Tag: beauty

Neha Dhupia talks about partnering with Kiehl’s India for the Teach For India initiative

To commemorate its 5^th Anniversary in India, the cosmetic brand Kiehl’s partnered with actress Neha Dhupia and Teach For India to establish ‘Kiehl’s Gives’ – an ongoing global initiative to promote philanthropy. For the first time in India, the brand retailed a special edition of their Ultra Facial Cream – the world’s favourite moisturizer –100% net proceeds from which (up to INR 7,00,000), will go straight to Teach For India in February 2016 to educate underprivileged children across the country.

Actress Neha Dhupia was a proud partner of the collaboration and we got a chance to speak to her about the Teach for India initiative and the importance of educating young minds in India. Here’s what she had to say;

Kiehl’s, along with Teach For India and Neha Dhupia, wants to bring an end to India’s educational crisis. In India, according to Teach For India, 90% children start school, 58% drop out of primary school and only 10% finish high school and go on to study in colleges across India.

“Teach for India tirelessly works towards bridging the gaps and challenges that underprivileged children face in education. Supportive partners like Kiehl’s share our passion for improving the lives of these kids, and fostering optimism and making education a human right,” says Neha Dhupia.

The special edition designed bottle echoes with Neha Dhupia’s sentiment to “give where you live” to eliminate educational inequality in India. Purchasing 10 jars of Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream will help bring excellent education to 1 child in a Teach For India classroom for 1 year.

The vision for this vibrant bottle label has been a collaborative effort between Neha Dhupia and the children from Teach for India. Colourful butterflies take to the skies in the same manner as children live up to their full potential – charting their distinctive journeys to success and happiness.

“Kiehl’s has a long-standing heritage of working to further the cause of children. In our completion of 5 years in India, We are proud to continue this important philanthropic work with Teach For India, an effective, on-the-ground, organization built on the foundation that every child has the right to get an education and that all children deserve a future. Thank you Neha Dhupia and our Customers for helping support this wonderful cause” says Kiehl’s India General Manager Smira Bakshi.”

March 18, 2016
Day 1: The best of Amazon India Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2016

The Amazon India Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2016 opened in the capital with a bang at a brand new venue, Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Lodhi Road recently and we were excited to catch the action.

Designer Varun Bahl opened the 27^th edition of Amazon India Fashion Week with his collection titled “Nocturn”. The models walked the runway donning jackets and dresses with floral motifs and embellishments in earthy shades setting the right tone for the onset of autumn. The hair and makeup was kept simple with strong highlights on the face representing sheer beauty just like the collection itself.

Hands down, the most stunning collection from the first day of the fashion extravaganza belonged to designer duo Shantanu and Nikhil. Their collection titled ‘The Last Walk’ had just the right touch of the Victorian vibe with capes, gowns and dresses in dominant shades of beige, white and red. What made the collection so special was the extraordinary attention paid to details in terms of draping, pleating and layering.

Pieces from designer duo Hemant and Nandita’s collection are sure to add the ‘it’ factor to your winter wardrobe. Jackets, pleated skirts, ruffled dresses all paired with thigh-high lace up boots welcomed the statement trends for fall. The colour palette introduced shades of red, blue, beige and a surprisingly refreshing orange to an otherwise earthy winter collection.

Concluding the first day of Amazon India Fashion Week Autumn Winter 2016 was designer Gaurav Gupta’s collection titled ‘Melt’ that addressed the importance of climate change and global warming. He even borrowed the colour palette from the effects of global warming starting from flaming orange, blazing dark blue moving towards coal black and the grey from the ashes.

March 17, 2016
10 rules to get a perfect pout #LipstickCommandments

Lipstick is that one magical tool out of all your makeup products which can bring your makeup game up or drastically down. In fact, you can take over the world with just red lips and no makeup on. But with lipstick, comes the pout… Even selfies look incomplete without a perfect pout. So, take a look at these lipstick commandments and follow these 10 beauty rules which can help you get a perfect pout.

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#1 Start with well exfoliated lips: Gently exfoliate any dry skin by lightly rubbing your lips with a damp washcloth, followed by a moisturising lip balm.

#2 Know your formulae: Matte lips can be long-lasting but may dry your lips out, whereas, creamy formulae are hydrating but may not last for a longer time. Choose wisely.

#3 Use lip pencil for color intensity: Lining your lips neutralizes the natural color of your lips so the lipstick will be more opaque and closer to the color in the lipstick tube.

#4 Lipstick brush will help lipstick last longer: Take your time to apply the lipstick with a brush before stepping out of the house so you don’t need to touch it up.

#5 Blot the right way: Blot in between applications by gently pressing a tissue to your lips. Don’t put the tissue in between lips and press down because that will make your lipstick wear off unevenly.

#6 Don’t get lipstick on your teeth: Put your index finger in your mouth, gently close your lips around it and then pull it out. This will take off the lipstick from the inner edges of your lips so it won’t wind up on your teeth.

#7 Enhance your cupid’s bow with a highlighter: With a brush or your finger, dab a small amount of highlighter on your cupid’s bow to help draw attention to this pretty part of your mouth.

#8 Top it off with gloss: The shine will help make your pout look even more plump. If you don’t like the sticky feeling, just use a nude lipstick at the center of your lips for a similar effect.

#9 Don’t be afraid to go nude: The most flattering nude lipstick is one shade deeper than your skin tone. Women having fair complexion should try a hue with a hint of pink and those with olive or dark skin should reach to sandy beige color.

#10 There really is a red for everyone: To find the best hue for you, follow these guidelines; fair skin looks best with a bold red lips, medium skin-tone looks flattering by an orangy-red color, whereas, dark skin looks amazing in burgundy red.

March 17, 2016
Grid: Your ultimate guide to the new fashion trend of Spring 2016

Ginghams were a dominant trend for a larger part of 2015 and almost everybody was seen in gingham shirts, gingham pants, gingham overcoats… basically everything gingham. But this year, gingham has been swapped by the new fashion trend of Spring 2016 which is, embrace yourselves, grid. No, we are not talking about something tech-related! Grid is the new gingham and we’d love to say that it looks nothing but classy and sophisticated.

This trend is so versatile that you can wear it to almost everywhere. It’s perfectly appropriate for work, a day out with your girlies, family occasions or even a night out with your partner. Want a better picture of this new fashion trend? We’ve got you covered. Take a look at these pictures by Shantea and get some style inspiration on how to style them.

March 17, 2016
How to cut your hair in long bob

Long bob, or lob, as it is commonly referred to, is the biggest hair trend right now. Neither long nor short but somewhat blunt and just above the shoulders, this haircut looks flattering for a variety of different face shapes, hair textures and complexions. In simple words, lob is a universal, classic and a very versatile haircut. So, if you are also somebody who would love to rock this chic haircut then grab a pair of scissors and learn how to cut your hair in long bob. With this step by step tutorial by PatryJordan, you can cut your hair in long bob and if you already have a bob cut, you can maintain your locks on your own.

#1 Start off by detangling your damp hair and part your hair as you normally do.

#2 Tie your hair in a low ponytail with an elastic and slide it down a little bit. Make sure it’s tight and secure.

#3 Tie another elastic tightly below the first one, slide it down and this will act as your guideline to cut the desired length of your hair.

#4 Put your finger behind your ear and loosen up that section of your hair slightly. Now, carefully cut your hair across in a straight line. Work in little sections so you don’t end up cutting more hair than you want to.

#5 Release your hair from the elastics, comb it thoroughly and bring them in front.

#6 To finish it off, smooth your hair down and use your finger as a guide to cut a diagonal line. Keep doing this until your hair looks even.

#7 Blow dry your hair and you’re done.

March 16, 2016
DIY: Make any glossy lipstick matte

Thanks to Kylie Jenner, matte lips are a huge trend right now and are out to add that touch of sophistication to your overall look. If you’re rocking a perfect statement lip, be it bold red or classic nude, you can get away with everything from dirty hair to less-than-flawless skin. Not only does it look gorgeous and sexy but it also lasts for a long time.

Our recommending matte lips as the new big thing doesn’t mean that we are suggesting you spend extra money on those uber-expensive matte lipsticks. You can actually make any lipstick go from glossy to matte sitting right at home. Yes, you heard it right. You must have a lot of lipsticks in beautiful shades but since they are not matte, they are just hanging in the back of your dressing table drawer. It’s time to bring them out and give them the ultimate matte finish.

All you need to do is use your makeup setting powder and you can make any glossy lipstick matte. This trick works amazingly well mostly because this won’t make your lips dry and patchy. Try this DIY hack by Hannah Leigh and make any glossy lipstick matte in simply no time.

Tips:

#1 Prep your lips first with a moisturised lip balm before going for matte lips.

#2 You may use baby powder, if you don’t have makeup setting powder.

Follow the steps below:

Step1: Use a lip liner similar to the colour of your lipstick (or a shade close to your lipstick) and fill in your lips.

Step2: Apply the lipstick all over your lips as you normally do.

Step3: Dip your makeup brush into the powder and using patting motion, dab it onto your lips.

You will see the powder will absorb all the moisture and you will end up with beautiful matte lips.

March 11, 2016
Here’s how you can keep oily skin looking dry this summer

Summer is here, a little too early this year, and people like me with oily skin are already crying about the amount of grease they will witness on their faces every day. Whether it’s getting up in the morning with a bucket full of oil on your T-zone or 10 minutes after stepping out of the shower, the oil shall follow you EVERYWHERE. The only place where it’ll leave you would be at the gym because well, you won’t be able to tell the sweat from oil.

Unfortunately, a lot of us have to make our peace with oily skin and it seems to be a very difficult task. Especially when you spot all the dry-looking people, going about their day, without worrying about the stickiness on their faces. Hurts, doesn’t it? It doesn’t have to, anymore, at least entirely.

Here are a few skincare tips for oily skin to help fight that shiny looking face this summer.

1) Invest in an oil-free sunscreen lotion

There are many types of sunscreen lotions available in the market. All you need to do is choose the oil-free one and by oil-free, we mean the ones that come with a matte finish. Because not only do these refrain from adding an extra layer of oil to your skin, they leave your skin looking dry. So protection along with that dry feeling, win-win! We personally recommend the La Shield sunscreen gel for its oil-free and non-comedogenic properties. It’s not something you’d find at makeup stores but at pharmacies or medical stores.

You may also buy it online here

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2) Get an oil-free primer or lotion

While this may sound like one of those many skincare tips for oily skin that you’ve heard a gazillion times, it’s actually very important. Applying an oil-free base should be a very important part of your skincare regime. Not only do oil-free lotions help your makeup stay on for longer, these beauties control excess oil and leave your skin feeling dry and matte. We’d recommend MAC’s oil-control lotion which has been touted as a holy grail product for oily skin by many bloggers and users. The thing I love about this lotion is that it provides an absolutely no-shine base for people with greasy skin, it is light in texture and has a very mild fragrance that is far from irritating. You may also use it as a primer depending on your makeup requirements however some people prefer using a primer over it to keep the makeup on for longer. It may come across as an expensive product to buy but you only need a pea-sized amount for regular usage and it really lasts for very long (almost two seasons). You can get it any MAC store.

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3) Hello oil-free blotting tissues

Yes, they are a thing. Replace your face wipes or wet wipes with oil-free blotting tissues. These are especially designed for oily/shiny skin as they absorb the excess oil from the skin while keeping the makeup absolutely intact. The Body Shop has these incredible Tea Tree Blotting Tissues that absorb excess oil and its tea tree properties also keep acne at bay. You can buy them at any Body Shop store.

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4) Stay away from hair oil

It’s a known fact that hair oil can work wonders for damaged hair, we can’t say the same about its effect on your skin. When you apply hair to your scalp, your oil glands absorb all that oil and it may result in greasier skin. If you can’t absolutely avoid applying hair oil then we suggest washing it off within two hours of application. Keeping it on overnight is a BIG NO!

5) Tone your skin from time to time

Another one of those old skincare tips for oily skin, use a toner. Toning your skin is very important especially when it’s prone to being greasy. Toning cleans almost all residual makeup/dirt and keeps your skin’s pockets clean and ready to be hydrated. Use apple cider vinegar dissolved with water to tone your skin if you don’t want to invest in expensive toners. Apple cider vinegar kills germs and keeps your skin feeling dry. You can buy apple cider vinegar at any supermarket near you.

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6) Exfoliate

Exfoliation helps in removing dead skin cells from the superficial layer of the skin. And believe me when I say it, dead skin cells and fresh oil do not make a good mix. If you have acne-prone skin, we would recommend mild exfoliation that helps clean the surface of the skin gently. If your skin is only oily (and acne-free) then regular exfoliation, twice a week, will help keep the grease at bay. Since exfoliating your skin at home can be a tad bit risky, we’d suggest an organic fruit scrub to help. Forest Essentials’ hand pounded organic fruit scrub is filled with goodness of organically grown dates, peaches and almond seeds along with rich apricot kernel oil, pure honey and finely milled almonds.

You can buy it here or at any Forest Essentials store.

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7) Stay hydrated

The worst kept secret to glowing skin is plenty of water. Summer calls for more water. Drink at least 10 glasses of water every day for two weeks and notice the change in your skin.

March 10, 2016
5 heel hacks every girl should know

Girls love shoes, especially heels and yes, they are worth the pain. Heels have the magical power to make women feel confident and dressy but not without a price. From blisters to paining feet, we simply accept the side effects of wearing heels. Girls, these heel hacks by Chriselle Lim are for you so you don’t have to suffer for style.

#1 Stretch your shoes by freezing

Fill a plastic bag with water and insert it into the toe box of your shoes. Put the shoes into the freezer overnight (yes, really). As the water freezes, the plastic bags will expand and stretch out your shoes.

#2 Relieve tension with surgical tape/doctor tape

Tape your third and fourth toe together using medical tape. This helps take pressure off the ball of the foot. (Fact: There’s a nerve right between third and fourth toe and taping both of these toes together minimises strain.)

#3 Prevent slippage with sandpaper

New shoes, no traction? A simple trick for extra grip: Gently sand the soles of your new heels for better traction. We repeat, gently. Don’t end up scraping the red off the soles of your Louboutins.

#4 Clear gel deodorant can help prevent blisters

Blisters are the worst and can make walking in heels impossible, prevent them by using gel deodorants. Rub a little bit of it on the back of your heels to prevent blisters. A little piece of advice: you may use lip balm as well if you don’t have gel deodorant.

#5 Use foot cushions to reduce pain

Slip a pair of gel insoles into your high heels to maximise comfort. It makes a world of difference.

Stay Chic

March 8, 2016
Here’s why everyone needs a bit of GENES by Lecoanet Hemant in their wardrobes

Designer Hemant Sagar recently hosted a preview of their label GENES – Lecoanet Hemant’s spring summer’16 collection and the event was an extravagant affair. The collection is a perfect mix of swinging sixties and the glorious seventies and every piece has a story to tell.

Hemant Sagar: The vibe like now, we got inspired by the iconic 60s and the spring 70s; a little bit of bell botts, the attitude of mixing past and present, mixing times that we know of parents, music that we know was only of vinyl and now it’s all digital. We’ve kinda jumped a generation, and the generation in between is what we’re looking at.

GENES by Lecoanet Hemant is the perfect representation of the urbanism that the people of India look for today. The label doesn’t cater to dressy occasions but in fact offers a whole lot of choices for one to dress up every day.

Hemant Sagar: We don’t actually cater to the very dressy occasions, we think that daily life has enough challenge to be dressed up also. We’re talking about daily chic…. so modern dressing is something different than sloppy dressing. It’s not just that you’re going to the office so you can be anyhow you still have your career to dress for so that’s what we’re talking about. Urban professionals living in Delhi today and making it happen for themselves.

March 4, 2016
DIY: Shape your eyebrows at home. No tweezing required!

Eyebrows are a very important part of framing one’s face and which is why they should always be on fleek. You might not always have an extra minute to go to the beauty salon and get your eyebrows done, so it’s always better to know how to shape your eyebrows at home. Take a look at these useful tips on getting the ideal eyebrow shape and how to fill them so you look your best no matter what.

How to get the ideal eyebrow shape?

#1 Look straight into a mirror and hold a makeup brush against one nostril. The point where the line comes in contact with your brow is where the eyebrows should start.

#2 Get the right arch by angling the makeup brush to the outer edge of the iris of your eye. The spot where the brush hits the eyebrow is where the top of the arch should be, about three-quarters of the way out.

#3 Angle your makeup brush up from the nostril so that it lines up with the outer corner of the eye. The eyebrow should end at the point where the brush hits the eyebrow.

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And if filling in the eyebrows has always been confusing for you, here’s a solution! KaushalBeauty is here to help you with this.

Take a look at these steps to fill in your eyebrows:

First, comb your brow hair thoroughly in the natural hair growth direction with a spoolie or an old mascara wand after cleaning it properly.

Now, outline your eyebrows using brow gel and an angled brush. Making short strokes, draw the line at the base of the eyebrow and follow through the tail. And then, repeat this on the top part of your eyebrow. Take your time when working through the arch of the brow.

Fill in the gap between the lines and make sure you use less product at the starting end of your eyebrow to give it a gradient finish.

Use the spoolie again to distribute the product evenly and feather out the edges so it looks more soft and natural.

You may apply concealer both under and above the eyebrows to correct the mistakes (if any). This also helps the line of the eyebrow be precise.

Complete the rest of your face and you’re done.

February 26, 2016
Sculpt your face with tape contouring

In the beginning, it was just about contouring. Contouring the nose, forehead, jawline, lips….. basically everything. Then, people gave up on contouring (Read: Make contouring a part of your everyday regime) altogether and embraced an easier method called strobing (Read: Trend alert: Strobing is the new contouring) and after that it was all about baking the makeup (Read: Have you tried baking your makeup to get flawless skin?). Can it really get any crazier than that?! The answer is yes.

Apparently, we’ve actually gotten another step ahead of contouring, as witnessed on Instagram by hudabeauty. And the next step is tape contouring. It looks like quirky makeup hacks aren’t going away anytime soon. This is a simple hack for sculpting your face and it only requires one item you have stashed at your desk, a scotch tape.

Tape contouring involves strategic placement of adhesive tape to the high points of your cheekbones, along your jaw line, on the bridge of your nose, and on the forehead to create a contour template. Then you need to apply concealer and bronzer in the facial areas that you created by the tape.Following the application, peel off the tape carefully and you will be left with sharp and symmetrical contour shapes. Now all you have to do is blend away those defined lines and feather out the edges. After just a few swipes with your beauty blender or makeup brush, you’ll be left with Kim-like contouring. You can sculpt your face with tape contouring in no time.

Not convinced yet? Grab your contouring palette, makeup sponge or brush and of course, scotch tape and watch along.

Easiest way to contour your face! I know that it hasn’t been that long since I posted this video but I just wanted to say thank you so much for making it #2 most liked on my #topnineinstagram2015 I will be making a lot more similar videos! Let me know what you want to see more of in 2016! #hudabeauty

A video posted by Huda Kattan (@hudabeauty) on Jan 5, 2016 at 1:47pm PST

February 19, 2016
What do you think about Sonam’s recent airport outfit?

Sonam Kapoor gives us fashion and style inspiration almost every day. However, we spotted her at the airport recently in a leather jacket and a midi dress. We think she looked good for a travel outfit only ankle up. Those ankle length boots certainly took the style quotient down a few notches. She completed her look with a pair of sunglasses, no makeup and an over sized bag. Tell us what you think?

picture courtesy Viral Bhayan

February 12, 2016
Valentine’s Day makeup tutorial by KathleenLights

If you’re someone who is new to the world of makeup or has a constant struggle with eye shadow, this tutorial is your help. This look is neutral yet sexy and is perfect for Valentine’s Day. It’s also suitable for date night and you can also switch up your lip colour with nude, coral or pink for day time. Try this Valentine’s Day makeup tutorial by KathleenLights and get your Valentine’s makeup on-point.

First thing first, prep your face with a good face primer to minimise your pores and fine lines. Not only does it hold your makeup for a long time but also acts as a protective layer between your skin and your foundation. Know everything about face primers here.

FACE

Foundation

Apply a good coverage foundation and buff it into your skin so it does not get cakey.

Concealer

Use a highlighting concealer to conceal the dark circles under your eyes (if any) and other usual areas of your face like the centre of your forehead, bridge of your nose, cupid’s bow and around your mouth. And blend, blend, blend!

Compact/Powder

Set the concealed areas with a translucent powder so it doesn’t crease.

EYES

Eye primer

Prime your entire eyelids with an eye primer. Like a face primer, eye primer allows your eye shadow to blend well and keep it for a longer time.

Eye shadow

Give your eyes some dimension by applying light brown colour to the outer corner of your eye and the crease area.

Apply cream colour eye shadow to the brow bone and inner corner of your eyes to highlight them.

Now use a dark brown colour and apply it close to both your lower and top eyelashes.

Wing out your black gel liner and smudge it lightly to give it a soft finish.

Use the same light brown eye shadow you used before and sweep along your lower lashes to give a nice shadow.

Tightline your eyes with a stroke of black kohl and finish up with two coats of mascara on both top and bottom lashes.

You can use false lashes if you want (it’s optional).

Now, complete the rest of your face with a bronzer. This will balance out the eye makeup by adding warmth to your face.

Add some colour to the apples of your cheeks with a coral or pink blush.

Highlight the high points of your face using a subtle gold highlighter.

And the show stopper, red lipstick. Keep it matte. You can also line your lips with red lip liner before applying your lipstick.

And, you’re ready to embrace your date night or a day brunch looking like a star.

February 11, 2016
Outfit of the week: wear separates right, learn from Sonam Kapoor

There are a very few times when Sonam Kapoor doesn’t get an outfit right and this is not one of them. Bollywood’s very own fashionista was spotted wearing separates by Paule Ka at a recent promotion spree for her upcoming movie Neerja and we loved it. The styling was impeccably done with minimal jewellery and slick curls. Smokey eyes and a touch of pink on the cheeks and lips completed her look. Take a look.

Pictures credits Viral

February 11, 2016
How to take care of your boots

You must have spent a lot of money on your suede or leather boots because let’s face it, good boots are not cheap and cheap boots are not good. Therefore, you also have to spend a little time in taking care of your companions which help you step out and walk confidently. Maintaining your boots is not difficult or expensive, but it needs to be done at regular intervals. Save your shoes from being mistreated with regular maintenance and your feet will love you for this because the better you look after them, the longer they’ll last. So, here are some easy tips and tricks on how to take care of your boots by YouTuber Chriselle Lim who is a fashion blogger and stylist.

#1 Keep your shoes in the shoe box

Don’t throw away your shoe boxes. Instead make some space for them in your closet and keep your shoes in the box. This will protect your shoes from dirt and keep them in the best condition possible.

#2 Feed your shoes with some papers

Grab some tissues or newspaper and stuff them into your long boots. This will help in maintaining their shape and also prevent them from creasing.

#3 Invest in a suede eraser and welt brush

Suede shoes get dirty very easily and you need to clean them up every time you step into them. It’s better to buy a nice suede eraser and a welt brush to remove the lint and dirt from your shoes.

#4 Clean your shoes with lemon and water

Mix equal parts of lemon and water and clean your leather shoes with this mixture. The acidity in lemon helps break down the dirt and grime.

#5 Add shine to your suede boots with a few drops of olive oil

This is an organic method that will give your boots a shiny finish. Put a few drops of olive oil on a piece of cotton cloth and wipe your shoes.

February 5, 2016