5 minutes to makeup

5 minutes to makeup

For the busy working woman, here are a few morning makeup rules.

Your morning makeup routine shouldn't take much time. Here's how you can create a flawless face within five minutes...

Concealer

Begin by applying a concealer under your eyes and on blemishes. Use a very small amount of concealer and pat it on your skin, do not rub. You can alternatively also use a brush, sponge or your fingertips. Make sure to pick a shade that is close to your naturalskin tone.

Skin correcting cream

Ditch your foundation and instead use a skin correcting cream to help illuminate, nourish and even out your skin. The coverage will not be as heavy as a foundation — but rest assured that your skin will be glowing. It also covers blemishes, acne, minimises your pores and hides fine lines and wrinkles. 

Eye liner or shadow

The trick to quickly do your eye makeup is to pick one. If you wish for a simple, natural look, opt for an eye liner but if you want your eyes to stand out, use a shadow to add some drama. Apply one coat of mascara and you are good to go.

Bronzer or blush

To help your complexion look radiant choose between a bronzer or a blush. Use a light hand and don't brush much on your cheeks. Try to keep the look as subtle as possible. While using a bronzer, remember that it should not be more than a shade or two darker than your natural skin tone.

Lip gloss

To complete your look, apply a nude or pale lip gloss before you step outside your home. If you prefer lipstick, line your lips first and then fill it with your favourite shade. Choose colours that will make your face look fresh and radiant
.

Big bags make a comeback

Big bags make a comeback

Gone are the days when that carefully paired matching potli or clutch would be the best accessory for a sari.

This season bigger is better when it comes to the accessories chosen by fashionable women. Here's a look at some of those bag styles that could match your Indian evening wear.

Bowling bags
Another smart western bag that works wonders with both traditional and modern sari is the bowling bag. From the high street brands to rasta shops, there are many variations and these can really add that extra edge to your look.

Sling bag
If you're choosing a crisp cotton sari or planning to wear that trendy party sari with that hint of bling, you could choose to play your accessory down and yet be noticed with a monochromeshoulder bag. Many of the ladies in showbiz are opting for this look.

Shoulder bag
If you're going in for something traditional, like the silk saris or something grand, try going in for a shoulder bag. Admit it, we've seen many of our older generations carry off the traditional look with elan when they paired it up with a shoulder bag. This retro turn isn't that bad.

Totes
When you're choosing to wear something lacy or light, a tote could match that do. This bag, which is usually associated with Bohemian or Sunday clothing, works well if you're trying to experiment with different weaves too, adding that artsy touch to your look
.

Go waterproof this monsoon

Go waterproof this monsoon (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

With the rains in full swing, one needs to ensure its not just you but your accessories and belongings also that are safeguarded during the rains. 

And the good news is that it isn't just the high street brands that are selling accessories that are waterproof. Even some of the popular street shopping destinations in the city have stocked some interesting varieties of accessories, ranging from those that guard your mobiles and other tech gadgets to bags that can shield your belongings from the rain.

Tech care of gadgets
The best bit for those who invest in expensive smartphones and tabletsis that there are trendy waterproof cases to shield them from rains. From funky colours to interesting embellishments, these can work as interesting fashion statements along with your outfits. And the many patterns, colours and materials make them look extremely chic too, for every ensemble. And for those who like to keep work and technology as just that, there are the plain black cases, which give them the formal look.

The right bags for this season
Who would like to have official papers and your other belongings wet in the rains? Thankfully, there are plenty of options of bags that can brave the Mumbai monsoons. Be it the totes, clutches, bowling bags or simple sling bags, every one of them come in waterproof options, with interesting designs and colours. Try to go in for something bright this season. These hues are not just in vogue but they can also brighten your day
.

12 आसान हेयरस्टाइल

12 आसान हेयरस्टाइल

ये तो सभी जानते हैं कि हेयरस्टाइल में थोडी बहुत फेरबदल कर देने से व्यक्तित्व में गजब का निखार आ जाता है। लेकिन हर दिन एक नई हेयरस्टाइल बनाना संभव नहीं है। यहां हेयर स्टाइलिस्ट  शांति और सामंथा कोचर बता रही हैं 12 ऐसी हेयरस्टाइल जिसे आप आसानी से बना सकती हैं। फिर चाहे आपके बाल छोटे हों या पतले, लंबे या कर्ली।

1. शॉर्ट हेयर कैसे बनाएं

छोटे बालों को संवारना आसान होता है। इसके लिए अच्छा शैंपू ही काफी है। अगर सिर की त्वचा तैलीय  हो तो आप हर रोज या दूसरे दिन मृदु शैंपू कर सकती हैं। इसके बाद कंडिशनर  जरूर लगाएं। बालों को हवा में सूखने दें या हलका सीरम लगाकर भीतर की तरफ फोल्ड  करते हुए रोल करें।

2. साइड चोटी कैसे बनाएं

शीक  और ट्रेंडी  लुक के लिए साइड चोटी बनाएं। सबसे पहले बालों को सीधा करने के लिए ब्लो ड्राई करें। अब मिक्स्ड  ब्रिसल  ब्रश से सारे बालों को एक तरफ करें। अच्छी तरह सुलझाएं ताकि चिकनी साफ चोटी बने। अब एकदम गर्दन के पास से चोटी बनाना शुरू करें। लेकिन ध्यान रखें कि साइड में ही बने (बायीं या दाहिनी तरफ)। नीचे से 2-3  इंच बाल छोडना न भूलें। थोडी ढीली चोटी बांधें। कान के पास हेयर एक्सेसरी या फूल लगा सकती हैं। दूसरे साइड से बाल की एक लट निकाल दें ताकि नैचरल  दिखे। हेयर स्प्रे का इस्तेमाल करें ताकि चोटी संवरी रहे।

3. बोहो ट्विस्ट कैसे बनाएं

सबसे पहले बालों में टेक्सचराइजर  लगाकर रफ लुक दें। इसके लिए सी सॉल्ट टेक्सच राइजिंग  स्प्रे इस्तेमाल कर सकती हैं।

अब दोनों तरफ से एक-एक पतली लट निकाल लें। फिर प्रत्येक लट को ट्विस्ट  करके पीछे की तरफ पिनअप  करें। ग्लैम  टच देने के लिए हलका शिमर  स्प्रे करें।

4. हेयर बंप कैसे बनाएं

पैडल ब्रश से सारे बालों को बैक कोंब  करते हुए क्राउन एरिया पर लाएं। अच्छी तरह पिनअप  करके आगे की ओर प्रेस करें। फिर सावधानीपूर्वक सारे बालों को ट्विस्ट  करते हुए चिकना और ऊंचा जूडा बनाएं। सेट करने के लिए ऊपर से हेयर स्प्रे करें।

5. टॉप नॉट कै

हलका सा सीरम लगाकर सारे बालों को कोंब करके हाई पोनीटेल  बनाएं। फिर पोनीटेल  से बालों का एक हिस्सा निकालकर बाकी बालों को रफल या इलास्टिक बेस  के चारों ओर लपेटें। बॉबी  पिंस  से अच्छी तरह पिनअप  करें। अब छोडे गए बाल के सेक्शन से चोटी बनाकर जूडे के चारों ओर लपेटें। जूडा पिन से लॉक करें। ऊपर से हेयरस्प्रे  डालें ताकि शीक  लुक उभर कर सामने आए।

6. मेसी बन कैसे बनाएं

बालों में मैट्रिक्स  डिजाइन पल्स गेट ऐक्शन स्प्रे वैक्स  लगाएं ताकि बालों को एक टेक्सचर  मिल जाए। अब उंगलियों से बालों को संवारते हुए पीछे की तरफ ढीला जूडा बांधें। जूडे के एक तरफ कॉक्सकू्र  शेप्ड  पिंस  लगाएं ताकि वह टिका रहे।

7. साइड पोनीटेल कैसे बनाएं

शैंपू के बाद हलके गीले बालों को हेयर ड्रायर से सुखाएं। फिर सारो बालों को एक कान की तरफ ले जाकर पोनी बनाएं। बालों के सिरों पर शाइन  सीरम लगाएं। इसके साथ फंकी हेडबैंड  या सुंदर सा हेयर पीस लगाकर इस लुक को पर्सनलाइज करें।

8. प्रोफेशनल लुक कैसे बनाएं

आगे की तरफ बालों का एक हिस्सा छोडकर बचे हुए बालों को ब्रश से पीछे की तरफ ले जाएं और ट्विस्ट कर के बॉबी  पिंस  से पिनअप  करें। अब बालों के आगे वाले हिस्से को कोंब  करके एक तरफ (बायीं या दायीं तरफ) लें और पीछे की तरफ ले जाकर ट्विस्ट  किए हुए बालों में पिनअप करें। हेयर स्प्रे से बालों को सेट करें।

9. फ्लर्टी प्रूफ कैसे बनाएं

आगे की तरफ बालों का एक सेक्शन छोडकर बचे हुए बालों को हॉट रोलर्स  से कर्ल  करें। अब आगे के बालों को ब्रश की सहायता से क्राउन एरिया (सिर के बीचोंबीच) के पास लाकर हलका टिवस्ट  करें (ध्यान रखें कि सामने की तरफ से बालों की पार्टिग  नजर न आए)। आगे की तरफ हलका प्रेस करते हुए पिंस  लगाएं। पीछे से आगे की ओर प्रेस करते हुए हेयर पिंस  लगाएं। सॉफ्ट लुक के लिए चेहरे के दोनों तरफ बालों की पतली लट निकाल सकती हैं।

10. पिगटेल कैसे बनाएं

बालों में फ्लेक्सिबल  होल्ड स्प्रे लगाकर सारे बालों को खींचकर क्राउन एरिया के पास लाकर आगे की तरफ प्रेस करें और पिनअप  करें। जितनी ऊंचाई दे सकती हैं, दें। फिर पीछे के बालों को दो भागों में बांटें। अब इन दोनों भागों को दो सेक्शन में बांट कर चोटी बनाएं (जैसे शूज  में फीते बांधती हैं।)। एक हिस्से को दूसरे और दूसरे को पहले में मिलाते हुए चोटी कंप्लीट  करें। इसी प्रकार दूसरी तरफ भी चोटी बनाएं। अच्छी तरह हेयरस्प्रे करें ताकि चोटी लंबे समय तक टिकी रहे।

11. मॉडर्न अपडू कैसे बनाएं

सारे बालों को कोंब  करके क्राउन एरिया तक लाएं और अच्छी तरह पिन लगाएं। फिर एक साइड में सारे बालों से फ्रेंचचोटी  बनाएं। चोटी बहुत नीचे तक न बनाएं। बचे हुए बालों को कर्लिग आयरन से कर्ल  करें। ऊपर से हेयर स्प्रे करें।

12. सिंपल ट्विस्ट कैसे बनाएं

साइड पार्टिग  करके सामने की तरफ बालों का एक बडा हिस्सा छोड दें। फिर बचे हुए बालों को हॉट रोलर्स  से रोल करके धीरे से सेट करें। सामने वाले सेक्शन को कोंब  करके ट्विस्ट  करें और कान के पीछे ले जाकर बॉबी  पिंस  से पिनअप  करें। उसके ऊपर सुंदर फ्लॉवर  लगाएं या हेडबैंड  लगाएं।

फ्लर्टी स्ट्रॉबेरी

फ्लर्टी स्ट्रॉबेरी

फैशन

रोमैंटिक फील करना हो, तो स्ट्रॉबेरी पिंक कलर के परिधानों से बेहतर कुछ नहीं है। स्ट्रॉबेरी कलर की फ्लोई ड्रेस के साथ व्हाइट श्रग की टीमिंग करें। ग्लैम फैक्टर ऐड करने के लिए स्ट्रॉबेरी स्टिलटो•ा और मटैलिक वॉच के साथ टीम करें। एथनिक ड्रेस के साथ स्ट्रॉबेरी कलर का एंब्रॉयडरी वाला क्लच कैरी करें। वहीं वेस्टर्न ड्रेस के साथ स्ट्रॉबेरी कलर का स्मार्ट मेगा बैग सूट करेगा।

मेकअप

स्त्रियों का खास रंग है गुलाबी। सिंपल लेकिन थोडा फ्लर्टी गर्ली दिखना चाहती हैं तो गुलाबी आपके लिए परफेक्ट चॉइस होगी। यह दिन और रात दोनों के लिए सूदिंग कलर है। इसे अपनाने के लिए यहां दी गई ट्रिक्स आजमाएं।

0 मेकअप में बहुत खास नहीं करना चाहती हैं तो पिंक ग्लॉस ही काफी होगा। लाइट ट्रांसलूसेंट शेड से अपने रूप को निखारें।

0 होंठों के मेकअप को बैलेंस करने के लिए सॉफ्ट स्ट्रॉबेरी आईशैडो लगाएं।

0 दिन में गालों पर सॉफ्ट पिंक ब्लशर लगाएं। रात में कॉन्ट्रास्ट कलर इस्तेमाल करें। सिल्वर ग्लिटर या लाइट ग्रे शैडो लगाएं। अच्छी तरह ब्लेंड करें। इंटेसिव मस्कारा का एक कोट लगाएं।

0 इस लुक के साथ क्राउन एरिया के पास बाउंस और लूज कर्ल हेयरस्टाइल अच्छी लगेगी।

घरेलू उपाय

स्ट्रॉबेरी फुट स्क्रब बनाने के लिए 8 स्ट्रॉबेरी, 2 टेबल स्पून ऑलिव ऑयल और 1 टी स्पून सी सॉल्ट को एक साथ ब्लेंड करके पैरों पर लगाएं। सूखने पर धो लें। फिर पोंछ कर फुट क्रीम लगाएं। इसके पैरों की त्वचा मुलायम रहती है।

उपयोगी स्ट्रॉबेरी

न्यूट्रिशनल वैल्यू (प्रति 100 ग्राम) : कैलरी - 32, फैट- 0 ग्राम, फाइबर - 3 ग्राम, प्रोटीन - 1 ग्राम, सोडियम - 2 मिग्रा, कार्बोहाइड्रेट- 10 ग्राम क्यों है फायदेमंद : इसमें अल्फा हाइड्रॉक्सी एसिड होता है, जो मृत त्वचा को हटाता है और त्वचा को जवां बनाने में मदद करता है। इसमें विटमिन सी पर्याप्त मात्रा में होता है जो एंटी एजिंग का काम करता है और कोलेजन बनाने में सहायक होता है। विटमिन सी इम्यून सिस्टम को भी मजबूत बनाने में मदद करता है। यह आंखों की सेहत के लिए भी उपयोगी है। स्ट्रॉबेरी में सॉल्यूबल फाइबर होती है, जो डायबिटीज टाइप 2 के मरीजों के लिए फायदेमंद होता है। शोध बताते हैं कि स्ट्रॉबेरी बैड कोलेस्ट्रॉल और कैंसेरियस ट्यूमर से छुटकारा दिलाने में भी सहायक होती है।

What I wear depends a lot on my mood

What I wear depends a lot on my mood

Says actress Meeta Sawarkar, who likes her outfit to be comfortable yet stylish.

What's your style quotient?
Comfort. You just need to be comfortable in your skin and attitude. The way I carry myself is what determines my style.

Tight fitted or loose t-shirts, you prefer?
I have a good body and can flaunt my curves so for now it is tight fitted t-shirts. If I become fat, then I will stick to loose ones.

An outfit you can't part with?
Denims.

Must-have accessories:
A wide range of nice bracelets and lovely earrings.

A trend that will never go out of style:
Denims and t-shirts.

A look you love sporting at:
A party: Something attractive and simple. Maybe an elegant evening gown.
On a date: Something that makes me look sexy. An outfit in crimsonred as it is my favourite colour. Or maybe something in purple or white.
At a movie: Casuals. What I wear depends a lot on my mood. I might wear a pair of capris or a long skirt and team it with a ganji.
A family function: Traditional Indian wear.

Do you believe style lives on, fashion fades?
Yes. Fashion is for the time being as someone else sets the trend. Style on other hand is a reflection of your personality and hence it stays with you for long
.

How to get rid of body odour

How to get rid of body odour

Is excessive sweating bothering you? Follow these tips to say goodbye to body odour this summer

Humidity levels are rising and perspiration is a major problem that Mumbaikars have to deal with every day. While everyone perspires, only some of us sweat excessively and that is when it becomes a problem. Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, may be hereditary. It could also be caused due to hormonal imbalance, high emotional excitement, spicy foods, exercise, or stress. Here are a few things you could follow to ease out the problem.

Flush out toxins with water
You may have heard this many times before, but water not only cleanses your body, it also prevents underarm odour. In addition, having at least two showers is hygienic and will help combat excessive sweating and get rid of the offensive odour.

Wear the right clothes
Wearing cotton clothes helps your skin to breathe and you can deal better with excessive sweating. Avoid fabrics that are likely to create irritation and heat up the skin, causing excessive sweating.

Lime and lemony
Lime helps you reduce sweating, prevent body odour and bleach your under arm. You could rub one half of a lime (not too ripe) on your armpits. You may feel mild irritation. However, if you are suffering from rashes, avoid using lime.

Spray on some freshness
Cans of antiperspirants and deodourants do help to some extent in keeping body odour at bay, but it may not hold true for everyone. Antiperspirants usually work by clogging the pores, which stops sweat from reaching the surface of your skin. Though they help get rid of perspiration almost immediately, the chemicals in them could cause side-effects like irritation and discoloured skin.

Lose weight and minimise sweating
Start eating healthy and lose weight as excess weight leads to excessive sweating. If your weight is already normal, you need to include more fibre to your diet and avoid spices. This will help you to flush away all the toxins from your body.

Try vinegar to combat the problem
You may be surprised, but apply vinegar on your armpits before sleeping at night and let it dry naturally. Wash it off the next morning. Applying apple cider on your armpits can also help solve the problem of excessive sweating gradually.

Visit your doctor
- Visiting your doctor and getting a test done would help you find out the exact cause for excessive sweating.
- After all, sweating is just a regular function of our body that helps regulate body temperature
.

Now you can make your deodorants at home

Now you can make your deodorants at home

Home-made deodorants? Yes, it's true, you can make your deodorants at home. It may not look like the usual deodorant stick, but it's way better.

It's toxin-free, all natural, and requires nothing more than your average kitchen ingredients. In fact, if you look inside your kitchen right now, you'd have most of the things you need.
It may look like making a deodorant at home, which actually works, is tough, but it's super easy. However, if you still think it won't work, then you can buy a back-up deodorant. You'll never use it though. 

Ingredients
1/3 cup corn starch
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 tablespoon shea butter
10 drops peppermint oil

1 empty container
Take a bowl and combine corn starch and baking soda. Add coconut oil and shea butter to it and mix it well. Now, add a few drops of peppermint oil. Stir all of the ingredients together until well combined. You can use a hand blender, but a whisk or spoon will work well, too.
The mixture will not exactly be solid like a deodorant stick, so pour the mixture into a small container. You can use any old jar for this purpose. Place the deodorant in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until the mixture has solidified.
As Chennai is a hot place, the deodorant won't always be solid at room temperature. The coconut oil and shea butter naturally soften and/or melt in higher heats. Since it's always hot and humid here, the mixture will be somewhat mushy within an hour. However, that doesn't mean it can't be used. Its consistency will be similar to body butter, which is much easier for application.
If you are sensitive to baking soda or essential oils, try using significantly less than the amounts above. You can also try the recipe without either ingredient. It is best to do a test patch before applying to make sure you aren't sensitive to any of the ingredients. When applying the deodorant you only need a very small amount for each armpit and a rice grain-sized deodorant to put on your wrists.
Smell fresh the natural way, ladie
s

Wear bright lip colours in monsoon

Wear bright lip colours in monsoon (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Getting ready for a casual evening or a corporate event - try bright and bold lip colours that go well with casual, corporate or ethnic wears.

Makeup artist Niti Luthra says neon colours like hot pinks, corals, red, orange are very much in trend.

"Neon shades are perfect for monsoon. Shades like corals, hot pinks and ruby red work well with every outfit. But avoid gloss, as it makes the look stickier," said Luthra.

Luthra feels a woman should be aware of the best ways to apply a lip colour as it can make or ruin the looks.

"First, apply a lip balm, then outline your lips with lip pencil and smudge it with a lip smudger. Then fill in the colour," she said.

The makeup artist also suggests that one should apply long lasting lipsticks, which are non transferable and smudge proof.

"Avoid applying cream based lipsticks and glosses. For longer effect, one can use lip fix by mixing it with lipstick," she added.

Best fashion trends for men

What are the best men's styles of the season (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Looking good is not a woman's prerogative anymore. Check out what fashionable men are wearing now 

Who says men can't look fashionable or that boring shirts and ugly trousers are their only options? Every year, fashion trends for men are listed out, but since many men rarely follow fashion norms, all this style news eludes them, and when they go shopping, they are back to buying safe looking shirts or predictable trousers.

For the men who want to get started, this is the season for bold colours for them. So if it is a pair of olive green pants or burnt orange trousers that catches your fancy, go ahead and buy them. You can tone down the colour with something more sober like a white shirt on top. Experts say that suits are becoming boxier and the double breasted blazer is in style too, so if you are still into slim fits, try a newer kind of style this year. The slim cut trousers of last year are fast fading away to make way for wider legged pants. Those who love sweatshirts could try out the ones with interesting prints or patterns, even if it has large and graphic as birds of paradise motifs. Short sleeved shirts are also back in fashion. Sportscoats, camouflage prints and army themes are hot and happening on the international catwalks now. 

While most men fear standing out because they've worn something very different from everyone else, it should not be cause of worry anymore. The more adventurous they are, the more the people who will be following their sense of style and getting rid of all their own wardrobe staples to make room for more fashion forward clothes
.

Make your own bath salts at home

Make your own bath salts at home (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Bath salts are one of those wonder products that provide your body relaxation and make for great gifts too. We teach you how you can make your very own variety at home.

If you want to make your bath salt with baking soda and glycerin, theses are the ingredientsyou'll need:

- One cup of Epsom salt (known as Magnesium Sulphate Heptahydrate)
- One cup of baking soda (known as bicarbonate soda)
- Two tbsps of liquid glycerin
- Food colouring (if you want it to be completely natural, avoid the colouring)
- Essential oils (make sure the essential oils are of the highest therapeutic grade; 1ml of essential oil for each 100 gms of the finished product)

How to make the salts: 
Gather all your supplies. Measure the Epsom salt and baking soda and mix them well. Add glycerin, about four drops of food colouring and several drops of essential oil (you can choose from peppermint, eucalyptus or lemon). Be careful while adding these, because you can always add more but you can't take it out once it's mixed. Again mix well to avoid any lumps. Transfer the salts into a decorative jar. Leave to stand (with the lid on) for 24 hours, so the fragrance permeates the salts.

Maxi dresses, a must-have in your closet

Going to new lengths

The moment is all about maxi dresses. It's one of those things that you must have in your closet. It's your best friend right now and an absolute show-stopper

Once reserved for hippies and free spirits, the maxi dress is having a major fashion moment this season. This breezy and elegant garment is one of the most versatile wardrobe essentials. Be it a casual outing with friends, a movie date, beach party, or even work, a maxi can be worn in so many ways and suits every occasion and place.

Breezy and elegant, a flowing maxi dress makes an impact on and off the red carpet. This is why even celebrities are ditching their typical leg-baring cocktail dresses for unexpected, longer hemlines. To get it right, opt for a dress that either just grazes the floor or falls at the ankle. Skirts that fall mid-calf can be unflattering.

It is a super chic garment; however, it can also be dowdy. So to avoid the granny look, have a formfitting bodice or choose a dress with an unexpected plunging back or daring slit. Brownie points if you opt for a floor-grazing gown in notice-me-now colours like orange, peach or leopard print. If you want to be extra-experimental and get everyone's attention, go for a maxi dress with a sheer skirt. People will not be able to take their eyes off you.

A maxi can be accessorized in so many ways. You can wear a belt, a chunky neck-piece, scarves, etc. In case your maxi has a lot going, then just carry a bag, over-accessorizing is unforgivable. You don't want to lose the coolness of the garment. For starters, here are some styles for you
.