Indholdsfortegnelse for March/April 2022 i Cosmopolitan India

When I scroll through Instagram, I notice a pattern…almost every face on my feed looks like silken tofu. Not a pore in sight, no bumps to see. My skin does not look like that, and I’d be lying if I said I don’t experience a pinch of insecurity every time I note this comparison. A few months ago, Cosmo India asked its followers about their photo-posting habits. 62% admitted to using a filter or editing photos before posting online. And 85% said they mistrust the images on their feeds because they think they might be secretly edited. It’s no secret that we live in an era of selfies and face-chiselling, hyper-smoothing filters. ‘Instagram Face’ and ‘Snapchat Dysmorphia’ are a very real part of our modern day lexicon. But in a…

1 SLEEPOVERCORE If the Mean Girls burn book were an outfit, it’d look like this. Pink+ nostalgia with a twist. 2 SOFT GIRL The VSCO girl’s big sister, who’s all about pretty pastels and lots of barrettes. 3 COTTAGECORE Your ‘tending a vegetable garden at a remote cabin in the woods’ look. 4 GORPCORE Aka the hiking version of athleisure. Patagonia fleeces and Merrell boots recommended. 5 BADDIE When face, hair, and nails are done up to the hiiighest degree (also involved: bodyhugging attire). 6 E-GIRL Soft Girl cranked to 11, featuring hardcore silver jewellery, exaggerated blush, pieces of bleached or colourful dyed hair—and a Nintendo Switch, duh. 7 REGENCYCORE Bridgerton vibes only.…

FUN WITH MINIS If there is a clear winner as per the runway experts, it is the puny-yet-powerful mini skirt. Pick a print or texture, then decide to accessorise with strappy heels, sneakers, or a pair of boots. THE ETERNAL MINI DRESS The dress from your teenage years is back, but more stylish than ever. Show some leg in a mini dress, but make it grown-up by paying attention to the details—think interesting sleeves, a ’60s silhouette, or a fabulous print. RETURN OF THE LOW-RISE With Y2K fashion making a serious comeback, the low-rise trend is cool again. With the likes of Bella Hadid and Hailey Baldwin Bieber helping flood your feeds with this style, it’s time to unleash your inner Britney Spears. After spending what feels like an eternity…

Forget about adding just one bright element to your look, this hue demands tone-on-tone action. Play with textures and varying degrees of tangerine to keep things stylishly interesting… look around, there are options galore!…

ARGENT DAZZLE Silver-tone jewellery looks ah-mazing paired with white, grey, and black ensembles…neutral hued outfits that need a bit of perking up. Style tip: layer dainty necklaces over a tee, or stack delicate bracelets or rings to make a statement.…

GO WITH THE FLOW Squiggles are probably all over your Insta feed right now…and consider this to be your sign to wear ’em, stat! Try out an accessory or two in a wavy pattern if you are hesitant to flaunt bold waves from top to bottom.…

Credit where it is due: the beauty industry is next to none when it comes to hopping on the Cool New Thing bandwagon, even when that cool thing is actually…old. Mushrooms—the skin savior du jour—have been considered a powerhouse ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine for basically ever due to their antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. And now, thanks to increasing consumer demand for natural ingredients and continued research finding that mushrooms can offer preventive and healing benefits across a wide variety of skin concerns, they are dominating store shelves and social feeds, fighting for the coveted open spot in our multi-step routines. Sceptical? Try literally any of these products, spiked with various kinds of shrooms, and you will get the hype. Magic indeed. 1. HYDRATING CLEANSING OIL Hero Ingredient: tremella, which…

Meet the most striking-yet-easy-to-cop make-up looks for warm weather. Dogmark this page as these looks involve just a couple of products and look delish both on IG and IRL. NUDE, NOT NAKED When it comes to creating that perfect no make-up make-up look, using a nude lipstick is a no-brainer. However, these plush pouts that are super-easy to create and look bomb. All you need is a nude lip liner to define the lip line, then fill in your lips with a clear gloss. Feathered brows go well with this chic look, so bring out your favourite gel and brush ’em arches out. PINK SO PUNK The rosy hue is shedding its delicate image, all thanks to the backstage pros. Instead of dousing your cheeks in blush, use a pink…

10 minutes into scrolling through bad, jackhammer-y porn, I was ready to give up. I was horny and desperate to get off to something that was not so performative or obviously filtered through the male gaze. I wanted to see a real person experiencing genuine, orgasmic pleasure. A real person like…well, me. And that is when I realised I’d never find that someone in any video unless that someone was actually me. I did not have the interest (or the time, let’s be real) to attempt to get myself cast in some kind of off-Broadway version of a porn shoot, but there was something instantly sexy about the idea of filming myself right there on my phone. Except. Every insecurity I have ever had begged me not to open my…

“You hold up your relationship like a sacred cow!” Sanjana* screamed. “You are so irresponsible for seeing him so much during a pandemic,” she added, face red, and body vibrating. But just a few minutes after her outburst, she approached me smiling, arms outstretched, saying “Hug?”. This wasn’t the first time she had spoken to me so aggressively and then quickly flipped the script. How could someone spout so much venom at me, yet still feel so entitled to my validation? Clearly, we didn’t have the promising, close friendship I once thought it was. Instead, I learned that her behaviour fell under a dysfunctional emotional cycle known as ‘trauma bonding’—a cycle of manipulative behaviour that amounts to emotional abuse. WHAT IS TRAUMA BONDING? UK-based relationship therapist Marie Raleigh defines trauma…

As a grown, partnered-up, introverted extrovert, I sort of assumed going on vacation by myself was something I’d never do. Like, what is the point? I am not out here trying to eat, pray, love (TBH, probably just eat). Also, after months and months of seeing no more than the same four people, a group trip would be exactly what I needed. No. It turns out, no, no, no! Solo travel offers so much more than post break-up epiphanies—especially for anyone who’s been through 2020 and most of 2021. Allow me to elaborate based on my gloriously lonely vacay in the jaw-dropping Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire. YOU CAN KEEP TALKING TO YOURSELF In the car, navigating without GPS on an island where donkeys and goats post up in the…

EMBELLISHMENTS Fancy folks know the add-a-touch-ofsparkle trend is both very posh ’22, and always a good hack for elevating basic pieces and edgy items alike. Take inspo from this fishnet-esque dress and these gorgeous black beaded heels while you’re at it. JELLIESSSSS Your elementary school flex just got a high-fashion makeover and if you are not excited about it, do you even have a soul? Fisherman sandals needed this win, to be honest. But now that their moment has arrived, there is no denying how chic our taste was back then. Y2K EVERYTHING No, you cannot shake free of the absolute hold the early aughts have on all things right now. Loud colour combos, skin-baring silhouettes, flashy metallics, cutesy details, and, like, a lot of mini skirts have solidified their…

It’s time to turn to the he avens and indulge in some star gazing! Aquarius 20.01–18.02 Share the happiness you are currently radiating with your partner and strive to be on the same page as them to avoid conflicts. This month beckons you to make amends with loved ones and apologise for any wrongs you might have unintentionally done. Your career prospects look bright with the possibility of a new job on the horizon. Savings are crucial at this point to secure your future. Respect your body and try to ditch any bad habits you might have picked up during the pandemic. Pisces 19.02–20.03 Work together with bae to bring out the best in your love life. This month can help single Pisceans find love, but proceed with caution and…

ANAH SHAIKH @_hadha.ana_ “I joined Instagram when I was 19, with a private account and just 50 Followers. I have always loved dressing up in hijaboutfits. Seeing all the love my posts were receiving, I decided to go public within a year. Soon, brands started approaching me and initially, until I amassed 21k followers, I’d work for everyone for free! Today, I earn more than `50,000 per post, which makes me immensely proud of how far I’ve come. My focus is to create unique, inspirational content, that breaks stereotypes and shows the world that one can be fashionable in a hijab, too. Most people think that, being a hijabi, I don’t have any freedom in life, that I have to be locked up in the house and can’t work, etc.…

1. “The whole album is incredibly soothing. This song is my go-to when I start downtime.” 2. “This is a cover of a Mike Love song arranged for a Bill Murray special [A Very Murray Christmas] on Netflix. It is a little bit of Hollywood magic.” 3. “I started listening to the Hip a lot in the past year and I just really love this one. Plus, Canada.” 4. “It’s from the film Submarine, which was written and directed by the brilliant Richard Ayoade and is one of my favourites.” “I started listening to the Hip a lot in the past year.” 5. “One of the best music videos of all time. Claire grew up a few blocks away from me. I do not know Claire and I don’t know…

DRESS FOR SELF Bad gal-chic is here with its devil-may-care attitude, and post the lockdown confusion, this self-assured style is welcome! This season, the runways stanned for (faux) leather pieces with boots, oversized denim separates, studs, rivets, and mix of proportions. Just make sure you own it! POP HITS The rainbow is on steroids this summer, so don’t hold back on the neons… While wearing a single shade from head to toe is a favourite way to do it, like Saint Laurent, Proenza Schouler, and Bottega Veneta, you can play with varying shades of the same colour, like Gucci. Or, better still, colour-block, the way Valentino and Molly Godard have. The new way to do it, however, is to add a softer-toned or pastel-hued separate so as not to resemble…

SNEAKER FREAKS ON INSTAGRAM: ANAND S AHUJA (@anandahuja) The co-founder of Veg NonVeg (India’s first multi-brand sneaker store) surely knows his sneaker game. CHAITANYA DIXIT (@chaitanya_dixit) Chaitanya aka CHE has had an ever-growing fanbase for his faaaiinee sneaker collection. He is also an illustrator who customises kick-a** pairs for his clients. AMAN PARMAR (@_thatshoeguy_) Aman runs a blog to frequently talk about new drops and share stories about his personal collection. THE BUILDING BLOCKS Once reserved for hiking in the mountains and running marathons, sneakers are topping the must-have list, sartorially. In fact, styling these versatile bbs is a no-brainer, as they are the perfect choice for stepping out in comfort while club-hopping or exploring new locales—after all, these shoes were made for ~walking~. Consider investing in thick-soled or chunky…

SUMMER SLAYERS Comfy and stylish, sandals don’t just go in perfect harmony with your easy, breezy, warm-weather looks, they also add a relaxed and effortless vibe to a formal-ish ensemble. From sporty floaters to dressy platforms, and sleek styles to chunky soles, they come in a variety of versions to suit all occasions.…

SMOOTH IT OUT The key here (outside of good genes and a 10/10 skincare routine): mattifying formulas. Start with a hydrating moisturiser—flakes are not the trend—then layer on a mattifying primer and a mattifying foundation. Then tap on a semi-matte lip cream with your finger for a soft, diffused finish. Your Turn…

Ananya Panday’s Pursuit of Happiness & Honesty There’s something refreshing about Ananya Panday, the 23-year-old who speaks her mind with a certain irreverence for social mores… It’s her candid approach to life that makes Ananya so endearing, no matter that the very quality has sometimes got her into situations that were tougher than she had anticipated—especially the online trolling. An “over-sharer” and “open book” as she professes, Ananya is willing to make mistakes. And yet, there is a certain maturity to the young actor that has inspired her to rise from her personal challenges, particularly the vitriol on social media. In 2019, she launched the So Positive campaign to spread awareness about how to deal with and report online abuse. And today, she has decided to take a more Zen approach…

Nowadays, queer teens have no idea how good they have it, with their lesbian-outfit Instagram accounts and their dreary homophobia movies and their JoJo Siwas (American dancer and singer). Back in my day (2003), finding something gay to be horny over was like navigating the video game Oregon Trail. You’d have to run home from school and sit in front of the TV for hours waiting for the Me Against the Music video to play on MTV just so you could get a sliver of gay, and that would be your only shot at seeing gay that whole day. No quietly streaming Netflix on your laptop in your room, no saving photos of Cara Delevingne and Selena Gomez showering together to camera roll, no ‘every Jamie and Dani scene in…

Journaling has become super-popular in recent years, but it is not all about snapping pictures of your gorgeous layouts for the ’Gram—keeping a mental health journal can be really good for your mental well-being, too. “Many people find journaling therapeutic,” says UK-based Lindsay George, a psychotherapist and member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. “One of its key benefits for your mental health is that it helps with emotional regulation by managing stress and anxiety better, reducing feelings of distress, and increasing well-being.” Still not sure if keeping a mental health journal is right for you? Here are some ways the practice can help… MAKING SENSE OF COMPLEX SITUATIONS Writing your thoughts down in a journal can help you see things more clearly and untangle complicated issues. “Some…

Lakhs of rupees feels like a lot (okay, an insane amount) to spend on one bag, especially considering the other things you could use that money for (erm, food to live?). But if you have saved enough to afford a Iuxury piece you have been drooling over for years, you are not just throwing away your dosh. “You might be able to get back a legit amount if you ever decide to sell it”, says Sasha Skoda, Head of women’s retail at US-based luxury resale company The RealReal. Here is what wiII net you the most cash on the back-end. 89% Designer Bags The best investment is a Chanel bag. Don’t have `6,00,000? More reasonable Louis Vuitton and Dior ones will fetch dough, too. 70% Trendy Totes Your next best…

ARADHANA BURAGOHAIN, MODEL “I fell head over heels for this floral, shorts-and-blazer set from Redefine by Ridhi Doshi. The brand is all about eclectic prints that speak to my soul, and the silhouettes are chic and playful. What I love most about this co-ord set is how it adapts to the occasion—I can always dress it up or down. This is a huge advantage as I support slow fashion, and I want to get the most out of any designer piece. Not just that, I enjoy wearing pieces that can be styled in multiple ways. For the day, I like to stick to the shorts and pair it with a basic tank top, sneakers, and a bandana. At night, I add the blazer and ditch the sneakers. Opting for a…

HACK IT On days when you want to look sharp and feel comfortable at the same time, these relaxed, well-tailored suit sets will ensure you don’t miss your loungewear. To spruce up the look, sport a lacey bralette underneath or play with colours, textures, et al to add street cred to your OOTD.…

EVERYONE'S INVITED From size XS to 6L, homegrown label Fabnest has created everyday pieces that celebrate inclusivity: both in size and natural materials. Their kaftans, maxis, jackets, and trousers are made from pure cotton, linen, and pure blends, and prints include traditional hits like Ikat and more. For those who're all for Mother Earth and affordability at once, these comfy pieces are just the staples your closet needs. Snap them up from online portals like Myntra, Nykaa Fashion, Vajor, LBB, and fabnest.co. ROYAL TREATMENT Luxury jewellery brand Fabergé was once exclusively for queens and the aristocracy, and so, it only makes sense that it's equally fit for you. Treat yourself to the delightful, new bracelets, pendants, and rings with the iconic egg motif set in 18K gold and encrusted with…

1. Find Your Fragrance Vibe Figure out which notes—the individual scents, like lemon or rose, that make up a perfume—you do and don’t like. Start a list and jot down what you associate with them. No need to be overly technical about it though. In our ‘Hell Yes’ column are jasmine and gardenia (they are basically summer in a bottle) and our ‘Just No’ column features strawberry (it is too candy-like). 2. Revisit Your Old Favourites This can help you accomplish Step 1, but we would like to add that while discovering a new scent (see: Step 3 is a power move, there’s no shame in keeping a former fave in your mix. All ‘perfume people’ have an evergreen like Chanel N°5—it just smells rich, and it is proof of…

When my boyfriend became my ex-boyfriend, I did not acknowledge our break-up online. This was fairly easy to do given that so little of our relationship had been posted for public consumption. His mom had tagged me in some pictures on Facebook; I think I Tweeted a funny thing he had said a few times. It’s not that we were one of those couples who took pride in being intentionally offline. It just never occurred to me to document our life together. Maybe you are thinking that sounds like a red flag. But this was seven years ago, just before the dawn of there being essentially no choice but to exist almost entirely on your phone. And besides, for the majority of our relationship, I had a fake BlackBerry, which was…

ARIES Post a FaceTime screenshot of every chat you have with your gossipy-est mutual friend. TAURUS Change your Netflix password when they’re halfway through a series. GEMINI Book a (safe! local!) trip and oh-so-casually mention it when you text them to reclaim your toothbrush. CANCER Send a mixtape to make them believe you *do* wanna stay friends…and then move on. LEO Study up on social media strategy to make sure you always have more followers than they do. VIRGO Slide into their work frenemy’s DMs and get them to mention you. LIBRA Become a permanent part of their social circle. SCORPIO Pretend you are sorry. Then change the story. The break-up was all their fault. SAGITTARIUS If anyone asks about your split, act like it was NBD. Who? CAPRICORN Whatever…

Talking about women and money can sometimes feel like an uncomfortable conversation. It’s emotive, it can be misleading, and it certainly touches on some issues we’d rather avoid discussing. But that is the last thing you should do—money is an important topic to be engaged with. The bottom line is that women face a lot of gaps when it comes to money. The gender pay gap receives a great deal of attention, and rightly so. Worldwide, women still make only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. And according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, India has one of the largest Gender Gaps in the world, creating a lifetime of income inequality. But it is not just about what we get paid. Women face other…

Aisha Ahmed Actor “My relationship with my skin has gone through many ups and downs. I remember feeling insecure about it during my teenage years. But, of late, I have been more accepting of it. At the moment, I don’t think my skin looks as great as it could, because it seems dehydrated, and that makes me conscious. It’s a constant battle, I’d say. But I also believe that we should take each day as it comes, and remind ourselves that we are beautiful just as we are. Looking at ‘flawless’ faces on social media, I did get pulled into the vortex of using beauty filters. I’d turn to the ones that would conceal my under-eye area as much as possible as I am quite conscious about it. And being…

Q Tonal eye looks are major right now. Is there a trending summer palette one needs to follow to achieve the look? A: This season, the smokey eye has been traded for a multi-hued liner…and it’s easy as pie to achieve. While the SS22 palette pretty much consists of pastels, and cool hues of pink, green, and blue, applying a darker shade is not a big no-no. However, for the multicolour liner to show, it’s best to stick to vivid shades. To cop the look, pick a palette that offers two to three (or even more!) shades of the same family. Spritz some setting spray on a thin eyeliner brush, and while it’s still wet, dip into the desired shade to create wings. Follow the same step to add layers…

If there is one thing the past two years of the pandemic has made clear as day, it’s the incomparable joy that travelling with our BFFs brings to our lives…what could be more satisfying than partying, shopping, and soaking in the sun with a side of gossip? And now that travel restrictions have opened up, it’s time to plot and plan your next escape. May we suggest a trip is the City of Gold, Dubai? This luxe and multicultural metropolis is the crucible of good times, offering the best hotels, Michelin-star restaurants, the biggest luxury brands in the world, and the most exciting cultural and adventure experiences. AKA, there is no better time than now to get your ladies on a group chat and book a girls trip to Dubai,…