Four Ways to Make Your Summer Better

It's getting​ hotter by the day, and God knows we start worrying about our skin, amongst other things, even more during these times. Here are some tips to make sure your skin is glowing and you are comfortable even through the hot, dehydrating summer days!

Aloe Vera Gel

A very versatile product, you can leave it on for a few hours after a grueling day in the heat, or even overnight. It acts as a cooling agent and it also moisturizes skin very well. It plumps up your skin, and helps regain the softer and smoother skin you love.

Drinking more water

Water keeps you hydrated and fresh. It is much more important in summer because there's a higher chance of dehydration, so you gotta be much more careful. Always carry a water bottle so you can keep track of your water intake. Oh and fruit water works wonders too! You could also carry a small spray bottle to mist your face once in a while to refresh yourself or simply carry a pack of wet wipes!

SPF Sunscreen

This is actually a prerequisite for all seasons but it's always good to pay extra attention in summer. Always look for an SPF sunscreen with a factor of at least 15, irrespective of skin type and ethnicity. Damaging UV rays can penetrate all types of skin. However, the lower the melanin content of your skin, the higher the SPF you require, because melanin is like a natural UV filter of sorts.This Kaya sunscreen is my personal favorite and I absolutely recommend it! Find it here.

Loose clothes

Loose clothes allows your skin to breathe easily and light colors does not trap heat as much as dark ones. Think soft colors, flowy fabric, and airy silhouettes. An extra tee shirt in the backpack will always come in handy.
An added bonus: These clothes are super comfy!

Would you like to see me talk more about specific skincare products? Let me know on Instagram/Twitter!

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3 Ways to Give Yourself Some Love in the Morning

It’s really not too hard. Why do we make it so hard? The pressure of everyday life gets to you and in all the rush you have no time for yourself. It is very easy to forget ourselves while running around trying to get everything done. We are caught up in a whirlwind of activity where we don’t even have any time to think anymore. It gets to us. And what’s even more surprising is that we CHOOSE this. This kind of life is actually a conscious decision. We choose to put ourselves through this strain.

It would be really nice to say ‘make radical changes in your life and lead a life of calm’. But that isn’t really possible. Changes cannot be made overnight. Here are a few ways to love yourself that you can squeeze into a hectic morning:

Wake up 10 Minutes Earlier than Usual

The sun activates your natural circadian rhythm, which in turn affects your endocrine system. Put an alarm for 10 minutes before the time you regularly wake up. Once the alarm rings, get out of bed, go to the window, and open the curtains wide. Stand there, and bask in the warmth of a new day. Breathe deeply and let it wash over you. Even 5 minutes of this is enough. It activates your body, waking you up and ensuring that your drowsiness disappears, keeping you upbeat for the day.

Pick Flavoured Water instead of Morning Coffee

Since you spent those 5 minutes in the lovely sunlight warming up your body, you can skip the coffee this morning. Caffeine won’t be required for the kickstart since you’ve already done that for yourself. Isn’t that neat? But...water is a necessity, everyone knows that. However, if you actually sit down and check how many people drink the requisite amount of water as per their body weight on a daily basis, you will find a comparatively much lower number. Flavored water is easy to make, just slice and add any fruits of your liking to the water! This adds flavour and makes it more palatable, while ensuring that you increase your intake.

Spend a Gadget - Free Hour

This one might be a little hard to do for most of us, but trust me, if you can manage this, it will be totally worth it. Once you turn off your alarm, and spend your five minutes of sunshine time, you’ll be awake enough. Quickly check your phone to see if there are any changes in your schedule for the day. Either way, unless it’s an emergency, put it away. An emergency means something unavoidably important. Your manicure appointment slot being changed does NOT constitute an emergency. So, put away your phone, and do the rest of your morning activities. You will get done a lot faster too, without the continuous distraction of your smartphone or tablet – I can go on with the list, but I’m sure you get what I mean. You can have the radio on though. It would be a nice change.

Try these for atleast a week, and comment below when you see the changes!

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Why Go Green?

Nowadays we are seeing a lot of interest in ‘living green’ or ‘going green’. Apart from it being the latest fad, what do we really know about it? It isn’t just about getting into the latest trend or following the latest fashion. It is fashionable right now, yes. However, I do not advocate this as a trend, or something to do once and move on to the next thing. Do it if you believe this is a way of life, not a new hashtagged trend. What does it mean to go green?

It means living a sustainable lifestyle

Knowing that what you’re using is not going to harm the environment, is a really good feeling. Also, it will be good for your skin and health and your mind, too. Many of these sustainable products also help the farmers and growers who painstakingly ensure that the products are truly green and environment-friendly. That also adds to a sense of satisfaction. It gives a certain peace of mind, knowing that your actions help our planet and the generations to come. Knowing where the ingredients of your products come from or the fabric of your clothes, or the vegetables in your food; makes you more connected with the world, giving you a keen awareness of how our actions affect everyone else.

It means awareness and caring

Being aware to this extent – it stands to reason that you do care about the effect of every decision that is made. It means living in harmony with your surroundings. It means being aware of the effect of every purchase you make. It means living a more responsible life. Being in harmony with the world around you goes beyond healthcare or sustainable fashion. It touches you in ways you won’t imagine or understand till you try it. It is a good lifestyle, one we truly advocate. And I can’t stress this enough – do not treat this as a trend. A green lifestyle is above and beyond such fads. It is something that requires dedication and a will to really make a difference.

It means commitment

Going green is a gradual lifelong process for most of us. We really don’t just wake up one day and decide to make radical lifestyle changes – it requires a commitment and dedication that would be difficult but totally worth it in the long run. The fact that you are here, reading this, shows that you’re wondering about whether to make that commitment. Honestly, go for it.

I'm not saying it will be easy; it is a lot to take in at once. Go about it slowly, make small changes, and you’ll see that it is easier to do so when you do it little by little. 

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Little Stories - 1 - Coconut Monkey

So, I was on my way back from dinner, walking along the road, when I come across this little shop, selling all sorts of stuff - snacks, water, bags of air with a few chips inside, cigarettes - you get the gist? Those tiny convenience stores (for lack of a better word), that we have on street corners all over the city.

At this shop, there was this little carved monkey sitting on top of the jars, with a cigarette in it's mouth! It even had hair. It was really cute, and I was intrigued. 

I spoke to the shopkeeper there.

Me - Where did you get it from?

Her - Oh, this. My brother carves these things out of dried coconut husks.

Me - Really? Does he sell these?

Her - No, he does this just as a hobby.

Me - Why doesn't he? I'm sure people would buy it!

Her - I know, and I've told him so, but he doesn't want to.

Me - Does he live in Bombay too?

Her - No, at Goa. Near the beach.

Me - Are you kidding? People would totally buy this at the night markets or flea markets!

Her - I know, but he doesn't want to sell it. We are simple people. We are content.

Food for thought, y'all. Learn to be happy with what you have! People like these who live such simple lives and yet are so satisfied and content. They aren't greedy for more. We could learn a lot from them. Have a good week :)

Find me on Twitter and Instagram. Comment below if you have any such small stories that resonate so beautifully :)