Indian-American Influencer Arshia Moorjani Shares Her Favorite Foundations for Yellow Undertones

Indian-American influencer Arshia Moorjani is anything but camera shy. The 28-year old L’Oréal League member and full-time vlogger has nearly 300,000 subscribers on YouTube and more than 200,000 Instagram followers. The bubbly girl’s girl churns out double-tap-worthy content on the daily, including posts on the best way to clean your beauty sponges, DIY Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay recipes, budget beauty dupes, and how to find a foundation that matches yellow undertones. As alluring as her photos and videos are, it’s how she celebrates her Indian roots in her captions as well as on-screen that really stands out. We caught up with Moorjani to get a deeper sense of how her heritage impacts her beauty routine. Keep scrolling to learn her favorite beauty ingredients, go-to makeup products, and beloved DIY skincare remedies.

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@beautyblender recently extended the shade range of their Bounce foundation by adding 8 new shades to the mix. Swatches of the new and original shades are here for you all! I also have a full video on the foundation, link in bio. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I am happy that the team over at #BeautyBlender took all the criticism and actually did something to address the very obvious issue. Trust me, a lot of brands still ignore their poor shade range regardless of the criticism they receive. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ That being said, a lot of people feel that the new shade additions makes them feel like an after thought. Why were these shades not part of the initial launch? My thoughts: Whether a brand is launching 40 shades or 12 shades of complexion products, it is SO important to remember to have those shades split evenly to cater to ALL skin tones. These shades are not just colors. They represent people. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Let me know your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.

A post shared by Arshia Moorjani (@arshiamoorjani) on Dec 24, 2018 at 6:51am PST

Brit + Co: What’s one product you learned to always have on hand?

Arshia Moorjani: Coconut oil. I lived in India until I was eight years old, and I vividly remember my mom sitting me down as a little girl to apply coconut oil in my hair. She would take turns and give me and my siblings the best head massages using it. She also taught us other ways to use the oil, such as an all-over moisturizer, cure for dry lips, and even to cook with it.

B+C: Other than coconut oil, what products do you always have stocked?

AM: I can’t live without L’Oréal Paris True Match Super Blendable Makeup in W7 ($11) and bareMinerals BarePRO Performance Wear Liquid Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 in Sable ($34). As someone with olive/yellow undertones, I struggle to find foundation shades that cater to my skin — many on the market are either too light, too dark, or have a very pink/neutral undertone, making my skin look gray. These two foundations, however, always match perfectly.

For my eyes, I adore the Marc Jacobs Highliner Matte Gel Eye Crayon in (Brown)ie ($25). I grew up wearing kajal [an ancient eye makeup product often made of natural ingredients] on my eyes, so eyeliner on my waterline is a must. This shade in particular is a stunning dark brown that’s incredibly pigmented and lasts all day.

On my lips, I have to have MAC Matte Lipstick in Russian Red ($19). This is such a classic, universal red shade that I can wear day or night depending on my look and the occasion.

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New video up on my channel now 🌹link in bio! Outfit: @anitadongre Photo: @underground_nyc

A post shared by Arshia Moorjani (@arshiamoorjani) on Jul 8, 2018 at 4:33pm PDT

B+C: How do you switch up your day and evening makeup?

AM: I like to keep my makeup routine simple and focus mostly on my skincare. I always wear SPF and lean toward a more fresh-faced look. When I’m going out, I like to maintain a dewy glow paired with either a very simple smokey eye and a neutral lip or a simple eye, lots of lashes, and a bold red lip. It’s all about balance.

B+C: What are your thoughts on DIY skincare treatments?

AM: There is a lot of inspiration in the Western beauty world that comes from Asia. India wouldn’t be complete without our beautiful remedies that have been used for centuries like turmeric face masks, coconut oil for deep conditioning, honey masks, and so much more. I learned these from my mom and grandma, who learned from her mom. These remedies truly have been passed down from families for generations. I know my sister is also teaching them to her daughter now. While I don’t have kids, I like to share them with my followers.

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Turmeric is a super spice that has amazing benefits for your skin, but one of the biggest concerns I hear with turmeric is that it can often 'stain' the skin. So I thought I would share this face mask recipe that will work for all different skin tones, but will NOT stain the skin! It is my favorite mask to get clear, glowing skin!!😉 🔸You will need • 1 tbsp gram flour 'besan': fights acne, naturally exfoliates the skin, fades scars. • 1 tbsp honey: antibacterial, packed with antioxidants, naturally moisturizers skin. • 1/4 tbsp (or even a bit less) turmeric: treats acne, removes dead skin cells, anti-aging. • 2 tbsp yogurt: reduces wrinkles and fine lines, prevents acne, fades scars. 🔸Here's what to do: • Mix all ingredients together. • Apply mask all over face and bring down to neck. • Leave on for 12-15 minutes. • Wash skin and apply your favorite moisturizer. I am using my @farsalicare 'rose gold elixir'. 🔸If you have ever wanted to try turmeric but have been afraid because of the staining, I think you will love this mask! Please do remember to do a patch test before applying any mask to your face.

A post shared by Arshia Moorjani (@arshiamoorjani) on Oct 11, 2016 at 7:28am PDT

B+C: Do your followers ever give you feedback on your recipes?

AM: Of course. But one of the biggest concerns I hear from my followers (especially those with lighter skin) is whether turmeric can stain their complexion. I emphasize that with the right formula, it won’t, and they find that really reassuring.

Arshia Moorjani’s tried-and-true DIY Turmeric Face Mask

You’ll need:

Instructions:

1. Mix gram flour besan (a staple ingredient in Indian cuisine that, according to Moorjani, is known to fight acne, naturally exfoliate skin, and fade scars) with honey, turmeric, and yogurt.

2. Apply the mask all over your face, extending down onto your neck.

3. After 12 to 15 minutes, rinse and apply your favorite moisturizer.

Are you inspired by Indian beauty? Tell us @BritandCo!

All photos via Arshia Moorjani

Illustration by Marisa Kumtong