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Biotique Anti-Ageing Skin Care Routine, Indian Beauty Blog, Indian Makeup Blog, Skincare Blog, Biotique

Biotique Anti-Ageing Skin Care Routine

Biotique Anti-Ageing Skin Care Routine

By Archana

Hi everyone,

Today I will be sharing an anti-ageing skin care routine with the brand Biotique. It is important to start with an anti-ageing regimen after you cross 25 as its the time when the first signs of ageing starts appearing. Fine lines on forehead, crow’s feet, wrinkles on hands are all the starting symptoms of ageing. Recently, Biotique had sent me some of their products and I have started using them. If you are looking to start with a simple and affordable anti-ageing regimen, then Biotique is your best bet as its organic, preservative- free and cruelty-free. The regimen includes a serum, day cream, night cream and sunscreen lotion. I will be reviewing each of the products separately in forthcoming posts after using them for 20 days, but today let’s see Biotique’s 4-step anti-ageing skin care regimen.

Biotique Bio Dandelion Ageless Lightening Serum:

Dandelion is a rejuvenating herbaceous plant known for its ageless properties. This lightening serum is a rare combination of pure dandelion, rich in Vitamin E and minerals, blended with nutmeg oil. Used regularly, it helps brighten skin, fade dark spots and ease away wrinkles for a flawless complexion.

Price: Rs.230 for 40ml (Buy HERE)

Biotique Bio Saffron Dew Youthful Nourishing Day Cream:

Saffron is one of the world’s most beloved and precious spices, a natural source of vitamins, minerals and nutrients with rejuvenating properies. This light-feeling moisturizer is blended with pure saffron, almond and pistachio oils, as well as turmeric and wild turmeric extracts, to replenish and help sustain skin's dewy fullness of youth. Dry lines and wrinkles are visibly reduced with regular use.

Price: Rs.230 for 50g (Buy HERE)

Biotique Bio Wheat Germ Youthful Nourishing Night Cream:

Wheat Germ Oil is one of the most sensitive oils in the botanical world, a natural antioxidant with more Vitamin E than any other natural oil. This rich-feeling, firming cream is blended with pure wheat germ, sunflower and almond oils, vitamins A, B, C, D, E and extracts of carrot and galangal to moisturize and strengthen skin for a more vital, resilient, younger appearance.

Price: Rs.230 for 50g (Buy HERE)

Biotique Bio Morning Nectar 30+ SPF UVA/UVB Sunscreen Ultra Soothing Face Lotion:

Nectar is the sweet fluid that flowering plants produce each day, used to sustain ageless beauty from the beginning of time. This nourishing and brightening lotion is blended with pure honey, wheatgerm and seaweed. Replaces natural oils and replenishes lost moisture. Softens and brightens skin for a noticebly fairer complexion. Protects skin with SPF 30 UVA / UVB sunscreen.

Price: Rs.199 for 120ml (Buy HERE)

So these are the set of products in the anti-ageing regimen by Biotique. Stay tuned for detailed reviews of each of them.

Editor’s Note: I absolutely love Morning Nectar and it’s one of my favourites! I want to know how Saffron Dew fares coz it sounds interesting.

Have you tried any of these Biotique products?

Medimix Essential Herbs Ayurvedic Face Wash Review

Medimix Essential Herbs Ayurvedic Face Wash Review

What the Company claims: Medimix ayurvedic face wash gives your skin all day natural care and protection. The unique blend of turmeric, aloe vera and neem gently cleanses and rejuvenates skin. The divine herb lodhra reduces skin inflammation and improves complexion, kushtha and manjishtha helps in enhancing skin texture. The birth of Medimix dates back to a time when the cholayil family used viprathi oil as a cure to ailments of the skin.

The year 1969 proved pivotal in the family’s legacy as Dr. Sidhan combined a timeless tradition with a sharp acumen for business to develop a green bar of soap that could nourish and protect the skin. Medimix, over time, grew synonymous with skin care, the natural way. Strongly rooted in ayurveda, this amalgamation of 18 herbs has been on a constant endeavor to spread the happiness that comes from having young and healthy skin.

For generations, women and indeed entire families have placed their trust on Medimix and this is testimony to the magical properties that it holds. Currently available in 3 variants of soaps and a face wash, Medimix is all set to expand its range and further its vision of ayurvedic happiness for all.

Ingredients & Directions:

MRP: Rs.60 for 50ml (Buy HERE), Rs.100 for 100ml (Buy HERE)

It comes in this small, easy to carry, convenient flip cap tube packaging. This 50ml tube is perfect for your handbag and travels too.

I love gel based face wash as they do not foam much and do not dry out my skin. I always prefer gel based face washes over foam based ones, especially the ones with neem.

It is gel like in texture but not very runny, has a strong herbal smell, you can smell the herbs immediately. This face wash not only has neem which is my favourite ingredient, but a blend of other 5 very good herbs. Let me tell you the benefits of each..

Nimba i.e. Neem is anti bacterial and widely used for skin disorders

Haridra i.e. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and antiallergic. It also enhances the complexion and skintone.

Kumari i.e. Aloe Vera calms and soothes the skin and is the only herb that can penetrate deep into your skin.

Lodhra is cooling and helps with acne as it is a mild astringent

Kushtha is antiseptic and known as a complexion enhancer. It is also widely used in treating many skin diseases.

Manjistha is known to soothe the skin and treat acne. Again a complexion enhancer too

All these herbs are widely used in skincare, to heal, soothe and treat many skin diseases and for improving the skin’s texture.

I love the fact that Medimix refrains from using unnecessary, extra ingredients or harmful chemicals in their products. Also it is free from animal fat. It is SLS and paraben free!

My skin feels soft and smooth, and not dry and stretchy after every use, I do not reach for the moisturizer immediately. I haven’t got any new breakouts since the time I am using this, even during that time of the month when I usually get 1-2 always!

Neem and turmeric are helping control the acne by killing the bacterial germs. Aloe vera is soothing and hydrating the skin while Lodhra, Kushtha and Manjistha are improving the skin’s texture.

I definitely recommend this face wash, it is my current Holy Grail and I am sure you will love it too, especially if you have oily to combination, acne prone skin. This will work for sensitive skin too, as it soothes and calms the skin and does not irritate it as there are no harmful chemicals.

Medimix also has a Anti-Tan variant i.e Medimix Ayurvedic Anti Tan Face Wash with Tanaka. I would be trying that too, soon.

Have you tried the #MedimixAyurvedicFaceWash yet?

Raw Rituals Orange Lip Butter Review

Raw Rituals Orange Lip Butter Review

By Nidhal

Summers are here and sadly, showing no signs of mercy especially up in the North. Oh, wait… Who am I trying to fool? The entire India seethes as if set on fire during the inclement summers, right? 😛 While one would have checked their beauty armoury and stashed all essentials needed to brave the unforgiving summers, yet those of us who have highly chapped lips would be in a dilemma for the thirst of intense hydration of their lips would weigh on their minds. While at the same time, investing in a lip ‘butter’ (I know you might be wondering as to who’d invest in such ‘heavy’ lip products in summers) might sound impractical. 2 states… Not the flick but of your mind are having their own tussle and you are left puzzled!

Hold on. What if there is a lip butter that works to soothe your chapped lips deeply while not making them feel greasy/oily/heavy all the while it has been put on? Oh, and what if it is 100% natural, free from chemicals and vegan? I know I have ignited your interest you Obsessive-Compulsive- lip-balm- addict 😛 Scroll down to read my verdict on Raw Rituals Orange Lip Butter.

PRICE- Rs 150/- for 5g (Buy HERE)

DIRECTIONS FOR USE- Swipe on lips as often as desired.

INGREDIENTS- Unrefined beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, virgin coconut oil, cold pressed almond oil, Vitamin E oil and Orange essential oil.

WHAT IT CLAIMS- Pamper your pucker with our lip butter daily to keep them moisturised, soft and supple.

MY VIEWS-

Packed in a plastic tube with a see-through cap on top, the packaging of this lip balm is simple, hygienic and handy. The cap has not lost its grip even after a month of regular use. On that account, it is up to the mark in terms of packaging for me.

The lip butter has the smoothest possible texture I have cover across till date. It glides so effortlessly that at times, I swipe it more than what is required simply because I enjoy the ease with which it glides 😛

It is neither waxy nor greasy that we expect most lip ‘butters’ to be. It is lightweight and when applied feels very natural. The staying power is good at 4-5 hours and so is the moisturisation ability. No wait, let me correct it. The moisturisation power is phenomenal! Your lips feel deeply…intensely… hydrated. And even after it gets wholly absorbed, you can note that it just did not sit on your lips all this while. It worked to heel them. For this reason, I’d recommend it to all those with severely chapped lips.

The aroma, although transient, refreshes you for it isn’t artificial and quite mild. It is so deeply hydrating that you can wear the most ‘drying’ lipsticks with sheer abandon if you have coated your lips with lip butter in the first place. With light meals, I haven’t experienced the need of a touch-up while with heavy ones, there is. I can turn a blind eye to it for that’s a minor flaw.

On the flipside, there is only shortcoming with this lip butter which I cannot ignore and that is its inability to impart any colour/tint. It is colourless which is why, those with pigmented lips may not be able to cover the darkness of their lips. So, that is the only input from me to Team Raw Rituals. All else for me falls in place. Pout without a doubt if you have this lip butter by your side 🙂

GOOD-

1. Commendable moisturisation power. Keeps lips well hydrated for 4-5 hours. Duration may vary depending on the condition of the lips but the point remains that it has an amazing moisturisation ability. Even after it gets absorbed fully, your lips feel softened.

2. Heels the cracks well.

3. Natural aroma. I am glad it hasn’t been pumped with artificial aroma. And the faint aroma of orange essential oil is refreshing. It isn’t long lasting but for the time it stays, you don’t feel that you have murdered your nostrils with a fake fragrance (under the garb of which many chemicals are added)

4. Packaging is on par. Stick packaging is handy, hygienic and avoids contamination.

5. Well-priced. It is budget-friendly.

6. 100% Natural

7. Chemical and preservative free

8. Made in India

9. Works wonders for the most chapped lips. Again, duration of healing may vary but it is a wondrous choice given its efficacy, ability, price and content.

10. A single stick lasts a good 3 months.

11. Can be purchased through Amazon India.

BAD-

1. No tint/colour imparted. Thus, unable to cover pigmentation/darkness of lips.

RATING- 4.75/5

Editor’s Note: I haven’t tried Raw Rituals products, but they seem good. Will definitely try something.

Have you tried Raw Rituals skincare?

New & Improved Avon Glimmersticks Eyeliners Review, Swatches

New & Improved Avon Glimmersticks Eyeliners Review, Swatches

Hi guys,

I have reviewed some of the Avon Glimmersticks variants before, today I am reviewing their new and improved Glimmersticks, they have improved the formula and here are my thoughts

What the Company claims: All New Formula, Bolder Color in One stroke, Continuous Waterproof Lines whole day

MRP: Rs. 329/- for 0.28g (For Rs.259 currently) (Available online on Nykaa)

Shades available:

  • Emerald Green
  • Blackest Black
  • Cosmic Brown
  • Majestic Plum
  • Starry Night Blue

They do keep adding shades or some Limited Edition shade for a new collection, they had added Textured Teal and Nocturnal, two new shades in 2012 with their Urban Jungle Collection, I have reviewed the Nocturnal shade HERE

They have a lot of different ranges in Glimmersticks, there is Ultra Brights (Reviewed HERE), Diamonds (more shimmery), Cosmic, Liqui- Glide, Flick eyeliner. And then there are Lip Liners and Brow Definers.

The pencils have color coordinated base which makes them easier to identify. I always prefer retractable pencils as I do not like wastage of product with sharpeners.

I can definitely notice the better formula in the first stroke, they were always easy to glide on and use, these are even more pigmented! I have mentioned in my earlier review how they use to break and are very soft, this time they didn’t break much. As you see in this swatch, the black broke a bit while swatching, but they are definitely more firmer.

They are easy to glide on and you get the required pigmentation in one stroke. I have the shades Blackest Black, Emerald, Majestic Plum and Starry Night Blue.

They stayed on for a good whole day on my upper lashline, for about 5-6 hours on my lower lashline and 3-4 hours on my waterline. I have very watery eyes, so I am still very impressed with the staying power. On the upper lashline, it just didn’t budge unless I took it off with a good makeup remover at the end of the day.

Entire quantity

I definitely suggest checking these out, and for the price, they are total value for money! I would recommend these over some of the other new launches which just break and you end up sharpening the entire pencil with a complete waste of product!

Left – Right: Starry Night Blue, Majestic Plum, Blackest Black, Emerald

The only con with these was they were available only through Avon reps, but now you get them online too, on Nykaa, etc. Though you cannot use the current offers and discounts as these websites have fixed prices.

Have you tried the new Avon Glimmerstick Eyeliners yet?

P.S: PR Samples. Honest Review

Cheryl’s Cosmeceuticals Facial Experiential & Home Care Kit Review

Cheryl’s Cosmeceuticals Facial Experiential & Home Care Kit Review

Hi guys,

So on the 10th of June, I went for a skin analysis and facial experiential of Cheryl’s Cosmecueticals at L’Oreal India office.

Let me tell you a little more about Cheryl’s Cosmeceuticals first.

Gunjan Jain, National Education Manager, who has been working with Cheryl’s Cosmecueticals for more than 9 years attended to me. She started by giving me a background about the brand and skin diagnosis with various advanced technologies introduced by Cheryl’s. They have a special Skin Scan App for salon experts that helps them understand the client’s skin and suggests a treatment accordingly. Not only that, the Skin Scan App also stores the client’s data. She did my skin scan test where I was asked a few basic questions about my skin type and concern, age, etc. and I had to register with my name, number and email id and if I did like to book an appointment now or later. This is the exact same app which Cheryl’s has at all salons where they provide Cheryl’s services. We went through it like they do with the clients at the salon.

Then they also had a magnifying glass with a light which has both 5x and 7x magnification to see those deep rooted, pesky blackheads which are not visible to the naked eye.

Cheryl’s Hydrameter

The most interesting tool was the Hydrameter which is used to test the moisture and oil levels. It shows the exact moisture and oil present in your skin and if it is below the required 35 to 50%, then it denotes that the skin is dehydrated.

So all these gadgets help scan the skin and zero down on which facial or treatment is needed by the client. There are normal facials and there are specific treatments for particular skin concerns.

I just had dryness and a little redness due to sensitivity, so we went ahead with the Sensiglow Facial. Now each facial kit comes with pre-measured sachets used at different steps.

About Sensiglow: Cheryl’s SensiGlow is a harmonizing facial to address sensitive skin concerns ,

Main Actives in the facial:

1. Sodium PCA, a key water soluble natural ingredient in the epidermis that keeps the skin well hydrated and radiant and

2. Sea Buckthorn Oil, a natural plant ingredient that plays a vital restorative and revitalizing action on the skin. It is very useful in combating and reducing redness on the skin as it is an effective anti-inflammatory agent that reduces the inflammation of blood capillaries.

Cheryl’s SensiGlow is an instant glow treatment that makes the skin lighter and radiant by eliminating dead skin cells. It also contains active herbal ingredients that uncover lighter glowing skin and is suitable for all skin types that are sensitive. It is specially formulated for calming and soothing sensitive skin. Itchiness and sensitivity are drastically reduced and the skin becomes less irritable.

Cheryl’s SensiGlow is a 6 step process which involves cleansing, deep cleansing, toning, massaging, packing and refreshing. The products used in this treatment are enriched with power-packed ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile oil, lactic acid, shiso extract that are specifically formulated to avoid irritations and provide instant glow that makes the skin lighter and radiant by eliminating dead skin cells.

Steps:

1. Cleansing: It’s like a basic cleansing milk, massaged on the skin for a minute and wiped with a cotton ball.

2. Double Cleansing: There is another cleansing step where the cream is massaged on the skin for 2-3 minutes. It is followed by steam. Now since only my nose had a few blackheads/whiteheads, Gunjan covered the rest of the face with tissue while giving steam so that the other parts of the skin don’t get irritated. It is followed by extraction of blackheads, which again were just a few on the nose. And lastly she cleanses again, so that any residue left after the steam and opening of pores is cleansed.

3. Toner: A toner is dabbed with a cotton ball all over the face to close the pores.

4. Massage: It is followed by a massage cream and Gunjan thoroughly massaged the face and neck for a good 10 minutes. It was very relaxing and I could feel the blood circulation.

5. Face Pack: Later a face pack is applied with a brush which is kept for about 10 minutes, until it dries.

6. Refresher with Anti-oxidants: A moisturizing lotion, little thicker than a toner, is applied after the face pack. Again dabbed with a cotton ball, similar to the toner.

7. Last but not the least, sun block is applied to the skin. They have two sun blocks, one for normal to dry skin i.e. cream form and one for oily skin i.e. spray form. She used the cream one for me.

Price: Rs.1200/- on an average, though varies from salon to salon

Duration: 1 hour + 10-15 minutes for skin scan

Want to know how it felt on my skin?

Before – After

I absolutely loved the results. My skin felt hydrated and fresh. The redness was reduced a lot and the skin was glowing. I noticed even more difference the next day. Since the facial was SensiGlow, it takes care of the redness of sensitive skin and gives a nice glow to the face. It did both of these things for me.

I also got three products as a part of my home care kit and I have been using them since the next day of the facial.

Cheryl’s Dermalite Facewash: A clinically proven gentle and effective cleanser that cleanses and lightens skin. Cheryl’s Dermalite is a powerpacked product with ingredients that exfoliate, hydrate, moisturize resulting in cleansed, brightened and lightened skin.

Price: Rs. 275/-

It comes in a tube form and is light blue in color with gel like texture, you just need one pea sized amount in every wash, so you need very little product. It doesn’t foam too much and that is what I like about it. It doesn’t dry out the skin and yet cleanses it really well. I use it on my cleansing brush for deep cleansing at times and my skin is super soft, smooth and completely cleansed.

I love the minty and cooling smell and effect, skin is definitely cleansed, brighter and smoother with this.

O2C2 Radiance Lotion: Inspired by gene science and stem cells research, a product that is specially formulated with ingredients like:

Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate that is a potent anti-ageing agent
Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract that improves the transparency of the skin
Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract which is known to enhance the radiance and luminosity of the skin. This is formulated to draw out and enhance the natural radiance and shine of the skin that is more associated with young, youthful and glowing skin.

Price: Rs. 1050/-

So Gunjan told me that O2C2 is her favourite product, but the product specifically mentions not for sensitive and acne prone skin and since she saw a little redness and sensitivity on my face, she told me to try this for 1-2 days and use it only if no redness or irritation.

I was a little apprehensive but I went ahead and tried it and I absolutely love it. Since the face wash exfoliates the skin a bit, using this post cleansing, does feel a little tingly at certain areas, but it subsides in a minute. It is a thick and rich lotion, but quite runny and not like a cream. It does feel hydrating and rich on the skin, and a little sticky, I believe it has glycerine.

It does not sweat the skin or make it greasy though, the stickiness settles in some time. I mostly use it at night and wake up to super soft, smooth and bright skin! I love my skin every morning, post using this.

DermaShade SPF 30 spray Cheryl’s Dermashade Sunblock:  Cheryl’s DermaShade Sunblock is formulated to offer complete sun protection, backed by the latest sun care technology and SPF boosters. It provides the highest protection against UV, lock in moisture so that the skin doesn’t dry out and also provides complete protection against sun damage.

Price: Rs. 600/-

Cheryl’s has two sunblocks, one in a cream format for normal to dry skin and one is in a spray format for oily skin. It is super light and easy to blend on the face. It does not leave the face with a greasy or a whitish cast. Since the lotion is quite runny, I like to pat in on the face. I use about 3 sprays for the face and neck. It is the most light weight facial sunscreen I have used. I have used lighter spray ones for the body, but none for the face yet.

L-R: O2C2, Sunblock,Face Wash

It’s been about 12-13 days post the facial and using the home care kit, and my skin is back to normal! I had a few breakouts in between, and if you follow me on Snapchat, you know about the pimples on the lips too. My skin is soft, smooth and much more even since the time I began using this range.

I absolutely recommend trying out Cheryl’s facials and treatments plus their home care kits! I love the blend of natural and scientific ingredients they have, to get that perfect product.

Have you ever tried Cheryl’s Cosmeceuticals? If not, you can avail these customised treatments at a Cheryl’s salon near you!

Maybelline Dream Sun Triple Bronzing Powder Review, Swatches

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?

July 2016 Fab Bag Unboxing & Review

July 2016 Fab Bag Unboxing & Review

Hi guys,

I finally got the July Fab Bag today, many of you have been asking me about it since 1st but it was late by 2-3 days this month.

Read my previous Fab Bag reviews:

MRP: Rs.599/- per month (Buy HERE)

This month’s theme is ‘Hello Gorgeous’

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.

What did you get in your July Fab Bag?

Garnier India Ultra Blends Range Launch #BlendedWithLove

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

Soy Milk & Almonds – Intense Repair (Buy HERE)

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

Mythic Olive- Deep Nourishing (Buy HERE)

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

Henna & Blackberry- Nourishing Shine (Buy HERE)

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.

Mythic Olive
5 Precious Herbs
Soy Milk & Almonds
Henna & Blackberry

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.

Pics clicked by: 25.Harshad

Plum Chamomile & White Tea Skin Revival Face Wash Review

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?

Aroma Essentials Bath Bombs Review

Aroma Essentials Bath Bombs Review

By Nidhal

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!

INGREDIENTS- Baking soda, citric acid, sandalwood extracts, menthol crystals and buds.

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 😀

Have you tried using bath bombs?