It’s been five years since Sonam Kapoor’s first red carpet appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, and her choices (both fashion and beauty) have only gotten better. We chatted with the actress ahead of her trip to the French Riviera.
ELLE: What are your beauty goals for 2016?
Sonam Kapoor: I really want to try black lipstick. Possibly even a beauty line with L’Oréal Paris – and then get them to introduce black lipstick.
ELLE: If you had to pick three of your favourite pieces from your wardrobe, which would they be?
SK: My Alaia leather jacket, Rag & Bone jeans and white shirt from Reason.
ELLE: What’s your go-to vacation beauty look?
SK: No make-up and pyjamas, even on the streets. Dolce & Gabbana are making pyjamas as well. Marc Jacobs started the trend and then Zara followed.
ELLE: What is the best beauty advice you’ve ever got?
SK: ‘Don’t stop smiling’, from Rakeysh Mehra.
ELLE: If you were to create your own hair and beauty look for Cannes, what would you do?
SK: Red lips and my natural, poker straight hair. I’ve even done that once before. I’d like to try wearing a bindi on the red carpet, though.
ELLE: What’s your multitasking beauty hero?
SK: I use my pink from the La Vie En Rose collection by L’Oréal Paris. I swear, I’m not doing this to promote my pink but it’s very moisturising. So when I’m on the beach I wear it on my lips and dab it on my cheeks. You just need to wear your sunglasses and a little pink on your face.
ELLE: What’s a beauty look you’d like to try on the red carpet?
SK: I love Tilda Swinton, I love the fact that she wears so much Haider Ackermann on the red carpet. I own a lot of Haider Ackermann but I’ve never worn him on the red carpet. I want to go a lot more androgynous.
ELLE: How do you conceal under-eye circles?
SK: I wear a tinted brightener under my eyes. Since Indian girls have a lot of grey under our eyes, using a tinted eye brightener or a red-orange lipstick helps. You put red lipstick under your eyes, apply concealer and then just put foundation where you need it. If you put foundation first, you tend to go overboard covering imperfections.
ELLE: What’s a celebrity beauty secret you’d love to know?
SK: Kareena’s skin is amazing – she doesn’t even need make-up. Kareena is all genetics. Even, I have pretty good skin – a lot of it is because I look after my skin but a lot of it is also genetic.
ELLE: Which social media beauty gurus inspire you?
SK: I look up to Charlotte Tilbury, Bobbi Brown, Pat McGrath, Namrata Soni, Charlotte Willer and Kabuki. I also love NikkieTutorials, she does really creative stuff on herself. Huda (Kattan)’s work is nice as well because it works for our skin tone, I love her lashes.
ELLE: What’s your make-up removal routine? How do you take the day off?
SK: I use the L’Oréal Paris make-up remover followed by a water spray on my face and blot it off with some tissue. I don’t tone because I don’t have large pores.
The actor will be spotted at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 15
