Rustic Art Aloevera Gel

Price: Rs 150ml for 100gms

Ingredients

Aloevera Gel, Lemon Extracts (lemon extract acts as a preservative)

Pros

- perfect for oily or combination skin or even normal skin, especially in summers

- firms up the skin

- gives a glow

- increases the skin's hydration levels

- dries up and gets absorbed very quickly into the skin

- products lasts really long

- can be used as a night treatment

Cons

- doesn't do anything for pores size but then it doesn't really claim that!!!

- its not organic :(

- don't know if it really removes tanning

My Experience

The gel is colorless and comes in a sturdy plastic jar from which you can scoop out the gel. It smells of nothing, just a faint aloe vera smell. The texture is just like a dehydrated aloe gel. It goes a little (very little) sticky in the end just like the actual aloe gel does which can be simply washed off. The product will last you two-three months which is pretty good.

I really like it. The gel feels cool on the skin but that doesn't last more than 10 seconds. It gets dried up and absorbed very very quickly so you have to apply it as quickly as possible otherwise it will dry up on your palm. The pros really say everything about what I experienced after using the product for the past one month. And, I have already recommended it to many people!!!

Dry skin people should also use it and since I was facing dry skin in the past month, I used to follow this with oil. And, gradually, I noticed that my dryness reduced and my skin became more supple and hydrated even though I was taking less of water. And, there is a glow on my skin which I completely love. I can also see that it has firmed up my skin really well, not that my skin was loose but I can see the difference.

Ok, so, the product is not organic which had disappointed me and I would love it if they get an organic variant too. And, I don't think that it did anything for my tanning but I am not really sure on this point. If I do see a difference in the future, I will definitely report back. I also tried using it as a leave-in conditioner in my hair but it didn't really work out. I shall try that again, though!!

Availability

Online - NaturalMantra.com

PS: Product provided by brand. Images taken from Rustic Art Picasa Web Albums.

Other Rustic Art products:

Rustic Art Spa and Lotus Organic Bathing Soaps

Classic Face Pack Remembered {DIY}

Ok, so, I am not sharing anything new today. But, just reminding you all of the classic face pack which costs a zilch and the results are far better than any pricy product and this one has the simplest of the ingredients and is an answer to almost all the skin problems. 

Ingredients

• Multani Mitti
• Curd / Yogurt

Method

Mix them both and apply the pack on the face. Wait for it to dry. It might take long time, though but the wait is worth it. So, try this on a day when you can laze around. In the mean time, keep two chilled tea bags with you and apply them to your eyes and relax. After the mask gets dry, wash it off and rinse your face with green tea (warm or cold, anything). 

Results

A really fresh, hydrated and supple skin is revealed. It brightens the complexion in an instant, controls oil production and removes the dead skin cells. Multani mitti is great for oily skin and curd is great for troubled skin. But, this mask doesn't dry the skin at all. But, if you have dry skin, make sure to include honey as a precaution. But, even dry skin people should use clay masks once in a while coz it detoxifies the skin. So, a face pack which answers all the troubles of your skin and this can be done every alternate day by oily, combination and normal skin people and once in a week by dry skin gals (or guys!!!).

Should you use a body cream or a body lotion?

There is a lot of confusion between which product is better for skin: a cream or a lotion. So, I would start by giving you a definition of both the terms and then you can yourself decide which is the best for you. 

Lotion: It is a mixture of few drops of oil in water held together by a chemical substance because oil and water do not mix. 

Cream: A mixture of few drops of water in oil. The density of the product can vary according to various formulations.

When compared, body lotions are easier to apply as compared to creams. But, when your skin is damp, creams are also easy to apply as they spread well in contact with water. 

Which one is better?

I can not answer this question. It is a personal choice but I can answer a different question: why cream than a lotion? Have you ever felt that your skin has become drier after applying a lotion? I have. This problem is common in people with dry to normal skin and in extreme weathers. Why so? Because, when you apply the lotion on your body, it spreads easily creating a large surface area for water in the cream to evaporate quickly. Thus, it ends up drying your skin after a little while instead of keeping your skin moisturized. The rate at which evaporation takes place is dependent on the environment and the viscosity (thickness) of the lotion. More thick the lotion is, better it will keep your body moisturized.

My Recommendations

Thus, I would just recommend that recognize your skin type correctly and choose products mentioned for your skin type only. Using wrong products can affect your skin and make it look aged.

Dry Skin: Oily creams or thick lotions

Normal Skin: Your choice and preference

Oily Skin: Oil-free moisturizers and light watery lotions

Now, a latest skin type is aging skin. How do you categorize it? Well, according to me, it should go under dry skin because as you age, your skin loses its tendency to keep moisture intact and becomes dry. Also due to the loss of collagen, it is no longer firm.

Whatever my thoughts be, I would definitely love your opinions on this topic. Do not forget to write down your comments.

Pep up your home facial sessions

Well, now that you know how to go about doing a home facial, you can pep up your home facial sessions with some live ingredients and fresh juices which will do your skin a lot good. Let us discuss what all you have at hand.

Ingredients for oily and combination skin

• Red Wine Facial

Red Wine is the latest craze at the upper crust salons and which one obviously can not afford on a mediocre income on a regular basis. But, need not worry for anything. Well, I think that most of really do not own a good wine too. So, what we will do is use the basic ingredients of wine. Yes, you guessed it right. Grapes. The only thing you would need for this facial is a bunch of high quality grapes. You can go for American

Grapes or the black ones available in the market. Pick the ones which do not have seeds. Now, extract glass of grape juice using a juicer or just crushing the grapes in a blender. Either way is fine. Make a fresh batch for every facial session. Add a few drops of the juice to the cold cream while massaging your face. Mix the cream and the juice for proper consistency and use the rest for mixing the clay mask. Remember, not to store the juice. As you know, grapes are rich in anti-oxidants, it is great for anti-aging skin care.

One more thing is that if you have red wine at your home, you can mix a few drops of red wine with your cream for proper consistency and continue with your facial. Red Wine too is rich in anti-oxidants and great for anti-aging skin care. It also gives a pinkish tinge to your skin.

• Pomegranate Facial

Extract the juice of pomegranates and add it to the cream. Pomegranates are the latest fad in anti-aging skin care.

• Berry Facials

You can use strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries or any other kind of berry, if exists. Extract the juice and mix your cream with it and enjoy a glowing complexion.

• Citrus Fruit Facials

Again use orange or red orange or mandarin orange juice, grapefruit juice, tangerine juice, lemon juice or sweet lime juice to get a flawless complexion.

• Black Plum and cherry facial

Add black plum juice and cherry juice to the cream.

• Pineapple facial

Add pineapple juice to the cream and blend nicely. But, remember, not to add too much. Just 5-10 drops of juice is enough for a facial session.It is great for acne prone skin and rejuvenates the skin because of its high concentration of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids.

Ingredients for Dry Skin

• Mango Facial

Make mango puree out of a ripe mango and blend it with your cream for a smooth consistency and use it for facial.

• Honey Facial

Keep honey pot in warm water for sometime. The consistency of honey will turn thin. Then, pour a little of honey in a cup and blend it with your facial cream.

• Peach Facial

Mash a ripe peach and blend in with your facial cream. Peach is supposed to be the best for dry skin.

• Papaya Facial

Mash a ripe papaya and mix it with your facial cream.

• Avocado Facial

Mash a ripe avocado and mix it with your facial cream. It is extremely moisturizing and keeps skin soft and flawless.

Ingredients for All Skin Types

• Essential oil Facials

You can mix 5-6 drops of your favorite essential oils in the cream. Use essential oils good for oily skin like sandalwood, lavender, rosemary, rose, orange, lemon, or any other.

• Cocktail Facial

Mix the fruits good for your skin type with the cream, blend for proper consistency and you get a fruit cocktail facial.

•  Milk Cream Facial

Add raw milk to your cream and blend properly. You can also use milk cream or white butter for a more moisturizing effect.

• Beetroot Facial

Beetroot is again good for bringing a pinkish tinge in your face. It will be more visible on a fair skin. Extract beetroot juice and mix it with your cold cream. 

• Refreshing Facial
  

The most favorite ingredients are watermelon juice and mint juice. You can use them individually or combine them to get a thoroughly refreshed skin. The cooling nature of both ingredients will be relaxing for your skin and particularly useful for reliving from sunburns or soothing the untimely breakouts. Use freshly cut mint if you have one at home.

• Floral Facial

Grind the fresh rose petals and add them to your cream. You can even indulge in other flowers like jasmine, marigold, chamomile, rosemary and lavender. You can also go for herbs like sage leaves which are extremely good for skin care. Always be sure to pick the fresh flowers just after the morning dew.

• Green Tea Facial

You can add green tea or any other tea also to your cream and blend in nicely.

• Aloevera Facial 

Aloevera gel is the best for skin care again. So, pick a fresh leaf from the aloevera plant in the afternoon (at that time the gel is full of the minerals) and remove the gel from it. Mix the gel with your cream and perform your facial with it. And, aloevera is great at curing all the skin infections so it suits all skin types.

• Chocolate Facial 

Here comes our favorite. How can we ever forget talking about chocolate in skin care. Add cocoa powder to your cream and make a smooth paste. The facial will give your skin a chocolaty fragrance and a clean moisturized skin.

Other Tips:

• Use shea butter or cocoa butter with your cream or use them as a base for your facials if you have access to pure butters.
• You can also use almond peels or orange peels in your cream. They provide gentle scrubbing while improving your skin type. 
• You can even mix and match all kinds of ingredients specified above or ones you can think of in your facial. You can use all the things which you can think of in facials so get crazy. Use spinach or lettuce or cottage cheese or potato juice or turmeric or sandalwood paste. The options are endless. Be innovative and do share your recipes.