Keeping skin flawless and beautiful for the festive times {Skin Care}

Everyone is busy in Christmas and New Year preparations. So, how to prepare to look good in the celebrations. Follow the following tips and enjoy the holidays:

• Drink adequate amount of water, no matter what. People tend to drink less water in winters but it affects the skin more adversely. The winter winds dehydrate the skin anyways. You have to hydrate yourself to keep in balance. If you fail to do it, your skin will look leathery with all the make up on and no suppleness.
• Sleep properly and adequately. Finish your beauty sleep for minimum 7 hours. Do not take any drinks two hours prior to sleep. 
• Cleanse your face every night, no matter what. Otherwise, your skin will look aged on next day. 
• Before the celebrations begin, get yourself an appointment at the saloon well in advance. Remember this is a rush hour season and be on time. Get yourself pampered and indulge in expenses. You would love the result. Get a hair cut and highlights if you wish. They will look great. 
• On the day of festivities, give yourself appropriate time to get ready. Do not rush through it.
• Include body scrub, bath oils, bath salts in your bath and soak for 15-20 minutes. Alternatively, you can pour 2-3cups of milk and 2-3 drops of any essential oil of your choice in your tub and soak. Scrub with wash cloth afterward gently.
• While soaking, you can also apply any fruit face mask if you want and tea bags on your eyes to relax them and make them look brighter. Banana, papaya, orange brings an instant glow on the face. Apple makes your skin look clean and bright. Any fruit will do the job because of the natural ingredients present in it. You can also include milk cream or vegetable oils suitable to your skin while mashing the fruits to moisturize. Prepare a fresh batch every time.
• Wash your hair before you go for a soak. Do not condition. While you soak, apply honey on your hair and cover with a shower cap. While you are showering, wash your hair well and use any tea or vinegar as last rinse. It gives instant shine to your hair. Let your hair air dry if not in hurry. 
• When you come out of the shower, apply some perfume on the skin. Dab perfume on warm areas of your body like armpits, cleavages, inner thighs. Moisturize your body. Apply perfume again on the same spots you applied earlier or as per your choice. You can apply talc and then again apply perfume. Last layer can be put on the clothes you wear. Ensure the floral smells and buy a natural perfume which is non-irritating to your skin. Applying perfume in layers and warm areas ensures it to stay longer.
• When your hair is damp, style your hair. You can use shine serums to increase the shine or other hair products of your choice. Use products in moderation so as to not let your hair weigh down. Less is good.
• Before applying make up, do not forget your sunscreen in case your are going out in day time.
• At night, a lip gloss and mascara is enough to give the effect.  
• For people who are not product junkies and like to go natural like me, 2-3 drops of any vegetable oil would be enough to bring shine to your hair. When your hair is damp, take oil into your palms and finger comb through your hair paying special attention to the ends. This will seal the moisturizer into your hair. While finger combing, gently untangle your hair so that you do not need to comb or brush it. Simple finger combing can give great style to your hair. Try it out. Definitely, it depends a lot on the hair texture too. Wavy hair is the best bet. Or, if you still prefer combing, use a wide tooth comb. Do not forget sunscreen in any case. To be ready for a night out, a lip gloss adds a smashing effect. Making up the eyes is no harm but the least you can do is to apply kohl. They give an instant lift to your eyes. Wash your eyes with lot of cold water before that to make them look brighter. Buy good products. Do not worry about expenses. Cheap products are often not good for the skin but, again, do not judge by the brands. Go for products which suit your skin.

Take care of your skin regularly and you do not need any special vanity case to prepare for a party. Proper nutrition is important in skin care. But, indulge during festivities. Do not starve yourself of the enjoyments.

Wish you all a Happy Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Vivel Active Essentials 3-in-1 Face Wash + Scrub {Product Review}

Price: Rs

Pros

cleanses the face really well

jojoba beads provide mild exfoliation

Cons

not meant for all skin types even if it says all kind types

leaves my skin a bit dry sometimes

jojoba beads don't get washed off properly

has SLS!!

My Experience

The product is a beautiful pearly blue in color with blue jojoba beads for exfoliation. The beads are not harsh on the skin but for me, the exfoliation wasn't enough. It doesn't help with the blackheads. The product last quite long, little being enough for every time. It lathers quite well and cleanses really well.

The face does look a bit brighter after using it. But, I do feel my skin is getting dry so probably it will suit only oily skin people and not dry. As I said earlier, my skin gets dry as the climate gets cooler, a drying face wash doesn't exactly help!! I love the color of the product, the pale blue.

So, did you use it? Do share what you think about it!

PS: Product sent by brand.

You might like:

Garnier Light Fairness Face wash 

Dove Deep Pure Face Wash 

Auravedic Botanical Actives Pulpy Facewash Honey Almond

Clean and Clear Fairness Cream {Product Review}

Price: Rs 120 for 40gms

Pros

controls oil admirably for entire day

leaves skin brighter and matte

gets absorbed really easily

Cons

doesn't suit dry skin at all so stay away!! 

My Experience

The product is light pink in color and very thin in consistency and not at all heavy!! I would say this is a perfect cream for oily skin. Why? Because, it doesn't let my skin get oily and yes, my skin feels a little stretched coz its actually dry combination and these days, my skin is not that oily. Had it been summers, it would have suited me perfectly.

No, its not suitable for dry skin at all. Or, even if you spend a lot of time on AC, I would not suggest this for you. Regarding the fairness claims, I didn't really find it do anything to my skin. But, yes, it probably did make my skin glow but I can't be really sure. But, I did notice that my skin turns a little ashy when I apply more than two pea-size drops of products for my face and neck, one for each.

It does stand true to the claims of oil free so yes, when combined with its counter part face wash, its a perfect recipe to combat oily skin. It would have been great if the products had been launched during summers - quite a respite for oily skin types :) Regarding its sunscreen and UV filter claims, I prefer to use a separate sunscreen. 

PS: Product sent by brand.

Other products from Clean and Clear:

Clean & Clear Skin-Balancing Moisturizer

Clean & Clear Fairness Face Wash

Clean & Clear Fairness Face Wash {Product Review}

Price: Rs 99 for 80gms

Pros

leaves the skin little brighter after wash

doesn't stretch the skin or make it dry, very rare occurrences even if it happens!!

is little gritty in texture so provides extremely mild exfoliation

doesn't have SLS

Cons

no skin type is mentioned on the product but this is especially for only combination and oily skin!!

My Experience
The product is a pearly pink in color and a little thick in consistency. A little of the product goes a long way. It also cleanses the skin really well. In fact, I found this face wash to similar to that of Ponds and Dove face washes in every way. The ingredient list is also almost same having myristic acid as one of the top ingredients.

I do not like the fairness claims but it leaves a skin little brighter and a bit pinkish after the wash. It doesn't dry the skin overtly but I do think it might not be suitable for dry skin. Regarding the oil control claims, I can't make any observations because the climate has considerably cooled down and my skin gets oily only in high temperatures. 

Though, I should probably mention that even though its really sunny these days sometimes, my skin doesn't get much oily, only sweaty. Oh, one thing is that the gritty texture of the product helps exfoliating. Its not a high-powered one but for daily use, its fine. So, yup, give a chance and then decide whether to stick to it or not.

PS: Product sent by brand. 

Other Clean & Clear product reviewed on the blog:

Clean & Clear Skin-Balancing Moisturizere

Lakme Perfect Radiance Intense Whitening Capsules Treatment {Product Review}

This is my first ever try of Lakme’s skin care range. I have always loved their makeup products but this time I am madly in love with these capsules from their skin care range.

Price: 1250 for 28 capsules (very expensive, I must say!!)

 

My Experience

These capsules contain pale yellow serum which is very light in texture. When I apply it on my skin, it feels so soft!! Its absolutely non greasy and gets absorbed instantly into the skin. My skin is oily and I am, generally, afraid of creams and serums but this one rocks for my skin as it provides perfect moisture to my skin without making it oily. And, the best part is it never broke me out!!

Though the product says "twist the capsule to open it", I prefer scissors. The quantity of each capsule is 0.33gms and its enough for the entire face (I am wondering what about neck?? they could have given a bit more for the neck!!). Currently, I am on my second purchase and I am totally loving it. I can see wonderful glow on my face. (Thanks to my sister who forced me to use it and see the magic).

My uneven skin tone is more even and clearer. And the best part is my dark spots and post-pimple marks are lightened to some extent. It also keeps oil at bay for at leats 7-8 hours (when used at night). I don’t know why they called it a whitening treatment. It’s a great brightening treatment. I am absolutely in love with this serum though it’s little expensive for 28 capsules but its worth it.

Now, my friends are asking me what have I done on my face :D Lakme’s claim of freedom from 6 fairness blocks - dark spots, acne marks, uneven skin tone, oiliness, tanning and dullness is true. I think I have 5 of these problems and the product helped me reduce all of them. I am not tanned (you are so lucky!!). For me, it worked really great so I am going to buy it again.

Editor's Note: I was attracted to the product right form the start and now, your review is literally making me run to the shop and get one for myself but damn the expense!!! :(

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Great review, Punam!! Don't forget to check out her blog here.

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Other product I loved/hated from Lakme: 
Lakme Vital Indulgence
Lakme Perfect Radiance Fairness Facewash
Lakme Fruit Blast Berrylicious Fruit Revitalizing Scrub Mask

How many times do you avoid sun at noon? {Your Opinion}

This has been my issue since quite long. So, I thought I would pose this question to you all. How easy or difficult do you think is avoiding sun at the peak time in the noons? For me, its always the noons when I can get my works done or find time to go out for shopping or anything!!! Especially, when on a vacation, you are always out in the noons. So, how do you exactly avoid the sun in the peak time of 10-4? 

For me, I do put on a lot of sunscreen which gives me protection and use umbrella and scarf both to avoid the sun. But, sometimes, its just not possible!! Anyway, reapplication of sunscreen is very important when you tend to stay out so please bear that in mind. Also, its very important to follow with an after-sun treatment so as to control some of the damage done to the skin. But, it is advisable to avoid sun at the peak time at any cost. 

So, what do you say?

Image Courtesy:healthmeup.com

Related Posts:
Sunscreen: Role in anti-aging Skin Care
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock
How much sunscreen do you apply?
Use sunscreen 365 days a year
Sunscreen Ingredients

Forest Essentials Bath & Shower Oil Indian Rose Absolute {Product Review}

Price: Rs 340 for 50ml

Ingredients

Pros

smells blissful

very light oil just like the other one

fragrance lingers on the skin 

Cons

expensive!!

My Experience

This is the other body oil I got from them. I am not a fan of Rose or Jasmine because they are not at all like the synthetic rose or jasmine smells which are too sweet and floral. The real rose and Jasmine smell Earthy and strong!! So, yes, it wasn't my fav at first.

But, like I said, it takes a little getting used to and now, I absolutely love the smell. I wasn't sure if these oils are worth their price. But, these few days dad was with me and I asked him to try it out and asked if it was worth it. He totally loved both of the oils and said they are amazing :)

Like the other body oil, this is also light and disappears easily into the skin but the fragrance stays with you almost all day long! And, it really is aromatic. I do have one doubt that whether this body oil is enough for moisturizing in winters or for extremely dry skin. But, yes, you can always layer it. 

Absolutely recommended though I do know that it is expensive!! So, I would say save up and get one of this and I am sure you will become a fan :) So, have you used any Forest Essential body oil yet? Oh btw, do check out my post on how to use body oils in various ways too!!

Other products I love from Forest Essentials:

Forest Essentials Mashobra Honey & Vanilla Bath & Shower Oil

Lush Dark Angels Face Cleanser {Product Review}

Price: Rs 700 for 100 gms (approx.)

Ingredients

Rhassoul Mud, Cold Pressed Avocado Oil (Persea gratissima), Glycerine, Powdered Charcoal, Black Sugar (sucrose), Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Perfume, *Linalool, Sandalwood Oil (Santalum album), Rosewood oil (Aniba rosaeodora)

 

Pros

natural ingredients

makes the skin really soft

exfoliates amazingly!!

Cons

doesn't control oil production

doesn't remove oil or cleanse really well

very expensive!!

My Experience

I got this in June and have been using it on and off since then. I had been wanting to try the product since a very very long time so was very excited to try it out. So, how to use it a very big problem and trust me when I say its damn messy!!! It will blacken your washbasins and everywhere else it touches. 

How to use? Take a pea size amount and pour a drop or two of water on it and make a paste which will be a little watery and cleanse with it thoroughly. Though, I would like to say that it doesn't really cleanse well. I use oil to remove the traces of sunscreen from my skin and this product doesn't cleanse that oil as thoroughly as I would like. 

But, its a damn good exfoliator. It leaves the skin soft and smooth and removes the whiteheads but it didn't really have any noticeable effect on my blackheads. I use it on alternate days to scrub my face properly. Its not at all harsh. Oh btw, avoid looking in the mirror or you might frighten yourself :D Yes, it looks like black paint on the face!! 

 

Its definitely expensive and would last two months at max if used regularly which I think is way too less. The expiry period of the product is probably four months from the date of manufacture but I do have issues with this date things in Lush. They provide date of packaging and expiry but the date of packaging is date when you buy the product. So, how do they calculate the date of expiry? Honestly, Lush is not really working out well for me!!

Have you used Dark Angels?

Other products I love or hate from Lush:

Lush Caca Noir

Lush Aqua Marina Cleanser

Lush Gorilla Perfumes - Short Description

Update on Lush Caca Noir

How to take care of your skin when ill? {Skin Care}

Last week, I wasn't keeping well so I had just left my skin to its own devices. I thought it would make a good topic to discuss about how to care for skin so I putting down my points to skin care when I am not well. 

Leave the skin as it is

Ok, I am damn lazy. I can lie on the bed for hours together. In fact, I have been doing the same today morning (written on Sunday afternoon). So, I just leave my skin as it is. I do not bother to wash, tone or moisturize or anything at all. Well, ok, one caveat. Before lying down or becoming lazy, do make sure that your face is clean of all makeup and grime. And, then, you can be free. 

Caution: Do not follow this if your skin is prone to breakouts coz you never know how the oil on the skin can react!! And, follow this only when you are not going out.

Sponge Bath

Leaving skin as it is works damn well for me coz I stay alone but if you do have someone at your beck and call, take advantage and ask for a sponge bath. You can add essential oils to pucker you up. And, it does make you feel better as well.

Skipping Skin Routines is OK
Don't fret too much about skipping the skin routines. Its good to leave skin on its own devices once in a while. That gives it time to repair itself with its own process. Also, did you know that once you do not wash the skin, your skin itself starts the cleaning up process. Well, I think it might also be a part of detox process.

But, what if you are a stickler?
Aaah...I can't leave my skin just like that? How can you even suggest such a thing? Then, my answer is to follow these tips:

• Get a quick face wash. 
• In case you don't wanna skip bath, add a cup of salt to the bath water. It relaxes the muscles and eases body pains.  
• Use a water-based moisturizer.
• And, lie and relax. 
• Drink lot of fluids entire day!!

That will keep you going and look great even when you are not up to the snuff. If you are a makeup addict, sorry, no tips!! Probably a concealer and lipstick should do the job, just guessing!

What do you do when you are not feeling well? 

PS: Also, sorry that there were rather less of tips than the encouragement to lie around :D 

Chocolate Sugar Body Scrub {DIY}

After a really long time, I resorted to some DIY and I have huge expired Cadbury cocoa powder jar. So, what can be a better way to use it all :) Enjoy the recipe and don't forget to try it out!!

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
• 1 Tbsp Honey
• 1 Tbsp Raw Sugar
• 20 drops Body Oil /  Essential Oils

Method

Mix them all in a container. Make sure that you use a steel one if you plan to use essential oils. Plastic can change the composition. Add honey at the end just when you are about to enter the shower otherwise the sugar would melt!! When you mix the ingredients, it becomes a chocolate mousse (a little thick in consistency) and smells all of chocolate. In fact, it was a waste for me to add the body oil as its smell got masked by that of the cocoa powder. But, I guess essential oil should be good. Give it a try!!

Results

Well exfoliated skin which smells delicious and is so soft and hydrated. If possible, after scrubbing, keep the mask on for 5-10 minutes. Definitely recommended for a home pampering session.

Related Posts:

Chocolate Mask for you skin care

Chocolate Anti-Aging Mask

Forest Essentials Mashobra Honey & Vanilla Bath & Shower Oil {Product Review}

If you remember my June mega haul, you would have noticed this. This was among my first buys from FE and honestly, the brand is expensive and I always thought it was over-priced. Yes, I am cynical about most things :) Let's see how I like this.

Price: Rs 340 for 50ml/1.69 Oz

Ingredients

Gokharu - Its an aphrodisiac and used for vata and pitta doshas. Its great for eczema and psoriasis and also relieves itchy skin.
Deodaru - Its extracted from the deodar tree. Its an insect repellant and has anti-fungal properties. Its used mostly in aromatherapy because of its aromatic properties.

Pros

smells absolutely divine

very light oil; doesn't get greasy on skin OR hair

moisturizes the skin adequately

fragrance lingers on the skin 

elevates the mood instantly

Cons

expensive!!

My Experience

To start with, the entire FE haul didn't really empty my pockets because I bought them against the gift voucher I received on redeeming my credit card points. But, this body oil was worth it!! So, lets start analyzing the product. I bought the travel-sized version because I wanted to try out many products though its also available in a bigger size for 1000 bucks.

I really don't know how actual vanilla essential oil smells but this was a bliss. To bathe with this oil soaked in my bath water elevates my mood instantly and really relaxes me on the whole. And, the fragrance of the product smells natural and is strong but doesn't hurt my nose at all. And, my nose is very particular about what it likes!

The oil is extremely light and disappears into the skin immediately. It keeps the skin well-moisturized and I am sure it would serve well enough in winters. Pouring 20 drops in hand-hot bath water gives off a very peaceful aroma and wraps you in the fragrance. A perfect choice for a luxurious and pampering evening or night.

I did try using it yesterday as a hair leave-in, taking two drops and distributing it evenly on the hair strands concentrating on the ends and after that was done, I rubbed my palms on the scalp. And, surprisingly, my scalp wasn't feeling dry (which it had been for past few washes) and my hair is not weighed-down even a bit and is soft and added advantage was that curls are more defined.

Yes, I absolutely love it and would recommend it to everyone. The only hitch for me is that its expensive. FE has four bath oils. I have the Tuberose one as well but this product is more strong and I love this more. Somehow, I am not a fan of rose essence!! Seems surprising but actual rose doesn't smell as awesome. Nor does Jasmine even for that matter. Both are strong and pungent and take a little getting used to. 

Related Posts:

5 tips on How to use Bath Oil?

Raw Sugar and Rock Salt {Ingredients}

I have been always raving about sugar and salt scrubs but I have heard so many complaints about sugar being too harsh on skin. So, I wanted to share the sugar and salt which I use for my scrubs.

Fab India Raw Sugar

Raw Sugar is called Khandsari in Hindi. It is a less refined sugar, next to jaggery which is completely unrefined. It melts easily on skin and is not at all harsh and exfoliates really well. You can use it in place of sugar as well. Its less sweet, as well!!

Price: Rs 150 for 100 gms (approx.)

Skin Type: Dry to Matured

Patanjali Sendha Namak

Rock Salt is amazing for skin. I found only Patanjali selling rock salt in Hyderabad so I used it. In fact, rock salt is a little clumpy and not free flowing but this one is as fine as normal sugar so I do have doubts on the quality. If you know of anything better, do feel free to use it.

Price: Rs 10 for 1kg

Skin Type: Combination to Oily 

So, do check out this amazing DIY using the above ingredients which makes your skin glow like anything!! And, do let me know your experience :)

Tips on How to use Bath Oil? {Five Series}

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Yes, as you can discern from the post title, I am starting a new series called the Five Series. I shall be covering all the topics as much as possible in which 5 points on the topic would be covered. You can send me the post requests too!! I shall try to keep these posts short and quick so that you can read them easily.

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Massage and Moisturize

The regular use of oils is as a moisturizer. Aromatic bath oils are amazing for massages as they are extremely relaxing for the body and mind.

Aromatic Baths

This is my fav of all of the ways. I love to tip the bath oils into my bath water and add 5-20 drops depending on my mood and enjoy my bath. Yes, I smell amazing after that and can forgo moisturizing if I am feeling lazy. Great for hot baths as warm water releases the scent better (yes, a beauty sin!).

Facial Treat

Drop 5 drops in steaming hot water and steam your face. This relaxes your senses. Also, add it in your Pedicure and Manicure routines as well. 

Perfume 

Apply the bath oil on your pulse points and enjoy the aroma.

Hair leave-ins

Yes, these bath oils are generally light so you can take a drop or two in your palms, rub them together and pass them through your hair concentrating on the ends.

Auravedic Botanical Actives Pulpy Facewash Honey Almond {Product Review}

Price: Rs 150 for 100gms

Ingredients

Pros

- made of natural ingredients

- no SLS (I am searching for a face was without SLS) 

- cleanses the skin really well 

- leaves the skin soft and doesn't stretch it

Cons

- stings the eyes real bad!!! 

- not suitable for excessively dry skin as it stings badly!!

- if you use excess of product, it makes the skin feel stripped

- it would have been great if it came in a flip top packaging

My Experience

I got this product back in February for review. But, that time, my skin was going through a dry patch so when I used this for two-three times, it really stung my skin badly. So, from personal experience, I can say that this product is really potent and is not for people who suffer from any skin issues like eczema and psoriasis. For the record, I don't have any.

it smells really funky like a jelly (in a good way)

So, I had to discontinue using this product that time and I had talked to the Auravedic people too regarding this issue. They also advised me to stop using it immediately. But, last month, I ran out of my face wash stock so I decided to give this a try again!! My skin was healthy and not going though any rough patches that time so the face wash was good. 

Coming to the cons again, the biggest problem I have with this product is that it stings my eyes every time I use it. It was really frustrating. Yes, I do understand that it has natural ingredients which are not suitable for the delicate eye area. But, I do expect not to end up hurting my eyes every time I wash my face. Otherwise, it cleanses the skin really really well. 

Also, another issue with the product is that since it comes in tub packaging, sometimes I do pick up a little more of product and if I do use excessive product at one time, it really makes my skin feel stripped off and dry. The usual amount to be used at one time is a pea size of the product and it forms a good amount of lather and leaves the skin really soft and doesn't stretch it at all. 

A flip top packaging would be a great idea for this product so that one can control the amount of product coming out of the bottle. Overall, I do want to give another variation (Rose-Saffron) of this a try but I am holding back just because of the stinging issues. Yes, it is definitely worth a try and one tub lasts for a month easily!!

PS: Product sent by brand. 

Other products from Auravedic:

Auravedic Reviving Body Cleanser

Auravedic Pure Brightening Skin Polish Amla Tamarind

Auravedic Facial Skin Repair Moisturizing Lotion

Auravedic Pomegranate Grapeseed Face Polish

Earthy Goods Vanilla Patchouli Indulging Handmade Soap {Product Review}

Price: Rs 95 for 100gms (approx.)

Ingredients

Pros

- smell is incredible and uplifting. 

- moisturizing and doesn't leave the skin stretched.  

- love that its a natural soap and has amazing ingredients.

- feels luxurious :)

Cons

- Palm Oil comes from Palm trees which are getting endangered. 

- I don't know if the ingredients are organic.

- melts very soon :(

- the sandalwood powder on one face of the soap bar is very scratchy!!!

My Experience

I love their soaps. They are amazing, moisturizing and smell awesome while they last. My dad also fell in love with the soap. But, yes, one side of this soap has vanilla swirls which are topped with sandalwood powder or may be vanilla bean powder too (it felt like that to me). But, its pretty scratchy on the skin :( 

Otherwise, I would recommend all the Earthy Goods soaps. You should definitely check them out!! I am in love with handmade soaps and am not gonna switch back to the commercially available ones anytime in the future now. Yes, the only problem with handmade soaps is that they melt very easily :(

Availability

Online - Earthy Goods Website

Other products from Earthy Goods:

Earth Store Cinnamon Spice, Jasmine Lavender and Mountain Rose
Earthy Goods Forest Honey Nourishing Handmade Soap

Vedic Line+ BB Cream {Product Review}

Price: Rs 225 for 30ml

Ingredients

Pros

- gives an even brightened finish

- has pinkish undertones and gives a pink flush to the skin

- stays for 5-6 hours

- suits most of the skin tones

- very small quantity is enough

Cons

- may give white cast sometimes

- blending does create problem sometimes

- may not suit really dark skin tones, medium wheatish is fine though!!

My Experience

I love the packaging!!! Absolutely cute and girly and bright. It has a small nozzle which disperses a little amount of product and honestly, you need just a small drop of the product for the entire face. It smells nice as well. The fragrance is very light and almost non-existent so not to worry much about it.

after blending, see how natural it looks!!

The color of the product is light brown which suits even the fair skin tones. It has pink undertones which gives a pink look to the face even if you are a little yellow. The texture of the product is light and a little runny so it spreads easily on the skin and gets absorbed soon.

I did initially face bending issues but later on, a simple tip became my mantra and no blending issues from there on. This tip was published by Paris (check it out here). She says that when using fingers to blend foundations, one should use the whole palm instead of just the finger tips!! And, trust me, it really works. 

And, the finish of the product is very sheer. It gives a light glow to the face but otherwise your own skin shines through. It doesn't really cover any part of the skin. The product does have spf 20 but then you need such a little amount of the product that the sun protection is just not enough. 

Also, sometimes, the product tends to leave white patches, courtesy Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide so use it in just a little amount. I don't know why I always face problem while applying any tinted moisturizer on the area between nose and lips. Probably, I always take more than the amount required.

Overall, I did like the BB cream. My review is probably the last you will find but I have read all the other reviews and there are very mixed reactions to the product but not negative. Also, yes, this product controls oil and sweat to a very less extent. So, make sure you use loose powder to take care of sweat and extra oil. 

Regarding its staying power, I would say that it stays well up to 3-5 hours but doesn't last entire day for me!! If blended portion by portion on the face, it does stay an entire day but the blending becomes difficult for me in that way so I avoid it!!! Otherwise, it does keep the face fresh till the time it stays.

PS: Product sent by brand.

Check out other products from Vedic Line:

Vedic Line+ Exfo 10 Avocado Face Scrub

Vedic Line Apple Green Toner
Vedic Line Fig & Honey Moisturizer
Vedic Line Papaya Scrub and Papaya Face Pack
Vedic Line Neem & Brahmi Disinfecting Face Wash

Vedic Line+ Exfo 10 Avocado Face Scrub {Product Review}

Price: Rs 175 for 100gms

Ingredients

check out the oils - sesame, sweet almond, apricot, avocado oils and glycolic acid and glycerin!! and, it has papaya extract as well, wheatgerm oil which is listed just below yellow line and Portulaca extract which is supposed to have great anti-oxidant properties and fatty acids

Pros

- does give immediate brightening

- has apricot kernels or something which is not at all scratchy

Cons

- doesn't do anything for the blackheads

- may leave a creamy residue on the face after being washed off

My Experience

This product contains glycolic acid which made me very curious about the product. Its packaging or rather the color of the packaging is something I really love -  a bright pink. The product is creamy in color and consistency and has lots of small granules which are walnut shell powder. 

Interestingly, the granules are not harsh at all. They feel like apricot scrub, soft and gentle on the skin. I like to help myself to a generous amount of scrub but the product will easily last for around two months if used regularly. And, results of the scrubbing is that the skin is left brighter and softer. 

And, if you noticed the ingredients, it has quite some oils which is interesting!!! But, I do have an issue with the product which is that the scrub does leave a creamy residue after being washed off. I do not like my products to leave any residue on the skin. Otherwise, its a really good and gentle scrub which will suits all skin types, even oily. 

PS: Product sent by brand. 

Other products from Vedic Line:
Vedic Line Apple Green Toner
Vedic Line Fig & Honey Moisturizer
Vedic Line Papaya Scrub and Papaya Face Pack
Vedic Line Neem & Brahmi Disinfecting Face Wash

Ice Cubes to control Sweat {Tip of the Day}

It's so hot in Delhi and I sweat a lot so I really need something extra for keeping the sweat away. And, I remembered my ice cube tip which I used to use pretty long back. So, I decided to use it again. And, oh, it feels so good in this sultry heat. So, the tip is simple. Take an ice cube and rub it thoroughly on your face and neck till it melts away. And, let it dry or use a wash cloth to drain out the extra water and you are good to go!!! Using an ice cube ensured that I didn't sweat excessively afterwards and also, it kept my skin relatively cool.

Also, another tip is to use the ice cube before applying the makeup to make it last longer. Also, using an ice cube helps the foundation to go evenly on the skin and hide the pores as well as they get constricted. Ok, so sometime back, I also received a comment saying that applying ice cubes makes the skin dry. No, it doesn't. In fact, its just water so it hydrates the skin. Also, yes, you have to moisturize afterwards if you have a dry skin. Since my skin does get sweaty, I avoid moisturizers sometimes but its not a healthy habit. In fact, I didn't avoid moisturizer after applying the ice cube since the moisturizer does get absorbed pretty quickly due to the damp skin. Find a good moisturizer for your skin type and don't skip it ever!!

Related Post:

Ice Cubes for your face

Image Courtesy:ahealthymedium.blogspot.com

Just Herbs Cascade Moisturising Day Care Lotion Aloevera & Wheatgerm {Product Review}

Price: Rs 345 for 100ml

Ingredients

Key Ingredients -Aloevera 5% **,Wheatgerm oil 0.5%, Jojoba oil 0.2%, Apricot kernel oil 0.2 %, Vetiver extract 0.1% ,

Other Ingredients -Aqua ( Purified/Mineral water) , Sunflower seed oil**, caprylic Capric Triglycerrides ( Fractionated Coconut Oil) Glyceryl stearate citrate/cetearyl alcohol/glyceryl caprylate*, Glycerine** Shea butter** Soy Lecithin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate*, Parfum, CI 14720 (colouring agent), Octyldodecanol*,  Disodium EDTA, Herbs-Essential oil Complex( Natural Preservative) Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate.

** Certified Organic Ingredients

*  Natural Ingredients certified by ECOCERT

98.2% NATURAL RAW MATERIALS from renewable resources (Total amount of ingredients whose usage in cosmetic formulations follows sustainable standards)

Pros

- gets absorbed very quickly

- leaves the skin dewy and radiant

Cons

- not moisturizing for dry skin

- can make you sweat more

My Experience

the left is the Cascade Lotion

The product is very thin and gets absorbed into the skin pretty easily. And, I really like that it makes my skin look hydrated and moisturized without getting heavy. But, the main issue with this product is that it makes me sweat a lot if I am not in AC or in front of the cooler. I have used the product on my entire body and liked the way it kept my skin moisturized for 6 hours straight. 

The packaging is also very handy and travel-friendly. It comes with a pump. Only two pumps are required to cover my face and neck. Ok, this is a good product for normal to oily and combi skin but not suitable for dry skin. So, even if you have a combi dry skin, its not the product for you. I did face dryness sometimes.  Overall, its a good product to try out and see if it suits you. 

Also, I would like to point out that last time when I had reviewed the Silksplash face wash, I had complained about the secretive cleansing base, the PR guys from Just Herbs had reverted back immediately and furnished me with the entire ingredient list for this product. They also said that their packaging and ingredient listing policies are going to change soon in the near future. So, I am looking forward to the revelations :)

PS: Product sent by brand. 

Aloevera for Skin and Banana Hair Pack {Reader's Tips}

"If you have drink aloevera juice everyday in the morning, your skin really glows."

"Banana Hair pack really does wonders to your hair. You can add coconut milk and honey along with banana and mix it in a blender. Keep the pack for about an hour and just wash with warm water without applying shampoo. Your hair will really shine."

Read more of your favourite reader's tips here and you can submit one too (here).

Image Courtesy:alibaba.com,thechalkboardmag.com