Innehållsförteckning för July - August 2022 från Cosmopolitan India

The Cost of Perfection In a world of perfect pictures, perfect bodies, and perfectly curated lives, the message is apparent…that perfectionism is a good thing. Except, it is mostly pretty bad. Many of us describe ourselves as perfectionists. We agonise over the little details, we nit-pick over the minutiae. I am one of those people, and I can’t remember the last time I had a good time freaking out over a photo that missed the mark, or worrying about an outfit that didn’t fit the way I wanted it to. “Many of the truly fun things in life are imperfect…” While we have been taught that it is alright—even admirable—to have crazy-high standards, this habit is a recipe for dissatisfaction. When you strive for perfection—instead of, say, excellence—nothing is ever…

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON 22nd August, Disney+ Hotstar Fans, it’s time to go back to the Westeros after that uneasy conclusion that has probs left you wanting for more… And this prequel might just give your heart the calm it needs. House Of The Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones, is about House Targaryen and is set 200 years before the events shown in GOT. The show focuses on who will rule the Iron Throne after King Viserys I and there’s a high chance you might get to see familiar names such as the house of the Starks and Lannisters to help the Targaryen family fight the battle for the Iron throne. NEVER HAVE I EVER, SEASON 3 12th August, Netflix Nothing like an easy-breezy, happy show, non? The…

HERE’S THE THING There are many levels on the official Puff Sleeve Scale, so you can go subtle or really pile on the poof and still be ‘on trend’. HACK IT LIKE A PRO Exaggerated sleeves can make you appear bigger, so opt for a form-fitting dress or ‘shaping’ jeans or pants with a puff-sleeved top to balance out the proportions.…

CARGO PANTS JLo had us craving to add this style to our wardrobe, thanks to the iconic Jenny From The Block video. And just like Bennifer is back, this oldie-but-a-goodie trend, too, has made its way back into fashion scene. The key to rock this style lies in balancing proportions by teaming ’em with fitted, white, tank tops or crop tops. PRINTED STOCKINGS Black or sheer stockings be damned, it’s the era of graphic, colourful styles. This trend would have probably made you cringe a few years ago, but with the resurgence of mad prints, stockings, too, have gotten an update. We recommend pairing these with solid outerwear to let these babies shine. SANDALS Back with aplomb, sandals are reigning supreme currently. Thanks to the normcore aesthetic that has taken over…

DID YOU KNOW? The oldest pair of sandals, woven from sagebush bark, dates back to over 10,000 years. It was discovered in Fort Rock Cave in Oregon in 1938. PRO TIP Bejewelled feet are always a good idea. Dress ’em with with dainty toe rings and anklets to get the perf #shoefie.…

AUNINDITA DEB, 25 “This animalprint, half-moon bag is just what this casual, all-black look needed to go from basic to bomb.” GARGI DEKA, 20 “I added a white shirt and tie to make this faux-leather, corset dress daywear appropriate, while the boots and micro bag help bring the look together.” AASHI SAHNI, 23 “I love this neutral dress as it transitions well from work to party just by changing up the accessories.” MAHIMA LADDHA, 24 “You can never go wrong with a blazer dress. That’s why I stuck to a monochrome palette to ensure the dress was the star of my look.” NOYONIKA DEB, 23 “This look is a play on the muted colour palette. I love how easy it is to put together, yet how striking the final result…

The word ‘serum’ has been a part of our beauty vocabulary, but mostly when it comes to skincare. With environmental stressors wreaking havoc on our strands, you need a dedicated army of products in your haircare arsenal to ensure your hair is healthy, hydrated, and protected. Enter: hair serums. Similar to skincare serums that deliver powerful ingredients to the skin, hair serums are designed to penetrate the scalp and hair follicles to treat various concerns. These formulas also boost hydration, add finesse, and protect hair from heat styling tools. Packed with hair-loving ingredients like keratin, hyaluronic acid, Pro-Vitamin B5, turmeric, ginger root, ginseng, among others, a few drops of a hair serum can detangle strands, soften coarse hair, add moisture, and seal cuticles to fight humidity and frizz. The new-age…

1 Oily Skin Two percent salicylic acid cuts through oil and dead skin cells, leaving behind a clear and dewy complexion with noticeably smaller pores. This one’s a Cosmo beauty team favourite (and we try everything, so you know it’s legit). 2 Acne-Prone Skin You need a triple threat: glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and apple cider vinegar. The formula targets dead skin cells, acne, blackheads, and dark marks from old breakouts every time you use it. Honestly, just put a ring on this thing. 3 Sensitive Skin This iconic rice-based exfoliating powder activates upon contact with water, and releases rice enzymes, papain, and salicylic acid to slough away dead skin cells. While the soothing blend of colloidal oatmeal and allantoin soothes irritated skin. 4 Dry Skin Formulated with lipo-hydroxy acid…

THE HALF-UP, HALF-DOWN ’DO Perfect for errand days—or second-day hair—this style is easy to cop, and comes with Kendall’s stamp of approval. All you need to do is grab a section of hair and secure it with a claw clip…the more casual, the better. But, if you want to sport this ’do at drunch with your girls, we know exactly how you can make it look chic-er. First step: protection. Coat your strands with a few drops of a heat-protectant serum or a couple of spritzes of hairspray. Then, roughly blowdry your hair to lift the roots and add some volume. Next, using a curling wand or a flat iron, create loose waves. Now, take two small sections on both sides and tie ’em with a clip. Voilà, your Ariel-inspired,…

In my early 20s, in the candlelight of a Back Bay apartment [in Boston, USA], I kissed a girl. It was immediately my favourite thing to do. I wanted my boyfriend to go away forever. Oh my God, I am a lesbian! I thought. As Jessica became my first girl, my boyfriend became, for quite some time, my last boy. Sex with him had always felt blatant and pre-configured. The sex I entered into with Jessica was a dark forest, a fairy tale you get lost in. I realised that with men, a part of my heart was on high-alert, always. With my boyfriend, some essential part of myself was not at play in the sex we’d had. Yet within moments, Jessica, this stranger, had access to it all. I…

All the signs were out to get me. The capital letters and exclamation marks, in lurid eye-grabbing colours, on each billboard I passed felt threatening. Like the words themselves were about to jump out of the images and grab me. I would be suffocated by the loop of a Y, the soft circle of an O. I crouched down on the cold concrete curb, hiding between two parked cars. I was gasping for breath, terrified of the rush of panic suddenly pulsing through my body. I thought I would just sit there for a while, until I felt ‘safe’ again. Then, once I did, I would push through, and keep walking to my weekly therapy appointments—after all, I had to. I had been on a downward spiral for weeks. And…

BIPHASIC TRIALLED BY FIONA HAYWARD "Pre-lockdown, I slept for eight hours a night, waking at 7am. Working from home (and not having to look presentable 24/7) gradually meant my bedtime slipped and I started setting my alarm for just 30 minutes before starting work—cue feeling sluggish and unproductive. Going to bed at 1am, I found the 6am starts a struggle at first, but by the end of the trial my deep sleep was 10 minutes higher on average (according to my Garmin watch), and I felt more alert. I also stopped working through my lunch breaks to take a guilt-free nap instead (that said, it took another 30 minutes to get back in the zone after). If done properly, this routine could offer a positive alternative to my usual sleep…

ANANYA BIRLA Musician, Entrepreneur, and Founder, Ikai Asai “All around the world, there is an age-old myth that women can’t be trusted with money. That we are frivolous over-spenders, incapable of managing the family budgets. It’s a centuries-old stereotype, with its roots in the patriarchal division of labour: men are breadwinners, while women belong at home, with a child on each hip. We are excluded from money matters far too often—dependent on men, and financially illiterate. Personally, good spending habits were inculcated in me from a young age…even if it was just with my pocket money. My parents instilled in me the habit of prioritising and saving, and the importance of financial education. I remember my first ever earning was prize money in a chess tournament. “The first step to…

No, it is not just you. Travelling definitely messes with your skin. “Any change to your typical humidity, air quality, temperature, or sun exposure levels can lead to things like dryness, redness, and acne,” says US-based dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD. Not to mention that skin can get super-dry while on a plane and then compensate by overproducing oil, leaving your face dehydrated but somehow also breaking out. Plus—sorry!—rushing to the airport and then, you know, navigating the airport and then landing in an unfamiliar place can be just a wee bit stressful. “And stress increases inflammation and causes the hormone cortisol to spike, which can stimulate sebaceous glands and lead to breakouts,” Dr Shari says. Cortisol also gets unleashed by an erratic sleep schedule or vacation-y diet (hey, you did earn…

It’s time to turn to the heavens and indulge in some star gazing! Aquarius 20.01–18.02 This month, your main focus will be on family life. Try being the person your loved ones want you to be by spending quality time with them. Attached Aquarians can look forward to steamy sessions in the boudoir, while singles might find themselves meeting potential beaus. At work, maintaining a cordial rapport with colleagues will help you succeed. By the end of the month, you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your hard work, with money coming in from multiple sources. Pisces 19.02–20.03 This month, you might see some discord on the home front, but communicating how you feel could help resolve disagreements faster. However, choose your words carefully to ensure you don’t end up…

Cosmo: Do you think dating in the digital age has altered our perception of love? Alaya F: “I have heard a lot of people mention how love and relationships used to be so ‘pure’ back in the day, whereas now, they have turned fickle. I think it is unrealistic to hold love to such high standards. The past has been so romanticised that, sometimes, we forget how informed we are today. I agree that the way we find love has changed, but it’s not that people can’t trust each other any longer. Love is love, and relationships empower that emotion… People have the right to figure out what they want from their relationships, and it should not be rushed. If I ever face issues in my relationship, I Google my worries…

When the pandemic hit and work from home became the norm, style seekers around the world altered their personalities to opt for functional clothing that put comfort first. Given that the fashion industry suffered a great deal during the initial lockdown, many designers had to put their creativity on hold and present extremely practical clothes on the runway, adapting to the ‘new normal’. But the Spring/Summer 2022 runways unveiled an old-new world…a feeling of déjà vu, with fashion returning to its true character involving glamour and grandiose. People no longer longed to hide behind oversized clothing and sauce-dripped pyjamas, and order was restored with key trends that are bold, sexy, and crafted to make you shine. This season’s runways were occupied by various forms of sensuality—midriff-baring tops, super-short skirts, jewelled,…

1 ANITA DONGRE “A high dose of Vitamin C helps keep both your health and wardrobe in good shape, and the doyenne of sustainable craft, Anita Dongre, has taken it upon herself to help you with this. Invest in this cheery co-ord set this autumn…doctor’s orders!” 2 KRUTIARTS “Craft-based, abstract designs always catch my attention for their unique point of view. These handmade and hand-embroidered studs are a case in point: bright, unique, and ever-so-eccentric, these babies will surely get you noticed.” 3 DASH AND DOT “All hail the hoodie for its ability to keep you warm in freezing-cold offices! But seriously, what’s not to love about a handdone, tie-dye hoodie with matching shorts in the happiest shade of the rainbow? An instant way for a sunny disposition.” 4 SCARLET…

A TOUCH OF YE OLDEN DAYS What is the point of throwing it back without throwing it *all* the way back? Wear the latest interpretation of this historical piece as you please: over a frock, on its own, or as a matching set.…

HOW TO When it comes to metallics, sequins, and other gilded textures, the ‘more is more’ philosophy will help you stand out. The trick lies in how you pair the colours together: stick to one kind of shade family like pastels, jewel tones, or even neutrals to nail the vibe.…

KARAN TACKER Actor “Every man should smell good. But you don’t want it to be too strong. Keeping that in mind, I swear by Creed Green Irish Tweed. Itisextremelyfresh, with a very leafy, summery vibe. And it smells luxurious…not too pungent for the day, and great for nights, too! My other favourite is Oud Ispahan by Christian Dior. Not everyone enjoys oud as it is very strong, but this one’s got the perfect blend of oud and rose. It is delicate, yet very masculine and also formal….perfect for a dressed-up, night out.” TANUJ VIRWANI Actor “For me, a perfume is an essential. And I am very particular about the fragrance…there is a certain type of scent that attracts me. Currently, I am using Sauvage by Dior. It has very a…

The ’90s were the golden decade for skinny eyebrows, with supermodels Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss being the poster girls for the trend. It is back in a big way, however, with a fresh personality. Earlier, ‘skinny brows’ equalled thin, scanty arches. But this season, it is a lot easier to love this look as the shape remains slender, but the brows are fuller and the focus is on following one’s natural shape. It’s officially time to retire the overgrown, pandemic eyebrow and work the sculpted brow look.…

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK If you are looking to expand your fragrance collection, consider Maison De Fouzdar, a homegrown brand that offers luxurious blends. Founded by Dimple Fouzdar, the brand has a vast portfolio, with something for everyone. Featuring notes of oud, rose, jasmine, saffron, sandalwood, patchouli, among many others, Maison De Fouzdar offers miniature to full-size fragrances. SO FLUSHED The new MVP of the make-up world is a product that holds the power to make or break a look. And we are so thrilled that the backstage pros decided to focus on blush this season. Ranging from pretty pinks to terracotta hues that subtly frame the face, blush-heavy looks were seen at a tonne of runways. Models at Carolina Herrera sported a natural, flushed face, while at Anna…

I am not prone to mentioning Zodiac signs when speaking of people, but Cosmo covergirl Radhika Apte is a quintessential Virgo in so many ways. Decidedly practical, by her own admission, yet delightfully liberal and romantic in her views on life, love, and work, Radhika is a curious mix of polarities that make her ever so intriguing. Perhaps that is what has caught the eye of cinephiles across the world… Her performance in The Wedding Guest [2018] won her praise from the legendary critic Roger Ebert (who himself won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism); Best Actor for Parched [2016]; and a slew of nominations, from Badlapur [2015] to Lust Stories [2018], Andhadhun [2019], and more. Not to mention the reigning title of ‘OTT Queen’ that was bestowed upon her last…

It’s late Saturday night. You and your guy are lying in bed panting. While you are considering going another round or eating that leftover pizza in the fridge, he has a smug look on his face, staring up at the ceiling as if he has just discovered something as major as how to shave 30 minutes off his morning commute. You nuzzle into his shoulder, but he seems like he’s somewhere else. Just lying there in a glorious stupor with his mouth slightly agape. This, my friends, is what we call post-nut clarity. It’s the aha moment a guy experiences right after having an orgasm, coined by US-based Call Her Daddy podcast hosts Alexandra Cooper and Sofia Franklyn. And it is the reason some dudes make pretty heavy, life-changing decisions—about…

Similar in concept to a love language, an apology language is how you give and receive an ‘I’m sorry’. And while you have probably never put too much thought into what that looks like for you, how you apologise to your partner is actually extremely important to consider—especially since everyone requires something different in order to move past an argument. That’s because humans are all wired differently. For you, it might be sufficient to hear the words ‘I’m sorry, you are right’ after a fight. But for someone else, the words ‘I’m sorry’ could feel empty and like a shallow way of moving past it. So let’s break down everything there is to know about apology languages because, as much as we love a good love language, apology languages are…

Awkward. You have been offered a great, new job that you are absolutely going to accept, but in order to take it, you are going to have to resign from your current role. There is no getting away from it, but you do not want to royally annoy your current boss either (after all, former colleagues are an important part of your network, and you will never know when you might want to call on them again). But do not worry—it is possible to leave your job and still have your former boss think you’re an ace. New York-based Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, an NGO working to close gender gap in science and technology and author of Brave, Not Perfect: How Celebrating Imperfection Helps You…

“Our job is to lie in front of the camera” She’s a modern beauty with an old-world insouciance, a seasoned actor who entered the world of cinema via Marathi films, and made a striking debut in Hindi, in an international film on human trafficking (Love Sonia). With her elfin charm, Mumbai-raised actor Mrunal Thakur has always been an escapist of sorts—from a humdrum city childhood where she would find refuge in television—with Malgudi Days, Shaktimaan, and Aryamaan. But she’d watch the shows on Sahyadri (a Marathi television channel) on mute. “That’s when I realised that language is not the most important component when it comes to telling a story,” shares Mrunal, who’s currently en route Hyderabad, the city that’s marked a brand-new beginning for her—her foray into Telugu cinema with…

Q Chocolate brown is an unexpected colour for SS22. What’s the best way to wear it? A: We saw this shade pop up on many a runway, in various forms. Lip liners shone bright this summer, with shades of brown—ranging from light brown to cocoa—reviving a key ’90s trend. The liner paired with sheer oil was a nod to one of the most iconic beauty moments of that decade. The ‘diffused’ effect is another way to tone down the intensity of this rich colour. Use your fingers to smudge the lipstick out a bit or a sponge to soften the edges. And lastly, high-shine, vinyl finish is the most glamorous version of this colour. You can either use a chocolate-brown gloss, or layer a matte lipstick with a non-sticky lip…

AS SOON AS YOU GET OFF THE SPEED BOAT, YOU’RE TREATED TO A SCENIC VIEW Living in isolation for the past two years has turned many of us into homebodies. And if your idea of self-care now involves quiet time for two, this secluded resort located on one of the 1,200 islands that make up the Maldives will allow you to do so with killer views for company. The Maldives has been blowing up on our Instagram feeds for a while now. And a significant reason why the buzz refuses to die down is because of how exquisite the scenery is…and its proximity to India. A short flight from most Indian cities will set your exotic vacation in motion. And the Velana International Airport—which, by the way, claims its own…

In recent years, the fashion industry—which has been notorious for its lack of diversity—has taken a more inclusive approach. And designers have finally come to terms with the fact that ‘diversity’ is not a fleeting trend, but the need of the hour to allow various ethnicities, skin tones, and shapes and sizes to feel represented. Balenciaga’s Creative Director Demna Gvasalia is at the forefront of this change as he continues to include real people to showcase his creations. Likewise, Jacquemus recently held a fashion show in Hawaii, where models of various sizes and races walked the runway, and were styled in harmony with their bodies. In addition to that, luxury fashion houses such as Chanel, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo, have also joined the movement and are emphasising the beauty of diversity.…

TRY THIS You can pair an embroidered bra with a midi skirt or jeans for a casual-glam look. If you feel it’s too risqué, wear a shirt on top for an elegant reveal. Sexy pieces, such as these, also work well with a pantsuit, and help tone down the seriousness of the look. THESE DELICATE DETAILS WILL FUEL YOUR DESIRE TO DRESS UP…

Every blogger on IG has you fooled into thinking that they’ve somehow crammed massive…

DELICATE PINKS Fresh shades in saturated colours scream summer. Add to that a hint of neutrals, and your eye game will be on fleek. Featuring shades of pink, a striking red, along with a versatile brown, this palette features a rich pigment, which is perfect for creating monotone looks. Or, pair any two shades together to rock a dual-toned version. Make this your everyday palette Keep the spirit of Spring alive all year round with this eye and cheek palette. Boasting nine shades, all of which gel well with each other, the soft hues are perfect for day time. This strategically-created palette offers a light shade to highlight the lids, two mediumtoned hues to colour and contour, and a saturated hue to intensify the look. EARTHY BROWNS We cannot think…

You know that gritty exfoliator you have been using since secondary school? The one you scrub on your face until it feels tingly and slightly raw? Yeah, there’s a really good chance it is destroying your skin. The truth is, even though exfoliators are 100% necessary, the wrong ones can do more damage than good. Harsh kinds can create micro-tears in your skin, weakening its protective barrier and rolling out a red carpet for bacteria, causing breakouts. So, permission to bin your old go-to is granted. The exfoliator you should be using is made with chemicals, but not scary ones. We’re talking about gentle acids that dissolve the sticky substance that binds pore-clogging dead skin cells together, leaving you with Zendaya-like glowy skin. Basically, goals on goals on goals. A…

I am a Jamaican Canadian who never took no for an answer. I am a woman. I am a Black woman. I am my mother’s child. I love my family, chosen and given. I never pass up an opportunity for a prank. I am all these things, and so much more, before what is happening with my skin. I started developing vitiligo—an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the melanin-producing cells in skin and hair, causing de-pigmented patches—when I was four. It felt incredibly isolating as a child. I vividly recall being in third grade and trying to befriend two girls who would run away from me because their mothers did not want them to ‘catch’ what I had, as if I were contagious. Thankfully, though,…

Cosmo: Tell us about the Kate Hudson x Juice Beauty Revitalizing Acacia + Rose Powder Mask. Why did you choose a powder formula? Karen Behnke: "For a customisable experience. You can discover your own personalised ritual by creating a mask consistency as light or rich as you like depending on your skin needs for that day. Thinner applications provide gentle benefits when you need to clarify, while thicker applications provide a more potent experience for hydration." C: What are the key benefits of this mask? KB: "Like all Juice Beauty products, this mask exemplifies sustainability in its highest form, with organic ingredients on the inside and sustainable packaging on the outside. It has age-defying qualities that help minimise wrinkles. In order to improve texture for a smoother effect, this mask…

We have been trained in the trenches of love and war to demand that we get ours first. Maybe that’s from oral, your partner’s fingers, or one of you using a massager on you before or during intercourse (all very good things, we can’t deny). Your friends enthuse about this prevailing tactic at boozy Sunday brunches, and women bond over it at parties. Having your orgasm first has become the bedroom rallying cry of empowered women everywhere. ‘He doesn’t get to come until you do first!’ And all that is valid! But we are here to argue one very important fact: coming last can be awesome, too. Think about how you feel after an orgasm: satisfied, warm, tingly, and drowsy. Sex is tiring! And quickly getting back in the game…

, MindTribe.in Mental health and well-being are vital to one’s optimal functioning. Let’s establish that as a non-negotiable. But what does the term ‘mental health’ mean exactly? Answer: it includes your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The stability and maintenance of mental well-being are also indicative of one’s ability to understand—and deal with—daily stressors, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making, both in individuals and communities. All of us experience periods of sadness, stress, anger, or helplessness, particularly in times of uncertainty. But sometimes, things can get overwhelming and confusing, and you might wonder if you should consult a professional for help. This is why it’s important to know how to distinguish between daily mental stressors and existing mental health conditions…because when you are aware of your mental health, you will be more…