Do you ever get conscious? {Your Opinion}

[Source:totalbeauty.com]

Today I had applied Neutrogena sunscreen instead of the regular MVO Moisturising face screen or Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint, both of which have zinc oxide and are physical sunscreens which I personally prefer. But, both of them are tinted and go on the skin like a foundation. Whenever I apply any tinted moisturiser, I always feel conscious of it. I don't know why but it happens with me even when I use a tinted lip balm. So, basically, you can say color makes me conscious which I didn't feel when I applied the Neutrogena sunscreen today. 

Do you feel conscious if you make a slight change in your everyday look, it might be a different hair style or a tinted moisturiser. I have tried out side braids this past week and loved them. On the first day, I did feel weird but then, I got used to it and carried it off. I do want to do simple hair style tutorials. But, what can I say, call me camera shy :D But, I am working on it and hopefully, something should materialise.

Do you get conscious of any change? 

MVO Moisturizing Face Screen {Product Review}

I had long back talked about my experience with MVO Everyday Sheer Coverage (ESC) and I mentioned about Moisturizing Face Screen (MFS) there. So, I am now ready to review this awesome product.

Price: 40$ (Rs 2000 approx) for 60ml (and with rupee declining, its far more expensive!!!)

Ingredients

My Experience

In a nutshell, this is the best sunscreen I have come across till date. It doesn't let me tan even a single bit. And, it is way too costly :( But, if I indulge myself in anything, it would be only this product ever because I have not found an equivalent of it yet which is inexpensive. So, let me talk about the product a bit.

Its a tinted sunscreen because Zinc Oxide leaves a white patch behind. It comes in four tints which is less for the varying skin colors and sometimes, it might not really suit the skin tone. Since it is a Zinc Oxide based sunscreen, the texture is powdery (like Lactocalamine). And, yes, it is difficult to blend in the skin. Especially, when your skin is not at its best or not exfoliated properly.

Well that was the bad and the good is that it goes very smoothly over oil or most of the moisturizers I have tried. Its supposed to blend in like a foundation only so a little patience is definitely required. Its a good makeup base and a little lip tint would look great. The finish of the product is matte and doesn't really make the face oily but yes, blotting papers would be useful if you are not going to sit in an AC.

And, another good thing about the product is that it has amazing ingredients which nourish your skin at the same time. But, the best part of the product is that it stays for the whole day and you don't have to reapply unless you are all the time in the sun or you are sweating excessively when the Zinc Oxide may get washed off the skin.

I have been using this since quite a time and almost every time I have loved the product except for when it gets difficult for me to blend it in and then, I come to know that I need to exfoliate  the my skin. Generally, exfoliation solves the blending problem so that makes my skin happy and glowing. Oh, something to remember is that double cleansing is very very necessary to remove the product. 

PS: I am doing this review today because of Bridal Series going on. And, I wanted to share the secret of my glowing skin these days. And, if you can indulge in the expenditure, you should definitely give this a try. I don't know how I am going to get my next bottle. Btw, the 30ml bottle lasts for 2 months if used everyday so that's satisfactory at least (not inexpensive at all). Btw, MVO has free international delivery on or above 175$ so if anyone is interested, we can arrange a collective purchase. Drop me a mail :)

Other products from MVO:
Marie Veronique Organics After Sun Body Oil
Marie Veronique Organics Everyday Sheer Coverage

Emu Oil {Ingredient}

[Source: Google Images]

Have you heard of Emu Oil? Well, it is pretty much famous for its amazing anti-aging benefits for the skin. I cam across it while reading the ingredients of one of the MVO products and I thought of doing a post on it. Emu oil is used in many of the MVO products - one of them being the Everyday Sheer Coverage I reviewed sometime back.

What is Emu Oil?

It is the oil made from the fat of Emu, a bird which is native of Australia. 

Benefits of Emu Oil

It has many benefits (you will read that sentence everywhere but I don't think I have come across such long a list ever though whether it is true or not is debatable). So, I'll just list a few and give you the source for further reading. 

Emu oil is extremely high in essential fatty acids Omega 3, 6, 7 that are anti-inflammatory and repair the lipid barrier. Results: smoother, softer, more radiant skin; scars and stretch marks fade; relief from eczema, dermatitis, dry skin [Source: MVOrganics]

It is anti-inflammatory and heals the wounds and burns.  It helps with acne, sunburns, age spots, aging issues, dandruff, eczema and many other things. [Source: Emu Oil Benefits] (please go to source for complete list)

How is it extracted? 

This is the part which is why I wrote this post. I don't know if it has entered your mind if Emu is killed to extract Emu Oil? I wanted to know the answer for this question and the answer is, unfortunately, Yes. But, there is a catch if you don't want it to weight down on your conscience. Emu is killed for its meat, specifically. Because, the meat of emu is lean and has many health benefits. So, when the Emu is killed, the meat is cooked and the fat of the Emu is used to extract the oil so yup its not vegan or organic or even vegetarian, for that matter.

One main thing about Emu Oil is also that it is seldom available in its 100% pure form coz its a very valuable oil. So, if you think of buying this oil, go for the reliable and best brands instead of any which fancies your eye coz the lower grade of oils can lead to skin irritations and other problems.

Marie Veronique Organics After Sun Body Oil {Product Review}

So, this is again one of the samples I received from MVO as I mentioned a few days back. And, I am just on the brink of finishing this. Surprising that so small a sample lasted me so many days!!!

Price: 55$ (Rs 3000 approx) for 120 ml (again, very expensive!!!)

What does MVO say about the product?

• Soothes and hydrates overexposed skin with borage oil for anti-inflammation and moisture retention to reduce dry, flaky skin
  
• Calms with aromatic lavender and imortelle essential oils
• Repairs damage with carrot seed oil, high in beta carotene
• Replenishes the lipid barrier compromised by sun exposure with essential fatty acids from jojoba oil
• Seals in moisture and leaves the skin supple, smooth and more refined

Ingredients

No harmful chemicals, no synthetic fragrances, no waxes that can clog pores, no water that can evaporate and dry out your skin, and no nut oils that can go rancid with UV exposure.
100% vegan
Carthamus tinctorius (safflower oil), Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba oil), Persea gratissima (avocado oil), Borago officinalis (borage oil), Squalene (vegetable squalene from olive oil), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary oleoresin), Tocopherol (vitamin E), Lavandula augustifolia (lavender essential oil), Helichrysum splendidum (helichrysum essential oil), Daucus carota (carrot seed essential oil)

I love the ingredients of this brand!!! Makes it worth the cost, at least. 

My Experience

I wouldn't talk about any recommendation because I have not experienced the product long enough to make my judgement on it. So, I will only share what I observed in this much time. Its a colorless oil and smells nice to bland. Has a hint of Lavender but I guess its Immortelle which is probably predominant, I am not sure though!!! In case you are wondering where is Immortelle in the ingredient list, Helichrysum splendidum is its scientific name.

The oil is colorless and extremely light but still its quiet moisturizing. I used the oil first on my face where I don't think I noticed any difference and then, I started using on my hands. I don't think I noticed any difference but once when my arms were completely dark in the sun, I applied the oil and next morning, the arms' color was a little back to normal and I think it does reverse tanning to a certain extent. Anyways, the oil gets absorbed very readily into the skin and is non-sticky so keeps the skin soft. 

If you ask me if I would try it again or want to try it again, I would say there are much more interesting things by MVO to try out so I would go for something different next time. I really would give preference to products I haven't tried and I have my eye on Sun Protective Oil which I so want to desperately even though its horribly expensive :)

PS: Oh, btw, did you enter the Yardley giveaway yet??? If you haven't, follow this link - Yardley Giveaway and submit the answer to the question asked and you are done!!!

My Shelf is overfull - Skin Care {Beauty Products}

Ok, so last time, I cleaned my shelf, I came across a plethora of beauty products lying in my closet. So, I decided that I would do a series of my overflowing skin and hair care products and ask you if you know how should I get rid of them. And, if you ever let your things collect to such and extent and still keep adding to it. So, enjoy the snaps!!! And, you can see what reviews you can await and also read the ones I have done with.

Cleansing and Moisturing

starting with face washes (head to toe!!)

Products already reviewed:

• Lakme Perfect Radiance Fairness Facewash

Facial Oils

Products already reviewed:

• Anti-aging Serum Varnya 

face moisturizers

Products already reviewed:

• Lacto Calamine
• Auravedic Facial Skin Repair Moisturizing Lotion 
• Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizer
• Himalaya Herbals Revitalizing Night Cream

Toning

[read the review here]

Lip Care

lip moisturizers

Products already reviewed:

• Himalaya Herbals Natural Moisturizing Lip Butter

Face Scrubs and Masks

these are the scrubs I have and I forgot to add the Himjoli Walnut Scrub in the snap!!

Products already reviewed:

• Auravedic Pure Brightening Skin Polish 
• Himalaya Purifying Neem Scrub
• Himalaya Gentle Exfoliating Walnut Scrub
• Skin Watchers Papaya Moisture Peeling Gel

not so many masks but wait!!!

Products already reviewed:

• Himalaya Purifying Neem Pack
• Himalaya Refreshing Fruit Pack

see the poor baby!!! he is the only one in his category of 2-in-1

and, I have no idea why I bought this!!

Sunscreens

wish I was so diligent of the protection too :D

Products already reviewed:

• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock 
• MVO Everyday Sheer Coverage

PS: Check back the next installment on body care.

Marie Veronique Organics Everyday Sheer Coverage {Product Review}

I mentioned a while back that I had won the MVO giveaway and this product came as one of the samples. So, I finished the sample and wanted to share my experience. So, kindly don't take this as a proper review.

Price: 50$ (Rs 2500 approx) for 60 ml (yeah, really expensive!!!)

What does MVO say about the product? 

• Provides essential every day UVA/UVB protection and defends against premature aging with a unique combination of natural humectants, emollients and anti-oxidants.
• Evens skin tones and absorbs into the skin leaving a lovely matte finish
• Provides anti aging support with beta glucans, glucosamine, and powerful anti-oxidants such as coffee fruit extract.
• Prevents moisture loss from exposure to the elements with red raspberry seed oil and broccoli seed oils
• Made with non-micronized zinc oxide, a physical sun block that reflects UV rays without releasing wrinkle and cancer-causing free radicals
• For use every day, rain or shine.

Available in Extra light, Light, Medium and Dark Tint. For Indian skin, light and medium tint would suit well.

Shake well before use and keep in a cool place. Apply liberally and evenly before sun exposure. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating or towel drying. Safe for all ages. If irritation develops discontinue use and consult a physician. 

Ingredients

No harmful chemicals, nanoparticles, parabens, fillers, waxes, or fragrances.
Active ingredient: 16.6% non-nano zinc oxide
Ingredients: Camellia sinensis (green & white tea), non-nano zinc oxide, vegetable glycerin, Brassica oleracea italica (broccoli seed oil), Prunus avium (cherry kernel seed oil), emu oil, Punica granatum (pomegranate seed oil), Rubus idaeus (red raspberry seed oil), Tocopherol (vitamin E), Calodendrum capense (yangu oil), Cosmocil CQ*, xanthan gum, n-acetyl glucosamine, lecithin, potassium sorbate, pearl powder, Rosemarinus officinalis (rosemary oleoresin), beta glucan, Coffea arabica (coffee fruit extract), Hydrolyzed silk (silk powder), Rosa centifolia (rose) essential oil, Citrus aurantium bigaradia (neroli) essential oil, Helichrysum italicum (helichrysum essential oil), Cistus incanus (cistus) essential oil, iron oxides

Amazing Ingredients!!! I can't get enough of them :) Btw, MVO is an organic brand.

My Experience

this is the medium tint

One thing which I regret about this product is that it is just spf 20 and not enough for a tropical climate of India. I ordered the medium tint of the Moisturizing Face Screen so this also came in the same tint. The product is lighter in consistency and gets absorbed really quickly into the skin. Well, if I actually say, it gets absorbed too quickly so it is better to apply it as dots on the face and blend in as compared to rubbing on the hands and then applying. And, I think its anti-aging ingredients do work. I felt my face was a little firmer when I was using this. And, its Zinc Oxide is great at protecting from the sun. The only wish is if it had been spf 30. 

little shinier than the other but gets absorbed quickly

Another thing to note is that as I said in my previous post, physical sunscreen ingredients do leave a white cast on the skin. So, the tinted ones are available in the product. But, since Zinc Oxide is so high in concentration (24% is the maximum allowed concentration of Zinc Oxide by FDA rules and the product has 16% around), there is a little powdery texture to the product and it doesn't feel silky smooth as other sunscreens do. This makes the blending a little harder. But, when you get used to it, its not much of a concern. I have applied it directly on the skin without moisturizing and using various moisturizers and face oils too and I didn't face any problem of blending even once. And, since it has a tint, it also provides a decent coverage and evens out the complexion. But, of course, you can't use it as makeup as far as I understand (a doubtful point, don't believe me coz I know nothing about it!!!). It gives a matte finish but might also become semi-matte depending on your skin type. 

For dry skin, it gets absorbed well and provides moisturization too. For oily and combination skins, it might be a little dewy and you might need a bit of powder to set it after some time depending on the oil on your face. But, its a score of times better than chemical sunscreens which make your skin look like having been dipped in oil. And, I have been there so I am thankful. It might give a shiny appearance for sometime but give it 2-3 minutes and it settles comfortably into the skin. One squirt of the product is enough for face and another squirt for neck and exposed chest. I would advise to apply it just like a foundation coz you want the sunscreen to sit evenly on your skin and protect your skin from sun's rays. Touching and tugging at the skin wouldn't help coz it might bring off the Zinc Oxide from the skin. 

Regarding application, when you are staying indoors and during cloudy days when there is no sun and during winters when sun is again obscure, one application in the morning and another in the afternoon is probably enough. I surely didn't apply it every two hours as it is advised coz I was indoors most of the time. But, if you are outside in hot sun or sweating profusely or swimming, it is advisable to reapply the sunscreen in regular intervals (two hours is the general idea). Btw, did I mention that it prevents tanning of the skin which is a huge bonus!!! I didn't tan since I have been using it. And, of course, you need to double cleanse to remove the sunscreen whether its physical or chemical so don't forget that.

Instead of making my recommendation because it was just a sample and I used it for very less time, I would conclude by saying that if I am to try it again, my preference would be a higher spf sun screen and I would love to use the Anti-aging oil instead at night to revive my skin. And, if this product would ever be changed to spf 30, then I might definitely prefer this over the Moisturizing Face Screen because I found it gives a better finish than that.

PS: The comparison in this post is with MVO Moisturizing Face Screen.

Use sunscreen 365 days a year {Sunscreen}

Ok, so this is a sincere advise to people who love to skip on sunscreen. Yes, even I do that!!! Or, rather used to do that and now I have become diligent and force myself to apply the sunscreen everyday as soon as I moisturize my face. The reason is that it helps to keep you young by counteracting the effects of sun rays on skin. And, I have kept my resolve on and off since May so I can safely say that this happens to be true. Daily usage of sunscreen does keep you younger for a longer time or rather prevent wrinkles and age spots which tend to appear as you age. I know it is difficult to find a good sunscreen but for those who haven't tried, you can go for Neutrogena Ultra Sheer or if you have the dough to spend, I would definitely advise MVO Moisturizing Face Screen or Everyday Sheer Coverage. MVO has physical sunscreens and they definitely work!!! Better than chemical ones and you don' have to keep on reapplying them all day!!! And, of course, you should apply adequate amount of sunscreen for proper protection. That is very very important. And, do not skip on sunscreen even for a single day.

Full strength sunscreen in summers is a must but many people tend to forgo it in rainy seasons or cloudy days or even in the winters. But, on cloudy days, there might be a possibility that UV radiations increase so it is always safe to apply a full strength sunscreen. The reason is that though clouds are handy in deflecting the UV rays passing through them, they also reflect the UV rays if the sun is out and not obscured by the clouds. So, don't be fooled by clouds and leave the sunscreen at home. And, regarding winters, yeah you can go little less on the strength that is the spf factor if you wish to. But, forgoing it not at all a good idea. The UVA rays specially remain strongest during the daylight hours all the year round.

spf 15 - filters 93.3% UVB

spf 30 - filters 96.7% UVB

spf > 30 - filters around 97% UVB 

So, clearly any sunscreen having spf more than 30 is not very helpful and efficient. These are mainly marketing tactics so you can protect your skin as well with spf 30 as you will with spf 100. 

I would recommend going for spf 30 in general all round the year because it provides the best protection. It is proven through research that factors higher than 30 do not in anyway provide extra protection as compared to spf 30 so it is better to stick with spf 30 and make sure to reapply it regularly. And, clothing is very important to protect from the sun's rays. So, do take care that you are amply covered.  

Marie Veronique Goodies

Sunscreen

samples

Hey All!! I just wanted to share with you that I had won the Vivawoman MVO giveaway and recently received their goodies which came with 3 samples of course. Marie Veronique Organics is one of the rare organic brands which makes physical sunscreen and I had since long wanted to try it so I am extremely happy to have got these products and their reviews will be coming in time.