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But naturally!
Runners’ sole mate
PACESETTER Sajita
Nair
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But naturally!
If
the statistics are to be believed, we end up using close to 50 chemicals by the time we’ve stepped out of just the shower area. It is worrisome fact that needs urgent solutions. No wonder, in the chemical-driven life of today, Indian herbal and organic industry is on a roll and the natural cosmetic companies, all the more. As per analysts, Transparency Market Research, global demand for organic cosmetic products is expected to reach $ 13.2 billion by 2018, growing at an annual rate of 9.6 per cent. If the statistics don’t make immediate sense, the fact that each of us has at least one herbal product, definitely will. “The numbers are huge when we talk of natural cosmetics in the organised sector. Just think of the sheer number of products and companies in unorganised sector. As it is, the herbal products and cosmetics lend themselves easily to small-scale production and unorganised sector,” says Dr Chiranjiv Chhabra, from Skin Alive Clinic, New Delhi. She adds, “These days patients are well versed with the new technology in skin care, which has advanced quite a lot. No matter what treatment they get done, at the end of the day, they are happy to be recommended a herbal product.”
Granny’s tips
Since ancient times, women have religiously believed in the power of kitchen cosmetics and everyday things like turmeric and gram flour ubtan, a face pack handed over by our grandmothers, among countless others. The tried and tested and trusted methods worked well for the former generations. Just when technology-driven life and turmeric became difficult to co-exist, the MNCs stepped forward to fill the gap and satisfy the need. The Indian beauty market is an attractive one since the women have been traditionally handed down natural beauty secrets. With the rampant urban lifestyle, the skin conscious women are left with no alternatives but to believe in the ever-growing green labels. “A large percentage of people are apprehensive of chemicals; that is yet another factor driving the demand,” says Dr Indu Ballani, consultant dermatologist from BL Kapoor Memorial Hospital, Delhi.
Brand wagon
As per a KPMG study, the organic segment is growing at a rate of 15 to 20 per cent a year, which is reportedly much faster than the overall cosmetics segment. It only points to a bright future for the natural beauty and skin care products. The latest to arrive the market is the Italian beauty brand Bottega Di Lungavita. It hopes to capture a share of the large pie. “Indian consumer has always been inclined towards natural and organic products and it is in keeping with that philosophy that we believe that our brand would be a great fit for the Indian market,” says Tisha Khurana, beauty expert from Bottega Di Lungavita. This brand claims to use the purest spring water from San Pellegrino Lake, Italy, for its products. There is a lot more that makes the Indian markets a viable option for foreign and domestic players. Adds Tisha, “It is anticipated that the Indian cosmetic market will register a significant growth of around 17 per cent in the next two years. The Indian cosmetic market registered impressive sales worth Rs 264.1 billion in 2011 itself.” Attribute the increase in demand to growing consumer consciousness or the sheer numbers coming forward and spending on themselves. “No matter how much the technology advances, a bio-ingredient will always find favour to botox. The demand stems from the inherent trust in natural products,” claims Harveen Kathuria, clinic manager, Cleopatra, a chain of salons which have recently started a range of organic treatments and facials. She adds, “People are now even switching to organic make-up. They have been able to see the harmful effects of chemicals and the positive results of natural products.”
Doctor’s version
Every natural product need not be organic, just as every herbal ingredient need not mean goodness of nature. A simple aloe vera if used the wrong way, can spell contact dermatitis. Just before you grab that avocado and aloe vera night cream with organic sea minerals, there is a need to read it in conjunction with the fine print. “Most of the herbal companies would put one single herb in their products and market it as herbal. Many herbal products can have chemicals too. An almond oil by a famous company had just 2 per cent of almond oil content,” claims Dr Anup Dhir, senior cosmetic surgeon, Apollo Hospital, Delhi. “One has to check the label at the back and the list of ingredients. One must be careful of the dispensing medium, it is the base in which the product is made. That should be natural,” adds Dr
Chhabra.
Know your labels
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Runners’ sole mate Time was when a shoe was just a shoe. Its purpose was to aid walking and keep the feet protected. There were basically two types of shoes — the dress shoes and the canvas shoes used in sport — any kind of sport. We’ve run a long distance from that — quite literally. With fitness exploding into a major leisure activity, sports shoes now come in a variety of categories. There are walking shoes, jogging shoes and aerobic shoes. There are shoes for playing tennis and those for golf. Shoes for hiking and shoes for mountaineering. Every sporting activity has its own specialised sporting pair. Research & development
Take running shoes, for example. Global shoe majors like Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Puma and others go to great lengths and spend millions on research and development to design shoes for different sporting activities in a bid to race to the top of the $15 billion running shoes business that is leapfrogging at almost 12 per cent annually. Leading companies first generate 3D images showing how men and women walk, and then, the shoe is fashioned to fit the foot and the gait. The sole comprises insole, midsole and outsole, which provides the basic cushioning. The materials that go into making the final product include polyurethane, liquid silicone, carbon rubber and an assortment of materials on the exterior. It is an old adage in the runner’s book that shoes win and lose races. The wrong kind of trainers can be potentially disastrous and will not just prevent a runner from completing a long distance race but can leave him or her with painfully swollen feet that may last for days. So it is paramount to get the right kind of shoes that fit the feet snugly. That is why when it comes to running shoes, leading companies keep a few important points in mind. They make sure that quality running shoes are lighter in weight and these are highly cushioned. Since the feet fall rhythmically while jogging, the shoes have to be made of a special strong material, which at the same time has to be light and tough enough to withstand thorns and sharp stones from puncturing the shoes and pricking the feet.
Snug fitting
A vital factor top manufacturers have to keep in mind is that running shoes should be waterproof so that small puddles encountered while jogging outdoors will not harm these and also prevent the jogger from skidding. The shoe’s heel support has to be soft but strong enough to prevent any injury to the foot. The fitting must be snug and give the foot a firm grip when running in a gym or a park. Top quality runner shoes like Nike Flyknit Lunar and Adidas Energy Boost have an overall shock-absorber effect on the foot. These have a very firm grip to prevent slipping and injury. These are more airy as feet tend to sweat while jogging. Great care is taken to make the heel wide and firm to prevent any ankle injury. The soles of these shoes are made from special material that is suitable for long distance running and marathons.
Three categories
At an advanced level, many of these leading global companies make three different categories of running shoes. The first are the road runners or general purpose shoes meant for long-distances running on hard surfaces like concrete roads and treadmills. The second in the runner’s list are off road or trail shoes, which are made for softer, uneven or slippery surfaces like mud tracks. These have varying levels of support for proper body balance during cross-country runs. The third category is generally for professionals. These are racing flats or track spikes and have a much lower heel and are extremely light but since these do not provide much protection to the foot because of the thin material, these are made from, these are recommended to be used only on racing tracks, and not for general running. Contrary to popular belief, running shoes are very different from walking shoes and the two cannot — or should not — be interchanged. The difference is that while walking, the toes get curled but the body pressure falls on the heels and the balls of the feet. Thus walking shoes have a slight slant in the heel that curves in, which gives them great shock-absorbing qualities.
Lightweight & breathable
If running shoes are used for walking, these can cause pain and injury. Another difference is that the soles of walking shoes are smoother than those of running shoes and there is little chance of slipping. One similarity is that walking shoes, too, are lightweight and breathable and have a natural bounce. For serious runners, choosing the right pair of shoes is crucial. Faced with a dizzying array of styles and brand names, the experience can be somewhat overwhelming. But when it comes to choosing the right running shoe, most professionals give just one advice: Stick to top brands and chances are you won’t go wrong.
FEEL THE SURFACE CHOOSING THE RIGHT pair
Right Fit: Make sure the shoe fits you perfectly. For this, it is best to try the shoe first and see whether it is comfortable or not. Choose the right time:
If possible, try out new jogging shoes after a run or at the end of the day when your feet will be at their largest. Stability:
A running shoe must have great stability. Select running shoes that have a combination of good support and midsole cushioning. A size bigger: Running shoes should have a bit of spare space between the toe and shoe end as the foot tends to swell while jogging. Bring own socks:
When selecting a running shoe, carry your own socks. Those provided by the store may not give you the exact feel. Comfort comes first:
Don't get swayed by claims that shoes expand after some wearing. These should be comfortable from the word go. Be ready to spend: A quality running shoe can be fairly expensive. It will be in your interest not to cut corners as it can hurt your feet.
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PACESETTER Sajita
Nair “I
believe in 'living' life and not merely drifting along. I dare to dream and then, of course, work towards it. Excitement-filled life is what I prefer to a reflective one. I like to be on the go!” Sajita's father was in the Air Force, so she did he schooling across India. After an MBA (HR) and M.Sc (applied psychology), she joined the Indian Army Ordnance Corps in 1994. “Being a woman in the Army in the early 1990s was certainly a challenging experience. There was novelty in the concept, while at the same time the expectations from women officers were not clear.” It was important to prove that women officers were as capable, if not more, in carrying out military duties. It was an added responsibility on the initial batches to set a good precedent for the other women officers could follow in future. Sajita is proud to say that she did a good job. “While in uniform, I always knew that the 'officer' takes precedence over the ‘lady’and hence I undertook all the tasks that any male officer would undertake.” She worked hard at honing her leadership skills in a bid to earn acceptance and respect in the force. The Army groomed and polished her. Her personality bloomed into that of a confident individual and she experienced a big mental change from “Can I?” to “I can”. She learnt important lessons in camaraderie, team work and man management. After the end of her tenure in the Army, Sajita pursued her passion to write and began writing blogs, articles, short stories and travelogues for reputed publications. At the Kala Ghoda Literary Festival, she won a prize at the open book pitch contest. That was a turning point in her journey to pen her debut novel She's a Jolly Good Fellow. Through it, she has shared her experiences while in service: “When I began to write, all I wanted to do was to tell a good story the best way I could.” She believes writing is a solitary job and it gets done well when there is a sense of urgency to tell the story one has in mind. But good stories are born when one accumulates a repertoire of experiences while meeting people, travelling and observing life. Presently, Sajita is working as an HR manager in a software company in Bangalore. In her job, she gets to interact with people of different personality types, backgrounds, cultures and experiences. She is making the best of this situation by learning more about life in general and she knows that all this will eventually find a place in her books that she writes. She has already started work on her next book, which is a story set around the matrilineal society in Kerala, the Nairs. She plans to call it Malabar Homestay. Having partaken slices from diverse offerings of life, she feels that “Each phase of life is exciting and while I live through each, I absorb it wholly and hence each one is the most satisfying at that point in life.” Sajita is a strong proponent of women’s empowerment and she knows that it cannot be achieved if women are not financially independent. She believes that “Financial independence makes women confident and independent thinkers. Although it is tough, women are capable of finding the perfect balance between work and home. I have noticed that when women are successful in the work that they do, they exude a radiance and beauty that comes from being self-reliant and self-assured.”
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ALL THAT
GLITTER
Price:
RS 90,000 (£900) CHROMO THERAPY AT HOME
price: Between Rs 2.98 lakh and
Rs 3.70 lakh ROLL OF THE DIGITAL DICE
Price:
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price:
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price:
RS 2.25 lakhs ($3,750) SMART CASES FOR A SMARTPHONE
price:
RS 1,320 ($22) BEJEWELLED WACKO JACKO
price:
RS 2.28 crore ($3,80,000) HERE COMES THE HYPER CAR
Price:
RS 8.66 crore (£866,000) LIGHT UP YOUR STYLE
price:
RS 28.20 lakh ($47,000)
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Manpriya Singh
Time
Biotique, Forest Essentials, Khadi, Shahnaz Hussain, Fabindia…there was never a dearth of natural brands already existing in the Indian market. However, when the alternate cosmetics became mainstream and the hitherto well-known brands became widely known, that’s when the organic practices became an industry. The penchant for going all natural and organic has ensured that each year, many international players enter the market. L’Occitaine, Seacret, Body Shop, H2O… are increasingly making their presence felt in the salons and on the shelves. 
Herbal, organic, 100 per cent natural, made with organic ingredients; the green jargon used by the cosmetics companies, doesn’t sort much things out for the consumer. The words herbal, organic, botanical might sound similar, there’s a well-defined meaning and distinctive feature of each of them. As if they weren’t enough, the latest cosmetic terminology often includes bio-active ingredients, vegan and among others.
Back in 2009, a book by Christopher McDougall titled Born to Run popularised a trend that captured the imagination of the entire running community — barefoot running. Humans, he wrote, have been running for millions of years, nearly all that time in bare feet. So how on earth could we have survived if running was bad for the body? He listed out the health benefits of barefoot running, and soon enough, there was a legion of converts. The shoe industry, which saw its sales graphs decline, came up with a brilliant idea — the Five Finger Shoe created by Italian company Vibram. The shoe had slots for the fingers of the feet and fitted like a glove. Soon enough other companies followed suit. Adidas came up with Adipure and other leading brands like New Balance Mizuno and Saucony all had their versions of the five finger shoes. However, the trend did not last too long and has now given way to minimalist running footwear that is lightweight and mimics the feeling of walking.
Adidas energy boost shoes for men are listed among the top 10 best running shoes in the world. Their special midsole keeps the runner charged with an endless supply of energy. These are a bouncy pair that guards your legs against strain and pressure while running.
The French-made Salmon XT S-Lab 5 have been designed for any tough terrain and will take you
just about anywhere. These secure your foot very lightly without added weight. Underneath is a
stable chassis and cushioned midsole to keep feet steady and absorb impact on the trail. 
The
‘modern classic’ coloured shoes from Woodland are made with branded
graphics on vegetable tanned leather, thus creating stylish textures. The
highlight of the collection includes natural and eco-friendly material used to
create electric and eccentric shades of red, blue, green and yellow with
comfortable and strong grip.
The iconic Five Finger Spyridon running shoes by Italian company Vibram have
a rubber outsole that protects the feet and provides traction on rocky and rutted surfaces. The upper is breathable thanks to the hook-and-loop closure that secures
the foot in place for all-terrain running.
Based on a function-first design philosophy, it is built from back to front instead of the standard bottom-up method providing a smooth ride to the runner. Featuring a “Zoned” technology that mimics the way the foot moves, the shoe meets the demands of the runner through
each phase of the gait cycle. 
Young enthusiasts on the jogging track are always on the lookout for sporty and trendy styles. To give an added push to their movement, Liberty has launched F10 Bolt, a new range of sports shoes for both men and women. Available in bright neon
colours, these bouncy, energetic and stylish pair of shoes is a must-have pair for the daily dose of fitness.
Then
check out the Creation 13 by Japanese sports shoe company Mizuno. The shoes
absorb the weight of runners without feeling mushy. These are extremely
flexible and conform to almost any foot type and all terrains. 
These are light on the feet and optimise performance on more uneven paths and are ideal for jogging at moderate speeds.
The New Balance 1260 V3 running shoes have great cushioning and forefoot flexibility. These give you a cushy stability from the ground up and have a breathable upper mesh providing adequate ventilation while running. This is truly a solid pair of shoes for professional joggers.
Runners with moderate-to-high stability requirements will love the plush cushioning and support provided of Omni 12 by American company
Saucony. These have good support and cushioning and
a slew of stability features and foam underfoot which provides great comfort for runners.
Put some silver in your calling card or rather, put some calling cards in your silver case! Celebrated British jewellery designer Andrew Bunney has come out with a flip-top visiting card case hand-crafted in silver that will just take your breath away with its elegance and extravagance. Clearly a luxe item, it has a hammer-tone finish and is easy to carry in your wallet or top pocket. A part of the 2013 Bunney Accessories Collection, it smacks of sophistication and is modern, thoughtful yet playful and fun.
How about a digital twist to the traditional gaming dice? Digital Technologies has transformed the dice into a universal game controller which changes your tablet or any other smart device into an interactive board game. With each roll, Dice-Plus communicates with your device via the Bluetooth and offers you an amazing gaming experience. Dice-Plus stays true to the six-sided format, with the added advantage of interacting with smartphones and tablets delivering a blend of old-fashioned game-playing on a new digital platform.
It is a delightful and effervescent fragrance that smacks of masculinity. The new limited edition deluxe Bleu de Chanel by French high fashion label Chanel is light and appealing. The 150ml spray bottle has a provocatively fresh woody aroma as also hints of frankincense, Indian ginger and sandalwood. The profoundly sensual perfume, says the company spokesperson, is made for the man who defies convention and resists the ordinary things in life and looks for the unexpected. 
At first glance, most women confess to developing a crush for it. Crafted from calf hair punctuated with gold eyelets and patent-leather tassels, Burberry Prorsum’s burgundy Crush Bag is a textural treat. Introduced in the Burberry Autumn/Winter 2013 Womenswear Collection, the soft, slouchy bag with a playful edge makes a direct appeal to a classy woman’s heart and mind. For, it is a bag a woman can literally hug for comfort.
It’s a tribute from a luxury house to an iconic smartphone. The Italian fashion label Just Cavalli has released a line of iPhone 5 cases with an animal-print theme including leopard and python skin prints and multicoloured bird wings. The collection is for those who want to combine protection with glamour. Made of ultra-protective, anti-shock material, the main element of the collection is the texture high definition prints. The case is personalised with the Just Cavalli logo on the back and metal studs on the sides of the cover and lends a new style to the smartphone. 
If he had lived he would have been 55 on August 29, 2013. But even in death Michael Jackson continues to be the greatest pop icon the world has ever seen. This year fans celebrated his birthday in style and renowned New York artist Jeff Koons commemorated the occasion with a collector’s white-and-yellow gold statue of the pop star. The statue strikes his legendary posture—one hand covering his masked face—and is drenched in 505 diamonds and 45 pieces of sapphire. Interested? Contact Russian boutique Bon-Cadeau where the exclusive statue is displayed.
It is an ultimate expression of McLaren’s engineering expertise. The McLaren P1 is being called one of the best supercars ever to hit the road. A 50th anniversary gift from the iconic McLaren Racing Company of England, it is a hybrid that uses electric power and Formula-1 technology to notch up a mind-boggling 903 horsepower via a 3.8 V8 twin-turbocharged engine and a rear-mounted generator. Intelligent and adaptive, the limited-edition P1 keeps cool and steady even while travelling at a blistering speed of 350 kmph. The car has been tested under extreme conditions in the Californian desert at temperatures touching 52 degrees as also in freezing Arctic conditions. It is now due for release. Are you up for the action? If yes, then get ready to break a bank.
Paris-based luxury company S.T. Dupont may be known for collectibles like pens, handbags, perfumes and cigarettes but what it is best associated with are some of the most exquisite lighters in the world. Its latest lighter pays tribute to Paris’ most famous architectural landmark—the Place Vendôme which is one of the most emblematic squares of French 17th. architecture. Made in the shape of the Vendôme, the lighter is made from rose gold and is embellished with 192 diamonds. It’s roller is engraved with Napoleon’s famous quotation, “Impossible n’est pas français” (Nothing is impossible for the French). In a limited edition of 35, the lighter is being snapped up by people who enjoy the finer things of life.