Maybelline Dream Sun Triple Bronzing Powder Review, Swatches
By Linda
Hi all you lovely ladies out there,
This review is of a bronzer that I got from a drug store it’s called Maybelline Dream Sun Triple Bronzing Powder. So let’s go ahead and find out how this product worked for me
Product description as per the Maybelline website:
For instant natural looking, sun kissed perfection. Three multi-tonal bronzing shades create your unique sun kissed look, all year-round. For Best results: Use a brush, sweep over where the sun normally hits your face. This bronzer is available in 2 shades Blonde 1, Brunette 2.
Price: 2.5 Kuwaiti Dinars (approx 8 dollars) for 16 g
Shelf life: 24 months after opening
Ingredients:
My experience with Maybelline Dream Sun Triple Bronzing Powder:
I was looking for a product that could give me a natural glow and at the same time could also serve the purpose of a contour and highlight to the face. While at work I always prefer looking fresh and natural, so in that case I stick to matte products and avoid products that have glitter and shimmer. As I came across Maybelline Dream Sun Triple Bronzer Powder, I instantly realized this would serve the purpose I’m looking for. I have a fair-medium skintone hence shade Brunette 2 was a perfect match.
The packaging is so sleek and convenient, that it can easily slip into your mini purse/pouch or bag. The container is plastic with a lid that is detachable (Be careful not to lose the lid).Only drawback is it doesn’t have an applicator and a mirror built in.
The best thing about this product is, it has 3 shades in one container. You can either combine all the shades using the brush by swiping it around the sides of your face [i.e. from ends of your forehead to the check bones and then to the jaw line], or you can use a single shade as per your requirement for a contour and highlight. If you are in a hurry, you can easily apply this product with your fingers, since it blends effortlessly. If you need an intense color, you can apply it with a damp beauty blender. During the day time I use it dry and trustme it looks so natural that you can even go without a blush. While using this product ,I realized it’s not a 100% matte bronzer, it does have tiny amount of shimmer but good enough to give you that sun kissed look as its claimed in the product description. I always do a retouch after 4-5 hours of application, due to my oily skin.
Below are the swatches of 3 shades. I had to do multiple swatches for the shade to reflect on the pictures.
Pros
Easily bendable.
Can be used both wet and dry.
Travel friendly (sleek packaging)
Quantity lasts for a long time.
Can be used for contouring and highlighting.
Affordable.
Good pigmentation (can be used as an eye shadow too).
Cons
Availability
No provision of an applicator and a mirror
Needs a retouch for sure.
Rating: 4/5 (availability may be an issue)
Would I recommend Maybelline Dream Sun Triple Bronzing Powder? Yes definitely I would recommend especially for someone looking for a product that is affordable and multipurpose.
Editor’s Note: I absolutely love this, I wish it was available in India! Nice review Linda and welcome to team NLM 🙂
Have you tried the Maybelline Dream Sun Triple Bronzing Powder? Is it available in your country?
It’s a cute bag, blue faux leather smooth finish bag with pastel pink lips print all over the bag, I quite liked the bag.
Products I got:
Sugar It’s A Pout Time Lipstick in Peachy Little Liars- Rs.599
Neemli Naturals Bengal Gram Exfoliator- Rs.425/- for 50g
Pep Moisture Velvet Shampoo- Rs.119/- for 50ml
Johara Instant Radiance Face Scrub- Rs.100 for 15g
Total value of the products: Rs.1245
Starting with the Sugar Lipstick, I am very happy to get this one in this month’s bag, I think I had got one earlier in March or April when they had launched, the shade was Mad Magenta. This time I got a chance to pick the shade and I went with Peachy Little Liars, they have added two new shades, one this and the other red.
I absolutely love the shade, it’s not a peach but more of a pink brown nude. I will be posting a pic wearing that on my Instagram soon.
Neemli Naturals Bengal Gram exfoliator is a clay based face pack which needs to be rubbed after it days, so that it even exfoliates skin. It is on the lines of a ubtan, and can be used both for the face and body. Though it is very expensive to be used for the body and you will need the whole pack for one time use, I will be sticking to using it for the face. It has multani mitti, turmeric, gram flour, rice flour and sandalwood powder.
I have the Johara Instant Radiance face scrub before (full review HERE) and quite like it, this sample is very tiny though, but this is good for travel and might last 3 uses.
I have never tried Pep Moisture Velvet Shampoo, this has Oat Proteins and claims to make hair very soft and manageable in few uses. This 50 ml bottle should last 7-8 uses, again perfect for travel. I am looking forward to trying this out.
I like the Sugar Lipstick and Neemli scrub, both the full sized products in the bag. I won’t say it’s a must buy, but you can if you want to try Sugar lipstick.
Also only members with 3,6 or 12 months subscriptions will get a chance to choose the shade, while others who buy only for this month, will not get the option to choose the shade.
The year 2016 is half gone. Yes we’re past June! So today I’m sharing some latest beauty and fashion trends of the year so far. Let’s begin. 😀
1. Bubble Eyeliner – Still trying to ace winged eyes? You better not! As bubble eyeliner is the newest funky makeup trend. It is a sort of bumpy eyeliner which was discovered by the beauty Youtuber, Jenny Gonzalez. Since then it has been spreading wide on Instagram.
2. Choker – The choker is back and with a bang. You must have already spotted it as they’re literally everywhere, from Bollywood to neighborhood. 😉
It’s quite easy to carry a choker and you must give it a shot, if haven’t already.
3. Cold Shoulder – Also known as off shoulder, this popular trend from the 90’s is back. It has become a must to have an off shoulder top.
It goes well with the choker, a perfect pairing with which you can never go wrong.
4. Bold Brows – It’s time for going bold with thick eyebrows. Ditch those thin arched regular look and experiment something different and quirky.
Bollywood stars such as Sonam Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra among others have been spotted rocking this trend. Here Sonam is sporting another new makeup trend i.e. Reverse Winged Eyeliner or also known as Upside Down Cat Eye Look.
5. Liquid Lipstick – Haven’t heard of them yet? Then let me tell you, it is the new kid on the block which has garnered much of acclaim recently.
Liquid lipstick has a great staying power and offers pigmentation of a lipstick and shine of a lip gloss. You can always blot it out to achieve a matte look, if it is glossy. You get matte liquid lipsticks too.
6. Ombre Lips – It’s a Korean beauty trend where you’re combine two tones of colors. Ombre lips look absolute gorgeous and is often sported by models on runways. I would suggest you to initially begin with more wearable colors rather than the darker shades.
7. Peel off Lipstick – You love makeup and then you love tattoos. So do you love makeup tattoos? It’s a peel off and apply concept originally from South Korea. It’s quite long lasting, upto 12 hours. Though it must be used with a bit of care as it may hurt your pretty pout.
8. Rainbow Highlighter – All thanks to an Etsy shop Bitter Lace Beauty for bringing out Prism, the rainbow highlighter. This highlighter does the perfect job to highlight your cheekbones with rainbow colors. Exciting right? But if you can’t wait to own one, then you can DIY one as the net is flooded with quite creative ideas.
9. Clown Contouring – As the name suggests, clown contouring means to make a clown of yourself by oozing lots of makeup on your face. Only to arrive at a perfectly blended and contoured look. YouTube beauty vlogger, Esther who came up with this beauty trend remarks it as a fun approach to contouring.
10. Sheer Trend – It’s one of the biggest summer fashion trend. It’s quite common among the celebs but not easy to carry as it can lead to over exposure too. But the effortless way to add it to your wardrobe is a sheer back crop top or sheer neckline blouse with a saree. If you’re really in awe of this trend then you can also go for the skirts which look quite fabulous.
That’s all about the top 10 beauty and fashion trends of 2016. Have you tried any of these? Do share in the comments below.
About Me – I’m Aisha, 19. I’ve a personal blog, Jhalli Diva where I share my love for beauty, fashion and lifestyle.
Garnier India Ultra Blends Range Launch #BlendedWithLove
Hi guys,
Garnier launched the new Ultra Blends Range in India and I got to attend the launch a few days ago at Asilo in St. Regis, if you follow me on twitter/Instagram/Snapchat, you must have already seen glimpses from the event.
Why is it named Ultra Blends, you ask. It is a blend of different ingredients, made for different hair types and this range has five different variants according to hair types/problems. So you can pick a shampoo and conditioner that will best work for your hair type and need not use the ‘common for all’ ranges.
Variants:
Royal Jelly & Lavender- For Hair Rebuilding (Buy HERE)
When hair is weak and fragile, it’s prone to hairfall
The Ultra Blends formula is a blend with Lavender Essence and Royal Jelly, known to be rich in amino acids, vitamins and lipids, it helps reinforce and strengthen your hair
Discover hair that is strong and resists fall from 1st wash
5 Precious Herbs- For Revitalising Hair (Buy HERE)
Modern life exposes your hair and scalp to pollution, dust and heat, making it weak and lifeless
The Ultra Blends formula is a blend with 5 precious herbs- Green tea, Eucalyptus, Aloe, Lemon and Henna – known for anti-oxidant power, anti-bacterial property, moisture, shine and conditioning respectively
Discover hair that is nourished, healthier, bouncier and more beautiful thus revitalised wash after wash
For the first time Garnier creates a powerful blend of 5 carefully chosen precious herbs that deeply yet gently cleanses hair from root to tip combining the best of nature
Hair is mainly composed of proteins
When damaged, hair loses its protein content and becomes weak
The ultra blends formula, a blend with soy milk and almonds known for their rich protein content, intensely repairs and restores damaged hair
Hair feels incredibly soft with every wash
This power blend with hyper concentration of natural proteins deeply replenishes damaged hair
Roughness, dullness, frizz are signs of under-nourished hair
The Ultra Blends formula, a blend with Virgin Olive Oil and rich in Vitamin E help nourish and protect even the driest and roughest hair
Discover hair that is intensely nourished and incredibly easy to manage
Feel the extra softness and see the brilliant shine from the very first wash
If your hair is dull and lacks shine it may be lacking nourishment
The Ultra Blends formula is blended with Henna that deeply conditions hair and Blackberry that infuses life into hair with its high concentration of anti-oxidants and Vitamin C
Discover hair that is nourished, vibrant and shiny with every wash
They also had this beautiful setup created at High Street Phoenix where each range was coordinated with the main ingredients in it i.e. almonds and milk for soy milk and almond range, Olives for Mythic Oil range, so on and so forth.
I have to say this was the most beautiful setup I had seen at any event, and I have been to many! I am sure you can make that out from the pictures.
They gave floral tiaras to all the guests and even the food and drinks were as per the ingredients. The entire highlight was on the different blend of ingredients in the range.
MRP: Shampoo- Rs.120 for 175ml, Rs.55 for 75ml Conditioner- Rs.170 for 175ml. Rs.75 for 75ml for all ranges
I loved the color coordinated packaging as per the ingredients and the cute ‘leaf’ symbol on the caps. Also they smell amazing, Royal Jelly and Lavender is my favourite!
Royal Jelly & Lavender
They are quite rich and moisturizing, and foam well too. I have used the Royal Jelly and Lavender one till now and absolutely love it, though I haven’t tried the conditioner and looking forward to buy the conditioner and use it with the shampoo. I would recommend trying both the shampoo and conditioner together as either one would not give the result which the combination of both would.
It have noticed my hair being more softer and smoother. I don’t have very dry hair, but people with dry hair would see remarkable difference. I can’t wait to try the other ranges now!
A lot of you keep asking me about paraben free hair care, this entire range i.e. all five variants are paraben free.
USP’s:
Very economical- Being priced at Rs.55/-, this is one of the most budget friendly range of shampoos in the India currently.
Different range for different hair types- So you can choose one according to your hair type or hair problem.
Paraben free
Smells amazing- Each of the range smells really good.
Easily available- You can buy them easily at any store or even online.
I do recommend trying out the new Garnier Ultra Blends Range. Do let me know how you like it. Follow Garnier India on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more updates.
Plum Chamomile & White Tea Skin Revival Face Wash Review
By Sanchita
INTRODUCTION
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION – Exposure to the sun can irritate the skin and also lead to free- radical damage that can cause age spots, pigmentation, wrinkles and much else. Soothing chamomile, rejuvenating white tea and antioxidant-rich botanical extracts: just perfect to relax, refresh and revive skin that’s exposed to the sun and the elements. Soap-free, gentle foaming face wash that will make your skin smile!
Great for regular use before and after sun exposure
Gentle foaming, soap-free base
Cleanses effectively without drying the skin
Chamomile flower extracts help calm and soothe sun-burned skin
Antioxidant-rich white tea, Gingko biloba and olive leaf extracts help skin fight free radical damage
Very lightly sprinkled with gentle cellulose beads, great for everyday gentle scrubbing action
Soothing fragrance that calms your senses (phthalate-free)
You only need a little amount for each use – thanks to the smart formula
Hygienic flip-top tube packaging
Paraben-free, SLS-free, phthalate-free & vegan – as always
PRICE – INR 350 for 75ml
INGREDIENTS:
MY REVIEW
The Plum Chamomile & White Tea Skin Revival Face Wash is packed inside a white glossy cardboard box with every information written on it. It houses a sturdy white tube with a translucent flip open cap which shuts properly. The opening from where the product is dispenses has the right size and there is no chance of being wasted. Additionally, the tube packaging is also hygienic. The tube is light weight and efficient enough to travel with without being any spilling mess at all. Overall, the packaging was neat and proper.
The face wash is orangish in color with micro beads in it. It has a mild citrus fragrance to it which does refreshes the skin but the smell simply fades off after patting the skin dry. The consistency of the face wash is of gel based. You require a decent amount of the product for the face and once you massage this onto the dampen face, it also foams well enough.
The face wash, though seems mild works very well on oil, dirt and environmental pollution that clogs the pores on the skin. I have never tried to wash off any layer of makeup but the days when I simply use sunscreen and a layer of powder on top, I skip the cleansing and simply use this face wash. It effectively takes off every layer of impurities and keeps the skin cleansed. I have oily acne prone skin which exaggerates in summer but this face wash has been quite soothing to my skin. It never leaves the skin stretchy or dry but a smooth and light hydration. The beads present are extremely mild and I didn’t find them very effective in exfoliation at all. The product is best suited for oily to combination skin and will never break you out.
It contains the goodness of Chamomile flower extracts which soothes and calms the skin, especially in this scorching summer. The presence of white tea helps fighting the free radicals and thereby provides you with younger and fresher looking skin. Furthermore, the formula is paraben-free, SLS-free, phthalate-free & vegan – which is something I love about the product. I am not very happy with the price tag as it seems a bit too much for a daily usage one.
OVERALL – The face wash effectively cleanses the skin of dirt and impurities without leaving it dry and also formulate with paraben, SLS and other harmful chemicals.
WHAT I LIKED
I. Hygienic and efficient packaging.
II. Gel based product with mild refreshing smell.
III. Removes dirt and impurities well.
IV. Gives a fresh glow to the skin.
V. Doesn’t make the skin stretchy or dry.
VI. Doesn’t break you out.
VII. Best suited for oily to combination skin.
VIII. Developed with the goodness of Chamomile flower extracts, white tea, Gingko biloba and olive leaf extracts.
IX. Paraben-free, SLS-free, phthalate-free & vegan.
WHAT I DISLIKED
I. The exfoliating beads are of no use.
II. It won’t suit normal to dry skin.
III. Price is high.
RATING
Quality: 3.5/5
Value for money: 2/5
Availability: 4.5/5
Overall rating: 3.5/5
RECOMMENDATION – The face wash works very well for the oily to combination skin as it cleanses and gives a smoother look to the skin and the paraben-free, SLS-free, phthalate-free & vegan is surely worthwhile. Although the price tag is a bit high.
Editor’s Note: That’s a nice and detailed review Sanchita, the pictures are amazing!
Have you tried the new Plum Goodness Chamomile & White Tea Range?
Top 10 Must Try Salon Treatments in India, Prices, Details
By Archana
Am sure all of us girls pay a visit to the salon atleast monthly once. Many of us go looking for cheap packages and end up getting horrific threaded eyebrows and painful waxing. One of my friends once told me that in some salon she visited, one person waxed her left hand, second person waxed her right hand and third person did her facial, all at the same time! I was simply horrified listening to the experience. We go to a salon to pamper and relax ourself. So what’s the point of going through so much pains? Here I list down some of the best salons and the best treatments they offer. Its slightly pricier than the local salons but the experience is worth it. Read on to know the top 10 salon treatments you need to try.
1. Enrich Salons Head Massage:
Enrich Salons offers some of the best hair services of all. The stylists are well trained and experts in their profession. Its the only salon where I loved the hair spa that I got. They also offer warm, relaxing head massages. What’s special about their head massages is that not only do they offer the regular olive oil, coconut oil head massages, but also they use special essential oils. You can choose from tea tree essential oil, rosemary, patchouli, geranium, lavender, vitamin E oil, etc, depending on your hair type and concern. I have never seen these essential oils being used for head massage in other salons. Head massage done under the hands of an expert with expert products is one of the best ways to destress and relax and also get healthy hair.
Price: Rs.525 for head massage and Rs.750 for head massage with shampooing.
2. Enrich Salons Black Masks:
One more service to try at the Enrich Salon. Believe me, they have really good interiors and decors and which help to relax immediately on entering. Also, they have a buy 1 get 1 offer every Tuesday. Their Black Masks are basically a detanning, detoxifying and brightening treatment. If you are suffering from heavy tan on face, arms, legs or feet, then this Black Mask is the perfect solution for you. The Black Mask is made with natural ingredients and the minerals present in the mask draws out oil and dirt from the face while the antioxidants energize and rejuvenate your skin. You can notice an instant detan effect. Tip:Currently, they have introduced some new services like Mango Detan and Watermelon Splash for hands and legs. 😉
Price: Rs.1200 for face and neck, Rs.900 for feet, Rs.2000 for half hands and Rs.3000 for half legs.
3. Toni & Guy Essensuals Icecream Pedicure & Manicure:
The perfect treat for summers is not only eating a tub full of icecream but also indulging yourself in these exotic icecream pedicure and manicure! The treatment consists of bath fizz bombs which instantly melts in water and soothes and cools your hands and foot. What’s more, at Essensuals, along with the icecream pedicure, you can opt in for a candle massage if you have very dry feet which need intense moisturization.
Price: Rs.900-1100
4. Toni & Guy Essensuals Eye and Lip care:
Eyes and lips are often the most neglected parts in our face. Though we often go for facials, our eyes and lips go untreated. If you have dark circles, fine lines, dry and chapped lips, then try this Eye and Lip care treatment from Essensuals. This is especially a good treatment for software engineers as it helps to relax and soothe tired eyes as they do the massaging.
Price: around Rs.650
5. YLG Premium Coffee and Luxury Gold Waxing:
Gone are the days when waxing was a pain and just a job to be done. YLG has taken waxing to a new level by introducing luxury in it. YLG is well-known for their waxing services and they have experts in that. They offer different variants of waxing like Green Tea, Lavender, Lemon and Chocolate. Two of the notable and unique ones are the Premium Coffee Waxing and Luxury Gold Waxing. Not only are they painless and smell good, but they also offer other benefits like detanning, slowing down hair growth and giving long-lasting glow.
Price: Full Arms With Full Legs And Under Arms – Rs.599 for Premim Coffee Wax and Rs.699 for Luxury Gold wax
6. Lakme Salon Youth Infinity Sculpting Facial:
This is one of the facials which really showed long lasting effects on me. It helps to tone and firm the skin and gives a nice glow and these effects lasts for around 2-3 weeks if you take good care of your skin. The facial begins with a normal cleanser, scrub, steam and blackhead extraction. After this, the popular Lakme Youth Infinity Serum is applied and a small massager is ran over your face. This helps the serum to penetrate deeper and also tone and firm up the skin. Then a mask is applied and a gauze is placed on top of your face followed by another layer of mask application. This detailed facial lasts for around 90 minutes and you are also given a back massage. This facial is definitely recommended for those past 25 years when the skin starts showing signs of ageing.
Price: Rs.2400
7. Lakme Salon Hair Spa:
Lakme Salon offers a variety of hair spas including the popular Moroccan Oil Hair Spa. Other hair spas offered are Destress Spa, Enhance Spa and Miracle Oil Spa. Along with the hair spas, you can also opt for an extra dose of nourishment which comes as Health Boost, Silk Boost and Shimmer Boost.
Price: From Rs.1200 – Rs.2200. Boosts – Rs.400.
8. Naturals Salon Young Radiance Facial:
This is one of Naturals Salons signature facials and it lasts for 60 minutes. It detoxifies impurities and brightens up face with a nice, soft, radiant glow. You can choose an add-on mask from whitening, firming or bridal glow. The effect of the facial lasts for upto 2 weeks.
Price: Rs.1400. Masks: Rs.300, 400 and 1000.
9. Jean Claude Biguine Exfoliating Body Scrub And Nourishing Wrap:
It is a 60 minute body treatment consisting of scrub using special salt crystal exfoliation technique and thereafter a moisturizing milk is applied to your entire body to soothe your dry epidermis, leaving you hydrated and refreshed.
Price: Rs.3600
10. Warren Tricomi Skin Treatments:
The specialty of Warren Tricomi is their luxury skin treatments. It comes in different variants – Whitening treatment, hydrating rose treatment, anti-ageing treatment, purifying treatment, instance radiance, skincare with Forest Essentials, skincare with Clarins, etc. Also you can try out the Deep Conditioning Ritual by Kerastase for a luxury hair treatment.
Price: From: Rs.1500
Editor’s Note: That’s a fabulous list Archana, very helpful! I can’t wait to try some of these, ice cream pedicure sounds interesting.
Top 10 Moisturizers for Oily and Combination Skin in India, Prices, Buy Online
By Sanchita
As we emphasize on the CTM routine, the application of moisturizer is very well for the oily and combination skin as well. This becomes slightly challenging because the temperature for most of the time is generally hit and humid and too much products on the face will surely clog the pores and make it look oily. Therefore, the oily and combination skin will always have to choose a moisturizer that would control the sebum, gives a matte look and would nourish the skin as well.
Therefore, I have compiled a list of the top 10 moisturizers for oily and combination skin in India for your convenience. Let’s have a look at it.
OILY SKIN TYPE
1. Lacto Calamine Skin Balance Oil Control Lotion: Price – INR 160 for 120 ml (Buy HERE)
This is a quite well known choice of moisturizer for oily and combination skin types for all seasons. Lacto Calamine comprises of Kaolin which has natural minerals, acts as an exfoliator and helps in dead skin removal. It moisturizes the skin thoroughly and then gives a soft matte and shine free look. It also contains Glycerin helps control excess oil, thus reducing acne, making smooth and clear. Further, you can use this as a primer and helps the base to look flawless. It will never cause any irritation and will balance out the pH level of the skin, thereby reducing the oil factor.
2. Clean and Clear Skin Balancing Moisturizer: Price – INR 50 for 50 ml (Buy HERE)
This is one of the best oil free moisturizer for oily skin in the budget friendly range and personally, I have been using it for the past one year. The Moisturiser is white in color, and has a thin consistency. It may appear to be gel-based, but is actually a cream-based product. It has a light weight texture and gives a soothing effect to the skin. This product moisturizes the skin without any greasiness or shine and does not clog pores. It has Salicylic acid that helps prevent pimples and blackheads. It leaves your skin feeling clean and hydrated. It is fragrance-free, so it suits even sensitive skin.
3. Lotus Herbals Alphamoist Alpha Hydroxy Skin Renewal Oil Free Moisturiser: Price – INR 265 for 80 ml (Buy HERE)
Before Clean and Clear Skin Balancing Moisturizer, I had used this Alphamoist Alpha Hydroxy Skin Renewal Oil Free Moisturiser for quite some time and I have to say it really does the job well. It has a light weight liquid kind of a texture and blends into the skin in no time at all. It is nourished with Aloe Vera which has excellent moisturizing and skin healing properties, anti- inflammatory and soothing properties. It also contains Grape Extract which acts as a natural astringent, antimicrobial and antioxidant moisturizer for oily skin. Thus, the skin will feel nourished and rejuvenated after prolonged usage.
4. L’Oreal Hydrafresh Deep Boosting Essence: Price- INR 685 for 50ml (Buy HERE)
Essence is one of the most important product in the Korean skincare routine and works excellent as a moisturizer for oily skin. The L’Oreal Hydrafresh Deep Boosting Essence has been formulated with triple hyaluronic acid technology and by this method the moisture is continuously diffused through the skin and locked at several layers, thereby hydrating the skin on one hand and then keeping it matte on the other. It is also supplemented with the goodness of Vitamin E and protect skin from external aggressions. This is one provides a fresher and younger looking complexion when used twice a day religiously.
5. Forest Essentials Pure Aloe Vera Light Moisturising Facial Gel: Price – INR 1250 for 50g (Buy HERE)
Aloe Vera gel is the best possible moisturizer for oily skin and the FE Pure Aloe Vera Light Moisturising Facial Gel has the added benefits of other ingredients that makes the skin glow from within. It is light, cool facial contains Aloe Vera has strong soothing and moisture retaining properties with a soft texture that blends into the skin like a dream. The Genhu Extracts in it prevents premature aging and reduces ultra violet rays induced sun damage to the skin. It further helps in drainage of secretions from the sebaceous glands of the skin and thereby helps in thwarting of black heads.
6. Neutrogena Oil – Free Moisture SPF 15: Price – INR 349 for 115 ml (Buy HERE)
Neutrogena is one brand you can trust blindly when it comes to skin care within budget friendly price tag. This oil free moisturizer comes with a sun protection formula of 15 and prevents skin from darkening. It has a rather lightweight, non-greasy texture with a consistency of a liquid lotion and keeps the skin moisturized for around 7-8hours without getting oily or greasy. The sheer formula absorbs quickly into skin leaving it smoother and softer. This moisturizer has a tested formula that contains no fragrance, no dyes, and no excess ingredients. It is completely non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores that can cause skin to break out.
COMBINATION SKIN TYPE
7. Plum Aloe Caring Day Moisturizer: Price – INR 450 for 60g (Buy HERE)
The Plum Aloe Caring Day Moisturizer is a light weight cream that gets absorbed into the skin and gives a flawless nourished skin without greasiness. This is the perfect pick for combination skin. It is manufactured with the purest natural ingredients, devoid of any chemicals, synthetic colors, PABA, SLS, etc. it repairs dryness, dullness and gives a hydrated skin. This has been formulated with the goodness of organic Aloe juice, which nourishes and heal skin. Further, it has the goodness of vitamin E providing wholesome nourishment.
8. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for Combination Skin: Price – INR 299 for 118 ml (Buy HERE)
Neutrogena has specialized moisturizers for every skin type. This has a lightweight, dual-action formula that moisturizes dry areas while it controls oily shine. It is a special oil-absorbing Micro-sponge system controls oil and shine in the T-Zone for combination skin. This moisturizer is non-comedogenic and therefore won’t clog pores or break out even if you have acne prone skin. The skin feels softer and smoother which further adds a natural and matte finish throughout the day.
9. The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream: Price – INR 995 for 50 ml (Buy HERE)
TBS is one of the top brands for skin care in India and the Vitamin E Moisture Cream perfectly fits he description for combination skin. it is powerfully enriched with one of the best antioxidants that help protect the skin against damaging environmental elements, such as the sun, pollution and cigarette smoke. It also helps to neutralize free radicals, which are destructive molecules that attack cell on the skin. it retains the moisture for a long time, keeping the skin supple and soft without getting greasy and oily. It also contains lanolin which is one of nature’s richest moisturizers.
10. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Protective Care – Combination to Oily Skin – INR 1350 for 40ml (Buy HERE)
La Roche-Posay Toleriane is a non-oily emulsion that blends into the skin like a dream. It gives an instant soothing and hydrating effect to the skin after application and calms the irritated skin. This product has been formulated for oily to combination skin and hydrates the dry areas without making it oily at all. The emulsion penetrates instantaneously and restores skin comfort. It is non-comedogenic and won’t clog the pores at all. Further it is fragrance-free, preservative- free and paraben-free.
Editor’s Note: That’s a nice list Sanchita. I used to swear by Lacto Calamine and still use only that on days when I don’t wish to use anything else on the face.
Have you tried these? Which is your favourite moisturizer for oily-combination skin?
Gradually world is becoming a healthier place to leave in. More and more people are cutting down and leaving Non Veg food permanently to switch over vegetarian food and lead a vegan lifestyle. The idea behind this is that health issues are increasing day by day. And people are looking to lead a healthier life and gradually increase their life expectancy.
Well, in India we Indians are believed to be star struck. So, whatever the celebrities do many of us blindly follow. And today we are presenting with you a list of celebrities who ditched non vegetarian food to adopt a completely vegan lifestyle –
1. Kangana Ranaut – The queen actress turned vegan as soon as she landed into Mumbai. She said that it has brought a lot of positivity in her life.
2. Shahid Kapoor – He got inspired by the book “Life is fair” by Brian Hines. He said in an interview that this book was gifted to him by his father Mr. Pankaj Kapoor. This actor is believed to have inspired a lot of celebs to turn vegetarian
3. Kareena Kapoor – Being from a healthy Punjabi family eating non veg was part of her lifestyle. But she gave up non veg food owing to healthy influence by her ex beau Shahid Kapoor. Even after their love saga ended she continues to remain vegan till date.
4. Aamir Khan – The perfectionist of bollywood is perfectionist here too. Once his present wife Kiran Rao showed her a video of 15 most common diseases which costs life and how they can be prevented after which he got hooked to vegan eating and never turned back.
5. Vidya Balan – She has been following a vegan diet and lifestyle since her birth. Few years ago her dietitian suggested her to have eggs but after some time she left eggs again and turned into a full vegetarian again.
6. Amitabh Bachchan – The mega star of bollywood has been vegetarian since a no. of years. And he has also been nominated by the PETA three times for being the hottest vegan celebrity.
7. Vidyut Jamval – This hot bodied actor has been vegan since he was 14 years old. He even mentioned once how his concentration has improved since he turned vegan
8. Neha Dhupia – The actress was going through health troubles some years ago. Her doctors suggested her to turn vegetarian and she did. She turned a complete vegetarian and was also named by PETA for the Asia Pacific sexiest vegetarian woman 2011.
9. Celina Jatley – In 2013 there was a 21 day vegan kickstart program which she joined with other celebrities. After which she turned vegetarian
10. Alia Bhatt – It seems that her real life inspiration Kareena Kapoor was the one who inspired her to become vegetarian. And looks like the youngest Bhatt daughter is not going back anytime soon.
So, these were some of the celebrities who ditched non veg food and became all vegetarian. Let me know if any of the other celebrities have also done the same in the comments down below.
Picture this- you wake up in the morning cursing your alarm clock to the hilt, subject your teeth to corporal punishment by venting out all the frustration of having to wake up and face the world, have a bath as quickly as possible, grab a bite and rush to your office in the twinkling of an eye. Thanks to the work at place, it is certain that your energy and peace of mind will see a nosedive! (I am such a sadist)
Dog-tired and frazzled as the office time comes to a closing, you battle a sea of humans and vehicles on your way back home. By now your body is screaming for pampering but you are on the verge of collapsing the moment you see you bed. And you conveniently turn a blind eye to the implorations of your body. The cycle repeats. Indefinitely!
What do we end up with? Dull,exhausted and more or less inanimate bodies that reflect our fatigue. But wait, all of this can be put a full stop with. How? You can indulge in a mini at-home spa session which does not even entail running down your pockets. Simply grab a bath bomb crafted by this all- natural, cruelty-free brand from Namma Bangaluru- Aroma Essentials. Having used a number of their products in the past, I was thrilled when I got to know that they were introducing their range of bath bombs. Having used some of their bath bombs- four to be precise, today I will review the one that made to my list of favourites. It is none other than ‘Aroma Essentials Sandalwood bath bomb’.
In the picture, you can see that I tried four of their bath bombs. The purple one is of lavender, the white for tulsi and the light green one for grapefruit
Aroma Essentials Claims: Bath salts and fizzies create a luxurious bath time, helping you to relax, unwind and forget about your troubles.
They can also be used in aromatherapy, a complementary and alternative medicine. Aromatherapy bath bombs uses essential oils to create an aroma, which can aid healing.
These specific bath bombs are used for therapeutic purposes and can bring a sense of calm and well being.
Struggling to sleep?
Why not try a Lavender /jasmin Bath Bomb, this is a classic bath bomb that is used to reduce stress, bring a sense of calm. Use before bedtime for a good nights sleep.
Suffering with a cold and congestion?
Try a lemon and eucalyptus bath bomb to help awaken your senses.
PRICE- 75/- INR for one bath bomb (Can order from their facebook page HERE)
DIRECTIONS FOR USE- Simply pop a bath bomb in a tub/bucket with ample water (cold/warm/lukewarm- your choice) and let it dissolve within a few seconds. Soak your hands, feet, in fact the entire body and relax for half an hour. Welcome relaxation!
CLAIMS- Bath salts and fizzies create a luxurious bath time, helping you to relax, unwind and forget about your troubles. They can also be used in aromatherapy, a complementary and alternative medicine. Aromatherapy bath bombs uses essential oils to create an aroma, which can aid healing. These specific bath bombs are used for therapeutic purposes and can bring a sense of calm and well-being.
MY EXPERIENCE-
Packed in a simple plastic cover that is further enclosed in a bubble wrap, the packaging at first may seem underwhelming to anyone but scratch the surface and you won’t be disappointed. Why? The bath bomb is meant for a single use. So, once used, there is nothing to store. So, why go for fancy packings? Just ensure what is needed to safeguard its condition till delivery and be done with it, right? 🙂 Honestly, I support and resonate with this idea. It makes no sense in my opinion to engage in heavy-duty or fancy coverings for products that are meant for single uses. As a result, the packaging of this bath bomb works well for me.
The bath bomb has a grainy texture and when popped into a tub/bucket containing water (I opt for lukewarm), it dissolves within seconds. The concoction turns slightly pink and it does not stain the bucket at all. What is to be done next? Soak your hands/feet/entire body (if you opted for a bath tub), close your eyes, think of Ryan Gosling (highly subjective point, ladies so you can insert any man’s name here. Feel free to disclose in the comments section however) and relax for 30 minutes.
After those 30 minutes, wake up and come back to earth 😛 Step out of the tub and using a pumice stone gently rub the soles of your feet to rid you off the layers of dead skin cells that have accumulated for long on it. Have a shower (in case you opted for the tub method. If not, simply rinse off your feet/hands with cold water) and massage a liberal amount of a deeply hydrating body butter/lotion to seal the moisture. Upon following the above procedure, my skin felt tangibly softer and lighter (as if a lot of grime and muck has been removed). Not only did I feel calm but also refreshed. My skin looked clearer, felt smoother and brighter post the wash. All in all, given the investment, the results were splendid 🙂
GOOD-
1. All natural composition with no cheap fillers/noxious chemicals added
2. Alluring aroma. It gingers one up while imbuing the room with the aroma.
3. Takes away all the tiredness and grime accumulated on the body.
4. Made in India
5. Travel-friendly
6. Softens skin
7. Facilitates removal of dead skin cells’ layers (use a pumice stone for exfoliation)
8. Can be used by all skin types
9. Makes the skin remarkably clear
10. Imparts freshness
BAD-
1. I wish Aroma Essentials comes up with kits/packs of their bath bombs. That way, the per unit cost of each bath bomb will work out to be less as compared to what it is now. Right now, shelling 75/- INR for a single bath bomb seems a bit high because one use and it goes. Other than that, I do not have any problem with the product per se.
RATING- 4.5/5
Editor’s Note: These look really good Nidhal, I wish I had a bath tub here, have one at my parents’ place though but it’s hardly used. Bath bombs and bath tubs compliment each other so well 😀
Ancient Ayurveda Invigorating Tailpatra Woodash Soap Review
By Nidhal
Remember those days when we used to vacuously smear that colourful bar of soap that smelled heavenly and looked comely on our skin (and sadly, on our faces too) while unleashing the inherent model in us in our bathrooms? 😛 Days would roll by but all what it left was dry, parched skin that felt smothered after the ‘wash’. Quite naturally, it was bound to. Why? Did you care to read the labels? “Ummm… not really”, says a voice in your head right now. So, that is the reason my friend.
Cut to present and markets like always are inundated with soaps of myriad shapes, sizes, colors, flavours (err…chemicals) and packets. One thing is constant and that is our incorrigible habit of ignoring the labels. Having emerged delusional with soaps years ago, I switched over to ubtans (homemade powders for cleansing), however, one fine day, I came across a brand that used 2 words in its name which caught my eyes- Ancient Ayurveda. Intrigued, I began scrolling down their range of products when I came across their soaps. The realisation dwelled upon me that it would be just one of “those brands” that pull wool over consumers’ eyes by printing catchy words like “invigorated with XYZ essential oil”, “handmade” and so on but I was in for a pleasant surprise. The brand is the textbook definition of being ‘ethical’.
While most brand publish what their products contain, Ancient Ayurveda upped its game and went on publish what all their products do not contain IN DETAIL (see the picture for better understanding). Impressed, I zeroed in on ANCIENT AYURVEDA INVIGORATING TAILPATRA WOODASH SOAP to see how far it performs (or flounders). So here goes my review of the same 🙂
DIRECTIONS FOR USE- Smear on your drenched face and body with a natural luffa. Wash off after scrubbing gently.
INGREDIENTS- Homogenous coconut shell charcoal, coconut tree inflorescece charcoal flaxseed wheat germ oil, Ashwagandha tailam, Ark tailam, black cumin seed oil, bala taimbu, somaraji tailam, chandan bala, lakshadi tailam, jatyadi tailam, karanj tailam, virgin coconut oil, kasisadi tailam, zest of soapnut, kumkumadi tailam, rice bran oil, rice bran wax, nilibringhadi tailam, castor bean meat, whole pscralea corylifolia oil, zest of ‘Koshtum’, castor oil, coconut water, coconut meat, cow’s milk, zest of copra, grapeseed oil and neem oil.
A detailed list of fillers/items not added into the soap is provided as a leaflet once you place an order. And… You will be left speechless on seeing that most of them have been added in even the so-called handmade soaps that you use. Handmade does not mean ‘natural’.
WHAT IT CLAIMS- This soap does not contain Steric Acid (animal derived hardening agent, primarily from butchered pigs and cows) which makes the mainstream handmade and commercial soap melt-less.
MY EXPERIENCE-
GOOD-
Packed in a simple paper packing with the soap enclosed in a plastic cover, the packaging of the soap is quite simplistic. I disliked the plastic cover but realised that in India’s tropical weather, if the soap were packed in a plastic/cloth pack, it would have melted and rumpled the entire product rendering it useless.
As a result, given the product’s composition (which is primarily a blend of oils), the packaging is legit. Though it cannot be carried while travelling yet, I won’t pinpoint to it as a drawback because carrying soaps anyway is inconvenient while travelling. In a nutshell, the packaging is fine 🙂
The soap has a hard texture when stored in the fridge but take it for 5 minutes and witness the magic as it melts (all thanks to Sun God who unleash their fury on us from May to June all the more) 😛
I prolong its use by cutting it into 10 pieces 5 minutes after taking it out from the fridge (so that it softens enough for my knife to work). Each time I step into the shower, I take a piece (1/10 th part of the soap) with me along with a natural loofah/luffa. I smear it on my drenched skin and gently rub a luffa. 1/10 th part is sufficient for a use. I do not overdo or use beyond requirement. I know we Indians have a tendency to slap products in excess if it works but that is what we need to control. Use enough not in excess 🙂
After scrubbing my skin with the luffa for 7-8 minutes, there is a little froth which I rinse off and step out of the shower. My skin feels soft and deeply hydrated. This spells cheer for my skin is dry and this is the first time that my skin’s moisture level has not witnessed a nosedive 🙂 With use overtime, I noted a subtle glow too that looked natural. Besides feeling clean, my skin looked clear and refreshed. My mother who has normal skin used it and has been singing paeans since then. I recommended it to a friend of mine who has oily skin and so far, even she is impressed with its performance. While I can’t vouch for its efficacy for oily skin, I can safely say that it will become the HG soap of those with dry and normal skin 🙂
In one word, it is phenomenal!
1. The most natural soap one can land.
2. Mentions what it contains and what it does not (which is quite informative) clearly. Hence, the epitome of ethics.
3. Works wonders in softening skin.
4. Made in India
5. Associated with the NGO- Prajwala which works to rescue sex-trafficked women. There is a sense of complacency one experiences in contributing to such a noble initiative.
6. Highly impressive ingredients’ list
7. Imparts a subtle glow. No, you won’t glow like an incandescent LED that is shown (read: exaggerated beyond description) in TV adverts. The glow is subtle but noticeable.
8. Works well for all skin types but best for dry skin. It won’t weigh down oily skin but works exceedingly well for dry skin. I wonder how it does so.
9. Easily available. You can place an order on Amazon India.
10. Heals chapped skin overtime.
11. Price is reasonable given its effectiveness.
BAD-
1. Since it a blend of oils, it melts (yes, you read it right M-E- L-T- S) when the temperature rises to 33 degrees or above. In fact, since India is predominantly warm for most part of year, a major bugbear is the storage of this soap. It actually liquefies. To allay this, I let it out at room temperature for a few minutes. It softens somewhat when I cut it into 10-12 pieces with a knife. I use one piece each time I step into the shower and stash all the remnant pieces into the refrigerator 🙂 So, that is the only limitation which too, is taken care of.
RATING- 5/5
Editor’s Note: That sounds fantastic Nidhal and what a detailed review! I am surely trying this. Also I saw a few other soaps they have, all look great!
