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

5 Steps to get fairer skin? {Five Series}

PS: This post is for all those people who have asked me to give tips on fairer skin. I am sorry that I couldn't reply to you all personally but hope this post is helpful to you :)

Since quite long, I have been seeing a trend of questions on this topic from people who are either getting married or who have darker skin tones. So, first of all, I would like to say that you can't really lighten the skin complexion. The skin color is determined by the amount of melanin your skin has and you can't do anything to reduce the amount of this pigment inside your skin. Ok, after that bit of science, I would like to say that you can do somethings to preserve your original complexion.

Sunscreen

Yup, that's the first step to any kind of skin care. And, I totally stress on the importance of this routine. I would suggest Neutrogena Ultra Sheer but my favourite is MVO Moisturizing Face Screen. I have often heard complains that the sunscreen does nothing but the secret lies in using the proper amount of sunscreen to provide full protection.

Double Cleansing

To remove makeup or sunscreen after an entire day of work, use oil or a good makeup remover before washing your face. Its one of the most important routines of the night. 

Face Wash and Tone

Use your face wash as you would and don't forget to use the toner if your face is oily. I would suggest using homemade toners for your skin type. Green tea for oily and combination skin and rose water for dry skin. You can do other experiments with them as well.

Moisturize and Nourish

One of the most important routines even if your skin is oily. Get a good moisturizer. Or, use aloevera gel if your skin is oily. Its the best bet. For dry skin, I would suggest using a facial oil or serum instead of moisturizer at night. 

Face Scrub and Mask

The above steps were regular routine. But, some extra love is needed to keep skin in perfect condition so exfoliate on every alternate day for oily skin or if you layer too many products on your skin at day time. And, if you have dry skin, exfoliate twice a week. 

For dry skin, use sugar to exfoliate. For combination and oily skin, mix salt and sugar to exfoliate. They have alpha-hydroxy acids which help with removing the blemishes and dark spots on regular usage. Also, they keep the skin supple and improve the skin tone by making the skin look brighter.

After scrubbing, always follow with a mask. You can use any commercially-available products. I would not suggest you to use fruit masks after scrubbing with sugar because fruits also have active enzymes and sugar also have active enzymes so that can too much for your skin at a single time. 

If you plan to use fruits, remember that they have active enzymes which do both the jobs - exfoliation and acting as a mask so keep the fruit juices on your skin for 15 minutes and wash off. Using sugar to exfoliate and using fruit juices as mask afterwards can make the skin sensitive. Honey is a good mask in such cases.

These are the steps I follow regularly to keep my complexion glowing. Please remember that whatever you do to your face, do the same to your neck and decolletage. You don't want your neck and lower body to look older and uncared for. But, also remember NOT to overdo things EVER. Keep things regular and you will notice difference in a month. 

What's your secret to preserving your skin complexion? Are you already following a particular routine or going to follow this routine? Do share your results :)

Image Courtesy:medtips.in

Related Posts: 

Homemade Body Polish

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

Ponds White Beauty Daily Spot-less Lightening Cream SPF 20 PA++ {Product Review}

Before starting the review, I want to reiterate that I do not support fairness products. I have reviewed this solely out of my curiosity and I wanted to see how much of the hi-flying claims it supports.

Price: Rs 249 for 50gms

Ingredients

Ok, so, it has a long one and I did click it but it wasn't very clear so I am gonna skip this. And, yes, it has lots of chemicals. Btw, it has Niacinamide which is Vitamin B3 and it also has parabens in case you are interested.

Pros

- cute packaging

- evens out the skin tone

Cons

- makes me sweat a lot sometimes

- sticks to one place on my skin and refuses to spread smoothly

- doesn't fulfil any claims of fairness (it claims to make your skin fair genetically)

- can't use it as a sunscreen (this is not exactly a con)

- less on moisturizing

My Experience

So, this is my second fairness product. I remember long time back, I had tried out the Fair n Lovely sachet which used to come with magazines. I had tried it just once but I remember the texture of the cream which was a little powdery and felt dry. This Ponds one has the same texture. 

I like the packaging, though. But, taking enough amount of the product is a challenge when it is a tub packaging. I really wish they come with pump packing so that one pump or two are enough for one use. Take too much and the product clumps on the skin. The cream is a little thick and creamy and doesn't spread easily at all. 

In fact, blending was a huge headache for me in the starting but then, I used my regular method of applying moisturizer and it worked really well. But, even then, I have to make sure that I have just enough of the product to cover my face otherwise it does end up giving a white cast and a patchy look. And, after applying the product, you can see some of the product clumped up in the lines of your palms which is extremely annoying. 

Ok, to speak good of the product, it evens out my skin beautifully and gives a very pinkish look to my face. The skin looks brightened and a little glowy. However, I did not see any fairness or any skin lightening in the long run. I don't think it works on removing the tanning but I am not really sure of that.  It is suited for skin prone to more oiliness as it gives a mattifying look.

Ok, I do not really rely on my moisturizers to give me sun protection (I do not advise it either) so the product having spf is redundant for me. However, I have seen that the glow does stay till the evening on some days. But, this moisturizer is not enough if you have dry skin. It tends to make my skin dry even in summers (my skin is combination towards dry). 

But, I did sweat more with this product at times which was a shame. So, if you are looking for fairness, I would not recommend this. But, if you are looking for a product which evens out your skin temporarily, yes, you should definitely go for this. 

Fun Fact: I asked my dad to use this and his face was also a little brighter and even after applying this product. But, even he faced issues while blending it :D 

PS: Product sent by brand. 

More from Ponds:
Ponds Pure White Deep Cleansing Facial Foam
Ponds Face Washes

Natural Homemade Bleach {Reader's Tip}

This was submitted by a reader as a part of my currently going on giveaway. Don't forget to check it out!!! Also, I received a reader's query regarding bleach being harmful or useful to skin. So, hope this tip helps you.

"Take 1 carrot, 1/2 tomato pulp, some coriander, 1/2 lemon juice. puree whole stuff. apply on face, neck even arms for 15 mints. wash off with water."

And, read more Reader's Tips here.

Image Courtesy:colleenanderson.wordpress.com

Lemon for acne scars {Reader's Tips}

This was submitted by Amee. She says:

Use lemon juice about 20 min twice or thrice in the week. It helped me a lot to remove the scars which probably cause due to acne and also helps me to even out my complexion.

Do join my giveaway here. And, a note to all those who have entered the giveaway, do not forget to answer the question about what you like and dislike about the blog. Its a mandatory entry and those who do not answer it would be disqualified from the giveaway. If you have by mistake entered no answer and want to edit your answer, you can simply click on the 'edit' option adjacent to the 'DONE' in the rafflecopter form. If you are not able to find it, drop me a note and I shall get back to you.

And, read more Reader's Tips here. 

PS: Hey All, I guess I am going to take a break from blogging for like a week or so coz I am really not able to concentrate. So, I shall leave you with Reader's Tips everyday. Hopefully, I should be back by Sunday, if not before. Take Care till then :) 

PS 1: I was indulging in some creativity so do you like the changes to the template? Do share the feedback? Ok, yes, I love cartoons a lot :D

Image Courtesy:recipestonourish.blogspot.com

Top 5 DIY Ingredients for Brides {Bridal Files}

[Source: Google Images]

So, as I said that I would be doing some posts on bridal series, the first and foremost request is always how to brighten the complexion.I am listing down 5 of the ingredients which can help a bride achieve the most wanted glow.

• Tomato: Rub a slice of tomato on your face and neck. Let the juice dry on the skin and wash off with cold water. Tomato is great for removing the skin tan and also suits all skin types a sit is comparatively less acidic than lemon. And, it also makes hair shiny.

• Honey: A thick honey mask helps to keep the skin supple and moisturized always. It can be used every day too and helps with all skin types. Honey is also a great cleanser.

• Almond Oil: As Punam commented on earlier post, dark circles and puffy eyes are a common occurrence when one spends their nights talking to the fiancées, almond oil comes to rescue. Apply almond oil on the eye area while going to bed. It helps with the dark circles and also with wrinkles which might be developing there.

• Sugar: Sugar is the most amazing and cheapest scrub you can ever find and this is my most favorite DIY till date. Sugar has glycolic acid in some measure (depending on how much it has been been processed) and thus cleanses and exfoliates the skin thoroughly and makes it glow. And, you can add your favorite ingredients to it.

• Spices: A mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves did wonders to my skin. It clears the skin and also helps deal with acne and pimples in the long run. It should be used on alternate days for best results.

These are some of my favorite DIY's with outstanding results so hope you will enjoy them :) And, do remember to treat your neck as part of your face otherwise it can betray your age!!

Vedic Line Papaya Scrub and Papaya Face Pack {Product Review}

Wish you a very happy Valentine's Day!!! 

In case the title is misleading, they are separate products but I wanted to review them together because I used them together and they are complimentary products. Papaya extract is one of the most powerful Alpha Hydroxy Acids and does a lot of good to the skin. So, let's get to the review part.

Price: Rs 175 for 100ml (for both)

Ingredients

So, you can see that the ingredients are all same except that the scrub has walnut shells for scrubbing!!!

"In a nutshell"

Pros Ingredient List is very impressive, no parabens Both make the skin glow beautifully and make it look pink

Cons Scrub is not the one you would reply for a hardcore job Smells sickly sweet (con for sensitive noses)

Wish List (to the brand) Packaging - I really wish they could be put in dark glass jars. That makes it look classy and is good for the active papaya extract too.

My Experience with the Scrub and Pack

They both are muddy and brown in color and have a very sweet fragrance. I can't describe it but its very familiar. And, needless to say, I don't really like it. But, the good thing is that it doesn't get inside my nose and bother me. Otherwise, it would have been very difficult for me to use them. As you already must have checked out, the ingredients are entirely the same.

Let's talk about scrub first. First time I used it, I hated it and liked it as well. I hated it because the walnut shells are really harsh and they really hurt my skin!!! It's grown sensitive over time. But, I liked it because it gives a rosy glow to the face after you are done and even the clay helps in the exfoliation.

And, now comes the problem, it is a little difficult to wash off!!! The clay tends to accumulate on the skin so it needs more water to wash off. I have used it for the entire body too and is good enough for that job as well. But, another issue I have with this is that this is not a heavy duty scrub. It is good for regular exfoliation but if you are ex foliating after a very long time, this is not ideal for that.

And, coming to face pack, I have lesser complaints. It is supposed to go on moist skin and spreads easily. I like to put on a thick layer and keep it on for 15-20 minutes when it gets a little dry. The pack states it should be wiped off when its half-dry so I get it off after that. And, my skin is always invariably glowing and pinkish and really bright which I love.

Like the scrub, it takes a little time to wash off but on the good side, it removes my tan and also with the uneven skin tone of my forehead!!! So, as a final word, I think this is a good pack to try. Ok, this pack does tingle a bit when applied on but then it has papaya extract and that is the reason for the tingling nature. The pack doesn't burn or anything.

The final word I would say is that they should really change the packaging. I have no issues with tub packagings but it is made of cheap plastic and has a false bottom and strictly speaking, it might be a bit expensive too (but the product works so that's fine). I would rather say that an elegant glass packaging might give a different look to the entire product. Btw, both would probably last 10-15 times each more or less which is decent enough for the price.

Availability

Online - UrbanTouch.com

Have you tried this brand?

PS: Product sent by the brand.

Other reviews from the brand:

Vedic Line Neem & Brahmi Disinfecting Face Wash

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask {Product Review}

Price:13.50 Pounds (Rs 1200 approx) for 50 ml

Ingredients

Packaging

Everything came wrapped within the Zip pouch

Liz Earle knows the knack of how to make their customers feel special. So, there are no second thoughts about packaging - it is simple, classic and full of utility.

"In a nutshell"

Pros Gives a beautiful glow to the face as if you have applied a foundation and leaves the face looking dewy and radiant

Cons The effect stays for a very less time measured in a couple of hours

Wish List I wish that the effects are more than temporary.

My Experience
I have been using this product since over a month and I have really worked hard to make it work.  Unfortunately, it doesn't. It works for a very less time and that's all there is to the product. I was thinking it would be path breaking but I would say that the Deep Cleansing Mask is amazing and does more than a cleansing job!!! I have tried using this in the morning everyday and for quick fixes and both times, I observed that the effect was temporary.

It leaves the skin soft and supple and plumped up and if you follow it with the Instant Boost Tonic, your skin will stay moisturized for a long time. And, your skin will look really radiant and dewy as if you have applied a foundation which matches your skin tone so well that it disappears into your skin color. But, this effect is probably an hour to a few hours long. And, that's all.

When I tried keeping the mask for 2 minutes, the mask was not entirely absorbed and it looked as if the product is wasted than used and it didn't do any good to my skin. Unlike the advise on the packaging, I keep the mask on for 15-20 minutes and the mask gets absorbed completely into the skin and then, I can wipe off the residue with the muslin cloth provided along with the mask. Keeping the mask for 15-20 minutes ensures that my skin absorbs all the goodness of the mask and it makes my skin hydrated and nourished which I really like.

The mask is creamy and easy to apply and two pumps are enough to cover the neck and face both. You would want to apply a very thin layer of the product so that it is absorbed into the skin properly and easily. Applying more of the product really gives no results and in case of Liz Earle, 'less is really more'. The only thing I have to say is that I wish it had worked better.

Availability
Online - Liz Earle Website

PS: Product sent by brand for consideration. This review has been written over a course of time so you can find the timeline references. Pin It

Check out other reviews from Liz Earle:
Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask
Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint - Beige
Update on Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizer
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Best Facial Treatment {Reader's Tip}

Mix curd, turmeric and honey together on face and apply on the face. Leave till it dries. It is the best facial treatment your face can get.

Carrot and Bottle Guard Mask {Reader's Tip}

This is one tip which was posted as a comment on an earlier post yesterday. I thought it was a really good one so sharing it all with you. This is what the reader shares:

I tried having carrot and bottle gourd juice every morning (empty stomach). Also i apply crushed carrot and bottle gourd on my face after cleansing for 30 mins everyday. My pores have visibly reduced in size from day 1 and my skin tone is improving as well.

Uneven Skin Tone {Skin Care}

If at any point of time, you find that your skin is getting darker and patchy without any reason it should be so and without any external signs, then the reason can also be due to the deficiency of hemoglobin or iron in the body. So, pump up your iron intake and you can even check out your HB count and visit a doctor to get iron supplements if HB count is less than 10. Iron deficiency can lead to uneven darkening of the skin so take care of your diet which is very crucial step in maintaining healthy skin. And, don't forget to apply sunscreen regularly.

Orange Sugar Body Scrub {DIY}

It has been so long since I have done some DIY and I have been lately indulging in some things so I shall share some experiments which were successful. So, today, I am sharing a simple body scrub you can make from oranges.

Ingredients

• 1 complete orange mashed along with the pulp
• 2 tablespoon honey
• sugar (in my case I used raw sugar called 'khandsari' in Hindi)
• 2 tea spoons salt (I used rock salt or sendha namak)
• apricot powder (optional)

Method

Mash a complete orange removing its seeds. Add the honey. Now, the mixture would be extremely watery so add enough amount of sugar to create a scrubby texture. Sidewise, add the salt. The mixture would be still very watery so I used apricot powder to give some stiffness to it.

Now, scrub your body with the mixture. Keep it on the body for 5-10 minutes. Of course, do not forget your face or the feet. This scrub would be useful on all parts of your body. Make this scrub just before your bath because vitamin C in oranges breaks down soon after being exposed to air and becomes useless. So, the fresher your scrub and sooner it is used, the better the results you will get. And, let me add, the pulp in the orange will fall all over in the bathroom so make sure that you finish your shower before your maid cleans the bathroom or do this at night (which is my advise because vitamin C makes the skin photosensitive and also because I found my skin was looking much brighter and softer the next morning).

Tips

• Use Jaggery powder or cane sugar in place of regular sugar.
• You can also add cocoa powder, besan, multani mitti or anything else which you can think of. Even oats are a good choice.

Get the most out of your scrubs

When you are scrubbing your face or any other part of your body, the general trend is to scrub and wash it off. But, yesterday, I thought of improvising a little. While scrubbing my face yesterday, I did it for no more than 3 minutes and then left the scrub on to let it dry. After it dried, I washed it off. My skin was smooth and moisturized. And, I ended the routine with a little of cleanser to wash off any scrub residue left on my skin. There was no need of a face mask and I firmly believe in not overdoing my beauty routines. The result was an even complexion with perfectly glowing skin. 

Tip: You can use the products from the market or you can make various scrubs at home. For over the counter products, you can improve the results by adding a capsule of vitamin E oil or a little of aloevera gel before scrubbing. This would give even better results.