Known for her edgy style and statement beauty looks, Amyra Dastur shares her makeup, fitness and beauty secrets.
ELLE: When do you hit the sack?
Amyra Dastur: Usually between 11 pm to 12 am.
ELLE: And when do you wake up?
AD: Between 8 to 10 am.
ELLE: What’s your everyday make-up routine?
AD: I prep my skin with a hydrating primer and eye cream. I follow with a sheer foundation for a natural glow. I like to play up my eyes depending on the occasion. Usually, I opt for nude tones for the day and brighter shades for evenings. I dab on loose powder to set the base. I finish with a blush, lots of mascara and nude-brown lipstick.
ELLE: Tell us about your fitness regimen.
AD: I work out almost every day. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are my leg days. I start my session with 15 minutes of cardio on the treadmill with high-intensity jogging and then mix ab exercises and leg exercises. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, I work on my upper body. After my workouts, I spend at least 15-20 minutes stretching to cool my body down and ensure my muscles don’t get stiff and tight the next day. It takes me about an hour or two to work out.
ELLE: What’s your biggest beauty find?
AD: Castor oil. I use it to massage my scalp and apply it on my lashes and brows as well to thicken my hair.
ELLE: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?
AD: Myself and my perfectly imperfect features. It takes time and a lot of mental strength to accept yourself for who you are. Especially today with filters and apps that make you look different. I’ve learnt to love myself, and it’s been a struggle. A girls body changes with time and your mindset has to change with it, or you will never be happy.
ELLE: What’s your secret to good skin?
AD: I believe in good skin from within. I get a cleanse done every three months and flush out my stomach. A clean stomach allows better absorption of nutrients, and it helps with good skin.
ELLE: Tell us about your biggest beauty indulgence.
AD: Definitely my creams and makeup products. I buy the best, as it is my face that earns me my projects and brands. I am a skincare junkie and always on the lookout for new launches. I even have LED face masks at home.
ELLE: What’s the best beauty advice you’ve received?
AD: Use makeup to highlight your features, not to change them. I genuinely believe that if people tell you that you look different in real life from your pictures, then you’ve gone wrong with your makeup. You should look like the same person in real life as on your social media. I enjoy experimenting, but not to the point where it doesn’t look like me at all.
ELLE: How do you deal with stress?
AD: In many different ways. Usually, I work out after a stressful day which puts me in a zen mode. When I am furious, I release my anger by screaming into a pillow. Other times, I talk to loved ones who lift my spirits.
ELLE: What was your last beauty treatment?
AD: It was with my dermatologist called the Carbon Spectra Laser Peel. It helps with skin pigmentation and dark spots.
