Lip colours, nail paints, eye liner: City fashionistas share their fave beauty spends

In a recent survey, eastern India has emerged as a dominant market for the cosmetics industry, with the region accounting for over a third of cosmetic sales in the country in FY’24. Trends show that women from this region invest in a wide range of shades, specifically darker tones that are less popular in other parts of the country. With an increasing number of global brands eyeing this region as a sales hotspot, five Kolkata women share their preferences, monthly cosmetics expenditure and more.

Aneeshaa Seth, musician
In my handbag: Setting powder, lip colourMonthly budget for cosmetics: Nothing specificPreferred shade: Reds and maroonsMust-have products for daily use: Concealer, lip colour, setting powder, blush highlighter, eye shadow and mascara
“I love a dewy look and when it comes to choosing a base, I usually go for creamy products. It doesn’t matter if I’m buying makeup in person or online, the art of exploring and choosing a product is always fun”

Mariam Zaki Mehta, entrepreneur
In my handbag: Lip colour, compact powder, sunscreen, wet wipes, mini perfumeMonthly budget for cosmetics: Rs 6,000-7,000Preferred shades: Brown for lips and white for nailsMust-have products for daily use: Light-weight foundation or BB cream, mascara, neutral-toned lip colour, blush
When it comes to buying new products, I’m a bit of a detective. I look out for two things, mainly quality and ingredients. I’m drawn to brands that are known for their innovation and quality, and also take customer reviews into account

Pooja Dasgupta, tech consultant
In my handbag: Lipstick, compact powder, kajal, sunscreen, perfumeMonthly budget for cosmetics: Rs 4,000Preferred shades: Pinks and reds for lips, red, purple or grey for nailsMust-have products: Foundation, concealer, bronzer, highlighter, kajal, mascara, lipstick
“How a product reacts to my skin is of utmost importance to me when I’m buying a product. I love buying cosmetics in-person if it’s a new product, but I go online if I’m reordering something”

Paramita Banerjee, entrepreneur
In my handbag: Nude lip colour and mini perfumeMonthly budget for cosmetics: Rs 15,000- 20,000 (includes cosmetics and skincare)Preferred shades: Nude shades of any kindMust-have products for daily use: Sun block, lip balm, lip colour, mascara and kajal
“Even though I’m more of a skin care person, I love the tactile experience of buying a new cosmetic product. Quality, texture and skin suitability are some parameters I look out for while investing in a product”
Quotes:
“My go-to makeup products include dermatologically tested, paraben free, sulphate free items” – Moushmi Bhattacharya“East India tops all cosmetic sectors- lip, face, nail and eye. The south is the only other region with over 50% penetration in this category” – K Ramakrishnan, MD, world panel division of the analytics and marketing data company that conducted the survey