of water,” she advises. “This totka is really no joke – you will definitely feel a difference.” Other than this, Sanam sticks to a healthy diet of fruits, warm lemon water and natural oils to remain strong, inside out.

Meesha Shafi



With her bubbling personality, enchanting voice and uber chic style, Meesha is no stranger to the world of fashion and beauty. Ironically, the starlet does not require a specific range of beauty products to pamper herself with – she simply uses different things at different times. Nonetheless, her favourite concoction is coffee grounds mixed with coconut oil for scrubbing her body. According to Meesha, this natural solution improves the texture of skin and minimises the appearance of cellulite greatly. “I also wash my face with baking soda and water often,” shares Meesha. “This helps delay the process of aging and goes more than skin-deep.” Hydration is of utmost importance, especially during the hot Lahori summer. “I drink lots of fluids. Not sugary drinks but detoxifying water distilled with cucumber, lemon and other fruits. It makes me feel refreshed,” says Meesha.

Expert Opinions

Acclaimed makeup artist Mickey Contractor’s 40 years of experience, as a Bollywood make-up artist to celebrities like Kareena Kapoor Khan have taught him a great deal. Below, Mickey shares his top five make-up tips to help you look like an A-lister.

Moisturise first

No matter how much time you have to get ready, be sure to moisturise your face first and then apply makeup. Moisturising makes the application of foundation and concealer smooth.

Pop the eyes

If you have small eyes, Mickey suggests applying highlighter to the middle part of your cheeks and blending it in. This will make your eyes look bigger and brighter.

Embrace your natural skin tone

Don’t jump onto the fairness bandwagon and opt for a foundation much lighter than your natural skin colour. Instead, pick one that is closest to it and blend it in.

The bridal blush

Mickey loves peach or pink blushes. Apply blush on the apple of your cheeks and work upwards and outwards to define your jaw.

Avoid sharp lines

Lock your lip colour by using a lip liner first. Then, blend in a pale shade of lipstick to avoid sharp lines.

SOURCE: STYLECRAZE.COM

Sadaf Parvez is a freelance writer and blogger. She tweets
@sadafpervez

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, September 27^th, 2015.