Playing Quick 5- five of five

Happy VijayaDashami to all my friends celebrating!

These past nine days have just been a bliss! I decided to take a backseat and not worry about creating content wherever I went. We were able to get a couple of house projects that we had been pushing off for the longest time ever. I finally have the gym I wanted in my house. Just a few more accessories and my home gym will be ready. Can’t wait to show you how it looks.

Coming to the caption of today’s post, since festival season is upon us, I wanted to share five of five random things. The five categories that I selected are Indian fusion wear brands, US jewelry brands, best lipsticks for my brown girl besties, 30 plus skincare must-haves, and health supplements to try. Let’s delve right into these categories and why I chose them.

1) Indian fusion brands

I always prefer fusion outfits over Indian outfits, coz I can wear them here in the US. While I can wear Indian outfits without being judged, fusion outfits make me more comfortable! It feels more befitting, sartorially. That being said below are some brands that I feel make the best Indian Fusion clothing.

1. Paulmi and Harsh
2. Basanti, Kapde aur Koffee
3. Soup by Sougat Paul ( my OUTFIT )
4. Priyanca Khanna
5. Keelayah

2) US-based Indian jewelry brands

I have either worked with or shopped from so many US-based jewelry brands, that I had to share my top five with you. Most of them require you to spend a minimum for free shopping, but it’ll be worth checking them out.

1. Saaj by G
2. Blossombox jewelry
3. Gold she said
4. Nokshi
5. Bliss forever

3) 30 plus skincare must-haves

With everyone sharing their daily skincare on social, I bet you are confused by now. What to buy, what to use and how to use, these must be the questions topping the list. Honestly, skincare is very personal and depends on your skin type, age, and your lifestyle. I have always been on top of my skincare game and embracing aging skin one day at a time. Here are must skincare products you must consider adding to your daily regimen.

1. Toner – this is the first product that goes on my skin post washing. I usually like to layer a few types of toners, going from thinnest to the most thickest.
2. Vitamin C– this is the brightening agent that must be used if you suffer from melasma or dark spots on your skin.
3. Niacinamide or Peptide– depending on your skin type you could use either. I like to alternate between the two as both have super hydrating properties.
4. Moisturizer– I use a hyaluronic moisturizer as my skin is getting dryer and dryer as I am aging. You can even try a skin barrier formula which helps lock in the hydration from the aforementioned products.
5. Sunscreen – there is no skimping on this essential skincare. Summer or winter, sun or no-sun, you have to use a sheer, no-cast sunscreen on your face.

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4) Health supplements to try

I am not the expert and would advice consulting your physician before adding any supplement to your daily routine. You really don’t need those once-a-daily kind of all-in-one supplements. If you aren’t deficit in a particular nutrient, you don’t need to take the supplement. I introduced these supplements after consultation with my physician and personal trainer

1. collagen– this is the cell renewal supplement that anyone ever 25 must consider. Just FYI, if you taking an over-the-counter collagen drink, mind you ” it contains bovine ( beef bone ) powder “. So, you might want to check the table before using them. I use a vegan version and it works great for me.
2. magnesium– I started taking these twice a week soon after I gave up gluten. My muscle used to twitch and tremble on my gluten-free diet. Now, it helps with muscle recovery post workouts.
3. beetroot shots– not exactly a supplement, but beetroot juice can work in your favor. I have this pure, organic one from Trader Joe’s and it tastes yum.
4. vitamin D- needless to say most of the Indians are Vitamin-D deficit and have to depend on supplements to balance the levels. I started with 50,000 IU dosage once a week, then lowered it to 20,000 IU 2-3 times a week and now it is 5000 IU 5 times a week.
5. B-12 – your body won’t absorb vitamin-d if it isn’t administered in conjunction with B-12. The latter helps with better absorption of the former.

5) Lipsticks for my brown girl beauties

Just as your shoes make or break your look, your lipstick makes or breaks your makeup. No matter how skillfully the rest of the face has been done, the wrong shade of lipstick can ruin your whole makeup. Here are some tried and tested shades of lipstick, that will look great on ladies with darker lips and brown skin.

1. Mac cosmetics TABOO
2. Rare beauty Courage
3. Charlotte Tilbury Catwalk
4. Fenty Beauty HBIC
5. Patrick Ta She is not from here