Posts in category: Life Style

Beneath that signature whirlwind vibe, Sagittarius, there is a core that is so deeply hidden that even you may have forgotten about it. Today, tap into that anchor. Tune into that rock that keeps you feeling grounded from within and you may realise that while you go past life in a blur, there is so much more to soak in, and be grateful for. Your heart feels full, your plate feels abundant and your home feels vibrant, with just this tiny little shift. And then you realise what you want to really fight or die for.

Cosmic tip: Honour yourself and your commitments as truthfully as you can.

Focus on your own powers, Capricorn—your own strengths, your own skills and your own views on everything. The more your gaze moves outward, the more you feel scattered. Make your  moves, but inward—towards your ideas, your inspirations, your willpower and what you see as lined up ahead for you. A new person or a new you is entering your life, and your unwavering vision and foresight is what draws things your way in an expedited manner.

Cosmic tip: Embrace new opportunities now, as things are looking up for you.

The most important quality that we all could do with is to “go easy” not only on others but also on ourselves. Share that extra dollar, help how much ever you can, stop counting your food and begin respecting your body. Aquarius, fortunes change overnight, and often the quality of life experienced with this transition is not based on how much gold you accumulate, but how much emotional and intangible wealth you build along the way. So while you are at the task, remember to also make the journey a wonderful ride. Life is short, it doesn’t have to be difficult.

Cosmic tip: Share freely of what you have, the cosmos has your back.

You are cosmically charged and aligned, Pisces. Your intuition and senses are speaking loud and clear. Your ideas are in confluence with your higher self. You are deciding to come together with people and build teams or relationships. Maybe on a personal level, you want to bury a hatchet for good and work towards a better present and future. Sure, effort will be needed from your end in the near future, but you will rise and shine brilliantly well.

Cosmic tip: Get ready to enjoy the beautiful orchard you have sown and grown.

Until May this year, Banu Mushtaq’s days were filled with the sound of clacking laptop keys as she locked in to complete her daily quota of writing, the rustle of a turning page from the book on her nightstand, the scratch of a pencil moving over her notes. But since winning the International Booker Prize for Heart Lamp, a collection of short stories she wrote in Kannada between 1990 and 2023, her most common sights are cacophonous airports and book festivals, suitcases half-zipped by her bed, dozens of emails and a phone that won’t stop buzzing. Amidst it all, the one thing Mushtaq now finds slipping through her fingers is the very thing that rooted her in the first place: the slow, solitary act of writing.

When we meet at the Metaphor Lucknow Litfest, a free-for-all celebration of literature held in the heart of Hazratganj at Le Press, the 77-year-old author is reinvigorated from soaking up the city’s quiet lanes and historic monuments. “Yes, my life has totally changed since winning the Booker Prize,” she admits, explaining that where her days were once grounded in quiet legal work, activism and writing, they are now dominated by media attention, festival invitations and constant travel. “I’ve become accustomed to being on the move—airports, litfest stages, cities blurring into one another—but it’s left me with so little time to write, or even to think uninterrupted.”

Even the small details of Mushtaq’s daily life have shifted now. Things she once took for granted, like long chats with relatives over tea, calls with friends and relaxed mornings at home, have become rare moments tucked between commute, events and literary appearances. Thankfully, her writer’s mind is capable of finding inspiration on the go. “Wherever I travel, I note the history, the people and the experiences…and the reactions I get,” she says. “I file them away for use at a later stage.”

Mushtaq understands that this enforced writing hiatus is important, not just for her, but for the voices and the stories she represents. “It is a great occasion to celebrate,” she says, noting how historic it is for a South Indian language to have been recognised at the Booker level. For many writers, this recognition has brought voices long unheard out of oblivion. Perhaps it’s why literary figures from other Indian languages, including Malayalam and Telugu, joined in celebrating Mushtaq’s victory with such enthusiasm.

Before her Booker win, Mushtaq was deeply immersed in writing her autobiography, a project she’s eager to return to. “I need to complete it, the publisher is worried,” she laughs wryly, a reminder that even big wins bring a new set of expectations. She’s already recorded much of her early life up to her marriage, but the chapters on her activism and struggles remain unwritten. The author says those parts need careful reflection and uninterrupted time, something that’s been hard to find amid constant engagements.

Learning how to use toner pads the right way can be a game changer for your skincare routine. They’re convenient, effective and genuinely satisfying to swipe over your skin. But before you go nuts with the first toner pads you find on Amazon, it’s worth doing your homework.

A toner pad isn’t just intended to catch the residue and makeup your cleanser leaves behind. Depending on the formula, they can also hydrate, exfoliate, boost brightness, minimise the appearance of pores…the list goes on. “For many people, a toner pad can be a valuable addition that enhances overall skin clarity, smoothness and glow,” says Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, founder of Skincare Junkie. But without the right considerations, irritation might interrupt your glow.

Ahead, we asked dermatologists to share everything you need to know to get the most out of your toner pads.

What do toner pads do for your skin?

Toners (lightweight, fast-absorbing skin care solutions typically used between cleansing and moisturising) “can help rebalance the skin’s pH, sweep away residual impurities, provide gentle exfoliation and replenish hydration,” Dr. Murphy-Rose says. “A toner pad is a pre-soaked pad that delivers these benefits in a convenient, controlled application.”

In the skincare world, toners and toner pads have come a long way recently. “While older toners were often drying and astringent, today’s formulations are more sophisticated and pH-balanced, often formulated with hydrators, exfoliators, antioxidants and/or barrier-supportive ingredients,” Dr. Murphy-Rose says. Single-use toner pads can add an extra element of exfoliation and lots of current formulas include active ingredients that target dullness, breakouts and hyperpigmentation.

How to choose a toner pad for your skin type

Since there are so many different toner pads on the market, it’s important to choose yours carefully based on your skin type and skincare goals.

Dry or sensitive skin

“Look for humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and aloe along with gentle exfoliants such as PHAs (like gluconolactone),” Dr. Murphy-Rose says. “These ingredients hydrate, soften and smooth while being far less irritating than traditional acids.” Most hydrating toner pads can be used daily, but “Tailor your frequency to your skin’s tolerance”, Divya Shokeen, MD, FAAD says.

Madagascar Centella Quick Calming Pad

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads

Acne-prone or oily skin

If you’re hoping to reduce oiliness, treat acne or improve dull or uneven texture, Dr. Shokeen recommends a gently exfoliating toner pad that includes salicylic acid. These should be used less frequently; she recommends two to three times per week. “Salicylic acid (BHA) is key for decongesting pores and preventing breakouts” Dr. Murphy-Rose explains. “Choose fragrance-free, alcohol-free, pH-balanced formulas to minimise irritation and keep the barrier intact.”

Anua Heartleaf 77 Clear Pad

The Face Shop Tea Tree Korean Toner Pads

If you regularly deal with eczema, rosacea, very dry skin, or barrier damage, Dr. Shokeen advises using toner pads with extra caution, or skipping them altogether. The added friction from the pads can irritate these conditions, but don’t worry; “Most benefits can be achieved more effectively with serums or liquid toner,” she says.

How to use a toner pad in your skincare routine, step-by-step

Step 1: Cleanser

A toner pad might seem similar in concept to a makeup wipe, but you’ll want wash your face as usual before using this product. “Apply toner pads immediately after cleansing and before your serums and moisturiser,” Dr. Murphy-Rose says. “This helps remove any lingering impurities.”

Step 2: Toner pad

Both experts say to use gentle, sweeping motions and to avoid scrubbing when using a toner pad. “I recommend starting with the oiliest areas like the T-zone, which includes the forehead, nose, and chin and then gliding outward across the cheeks, jawline and chin using light, even pressure,” Dr. Murphy-Rose says.

For the bride, who had always envisioned having a fairytale-esque wedding, it seemed fitting that they choose a destination that exuded palatial charm and opulence. After recceing properties across Udaipur, Istanbul, Paris, Rome and Monaco, none caught their fancy, unlike a wedding in Vienna. “Our guests could wander through galleries of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, arrive at celebrations in traditional horse-drawn carriages and dine beneath centuries-old frescoes,” Rughani shares. It came with its fair share of challenges, such as hosting the wedding ceremony in the premises of the Belvedere Palace, a historic complex in the heart of the city that required prior approval from the Austrian government, as well as the sangeet evening at Palais Liechtenstein, built by the princely family of Liechtenstein nearly 300 years ago.

The couple roped in Aditya Motwane of Motwane Entertainment & Weddings to execute their dream wedding in Vienna, with a mood board that featured clean, neutral palettes layered with lots of florals and glossy white textures, among other whimsical elements. “We wanted the setting to be the masterpiece with grand palaces and Baroque-style architecture commanding attention,” they add. This included taking over the historic Park Hyatt Vienna hotel as the base for the celebrations.

As guests flew in from around the world, they were greeted with eclectic mithai hampers from Bombay Sweet Shop, along with being treated to champagne breakfasts, live cooking stations curated by Foodlink Luxury Catering, personalised room service menus and even sitar performances in the lobby of the hotel. Even the wedding invitations were designed as objets d’art featuring lacquered wooden boxes (that served as keepsake jewellery boxes), a gold-plated bookend, and a compendium of sketches of the couple’s couture ensembles, nuggets of history behind the palace venues, as well as messages from a Michelin-star chef that had been roped in to design the wedding reception menus. “We wanted each of our guests to feel immersed in our world. Even soft touches such as personalised napkins and tables named after our favourite hotels—Amanzoe, Cheval Blanc Randheli, and Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc—were an ode to memorable travels together,” Rughani adds.

The wedding weekend unfolded as a well-orchestrated extravaganza, starting with a haldi lunch, a ceremonial swagat and a havan puja in front of the Liechtenstein

Palace, followed by the sangeet the same evening, which replicated a whimsical European-style garden laced with florals and old-world charm, and a theme centred around Vienna-meets-India. Think Bridgerton-inspired performers mingling with the crowds, a large Marie Antoinette-style chariot that was the centre of attention, colourful Indian textiles and glossy swings. The couple recalls a gesture of privilege when the royal family allowed guests to partake in private curator-led tours of the galleries during the sangeet, which included viewing the Badminton Cabinet, considered one of the most valuable pieces of furniture in the world. “An experience rarely, if ever, accessible to the public,” says Rughani. A boudoir-inspired after-party concluded the night.

Cosmic tip: Nurture yourself and others.

When you make serenity a priority, you not only reshuffle your life but also activate your nervous system differently. Sagittarius, try a different outlook on what you have been running after for all this while. If you have been chasing love—honestly answer what has kept you from it (without self-deprecating yourself). If you have been chasing money—honestly answer why it has felt tough to get a grip on it. Now, if that is tough—look at what you have going for you in life and step away to notice how it automatically doesn’t wreck your nervous system. Do the same work on what you desire—make it your basic requirement.

Cosmic tip: Regulate first, then pursue. What feels calm will last longer.

Something old is leaving your life and something new is entering it. And while this may feel like an extremely rundown message, Capricorn, this time round it comes with depth. You are transforming at your cellular level—how you eat, think, sleep, perceive life and so much more. Sure this inbetween phase may feel tougher than you imagined it to be, but trust the cosmos darling, you are in for a grand surprise that will need you to move quick—donning your creative hat.

Cosmic tip: A cycle of debt is complete for you—karmically, financially, energetically or in any other manner.

You need a plan and you need to be able to stick to it to get to the next chapter in your life, Aquarius. This is a time for positive changes and while these may feel overwhelming for you, a lot more is ongoing beneath it all. Your willpower, focus, determination are all being noticed by the cosmos. Soon you will be in the lead. Until then, just get your focus onto getting on a clearer track.

Cosmic tip: Objective and detached assessment will lead you to valuable insights that hold the power to transform where you are.

Your hard work is finally paying off, Pisces. Good news is on its way and so is the recognition you’ve so yearned for. Now as you step up to make this grow and expand in various ways, realise that you need not always be in the forefront to excel in your work. It is the conductor that makes the orchestra outstanding, not just the lead musician. And this is precisely what is being asked of you right now.

Cosmic tip: Stand up, show up and lead the way in your own unique style.

Alia Bhatt’s appearance in an archival Hervé Léger dress for the Filmfare Awards draws attention to a silhouette that once defined red-carpet dressing in the early ’90s. Styled by Rhea Kapoor, Bhatt wore a black halter-neck gown from the house’s Fall/Winter 1993 collection, part of the era when Hervé Léger’s bandage construction became a red carpet favourite, embedded in fashion culture.

The dress follows a now-familiar structure from that era: a close-fitting column that traces the body from neckline to hem, paired with a halter cut that exposes the shoulders and upper back. The fabric’s engineered stretch creates a smooth, uninterrupted surface, while the scalloped neckline introduces a subtle architectural detail. A high slit breaks the line just enough to bring in movement.

Cindy Crawford, in Hervé Léger, with Richard Gere during 65th Annual Academy Awards, 1993

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

Claudia ‘Clau’ Robles-Gil and Prakhar Gupta met in October 2021, introduced by mutual friends. Both had just arrived back in New York, carrying the aftershocks of the pandemic and the feeling of starting something new. “There was an instant connection and familiarity between us,” says Robles-Gil. “We fell in love early and hard.”

Those first weeks were marked by intensity and care. Robles-Gil was grieving her grandmother, who had passed away due to COVID-19, when they met, and Gupta arrived with a steadiness she needed. “Prakhar met me exactly where I needed him,” she remembers. Soon after, their separately planned Thanksgiving trips unexpectedly aligned in Tulum. Robles-Gil nudged him to join. He did. “At the end of that November trip, only weeks after first meeting, we knew this was special.”

After spending the holidays apart, Gupta in India and Robles-Gil in Mexico, they returned to each other with certainty. “We came back to each other with sure hearts and have been building our life together ever since.”

Marriage arrived not as a grand question, but as an agreement already made. “We knew before the one-year mark that this was the endgame for us.” A traditional proposal never quite fit. During Robles-Gil’s final months in New York, Gupta simply brought her a ring. “A proposal felt more like a formality than a question,” she says. An engagement celebration followed at his family home in February. Months later, at the Anjunadeep Explorations festival in Albania, seated on beanbags by the ocean during a concert, Gupta proposed again. It wasn’t planned, but it was private, tender and theirs alone.

From there, the wedding began to take shape not as a story they wanted to tell together.

Robles-Gil is an artist from Mexico City whose work is rooted in identity, memory and belonging. Gupta runs PGX, a long-form conversation project where he sits with scientists, technologists, artists and thinkers shaping what’s next. That shared instinct for meaning would come to guide the days ahead.

Robles-Gil had felt drawn to Thailand for years. When they finally visited earlier this year, the decision landed immediately. “The moment we stepped onto the JW Marriott Phuket lawn, with the palms and the ocean opening up in front of us, I knew immediately this was the place.” Phuket allowed them to keep the celebration intimate while giving friends from India and abroad a reason to travel. Just as importantly, it placed the wedding by the ocean, a landscape both feel deeply connected to.

While the mother-son duo firmly stands by their belief that one must “either be a jeweller or trust a jeweller,” they are happy to share the knowledge on how jewellery enthusiasts can set out building a great gemstone collection. The first thing to remember, they say, is that any iconic collection is not amassed overnight. It’s curated with patience, research and, most importantly, emotion. As the Shekhawats put it, “People who try to save a few rupees often end up paying more.”

Start with intent

Do you want to buy the stone to wear as part of your everyday jewellery? Or are you looking for an investment-grade asset? These are some of the questions that Sunita Shekhawat wants you to ask yourself before you approach your nearest jewellery store. “There are simulants in gemology. For example, a light blue, it can be aquamarine, which is expensive. It can be a blue topaz, which is not even 1/10th of the cost of aquamarine. The same goes for blue sapphire, tanzanite and blue topaz. So for someone whose priority is the colour, not the price, they can pick a gem based on appearance. But for someone who’s heavily into investment, of course, we should always start with the four main stones: ruby, emerald, sapphire and diamonds. These are the anchors of any good collection.”

Learn what makes your gemstones beautiful

Both Sunita and Digvijay place great importance on educating oneself about the science, or at least the basics, of the gems in a collection. Sunita emphasises clarity about hardness, wearability and structure. Knowing how your preferred gemstones perform on the Mohs Hardness Scale, a ranking to determine the stone’s scratch resistance, can make a world of difference when it comes to getting your jewellery designed. “For instance, emerald has limitations because its hardness is 7. Ruby’s hardness is 9 on the scale. You can’t cut an emerald to a custom shape but you can do that with rubies.” These distinctions matter, says Digvijay, as softer stones require more care and influence how they can be cut or set.

Build a balanced collection

Like all good things, your gemstone collection also needs balance. After you’ve acquired the four anchor gemstones, Digvijay suggests moving on to more “fun stones” like kunzite, tourmalines, citrine or amethyst. “Because they’re abundant, you can also experiment in terms of cuts, polish or facets in consultation with a skilled lapidary.” However, Sunita cautions that not all precious stones should be early purchases, instead suggesting restraint with high-stakes gems, such as the much rarer and more expensive Paraiba tourmalines. “I would not recommend purchasing it in the initial phases of building your collection. These acquisitions demand deeper research, higher risk tolerance and strong reason.”

Insist on provenance and sensible substitution

It goes without saying that gemstones are expensive. If you’re planning on splurging, then it’s best to do it with a trusted jeweller with experience. “If you’re looking for, say, a ruby, then you should always, always look for a certificate from a renowned lab,” says Digvijay. “Origin can also multiply value. If a ruby is from Mozambique and a similar quality ruby is from Burma, then that Burmese ruby will be two or three times more expensive than the Mozambique ruby because that origin is coveted. Documentation protects you when the price per carat becomes significant.” Equally, for style-first buyers, an experienced jeweller can offer honest substitutions that deliver identical colour impact at very different price points.

Breathe new life into old favourites

The best part about any jewellery collection is the story attached to the pieces that make them infinitely more valuable. Gemstone heirlooms, says Sunita, are particularly amenable to being redesigned. “A ring can be converted easily into a pendant. A pendant can easily be worn as a pocket pin,” says Sunita, “That’s the flexibility with gemstones. They can be combined with different metals or even enamel for a new look.”

Also read:

When it comes to wedding jewellery, why should women have all the fun?

Why is enamel jewellery having a moment?

I swore by minimalism until maximalist jewellery changed my mind

If you want to maintain a sun-kissed glow on your face year-round, knowing how to use bronzing drops comes in handy. It’s a quick step that fits into your morning skincare routine and can easily transform your whole makeup look.

Part of the allure of bronzing drops is how simple they are to use (in concept, at least.) But if you’ve ever noticed uneven coverage or streaks after applying yours, you’re not alone. And while they might blend in more seamlessly with your summer complexion, bronzing drops can be less forgiving on paler winter skin. But with the right prep and application techniques, you can get the most out of your bronzing drops during any season.

Ahead, we asked pro makeup artists to share their best tips for applying bronzing drops, from prepping your skin to common mistakes to avoid.

What are bronzing drops?

Are bronzing drops technically makeup or skincare? “Bronzing drops are actually a bit of both,” says professional makeup artist Tiesha Williams. “They’re similar to tinted moisturisers, acting as a sheer-to-medium coverage product that also delivers hydration to the skin.”

Bronzing drops are usually more concentrated than liquid bronzer or skin tints, which means you won’t want to slather them directly onto your skin. They’re meant to be mixed with another product; typically, either moisturiser or foundation, depending on your preference. The goal is to add an even layer of warmth (and sometimes a subtle shimmer) to your face, which adds a base glow to the rest of your makeup.

e.l.f. Cosmetics Bronzing Drops

Makeup Revolution Bright Light Bronzing Drops

How to apply bronzing drops, step by step

Step 1: Prep your skin

“Start with clean and moisturised skin and apply any serums as usual,” says Jamie Greenberg, celebrity makeup artist and founder of JamieMakeup. If you’re planning to use a foundation or skin tint (or if you have dry skin), apply a layer of moisturiser first and let it soak in before starting your makeup.

Farmacy Honey Halo Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

Step 2: Mix bronzing drops

Start by dropping one to three drops of your bronzing product onto the back of your hand. For a lower-coverage look that adds warmth to your natural skin, add in a pea-size amount of moisturiser or primer. “Take a medium-size duo fibre bronzer brush and mix the products on the back of the hand,” Williams says. If you prefer more coverage in your base, use the same method to mix your drops with your true-match foundation instead.

Step 3: Apply bronzing drops and blend

Use your brush to transfer the product onto your face, starting where the sun would naturally place your tan (forehead, bridge of your nose, cheeks and chin). Use soft, outward sweeping or circular motions to blend until your face is evenly covered. “Next, take a clean blending sponge, free of any product and gently press the bronzer into the skin until it looks melted into the skin,” Williams says.

If you want to build more definition or warmth in certain areas, you can try lightly dotting drops where you’d typically place your bronzer. “Blend with fingers until seamless and build slowly,” Greenberg says. “The more drops, the deeper the colour.”

Step 4: Set the colour

To lock in your bronzer drops (and to avoid product loss if you’ll be applying blush, concealer and other makeup on top), Williams recommends misting a long-lasting, hydrating setting spray over your base before moving on with your routine.

Kylie Cosmetics Setting Spray

FENTY BEAUTY You Mist Makeup-Extending Setting Spray

How to choose a shade of bronzing drops

Well-matched bronzing drops can look super natural, but the wrong shade might remind you of more questionable early-aughts spray tans. “Pick a shade that’s one to two shades darker than your natural skin tone and avoid anything too orange,” Greenberg says. “Neutral or slightly warm tones give the most natural sun-kissed look.”