Kareena Tekwani: That One Makeup Video Changed Everything (Beauty & Fashion, Forbes India Top 100, 247k)

Kareena Tekwani

 

"Forbes was honestly a huge achievement for me. As a girl who initially started content creation just by fluke, eventually gave it her everything, all those sleepless nights, vulnerable days and hard work felt like they finally came full circle."


Q. You’ve built a recognizable digital identity in the beauty and fashion space. How did your journey as a content creator begin, and what were some key moments that shaped your path?


Ever since I was a little girl, I would watch my mom and sister getting ready, all dressed up, doing their makeup and hair, which honestly made me generate a deep interest and curiosity about makeup from a very young age.

While growing up, I eventually learnt the art of makeup through various youtube videos. One day while getting ready for a college event, I randomly recorded a makeup tutorial and posted it as an IGTV. 

Within 2 days, the content blew up and gained over 40k views when I only had around 6000 followers. To be honest, the huge amount of appreciation in the comments section gave me the motivation to start content creation for real.

Q. You were featured in Forbes India’s Top 100 Digital Stars in 2024—an incredible achievement. How did it feel to receive that recognition, and what does it represent for you at this stage of your career?


Forbes was honestly a huge achievement for me. As a girl who initially started content creation just by fluke, eventually gave it her everything, all those sleepless nights, vulnerable days and hard work felt like they finally came full circle.

And to receive such a big recognition from a global platform like Forbes - definitely changed so many things for me, more motivation, more work opportunities and mostly the part where my parents felt super proud of me. It is something I’ll remember and cherish forever.

Q. Your makeup looks always strike a balance between fresh and flawless. What’s one underrated product you swear by—and how has your approach to beauty evolved over time?


Back in the years 2019-2023, I would do like a full face of heavy makeup, with glittery eyes and bold lips, but now I’ve honestly transformed into a minimal makeup girl. Nude lips, brown smokey eyes with a tinge of glitter along with a dewy hydrating skin tint is my definition of a go-to makeup look.

And the one makeup product I swear by is a dewy setting mist, the one which gives you a seamless glass skin glow during the prepping stage, while acts as a setting spray as well.

Q. Skincare often becomes a ritual, not just a routine. What’s your current skincare philosophy, and what’s one step you never skip—no matter how busy the day?


With skincare, I believe in the concept of less is more. If you would’ve asked me a few years back, I would talk about a whole 10 step skincare layering routine.

But with time, I’ve realised that less is definitely more and the one step I never skip, is to apply a hydrating sunscreen every single day, even if I'm indoors, irrespective of the season, weather or day. This is one thing I can never skip!


Q. Your fashion choices blend elegance with effortlessness. How do you decide what reflects your personal style, and is there one outfit or look you’ll always remember?


One way I’d describe my fashion sense would be minimal yet stylish. So the rule is: even if you’re wearing a plain or solid color, make sure to accessorize well. Mostly go for gold chunky jewellery to make the outfit stand out while balancing the overall look.

An outfit that I’ll always remember was a lavender lehenga I wore at my cousin’s Baarat function, that received so much of love on both Instagram & Youtube platforms!

Q. As someone constantly in the digital spotlight, how do you stay grounded and avoid burnout? What practices or spaces help you reset and recharge?


My grandma always taught me the value of respecting people, despite of their profession, status or basically choices in life from a very young age which keeps me grounded.

I have also made it a point to practice yoga and meditation on alternates, as it keeps me calm and honestly gives me the motivation to reset, while facing all those challenges with positivity.

Q. With so many beauty brands emerging every day, what draws you to collaborate with a particular one? What values or qualities do you look for?


Firstly, brand experience. The first thing I focus on before deciding to collaborate with a brand is that, have I heard about this brand before? Have I tried their products ? Have the products worked well for me in the past?

Secondly, with a community where a lot of young audience is involved, we feel responsible for anything that we promote or feature, hence we decide to try out the products for ourselves before working with any brand. Basically the past experiences with any brand mostly help us make the decision.

Bio

Kareena Tekwani is a seasoned content creator in the beauty and fashion industry, with over five years of experience crafting engaging and informative content across platforms. With a combined following of 680,000+ on Instagram and YouTube, she is known for her authentic videos on skincare, makeup tutorials, DIY remedies, and fashion hauls.


Over the years, she has collaborated with leading brands such as Maybelline, L’Oréal, Nykaa, Nivea, Sugar Cosmetics, Hyphen, and many others. Her content seamlessly blends creativity with credibility, making her a trusted voice in the beauty space.


Beyond brand partnerships, she is also the creator of #SupportingSmallBusinesses — a heartfelt initiative where she features a deserving small business on her platform every two months, completely unsponsored, to help amplify emerging voices in the industry.



Interviewed By Irene Elina Eldhose

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