8 beauty lessons we learnt from Deepika Padukone's Instagram

Deepika Padukone is the poster child for beauty experimentation—she's been there, done that when it comes to every makeup and hairstyle trend out there. She shares all her best looks on her Instagram, which gives fans a sneak-peek into the behind-the-scenes. Want in on her secrets? We scrolled through her Instagram to pick out the best learnings we can take from her feed.

Beauty tip #1: There's nothing like a haircut to truly change up a look

They say that if you change your hair, it might change your life, and Deepika Padukone ended 2019 with the shortest cut she's ever had. Her long lengths (usually styled in buns, ponytails or loose waves) have become a bit of a signature beauty look for her, but the swingy lob with with lighter pieces was the perfect switch-up as she began promoting her newest film (Chhapaak), leaving the star with the choice to style it straight and sleek or curly and voluminous.

Beauty tip #2: Sweating it out is the true glow-giving secret

While skincare and makeup products can go a long way to getting glowing, lit-from-within skin, a good sweat session is the ultimate sure-shot way. Working out improves blood circulation as well as oxygenation to the skin while promoting the removal of toxins through perspiration. In fact, even back in 2010, Padukone was a strong believer in the feel-good power of a good workout: “A speedy workout followed by a quick spa session, or sometimes just a quick steam and sauna, will instantly make you feel good about yourself. Exercise followed by a spa treatment makes me feel great,” she said in an interview with Vogue India.

Beauty tip #3: Strong brows can emphasise your features like nothing else

Brows are most personalised beauty signature, and they’re also the quickest way to define your look. Padukone's strong defined arches emphasise her expressive eyes, and frame her face in the best way—she sports a thick eyebrow with a gentle arch. The soft angles enhance her heart-shaped face and almond eyes. The best takeaway? Figure out what your face shape is, and lay down the tweezers while you wait for the brows to grow out. “What many tend to do is go to the salon and keep threading and threading the brows, and one day they’re left with pencil-thin eyebrows. The right thickness and shape define your face. I believe the thicker the brows the younger you look,” she confirmed to Vogue India.

Beauty tip #4: Don't be afraid to try something out of the ordinary

Padukone isn't afraid to go all out when the occasion demands it, a great piece of beauty inspiration to follow if you regularly get stuck in a rut. She's tried emerald green eyeshadow, a larger-than-life cat eye, hair extensions and short haircuts, suggesting that she's not above trying something new. Whether you want to start wearing dark nail polish, get bangs or dabble in purple lipstick, this is your license to make an attempt.

Beauty tip #5: Pick up a new beauty trick

While Padukone regularly works with her glam squad—Sandhya Shekar when she's in India, and Hung Vanggo for international appearances—she likes trying her own hand at makeup whens she's off-duty. Take cues from her photograph and swatch a new lipstick shade, learn how to give yourself a manicure (she's picked a different colour for each nail!) or perfect your cat-eye flick.

Beauty tip #6: Have a tried-and-tested makeup look ready to go

While experimenting is a great call, having a signature beauty look you can call your own is ideal for when you just need to get up and go. Padukone's is definitely a red lip, smoky eye and strong, filled-in brow, and she did just that for a movie premiere. “I keep my makeup clean and simple. I wear dark brown, red or maroon lipsticks, a blush and mascara," she said about her essentials.

Beauty tip #7: Accentuate your best features

Padukone's high cheekbones, strong jawbone and brows are definitely her best features, and like in this photo, she regularly uses highlighter and contour to shape and define those areas. Bronzer under the cheekbones, on the sides of the nose and across the jawline is a common pick, and then she usually has highlighter on the high points of the face (like under the brow bones and down the nose.)

Beauty tip #8: Always take a second look before you head out the door!

Whether you've put on a red lipstick, smoothed on a glitter eye or tried a new foundation shade, a quick look in the mirror in natural light is the insurance policy you need to make sure you don't have any flakes, cracks or areas that still need blending. Even Padukone does it before she walks out the door, so it's definitely a safe bet.

Also read:

10 looks that give you a brief overview of Deepika Padukone’s signature style

5 lessons in fashion you need to learn from Deepika Padukone