A walk through Sephora India

Last evening the Indian beauty industry took the first step towards a monumental change with the inauguration of Sephora in Select CityWalk, Saket, New Delhi. Shopping for makeup and grooming will now be a whole new experience and that was clearly announced by the subtle yet confident opening of the first store of Sephora India. From early evening curious, enthusiastic and almost hungry shoppers and beauty enthusiasts knocked at the store's shutters and waited till 7:30pm for the doors to open. And open it did, in style, with energy, warmth, and fun overflowing out of the store and it's staff. Those who witnessed the opening will tell you that just when shoppers outside were getting restless, from within the store (at the ground floor, central atrium of the mall) notes of Lady Gaga's Bad Romance floated out and the Sephora team dressed in their trade mark black danced to the tune as the shutters rolled up.
To say it in short, it was electrifying and the wait for The Beauty Authority to finally make it's appearance was worth the while. It was an experience that we, the ones who witnessed it, will not forget in a hurry.
So that was the opening, now let me walk you through it and tell you a little about what you should look out for.
As you step in, you will see two showcases, displaying "Hot Now" products, take a good look at them and remember them to test them when you reach the brands' counters. Then when you turn to your left you will find your favourite ayurvedic brand Forest Essentials. You may have already tried their products but do take a couple of minutes to once again linger over their Date and Litchi Cream and the Soundarya Serum. Since last evening, I have fallen in love with them all over again. Next as you move ahead you can't but miss the "propah" English grooming brand, Crabtree&Evelyn. You can't leave this counter without indulging on their fabulous pomegranate handscrub and those men, who are sulking and "just" hanging around, may want to check out the Nomad and Sienna ranges.
From here also starts the rows of grooming  brands that you will only see in Sephora India and they are Soap&Glory, Burt's Bees and The Face Shop. From this area you must also check out Sephora own bath and body range available in several variants. My favourite is of course their Chocolate and their Cotton Flower range. My advice: Please spend quality and quantity time exploring this area. The staffers are just right there to help you when you need, but you can is to explore the beautiful brands on your own as well for as long as you want. Pick up the black baskets kept close by and fill them in with what you like. Keep them with you and think over your choices as you walk through the rest of the store.
Once done with this area, move over to the fragrances segment. And, and here we have Tom Ford fragrances that are again now available in India exclusively through Sephora. After perfumes hop over to makeup and Oh My God! what a variety to choose from. I can spend an entire day just exploring this place. What do they have there? Ask what they don't! Ummm yes... Urban Decay, Nars, and Smashbox are awaited but there is Sephora's entire makeup collection and there is Stila, NYX (check out their Nude on Nude eye shadow palette) and Benefit. Oh, here they also have a gondola for men's grooming products. Must take a look at Zirh. On the right wall you will find an interesting collection of haircare and skincare products. For hair check out Ouidad and Oscar Blandi and in skin my recommendation is Peter Thomas Roth and NUXE.
Walk further ahead and you shall find your favourite brands like Shiseido, Clarins, Guerlain and Dior. After you cross Dior don't miss the "Skin care Wall". This smart wall display helps you choose skincare products as per your skin needs. All you need to do is look at the column head for the type of product you need (cleanser, scrub, moisturiser, serum, mask) and the row for you skin need (whitening, anti-ageing, acne etc). You know these are the little smart and thoughtful things of Sephora that makes you fall in love with the brand. It is organised, it's easy to navigate and it's not imposing. It offers you choices but never takes over your decision. In short it gives you the freedom to explore and make a choice.
I'll sign off with that today and with the hope that your Sephora experience is as good as mine.

Sephora India

Makeup, beauty, grooming is encoded in my genes. Thanks to my mother, I grew up in a world many girls would want to - in a glamorous beauty salon! Where every hour my mother showed women how to love looking good and taking pride in looking their best.
So my earliest memories of childhood include exploring my mother's dressing table, sniffing her delicate perfume bottles, running my little fingers over her brilliant nail paints and wondering when will my hands and nails be long enough to flaunt them as she did. I also remember watching her awestruck, dress up brides during the busy wedding season. In fact, I am till date mesmerised by her art. Girls walk in in simple T-shirt and denims and leave as resplendent goddesses. And who does that? My mom in her salon! What pride I feel in that can't be explained in words.
In short, what I am trying to say is that all my life I have been a worshiper of beauty. So when for the first time I walked into the beauty haven - Sephora, Champs Elysees, Paris - the feeling was that of sufi finding her kaaba. Yes, for me it was as poetic as that. And trust me it has taken me three years to come up with an appropriate expression for that experience. In trying to explain what it felt for a makeup enthusiast to walk into Sephora, I often described it as Alice walking into the Wonderland, or a child entering Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. However, every time I went back to a Sephora store my love/passion/obsession whatever you may call it grew. I have no shame in saying that I have visited Paris four times and have never been to the Eiffel or the Louvre. I have waved at them and quickly walked into Sephora! My main attraction to go to Singapore is to go to the awesome Sephora store in ION mall (and of course China Town for food). In fact, on our my wedding anniversary this year, we were in Singapore, and I spent three hours in the store. I was delighted but my husband was.... just accepted it.
I know, I know, I am mad! But you have to be a little eccentric to love beauty.
Therefore, therefore... Now that the beauty haven is all set to open it's doors in India (Select CityWalk, Delhi) you can just imagine my state. Being a part of this moment is what I have been dreaming of for the major part of this year.
So you may ask what will I do when the store opens? What else? Shop!
And here's my list of must-haves from Sephora India
1) Sephora Heated Eyelash Curler (eye makeup will look a 100 times better with the help of this amazing tool)
2) Sephora Nail Patch
3) The Face Shop Tissue Specialist in Olive (it's the best face wipe I have ever tested)
4) Sephora Instant Nail Paint Remover (I can't think of a life without this smart product)
5) Burt's Bees Lip Balms (Oh there are so many varieties that I still can't decide which one I love more)
6) Benefit Porefessional (perrrrrrfecttttt primer, I challenge you, find me one that beats it)
7) Benefit They're Real Mascara (gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! apply it after curling lashes with Sephora lash curler. Your lashes can stir up a storm after that!)
8) Soap&Glory Breakfast Scrub (when I am watching calories, I satiate my craving for sweets by giving myself a rub down with this delicious scrub!)
9) Soap&Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Plumper (just buy it girls, take my advice on this blindly)
10) Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer (So my friends, that's the secret to my glowing skin - now you have the answer?)
11) Oscar Blandi Jasmine Shampoo and Conditioner (hair just speaks differently with these)
12) Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme (just the perfect foot treatment for this weather)
13) Forest Essentials Madhulika Honey Lep (that mask is a must this winter)
14) Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Wash (it's so delicate and lovely)
15) Soap&Glory Clean On Me Body Wash ("Cleanliness is essential when godliness is improbable)
16) Burt's Bees Daisy White Moisturizing Cream
17) Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria (I have spotted a gift set, and am dropping hints to my husband that maybe he wants to get that for me as a Christmas present from Sephora)

Ummm, so that's all for now. Will get back with more soon.
Till then I will leave you with a thought - "A truly beautiful person is one who's good at discovering beauty," Daisaku Ikeda

Kashmir

Dal Lake, Srinagar

Yes, I know I have been away for a while... quite a while. But, can you blame me? I had been to paradise! I know, I know poets, authors, lovers etc have often described Kashmir as paradise on earth, but you know what it is not a bit exaggerated or overrated. It is heaven on earth. It is beautiful. And this time when I visited this heavenly land I realised that in my soul I carry a little part of the soul of the place. I mean like if you can have a soul land like a soul mate, then for me I guess it would be Calcutta (my homeland) and Kashmir (the land from where I get my name).

They say what's in a name and I have also always thought, really what's in a name? However, after I visited Kashmir this time (this is my third visit) that I realised that perhaps there is a lot that a name can mean or do. Perhaps my affinity for the place stems from my name. Or perhaps this land has this intoxicating and mesmerising effect on every romantic soul. 

Beginning of October, the localites explained, is not the ideal time to visit Kashmir. There are neither beautiful blooms nor the stately snow. It's barren and cold. But even in this emptiness I found something longingly beautiful. Pahalgam, which I have seen before in it's youthful, lush greeness; was a somber shade of brown with strokes of warm orange and mellow yellow. The apple orchards stood bare with the luscious red produce neatly arranged in heaps near the gates - ready to be weighed and sold to distributors. The days had suddenly become shorter and the evenings longer and chillier. Yes I know I am sounding like an incurable romantic but trust me while sitting in the lawns of Woodstock Hotel in Pahalgam and watching the gentle Lieder river flow by I couldn't help but recall John Keats' poem To Autumn. So all I did in my three-nights stay in Pahalgam is eat, laze and dream, and of course shop (can't ever forget that, can I?). One of my best memories of Pahalgam from this trip is the breakfast that we had in Cafe Log Inn. It was the most delicious fish and chips I have ever tasted in my life! Fresh river water trout and crisp chips, it made even the dated music of the cafe seem fresh and new.

The last three nights of my stay in Kashmir was in Srinagar - one night in Clermont Houseboat just opposite the university and two nights at Shahenshah Hotel at the boulevard overlooking the Dal Lake. While at the houseboat I lazed and lazed and lazed a little more and had numerous cups of kawah while greedily catching up on reading books that I have been meaning to read for months. At the boulevard I became active. I shopped, shopped and shopped...till I dropped. Those delicate pashminas, colourful kani embroidery, intricate wood carvings and bright and fragile paper mache are just irresistible for a shopaholic like me. In between shopping I took breaks for eating and on a particular afternoon when I was scanning the shops on Residency Road we discovered the famous Adhoos restaurant, which had been highly recommended by friends. The rich and scrumptious meal (purely non-vegetarian) was in itself the taste of paradise. Even after days, I just need to close my eyes and the delicious aroma and flavours of gushtaba, tabak maas, rista and biryani envelop my senses. 

So while I relish and relive these memories till my next visit to paradise, I urge all those reading this space, that if there is a place that you must visit in this lifetime then it is Kashmir. Do make it!

Rains

October is not really the time to write about rains but what shall I say, the weather gods have been very whimsical of late and have sent the predicted seasons for a toss. I have grown up with my birthday almost always coinciding with a rainy day (it happens to be July 10) - and perhaps that's the reason why I love rains so much. From the gentle pitter-patter to the lashing showers and rumbling, grumbling thunder, the scent of the wet earth after the first shower, the spray covering the face when droplets rush in through the open window of a moving car, the sting of water that splashes with the rain lashes into a swimming pool, and gettting drenched to the skin when caught without an umbrella in a heavy shower - I love everything about rains.
In school in Calcutta there used to be days that were declared "rainy days". These were days when the entire city would come to a stand-still because of heavy showers and we'd get a holiday just like that, out of the blue. However, my excitement  of the "rainy day" was not due to the fact that it was a holiday, rather it was from the calls that my parents would make to the school to find out if school was open and if they should send their child to school. I would wait in front of my mother with wide eyes eagerly waiting to know the answer but as always the phone would go unanswered. Mom and Baiya (that's what I call my father) would debate if I should go and of all days on such days I would be more than willing to trek or rather wade to school. Seeing my excitement they would give in and the car would be taken out for me to be driven to school. I'd arrive at the gate late but with absolute confidence that I am one of the few who have braved the weather to attend school and this would mean a lot more exciting things: 1) It would mean that classes would be dissolved as perhaps teachers were also absent 2) It would be declared a "rainy day" which meant it was a holiday (there was a different pleasure in going to school and then discovering it's off rather than knowing it from before).
 3) Since my best friend's house was just across the school, such a sudden holiday meant that I would spend the time with her till someone came from home to pick me; and given the state of the city on such a day no one would arrive anytime soon. So the day would be an amazing day.
On holidays when it would rain, what i would like doing the best is curling up in my bed with a book and my cook would humour my mood with hot chocolate, piping hot pakodas, and delicious tea cakes.
Alas! such days are luxuries now but still once in a blue moon if I do get a chance to enjoy a holiday which is a rainy day I still love spending the day reading a book over a cup of Darjeeling tea. Sometimes I add another passion to this day. I treat myself to a nice at-home manicure - a scrub, a little buffing and a quick massage. What more can one want.

JNU

Just realised.... It's been a decade since I came to Delhi from Calcutta (God! really has it been that long??? It only seemed yesterday!). In July 2002 I came to Delhi to join the MA English course in JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University). My plan was set I had to spend two years here and then I would for sure go back to where I belong, my Calcutta, my city of joy. But then that evening some of our classmates trekked to the famous PSR (Parthasarthy Rocks) and on the way a Nilgai (it's a species of antelopes that are often spotted in the campus) crossed my path and looked straight into my eye. "And that's it!" It was declared by a classmate who had already updated himself on the myths of the place that now I would stay here for the nest 10 years. It's an urban legend in JNU that if a nilgai crosses your path and looks into your eyes, you are doomed/blessed to stay in the campus for a decade. Well now it's a different story that nilgais are often spotted roaming the wild campus and JNU offers a life that not many want to leave in a haste. After all, it's a little universe of its own and the air I believe has an anti-dote for ageing (surprisingly something that beauty brands have not yet got the wind of). Life is forever young here, it is a one long party where you can walk in anytime but can never check out. You may physically leave the premises but you will always carry a bit of the soul of the place wherever you go. So while I may have left the campus five years ago, I continue to hold it in my heart.
JNU is seen as a hot bed of politics but it is also a world of lotus eaters who live life in their own rhythm and rules. However, their senses and intellect are not dulled, rather they are supercharged. They exist in a state of drunkeness akin to that of a sufi perhaps. Metaphorically it is a place where there is eternal spring but actually it is in this place that in reality I experienced different seasons and their beauty. Before coming to JNU, I had only read about seasons in Rabindranath Tagore's and Keats' poems, but it was in campus that I actually learnt and felt grey winter melt into beautiful spring, young spring ignite into a blazing summer, the angry summer doused by a soothing monsoon, the lush monsoon bloom into a rich autumn and mellow autumn grow into a severe winter. When I first came to the campus for my admissions, everything was a dry, angry, saffron. It was harsh and unwelcoming, almost like a primeval beast belching out fire to keep one away. But when I returned to check in a month later - everything had changed. The campus was a lush green and young tress and rain as it were embraced me with open arms. The long walks to the school buildings (where we had our classes) became a time to exercise and catch up with friends before the day started. The evening sojourns at Ganga dhaba over cups of extra sweet chai and aloo bonda became sacrosanct, the midnight snack of wai wai noodles with Miss Curly Hair in Colgate Smile grew into a ritual that we now giggle over on our chats on bbm. And then who can forget the much hyped hostel nights and the freshers' and farewell parties. Each one had and I guess will always have the potential to ignite many a love story.
Apart from these JNU has a few more interesting evenings, the North East festival for instance, the International Food Festival (this used to be generally on 14th February), the Chat Sammelan on Holi eve, and the Presidential Debate. Yes elections in JNU can be a festival, from the campaign to the night of counting votes it used to be one long carnival.
While these were the marked iconic days in the life in campus, there were other unmarked yet equally iconic moments like Prasad sir's post-4pm classes, where sir would offer tea to his students. It was a class in Room No 15 in SL Building that one would look forward to because while sir would call for only tea, we placed orders for coffee and snacks. Then there were evenings in Jhelum Hostel's Warden No. 4's residence where dairies were written and shairies were recited over an interesting concoction of rum and tea.
I know this is just an indulgence of nostalgia but those from JNU like to indulge in it nevertheless. And the beauty of the place is that one just needs to step into that world to relive it once again. While we of those times may no longer be the same, as the Nawab, for who to stir is human and sleep is divine, says if the place calls out to you just go drive through it and if you are in a hurry just throw out a coin at the campus as you would to the river or shrine and your prayer will reach the universe.
(Well that's Nawab's style; I just drive down to the campus with my husband to give him a taste of the place and refresh my memories of the wonderland.)

Fridays :)

Yeah! It's Friday! - my friends are more than familiar with this shout of joy for me. After all, it has been my unfailing weekly update on Facebook and Twitter. And as the popular saying goes - you can love me or hate me but you can't ignore this inevitable update from me :-)
So yes, I love Fridays. And well who doesn't when the following two days are off? Tell me who doesn't like sleeping in a little late one day of the week, linger over the cup of morning tea or coffee, savour another cup with the newspaper, and the rest? Yes, so tell me who doesn't? Errr of course, my husband is an exception. Monday or Saturday, weekday or holiday, he is up each morning bright and early... as early as 5am. Ah well... that's my husband but again that habit doesn't stop him from loving Friday. He says by waking up early he gets more time to enjoy the holiday! So that's his reasoning.
However, let's get back to where I started from - I love Fridays. So much so that I talk to the day. Okay I have to admit, that I talk to all days of the week. If you follow my tweets you will know with what passion I speak to Mondays, how I dismiss Wednesdays and Thursdays, and how I flirt with Fridays. Yes, this behaviour has alarmed some of my friends. Many have advised me to enjoy my work, some have asked me to change my job, and others have asked me to cheer up! Hey, thank you every one. But friends I am absolutely fine. I love what I do, and I do what I love. So no complains there. The thing is that I love connecting with days, its fun! And no, don't get alarmed there's nothing wrong in doing that. It's just a whole lot of fun. Try doing this, write a letter to the day, expressing what you want from the day or what you feel about the day. I assure you, you will really like it. Let me give you an example. Who shall I choose? Okay let it be Monday. So it goes like this, first imagine you have had a nice weekend and now you have to get back to work/school/college on Monday. Yes, you like your work but come on that moment when your alarm clock goes off, what exactly is the emotion? Now don't lie, be honest. Don't you feel a cheeky fellow grinning at you and saying "lazy bones, I am here, wake up!" - that's Monday for you. Monday is not evil or dark or foreboding, it is just a mischievous prankster and sometimes can be that sulking spoilsport who has to be taught by holiday, that despite itself it can be quite fun.
A friend of mine, once alarmed by a series of such tweets called me to esquire if all was well with me. She was calling me almost after a year and half, and was half amused and half concerned. Concerned to know if I am still sane and amused because she said that this banter with days made her laugh. So you see that's the effect this chatting with days have. Think of it, if this talk can make a friend call you after years and you have a lovely conversation at the start of the day, then can this activity be bad?
Go on talk to your day!

Comfortable in my skin

Not so long ago and perhaps still in some cases makeup would start with a layer of 'pancake'. This layer would prepare the face like a canvas to be painted on. And trust me it did look as flat and fake as a face painted on canvas. However, in the last few years makeup techniques have evolved to such an extent that now even a thin veil of foundation is becoming redundant and getting replaced by multi-taskers like tinted moisturisers and BB creams. Yes, makeup quality, technique and options have improved by the day, but the primary reason why this has been possible is due to the fact that over the last five years skincare has become a part of most urban Indian woman's daily regimen and therefore their skin condition in general has become far better than what it used to be. Thanks to popular beauty brands and constant affirmation by beauty writers CTM is no longer an unknown acronym. Women know what it stands for and they follow it regularly as well. Okay, they may not be doing the T (toning) daily, but most women these days will definitely never miss cleansing and moisturising. And they do it twice a day. Very few will hit the bed without taking off their makeup. This simple change itself has gone a long way in taking care of skin woes, especially problems like acne. And honestly, cleansing and moisturising is the best anti-ageing regimen that one can follow, just add in a bit of toning and exfoliation and you are sorted!
Trust me no makeup, just no makeup, can match up to fabulous skin. So work on it a little every day to keep that glow on. Here's my secret to fab skin:

Follow your CTM ritual regularly. You can exfoliate by using a scrub at home once a week or go for a peel to a salon once a month, but for best results I'd suggest you use either include an exfoliating cleanser or an exfoliating toner in you CTM ritual. Now, why CTM helps? Clean skin is necessary for healthy skin and healthy skin is a prerequisite for glowing complexion. Toning and exfoliating help in smoothening out the skin texture. Remember an even surface reflects light, similarly even skin will glow. Moisturising helps plump up cells which again help in getting the glow. Now, pigmentation and spots could be a dampner. So how to tackle that? Here I suggest you opt for a serum or cream that targets this specific problem or use a serum like Estee Lauder's ANR, Lancome's Genefique, Keraskin's Derma-Morphose that work on turning back the clock for cells.
Apart from this I recommend you have plenty of water and at least four cups of green tea. Green tea really works wonders, it helps in flushing out toxins from your body and keeps your system humming. Keep a face mist in hand to mist your face whenever skin feel stretched or dehydrated. And of course exercise. Exercise improves blood circulation and helps in getting that glow. Sluggish metabolism will reflect on your face as dull complexion. My special recommendation: try doing surya namaskar or Tibetan Rites. These two workouts make your complexion radiate with positivity.
So glow on!

Fifty Shades of Beige

Now, now before your minds start associations, let me clarify that unfortunnately you will not be reading any titilating tale in this blog (at least not yet). What I am talking about here is that I am feeling beige today, and if I read my mind and trends correctly, we are likely to feel various shades of brown this season. Well there can be a few days of mulberry as well.
This morning, for instance, when I was getting ready for work i reached out for my favourite Chocolate Toffee shower gel from Sephora, that of course was followed up by the cappucino massage lotion from OPI - super indulgence!

My mocha drive didn't end there. invariably I chose a beige trouser and shirt and in makeup picked browns to dress my eyes and lips. and my nails already had a chic and sexy flesh-toned polish called Frenzy (yes, from Chanel) on them. This however, is not just the mood of a passsing day. Browns rule that makeup palettes this season. Pick up colour cosmetics from any brand there are sure to be some products in chocolate shades. Check out the runway looks there too u will find predominant hues of brown. Take for instance the film Cocktail - one may not have a lot to say about the film apart from the music and Deepika Padukone's look. More specifically her gorgeously shaded locks. with those red and gold tinted brown mane; Deepika has made hair colourists super happy. Now every girl, whether she hass cascading long tresses or super sharp crops, they want their strands shaded in hues of brown interspersed with streaks of red, copper, and gold. So my friends to get you startedd on feeling brown here are my recommended 50 Shades of Beige:

1) Chanel Nail Paint in Frenzy
2) MAC Lipstick in Yash
3) MAC Lipstick in High Tea
4) MAC lipsticck in Tabla
5) Sephora Body Wash in Chocolate Toffee
6) The Nature's Co. Coffee Face Scrub
7) Burberry Body Perfume
8) OPI Cappuccino Massage
9) MaxFactor Max Effect Mini Nail Polish in Soft Toffee
10) Bourjois One Seconde Nail Polish in Beige Distinction
11) Inglot AMC Cream Blush in No. 93
12) Chanel Long Lasting Eyeliner in Espresso
13) Chanel Inimitable Mascara in Noir Brun
14) Chanel Illusion D'ombre Eyeshadow in Mirifique
15 )MAC lipsticck in Cup of Tea
16) MaxFactor Glossfinity in Hot Coco
17) Sephora Body Lotion in Chcolate Toffee
18) Sephora Eau de toilette in Chocolate
19) Revlon Custom Eye Shadow in Naturally Glamorous
20) MAC Eyeshadow X2 Culturalized Brule
21) MAC Eyeshadow X2 Marche Aux Puces
22) Clinique Chubby Stick in Whole Lotta Honey
23) Estee Lauder Pure Color Blush in Brazen Bronze
24) Estee Lauder Pure Color Intense Kajal EyeLiner in Blackened Cocoa
25) Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Wild Sugarcane
26) Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lauquer in Molten Lava
27) Estee Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Tiger Eye
28) L'Oreal Paris Casting Creme Gloss in Praline
29) Dior Diorblush in No 939
30) Dior Nude in Twill
31) Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara in Extreme Brown
32) Dior Vernis in Aztec Chocolate
33) Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Almond Blossom Bloom
34) Clinique Lid Smoothie Antioxidant 8-Hour Eye Colour in Cashew Later
35) Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Baby Kiss
36) Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Pink Chocolate
37) Lakme  Absolute Fast & Fabulous Nail Color in No. 2
38) Lakme Absolute Shine Line in Brown
39) OPI Nail Paint in Java Mauve-A
40) Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Barefoot in Barcelona
41) Inglot Matte Collection AMC Eyeliner Gel in No. 80
42) Inglot Brown Collection Nail Enamel  in No. 974
43) L'Oreal Paris Open Eyes Pro in Smokey Brown                                                 
44) L'Oreal Paris Open Eyes Pro in Beige
45) L'Oreal Paris Contour Parfait in Honey
46) L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Star Secrets in Aishwarya
47) Lancome L'Absolu Rouge in Luxe Warm
48) Lancome Vernis in Love in Chocolat Mordore
49) Make Up For Ever Kohl Pencil in Brown
50) Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash in Brown

Happy Feet

Give me a choice - facial, head massage, or pedicure - any day, any time I would choose the last option; even if I have got a pedicure done just a day before. In fact, I have chosen it even over a luxurious and indulgent body massage and I generally judge a salon or spa by how well they do the pedicure. If they do the pedicure and eye brows well, know that the place has it's basics right and you will be well taken care of. Or well you may say that's me - but my this evaluation test has almost always been right.
However, let's just keep it to I have a weakness for pedicures and I love my feet to be kneaded and scrubbed and massaged to feel truly pampered and relaxed. The whole process of the acupoints on the soles being pressed, toes gently pulled and heels softly kneaded can instantly relax me and transport me to the seveth heaven. Basically more than the cleaning and scrubbing process, I enjoy the massage part of a pedicure and therefore, when I do have the time I go to place that scores on this aspect and my favourite place for this is the Affinity Salon in Green Park, New Delhi. There the pedicurist Sanjay is just super. While the salon offers a choice between cream and oil massage; I prefer to take my own oil blend which I make with a few drops of orange essential oil thrown into a bottle of olive oil. Sometimes I also get it done with hot mustard oil. Okay, before you wrinkle your nose at that, try it on a winter afternoon and tell me.
In Mumbai, Frida's Salon in Bandra and the Juice Nail Bar in Khar also do a fab pedis.And in Calcutta of course I love what my mom offers in her salon, Saajo. Apart from the regular feet treatment, mom has also devised a super de-tan pedi, where a quick glycolic peel is done to give an instant glow to your limbs.
Talking of special pedis, I cannot but not mention the heavenly Blueberry Cheesecake Pedicure at Seven Seas Evania Spa in Defence Colony, New Delhi. The experience is lets just say delicious. I can go on and on about this mouthwatering treatment but you have to try it yourself to know how delectable this zero calorie treat is!

Wipe Off!

While I love nail paints (actually I obsess about them), nothing bothers me more than chipped nail paints. The sight irks me, so much so that I have actually gifted a friend a pack of nail paint wipes so that she remembers to take off the peeling polish in time. Yes, I know I am slightly mad, this friend also said so but nevertheless took my advise sportingly and in turn made me realise that while I may think I love/obsess/covet nail enamles, my actual weakness is for nail paint removers. And this I have to say could well be true.
A couple of years back I remember having a series of serious discussions with representatives from brands like M.A.C, Inglot, Lakme, and O.P.I urging them to speak to their product development teams to make nail polish wipes, much like the face wipes but these soaked in acetone-free removers and enriched with vitamin E. (Yes I know, I know I am slightly looney when it comes to makeup and grooming). One day one of my colleagues overheard me cribbing about the unavailability of easy-to-use nail paint removers and almost as if like a divine gift, she fished out a little box from her bag and placed it before me. And lo behold what do I see?!! It's a compact pack of nail paint wipes that she had got for me from her hometown in Shilong! Now, that's what I call a true friend! And the best part is that these wipes are acetone-free, oil-based, fruit scented and have vitamin E - could I have asked for more?
Since that day whenever my colleague goes home or has someone coming over from Shilong, she gets me about a dozen boxes from there. Recently however, I have discovered that similar packs are now also available in stores in Khan Market and GK in Delhi.
While the nail paint wipes are fab to always have in the handbag, I have discovered another innovative nail paint removing product from Sephora. These are plastic bottles that contain a sponge soaked in nail paint remover. So all you have to do is just stick your finger into the sponge and take it out with your nail wiped clean. Bourjois 1 Minute Magic Nail Paint Remover also has a similar concept.
Get yourself one of these smart products and stop suffering from half eaten paints!

Sephora Smooth Nail Polish Remover

Meisy Nail Polish Remover Wipes

 

Spicy Brews

 

Finally, finally I have had the chance to taste Indus Pride Beer. Harper's Bazaar India recently had an event in Mumbai where this new brand of brews were introduced, and ever since I have heard so much about it that I just had to try it. So two days back my husband got a few bottles home and we sampled the beer with some kebabs and haleem. And the verdict is - it's interesting. I won't say I absolutely loved it but they do go very well with a spicy Indian meal.
We sampled three flavours that evening - Spicy Fennel, Citrusy Coriander, and Fiery Cinnamon. I didn't quite like the Spicy Fennel as the smell of fennel was a little over powering. Citrusy Coriander was... well like Limca mixed with Kingfisher Ultra and some corriander flavour thrown in - therefore not much to my liking. What I actually loved was Fiery Cinnamon. I love cinnamon and that slightly burning note in the brew made it perfect for my taste. And I felt that it also complemented the mutton kebab and gosht haleem. So this weekend I would definitely recommend you try this new brew - also the weather is just perfect for it!

Having said that, however, I have to admit that while Indus Pride beers are innovative and interesting, I love the beer drink my husband stirs up for me (and I am sipping at while writing this!). Basically it is Fosters or Budwiser with a slice of lime and a slit green chilly. There is another variation that HE makes which is with a stick of cinnamon, orange rind and a dash of cayenne pepper. This is quite similar to Indus Pride's Fiery Cinnamon flavour but again I have to say I like our homemade version better. It's a great drink on winter evening. Tip: Serve it up during card parties this Diwali and let me know what your guests have to say!

It's Haleem Tonight!

In my last post I spoke about my love for all-in-one/meal-in-a-bowl/mashes/pastes, so the hero of all such meals and my favourite indulgence is the rich and regal haleem. For those who may not know, haleem is pasty stew made of meat, lentils, wheat and spices. All the ingredients are slow cooked for about eight hours to make this delectable dish, which is generally consumed during Ramazan.
I heard of haleem for the first time from my husband who had spent a good number of years in Hyderabad. In Delhi during Eid he would often wistfully talk of the delicious dish that he had so often enjoyed in Hyderabad. Driven by the desire to have it, he would make several treks to Karim's in Chandani Chowk to have it, till the time his prayer as it were got answered and Golconda Bowl set up shop in Hauz Khas village which is just a stone's throw from our house!
Though the restaurant has been operational for a while and we had been contemplating a dinner there for a while, the much planned and awaited dinner worked out only this June. The experience, needless to say was awesome. The slow cooked meat dish just melted in mouth and the grand biryani and scrumptuous desserts all paled in its comparison. Since then I have already called for haleem from GB on four occassions and have been more than happy every time.
The last time I called for it was for a special Haleem party that i had organised at home. For starters, I served mutton sheek kebab tossed in Jack Daniels Hot Chilli Barbecue sauce, pork sausages tossed in cinnamon, apple juice and honey, and pinapple and cheese cubes. For maincourse of course it was just haleem and roti - that's what i call heaven on earth. The dinner ended with my speciality dessert, bhapa doi (you can read about it in my earlier post 'Laced with a prayer').
This evening my sister-in-law is visiting us from Mumbai for an evening, and therefore going by our Haleem-one-dinner-a-week tradition, it is of course Haleem tonight. Today i also hope to get a few cans of the much-talked about beer, Indus Pride to go with the dinner. This i hear is a spiced brew and therefore i feel will be a perfect partner to our meat dish.

Mix, mash, blend!

As a child I was always a very fussy eater and would take hours to finish a meal - much to my mother's dismay. I still recall I would every morning I would struggle to finish a glass of milk and one marie biscuit (somedays I would carry that biscuit to school and bring it back home - only half eaten). When I think of those days now, I feel what a pain I must have been to my mother. However, mom being mom, never gave up and continued to devise different ways in which she could make me take in the nutrients.
After numerous permutations combinations she realised that all-in-one-type of meals worked the best for me. Mix, paste or blend everything together and give it to me - no fuss, no drama. So for breakfast I would have a glass of milkshake blended with cocoa, banana and a handful of nuts, lunch would be a mash of chicken/mutton/fish, veggies and rice, evening snacks would be perhaps a sandwhich with a homemade chicken paste, and dinner a soup with a veggies and lentils. Basically i guess i didn't like chewing, so these foods that could be just gulped down worked for me.
Of course I have changed much since those days, but I still do like these mashes. They are like my comfort food and over the years inspired by my mom I have developed a few unique recipes. Here are some of my favourites:

Morning Milkshake: Blend a glass of chilled milk with lots of ice, cocoa,a few slices of apple, and some crushed almonds.

Mixed Rice: Stir fry cooked rice with lots of diced mushrooms, carrots, bell peppers, beans, pineapple, green chillies and some chicken slices. I like to keep it a little moist some sometimes I add in a liitle broth.

Potato-chicken mash: This is basically mashed potato with chicken boiled and mashed. I like to season it with some black pepper and parsley.

Try some and let me know.

Perfumes and more

Are you one of those who will open a book and first smell it's pages? Do you feel an unexplained joy in sensing the smell of wet earth after the first shower of rain? Do you associate childhood memories with certain scents? If you do all of that, then like me you are a fragrance lover.

Fragrances are an important part of my life. I like everything around me to smell a certain way. It helps me create a bond with all things around. For instance, if you walk into my house you will be greeted with a waft of lemongrass or orange scents (in summers I like to use lime or lemongrass oil in my diffuser and in winter i like using orange oil with a stick of cinnamon thrown in). These scents make me feel comfortable and helps me unwind when i get back home in the evening.

In my shower you will find soaps, shower gels, scrubs and body oils with coffee or chocolate aromas. These scents lifts my spirits and invigorates me at the bath. Also these sweet and delicious aromas feel indulgent and makes me feel pampered and special.

Aromas I believe can do a lot for you and also say a lot about you. The key is to become sensitive to them and see what they mean for you. Perfumes that we wear for instance help create an image of who we are. And this is established not by just which perfume we wear but how we wear it. For instance, is your fragrance so strong that it reaches the room before you arrive? Or is it so subtle that only when one is standing next to you, can one smell it? Or is your scent so unique that it lingers in the room even after you have left it? These are very sutble nuances and you will only gather them through expreience and what appeals to you.

There are several ways of choosing and wearing scents. You can either stick to one particular perfume all your life and make that your identity or you can have a few favourites, or you can develop the art of perfuming wearing and wear it like a style statement.

Diesel Loverdose

I love fragrances and i dont like sticking to just one perfume. But I like scents of a particular type. I prefer musk, spicy, and floral notes; but there are days when I love wearing something sugary and chocolaty. Therefore I generally wear fragrances according to the occassion, weather and of course my mood. On regular summer days I like something slightly citrusy with a hint of jasmine and black tea and my favourites in this category are Dior's Pondicherry and Issey Miyake's A Scent. However, on cooler days i like something sweeter and a little more delicious like Marc Jacob's Daisy or perhaps something a little more floral but light like Coco Mademoiselle. And for special evenings I like something richer, muskier and spicy like Dior's Poison and my latest darling Coco Noir. For those days that i have a sweet craving I opt for Diesel's Loverdose or the Chocolate Praline Scent from Sephora.

Coco Mademoiselle

Yes I do obsess a little about scents, but when you fall in love with them, the intrigue and attraction is such that you can't help but get further drawn to them.

Escale de Pondicherry

Coco Noir

Spritz!



Serums, by now we all know are must-haves for gorgeous skin. And while that continues to remain one of the most talked about skincare category, another product that's slowly but surely making it's way into the grooming regimen is the face mist. They are essentially hydrating sprays that are enriched with nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and work as quick perk ups for your complexion. They are not replacements for serums rather they should be used along with serums to make them work more effectively. Face mists have now found a permanent place in my grooming routine. I use it in place of a toner before applying the serum. I also keep a small bottle in my handbag to hydrate my face through the day. In fact, moistening the skin with water topically is the best way to hydrate skin. And that's because in the metabolic process the skin in the last organ to receive nutrients and hydration. So to perk up tired and dry skin, just spray on some nourishing water. (Of course, do keep drinking the much advised 8-glasses-per-day quota). Caution: Don't go overboard with misting your face. The trick is to spray wait for a minute and then dab the excess with a tissue gently. My favourite face mists include Forest Essentials Face Toner Panch Pushp, Avene Thermal Spring Water and Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray. Forest Essentials Panch Pushp is a fragrant blend of distilled flower water and saffron. Use it in combination with the brand's Soundarya Serum to get golden glowing skin (the saffron in the products gives it that glow). I prefer to use it at night as Soundarya is a heavy concentrate and works well while you sleep. Avene Thermal Spring Water is my travel companion and my best friend when it comes to soothing irritated skin. In long haul flights I carry a small bottle to spritz on every two hours, and I keep a large bottle in my bathroom to soothe skin after using a razor or tweezer. Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray works best for summers. With aloe vera, it hydrates and holds moisture for a longer time. I like to use it during the day before applying Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser with SPF 15. Try these and let me know your feedback.

Forest Essential Panch Pushp

Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray



Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray



Miracle Massager

I have been speaking about this machine for a while now and though many may think I am exaggerating, the truth is I am not. I am talking about Tiens Blood Circulatory Massager. Unlike other gimicky exercising machines, this one is actually very effective. I have been using it for over four years and I absolutely swear by it.
Frankly I am lazy when it comes to working out at the gym, and a regular yoga class is too boring for me, so swimming is what works for me mostly or walking. However, using this massager has also helped me a lot. Basically you need to stand on this massager while it massages the soles of your feet. The pressure points of the feet being massaged helps in blood circulation, which in turn helps in improving the metabolic rate of the body and also helps in detoxification. This again in turn energises you and also helps you lose weight. Honestly I use this massager for 15 minutes every day and follow up with a session of Tibetan Rites exercises. This routine I have followed for a while now and have benefited a lot from it.
One must always drink a glass of water before and after using the machine to get maximum benefits.
To know more about the product visit their website http://www.tianshiindia.co.in/Health-care.htm

Skin miracle

Having waded through hundreds and thousands of makeup products, I strongly believe that nothing works like fabulous skin. And trust me getting the skin that you will love isn't a very tough deal. All it needs is a little commitment and some smart products. And again we all can give that little bit to get that gorgeous complexion.
First thing first, you have to follow the regular CTM routine. That's the sure shot way to good skin. In fact, if you follow this routine from your teens, you won't need much to de-age your skin later. Using a good gentle cleanser to wash your face every morning. Try the ones from Pond's, Olay, Clinique, or L'Oreal Paris. Follow it up with a toner and then a moisturiser or cream with SPF. I try to use a face scrub once a week (I love The Nature's Co. Coffee Face Scrub) and I use a serum before applying the cream.
For a serum I often use a serum cocktail that I stir up for myself, however I would recommend that you use either Estee Lauder's Andvanced Night Repair Serum or Keraskin Dermamorphose Serum. Just a drop is all you need to ensure great skin.
I will let you on to a secret cream that I have been introduced to by my mother. It is a topical ointment called Ega that's easily available at the chemist. At night before going to bed, apply the serum and follow up with Ega and you will see a differnce in just 10 days. I bet you, friends will notice and comment. It's that good.
From last month I have also started using a face pack. The delicious Madhulika Nourishing Honey Lep by Forest Essentials. (To read more about the pack check out the brand's website www.forestessentialsindia.com and my column in September issue of Harper's Bazaar).


Forest Essential Madhulika Nourishing Honey Lep



Keraskin Derma-Morphose



Ega Cream





The Nature's Co. Coffee Face Scrub



Calcutta Club

Calcutta Club lawns

There is something about that place. It is the old world charm that the club has held on to with such care that it is an obvious preferred haunt for an incurable romantic like me. Walk through the gates of the club and you enter a world that's slow, graceful, whimsical, poetic and a tad bit proud. It is a place full of idiosyncracies and that's exactly why I love it so much.
The club is not very welcoming to children. I remember a time when I had to enter the premises through the backgate to go to the swimming pool because children aren't allowed in the main hall on 'regular' days. I vividly recall occassions when senior members would look at me with suspicion as if I were about to launch an attack on the dignified space. However, such behaviour never irritated me rather it almost always amused me and helped me draw up an image of the club.
Having said that the club otherwise is a world that I love much. One of my favourite haunts in the club is its library. Spread over two levels and packed with books this a place where I have spent several afternoons lost in the world of literature. Hours I have spent browsing through shelves, pouring over pages, discovering old titles that have long been forgotten. In college while my friends frantically made copious notes of critiques in the college and university libraries, I spent my time reading fiction tucked away in a corner of Calcutta Club's library.
The other section of the club that I love a lot is the fab swimming pool. This was my chill out zone in high school. During the long summer breaks I have spent a lot of time with my friends hanging out at the pool singing songs, playing pranks and occassionally swimming. After the "swimming session" we'd gorge on the delicious chicken rolls and cold coffee... those were the days when one didn't have to worry about calories (sigh!).
The dining room that's another place that I like. While the continental food served there is always good, what some may not know is that if you place an order 24 hours before, they will serve you the most heavenelicious Lobster Thermidore and Beef Steak. Now when I visit Calcutta, my father places this order a day in advance at the club.
Recently, the much-hated Chinese room has become quite nice. The food here earlier was pretty bad. However, over the last two years it has improved remarkably. My recommendations are: Spring Chicken and Prawn Gold Coin; Mixed Fried Rice; Honey Chilly Chicken; and Hakka Noodles.
Apart from that of course the club calls out to me in December and January with the Bakery Carnival, Christmas Lunch, New Year Eve's Dinner, and International Food Festival.

Love you lots CC! 

Chanel Nail Paints

Nail paints are my weakness. At times i have as many as 4 to 6 paints in my handbag! While I love and am spoilt for choice by the gorgeous shades from O.P.I and Inglot; I prefer the unique shades from Chanel. The colours from Chanel capture a mood and tell a story. Take of example the shade called Diwali, it's a shimmery gold. It's bling but it's not loud. It makes a statement without a shout. There is something sensuous about it, it is truly inspired by India. I also love their Peridot. The greenish gold paint looks sexy and smouldering. My other favourites include the beautiful Lotus Rouge, the vivacious Holiday, and the sexy Frenzy.
My tip: keep your nails short and round to show off these shades.


To see more about Chanel nail paints log on http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/Makeup-Nails-89313

Street foods of North Calcutta

My house is situated at the heart of North Calcutta and from the balcony on the third floor I love to see the old world trying hard to catch up with what's in trend now. While every other day a new shop, a new eating joint opens up and rises to fame on Bhupen Bose Avenue, there are some little eateries that have existed for decades and continue to remain popular despite the new league of restaurants mushrooming every day.
One has to realise here that people living and from Calcutta are born foodies. We eat, breathe and sleep food. At breakfast we decide what we will have for lunch, while having lunch we chalk out our dinner, and while relishing our dinner we start dreaming about our breakfast. so the point is food is going to succcessful here. And also when thinking of food we never think of calories. so if you want to truly enjoy the delectable of north calcutta forget about your calories and carry a pack of hajmola or gelusil with you. You should be fine.
Some of my favourite foods are:
1) Kochuri and alur torkari from a little stall next to Baghbazar Bata. The slightly sweet potato gravy with piping hot kochuri is a breakfast made in heaven. When I am in town, my parents' driver without fail will ensure that this is brought home by 9:30 and served to me with a glass of cold coffee by 9:45.
2) Singara (samosa) from Subol or Dwarik is another treat. If you feel like having this savory in the morning then Dwarik is your choice but if you like it with your evening tea then of course it is Subol.
3) While of course aromatic Darjeeling tea is always available at home, "bhanrer cha" that the girls from the salon order from the tea stall is a must-have with the samosa.
4) Then there are the fabulous cutlets from Maloncho. Spicy and delicious, with some salad and mustard sauce this fried indulgence works well as both evening snack or dinner.
5) Puchka and jhal muri in front of Manindra College is a cool later afternoon treat.
6) And while rolls every where is good, few can match up to what's dished out by our home cook, Deepa.

And for those with a sweet tooth do stop at Dey's sweets for their ice cream sandesh and mishti doi and at Mahaprobhu for rasogolla.

Happy eating!

super effective facial

Facials are a luxury in my fast track life. In Delhi I can seldom spare time enough to go for this indulgence, therefore my army of serums and creams see me through my skin woes. Further, to tell you the truth, most often I don't like facials anywhere. Apart from the ones done at my mom's salon Saajo, in Calcutta. In Calcutta life is that of a princess (sigh!). Wake up at 8, no rush, lazy breakfast, just take the stairs down to the salon and sink in to a relaxing chair... after that it's bliss... head massage, manicure, pedicure, facial, repeat.... That's my routine when here.
This time in my pampering package I tried a new facial that mom has intriduced. It is a de-pigmentation treatments from Skyndor. The treatments was super effective. The 60-minute treatments involves cleansing, glycolic peel, enzyme treatment, massage with wheatgerm oil, and finally a gel-based face pack. An hour later my skin looked fabulous. The freckles had remarkably reduced and overall the complexion had a healthy glow.

Nailed It!

I was just hunting through my handbag for pen. The pen, of course, I didn't find but what I found was this: (one nail buffer from Divo and the other from Bastien--clearly the preferred one--wrapped tenderly in a velvet case, a cuticle cream, a nail scrub, a nail ridge filler, and six nail paints (Chanel, Dior, 2 from Essie, Leighton Denny, and Inglot) . Yes, I am obsessed about nail paints. They make me feel confident and good. In fact, when i feel low or i am tensed i paint my nails to relieve my tension. The whole act of neatly painting my digits takes my mind of my worry and helps me me also focus better. there was a time, when i was in college, i would change my nail colour every day! So it is no surprise that i have mastered the art of painting nails even in a moving car.