They always say diamonds are a girl’s best friend. If that’s the case, I’ve been rather best-friendless up until now. At least when it comes to the ones that sparkle with expense rather than wit. After all, what with going indie and making life on my terms, I can’t quite be mooching massive precious stones off my mum and dad, can I? I’d always thought those dazzlers are a bit out of my league for at least another decade.

Then along came Varuna Jani with her V Glam collection. Limited edition jewellery that burns the style charts, not your pocketbook. Just five pieces in every design ensures that I get the aura of exclusivity that other affordable bauble-makers don’t give me. New designs every three months means that I’ll always have a stunner up my sleeve that my friends don’t.

The latest range has a beautifully shaped three-colour ring that is just right with my pink-and-blue streaked tresses. What better way to brighten up a cloudy day than with a sparkle of daily glam?

Available at: Varuna Jani Exclusive Store, Ramani Villa, 1st Road, TPS IV, Lane opposite Standard Chartered Bank, Bandra (W), Mumbai; Tel: 26512719/23; Price: Rs 20,000 to Rs 5,00,000.

I can almost hear the exciting war drums beating. Tramping up and shaking its spears on the make-up horizon is MAC’s wicked Style Warrior range. According to MAC, this one brings together the cross-cultural sophistication of the modern Amazon Princess, the African Queen, the Crouching Tigress.

Such an excitingly refreshing change from yesterday’s soft-focus, rosy romance, I thought. Just perfect for this season, when I need a bit of bold bronze to radiate my magnetic charm to the max. For a wild night out on the town, I got to pick from bronzing powders, luster drops and skinsheens in rich, dark and intense golden hues. I loved the way my cheekbones stood up and took a bow after I applied the pearly mid-tone plum powder blush called On A Mission. And when I added the finishing touches with Night Manoeuvres (a deep charcoal brown with pearl eye shadow) and Mercenary (a radical blackened-bronze nail colour that matched the Style Warrior lip glass I had on) I was all set for the victory march!

And the range is a keeper, all packaged in super stylish zebra and leopard prints, with a colour spectrum that is sure to endure thanks to its ’survival-of-the-fittest’ allure.

MAC’s new range is available at Melange, 33 Altamount Road, Mumbai; Tel: 23541097/98; and MAC, Dynamix Mall, Juhu, Mumbai; and all MAC locations across the country; Price: Rs 3,000 onwards.