I am back with an OOTD, this time it’s this pretty black dress with pinkish red roses on the bottom half. It’s an old dress I had got from Done By None but never untill yet.
I created this case for Asus #Zenfone on their #Zenlooks app here http://bit.ly/1Q1ohRK, it is a galaxy inspired look with deep galaxy colors and some stars in between.
I wanted to create an outfit similar to the case inspiration and I found this dress in my wardrobe which perfectly matched the black and deep pinks and reds in the galaxy.
I kept it very basic and simple and went with a basic rose gold watch and a tan sling. I completed the look with my favourite black and gold block sandals.
I also added this floral pink tiara coz it went beautifully with the dress 🙂
Dress: DonebyNone
Watch, Bag: Michael Kors
Shoes: Shown HERE, HERE and HERE
Have you participated in the Asus India Zenlooks contest yet? You can win Asus Zenfone 2 or the Limited Edition case by CutiepieMarzia every week! Head here now http://bit.ly/1Q1ohRK
Khadi Rose Water vs Fabindia Rose Water vs Lotus Herbals RoseTone Facial Toner
By Archana
Rose water is a favorite beauty product for almost all of us. It has multiple uses, can be used as a toner, for mixing face packs, as a refreshing facial mist, to reduce stress in eyes and even for hair care. It is one product that suits all skin types, oily or dry skin. There are numerous brands rose waters available in the market. Today, I will be comparing three of the best brands’ rose waters – Khadi, Fabindia and Lotus Herbals. Ofcourse, there are more luxury brands offering rose waters like Kama Ayurveda, Forest Essentials, etc. which are undoubtedly superior, but for this post, am comparing the popular budget-friendly ones. Read on to know which one you need to get now.
Packaging:
Khadi rose water comes in a plastic bottle with a flip-flop cap and a small hole to dispense the product. While Fabindia and Lotus Herbals comes in a convenient spray form which is easy and quick to use as you can directly spray on face. Clearly, Khadi’s regular packaging, though good for body lotions and shampoos, is not apt for a rose water.
Texture and color:
Khadi rose water is just like plain water in color and texture. Fabindia rose water, while you spray onto your hands, foams a little. But apart from that, both Khadi and Fabindia feels just like applying water on your face. Gets absorbed quickly, no stickiness, greasiness and they don’t make your face oily. Lotus Herbals, being a toner, has a slightly more denser juice-like consistency due to ingredients like aloe vera juice. It is light pink in color, obviously, artificial color. Khadi and Fabindia rule in this aspect.
Fragrance:
Fabindia rose water has possibly the most natural, soothing and pleasant fragrance among the three. It smells just like fresh roses, though not overpowering. Khadi’s fragrance is good, though it is more artificial, more like the Dabur and Banjara’s ones. Lotus Herbals too has a nice pleasant fragrance which is a little more on the sweeter side compared to Fabindia and is more artificial.
Ingredients:
Fabindia rose water is 100% pure and made from steam distillation of roses. Khadi rose water mentions only rose petals and water in the ingredients list, but it doesn’t say whether it is prepared through steam distillation or conventional method of boiling the petals and filtering. Steam distillation is the more preferred method as just filtering might not exclude all the impurities. Lotus Herbals on the other hand contains not just roses but also tulsi leaves extract, aloe vera gel, vetiver extract, castor oil and parabens and fragrance too. Clearly Fabindia tops in the ingredients and method of preparation. Lotus Herbals is good if you are looking for extra benefits of other ingredients like tulsi, aloevera and vetiver as well.
Efficacy:
In terms of efficacy, I love Fabindia rose water as its made from 100% steam distillation of roses. So I can use it even for sensitive areas like eyes and also hair care without fear. Since its pure, you can also put few drops into your eyes to freshen and cool your eyes. I have combination skin and when I used it in summers it helped to soothe and calm sunburnt skin and also provide light hydration making my skin appear healthy and glowing. With Khadi rose water, the results are normal just like any other rose water. But I feel its not as hydrating as the Fabindia one. Lotus Herbals , being more of a proper toner, offers extra benefits like minimizing pores and smoothing out skin. But after appyling, it gives a little sticky and greasy feeling. It hydrates and moisturizes the skin very well and makes it soft and plumper. I have combination skin which gets dry in winters and this toner has helped my skin stay hydrated throughout. Sometimes, I even skip moisturizer. Though, I don’t think I can use this toner in summers. Also, it won’t be suitable for oily/acne-prone skin people. And unlike, pure rose water, this can’t be used for eyes or hair.
Price:
Fabindia Rose Water comes at Rs.175 for 100ml which is makes it almost 4.5 times costlier than Khadi Rose Water which comes at Rs.80 for 210ml. And what do you get extra in Fabindia rose water for it? Steam distilled pure rose water, soothing natural fragrance, better effects and convenient spray packaging. Lotus Herbals comes at Rs.265 for 100ml, but being a toner, its more concentrated and only little quantity is needed each time compared to the others. So one bottle will last really long.
Final Verdict:
Clearly, the winner among the three is Fabindia Rose Water. It offers the best results, suitable for all skin types, has a soothing and calming fragrance, is made from 100% steam distillation of rose petals and comes in a convenient spray packaging. Those who feel Fabindia Rose Water is costlier, can try Khadi Rose Water, which is definitely far better and pure than the Dabur Gulabari and Banjaras rose waters. Normal – dry skin people who need more hydration and looking for a proper toner, not just plain rose water can go for the Lotus Herbals one.
So I hope you enjoyed reading the post. Which one is your favorite rose water among the three? Do share your thoughts in the comments below.
Editor’s Note: That was a fabulous comparison Archana! I love the Kama Ayurveda Rose Water but yes it is on the costlier side, I would love to try the Fabindia one.
I had not done the 3 outfits series since a long time, see previous ones HERE, HERE and HERE
These are the outfits I wore recently for the events I attended, I have also done a lookbook video 🙂
Outfit 1:
I have seen this long maxi slit tops a lot in the past few months, I never found them in Forever 21 and there was on StalkBuyLove which was almost OOS every time. Finally I found this blue and purple ombre slit top and it is just perfect, except for the length for me if I wear it with flats. I absolutely love the fit, comfort, color, fabric, everything about this top and if you are looking for a long maxi slit top, Stalkbuylove has quite a few options now.
I paired it with this silver, chunky diamante neck piece from Happiness Boutique, it somehow just didn’t sit right on me, no idea why :/ But I love it and it looks amazing on such plain tops/tees. Happiness Boutique also offers ‘Free Shipping’ and have a ‘Customer Reward Program’
The nude sling bag with gold accents is staple throughout and the tan brogues.
Top: StalkBuyLove
Denims: Levi’s
Necklace: Happiness Boutique
Sling: Accessorize
Shoes: Footin
Watch: Daniel Wellington (I have a 15% off discount code till 15th Dec, use ‘BHUMIKA’ at checkout)
Outfit 2:
A shirt dress again, this time it’s beige, white and black color blocked shirt dress. What I like about this dress is that it can even be worn as a cape. The belt defines the waist and I paired it with the same bag and shoes, but with my Michael Kors watch. I wore this for the Woods new Collection showcase.
Dress: StalkBuyLove
Bag: Accessorize
Shoes: Footin
Watch: Michael Kors
Outfit 3:
This is my favourite, bright yellow A-line dress. I absolutely love the lower print, it is quite bright and a statement in itself. I paired it with the same nude sling and my Daniel Wellington watch. I went for strappy block heels since it is more dressy. I was going to wear it for The Body Shop gift wrapping workshop event but I had to run errands that day and this dress is slightly tighter and was not the most comfortable, so I had to change. The only problem is the fit, even though I ordered it as per the size mentioned, it is tight for me. If you plan to buy this, go for a size up.
Dress: Shein
Watch: Daniel Wellington
Bag: Accessorize
Shoes: Shown HERE, HERE and HERE
I hope you liked the looks, do let me know your favourite in the comments below 🙂
Today I am talking about something which we do all the time these days i.e taking selfies! Everywhere I see people taking selfies or clicking pics with family and friends, smart phones have made our life really easy.
I remember when I was in college, people used to hardly have phones forget phones with camera. Then the camera phones were introduced and I was so happy! I used to have more than 1000 pics in my phone in those times when the memory was also restricted. I always loved clicking pictures and when I first bought my camera, I used to take it along on all my family and friends’ picnics or college festivals or for every friend’s birthday. We used to celebrate every friend’s birthday in the group with surprises being planned days before and then the venue, cake and what to do the entire day. It was so much fun and I have all the pictures captured in my albums thanks to my camera.
Even though most of us had smart phones, the quality of the camera was not upto the mark to capture special moments and hence I had to lug around my digital camera with me all the time. Not that I am complaining, when I look back at the pictures, I get lost in the memories and feel so happy.
And the problem with having everyone in the picture being to find someone to click it or use a timer but then you don’t know if all are fitting in the frame. Thanks to the technology, we got new phones and with front camera where we can click our own pictures without being dependent on someone.
The latest phones not only have an amazing rear camera, but an equally powerful and competent front camera too, case in point being the new Asus Zenfone Selfie. It has 13MP front camera and front flash, and it is the first in this category I believe.
Asus has this #DonateASelfie campaign where they made this video capturing selfies of people of different age, genre and with their friends and family. I won’t lie, this video made me shed a tear, it is one of the most beautifully captured video I have seen in a long time.
I have a very special selfie moment too. On the day of my wedding, when my friends came to greet me on the stage, we managed to click a selfie and it turned out so amazing. It is one of my favourite pictures yet, and even though I have more than 700 pictures from my wedding, this selfie will always be special and hold an important place in my life.
I donate this selfie to my husband and my friends for always being there for me, no matter what. And this picture shows the happiness, smiles and the bond we all share beautifully.
Have your donated your selfie yet? Share your favourite selfie on any social media with #DonateASelfie
I wanted to do a video for Karwachauth look but couldn’t coz of time, but I am right on time for the Diwali makeup look. I am wearing this bright orange and pink anarkali with dull gold zari work on it. I wanted to keep my eyes neutral and hence went with dull gold for the eyes and bright fuchsia lips.
I paired the look with gold and pearl dangling earrings and this orange bindi. I quite like how the look turned out, totally me.
If you like this look, please give the video a thumbs up and also subscribe to my Youtube channel HERE.
This Diwali look is brought to you in association with Indian Gifts Portal (IGP.com) , India’s leading Online Gift Store that delivers in 100+ countries. Check out their exclusive Diwali gifts range and bhai dooj tikka hampers.
Also I have a giveaway coming up on twitter in collaboration with Indian Gifts Portal on 5th November i.e. tomorrow, so follow me @bhumika_t and @indiangiftport for more updates 🙂
I hope you liked the look, do let me know in the comments below 🙂
On Saturday I attended an interesting event which was a wine and dine at Bungalow 9 in Bandra with team LIVA. There were a few bloggers, people from LIVA, RJ Archana and fashion choreographer Shy Kalra. The event was hosted by the lovely Freishia Bomanbehram. The USP of the event was everyone was supposed to come dressed up in LIVA and fortunately no two were in same outfits 😀 #UnboxWithLiva was all about not being boxed in synthetic fabrics and how in our forever busy lifestyle, we need clothing and fabric that does not box us but lets us free. A fabric which lets you be as comfortable throughout the day as you would be in your PJ’s and do whatever you wish to.
About LIVA: Liva is a new-age naturally created fabric (in a pure or blended form) that transforms not just the garment but also the person wearing it. It is comfortable, soft, 100% natural, and eco-friendly. It is a part of ‘Aditya Birla’ group.
A fabric so fluid, so breathable, so comfortable… that it moves with you. It is designed keeping the new age woman in mind, this fabric defies all norms of conventional materials and aims to keep you going through the day without being weighed down.
LIVA is made from natural fibres which are produced from wood pulp, a natural renewable resource. The pulp used is from trees which are specifically grown for this purpose i.e. more new trees are planted than trees are cut. It gives the earth a much-needed green cover, saves 6-7 times more land in comparison to cotton, and saves 3-4 times more water than usual.
We got to know a lot about Liva and how it is not only comfortable but also eco – friendly, made from wood pulp, conserves water, everything about this fabric is only good!
Also there was a fun photo booth where we clicked lots of pictures with the Liva hashtag placards.
This was the first time I had tried a Liva garment and I was so surprised by how comfortable and light it was, the fabric is outstanding! You know how terrible hot and humid it is currently in Mumbai, it is around 34-35°C. I was wearing this dress since afternoon and in that 4-5 hours, not even once did I feel uncomfortable or rushing home and changing into my PJ’s. The fabric felt absolutely light and comfortable.
LIVA retails at AND, Global Desi, 109°F, Lifestyle, Pantaloons, Desi Belle at Central, Allen Solly and Van Heusen to name a few, but you have to specifically ask them for Liva fabric coz not all garments are Liva. Liva garments have a separate pink ‘Liva’ tag on them.
I bought this pretty black and orange maxi dress from Global Desi, there were just 3 options at Global Desi, 2 maxi dresses and 1 midi dress. Of which I liked this one the most.
I also checked AND and 109°F, sadly AND did not have Liva garments in their new collection and the 109°F store I went to did not have good stock, so finally settled on Global Desi and I am glad coz I love this dress.
It fits beautifully and I love the black and sunset orange combination, the orange creates an ombre here and it also has pink, gold and black detailing on the ombre.
I paired it with my nude and gold clutch, a gold watch and black sandals. Since the outfit is quite bright and colorful, it created a statement in itself and no other accessories were required with it.
Dress: Global Desi (Liva)
Sling: Accessorize
Watch: Michael Kors
Shoes: Shown HERE and HERE
On lips: Lakme Absolute Matte Lip Tint Tangerine Touch
Location: Bungalow 9, Bandra
I hope you liked the outfit, also don’t forget to check out ‘Liva’ whenever you are shopping next, you will absolutely love the fabric.
Diwali is around the corner and it is one festival where a lot of exchange of gifts take place. We receive many gifts and give out many, though most of the times the gifts are cliché and not something necessarily useful for the person.
I always believe in gifting people something they would actually like and use, rather than something which would get piled up in the showcase for years.
I had gifted by husband a new phone few months ago but unfortunately his phone got stolen 1-2 weeks ago and currently he is using one of my old phones. I was planning to gift him a new phone this Diwali as it is the perfect timing. I am so glad Asus India has come up with this amazing offer this Diwali!!
Asus India is brightening up lives this Diwali with the “Har Pal Happiness Offer”, where customers buying a ASUS Zenfone will get a chance to win Flipkart gift vouchers worth Rs.1,000 every hour. And, one lucky customer will also stand a chance to win gold vouchers worth Rs.25,000 every day! The offer is available HERE.
Now that’s a win win! I get to gift someone and make that person happy plus I win myself some vouchers too 😉 I don’t mind that at all.
Gift Yourself Happiness. Because if you gift an Asus mobile this Diwali, the chances are you’ll win a gift for yourself too! The offer ends on 11th November, so make sure you utilize the offer soon.
What the Company claims: This soap-free and paraben-free gel gently cleanses and purifies your skin while respecting its pH. It cleanses the skin gently without abrasion (no rebound effect). It is suitable for young, oily, blemish-prone skin as it purifies the skin and controls oil secretion, leaving your skin fresh and non-irritated. It contains 60% Avène Thermal Spring Water which has amazing soothing properties and the new sebum-regulating ingredient Glyceryl Laurate. This cleanser prepares the skin for treatment. It is an economical product, as a small quantity is enough to be effective.
How to use: Use Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser morning and evening on your face and body. Apply to wet skin, lather and rinse thoroughly. Remove any remaining traces of make-up on the face and soothe the skin by spraying with Avène Thermal Spring Water.
Ingredients:
Cleanance Range:
reduces/limits sebum production
soothes irritations
Nips acne right at the root
leaves the skin feeling fresh and mattified
I have been using the Avene Cleanance Gel since quite a few weeks now, actually post my break out, I am only stuck to this. Read on to know what I think about it.
I researched a bit about Glyceryl Laurate, which is the new ingredient of the Avene Cleanance Range. It is a monoester of glycerin and lauric acid, skin conditioning agent and helps as emollient and surfactant. It basically forms a film on the skin and gives the skin a smoother, softer feeling. And also helps in sebum regulation.
To start with the packaging, it comes in this sleek plastic bottle with a white cap which you have to swivel to get the dispensor and dispense the product and swivel back again to close, something you see in talcum powders but this has just one tiny hole to dispense which is the perfect size.
It will not leak while you travel with it, but since this is a bit bulky and huge, I would not say it is travel friendly. I would have loved if it would have been available in smaller sizes too.
It is a bit thinner in texture and not exactly like gel, it has this hint of blue in it. I wash my face, take some product in my palms and then just blend some in my palms and some on the wet face directly.
It removes my basic makeup i.e eye liner, non waterproof mascara, sunscreen, BB cream, etc. without any hassles. It does not burn or sting the eyes at all! Something I really like, which most of the cleansers do, on my eyes. You will feel a thin film on the face but not something uncomfortable. It did not dry out the skin at all!
Coming to the main part, it definitely helped in my acne, no breakouts ever since I am using this and my previous scars have also almost faded. I am currently using this once a day, not twice a day since I have combination skin and not purely oily or blemish prone skin.
Though it is on the expensive side, the quantity is a lot and this 200ml bottle would easily last you at least 3-4 months depending on the usage.
I absolutely love it and recommend it. The most gentle cleanser I have used in a long time which removes my basic makeup, cleanses skin thoroughly from deep within, controls my break outs and even helps in fading the acne marks. And does not dry out the skin at all. It is a must try and will work for majority skin types, but if you have oily/acne prone/blemish prone skin, definitely get it today.
Rating:
Quality: 5/5
Value for money: 4.5/5
Availability: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Would I buy it again: Yes!
Have you tried the new Avene Cleanance Gel Cleanser yet?
A new OOTD today, this week I attended the Grazia BeauTea Party at The Taj Mahal Tea House in Bandra. It was a small meet of 6-7 bloggers and the Beauty Editor and Art Director of Grazia India. It will be covered in next month’s Grazia magazine which is the ‘Beauty Special’, so do grab your hands on that 😀
Anyhoo, this is what I wore. I am loving this red frills skater dress, it is so so comfortable and the frills make it look super pretty. Also it was a common style in the 80’s and has made a comeback and why not when all the styles from 70’s and 80’s have 😀
I paired it with my black fringed sling bag and black and gold ankle strap sandals. Finished with my current favourite Michael Kors rose gold link watch.
Bluestone.com has launched their New Blue Book. You ask what is it about. It’s a theme based jewellery lookbook/style guide which consists of different lines of Bluestone.com jewellery along with pictures, styling and all other details. The Blue Book is based on 3 themes – WEDDING BELLS, COSMO CULTURE and LOVELORE.
About BlueStone: BlueStone is India’s leading online jewellery brand that houses high quality fine jewellery in exquisite designs. With a user-friendly shopping experience, BlueStone is a one stop destination for everything jewellery, given any occasion. Established in 2011, BlueStone has built a large family of loyal consumers both in India and abroad. Some of the investors being Ratan Tata, Kalaari Capital and Accel Partners. A vertically integrated firm, BlueStone prides itself on an excellent customer service and distinctive craftsmanship.
BlueStone houses more than 3000 unique designs for an individual to choose from. These designs are crafted to perfection with utmost care for our customers who also have the flexibility to customize the product’s gold colour or diamond clarity to suit their needs.
With an in-house award-winning design team that pays great attention to detail, each piece is a symbol of perfection. Also, with its cutting edge innovation and latest technology usage, BlueStone makes sure the brilliance is well reflected in all its jewellery. The company offers some of the industry first options to its customers like the 30 Day Money Back Policy, Lifetime Exchange on all its products, BlueFew Loyalty Programme and Free Home Try On.
The brand BlueStone stands for “Pure Jewellery For Real Love” – a wide range of contemporary jewellery to trigger spontaneous expressions of love appropriate to every moment in a real relationship. We believe that the need for jewellery is a cry for romance, and jewellery is best bought in a close huddle with your loved one.
About The Peacock Collection: (Check on their site HERE)
Name: Blue Feather Collection
Tag Line: From the Royal Gardens
Inspiration: “Since we are all royal, in our own special ways.”
About ‘The Blue Book’: BlueStone celebrates the launch of Blue Book, a contemporary, stylish and a gorgeous Look Book that aims to showcase how the jewellery can be worn in the trendiest manner. The Blue Book, as we love to call it is a one of a kind jewellery style guide that will make sure you look a stunner from dawn to dusk! After seeing this, you may want to change your outfit “but not our jewellery”! This Blue Book captures the essential jewellery style guides for three occasions… Festive, Romance and Work Wear.
I received this super cute hamper from Blue Stone. It has adorable love notes, two packs of King and Queen cards, joint coaster, diary, The Blue Book and this pendant and earrings from the new Peacock collection.
I loved the designs, presentation, styling of The Blue Book, one of my favourite looks is this one..
And how adorable are these pendant and earrings from the peacock collection..
Here is how I styled the jewellery..
You can check out The Blue Book online here or follow them on their social media to know more about The Blue Book and the new collections.
