Tag Archives: Lifestyle Blog India

Lodha Belmondo - The Perfect Luxury Weekend Home

Lodha Belmondo – The Perfect Luxury Weekend Home

Lodha Belmondo – The Perfect Luxury Weekend Home

Hi guys,

So last month I visited Lodha Belmondo which is off Mumbai-Pune Expressway with my husband. It’s right opposite the new MCA Cricket Stadium

Lodha Belmondo is India’s finest luxury weekend home, a riverside golf development spread across 100+ Acres. Only a 2 hour drive from South Bombay

It has 90 acres of open greens, out of which 45 acres is the huge golf course designed by Greg Norman himself. Interestingly, there are only 2 Golf Courses designed by Greg Norman in India. It has turf imported from USA, which conforms to the global standards.

My favourite part is the 1 km long riverside promenade, where you can go for boating or try fishing by the edge of the Pavana river or just sit in the deck and enjoy the peaceful view.

Another favourite is the 50,000 sq.ft. Designer Club House, It’s huge and spacious and has all kinds of indoor and outdoor activities. You can go cycling, swimming, play cricket or relax in the spa.

  • It has a hi tech Gymnasium with Olympic standard equipment from Techno gym (which are used by Top English Premier League Clubs). The gym is huge and spacious and has all the necessary equipment, so that you don’t miss out on your workout even on a holiday. Eat without guilt 😉
  • A private theatre to enjoy your private family movie screenings. Watch a live match or any movie of your choice with your bunch of friends or the entire family together in your private theatre, isn’t that cool?!
  • World Class Evason Spa by Six Senses – the international luxury hospitality group. Indulge in a relaxing spa session, a nice massage or body scrub, no holiday is complete without a good spa. And you get it right at your weekend home every week 😉
  • Gourmet Restaurant Managed by Six Senses. Have a different cuisine of your choice for each meal.
  • Swimming Pool with Jacuzzi
  • Natural Juice Bar for freshly pressed, pure & healthy juices, post your spa or workout, or just as a part of breakfast.
  • Indoor Games Room with table tennis, football, carrom, etc. Bond with your family indoors over a board game.
  • Dual Level Crèche for kids. Your kids can enjoy at the crèche while you workout or enjoy your spa session.
  • Full size cricket ground, family matches every week 😀
  • Tennis and badminton courts

Lodha Belmondo offers you a unique balance of fitness, healing, leisure and culture, which ensures you will never run out of things to do.

The large open green spaces and the natural view with the ponds in between, stole my heart. All you can see is lush greenery as far as your eyes can see. The air quality was also pure and better than Lonavala too.

We saw the Luxury Golf Villa and the Four Bed Luxe Sky Apartment. You can see the entire lush green open golf area and the lake from the villa.

The villas are mind blowing, I am sure it is everyone’s #HouseGoals.  Here are a few pictures..

Villas have a basement, first floor and second floor, third floor is an open terrace. All the bedrooms have a mini terrace too. The basement living area has a bedroom, kitchen, dining area followed by the small private infinity pool and a deck to relax.

First floor has two bedrooms, an entertainment room, a study and a pooja room.

Second floor has the master bedroom which has it’s own living area, terrace and outdoor shower. It also has a gym, pantry and mini office area.

The villas have a private elevator.

The Four Bed Luxe Sky Apartment also has a beautiful living room and spacious bedrooms.

I am pretty sure you will fall in love 🙂 It’s one of the most beautiful properties I have seen, without a doubt.

OOTD: Blue & Black Mesh Polka Maxi Dress

OOTD: Blue & Black Mesh Polka Maxi Dress

Hi guys,

I am doing an OOTD after a long time, because my daily outfits I usually share on my Instagram now. If you are not following me there, follow now : bhumika_t

But I have thought of sharing outfits of which I do elaborate shoots of or the outfits which are really pretty and absolutely deserve more pics and an entire blog post, here.

I got this blue and black maxi dress from eShakti in December, I know it’s been quite some time. I had gone for a holiday and came back with a fracture and was on bed rest entire month. It took me quite some time to be completely ok and then couldn’t get around shooting, hence the delay. I am really sorry for that.

Coming to eShakti, I got an email from them and I checked their website and I was absolutely in awe! I had no idea of an Indian website having such beautiful customized clothing at such an affordable price. eShakti primarily catered to US and towards the end of last year, they started the India operations.

They have tops, skirts, dresses, everything from casual to party wear and on trend clothes for women. And the best part is you can customize neck, sleeves, length, measurements, everything! So it is Your Size. Your Style

If you like a print in maxi dress, you can get the same in a shift dress, midi dress, skater dress, with sleeves, you can customize everything. And the best part is they have rates ranging from 1000 to 3000-4000, which is fabulous for a fully customized outfit. And mind you, at 3-4k, you get a beautiful cocktail gown!

I had to struggle a lot to find a nice, simple gown for my cocktail function, because in all the shops I got the diamond work gowns which I hate. They didn’t have anything simple or as per my liking, everything was too blingy for my taste. I finally went a black lace maxi dress from StalkBuyLove, which was too long and I had to alter the height of it.

If eShakti was retailing then and I would have come across this, I would have most definitely bought a gown from here. Perhaps this one only 🙂

I loved this peacock blue and black maxi dress. It has a silk base and a complete mest net coverage from the top, sleeves to bottom, with black polka dots ( in thread embroidery) throughout the dress. It has a zip behind and the entire outfit material from the cloth to the zip and buttons is amazing quality, no complaints whatsoever!

It also has pockets! My favourite part in a dress 🙂

I kept the accessories pretty simple, with just my rose gold Daniel Wellington Classic Petite watch and rose gold cuff. You can get 15% off on www.danielwellington.com using my code ‘BHUMIKA’

I really love this dress and I highly recommend eShakti. You will find everything from casual to party wear here and you can customize pretty much everything. They do take 7-10 days to deliver as they need to customize the outfit.

Dress: eShakti
Watch: Daniel Wellington
Earrings: Tanishq
On my Lips: MAC Ruby Woo

I hope you liked the dress, do let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

PC: Rhythmic Focus

Current Makeup & Beauty Favourites | Go To Base Makeup Products

Current Makeup & Beauty Favourites | Go To Base Makeup Products

Hi guys,

I have shared all my current makeup and beauty favourites in this video along with a mini review of each product. Also covered my current go to base makeup products, explaining how exactly I do my base.

Products mentioned:

Face:

MAC Conceal & Correct Palette Medium Deep – Rs.3650
The Body Shop Cushion Foundation in Wanaka Honey- Rs.2695
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer- $10
Wet N Wild Mega Glo Contouring Palette in Caramel Toffee- $6 or Rs.550
Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter – $38
Pixi Beauty Glow Mist- $15

Eyes:

Avon True Cosmic Brown Glimmerstick Eyeliner – Rs/399 (Buy HERE)
Lakme French Rose Eyeshadow Palette- Rs.995 (Buy HERE)
Mistine 3D Brows Secret Set – Rs.500 (Buy HERE)
Colourpop Honey Dude eyeliner – $6
MAC In extreme Dimension Lash Mascara- Rs.1990 (Buy HERE)

Lips:

Kat Von D Lolita & Lolita II- $20

How I cover my dark circles now is covered more HERE, learning from Director of Makeup Artistry, MAC India and celebrity Bollywood Makeup Artist, Mickey Contractor himself. I mix the orange and yellow correctors from the Concealer palette to get the perfect peach and then go on top with the concealer. A detailed break up in the video above.

I hope you liked this video, let me know your favourites in the comments below.

May 2017 Sip Of Summer My Envy Box Review, Unboxing

May 2017 Sip Of Summer My Envy Box Review, Unboxing

Hi guys,

I received the May My Envy Box today. I absolutely love the watermelon print, it’s so refreshing and looks like water colours. Although the edges came a bit torn, the box looks real good.

MRP: Rs.850/- (Available HERE)

The theme is ‘Sip of Summer’ this month and it’s a summer edition box.

Products I received:

  • The Nature’s Co. Mango Creme Body Wash- Rs.695/- for 175ml
  • Cheryl’s Dermashade Sunblock SPF 30- Rs.550/- for 50g
  • Fuschia Herbal Fusion Shampoo (Rs.450/- for 100ml)
  • Grecobe Green Coffee (Rs.70 for 5 sachets)
  • Omorfee Mellow Drizzle Skin Toner (4ml x 2 vials)
  • L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, Reine Blanche Illuminating Cream and Serum sachets

I am super impressed with the first three products, the quantity is amazing, 3 full sized products! I have tried the Cheryl’s Sunblock before and it’s quite good. The Mango body wash is perfect for the season and smells yumm.

The Fuschia shampoo is little expensive for the price, but I haven’t tried haircare from this brand, so looking to trying that out.

Green Coffee is meant to boost metabolism and aid in weight loss and improve stamina, so you can try these sachets and see if you notice any difference, before investing in the bigger size.

Rest are small samples, the Omorfee toner looks interesting though considering it has sour honey, lavender, cucumber, rose, etc.

Overall, I would say I am pretty impressed and do recommend this month’s box. The total value of the products in the box comes to around Rs.2000/-

What did you get in your May My Envy Box?

#MACxMickeyContractor Indian Beauty Essentials Natural Makeup Look, Tips & Tricks

#MACxMickeyContractor Indian Beauty Essentials Natural Makeup Look, Tips & Tricks

Hi guys,

So towards the end of March, I attended a session with MAC Cosmetics where Mickey Contractor, Director of Makeup Artistry, MAC India and celebrity Bollywood Makeup Artist, taught us to create a flawless base and a step by step Natural Indian Look!

I was so stoked and happy, I had no idea till I reached the venue that we had to do it step by step with him and he would be teaching us. I thought it was a regular event where the video will be unveiled, etc., but no, we saw the video and we created the whole look on ourselves with Mickey checking each step and teaching us how to do it correctly.

The video came out today and hence I wrote this post half way through earlier and saved in my drafts, because many of you asked me to share the tips and tricks and I thought I should jot them down quickly.

Here is the video..

So here are few tips and tricks Mickey taught us:

  • Always moisturise your face and undereyes before starting with your base. Mickey recommends MAC Studio Moisture Cream. He even mixes it later with the foundation when he needs a sheer look.
  • Spray MAC Fix Plus after the Moisture Cream and then start with concealer/corrector.
  • Everyone has dark circles and that is completely natural. If you try to layer too much of concealer and powder, it will only look ashy and settle in fine lines and crease. So correct and conceal once, go over the concealed area with a foundation and set with powder.
  • We used the MAC Pro Conceal and Correct Palette and he made us mix the concealer and both correctors on our hands to get the perfect match first. And then apply it on the dark circles. It made world of a difference. I mixed the corrector and concealer directly on the under eye area and applied it on one half and it was still looking ashy. I used the Medium palette which had shades close to and lighter to my skin tone. And the lighter concealer was making the dark circles look ashy. He made me take the yellow and orange corrector and the concealer shade on the back of my hand from the Medium Deep Palette, mix it in and add more untill I got the perfect peach. And then I applied it to cover dark circles, it was a perfect match!
  • He usually goes for the same color or a darker concealer for the under eye area and then covers that area with foundation for a seamless, even toned base.
  • Always match the foundation to your neck and body and in natural light only. Wear it through the day to check if it oxidizes and then go ahead and buy your perfect match.
  • Dab powder with a sponge on the under eye area and the T zone and take excess off with a brush. Never swipe concealer/powder. Always dab!
  • Take your eyelash curler till the base of the lashes and press and release the curler till count of 10, hold for 3-4 seconds and leave. Voila, you get amazing well curled lashes.
  • To define your cheekbones, apply blush in a slight slanted upward motion and just for a flush of colour, on the apples of your cheeks.
  • Dab the sponge on your highlighter to blend it in with the skin and take it slightly around the under eye area as it should not be a stark slanted highlighted line on top of your cheekbones and look seamless.
  • Always apply foundation on the neck if you are doing your whole face or just apply foundation partially like only on T zone and problem areas. There shouldn’t be a stark/visible difference between face and neck.

Clean and natural base using minimal products is his USP. He doesn’t like sharp contouring and highlighting, bold brows and all that you see on YouTube and Instagram these days.

He has done numerous Bollywood movies and magazine covers especially Aishwarya Rai, Kajol and Rani Mukherjee’s makeup and you can see how he loves a clean base, natural look and dark kohled eyes. He is a master of the Bollywood Smokey Eye.

In this video, he teaches a Natural Indian Look with a light smoke of kohl which is perfect for summers.

I used these products to create the look, as shown in the video..

  • MAC Pro Conceal & Correct Palette in Medium Deep
  • MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC37
  • MAC Cream Colour Base Hush
  • MAC Eyeshadow Embark
  • MAC Modern Twist Kajal Cat’s Meow
  • MAC In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara Volume
  • MAC Mocha Blush
  • MAC Lipstick in Half n Half
  • MAC Brushes 217 and 168

The Conceal & Correct Palette helps you mix and match the exact amount of concealer and corrector till you get your perfect shade. This palette is also a must have if you are a makeup artist or do your friends and family’s makeup.

MAC Conceal & Correct Palette Medium Deep

Embark is a matte deep brown eyeshadow with red undertones. It is a perfect shade for a wash of colour like we have done here or for a soft smokey day time look, smudging it with a black kohl pencil underneath. We have used the Modern Twist Kajal in Cat’s Meow, which is the black shade as kohl on the waterline. If you like jet carbon black kohl, you can go for Squid. Gently smudge Embark on the lower lash line to merge the kohl and shadow. Flick the kohl slightly to create a wing like effect. Tightline with Cat’s Meow

Mocha, Hush, Embark

MAC Blush in Mocha is a matte soft peach colour which is very flattering on Indian skin tones, fair to medium especially. MAC Cream Colour Base in Hush gives a very soft and subtle highlight and can also be used all over eyes as a base or to highlight brow bone and inner corners.

MAC Half n Half Lipstick is a satin finish nude brown, I absolutely love this shade. It reminded me of Maybelline My Mahagony which was my favourite nude and was discontinued later on. But I highly recommend Half N Half if you are looking for a good, everyday wear nude shade.

MAC Half N Half

I love how simple this look is, and yet pretty and polished. Clean base, neutral tones and kohl rimmed eyes, suitable for any occasion and works for everyone.

I hope you liked this post and found it helpful. Do let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Try This Overnight DIY Serum For a Translucent Glow

TRY THIS OVERNIGHT DIY SERUM FOR A TRANSLUCENT GLOW

By Ankita

With the changing environment and lifestyle, there is no escaping from skin issues. The good old CTM works, no doubt. However is it good enough? I won't agree to that. Hence, serums came into being. The usual cleansing-toning- moisturizing regime is now better replaced by cleansing-toning- TREATing-moisturizing. This is where the serums come into action. You can pretty much say in an Army of soldiers, they are the marines, employed for specific target oriented operations. Let’s have a look at them,

WHAT IS A SERUM

Face serums are lightweight moisturizers with a gel or light lotion consistency and have a higher concentration of ingredients meant to provide more effective and focused results.

HOW TO USE

These are used after cleaning and toning then face. Pat on the serum on with the help of your finger, gently dabbing and pushing it into the skin

SO…I CAN SKIP MY MOISTURIZER RIGHT?

Absolutely not. Serums are an addition to your CTM (Cleansing-Toning- Moisturizing) and no way substitute a moisturizer. They have targeted action and address a specific skin issue such as acne, hyper-pigmentation, aging etc.

There are tons and thousands of serum available in the market, and I won’t deny they don’t work. They definitely do. But, wait for it!!!What if I told you, you can make one in a jiffy, that won’t cost you gazillion bucks and works just as fine as any other serum? Actually more than fine. Shall I say….works BRILLIANT.

Ready? Ladies and Ladies, I give you my magic potion

DIY OVERNIGHT GLOW SERUM

YOU WILL NEED:

-4 drops of Virgin Coconut Oil

-4 drops of pure rose water

-a pea sized amount of pure aloe vera gel

PROCEDURE:

1. You do not need a bowl for this as it is better to use it fresh every day. Take 4 drops of Virgin Coconut Oil on your palm.

2. Add in a pea sized amount of aloe vera gel

3. Now finally add in 4 drops of rose water and mix all the ingredients with your fingers till they become an emulsion.

HOW TO APPLY

1. Dot it all over your face and neck and massage with very light hands in upward-outward motions, till you are satisfied that the skin has completely soaked in the product.

2. Follow up with a very light weight moisturizer and have off you go to bed Sleeping Beauty.

IS IT EFFECTIVE?

1. This serum works greatly towards brightening the skin and especially fading away dark spots.

2. Gives you healthy illuminating glow.

WHY THESE INGREDIENTS??

Virgin Coconut Oil: Cold pressed Virgin Coconut is a boon for the skin as it helps to improve certain skin conditions by healing wounds and reducing rashes. Its anti-inflammatory effect works wonders for soothing skin ailments. VCO contains Lauric Acid that helps to combat acne and even is a great whitening agent.

Priced at: 350 INR for 500ml (Buy HERE)

Rose Water: With its anti-inflammatory and skin soothing properties, rose water is the life saver for irritated skin. Apart from being an excellent skin toner, it also brightens up the complexion and makes the skin more radiant and even.

Priced at: 150 INR (Buy HERE)

Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants that work wonders for the skin. Application of aloe vera speeds up the process of healing of burns, lightens blemishes, reduces acne and also prevents wrinkles. It even acts as a great natural moisturizer.

Priced at: 250 INR for 100ml (Buy HERE)

HOW OFTEN AND WHEN DO I USE IT

Use it once a day, before you go to bed. You have to be consistent with the use to see great results, in less than a month.

IS IT SAFE FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

It is 100% safe for any skin type, however, it is always wise to go for a patch test first. In case you experience any irritation (which most probably you won’t), do not use it further.

Here is a little after picture of me. Unfortunately, I don’t have any before picture as I had never planned to write this piece. After a month of usage, it has reduced my marks and scars to a good extent.

In this image, I have washed my face with cold water, put on some lip gloss and tight-lined my upper lash line.

Why spend a portion of your kidney, if you can have it done at the comfort of your kitchen? Without a question of doubt, I honestly ask my dear readers to give this DIY serum a try and see the results for yourself.

However, you must not forget these few pointers:

1. Cut out processed food as much as possible from your diet.

2. Stay hydrated and stay away from aerated drinks

3. Nothing!!!!!can substitute a good beauty sleep of 6-7 hours.

Please come back and let me know your experience with this serum. Any suggestions, comments, and ideas are always welcome 🙂

Editor’s Note: You have amazing and flawless skin Ankita. I love DIY’s and would be surely trying this too.

Do you love trying DIY’s? Will you try this?

Best Off-Screen Looks of Katrina Kaif

Best Off-Screen Looks of Katrina Kaif

By Nidhal

When she gyrates, she holds you transfixed. When she shows off her curves, she holds you transfixed. When she sets her foot on the red carpet, she holds you transfixed. The lady may not rank high on the charts of film connoisseurs and critics but she surely knows how to be the talk of the town thanks to her high-octane dance moves, angelic visage and enviable body/curves. She’s none other than the statuesque Katrina Kaif. Let us have a rundown of her Best Off-screen looks now.

1. IN REBECCA TAYLOR- Bringing a boho vibe to her off-screen avatars, Katrina opted for a printed block print maxi dress by Rebecca Taylor that had sheer mesh inserts as well as cut out sleeves during one of the promotional events of Fitoor opposite Aditya Roy Kapoor. With her luscious locks let loose and nude makeup, she was an out-and- out head-turner at the event.

2. IN DOLCE AND GABBANA- Clad in a lemon print off shoulder dress from Dolce and Gabbana, Katrina set out to promote Fitoor. Accessorising it with embellished beige pumps from Charles and Keith, she added a pair of gold earrings from Loupe Kat looked like a diva. Not to forget red lips complement her look very well.

3. IN BODICE- Giving everyone a peak-a- boo to her chiselled and absolutely enviable abs, Katrina draped herself in polka printed culottes from Bodice by Ruchika Sachdeva. She teamed it up with a white crop top by Dhruv Kapoor and matching sneakers. The look delineates comfort, chicness and ease, doesn’t it? Sassy without even trying, that’s what bursts upon my mind on seeing this look of hers.

4. IN MSGM- Swathed in a knitted bandage dress from MSGM‘s resort 2016 collection paired with Eytys white sneakers styled by Tanya Ghavri, the statuesque lass looked drop-dead gorgeous during one of the promotional events for Fitoor.

5. IN AN AZZEDINE ALAIA DRESS- Clad in a blush pink fit and flare dress by Azzedine Alaia, Katrina was spotted at the Mehboob Studios in Mumbai where she shot for a TV commercial. This lady takes minimalism to a whole new level and makes sure that it looks mesmeric too.

6. IN ROKSANDA- The sultry Katrina Kaif unleashed her chirpy and effervescent facet as she swaddled herself in a Roksanda cutout jumpsuit and black leather sneakers during one of the promotional legs of Baar Baar Dekho in the capital with her co-star Siddharth Malhotra. Simple, subtle and sizzling… this look is the exemplar of comfort.

7. IN JILL STUART- Going all out with bright vivid colours, Katrina looks easy on one’s eyes in a Jill Stuart outfit. Despite sporting colours which when teamed up may look gaudy or garish, the lady sashays in aplomb. A special mention goes to her Isharya earrings that are the perfect cherry on the cake.

Editor’s Note: Loved each of the seven, I can’t pick one! I absolutely love her style, very minimal and effortless.

Which look is your favourite?

March 2017 My Envy Box Review & Unboxing

March 2017 My Envy Box Review & Unboxing

Hi guys,

I got the March My Envy Box today, and after the previous Feb box, I was hoping they would step up their game and they did!

The theme for this month is ‘Relax. Renew. Refresh’. I quite liked the outer box packaging too.

MRP: Rs.850/- (Available HERE)

Products I got:

  • Essence Lip Liner – Full size – Rs.129/- (1g)
  • Neemli Coffee & Cocoa Body Wrap- Full size- Rs.550/- (75g)
  • Wikka Beauty Potion- Full size- Rs.700/- (15g)
  • Eyova Hair Oil- Full size- Rs.590/- (50ml)
  • All Good Scents Rose & Jasmine- 2ml vials
  • Gardner Street Tea Glow- 3 sachets

I am so glad they have added 4 full sized products this time. And also all 6 products are an interesting mix from tea to perfume to body wrap and one makeup product.

Essence lip liners would be in red, nude and pink. I got the red one and I don’t mind. It would work with all red lipsticks.

Neemli makes very good body products and this is a full sized body wrap, quite excited to try this one.

Wikka has aromatherapy products and this is a face moisturizer with Aloe vera, Avocado and Patchouli and Chamomile essential oil, I would be trying this tom onwards. Smells really good!

All Good Scents makes good perfumes, I wish they had included small 5ml/10ml bottles. Even one 10ml would do instead of 2 small vials. Considering they are not pricey, slightly bigger samples are better.

Lastly we have the Eyova Hair oil, this has egg yolk extracts and I have heard mixed reviews about this one. Some love it and some hate it. I am not sure if I will use this as I am a vegetarian, also the egg smell is pretty strong of this one. I might give it a try or give it to a friend.

Overall the box has products of value above Rs.2000/- and I am pretty happy with everything. Highly recommend this month’s box 🙂

What did you get in March My Envy Box?

Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village Experiential, Vlog

Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village Experiential, Vlog

Hi guys,

So last to last weekend I was in Palakkad in Kerala at The Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village. Those of you who follow me on social media already know that and have been seeing the live updates.

Since there was no network and WiFi there, I couldn’t update much, but of course I captured everything for the vlog.

About Kairali: Kairali Ayurvedic Group’s signature resort ‘The Ayurvedic Healing Village’ is situated int Palakkad, just a few kilometers from the world’s biggest mountain pass between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There is no better place to get inside nature and rejuvenate with natural medicine than the sweet scented forests of Kerala’s Pala trees. Time spent at this unique jungle paradise will allow you to experience the authentic healing practices of ancient India, while relaxing in the lap of modern holistic luxury.

They have different packages for different treatments, yoga therapy, yoga training, ayurveda training, etc. They get patients from all around the world for hypertension, anxiety, nervous breakdown, facial paralysis, weight loss, etc.

You can of course also go there to detox, relax and rejuvenate. A break like this is very refreshing.

We were welcomed with the sandalwood tikka, small white shawl like silk cloth and fresh coconut water. Once you check in, the first thing is consultation with the doctor as your stay, food and everything that will follow will be according to the doctor’s guidelines. The doctor checks your blood pressure, weight and asks for your entire medical history and specific concerns and issues.

Treatment/Massage room

She also prescribes ayurvedic medicines, if required. Apart from that, there are 1-2 massages/treatments everyday as per your package and medical requirement.

We had two massages and we tried Abhyangam on Day 1 and Shirodhara on Day 2. I absolutely loved the massages, they use warm oil very generously and each patient has two attendants and they both do it in perfect sync.

Abhyangam is massaging each and every body part with a lot of warm oil, from head to toe. Shirodhara as the name suggests is flow of oil on your head. They do start with the body massage at first, which is followed by Shirodhara. After the massage, we have to sit in the steam chamber for about 5-6 minutes, followed by the bath. They give a special ubtan (which has green gram powder) to bath with, it gets rid of all the oil without stripping any moisture from the skin. I did not require any moisturiser while I was staying there, because of the generous oil during the massage on both the days.

Outside my villa

There are 30 villas in the Kairali property right now, I loved how each villa was at a distance and each villa had a nice verandah outside to relax and admire the surroundings. The entire property is lush green with a lot of different trees and waterfalls around. You can also find a lot of rare birds and butterflies.

Breakfast (Wheat Upma)

Food is all organic made with very little oil and less salt and spices. There is no sugar used in anything, you can get palm sugar if needed. All desserts had jaggery in it. You get fixed portions if you are here for weight loss program. But you get everything from soup, salad, roti, 2 veggies and one dal and rice, followed by dessert. They grow all fruits and vegetables in their own organic farm behind the property. Morning breakfast starts with a plate full of fresh fruits and fresh fruit juice, followed by one main dish and toast/butter.

The water served here is special herbal water. There is red sandalwood based pink water which everyone can drink, it tastes just like regular water. And there is Niranjal (not sure if this is the correct spelling :/) which is light yellow in color and meant for weight loss and increasing metabolism, it has a slight jeera water taste.

They also have a herbal garden which has one herb plant each, it is only for training purpose. Their main property where they grown all the herbs is near their factory. We also visited the factory where they make all Kairali products and saw the entire process how each product is made. We were allowed to click only in two rooms, hence the part you see in the vlog is only half of the process.

We also met the founders Mrs. Gita Ramesh and Mr. K.V Ramesh, it was so good meeting them. They were very warm and down to earth. We chatted for about 45 minutes with them. There was also a cooking demo by the main chef and an astrology session later on.

While you are staying there, each day 6.30 to 7.30 is yoga practice and 6 to 7 in the evening is meditation. In between you can have your breakfast, lunch, relax and get your massage treatments done. They also have an entertainment room where you can play a few games and a gym.

You get WiFi access only at the reception area and not in the rooms, so you have to come to the reception to use WiFi. I had no network, so was almost without internet the 3 days. I actually liked this small little break/detox. I am online 24/7, so it was difficult at the start but I was liking it after a day.

The only thing I would have liked better are the rooms. The interiors could have been much better, and same goes for the bathroom. Bathroom didn’t have proper drainage system. Since we were occupied on both the days and were out the whole time, it didn’t bother me much but if someone comes for the 7 days/14 days package, they have to be comfortable. I wish they work on the interiors and bathrooms, because everything else is just perfect!

Overall, I loved the experience and highly recommend going there for a treatment if you are suffering from something specific or just for a detox. Also for elders who are suffering from arthritis, diabetes, blood pressure, etc, it’s an ideal place to visit.

See more/book the place here www.ayurvedichealingvillage.com

We also got a few products during the factory visit. I have been using them since quite some days and I really like them. This Grapeseed and Almond body lotion was a part of the toiletries in the bathroom and had used it during the stay too. I absolutely love the smell. It looks rich but is water based and gets absorbed instantly.

I have used the Kairoil hair oil and the Kairkare body massage oil just once, so will update on that later. I absolutely loved the sandal soap, it smells really good and doesn’t dry the skin at all because of the glycerin in it.

Also the herbal powder for body wash is really good. It exfoliates the skin gently and does not strip the natural oils from the skin. The lemon anti-dandruff shampoo is refreshing and works on keeping the scalp clean and dandruff free.

The products are slightly expensive I would say, but since they are all herbal and natural and if they work, all up for it. Since I saw the factory and how the products are made, I would really love trying more of Kairali products and definitely will. Highly recommend them. I am looking forward to try Kaircin which is a facial oil for glowing skin 🙂

Products/Medicines/Oils can be bought here: www.kairaliproducts.in

P.S: I went to Kairali Healing Village as a part of Ayurveda Sutra Wellness Bloggers meet Edition 2

Have you been to an ayurvedic/health resort before? How was your experience?

Feb 2017 My Envy Box Review & Unboxing

Feb 2017 My Envy Box Review & Unboxing

Hi guys,

I got the Feb My Envy Box today, the product card which as the theme name was missing in my box. But I saw it online, it’s the Indo-French Edition theme, so there are Indian and French brands in here.

MRP: Rs.850/- (Available HERE)

Products I got:

  • L’Oreal Paris Magique Bold Kajal
  • Avene Micellar Water sample
  • Gulnare Gold Dust Highlighter
  • Votre Face Serum

There are 2 Indian and 2 French brands (Considering L’Oreal as a French brand)

I have already tried the Votre Face Serum, I had received it in one of my Fab Bag last year. I have two full sized Avene Micellar Water bottles and it’s pretty good. This though is a small sample size, good enough to travel with.

Gulnare Gold Dust Highlighter is a jar full of gold wax kind of thing. I can’t understand the base, but it gives a soft, gold glow. It’s very sheer though. Good for the body.

I do not expect L’Oreal Paris kajal in My Envy Box as it’s supposed to be a luxury box with luxury brands, also this is something which is available anywhere and everywhere, it is not even an international brand.

I did not like this month’s My Envy Box, even though there are three full sized products, none is interesting. I don’t recommend it.

Last month’s box was so good! I had really high expectations :/

What did you get? Did you get something different?