Today we are talking about face washes and I have put together a list of the best face washes in India currently, all under Rs.500/-
With so many face washes in the market, it becomes difficult to choose one as per our needs, I hope this list helps you.
A good face wash will gently cleanse without abrupting your skin’s natural oils and skin barrier, it should be suitable for your skin type, should not have harsh ingredients and should not leave your skin squeaky clean or stretchy.
Also only cleanse your face twice a day, over-cleansing can strip all the necessary moisture and oils from the skin and disrupt your skin’s oil and pH balance.
It is fortified with unique components like Earth Marine Water, Vanilla Oil, Tejpatra Oil that aids to provide nutrient-rich balanced hydration to the skin. It accelerates the skin-cell turnover process and helps the skin achieve a radiant and illuminated appearance. This face wash also combats free radicals that attack healthy skin cells while leaving skin clarified, supple, and healthy. It does not strip the skin of all hydration unlike some foaming face washes and leaves it soft, bouncy, and moisturized. It also minimizes the appearance of pores. Infusion of Earth Marine Water works to add minerals & vitamins into the skin and nourishes the skin. Suitable for all skin types
This is an oil-free, alcohol-free cleanser that removes dead skin cells and has a tiny amount of BHA which exfoliates the skin and deep cleans the pores. It is non-comedogenic and leaves skin clean, soft, and fresh. This face wash is perfect for normal to oily skin.
Price: Rs.299/- for 150ml
3. Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Face Wash
It has neem and turmeric extracts and is anti-microbial and anti-bacterial. This will be perfect for oily, acne-prone skin and even sensitive skin. It is very gentle on the skin and doesn’t strip all the moisture from the face. It also comes in small, tiny tubes which are travel-friendly.
Price: Rs.155/- for 150ml
4. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
This face wash is very mild, gentle, and is soap-free, it’s a non-drying formula and perfect for dry and sensitive skin. It is clinically tested hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic and works for even very sensitive and irritated skin. It does not strip the skin of its natural oils and cleanses gently. This face wash is free of artificial fragrance and can be used both on the face and body.
Price: Rs.280/- for 125ml
5. Plum Green Tea Pore Cleansing Wash
This face wash will work for normal to oily skin. It has glycolic acid and soft cellulose beads that gently exfoliate skin and brighten the skin. It is parabens, phthalates, and SLS free. Gentle and soap-free, it is also rich in antioxidant green tea that will combat acne. It helps excess oil and cleanses the pores, preventing blockage of pores.
Price: Rs.349/- for 75ml
6. Jovees Papaya Face Wash
It is enriched with papaya fruit enzymes and gently exfoliates dead skin cells and dry, flaky skin. It also has mulberry and cranberry extracts which brighten the skin, it is paraben and alcohol free.
Price: Rs.185 for 120ml
7. St.Botanica Vitamin C Face Wash
Kashmiri saffron, lemon, neem, and turmeric extracts in this face wash gently purify the skin and help with pigmentation. It is free from parabens, silicones, mineral oil, and sulfates and suitable for all skin types.
Price: Rs.399/- for 100ml
Few tips to keep in mind while washing your face:
Always clean your hands first before touching your skin
Use a small coin-sized amount of face wash, not too much nor too less
Don’t use too hot or too cold water
Be very gentle on the skin and don’t rub vigorously
Gently pat your skin dry with a towel instead of rubbing it on your skin
You can apply your serum/moisturizer when the skin is a little damp, as it helps in better absorption
So these were some of my tips for facial cleansing and some of my favourite face washes under Rs.500/- Have you tried any of these? Let me know your favourite face wash.
Don’t we all love a good pampering session every now and then? I love masking, especially on weekends while the weather is changing outdoors. Currently I am loving this new launch by Dermafique, which is their range of Bio Cellulose Face Masques. Why, you ask? Because it’s a perfect burst of hydration for the dry and dehydrated skin when the weather is changing and the skin definitely needs that added moisture burst.
Why is the Dermafique Bio Cellulose Masque better than the regular Tissue based sheet masks?
The Dermafique Bio Cellulose Masque delivers superior hydration and efficacy, as compared to other masks. The range is made of biodegradable Bio Cellulose fibers, and are Made of 100% Natural Coconut Water. Bio Cellulose fibers have great absorbency and penetration. They don’t dry out on the skin. Ordinary tissue masks don’t adhere very well on the face and tend to fall off or slip and even tear off at places when trying to adjust. Bio Cellulose Masks are thicker comparatively, never tear off, and adhere to the skin perfectly and do not fall off or slide!
Dermafique Bio Cellulose Masques are derived from 100% Natural Coconut Water, they use patented technology and are dermatologically tested on Indian Skin as well!
Dermafique has launched 3 Bio Cellulose Face Masques,
Charcoal – For Anti Pollution
Pore Tightening – For tightening pores and providing hydration
Tone Perfecting – To reduce uneven skin tone
The Dermafique Bio Cellulose Charcoal Face Masque offers deep pore cleansing which helps unclog pores and removes dead skin, leaving it cleaner, brighter and healthier. Charcoal sucks out the toxins and pollutants from the skin and the hydrating ingredients like glycerin, honey, green tea, etc. give that added moisture boost to the skin.
The Dermafique Bio Cellulose Pore Tightening Masque tightens skin pores and provides deep hydration to the skin. It detoxifies and purifies skin, making it look smoother, softer and firmer. The second ingredient here is Niacinamide which helps in reducing the appearance of pores, controlling the sebum/oil production and calming irritated/inflammed skin.
The Dermafique Bio Cellulose Tone Perfecting Masque leaves skin appearing more even toned. It improves skin complexion by reducing the appearance of blemishes and dark spots, making it look more youthful and radiant. The second ingredient here again is Niacinamide, and additionally it has Aloe Vera, Glycerin, Chamomile and Grapefruit extracts as primary ingredients that help nourish and hydrate the skin and add that needed moisture back to the skin making it soft and plump.
They are priced at Rs.299/- each and are meant for all skin types.
How to use:
Open the pack and unfold the masque, discard the non-woven film and place the mask on the face, remove the white plastic film and adjust the mask. Keep it for 30 minutes and then take off, gently massage/pat your skin or wash with water, if required.
My experience:
Dermafique Bio Cellulose Masque is definitely one of the best masks I have used. It fit the contours of my face perfectly and did not slide off even once. There was absolutely no issue in using it, no messiness or serum dripping everywhere as the masque holds the serum well.
I used the Tone Perfecting Masque and my skin felt soft, plump and hydrated immediately. Also there was no stickiness after removing the mask and the serum got absorbed into the skin. The masque was cooling and refreshing, and for summers if you store it in a refrigerator, it will be all the more refreshing. It’s perfect for a chilled weekend at home, where you do nothing and still get a facial like glow in 30 minutes.
Overall, I am pretty happy with the Tone Perfecting Masque and how my skin looked after. I would highly recommend the Dermafique Bio Cellulose Face Masques. You can buy them HERE
I visited Kerala last year and it was one of my most special travel trips, it’s a place I can never forget. Although I had only 6 days and I divided it between Munnar and Varkala, there is so much more I wanted to see and experience and would definitely be going back again soon!
Munnar
Kerala, popularly known as God’s Own Country had evolved a way of life that is distinct from the rest of the country – a way of life that expresses a fascinating interplay of nature and humanity across the most diverse terrains one could imagine – all in a tiny green land. Here every human act is a way of connecting with everything in nature around them. Whether it’s the vast stretch of tea estates or taking a shower in the river with the elephants or spending a night in a house boat in the beautiful back waters, you would be one with nature everywhere in Kerala.
If you have been to Kerala, I am sure you will vouch for the amazing people of Kerala. They are so friendly, warm and helpful, they will go out of their way to help you. Different religions, different ideologies, different cultures or different food habits, they still mesh together and co-habit peacefully. And not only just humans, they co-habit with the nature and animals as well.
Humanity interconnected with nature is a way of life in Kerala that also drew from its history of trade and seafaring that led to it being a melting pot where the most diverse ideologies, faiths and cultures co-existed like no other place.
This video, Human By Nature, is drawn from real stories of the land. It is an ode to the people of Kerala whose everyday lives are, in a way, epic in scale. It emerged from continual conversations with travellers to Kerala, who over the years spoke of a fascinating human’scape’, beyond the stunning landscapes.
The vast, beautiful, lush green tea gardens at Munnar or the stunning sunsets at the beaches of Varkala, I just couldn’t have enough of Kerala and I wished to stay longer.
Varkala Beach
The food of Kerala is equally amazing, although I am a vegetarian there were so many new dishes to try. I tried Ela Ada, Idiyappam, Puttu, so many things for the first time in Kerala and absolutely loved them. I love to try and experience the local food, local culture whenever I am travelling and Kerala did not disappoint in the food aspect as well.
The culture of Kerala is a fusion of Aryan and Dravidian cultures, advanced and mixed for centuries, under inspirations from other parts of India and abroad. It is well-defined by its antiquity, relic and the organic continuity sustained by the Malayali people. Any time you visit Kerala, most likely there will be at least one local festival you can experience. Kerala trace its non-prehistoric cultural genesis to its membership (around the AD 3rd century) in a vaguely defined historical region known as Thamizhagom — a land defined by a common Tamil culture and encompassing the Chera, Chola, and Pandya kingdoms. Kerala has an opulent cultural heritage with its diverse ethos is influenced by three main religions of Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Exquisite sculptures, music and dance forms can be seen in the historic growth of Kerala’s cultural traditions. Trissur Pooram, The traditions of Kathakali and Mohiniattam are highly developed art forms that have established from their folk origins into highly evolved classical dance forms.
Varkala Beach
We also got to watch the traditional martial art form of Kerala, Kalaripayattu and it was mind blowing. Kathakali show was also on my list but the timings didn’t match unfortunately. But I have so much more to experience in Kerala, that I am definitely going back. Alleppey, Wayanad, Kumarakom, so many places, honestly you need 15-20 days to experience Kerala.
Munnar
From the wildlife, to the nature, the mountains, the beaches, the people, Kerala is so warm and lovely and one of those places you can never forget once you visit and would want to revisit again and again.
See my previous post on Kerala HERE for more places to visit and things to do in Kerala.
Have you been to Kerala? Which is your favourite place? If not, which place is on your wishlist? Let me know your experience in the comments below.
My Current Favourite Skin Care Products Step by Step
Hi guys,
So I did this skin care series on my Instagram, and if you follow me on Instagram you would know I am obsessed with skin care. I thought of sharing the same here on my blog as well.
I absolutely love skin care and I feel good skin is the base for any makeup look, you don’t need super heavy coverage foundations and concealers if you have good skin, the layers will only end up making your base look heavy and cakey. A major % of how your skin behaves depends on genetics and diet. You can only control the diet part of course and regular skin care with good diet can solve a lot of your skin concerns.
I have been super regular with my skin care since more than a year now and have noticed a huge difference in my pores, lines, texture, pigmentation around the mouth, etc. I do have a detailed skin care routine video on my channel, but the products keep on changing as I experiment and review new brands and as per how my skin is feeling, the order is the same though (Watch HERE)
Step 1: Double Cleanse
Starting with Step 1 which is Double Cleanse, as the name suggests it means cleansing twice. First cleanse with an oil/balm especially if you are wearing makeup/sunscreen. Oil or balm will melt all the makeup/dirt/grime from the pores. You need to massage the oil or balm well for 30-40 seconds and then emulsify it with water for 10-15 seconds. Then follow with the second cleanse, which will be a gentle foaming cleanser. It will wash off all the excess oil/dirt left, if any. You can also use a reusable cloth wipe to remove the makeup after first cleanse, only water also works for me.
I haven’t bought makeup wipes in years and would not recommend them at all, they are very harsh on the skin + not bio degradable. I do have a few bio degradable ones which I use, only when I am travelling.
Coming to micellar water, you can use it as a first cleanse but you absolutely need to do the second cleanse with it unlike the ‘no rinse’ marketing claim. Micellar water is made of small micelles which leave a surface residue on the skin. I am not a fan of micellar waters because oils/balms do the best job in removing makeup for me, plus some micellar waters sting my sensitive eyes.
Products shown:
1. Isadora Cleansing Oil
2. Pixi Beauty Hydrating Makeup Remover with coconut & probiotics
3. Heimish All Clean Balm
4. Pixi Double Cleanse Balm
5. Clinique Take The Day Off
6. Pond’s Cleansing Balm
7. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
8. Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash (soap free)
9. Suganda Centella Green Tea Face Wash
10. Forest Essentials Kashmiri Saffron & Neem Delicate Facial Cleanser
11. Kama Ayurveda Sensitive Skin Cleansing Foam with Sandalwood & Aloe Vera
Step 2 is Tone/Treat, it’s CTTM now in place of CTM. Treat is a very essential step in skincare and all your actives, serums, essence are a part of Treat.
Toners and Serums can be exfoliating or hydrating. If you use an exfoliating toner, go for a hydrating/calming serum and vice versa. You can also use both hydrating (if you have exfoliation in your cleanser/moisturizer) but don’t use both exfoliating because we don’t want to sensitize our skin. I like actives (Vit C, Chemical Exfoliants, etc.) in the form of toners and serums. Things you should add in your skincare routine, if you haven’t already:
Vitamin C AHA/BHA Niacinamide (optional)
Vit C (Ascorbic Acid) increases production of collagen, reduces hyper pigmentation and evens out skin tone, brightens skin and protects against pollution and sun damage.
Best used in serum form (10-20%) Start with 10%, when used in the mornings before sunscreen, boosts the protection from sun damage.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids i.e. Glycolic, Lactic, Mandelic, etc are water soluble and work on surface layer of skin, works better for dry/dull skin. Beta Hydroxy Acids i.e. Salicylic Acid is oil soluble and goes deep into the pores to unclog the pores and hence works well for oily, acne prone skin.
Both AHA/BHA unglue the bond holding dead skin on the surface and exfoliate the skin. Also help improve the texture, bumps, minimize the appearance of pores and uneven skin tone, etc. But you need to be regular to see results.
If you are a beginner at chemical exfoliation, start with Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic which has 5% Glycolic Acid and is gentle enough for everyday use as well.
Suganda AHA/BHA serums are also very gentle for beginners as they are balanced with Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) and Green Tea. Paula’s Choice 8% AHA gel works well for dry skin and 2% BHA liquid exfoliant for oily/acne prone skin or those with enlarged pores. Dr.Sheths Gulab Glycolic Toner is also very, very gentle for daily use. (You can use my coupon code ‘BHUMIKA’ to get 20% off on Dr.Sheths products)
Niacinamide (Vit B3) helps in reducing inflammation, redness, regulates oil production & minimizes the appearance of pores. Works best with Zinc, in serum form. (5-20%, can start with 5-10%) You can add it at a later stage.
Step 3 is Repair/ Hydrate which will again have serums and essences, now if you have used an active serum/toner, you can use an hydrating essence to balance and calm. This will include mostly calming, repairing and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, cica, honey, propolis, ceramides, etc. Some repairing serums/essences may have little actives, so on some days you can skip actives all together and just use this.
The Paula’s Choice Azelaic Acid and the Olay Retinol24 Serum fall under actives but I use them on non active days or just with Niacinamide (not with AHA or BHA) and they have a cream gel and a serum like consistency + some hydrating ingredients.
Products shown:
Secret Key Multi Cell Night Repair
May Coop Raw Sauce
Guerlain Abeille Royale
Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic Serum Dr.Sheths Cica & Ceramide Repair Serum
Nacific Fresh Herb Origin Serum
Step 4 Moisturize
Now you generally wouldn’t go wrong with a Moisturizer, it’s a pretty basic skincare product and most brands make a good one. The only rule you need to remember is keep it simple, less ingredients, and no fragrance if possible.
Moisturizer should have occlusives, humectants and emollients.
Occlusives (petrolatum and other oily substances) hold the water in. Humectants (glycerine, honey, panthenol, etc.) pull water both from the air and from deeper layers of skin. Hence occlusives and humectants are used together, to trap the moisture in, and to not let it pull from the skin. Emollients like some fatty alcohols fill the dry, flaky skin with fatty substances, called lipids, which make your skin smoother and softer.
Other ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamins, etc. are added benefits.
Now you can use the same Moisturizer day and night if you like, but I would say use a night cream with a slightly heavy texture or a sleeping mask, which will help repair the skin. Also since most people now sleep in an air conditioned room, the added moisture and sealing helps.
Apart from these, I also really love Suganda White Lotus Moisturizer in summers and the Rosehip Moisturizer in winters.
Step 5 for daytime and the most important is Sunscreen.
You may spend thousands on skin treatments and expensive skin care products, but even few minutes of direct sun exposure without sunscreen can negate all the effects.
UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer and lead to premature aging, wrinkles and sun spots.
UVA (Aging) rays can cause tanning and aging and UVB (Burning) rays can cause burning, your sunscreen should be broad spectrum meaning protect against both rays.
Chemical exfoliation and actives make your skin photosensitive, so you cannot skip your sunscreen at all.
Sunscreen can be physical (with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, etc.) Or chemical (with avobenzone, octisalate, oxybenzone, etc.) Earlier, physical sunscreens used to leave a strong, white cast but now you most physical sunscreens use nano technology and the nano particles blend in better. Physical ingredients block the UV rays and chemical absorb and scatter. I like a mix of both in my sunscreens, but if you are allergic to any chemical ingredient, make sure you check the ingredients before you buy.
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) denotes the time your skin can be protected from UVB rays i.e.burning. If your skin would normally burn after 10 minutes in the sun, applying an SPF 15 sunscreen would allow you to stay in the sun without burning for approximately 150 minutes.
You can use SPF 30 or 50, but the key is reapplication every two hours!
PA denotes protection from UVA rays and PA+++ is the best and highest level (some countries have researched and included PA++++ in certain products)
So SPF 30 PA+++ should be good enough, but make sure you reapply. You can reapply in spray or powder form if you have makeup on through the day. Also you need one teaspoon qty for face and one shot glass qty for entire body in one application (especially the exposed skin)
Products shown:
1. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ PA+++
2. Brinton UV Doux Silicone Sunscreen Gel SPF50 PA+++
3. Biotique Bio Aloe Vera SPF30 (good for indoors or entire body)
4. Skin & Lab FreC Sun Lotion SPF 50+ PA+++ (with Vit C)
5. Organic Harvest SPF 60 PA+++
6. Avene Very High Protection Emulsion SPF
Weekly Treatments
Apart from my daily skincare routine, I also use some masks and additional exfoliation products once a week or once in 10-11 days.
You can increase Retinol to once in 2-3 days once your skin is past the ‘Retinization’ phase, I am using it once a week currently. I use the @deciem Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2%. Granactive Retinoid has hydroxypinacolone retinoate (HPR), a retinoic acid ester with a similar action on the skin as Retin-A. It is not the same as Retinol, and hence 2% of that is actually equal to very less retinol comparatively but there is no exact proven measurement.
Also once your skin gets used to regular acids, you can try the 30% AHA, 2% BHA from Ordinary which is an amazing at home exfoliating peel. But do not try it if you have very sensitive skin or your skin barrier is compromised or you can’t tolerate acids. There are a lot of precautions you need to take like skin should be dry, not to keep longer than 10mins, follow with a rich Moisturizer and loads of sunscreen, etc.
For beginner level, I would recommend the Secret Key lemon sparkling peeling gel, Pixi Peel & Polish.
My favourite masks when my skin is feeling dry are Fresh Rose Mask, Biossance Squalane + Vit C Rose Mask and Glamglow Thirsty Mud. For breakouts, Glamglow Supermud, Raw Nature Dead Sea Mud & Charcoal, Pixi T zone Peel off mask.
Also apart from these, pretty much all of The Body Shop Masks. I am not a fan of sheet masks, I haven’t bought a sheet mask in years (also most are not bio degradable). But I do have a lot of them from PR which I am trying to finish.
Let me know your skincare routine and your current favourite skin care products in the comments below 🙂
I got a few more things from FemmeLuxe, do you remember my previous haul? See HERE
The collection is very trendy and apt for curvy girls.
About the collection: From head-turning evening and going out dresses to cute n’ chilled casual day dresses, shop every style from slinky and bodycon, to crepe and bandage. Going out, Everyday Slay, Special Occasion, Date Night, Just Chillin…they have dresses for everything
They also have shoes and accessories like belts, bags, corsets, hair accessories and even some beauty items.
There is a separate trend section where they cover collections as per current trends like ruched, corsets, slogans, snake print, student style, etc.
I picked these 4 things..
1. Peach Frill Sleeve Jumpsuit
I love the colour of this jumpsuit, peach is very fresh and summery. The frill sleeves are also pretty. It doesn’t fit me well and is slightly tight though, especially at the crotch area. I will have to check if it has seams inside.
2. Black Button Up Belted Blazer Dress
This dress is so hot! I love how it curves the body, I wish it was a little longer though. Blazer dresses always look smart and this one is just perfect.
3. Blue Satin Button Up Tie Front Shirt
Satin shirts are a classic, this is my favourite piece because it is so versatile and can be paired with a lot of things from pants, jeans, skirts. I love the bright blue colour, it instantly adds a pop.
4. Button down Denim Dress
This is the cutest denim dress, I wore it with a white crop top inside, again can be paired with a lot of things. Casual cute chic is how I would describe it. Also can wear white sneakers for a more sporty vibe or heels and a fancy top for something more glam.
My favourites are the denim dress and satin shirt. I loved the peach jumpsuit and black blazer dress as well but the size and fit are an issue for me.
They cover all sizes till 12 and some till 14. The quality is pretty good for the price and I will definitely be buying more from Femme Luxe. And I do recommend it.
Accentuate Your Looks with These Stunning Pieces of Jewellery
Jewellery has a special place in the heart of every woman. Whether it’s for a beautiful wedding look or for adding life to an everyday outfit, the right accessory can be a game-changer. It automatically enhances the overall look of any outfit you’re wearing. There are some classic jewellery pieces that every woman should own.
Yet settling on the right piece is no less than a herculean task with so many jewellery variations and design options. Explore and find the pieces you most relate to among an endless selection of women’s jewellery online to pick the best ones and make dressing up more fun. Start with these to get into the vintage yet a contemporary world of
jewellery:
Coast a Spell
Indus Coast Earrings
Celebrate the beautiful mix of traditional finery and modern with this cowrie charm. Known to be the symbol of opulence, this pair of earrings mingles with moonstones to bring success into your life. Steal the spotlight when you pair these contemporary earrings with a striking ethnic outfit. The unique shape of every stone makes these
Indus coast earrings as one of its kind! Style Tip- Pair it with a dusty pink short tunic and sharara pants to look like a diva!
‘Bee’ing Classy
Bee Cufflinks (Set of 2)- Antique Brass
Who said cufflinks are just for men? In today’s contemporary world, women are rocking cufflinks effortlessly. Splurge on hand-picked whimsical cufflinks in exquisite stones and metals, much like the rest of your jewellery collection. Get yourself these irresistible cufflinks shaped like bees that will instantly add an urban allure your look. Style these with a casual shirt to add some drama. For an eccentric touch, you can add the cufflinks to your shirt collar. Other than that you can also gift them to your better half for “Bee”ing classy as ever!
Be an Enchantress
Lemon Slice Charm
If you’re the kind who believes in basking in the glory of your individuality, then you’d want a jewellery piece that is just as distinct as you are. This lemon slice charm is a unique piece that you’ll take pride in. Cast in brass and plated in gold, this can be slipped in a simple chain or a hoop, as both a single piece or in multiple looks. Sporting this unique piece will give expression to your quirky self. Let it set you up for raving compliments.
A Dash of Spice
All Spice Necklace
For a picture-perfect combination of sugar and spice that you are, this unique piece of jewellery is going to be a befitting accessory. With all your favourite Indian spice ingredients combined, this will lend a remarkable touch of elegance to your outfit. Cast in brass and plated in gold, this piece too is unique in style and will help you stand out.
Each charm in the link chain might vary in texture but their size and shape remain same making this an exquisite jewellery piece.
Make heads turn at the next wedding or any occasion by wearing these amazing pieces. While shopping, you can look at the amazing women’s jewellery online from premium lifestyle brands like Nicobar that offer enchanting and captivating pieces. These exquisite jewellery pieces are unique and a must-have in your collection. So, whenever you need some enchanting pieces to reform your look, you know where to shop. So, go on and jazz up your look!
Indian designers have been experimenting to make clothes fuss-free and comfortable and that was one of the highlights of the showing of 2019 spring/summer collection. Many designers showcased clothes where surface texturing was used which add a different look and feel to clothes. There was also a focus on colors as per seasons, fabrics, cuts and embellishments on everyday wear.
Design Trends
If you are bored with the same printed and embroidery trends that have been around, novel design changes are being introduced and they would soon percolate down from the couture to the mass-produced and casual styles. As was evident from what was shown on the ramp, tone on tone shades, and florals on dresses and with high slits as well as drapes that flatter are what would make dresses and clothing different in coming months.
There is a focus on functionality that was evident in what the models were wearing as well. Even though the styles they carried were glamorous and edgy, there is a stress on comfort and being free without too many embellishments or stiff fabrics that weigh down styles.
The Indian fashion scene has also been drawing inspiration from art and museums. This was evident in what was showcased for autumn and winter collections 2019. Inspiring artworks of Dutch artists can be seen reflected on dresses and other clothing forms. Indeed, with the advancement of fabric printing technology, it is akin to magnifying any piece of art and wearing it with all minute details and color impressions intact.
There is a renewed focus on surface texturing along with graphic prints and geometric patterns. These are being made signatures by different designers to separate their works. For instance, many designers are using origami, florals, and geometric patterns besides organza, silk velvets, and taffeta. Many are using design technologies of other cultures. Evident are new patterns such as the Japanese sashiko where hand-cut materials are used along with cutwork layering technique, origami images in three dimensional forms and so forth.
Since casual wear dominates the scene for all seasons, we would be seeing unique combinations such as blazers paired with shorts, puff shoulders in tees, bucket hats as the weather gets colder along with experimental styles like boiler suits and neo gothic styles and patterns.
Colors in Trend
Corals are the new favorites and have been the focus of summer 2019. With the oncoming of winter and autumn trends, there would be a focus on heavier fabrics such as organza and velvet. These fabrics also bring in scope for embroidery. Quilting work is being seen in print but could take on embroidered forms as well in clothing. Lattice technique, ribbon work, embellished meshes as well as leather flowers are new trends being done on clothing to add unique features to everyday wear.
Challenges for Indian Designers
The online world has changed things in many ways for the Indian fashion industry, as it has for entertainment. Just as Indians would log in to play Leo Vegas India jackpot, many international casino portals are making gambling legal and safe for the Indians. There are several portals where Indians can gamble in their own currency. The same works for the fashion industry. Indian designers are competing on a global forum and their designs need to keep up with global trends. At the same time, originality is what makes a region’s fashion unique. Hence, many fashion designers seek out inspirations from across the globe and blend it in ethnic styles of clothing for Indians. However, the need for everyday, casual styles still dominate and that is where designers need to bring in originality in affordable ways.
I am doing an OOTD post after months, and quite honestly it’s been all about Instagram of late. Bloggers share everything on Instagram/Instagram stories because it’s much quicker, and reaches many more people and instantly. It’s all about instant gratification, and the new apps are giving what the people want or they didn’t know they wanted?!
I just wanted to talk to you guys and pour my heart out. So this post will random bits and pieces of my life along with this outfit and what I feel about Instagram and Youtube.
I shot this outfit last September, yes it’s been a long time and why I haven’t shared it yet? I had downloaded the pictures but never got around selecting and editing them. Usually if I like 3-4 pictures from one outfit shoot, I will share them on Instagram but if I get like 7-8 good pictures and I love all of them, I will share it in a blog post. I used to share all outfit pics here earlier but as I mentioned Instagram is just quicker, talk about being an easy devil :/
Easy it is, devil you guys know how Instagram has been. Since the last few months, I am not enjoying Instagram at all. You must have seen I used to do one post daily and now I am not so active. Sometimes I don’t even share any stories, the only problem is if I am not active for 3-4 days, Instagram reduces my reach and it becomes so bad that when I start posting, for at least about a week, no one can even see my posts on their feed unless I ‘promote’ that post. So Instagram has taken the Facebook route finally, and now your post won’t reach ‘your own’ followers unless you promote it. It’s like I have to forcefully remain active and post something, so that at least the minimum reach it is giving me anyway, that doesn’t get affected.
And as if Instagram wasn’t enough. Youtube is also doing the same. Apparently even if people are subscribed and sometimes have hit the bell icon as well, youtube doesn’t show your videos in their subscriptions or notify them. I have never been super active on Youtube but I am trying to. I go through those phases but in between 3-4 months I think I didn’t post anything at all, and the same thing happened on youtube, some unsubscribed, some aren’t getting my videos. I am currently getting half the views of what I used to get and it’s really discouraging and demotivating especially because Youtube unlike Instagram takes whole day to shoot, edit, etc. and it’s very time consuming. And then when your videos are seen by hardly 100-200 people even though 8700+ are subscribed, I don’t know how to express but it feels terrible and I thought of quitting youtube and not posting anything at all.
Some bloggers have shifted to IGTV because it’s new and that’s why the reach is much better there. I don’t know, all platforms come up with something new and push it for a year and then again same, paid promotions and push for ads to reach people. Same cycle. Everything is a vicious chain.
Instagram recently banned me for 3 days for apparently some copyright issue and nothing else was mentioned in the email which was a general mail and you cannot contact them or ask them about it. It’s so unfair because all my pictures and content are my own, and I hardly post videos or music and it’s all no copyright music even if I use. I contacted them 15-20 times on the app, of course never got a reply and I also asked my facebook account manager but even she couldn’t help. So for 3 days, I couldn’t post or like or comment, could just see the feed, not even stories.
I realized how Instagram can block the account permanently anytime and there is no solution to it. One cannot rely on Instagram and have to keep all other platforms open and need to have one primary platform i.e. blog/Youtube. Again Youtube also can deactivate your channel/account anytime. How we depend for our life/career on these platforms and how unreliable they are, it’s just scary!
I am trying to post regularly again on both Instagram and Youtube, I know I might go through the quitting/demotivated phase again but I don’t know if there is a solution to this. I would really love for you guys to like and comment on my Instagram and Youtube if you watch my videos and see my posts on Instagram, at least I can see some engagement and might help me push myself. That would mean a lot, I only see some people engage during giveaways and I know who they are. And I know people who regularly and genuinely follow me since years, I know your names, I know who you are and thank you for always supporting me. I really need your support again.
Coming to this outfit, this has to be one of my most favourite outfit/shoot I have done. The red orange colour, the co-ords and how flattering they are for my body type. The location/lighting/hair/makeup everything complimented and worked out so well.
The top has statement sleeves and is adjustable from the front, the skirt is well fitted and can be zipped from the side, it was slightly loose on the waist and I had to be careful there 😀 I loved the feather, leaves, circles, polka dots print on it and it screams summer and vacation, perfect for this season
It’s a super simple outfit and I kept the accessories also minimal and simple because I wanted the focus on the outfit. I paired it with my Daniel Wellington watch and pearl earrings and wore my Kendall and Kylie flat slides. (which I now wear everyday! So comfortable)
Co-ords: Free People Watch: Daniel Wellington Earrings: Kazo Slides: Kendall + Kylie
I hope you liked the outfit, do let me know your thoughts. And what do you think about Instagram/Youtube? Also any engagement would be really helpful and would mean a lot, thank you 🙂
