Discovering upcoming vegan brands and new hi-tech leather alternatives has become my passion lately. I am always on the lookout for eco-conscious and cruelty-free brands for my wardrobe and am glad to share my current favorite vegan handbags with you. Melie Bianco This PETA approved accessories brand from LA has become one of the most known vegan brands. Their handbags are high on style and ethics, and the best part is they aren't too heavy on the wallet either (unlike most ethical vegan brands). What I love most about Melie Bianco is their wide collection, which is always on-trend and super stylish. I got this stylish boxy crossbody from them recently and it has become my favorite go-to bag. It instantly upgrades even the simplest of outfit with its buckle and stud detailing and is roomy enough to stow in all the essentials. How eco-conscious is Melie Bianco? It isn't the most eco-friendly alternative out there, although it is vegan and sweatshop free. The material
Your Perfect Matcha Latte: How to make the hugely popular coffee alternative that’s good for you
Matcha is arguably enjoying it's fad status right now, and the world seems to be obsessed by it. The most popular of it's uses is undoubtedly the famous matcha latte but matcha chefs are turning it into everything from soups to brownies and even ice-creams. These Japanese green tea has become a must-have ingredient of the wellness freaks {like me}. What is matcha? Matcha is a stone-ground powdered green tea used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies for its medicinal properties and earthy taste. It's made from the nutrient-rich young leaves picked from the tips of shade-grown Camellia sinensis plants. The leaves are steamed, stemmed, and de-vined before being stone-ground into very fine powder. Why matcha latte is good for you? Matcha powder is considered a nutritional powerhouse. It contains a unique, potent class of antioxidant known as catechins, which aren't found in other foods. Let's say, among antioxidants, catechins are the most potent and benefic
A weekend at Qasr Al Sarab located in the middle of Liwa desert was more than I'd hoped for. An oasis in the middle-of-the-desert that allows you to disconnect from the muddied mind of modern lives and experience the luxury of pristine nature in the beautiful desert setting, where there is only the beauty of golden sands for as far as you can see, and beyond, beautiful sunset and sunrise to marvel at the nature yet understand the fragile nature of our existence and reflect about our life and its journey, and evenings under the beauty of stars. Our escape to this beautiful and majestic desert resort was one that definitely left me enchanted and an amazing service that made it a holiday worth its while!
Kat Von D Shade + Light Contouring Palette Choosing the perfect contouring palette can be a daunting task, especially if you're not a contouring pro {like me}. In the world of contouring, Kat Von D's Shade + Light Palette is the most popular - and I must tell you it's totally worth the hype. I recently got this vegan and cruelty-free palette and am totally in love with it. It has three highlighting shades and three contouring shades to complement most skin tone. I have a medium skin (Indian complexion) and it looks perfect on me. I am not much into contouring, but even for me, it wasn't that difficult to use. The creamy matte powders are easy to use and blendable and the best part is - it doesn't leave any ashiness {problem with most powder palettes}. The black packaging is quite beautiful too. Totally recommended! Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates and animal ingredients. It's available at Sephora. Anastasia Sugar Glow Kit My 2018 goal is
This has become my go-to smoothie as I am trying to eat healthily, shed some weight and also need to do something about my hair (it's thinning and the hair fall is bad). It's also a great smoothie for those times when we are deprived of raw green food and need a lot of nutrition with minimum fuss. It has detoxifying benefits (excellent after travel fix) and perfect when we need to balance an earlier indulgent meal. This smoothie is alkalizing, hydrating, helps in cleansing, aids in weight-loss, antioxidant-rich and easy to digest - all this with minimal prep time. I've moved to a new office and have very little time sometimes when I am running around for meetings. This green smoothie makes a convenient meal on days when I don't have much time to sit and chew and have to work long hours. It gives me all the nutrients I need and is packed with immunity boosting ingredients like ginger. Green veggies are packed with chlorophyll and are much needed to give you all
No other technology has impacted us as much as mobile phones and while they are one of the best inventions of our lifetime, they are also having a huge impact on the planet. Apple sold its one billionth phone in July last year and there are over 5 billion mobile phone users in the world and as per digital analysts, the number of total mobile devices in the world has long surpassed the number of people on this planet (a well over 7.2 billion) ( Source ). Most of us use a phone cover to protect our mobile devices - creating not just the e-waste from the device itself but tonnes of plastic and silicone used for the cover. Imagine the havoc it might end up creating on the planet considering all this ends up in the landfill While you cannot stop using the mobile phones or change the composition of your devices, you can definitely ditch the cover altogether or atleast get rid of the plastic covers and switch to a more sustainable option. For all eco-conscious people, this is
LA-Based WAMA successfully closed their Kickstarter campaign and their cool hemp underwears are now available on their website (Update June 2018). Our underwear drawer is the most neglected space and it's time we gave it a little thought and invested in the right undies that not only look good but are also made from the right materials. Even as a teenager, I was always particular about what goes in my underwear drawer. Although I may have skimped on my fashion buys, as a student, I always saved enough to get the best quality lingerie. Over the years, I did my research about buying the right kind of lingerie - the perfect material, and the right fit to set the right foundation. From my own experience and expert opinions, I've come to realize that 'being sexy' should not be the only criteria for buying your lingerie. It is very important that you buy one crafted from the right fabric and has the perfect fit - as it has an impact on your health and skin. Most undi
Wearing Faeth Yellow Organic Cotton Top & Cape Blazer , Asos Denim, Stella McCartney Bag, Faeth Choker , Vegan Bracelet Come weekend and we all dress up in cold-shoulder sexy dresses, strappy heels, and tonnes of make-up {especially if you are partying in Dubai}. While these clichéd going-out staples are fail-proof, sometimes you need that fashion meets comfort look so you can have fun on weekend night outs without having to worry about how to sit, how much to dance (of those sexy dresses definitely restrict your moves on the dance floor) and how to save your skin from the blasting air conditioner and cold winds. I've been averse to mommy jeans for the longest of time, especially because I always thought they'd do nothing for my height (petite girl dilemmas #101). However, I still bought a pair from Asos Green Room a few years back and was guilty of not using it - ever. Finally, one fine day, I decided to let go of my apprehensions about them and wore it for a