L i n e a

Minimal nail art designs

Nail art designs are always in fashion for women, some of the prettiest looks involve a minimalist approach. These nails are done with just a touch of paint or designs and give off a more natural feel to them. Often times, we can achieve the same gorgeous effect by polishing our nails in this fashion. With the minimalist look being extremely trendy right now, it is a good time to try one out. Most of these nail art inspirations can be done at home and are quite simple to maintain.

When we think nail art phrases like “cue the drama”, “not for the faint of heart” and “go big or go home” immediately jump top of mind. However, the realization: Despite common thought, there are plenty of nail art designs catered to even the most minimalist of mani lovers.

Here are some designs:

SIMPLE DOT NAIL ART

Using a base coat in a neutral color, adding just a few dots to the base of each nail turns boring nails into very pretty ones. Play with the size of your dots to find the minimalist look you love.

SIMPLE METALLIC LINE

Just one line is the only design this look uses. The chrome color can be changed to any metallic of your choosing. Find your favorite and place it near the cuticle. Paint over the rest of the nail with a clear coat to add extra shine.

ARTIFICIAL NAIL IDEAS

There is nothing stopping you from using a minimalist design on long nails. Whether your nails or false or naturally long, a simple design can go a long way. The heartbeat print on these navy colored nails is a cute style.

COLORED TIPS

This is a great nail design for short nails. Just a small line done diagonally across the tips make for an easy to do design. use tape to block off the portion of the nail you want to leave natural. While this black tip is pretty, you can choose the color of your choice. Top your nails off with a clear coat. And you can find more short nail art ideas here.

Here is a video which will give you more designs. Check this out!

To shave or not to shave?

Its 2020 and therefore it is high time we bust the myths associated with shaving body hair.

The Myth: If you shave, your hair will grow back thicker and faster.

This is not true at all. It all depends on your genes, and if you moisturize after shaving, your hair will grow back soft, plus it is a painless method and requires much less time as compared to waxing.

The Myth: The more razor blades, the more cut you’ll get on your skin.

Double-bladed razor isn’t ideal for being gentle on your skin. More blades actually mean less likelihood of nicks and cuts because the blades are spaced more closely together.

The Myth: Razor blades should be changed weekly.

How fast a razor blade gets dull depends on several things: the quality of the blade, the way it made, how often you shave, whether you’ve prepared the first with shaving gel or foam, and how you care for blade after each shave.

The Myth: Shaving makes your skin dry and flaky

***Picture credits : evoneamassage.com***

If you’re being rough with your skin when you’re shaving, for instance by going over the same area with your razor repeatedly, then you might find yourself with dry, flaky skin, and what feels like a scratchy, uncomfortable beard. The good news, however, is that this isn’t anything to do with shaving per se, but is instead the result of a poor shaving technique.

Many bloggers and influencers like Prajakta Koli and Santoshi Shetty shave their body hair, and are very open about it. It’s time to try shaving ladies, and I am sure you’ll never back.

Also, this is the best time to try shaving, now that you are locked in your houses due to quarantine!

Minimalist Diet: Simple changes that transform your health

Do you hate meal planning? Is dinnertime always stressful in your house? Do you waste a lot of money on food that never gets eaten? If so, then there is a solution that will make HUGE difference in your life: SIMPLE EATING.

Simple eating is inspired by minimal lifestyle and as someone who really dislikes cooking, it will be a lifesaver.

So, what does my minimalist diet look like? After minimizing belongings, relationships and schedule, lets take a look at diet. For each person it’s going to be different depending on their preferences, goals and requirements.

A minimalist diet is a simplified approach to cooking meals where you balance nutritional needs, ease of preparing, and optimizing your ingredients to have as few as possible while still being able to cooking a variety of meals that you love.

Here are some tips;

***Appetizers table with antipasti snacks.***

LEARN STAPLE MEALS

Learning how to cook a few simple meals is not only a beneficial life skill, it can drastically reduce your grocery budget. One major shift in my journey was when I was able to leave my job because I no longer had so many expenses, what that meant was I could cook all my meals from scratch each meal.

2. A MINIMALIST DIET MEAL PLAN

By eating the same foods over and over, you’re saving money by not needing new spices, exotic ingredients, or a vast array of groceries. You should always have staples on hand to create any of the following: smoothies, breakfast muesli, vegan sandwiches, sweet potato and chickpea curry, burritos, and my famous nourish bowls.

You start to out look at your favorite dishes and write out the ingredients that it takes to make them. After you have a list of your favorite dishes, see what ingredients overlap. By choosing the dishes that share common ingredients we can optimize your go to recipes so that you can make the most amount of dishes with the fewest amount of ingredients.

3. KETO DIET FOR MINIMALIST WEIGHT LOSS

Some of you may wonder, how is keto diet a minimalist diet? Well, at its core, its inherently a “restrictive diet” meaning it limits what you can eat by a good bit. Because the ketogenic diet functions of ketones, its actually a more efficient way to provide nutrients to your body. In ketosis, your energy stems from beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and fats yield 9kcal per gram of fat and approximately 4 kcal per gram for carbohydrates. When you get your body optimized for fats, you’re staking the deck in your favour.

4. TRY THEMED NIGHTS

Keeping your diet simple and minimal, but still exciting, is what called themed nights. Some few themed night includes tacos and docos(documentaries) night, or meatless Mondays. This is a really fun way to introduce simplified diets. The best part about having a themed night meal plan is that it limits the scope of your shopping so you know its breakfast for dinner on Thursday and you don’t wander around the store looking for ideas, and can jump right to the things you need.

5. INTERMITTENT FASTING

Intermittent fasting, also known as intermittent energy restriction, is a term for various meal timing schedules that cycle between voluntary fasting and non-fasting over a given period. Three methods of intermittent fasting are alternate-day fasting, periodic fasting, and daily time-restricted feeding.

6. VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS

In general supplements and vitamins are largely ineffective but our bodies don’t absorb them very well. There are many mitigating factors that help your body absorb them.

For example, you need vitamin K2 to be available to facilitate the absorption of vitamin D, which then in turns let your body absorb calcium. Add to this that your body can only take so much in at a time, you sometimes need to space the dose out.

Planks by John McCracken

John Mccracken was an American minimalist artist. He was best known for his planks, plinth-like reflective sculptures painted in various hues. These narrow, monochromatic, rectangular board format planks lean at an angle against the wall while simultaneously entering into the three-dimensional realm and physical space of the viewer.

His planks referenced the minimalist works of Carl Andre, Dan Flavin, and Donald Judd. They also reflected his interest in Barnett Newman’s colour fields.

The artist believed that his works were minimal and reduced, but also maximal. He tried to make them concise, clear statements in three-dimensional form, and also to take them to a breath-taking level of beauty.

Pastel play

“The direct, colourful nature of pastels is ideal for capturing the qualities of immediacy, spontaneity and sparkle.” – Patricia Greenwell

Pastel tones paired with minimalist compositions offer a visually simple and calming curation. With pastels you don’t need gimmicks and are only limited by your imagination.

Watch it out!

Some people believe that the idea of “minimalism” is to cut something down to its basest elements until only functionality remains. It requires a hefty measure of craftsmanship and a good grasp of sound design in order to do it right. Perhaps nowhere is that more apparent than in the horological world. Watches seem like a simple concept: wearable devices that tell you the time. But they’re actually quite complex and even some of the finest craftsmen have a hard time making ones that are both aesthetically pleasing and uncomplicated. Furthermore, a watch doesn’t have to be completely free of alternative functions in order to be considered minimalist. In fact, the best minimalist watches includes ones that do nothing more than tell the time, chronographs, moon phase timekeepers, and more.

Watch buying can be a task, of course. Unlike clothes, we usually have to spend a bit more to secure a high-quality piece that’ll last and that’s where the conundrum lies.

Keeping your timepiece simple and stripped-back allows for maximum versatility and thankfully, there’s a wealth of brands on the current market from affordable to luxury that specialise in no-frills, stylish timepieces that will quickly become your daily go-to.

Here are a few;

Skagen

Although most famous for watches, Skagen operates an umbrella company dedicated to a menagerie of discreet products and they’re from Denmark, where practical minimalism reigns supreme. Now based in the US under the Fossil Group, the brand’s founding ideals are still ever present in every design produced. The ‘Ancher’ line is indicative of Skagen’s subtle approach and offers very little in way of detail. The appeal lies in a style so clean that it’s almost clinical, index markers, no numerals and a single brand detail to the dial.

Shore Projects

Inspired by the grey but glorious locale of the British seaside, Shore Projects is a home-grown success story. A partnership with the Marine Conservation Society gives a little back to the same environment the brand idolizes, while the timepieces are kept simple and classic. The brand’s new Project 2 collection incorporates new Milanese mesh strap designs that perfectly complement the original leather styles the company launched with back in 2014. Minimalism is ensured through a clear dial and subtle branding, while index markers give a pop of contrast to the magpie metals, making for a good daytime or evening watch.

Daniel Wellington

Named after the quintessential British gent, Filip Tysander launched Daniel Wellington in a bid to popularise a unique idea: pairing weathered NATO straps with hyper-modern timepieces. Over time, the brand has quickly become a go-to for style-conscious gents, particularly those that like to dress in a smart, preppy fashion. Featuring a classic round face, discreet branding and contrast indices, we particularly love the on-trend rose gold finish for a subtle hint of luxury.

Larsson & Jennings

Inspired by the brand’s home cities of Stockholm and London, Larsson & Jennings produces contemporary timepieces that fuse a classic British aesthetic with Swedish minimalistic design. The new kid on the horological block has quickly garnered a cult following and despite the company’s relative infancy, they’ve successfully modernised the entry-level watch market. The Kulor family is arguably the most basic line from the brand, but also undoubtedly the most minimalist. Usual criticisms of ‘sparsity’ are countered with coloured fabric straps and hints of gold, rose gold and steel throughout.

Uniform Wares

While strong branding is often considered an advantage, Uniform Wares built their stellar reputation by avoiding such a mantra. In 2009, founders Patrick Bek and Oliver Fowles set out with an ambitious objective: to create an alternative to the ubiquity of over-embellished statement watches. The result was a new breed of modern, minimal timepieces that has arguably inspired many of the other names on this list. The brand’s M40 model is clinical in its approach yet big on impact. Monochrome dials are countered with neutral straps and while eye-catching features are nowhere to be seen, a statement is made through total design cohesion.

The minimalist beauty products to grab as soon as this Corona lock-down ends!

Already have pre-planned outings to go to as soon as this lock-down ends? Wondering how to prepare yourself everyday to get out in the sun? Don’t worry we’ve got you covered in a minimalist way!

When we talk about minimalism, the whole point is how less is essentially more. With so many new launches and products being thrown your way, it’s nice to have a no-fuss and easy to do beauty routine for the days that you just don’t want to be extra.

Whether it’s a quick touch-up, or an impromptu lunch with your bae to evening cocktails with friends – we’ve curated a perfect list of such products for you that will help you there with a no-fuss quick makeup routine!

The Body Shop Fresh Nude Cushion Foundation

In a country like India, where the weather isn’t so forgiving to full coverage foundation, The Body Shop Fresh Nude Cushion Foundation is a saviour! It’s not only just light on the skin but will give you an even tone overall with a sheer finish. So just dot this baby in the areas that you need a little more coverage and you won’t be disappointed.

Cost of The Body Shop Fresh Nude Cushion Foundation: Rs 2,695

Inglot Cosmetics Oil Blotting papers

One thing that our skin definitely isn’t friends with is humidity. Don’t let it get the better of you. Keep a pack of these oil absorbing tissues handy in your bag and just blot out all the excessive oil without a fuss.

Cost of Inglot Cosmetics Oil Blotting papers, 50 sheets: Rs 560

Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder

For everyone having an oily or a combination skin, this is something that you should definitely look out for! This no sebum colourless powder does a great job of fighting sweat without clogging pores or discolouring your skin.

Cost of Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder: Rs 570

Stila Crush Lip & Cheek Stain

Okay honestly, this product is peak minimalism. A two in one product that doesn’t make it look extra? Girls, it’s time to hit that no make makeup look perfectly with this product! Use as a wash on colour on your lips, and dab onto cheeks and get going.

Cost of Stila Crush Lip & Cheek Stain: Rs 1,266

Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Mascara

You can ditch all of your eye make-up and just swipe on some mascara for a low maintenance beauty look. It can make you look a lot more awake, and perhaps even bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Cost of Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Mascara: Rs 500

Nykaa 24H Vinyl Luxe Eyeliner

Eyeliners are solid game changers when it comes to your eye makeup. The Nykaa 24H Vinyl Luxe Eyeliner is definitely one of those must have product for every women who’s absolutely obsessed with eyelinern as a part of their daily makeup rotuine.

Cost of Nykaa 24H Vinyl Luxe Eyeliner: Rs 699

Nuances by Donald Judd

Known as one of the most significant practitioners of what is now known as minimalism, Donald Judd dramatically changed the course of sculpture with his heavily reduced forms of designs. Not only this, but Judd also helped dethrone abstract expressionism from the American art scene.

The history of modernist painting had already witnessed, in the early 20th century, the rise of highly simplified geometric styles, but no one had yet created such reduced forms in sculpture as Judd. He became to be best known for his so-called “stack” works. These consisted of uniform, repeated units that rejected hierarchical composition, activated negative space, and seemed to combine painting, sculpture, and architecture.

Some people easily dismiss Judd’s work as uninteresting and following the same pattern, but those who closely look at it realise the slight nuances to their “material, space, and colour,” which Judd considered “the main aspects of visual art”.

***Untitled 1990 Donald Judd 1928-1994***

How a piece of dainty jewelry can glam up your everyday look

Sometimes a single statement piece can do it all. Loud and flashy jewellery can be fun but sometimes all you need is something that whispers yet makes an impact. When it comes to minimal jewellery, it does exactly that. They’re all about clean lines, geometric forms, being non-fussy and is simple.

Whether you are a tee and jeans donning casual person or a pant- suit executive or even a saree-loving corporate employee, minimal jewellery can easily help you make a statement effortlessly. One of the best part about it is how even if you wear all the statement pieces together, they wouldn’t scream or look too much!

***Photographer: Parvathi Nair. Stylist: Ritu & Parvathi. Model: Ritu Jain. Editing: Ritu Jain | Accessory: Forever 21***

This minimal yet edgy bangle from forever 21 can be your perfect everyday companion and effortlessly glam up your look.

***Photographer: Parvathi Nair. Stylist: Ritu & Parvathi. Model: Ritu Jain. Editing: Ritu Jain | Accessory: H&M***

This delicate necklace with a metal ball at the end is honestly like a dream for every minimalist jewellery lover! You can pair this up with low-cut dresses, blouses, and even blazers for a delicate accompaniment to your decolletage.

Why minimalism is the need of the hour in a country like India

India is a country where it’s all about go big or go home. A country that’s known for it’s grand affairs, where less is always less and more can always be more and still never enough.

It’s a country where minimalism is a hard sell, but lately minimalism is a trend that’s creeping in the culture of India and millennials are being more receptive towards it. People are finally understanding the ease and the advantages of a minimalist lifestyle. This understanding of a minimal lifestyle does not only impact one’s own life but also impacts the resources of the country. You don’t necessarily have to become a minimalist in terms of the number of things you own but you can just simply adopt a minimal approach with the usage of resources.

With such a huge population and limited resources, India can definitely use a trend like minimalism to be practiced amongst the people. It’s the need of the hour for people to realize when it’s enough and stop splurging because a minimalist approach to resource utilization in this country can add a lot of value to the other population of the country who are dependent on the top tier 10% population.

This resource utilization can be in terms of the food you consume, the clothes you buy, the amount of energy you utilize and so on.

It’s not just about the people and their lifestyles, but all the big corporations and literally everyone and everything consuming more than what is required. Inflation is directly related to the demand for the commodity. The moment we reduce the wastage, overall demand will be impacted and somewhere in the chain of economy, someone will be benefitted, someone who’s depending his life on these resources.

Every time you leave that tap of water running, or wash that car for more than 10 minutes with the water continuously running, you’re wasting a hell lot of water, enough to provide water to person for days in a remote village of India.

Remember your dad always reminding you to switch of the lights and the fan? Listen to him. There are villages in India that get about 5 hrs of electricity per day. Yes exactly, 5 hours! That’s less than the hours you spend binge watching on your smart TV. So next time remember that while the lights and the fan and that AC in your empty room are all on, there’s a person in some village who’s literally studying under a kerosene lamp.

No one’s asking you to stop using these resources. It’s just about how much you really require to use. It’s about considering how much is really needed and how much we’re wasting. Be more aware of yourself and your needs. This will not impact your lifestyle but will make a huge impact on someone else’s life too, even if it’s indirectly.