If I had to sum up my recent trip to India in a word it would be sensorial. The people, the food, the sights — everything was truly amazing. I had wanted to visit India for so many years, so when I was asked to give a masterclass at the India Makeup Show, I jumped on the opportunity. It was everything I imagined and more. Here are some of the highlights from my trip.

Mumbai

My husband and I started our trip in Mumbai, which was also the first location for the India Makeup Show. It is such a bustling city — I have never seen more people in any one place in my entire life. It makes Times Square look like the middle of nowhere. There are people moving in every direction, plus cars, bicycles, motorcycles, animals. You wouldn’t hear a single horn honking. Everyone was just doing it.

We stayed at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai and the service there was really incredible. We also visited my friend Chef Floyd Cardoz’s restaurant, The Bombay Canteen. The modern space is right in the middle of this old city and it is the place to be seen. The menu is inspired by the traditional street food from Floyd’s childhood. We tried just about everything on the menu and everything was delicious.

India Makeup Show

It was a really cool experience to be a part of the first masterclass at the India Makeup Show. So much planning went into this and I was so lucky to work with an incredible team to make it all happen. They even had my photo on a bus! The makeup show took place in Mumbai and Delhi, where I did makeup on Bollywood actresses Malaika Arora and Tamannaah Bhatia, with the help of my assistant, Pompy Hans. I started with the basics and worked my way up to a full look on each of the actresses. There was also a Q&A at each session, led by hairstylist Adhuna Akhtar, where I shared more about my career journey and being an entrepreneur. Afterwards, I presented certificates to the VIP participants and even met some members of the Royal Family. Really cool.

Agra

After Mumbai, we headed to Agra and I spent my birthday at the Taj Mahal. We stayed at The Oberoi Hotel, where the service was impeccable. I would come back to find my bathtub filled with rose petals or a special decorated cake by the bedside. And we could see the Taj Mahal from our room window! We started our days early, because the temperature was so hot, but had the best time taking in all of the sights.

Jaipur

From Agra, we headed to Jaipur where we stayed at the Rambagh Palace. The weather was a cool 78 degrees and we loved this “cold spell.” In Jaipur, we spent a lot of time shopping at the market and looking at the work of local artisans. Jaipur is known for its textiles, so I left with a lot of tablecloths, duvet covers and hand-dyed linens. The gem and jewelry shopping is also incredible here — check out Gems Paradise.

New Delhi

We ended the trip in Delhi, where the second session of the India Makeup Show took place. We again stayed at The Oberoi, which was beautiful and so modern. Our room looked over a golf course and beautiful parks. We did a lot of sightseeing here, visiting the many forts and temples.

We also explored the bustling Gole Market, which was such a wild ride for the senses. It was this combination of the most beautiful and rich colors that you’ve ever seen (reds, yellows, oranges) and the smells of fresh spices (turmeric, cinnamon cardamon). It’s definitely worth the visit.

On one of our last nights, we had a dinner with our guide, Owais, Nikita Upadhyay, a journalist I met via Instagram and Paayal Mahajan, the founder of a beautiful skincare brands called Essential Body. (Only in 2019 do you find yourself at dinner with a group of friends you met on Instagram!) India, I’ll be back.