Padma Lakshmi, 47, Reveals Her Beauty, Fitness And Fashion Secrets

Beauty they say is skin deep, but these are times when a new face serum, face wash, primer and what have you tantalise your senses every day; beauty ambassadors endorse their brand of BB cream as more adept at concealing your blemishes than their rivals; and one can truly say "you are what you apply". It does take a pretty penny to look like as if you just stepped out of the cover of Vogue, and even though beauty experts suggest tried and tested ways to keep it simple, let's be honest - most of us don't have the time, patience and the luxury to sit through a six-step Korean beauty regime when all you have is five minutes to grab your coffee, look presentable and dash to work.

So, having spent the better part of my time (at work) with young women on the right side of the 20s and 30s, imagine my relief when I meet someone who is on the other side of 40, lives life under the spotlight, embraces her scars and is no-fuss when it comes to beauty and food. Indian-American model and TV host Padma Lakshmi, everyone.

Recently having launched her make up collection which is suited to desi skin tones, Padma Lakshmi admits she has no makeup hacks, saying, "I exercise a lot. What you put in your body, what you eat is just as important as the colour and cosmetic you put on your face. If you exercise and sweat often, it allows your body to detox, opens your pores, improves your circulation and gets a glow to your face".

Now does that not sound more doable than spending five grand on a facial for the same effect?

And if you are rolling your eyes just thinking about the hour-long spinning class or having to pound the treadmill, Padma Lakshmi tells you what to do.

"Do the toe touches, push ups, crunches, jumping jacks - all that we did in the PT class in school. Don't need fancy gyms and trainers. There have been times when I have been at little hotels and I have just carried a jump rope or run up down the flights of stairs. Do five minutes every hour," she says.

Watch: Padma Lakshmi's Fitness Mantra 

As someone whose style hasn't changed since she was 15, Padma Lakshmi says, "I love maxi skirts and sweater dresses when dealing with the New York cold. Sweater dresses are great and they don't wrinkle either. In India, I wear simple T-shirt dresses and if you look at my pictures from 15 to 45, my style is the same. Yes, the brands may have changed since I have become successful. I can afford designer brands which were earlier out of my reach."

Padma Lakshmi's access to couture labels doesn't mean she can't go high street when she wants. "I can wear H&M, Zara and I have even visited Mumbai's Fashion Street and picked up a dress. I don't care about the brand as long as I look like me and having lived in both India and the west, my style is an eclectic mix of both those cultures. I love wearing jeans, tank tops and jhumkas and that makes me unique. I am the person I am," she says.

Even though she is someone who samples close to 7000 calories in a day on the sets of Top Chef, Padma Lakshmi says the humble khichdi is her 'comfort food' and is cooked every Sunday at home. On other days, it's curd rice.

So what's the spice of her life? "My daughter Krishna. She is the best thing that's happened to me. I was told I could not have babies and I always wanted to be a mom but I never knew how much fun it would be to have a child. I am also lucky my daughter has great personality - she was born that way, I had nothing to do with that. I have experienced life through the eyes of a child. It's so much fun and wonderful, from an ice cream cone treat on a sunny day to seeing the first snowfall or learning how to tie your laces, it's been so gratifying," says Padma Lakshmi.