Bollywood celebrity make-up artist Ambika Pillai launched her own cosmetics line recently. She talks about how she got to come up with it and how it's been a dream come true so far.
About Ambika Pillai Cosmetics
It was a natural progression for me to start my own line of make-up. It came out of always working with products and always looking for better products, in terms of colors and textures that would look nice on Indian women… better, better and better.
Now, we’ve got exactly what we were looking for. It is perfect for the Indian skin tone and very vibrant. Each product comes with lights and mirrors. You don’t have to go to the bathroom to do your make-up. You can do it in your car or on the go.
The dream has been there for 15 years, but it has taken us a long time, in fact two-and-half-years to get the color, texture and the medium of the product right. You also need funds and lots of time. It is a premium line, so I can’t put it in any store. It is only available in four salons in Delhi at present.
We have started with lip glosses, lipsticks and mascara. The blue mascara is the hottest thing! By the end of this year, we are planning to bring out a whole line — blushes, eye shadows, glitters, sparkles and creams. The foundations are going to be the biggest hits. They will look radiant and luminous.
Feedback
It’s just been absolutely amazing. I did not expect something like this.
Bollywood following
Kats (Katrina Kaif), Bipasha (Basu), Sonam Kapoor and Chitrangda Singh have all started using her produts. I met Katrina in Cochin and she asked me whether I was carrying something from the range. I had my own pink lip-gloss that I had been using for quite a few days. She just took it from me! I had told Bipasha before the range was out. She kept asking me, “So, when is it coming?” I have also sent some stuff to Rekha, my all-time favorite actress.
Artist's Joy
I will say my regular clients. The actresses and models know that they look stunning. But the joy of transforming a normal girl to a super stunning one is great.
Beginnings
Actually, I remember my second. It was with Ash (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) for Sheetal. Hemant Trivedi was the designer and Kunal Kapoor shot it. We did a series of different looks. I won a National Award for that.
Memorable Experiences
We did a show in Paris where Anna Kournikova was the showstopper for Rohit Bal. First she asked the organizers whether she should bring her hair and make-up artist. I think she was a bit nervous when she first met me, but when I had finished with her make-up, she asked, “Can I wrap you up in my bag and take you home?” We had put big rollers in her beautiful long blond hair.
Three make-up products you can’t do without
Kajal, lip gloss and blush.
Favorite colors
Pinks, copper, all shades of reds, blue!
Colors that compliment the Indian skin tone
Move away from browns! Try nudes in summer and hot pinks and reds in winter.
One thing that Indians go wrong with
Foundation.
Your favorite models to work on
Michelle Innes, Sheetal Malhar and Indrani Dasgupta.
Favorite Celebrities
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: Smoky eyes with a pale mouth look good on her.
Rekha: She never allows anyone to do her face; she does it herself. It is the white pencil that she uses to line her eyes that makes them so stunning.
Bipasha Basu: She looks nice with long, winged out eyeliner.
Katrina Kaif: A lovely glossy mouth with nothing drastic on her eyes works best for her.
Saif Ali Khan: He is the one actor who is very particular about his make-up, particularly about his under eyes getting concealed.
Chitrangda Singh: She looks beautiful with smoky eyes and pale mouth, that’s if make-up has to go on her. Otherwise, she is one person who looks stunning without make-up.
