Skin Saviors

In a nutshell, I feel like I'm getting old and need to start taking care of my skin.
I think post 21, you need to start taking that extra time in the morning/at night and actually do stuff like use a night moisturizer, or actually taking your make up off after that 4am night out.

These are all budget buys, I think I'll start investing more once I test the waters a little and understand how my skin reacts.
I have normal-dry skin, which suffers from the occasional zit when I'm really stressed out. Used to be on the oily side during high school, but then my skin kinda changed as I got older ( I hear this is called a skin cycle).

1. Loreal Paris Skin Perfect 20+
 One hell of a day cream. It smells like rich old lady, but also like litchi. Or coconut. I can't tell. It's very matte, not oily at all on your skin. And I've been using the smaller sized 99 INR one to test out, and I can noticeably see my skin turn a lot clearer and a lot more even toned.

2. Fab India Aloe Vera under eye gel
 So, so soothing. I use this twice a day. Has reduced the lovely bags I sometimes wake up with.

3. Lakme Clean Up Mask 
 A real budget clay mask - I'm not sure about the 'salon-like'glow' that they go on about, but my skin feels pretty smooth after use. For the price, I guess this is a good-un.

4. Garnier Pure Active Extra Strong Pimple Control Pen
Zaps those zits in two days flat. It leaves a bit of residue (kind of like a peel off mask) but you can just wipe that off once it's dried and absorbed into your skin.

So I'm not going to get any LaMer or Shiseido any time soon, but from college-routine to work-routine, I think this a big step up!

Valentine's Day Face

It's that time of year again when we go through a week of cutesy hallmark reasons to buy your S.O a rose or a teddy or diamond jewelry. Or if you want to make a lasting impression, propose.

But for me, if I don't have anywhere to be, or anyone to be with </endpity>, I dress up anyway, make plans and go out anyway.
So, again, I am no makeup artist. But these are a few products that you can use on your face that will get you in the Valentines spirit.
Advantage? You need all of one brush and a couple of clean fingers. No fancy technique required.

So, I'd also like to call this a real no-makeup look. These colors look fine without base makeup, which is what I did. But if your skin isn't behaving this month (I promptly woke up with one of those im-almost-a-pimple-but-not-a-pimple bumps). The lipstick isn't too hoochie and the eye makeup isn't too hooker. If you want to put some base on, you can do that too.

Red because Valentines day

Swatches of Fuchsia Crystal and Bad to the Bronze

Also, I think this is the perfect pink lipstick - you can build it up, or stain it down.

Yes, I'm wearing a tee.

Products Used:

1. Maybelline Color Tattoo Eye Studio in Bad to the Bronze
2. Maybelline Color Sensational in Fuchsia Crystal
3. Loreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara
4. Bella Pierre Mineral Blush in Suede
5. Revlon Color Stay liquid liner in Black beauty
6. NYX eye liner in Black

Happy V-Day!

Stepping out of the black box.

The best thing about fall sales is the amazing deals you can get on dark colored pieces. Pants, sweaters, tops, blouses - if you're like me, and live in your little black box, fall sales are the time to stock up on colors that you will branch out to (without paying full price) before the pastels come in. Don't get me wrong. I think pastels are gorgeous. But I'm a girl who loves her darker neutrals. Sigh.

I went to the mall once four times, and found some really nice pieces. I was in the market for some nice pants that weren't black, and a couple of new pairs of shoes.

I was determined to get some color.

When I'm not wearing black, I'm wearing grey or white. I needed to branch out.

A good way to do this is to look at dark jewel tones. Those colors are exactly what they say they are - colors that you find in well, jewels. Dark blue, emerald, purple. All really rich colors, all good alternate to black in terms of basics like blouses and trousers.

These.

Then this happened. I do have other pieces, but they're at my parent's house. And I wanted you guys to take advantage of the sale that is fizzling out!

1. Blue brogues - Forever 21 - 1699 INR
2. Fuscia Leggings - Promod - 990 INR (sale)
3. Navy cropped trousers - Mango -1490 INR (sale)
4. Black and gold flats - Westside - 1099 INR
5. Stripey socks - Forever 21 - 89 INR

For the girl that's in a rush

When I first started living alone, I promised myself that I'd wake up early every morning, drink some coffee, catch some TV, leisurely take a shower and eat breakfast.
I even remember the word morning yoga floating around somewhere.

Well, that didn't happen.

More often than not, I'm in a mad rush, trying to find stuff that matches and not squeezing conditioner on my toothbrush. I have a job that requires me to interact with clients, so I need to look awake. Or competent. Or both.

So for the girl that can't help but sleep in - this is how to make the most of your morning time, even if you're not a morning person. These are a couple of products that help me along.

1. Put your heater and your coffee/tea/Bournvita/Pediasure/Complan on at the same time.

2. Pick out your outfit and put it on your bed. Go with something you're sure you'll look good in - now is not the time for a New York Fashion Week in your bedroom. Also, brush your teeth if you'd prefer now (or you can do after your shower). Add some jewellery to it - easiest way to look put together. Statement pieces do wonders.

3. Bathe. Set the temperature a little lower than usual so you wake up. Use a body scrub or a bodywash with exfoliants. Citrus fruit scents and peppermint is the best for morning showers. I recommend Nivea Lemon and Oil Shower Gel, or Original Source's Mint and Tea Tree Shower Gel

4. Put some ice or under eye gel on your face while you drink your coffee/eat so you don't look like a bee stung your face. Puffy eyes are the worst. I recommend the Fabindia Aloe Vera soothing eye gel. Works like a charm. Also, cleanse and remove the previous night's makeup that didn't come off with facewash. This prevents that pandaesque look that happens with washed out kajal.

5. Put your clothes and face on. At this point you should hate life a little less.

6. Perfume. Something fresh like Zara Tulle, it makes you feel awake, and a lot fresher. And antiperspirant. Don't forget! 

6. CHECK YOUR BAG. Phone/charger/headphones/cash. When you're in a rush, these are the things you will forget.

7. Drink water before you head out the door. This prevents dehydration, and gives your system a good cleanse before the McDonald's that you're inevitably going to eat for lunch.

8. Set your alarm half an hour earlier.

9. Repeat.

Wardrobe Resolutions 2015

As the New Year begins, I feel like instead of pretending to myself that I can change my life completely, I decided to start small - and fix my wardrobe. And a by-product of this is learning where to invest and where to budget. Which my parents will be thrilled about, no doubt.


1. Buy more investment pieces
  Don't get me wrong, I love to street shop. But when I moved out, I realized just how much I had amassed over the past few years. I wanted variety, sure. But a lot of those chiffony-flowy-printed pieces were getting quite old. I still, however, would probably buy export rejects. Purely because they followed SOME quality standards before they got tossed on the 'Discard' pile.

2. Be open to trying stuff out of my comfort zone A.K.A Never judge a garment by how it looks on the hanger
   Being a short, small person, options are limited. The skinny-bitch hating is all well and good in songs, but ain't so funny when we don't have options in terms of dresses, or well fitting pants. I tend to look at stuff in 'hanger mode'. And I don't bother trying it on. Need to change that!

3. Capsule wardrobe
  Popularized by Donna Karan, the capsule wardrobe concept is based on the principle that you only need a few basic staple pieces, and augment it every season with more color-specific pieces. I need to toss/donate a good amount of my stuff out in order to streamline my wardrobe.

4. Get more work-appropriate dresses
   As I work in a place where I deal with clients a lot, it's essential that I present myself well. Another option to pants and skirts are good work dresses. You can wear this with or without a blazer/cardigan, as is appropriate for your work environment. I recently got a BARGAIN dress online from a brand called Mast and Harbor on Myntra - check out some of their dresses here. Less than a grand, and really lovely quality.

5. Invest in shoes
    When I was in college, I traveled a lot everyday, so I never really bothered dropping cash on my everyday shoes. But now that I can actually wear nicer shoes, I feel like I need to invest more. Not only do better quality shoes last longer (provided you take care of them enough)

6. Stop falling for the online sales unless they're offering something that is cheaper that the store price

Well, this point is pretty self-explanatory, but I've felt myself being completely sucked in by the online e-tailers off-late. More often that not, though I've picked up some good bargains. For example, Only/Vero Moda had its 70% off sale in December and I picked up a few good pieces from the online store as opposed to the outlet purely cause of stock and sizing - I hardly find my size in stores. But online, I always get lucky *cue Daft Punk*

Anyway, I hope this helps some of you detox your wardrobe and your wardrobes, so to speak.

Good luck, and a Happy New Year!

Tied Up

Most young men don't seem to own more than a skinny black tie and a vague printed one they stole from their dad for that one annual day.

I think (and this has to do with girls too), once we hit 20ish, we need a grown-up wardrobe. And we need to stop borrowing. I know for a fact that my mother keeps her cupboard keys with her at all times so I can't steal her perfumes or jewelry.

Anyway.
I hope this infographic (That I made - CC ONLY PLEASE) helps you guys out.
It consists of ties that you need to kind of build a collection instead of blindly buying them for occasions.

Good luck!

MFA.

I’m fortunate enough to have male friends who let me play dress up with them. I have gone shopping with more of them than I have with my girl friends.

And what I’ve noticed is that very few of them know:

1.       What is on trend

2.       What actually looks good

3.       What looks like s***

4.       90s revival isn’t an excuse to be wearing what you wore when you were 14 because you can’t be bothered to shop

And many, many more.

So I decided to make a list. As usual.

And boys seriously, take note. This will change your life. And you won’t have to drag your mom shopping (she DOESN’T enjoy it.)

1.       Shirts have different fits – slim, extra slim, medium, regular, traditional . So telling me your size is 38 doesn’t really mean much. You need to look into what kind of fit suits you.

2.       Perfume is mandatory. I do not need another rant.

3.       Graphic tees are acceptable. But stay away from low quality rubber print options that peel off like nail varnish after one wash.

4.       Don’t be afraid to wear colors other than blue or black. Pastels are a good alternative for wardrobe expansion if you’re looking at formal/semi formal shirts.

5.       Pink is manly. It’s the new white.

6.       Stop buying stone washed jeans.

7.       Please.

8.       Your jeans should fit one leg properly, not have room for another.

9.       If the hem is ripped, throw it away.

10.   Invest in pieces like a waffle knit sweater or a v-neck to layer up looks

11.   Stop running to your dad for every tie, cufflink or formal shoe need. It’s time you built your own collection

12.   Stop saying you don’t care. It isn’t cool. People will not take you seriously as you get older. Effortless style takes skill and effortless does not mean LACK OF IT.

13.   Buy a grown up boy belt. That one with the car print? NO. Get one formal and one informal.

14.   Chappals cannot be worn with everything.

15.   Invest in a blazer from Zara or a similar brand if you don’t want to buy a suit. Make sure it fits you well. You can throw it on during interviews and look like you know your shit.

16. If you Reddit, go on MFA. Or Lookbook.nu for some styling options.

17. Don't be scared to take a few risks. 

Godspeed.