Feisty Fox Diaries - Fashion & LifeStyle Blog

Wella EIMI Styling Range !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 11:11:00 +0000

I personally love experimenting with hairstyles myself and having the right hair products to assist in the process, is really essential. So today, I’m really excited to introduce a new range of hairstyling products that I have been using lately. I’m talking about the NEW EIMI styling range launched by Wella Professionals consisting of 31 styling products to help create salon inspired hairstyles in the comfort of your own home.
The Wella Professionals EIMI has exciting products to create all sorts of styles – with either wild texture, dazzling shine, a volume boost or a smooth and sleek finish.
Today I’m going to review three products of the EIMI range that I have been using. Also check my last related haircare post with Wella Global Ambassador Patrick Cameron here.

Wella Professionals EIMI Dry Me dry shampoo
I am a big fan of dry shampoos. With busy work schedules and hectic weekend plans, I sometimes find it difficult to squeeze in time to wash my long tresses every other day. That’s where the EIMI Dry Me is a real saviour, with it’s Tapioca starch formula, it absorbs all the excess oil and greasiness from the scalp and leaves my hair feeling so fresh and smelling so divine.
The EIMI Dry Me is perfect for creating head turning volume and has a matte texture. Just spray some of it on the roots, let it sit for about a minute or two and brush through. It works great without leaving a white residue on the hair. It is a real boon for people with oily scalps and a great plus is it’s lovely fragrance.

Wella Professionals EIMI Perfect Me Lightweight BB lotion

This was my first time using a BB lotion for hair (like BB creams for the face) and I was quite intrigued to try it out and I must say I totally loved the results. This lightweight hair moisturizer not only gives your frizz free hair but also hydrates and moisturizes it. This lightweight lotion creates natural style with smoothness. The lotion also adds shine to the hair and also helps tame fly-aways. The best part of this lotion is that in this humid weather it is really lightweight, so unlike other hair serums, it does not weigh the hair down and make it greasy.
I use about two to three pumps of the product on the mid-lengths of my hair either on damp or dry hair. It is also a good heat protectant, so I also use it before I style my hair either with a straightener, blow dryer or curling iron.

Wella Professionals EIMI Root Shoot

The length and thickness of my tresses, usually weighs my hair down and tends to make my crown of my hair look relatively flat. So the EIMI Root Shoot really works well for me and adds great volume at my roots and gives it a much needed lift.
All you have to do is just take some mousse on your palms and apply it on your roots on damp hair and blow dry . You will immediately get insane amount of volume. I absolutely love the instant bounce it gives my roots.

To create today’s hair style I first I sprayed some Dry Me dry shampoo through the roots of my hair, to remove excess moisture and add insane volume to my hair, then I applied the Perfect Me BB Lotion to the mid-lengths of my hair, to add shine and smoothness and also to act as a heat protectant, before curling my hair.
Once my hair was curled I then sprayed some Root Shoot mousse on my roots and blow dried it for extra lift at the roots. I again used a some Perfect Me BB Lotion to tame the fly-aways.
I absolutely loved the final look of my hair using these three EIMI styling products, I enjoyed my fabulous hairstyle with soft bouncy curls with insane volume and a perfect lift at the roots.

The EIMI range of styling products from Wella Professionals is now a regular feature in my hairstyling arsenal and helps me create glamorous salon like hairstyles myself.
I absolutely love the three products I tried from the EIMI range, with the Dry Me being my favourite and I look forward to trying other products from the range too.
I highly recommend trying out the new EIMI products, EIMI is available in all Wella Professional salons. Simply ask your Wella Professional stylist for more information.

Shine On in Shaze !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 11:48:00 +0000

I truly believe in the quote "A Woman Makes an Outfit her own with Accessories!'' For me the right accessories can really elevate even a simple outfit and make it edgy and glamorous. So for today's post I show how to accessorize a LBD and add a real edgy glam vibe to it. I have styled a range of accessories from Shazé's latest collection, ranging from exquisite scarves, jewelry to watches. Shazé is a premium lifestyle and gifting brand that seeks to provide the most discerning clients with finest pieces from around the world. All Shazé creations are one-of-a-kind and they offer a unique and diversified service to help design that perfect urban high street lifestyle.

With stores pan-India, Shazé , has a lineup of jewellery, perfume, candle, scarves, watches, wrist bands, home décor, silverware, leather ware and religious idols, assuring something for everyone. Each creation is handpicked with a keen eye on subtlety, finesse, craftsmanship and uniqueness.

I styled my LBD with this vibrant printed silk scarf, worn fashionably as a head scarf, the contrasting colors splashed in a kaleidoscopic pattern really jazz up my black dress.

I also accessorised my look with some stunning Shazé jewellery. First were these pretty pearl drop earrings with a contrasting green stone - perfect for those evening parties, weddings or special occasions. Next I wore this long beaded statement necklace with brown mineral and gold beads, with this delicately designed leaf bangle crafted in fine metal and studded with cubic zirconia stones paired with this cubic zircon studded eagle wing ring . I finished off the look with this white & rose gold glitzy watch with a rose gold finished bezel embellished with zircon crystals.

With some real head-turning accessorises & jewellery from Shazé , I was able to elevate a simple LBD and make a really edgy and glamorous statement.

Photo Credits: Aditya Mistry
Location Credits: Dublin Square, Phoenix MarketCity, Kurla

HOOK MY LOOK

Scarf - Shazé here
Earrings - Shazé here
Necklace -Shazé here
Bangle - Shazé here
Ring - Shazé here
Watch- Shazé here
Dress - Forever New

So if you are like me and are always on the look out for some really exquisite & bold statement accessories and jewellery that add an edge & glam quotient to your look, you should surely check out Shazé's latest collection either on their website here or at your nearest Shazé store.

The Ultimate Braid Brunch !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 11:09:00 +0000

Kérastase recently hosted the Ultimate Braid Brunch, which was a beautiful animation of their famous 'Book of Braids, along with their iconic range of beautifying hair oils, Elixr Ultime at the all new plush salon Dessange in Bandra.

My earliest memory of braids, is when my mum used to make two braids for me aka pigtails and send me off to school, and later on they progressed to a stylish french braid, that I loved. Over the years, I have experimented with a few styles of braids like the milkmaid braid and the fish tail braid for shoots . So given my love for braid over the years, I was very excited to attend the Kérastase Ultimate Braid Brunch.

I was super impressed by the how plush, spacious and grand the all new Dessange Salon in Bandra was, spanning over three floors, the new Salon offers you some serious pampering in the lap of luxury. It's sure to become me new haunt in Bandra for my mane pampering and regular mani-pedi sessions.

After we got a personal tour of the salon, we headed to the hair stations, where they had a special place reserved for me, with a personalised canvas with my picture printed on it and a welcome message, it was so cool. Also on display at the hair stations was the Kérastase range of beautifying hair oils - Elixr Ultime, that is such an absolute hair savior.

Next I was handed 'The Book of Braids' by my hair stylist, to choose the type of braid I wanted my hair to be styled in. As I flipped through the book, I was amazed at the variety of braids you could actucally go in for, I chose the fish tail braid, as I can never manage to make one on my own and I love the look of it. Before braiding my hair, the stylist used the Kérastase Elixir Ultime on my hair to tame the frizz, add some shine and make my hair feel a lot softer.

I loved the way my messy fishtail braid turned out and I had a fun time flaunting my new hair do at their photo-booth, posing with the adorable props and getting a zillion pictures clicked.

Photo Credits: Aditya Mistry

I had a lovely time at the Ultimate Braid Brunch by Kérastase, and loved the pampering and service I got at Dessange.

My Platinum Day of Love !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 07:08:00 +0000

Recently I was invited by POPxo to shoot with the latest collection of the Platinum Love Bands. I simply adored the stunning designs of the platinum love bands at the store. The best part was how reasonably priced the bands are. The Platinum Love Band collection starting at Rs 15000/- onwards, makes it a super affordable gift for your loved one !

When I was making my selection of my favourite platinum bands to style and shoot with, it got me smiling, as I reminisced about a really special moment I shared with my husband recently. So I wanted to share that romantic story of that time with you today!
Love makes the world go round ! That surely rings true in my world, having met my soulmate pretty early in life, I feel blessed everyday that he lights up my life with his sense of humor, his sweet gestures, his words of encouragement and constant love and support.

   Over the years that we have been together, through small and well as grand gestures, he has made me feel so special.. from gifts and holidays to smaller things like lending his support with my work & emotional issues. We have been married for three years now and after marriage, with life being so hectic, you tend to take each other for granted a little bit and the routine of life eats the romance quotient. So this year, for our third anniversary when my husband surprised me with a well thought out holiday, I was so touched.
He whisked me off to Goa and planned out our anniversary celebration at the exact place where we had exchanged our vows, on the beach. It was such a beautiful reminder of the most beautiful time in our lives - the day we got married. He went all out -from the smallest of gestures, of serving me breakfast in bed accompanied with my favourite flowers to creating a playlist of our wedding songs to organising this romantic celebration on the beach,with my favourite food and champagne - it felt so surreal. It transported me back to the magical day we got married and was a reaffirmation of everything we had shared over the years together and brought that rush of romance back into our lives. The icing on the cake was when he gifted me a Platinum Love Band, to mark this beautiful milestone in our love story, it was the most perfect gift, as for me nothing spells everlasting love than a precious metal like - Platinum! That platinum love band was like a symbol to commemorate our eternal love and commitment to each other.
This was my Platinum Day of Love as it felt like we were falling in love all over again that day !

So lovelies, if you to want to make your spouse feel like they are
most important person in your world, why not surprise them with a Platinum Love Band. Trust me, it is the most perfect way to express your everlasting love to them. Also if you purchase the Platinum Love Bands now - 10 lucky couples stand a chance to get their 'Platinum Day of Love' captured, with an exclusive photoshoot curated by WeddingSutra along with a chance to feature in their social media campaign. To participate, long on to www.preciousplatinum.in and select the tab Season of Love Contest.The offer is on till 26th June, 2016.

Keep updated with the brand's latest activities and launches on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter .

A Rendezvous with Wella Professionals Global Ambassador Patrick Cameron !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Jun 2016 12:24:00 +0000

When was the last time, you donned a really head-turning hairdo, without a parlor visit? Rarely or perhaps never?..because we as Indian women predominately still depend on salons and hair stylists for our glamorous hair-dos, blow outs and styling. Personally, I do use a few styling products for my hair but rarely experiment with different hair styles. Hair styling in India has still not reached its full potential. Styling products are used mainly by stylists at salons and less frequently used at home.

Wella Professionals, one of the leading hair and beauty brands strives to bridge this gap by providing the consumers and stylists with premium quality products making the art of hairstyling much more convenient.

Recently I got a chance to interact with Wella Professionals Global Ambassador Patrick Cameron, a world renowned name in the hairstyling industry, also acknowledged as the long hair expert. We learnt lots of interesting facts about hair styling, current trends and looks.

The brand recently brought down Patrick Cameron to educate 1800 hair stylists across three cities in India through some spectacular shows , where he exposed them to the to new innovations, various possibilities of hairstyling through his association with Wella. His objective is also that hairstyling should not be confined only to salons but reach homes too. He believes that hairstyling is an expression of individuality and thus cannot take a back seat.

As a global ambassador for Wella Patrick has spent the last 25 years travelling the world sharing and presenting his show stopping hair styles. His most recent appearance was at the renowned Cannes Festival where he worked on a special premier from the movie Trolls starring Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick.

The personal session, we bloggers had with with the expert of long hair was truly engaging and interesting and apart from his expertise, he kept us hooked with his humor and charm.

Patrick's passion and creativity for his craft was pretty evident and he gave us some insightful tips for us Indian women to play around with our long hair, without having to visit a stylist every time. Patrick mentioned that he is always happy to be in India and he loves how Indian women carry their long hair so gracefully and beautifully. He is a total genius with hair, he looked at few of the bloggers and predicted their personality with the way they carry their hair! He complimented my hair saying they look well styled and glamorous and how I like my hair perfectly in place always. He also explained how if the lower half of the hair is dry, light passes through the hair and they appear dull and rough. And when they are healthy and moisturized, light bounces off the hair and it gives them a shiny appearance.

Here are some of the tips that he shared during the session:

For India’s terribly humid weather, hair rituals and treatments like hair spas must be taken regularly.
Indians love oiling the hair, so go ahead and oil your hair. He further recommended limiting hair oiling to once a week. Apart from oiling,you can also use oils/serums/elixirs in between the days when you haven’t oiled.
Keep the shampoo a little longer in your hair for it to work more effectively and for the ingredients to penetrate. Don’t wash it off immediately.
Always use a conditioner/hair mask, that is what will keep the ends/lower half hydrated and shiny.
One can use a dry shampoo to add some volume/texture to the hair.
Too much of brushing is bad for hair as it damages the hair.
Never brush curly hair, only tangle-free them or roll with fingers, scrunch and leave them. You can use a wide-toothed comb to free the tangles.
Combing wet hair never causes split ends, damage or breakage. Just start with combing the bottom ends first and then move upwards.Combing dry hair is a disaster and damages the hair.
Make hairspray your best friend. It helps in styling your hair and keeps it in place. He also added that one should cover the sprayed portion with the hand as the heat from the hand will help control the frizz.

During this visit to India, Patrick Cameron showcased his Modern Vintage collection with state of the art styling products from the Wella Professionals portfolio. Modern vintage takes its inspiration from the 1960’s because this era has an enduring influence in fashion, in the balance and the proportions of the way hair is dressed. This legacy is seen across the board from international catwalks to red carpets as well as editorial work.

His collection is aptly called Modern Vintage which showcased models styled in gorgeous lehengas and anarkalis with glamorous bouffants, side twists, vintage curls and primarily big hair.

Wella Global Ambassador Patrick Cameron had devised the collection to showcase step-by-step looks and demonstrations to the hairdressers that struggle with styling long hair. These hair shows were held across three major cities in India - Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore where there was a live demonstration of these looks. He showed stylists how they can incorporate modern trends even for an ethnic event like a marriage, engagement etc.

Excited on his visit to India, Patrick said, “I have been associated with Wella Professionals for a long time now and I am extremely happy to showcase the modern vintage collection in India. It’s amazing to see women who beautifully carry long hair as they do in India. It is an absolute pleasure to be in a space where there is so much scope for experimentation. With the enthusiasm of all the stylists present India and an array of wonderful Wella Professionals products I see a bright future for India’s hair styling segment”

It was one of the most inspiring and captivating event of the year so far for it provided an opportunity to the stylists and hair dressers across the country to watch this hair magician at work.

The blogger session with Patrick was a great experience and we learnt so many interesting hairstyling tips from the maestro himself.

#LiveFree with the Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Pack !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 13:46:00 +0000

Summer is in full swing and for people with oily skin,breakouts and pimples can be a major cause for concern. After a heavy duty makeup day or after an improper skincare week, when your skin screams for something natural to clear all the impurities, there fits perfectly, this Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Pack.

So to help you combat the issue of pimples and acne I want to share my review of the Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Pack. I have used the mask a couple of times myself and will be sharing my thoughts on the same today, specifically for all the oily and acne prone girls.
The first time I ever used the Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Pack was on a friend's recommendation. I had this major fashion event, that I was to host and needed my skin to be squeaky clean, minus any minor breakouts and given my hectic lifestyle, I was so strapped for time that I didn't have the chance to even head to the parlour for a facial, that's the time this neem pack really came to the rescue. As no amount of makeup, can substitute good skin, so before I went in for my make up for the event, I managed to get my skin feeling so clean and clear using this face pack.

What the product does for your skin?

Himalaya’s Purifying Neem Pack is a purifying mask that brings together the goodness of Neem, Fuller’s Earth and Turmeric that work together to regulate excess oil secretion, clean clogged pores and prevents the recurrence of pimples. It rejuvenates and firms up the skin,imparts natural glow and improves skin texture.

Key Ingredients:

Neem relieves dry skin and soothes itchiness, redness and irritation. It also improves general skin health and immunity, combating bacterial infections such as acne, boils and ulcers. It is well known for its antibacterial properties, helps in controlling acne and pimples, and their recurrence.
Turmeric helps remove acne-causing bacteria. It has strong anti-inflammatory properties which soothe your skin gently. It also makes your skin soft and supple.
Fuller’s Earth (Multani Mitti) cools and soothes the skin, improving skin texture and leaving you with clear, problem-free skin. It is an excellent cleanser. It removes deep-seated dirt and skin pollutants.

Usage : Cleanse the face and neck. Apply Purifying Neem Pack evenly all over the face and neck, avoiding the area around the eyes and mouth. Let the mask dry for 10-15 minutes and remove with a wet sponge or towel. Rinse with cool water. For optimal results, use once a week.

My Experience : This neem mask has a dark green color that turns light green after drying. It has a perfect consistency which is neither very thick nor runny and spreads easily onto skin. It has a grainy texture, due to the mixture of fuller’s earth and dry neem leaves. There are tiny scrubbing particles are present in this moderately thick smooth and muddy green face pack. It has a mild neem fragrance that goes off after some time. I have been using this mask religiously for last one month. Neem & Fuller’s earth are its key ingredients which are highly effective for preventing breakouts.

I prefer to apply any masks on damp face rather than dry skin. So after cleansing my face, I simply apply the face pack evenly onto my face and leave it on for around 10 minutes. For the first 2 minutes it gives a mild tingling sensation but later it disappears. I leave it on till the time it becomes dry and then wash it off. Drying times depends upon how thick or thin layer is applied. It comes off very easily. I usually splash water on my face and then massage gently for 1-2 minutes as the grainy particles, act as a scrub and help to exfoliate skin. Be gentle while exfoliating skin as this mask is bit harsh.

It exfoliates skin very well and removes dirt & impurities and makes my skin clean & clear. It reduces oil and tightens open pores and skin feel soft and supple. After rinsing this mask my facial skin feels slightly dry so I use moisturizer and massage for 2 minutes. I must say it is an ideal face mask for oily to combination skin. It is affordable and its travel friendly packaging makes this mask a must have product in skin care. I strongly recommend this mask to calm down problematic skin and to welcome the summer season,I will definitely buy this mask again.

Pros of the Himalaya Neem Face Pack

It is anti-bacterial -It has got this cleaning properties which takes out all the dirt and impurities and makes my skin really clean.
List of natural ingredients like neem, fuller’s earth, turmeric.
Gently exfoliates skin making skin soft & supple. So it doubles up as a scrub. While applying, I use a circular motion since this pack has got tiny granules which works as a scrub.
Reduces oil and tightens pores and controls breakouts to a large extent.
It gives my skin a transient natural glow, after using.
Inexpensive – the price is quite affordable. It costs Rs.70 for 50g and Rs.130 for 100g
It has got Fuller’s earth as one of its active ingredients which gives a cooling sensation, a welcome relief in summers.

Cons of the Himalaya Neem Face Pack

After rinsing the face pack your skin feels very dry. It tends to be a little too drying on the skin,so if you have normal to dry skin, I would highly recommend that you go easy on it!
Chemical-laden - it Contains parabens

All in all, this product helps keep spots at bay and while it doesn't completely remove existing spots, I love the fact that it prevents them from turning into huge ugly ones whilst treating it. I credit this to the antibacterial properties found in neem leaves. Since I have normal to combination skin, I use it once in three weeks or sometimes even less, if I don’t break out. But since right now we are bang in summers I may use it a little more often.

Recommendation about this product:

I would definitely recommend this product to all the ladies, who are fed up with oily skin and pimples which appear on their face because of the excessive oil. The face pack lends a glow to your your face and will makes it visibly smoother. The pimples on your face start shrinking after one application only. So, give this product a try and control your acne’s and pimples on your face.
Personally,it acts like my own home facial, that helps me save time and avoid expensive & time-consuming parlour visits and get's my skin clean & clear and totally party ready.

I pretty much like this super cleansing face pack for the price it comes and for the worth it delivers! Face pack starters must grab at least a single pack of this product, however if you have really dry skin, this might leave your skin stretchy(that can be fixed with a rich moisturizer though!).

Also watch the Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Pack TVC !

Keep updated with Himalaya Herbals on their Website, Facebook and Twitter.

Have you tried the #HimalayaHerbals #PurifyingNeemPack yet? What are your thoughts on it?

Skin Pigmentation - Causes,Insights & How To Combat It!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 May 2016 10:20:00 +0000

As a fashion blogger, showcasing personal street style, most often I have to shoot outdoors,under the harsh rays of the sun. Especially in a city like Mumbai with soaring temperatures and high levels of pollution, shooting outdoors makes Skin Pigmentation a major concern for me.

If you recall my post a few months ago, about me having the privilege of being apart of the Pond's Insiders, so as a Pond's Insider, I have access to The Pond’s Institute and their global network of over 700 skincare scientists. So I'm fortunate to have the best skincare experts at my disposal to help answer any of my pressing skincare queries and concerns.
So for today’s post, I wanted to get an in depth understanding of Skin Pigmentation - it's causes,along with tips on how to combat the urban aggressors that can cause and even accelerate skin pigmentation.
So I consulted the experts at the The Pond’s Institute and I was super impressed with the amount of useful information, studies and facts I uncovered. So let's have a look at interesting facts about Skin Pigmentation and how we can combat it.

Factors That Affect Your Level Of Skin Pigmentation
About 50% of one’s skin condition is genetic. While there’s not much you can do to control what’s been given to you by your parents, you can overcome external environmental and lifestyle factors that are causing your skin to face pigmentation issues.
Below is an overview of elements, identified and extensively researched by The Pond’s Institute, that lead to skin pigmentation. The Pond’s Institute has also explored ways in which you can help prevent skin pigmentation issues.

Lifestyle
Our lifestyle has a major impact on our skin and a poor lifestyle can really aggravate the problem of skin pigmentation.With regard to lifestyle,the two main contributing factors are:

1.Stress - Living a high-stress lifestyle can increase skin pigmentation problems and result in an uneven skin tone.

Habits like smoking can affect skin further. Loss of hormone equilibrium may activate the cytokine and melanin over production, leading to skin darkening. Smokers tend to have a darker skin tone with an increased incidence of acne among chronic smokers.
So how can you combat this? Find a healthy outlet like exercise, sport. Maintain better time management on a day-to-day basis.
Personally I manage my stress by maintaining a personal diary to schedule all my work for the week, so that I can schedule it effectively and manage my time wisely. Exercising, kick-boxing and cardio really are my best stress busters. Spending time with my cats, in between working on my laptop also help relieve stress.

2.Sleep - Are you getting enough shut eye? A lack of sleep can have effects that go beyond dark circles. Lack of sleep results in the over secretion of a stress hormone known as cortisol. This results in dark circles and a lackluster complexion.
A great solution is to try to live a more active lifestyle to help relieve stress and fall asleep faster. I make sure I lead an active lifestyle, so though I spend a lot of time sitting,working on my laptop, I make sure I exercise at least 5 times a week and enjoy my weekends out with my friends for some downtime.

UV Radiation

By now we know that the sun can wreak havoc with your skin. Ultraviolet Radiation is one of the leading contributors to the problem of skin pigmentation, be it outdoors or indoors.
There are 2 main sources of UV Radiation -

1.Sun Exposure - UV ray exposure can lead to pigmentation problems.

• UVA (primary cause)causes immediate effects, such as sunburn and hyper-pigmentation, and deeply penetrate the skin

• UVB are more high-energy rays that cause delayed effects on skin, including spots and an uneven tone.
Interesting Facts to note :
• 7 minutes exposure to mid-noon sun will induce immediate tanning

• UV rays penetrate 30 feet into water

• Pavements can reflect up to 45% of UV rays

• Clothes can allow up to 60% of UV rays to penetrate.
I too spend a considerable amount of time outdoors,shooting for my blog and so I am quite often exposed to the harsh rays of the sun. So I make sure that I use a sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF protection in my daily routine for protection from the UV rays. I make sure I shoot around 7am and wrap up by 10am and consequently avoid direct sun exposure during and around noon as it causes the most amount of damage.

2. Indoor Radiation- I was surprised myself to learn from Pond's that visible light, indoors from our computer screens, cell phones, tablets, office lights, etc. can penetrate deep into the dermis causing skin damage similar to UV damage. Considering the amount of time I spend working on my laptop, not to mention my smartphone addiction -keeping tabs on all my social media accounts, indoor radiation is surely another cause for concern. So I make sure that I keep the brightness levels low on both my laptop and cell phone, to minimize the exposure to visible light.

Other sources of indoor radiation to watch out for include technology gadgets, cooking fumes, chemical odors, and second-hand smoke.
Did you know that 4 days in front of your laptop = 20 minutes in the noon sun and that chronic repetitive exposure to sources of heat (i.e. stove, heated car seat, laptop) may cause skin darkening.

Pollution

The Pond’s Institute has studied urban populations in several countries like India and China to understand the role of pollution in skin problems like pigmentation.The two types of pollutants are:

1.Outdoor Pollutants - Environmental pollution is known to cause inflammation, pigmentation, and even hyper-pigmentation

The biggest outdoor pollutants include UV radiation, car exhausts and dust from construction. And living in a heavily polluted city like Mumbai only adds to these woes. I like to run outdoors at least 3 times a week and that exposes me to a high level of outdoor pollutants too.

It has been noted that 50% of skin damage takes place due to environmental factors. Environmental pollutants activate melanocytes to product excessive melanin, causing dark spots and uneven skin tone. Pigment spots can increase by 20% depending on the amount of soot and particles from traffic.
To cope with all these environmental stresses you need to adopt a holistic solution with multiple approaches that include Deep Cleansing,Effective Protection,Damage Correction and Natural Defense Strengthening.
So my daily routine includes religiously using a good cleanser, moisturizer (with SPF protection) and a spot corrector for dark spots.

2.Indoor Pollutants - They involve technology gadgets (indoor radiation), cooking fumes, chemical odors, and second-hand smoke. Chronic repetitive exposure to sources of heat (i.e. stove, heated car seat, laptop) may cause the skin to darken.

Using a daily moisturizer like the Pond’s Flawless White Day Cream can help protect the skin from external heat sources.

I hope that you have found all insights and research about Skin Pigmentation from the experts at The Pond's Institute super useful and will implement some of the recommended solutions to combat the issue.

I encourage you to send in any queries/concerns you may have about Skin Pigmentation to me on feistyfoxdiaries@gmail.com or list them in the comments below and I can have them answered directly by my friends at The Pond's Institute and the answers will be included in my next month's post.

For more information on Pond's latest innovations and products you can visit here.

Dove inspires India to “Break the Rules of Beauty”

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 May 2016 11:19:00 +0000

In a country with 631 million women, 29 states and 22 languages Isn’t it strange that there is just one face of beauty? In our country, new research conducted by Dove reveals that 76% of Indian women believe, in today’s society, it is critical to meet certain beauty standards. Through a film shot with 85 women across India, Dove’s new campaign, “Let’s Break the Rules of Beauty”, aims to redefine the existing beauty standards and inspires India to embrace its diversity in beauty.

To promote conversations which ultimately have a positive impact on women and girls, Dove’s “The Truth About Beauty” research aims to understand how women today are feeling about self-esteem, beauty and how their opinions have evolved over time. While Indian girls and women were found to be more happy with their life compared to the global total, the pressure to comply to Indian beauty ideals still exists with 80% Indian women and 77% Indian girls believing that to do well in life, they need to look a certain way.

A NEW CAMPAIGN BY DOVE

Let’s Break the Rules of Beauty

For over 50 years, Dove has been championing real women and focusing on real beauty all over the world. 2016 is India’s year. Dove has taken a closer look at the India of today, and is seeking to address the causes of beauty anxiety in India for women and girls. Despite India’s remarkable diversity of looks, the beauty ideal is still excruciatingly narrow and therefore acts as a tight boundary women are expected to fit within, limiting them from achieving their full potential.

Dove recently launched “Let’s Break The Rules of Beauty”, a campaign that promotes and advocates for a more inclusive Indian beauty ideal that celebrates, and visually showcases, diverse and unique women who break the boundaries when it comes to beauty in India.

Dove through its new campaign invites women to make their own features as celebrated as existing stereotypes. The “Let’s Break the Rules of Beauty” film is shot by Indian film director, screenwriter and documentary maker, Pan Nalin and captures “Real Women” from diverse states in India. Eighty Five women have been filmed in their own avatars celebrating their own idea of beauty.

“Culturally, India is experiencing a real movement towards female empowerment and our research reveals that 67% of Indian women and 64% Indian girls would like to see a more diverse range of beauty represented in the media. Over 50 years we have supported women, all over the world, to see beauty as a source of confidence and not anxiety. With our new campaign on Real Beauty we would like to further encourage conversations on the evolving ideals of beauty in India” said SrirupMitra, General Manager – Hindustan Unilever.

“For centuries we have built an ideal for beauty in India, even the recent cinema is celebrating only a certain type of beauty. Very rarely do we celebrate the diversity of beauty. What attracted me to this campaign was originality, honesty and of course the opportunity to work with so many women from diverse backgrounds and different cultural heritage” said Pan Nalin

THE TRUTH ABOUT BEAUTY RESEARCH

All Dove campaigns are deeply rooted in research. Dove strives to understand the causes of beauty anxiety everywhere in the world in order to promote conversations which ultimately have a positive impact on women and girls.

Dove conducted a research called ‘The Truth About Real Beauty Research 2015” in seven markets globally. The research aims to understand how women today are feeling about self-esteem, beauty and how their opinions have evolved over time. India was part of this larger global study. 500 Indian women and 300 Indian girls (aged 10-17) were engaged in what is the first Dove study where women and girls have been fielded together, making this the most in-depth study to date. The questionnaire also hosts a number of tested, historical, academic scaled questions, ensuring a level of understanding which is unprecedented and new to the industry.

Some of the highlights that have been found were :

A singular beauty ideal remains dominant.

Pressure to comply to Indian beauty ideals comes from external, traditional and societal factors, with 80% of Indian women and77% of Indian girls stating they believe that for women to do well in life, they need to look a certain way.

Family pressure for Indian women is high; higher than any other market.

Their study found that women are feeling pressure from their family, with 68% stating they feel pressure to take care of their family, while 55% feel pressure to get married and 64% feel pressure to have a family and children.

However, we are seeing a rising awareness of the role of external factors in shaping perceptions of beauty and how this might be challenged.

67% of Indian women and 71% of girls agree very few real women and girls look like the women and girls in adverts, movies, television etc.

THE REAL WOMEN PERSONAL STORIES

Mary Ann, 23, Kolkata

"I’ve always thought that a person who is beautiful is a person who is aware of themselves." Mary Ann

Both outgoing and courageous, Mary-Anne thrives on exploring new culture and language and has just completed postgraduate studies in sustainable development. As well as her mother tongue, she can speak French and Arabic, and is now learning Hindi and Bengali too.

Mary-Ann is always thinking of new ways to help her local community. She also enjoys painting and photographing the city.

Ektha, 24, Bangalore

If I turn back and notice you for the second time, I consider you as beautiful. Just the fact that your face stands out in a crowd…that for me is beautiful. Ektha
As confident and expressive young woman, we believe Ektha is a great role model for the young girls of India. Ektha works as a social carer and feels she has landed her dream job. In the future, she’d like to complete a Masters in child psychology and coach or teach young children.
As a self-confessed extrovert, she enjoys being surrounded by loved ones, whom she describes as “her world”.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Join Dove in celebrating “Let’s Break the Rules of Beauty” by watching the film. Share the film together with what #RealBeauty means to you.

Dove has long been committed to create a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. Dove hopes to inspire women to develop a positive relationship with beauty, because when women recognize the beauty in themselves, they have powerful ability to positively impact the next generation.

Be Summer Ready with Kaya Skin Clinic's Laser Hair Removal!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 May 2016 12:13:00 +0000

Summer is in full swing and it's time to bring out those shorts, mini skirts and tank tops. Also some of us may have some exotic summer holidays already planned out and in case of any or all of the above scenarios - Surely sexy smooth skin is on our minds. And not just because we’re lusting for lux holiday getaways that require us to bare all in tiny swimsuits. For that, we’re fine with short-lasting shaving or painful-waxing. But for life? For life, we’ll settle for nothing short of a smooth, sexy and hair-free body that’s no pain, all gain. And while that may be wishful thinking, we’ve found the next best thing (and let’s just say it’s on our holiday wish lists here at The Kaya Skin Clinic!).

So, what am I talking about? Well, laser hair removal, of course.

Hair Removal is a time-consuming daily routine for many people. While traditional methods such as waxing, tweezing and shaving are effective for removing the hair, they do not provide long-term solutions for hair removal – never mind all those bumps, nicks and ingrown hairs! Over a decade ago, technological advancements led to the creation of a hair removal system that not only eliminated these annoying problems, but also provided a long-term hair reduction solution: laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is one of the fastest-growing methods of ridding the body of unwanted hair. The appeal of laser hair removal stems from its effectiveness, efficiency and convenience. It can be performed virtually anywhere on the body where you experience unwanted hair growth. Another reason for its popularity is that laser hair removal can result in permanent reduction of the hair.

The laser works by killing the root of the hair over a few visits. It beams highly concentrated light into hair follicles. Pigment in the follicles absorb the light. That destroys the hair.

After a few sessions, the root doesn’t grow back and, voila, hair stops growing. When searching for a clinic, there is no need to pay the highest price, though it is important to find a clinic that has quality equipment and experienced laser technicians and the laser hair removal at the Kaya Skin Clinic is one of the most well renowned.

To answer all of your most pressing questions, I turned to Dr. Sejal Shah, Dermatologist, Kaya Skin Clinic. And since I too spend lots of time in the pool during the summer, the lure of low-maintenance grooming was too good to pass up. So here I am in consultation with Dr. Sejal Shah to clear all my apprehensions and bust some common myths about laser hair removal.

Laser Hair Removal Myths Busted:

Laser Hair Removal is Really Painful

We have 2 technologies for laser hair reduction: In motion diode laser which is pain-free and Nd -YAG laser which has a little discomfort (pin prick sensation). Discomfort with the Nd-YAG laser can be further reduced using a numbing cream prior to lasing.

Laser hair removal has not been proven safe.

It is an absolutely safe technology and has been in use since years. It is US FDA approved. Laser hair reduction in Kaya is done by trained and certified laser therapists under doctor supervision. Laser energy is absorbed entirely by the hair follicles without causing any side effects on the skin.

Laser hair removal works the same for all hair types.

It works best for dark and coarse hair type. Very light and fine hair does not respond well.

It doesn’t work on dark skin/ if you have dark skin, your options are more limited.

The lasers that we use are ideal for Indian skin type. The readings for each session are set based on the skin type and hair type.

Laser hair removal eliminates unwanted hair forever/it’s permanent.

It is hair reduction and not complete hair removal. Most of your dark and coarse hair goes away, some amount of light, fine, slow growing hair stays back at the end of all your sessions. Maintenance sessions may be required especially for facial hair.

Laser hair removal treatments cause burns.

The safety precautions and the expertise at Kaya ensures that adverse events like burns do not occur. Laser affects only the hair follicles without causing damage to the overlying skin

You can’t get laser hair removal treatments during the summer.

Anytime of the year is ideal for laser hair reduction treatments. As long as the skin is protected using a sunscreen and Kaya skin protection cream and the aftercare explained by the doctor/therapist is followed, you can carry out all your routine activities post laser.

Your skin can get discolored from laser hair removal treatments.

Laser hair reduction does not cause any kind of discoloration of the skin.

It takes ages vs One Treatment Does the Job

It takes 6-10 sessions to see visible hair reduction, which takes 10-12 months with hair free intervals in between, post which most people require only an occasional maintenance session since there is not much hair growth. Waxing is a monthly requirement for years.

Laser hair removal costs a fortune.

In the long run, waxing every 20-30 days is more expensive.

You shouldn’t shave between laser treatments.

You can shave or use a hair removal cream between the laser sessions if required. You should not wax/thread/pluck/ bleach between laser sessions.

A tan won’t affect your laser treatment.

Laser is to be avoided when there is a recent, fresh tan since the skin is sensitive.

All Lasers are the same.

There are different kinds of lasers, depending on wavelength, power of the machine, cooling mechanism in the machine, etc.

Lasers penetrate the skin and affect your internal organs

Lasers penetrate up to 2.5-3mm of skin, which is the mid layer of the skin. The laser energy is completely absorbed by the hair follicles in that layer, hence do not affect any other structure of the body.

There is a risk that the laser can affect your skin pigment.

Laser does not cause any darkening on the skin. Laser energy is completely absorbed by the hair follicle while the surrounding area of skin is cooled.

I can’t get laser hair removal on my bikini line

Laser hair reduction can be done on the entire bikini including bikini line with great results

Laser hair removal takes hours.

It depends on the area to be lased. A small area like upper lip could take 20min, larger part like full legs (both) could take 2-2 ½ hours

I have to let my hair grow for a week before my appointment.

It is essential to have some visible growth prior to the session, so that the doctor can decide the area to be worked on and the amount of energy to be delivered

Laser hair removal and electrolysis at Kaya

Laser hair removal and electrolysis provide the closest thing to permanent hair removal. ‘Laser’ refers to an intense pulse of light, which means it carries a risk of burns and should only be done by a certified expert. Electrolysis involves inserting a fine needle into the hair shaft to destroy the hair producing cells. Kaya offers best services supervised by dermatologists who customise the laser service to suit your skin and hair type. To know more visit: here

There are 2 kinds of laser technologies at Kaya– the Pain-free one which is Soprano hair reduction and the Nd: YAG laser. Both of these are US FDA approved and highly safe for Indian skin type. The sensation that you get through Nd: Yag laser is just a pink-prick sensation which vanishes easily as soon as the service is done. Nd:Yag Laser is a more popular technology and is available at every Kaya skin clinic. To know more visit here

In the pain-free laser, all you feel is a slightly tingling and a bit of warm sensation. The Kaya expert makes sure you are comfortable and if you’re feeling any discomfort, more gel is added to counteract the heat from the laser.To know more visit here

Dr.Sejal Shah, Kaya Skin Clinic shows us the laser hair removal machine

Kaya Hair free Gentle Touch works on the hair root without harming the surrounding skin and reducing your hair from the root and preventing further growth. It has no side effects and within a couple of sittings body hair from all over your body can be removed. To know more visit here .

Post Laser Hair Removal Care by Kaya - Face Cleanser, Sunscreen & Skin Protection Cream

Dr.Sejal Shah showing me the Post Care Creams to be applied after the laser treatment

The technology is advanced and customised as per your needs. So going laser is the best way to be fuzz-free.

My Experience at Kaya Skin Clinic
Right after my consultation with the doctor, I decided to go in for a patch test on my hand for the laser hair removal, to check my skin sensitivity and pain endured.

After the consultation with the doctor, I proceeded to the room when the procedure is done. First the laser hair removal expert handed me wraparound sunglasses, and put some on herself, to protect our eyes from the laser light. She intially shaved the area after sanitizing it and then applied a thick layer of a cooling gel to my hand. The gel helps to keep the skin cool as the laser heats up, but it also lets the hand held Laser probe move easily across skin.

The laser equipment is adjusted according to the color, thickness, and location of your hair being treated as well as your skin color.

Next, the Kaya expert used the hand held Laser probe and ran it in circular motions over the area – where a cool gel had been applied,on the patch on my hand, and as she did I could feel my skin begin to heat up.

After we were done with the laser hair removal on the patch, the gel is wiped off with a tissue and some ice is applied to the area to soothe it. Then she applied a Skin Protection Cream to the lased area, to soothe the area and ease any discomfort.This cream needs to be applied for 3-4 days after the procedure.
I wouldn’t say it’s completely painless because there is a prickly sensation as the laser goes over your skin, and it can get hot. But I found it to be a much more comfortable way to remove hair than waxing.
After I was done with the patch test, except for a bit of redness on my skin which disappeared an hour after my treatment, I had no sensitivity in the area.
They told me that in case in a day or two afterward, if the treated area of the skin looks and feel like it's sunburned, applying cool compresses and moisturizers helps.

Post the laser treatment Kaya gives you a Sunscreen cream for the following month to help prevent temporary changes in the color of the treated skin.

You do need to take a few precautions for at least 2 days after the procedure -

1. Avoid deodorants and soaps for a day.

2. Do not bathe with hot water.

3. Apply the post laser cream twice a day and sunscreen if you’re heading out.

I was pretty impressed with the results of my patch test and was really convinced to go in for laser hair removal under the expertise of the staff at the Kaya Skin Clinic.

Some FAQ’s by Kaya:

You might see hair growth after initial sessions. These will fall off eventually. Rest will be targeted in the next sitting
There might be slight redness or swelling immediately after the service. This is completely normal and will subside in a few hours
Apply post laser cream to the serviced area for 5 days after each session. Apply sun screen regularly thereafter
Continue your regular outdoor activities, but avoid excessive direct sunlight exposure for 2-3 days post the session. Apply sun screen, with SPF 15, at least 20 minutes before you go out in the sun, especially on the serviced area
Use normal tap water on the service area for 12 hours post the session. Warm water or soap can be used after 12 hours
Swimming can be resumed after 2-3 days post service since chlorine can irritate the serviced area
Between the sessions, hair can be removed using shaving or hair removal creams only. Avoid removing hair for a week before your next appointment
Do not bleach, wax, pluck, thread hair in between the sessions from the serviced area. Do not out dye or put mehendi on the area to be serviced
If you are taking KAYA HairFree on face, then avoid facial for 7 days prior and 7 days post your session
Do not use Acne drugs like Retin A and cosmetic products like chemical peels/products containing AHA for 7 days prior and 7 days post your session
Is laser hair removal really permanent? Most KAYA customers achieve 80-90% permanent hair reduction. This service reduces the quantity and thickness of hair. However, it does not target very fine, bleached or grey hair. Since hormonal changes in the body might trigger some hair growth, it is recommended that after a course of 6 sessions, you undergo a few maintenance sessions.
Is the Nd:YAG laser technology safe? Absolutely! We use a US FDA approved Nd:YAG laser, safe on Indian skin and suitable for all skin types. The service is performed by our trained and certified skin practitioner, under supervision of the dermatologist. Our Skin Practitioners go through a stringent 45 day program at the KAYA Training Center in Mumbai, a state-of-the-art facility that imparts the latest expert training. On-going quality control and re-training ensures consistency in the delivery of the service. Side effects from laser hair removal are uncommon. Sometimes clients experience hyper-pigmentation (darkening of skin) or a slight redness of skin (allergic reaction to the heat). Both conditions are temporary and can easily be treated with topical creams

The Cost & Promotions
Now comes the inevitable – Laser is expensive!
Kaya Laser Hair Removal is priced at Rs. 3100 per sitting and a minimum of 6 sittings are recommended for permanent hair removal. Here’s the good news! Kaya Skin Clinic is running a promotion offer where you can experience the first Laser treatment for underarm hair at Rs. 85 only. And when you upgrade to the full package of 6 sittings, you get upto 50% off.

So go hair-free this summer and #BeKayaReady this Summer and book your consultation now here .

Timeless Classics in Swarovski & Pearls !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 07:28:00 +0000

With Mother's Day just around the corner, if you are really confused about the perfect gifting option for the most special woman in your life, then look no further as Swarovski has put together a fabulous collection to inspire you. When it comes to classic taste in jewellery, nothing can match the timeless elegance of the melange of pearls and crystals. Swarovski's Mother's Day collection has some beautifully crafted jewellery pieces that combine classic pearls and Swarovski crystals so perfectly.
I have styled some of the pieces of the collection in today's vintage inspired look. I went in for layering of the necklaces with three pieces from the collection in in different metal platings for a very on-trend look.

First I wore the Edify Small Necklace in rose gold - this necklace is a glamorous, graphic interpretation of the classic pearl necklace. This highly refined necklace features a Crystal Pearl and a V-shaped structure in rose gold-plated metal and crystal pavé. Next I layered it with the Edify Medium Necklace in rhodium-plated metal, it's romantic and feminine, this stunning necklace shows a high level of refinement with Crystal Pearls and V-shaped structures in rhodium-plated metal and crystal pavé. Then I further layered the two necklaces with the heavier, Edify All-Around Necklace -this classic pearl necklace has a graphic, glamorous twist. This necklace combines Crystal Pearls with V-shaped structures in rose gold-plated metal and crystal pavé. This makes for a real statement piece to gift your mother. So you can either layer up the three necklaces for a very on-trend look or you can simply get her just one for a sheer elegant look.

For the earrings I chose the Edify Pierced Earrings - these pair of pierced earrings features Crystal Pearls and V-shaped structures in rose gold-plated metal and crystal pavé. The larger V shape is specially designed to be worn behind the earlobe for an on-trend earring jacket effect, or removed completely for a more subtle look. So you get two looks in one!

For the bracelets I stacked two pieces, mixing and matching different metal platings, for an on-trend look . First was the Edify Bangle in rose gold - it features a Swarovski Crystal Pearl and a V-shaped structure in rose gold-plated metal and crystal pavé. I layered it with the Enlace Bangle -a contemporary pearl design featuring the love knot, a symbol of eternal love. This romantic bangle mixes a smooth, round white Crystal Pearl with sparkling clear crystal pavé and rhodium-plated metal. It makes an ideal gift for Mother’s Day.
These beautiful pieces will elevate even the simplest of outfits. This entire Swarovski collection for Mother's Day has a timeless classic appeal as well as a sophisticated edge about it, perfectly blending the traditional appeal with a modern touch, making it the perfect gift choice for Mother's Day.
Keeping the vintage theme in mind, I styled this gorgeous vintage blush pink gown with hints of sparkle, bold red lips, winged eyeliner and a bouffant for the hair, giving a very retro vibe.

Photo Credits: Aditya Mistry

Location Courtesy: Grandmama's Cafe, Lower Parel

HOOK MY LOOK

So if you are looking for the perfect gift this Mother's Day, make sure you check out Swarovski's Mother's Day Collection here or at your nearest Swarovski store.

Keep updated with Swarovski's latest collections on Facebook & Instagram.

The best of Spring Summer 2016 Fashion at Shoppers Stop !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 13:55:00 +0000

I recently visited the Shoppers Stop store to check out their Spring Summer 2016 collection and absolutely loved their vast array of easy breezy summer looks packed in with a variety of floral designs, color blocked prints and sun-kissed colors. Their collection has super chic & comfortable silhouettes as well as summer ready bright pop colours.
Their new collection offers stylish & contemporary clothing and accessories across Shoppers Stop’s exclusive brands Life, Stop, Kashish, Haute Curry, Elliza Donatein, Femina Flaunt & Rocky Star. All these collections can be bought on the Shoppers Stop website or through Shoppers Stop App.
Their collection features some of the season’s must-haves including chic summer dresses,skater skirts, capes,palazzo pants, trendy jumpsuits, cropped tops, graphic tees, funky shorts, printed pants and much more. They also have a wide selection of statement accessories such as printed bags, bright colored sunglasses, jewellery and footwear to complement your spring summer ensembles.
So I put together an easy breezy look for summer from their latest collection - I paired this pretty coral top with crochet detailing at the sleeves from Stop layered with white sleeveless cape from Life with a gorgeous floral skater skirt from Life. I accessorised the look with a silver statement necklace with matching earrings from Life, a silver cut-work metal cuff bracelet from Life and a couple of multi-colored bangles from Haute Curry. I carried this super trendy cobalt blue fringe bag from Femina Flaunt and wore these brown round-toe pumps from Rocky Star.

This look is perfect to flaunt this spring summer with summer colors like coral, white, yellow and blue, comfortable silhouettes like a relaxed t-shirt, cape and a skater skirt and a summer staple - the floral print.

Another great thing about Shopper's Stop is that I have the luxury of also Shopping online on their website, it is the most convenient way to shop their new styles from the comfort of your own home,where you get the best of new spring summer fashion in the latest styles delivered to your doorstep.

I loved browsing through the variety of spring/summer styles available at Shoppers Stop across their exclusive brands - Life, Stop, Kashish, Haute Curry, Elliza Donatein, Femina Flaunt & Rocky Star

Photo Credits: Aditya Mistry

I absolutely loved the vibrant new collection at Shoppers Stop and I found quite a few interesting pieces to spruce up my Spring/Summer style. If you looking to add some super chic styles to your wardrobe this Spring/Summer make sure you check out Shoppers Stop's new collection on their website or on the Shoppers Stop App.

Pond's Age Miracle Firm & Lift Range Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 23:10:00 +0000

Women today are full of energy and pursuing youthful passions well past their forties, yet there is a major gap between how old they look and how old they feel. Daily activities such as intense exercise, stress, technology usage and urban aggressors, including exposure to pollution, UV Rays and visible light, cause the skin to age.

As women age, the elastin fibers, which work as the skin’s natural glue to keep skin tight and smooth, begin to break,causing the skin to sag. Regular anti-ageing creams are not formulated to strengthen the skin’s collagen and bind elastin fibers back together.

Ageing is inevitable but the key is to age gracefully and enjoy the journey. So a couple of months ago I tried Pond's My Skin Advisor App,(see post here) and one of the anti aging products that the App recommended I use, was the Pond's Age Miracle Intensive Cell ReGEN Serum. It worked really well leaving my skin soft, supple and rejuvenated. After a good experience with the Pond's Age Miracle Intensive Cell ReGEN Serum I decided to supplement my anti-ageing efforts and try out Pond's new Age Miracle Firm and Lift range that was developed based on intensive research by the scientists of The Pond’s Institute.
The Pond’s Age Miracle Firm & Lift portfolio is composed of a 3-product skincare regimen - Face & Neck Lifting Day Cream SPF 30 PA+++ , Eye Contour Lifter and Targeted Lifting Serum Massager.

Y: The New Shape of Youth

Did you know it's not just fine lines and wrinkles that make you look older? It's the lower part of your face-known as the Y-contour that actually reveals your true age. Yes! There are also problems of sagging skin around the neck and jawline that need to be addressed.

The Pond’s Institute acknowledges that the lower half of the face—the neck, the jawline—also known as the Y-Contour, can reveal one’s true age. This delicate part is prone to loose skin and sagging. It is important to preserve the Y-shape, like it’s your fountain of youth. That is where the Pond's breakthrough fast-acting Firm & Lift treatment range infused with advanced Instant Lift Complex promises to firm and lift your Y-contour so you can look up to 10 years younger!

I have been trying out this range for 3 weeks now and will share my experience with you today. I will share my reviews of each product of the Pond's range in detail and also of the range in general.

Pond's Face & Neck Lifting Day Cream SPF 30 PA+++
A luxurious, highly concentrated lifting cream infused with potent InstantLift™ Complex, corrects deep lines and wrinkles and visibly lifts skin, while providing both UVA and UVB superior sun protection.
When used regularly with Ponds Age Miracle Firm & Targeted Lifting Serum Massager, this Day Cream is clinically proven to lift the skin around your Y-Contour by up to 0.40mm, while providing superior protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

My Review :
I really like the Day Cream from the Pond’s Age Miracle range. This one from the Firm & Lift range has a slightly thicker texture, and takes a little while to absorb into the skin completely. Initially, you will feel slightly greasy but within few minutes the greasiness disappears and it gives a good hydrated feeling to the skin. The skin feels well moisturized, without being heavy or greasy. For oily skin, you can skip the moisturizer if you are applying this.

It comes with SPF 30 which is a huge plus for Indian climate along with PA+++ protection and therefore you can take the liberty of skipping sunscreen. Sun damage causes wrinkles, dark spots and uneven skin tone, so this cream protects the skin from all these three skin problems too.
Day creams with SPF often cast a white layer on the skin but not in this case, it just gives a slight pinkish glow to the skin for few hours and fades off. Massaging this luxurious cream to the skin does feel good and you would notice the slight improvement on the skin immediately as the skin looks visibly smoother,
The tightening of the skin and fine lines fading is visibly noticed after continued usage of the cream and leaves the skin really firm and supple.

Pros of Pond's Face & Neck Lifting Day Cream SPF 30 PA+++:.

It doesn’t feel heavy on skin and settles into a satin hydrated look.

Sun Protection benefit - It has SPF 30 PA+++

Smoothens the wrinkles and reduces fines lines.

It helps firm, lift and improve the Y-contour

Cons of Pond's Face & Neck Lifting Day Cream SPF 30 PA+++:

One can experience a radical difference in skin firming only after using it consistently for a considerable amount of time.

Will not suit very oily skin.

Price in India: Rs.999 for 50g

Pond's Age Miracle Firm & Lift Eye Contour Lifter

This product helps revive the fragile skin around your eyes for a brighter and fresher complexion. Designed with a cooling applicator head for easy application, the Firm & Lift Eye Contour Lifter targets the skin around your eye contour to firm it up and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

My Review:

The next product is the Pond’s Age Miracle Eye Contour Lifter, which is a silky eye cream in a handy tube with unique cooling applicator head that helps in ease of application. The steel, slanted applicator is easy to use, maneuver and on application, the cream imparts a cooling sensation. It is extremely travel friendly and light weight.
I really find the metal tip soothing under the eyes, specially in the morning when puffiness under the eyes is at its peak. It just applies the product but doesn't massage it in, so you have to use your fingers to pat the eye cream into your skin.
The formula is light weight and non-greasy. It blends into the skin real quick, leaving your skin moisturized and non-sticky. Upon massaging, the cream hydrates the skin very well especially if you have dry skin. The eye area felt extremely hydrated and soft when I used the Firm and Lift eye cream. It works really well under concealer/ makeup as well. I don’t really have major fine lines or crows feet, though the dryness & puffiness are my main issues and it has worked on both these issues to a great extent.

The formula promises to lift the skin around the eyes and also help with the firmness of the skin...And it does exactly that... It has been exactly 3 weeks since I have been using it and the skin around my eyes looks revived. Its plumper, smoother and the few fine lines I had, have literally disappeared. However, the contour lifter needs to be applied thrice a day to have a continued effect.

Pros of Pond's Age Miracle Firm & Lift Eye Contour Lifter:

Ease of application.The tube comes with a unique cooling applicator head

Revives and soothes tired skin and helps reduce puffiness and eye bags

It helps reveal smoother and tauter skin around the eyes

Keeps skin well moisturized for long

Nice travel friendly packaging.

Non greasy and blends into the skin quickly.

Cons of Pond's Age Miracle Firm & Lift Eye Contour Lifter:

No SPF so no sun protection benefit.

Price in India: Rs.899 for 15ml

I totally loved this product and I am glad I came across it and has become my go to eye cream and for the price, it really is a steal.

Pond's Age Miracle Firm & Lift Targeted Lifting Serum Massager

Get visibly younger-looking skin, immediately. This fast-acting treatment is clinically proven to lift the skin around your Y-Contour by up to 0.40mm, lifting your jaw and neckline when used regularly with Pond's Age Miracle Firm & Lift Face & Neck Day Cream.
A breakthrough discovery from the Pond’s Institute, this is a fast-acting treatment infused with advanced InstantLift Complex to firm and lift your Y-Contour so you can look up to 10 years younger. It comes with a unique cooling, roll-on massage applicator to help precisely target and firm skin around the jawline and neck giving results similar to a mini-facelift.

My Review :
I was most excited about this product. Its one of a kind serum massager which is something I used for the first time. The tube has a roll-on massage applicator that rolls when you turn it on by twisting the metallic head. The mouth of the tube has a roller attached for massaging the skin and it comes with a on and off system that needs to activated with a twist. It is the really good massaging tube and is extremely convenient.

Just position it on the jawline & neck and then squeeze the tube lightly; the serum comes out of the metal roller and spreads on to the desired area i.e. jawline & neck. Then you can twist it to off mode and massage the serum gently into the skin in an upwards direction. The serum roller gives a cooling effect to the skin along with the smooth massaging. In fact, massaging the skin after a long day feels like a real pampering treatment for the skin. Massaging with the roller is incredibly easy and the best pampering for the facial muscles. Often facial leads to excessive chemical involvement and breakouts and therefore the roller is a great alternative. Once the firm and lift serum massager is absorbed by the skin you will feel that the skin is extremely smooth and soft. This is because the massage stimulates the blood circulation and makes the skin firm.
The Serum is a translucent gel which is absorbed into the skin almost immediately. The formula is extremely light-weight and doesn’t leave any residue behind. It gives a cooling sensation with a refreshing fragrance which I love. After using it for one week, I could definitely observe smoother, plumper jawline.

The Pond's Age Miracle Firm and Lift serum gives a wonderful matte look to the skin and also hydrates the dry areas. However, normal to dry skin might still require a hydrating moisturizer after this. It is a wonderful product for the sagging facial muscles and gives a through massage. If there is one product you are planning to pick from Firm & Lift range then it has to be this massager.

Pros of Pond's Age Miracle Firm & Lift Targeted Lifting Serum Massager:

It comes with a unique cooling, roll-on massage applicator

Easily absorbed -Serum with gel texture

Settles down with a matte look and hydrates dry areas

Gives a cooling sensation.

Refreshing aroma.

The massage stimulates blood circulation.

Firms sagging facial muscles with massage.

Cons of Pond's Age Miracle Firm & Lift Targeted Lifting Serum Massager:

Normal to dry skin might need a moisturizer after this.

Price in India: Rs.1299 for 25ml

My Overall Experience with the Pond’s Age Miracle Firm & Lift Range:

The Pond’s Age Miracle Firm & Lift range not only provides the basic anti-ageing benefits but also a firmer and more toned Y-contour. Over the period of 30 days, my skin feels well moisturised, toned, clearer and firmer. My Y-contour has a much sharper look to it. Do keep in mind that the results are obtained to its optimal level with sustained usage.
The Firm & Lift Range is definitely one step ahead of the regular Age Miracle series. The range is definitely recommend for normal to oily skin and each product has its own unique benefits. The Pond’s Age Miracle Firm & Lift Range is a must try if you are battling with sagging skin.

My favourite of all these has to be the Targeted Lifting Serum Massager as it comes with the convenient roll-on massage applicator that stimulates the blood circulation and firms the sagging facial muscles with massage. The serum makes the face appear firmer and smoother and with regular usage it gives the desired results.
Similarly the Eye Contour Lifter has extremely soothing experience due to its nice cooling effect.
All the products are induced with ingredients that help the skin to look firmer and enables you to age gracefully. These creams have an undeniable tightening effect on skin–most especially neck and jawline.
With so much of stress in our lives we start developing wrinkles even faster than we could ever imagine and this new product range from Pond's is definitely a must try to get rid off those unwanted wrinkles, get firmer skin and make you look visibly younger.

We all lead fast paced and stressful lifestyles, so today the signs of ageing are visible right from our late twenties. It becomes all the more imperative to take care of your skin once you enter your 30's . Signs of ageing go beyond wrinkles and fine lines and for a firmer, lifted Y-Contour, you need products that specifically offer targeted firming and lifting action to strengthen your skin and this Firm & Lift range by Pond's works effectively on almost all the visible signs of ageing.

View the entire Pond's Age Miracle Firm & Lift Range here

You can keep updated with Pond's new innovations and products on their Website,Facebook,Youtube & Instagram .

Pond's Insiders NYC Event !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 10:57:00 +0000

Last December I had the most wonderful opportunity of visiting New York City for the Pond's Insiders Event, representing India for the Pond's Global initiative. I was so privileged to be chosen to be a part of the iconic brand's Pond's brand team.

After being chosen as one of the Pond’s Insiders, we all met in New York, the birthplace of Pond’s, for an immersion on the brand - its philosophy, heritage, and science. We had the chance to visit Unilever’s R&D center where we learned about the beauty behind the science of Pond’s from The Pond’s Institute scientists.

The Pond’s Insiders are basically an international group of 13 highly influential beauty and fashion bloggers, YouTubers, and Instagrammers from around the globe- India, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam. Equipped with their experience & knowledge in the field of beauty and skincare in their respective countries, they are meant to provide insights to Pond’s on skincare needs from women around the world, and The Pond’s Institute equips The Pond’s Insiders with valuable information to help their followers understand their skin in depth.

Brand Immersion Session

As part of the brand immersion we learnt about Pond’s heritage, the brand has such a rich heritage, with Pond’s founded in 1846 in New York by Theron T. Pond and has since then stood at the forefront of science and innovation in skincare globally. It is commendable to note that with more than 170 years of history it is the oldest face care brand that still exists today.

We also learnt about the core philosophy of the brand, it’s history – the product developments & innovations over the years, the creation of the iconic Tulip logo for the brand to epitomize delicate feminine beauty in the 1960’s, pioneering the evolution of skincare to a more sophisticated era with the creation of The Pond’s Institute, the brand with 170 years of history, 700 scientists & specialists, 200 patents and counting.

The whole brand immersion session was so informative and enriching and equipped us with a better understanding of Pond’s rich history & heritage and what it really stands for as a brand, leading breakthroughs and innovations over the years to provide the very best skincare products to the world.

Visit to the Unilever R&D Center & The Pond’s Institute

One of the major highlights of my trip was the visit to the Unilever R&D Center in Connecticut where we got an introduction to the beauty behind skincare science. We learnt so many interesting facts about the science behind the legendary brand and all the major skincare science breakthroughs from Pond’s.

We actually got a chance to interact with the scientists at The Pond's Institute and learn first hand about interesting things like their how they go about their new technology developments, testing methods, skincare research, global breakthroughs & innovations. We also learnt how Pond's Cold Cream is made and we even visited their manufacturing unit.

Interesting Facts we learnt about The Pond’s Institute:Their Mission

''The Pond's Institute was born to bring together years of skincare science and first-to-market innovative product formulas under one roof. Through a global network of scientists, the mandate was and still is to bring the best scientific knowledge to the aid of modern day’s skincare problems.

The Pond’s Institute, a global network of 700 scientists, creates leading skincare innovations and clinically proven products that strengthen the skin from deep inside to make it look softer and smoother on the outside.

With a goal of providing best-in-class solutions to women’s everyday skin needs and concerns, scientists at The Pond’s Institute work every single day to create science and technology breakthroughs that correct the skin problems of tomorrow better than anyone else.''

The Pond’s Institute continues to be a pioneer in skincare by:

• Analyzing the evolving needs of different skin types around the world

• Uncovering insights on how these skin factors influence people’s perceptions

• Designing molecules clinically proven to deliver superior skin results

Skin science breakthroughs from The Pond’s Institute:

The Pond’s Institute was the first to launch Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) in clinically proven Anti-Aging products and was also the first to discover the active anti-aging ingredient – Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA).

My Experience At The Pond’s Institute

It was so interesting and enriching interacting with the scientists at The Pond's Institute, we got an overview of key timelines of key discover actives that were incorporated into key Pond’s face care launches over the years

We also learnt about the development of the cult classic product – the Pond’s Cold Cream – and how the product is made in the labs. The lab team actually showed us a demo of the process of how the cold cream is made.

Further we also visited the factory site where the cold cream is processed and manufactured.

We also got an introduction into Clinical Science Capability, how the team use the Vectra, Antara, and Moisture Map instruments to test products with consumers.

We also got to do a cream testing on ourselves with two creams with different textures and feels and we had to test them on different variables like which one felt more draggy, silkier, sticky, thicker etc. This exercise enabled us get an idea how these different variables impact how the products look, feel and smell and how those insights are used by their product developers to guide their product development.

YouTube Masterclass and YouTube/Google Tour

Another highlight of our trip was the visit to the Google building and You Tube Space, New York at Chelsea Market. We got a full tour of the Google building and that was such an exciting experience.

We also got to attend a YouTube Masterclass, to learn tips on how to be a successful Youtuber and better our content. We also got a full tour of the You Tube Space, NY where we saw their different studios and sets too.

We also got a chance to socialize, let loose and get to know the fellow Pond’s Insiders better over delectable dinners & wine at the super posh spots in New York at The Mark and Stanton Social.

The Pond’s Insiders trip to New York has been one of the major highlights of my blogging career and I took away some really special memories.
It was such a delight meeting, interacting and learning from my fellow Pond’s Insiders – such wonderful, intelligent and empowered ladies from all over the world, the wonderful Pond’s team, the dedicated and gifted scientists at The Pond’s Institute and the Google team. I'm really grateful to the Pond's team for their warm hospitality and for the most amazing experience ever.
I have walked away from this trip empowered with a wealth of knowledge and learnings, about the science behind skincare, what Pond’s stands for as a brand to constantly be a leader in skincare innovations and provide the very best solutions to our skin issues and look forward to sharing my insights with my wonderful followers in India and help them understand their skin in depth.

Watch the video of The Pond's Insiders NYC Trip below:

You can keep updated with Pond's new innovations and products on their Website,Facebook,Youtube & Instagram.

Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 11:39:00 +0000

Diamonds are truly a girl's best friend and when you seek to indulge in such luxury you need to make sure you get yourself nothing but the best and what better than exploring some unique designs from one of India's most trusted jewellery retailers, with a legacy of more than 150 years - TBZ: The Original.

TBZ : The Original, one of the country's foremost names in jewellery and luxury, recently celebrated the opening of their 29th store in Mumbai at 36 Turner road, Bandra (west)

This new space in Bandra further enhances their profile as a jewellery retail chain that is profoundly dedicated to superior quality, design and service. I had the chance to visit their new Bandra store and was completely enthralled by the sheer grandeur of the store, with a modern, luxurious ambiance yet reflecting on the labels age old values of understated elegance and refined taste. From the moment you enter the store you are encompassed with glamour blended with a sense of warmth. The collections on display are an amalgamation of innovative and super stylish pieces comprising of broad cuffs, cocktail rings, chandelier earrings, neckpieces, chokers as well as a selection of antique gold & temple jewellery. The exquisite collection has a blend of both the modern, hi glam and super stylish pieces as well as the more traditional jewellery and the versatility in design makes sure that this flagship stores caters to the varied as well as discerning tastes of Mumbai’s versatile audience.

As I glanced though TBZ's exquisite collections quite a few of their stunning fresh designs caught my fancy. First to catch my fancy was this gorgeous intricately designed diamond choker necklace , that perfectly complemented my off-shoulder purple cocktail lace dress. This diamond choker is such a statement piece, it really uplifts the look my simple lace dress and is so perfect for a cocktail dress or an elaborate gown too. I tried on the matching diamond earrings which were more delicate and dainty and perfectly offsets the opulence of the diamond choker. This diamond choker and matching earring set is the perfect statement jewellery to add a generous dose of sparkle to an elegant western outfit.

Next I completely fell in love with this beautifully crafted cuff bracelet in dual tones of both yellow & white gold with diamonds in a pretty floral design, this cuff bracelet is so versatile and I could carry it off with both a dress for a night out or even a grand cocktail/ wedding party. This pretty floral cocktail ring also is great statement piece to own.

The TBZ Store, Bandra also had some really unique and innovative designs like this floral diamond ring that interestingly fits all four fingers and wraps around so beautifully. This floral ring is so pretty, as well as edgy in it's design. It is something I would love to flaunt on all occasions - like a special day time brunch, a work event or a fancy night out.

Lastly and easily one of my personal favourites was this edgy diamond floral palm cuff bracelet. The design is so quirky at the same time so elegant. This trend is a current range among celebrities the world over and this particular TBZ piece is a must-have for the discerning jewellery buff.

Photo Credits: Aditya Mistry

I was so enthralled by the exquisite designs at the TBZ: The Original Bandra Store and was totally spoilt for choice. What I loved most was the versatility in designs, there is something for everyone: whether you are on the look out to shop jewellery for an upcoming wedding function, or your birthday party, a cocktail party, special night out, you are sure to find jewellery to complement both your Indian and western ensembles. I love the blend of the modern innovative pieces with the traditional pieces.
If you're looking at getting yourself some exquisite pieces, you're sure to find some real treasures at the spectacular new TBZ: The Original store in Bandra.

Going Pastel in Spring !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:48:00 +0000

Spring is in the air and how I love spring-time dressing. So today I'm going to highlight a few spring essentials - pastels, whites and relaxed silhouettes from VERO MODA's Spring/Summer Collection 2016. I paired this really pretty pastel color-blocked top from VERO MODA's Ice-cream collection layered with this pastel yellow shirt worn over the shoulder with these white palazzo pants. This pastel color-blocked top has the prettiest combination of pastel shades of blue, pink and yellow with a super comfy fit and is the perfect combination for spring. This textured yellow shirt is super light-weight and a perfect spring essential. The white palazzo pants scores high as a must-have spring wardrobe must-have with is relaxed silhouette and easy chic vibe. I carried a matching pastel color-blocked bag and accessorised the look with gold layered necklaces, gold with blue stone earrings,a semi-precious stone statement ring and a gold & pastel pink stone ring. I finished off the look with nude stilettos.
This pastel spring look is a perfect spring ensemble with an air of sophistication, it works well for a special work meeting as well as a brunch date.

Photo Credits: Aditya Mistry

So go ahead update you spring wardrobe with VERO MODA's latest collection, make sure you check it out at your nearest VERO MODA store, you can also view the collection here

Keep updated with VERO MODA on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Take Control of Your Skin's Translucency with Clarins White Plus Tri-Intensive Brightening Serum

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 14:45:00 +0000

As a beauty blogger I am privy to a lot of product launches before they hit the markets and I had the pleasure of attending the Grazia and Clarins Brunch to mark the launch of Clarins New White Plus Tri-Intensive Brightening Serum. We got an introduction to the product by the Clarins beauty experts, with an informative session on the new product's ingredients and benefits and also an interesting product demonstration on our skin.
Most Indian women are very much obsessed with achieving a fairer complexion. But I think more importantly we should aim for translucent skin that has a healthy glow 24/7. To make this skin aspiration a reality, Clarins has come up with an exceptional product which caters to all your translucent skin aspirations.

Product Information:

Clarins recently unveiled their all-NEW White Plus Tri Intensive Brightening Serum. With this launch,Clarins has made an major scientific breakthrough in understanding over pigmentation through the MELA-EXO-SYSTEM,with the new 'whitening-in-control' plant extract, Acerola, This powerful Acerola fruit extract that is best known for its amazing moisturizing, re-mineralising, antioxidant and anti-ageing benefits due to presence of high Vitamin C content in it.

The active ingredient, acerola fruit, is full of Vitamin C decreases melanin production in the skin by 60%, that causes dark spots, this serum is helps you achieve whiter and brighter skin within a few weeks. Also, with the help of acerola seeds and hyrolonic acid complex, the serum will help achieve a translucency to the skin i.e spotless, healthy glow and radiant skin!The new serum acts on the three dimensions of pure translucent skin: contrast, clarity and color.

My Review

I also spend my fair share in the sun, shooting for the blog and my regular beach vacations, and as a result have experienced a slight dullness of my skin and a few dark spots too. I don’t mind my arms and legs looking a little tanned, but I can’t let my face go one shade darker without feeling guilty. Perhaps because I think the skin on the face is a lot more sensitive to UV rays and more prone to wrinkles and spots. So I’m always slathering on copious amounts of sunscreen on it, as well as skin-brightening products.
So after attending the Clarins launch event and listening to it's awesome skin brightening benefits, I was really keen to try the product for myself.
I have been using the Clarins White Plus Tri-Intensive Brightening Serum for over a month now and I have seen visible results on my skin, it has imparted a more even brighter tone and subtle glow to my skin. I love the serum's lightweight texture and mild floral scent. With continued use, day after day, discolorations and dark spots do fade, and my skin definitely felt brighter and more radiant.

All in all I'm pretty satisfied with this product.. I do believe that the active ingredient, acerola fruit, really brightened my skin, and I'm definitely not seeing any dark spots.

How To Apply: Apply with light pressing motion to the face, neck and décolleté before your day or night skin care regimen.

My Verdict:
Clarins is such a well known name when it comes to skincare and the White-Plus Tri-Brightening Serum promises some really bang on quality for your money! I do think this is a great product for people who wish to achieve brighter and more translucent skin.
I recommend that the NEW White Plus Tri Intensive Brightening Serum is a must have for every woman who is entering the early 30’s or older to protect that early signs of aging,who have trouble with dark spots and invigorate the lost glow. All in all, great product!

The NEW White Plus Tri Intensive Brightening Serum not only corrects dark spots, unevenness and skin darkening linked to melanin overproduction but also ensures skin clarity combined with hydration and oxygenation while promoting a healthy skin glow!
Take control of your skin's translucency by taking a multi-benefit approach with the NEW White Plus Tri Intensive Brightening Serum.
The new White plus Tri Intensive Serum 30ml priced at INR 4800/- is now available at Clarins outlets all across India.

West Coast Beach Vibes!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 13:06:00 +0000

Spring is finally in full bloom and it's time to embrace your feminine side and bring on the relaxed silhouettes. Today's laid-back cool look has the West Coast Beach vibes. I paired this nautical stripe t-shirt with a çool 'Relaxed' slogan in sky blue, layered with a chambray tie-up shirt with this white lace tiered skirt from ONLY 's Spring Summer '16. This ONLY nautical stripe t'shirt is a total must-have for spring and the chambray tie up shirt is so versatile and chic. This lace skirt is perfect for spring days for a brunch or even lounging on the beach. I accessorised the look with these brown cat-eye sunglasses and carried my tan Micheal Kors cross-body bag and wore these super quirky tan floral brogue juttis.
This easy breezy spring look is perfect for the beach, a casual lunch with the girls or shopping around town.

PhotoCredits: Aditya Mistry

HOOK MY LOOK

Stripe Top - c/o ONLY
Shirt - c/o ONLY
Skirt - c/o ONLY
Sunglasses - Vogue Eyewear
Bag - Michael Kors
Brogues - c/o Fizzy Goblet

Get your wardrobe spring ready with ONLY's Spring/Summer 2016 collection at an ONLY store near you or check it out here

Soft Poppin' in Denim & Checks !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 13:32:00 +0000

Taking a slight detour from all my glamorous looks of late, I going down the casual chic meets sporty chic route in today's post. I decided to style two rather quirky statement pieces from ONLY's latest collection - this blue & white check shirt with super cute & cool colorful patches like a rainbow, a crown, WOW, YES! and the like paired with these uber cool pair of slightly distressed jeans again with colorful pops with patches all over - an ice-cream, ?, a heart, Pac-man, a smiley and the like.
I think this trend of having these super cute & vibrant pops with patches sewn over your jeans and shirts/tee makes for a real fun, quirky, retro and out of the box trend, that puts the fun back in dressing. I enjoyed playing around with this trend and had the blue & white checked shirt knotted up and layered over a simple white tee to add to the casual cool vibe of the look. These jeans from ONLY's latest collection are a must-have statement pair of jeans to have in your wardrobe, and a fabulous addition to add a fun quirky element to reinvent the way you wear denims.
I accessorized the look with this long gold knotted & tassel chain, gold statement rings & midi-rings. I wore this retro over-sized blue Sunnies and my Nike red high-top sneakers and carried this beige & white cross-body bag from ONLY.
This look is perfect for a casual day look, running errands or catching up for lunch with the girls, it's super functional as well as fun, quirky and super cool.

Photo Credits : Aditya Mistry

Location: Light House Cafe, Worli

HOOK MY LOOK

Shirt - c/o ONLY
T-Shirt - c/o ONLY
Jeans - c/o ONLY
Bag- c/o ONLY
Necklace - Forever 21
Rings - Forever 21
Sunglasses - c/o Arabella
Shoes - Nike

Looking for some cool casual wear like chic shirts, tees and jeans make sure you check out the latest Collection at your nearest ONLY store or you can also view the collection here.

VERO MODA Sula Fest'16 !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:45:00 +0000

I had such a fabulous time at last year's VERO MODA Sula Fest, that I couldn't miss it this year too for the world, you can check out my last year's look here

I picked out my look for the Fest way in advance from VERO MODA's latest collection. I wore this brick red and white paisley printed top with bell sleeves, that gives such a 70's hippie vibe, that I think was so perfect for a music festival, I paired it with a light denim ripped pencil skirt and tied a green plaid shirt around my waist. The ripped denim skirt was a comfy chic choice for the festival and added a grunge vibe to the music festival look too. The plaid shirt tied around the waist for the perfect finishing touch to a casual chic meets boho chic music festival look. I accessorized the look with a grey and navy blue hat, silver mirrored Sunnies, a blue feather earring and had some fun layering my necklaces with a black Swarovski choker and a long silver chain with a blue pendant. Comfortable shoes are a must for any music festival with the amount of walking and dancing that goes on, so I wore my comfy beige studded high top sneakers. I carried my blue and white embellished back-pack that enabled me to carry around my essentials with ease.
I enjoyed shooting around the mirrored Vero Moda installations, in the pretty and vibrant Vero Moda lounge and around all the pretty and colorful decor at the music festival.

Photo Credits: Aditya Mistry

It was the perfect ambiance to spend a super fun weekend with some fabulous music -with an impressive line up of national and international artists, great pop-up stores, delectable food & wine and VERO MODA put on a fabulous fashion show to launch it's Spring-Summer'16 collection. I absolutely loved the positive energy,chilled vibes,world-class music,good food and of course fabulous wine .The VERO MODA Sula Fest made for the most perfect weekend getaway and I had an absolute blast. I had the most amazing experience at the Sula Fest and definitely look forward to attending it next year too.

Make a Statement with Your Furniture with Asian Paints !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 13:10:00 +0000

I have always loved the idea of personalizing spaces in my home to reflect my personality and make it a happy space to come back to after a hectic day of work. There maybe so many pieces of furniture in your home you may have had for eons and would love to refurbish and give it a total makeover, to reflect your dynamic personality today and make a real statement with.

On that note I had a rather interesting visit to the Asian Paints Signature Store in Bandra, Mumbai which doubles up as a Woodtech Studio.The Woodtech Studio, is hailed as your one-stop shop to everything wood!
The studio works on the basic principle of helping customers to craft a new wooden furniture or renew the life of an old one by helping people like me discover the magic of wood and explore the possibilities of finishes to enhance a piece to make it a #StatementFurniture to spruce up my place. So instead of getting rid of my old or drab furniture,with the help of Asian Paints Colour on Wood, I can refurbish the pieces and give them a new lease of life.

So first you need to narrow in on the type of furniture you want to work upon or a rough idea of what you are looking for, then the experts at Asian Paints will help you choose he right kind of wood types to select. There are different types of decor you’d like to opt for and you can go though them all here.

While at their studio, I loved the way Deepa, the wood-tech expert took me through the transitional stages of implementing various concepts and ideas to create a space that I would just fall in love with. There were also renditions of some of the more popular concepts especially the ones curated by renowned fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee along with bollywood diva Deepika Padukone.

From the various areas created within the store I loved the vibrant blue lounge area with the beautifully patterned walls to the gorgeous printed lounge sofa.The #ColourStoreAsianPaints spruced the whole look of the space in such a wonderful way.

I am so glad that I got this wonderful opportunity to experience the Asian Paints Signature Store first hand. So if you want a add a breath of fresh air to your home or just want to jazz up a single piece of furniture you can now reach out to the experts who will not only guide you every step of the way or inspire you with novel concepts and ideas.
So head over to the Asian Paints Signature Store in Bandra to experience creativity using wood & add that personal touch, get creative customizing your furniture with Colour On Wood. Just select the furniture matching your sensibilities, pick the wood of your choice as per your budget & quality preferences. Then the experts at Asian Paints will find the perfect partner to your wood to protect your furniture & spruce it up to another level.

To know more about them, make sure you check them out on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

LIVA Protégé-Hunt for India's Best Fashion Designers !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 10:49:00 +0000

I attended a fabulous fashion event for the LIVA Protégé – Grand Finale held at the St.Regis Hotel, earlier last December.

LIVA Protégé is a fashion property by the Aditya Birla Group. It is an annual, pan-India search for the brightest fashion designers in India, and is open to final year fashion design students. It is a nationwide search that seeks to recognize & reward the rising stars of the Indian fashion industry!

LIVA has reached out to the budding fashion designers as they believe that they are the future of fashion industry. It is an excellent platform for them to showcase their talent at a national level and get mentored by some of the biggest names in the industry. The finale event was a fun-filled evening with generous doses of glitz, glam and of course fabulous fashion, that brought together some of the country’s finest ensemble of personalities from the Indian fashion fraternity, under one roof.

What is LIVA?

Liva is a high quality fabric by Aditya Birla Group. It is made of 100% natural cellulose fibres, which gives better flow, fall and drape to garments.

LIVA was launched as the new age fabric on 27^th March, 2015 by Grasim Industries. It started as a vision of the Aditya Birla Group that foresaw the limitations of cotton and polyester, and identified the need for a suitable alternative, natural, man-made fibre that would eventually take the textile world by storm.

The Liva Difference:

LIVA stands out from other fabrics in the following aspects:

Fluidity: It falls & drapes well and adds to the fashion quotient of any garment

Softness: It is soft and feels great on the skin

Sheen: Has a natural sheen which gives it a chic appearance

Comfort: It has great breathability, absorption & provides comfort due to its natural origin

STAGES of the competition: The participants were put through rigorous rounds of selection.

Campus Round: Principals nominated the work of 4 best students from their respective colleges for the contest. Entries were uploaded on the LIVA Protégé microsite.
Jury Selection: There were 6 zones across the country - Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru & Chennai. The top 5 students in each zone were selected by an esteemed panel of judges.
Semi-Finals: These 5 students presented the same mood-boards & sketches to the mentors. The mentors then selected the Top 2 finalists from each zone.
These finalists had to prepare 5 outfits from LIVA fabric for the finale, under the guidance of their respective mentors.

PRIZES – There were fabulous prizes for the winners with a chance to get the prize money and also have their designs would be sold online
1st Prize: An opportunity to work at ABOF.com’s in-house design team + 5 LIVA commercial designs
OR Rs.2,00,000 + opportunity to showcase 5 LIVA commercial designs
2nd Prize:Rs.1,00,000 + opportunity to showcase 3 LIVA commercial designs for marketing through ABOF.com
3rd Prize:Rs.50,000

The LIVA Protégé Grand Finale

The LIVA Protégé Finale was a scintillating affair with a showcase of such exceptional talent in the field of fashion designing by the young students. There were 12 Finalists from 6 cities (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmadabad, Kolkata, Chennai & Delhi) showcasing 5 outfits themed around evening wear each designed by them using the LIVA Fabric with 60 models walking the ramp. I was totally amazed by the some of the truly inspirational designs and collections of these young students.

It was attend by prominent figures of India’s fashion industry – including eminent designers, Bollywood personalities, magazine editors and fashion bloggers.

Here are some of favorite designs from the LIVA Protégé runway.

The line up of the judges was also rather impressive with Actress Soha Ali Khan, Celebrity Fashion Designer Narendra Kumar, Editor Cosmopolitan Nandini Bhalla, Fashion photographer Prasad Naik and Aditya Birla’s Daughter Ananya Birla.

The winners and runner ups for Protégé '15:

Winner - RITURANA DEORI (Ahmedabad) - Mentor: Soham Dave, 1st Runner Up- NITIN GUPTA (Ahmedabad) - Mentor: Soham Dave and 2nd Runner Up- SAGARIKA JOSHI (Bengaluru) - Mentor: Manoviraj Khosla

I absolutely enjoyed being part of this prestigious LIVA Protégé event and walked away totally impressed by the innovative designs and immense upcoming talent of these young fashion students. I think this is such a powerful platform for young talent to shine and contribute to the dynamic Indian fashion industry.

My Skin Advisor !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 14:33:00 +0000

Let's face it,beautiful skin doesn't just happen; it is filled with an endless pursuit of finding the perfect products to address skin concerns, you are most often confused about and yes fueled by lots and lots of money.

We are constantly bombarded with newer, more promising (and most often expensive) breakthroughs in technology which promises consumers firmer, smoother, younger looking skin. And like bees to honey, we swarm and spend, experimenting our hard earned cash at any opportunity to avoid the inevitable.What if we could take the take the guesswork out of skincare, get your skin analysed by online expertise, get insights on your specific skincare concerns and know the products that will actually work for you and that too free of charge, wouldn't that in itself be a God-send.

Well today, I would like to introduce to you a pretty awesome solution for your skincare queries, Pond’s has recently launched a new website along with a Skin Analysis App called 'My Skin Advisor' ! You can check them out here: www.ponds.in

The ‘My Skin Advisor’ app gives you a personalised skin consultation and product recommendations. This innovation by The Pond’s Institute, not only uses facial recognition technology, it also takes into account your skin goal, as well as your age, lifestyle habits and geographical information such as the local environment and pollution levels (all elements that affect the skin). This allows the app to highlight your specific skin concerns and recommend a regime specific to your wants and needs.

So it enables you to get a free digital analysis of your skin that uses breakthrough technology to recommend the most ideal products required to fulfill your specific skincare needs.

I too have experimented with a lot of skincare products, trying to find the perfect fit for my skincare needs. So I was really excited when I first heard about this Skin Analysis App from Pond's and couldn't wait to get my Skin Analysis done for the first time, learn about the science behind my skin and get a skincare regime best suited for me. In fact a few months ago I actually got the chance to visit the renowned Pond's Institute in Connecticut, interact with their esteemed Scientists and learn about the science behind this legendary brand, it was a really novel and enriching experience. So this App, especially coming from one of India's most trusted skincare brands Pond's, was something I was really looking forward to working with.

The first step of the App is to Select Your Skin Goal from the options listed, as per your skincare needs. I chose Fairness & Even Tone, as living in a city like Mumbai all my life with it's harsh sun and shooting outdoors often for the blog, has caused a few dark spots and raised uneven tone concerns for me.

Analysis of your skin now becomes surprisingly easy with this Skin Advisor App. All you have to do is first click a picture/upload from your gallery on your smartphone, tablet or computer/laptop
Make sure your face is clean and devoid of make up, pull your hair off your face in a bun or ponytail, lighting is key - make sure you have good & even lighting across your face and make sure to maintain a front profile for the picture.

I preferred clicking a picture on my smartphone and then uploading to my laptop for the analysis, as the camera quality is way better than my laptop.
So here is the picture uploaded for the skin analysis. I was a little nervous, but also anxious to know the results. So the App uses the Facial Analysis tool to analyse your skin from the picture uploaded.

Apart from the facial analysis tool, the App also takes into consideration your Age Bracket and Skin Type, that you are required to select from the options given. I chose Dry for my skin type.

The app also takes into account your Geographical information, as the environmental factors play a major role on impacting the quality of our skin, so you are required to confirm the city you live in, before proceeding with your complete skin analysis.

Living in an over populated city like Mumbai does have it's downside where my skin is concerned, as you can see from the image below, the high temperatures,extremely high levels of humidity, harsh UV Rays and pretty high levels of pollution can really play havoc with your skin. So your geographical information is another important factor that the App considers for your Skin Analysis.

So apart from the facial analysis tool, your age & skin type, geographical information, the App also weighs in your Lifestyle factors like your daily sun exposure, water & caffeine consumption, stress levels and sleep duration. According to your daily routine, you have to fill in your details, so that the App can get all round information about your lifestyle, before concluding its skin analysis and giving out the corresponding product recommendations.

So finally I got My Skin Analysis results and I had a few dark spots and some patches of uneven skin tone. In fact if you look closely the green dots on my picture actually show the actual places where dark spots exist on my face, like in my case, around my forehead and around my chin.

So after highlighting your skin concerns and providing you your personalized skin consultation, the App recommends products from the Pond's range that are required to address and solve your skin concerns with specific skincare regime, with an option to buy. It provides you in depth information on each product, it uses and benefits to improve your skin.

So here are the four Pond's products that includes a specific skincare regime, the App recommended specifically for my skin goal: Fairness & Even Tone.

You are also given the option to email your entire Skin Report with your skin analysis & recommended products to your own email address for future reference.

My Skin Advisor is such a fabulous innovation by the Ponds Institute. With the My Skin Advisor I was able for the first time ever, get a better understanding of the science of my skin, my specific skincare concerns I need to address and get a skincare regime best suited to solve my skincare issues. My dressing table is already stocked with two of the above recommended products - The Pond's White Beauty BB+ cream is all time favorite, you can see it used in my previous post here and the Pond's Flawless White Visible Lightening Day Cream,I need to get my hands on the other two products next.

My Skin Advisor by Pond's is an awesome, quick and effective digital solution, helping consumers gain specialized understanding of their skin, and craft the pathway towards better and more beautiful skin.

If you too like me, long for a better understanding of your skincare concerns and are looking for a effective solution at the click of your fingertips, make sure you check out the app here and give me your feedback after you are done.

You can keep updated with Pond's new innovations and products on their Website, Facebook & Instagram .

Going Glam in Jacquard !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:34:00 +0000

Hello lovelies, hope you are having a fabulous kick start to the new year so far. Today's look is the first look I've shot for this year and it features a trend I've never really experimented with before - Jacquard. Jacquard is a 'raised design or pattern woven into a fabric as opposed to being printed on the fabric and gives off a rather opulent look Jacquard is a really glam trend to play around with and considering the nip in the air, layering still is on the cards. So for this look I played around with textures and a multitude of muted hues. I went in for this layered Jacquard look all from VERO MODA's latest collection, I layered this stunning metallic silver floral jacquard top from the Lily Allen Collection for VERO MODA with this multi-colored floral jacquard jacket in muted shades with this ribbed grey asymmetrical skirt. I totally love the shine and texture of this silver jacquard top with black embroidered florals and is a real glam statement piece to have in your wardrobe, it's part of renowned Singer & Songwriter Lily Allen's collection designed exclusively for the brand with a hint of vintage and total party vibe. This multi colored jacquard jacket has the prettiest melange of muted hues and is really versatile and can be worn over a tee like this and jeans like this for a more casual chic look or can be worn over a skirt for a more glam look. Since I let my jacquard pieces be the focal point of my look, I kept the accessories minimal - with these triangle shaped earrings in blue, grey with rhinestones, matching the hues of the outfit, wore silver metallic pumps and carried my black & silver quilted cross body bag.

This look has a touch of elegance with a vintage glam vibe perfect for a dinner date.

Photo Credits: Aditya Mistry

Location Credits: Khar Social

Whether you have a party coming up or just want to look festive during the party season, you can’t go wrong with jacquard, embroidered metallics.

There are some great new pieces added to VERO MODA's latest collection, make sure you check it out at your nearest VERO MODA store, you can also view the collection here

Keep updated with VERO MODA on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Shuffle in some LBD Magic !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 11:09:00 +0000

Every fashionista has her collection of her favorite LBDs' (Little Black Dresses) collected over the years - the timeless wardrobe staple. Since Coco Chanel introduced it in 1926, the little black dress has become the epitome of timeless fashion. It is the answer to every "What should I wear to..." question from cocktail parties to holiday parties to class reunions. As a concept, the little black dress has even moved on to represent an ideal of a perfectly simple, yet sexy object.

I too have my own treasured LBD collection and recently I came across this really special LBD from Shuffle . I totally fell in love with the glamorous dress from the moment I tried it on, it fits like a glove, I'm obsessed with the embellished detailing on the collar with silver beading and of course the complete show-stealer is the perfectly designed sexy back with interesting detailing and a low cut V back, that contrasts beautifully well with the high neck and full sleeves.

The dress is such a fabulous addition to my prized LBD collection as currently ranks really high as one of favorite dresses for the season.
I styled this stunning Shuffle LBD with statement accessories - really long gold tassel earrings with a black center stone and a crystal hand-harness. Adding to the glamorous look I carried a black and white embellished bag and wore my gold glitter peep toe heels. I accentuated this glamorous LBD further playing with a mix up of gold and silver accents.
This look is perfect for that special night out on the town- either clubbing, a special dinner date or a cocktail party.

About Shuffle:

To let to in on more of this gem of an Indian brand I discovered - Shuffle, true to its name, is a fast fashion and on-trend western apparel brand from Arvind Fashion Brands Ltd. refreshes its collections 8–12 times a year. Aimed at the 21-30 year old segment, Shuffle offers super chic clothing and accessories for the urban, fashion forward youth.
Shuffle is a contemporary apparel and accessories brand at the forefront of global fashion, from the runway to the street. Shuffle ushers in the freshest trends in fashion every fortnight and is designed keeping in mind the global Indian. The brand is focused on making apparel and accessories that feature unique design details, sophisticated patterns and interesting textures. They provide the fashion forward audience with well-designed and easy to wear statement pieces that come with an interesting twist. Shuffle is an interesting mix of boho and rock 'n' roll.

Photo Credits: Aditya Mistry

Location Courtesy: ZooBar, Vile Parle, Mumbai

HOOK MY LOOK

Dress - c/o Shuffle
Earrings - Charlotte Russe
Hand Harness - c/o The Little Bauble Box
Bag - c/o Rusaru
Heels - Aldo

Looking for super chic fashion in sync with the latest global trends at super affordable prices, make sure you check out the totally sassy Shuffle and you can shop from the brand on Amazon, Snapdeal , Voonik and Flipkart

Keep updated with Shuffle on:

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Fierce in Sequin & Fur !

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 10:55:00 +0000

Every once in a while I like to take on a more fierce sensibility with my style, that exudes edgy & dark glamour. So with today's look I've gone the sexy vixen route, I styled this all out glamorous black & silver velvet sequin full sleeved dress from ONLY's Autumn/Winter'15 Collection. To add that fierce edgy touch to the sequin dress I threw over a grey faux fur stole over the shoulders. Nothing spells bold glamour that the combination of sequin & fur. I had done a similar post on the blog a while ago here. Finally with the onset of winter here, I layered the look with a pair of black stockings. I kept the accessories bold too with bold black geometric long earrings, a black Swarovski slake bracelet and my rose gold Micheal Kors watch. The silver snakeskin ankle boots complement the fierce look well, I carried my new favorite Michael Kors black quilted cross body bag with silver metal chain piping.
I'm totally obsessed with this sequin dress from ONLY, it's glamorous, edgy, fits like a dream and hugs my curves so perfectly well and being full sleeved it's well suited for the colder party nights, it's the most perfect dress for NYE Parties too.
With the makeup I went in for a more a bolder Bordeaux shade of lipstick and black smokey eye make up.
This glam party look is ideal for this party season if you are looking to make a bold, fierce statement with your look.

Photo Credits: Aditya Mistry

HOOK MY LOOK

Sequin Dress - c/o ONLY
Faux Fur Stole - c/o ONLY
Earrings - Feisty Fox
Slake Bracelet - Swarovski
Watch - Michael Kors
Bag - Michael Kors
Boots - River Island

Location Courtesy : ZooBar, Vile Parle (West), Mumbai

Looking for some real glamorous party wear for this New Year's Eve, make sure you check out the Autumn/Winter'15 Collection at your nearest ONLY store or you can also view the collection here.