• Home
  • About
  • Fashion
    • What I Wore
    • What Heer Wore
    • Fashion Guide
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Technology
    • Entertainment
  • Parenting
  • Contact
  • Media Kit
  • Disclaimer
Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest Bloglovin Subscribe

ICynosure


As humans, the biggest mistake we make is believing anything and everything we read and hear. However, another problem lies in the fact that we fail to ask questions to understand better and resign with the thought that we can do nothing about it. 

One such topic we are ignorant about is Palm Oil… believing every myth about the environmental and social problems, including deforestation, child labour, forest fires and climate change that have been formed over many years. However how true are these assertions about the world’s most consumed edible oil? I wrote in detail about everything we need to know about Palm Oil in an earlier article here. 

In a webcast organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, industry expert Bhavna Shah strived to create awareness about Palm Oil and debunked some common myths.

Myth #1: Palm Oil causes Deforestation
As per the latest European Commission report, deforestation can be both human and natural. Livestock ranching, agriculture expansion, logging, paper production, mining, urban sprawl, wildfire and climate change are among the largest contributors and the global share of palm oil plantation that causes deforestation accounts for only 2.3%.

Myth #2: Palm Oil requires large-scale Plantations
Palm trees grow on both large-scale plantations as well as small-scale family farms. Almost 40% of the palm oil production is undertaken by small-scale family farms, especially in Malaysia making it both poverty-reducing and economically progressing. 

Myth #3: Palm Oil is Unhealthy
Palm Oil is a cholesterol-free and trans-fat-free vegetable oil with a composition of 50% saturated and 50% unsaturated fatty acids. It is a naturally reddish-orange oil that also contains high beta-carotene content, a natural dietary supply of vitamin A and E that help prevent chronic diseases and supports brain health.

Myth #4: Palm Oil engages Child Labour
Palm Oil is produced in a responsible manner that respects social norms ensuring a multi-pronged push via labour laws and effective implementation. Also with the farm-to-fork approach, each step of the cycle is mapped ensuring the policies are followed to make a lasting social update. 

Myth #5: Palm Oil is only used in Food
Palm Oil is more versatile than any edible oil. It is used in almost all industries including personal care and cosmetics, biofuel and energy, pharmaceutical, industrial and many more. Almost all everyday products like food items, cosmetics, candles, soap, shampoo, detergent, biodiesel, and more than half the products in the supermarket have palm oil as an important ingredient. 

Having said this, it is true that not all Palm Oil production is sustainable and produced organically. However, the attention needs to shift from the blame game to educating people. 

Until next time,
~ Heena
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer:
This article is written in partnership with the Malaysian Palm Oil Council to create awareness about Palm Oil, its history and way forward. The views expressed are independent and unbiased observations made by the blogger and the council bears no responsibility for the same.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
No comments
A foundation garment like shapewear gives one a confidence boost when it comes to tight-fitting clothes and slinky fabrics. It not only helps smooth and contour the silhouette but also goes a step further to accentuate the shape. However, choosing shapewear that's perfect for your body type and lifestyle can be tricky, especially with the numerous styles currently available.


So here are the talking points which will help you make sense of this closeted clothing type:

What is Shapewear and what is it made of?
Shapewear is an undergarment style that helps create a smooth silhouette and sculpt your figure, particularly when wearing figure-hugging outfits. It often referred to as 'Spanx' after one of the most popular brands on the market, although they are sold by countless fashion and lingerie labels.

Shapewear has a reputation for being uncomfortable due to its compressive nature, but luckily, thanks to advancements in fabric technology, things have changed in recent years. One thing that hasn't changed is the role of such undergarments, they are built to make your clothes fit better and improve your confidence, whether you wear them every day or on special occasions.

In the wholesale shapewear world, Shapewear is dominated by two textiles namely elastane (spandex) and polyamide (nylon) that highlight the magical relationship between compression and comfort. Styles with strategically placed seams and intricate panels offer noticeable lifting and shaping, from soft shaping to firm contouring.

Full Bodysuit Lace Trim Front Zip
Bodyshaper
Just as the name implies, full body shapers help sculpt the body contours, including the waist, hips and tummy. These bodysuits may also be extended with a panty up to the middle thigh for a more comprehensive look. While there are body shapers that hug the midsection as a whole, many may find this style too restrictive. The best full-body shaper is one that has a front panel which clearly pulls-in the concerned area.

Bandage Detachable Straps Zip Ultra Body Shaper
Open-Bust Bodysuit
The open-bust bodysuit is not designed with a bra and is ideal for those who choose to pair it with their own intimates, such as bralettes or bras with greater support.

Tummy Training Latex Waist Trimmer
Waist Trainer Corset
A style borrowed from the Victorian era, a corset provides extreme compression in the mid-section to accentuate a slim waist. There are two types of corsets currently very popular, the waist cincher and trainer. 

Lace Hemline Butt Lifter High Waisted
High Waisted Butt Lifter Bottoms
A high waist bottom helps tackle three problem areas... it clinches the waist, tucks the tummy and snags the thighs.

So what kind of shapewear is the most versatile to own?
A full-body shapewear from HexinFashion is the best full-body shaper to opt for, as they are the most hard-working piece of the lot.
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
No comments
The lockdown has changed the way we entertain, especially with maintaining social distancing norms - heading out to watch a movie or a play or even go to an entertainment zone has become a huge no for us. One thing that has upped since, is consuming properties on OTT platforms. When the trailer of the ZEE5Club original series Bebaakee aired first, it seemed evident that it is a story of friendship, love, hate, revenge and much more between the lead characters Sufiyaan, Imtiaz and Kainaat. But as the series progressed I soon realised that it isn’t the run of the mill story that Indian audiences are accustomed to, but an extremely gripping emotional rollercoaster ride. 

Image Credit: ZEE5

The three minute trailer of Bebaakee shows how the lead couple’s paths cross time and again leading to immense friction and eventually love. However a twist in the tale is seen with the entry of the second lead, that tests not only the love between the couple but also friendship.  

As soon as the series launched on Zee5, I binge watched it straightaway. I have loads of reasons why this should make it to your watchlist, however here are the three most important ones, no spoilers here… 

The Plot
Bebaakee is a story based on friendship between two high powered-super wealthy individuals who become business partners, and join forces as a family unit. Their sons grow up to take the business mantle forward, but the journey is derailed by the entry of a young middle-class girl with professional aspirations and unshakable grit. Soon the friction gives way to love, followed by misunderstandings and hate that asks for revenge. As the story unfolds over the 10 episodes (backlink to https://www.zee5.com/zee5originals/details/bebaakee/0-6-2909/episodes) , audiences will be overwhelmed with the twists in the narrative keeping them glued to the series. 

The Performances
Bebaakee stands tall on the shoulders of Kushal Tandon who plays the male lead Sufiyaan Abdullah, a successful yet brooding young entrepreneur. In every scene he makes the audience feel the emotion he is going through, making the viewer part of the plot. When he says, “Deep down, you just love me’, gives me goosebumps. The debutant Shivjyoti Rajput as Kainaat Sahni is effortlessly convincing in her role as a girl who knows her mind and follows her heart. All the supporting cast including the second lead Karan Jotwani as Imtiaz Alqaazi have done an amazing job. The performances make for some excellent scenes and the show a delight to watch.

Image Credit: ZEE5

The Direction
Babaakee has been directed by Muzammil Desai, who has an enviable portfolio of work behind him, including some of the longest running shows on Indian television. With his experience he brings in some spectacular visuals, amazing background score and of course the ability to extract amazing performances. Being a pro at family dramas, Muzammil Desai has infused the series with the panache of the elite while keeping it fresh with young love, jealousy and revenge. With an IMDb rating of 9.3, this series is unmissable. 

Kya es baachpan ki dosti ka dastoor badlega? Ya phir #DilKiHitchki banagi #Bebaakee?

Until next time, 
~Heena
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
1 comments
The pandemic is taking a toll on the world causing death, illness and above all economic, social and emotional strife. But in these times, it is heart-warming to see everyone doing their bit to help others. The government has announced relief packages, corporates are taking up causes and individuals are being supportive. 

While all of us are fighting the invisible enemy in our way, we must realise and acknowledge that it is disruptive for children, especially for those that depend on corporate initiatives and programmes for their growth and development. I’ve known about the Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme for some time now, it is a partnership between Nestlé India and seven universities. Nestlé’s #HealthyKids initiative has been committed to care, for a decade and in these times, they have kept up this commitment. 


Nestlé’s #HealthyKids Launch and Expansion
The Healthy Kids Programme was launched in 2009 with a focus on raising awareness, among adolescents aged 10-17, about health, hygiene and nutrition. In 2014, Nestlé partnered with Magic Bus India Foundation to scale up the program with the same objective through the sports for development approach.

The approach focuses on using sports as a tool to educate the adolescents and encourages the idea of eating nutritious food and adopting a healthy and active lifestyle. However, with the nationwide lockdown for COVID-19, the programme has been tweaked to continue working on their mission and wade through the situation.


Stepping Up Their Game – Each One Teach Ten
The ‘Each 1 Teach 10’campaign was carried out with the idea that one person records a video of the proper hand washing technique and sends it to ten others. What happens next is that, each of those ten community sent it to another ten, and the chain of messaging continued. It was a smart use of technology; wouldn’t you agree? 

It doesn’t end there! Visual messaging through posters, boards, books and videos were shared with children and community members, with an aim to curtail community outbreak. Nestlé’s team continued to purse their goals and mission. The team made special efforts to encourage their staff to continue the programme, virtually. Nestlé Healthy Kids Modules on health, nutrition and hygiene were uploaded on the ‘Magic Bus Academy’ a mobile based educational app. In addition, units on COVID preventive measures and safety guidelines were now a part of these sessions. 

Using Digital Media to its Fullest
In areas where lockdown was lifted, face-to-face sessions were conducted. Whereas, in containment and red zones, the programme ran virtually. Digital media like WhatsApp and tele calling was used extensively to send out messages regarding the subjects. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan training was given to the staff to educate them on the preventive measures. 

What’s inspiring is their effort to draw markings in these communities and ensuring that everyone maintained social distancing. Results? Social distancing was practiced efficiently everywhere. Messages were sent on WhatsApp and phone calls were made to remind people of the importance of following the practice. 

The staff and volunteers offered support to assist in the application of online ration cards and also walked families through the process of downloading, registering and using the Arogya Setu app. The team also sent out messages on WhatsApp on the benefits of this app.


The Door to Door Campaign
Personally, I loved the idea of the Door to Door Campaign that was carried out to demonstrate the hand washing and sanitization technique. What’s more interesting is that, the team followed community mapping and made sure none of the households were left out of the process. Every year, adults and the young come together and take part in various activities on this day. This year, however, it was celebrated virtually and proved to be a great success!

Assignments were given to the children on health, nutrition and waste management subjects with the intent of keeping them engaged and encourage learning despite their schools being shut. While doing so, they also emphasized the importance of physical and mental wellbeing. The efforts of the staff, volunteers and the entire team is highly commendable, where each of them is putting ‘another person’s interest above their own’. 

No one knows how long this pandemic is going to last or how soon we will find a vaccine or even when everything will go back to normal. But I believe it isn’t going to take forever for things to get better. That being said, I am certain that we as individuals of the community can and will do what's best for all of us. So just like the Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme, let's plan for the future, work on it and not feel stuck in the present. 

Until next time,
~ Heena
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
14 comments

Washing milk and bread packets and groceries have become a routine now. With Coronavirus cases rising across the country, there is heightened anxiety and fear of catching the infection through surfaces of everyday objects. I am sure you must also be doing the same thing with whatever you bring home from outside. But at the same time, isn’t this an exhausting job to wash and sanitize all your daily use objects and food items using water, soap and sanitisers.


Wouldn’t it be easier if there was a quick-fix to this solution? The answer is yes, there is actually a convenient solution to address this problem. I just got myself a box-shaped sanitisation chamber that uses UV-C light to kill the coronavirus on the surfaces of everyday use items, be it your milk and bread packets, vegetables, fruits or other items like shoes, mask, gloves, mobile phone, etc. Whatever items you bring home, put them first in Orient UV Sanitech which uses a pre-set timer of 4 minutes to kill coronavirus with 360-degree UV germicidal irradiation so that the surfaces of all objects are uniformly sanitised. It uses no chemicals and leaves behind no residues.


As you must know that UV-C rays are harmful to human eyes and skin, therefore Orient UV Sanitech has been designed to operate in the safest manner. The UVC lamps start only when the lid is closed and also the metallic door prevents direct exposure to ensure user’s safety. Coming to the design, it’s a compact, lightweight and portable sanitisation box with a top-loading mechanism so that you can put the items for sanitisation inside it very easily.


I have been using the Orient UV Sanitech for a few days now and trust me, it’s highly convenient and safe to use. This literally gives me peace of mind knowing that I am not putting my family at risk of catching the coronavirus from contaminated objects. If you are interested in buying one, head to Flipkart and Amazon.

Head to the website to know more about UV Sanitech, and checkout this video to know how it works!

Stay Safe!
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
18 comments
Older Posts

About Me

About Me

Hey, my name is Heena and I'm a Mumbai based blogger, influencer and content creator.

iCynosure.in is my cozy corner on the internet, where I've chronicled things that fascinate and inspire me.

Enjoy browsing and feel free to get in touch at icynosureblog@gmail.com

Follow Me

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin
  • Subscribe

Most Loved Articles

  • HomeShop18 Launches Designer Sarees By Shilpa Shetty Kundra
  • 10 Things To Do During Rann Utsav In Kutch
  • Treat Your Face To Fasderma’s Glow Peel 
  • #PrincessHeer's Fun Evening At #PepeJeansKidsCarnival
  • Vintage In Soul And Desi At Heart

Blog archive

  • ▼  2020 (34)
    • ▼  November 2020 (1)
      • 5 Common Palm Oil Myths Debunked
    • ►  October 2020 (1)
    • ►  September 2020 (1)
    • ►  August 2020 (2)
    • ►  July 2020 (8)
    • ►  June 2020 (7)
    • ►  May 2020 (7)
    • ►  March 2020 (3)
    • ►  February 2020 (1)
    • ►  January 2020 (3)
  • ►  2019 (43)
    • ►  December 2019 (5)
    • ►  November 2019 (2)
    • ►  October 2019 (3)
    • ►  September 2019 (2)
    • ►  August 2019 (5)
    • ►  July 2019 (3)
    • ►  June 2019 (4)
    • ►  May 2019 (1)
    • ►  April 2019 (2)
    • ►  March 2019 (7)
    • ►  February 2019 (5)
    • ►  January 2019 (4)
  • ►  2018 (67)
    • ►  December 2018 (6)
    • ►  November 2018 (4)
    • ►  October 2018 (8)
    • ►  September 2018 (7)
    • ►  August 2018 (9)
    • ►  July 2018 (5)
    • ►  June 2018 (5)
    • ►  May 2018 (5)
    • ►  April 2018 (2)
    • ►  March 2018 (6)
    • ►  February 2018 (4)
    • ►  January 2018 (6)
  • ►  2017 (68)
    • ►  December 2017 (8)
    • ►  November 2017 (3)
    • ►  October 2017 (3)
    • ►  September 2017 (6)
    • ►  August 2017 (3)
    • ►  July 2017 (7)
    • ►  June 2017 (4)
    • ►  May 2017 (7)
    • ►  April 2017 (5)
    • ►  March 2017 (8)
    • ►  February 2017 (6)
    • ►  January 2017 (8)
  • ►  2016 (136)
    • ►  December 2016 (12)
    • ►  November 2016 (11)
    • ►  October 2016 (5)
    • ►  September 2016 (15)
    • ►  August 2016 (16)
    • ►  July 2016 (14)
    • ►  June 2016 (9)
    • ►  May 2016 (13)
    • ►  April 2016 (10)
    • ►  March 2016 (10)
    • ►  February 2016 (14)
    • ►  January 2016 (7)
  • ►  2015 (192)
    • ►  December 2015 (15)
    • ►  November 2015 (13)
    • ►  October 2015 (9)
    • ►  September 2015 (9)
    • ►  August 2015 (16)
    • ►  July 2015 (23)
    • ►  June 2015 (10)
    • ►  May 2015 (15)
    • ►  April 2015 (17)
    • ►  March 2015 (22)
    • ►  February 2015 (26)
    • ►  January 2015 (17)
  • ►  2014 (104)
    • ►  December 2014 (16)
    • ►  November 2014 (14)
    • ►  October 2014 (19)
    • ►  September 2014 (7)
    • ►  August 2014 (6)
    • ►  July 2014 (11)
    • ►  June 2014 (3)
    • ►  May 2014 (3)
    • ►  April 2014 (6)
    • ►  March 2014 (5)
    • ►  February 2014 (5)
    • ►  January 2014 (9)
  • ►  2013 (37)
    • ►  December 2013 (11)
    • ►  November 2013 (6)
    • ►  October 2013 (3)
    • ►  September 2013 (1)
    • ►  August 2013 (1)
    • ►  July 2013 (5)
    • ►  June 2013 (3)
    • ►  May 2013 (5)
    • ►  April 2013 (1)
    • ►  March 2013 (1)

Labels

  • Beauty
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Hair & Skin
  • Parenting
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • What Heer Wore
  • What I Wore

Gorgeous Readers

Facebook

Created with by iCynosure