Indie beauty brand Stellar was created by Canadian-raised, Indian-born entrepreneur Monika Deol of Vancouver. After spending 25 years in front of the camera as a television host, actress and model, she often asked, “Why isn’t there better makeup for medium skin tones?” So she decided to create her own beauty brand—with products now sold at Sephora and Sephora.com. The Stellar range includes foundations, concealers, face powders, blushes, lipsticks and mascara. Deol took time to chat with Happi about the latest trends in makeup.
 
Happi:  What qualities are shoppers looking for in cosmetics and where do they go to find the latest products?
 
MD: Consumers are looking for high-quality, pigmented makeup that won’t break the bank. They also want options and shades that are flattering to their skin tone. With Stellar, I knew I wanted to develop a line that was not only flattering to medium skin tones and worked with our unique undertones, but also worked for all women and wouldn’t cost a fortune. For example, our Opus Liquid Lipstick comes in a variety of nude to bold, bright shades. We’ve tested them on a variety of skin tones and the shades truly flatter all.
 
I absolutely love Sephora. I’ve been a VIB Rouge for years and it’s a great place to discover new brands. I also love finding new products and brands on social.
 
Happi: What are the hottest trends right now in makeup and why?
 
MD: Right now it is all about holographic makeup and I think we’ll see this trend going strong going forward. Our Starlust Holographic Highlight Palette and Starlust Holographic Lipgloss are easy ways to experiment with this trend. The Holographic Highlight features three high impact shades that change colors in the light to give skin a sexy, luminescent glow. They’re flattering to all skin tones, and can be used separately for a subtle highlight, or mixed together to create a glistening depth across cheeks and eyes. Our Holographic Lipgloss is formulated with light reflecting pearls, for a long-lasting 3-dimensional shine with a multi-tonal effect for the appearance of full, luscious lips. It also contains vitamin E, vitamin A and aloe leaf extract, so it’s not sticky and actually hydrates lip for a comfortable wear. 
 
After a few seasons of very natural, muted makeup, we saw the smokey eye make a comeback during the FW 2018 shows.  Magnetic Eyeshadow palettes are perfect for creating both a subtle smokey eye for day and a dramatic look for night. Finish off the look by smudging our Hyper Eyeliner Retractable Pencil into the water line and a few coats of Absolute Mascara on lashes.  
 
I love wearing deep, moody lips for fall. Our Opus Liquid Lip in Mythic Moon 05 (Chocolate Brown) is the perfect grungy 90’s shade while Mythic Moon 06 (Bordeaux) and Mythic Moon 07 (Oxblood) are two shades that instantly give fall vibes. 
 
Happi: Are there any ingredients that are big right now in color cosmetics?
 
MD: I think a lot of cosmetic brands are incorporating ingredients traditionally found in skin care into their products. Our Opus Liquid Lip and Starlust Holographic Lipgloss both contain vitamin E to hydrate lips for a comfortable, yet long wearing product. Our Brilliant Primer is formulated with a blend of essential oils and natural extracts to actually improve the look of skin as time goes on. 
 
Happi: What are the future trends in makeup into 2019 and beyond?
 
MD: We’re going to see a lot more of bold, bright looks in the coming year. After a few seasons of focusing on skin and a natural look, I think color is making a comeback in a major way. I also think we’ll also see a lot more clean beauty products in the market. Consumers are educated and have access to more information than ever before. They want products that not only look good, but are good for them.