Tag Archives: bhumika thakkar

MAC Studio Finish Skin Corrector Pure Orange Review, Swatches

MAC Studio Finish Skin Corrector Pure Orange Review, Swatches

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MAC Studio Finish Skin Corrector Pure Orange Review, Swatches

By Linda

Hello Ladies,

Today’s review is about a product which I wasn’t aware about its existence and why it is highly used by makeup experts. I was looking for a product that would cover my under eye discoloration and small skin bumps. Before we begin with the review, let me just brief you about how I got to know about this product and why I found it necessary to purchase it. I have reddish discoloration around my eyes along with a few skin bumps under my eyes. I tried using several concealers and foundations but never found 100 % coverage of the discoloration.

I tried most of the home remedies from using cold tea bags and cucumbers, under eye creams/ getting proper sleep / hormonal imbalance check, almost most of the things but still I have it. Especially in pictures with low back light my dark eyes would make me look lethargic and pale. Even though I do my entire makeup, after few hours my dark circles would be visible on pictures. As I suffer from a skin condition, “eczema” I have dry skin around my eyes secondly the shading caused under my eyes is due to the shape of my eye socket. A year ago, I had gone through a makeup course, where our trainer informed us about details of a corrector, how correctors are used and selected as per our skin tone. If you browse on interest there is a vast information about skin color correctors and color theory. So this is how I decided to try MAC Studio Finish Skin Corrector ( PURE ORANGE) and realized it did work for me to camouflage my under eye discoloration.

Let us first understand what is a skin Color corrector?

A color corrector neutralizes the uneven tones like reddish /blue / green /violet when used along with concealer and foundation. Correctors are available in different tones. Personally I feel orange corrector works best on Indian skin tones. Skin Correctors masks unevenness and pigmentation on our skin.

Correctors are not same as concealers !!!! Color correctors along with foundation / concealers can camouflage (May not cover it 100%) the discoloration in the skin.

This is just to mention that all information about this product in this post is based on my personal experience. The outcome of the product may vary person to person.

What MAC Claims:  A specially tinted, full-coverage and long wearing water resistant corrector. Goes on smooth and dries to a natural finish. Emollient rich formula that is highly pigmented and only requires a dab to correct discoloration and conceal tattoos ,dark circles and blemishes.

Benefits: SPF 35, long wearing (12 hours), controls oil, rich in antioxidants, water resistant, fragrance free, non acnegenic

Price: 8.75 KWD /- for 6g [around 2000 Indian rupees]

Packaging/Shade/Texture:

This product is packed in a MAC tub container which is black in color with a transparent non detachable lid. The shade and weight of the product is mentioned behind the tub. You may either use the product by running the finger tip over it (I know that isn’t hygienic) or you could scoop out a tiny amount with a help of a spatula and blend on a palette or use a concealer brush.

It is vibrant orange shade as MAC claims it, highly pigmented; a tiny amount is enough to fix the discoloration so a tub of 6 gms can really go a long way. It is creamy smooth in texture , which on application doesn’t not crease into your fine lines and easily bendable. It does camouflage my discoloration and skin bump under my eyes to a very good extent.

As I mentioned about my skin condition earlier, I did not face any skin irritation with this product, in fact this product kept my skin hydrated throughout.

How do I apply this product on my face for utmost results?

Application is divided in three simple steps (For this post I will be talking about how I used this product for my under eye discoloration)

Moisturizer, Corrector, Concealer

Step 1: Moisturize the area around yours eye well. With the help of my index finger I dab the product on the back of my palm to avoid excess amount of product to be added directly on to my skin.

Step 2: With a help of a clean finger tip dab the blended product on your discolored skin which is around my eye area [above the lids and under eye]. Dab a tissue with a very light hand on to the applied skin to pick excess product which helps us to avoid creasing.

Step 3: Once Step 2 Completed .Dab your foundation, concealer and finally a translucent powder to lock all your products in place.

Note: I’m mentioning several times to dab the product since we do not want to drag the color corrector all over our face as the discoloration is only on particular area. Dabbing also helps the product to blend into your skin well to give that natural finish.

At the beginning you might find it time consuming but trust me the final results are fabulous. You just need a hang of the amount of product to be used, so begin with a tiny amount then increase if you need more coverage.

I use this product for parties, office meetings where I want to look fresh when I’m not .hehehe!!. Secondly you can have an even skin tone after using color corrector. I may not use a corrector on daily basis as I avoid using excess products. But it’s your personal choice.

Pros:

  • Highly pigmented
  • Best results on pictures
  • Medium coverage
  • Evens out the skin tone( natural finish)
  • Stay Power ( atleast 8 hours)
  • Easily bendable
  • Water proof and non irritating to skin
  • Product lasts for a long time ,as tiny amount is required.
  • Light weight
  • Controls oiliness (does not crease)
  • Has SPF

Cons:

  • Could be a little heavy on pockets as you may not use this product as a daily routine.
  • Need prior practice for application ( This may not be a con for some)
  • You need addition dabbing sponge or brushes for a neat finish.

Rating: 4/5

Would I recommend MAC Studio Finish Skin Corrector ( PURE ORANGE) ? Yes!!!! Yes!!! For blue to reddish dark circles and pigmentation it’s a must.

Editor’s Note: Nice review Linda, I have the LA Girl Orange corrector, would definitely check this out once I am done with that. But an orange corrector changes the eye game completely, whole face looks even toned and fresh

Have you tried orange correctors for dark circles? Which one do you use?

November 2016 Fab Bag Review & Unboxing

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November 2016 Fab Bag Review & Unboxing

Hi guys,

I got the November Fab Bag yesterday late night, so I unboxed it today.

This month’s theme is ‘Ready Set Glow’. It’s a red colored pouch, I was expecting the bag to be of better quality, the paint had worn off from certain sides. Also it’s very basic and nothing fancy for the festive season which usually Fab Bag has.

Read my previous Fab Bag reviews:

MRP: Rs.599/- per month (Buy HERE)

Products I got:

  • Just Herbs Aloe Vera Facial Massage Gel 50g- Rs.445/- for 100g
  • City Color Be Matte Lipstick in Phoebe- Rs.500
  • VedaEarth Under Eye Oil- Rs.275/- for 7ml
  • Natural Bath & Body Sweet Ocean Body Mist 50ml- Rs.325 for 100ml

I love each and every product in this month’s Fab Bag. I had an option to choose one makeup product and I went with the City Color Lipstick in Phoebe. I saw the swatches online and even read the review. It’s a beautiful shade and a very comfortable matte formula.

Phoebe is a pretty, mauve pink shade.

Veda Earth Under Eye oil has saffron, vetiver and lotus extracts. I have major dark circles currently and this sounds absolutely perfect. It comes in a roll on form, making it easy to use and carry along.

Just Herbs Aloe Vera Massage Gel has cucumber and soy lecithin. It smells herbal, but pretty decent. Aloe Vera Gels are amazing anytime of the year and for all skin types.

Natural Bath & Body Mist in Sweet Ocean is absolutely amazing, it reminds me of my favourite Davidoff Cool Water. I am all about aqua scents and this one is fabulous. Perfect for my handbag!

Though not happy with the outer bag, I am loving every product in this month’s bag. Totally recommend it!

Total value of the products in this month’s bag comes to around Rs.1050-75.

What did you get in your November Fab Bag?

OOTD: Red & White Flared Midi Dress

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OOTD: Red & White Flared Midi Dress

Hi guys,

Another OOTD for you. I love midi dresses, especially these flared kinds. They look very flattering on all body types.

White and Red is one of my favourite combination, this dress had red abstract print on white base. It’s from Dainty Jewells. They have a beautiful collection of dresses, available in a large variety of sizes. Also a lot of bridesmaid dresses.

I paired it with my gold watch, tan sling and nude strappy heels. Since the dress was bright enough, I kept the accessories neutral as otherwise the colors would clash and be too loud.

Dress: Dainty Jewells
Heels: Zara
Bag, Watch: Michael Kors
Earrings: House of Tuhina

On my Lips: Maybelline Lip Gradation Red2
On my nails: Nykaa Matte Nail Paint in Black Cherry Pie

Location: The Bar Terminal
Clicked by: Rhythmic Focus

I hope you liked the outfit. Do let me know in the comments below.

New Luxury Beauty Box: VanityCask | Review & Unboxing

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New Luxury Beauty Box: VanityCask | Review & Unboxing

Hi guys,

I have come across a new luxury beauty box in the market which is VanityCask. I tried their skincare box this month and here are my thoughts..

About: VanityCask is a beauty box that gets delivered to your home periodically. It contains samples of luxury beauty brands, handpicked by experts, to suit Indians. Our first box, for example, contains 5 skincare samples from international brands such as Clinque, Vichy, Votre, Kama and Thalgo.

MRP: Rs.999/- per box (Buy HERE)

This is their first skincare box, next they are coming up with haircare and bath & body box.

It comes in a sleek, black box packaging with a magnetic fold. They have their logo in pink on top. The box is quite sturdy and nice, the contents inside are in a pink cloth tie up bag.

Products I got:

  • Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream
  • Kama Ayurveda Rejuvenating & Brightening Night Cream
  • Thalgo Ultra Hydra Marine Mask
  • Votre Absolute Hydration Moisturizer
  • Vichy Capital Soleil SPF50 Sunscreen

Now I like the fact that they have not included sachets, but good decent sized samples. Especially Clinique & Votre are very good sizes. Even Kama Ayurveda night cream is pretty decent size. I would have liked 2-3 more tubes of Thalgo and Vichy though.

The box comes with a booklet which has more details about each box, including the key ingredients and directions to use. Also they have a few offers at the end, like this time they have the Anjali Mukherjee’s Rs.1000 voucher.

They claim to have luxury beauty brands only and each box will have 5 items. So that’s a plus point, as we know there would be no unknown brand and 5 items for sure.

I would have liked the price to be Rs.800-850 though, as Rs.999/- is a little expensive, but if I get a few more tubes of each sample, then I guess it’s fine. Also if they come up with a luxury makeup box, then I definitely don’t mind Rs.999/-. I hope soon 😀

Things I liked:

  • Decent sized samples
  • All luxury brands
  • Free Shipping & Payment on Delivery
  • Assured 5 items
  • Discounts & offers
  • Detailed booklet

Things that could be better:

  • Priced a little lower
  • More quantity of smaller tubes

Overall, I would say it’s a nice box to try if you love luxury beauty brands and would like to try more samples first, before investing in full sized products. Especially for people who don’t live in metro cities and do not have easy access to the stores to go and check out the testers or get samples. Now you can sit at home and try out these luxury beauty samples, and then order the full sized online, if the product works for you.

Have you heard of VanityCask? What do you think?

Givenchy Eyebrow Pencil, Mister Brow Filler Brunette Review, Swatches, FOTD

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Givenchy Eyebrow Pencil, Mister Brow Filler Brunette Review, Swatches, FOTD

Hi guys,

I have always had full eyebrows except the in between phase when you go to some other salon and the lady over threads and makes them super thin :/

I never used to fill my eyebrows but I have been doing it since almost 1-1.5 years now and I am obsessed. They completely change the way your face looks and makes your face look more polished and defined. Thick eyebrows also make one look younger 😀

I have been using these two brow products from Givenchy since about a week now and I am in love! From the very first use, I absolutely loved these!

Givenchy Eyebrow Pencil Brunette

What it is: A powdery matte-finish eyebrow pencil

What it does: This pencil offers precise and natural brow definition. Perfect application is guaranteed with an ultra-slim, gliding tip for perfectly defined brows. The formula, developed using talc and intense pigments, leaves a powdery matte finish, and the easy-to-apply texture creates immediate payoff. The pencil also features a brow brush on the opposite end for an all-in-one brow tool.

What it is formulated WITHOUT: Parabens

Shades Available:
01 Brunette
02 Blonde
03 Dark Brunette

Suggested Usage:
-Brush brows to reveal their natural shape.
-Use the brow pencil to define the edges and fill in for a natural look.

MRP: Rs.1975/- for 1.1g

It is a long and sleek sharpenable eyebrow pencil with a spoolie brush on one side. It also comes with a sharpener. I love eyebrow pencils which come with a spoolie brush as they are travel friendly and very handy. You just need one pencil to carry along for your brows whenever you are travelling.

The pencil is super pigmented. I was amazed by the pigmentation, just a single, light handed stroke also gives a lot of color. So use it with light hands and make sure you soften the lines with the spoolie brush coz you can easily over fill with this and also without blending in, the color would look harsh.

It is slightly waxy and glides on very easily, it settles to a matte finish. So there is no extra creaminess and it doesn’t bleed all around the eyebrows. The texture is absolutely perfect.

The eyebrows stay in place whole day. I love how easy and quick it is to use, as with most pencils I have to go over quite a few times to fill them. With this, I am just done in one stoke and one brushing!

Since I just need one stroke and hardly use any product, I haven’t even had to sharpen it yet. This will last me really long! Even though it may seem expensive, this would last for a long time, making it very economical for the quality.

I am only using this since the time I have got it and I think I am pretty much sticking to this 😀 I can say, this is by far the best eyebrow pencil I have tried! Highly recommended!

Givenchy Mister Brow Filler Tinted Waterproof Brow Filler

What it is: A gel brow filler that dries into a natural powder finish.

What it does: For perfectly natural-looking brows, Mister Brow Filler fills in any sparse areas and flawlessly shapes the brows. Containing hybrid silicone particles, its waterproof, liquid formula instantly dries down to a powder finish on application. It naturally and evenly highlights the brows. The innovative curved brush follows the eyebrow’s natural shape for an intuitive application that anyone can master. Its waterless texture adheres uniformly to the skin.

What it is formulated WITHOUT: Parabens

Shades Available:
01 Brunette
02 Blonde
03 Granite

Suggested Usage:
-Start from the inner corner and apply following the arch, moving toward the end.

MRP: Rs.1975/- for 5.5g

Now I am more of a eyebrow pencil person and my eyebrows don’t move around a lot, so I don’t use brow fillers. But on days when you are going for a very natural, ‘no makeup’ makeup look, I would suggest using only brow filler.

Not only it brushes and combs the brows and fill them in, but it would dry and keep the hair in place all day long! Also it is water resistant, so you can wear it even during monsoons or on a humid day.

Again, even this is very pigmented and you just need to go over once on your eyebrows. I use both when I have a long day ahead with events, etc. when I want my eyebrows to look perfect and not budge at all.

The shade Brunette in both matches me absolutely well and would work for most Indian skin tones.

Here is my Before-After using both the products..

I prefer my eyebrows natural looking, so I do not outline on top and bottom and overline them and then fill in completely like those eyebrow tutorials on Instagram 😀 (mostly on Anastasia page) I find that very fake and made up. So I have filled them in naturally, mostly towards the inner part as I have more gaps there.

FOTD..

I would suggest going with the Brow Filler if your eyebrows don’t stay in place and move around a lot and/or you are not much of an eyebrow person and want just some natural looking definition.

If you are looking for a good, pigmented eyebrow pencil which is travel friendly and you have sparse eyebrows with more gaps to fill, go for the eyebrow pencil.

If you want your eyebrows to be on fleek all the times, go for both! You will be sorted, trust me 🙂

I absolutely love both, use either or both depending on the event and day. Givenchy is available at Sephora across India and also at few Shoppers Stop outlets.

Do you fill your eyebrows? Which is your favourite brow product?

P.S: PR Samples. Honest Review

Faces Ultime Pro Creme Lip Crayon Review, Swatches

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Faces Ultime Pro Creme Lip Crayon Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

Today I am reviewing 6 shades of the new Faces Ultime Pro Creme Lip Crayons, 10 shades are launched in total. They had launched Matte Lip Crayons late last year, read review HERE. Now they have come with the creme version in lip crayons.

Claims: A collection of 10 retractable Crème Lip Crayons that are rich, creamy and moisturizing. The high pigment of these lip crayons will provide a creamy finish that does not dry up the lips. These are long lasting, velvety soft and glides onto the lips, providing them full coverage.

From beautiful nudes to striking reds to shades of pinks and corals & warms oranges there’s a shade for everyone.

MRP: Rs.749/- for 4g

Shades Available:

  • Red Velvet 01
  • Sunset Kiss 02
  • Envy 03
  • Invincible 04
  • Mochalicious 05
  • Sun Dew 06
  • Fantasy 07
  • Cherrypop 08
  • Berry Punch 09
  • Confession 10

It comes in a retractable chubby lip crayon packaging with a transparent plastic cap. Though the pencils are colored according to shades and that makes it convenient, there is no difference between creme and matte as such packaging wise except that the matte ones required sharpening and were not retractable, so if you have used up and sharpened the matte, the difference in size is obvious.

The matte ones were required sharpening and hence came with it’s own sharpener and also the qty was only 2.6g where as these are retractable, so much more convenient plus the qty is 4g

I have the shades 02 Sunset Kiss, 03 Envy, 06 Sun Dew, 07 Fantasy, 08 Cherrypop and 09 Berry Punch. They are easy to use and travel friendly, as they are retractable.

L-R: 02 Sunset Kiss, 03 Envy, 06 Sun Dew, 07 Fantasy, 08 Cherrypop and 09 Berry Punch

Pigmentation wise, these are pretty pigmented for creme lip crayons. Usually for creme ones, I need 2-3 swipes for opaque coverage. All the swatches here are just 1-2 swipes, mostly 1 for darker shades. These are pretty pigmented for creme lip crayons!

Clockwise: 02 Sunset Kiss, 03 Envy, 06 Sun Dew, 07 Fantasy, 08 Cherrypop and 09 Berry Punch

Texture is waxy and not gel like, these are a little thick and feel like lip balm on the lips, also very moisturizing. These are pretty easy to wear even if you have dry, chapped lips like me. As they are very forgiving and do not accentuate dry patches or lines on the lips.

They stay for 2-3 hours and the finish is glossy initially and turns matte later on, with the color also getting a little muted. It won’t survive full meal and is also not transfer proof, you will have to reapply after eating/drinking. But without eating/drinking, it does leave behind a nice stain which stays on for about 3-4 hours.

Coming to the shades..

Sunlight
Indoors

Sunset Kiss is a warm orange shade

Envy is a medium coral

Sun Dew is a light orangey coral

Fantasy is a medium nude pink

Cherrypop is a medium berry pink, the most pigmented of these 6

Berry Punch is a light berry wine

And here are the lip swatches..

Clockwise: 02 Sunset Kiss, 03 Envy, 06 Sun Dew, 07 Fantasy, 08 Cherrypop and 09 Berry Punch

Please excuse my dry lips as my lips are going through a bad, dry phase right now.

My favourites are Fantasy, Cherrypop and Berry Punch. Also Mochalicious is a beautiful shade to check out!

Overall I quite love how comfortable and moisturizing these are. Pretty pigmented too, only thing is these being creme and not matte, are not long staying and need reapplication. I would love more shades in these, more of nudes and pinks.

Have you tried the new Faces Ultime Pro Creme Lip Crayons yet? Which is your favourite?

Indian Makeup Tutorial for College/Work | Drugstore

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Indian Makeup Tutorial for College/Work | Drugstore

Hi guys,

I am doing this simple college/work appropriate makeup look using just 6-7 products. Also all products are drugstore and I have only use one makeup brush.

This look can be done in 5 minutes and is perfect for your everyday college/work.

Products used:

Maybelline Baby Lips Coral Flush
Suncros Sunscreen
Pond’s BB Cream
Lakme Absolute Face Stylist Concealer
Maybelline Fit Me Powder
Maybelline Cheeky Glow Blush Peachy Sweetie
Lakme Eyeconic 22 Hour Kajal
Essence Lash Princess Mascara
L’Oreal Paris Infallible Gloss 110 I Got the Power

That’s it. The blush is optional, you may or may not use it. Also you can go for any base i.e. any BB Cream/tinted moisturiser which works for your skin type and shade. You can also skip the concealer if you don’t have problematic skin or dark circles.

If you have oily skin, make sure you powder and if you have dry skin, you can just carry it along for touch up on T zone later.

I hope you like the look, do let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Dr Batra’s Hair Oil Enriched With Jojoba Review

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Dr Batra’s Hair Oil Enriched With Jojoba Review

By Pallavi

Hii Lovelies,

Hair oils are my absolute favorite. You might think that I am blessed with really great hair. But no I am not. I don’t have great hair but I always keep working on them in order to have great hair like Bhumika. You know sometimes you are blessed with great hair and sometimes you have to really work hard to get that. Similar is the case with me too. I have been pampering my hair with hair oil and hair masks even DIY hair masks since ages. During my hair care journey I have tried a number of hair oils. But I have never tried anything from the house of Dr. Batra. And we all are well aware of the hair care products of Dr. Batra especially their hair fall products. So, one day when I saw this hair oil at my nearest store then I bought this one without giving any second thoughts and thus here follows the review of the same.

Price : INR 175 for 200 ml (Buy HERE)

Directions to use : Tilt the bottle sideways and take some oil in your palm. Rub your palms to warm the oil and apply it on your scalp by lightly massaging the oil all over your scalp and covering the hair ends too. For best results, use along with Dr Batra’s shampoo.

Ingredients:

What it Claims : Dr Batra’s – Jojoba Hair Oil Jojoba’s excellent moisturizing property restores the texture, glow & luster of hair naturally. Dr Batra’s hair oil enriched with jojoba extracts, prevents tangles, dryness, brittleness and even split ends.

My View:

Dr. Batra Hair oil comes in a medium sized plastic bottle packaging. The bottle is really light weight and easy to carry with. The packaging has the product related information and other claims mentioned on the packaging itself which is really informative for all the consumers. The bottle has a small hole at the top through which the oil comes out.

This oil from the house of Dr. Batra is infused with jojoba oil which is really beneficial for your hair. It is incredibly lightweight and does not feel sticky or heavy on your hair. It spread easily and has a very soothing calming effect not only on hair but also on the nervous system. This oil is also very light in weight and spreads very easily on hair. It nourishes the hair cuticles without a feeling of sticky or heavy. The oil has a very mild and soothing smell of jojoba oil which is not at all strong and I am sure won’t bother sensitive noses.

Since the oil is so lightweight, you can easily apply it overnight and then wash off your hair in the morning. You hair won’t feel the normal chip-chip of any usual hair oil. And once you wash your hair you can still feel the bounce and the healthy feeling of your hair. Also, this oil is meant to take care of any scalp infections or irritations if any. Thus usage of will ensure that your scalp remain free of any kind of scalp infections and thus promotes the healthy growth of your hair.

You require a very little amount of hair oil and thus a single bottle will last you for months. A single 100 ml. Bottle lasted me for 2 months. So, that way it is good economical hair oil.

Good about Dr Batra’s Hair Oil Enriched With Jojoba

1. Good packaging

2. Huge quantity

3. Makes hair soft and bouncy

4. No sticky or heavy feeling on hair

5. Single bottle lasts long

6. No hair fall witnessed

Bad about Dr Batra’s Hair Oil Enriched With Jojoba

1. Sensitive noses can be bothered by the smell

Rating –

Packaging – 4.5/5

Texture – 5/5

Effects – 4.5/5

Overall – 4.8/5

Editor’s Note: This sounds really interesting.

Have you tried Dr. Batra’s Hair Oil?

Touch Nature Lemongrass Essential Oil Review, Benefits, How to Use

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Touch Nature Lemongrass Essential Oil Review, Benefits, How to Use

By Nidhal

They smell heavenly. They are perfect pick-me- up items to uplift your senses and lull you into a soothing slumber. Popularly used in aromatherapy sessions, essential oils, EO for short are highly concentrated, potent and therapeutic oils that need to be necessarily blended with a carrier/base oil for external use (and they are strictly not meant for internal uses). A base oil is simply any oil that mellows down the potency of the essential oil to the extent that its goodness isn’t reduced but it becomes conducive for use on skin.

The bottom line- Always, without fail, dilute essential oils in a base (or more than one) oil such as- virgin coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO in short), virgin sesame oil and so on and so forth for use on skin/hair. Also, add only a few “DROPS’ and not teaspoons/tablespoons of the essential oil into the carrier/base oil. You stand the risk of scalding your skin if you add more than a few drops of essential oil to the base oil.

With these basic ideas in my, I zeroed in on TOUCH NATURE NEPAL LEMONGRASS ESSENTIAL OIL one fine afternoon as I was strolling the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal in 2014 🙂 The people are the epitome of courtesy , warmth and civility by the way. Coming back to the topic, let us begin with how the essential oil fared for me and how I used it for my skin and hair.

PRICE – 350 INR for 10ml (Buy similar from Soulflower HERE)

DIRECTIONS FOR USE- Dilute in a base/carrier oil of your choice, depending on your skin’s condition and use topically.

INGREDIENTS- Pure lemongrass essential oil

WHAT IT CLAIMS- Lemongrass (Cymbopogon) is a perennial plant in the Poaceae grass family and is native to the tropical and subtropical area of India, Cambodia, Indonesia, China, Guatemala, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. It flourishes where the soil is slightly sandy and the climate moist and war. Lemongrass essential oil has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-oxidant, astringent and diuretic properties.

MY EXPERIENCE-

Packed in a minuscule glass jar with a plastic cap on top and a layer of plastic covering with already perforated holes inset, the packaging of the essential oil is simple, spillage-free and travel-friendly. Yes, the provision of the double layer packaging makes it easy to carry without the fear of leakage. However, I wish a dropper was furnished so that drawing out the oil would have been easier. So, that is my input.

The oil has a riveting aroma. It uplifts you truly! The oil does not have a greasy/oily/thick texture but is fairly runny (as I see). One is not supposed to put it on one’s skin without dilution hence, I never risked doing the same.

FOR MY SKIN – I blend 3-4 drops of this lemongrass essential oil into two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and then, massage it on my skin especially after a bath for that ensures better absorption 🙂 Result? My skin feels hydrated, smoothed out and softened throughout the day besides emanating a lovely aroma that keeps me fresh

FOR MY HAIR- I mix 2 drops of this lemongrass essential oil with 2 tablespoons of virgin sesame oil (which is slightly warm for I prefer hot oil massages). Never mix the oils and then heat the resulting mixture. Do not even heat virgin sesame oil too much else or it may emit flames of smoke, indicating that all its goodness is going in for a toss. Simply heat the virgin sesame oil for a minute or two on LOW FLAME and then after a minute or two, add 2 drops of lemongrass EO. Mix well and apply on your scalp.

Keep it overnight and then apply a mask (optional step) the next morning, shampoo and condition as usual. You will end with shiny, hydrated and softened hair which I did  Oh yes, as far as my experience goes, I find it suitable for use by all skin types except those with excessively dry skin. All hair types can go for it.

GOOD-

1. Riveting aroma. It sends one’s olfactory senses into a tizzy. In one word- Heavenly 

2. Well-packaged

3. Well-priced. Most essential oils are within this range so, one is not being overcharged.

4. Perfect for aromatherapy sessions.

5. Can be added to hair masks with a foul odour to camouflage the smell.

6. Can be added to face masks in order to elicit a soul-stirring aroma.

7. Imparts a glow. I have added a few drops of the same to extra virgin olive oil and used on my face and neck (which is dry)every night for two months. Hence, can vouch for it. Please note, I said “drops”.

BAD-

1. Very difficult to find. I have not been able to find it in India. It is obvious since it is made in Nepal but even if searched online, one is unable to find to find it.

RATING – 4/5

Monsoon Getaway with American Tourister #PlanATomorrow

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Monsoon Getaway with American Tourister #PlanATomorrow

Hi Guys,

So I went for a really fun one day monsoon getaway last to last Saturday with American Tourister. We went to Khambale at Igatpuri which is about 3 hours from Mumbai.

The view on route itself was so beautiful, road trips during monsoons are absolutely amazing and a mesmerizing experience.

We left from Santacruz at around 7.30 am and reached Khambale at 11 am, we even took a break in between for some vada pav and chai, of course! You can’t miss that when travelling across Maharashtra 😀

After reaching Khambale, we hiked about 1-1.5 kms and most of it was pretty easy and smooth, except for one steep slope. But then that was the most fun part! Once we reached on top, the view was mesmerising. We just couldn’t stop clicking loads of pictures.

I took some panorama shots, boomerangs and a lot of Snapchat pictures and videos of course :p If you follow me on Snapchat (bhumika_t) or Instagram, you must have already seen those.

We enjoyed the view and sat there for some time. We even planted some trees. The entire area has tree plantations and there were quite a lot of pot plants kept aside, which you can plant anywhere you like.

I am glad that not only did we enjoy and had a fun trip, we even did something to give back to the nature. While we were coming back, it started raining heavily and we got completely drenched. Now you cannot go for a monsoon getaway and not get drenched, right? 😀 That was fun too, basically I enjoyed every part of the trip and Mother Nature made sure it included every element.

We left Khambale and had a proper Maharashtrian thali for lunch at a nearby restaurant. We were so hungry after the hike that the hot, yummy food seemed perfectly appetizing!

It was a fun day and I so needed a break, thank you American Tourister for this fun getaway. American Tourister also has a #MonsoonTourister contest going on, where you have to just send in your monsoon getaway pictures and you can win American Tourister merchandise! Join the contest on their Instagram (@amtouristerin) or twitter (@amtouristerin)

Where have you been to this monsoon?