When it comes to beauty I've always been picky about what I put on my face and body. Somehow the likes of chemical loaded products never made the cut for me. Finding quality skincare and makeup that's devoid of harsh chemicals and is also cruelty free and vegan friendly is a bit of a challenge, especially if you are living in India (for that matter even Dubai). For years I had to rely on my friends or family (or even their friends and family) travelling from US or UK to get my monthly beauty fix. Then came the era of online shopping, which means you could get a access to the best beauty products online , delivered right to your doorstep, which was otherwise hard to find in India. But then there was another problem. While now I have access to some great products, I still wouldn't know which product is suitable for my skin, hair and body type. At good beauty stores like Space NK or Liberty of London you have access to experts who understand your beauty needs and recomm
My partner in crime Welcomed by fresh fruits and orange juice in the suite (and I did some nail art myself with my vegan nail polishes) This beach side restaurant with its breathtaking views is perfect for sunset and after hours Opulence and grandeur is synonymous with Middle East and considering Emirates Palace is the property of UAE's richest Emirate Abu Dhabi no expense was spared at making this 21st century Palace hotel. No wonder it is the most expensive hotel ever built (a whopping $3.8 billion - no kidding!) and the place is indeed pure luxury where you are treated like a royalty. The hotel was built to create the most lavish seven star experience conceivable and they for sure succeeded at it. We decided to stay at the hotel for the weekend and it was indeed an amazing experience. The service and attention to details is remarkable and the staff is super courteous. The moment you arrive you are presented with a 3-rose bouquet and som
Finding the perfect lipstick is somewhat like dating. You have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince. No one can deny the power of a good lipstick. The perfect lipstick can immediately transform your look and boost your confidence. But just like a bad relationship the wrong lipstick can do havoc not only to your looks but your health as well. So when you got to spend your bucks on one, it better be good. Did you know most lipsticks, including the big names, include harmful chemicals (like lead and parabens) and animal ingredients (carmine,lanolin and beeswax to name a few)? Fortunately after a lot of frog kissing episodes, I've finally found the perfect one {I mean the lipstick}! The Tattoo queen turned Sephora best-seller makes one of the best vegan lipsticks that I have come across and there's a reason why her lipsticks are flying off the shelves - they're absolutely amazing. Yes I am talking about Kat Von D (sold exclusively at Sephora and her own onl
This post was last updated on 3-Oct-2016 Internet has changed the dynamics of shopping - the ease, product and price comparison, convenience, comfort and variety it offers (just at the click of a button) gives it an edge over conventional shopping for most of your shopping needs. Although it can be addictive, I find it the best medium to make your essential purchases especially when it comes to skincare products. Having lived in England for quite a while, when I got back to India I always missed good online shopping websites back home and when it came to no online beauty stores there absolutely was none. Finding vegan makeup was especially hard. However, over the years many online stores have propped up in India and finally we have some great online beauty stores where we can shop for almost every makeup and skincare brands from the household names to the luxury and exotic international brands that have yet not opened their stores in India and are almost hard to find here. He
Despite the most unexpected pouring in the dessert and the inconvenient location (yes reaching Design District was really a task) the enthusiasm of the Fashion Week took the winning among the Dubai fashionistas as they showed up at the Dubai Design District braving the rains strutting in their stilettos, showing off their meticulously contoured face and layers of waterproof mascara. Nothing could stop the middle eastern divas from their most anticipated event - Fashion Forward Dubai! It wasn't just the catwalks, but this season had some really interesting talks too - one particularly close to my heart {and also what my blog is about} ethical fashion. It was the first time I actually heard the term "Ethical fashion" echoed in the fashion circles of Dubai, as there aren't many brands here and those which are, are also not really marketed as "Ethical" (did you know Stella Jean is ethical?). On day 2 of the fashion forward the rain Gods decided to bless the
Zara Jacket & Boots, Topshop Jeans and Stella McCartney Bag Sometimes finding the right 'outfit' to wear becomes challenging. Nearly every girl has to face the situation of having a closet full of clothes yet nothing to wear. Fret not, when you can't find anything to wear follow the motto - "when it doubt wear a jacket" - it can be a sharp blazer, a moto jacket or a bomber. Jackets are life savers - not only it puts together an outfit but they also glam it up instantly. When you add a sharp blazer to a simple white tee and blue jeans combo and throw in a pair of pumps you are all set to take over the world in style in an instant. When you want something cool a moto or a Bomber does the trick. I for one love my jackets, this is one thing I never skimp on. While my black and white blazers are my go-to all time-favourites, but I also love other styles like this moto jacket with a twist. What is your go-to piece in your closet?
If you follow my Instagram you'd know I am sucker for healthy meals. But what you may not be aware of is I loathe cooking - its never been my forte. The dilemma is I don't even prefer ready-to-eat meals or eating out that much. I feel horrible and guilty if I eat too much processed or unhealthy meals. So sometimes I have no option but to fix myself a meal when I don't have help. A salad is an easy fix and if you add the right ingredients it can be quite filling and delicious too. A red quinoa salad is a great option as it is wonderfully versatile. It's perfect for lunches, it can make a really good starter or can be a great healthy and filling dinner. Here's my quick quinoa fix for lunch made from organic quinoa, fresh tomatoes, cucumber and sesame - flax seed - ginger - olive oil dressing. The secret ingredient that instantly makes this vegan quinoa salad super yummy is a generous portion of toasted nuts. Since I wanted a more filling meal I also prepared
" To be different you must first be yourself " How many times did you scroll down your Instagram feed to find the same Moschino* belt, same Celine* bag, same trendy shoes, same Kenzo* jumper, same contoured face popping up on every blogger's feed? It will not be an exaggeration if I say that they are all starting to look the same. Or let's put it this way most bloggers seem clones of each other. Such an irony. But where has their individual style disappeared? Why are the fashion bloggers falling prey to mediocrity? Why does everyone in the fashion blogosphere need to dress alike? Back in early blogging days fashion bloggers had some real style - fun, accessible, classy, quirky, weird glam, street chic, feminine burst - everyone had something new to bring on table. Each blogger had a distinct voice and blogging involved doing your own thing. Fast forward 2016 and today everyone is trying to fit in the cool crowd wearing the same trends that everyone else is s