Tag Archives: Indian Blogger

Winter and Skin Damage

Skin care, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Winter and skin damage 

As winter is setting in, listen to the cues that your skin is subtly giving you.  Winds and cold weather are just as damaging to skin as over exposure to the sun. Before turning on the geyser, think of the effect of the relaxing warm shower on your skin; before sipping that hot cup of coffee, think of the effect it may have on your skin; before using a blower to keep you warm, think of how dry it is making your skin.

Fight skin damage this winter. Use a rich moisturiser for your face and a super hydrating and moisturising body lotion. Depending on how dry your skin becomes, you may need a more emollient moisturizer. Any moisturizer should be loaded with ingredients that help keep moisture in your skin (glycerin, ceramides, fatty acids, and hyaluronic acid are just a few examples)

Added benefits like Vitamin E in your body lotion are a bonus. See to it that there is no dryness or flakiness in your skin..which can lead to itching, redness, stretchy skin..

How would you check if your skin is thoroughly moisturised ? If you run your nail gently on your skin and you see a white line, your skin is dry. And applying a moisturiser once a day would not help if its very dry. You need to reapply whenever you feel its getting dry again.

Most important thing..do not skip a sunscreen thinking its winter..sunscreen is very important. Read why HERE and HERE

Read about ten different DIY face packs you can use this winter HERE.

Applying and reapplying a lip balm for your tender, delicate lips which get affected first in winters. (Atleast mine does.)

Tip: Applying moisturiser right after shower, when your skin is damp, would help absorb it faster, deeper, better.

Share your winter skin care tips too in the comments below..

P.S: Image via Google.

Indo-Western Wear – Trends to Follow!

Fashion, Tips, Tips and Tricks, , , , , , , , , , ,

Indo-Western Wear – Trends to Follow!

When ethnic meets contemporary, it always offers a beautiful integration of two diverse worlds. This blend has much more to offer if we take a decent look at trends in indo-western wear in apparel industry. Quite a buzzword that has become, this trend is being ardently admired by fashion lovers globally.

The quintessential Indo-Western fusion carries many faces and offers a distinctive style to most of the traditional outfits. Whether it is about donning a traditional indian kurtis with a skirt or styling Indian saree with a contemporary twist, this synchronization resonates well with people who love to unleash their creativity and experiment with different styles.

Indian designers follow indo-western trends to a great extent and make beautiful outfits to suit different occasions. They have transformed the traditional outfits such as salwar kameez , saree and lehenga and re-invented them with most flattering styles. Their creativity in mixing up traditional and contemporary has coined innovative styles that can easily be fallen in love with.

Being inspired by many such styles, Indian women are not left behind in making fashion statement. They easily carry salwaar with a chic- looking top, pair a kurti with denim, drape saree in the most contemporary style that almost looks like a sophisticated evening dress or don an unusual yet classic combination of blouse and dhoti together.  Among many of these inimitable ensembles, Indo western gown too is making highlights by being one of the most preferred dresses for varied festive occasions. This full-length western gown can be embellished with Indian motif, embroidery patterns and fabrics and is ready to demand much needed attention from women across the globe.

Well, there seems to be no end to these indo-western creative combinations, as long as one has a knack of experimenting with bold looking styles; and ready to explore much more from the fashion secrets.

All About Airbrush Makeup

Makeup, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

All About Airbrush Makeup

Guest Post

Airbrush makeup is makeup sprayed onto the skin using an airbrush instead of being applied with sponges, brushes, fingers, or other methods. It is popular in film, theater, and sunless tanning; although systems designed for personal cosmetic use in the home are also available.

Very thin layer of foundation is used, which is layered again and again untill a flawless smooth base is achieved.

More often for the red carpet appearances, celebrities have been buffed to perfection with thin layers of foundation applied skillfully through a flick of their makeup artists’ wrist using spray on makeup.

Traditional powder or liquid based make-up can settle and appear in pores and wrinkles and be visible on HD film. As the makeup is sprayed on, it connects with the skin as millions of droplets of formula.The formula can create an even, sheer, natural appearance to the skin that, if applied properly for a natural look, can appear natural and non-heavy like traditional makeup. Airbrush makeup wears longer than traditional powder or liquid foundation, able to stay put upwards of 12–24 hours.

Airbrush makeup is also available for eye shadow, blush, eyebrows and lips and can be layered, shaded, highlighted and contoured. Application wise, the technique is more sanitary than traditional makeup application due the artist never having to touch the skin. It’s also faster, if done by a trained artist.

An airbrushing gun shaped like a pen is used..and few drops of liquid foundation especially made for airbrush is used matching your skintone which is then sprayed in layers all over the face covering the whole face.

Airbrush makeup is applied by layering several passes of makeup. This allows the artists to build upon previous layers to produce subtle changes. When applying foundation between 6-12 drops of makeup is used. The makeup is sprayed onto the face at a distance of 6-12 inches

Have you tried airbrush makeup ??

Source: 1 Image Source: 1

WeChat: The New Way to Connect ?

Apps, Reviews, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
WeChat: The New Way to Connect ?

There is a new app to keep us connected now..The new way to connect Anytime. Anywhere. Anyone.
Chat any way you want: Voice,Video and Text. For free!
Connect with friends across platforms.
‘WeChat‘, a robust, fast-performing, 100% free mobile voice, video and text messaging application with the strength of over 200 million users worldwide. Among the many features that this app has, the friend-discovery location based social features and shared streaming photo feeds from friends’ personal photo albums are something which is very unique to this.

It’s free to download & install from iOS App Store, Google Play Store, Nokia Store and Windows Marketplace.

Here are some features of this app:

Provides world class communication tools on smartphones for FREE. Some of the key tools include Video/Voice Calling, text messaging, hold-to-talk voice messaging, broadcast (one-to-many) messaging, photo/video sharing, location sharing, and contact information exchange. Offers engaging one-on-one and group chat sessions with an extensive range of animated and custom emoticon and emoji art, customizable backgrounds, and a Rock-Paper-Scissors mini-game.

Supports social networking via shared streaming content feeds and location-based social plug-ins (Shake & Look Around) to chat with and befriend local and international WeChat users.

Shake: Exchange ‘contact information exchange’ with nearby WeChat users, or serendipitously connect with WeChat users worldwide who are eager to make new friends.

Look Around: Connect with nearby WeChat community members who are also looking around.

Voice Calling

• Provides a secure and robust social networking platform that emphasizes user privacy and fast response performance.
• Protects user data by offering on-demand contact list backup and retrieval to/from our cloud-based service.
• Simplifies user registration with mobile SMS/Voice messaging registration.
• Enables unlimited plug-in feature development via WeChat’s Open API platform
• More than 200 million global users as of September , 2012

I like the fact that it has so many features and even includes voice messages and video calling..I did try out voice messaging and it was super easy to use..Look Around Feature lists all the people online on WeChat around along with the distance..now the list goes on in hundreds..and just by logging in, random people start messaging..I would prefer something like allowing the person to message or accept a request kind and not that anyone can message you anytime randomly..Shake feature shows up people who are shaking their cell also at the same time..this did sound fun..but there was just one person and that too from Japan that showed up on the list :/

Group Chat

Compared to Whatsapp, it sends texts a little slower…but then it has added features of voice chats and video calling, fun emoticons and sharing..

If it overcomes these few shortcomings, I guess it can be one of the most widely used apps too..

Check out their facebook page HERE

P.S: A part of Product reviews program for Blogadda.

Have you tried the WeChat app ?

My Experience with Jabong.com

Shopping, , , , , , , , , , ,
My Experience with Jabong.com 
About the site: Jabong.com is a young and vibrant company that aims to provide good quality branded products. Jabong.com caters to the fashion needs of men, women and kids across footwear, apparel, jewellery and accessories.
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At Jabong.com we strive to achieve the highest level of “Customer Satisfaction” possible. Our cutting edge E-commerce platform, highly experienced buying team, agile warehouse systems and state of the art customer care centre provides customer with:

Broader selection of products
Superior buying experience
On-time delivery of products
Quick resolution of any concerns

Plus they offer Rs. 2000 coupons on sign up..i.e two Rs. 500 coupons redeemable on purchase of Rs. 2000/- and above and one Rs. 1000/- coupon redeemable on Rs. 3500/- and above..

They have everything possible to shop for on their site from clothes to shoes to beauty products to home appliances, decor, bed sheets, curtains,bags, toys, perfumes,accessories, jewellery, etc..

I found the shoes to be super awesome at their deals and plus they are priced pretty decently too..some of the brands to check out are Catwalk, Jove, My Foot, Inc.5, etc

In Bags, Fastrack, Miss Bennett and Lino Perros are worth checking out..plus there are many more..

The best thing is they have Free Shipping and Cash on Delivery on everything..no limited amount, no extra payment for Cash on Delivery !! I love that part..

I received my order in 3-4 days and on a Sunday..I guess many people receive their Jabong parcel on a Sunday ! May be coz they are working everyday..

They had closed down the whole beauty section without any notice in between..I am glad they did open it again..

I ordered this blue ruffled sleeved shrug and Nature’s Essence Lacto Tan Bleach..the box which Jabong people send your products in is made of recycled paper..so no environment harm too there..

I loved shopping from there..and would surely shop again..

Have you shopped from Jabong.com ?

All About Essential Oils and Carrier Oils

Oils, Skin care, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

All About Essential Oils and Carrier Oils

People are generally afraid to use oils on their face..thinking it will clog their pores and they would get acne..and how can oil be used on the face,etc..

The fact being oils do not harm your skin..in fact some oils even help them get better..some essential oils like tea tree oil help in combating and healing acne and acne scars..And some base oils like olive oil are very good for cleansing..in fact it is the best and most natural make up remover.

So what are essential oils and carrier oils or base oils ?

Essential oils: An essential oil is a liquid that is generally distilled (most frequently by steam or water) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils, contrary to the use of the word “oil” are not really oily-feeling at all. Most essential oils are clear, but some oils such as patchouli, orange and lemongrass are amber or yellow in color.

Essential oils contain the true essence of the plant it was derived from. Essential oils are highly concentrated and a little goes a long way.

Essential oils are not the same as perfume or fragrance oils. Where essential oils are derived from the true plants, perfume oils are artificially created fragrances or contain artificial substances and do not offer the therapeutic benefits that essential oils offer.

The chemical composition and aroma of essential oils can provide valuable psychological and physical therapeutic benefits. These benefits are usually achieved through methods including inhalation and application of the diluted oil to the skin.

Essential oils are often used by diluting them with a carrier oil (sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, grapeseed oil) and then applying this blend to the skin for absorption.

Careful inhalation of the oils can also provide therapeutic benefit as the oil molecules enter the lungs and are absorbed into the bloodstream.

Essential Oils are usually sold for individual use in very small bottles.Essential oils can vary greatly in quality and price. Factors that can affect the quality and price of the oil include the rarity of the botanical, the country of origin and growing/climate conditions, quality standards of the distiller, and how much oil is produced by the botanical.

Essential oils can often be purchased as blends of several essential oils. The advantage if it is a blend of pure essential oils is that you can save from having to buy every essential oil individually. The disadvantage is that you have no control over the blend by not mixing it yourself nor can you reliably mix the blend with other oils.

Essential oils are categorized on the degree of their lightness and they are divided into base, average and top.

Base or Carrier oils : Carrier oils, also known as vegetable oils, base oils or fixed oils, are used to dilute essential oils, CO2s and absolutes before applying to the skin.

A carrier oil is a vegetable oil derived from the fatty portion of a plant, usually from the seeds, kernels or the nuts.

If applied to the skin undiluted, essential oils, absolutes, CO2s and other concentrated aromatics can cause severe irritation or reactions in some individuals. Carrier oils are used to dilute essential and other oils prior to application. They carry the essential oil onto the skin.

Each carrier oil offers a different combination of therapeutic properties and characteristics. The choice of carrier oil can depend on the therapeutic benefit being sought.

Natural lotions, creams, body oils, bath oils, lip balms and other moisturizing skin care products are also made using vegetable (carrier) oils. From a simple essential oil/carrier oil blend to a more complex natural lotion, your choice of carrier oil can make a difference in the therapeutic properties, color, overall aroma and shelf life of your final product.

Essential Oils v/s Carrier Oils

Essential oils are distilled from the leaves, bark, roots and other aromatic portions of a botanical. Essential oils evaporate and have a concentrated aroma. Carrier oils, on the other hand, are pressed from the fatty portions (seeds, nuts, kernels) and do not evaporate or impart their aroma as strongly as essential oils. Carrier oils can go rancid over time, but essential oils do not. Instead, essential oils “oxidize” and lose their therapeutic benefits, but they don’t go rancid.

Vegetable Oils/Fixed Oils/Base Oils

The term carrier oil is generally limited to use within the practice of aromatherapy. In natural skin care, carrier oils are typically referred to as vegetable oils, fixed oils or base oils. Not all fixed oils/base oils are vegetable oils. Emu oil (from the emu bird) and fish (marine) oils are also classified as fixed/base oils, but these animal-based oils are generally not used for aromatherapy work.
The Aroma of Carrier Oils

Some carrier oils are odorless, but generally speaking, most have a faintly sweet, nutty aroma. If you come across a carrier oil that has a strong, bitter aroma, the carrier oil may have gone rancid.

Are you afraid of using oils on your skin too ?

Faces Moisture Rich Lipstick 04 First Lady Review, Swatches

Faces Cosmetics, Lipsticks, Makeup, Reviews, Swatches, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Faces Moisture Rich Lipstick 04 First Lady Review, Swatches


What the Company claims: Faces Moisture Rich lipstick provides rich, opaque color to lips and keeps them soft at the same time. The formula is infused with Vitamin E to protect and moisturize the lips with every application.

MRP: Rs. 349/- for 4.2g

Shades available:

  • 01- Pink Passion
  • 02- Lavender
  • 03- Peach Blossom
  • 04- First lady
  • 05- Neon Dahlia
  • 06- Azalea
  • 07- French Rose (orange)
  • 08- Pink Wine
  • 09- Ultra Pink
  • 10- Fiery Orange (magenta pink)
  • 11- Raspberry Red
  • 12- Absolute Plum
  • 13- Black Cherry
  • 15- Gold Rum
  • 16- Mocha
  • 18- Pink Chocolate

Ingredients:

It comes in a black case packaging with a transparent bottom..where the actual shade of the lipstick can be seen. I loved the fact that the majority of the shades are from the pink family. The case is quite sturdy and nice..
The lipsticks are super creamy and pigmented..these have to be handled with care and stored in a cool place in summers if you live in a place with hot climate as these would tend to melt..these are so pigmented that you need just a swipe of color to cover the lips..and the staying power is amazing too..I am quite surprised by these..as they score well in all departments..texture, creaminess, pigmentation, staying power..
04 First Lady is a bright carrot pink shade..now I was expecting it to be a lighter shade of pink but it is quite bright..I am wondering how much bright the other shades like Neon Dahilia and Ultra Pink would be 😀 Though the shade in one swipe can be an everyday shade for me..it does light up the whole face in 2 swipes or more..I quite love the shade and how it brightens up the face..and this shade is so versatile that it would look good on all complexions..whether you are fair or medium or dusky..you cannot go wrong with this shade.
Here it is on me..
Pros:
 
1. I love the texture..these are super creamy.
2. Quite liked the black sturdy packaging with the color of the shade at the bottom.
3. Very pigmented.
4. Most of the shades are from the pink family..there is one pink for each one of you..of your choice..if you trying to find some particular shade of pink..you should check out this range.
5. This shade instantly brightens up the face.
6. The staying power is amazing. It stays for a good 4-5 hours and leaves a pretty pink tint behind.
7. This shade would suit all skin tones.
 
Cons:
 
1. To be stored well..especially in summers.
2. Faces is not available everywhere and though its available online..sometimes it is important to check out the swatches on our own.
3. The names do not match the shades..Fiery Orange is actually a pink shade and French Rose is an orange.
 
No other cons with this..I surely recommend this shade to everyone and you would not go wrong with this shade. The range is worth checking out for bright shades..especially pinks.
 
Rating:

Quality: 4/5
Value for money: 4/5
Availability: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3.75/5

Would I buy it again: Yes

Have you tried the Faces Moisture Rich Lipsticks? Which is your favorite shade?