Alternative to Baby Wipes {Your Opinion}

[Source: Google Images]

So, today, my question is a little different. The thing is that after I use oil on my face to remove my sunscreen, I wipe it off using Baby Wipes. I am using Himalaya Baby Wipes till now but I am thinking that it probably is a little expensive and if there is an alternative to the whole process of removing the sunscreen from the face before going for the face wash. 

The thing is I don't want to use cotton as it is a little harsh on the skin and feels rough while wiping off the oil. So, gals, do you have any ideas?? Or, may be you can tell me how you wipe off the cleansing milk from your face??? Anything natural would be even more appreciable. I don't want to use a wash cloth because then I will get an extra work of cleaning the wash cloth properly. So, looking forward to your opinions on the same :)

Are you Cleansing properly? {Skin Care}

Steps to double cleanse [Source: thegloss.com]

I have stressed it before hand also that double cleansing should be a part of our daily routine whether one applies makeup or not. The dirt accumulated in the day and the number of products applied to the skin are enough to choke the skin so double cleansing will help get rid of all their residue. Now, while it is very easy to cleanse the nose and cheeks and forehead, it is very much possible to miss on crucial areas like ears, behind the ears, the hair line and under the chin. That might be one of the reasons you might be having breakouts on the areas. So, next time you cleanse your face, make sure you do not miss out on any of the crucial areas. And, always extend the cleansing process to the exposed part of your chest and include your entire neck (back or nape of the neck too which is generally left exposed and very less taken care of).

Baby Oil for removing Makeup {Skin Care}

Last time, I talked about Groundnut oil being great in removing sunscreen. This time I couldn't carry the groundnut oil around so I bought baby oil which is extremely inexpensive and is known to be a great makeup remover. So, just wanted to share my experience with you all.

What is Baby Oil?

I know you are all familiar with the baby oil but I want to talk about a different thing. Mineral Oil is an essential component of the baby oil and one of the most debated ingredients of the date. Well, in a simple language, I would say that it is not at all evil and is perfectly usable. So, don't worry about using baby oil on yourself if not on your babies. 

Baby Oil for Body

Ok, so I have used this oil for moisturizing my body and I wouldn't say I have become a fan!!! In fact, I hate its fragrance which bothers my nose a lot and the oil is not enough for dry skin. 

Removing Makeup

So, when I couldn't use it for body, I decided to try it for double cleansing. And, voila!!! it works so well. Well, here, I would like to add that all oils work equally well to remove all the extra layers on your face. So, go ahead and embrace oils. But, beware coz some oils can sting the eyes like coconut. But, baby oil is not at all stinging in nature and does its job pretty well. So, if you need a cheaper alternative to your cleansers, this is one of them :)  

Groundnut oil for skin {Ingredient}

I have a bad habit of removing labels *feeling sheepish*

I had bought it for culinary purposes but unfortunately, it expired without getting completely used up and I don't think I'll ever buy it for culinary purposes ever again coz it gives too much of a nutty taste and smells very strongly of peanuts and I don't fancy the so-called aroma. Anyways, so I thought I would use it up for skin before the oil turns rancid. Well, here you might argue that it has expired but vegetable oils (not hydrogenated) don't really go bad so easily so if its only external usage, I don't really mind. Of course, I'll never eat it. So, how did it fare for my skin.

Groundnut Oil

Ok, first let me describe the texture and benefits. It is thick like other culinary oils and mine is organic (USDA certified) which I had bought from the 24 letter mantra I had talked about long time back. The groundnut oil is generally preferred for cooking because it has high smoke point and is a very stable oil and also has a long shelf life which is why I don't pay heed to the expiry dates of oils unless they are hydrogenated oils. Groundnut oil is highly rich in proteins and is also very nutritious. And, its essentially very high in fatty acids which are responsible for keeping the skin young.

Its major component fatty acids are oleic acid (46.8% as olein), linoleic acid (33.4% as linolein), and palmitic acid (10.0% as palmitin). The oil also contains some stearic acid, arachidic acid, arachidonic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid and other fatty acids.  [Wikipedia]

You can read about its nutrient profile here.

How do I use Groundnut oil?

I use the oil mainly for cleansing purposes after I finished up with Nivea Cleansing Milk. I massage for few minutes with the oil and I do take a generous amount for face and neck and exposed chest (if I have applied sunscreen there). And, massage for sometime. Then, I leave the oil for few minutes (around 3-5) and then, wipe it off with the cleansing wipes or baby wipes or even cotton (wipes are easier but lot costlier and have all lot of chemicals in them but then cotton has pesticides too and organic cotton is way too costly which is why I prefer wash cloths but oil on wash cloths would ruin them). Then, I simply wash off my face and moisturize.

Since I have been using the oil, I have noticed that my blackheads are far fewer in number (which had becomes really pronounced in between). That's why I say "go for oil cleansing".  Ok, not easy while traveling but when you are at home. And, if I am not wrong, I have noticed my face skin has become healthier in the sense of supple and healthy skin since the past one month and, for the record, my habits are as irregular as they can be. I think groundnut oil behaves just like castor oil and has cleansing properties because you can see the dirt and all your sunscreen and foundation coming out of the pores while cleansing the face. And, no breakouts too which I had with almond oil.

Nivea Refreshing Cleansing Milk {Product Review}

This was another of my longing impulse buys as the packaging looked really cute to me. I have never ever used a cleansing milk before this so when I used it, I am not sure I liked it much. And, then, the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth cleanser arrived and this lay forgotten. But, I had to dig it out again after the Liz Earle sample got used up and believe me the 30ml sample did last me quiet long. Ok, may be due to the reason that I only need to take off the sunscreen!!! But, I am missing it!!! So, back to this review.

Price: Rs 159 for125ml

Ingredients

Did you see the ingredient list??? So, simple!!!!

My Experience

Ok, the main disadvantage with this is that you have to wash your face and neck with a face wash or a cleanser after using this. I am not sure if you need to do that with any other. Otherwise, it is a really good cleanser. Since it is liquid, it is easily to apply and massage in without needing to add water and removes all the dirt and grime and sunscreen I have applied. It doesn't however remove the kohl/kajal from my eyes but I have heard this is a really impossible feat for almost all cleansers. And, the cleanser doesn't make my face dry or oily or anything of the sort. After washing the face also, my face is comfortable and not too dry or anything.

My Recommendation

It is a good cleanser and looking at the ingredient list and my love for Nivea, I would say yes!!!

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser {Product Review}

I have been absent for quite a lot of days so no new updates. The reason was a week long vacation. So, I am back with my first review which was quite a saver for me when I was so tired with all the jumping and jacking in the morning.

Price: 12.75 POUNDS for 100 ml (I got a 30ml sample size)

Ingredients

Claims to be completely natural. Since mine is a smaller sample size, the list of ingredients is not provided. The active ingredients are listed as below.

My Experience

Ok, so first, I had thought it to be a simple foaming cleanser so when I used it for the first time, I got a little  confused as to why it wasn't foaming. I hadn't read the instructions. And, also, I had left the muslin cloths back home so was without them during my vacation. I do not apply makeup but I did use sunscreen pretty generously so had to remove all that gunk from my face before sleeping. Thats where this cleanser became my best friend. It is pretty simple and hassle-free to use. Massage with this cleanser and wipe off with the muslin cloth provided along with it. Since I did not have the muslin cloth, I used hand towels and tissue papers and cotton pads and everything else. Two things I would specify is that I found it to be more effective and easy to use when the face is wet as opposed to the instructions which say to massage on the dry face and this cleanser should always be removed with a hot wash cloth as instructed. Cold wash cloth leaves a lot of grime behind. Once you follow these instructions properly, your face is squeaky clean and you wouldn't even need to follow it with a face wash. 

Its creamy in texture and white in color. For me the smell is nothing particular and I am used to eucalyptus oil so I quite like it. Its creamy texture might make people with oily skin skeptical to use it. But, I think it should suit them too coz its not very heavy I have combination and it controlled my T-Zone perfectly. It did make my skin dry at a temperature of 10-20 degrees in the hills but it works fabulously without drying the skin in the plains. So, thats again not an issue, though, you should follow up with a moisturizer (I skip that in summers which is a very bad habit!!). Extremely travel-friendly (even the muslin cloths). The only problem is keeping the muslin cloths clean and bacteria-free. Otherwise, I found it to be an amazing product.

My Recommendation

Yes. But, it is a little heavy (ohk, not little but very heavy) on the pocket so that might be a deal breaker.

PS: Product sent by brand for consideration.

Cleanse your face with Rose Milk {DIY}

I had posted about the DIY rose milk I made couple of days back. I used it to cleanse my face at night with it without using any cleanser. Since the texture of the milk is scrubby but not spiky so it is perfect for a 2-in-1 cleansing at night. The cleansing action of the rose milk is due to the lactic acid present in milk so I am not sure how well the rose milk made from water would cleanse the skin. 

Take a little of the rose milk in your hand and rub it on your face just like a cleanser. Massage the face very gently. The soft rose petals do not exfoliate the skin as such such but they feel nice against the skin and make the skin super soft. It can be drying for some too so following with a moisturizer is very important. But, it cleanses the face really well. 

I do not wear makeup and I wasn't even wearing kajal so I am not sure how well it will remove the makeup though it can be used in conjunction with the makeup remover. 

Instructions on washing your face and body

Yes, it is something you have been doing since time unknown but are you sure that you are washing your face correctly? It is possible that you are over-using your cleanser or your hair is peeping on your face when you are washing your face. Similar to washing your hair, washing your face is no big deal but changing little things about your routine will show amazing changes in your skin texture. And, the same principles apply when you take a shower too.

What is the correct way of washing your face? I have elaborated on some steps in the routine which should be given attention.

• First step will always be to remove the makeup. 
• Pull all your hair back from your face using a hair band. Do not pull it too tightly otherwise it will damage your hair. 
• Splash water on your face. Do not use too cold or too hot water. Neither will do your skin any good except for drying it. Room temperature water is fine even for closing the pores.
• Take a little amount of cleanser in your hand. Keep it at the bare minimum. The aim is not to get more lather but to clean your face without drying it. You would notice that in case of some face washes, a very little amount produces more than enough of lather. More lather producing products would be more drying for your face.
• Rub your palms together and apply the cleanser or face wash to your face in circular motions. Do not press to hard. And, see if you can get the circular motions with upward strokes as in case of facial massages. This action would ensure a gentle massage for your face and prevents, in the long run, your skin from hanging down. 
• Be very gentle near the eyes. Sometimes the foam enters the eyes and causes irritation so take care to avoid such a situation as it is not good for the eyes. 
• Do not forget to get the grime out of your eyelashes and eyebrows, behind the ears, on the curve of the ears, creases along the nose and edges of the eyes. These places, often, get very dirty.
• Do not exceed the time limit of one minute. Excess washing is again not good for skin. Splash lukewarm water first on your face to wash off all traces of the cleanser or soap. And, then conclude with room temperature water splashes on your face. Make sure your face is squeaky clean and no layer of cleanser or face wash is left behind. In case you feel a greasy layer on your face after washing it, get rid of the face wash or cleanser you are using and try a new one. 
• Now, you can proceed to tone your face using green tea or any other toner of your choice. You can even skip this step if you do not want to do it. But, if you do not want to invest in costly chemical laden products, then splashing green tea on your face regularly keeps it looking fresh and dewy. It is a natural toner and without chemicals and full of anti-oxidants. Give a minute for green tea to sink in to your skin before washing it off.
• Pat your face damp. Do not let it dry completely. Do not rub your face to dry it. The friction from the towel causes the skin to get dry. Or, if you have time, let it air dry. It takes only a minute. Moisturize while your face is still damp.It locks the moisture in.

Same routine should be applied while taking shower. Use as less soap or body wash as possible as they lather a lot. And, do not keep on lathering your body for unlimited time. Instead, finish off as soon as possible. Using lukewarm to little warm water is best for your skin. You would see the difference in your skin within a week of following these strictures to the 'T'. Do not forget to moisturize your body as soon as you are out of your shower. Best place to moisturize your skin is inside the bathroom. The heat and humid atmosphere will make sure you lock in more moisture and keep your pores open.

Finally, I would wind up this post by stating some tips and precautions:

• If you use a loofah or flannels in your shower, to get better results, soak them in a mug full of warm water 10-15 minutes prior to your shower. They would become soft and give better lather and are not too harsh on the skin. 
• Do not use dry brushes, loofahs and other exfoliating accessories in the shower more than thrice a week. It can seriously damage your skin. 
• Do you have sensitive skin? Stay away from using any kind of brushes or flannels in the shower.
• Do not exfoliate your body more than once or at most twice a week. 
• If you take bath twice a day, limit your baths to not more than 5 minutes. And, accordingly reduce the water temperature too.
• Do not buy a soap which makes "bubbles" in your bath. It strips off the oils from your skin. 
• Always use a non-soapy cleanser.