Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Vipasha Agarwal

Vipasha Agarwal

Top model, ramp regular and the face of Lakme, Vipasha Agarwal shares her beauty & fashion secrets.

It’s hard to believe that this sultry siren is from a traditional Marwari family in small-town Benaras (her family owns one of Benara’s oldest sari houses). Educated at St. John’s Mehraull in Benaras and Amity University, Noida, Vipasha never thought she could be a model till she was spotted by Elite Models CEO. And the rest is history. She shares with Lakmeindiacom her beauty & fashion tips.

My Morning Beauty Regimen
I drink a bottle of water first thing in the morning, this is a sure fire way of keeping my skin looking healthy & glowing the entire day.
My Quick Beauty Tip
Use Lakme kajal & gloss to immediately brighten up your face.
Must-haves in my Handbag
Lip balm & Lakme kajal
Clothes I’m most comfortable in
My favorite pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
My Favorite Cosmetics
I have been using Lakme kajal since my teenage years as I love the smudgy smoky look one can achieve with it. The Lakme glosses too have lovely nude shades, which really enhance my lips.
My Salon/Spa Routine
Once a month I visit the Lakme salon at Churchgate for a skin service, manicure and pedicure. I especially enjoy the Floral Bliss Facial at the salon.
My Style Advice
Be yourself; wear whatever suits you instead of blindly following trends. Be comfortable in what you wear and wear it with attitude.
Favorite Shopping Destinations
I am not an accessories person so I don’t shop for them, but I love buying clothes, especially dresses, and my favorite shopping spots are TopShop in London, Mango, and United colors of Benetton in Mumbai and of course who can resist window shopping in Paris!
My Wardrobe Favorites
A selection of silk Benarasi sarees in pastel shades that my mom gifted me on my last birthday.
My Favorite Designers
Sabyasachi, Rakesh Agarwal, and Deepika Govind to name a few.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Aishwarya Sakhuja

Aishwarya Sakhujha is a model and a Miss India Finalist (2006). She says she tends to put on some weight on her face so she does a lot of cardio to keep herself fit. She says the best way to keep one self fit is by doing cardio exercise.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Asin

Asin on 'Fairever Fruit Fairness Crème
Brand Ambassador Asin Thottumkal launched the New Fairever Fruit Fairness Crème at a special unveiling in Mumbai. Speaking at the launch, Asin said, ‘The new Fairever Fruit Fairness Crème is the best choice for today’s young and contemporary woman who needs not just fairness but a healthy glowing skin.’
Asin explains further to have beauty; one must lead a healthy lifestyle. She advises to eat a balanced diet, sleep well, drink lots of water, and protect your skin from pollution as much as possible and from the sun as well. She says Fairever Fruit can help the skin look beautiful which is why she endorses it. Asin has been associated with the brand for the past four years.

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Asin’s Beauty Secrets

How do you stay fit?

My health routine is pretty simple: I eat well and exercise whenever I get the time. I like to do cardiovascular exercises. I have a fit body and I like to stay healthy. This keeps me motivated and committed to my health routine.

Are you a careful eater?

Not really. That’s because I have a healthy metabolism, I don’t put on weight easily and I am still quite young! I eat a balanced diet that includes carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats. One food habit that I always stick to is eating breakfast as early as possible.

What do you eat on a given day?

For breakfast I have oats, fruits and 2 eggs; lunch consists of roti/rice, vegetables and some chicken/fish. Dinner is usually light-I have carbs, chicken/fish and salad. For snacking, I stick to fruits and nuts. Again, thankfully, tea and coffee have no place on my list of drinks. I am hooked to coconut water, instead.

On a free day, what would you do to relax?

I try to get some more sleep for sure. It keeps my mind and body fresh. If I am in the mood for some pampering, I get a head and foot massage. That feels like heaven! I also spend time with my parents, and finally, curl up with a book.

Any bad food habits that you want to kick?

Not really. I’m not a foodie. I don’t eat out often. Even when I am shooting, I get a dabba from home. I like sweets, but usually have just a bite or two.

How do you maintain your gorgeous looks?

I don’t make a big fuss but stick to basic CTM (cleansing-toning and moisturising). The fact that I have sensitive skin also limits my options when it comes to using products. For my hair I trust Kerastase, and oily head massages. They work for me.
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Asin is a Water & Milk Baby
Asin's thought for food
I am: A non-vegetarian.
Diet Regime:
I start my day with: A cup of oats or a bowl of muesli and some fruit. Sometimes, I have an egg or idlis.
The minute I get up: I have to have my breakfast. I am an early riser — I am usually up by 6 am. But it depends on my schedule — if I have slept late then I wake up at around 9 am.
A traditional Malayalee breakfast is: Appam, idli dosa or utta payam which is made of fruit or puttu kadala which is made of chana.
I am not a: Coffee or tea drinker. I am actually a water and milk baby.
My favourite fruits are: Mango, jackfruit, custard apple, different types of bananas.
I lunch on: A few chapattis or a bowl of rice with vegetables. There are usually pulses for protein. I also love fish.
My favourite vegetable: Carrots.
My lunch is prepared by: My mom. She is responsible for my food, so I carry my food to the sets. I am not fussy about food and I don't mind having unit food. But since mom makes it with so much love and care, I make it a point to have the dabba that she has made.
Lunch on the sets: Is amazing. In the South, the variety you are offered is mind-blowing. I am not exaggerating, there are eight different items. But, as I told you, I carry my own food.
My favourite Kerala dish: Rice and prawns — eating that is sheer bliss.
Food on the sets of Ghajini: Aamir loves south Indian food. He was on a strict diet, so I would tempt him with chocolates and ice creams.
I snack on: Fruits or coconut water or nuts. I have an early dinner but I don't have any snack thereafter.
My dinner: Is usually quite early, at around seven pm, if I am at home. But it's delayed if I am shooting. I have whatever mom has made. In Malayalee it's called palhara. Mom usually likes to have rice but I don't have rice for dinner. There is kappa and meen, which is tapioca and fish or we have rice porridge, also known as kanji. I also have eggs or chicken for dinner.
My favourite desserts: I don't have any sweets. I prefer fruits. I enjoy Indian sweets more than foreign chocolate, because there is so much variety — jalebis, laddoos, Mysore pak, payasam. I love Indian sweets but I indulge in them only occasionally. At home, I am the least health-conscious person. My mom and dad are more health-conscious than I am, so fortunately there is no temptation. I don't have that big a sweet tooth, I can resist sweets but if somebody offers them, I don't mind having them.
My fitness regime: I do cardio and when I get the time, I do weights.
Other Favourites: A childhood memory associated with food: A fruit called chamba used to grow in my backyard. It was a pink fruit that would become red when ripe. I don't think it has a Hindi or English name. I used to love that fruit. One day, my mum sent me to school with a packet of this fruit to give my friends; and they just loved it. Soon the whole school came to know about it and they would ask me for the 'pink fruit' because they didn't know the name (I went to the Naval Public School and there were a lot of North Indian girls studying there). So in school, I became famous as the 'pink fruit girl'. Also my friends used to come home for 'more curry' (pulisheri), which is made of curd and turmeric. I was known by colourful food — pink fruit and yellow curry.
In my fridge you will always find: Fruits. There is no junk food.
My Sunday Meal: We don't have a special Sunday lunch. In Kerala, we would have a lot of non-vegetarian items with appam.
I feel guilty about eating: Indian sweets.
Eating out: I don't eat out so I don't have any favourite restaurants.
My favourite cuisines are: Indian, Chinese, Italian and Thai and sometimes Mexican.
My favourite spice is: Chilli. I love spicy food more than sweet.
My favourite beverage: Coconut water.
My favourite poison: I don't drink.
My idea of a romanic meal: I like the backwaters in Kerala — they have nice hotels and houseboats on which they cook fish on the houseboat. I would like to eat traditional food.
Asin's favourite recipe: Fish molee
ingredients
1/2 kg fish fillets
1/4 cup refined vegetable
oil1 cup onion
sliced 1 tsp garlic
crushed 1 tsp ginger
crushed 6 green chillies half slit
1/2 tsp peppercorns crushed
Few sprigs of curry leaves 2 cups
thin coconut milk
1 big tomato cut into four
1 cup thick coconut milk
Salt to taste
Method
Clean fish well in salted waterHeat oil in a pan. Saute onion, garlic, ginger, chillies, peppercorns and curry leaves. Add thin coconut milk and stir to simmering point. Add fish pieces and salt. Cook the fish over in low heat with the lid on, until gravy thickens.Stir in tomato and thick coconut milk. Continue to cook in low heat for a few minutes, taking care to see that the curry does not curdle.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

AWESOME SKiN TiPSS <33

AWESOME SKiN TiPSS <33
FOR THE FACE »
smooth face - before you apply foundation to your face, put some lotion on your face first. it makes it easier to blend in the foundation !
FOR THE SKiN » [ care, zits, shaving, nails ]
milky touch - if you have a sunburn, soak a washcloth in milk. get the milk cold from the fridge. soak your face with the washcloth a few minutes at a time !
tip - mix one part baby oil, with one part sunscreen. it`s great for your skin, and looks great on your legs, and shoulders.
soft lips - vaseline is deff. the best thing for soft lips.
soft feet - rub petroleum jelly all over your feet at night and wear cotton socks while you sleep. it`ll smooth out the rough spots!
extra shine - add a tiny bit of vaseline to your lashes and brows for extra shine !
zits ! - tooth paste gets rid of zits fast !! i know it`s weird, but it dries up the zit !!
FOR THE NAiLS »
tip
- when the skin near the nail starts to peel off, put almond oil on your nails ! it moisturizes the skin so it will lessen the peeling !
quick dry - to make your nails dry faster, wait about a minute after you`re done painting, stick them in ice cold water ! it works !
for more tips look in makeup matters & hair stuff !! <33 hope i helped!
>zits ! - tooth paste gets rid of zits fast !! i know it`s weird, but it dries up the zit !!
contrary to popular belief, toothpaste is NOT good to use on zits. instead try aloe vera gel or a thin lotion with Vitamin E. (Caress lotion with vitamin E is great). These will also heal the scar from the zit
>Caress lotion with vitamin E. its great! its cheap since its not one of those fancy "facial moisturizers" and the vitamin E clears up zits and scars. also it moisturizes without being too thick or oily for your skin

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Forever young? Why not!

Forever young? Why not!

And may you stay forever young!’ sang urban folk singer Joan Baez a decade ago. Now there is a way to turn that wish into a reality! Read on and find out how…

The proverbial fountain of youth is as real as our lifestyle choices. And we all know that. Yet one chases good looks and happiness at botox clinics and in the neighborhood shrink’s office. The task of changing one’s mindset, habits and inability to make an effort is what makes the elusive youthful looks seem farther than ever. Here are a few simple rules to live by, which are sure to help you look younger than your years.

Drink it up!
Water therapy has been long touted as a solution to many body ills. Lack of water in the body can lead to sluggishness and even de-motivation. Not only does drinking water keep you energetic throughout the day, it flushes the body cells of environmental toxins. Apart from water, other fluids that will help you keep full and peppy are fruit juices - especially sweet lime, orange and watermelon- and herbal teas.

Eat sensibly:
Avoid fried food stuff completely. For every-day cooking, switch to healthier oils like olive oil or sunflower oil, canola or sesame oil. Don’t starve yourself. Rather eat small portions but more number of meals in the day. Focus should be on high-fibre and protein diet. Limit carbohydrates and fats to natural sources like pulses and nuts rather than going for pastas and cheese. Natural fat that is good for the body can be had from avocados, peanuts and other vegetables that help protect the heart. Get your dose of vitamins and minerals through fresh fruits, skimmed milk and veggies.

If you can, stick to the ‘no food after 7.00 pm’ rule. A lighter meal in the evenings should be a matter of daily habit. A soup or a whole-wheat sandwich could be substituted for a full course meal.

Wellness mantra:
Yoga, meditation and deep breathing exercises will give you the kick needed to feel great about life. Breathing deep helps you relieve stress while also clearing out the lungs. These also help in stretching your muscles and weight loss. Meditation will help you forget niggling worries and focus on that which is important in life. The three activities put together tone up the inner body and this shows in a happier and glowing countenance.

Sleep well:
Lack of sleep can add a decade to your face. It also causes a wooly-headed response to most life situations that could lead to further stress. If your work keeps you up at nights, remember that research has shown that retention and performance is better if you sleep well. You might just hit upon a solution in the morning to a work problem, after a fitful night sleep. Sleep also helps your face muscles to relax and helps skin cells regenerate.

Laugh a lot:
Don’t fear laugh lines cause nothing can make you look more youthful than laughter full of abandon! Serious looking expressions are considered natural accompaniments of ageing but need it be so? Laughter therapy is said to trigger the release of endorphins, body’s natural painkillers that also help you handle any stress better.

Over-exfoliation can backfire:
Subjecting your skin to abrasive facials can reduce its’ immunity in the long run. Go for gentle peels derived from organic matter and essential oils. Don’t rely excessively on artificial methods for that youthful glow. Work on the inside too. A monthly trip to the salon is helpful for a groomed look though.

It’s never too late to start exercising: Weave body movement into your daily schedule. This can be done by walking to work, taking the stairs or socializing on the go. Exercise also helps you sleep well which in turn helps your skin tone.

Shun sugar:

Inflammation can cause aging in skin and one reason why inflammation occurs is a rapid rise in blood sugar. Increase in sugar levels can also make the skin stiff and inflexible affecting its elastic resilience. Go natural; opt for honey or jaggery instead.

Try out these steps and you’ll see that not only will you end up feeling youthful; it will sit light on your pocket too!

Text: India Syndicate