Category Archives: Lifestyle

Under Eye Circles & Bags : Causes & Remedies, Indian Beauty Blog, Skin care

Under Eye Circles & Bags : Causes & Remedies

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Under Eye Circles & Bags : Causes & Remedies

By Ishleen

Lifestyles today are more stressful than comfortable, despite the luxuries that we can indulge in. Computers, mobiles, and all the electronic gadgets that we have involved to make our lives simpler have further disturbed our working schedules, that too on the cost of the health of our body. More work, less sleep; and the direct results are clearly visible in the puffiness and dark shadows around our eyes.

Raccoon eyes, under-eye bags, dark circles, shadows, panda eyes; all these are names of the same problem. So what basically causes our eyes to develop such conditions?

Read below to know more.

Causes

Whether you may know it or not, the skin which appears to be bluish black under our eyes is because of the skin in that area being too thin, thus making the blood vessels visible all the more. No, your blood vessels are not exactly blue; but only the wavelengths of blue and purple colors are allowed to be reflected by your under-eye skin, thus giving an impression of bluish-black under eye bags.

1. Genetics

One of the major causes of recurring or prominent dark circles is genetics. If your parents have thin skin around the eyes, or more than average blood vessels, it is almost certain that you will be passed on with the unfortunate trait.

2. Age and Gender

Dark circles under the eyes can begin to be dominantly visible in your 20’s, both in males and females alike; but they are most daunting in the old age. In old age, our skins loose elasticity and do not have the ability to regenerate the skin cells at a steady pace, thus the predominance of raccoon eyes.

3. Fatigue and sleeplessness

In case of fatigue, skin produces a chemical named cortisol, to give your body dynamism when it is working on low levels of energy. It increases the volume of blood in the body, thereby enlarging the blood vessels by creating more pressure in them. As the skin is thin around your delicate eyes, the engorged blood vessels are more prominently visible.

4. Ruptured blood vessels

At times, blood vessels under the eyes can get ruptured and the blood leaking from them starts oxidizing; leading to dim shadows on the lean membrane underneath the eyes. However this is nothing to be much apprehensive about, as in the company of the right type of treatments; this hitch can be easily rectified.

5. Excess of sleep and other lifestyle reasons

Dark under eye circles can even be caused by high sodium intake; which helps in retaining more fluids in body, leading to puffiness; which in turns makes dark circles more visible. Sleeping on your stomach for prolonged periods of time, leads to the accumulation of fluids in the facial area, especially around the eyes, causing freaky dark circles. Or say, when you have been crying uncontrollably, for any reason whatsoever, the salinity of your tears leads to puffiness around your eyes. So forget what happened and just smile 🙂

Remedies

If you are one of those few unlucky ones who have to bear with the problem of dark under eye circles, no matter what, and you do not want to spend on swanky under eye creams or laser surgeries; these home remedies await you.

a) Cucumber apart from acting as a cooling agent, also works as a lightening instrument and an astringent for your skin. Placing cucumber slices on your eyes, or gently rubbing cotton balls dipped in fresh cucumber juice can help to reduce the dark circles. Though the cucumber juice works better if you leave it overnight. Don’t worry; your skin will readily absorb it.

b) Potato juice is great to reduce the puffiness around the eyes, and is often used for treating tan spots and blemishes. Grate a raw potato, extract its juice, and apply the freshly squeezed juice to the affected area. Leave it on overnight if possible.

c) For added goodness, mix both cucumber and potato juice, and with a soft cotton pad, dab the juice gently on to the skin. Leave the juice on for about half an hour, and wash the face with cold water.

ADDITIONAL TIP: To keep the eyes moisturized, follow up by gently massaging olive, coconut or almond oil around the eye area. Remember not to put too much pressure around the eyes.

2. Frozen metal spoons

For instant relief from under eye circles caused by lack of sleep, or sleeping in the wrong posture for prolonged periods of time; all you need is two frozen metal spoons. Make it a habit to keep two metal spoons in your freezer so that you can utilize them any time you want. Just place the rounded edges of the spoon on the eye area and let it rest till the temp of the spoon becomes normal. The cooling effect will help stimulate blood circulation and also decrease the quantity of fluid accumulation around the peepers.

3. Chilled Green tea bags

Green tea is chock full of anti-oxidants, and anti-oxidants are good for your skin. Period. Dip two green tea bags in boiling water, and let them stay immersed for about 3-4 minutes. Take out the tea bags and place them in the freezer, letting them stay till they are chilled. (In the meanwhile, enjoy the goodness of your green tea.) Once the tea bags are chilled enough, place them onto your under eye areas, one bag on each eye, and let them rest for 15-20 minutes. You will notice the results for yourself.

4. The goodness of rose water

Pure Rose water is one product which is the answer of almost all skin care problems. Yes it is that good. Dab a pair of cotton balls in cold rose water, and apply it to the eyes. Let the cotton balls stay on the eyes for as long as possible and wash your face off. Do not forget to follow up with a rich moisturizer.

5. The Wonderful Tomato juice

Most of the treatments for dark under eye circles lie in our own kitchen. Tomatoes comprise of lycopene, which is a great anti-oxidant and has the ability to lighten your skin. Squeeze the juice of one ripe tomato, or mash the pulp and mix in a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice. Lemon juice again acts as a bleaching agent and has anti-inflammatory properties which reduce puffiness. Apply this mixture under the eyes and let it stay for about 15 minutes and wash it off with cold water for better results.

6. Crushed mint leaves

Mint has amazing cooling properties which helps in instantly soothing the skin and reducing the appearance of dark discoloration around the eyes. Crush a few mint leaves using a mortar and pestle and apply the leaves as it is under the eyes. Wait for about 15 minutes and then remove any residue with a damp cotton swab. You can even mix the goodness of cucumber juice to the crushed leaves for better results.

7. Cold compress or ice pack

Cold compress works on the same principal as that of the metal spoons. The chilling effect will help stimulate blood circulation, thereby diminishing puffiness and rectifying the temporary pigmentation under the eyes. Either use a gel based cold compress, or take a few ice cubes wrapped in a thin cloth, and place them under your eyes till the ice melts off completely. Goodbye, raccoon eyes. 😉

8. The efficient milk and fenugreek seed paste

This DIY under eye face mask can work wonders to rectify dark circles. Take a few fenugreek (methi) seeds and soak them overnight. The next day, grind the seeds to form a fine paste. To this paste add a tablespoon of milk and a pinch of turmeric. Mix well, and apply the paste under the eyes.

9. White bread and milk

Milk has both fats and proteins, making it the best moisturizer for our skin. Mix this elixir of goodness with a slice of white bread, mixing it into a fine paste. Apply this paste daily on your under eye area for smoother and even toned under eye skin.

10. Say goodbye to bad habits

Smoking, drinking and stressing a tad bit too much are the main causes which can lead to hyper pigmentation around the eyes and leads to fluid accumulation, causing puffiness. For eyes that do not resemble that of a panda, try bidding goobye to these bad habits of yours.

Till when are you going to hide the dark under eye area with corrective concealers and heavy-duty foundations? It is high time you followed one of these easy tips listed above and bid goodbye to these nasty shadows which never allow you to look your best. But remember that all the points listed above are purely natural and you should not expect instantaneous results; patience is the key.

Editor’s Note: Well written post Ishleen, I am going to try some of the tips myself 😀

Do you have dark circles? Use any of the tips mentioned? Also add your own tips in the comments below which work for you.

P.S: Images from Google

Jaipur Diaries: Part 2 (Food & More Food)

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Jaipur Diaries: Part 2 (Food & More Food)

Well if you haven’t read my part 1 yet, go HERE. And if you have, we talk about the 2nd main thing in Jaipur now, the food!

I had a fulfilling breakfast at The Bazaar at Zone by the Park in Jaipur for 2 days.

Also I am very picky about my tea, and it was perfect, just the way I like it! They serve it a mini Parle G and some crispies.

They do have buffet options for both lunch and dinner, hubby went with the buffet once. I went with a-la-carte coz I like to try different things.

I tried the Caesar Salad and Zone Chilli Cheese Khakhra Toast the first day, loved both the khakhra was real spicy and not for the faint hearted 😀

Ordered Biryani for room service once and loved it too, perfect blend of spices and served with raita, just the way a biryani is meant to be.

And also tried the Alfredo Pasta once

Not much of a fun, coz I like my pasta more cheesy. I wanted to try their wood fired pizzas which are their speciality but there was some technical issue in the oven and I could not, my bad luck!

Other items I tried were Veg. Dumplings & Noodles with Honey Chilli Potatoes, Mango Blueberry Panna Cotta, Gajar Ka Halwa and Moong Dal Halwa. I found the dumplings a bit under cooked, absolutely loved the honey chilli potatoes. The artificial mango taste killed the panna cotta but it was not the season, so can’t blame them. Love their Indian desserts, moong dal halwa and gajar ka halwa were terrific!

I recommend their buffet and Indian sweets apart from the pizzas, salads, biryani and breakfast of course is included in the stay. I saw many people visiting just at the Bazaar restaurant for the dining experience too.

Few other places that are a must visit in Jaipur when it comes to food are:

Doodh Mishtan Bhandar (DMB Sweets) for sweets of course and kachoris, mirchi wadas, all farsans are equally good.

Rawat Sweets, for their Pyaaz Kachori! They are mind blowing, even got them packed. And rest of the sweets plus ghevar, got all packed! Mawa Kachori is also good if you like sweet stuff, a little too sweet for me. The stuffed khandvi was the best! Hated the lassi, full of essence and way too sweet.

Chokhi Dhani, you cannot not come here when in Jaipur. It’s an experience in itself, a little pricey at Rs.900/- per plate, but it includes an entire experience of seeing around. You can do activities like boating, camel riding, or playing games, buying stuff,etc., at an extra cost. But looking around, watching the dances and shows, and the different historical and religious places recreated is all included in the entry. The food is amazing, authentic and pure Marwadi food full of ghee! The way they serve and feed you is amazing.

Coming back to Zone by the Park, they also have a mini infinity pool, a rooftop bar, a gym and a spa. They have a separate club area which they were making sound proof and the work would have been completed before 31st Dec.

Rooftop Restaurant & Bar

I also tried a spa service, went for the Swedish Body Massage as I wanted something with light pressure coz of my back and leg fractures. The masseuse was very gentle and I felt completely relaxed. I was a bit nervous at first since this was the first body massage post the accident, but she was quite light with her hands and I loved it! She used lemongrass oil for the body massage and it also covered head massage. My body felt light and skin felt super hydrated even in that cold climate, post bath too and without any additional moisturizer.

Swedish Body Massage at Zone By The Park Spa

I do recommend trying out the spa services too and burning all the calories from the yummy food at the gym or by swimming! You have so much to do in Jaipur outside and within the hotel too!

This was one memorable trip for me!

Have you been to Jaipur? Tried all the yummy food?

Why is Asus Zenfone 2 Laser a Girl’s Best Friend!

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Why is Asus Zenfone 2 Laser a Girl’s Best Friend!

Hi guys,

Yes today I am talking about this super device which I have been testing since the past 2 weeks. I know you have read a million reviews of the Asus Zenfone 2 Laser by now!

It comes with a warranty card, user guide and a charger. I have the ZE550KL 2GB RAM one in Gold.

The technical aspects like 64-bit Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 410 processor, LTE Category 4 for download speeds up to 150Mbps, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi built in for butter smooth WiFi connectivity, 3000mAh battery, Dual sim, 1280×720 HD IPS display that offers wide 178-degree viewing angles and staggering 267 ppi pixel density, TruVivid technology, Glove Touch Technology, Sonic Master for Crystal Clear Audio, Smart Asus Audio Wizard to name a few (Phew!) are quite amazing indeed and a lot of industry firsts!

But today I am talking about the phone from a blogger, specifically a beauty and fashion blogger or any girl’s perspective.

Starting with the design, it is super sleek and thin with slight round edges. It looks and feels like a phone with 5x the price! It is ergonomically designed with a button behind to adjust volume and take selfies which is like the best part here, coz we all know how difficult it is to hold the button and adjust your finger to click on Capture 😀

ZenFone 2 Laser’s 13MP PixelMaster camera with its f/2.0-aperture lens captures stunning, high-resolution photos with zero shutter lag. The brand-new laser-autofocus feature greatly reduces blurring and enhances image stabilization, and the industry-leading Low Light mode employs pixel-merging technology to capture up to 400%-brighter photos at night or in low-light scenes — all without the need for a flash. Backlight (Super HDR) mode lets you see clearly through daytime shadow and Super Resolution mode helps you to capture detailed images at resolutions of up to 52MP!  Near instant focus as fast as 0.03 seconds with zero shutter lag (the phone is aptly named ‘Laser’ coz of this feature) PixelMaster technology automatically adjusts the ratio of maximum contrast (the brightest point to the darkest point of the image) to enhance the ability of framing features and shapes of the subject, improving the detail of darker areas. Low Light mode increases light sensitivity by up to 400%. It also enhances noise reduction and boosts color contrast by up to 400%, for clear and bright low-light shots with no need for flash. Selfie Panorama helps you get all your friends together in one selfie and cut no one out of the picture! And the best of all, Beautification mode where you can look perfectly made up without makeup 😀

Why is it a girl’s best friend?

1. It has Corning Gorilla Glass 4 making it damage resistant and scratch resistant. Yes we don’t have big pockets and have our bags and gazillion other things to handle along with our hair and dress and we do drop our phones at times. Also if our phone is in our bags, it competes with 100 other things for space and may get scratched. But no worries now with the Corning Gorilla Glass 4!

2. Camera, Camera, Camera. Yes, 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera, amazing picture quality with perfectly vivid colors, sharpness and brightness. We girls need a good camera each day, every day!

Picture taken in Asus Zenfone 2 Laser with Front Camera in Beautification Mode

3. Beautification mode. On days when we are too lazy to put on any makeup, we just use the beautification mode for pictures and look perfectly made up. It has color correction, skin correction, eyes, blush, every feature to correct and all this before taking a picture, so edit before clicking now!

4. Camera Features. Coming to the best part in this phone, the camera features it has. Apart from the basic Auto, Manual and the above mentioned Super HDR, Low Light, Selfie Panorama and Beautification Modes, it has night, depth of field, effect (filters), normal panorama, GIF Animation creator, Time Rewind, All Smiles, Miniature, Smart Remove, Time Lapse and Slow motion. Now create GIF’s, fun Slow-mo and Fast forward videos, smartly remove any unwanted object or person from your picture, select the best smiles of every person in the picture with All Smiles. You name it and the phone has it, it is like a genie!

5. Colors available. It comes in black, white, grey, red and gold. This is the gold one and I absolutely love gold.

The pictures are slightly grainy with the rear camera compared to high end phones and cameras but the front camera pictures are razor sharp, crisp and clear. At Rs.9999/- this is the best phone in the market in that price category. No phone under Rs.10,000 has this good a camera with laser auto focus and these many camera features plus the technical features.

What do you think about Asus Zenfone 2 Laser? Liked the features?

P.S: Phone sent for review but has not affected my opinion.

UrbanClap: Local Service Professionals at Clap of your Hands

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UrbanClap: Local Service Professionals at Clap of your Hands

Hi guys,

These days we have 1-2 new apps coming up every other day, so what makes an app different and are all the apps in the market actually helpful? Nah! But one app I came across in December is actually very helpful! One of my friend works full time, both the husband and wife work whole day on weekdays and they only get weekends to chill or go out, her major concern always was cleaning and the home stuff. I was at her place last to last month and she told me she calls for whatever services she needs on this new app ‘Urbanclap’. One Sunday it is bathroom cleaning, and one Sunday it is sofa cleaning, she even calls for the beauty services she needs, she need not go to a salon or take an appointment, etc., her life is sorted!

I thought that’s an amazing idea, I downloaded the app to see how exactly it works. Last month before my Jaipur trip, I did not have the time to go to a salon and I called for beauty services at home on the Urbanclap app. If you follow me on twitter, you must have read a mini review of the services too. They have Rs.300/- off over services of Rs.800/- offer going on, they keep having offers, so watch out for that.

The app is super easy to use, understand and navigate. Select the service you need from the list of services, it catches your location and lets you know the fixed prices for blue collared jobs, or asks for your exact requirements from the options available for white collared jobs and the service providers send you a quote. You have three different price options too according to your budget. You have the option of the service providers calling you or you calling them, the latter is always safer and better unless you wish to be bombarded by calls whole day! You can even directly pay on the app for the blue collared services with fixed prices.

All the blue collared services have fixed pricing per hour which is around Rs.199/- Currently I am looking for a plumber for some minor work and all local plumbers tell me they will charge Rs.500/- for visiting even if 5 minutes job! Thank goodness for apps like this for saving us from being exploited.

I was looking for a yoga trainer at home for my back issue, and I chose that service and the ‘home’ option and my budget. These are the quotes and providers I got already within 5 minutes.

Things I did not like and which could improve, even after selecting the lower budget option here i.e. below Rs.3500/-, I got contacted by all providers giving a quote of Rs.4000 to 6000. Only the providers who give services within the mentioned budget should be able to give a quote or contact the buyer, coz it’s a waste of time.

I think Urbanclap is a huge help for working couples who hardly get time to get home stuff sorted, and even otherwise for families when you cannot find local services easily, now you can with just a touch on your phone! Apps like these sort your life, it has already received three rounds of funding and much deserved.

If you still haven’t tried Urbanclap, do so now! For Android users, go HERE and for Apple users, go HERE. You can thank me later 🙂 Currently it only available in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai, but they are expanding to other cities this year.

Have you tried the Urbanclap app yet?

Jaipur Diaries: Zone By The Park

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Jaipur Diaries: Zone By The Park

Hi guys,

I travelled to Jaipur at the end of December, last year we went to Hong Kong, Macau and Andamans which I wanted to pen down on the blog but couldn’t coz of the accident in Jan and then it never happened.

This time I didn’t want to procrastinate one bit and made sure I post about my Jaipur trip. I always wanted to go to Jaipur (Rajasthan in General), having covered most of the parts of India, Rajasthan somehow never happened. This time it was a sudden plan at the end of November coz December was birthday and anniversary month 🙂

My trip started with this amazing take-off hyperlapse video (I love window seats!)

We stayed two days at Zone By the Park located in Bani Park in Jaipur. It’s a four star property. The rooms available are Zone Room, Zone Quad, Zone Trio and Zone Suite. We were in Zone Suite and it was huge and spacious with a beautiful living area, huge bedroom and a perfect bathroom. The rooms are modern but yet have the classic, old world charm through the paintings and artifacts. What I absolutely loved is the cleanliness and hygiene factor! The rooms were super clean and had smart, organized storage cabinets to keep your luggage, etc. I had place for my laptop, camera, bags and nothing came in between. The hotel is a bit far from the airport, the distance being about 13-14 kms but it is just 3 kms from the railway station and 2 kms from the central bus station.

The hotel has 47  rooms and they come with complimentary breakfast, fast Wi-Fi and one way airport/railway transfer. It has a restaurant named ‘The Bazaar’ which has global and regional cuisine, from the South Indian breakfast to the vast buffet spread for lunch or dinner, to the various a-la-carte options. I will share more on the restaurant and other facilities they have in my next post. It is a perfect stay option for corporates, families and even couples.

The Zone Suite room..

Here are a few pics from my Jaipur trip, some of you must have already seen the pictures on my Instagram.

Entire Jaipur view from Nahargarh Fort (Panorama)

We visited the City Palace, Amber Fort and Nahargarh Fort. Jaigarh Fort, Jal Mahal and Hawa Mahal we saw from a distance as it was not open for public. I was told the royal family lives at Jaigarh Fort and hence it is restricted. Jal Mahal was open for public untill 15 years ago.

Hawa Mahal
Sunset View from Nahargarh Fort
The Door at Nahargarh Fort
At City Palace

At Zone by the Park, they had beautifully decorated the entire lobby for Christmas.

There is also a seating arrangement outside, but we did not dare to sit out, since it was quite cold!

Zone by the Park Hotels are currently in Jaipur, Chennai and Coimbatore. They are soon opening in Raipur, Jodhpur, Goa and Mahabalipuram.

The best thing about Zone by the Park has to be the amazing staff and hospitality. They were very courteous and always smiling, you can feel the warm welcome. One of my best hotel experiences till date! I am definitely looking forward to visit more of their properties.

If you are in search of a hotel in Jaipur, you can blindly book Zone by The Park. You will thank me later 🙂

One of the best thing about Jaipur is the food! I will include it in my next post coz this post would be way too image heavy otherwise.

Have you been to Jaipur? What do you like the most about Jaipur?

Lotus Herbals WhiteGlow Skin Whitening & Brightening Gel Creme SPF-25 Review

Lifestyle, Lotus Herbals, Moisturizers, Reviews, Skin care, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lotus Herbals WhiteGlow Skin Whitening & Brightening Gel Creme SPF-25 Review

By Archana

Today, I will be reviewing another product from the Lotus Herbals WhiteGlow range which is the Lotus Herbals WhiteGlow Skin Whitening & Brightening Gel Creme SPF-25. I have already reviewed the serum (Read HERE) from the same range and I had been using this day cream together with the serum for synergic effect. Read on to know how it fares.

Products claims:

WhiteGlow Skin Whitening & Brightening Gel Creme is a breakthrough formulation from Lotus Herbals that lightens, whitens & brightens your skin tone.

* Lightens: It lightens skin’s tone by reducing uneven pigmentation.

* Whitens: It unveils visibly fairer skin by reducing dark spots.

* Brightens: It enhances skin’s radiance naturally.

Why Gel Creme: WhiteGlow Skin Whitening & Brightening Gel Creme is a revolutionary fairness solution that incorporates the advantages of a gel and a creme.

* Spreads easily on your skin.

* Advanced formula allows for better delivery of active ingredients.

* Good for all skin types including oily and combination skin.

How it works: Clinical trials show that the following plant extracts lighten, whiten and brighten the skin with 7 days of regular use:

* Grape Extract (Vitis Vinifera): Exfoliator – helps active ingredients penetrate into the skin.

* Mulberry Extract (Triter Penoids, Phenyl Flavones): Tyrosinase inhibitor.

* Milk Enzyme: Blocks melanin pathways.

* Saxifraga Extract (Epigallocatechin): Free radical scavenger & tyrosinase inhibition.

Why WhiteGlow?

WhiteGlow Skin Whitening & Brightening range is a breakthrough formula from Lotus Herbals. It comes with an advance formula that has triple action on skin – lightening, whitening & brightening. It is enriched with rare fruit and potent plant extracts that penetrate deep into the skin to provide enduring action. The result, your skin looks fairer, flawless and radiant. It is free from harsh chemicals, that generally have side effects.

Ingredients:

Directions to use: Use every day in the morning & evening all over face & neck after cleansing thoroughly with Whiteglow 3 in 1 Deep Cleansing Skin Whitening Facial Foam. For synergic effect, use in conjunction with Whiteglow Intensive Skin Whitening & Brightening Serum.

Packaging: The day cream comes in a convenient, squeezable tube packaging with a grey screw cap. There is an outer carton box with all the details of the product printed on it. The entire packaging is compact and travel-friendly. I carry it in my handbag to office and use it in the afternoon for freshening up. There is also a bigger size which comes in a tub-like packaging. But, I prefer tubes over tub as they are more hygienic, so I got this.

Texture and fragrance: Now, actually I expected this to be a gel-based creme from the product name. But it turned out to be not a gel, but a regular cream. I don’t have any issues with that, but I feel that the name is misleading. Someone who is particular about getting a gel creme, might end up with this on seeing the name. Coming to the cream, it is milky white in color with a very light consistency. The fragrance is like the signature Whiteglow range scent, a subtle mix of floral and fruity.

My experience: I have been using this day cream in conjuction with the serum from the same range. The cream is very light and gets absorbed easily without leaving behind any greasiness or stickiness. It also hydrates the skin well, though very dry skin people might need something more. There is a light dewy effect which I love. Unlike other whitening creams, it doesn’t leave behind any whitish cast. It basically performs the role of a day cream well – moisturizes without making face oily and has SPF 25 for sun protection. But apart from that, I haven’t observed any other whitening or brightening effect. To test the efficacy of this, I stopped the serum for a week and was using only this day cream. And there was no visible results as such. I feel the serum and the night cream are the most effective ones in this Whiteglow range. If you wish to try only one or two products from this range, I would recommend only these two. The day cream and face wash can be used additionally for a synergic effect. But alone, they are not helpful much for whitening or brightening.

Pros:

* Light and easily absorbed.

* Moisturizes and hydrates skin well.

* Doesn’t cause oiliness or greasiness.

* Contains SPF-25 for sun protection.

* Gives a nice dewy effect.

* Compact, travel-friendly packaging.

* Doesn’t leave any whitish cast.

* Doesn’t cause breakouts.

* Suitable for all skin types.

Cons:

* Parabens.

* No whitening or brightening effects as claimed.

* Not moisturizing enough for very dry skin people.

* Its a cream, not gel. Misleading name.

Price and quantity: Rs.99 for 20g and Rs.345 for 60g.

Rating: 4.2/5

Verdict: Lotus Herbals WhiteGlow Skin Whitening & Brightening Gel Creme SPF-25 is a good day cream for all skin types. It moisturizes skin well without causing any oiliness and also has SPF-25 for sun protection. Two things to be noted are – one, don’t get fooled by its name of gel, its actually a cream, but light in texture. Secondly, there is no whitening/brightening effect as claimed.

Editor’s Note: I really like the sound of the Lotus Herbals White Glow Range, nice review Archana 🙂

Birthday OOTD: Lace LBD

Accessories, Fashion, Lifestyle, Michael Kors, OOTD, Shoes, Shopping, StalkBuyLove, The Trunk Label, Travel, Watches, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Birthday OOTD: Lace LBD

Hi guys,

So my birthday was on 22nd and I was in Jaipur that time, I just wanted to share my birthday outfit with you all.

I wore this lace little black dress from StalkBuyLove and paired it with everything gold. Also gold and black was appropriate for the Christmas and Party Season. I am so obsessed with this dress, I would have worn it for New Year Party for sure, sadly no plans :/

I paired it with gold tassel earrings, rose gold watch and a glitter clutch. Also stacked some gold midi rings and my trusted black and gold ankle strap sandals.

We clicked this at Nahargarh Haveli in Jaipur where we were staying for 3 days, it is an old haveli refurbished into an hotel. There are similar other hotels in Jaipur like Nani Ki Haveli, Alsisar, Virasat, etc.

Our first two days were at Zone By The Park and I would be doing a separate post about it, coz the experience was mind blowing.

Dress: StalkBuyLove
Earrings: The Trunk Label
Clutch: Gifted by Maybelline
Shoes: Shown HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE

On my Lips: Lakme Absolute Matte Lip Pout in Pink Fantasy

I am so glad hubby did not blur the pictures this time, unlike always 😀 I hope you liked the outfit, do let me know in the comments below 🙂

Indian OOTD: Vikram Phadnis for Nakkashi Double Layered Anarkali

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Indian OOTD: Vikram Phadnis for Nakkashi Double Layered Anarkali

Hi guys,

This outfit was long, long overdue like it has been months that the shoot was just not happening. At first, the stitching, etc. took a lot of time since the outfit was semi-stitched and the jacket was completely open. Then co-ordinating with the photographers was not happening and I was occupied and then I shifted and what not. Finally we went to Jaipur and I thought it was the perfect location for this outfit, so we shot it there.

This semi-stitched anarkali dress is from the ‘Nakkashi’ line and designed by Vikram Phadnis, it was also a part of last year’s Lakme Fashion Week.

About Vintage Desi: VINTAGE DESI is the answer which modern Indian women have been looking for! We are an online boutique bringing you access to sought-after designer garments and accessories at bargain prices!

We negotiate with local designers to get you deep discounts on showcased outfits and accessories, bringing you the best possible pricing in the market on Exclusive & Brand New designer pieces available only on Vintage Desi.

We currently have Women’s wear from designer brands like Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor, Anju Modi, Ankur & Priyanka Modi, Eshaani Jayaswal, Gauri & Nainika, Mahima Mahajan, Raakesh Agarvwal, Ranna Gill, Ridhi Mehra, Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna, Varun Bahl and Yogesh Chaudhary and local designers like Minal Bijlani (Paisley), Anisha Shetty, Sri Kaba by Shreya Paul, LoveShopDance, Karishma Trehan, Nakkashi, Melo by Khoda & Khan, Sakina Amin, Anubha Chadha, Ahmaya, Saffron, Nilanjana Roy and more

Kid’s wear from designers such as Kidology ( Gaurav Gupta, Gauri & Nainika, Maya Nocon and Siddartha Tytler) and

Jewellery from Shillpa Purii, Namrata Kedia, Sugarlips, Adonia, Silverdune, Angells Kreate, ESA and we are constantly adding new content from various others.

We have recently added our Men’s Wear section as well with great deals on Kurtas, Jackets, Bandis and more! No more repeating the same outfit at every wedding! With our amazing discounts on the brand new outfits and accessories, you can now afford a whole new wardrobe every wedding season without blowing your budget!

Vintage Desi basically makes designer labels much affordable and within the reach, it’s perfect for wedding shopping and the current wedding season. You get everything from clothes to accessories to jewellery here.

I also did a small outfit video..

Let me tell you a little more about this outfit: Top: Double layered top with lycra georgette and sequin embroidery net fabric
Jacket: Chiffon net jacket, cord lace with sequin highlight
Dupatta: Chiffon beige dupatta with elegant border
Bottom: Beige color heavy crepe palazzo with badla zari embroidery work on navy velvet on border

It’s priced at Rs.9450/- which is pretty good for the work, fabric, quality, design plus the brand label. Though it being semi-stitched makes it a little difficult to customize for yourself. Like here you cannot see the palazzos because the outfit is not for my height and the jacket is way too long and even after some customization, it was not possible to cut the work below or open it completely and re-stitch it. If you completely open the entire material, it will turn out to be very expensive and than it being semi-stitched will be of no use to you.

Even after wearing heels, the work at the palazzos cannot be seen unless a person sits or twirls or something like that 😀 Anyway, I absolutely love the beige and gold color and self sequin work. The navy velvet border on the palazzos make a beautiful striking contrast. The jacket is separate and can be worn with many other different outfits. The outfit is totally worth the price!

I hope you liked the outfit and pictures, do let me know in the comments below. Also definitely check out Vintage Desi for the current wedding shopping or anything Indian wear from jewellery to outfits to accessories. You can even sell on the website.

The Art to Picking the Right Engagement Ring for Brides and Grooms

Jewellery, Lifestyle, Mumbai Bridal Diaries, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Art to Picking the Right Engagement Ring for Brides and Grooms

Hi guys,

Continuing the bridal series, today we are talking about the right engagement ring for the brides an grooms. Here are a few pointers which will help you pick the right engagement ring:

Establishing the budget: Decide a budget and stick to it more or less when you go ring shopping. The jewellers will try and show you expensive ones and solitaires, if it is something that does not fit your budget, don’t even look at those!

Find the perfect size: Get your ring finger sized first and go for the closest match, but make sure it is neither too tight nor too loose. Definitely not loose, it can be slightly rolled if it is bit tighter.

Ring band: There are so many different metals used for rings these days, most common being yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, platinum, and silver. You can even go for a mix of metals.

Quality of diamonds: When choosing a diamond, you have to check the four C’s i.e. Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight. Choose a diamond keeping in mind all these four characteristics.

Shape of diamond: You can go for round, oval, pear, heart, princess, there are different shapes to choose from. Shape of the diamond matters the most, even before everything else. Princess cut is the most common and something mostly people opt for.

Setting of diamonds: That is the main part again, if you opt for one big stone, you can for solitaire or Tiffany setting. If you have smaller stones, then you can cluster a shape or even mix the smaller clusters around the main, big solitaire.

Shape of ring: Keep in mind your hand shape, length of fingers and what shape of ring would look best on your fingers, before finalizing a ring.

The same rules apply when buying diamond rings for both brides and grooms, just that the shape of the diamond is not much of a concern for the groom as mostly it is the square setting and shape.

A couple can also opt for platinum bands if they prefer or even get it personalized by engraving their initials or date or place tbey met.

What do you think? Do let me know your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Introduction & All About Mumbai Bridal Diaries

Lifestyle, Mumbai Bridal Diaries, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Introduction & All About Mumbai Bridal Diaries

Hi guys,

If you read my previous post, I mentioned about this new bridal one-stop destination on my blog ‘Mumbai Bridal Diaries‘

Your beauty, fashion & jewellery needs are sorted. Let me help you for all your bridal needs. If you are from Mumbai, I have posts on where to buy your outfits from. I will do more on the best makeup artists, photographers, etc.

Together we will make your ‘perfect wedding’ a dream come true. Your ‘special day’ will be all the more special. So what are you waiting for?

Subscribe to my blog’s email updates and also follow me on my social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Snapchat) for similar such updates 🙂