Miss Feeding Vultures In Pakistan

She left Pakistan when she was six. But Los Angeles-based actress Dilshad Vadsaria, of Indian and Portuguese descent, says she has vivid memories of Pakistan - of spending quality time with her family watching Bollywood films and of feeding vultures!

'I have vivid memories of Pakistan. Strange, since I was so young, one of the many things I remember is how social everything was and how everything revolved around family, every day. Now, everyone is spread out across the world, quite different from the roots.... Oh, and I miss feeding the vultures, with my sister! Who wouldn't?' the 25-year-old Dilshad told IANS in an email interaction from the Hollywood hub.
'Some very fond memories I have is that of my entire family (aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins) sitting down on the ground, turning off the lights, and enjoying Bollywood movies. The songs, the dancing, the out-of-the-ordinary lives of the characters. It was wonderful for us to be able to have that time together, to enjoy these movies together. What a great gift to give to people,' she added.
Dilshad, who will be seen in Sony Pictures Entertainment's '30 Minutes or Less', releasing Sep 30, spent her childhood travelling. After living in Karachi, she stayed in different parts of the US - Chicago, Illinois, Richmond, Virginia and Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
'(In Pakistan) I lived in Karachi. Education was always a big thing in my family. It drove the difficult decision, on my parents' end, to leave everything they'd ever known and move to a different culture, a different world really, in order to provide for their children the absolute best in education and as many opportunities as possible,' she said.
The young girl chose acting as her field and studied in New York. But did she always have Hollywood dreams?
'I think for me, the imaginary world was always exciting. I started in New York doing theatre, from having just one person in an audience to performing for a full house. I think I've always enjoyed playing different characters, blending into different environments and such. So for me, it can be theatre or being in LA or in some other part of the world, as long as I can explore storytelling and human connection through storytelling, I'm quite content,' said Dilshad, who started her small screen career with 'Vanished' in 2006.
Later, she bagged a role in TV series 'Greek', and even featured in other shows like 'NCIS', 'Bones' and 'CSI: Miami'. She has even featured in a 2006 film 'Rapture'. Now Dilshad harbours larger dreams as an actor.
'I think I have so much more to accomplish in this world of acting. There are many different types of characters I want to play. I want to keep making people laugh and I want to explore dramatic roles as well. If something comes down the pile which is a good fit, a great story, then of course! Definitely not out of the question,' she said.
Her other wish is to travel to India.
'I have yet to travel to India. I do look forward to it one day, and hopefully soon. One of the things on my list to do is to travel to Kashmir to go skiing... gosh, that would be amazing... to go to Goa and Mumbai,' said the excited Dilshad, who credits her parents with instilling an Indian ethos in her despite her upbringing abroad.
'My parents have always been very concerned of making sure we know who we are and where we come from. I have to give them credit for that. Knowing your roots is quite important.'

Skin Care

Revisit your cleanse, tone, moisturise (CTM) routine. The new skincare routine is cleanse, protect, moisturise and exfoliate. Clean skin thoroughly,protect with a serum, lock in the hydration with a moisturiser and exfoliate twice a week to remove dead skin. Follow this routine (barring the exfoliation) twice a day, morning and night; use a cream cleanser at night.
Stay on top of your skin type. Your skin type as a teenager is not what you'll have for the rest of your life. Weather, hormones, medication and age affect it; as you grow older, skin gets thinner and drier. Do a blot test to check. (First thing in the morning, place a tissue on your face; if it comes away greasy on nose, chin and forehead, you have combination skin. If a larger area of your cheeks is oily, that's your skin type too. Not a spot on the tissue means you have dry skin. "Sensitive" is not a skin type.)
Delay ageing - use sunscreen. Effects of sun exposure include loss of elasticity, thinner skin, wrinkles and spots. Slather on a broad spectrum sunscreen (that protects against UVA and UVB rays) with SPF 25 or more all year round on your body (not just your face). Don't forget the ears, the neck and your lips. Reapply during the day.
The eyes suffer from the first signs of ageing. The eye contour area has the thinnest skin and this is where lines show up first. Invest in a targeted antiageing product. Your other big buy - movie star sunglasses. Get maximum coverage with oversize shades; ensure they have UV protection.
Don't forget your neck and chest as this area is most prone to sun damage. If you're stepping out in the summer, especially between noon and 4pm, wear clothes that cover more.
Night creams are a must - research shows that skin-cell regeneration is faster at night. Choose products with alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), linoleic acid, ceramides, Vitamin B6, retinol or Retin A.
Step it up:
Take your skin care regime to the next level with clinical intervention
Peels: With summer upon us, a tan cannot be far behind. Peels, such as glycolic, Vitamin C, Retin A or a combination of them can give you a fresh, fair glow. Peels exfoliate the top layer clinically, removing dead skin as well as clumped melanin, so skin is brighter.
Frequency: Once every 15 days (six sittings for three months).
Recovery time: None to five days. They must be done by a professional. Prices start at 2,000.
An at-home option: Make your own exfoliating mask at home with yoghurt and honey. Curd is rich in lactic acid and honey is a soothing anti-bacterial.
Hair removal: For most of us, facial hair is a big concern. You can use laser technology to ensure permanent hair reduction of up to 90 percent. Recommended: Q-Switched Laser means you won't have to bleach or thread your face again. It bleaches fine hair and after repeated sittings, reduces hair on the face. The process tightens your skin because it stimulates collagen and lightens skin as it targets pigment cells.
Frequency: four sittings in three months. Prices start at 5,000. Always go to a laser specialist - otherwise you might end up with white spots or scars, or the treatment may not be as effective.
Ingredients SOS
Look for these in your anti-ageing products-
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA): These are naturally occurring plant acids that help in getting rid of dead skin. They promote younger-looking complexion by helping skin renewal, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, spots and blemishes.
Hyaluronic acid and ceramides: These hydrate your skin and keep it looking plump. Hyaluronic acid is a superhumectant, drawing its moisture from the air and holding 1,000 times its weight in water. Ceramides are natural fats that aid skin in retaining moisture, helping it remain plump.
Linoleic acid: It's an omega-6 fatty acid, one of the important things found in evening primrose oil - which is an antioxidant that aids cell regulation, stops dryness, prevents thinning and works on acne-prone skin too.
Retinol: Derived from Vitamin A, retinol was first used to treat acne before its wonder qualities - stimulating cell and collagen production, strengthening skin and reducing fine lines and sun spots - were discovered. But it's not all wonderful. It also makes your skin sensitive to the sun and can be drying. It should only be used at night.
Vitamins C and E: These are always used together to maximise their properties. They work as potent anti-ageing ingredients with Vitamin C maintaining skin elasticity and collagen production and Vitamin E doing the soothing and protecting.
Vitamin B6: Another anti-ageing agent, it improves elasticity, stimulates collagen production, diminishes appearance of fine lines, blemishes and signs of dryness.
Skin food
Speak to a doctor and chart out whether you should be supplementing what you eat with vitamins, calcium, evening primrose oil and omega-3 oil capsules.
Drink plenty of fluids (8-9 glasses a day).
"Eat" your hydration through raw fruits and vegetables - pomegranates are an excellent source - when you eat this fruit, you hydrate and
give your body antioxidants.
Use olive oil to reduce cellulite and stop your skin from sagging. Healthy fats such as these not only attract water to the dehydrated cells but also prevent future water loss. Cells that are watertight will lead to tauter skin.
To deal with dry skin, up your intake of good oils, and those found in walnuts and eggs. Add in omega-3 to your diet.
Choose a diet rich in whole grains, pulses, lowfat dairy, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, fatty fish and cold pressed oils. Include functional foods such as soya, aloe and haldi (turmeric).
New research says eating fruit and veggies rich in carotenoid makes you more attractive. Carotenoid is the red colouring antioxidant found in tomatoes, peppers, plums and carrots. When you eat them, it's stored as healthy fat under your skin, giving it a healthy flush.
Limit sugar, and we don't mean just the teaspoon that goes in your coffee. Foods that rise the blood sugar include processed foods, pasta, baked goods, and snacks such as rice products, chips and colas. Sugar and starchy foods accelerate ageing and make the body store fat.