By Sakuni Weerasinghe Romeshi Bhagya Kaluarachchi is a budding makeup and beauty enthusiast who hopes to eventually become an influential personality in the beauty industry – a beauty guru if you will. She spoke to The Sunday Morning Happinez and shared her favourite makeup looks, outfit, and gave tips on the latest trends.   Tell us a little bit about yourself. I would introduce myself as a 22-year-old beauty and fashion enthusiast who strives to become an influential personality in the beauty industry. After the completion of my primary and secondary education, I started my career in the banking sector. And now, I’m juggling my higher studies and work while embracing my enthusiasm for makeup. I am very passionate about makeup and creating glam, creative, and everyday makeup looks. I am a very positive person and I believe in being beautiful in and out, even without makeup. I believe in myself and embrace the way I am so I can hope to inspire a lot of people. I would love to see myself as a beauty guru one day.   What piqued your interest in makeup? As a teenager, I spent a lot of time painting, mostly with different colours. And that love for colours became my passion in embracing the art of makeup. It’s more like meditation because it calms me.   Can you talk to us about your Instagram page and YouTube channel? Earlier, when I started this, I tried a few different makeup looks and posted them on my private Instagram profile. I got good comments and feedback, which motivated me to create more makeup looks. While it took me a bit of time to get comfortable enough to start a social media page where I could showcase my makeup looks, with the help of my loved ones, I started beautydiaries_bybhagi a year ago. I have a very supportive family of followers on my Instagram and Facebook pages. I have 575-plus followers on Instagram and 1,000-plus likes/followers on Facebook. After a while, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and start my YouTube channel to show how I achieve my makeup looks; I created short tutorials. I really enjoy doing it with all the love and support I receive from my family of supporters on my social media pages. I feel very happy when I think of how much I’ve achieved and how far I’ve established myself as a budding beauty blogger. I will definitely keep creating more makeup looks and work on polishing my techniques in the future!   Where do you shop for makeup in Sri Lanka? It’s very rare to find a store which sells authentic famous brands, but there are good Sri Lankan brands like Viana Cosmetics. In addition, there are pages in Sri Lanka which sell authentic products, such as colourpop.lk, lure.lk , and mu_addictslk . I find it easier to purchase products from these pages.   Can you describe your personal style and how it aligns with your go-to makeup look? I love to dress in simple, yet elegant designs. I opt for more comfortable clothes like a good pair of high-waist jeans, a plain blouse tucked in, a simple pair of heels, and simple jewellery/accessories to complete the look. I always tend to wear gold accessories because it complements my skin colour. My go-to makeup look is a fresh, natural look – skin-coloured foundation, concealer, a bit of mascara, and nude lipstick and I’m good to go! Adding highlighter would be optional according to the place I go. We should always keep in mind to apply makeup according to the function we attend! Getting “caked-faced” or applying too much product can really ruin your appearance and similarly, your confidence too. It is similar to being overdressed or underdressed for an occasion! As such, it’s important to keep in mind to keep it simple, yet fabulous!   What are your thoughts on the makeup and beauty industry in Sri Lanka? The makeup and beauty industry in Sri Lanka has definitely improved, especially with the influence of social media and increased access to new beauty products. There are giants in the beauty and makeup industry who are really successful and inspire everyone. Makeup has become a form of artistry, one that applies to more than just bridal dressing. There is a lot to learn and experience in the industry now, and I’m looking forward to improving myself with that knowledge. I can’t wait to try out new techniques and create more glamorous looks!   Which fashion and beauty trends are you most likely to get on board with? I like dewy and glow-y makeup looks, which I think suit us more because of the climate here. In addition, the famous “no makeup” makeup look is also one of my favourites! I love fluffy brows more than neat brows, and bright under eyes to make my face look more awake. I love a little gloss on my lips and I feel like glossy lips are back in trend!   As a Lankan, what’s the one beauty product you keep in your purse at all times? The weather in Sri Lanka is so hot and dry these days! So, I definitely carry a bottle of moisturising face mist wherever I go. It’s easy to carry and I just need a quick spray whenever I want to feel fresh!   Photo by Krishan Kariyawasam