ICynosure: February 2014

I was pleasantly surprised when the folks at Youshine.in asked me to review their e-commerce portal. With such an amazing fan following, and such regular updates on social networking sites about the fabulousness and an amazing collection, why would they want me of all people to review their site. I guess hard work and commitment just pays.

But I welcomed the opportunity with enthusiasm and interest, sh*t that's a lie. I jumped on my couch like a maniac, a-la-Tom Cruise on Oprah Winfrey. And you wonder why..... One cause they have the most amazing collection with regular style additions daily and two they offered me a no-clause gift voucher, so I could actually pick what I wanted. Yipeeeee, another couch jumping session followed. And when I got tired of all the monkeying around I went on a rampage looking through the collection, sale and practically every corner of the website.

What is Youshine.in all about?
Youshine is a one-of-a-kind speciality retail concept that promises to change the way Indian women look at fashion jewellery and accessories. Started in 2009 in Gurgaon, Youshine has now grown to multiple points of sale showcasing the best of contemporary and affordable western-style jewellery and accessories. Not just that, the brand has built a strong online presence with their own portal - Youshine.

Online Shopping Experience with Youshine Accessories

What does the product list look like?
It is a mecca of sorts for women with an excellent range of products including but not limited to jewellery, accessories, bags, and much more.

My experience and opinion about Youshine.in
I am a bag hoarder, just as all of you know. So the first thing I did was check that section and I just loved everything I saw there. Each category has an amazing number of products and while I was selecting what to get I realised that the products were very well priced and the discounts offered due to the sale enabled me to get a product more that what I would be able to get.

I picked out a lovely Golden Hills Bag, a pair of gorgeous Ice Cube Earrings, an Owl Pendant on a delicate chain and a cute headband for princess.

Website Strengths:
§ Exhaustive product categories and options
§ Multiple Payment options and Simple Returns/Refund policy
§ Good pricing, offers and discounts
§ Great quality of products

Website Weaknesses:
§ Products get 'Sold Out' too soon

Will I shop via the portal again for my personal use? Definitely
Do I recommend shopping via the portal? Yes, Sure!

Have you shopped from Youshine.in? Share with me your hauls and shopping experiences.

Happy Shopping,
~ Heena

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As the season of love arrives, we all spend a lot of time choosing the right clothes and accessories for the day dedicated to love. Whether spending a day with the one you love or hanging out with your favourite gang of girls, you need to choose the look wisely to look and feel the best on Valentine's. Take this day as the best day to experiment with your look and shine like a star!

So here are a few tips by renowned Beauty and Makeup Expert Ms. Aakriti Kochar to help you unravel your inner beauty…

Eyes to Lure Him

For the evening, go with smokey eyes, chiselled cheeks and nude lips, and add a dash of gloss to complete this glamorous look. Depending on your outfit, use either dark chocolate brown or charcoal grey to highlight the eyes to reflect boldness in attitude. Tying the hair up in a loose bun or an updo is perfectly complementary to this look as it highlights the glitter in the eyes.

Pout to Stand Out

For a very sophisticated yet subtle look, opt for dark black eyeliner and a bright lip colour. Choose from the wide range of reds, pinks and corals to bring attention to the lips. A sleek ponytail goes very well with the look. Accentuate the lips and be ready for a dinner or an evening party in minutes.

Cherry the Cheeks

Bronzed cheeks complement bronze eyeshadow more than any other. Add a little black eyeshadow on outer corners and adorn it with a little-smudged eyeliner to win a million hearts. Top it up with lots of mascara to give a dramatic, sizzling look. Opt for a coloured lip gloss in pink, brown or coral to complete the look. Bronze guarantees a scorching, glamorous look. To add to the glamour quotient, leave your hair open to flaunt soft waves or curls.

Mesmerise during the Day

Try a softer look for the day with eyeshadows in softer shades and a little blush in coral colours. Peach and pink are the most favoured colours when it comes to blushes. For the lips use tinges of soft pink with gloss and highlight the eyes with lots of mascara. Create soft big curls waves on our hair, leave them loose or twist them onto one side. If you don't want to flash your tresses, a fishtail braid works beautifully.

Go out and rock the looks!

~ Heena

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Cleaning Children's Clothing, Tips That Will Save Your Day

Washing children's clothes can be a little confusing! There is advice out there from parents in similar situations and from your own relatives and they all seem to contradict each other. In truth, you can typically treat kids clothes in much the same way as you would adult clothes. That is, remove any stains as soon as possible and then use a washing machine to get the garment clean. However, there are a few things to take into consideration when washing your little one's outfits – mainly the type of material, the type of detergent, and the level of soiling. Here's all you need to know to get your kids' clothes looking like new.

General Advice for Washing Baby Clothes:
Children's clothes are often made from soft, non-itchy fabrics that won't irritate their skin. Fabrics such as cotton (preferably organic) and fleecy materials are great for providing warmth and comfort to little ones, but they do need some special care when being washed. When exposed to heat for the first time, cotton can shrink by around 10 percent, so try to keep the water temperature a little cooler than normal – around 30 degrees celsius should be the maximum, even for heavily soiled clothes (it's not the heat that removes stains, as we'll discuss later). Also be sure to use a gentle laundry detergent and the right amount of it! If you use more than the box says, the residue can cling to the clothing, causing your child to itch.

Removing Stubborn Stains from newborn babies right through to when they're leaving for university, kids are experts at creating a mess, particularly on their clothes – but don't panic! Whatever they spill, pour, or spit up, you can handle it! You just need the knowhow!

Mud
Every parent experiences that heart-stopping moment when their child arrives home from school covered head to toe in mud, but mud is actually one of the easiest stains to get rid of! The golden rule here is NOT to wipe it. Wiping will spread the mud around, and cement it into the fibres (and then it's really a problem!). Instead, let the mud dry and then use an object such as a spoon to gently scrape off as much excess as possible. Rub a little liquid detergent in, and massage it until the dried mud loosens up a little. Pop the clothes in the machine and you're all done!

Milk
Babies have a habit of spitting their milk up, creating horrible white marks on their clothing which slowly turn disgusting and yellow if you don't treat the stains. Don't let that happen! If your baby is wearing something washable, simply soak the garment in a basin with cold water (not hot – it will set the stain) and a squirt of liquid detergent. Soak for an hour or two to soften the stain, and then wash as normal. It's unlikely, but if your baby is wearing something non-washable (such as an old family heirloom, for example), dab the stain with a damp cloth and allow to dry, then use a good stain removal product to remove any remaining discolouration.

Solid Food
Kids love home-cooked comfort foods, but unfortunately, all their favourites tend to involve messy ingredients such as tomato sauce and turmeric, which can leave terrible stains. A good detergent with a built-in stain remover is all you need here, but if you don't have any at home, try squeezing a little lemon juice over the mark to counteract the red and yellow colours of the tomato and turmeric before washing. Remember – always wash in warm water rather than hot!

Don't be Afraid to Use Your Washing Machine!
It's only really in recent years that washing machines have become commonplace in India, so you may get some strange looks from your elder relatives when you say you'll be using a machine to wash your baby's clothes. Your mother and grandmother may tell you it's better to wash children's clothes by hand due to their delicate nature, but in truth a washing machine will do just as good a job and without the hassle! Newer models even boast hand-wash options or gentle spin cycles that won't damage the fabric, so don't be afraid to pop your kids' clothes in the washing machine and grab a cup of tea!

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Every time I walk into a lingerie store, I kind of feel lost and tongue-tied at the same time. Even though I experience a bit of discomfort initially, in less than half an hour I am all strolling around asking questions, looking for options and carrying a few pieces to the trial room. This is mainly for the sole reason that brands offer quality assurance along with an opportunity to try the product prior to my purchases.

Though I love online shopping, I've kept the lingerie shopping real and not ventured into the online world for my super secret pretty hauls as I end up buying pretty expensive products with whom I share the closest and most intimate relationship. I've been following this routine forever until I chanced upon PrettySecrets, or more like when the site drew me in.

What is PrettySecrets.com all about?
PrettySecrets.com is India's premium online lingerie store that offers a great shopping experience through an exhaustive collection of high-quality lingerie from the comfort of your own home. The site aims to provide a plethora of styles and sizes catering to every woman's needs and wants.

What does the brand list look like?
Apart from the home brand PrettySecrets, other brands available on the site are Maya, Enamor, B'Witch, Amante, Lovable, Triumph, Undercover, PeriPeri, SweetDreams, FSY,Slumber Hill and Marie Meili.

What product categories are available on the site?
An ever so exhaustive category of products including lingerie (underwear, bra, lingerie sets and accessories), nightwear, swimwear, shapewear, workout clothing and dresses are available on the site.

My experience and opinion about PrettySecrets.com
I usually stay away from online shopping for lingerie, however, was keen on experimenting with PrettySecrets.com. With numerous well-known brands, universal size charts, in-depth product information and easiest navigation; shopping via the site felt extremely easy and I felt confident while ordering. After adding a gazillion products to the cart, I had a tough time finalising what to order and picking a cute lingerie set and a wash bag after much thought for my first trial. The order reached me within 48 hours in the most discreet and the cutest packaging. Surprising the pricing was fantastic, I bought the products at almost 70% the cost without any compromise on quality and style. All in all the products arrived perfectly as expected without anyone knowing what arrived.

Website Strengths:
§ Exhaustive Brand and Product categories and options
§ Discreet Packaging and Timely Delivery
§ Multiple Payment Options and Simple Returns/Refund Policy
§ Great Pricing, Offers and Discounts

Website Weaknesses:
§ None that I can think of at the moment

Will I shop via the site again for my personal use? Definitely
Do I recommend the website to friends and family? Sure, Yes!

Where do you shop your lingerie from? Have you shopped from PrettySecrets.com?

Share your lingerie shopping experiences, weird/funny/crazy with me.
~ Heena

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