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

Under Eye Circles & Bags : Causes & Remedies

Dark Circles, Lifestyle, Skin care, Tips, Tips and Tricks, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

Faces Ultime Pro Lip Matte & Starry Matte Crayons Review, Swatches

Faces Cosmetics, Lip Crayons, Lip Pencils, New Launches, Reviews, Swatches, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Faces Ultime Pro Lip Matte & Starry Matte Crayons Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

After the Faces Ultime Pro Eyeshadow Crayon, today I am reviewing the Lip Crayons.

What the Company claims: The velvety texture of FACES Ultime Pro Lip Crayon helps the crayon glides effortlessly on the lips for a rich, creamy look in just one stroke. This lush, long lasting lipstick also gives you complete coverage for smooth and supple lips, while being super comfortable on lips. A waterproof formulation, FACES Ultime Pro Lip Crayon is also dermatologically tested and paraben free, and hence complete safe on your lips.

What’s more is that its long lasting stay ensures you do not have to do multiple touch-ups!

Available in 10 shades:

FACES ULTIME PRO STARRY MATTE LIP CRAYON- Obsession

FACES ULTIME PRO STARRY MATTE LIP CRAYON- Hot Wired

FACES ULTIME PRO STARRY MATTE LIP CRAYON- Sugar Coated

FACES ULTIME PRO STARRY MATTE LIP CRAYON- Lasting Kiss

FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP CRAYON- Really Rust

FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP CRAYON- Peach Me

FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP CRAYON- Wrapped Up

FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP CRAYON- Irresistible Pink

FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP CRAYON- Smokin’ Hot

FACES ULTIME PRO MATTE LIP CRAYON- Midnight Rose

MRP: Rs.799/- for 2.6g (You get a sharpener worth Rs.125/- free)

It comes in 2 formulations i.e. Matte & Starry Matte, Matte is your normal matte crayon & Starry Matte has some shimmer. Today I am reviewing the shades Sugar Coated in Starry Matte & Midnight Rose in Matte.

It has the same packaging as the eyeshadow crayons. The crayons are colored according to their shades and have a transparent cap, they need to be sharpened.

The packaging is convenient and nice, but would have been better if these would have been retractable coz you will need to carry a sharpener everywhere along.

The texture is super creamy, they glide on like butter and are very pigmented too. You just two swipes for complete, opaque coverage on lips.

L-R: Sugar Coated, Midnight Kiss

These are not transfer proof and transfer a lot on cups, glasses, etc. Also they do not survive meals and fade off from the centre. They stay for around 4-5 hours if you do not eat or drink. They will need to be reapplied after a complete meal and will stay for 2-3 hours with drinking or light snacks.

I would have like a better staying power though and also it not getting transferred on everything every time.

L-R: Sugar Coated, Midnight Kiss

The shade ‘Sugar Coated’ is a bright neon peach with some fine gold shimmer. It goes a little patchy on the lips and accentuates dry patches.

The shade ‘Midnight Rose’ is a beautiful burgundy red, it goes super smooth and looks amazing. This shade would work on all skin tones and is also the most loved shade in this range.

Overall, I would say I like the Matte range more than Starry Matte, I am not a fan of shimmer, not sure if it is only this particular shade which looks a little patchy or all Starry Matte ones. These are again manufactured by Schwan Stabilo and are priced almost the same as other lip crayons in the market. Only issue is transferring and staying power.

I would recommend checking out the Matte Lip Crayons, especially the shade Midnight Rose.

Rating:

Quality: 3.75/5
Value for money : 3.5/5
Availability: 3.5/5

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Have you checked out the new Faces Ultime Pro Lip Crayons yet?

The Body Shop Christmas Special Frosted Cranberry Range Review

Body Butter, Body Wash, Reviews, The Body Shop, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Body Shop Christmas Special Frosted Cranberry Range Review

Hi guys,

The Body Shop has come up with interesting gift packs for Christmas, and one of their new launches is the Frosted Cranberry Range.

MRP: Rs.995/-

It comes in this cute red gift box with cut outs and the top handle. It has a body wash, body butter and a loofah.

These are perfect for travel and make very cute gifts for your loved ones. The range has a strong sweet smell of candies & cranberries. The packaging is all red and Christmasy.

I like the body wash, the smell is not that over powering but the body butter is very sweet for my taste. I prefer subtle and fresh, citrusy smells when it comes to body butter. But the texture of the body butter is really light and it has sesame oil and is easily absorbed into the skin without any greasiness. It also has cocoa butter, shea butter, cranberry seed oil, soybean oil and beeswax, but still it is quite light.

Body Butter Ingredients

The loofah as all Body Shop loofahs is of really good quality and easy to use. Not very abrasive and perfect for light exfoliating and works great with any body wash.

Body Wash Ingredients

I would recommend smelling the products individually first before buying the entire box. I definitely recommend the body wash, but not really a fan of the body butter smell, though I love the light texture.

Also The Body Shop is running a Water Aid campaign globally.  The Body Shop and Water Aid are spreading happiness this Christmas with the gift of safe water. For every specially selected gift people will buy, The Body Shop will donate one day of safe water to a family in Ethiopia. So when you buy a gift box, you are also helping a family get clean and safe water for a day. Double joy 😀

Do check out the interesting gift packs at the nearest The Body Shop store or even online on www.thebodyshop.in

What do you think about The Body Shop Gift Packs? Do you like the Frosted Cranberry Range?

Top 10 Beauty Must haves for the Winter Bride

Makeup, Mumbai Bridal Diaries, Skin care, Tips, Tips and Tricks, Top 10, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Beauty Must Haves for the Winter Bride

Hi guys,

So the wedding season is here and I have some beauty must haves and handy tips for all you winter brides. Here you go:

1. Rich Moisturizer

That will be the number 1 requirement in winters. Skin will be dry and patchy which will lead to redness and unevenness on the skin, a rich moisturizer is what you must never skip. Apply it every morning on cleansed skin and maybe even reapply if your skin feels stretchy again throughout the day.

2. Sunscreen & Scarf/Umbrella

Oh the last minute shopping and rushing for the final trials & fittings, you do not want to be burned or tanned. While your sunscreen is a must to protect your skin from sun’s rays, it won’t help prevent tanning. You will have to cover your head with a nice scarf or better is to use an umbrella, no shame in protecting your skin before your big day!

3. Body Butter

Taking care of your body is equally essential because you don’t want dry patches or flaky skin. A good, rich body butter will keep your skin protected from the harsh winters & dryness

4. Exfoliator

Exfoliating is very essential to get rid of dead skin cells. Skin layer renews every 21 days and if the old and dead skin cells are not exfoliated, the new skin will come over the dead skin cells forming oil clogs, etc. So exfoliating your face once a week with a mild Exfoliator is a must for the bride-to-be. In the same way, body needs exfoliation too and the body Exfoliator can be a little rougher. Do not forget areas like the elbows and the knees

5. Night cream/Serum/Oil

Skin renews faster and absorbs products the quickest during night time. A rich night cream will give you soft, supple skin the next morning. These days you also get serums for targeted issues or a blend of essential oils which are natural and organic and yet work deep within your skin.

6. Lip Balm

Lips gets very dry and chapped in winters and if your lips are chapped, no lipstick or makeup would look good. So use a lip balm everyday & gently exfoliate your lips with a toothbrush in the morning while brushing your teeth. This will keep your lips soft & supple.

7. Deep conditioning hair mask

Hair is often ignored and taken for granted by brides-to-be. The main hair concern in winters is usually frizziness & dandruff. While dandruff can be taken care of by oiling or using an anti-dandruff shampoo, your hair will need moisture & hydration which only deep conditioning can give. So use a deep conditioning hair mask to nourish the hair and keep frizz at bay

8. Deep lipstick shades

Every bride-to-be should have a red lipstick in her stash. (MAC Ruby Woo is your best bet). But for winter weddings, deep plum and wine shades are IN this season. Check out L’Oreal Paris Pure Red Lipstick in Pure Garnet.

9. Neutral eyeshadow Palette

A neutral palette with golds, plums and browns is all you need when it comes to eyeshadows. If you are confused, go for Urban Decay Naked Palette.

10. Blush/Highlighter

A rosy pink blush to accentuate your cheeks and a good highlighter to enhance that bridal glow.

That’s it. What do you think are the beauty must haves for the winter bride?

Lotus Herbals EcoStay Long Lasting Lip Colour Review, Swatches

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Lotus Herbals EcoStay Long Lasting Lip Colour Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

Today I am reviewing four shades out of the 10 new shades launches in the Lotus Herbals Ecostay Long Lasting Lip Colour Range.

What the Company claims: Lip colour is a preservative free, natural, long lasting and hydrating lip colour. One swip and your lips are ready for a healthier shine all day long without any loss of moisture, ensuring a flawless finish. SPF 20 gives UV Protection

How to use : Outline your lips with the lipliner.Hold the tube of lipstick to your lips and carefully apply it within the lines you drew with your lipliner. Start from the center of your lips and brush the lipstick outward, filling in all the gaps. ﾕFor a more precise application, use a lipstick brush. ﾕIf you go outside the lines of your lipliner, wipe the excess lipstick away with a tissue. ﾕLook in the mirror to make sure that you’re filling in the lines correctly. Applying lipstick without a mirror can lead to silly consequences.

MRP: Rs.545/- for 4.2g

These lipsticks come in a beautiful and sleek metallic pink packaging, which looks rose gold in sunlight. I absolutely love the packaging, also the lipstick click shut and are travel friendly.

They have this round bullet as in long, slender packaging lipsticks and the Lotus Herbals logo on top of the lipstick.

I am reviewing the shades Orange Lush, Rose Rush, Flirty Pink and Pink Pop.

They are a little dry in formulation and not the creamy kinds, also you need to go over the lips 2-3 times for a proper, opaque coverage. But once set, they do not budge for hours. They have a matte finish and stay for about 6-7 hours, they are not completely transfer proof but do not transfer much. They do fade a bit from the center post a complete meal though.

L-R: Orange Lush, Rose Rush, Flirty Pink and Pink Pop

They do not feel heavy on the lips and also lips do not feel dry or uncomfortable. Lighter colors are less pigmented and also go a bit patchy and accentuates dry lips. When I swatched all 5-6 lipsticks together, lips were a little dry and the lighter colors accentuated that. As you can see in the lip swatches below, Orange Lush and Flirty Pink are lighter and look a little patchy and accentuates the dryness on lips.

L-R: Orange Lush, Rose Rush
L-R: Flirty Pink and Pink Pop

Orange Lush is a true warm orange shade.

Rose Rush is a pink based red.

Flirty Pink is a peachy pink shade.

Pink Pop is a rosy pink, my most favourite shade of the lot.

L-R: Orange Lush, Rose Rush, Flirty Pink and Pink Pop

The SPF of 20 is an added benefit. They are natural and organic and without any parabens or preservatives. The pricing is also decent for the quantity of 4.2g and the packaging.

Clockwise left to right: Orange Lush, Rose Rush, Flirty Pink and Pink Pop

Overall I would say, I like the packaging, price point, staying power, for the desired pigmentation you do need to go over with a few swipes. Lighter colors are less pigmented and go a bit patchy, but the darker shades i.e. Rose Rush and Pink Pop went smoother. I recommend the darker shades in this range, Pink Pop is a must try.

Rating:

Quality: 3.75/5
Value for money : 3.75/5
Availability: 3.5/5

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Have you checked out the new shades of Lotus Herbals EcoStay Long Lasting Lip Colours yet?

P.S: PR Samples.Honest Review

Mumbai Bridal Diaries: One Stop Destination for the Brides-to-Be

Fashion, Jewellery, Lifestyle, Mumbai Bridal Diaries, Shopping, Truly Bridal, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mumbai Bridal Diaries: One Stop Destination for the Brides-to-Be

Hi guys,

If you have been following my bridal series, you would have seen a lot of posts related to my wedding. I complete one year of my wedding exactly in a week 🙂

I know exactly how a bride-to-be feels and the thousands of mixed emotions she goes through. And planning her own perfect wedding is what every bride dreams of.

I myself have gone through numerous blogs and wedding magazines, taking inspirations for hair, makeup, jewellery, different kinds of ethnic wear for trousseau,etc. Every bride wants to be different coz things get repetitive easily with styles getting very common these days.

With just weeks or months left until the wedding, a bride’s heart is filled with excitement and anxiety. With the big-date getting closer, you may find her wishful and enthusiastic one moment and then getting nervous the very next second.

I would be sharing a lot of more bridal posts on fabrics to buy, how to plan your trousseau and engagement makeup, etc. So stay tuned for more on my Mumbai Bridal Diaries 🙂

New Medimix Ayurvedic Natural Glycerine Soap With Lakshadi Oil Review

Medimix, New Launches, Reviews, Skin care, Soaps, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Medimix Ayurvedic Natural Glycerine Soap With Lakshadi Oil Review

Hi guys,

Today I am reviewing something different, a soap. Medimix is one brand that we have all used at some point in our lives, and then we get different and new options and we forget the ‘natural’ and be lured by the fancy packaging and latest launches. Medimix has launched their new soap with natural glycerine and lakshadi oil. Lakshadi Tailam/Oil is an old ayurvedic recipe of a massage oil and it is made with a blend of different herbs like Laksha, Asvagandha, Katuka, etc.

They have also come up with this TVC which urges us to ‘Go Natural’ and it is so true!

What the Company claims: Medimix Ayurvedic Natural Glycerine With Lakshadi Oil contains a unique combination of the purest and finest grade vegetable glycerin and the time tested Ayurvedic formula of Lakshadi oil to effectively prevent dry skin.

MRP: Rs.45/- for 125g

Ingredients:

It is transparent green soap and has a slight herbal smell. Lakshadi Oil helps in a lot of ailments like fever, body ache, etc and is also used for massaging babies in some parts of India. Some of the ingredients also help in body acne or itches and rashes, them being anti – bacterial and anti – fungal.

Natural glycerine in the soap makes it perfect for the current winters, as it keeps the skin moisturized and skin does not feel dry or stretchy as with other regular soaps.

It foams well and cleans the skin well, one can also use a loofah on top of the soap foam for extra exfoliation or foaming. I love using it for my body and I also used it for my face. I don’t usually use soaps on my face as most of them are very drying for my skin but this one did not dry the skin at all.

It is vegan and cruelty free and does not contain any animal fat or derivative. It is priced very affordably at Rs.45/- and lasts long too, just don’t keep it in water.

Overall I would say Medimix is still the same, natural and herbal with glycerine, and does not dry out skin. Perfect for all year round. Definitely recommend trying this out!

Rating:

Quality: 4.5/5
Value for money : 4.5/5
Availability: 4/5

Overall rating: 4.25/5

Have you tried the new Medimix Natural Glycerine Soap With Lakshadi Oil?

The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalizing Facial Oil First Impressions

Anti Ageing, New Launches, Reviews, Skin care, The Body Shop, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalizing Facial Oil First Impressions

Hi guys,

I have been using the new Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalizing Facial Oil since a week now and here are my first impressions about it.

What the Company claims: Infused with three precious seed oils and a blend of seven essential oils, we’ve created the Oils of Life™ Intensely Revitalizing Facial Oil. The lightweight and quickly absorbing texture leaves a non-sticky finish, melting onto the skin, leaving it silky and soft. Instantly, skin appears smoother, more radiant, revived, revitalized and nourished. After 4 weeks, the signs of aging appear reduced, wrinkles appear minimized, and skin feels more elastic and firm.

How to use: This dermatologically tested oil can be applied every morning and evening before applying a cream. Apply 1 to 2 drops maximum (2-3 for very dry skin) onto the face and neck and gently massage into the skin. Follow with one of our Oils of Life moisturizers.

MRP: Rs.3095/- for 30ml

Ingredients:

It comes in a sleek and nice golden yellow glass bottle with a black dropper dispensor. The packaging is very convenient to use, though I am not sure how travel friendly it would be coz of the glass.

I love using oils on my face, using oils and serums at night is something I have been following since years and it really works amazing. Oils can be used even by people with oily skin, what it does it balances the oil secretion of the skin and also has amazing properties for revitalizing, firming and hydration of the skin. Different oils have different properties and this time Body Shop has come up with a combination of three special seed oils i.e Black Cumin, Camellia and Rosehip.Cold pressed seed oils are the purest form of oils and all their properties remain preserved. It also has a lot of other oils like Olive Oil as a base, Lavender Oil, Jojoba oil , Orange Peel Oil, etc.

I use 2-3 drops of it every night and massage it well on the skin, it has a complete dance routine massage video on their youtube channel. The smell is not unpleasing, it is nice, I do smell a hint of lavender and I really like lavender oil.

The oil is super light in texture and absorbs in a jiffy. Skin next day is super moisturised and plump, there is no redness or dryness. My skin was feeling very dry and stretchy as the winters had started, especially in the mornings, also coz of the AC at night. But since the time I have been using this, there are no dry patches and no stretchiness.

It also claims to have firming and anti-ageing properties, I cannot comment on it right now and would do a full review on it, post using it for a month.

It is slightly on the expensive side but all oils and serums in this category are almost in the same range. And since you need just 2-3 drops per use, this will easily last months

Overall I would say, I definitely recommend trying this out, especially if you love serums and oils. This is just a perfect blend of all the goodness of oils.

Rating:

Quality: 4.5/5
Value for money: 4/5
Availability: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Would I buy it again: Yes

Have you checked out or tried the The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalizing Facial Oil yet?

Sugar Cosmetics Matte As Hell Lip Crayon Poison Ivy Review, Swatches

Lip Crayons, Lip Pencils, Lipsticks, Makeup, New Launches, Reviews, Sugar Cosmetics, Swatches, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sugar Cosmetics Matte As Hell Lip Crayon Poison Ivy Review, Swatches

What the Company claims: If excellent coverage and high colour pay-off is what gets you going, you will absolutely love our new Matte As Hell Lip Crayon that is available in 4 gorgeous shades to suit your taste & your ever-changing mood! Super long-lasting and highly pigmented so you don’t have to worry about constant re-application, this must-have lip crayon has a soft texture with a silky matte finish.

Shades Available:

  • Feeling confident & sexy? Flaunt a classic red pout with the Scarlett O’ Hara shade – that’s guaranteed to make heads turn.
  • Want to go bare-faced with a pop of color? Say hello to Mary Poppins! It is an eye-catching Fuchsia shade that can never go unnoticed
  • A classic shade that can instantly add a touch of mystery to your entire look, Poison Ivy (wine) is hot on the runway and a must-try shade for those who love to experiment
  • Want to pull off dramatic eyes and come out as a winner? Holly Golightly (Nude) is the way to go! This peachy shade goes well with elaborate eye make-up & can also be used every day for a natural look

How to Apply: Exfoliate your lips & apply the Lip Crayon just the way you would with any other lipstick. Blot & reapply.

Benefits: The Sugar Matte As Hell Lip Crayon has a creamy consistency that eventually settles in to a matte finish. With stunning shades that don’t fail to impress, it provides maximum coverage with the right amount of color. This power product is dermatologically tested & approved and 100% safe for your skin..

Additional Details: Its wax-based formulation does not contain mineral oil, parabens, paraffin, phenoxyethanols, volatile cyclomethicones (D4, D5, D6) and animal derived ingredients.

Ingredients:

Made in Germany.

Size: 2.8 gm.

MRP: Rs.799/-

So I received this Sugar Cosmetics Matte As Hell Lip Crayon last week, I have tried their Eye Told You So Eyeliner before which was a part of Fab Bag and quite liked it. Matte Lip Crayons are all the rage right now and I am glad they have come up with these and some interesting 4 shades. I have a lot of reds and pinks in Lakme Absolute Matte Lip Tint and Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balms, so I wanted to go for either nude or wine. Since it is fall/winter already which is perfect for deep burgundy/wine/berry shades, I went with Poison Ivy which is a beautiful berry wine shade.

It comes in this black fat crayon packaging with the base matching the shade. Sadly it is not retractable and one has has to sharpen it which leads to quite a lot of product wastage. Other than that, it is quite travel friendly.

Coming to the texture, it is very, very creamy and buttery. It glides on easily on the lips but that also means it does bleed and go out of the lines easily, so one has to be careful while applying. It is very pigmented and covers the entire lip well in 2 swipes.

It is on the creamier side and not completely matte, even after some time, you won’t see or feel a complete matte finish. It is not transfer proof and transfers a lot on cups, bottles, etc.

Staying power is ok, it stays for 4-5 hours without eating or drinking, but just 2-3 hours if you eat or drink and will fade and transfer while eating or drinking.

It does feel very light and comfortable on the lips. It is quite moisturising and will work on dry lips too, quite forgiving.

Poison Ivy is a beautiful wine/berry shade and perfect for this season, definitely a unique shade and not that other brands have in this category.

Price wise it is definitely priced higher. At 800, it is more expensive than Lakme too which is priced at 650 and offers 3.5g. I have not sharpened it yet, so not sure how long this would last, the qty is reasonable.

Overall I would say I am not very happy with the staying power and transferring, though these are moisturising and light. Also these are priced higher than other brands in this category and the qty too is lesser than them. But what Sugar Cosmetics Matte As Hell Lip Crayon has, are two shades nude and wine i.e.Holly Golightly and Poison Ivy which other brands do not. So if you want a matte nude and/or wine lip crayon, I would suggest checking this out. For reds or pinks, I would suggest other brands. But if you have dry lips and are looking for matte yet creamy and moisturising lip crayon, then go for this.

You can buy it from their own website HERE or on the Fab Bag website HERE.

Rating:

Quality: 3.75/5
Value for money : 3.5/5
Availability: 3/5

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Are you looking forward to try the new Sugar Cosmetics Matte As Hell Lip Crayon? Which shade?

P.S: PR Sample. Honest Review.

Khadi Rose Water vs Fabindia Rose Water vs Lotus Herbals RoseTone Facial Toner

Comparison, Fabindia, Face Mist, Khadi, Lotus Herbals, Reviews, Rose Water, Skin care, Toners, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Khadi Rose Water vs Fabindia Rose Water vs Lotus Herbals RoseTone Facial Toner

By Archana

Rose water is a favorite beauty product for almost all of us. It has multiple uses, can be used as a toner, for mixing face packs, as a refreshing facial mist, to reduce stress in eyes and even for hair care. It is one product that suits all skin types, oily or dry skin. There are numerous brands rose waters available in the market. Today, I will be comparing three of the best brands’ rose waters – Khadi, Fabindia and Lotus Herbals. Ofcourse, there are more luxury brands offering rose waters like Kama Ayurveda, Forest Essentials, etc. which are undoubtedly superior, but for this post, am comparing the popular budget-friendly ones. Read on to know which one you need to get now.

Packaging:

Khadi rose water comes in a plastic bottle with a flip-flop cap and a small hole to dispense the product. While Fabindia and Lotus Herbals comes in a convenient spray form which is easy and quick to use as you can directly spray on face. Clearly, Khadi’s regular packaging, though good for body lotions and shampoos, is not apt for a rose water.

Texture and color:

Khadi rose water is just like plain water in color and texture. Fabindia rose water, while you spray onto your hands, foams a little. But apart from that, both Khadi and Fabindia feels just like applying water on your face. Gets absorbed quickly, no stickiness, greasiness and they don’t make your face oily. Lotus Herbals, being a toner, has a slightly more denser juice-like consistency due to ingredients like aloe vera juice. It is light pink in color, obviously, artificial color. Khadi and Fabindia rule in this aspect.

Fragrance:

Fabindia rose water has possibly the most natural, soothing and pleasant fragrance among the three. It smells just like fresh roses, though not overpowering. Khadi’s fragrance is good, though it is more artificial, more like the Dabur and Banjara’s ones. Lotus Herbals too has a nice pleasant fragrance which is a little more on the sweeter side compared to Fabindia and is more artificial.

Ingredients:

Fabindia rose water is 100% pure and made from steam distillation of roses. Khadi rose water mentions only rose petals and water in the ingredients list, but it doesn’t say whether it is prepared through steam distillation or conventional method of boiling the petals and filtering. Steam distillation is the more preferred method as just filtering might not exclude all the impurities. Lotus Herbals on the other hand contains not just roses but also tulsi leaves extract, aloe vera gel, vetiver extract, castor oil and parabens and fragrance too. Clearly Fabindia tops in the ingredients and method of preparation. Lotus Herbals is good if you are looking for extra benefits of other ingredients like tulsi, aloevera and vetiver as well.

Efficacy:

In terms of efficacy, I love Fabindia rose water as its made from 100% steam distillation of roses. So I can use it even for sensitive areas like eyes and also hair care without fear. Since its pure, you can also put few drops into your eyes to freshen and cool your eyes. I have combination skin and when I used it in summers it helped to soothe and calm sunburnt skin and also provide light hydration making my skin appear healthy and glowing. With Khadi rose water, the results are normal just like any other rose water. But I feel its not as hydrating as the Fabindia one. Lotus Herbals , being more of a proper toner, offers extra benefits like minimizing pores and smoothing out skin. But after appyling, it gives a little sticky and greasy feeling. It hydrates and moisturizes the skin very well and makes it soft and plumper. I have combination skin which gets dry in winters and this toner has helped my skin stay hydrated throughout. Sometimes, I even skip moisturizer. Though, I don’t think I can use this toner in summers. Also, it won’t be suitable for oily/acne-prone skin people. And unlike, pure rose water, this can’t be used for eyes or hair.

Price:

Fabindia Rose Water comes at Rs.175 for 100ml which is makes it almost 4.5 times costlier than Khadi Rose Water which comes at Rs.80 for 210ml. And what do you get extra in Fabindia rose water for it? Steam distilled pure rose water, soothing natural fragrance, better effects and convenient spray packaging. Lotus Herbals comes at Rs.265 for 100ml, but being a toner, its more concentrated and only little quantity is needed each time compared to the others. So one bottle will last really long.

Final Verdict:

Clearly, the winner among the three is Fabindia Rose Water. It offers the best results, suitable for all skin types, has a soothing and calming fragrance, is made from 100% steam distillation of rose petals and comes in a convenient spray packaging. Those who feel Fabindia Rose Water is costlier, can try Khadi Rose Water, which is definitely far better and pure than the Dabur Gulabari and Banjaras rose waters. Normal – dry skin people who need more hydration and looking for a proper toner, not just plain rose water can go for the Lotus Herbals one.

So I hope you enjoyed reading the post. Which one is your favorite rose water among the three? Do share your thoughts in the comments below.

Editor’s Note: That was a fabulous comparison Archana! I love the Kama Ayurveda Rose Water but yes it is on the costlier side, I would love to try the Fabindia one.