Posts in category: Life Style

Years ago, in Agra’s Awadhpuri Colony, a young Deepti Sharma would slip out of her home to watch her brother play cricket with the boys, hovering by the boundary rope like a girl pressing her face to a window she was never meant to look through. About 550 kilometres away, in Moga, Punjab, Harmanpreet Kaur once cut off her long hair because it came in the way of her batting. Not too far from there, in Rohtak, Haryana, a small but self-assured Shafali Verma tugged an oversized jersey over her frame, hid her hair beneath a cap and marched into a boys’ match she wasn’t meant to be a part of.

None of them knew it then, but these ruptures were the first cracks in the old order of cricket. And from these tiny mutinies emerged a generation that refused to shrink, carved space where there was an impenetrable wall and treated visibility not as privilege but as inevitability. India’s women walked into the 2025 ODI World Cup, carrying years of heartache like a stubborn zipper that gets stuck at the same place every time, refusing to pull through to the end, no matter how hard you try. Which is why, when victory arrived—poetically, at the stroke of midnight—it was a seismic cultural moment. A shift from the margins to the mainstream, from decades of taunts of “ladkiyon-wala cricket” to prime-time spotlight, confetti, viewership numbers at par with the men’s final and a record prize purse.

Two weeks later, the warm, fuzzy afterglow still hasn’t dimmed. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, zipping through cities, studios and shoots, is taking it all in, one big sip of black coffee at a time. “Relieved,” she says, summing it all up, her feet up on the swivel chair in her vanity van. “I must find a way to get out of this bubble at some point, but for now, I think I want to stay in it a little longer.” On set, too, the mood is breezy. Diljit blares out from the speakers. Kaur grooves smoothly to ‘Naina’ and her teammates don’t have to be cajoled into joining her.

One leg in a cast and the other in a Jimmy Choo, all-rounder Pratika Rawal, who admits to reading Vogue since she was a child, dances along lightly. “I can’t let my leg cast come in the way of our celebrations,” she beams. Sharma tells me the streets of Agra are decked with balloons, posters and flowers. Crowds line up to catch a glimpse as their ‘beti’ waves at them from an open jeep. “Deepti Sharma itni busy? I’ve been playing for India for more than ten years aur aaj tak nahi hua yeh,” says the Player of the Tournament. Meanwhile, Shafali Verma now wants to impress India with her looks. “This is our time, yaar,” says the 21-year-old, who won Player of the Match in the finals. “I like fashion,” she continues. “Finally, so many people are watching us, I want them to see us in these different styles also.” No looks shall be repeated over the next few days, she is clear.

Cosmic tip: When you want to be right, but need to be kind—be kind. Your focus will come back to what matters.

Diligent, organised and focused, no, this is stale news because you know this is you. But what is your point of focus now is that you have perhaps been in a deep time of healing and transformation—physically, mentally, energetically, emotionally or in multiple ways. Capricorn, the time ahead will need you to move in full alignment and power; however, your angels come in to remind you that you are to keep it playful and light all along—no matter how stressful it gets for you. Seek out mentors and like-minded folk, get an objective perspective on life and your situation, clear out the clutter and the noise, and you will see that the nosy ones vibrate out of your life as well. And that is a good thing. Now, don’t go on to become a recluse, just become more selective.

Cosmic tip: The irony of the situation is the humour it holds.

What lies uncovered is the hard work and the ingenuity with which you are needed to build this life with, Aquarius. You and others can see the brilliance you are shining with, but what is the real backbone of this successful time that is here or upcoming for you is your ability to see and think differently, and act like a leader—forging and encouraging your army to work towards a common goal. Now, individual motivations may differ, but as long as the common goal remains the same, you are golden. For example, you and your colleague may show up at work for very varied personal reasons, but the output of your work ultimately checks off a common goal.

Cosmic tip: Find commonalities to succeed.

A hopeful future often requires you to stand tall and shine in your present, Pisces, no matter how tough and challenging the current wave may feel. And truth be told, is this even challenging, or is it simply new? You are probably learning a new system, upgrading your skills, rewiring the way you function, acquainting yourself with a new way of life or being or anything else. And while yes, the familiar feels comfortable, testing new horizons only leads you to discovering new lands. Some of you may be travelling the world, some of you may be metaphorically traversing through time—whatever it is, you are here to build your fortress one brick at a time. And yes, as laborious as it may feel initially, it will all be worth it.

Cosmic tip: Add a dash of structure and discipline to your routine, and you will find your rhythm once again.

Nail appointments have turned into rituals with sculptural tips, bespoke artistry and a constantly-updated folder of ‘nail inspo’ more curated than your closet. Nail art has become an accessory; a way to carry your mood and transient style, changing aesthetics the way you might change a signature scent.

With multiple options for nail salons and trends that move at the speed of the scroll, finding a nail artist can bring your creative vision to life (or leave you with great French tips). We have streamlined the search for some of the best nail salons across the country. From minimalist havens dedicated to the perfect nude to nail bars that give you that full-blown self-care immersion.

Mumbai

The Bombay Nail Company, multiple outlets

Trustworthy, efficient and always up to date with global nail trends. Their nail artists are known for clean detailing and the kind of gel manicures that stay put for weeks.

The SoBo Nail Salon, Prabhadevi

A year ago, when boho fashion was back, the boho blouses and dresses were everywhere. The idea of romantic elements in basic pieces was widely loved, and even several seasons later, it is still a trend that has lasted, especially when it comes to blouses.

Different brands have taken note. And of course, when it comes to 70s-inspired blouses, the best garments to combine with them are flared pants, as Twiggy, Cher and Jane Birkin did. So, from ruffled styles to those with wide sleeves, this duo guarantees a romantic, versatile outfit with retro touches that never fails.

Woven boho blouse with brown flared pants

Michael Kors flared pants.

When it comes to Winter 2025 fashion, items that look like they were pulled out of our grandparents’ closets have gained great popularity. Tennis shoes, sweaters, vests and of course, blouses. The latter are fuelled by the boho aesthetic to showcase a classic piece that looks amazing with mini skirts, or, in the cold season, with flared pants, Oxford shoes and long coat.

Black strappy boho blouse with flared black pants

Zara strappy boho blouse.

Flared pants from Twinset.

If you don’t know which boho blouse to choose, you can always play it safe with a brown one. After all, this is a shade that has made its presence known on the catwalks. Both in accessories like blazers and boots from Ralph Lauren and Hermès, as well as with blouses from Burberry, Max Mara and Saint Laurent.

Printed boho blouse from Zara.

Fabiana Filippi flared pants.

Those interested in fully immersing themselves in bohemian, should give woven flared pants a try. Warm and comfortable, they are best worn with printed boho blouses with long sleeves, to make a more dynamic outfit, and as for footwear, high platform boots are recommended to keep with the seventies theme.

Boho blouse with corduroy flared pants

Embroidered boho blouse from Zara.

Flared pants from Department 5.

Embroidered boho blouses offer texture, which translates into a more interesting look, and if the design in question features slightly puffed sleeves, you have a garment that is equal parts romantic and edgy. Which means that it can only be combined with an element as relevant as the blouse itself, which brings us to corduroy pants, a model that has been seen in different colours on the catwalks and denotes an outfit that is very warm and ideal for the last months of the year.

Boho blouse with flared leather pants

Flared sleeves blouse from Zara.

Flared pants from Diesel.

Earlier in the year, we talked about moto boho fashion, a combination of leather jackets, biker boots, dresses and biker blouses. This fusion of aesthetics has become the go to, with sporty t-shirts being worn with ruffled skirts and shirts with pants. However, nothing better than opting for the original trend that Pinterest predicted since the end of 2024, so it’s worth choosing a blouse with flared sleeves, flowy style and flowers in the design, to match flared leather pants and of course, biker boots.

Boho turtleneck blouse from Zara.

Flared pants from 7 For All Minkind.

If it is the first time wearing a boho blouse, start with a velvety black turtlenck. Elegant and timeless, it is a great addition to the closet to pair with jeans and white flared pants alike; and thus shine with boho style no matter the day of the week.

This story first appeared on Vogue.mx.

Janhvi Kapoor’s latest appearance paired her affinity for elongated silhouettes with a painterly wash of florals and soft shimmer. Her Gir forest look, styled by Megan Concessio, featured a long sequin dress from Ellie Saab‘s Spring 2025 Ready-to-wear collection. The collection, inspired by sun-soaked savannah days and the striking palettes of African landscapes, leaned into foliage, textured embellishment and a spectrum of natural hues.

The slender, body-contouring cut that flared subtly at the knees was doused with thousands of micro-sequins that formed a honeycomb surface across the garment. Toward the hem, the palette deepened into botanical artwork: muted greens, soft pink florals and hand-painted foliage motifs that mirror the collection’s rainforest cues. A matching elongated scarf, also sequinned and printed, draped down one side, added movement and created a soft vertical line against the fitted shape. She finished the ensemble with the matching crystal clutch, completing a head-to-toe visual continuum.

Her accessories extended the botanical theme with a pair of long, floral earrings from House of Yarané—pink sapphire petals framing a rose-cut diamond centre in champagne gold—and a butterfly ring from Darshanaa Sanjanaa Jewellers, crafted with vivid tourmalines and diamonds.

Her beauty look was kept soft: subtly glittered lids, wispy lashes and a glossy, peach-toned lip.

From Vogue’s fashion desk:

“Drape the scarf over the neck with both ends falling behind her shoulders, tie the hair into a messy low bun to give the look a touch of insouciance. lost the clutch and add a few more rings to both hands,” says Vogue India fashion associate Manglien Gangte.

Also read:

Janhvi Kapoor’s cobalt Patola lehenga is Indian maximalism at its finest

Isha Ambani Piramal’s plum satin suit sharpens into a corseted waist and column skirt

Deepika Padukone’s cashmere Sabyasachi jacket and Sayani Gupta’s tonal grey set led this week’s best looks

Major opportunities: openness, renewal, personal liberation.

Year 6: Maturity and commitment

The sixth year sees a shift to anchoring, responsibility and deeper meaning. “The 6 pushes us to refocus on what’s essential: relationships, commitments, the home, intensely personal values,” she says. “It’s a time to question what really matters, what you want to give your energy to. The balance between giving and receiving, between self and others, becomes a central theme. The 6 teaches maturity of heart: acting on conviction, committing to what resonates fully.”

Major challenges: emotional overload, fear of disappointment, tendency towards perfectionism.

Major opportunities: harmony, sincere commitment, relational alignment.

Year 7: Introspection and meaning

Year 7 marks a necessary pause in the rhythm of the cycle. “It’s a year of assessment, reflection and self-reflection. It invites us to take a step back, to look at how far we’ve come, to understand what still makes sense and what no longer resonates. It’s a more inward-looking period, often marked by existential questioning and an emerging clarity. Year 7 sets the stage for the transformation to come.”

Major challenges: questioning, doubts about direction.

Major opportunities: inner clarity, spiritual awakening, deep understanding.

Year 8: Power and materialisation

Energy becomes denser and more intense in Year 8. “It’s a year of expansion, success, harvest. The 8 speaks of personal power, decisive choices and conscious action. “Projects materialise, efforts bear fruit, but this outward success is accompanied by inner work on balance,” Jorge says. “This is a year to assume one’s power, without excess or fear, and to anchor success in correctness.”

Major challenges: control, overwork.

Major opportunities: success, recognition, leadership.

Year 9: Closure and transformation

The final stage of the cycle, the ninth year, symbolises closure and rebirth. “It’s a period of liberation, sorting and emotional purification,” affirms Jorge. “It pushes us to let go of what no longer belongs: relationships, situations, patterns or attachments that have become obsolete. The 9 invites us to honour the past while opening the door to renewal.” It’s a year of taking stock and healing, and then, preparing for what could come next.

Major challenges: detachment, nostalgia, fear of emptiness.

Major opportunities: liberation, healing, opening to a new cycle.

This article first appeared on Vogue.fr

A spot can emerge for any number of reasons. One of those reasons might be a process known as skin purging, which refers to what happens when a new treatment or product ramps up cell turnover and thus rapidly brings underlying blemishes to the surface of the skin.

Whether you’re a skincare buff with an elaborate 10-step nighttime routine or a minimalist with a tightly edited roster of trusted products, determining the cause of the outbreak and the appropriate course of action to follow can be a minefield.

Here, we break down everything you need to know about skin purging, including its typical duration and how to treat it.

What is skin purging?

“Skin purging occurs when a product or treatment speeds up the skin’s cell turnover, leading to tiny open or closed comedones that usually manifest as whiteheads on the skin,” explains Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme. Active ingredients that work deep within the skin, like retinoids or azelaic acid, are often the culprits.

“It can look like a sudden wave of new blemishes or blocked pores as the skin clears house,” Dr Sam Bunting adds. “I like to call this acne turbulence. It’s an emotionally charged but often necessary phase on the path to clearer skin.”

What causes skin purging?

Dr Beibei Du-Harpur asserts that any product or treatment that speeds up cell turnover can do this, although most notably retinoids and exfoliants. Bunting agrees, explaining how “sleeping time bombs under the surface of your skin, the clogged pores destined to become breakouts, are triggered to emerge at once, rather than gradually over time”.

It’s often most noticeable in areas where you usually break out, because that’s where the underlying congestion sits. Dr Justine Hextall, La Roche-Posay consultant dermatologist, adds that applying products with strong active ingredients too frequently can cause significant purging.

How long does skin purging last?

“It can last from four days to six weeks, but on average, you can expect it to occur for around two weeks,” says Ejikeme. “It’s most intense if you’re prone to closed comedones, which are little, skin-coloured bumps under the surface,” Bunting adds. The good news is that once the skin has adjusted to your new routine, the flare settles, and you’ll start to see positive changes shortly after. Patience and consistency are key.

Is skin purging a good thing?

“Purging is neither good nor bad, and it can happen after using excellent products,” says Ejikeme. It can also happen if your skin barrier is compromised. “The risk of purging can be reduced if you first repair the barrier function, then slowly start the treatment or slowly introduce the product.”

Du-Harpur notes that while it’s not a fun experience, skin purging can, over time, “reflect the reduction of micro-comedones or acne precursors”, meaning your skin might be less acne-prone in the long run. Bunting agrees, noting that purging is “the skin’s way of resetting, uncomfortable in the short term, but often the gateway to long-term skin clarity”.

How does one distinguish skin purging from breakouts?

“Classic purging occurs only where you typically get breakouts, while irritation or new acne from an unsuitable product can appear anywhere, often as small, red, itchy bumps,” Bunting explains. If your skin feels sore, inflamed, or flaky all over, it’s more likely to be irritation or even a disrupted barrier, rather than purging. “Sometimes, both can happen together, which is why barrier support is crucial during this phase,” she says.

Photographed by Marina Oya. Styled by Rumsha Hassan. Makeup: Emilia Weryńska. Lighting: A’lon Peoples. Production assistance: Fernando Lopez.

Off stage, the 25-year-old slips into an alter ego—one who, at least from what I can see on Zoom, feels worlds apart from the dazzling character she transforms into on stage. The sequins are swapped for a plain black tank top and her kohl-lined eyes soften behind a pair of scholarly spectacles. The only remnant of her performing persona is a silver Om necklace glinting at her collarbone. This version of Raj is at home in her parents’ unassuming garage, which doubles as her recording studio. “Like most Indian parents, they love having us home,” she smiles, referring to her 19-year-old sister Lara Raj, a member of the global girl group Katseye. The garage is their creative playground and shared work area. “We respect each other’s art so much, we give each other space. We’re really good at trading off,” Raj grins.

The siblings have a knack for decorating too. The studio is a glorious riot: wall-mounted Lana Del Rey posters rub shoulders with Britney Spears’s Blackout cover and Lionel Richie vinyls, heady incense swirls around prayer candles tangled in mic stands, and a whiteboard scribbled with ideas holds a mirror to their fever dreams. One wall is claimed by a futuristic art print of blurred faces, a striking contrast to the cavalcade of mirror-work cushions from Rajasthan scattered across a pair of couches. In the centre, a coffee table groans under the weight of Vivienne Westwood Catwalk, a hardcover by Rick Rubin, and half-empty wine glasses from a moonlit soirée. Behind it, a gigantic mirror gleams, reflecting a rack of floaty outfits. Part shrine, part stage set, part mad scientist’s lab—every corner hums with the sisters’ restless, irrepressible energy.

You are shining, you are smiling, and you are doing it all in a way that places your power in love. Scorpio, we are not talking about flowery stuff. We are talking about building your wealth and investments through people and connections—from the heart, not from the mind. You may be at a place in your life where you are willing and ready to give your ideas a shot, perhaps even to begin afresh and anew. But really, all the cosmos wants you to know and remember is that your time is now.

Cosmic tip: Stay curious and embrace new beginnings.

You are asking for a way out and are desperate for it—you may have been praying to all the heavens and Gods, and perhaps may have even been feeling exasperated, however, Sag, beneath it all, you are also brimming with ideas and possibilities—and the cosmos wants you to remember that all the what if are very plausible if you detach from getting overly obsessed with the specific outcomes or processes you expect. The path to getting the ball rolling is to remember that you are not the puppet at the hands of destiny;, you have the power and strength to be the hand that makes things happen.

Cosmic tip: it is unhealthy attachments that are keeping you feeling stuck—not the situation itself.

You may feel like you are trudging along—and hey, you might just be, but Capricorn, do you see how far you’ve actually come? It is not only commendable, but also applause-worthy. Now you know that tiny little voice is telling you something? To keep going? Keep going, Cap. For a short bit, detach from the world if you need to—to self-preserve, to find your voice, to find your drive. But when you are ready, jump right in and win this game called life, okay?

Cosmic tip: Savour and safeguard everything—be it your health, your wealth, your life force or anything else.

You have many options on the table, Aquarius. And while they may feel overwhelming at first, if you allow yourself some breathing space, you will be able to pick up on the pulse of all that is available to you and how your body, mind and spirit respond to it. Deep down, you know it is time for you to get going. And you also know that there is this one thing or option that leaves you feeling sleepless out of excitement and joy—this is the option you must opt for, however unfamiliar it may feel. Take time to familiarise yourself with the groundwork needed, but take a shot at it.

Psyllium husk is not pretty. It looks like something you’d dust off on a floor mat. Yet in the second coming of gut health, Isabgol, as we know it, is shining bright.

Our grandparents’ favourite pre-meal ritual has sat in the background as gummies and powders took up social media real estate.

Most of us are running a fibre deficit without realising it. Urban life is basically designed to make you eat fewer plants and more packaging. Many “healthy” meals too fall short on soluble fibre, which is what keeps your glucose curve from doing parkour.

A randomised trial published in Nutrition Journal found that 10.5 grams of psyllium husk a day helped type 2 diabetes patients bring fasting blood sugar down from 163 mg/dL to 119 mg/dL in eight weeks. That drop is significant enough to make even sceptics sit up straighter. Another study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition noted that psyllium husk helped most when glycaemic control was already messy, which feels poetic in its own way.

The gut and the brain have been talking behind our backs

We treat the gut like plumbing when, in reality, it behaves more like a nosy neighbour with a direct line to your brain. When fibre ferments, your gut bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), tiny molecules that end up playing translator between your digestion and your stress response.

They work through a few very real pathways. They appear to stimulate receptors linked to the vagus nerve, which sends the brain a message that the internal environment is safe enough to power down. They may influence the hormonal loop that governs cortisol. In a 2020 randomised trial published in Neuropsychopharmacology, healthy men given SCFAs through colon-delivery capsules had a significantly lower cortisol surge when exposed to an acute stress test compared with placebo. Their subjective stress didn’t change, but their bodies reacted with more composure, which says a lot about how these molecules operate.

SCFAs also support the gut lining, which reduces inflammation, and inflammation is one of the fastest ways to make your whole system feel on edge. A review in Frontiers in Endocrinology summarises this, noting that SCFAs may influence the human HPA axis, the circuit that decides how dramatically your stress hormones rise and fall.

The gut often creates more daily background noise than we realise. When fermentation patterns improve and inflammation falls, the nervous system stops receiving distress signals it never needed in the first place. The research is early and far from conclusive, but the emerging human trials hint that these gut-made molecules are worth paying attention to.

India’s fibre paradox

For a cuisine built on vegetables, lentils and grains, we still miss a lot of the fibres our gut needs. Add long workdays, unpredictable sleep and the national habit of eating dinner far too late, and the gut ends up carrying more than its share. This is the backdrop where psyllium starts to feel logical, filling a gap our routines keep widening.