Life & Style

Ageing is a natural process, but that doesn’t mean your skin has to show it prematurely. For Indian women, who often deal with unique skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation, melasma, and sun damage due to our tropical climate, a tailored skincare and lifestyle routine can work wonders. Whether you’re in your 20s, 30s, or beyond, these five anti-ageing tips will help you preserve your youthful glow and slow down the hands of time.

One of the biggest contributors to premature ageing is sun exposure. Indian skin is more prone to hyperpigmentation and tanning, and UV rays can break down collagen, leading to fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Sunscreen should be non-negotiable in your daily skincare routine.

Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and ensure it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Look for ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for physical protection. Don’t forget to reapply every two to three hours if you’re outdoors. Wearing hats, sunglasses, and using umbrellas for extra coverage is highly beneficial, especially in cities with extreme heat like Delhi, Chennai or Mumbai.

Cleanse, tone, moisturise, the holy trinity of skincare. As simple as it sounds, following this routine consistently can dramatically improve skin texture and reduce signs of ageing. Use a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser to remove dirt and excess oil. Choose an alcohol-free toner with hydrating and soothing ingredients like rose water or chamomile.
When it comes to moisturisers, opt for products with anti-ageing actives such as hyaluronic acid, peptides, or niacinamide. These ingredients help retain moisture, plump the skin, and reduce fine lines. At night, use a richer cream or a retinol-based product (if suitable for your skin) to aid in cell turnover and collagen production.

Facial yoga and regular massage can do wonders in lifting and toning your face. Indian beauty practices have long embraced facial massages using natural oils like almond, coconut, or kumkumadi oil.
A five-minute daily routine involving upward strokes and tapping motions can stimulate blood flow, relax facial muscles, and reduce puffiness. Facial yoga exercises like ‘cheek lifts’, ‘jaw releases’ and ‘fish face’ work on the deeper layers of skin, toning the muscles and preventing sagging.

What you eat reflects directly on your skin. An anti-ageing diet should be rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and hydration. Incorporate fruits like pomegranates, oranges, and papayas that are high in vitamin C to boost collagen production. Leafy greens, carrots, and beets help detoxify the body and promote clearer skin.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseeds, walnuts, and fish reduce inflammation and keep skin supple. Turmeric, a staple in Indian kitchens, is a powerful antioxidant and can be consumed with milk or in curries. Also, ensure adequate water intake to maintain skin elasticity and flush out toxins.

Indian women have always had a treasure trove of Ayurvedic and home-based skincare secrets. Ubtans made from besan (gram flour), haldi (turmeric), honey, and milk can exfoliate and nourish the skin gently. Face packs with sandalwood, multani mitti, and rosewater offer anti-inflammatory benefits and reduce blemishes.

Using ghee as a natural moisturiser, applying aloe vera gel straight from the plant, or indulging in a weekly oil massage (abhyanga) are practices that have stood the test of time. These remedies not only nurture the skin but also connect you to your roots, promoting holistic wellness.
Ageing gracefully is not about erasing lines but embracing your skin with care and consistency. For Indian women, a blend of modern science and traditional wisdom can yield the best results. Remember, it’s never too early or too late to start a good skincare regime. Protect your skin, eat well, stay hydrated, and let your natural beauty shine at every age.

With the onset of summer, our closet requires a quick upgrade, where a breezy and lightweight printed floral saree is an ideal pick. Floral prints continue to dominate the season and make a great fashion statement, exuding a regal, feminine glow. Summery prints look best on friendly fabrics like cotton, chiffon, and georgette, and they are the ultimate winning combination to wear this season. Bollywood divas are also crushing over the floral summer prints, and what’s a better inspiration than them to upgrade your fashion wardrobe?

Ironically, the more you try to please others, the harder it becomes to form real, authentic connections. People-pleasing often involves saying what others want to hear and hiding your true thoughts or feelings. While it may seem like you’re being kind, you’re actually building relationships based on a façade. Over time, this creates emotional distance because people never get to know the real you. Psychology highlights that vulnerability and honesty are key to intimacy. Real relationships thrive on truth, not performance. When you stop people-pleasing, you give others the chance to love you for who you really are.

Image credits: X/@paytonmcnabb_

John Oliver, comedian and host of the show Last Week Tonight, has recently made headlines for his comment on the inclusion of males in women’s sports. In the episode aired on April 6, 2025, Oliver, as usual, presented the recent events in a satirical light.
One of these discussed topics was the inclusion of males in women’s sports. He stated that the emphasis was disproportionate and not rooted in genuine concerns about fairness or safety. To further substantiate his stand, he mentioned Payton McNabb, a former high school athlete who has advocated the restriction of transgender individuals in women’s sports. He explained the incident to the audience, detailing the injuries McNabb suffered. He also shared that she told her story to the North Carolina State Legislature before they implemented their ban and was also in attendance at Trump’s address to Congress. Further on, she released a video about the incident, produced by an activist group.
He went on to show some clips of McNabb’s video and then explained how, even after the incident, she continued to play softball, as noted by a local paper, which pointed out that she led her team to a 5-0 start. “I am not saying she wasn’t injured, or that it didn’t have some impact on her performance but a lot of the groups heavily pushing this story seem to be overselling it including choosing to title that video, ‘Kill Shot’ which is not a good title for a teenage girl who is very much alive and talking to a camera,” said Oliver during his segment.
The host has received various condemnations for his comments on social media. But what happened with Payton McNabb?

As per her story published on IW FEATURES, with the title ‘Kill Shot: How Payton McNabb turned tragedy into triumph’, McNabb was 17 years old when she survived a devastating head and neck injury during a volleyball game as the result of a spike by a male athlete who identified as a transgender person.
“Neither I nor anyone else on the team agreed with it [the transgender athlete being allowed to play] and were against it from the beginning. We were all just so confused by how it could be allowed, and I guess we just had no idea what to do,” said the former athlete to the publication.
The spike left McNabb unconscious for 30 seconds, where her body had twisted into a ‘fencing position’ which is indicative of extreme trauma to the brain. “The boy who hit me and the girls on his team were standing on the other side of the net laughing at me,” she said.
A medical evaluation later revealed the seriousness of the injuries suffered by McNabb, who was diagnosed with neurological impairments such as a concussion, vision problems, partial paralysis to the right side of her body and various “blank spaces” that she’ll never remember, as per her statement. She also lost the ability to drive for several months and needed help with schoolwork as she couldn’t retain information like before.
A year later, McNabb testified at the North Carolina General Assembly in favour of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which passed in August 2023 and prohibited male athletes from competing on most girls’ sports teams at the K-12 and collegiate levels.

Image credits: X/@VictoriaRColey

Firstly, people have been mocking Oliver’s interpretation of the title ‘Kill Shot’ which he said did in fact not kill McNabb. Victoria Coley, who was a part of the project, enlightened Oliver about the meaning of Kill Shot, which means a decisive smashing or punching of a ball with the hand or racquet that is virtually unreturnable, as in volleyball, handball or badminton.
Author of the popular book series ‘Harry Potter’ J.K. Rowling also condemned Oliver in an X post, writing, “I understand why men like Oliver, who’ve consistently mocked anti-science people on the right, sold out initially.” Rowling said. “But it’s time to read the f**king room,” she added.
“The men who put on lipstick and compete against women are the most degenerate creatures on earth. Close behind are those who support and condone their narcissistic, selfish, self-centered behavior. To hell with “live and let live,” these people must be defeated and shamed out of existence,” wrote an X user.

Image credits: Getty Images

Remember the sleep divorce trend? It seems not only netizens but even royalty believe in the efficiency of couples sleeping separately to not only improve sleep quality but also strengthen their relationship.
Yes, in an interview with Fox News Digital, British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard revealed the secret to King Charles and Queen Camilla‘s long-standing marriage and companionship, saying, “They have known each other since [they were] very young and are great friends. There is no competitive edge between King Charles and Queen Camilla.”
“Devoted Queen Camilla totally supports her husband in everything he carries out (although she would like him to slow down work-wise slightly),” she added.
However, what caught many ears is her statement on the royal couple‘s sleeping arrangements where they “are privileged to have their own bedrooms as well as their shared bedroom”. She added, “They have also sussed out the best sleeping arrangements.”

Image credits: Getty Images

Additionally, as per royal experts, the couple not only enjoys separate bedrooms but also stays in separate homes for some healthy alone time on occasion. “They are both independent people. They don’t live in each other’s pockets, spending a healthy chunk of their time apart in their country homes.” She added, “Camilla enjoys time with her many friends and family, and Charles values private work and creative time.”
Ingrid Seward, royal biographer and Majesty magazine editor-in-chief, said to The Sun that the royal couple actually “spend quite a lot of time apart” with the queen going to her country home, Ray Hill in Wiltshire, each weekend. “Before she married Charles, she made a pact with him that she would keep Ray Mill house as her bolthole. She goes every weekend when she can, and she goes during the summer so that she can spend some time with her grandchildren and her children, and it’s something that’s away from the whole royal world,” said Seward.

Image credits: Getty Images

She also noted that Camilla often doesn’t go with the king to his Gloucestershire estate in Highgrove at all “unless she and Charles are entertaining together.” However, the couple spends the weekend together in London at Clarence House.
Recently, the king and queen celebrated their 20th anniversary on April 9th 2025.
As per ResMed’s 2025 Global Sleep Survey, about 50% of couples in the US and UK opt for a sleep divorce. The method is considered useful to enhance relationships as well as sleep quality.

Image credits: Getty Images

Former MLB pitcher and 2011 World Series champion, Octavio Dotel was one of the estimated 98 people who were killed in a nightclub collapse in the Dominican Republic on April 8th, 2025. The incident occurred during a merengue concert at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo. Dotel, 51, is survived by his wife, Massiel Dotel and three children. While much is known about the player’s professional life, not many are aware of his personal life. Here’s all you need to know about Octavio Dotel’s family life.

Image credits: Getty Images

Born on November 25th, 1973 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Dotel graduated from Liceo Cansino Afuera and was signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1993. Throughout his career he played for 15 seasons and 13 major league teams, the second-most for any player in history. For most of his professional career, he worked as a relief pitcher, including some stints as a closer.
He made history in 2011 by winning the World Series while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals and in 2013 by winning the World Baseball Classic, ultimately becoming one of the few players in history to achieve both titles.
Dotel’s final season in the league was in 2013 with the Detroit Tigers.

Image credits: Instagram/massieljavierdotel

Octavio Dotel was born to Emilio and Maria Magdalena Dotel. The family of seven included the couple and their three sons and two daughters. In November 1993, not long after Dotel signed his first contract, his father, 53, was robbed and killed in a taxi while on his way home. His body was found a day later, about 5 miles away from his house in Santo Domingo.
Octavio has been married to Massiel Dotel who is the owner and head of a school and other educational institutions in the family’s hometown of Santo Domingo. Massiel recently also took to social media to announce the memorial service of her late husband in an Instagram post. The couple shares three children together.