It is just the beginning of April and it already seems like we are well into summers, into cool and airy clothes, into the water pools, sipping cold drinks and ofcourse trying to beat the heat. Summer, although is fun in some ways but believe me trying to protect yourself from the heat and the problems that come along with the heat can be a big task. To ease your job to some extent, here we are with some tips for summer to take care of your skin and body

• Stay Hydrated- Drink as much water as possible to prevent your body from dehydration. Drink cooling juices like watermelon without adding sugar. Also avoid taking a lot of tea or coffee as it can lead to dehydration. Other cooling summer drinks include mango panna, kokum sharbat, lassi, thandai, lime juice etc.
• Cleanse your face twice a day using a water or gel based cleanser to get rid of all the sweat, dirt, oil etc. If you have excessively dry skin, then go in for a cream based cleanser.
• Use a Toner after cleansing the face. The most effective and cooling toner is the rose water. Toner helps to close the pores and keep the skin cool. Decant some rosewater into a spray bottle and keep in refrigerator overnight and spray it on your face after cleansing. You may keep the bottle in your bag and use it throughout the day.
• Moisturize- Summer does not equate to no moisturizer. Even though the skin tends to get sweaty and oily, a water based light moisturizer is a must in summers too. This helps to keep your skin hydrated. 
• Sun Protection- Sunscreen is a must have in summer. Make sure it is broad spectrum formulation to protect from both UVA and UVB rays and the SPF should be 30 or more. Apply sunscreen atleast 30 minutes before going out in sun and reapply after every 3-4 hours depending on the exposure. If you are going to spend longer hours in the sun or are on the beach make sure to apply SPF 50. 
• Exfoliation- Exfoliating the skin to remove dead cells become even more important in summer as it also helps to take off the tanned skin.
• Lips- Lips usually get too dry in summer and a layer of dry skin is formed. To keep your lips soft and supple in the scorching heat, exfoliate them with a lip scrub or a mixture of coarse sugar and lemon juice and use a lip balm with SPF 15 if you are going out in the sun.
• Feet- Although summer let you wear your strappy and open footwear but that often brings along the problem of dry feet. Scrub of dead skin every day or atleast alternate days and apply foot cream to make your heels summer ready for open sandals. Make your pedicurist your best friend and meet her every fortnight. 
• Sunburn- In case of excess sun exposure or sun burn, apply aloe vera gel to soothe the skin.
• Tan Removal- A homemade pack can be used all over the body to get rid of tan. Mix besan with yoghurt and lemon juice. Apply on the tanned areas and let it dry. Once dried, scrub it off and wash with water.
• Cooling Face pack- Mix half of grated cucumber with one tablespoon of yoghurt. Apply on your face and wash off after drying. While the pack is on, put cotton pad soaked in rosewater on your eyes to soothe them.
• Diet- Eat lots of fruits and food rich in Vitamin A, C and E and Antioxidants. All the summer fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, along with tomatoes, berries, bell pepper etc. must be consumed. 

How are you getting Summer ready? Do share in comments
Signing off for now

The second post in the series Professional Dressing, you can read the first one- Rules to follow or break here

Apart from dressing up well, certain steps of basic grooming are as important in creating a positive Professional Image. You may dress up well but if your hair is not done well or your nail paint is chipped, the efforts made by you in dressing up will go down the drain. If a great dress gives you style, the finer details of grooming give you all the elegance.

To present yourself at your best, these tips will certainly help you-

• Keep your hair well groomed and trim or touch-up colour as and when required. Make sure they are not overly oily or fizzy. Use the correct hair care products as per your hair and scalp type.  
• If your hair are chemically treated (re-bonded, colored, smoothened etc.), use professional hair care products based on the treatment you've undergone.
• Take good care of your skin. Cleanse, Tone and Moisturize well. Use products according to your skin type. 
• Maintaining a good dental hygiene is equally important. Make sure your breath is always fresh. Keep mints handy all the time specially before an important meeting.
• A light natural make up is acceptable for all kinds of workplace. Infact, a natural makeup can make you look more refined than going without make up. You may go a little dramatic if you work in a creative field but maintain the subtlety. Will talk about the Natural makeup look very soon. 
• Keep your lips moisturized and presentable as the first thing people notice about you is your smile and dry and chapped lips don't do justice to it.
• Once in while, red lips and/or nails are acceptable when you need to pep up a seemingly boring outfit or  just to lift up your spirits.
• Keep your hand moisturized and presentable. Believe it or not, hands are most visible part of your body after the face.
• Go for regular manicure and pedicure. For the hands, French Manicure looks subtle, neat and classy. It shows how much attention you pay to finer details. Keep your nails short or of medium length.
• If you like painting your toenails and/or finger nails, make sure the paint is not chipped. If it is, remove the paint and apply a new one. If you like wearing nail paint, wear it well or don't wear at all. Gel nail paints are low-maintenance paints. You put them on and they stay as is for nearly 15-20 days. 
• If you like to go bare nail, make sure your nails are thoroughly clean at all times and there is no dirt and gunk under your nail.
• Keep your heels smooth and moisturized specially if you wear open shoes.
• Get rid of unwanted body hair specially from the arms, hands, underarms (even if you don't wear sleeveless or wear a jacket over it) legs (more so if you wear skirts, even with a pantyhose). Nothing is more unsightly than tufts of visible hair.  Also, it is more hygienic. 
• Wear a deodorant or perfume with a pleasant and not very strong fragrance and something which goes with your personality.

Well Groomed person can make others feel that how well she takes care of herself/himself and is how detail oriented she/he is. All these are even more important during an interview, where you meet your prospective employers for the first time and as they always say "You have only one chance to make a First Impression".

What is the most integral part of your grooming routine when you dress up for work? Do leave a comment and share with us.

Signing off

When it comes to dressing up for work, we all tend to have different opinions but certain things are common as to what people think and do when it comes to their professional wardrobe. Some are set rules and must be followed, while others can be taken more as a guideline. Let's see what all-

1. Black and other neutrals are the only colours you can wear to work.
May Break- Neutrals may form the foundation for your outfit, while other colors may be added as accents.

2. Bright Colours are strict no-no.
Break- Bright colours worn as top or even as jackets are always welcome. Also, bright colors can be added as accessories. Very few professions are there where bright colors are frowned upon but in most workplaces they are pleasantly welcome. 

3. Lace is not for professional dressing.
Follow to some extent- Lace when worn as an accent breaks the monotony of the texture and makes the outfit more delicate and feminine. Yes, a full lace dress is not something you would like to be seen in at work.

4. Wear your tallest heal, higher the heals, more formal they are.
Break- Wear heels... Yes but only those you are comfortable with! Unless your profession has strict rules for the length of your heels, wear the most comfortable tallest heels.

5. No loud make-up.
Follow- Loud makeup is only for clubbing Period.

6. Showing off skin is not acceptable.
Follow-  Unless you are a model and modelling for an outfit, it is preferred to keep your cleavage, thighs, tummy unseen at work. 

7. Keep your accessories minimal and delicate.
May Break- If acceptable at workplace, instead of wearing too many pieces, one can just wear a statement necklace or ring.

8. No Red Lips or Nails.
May Break- Red Lips or nails can always add a touch of excitement to a seemingly boring outfit. Red has become more like a neutral nail colour over a period of time. One may choose to go with either of the two at any point.

9. No visible bra-straps or panty lines.
Must Follow- At work and all the time!

10. Wear pants or trousers if you are working in a profession dominated by men.
Try to Break-  If you have a feminine style and just because you have to work with men, does not mean you have to do so in pants. Go ahead and show your feminine side and wear your skirts. A feminine look is always welcome and contrary to popular belief that your colleagues will not take you seriously, you will rather be appreciated for coming across as who you are and show your worth with your performance. And don't forget the skirt suits are classics in a Woman's Professional Wardrobe and the same goes for sari in an Indian Women's Working Wardrobe.

Well... there are so many more but these are the most common ones.
What are your thoughts about professional dressing? Do you strongly agree or disagree with any of the above points? Do leave a comment and share your views.

Signing off​

Holi… the festival of colours! Just two days to go!! Don’t we wait eagerly for holi to play with colours, splash water on one another and be a child again for one day in our busy, hectic life. But, what spoils the fun is the efforts that we have to put in to clean up the colours or having to stay with the evidence of playing holi for few days after all the excitement has died down.

Skin care plays an important role to ensure that you don’t spend hours after holi in taking off the colours, let me start by sharing a few tips that you can follow BEFORE going out to play holi-

• Layer your body- Apply lots of oil (coconut/ olive/ almond) or cream or Vaseline on your body followed by Sunscreen. This layering will prevent the colour from reaching your skin. 
• Oil your hair generously a night before so that oil reaches the scalp as well and prevent colour deposit on scalp and hair.
• If playing with dry colours, apply foundation on your face to protect your skin.
• Coat your nails with nail paint to prevent them from getting coloured.

AFTER PLAYING HOLI

• Use lukewarm water to take shower. Stand under water for atleast 10 minutes and rinse off as much colour as possible
• Apply some coconut oil on the body to help in removal or colour. Wait for 15 minutes.
• On your face apply a pack of besan (gram flour), coarsely ground green gram dal, honey, rose water and lemon juice mixed together and let it dry. Rub off with little water.
• On Hair and scalp, apply a paste of yogurt and fenugreek powder to take off the colour and let be there for 20 minutes and rinse.
• Use a mild shampoo and conditioner for hair and a gentle face cleanser to wash your face and hair.
• For the body, use a paste of coarsely ground green gram dal mixed with honey and lemon juice and yogurt to rub off the oil and colour along with it or a body scrub may also be used.
• Do not take bath or wash face repeatedly to take off colour. It will only damage the skin and hair.
• For the last rinse of hair, use vinegar diluted with water.
• Apply aloevera gel mixed with rose water on the face and body to soothe the skin.
• Avoid any chemical facial or hair treatments for atleast a week after holi.

TIPS FOR MEN

• Along with doing the pre-preparation as above, avoid shaving for 2-3 days prior to holi. Most of the colour will come off with shaving after holi.

TIPS FOR KIDS

• Pre-preparations are same as above.
• Make your child wear full sleeves and full pants for minimal colour exposure to the body.
• For removing the colour, apply besan mixed with yogurt and a pinch of turmeric. Let it dry and rub off using water.
• Apply aloevera gel or a soothing moisturizer to prevent any kind of irritation caused by colours on the skin.

Use natural/organic colors as they are gentler on the skin and follow these tips, I hope you’ll not end up spending hours to take off the colour and regret playing holi!

What are your tried and tested holi skin care tips? Do share in comments

Also just to show off what we have done to my nails for Holi at the Style-n-File... (That's my makeup & Nail studio)

Signing off for now