The film industry has been instrumental in building a very romantic idea about the monsoons. There are countless examples of romantic song sequences where the actors look picture perfect in the pouring rain. But anyone who goes out often knows for a fact how far moved from reality this idealism is. In reality, monsoon brings with itself a long list of skin and hair problems.

Lucky for our readers, Exec Lifestyle got in touch with beauty expert Blossom Kochhar and asked her for some tips to avoid common hair and skin problems faced during the rainy season.

Read on for some common skin problems faced during the monsoon and their solutions:

? Detoxification of the skin is very essential during monsoons as it prevents allergies, puffiness and skin diseases. Rather than using harsh soaps that have a drying effect, make your own special skin powder. Mix equal amounts of green gram powder and Bengal gram powder and half the quantity of fenugreek seeds. Prepare a paste by mixing all these in rosewater and apply this paste generously on the entire body. This method deeply cleanses and refreshes the body.

? During the downpour, when there is profuse sweating and the body is not exposed to air, red itching pustules appear on the body, especially on the chest, back, abdomen and forehead. A paste of multani mitti (Fuller?s Earth) and water helps attend to this issue. Apply the paste over affected areas and have a cold bath after it dries. Following this regime twice a week effectively controls this issue.

? Mash a banana and beat in a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Brush it on the face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes till it dries. Then rinse it off with plain water. This recipe is best suited for dry to normal skin.

? Mix together multani mitti (Fuller?s Earth), gram flour and sandalwood powder in equal quantities. Store in an airtight container. For applying mix one tablespoon of the powder in water to make a paste. Apply evenly on face and leave it to dry then rinse with cold water. This homemade face mask will help remove flakes and dust. This face mask can be used by people with oily skin.

How to keep your hair healthy and silky during monsoon:

? Sweating along the scalp line during humid days makes you shampoo your hair everyday as a part of the cleaning regime. However, we recommend do not resort to regular shampooing of your hair. Instead of using harsh shampoos try using a protein conditioner regularly. Beat one tablespoon of castor oil, a mild herbal shampoo and glycerin along with a teaspoon of cider vinegar and yoghurt. Leave this mixture on scalp for 20 minutes before you rinse it with clear water. Use this at least thrice a week.

? Dealing with the frizz: Prepare a mask by mixing two tablespoons of honey in one cup of pumpkin puree. Once you have applied this mask on your scalp thoroughly, wrap your hair in a shower cap and leave it on for 15 minutes. Honey is a natural humectant and repairs the damage caused by dryness to give you bright and smooth hair.

? Avoid excessive use of blow dryers, flat irons, chemical based products and alcohol based hair sprays. With consistent implementation of these tips you can easily win the battle against frizz to get beautiful, shiny and smooth hair.

Money can?t buy you happiness but it can surely buy the means to keep you happy. And for those with an eclectic taste in lifestyle, happiness often means being able to indulge in their passions. From antique collections, luxury rides, limited editions ranges, to auctions that the world have their eyes on, Exec Lifestyle gives you a sneak peek into the uber lifestyle.

This week, we bring you luxury accessories inspired by macabre, new eye shadow from Giorgio Armani, and new luxurious way to camp.

Bagging the skulls:

Just when you were getting bored of the all too familiar cuts, texture and prints in luxury accessory designs and thought there wasn?t a single variation you haven't tried, trust Delhi based designer Manish Arora to come up with something new. And this time, it?s skulls! For his new FW15 collection at Paris Fashion Week, this edgy designer has come up with what could be called a treasure trove for all bold fashionistas -- 3D skull bags that adorn embellished and bejewelled headgear laced with roses, spikes, lace and even the Indian maang tika and nathani. Colours include brilliant pink, gold, aristocratic mustard, royal purple, and amber that not only contrasts the skull?s imagery but also lets you play around with your different outfits. Prices start from a whopping Rs 50,000.

Liquid shadow:

Makeup junkies across the globe have a reason to do three cheers, as Giorgio Armani has come up with a rare and exciting range of eye shadow. The brand offers a whole new way to add colour to your eyes with their one of a kind liquid eye shadow formula called the Eye Tint. Blended in a special fluid this eye colour is rich in texture, has hints of shimmer that gives translucent or opaque finish to the eyes as per your choice.

What makes this eye shadow so special? When applied, the liquid evaporates from the skin leaving you with a silky smooth look -- a technology that is inspired by Armani?s own patented formula of Maestro Fusion Makeup. Available online on Giorgio Armani site, each of these liquid eye shadows are priced at approximately Rs 2500.

Pump up the volume:

Those who have an ear for fine sound quality, can never settle for mediocre sound systems and often find themselves upgrading from better to the next best. Those looking out to get a replacement for their car?s sound system, can amp up their SUVs with the Rogue Acoustics Audio System -- of course, if you have the money to afford it as this machine comes at a jaw dropping price of $72,000 to start with and goes to over $330,000.

No wonder it?s claimed as the most expensive luxury sound systems one can get for their car. Also known as RA:1k, this ?Made In Australia? sound system features digital signal processing, high efficiency drivers and most highly developed amplifiers. Most remarkable characteristic of the system is that you may modify almost each and everything, including Titanium amplifier housings and jewel encrusted logos or designs, using Rogue Acoustics' in-house design service for alteration according to your preferences as well as the constraints of the vehicle.

Camp in luxury:

There are executives who love their materialistic indulgences and can?t live without the comfort of luxury goods. On the other hand, some prefer to spend big moolah on experiencing nature in its unrefined form. And then there are those who seek the most of both worlds. To cater to them, French lifestyle designer Pierre Stephane Dumas has innovated a series of luxury tents called Bubble Tree, that lends one to a fun filled camping experience, not without the touch of luxury. The inflatable bubble tents come in built with wardrobes, sofas and electric lights for a comfortable stay. The series also features CristalBubble, a completely transparent tent for the exhibitionists, while ?Cocooning? is the version for those who seek privacy. Designer Pierre Stephane Dumas explained the concept behind his creations saying, ?A normal tent or camper van means people miss out on these things. So I designed this eccentric shelter with the aim of offering an unusual experience under the stars while keeping all the comfort of a bedroom suite.?

If you want to experience this ultra luxurious camping experience, who have to shell out around $11,914.

Exec Lifestyle?s Weekend Watch recommends and previews television shows, films and live events that you simply cannot miss! Check out our recommendations for this weekend (19 - 21 June).

Live concert:

The popular band from Chennai - Junkyard Groove, which made its space in the Indian independent scene since the year 2005, is all set to set Mumbai head banging to their beats this weekend. Founded by Chennai based singer-songwriter Ameeth Thomas, the band completes 10 years of music and madness on 18 June, 2015, and they celebrate their anniversary with you in Mumbai. So if you are a metal head and want to groove to some desi rock, don't forget to tune in with Junkyard Groove at Hard Rock Cafe, Mumbai.

About Town:

If you believe that laughter is the best medicine, then trust the folks at Canvas Laughter Club to administer it the right way. And this week, the dose will be extra powerful with them celebrating their 5th year anniversary. The line up looks versatile, as the weekend?s Best In Stand-Up features veteran comedians like Anuvab Pal, Aditi Mittal, Vikram Poddar. So sit back and let the pros do the treatment, err, joking right.

Night Outs:

This weekend, Soundz Good brings to you the hottest dance music acts together with fresh talent from the country. To keep it enjoyable for all, the gigs are not restricted to any particular genre, and the organisers will curate and select artists to give you a maximum dance experience! This friday?s roster will feature Qwiver supported by Samir-Saurabh and SpaceKitten. So minimal and techno house lovers come and catch them live at The Local Passenger, in Andheri Lokhandwala, in Mumbai from 9 pm onwards.

Television:

Sony Max

Movies buffs have a treat in waiting from Sony Max, as they bring you the world television premiere of the popular Telugu thriller Yevadu, dubbed in Hindi. The film is a revenge drama directed by Vamshi Paidipally which features Ram Charan, Shruti Haasan and Amy Jackson in lead roles. After garnering massive fan base across states in south India, the film will now be screened for the Hindi speaking audience. Catch all the action this Saturday at 8 pm, only on Sony Max.

Exec Lifestyle?s Weekend Watch recommends and previews television shows, films and live events that you simply cannot miss! Check out our recommendations for this weekend (12 - 14 June 2015)

Live act:

If you appreciate plays and theatrical acts, don?t miss your chance to experience this one of a kind summer theater festival called Summer Fiesta. It will host a series of screenings, workshops, acting classes, and a lot more, just for kids. Started in 2010, the festival has grown in number as well as stature, and this year they have extended their schedule to six years with 24 workshops and 17 plays.

Theater enthusiasts can get in touch with their team at National Centre For The Performing Arts(Nariman Point) post 10 am.

About Town:

Artist Prashant Mirandra, who is mostly known for his works on figurative studies, architecture and nature, is displaying his works through an exhibition titled Bombay Gold.

Prashant calls it an ode to the body, the dwelling and nature and depicts Mumbai from a never seen before perspective. Art lovers can catch this unique work at Gallery Zinc in Santacruz West, Mumbai.

Movies:

For all those who grew up in the glorious days of blockbuster fictions have a special connection with the Jurassic Park series and Spielberg's genius. And now, after over a decade and a half  the franchise is out with a new Jurassic movie -- Jurassic World. Do you need more motivation to catch the movie with friends and family this weekend?

By Papri Das

Light years, speed, a day, hours, minutes, and seconds -- for centuries, men have been fascinated with time keepers. And amongst them, analog watches have been a symbol of achievement and progress for the eclectic man, and has survived the digital era quite remarkably. Even after the launch of iWatch, which was widely expected to eat into the market for premium watches, analogs made by Swiss companies still thrive. The reason being the time, effort and sheer skill that goes into making these complicated time keeping machines, and Titan Company Limited, Watches and Accessories Division, CEO H G Raghunath can personally vouch for it.

Raghunath has been associated with Titan for over 38 years, and as he retires from his services on 30 June, he reflects over his journey with a heavy heart. ?I have worked with the organisation over three decades now and each day has been full of memories I will cherish for a lifetime. It?s been a wonderful journey so far,? says the avid watch aficionado.

When it comes to time keepers, Raghunath?s philosophy is simple ? to each is their own.

?Every person has a different evaluation of time as literally speaking it is the time elapsed between one action and another. Therefore watch makers continue to come up with new and innovate ways to represent time,? shares Raghunath, when Exec Life caught up with him at the launch of Titan?s new premium range of Moon Phase watches, Celestial Time.

Taking the moon phase as an example, Raghunath further explains, ?These types to watches have high precision movements and it is not possible for an ordinary person to put it together. A complete watch is a piece of art. Movements are to watches what engine is to cars. Inside a car the engine will have ordinary gears, auto transmission, four wheel drivers, etc. In a watch all that is visible ? that allows you to check time by hour, minute, second, days, years and even use the chronogram to measure each event separately. In a moon phase watch, as you approach towards the New moon day, the moon one can see through the case visibly wanes in a fortnight, and the similar process is repeated for the full moon day, where the moon grows. Now it might sound simple but each brand has its own unique way to build a moon phase watch, and so does Titan.?

Priced between Rs 12,000 - 15,000, Titan?s exclusive range of moon phase watches are aimed at the young batch of entrepreneurs and below 30 CEOs who represent the new India.

An avid collector of time keepers, Raghunath owns 73 watches till date including the new rosewood coloured moon phase watches. ?My first ever watch was gifted to me by my parents. But the first watch that I owned was a Titan watch, which I bought after joining the company. My family and I have an affinity for watches. My two daughters love flaunting their watches and they carry all the watches, which I have collected as well. My favourite so far is the one is the classical gold plated Edge by Titan, which my wife has bought for me.?

When asked to recommend a watch for the young men out their who want to cultivate their taste in fine luxury watches, Raghunath gives a simple tip. ?Wear a watch for time keeping first, and then as a fashion accessory. It will help you respect others? time as well as your own.?

Money can?t buy you happiness but it can surely buy the means to keep you happy. And for those with an eclectic taste in lifestyle, happiness often means being able to indulge in their passions. From antique collections, luxury rides, limited editions ranges, to auctions that the world have their eyes on, Exec Lifestyle gives you a sneak peek into the uber lifestyle.

This week, meet the Indian jewellery designer whose work fetched billions in an auction, Chanel?s new premium range of wrist watches, and find out how billionaires get their caffeine fix.

Bling it on:

If you think only international brands like Tiffany, Cartier and Van Cleef fetch billions in auctions for jewels, then you are wrong. Indian jewellery designer Nirav Modi did India proud with his diamond cut piece the Orchid Ainra Necklace at Christie?s Magnificent Jewels Auction and was sold at jaw dropping bid of Rs 13 crore.

The auction held in Hong Kong earlier this week created a buzz amongst bling lovers when the Indian designer made his second entry in the bidding since his debut in 2011. What makes the piece unique is its flawless pear shaped diamonds weighing 10.02 and 2.66 carats, which have been crafted to form an ovate link held together by a delicate metal fastening, making it one of the best design concept we have come across in recent times.

Pop them bottles:

Celebration, extravaganza, and champagne are few words often said in the same breath. Off late, with the appearance of many affordable brands of champagne, the act of popping a bottle of champagne to celebrate something colossal is losing its exclusivity. So what do the A-listers do to cut themselves above the noise? Here?s what? they splurge on The Midas by Armand De Brignac, touted as the most popular champagne brand amongst the rich and the famous.

They are also known for producing the largest bottle of ?Ace of Spades? champagne, and also holds the title of being the most expensive bottle of Champagne to be sold at an auction. The bottle measured 100 pounds in weight and needed the efforts of three men to carry it to the venue for display at the auction. The size was known to be the equivalent of 40 regular-sized bottles. It had to be created by eight artists, who ended up making this golden giant bottle, named after Greek mythological King Midas, who could change anything he touched into gold. The auction happened through an exclusive club in London, called OneforOne Park Lane, where Mr. Johnson placed the winning bid.

The champagne brand?s bottles of Ace of Spades are reportedly a favorite of rap star Jay-Z, and have appeared in several of his music videos. Recently, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban spent $90,000 on these golden bottle of Ace of Spades celebrating its team winning in NBA championship at club LIV at Miami's Fontainebleau. 

For your ?Boyfriend?:

Have you met Chanel?s new Boyfriend? And no we are not talking about the Boyfriend handbag that JLo is so fond of flaunting at red carpets. The French luxury brand recently came out with a new time piece titled ?Boyfriend? aimed as a gift for your metrosexual male friend. It features sharp masculine anecdotes while still maintaining its refined feminine structure. Stylist are happy with its new design as it is perfect to be paired with a casual jeans and T shirt look with a jacket, and will look simply sublime with an evening outfit as well. Part of their premiere Watch line, it comes in 18 gold cases and bezels, with a few studded with brilliant cut diamonds.

Said to hit the stores towards the end of this year, the watch has already garnered a huge female fan following. However, a few metropolitan men may also be eyeing this sharp looking androgynous Boyfriend watch by Chanel.

A billionaire?s caffein fix:

For coffee lovers across the world, a hot cup full of their favorite blend tastes nothing short of elixir. While most of us are satisfied with a Cappuccino or Americano from Starbucks, billionaires have their own special way to get their caffeine fix. For example the Rocket Espresso coffee machine, designed by Ralpha, which has the engravings and tech features to produce the perfect cup of coffee.

As the name suggests, this machine has been made in collaboration with Rocket Espresso Milano, known specialists in this domain, which makes the final product one of the best in the world. The body has been primarily made of steel with the Ralpha H Van silhouette and the Cycle Club logo, as this beverage has been associated with the cyclists over a period of time. Its technical components include the thermo siphon system, which helps in distribution of heat evenly, as well as the copper boiler with lead free brass end plates, which aids the insulation process and doesn?t let heat escape from inside the machine.

The machine also boasts of a Sirai pressure stat, which is known as a source of accurate information, over the machine?s working life. Like most of the designers, this too shall be made in limited quantities of 200 numbered pieces only. To get this machine for yourself, be prepared to shell out $2,430 needed to buy this machine. As an assessment, this product can easily be concluded to be for the person with refined taste and knowledge of the beverage.