Karachi isn’t known for it’s cold, white winter – there’s no snow, if you’re lucky, you might get the occasional droplet showers and that’s about it. Having said that, there’s something seductive about Karachi’s winter.
The crisp mornings of Karachi leave you struck. The chilly breeze accompanied with the sun beaming down are a match made in heaven. If you’re not a morning person, I’m sure Karachi’s winter mornings will definitely turn you into one and keep you coming back for more. For a bustling, fast-paced metropolis like Karachi, it’s a wonder how the early mornings feel so serene. It’s a shame to be clocking down on the treadmill or elliptical when the early hours are so gorgeous. Be at one with nature (take time out for yourself from the stressful life that we have today) and go for a morning jog, be it in your garden or Aunty Park – keep that blood circulation flowing
If you’re a Karachite, you’re more than familiar with the changing weather situations we have here. From chilly mornings, we move to afternoons, where the sun shines a little to brightly. Don’t forget to carry a light-weight shawl or cardigan; the weather may seem a tad bit warm in the afternoons but as evening draws, the weather starts getting brisker. And because this is Karachi, don’t forget your hat and sunglasses.
Even though it’s winter, sunscreen is still mandatory. No skimping on that, even on days when the sun isn’t shining or you’re not leaving the house, you still wanna protect your skin from sun damage, like premature ageing.
With cloudless, starry skies, gushes of cold winds and crickets chirping, winter nights in Karachi are striking. Huddle around a bonfire with your family or have an open-air movie night, now is the time to put the inflatable mattress you bought to good use and sleep under the stars.
The impending winter weddings will leave you wearing full faces of makeup for 90% of the winter season. The makeup that’s responsible for giving you a flawless face is also responsible for containing a ton of chemicals that end up drying your skin out, causing it to be more prone to breakouts. And we all know, the worst thing that can happen JUST before you have to dance away at your best friend’s dholki is a huge pimple decorating your face. Before you apply your makeup, hydrate your face with organic, cold-pressed coconut oil. Not only will this help you achieve the glow of goddesses but your skin won’t feel sticky and your makeup won’t slide off. Don’t add more chemicals to your routine by using synthetic moisturisers – coconut oil is all you need.
Glow Melt by Salina Cosmetics works great for taking the makeup beat off your face, instantly. Again, with the main ingredient in this product being shea butter, the cleanser is au naturel, getting your skin rid off all the makeup without overly drying it out like some makeup removers do.
This nourishing cleansing balm melts into an oil while removing stubborn make-up & impurities without stripping the skin,” advises Salina Taqi of Salina Cosmetics
No matter how tired you are from dancing at the mehndi or how sad you are because of the rukhsati, that makeup sitting on your face has got to go, so that your skin can regenerate and breathe.
Just like your face needs hydration, your hair need hydration too – gotta keep the locks shiny. Yoghurt masks are a great way to boost the health of your hair. Mix in a few tablespoons of yoghurt with a desi egg, apply the mixture to your hair and let it sit for an hour or two (depends on how long you need to be out the door). Thoroughly rinse out the mask from your head – you don’t wanna be smelling like an egg.
For those who can’t stand the smell of the yoghurt mask or putting mayonnaise in your hair makes you irk, CocoGrow and CocoShine by Salina Cosmetics are fab, organic products that’ll work miracles on your mane. Not only do they smell delicious (who doesn’t like coconuts?) but also give the perfect amount of oomph and revival to your hair, if you don’t wanna splurge on protein and keratin treatments.
No Karachite can live without their chai. It’s the winter time, befitting for all hot drinks like turmeric lattes, decadent doodh pattis, flavourful teas (Teazuro has phenomenal blends for green tea fanatics). Whether you’re enjoying a night out at a dhaba with friends or chilling at home, chai is a must.
But hot drinks don’t just pertain to teas, lattes and chai, tuck into a warm, comforting bowl of bone broth for a healthy soup, best enjoyed in the short-lived winter of Karachi.
