Friday, August 31, 2012

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.