Radyance Brightening Skin Complex

Namaste!

You all must be thinking that why I am reviewing about such a product which is highly advertised on internet claiming a guaranteed fairness in 14 days. So if you think that it is really going to make you fair gora gora then you are absolutely wrong. I don't think that any such creams or serums can make you fair, but yes some of them could  improve the texture of your skin and even to achieve a glow but fairness is not possible but sometimes people think that they can totally change their actual complexion. These companies just show edited pictures that how the complexion was before and how it has become after using their product.

So I got to know about Radyance Serum on internet only. These kind of ads usually comes on beauty related websites. When I saw this ad so oftenly I searched about the product and got to know that it has wonderful ingredients like alpha arbutin and kojic acid which works great in reducing pigmentation.

My experience was good while using this serum. I purchased this last year in November and that time I was also taking antibiotics which also helped to improve the overall condition of my body and prevents it from allergies and the skin also becomes even. So I used this for about 3 months and noticed that their was actually some glow in my skin but it could be also because of the medicines which I was taking during that time. Then I stopped using it for a while when I got chickenpox and now from the last 3 months I am again using it. What I noticed this time when I was just using this serum it only moisturised my skin well nothing else but when I started taking multivitamins for skin the quality of my skin improved.

 

Honestly these creams and serums can never make anyone fair. I use this just because it has good components which is very beneficial for skin and it moisturises and suit my skin very well, as I have an extremely oily skin and it is quite difficult to find a perfect night time time serum or moisturiser and this product worked as a great moisturiser so I use this in night only. I even got the day elixir but I cannot tolerate that extra stickiness on my skin for all day long, so I have started using the day elixir in night when my serum got finished as both the product has same ingredients and is of the same price.

Overall this is just a good serum for every skin type. No magic is ever going to happen which will make your skin fair with this serum.

Price is Rs. 4400 but it is always on discount so you will get it for around 1600 or 1700. The packaging is also good it has a pump on it which make it easier to take out the product without any contamination. Right now I only had the pictures of the day elixir.

Pros:

• Suitable for most of the skin type
• Moisturises well
• Adds some glow
• Convenient packaging

Cons:

• Expensive
• Obviously does not provide what it claims 

Arezia Cosmetics Matte Me Lipstick Review

Hello beauties

For a very long time I was planning to try the Arezia matte me liquid lipsticks but the online sites on which they were available were selling it for a higher price and even I was unable to decide that which shade I should go for. I have heard a lot of reviews about these lipsticks so I purchased three shades when I found this as the other two or three shades were the common reds and pinks. If you live in Delhi it is easily available at the local cosmetic stores or in the GK M Block market streets which sell the cheap cosmetics. It is one of the cheapest liquid lipstick available in India.

The packaging is good but the applicator is not easy on lips. It feels like I am applying lipstick with a stick. The shades looks beautiful on lips but the quality of the lipsticks are not good at all. The formula is very drying. After the application it dries in 20-30 seconds and after drying it feels like a pack has been applied on the lips. I could feel the dryness every moment when the lipstick was on. I already have very dry lips so when I tried to remove it, it became very difficult and irritating, so better apply loads of lip balm immediately after removing the lipstick. And yes! It is a dupe of sleek matte me lipstick. The packaging is similar and the look after applying the shade is also similar.  But the quality is different (what else you could imagine for a Rs. 200 lipstick but Miss claire is far better then this)

Nude Brown is my favrouite shade in this range. It is suitable for every skin tone. For fair skin it would be exactly a brownish nude colour. On medium skin tone this colour looks so flattering.It would be a perfect nude colour for dark skin tone.  So if you are looking for a cheap nude shade in liquid lipsticks so can go for this.

Nude Brown

The other two shades which I have are skin kiss and gajri pink. I know the name gajri pink does not sounds fancy :/, but it is what it is and it is not what gajri pink is :D.. Firstly I'll talk about skin nude.This shade is again a beautiful colour  but it washes me out a bit, so I apply a brown or orange lipstick over it than it goes well with my skin tone, but it is going to look absolutely amazing on fair skin tone. A perfect nude colour for fair to wheatish skin tone. 

Skin Kiss

Ok! So now about gajri pink shade. It is bubble gum pink colour (yes! that Nicki Minaj type) very neon. It needs perfect makeup and guts to apply such colours. It could wash you out perfectly( medium to dark skin tones), but fair skin tone could carry this shade with an ease. But this colour does not looks like what it looks like in the tube.

Gajri Pink

After drying

Rest other shades are burnt orange, reds, fuchsias, so if you want to try those shades too you can. But I had lots of similar shades so i didn't purchased them.

These lipsticks remain on the lips for forever :x, but if you have a habit like me of lip biting then the colour becomes invisible from that area, as this lipstick does not leave stains, it goes away like you have erased something from your lips. Small particles are easily visible when the lipstick is removed. But it remains on the lips until you don't scratch it properly and it huts, it irritates and my hands were burning where I did the swatches. Not sure I'll buy it again..

Rubbed it several times with oil

Price- Rs. 200 each

PROS:

• Inexpensive
• Highly matte and pigmented
• Stays long

CONS:

• Extremely drying
• Availability 
• Poor quality 

Charcoal Mask for Blackheads

Hello!

I know it's very tough for oily skin people to fight against acne and blackheads. After every other day whatever we do, whatever we try, we somehow get acne and the nose is never clear. Those black and white dots becomes the center of diversion from our face. In the humid weather it becomes even more difficult to do something for this as the skin starts to produce more oil and becomes very sticky which leads to acne and blackheads, especially on the T zone area the oil secretions are more, therefore blackheads and whiteheads permanently settles down in the pores and whatever we try or how much scrubbing we do it hardly makes any difference. 

Try to use a face wash and scrub which contains salicylic acid. But these days I am using a medicated face wash which is not helping me enough to fight against the blackheads. So I purchased a charcoal mask, the brand name is PIL'ATEN which is a Korean company. There was a lot of rave on internet about this mask so I thought to try this on my blackheads. 

I got this online ( I don't remember the website, it was snapdeal or ebay I guess) for around Rs.280 for six sachets of the charcoal paste or mask. One sachet contains 6 gm of product and could be used at least three times as only very less quantity is required to apply. I apply the paste only on my T zone area and even under my lower lip. The ingredients are not mentioned on the sachet in English and I cannot read Korean :D.

The product is black in colour and the consistency is thick. The first time I used it I did not gave a steam on my face so it didn't worked much, only the little facial hairs came out in the mask. The second time when I used this product I took a steam by putting a hot towel on my T-zone area and lower lip, where I usually get blackheads and whiteheads. After putting it for good 5 minutes , I applied the charcoal paste on the effected areas and when it got dried I stripped off the mask instantly (you can do it calmly and slowly too if you are facing any kind of pain in removing the mask). This mask feels like waxing, the process is quite similar to it. We just need to apply a thick paste and strip it, than it removes the blackheads, whiteheads and also the tiny facial hairs.

The product for me was average, I could still see the blackheads on my nose but the whiteheads were out. But one of my friend used this same mask with me and her results was unbelievable. All her blackheads got disappeared. So I think it depends on the skin type as well. I have an extremely oily skin and she has a normal skin type so may be this is the reason that it takes lot more efforts to remove blackheads from oily skin. But you can use this product as it is very affordable and try it on yourself and see how it works for you. It is anyways better than using a blackhead removing tool which hurts a lot. Try it once!

FOREST ESSENTIALS HAIR CONDITIONER

Namaste!

These days I am obsessed with natural products. I keep on buying and trying the things and see how it works for me. Even I try my best to avoid chemical based products for my skin care, as I have used a lot and nothing worked for me except the medicated ones. You if you read my posts you must be aware that I have to use a medicated shampoo often and these kind of shampoos makes the hair dry and frizzy. I have an oily to dry scalp and the damage is in my ends and also there is some frizziness. In any case I have to apply conditioner after washing my scalp just to assure I can easily comb my hairs otherwise it becomes very troublesome to comb my tresses. 

I have used many different hair conditioners which are easily available at the grocery store and I was okay with the results. I never thought to buy expensive hair conditioners for my hairs as I thought all are going to be the same with a bit difference. 

I used forest essentials hair conditioner for the first time when I stayed in a hotel and they had the miniature bottles of it. The very first time I  used it I fell in love with the this product. It work wonders for my hairs. It has all the natural ingredients and totally safe to use. I could feel the difference while applying this in my hairs and after wash the hairs becomes smoothest and smells divine as if some aroma has been applied in the hairs. The consistency is not thick which leads to the conditioner spill but you can squeeze your hair ends and than apply the conditioner which makes it easier to apply.

The conditioner comes in few different variants so you can chose what suits you best. I buyed the new one for its fragrance. Right now I have mashora honey and vanilla conditioner which smells heavenly.

The conditioner contains cold pressed almond kernel oil which is a very pure form of almond oil, jojoba seed oil, hibiscus extract, glycerin, brahmi, methi seed extracts, henna extracts, organic honey and vanilla fruit extracts. All these ingredients help the hair to make them smooth, soft, strong, shiny and yes leaves the hairs to smell good all the time.

I also like the way the store deliver the products. They put some rose mist on a butter paper and marigold petals on it and keep the product inside this paper with a pastel carry bag which looks beautiful. The packaging also looks luxurious as they have gold caps for their products.

Overall I would say that try this product at least once. They also have small bottles of 50 ml which costs Rs. 295. 

PROS:

• Makes hair extremely smooth
• Leaves a good fragrance in the hairs
• 100% natural

CONS:

• No cons

KAMA AYURVEDA NIMRAH FACE PACK

Namaste!

Post chickenpox I was searching for some good natural face packs and I buyed this kama ayurveda nimrah facepack after hearing about its good results. Also I have been purchasing kama ayurveda products these days a lot and it is showing wonderful results on me. The product is basically for acne treatment and it also claims to reduce dark spots, scars and dark circles. It also claims to decrease inflammation, ageing and blackheads.

The key ingredients are vetivar, ashwagandha, red sandalwood, Indian sarsaparilla, coriander, lodhra and liquorice. It is 100% natural without any artificial colors, preservatives, fragrances and any kind of chemicals.

The packaging is not good. It is similar to the packaging of khadi face packs. It comes in a steel container with a packet inside it in which the powder is there and while taking the powder out it could lead to wastage of it, as sometimes the pack comes more or it falls. It also has a cute small wooden spatula which is of no use :D

The product is supposed to be applied by mixing buttermilk in it to form a thick paste but anyways you could use some other ingredient whatever suits your skin.

I have an oily and sensitive skin type so I thought it is going to work for my skin to reduce acne and oil. My experience with this face pack was average types as it did not worked great for my skin. After applying and washing off the pack I could not notice much difference. I just felt a bit refreshed as the amount of oil decreased for few hours and the next day the condition became the same.
It is not a  magical product but may be it could work for your skin. This product has got good reviews from others so you can try it once and see how it works on your skin.

One more thing when you will be removing this pack do not scrub vigorously on sensitive skin otherwise it may cause redness.

The product costs Rs.885 for 40 gms

PROS:

• 100% natural
• No side effects

CONS:

• Pricey
• Didn't worked for me 

YOGURT

Namaste!

I was never a big fan of yogurt, but from the time I have started using it I can see the difference and loving it now. The best thing about this is it is easily available in the markets and even we can make it at home too. These days I try to include it everyday in my diet, so it has to be there at home and this made me to try yogurt for the home remedies purpose also.

Yogurt has ample of benefits from health to skin to hairs. I started to include this in my diet on a regular basis when I got chickenpox. I was advised by the doctor to eat it or have buttermilk so that it could calm down my body temperature and stomach. It has some kind of bacteria which helps our gut and other stuff (you can google it). It is a good source of calcium and is low fat. I have also heard that Greek yogurt is very beneficial for health but I personally do not like the taste of it and who so ever is use to Indian dahi (yogurt) cannot eat Greek yogurt. Apart this lets talk about the benefits of it for skin and hairs.
These days I am using yogurt in my face pack as the pack is in powder form and to make a paste I use yogurt in it. It helps to moisturize the skin  and also helps in dark spot reduction. I use a very small amount of it with the face pack to make a thick consistency and then apply all over my face. I have also tried using it as a conditioner both as in a henna pack and separately too and it works as an excellent conditioner for my hairs. If you have dry and frizzy hairs you can use it once in a week or even once a month and trust me the results are immediate and amazing.

Yogurt face pack

I am listing down below the other benefits and the ways how you can use it :

• Mix in face pack to moisturize, reduce acne, dark spots and it also calm redness
• Use before bleaching as it soothes the skin and has also natural bleaching properties
• As a scrub- to remove tanning from body by mixing it in gram flour, multani mitti or oats. It has lactic acid which works as a great exfoliator. 
• Helps to reduce dark circles, you can directly apply it with a cotton ball under eyes
• It also helps in preventing hair fall when you use it in a henna pack. Mix henna powder, potato juice, fenugreek seeds powder in it, make a thick pack and apply all over your hairs especially scalp and leave it to dry for good 2 to 3 hours and then wash it.

The rest what is given on internet I have not tried and tested on my self that is why I have not mentioned it. And the best thing about yogurt is that it is always going to moisturize your skin and hairs. :)

KAMA AYURVEDA BRINGADI OIL

Namaste!

I used to oil my hairs at least once a week many years ago but from the time I have got seborrheic dermatitis I stopped using oil frequently and whenever I oiled my hairs dandruff started increasing and because of it I got pimples :'( so I stopped oiling my hairs from last few years and the quality of my hairs has become very bad since than.
I tried and tested many different oils available in the market, but nothing worked rather it increased my dandruff more. Even the doctor said to stop oiling hairs and only to use medicated shampoo. But the medicated shampoos have lots of chemicals that damage the hairs and makes it very rough and dry. But when I tried Kama Ayurveda products for the first time so I had a good experience and also bought their Bringadi oil and thought I should give it a try. The oil states that it's a hair treatment oil which helps in hair growth, prevents hair loss, dandruff and premature graying. Well I am not concerned about gray hairs as I have jet black hairs but anyways prevention is better than cure.
This oil is supposed to be massaged in the hairs so that the entire scalp is covered. The bottle mentions that keep it for 30 minutes but I sometimes keep it overnight. It also works as a natural conditioner. There will no need to apply conditioner if you have used this oil. Also a very less amount of oil is required to cover the scalp and the rest what remains in your hands can be applied in the ends of the hairs.

My experience was good with this oil. I will definitely repurchase it. I usually use this oil once a week or sometimes twice. For the very first time when I used this I could see difference in the quality of my hairs as I didn't applied conditioner and still my hairs were smooth. My hair fall has also decreased.

I wanted to test and see if this oil actually helps  in reducing or eliminating dandruff, so once I used the medicated shampoo to wash it and the next time I used  the regular shampoo. See it is obvious that if I am using a medicated shampoo for my dandruff  than for that time I won't be able to see any dandruff on my scalp, but when I used regular shampoo then after wash I could still see the dandruff in my hairs  but but but it was comparatively less. So I think it somehow helps to remove dandruff but not seborrheic dermatitis. Overall this oil is fantastic and the best oil I have ever used till date. It cost Rs. 515 for 100 ml

PROS:

• Natural product, free from chemicals
• Conditions hairs 
• Prevents dandruff 
• Reduces hair fall 

CONS:

• Smells bad 
• Does not helps in seborrheic dematitis

The Haircut

Namaste!

So it's my birthday month and I thought to make some kind of change in my hairs. I had already decided that I will be going for a blue ombre hair color but the hair stylist told me that a pre bleach will be done before applying the actual color that was blue and the hair resistancy will be tested that whether my hairs can tolerate that amount of chemicals or not. It is basically seen by applying bleach in your hairs and then they see that is there any breakage in the hairs or not. If so they stop applying more bleach in the hairs and than start the hair color. The more the bleach is done the more the actual color which you want enhances (for darker color hairs). After knowing about this, that so much of torture will be done with my hairs, I thought that again I should go for a red ombre which I got it done in March'16, that has now become copper but again the stylist told me that pre bleach will be applied if I want the exact same color which I showed to him. I wanted a vibrant red color and I also warned that nothing should touch my roots as I already have seborrheic dermatitis(dandruff).
I was very confused because I did not wanted a common look, thought to go for a bob cut but did not wanted to lose my long tresses. Finally some another stylist told me that I should shave my hairs from one side and oh my god it was such a tough decision I got really worried. After 5 minutes the guy came with a trimmer and completely shaved my hairs in one go from one side :'(
Now I think I should not cry over it as it was my decision and I only said yes for it. But beware whenever we visit a salon they try to convince so much to do this or to apply some product or get some kind of treatment done, don't get fooled around, be little strict with them ,there is no harm in saying "no"  if you are not as crazy like me because all my decisions are at the last moment and sometimes they end up to be good and sometimes bad. but I love my craziness and have no regrets. I am happy the way it looks now :)
And I can even keep it both ways :p

L'oreal Paris Star Collection Pure Reds Lipsticks Review

Hello beauties..

We all are in love with red lipsticks and it's a must to have at least one good red lipstick in your kitty that perfectly suits your skin tone. L'oreal came up with the star collection pure reds lipsticks in India last year and the shades of this range became very  popular.

The lipsticks are easily available everywhere and suits the Indian skin tone very well. Last year I purchased a lipstick and I fall so much in love with the lipstick that I wasn't able to resist myself from buying and trying other options available in this range . I have four shades in this collection and all of them are beautifully awesome . The colors suits my olive skin tone very well  and I love  wearing these colors as they go with most of the outfits . All the shade in this range are from red family  but  looks quite different .. not totally but there are similarities between scarlet and pure rouge  still you could notice that scarlet is little more on the lighter side .

Pure scarleto (Blake Lively)

Pure vermeil (Fan Bingbing)

 My favorite is vermeil. It was the first shade which I purchased  and you could see from the picture that  how much I love this one . I have used this shade a lot,  as this was the first shade which I bought from this collection,  but trust me I bought it because I found this shade to be  most flattering on my lips. It is just so so beautiful. It is quite similar to relentlessly red from Mac but the formulas are different  as Mac's retro matte lipsticks are extremely matte and dry out the lips but the L'oreal ones glide on the lips better than the retro matte range from Mac and after few minutes it becomes completely matte . I found something different in the formulas of these star collection pure reds range, the vermeil shade is  more matte as compared to the other shades which I have . The pure rouge shade is little creamier as compared to other shades. I don't know why :|

Pure Rouge (Freida Pinto)

The garnet shade is also a very beautiful color. It is the best shade for every type of skin tone. Fair, medium, dark, anyone could carry this shade without any doubts.

Pure garnet (Sonam Kapoor)

I would suggest that at least one lipstick from this collection is a must buy as you should try it once and see yourself that how beautiful these lipsticks are. The staying power is also good. It stays on the lips for around 4 to 5 hours and after that leaves a lovely light pink or red stain on lips. It would cost you Rs. 950 for a lipstick but anyways discounts are available on different websites, like on amazon or nykaa it is available for Rs. 750 or Rs. 795

PROS:

• Matte with a non drying formula
• Color stay power
• Easily available
• Sheek packaging with autographs of celebrities on the body
• Suits almost every skin tone

CONS:

• Little pricey, as it is a drug store brand 

Gram Flour/ Chickpea Flour - BESAN

Namaste!

These days we all want to use products that are chemical free. There are brands available in the stores but few are expensive to afford and for the rest there is no surety if it is a genuine product or not. So instead of using them we should be going for home remedies with the products that are easily available in our kitchens. Gram flour- besan is one such wonderful ingredient which is easily available, cheap and easy to use. It can be used in so many ways as a pack, scrub and even for bathing. It's so hassle free you just need to mix your favorite other ingredient that suits your skin and you are ready with your own home made product.

In India gram flour is very famous and there is no kitchen where it cannot be found. It's such an ideal ingredient that any one can use it, whether they have a dry, oily or normal skin, it is suitable for every type of skin. There is even one ritual in India known as "haldi", that before the marriage a pack which consists of haldi(turmeric) and besan(gram flour) including other ingredients like rose water, yogurt, saffron, etc. is applied on the bride and the groom so that they can have a glowing soft skin. In the past also the elite men and women used to bath after applying besan pack as it worked as a natural body cleanser, but now the chemical based soaps and body cleanser has taken over such products that does not even cleans the body properly and is of no use- except making lather and foam :D
I use the gram flour pack only on my body as I am already using other pack for my face these days.I like to use it with yogurt as it makes the skin soft and removes the tan. When you will apply the pack you will notice that it becomes really dry and tough to remove so you will have to scrub the pack by putting some water over it. My skin is extremely sensitive so I avoid applying besan on my face as it leads to redness while removing it, even I get some redness on my body when I remove this, but this depends person to person, everybody has different skin type so do a patch test before applying it on your face. But overall it is safe to use.

Different and easy ways to use it-

• Removes tan- mix yogurt in it and apply the pack
• Skin lightning and bleaching - mix lemon juice, turmeric and yogurt in it
• Reduces oil and skin lightning- mix tomato juice or potato juice in it
• Hair reduction- mix honey and lemon in it

All the above ways can be used on the body or on the face, only thing to keep in mind is that do check it by applying the pack on your hands before applying the pack on your face. One more good thing about gram flour is that the packs can be used a s scrub as well but this pros becomes a cons when the pack gets dry and we have to remove it by scrubbing it too hard, by doing so the skin can become little red. Otherwise it's all good to use :)

PCOD/PCOS

Namaste!

Polycystic ovary disease(PCOD) or polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) both are the same. When I visited the doctor in 2010 than she said it as PCOD now mostly the doctors call it PCOS. Okay! So here why I am discussing about this problem because due to  this many of the skin related problems are caused like acne, hair growth especially facial hairs and also weight gain. I know I am very skinny and underweight but when I had this problem my weight was around 49 kg which was normal according to my height and age. But as soon I was recovered with this problem my weight reduced to 43 kg, and I realized that this is me, my actual body, at that time I had fat because of the cyst.
I started getting acne when I was 13. I was very much pissed like the other kids but I got more worried when I noticed that I am getting facial hairs especially on my chin and the overall growth of my body hairs were also increasing. Till 5 years I was struggling and trying to figure out the solution. Whenever I visited the dermatologist she used tell me that it's normal in teenage and gave me few medicines and ointments. I have used what not- CLYNDAMYCIN, BENZOYL PEROXIDE, NEEM, CINNAMON, POTATO, TOMATO, HOMEOPATHY, I tried every possible thing and remedies to find the cure for this acne. My facial hair problem was not much as compared to other girls but my acne and pimples were increasing every day. Medicines had temporary solution and when I stopped taking them than again the pimples popped out.
One day in 2010 my family physician referred me to a gynecologist and she told me to get some tests done. There were some blood tests and ultrasound. She also asked about my period cycle, than we came to a conclusion that the internal problem is leading to the miserable face of mine. The ultrasound showed that there were cyst in the ovaries and in blood test it was found that my testosterone level has increased that are male hormones which leads to manly characteristics in a female. Thank God! I am still a female... The testosterone leads to facial hair growth even the voice becomes husky and masculine, there could be other characteristics as well, but I encountered only hair growth and the husky voice. My only problem due to PCOD was acne and facial hair growth. I also had sotret capsules for few months(for acne), but it could lead to liver problems if you do not have a strong liver and extreme dryness in your lips. Please do not take this medicine if you have a dry skin otherwise it could lead to cuts in your lips and face too if you do threading.
SYMPTOMS:

• Weight gain
• Hair growth(hirsutism)/hair loss
• Acne/Pimples
• Heavy voice
• Anxiety
• Infertility

Finally I started taking Diane 35 which is a contraceptive that is supposed to be taken for 21 days. There are other contraceptives for 21 days that are prescribed by the gynecologist. I took this for around 2 years and than stopped for next 6 months. After that I repeated it like I took the medicine for 2 months or 3 months and gave a break for few months. In June'14 I stopped taking the medicine and then got a ultrasound done in September and found that there were no cyst left and the problem has been solved now. But it can again show up if there is any kind of hormonal changes. The procedure of taking the medicine on and off is repeated until you do not get regular periods every month. If it is missed or delayed for more than 10 days than you should definitely get your self checked.
Now it's been around 2 years that all my hormonal system is balanced and I am getting my periods in time. I also had lots of fish in my diet which contains omega 3 and avoided junk food a lot. But this does not assures that it cannot happen in future. PCOS could happen at any time to any female and most of the times it is because of our unhealthy lifestyle.
PREVENTION:

• Healthy lifestyle which includes exercise and inclusion of healthy food in your diet
• Avoid junk food
• Avoid stress

NOTE: Please do not take any medicines without prescription of a good doctor.

ROSE WATER

Namaste!

I encountered the benefits of rose water when I was in school, but at that time I could not use it in the right way as I was unaware of its benefits. It is the cheapest, easiest natural toner available. It has endless uses and benefits . There are  lots of brands available in the market from drug store to high end  brands, there is so much to chose from. It is suitable for every skin type. It tones the oily skin and also soothes my sensitive skin, it also hydrates the dry skin. These days I am using Kama Ayurveda pure rose water. I heard a lot about this product and thought to give it a try. The product claims to be steam distilled which is considered as a pure form. It costs Rs. 250 for 50 ml product and I think everyone should give it a try because after using it I am not using any of my rose water which I had from other brands like dabur, lotus etc. I am also planning to try Forest Essentials rose water as that one is cold pressed. But trust me if you will use this you are definitely not going to buy any drug store rose water as this Kama Ayurveda rose water is so soothing and calming on skin. I always get redness and suddenly it starts to itch when my skin gets in contact to dust pollution or may be some kind of cosmetic from which I am allergic to, but this rose water helps to calm my skin a lot. I also use is to tone my skin after cleansing and in some face packs too. There are whole lot of other benefits of it:

 

• It helps to maintain the pH level of the skin & helps tighten pores.
• It is so good as a toner for every skin type.
• Helps in healing scars, wounds, cuts and redness.
• Can be used as a refresher, just spray it on your face.
• Helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
• Mix it in face packs.
• Makeup remover. 

The easy availability of rose water makes it more popular. There are no side effects(if not allergic) of it. It is easy to use and has so many benefits. So all you need is a rose water in your life to treat your skin well without any other product and if are lazy like me than it is the best thing to always carry, as whenever I am not in a mood  to use something on my face I just spray it and sleep and sometimes remove my makeup too with this rose water.

Pros:

• Easily available 
• Cheap until you are not using high end brands 
• Multiple uses 
• Not messy 
• Natural product 

Cons:

• Few people could be allergic to the smell 
• High end brands are little expensive 
• Tough makeup cannot be removed properly

Denim essentials

Namaste!

My love for denims is never ending. From jeans to top to skirt to dress, I love them all. It looks stylish, comfortable and is breathable (that depends on the fabric quality as well). Denims were always loved by everyone from men to women but it became a huge trend in 1960's. During that era different variant of denims were introduced. The skinny jeans, bell bottoms jeans, denim jackets, denim skirts all became so popular. So as we all know that a pair of good denims is very much needed in everyone's wardrobe and I would suggest that a blue and a black one is really essential as it can be matched with most of the outfits and the black one's can be worn as formals too. There are many other styles available in denim that has gained a huge popularity over these years as fashion always keeps repeating just the styling is changed. My favorites are below-

• Jeans- As mentioned above denim jeans are the most essential thing in your wardrobe. A good fitted jeans makes the look smarter. A blue and black is a must. It can be paired with shirts, tops, kurtas, etc. It is just so versatile. Rest there are so many other options available like the bell bottoms, high waist, regular waist, skinny, washed, distressed. There is so much to chose from. 
  
• Shorts- How I would have survived without them. It's so comfortable and looks cool too. In monsoons it's such a savior as I do not prefer jeans in monsoons even you all should avoid wearing jeans or pants(as long you are not going to an office which strictly prefer formals). Again it comes in different colors, patterns and styles. There are lots of options like shorts, micro shorts, knee length shorts, etc. 
  
• Jackets- Denim jacket looks so trendy in every season. Denim is mostly made of cotton or cotton blend fabrics which is suitable for every season. So the jackets can be worn in summers and monsoons as well to protect ourselves from the winds(and winters of course) and trust me it looks super stylish. 
  
• Dress- My new love are the denim dresses.These summers I was flaunting the denim dresses very frequently and it is so comfortable and looks best as summer casuals. It looks too cute. Highly recommended. 
  
• Skirts- Skirts have made a comeback or I should rather say that they never went out of fashion only there were some modifications made to it. Previously mini skirts and knee length skirts were popular but these days the buttoned denim skirts, short or long have captured the market. they look super trendy and are comfortable too because of the lose fitting. 
  
• Denim Tops/ Shirts- From the last 3-4 years denim shirts have become a choice for everyone even for men. This trend flowed in Indian markets in the end of 2011 and is still a choice for many people as the styling of the denim shirts can  be done in many different ways. With the coming of it the markets and the trend setters also thought to introduce the denim tops which were again highly popular post 1970's and on & off it was always in demand. 
  

Denims were always in trend from the past to the present and in the future also it will be in demand and fashion because of the fabric and the different ways how it can be styled and how so many things can be made out it. The best thing about it is the fabric which can be shaped and modified into so many ways and can be worn in every season.

Top 5 lipsticks and nail polishes shades that can never go out of fashion

Namaste!

This season pastels are very much in trend, from clothes to makeup almost in everything. But there are people who cannot carry these colors and others are scared as they feel it is too bright for them. Selecting the right shade of makeup even becomes tougher. So for the women's/girl's who want to be on a safer side and still want to look their best should go for evergreen colors that can never go out of fashion. Lipsticks and nail polishes are the two essential products that are almost used by every women. Sometimes we even try to match the both as it looks more classy, but this can be done with classy shades only which I am listing below-

• REDS- Okay! So first in my list is red because it is the shade that suits every skin tone- fair, medium, olive, dark, red can never go wrong (but keep the occasion in mind). It is a color which every women must have. From the past till the present reds will be always in vogue. This color instantly brightens up the complexion. If you are going for some special occasions like party,wedding or even for a casual outing and you are confused for the right shade to wear, just grab a red lipstick and apply a red nail polish and you are good to go.
• PINKS- Pinks & fuschias are such versatile colors. They look classy as well chick too. This looks best in every season. If you cannot pull off reds but still want to go for some dark shades then hot pinks and fuschias would be best. Rest there are so many other options in pink like baby pink, nude pink, coral pink, they all are on the lighter side. So a pink shade is also a must have.
• PEACHES- This is a good to go summer shade. Peach color looks amazing in summers but there are women who don't like wearing too dark shades so they can go for this color in winters as well. It's not dark , it's not so light, so keep this color in your vanity and use this when you don't want to go too loud but still want some color on your lips and nails.
• NUDES- Nudes have become so famous these days, everyone is going crazy about  nudes. You just have to select the right shade according to your complexion otherwise it can wash out the olive or the dark skin people .
• MAROONS-  Again! This colour can never go wrong on any skin tone . Right now even I am wearing this and it looks amazing . This color is such a blessing for olive and dark skin tones people. But it's meant for each and every women out there. 

All the above shades mentioned are my favorite and I am sure you all will love it as these are the must haves in your vanity and these colors can never go wrong in any season. They will be in fashion forever. You only have to chose the right shade for yourself as there are so many options available in all colors according to the skin tone. Pick a shade that does not washes you off and it should compliment and enhance your skin.

Seborrheic dermatitis- Dandruff

Namaste!

Okay! So I have a lot of skin problems, from my head to toe. I don't know till date how many skin problems I have been went through. It might be because I have a weak immune system and my immune system is weak because I am underweight. I recently went through chickenpox at this age due to my weak immune system. My body cannot resist allergies and infection. It does not have the power to fight it. I get infected and allergic very easily.

In January 2014 I got my rebounding done. My hairs were already straight but the hair dresser at the salon made me a fool by telling me that I am going to do a hair relaxing treatment in your hairs as they have become very dry and frizzy. I only went there to get a blow dry. I know the condition of my hairs were not great but they were not bad as they are today and now I have to go through so many experimentation in my hairs to improve the condition of it.

I was unaware of the name "hair relaxing treatment" and I thought that it would actually do something good to my hairs so that my hairs could "relax" from the damage they were getting through heat and pollution. When the treatment started I asked the concerned person is it the actual thing what you told me and what chemicals you are applying in my hairs as I could smell a very pungent smell of some chemicals and that was keratin, so obviously the person denied that I am not doing rebounding it's just a treatment which has chemicals but that is not going to damage your hairs. As I mentioned that my hairs were already straight and now they became so poker straight that it was looking as if I was bald and wearing a wig(chipkoo hairs).

After few months in April I noticed that I was getting acne and some redness on my face, around my mouth and on the tip of my nose. It was increasing day by day. I went to the dermatologist and she told me that it's due to dandruff and from that time I have been applying medicated shampoo, some ointment was also given to reduce the redness on my face but all it works till the time you are using it otherwise whenever you stop using it the infection starts all over again. It is actually serborrheic dermatitis which has no cure till date in my knowledge.

I have to use a medicated shampoo at least thrice a weak otherwise the sebum production in my scalp increases and which leads to dandruff and acne. May be the sebum production has increased because of the rebounding. Chemicals are used in it and the doctor said that it might be due to this as it  does not suit every person. I should have considered the condition of my skin prior getting any kind of treatments done whether it may be for hairs or skin. My skin gets easily reacted, it is very thin and sensitive. I get rashes easily when I step out in the sun. So how much harm does the chemical has caused to my scalp/skin you can think.

Many people these days are suffering from seborrheic dermatitis and it might be due to other reasons-

• Stress
• Genetic
• Yeast production
• Some medicines
• Oily skin
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Lack of cleanliness  

From the last 2.5 years I am using a medicated shampoo on a regular basis. These days I have also started using regular shampoo when I oil my hairs or apply a pack as it is difficult to remove the oil or the pack from the medicated one. Currently I am using Nuforce shampoo which consists ketoconazole IP 2% and zinc pyrithione(ZPTO) 1%, this shampoo also states that it has conditioner as well so I switched to this one. Previously I was using Keraglow AD shampoo, but nuforce is better then this as keraglow makes the hairs more dry and frizzy. All the medicated shampoo does so but I have to use it as I have no other option.

Things to do-

• Keep your scalp clean.
• Use a shampoo which has ketocanazole and the other components can be like zinc pyrithione or coal tar or salicylic acid or selinium sulfide. But ketocanazole is must.
• Change your pillow cover whenever you clean your scalp.
• Keep your surrounding clean, especially your bed.

This problem is permanent and the only cure is to use the medicated shampoo otherwise you have to face dandruff. These days I am researching and trying to figure out a permanent cure for this through homeopathy treatment as the medicated shampoo has made my hairs dry and rough. Even using these kind of shampoo's in the scalp could lead to some side effects and hair fall, hair fall is very common when you are getting a treatment in your hairs or using some medicated thing.

I wish I find a permanent cure for seborrheic dematitis and if so than I am surely going to share it. :)

OLIVE OIL BENEFITS

Namaste!

We all are aware of the benefits of olive oil, whether it be for health, skin or hair. I recommend that everyone should once give it a try as it can prove to be very beneficial. I started using olive oil when I was in school during my teenage. I used it in my hairs for the first time and it did worked for me. I used this on my skin with my night serum for about 2 months and there was a visible difference in the texture of my skin. I stopped using it when I got chickenpox as I was on medications. But now I will start using it again as it proved to be very beneficial for my skin. I sometimes use it to remove my makeup, it removes all of your makeup and also moisturizes the skin. I also use for massaging on my body by mixing it with some other oils like coconut and almond oil.

As people are getting aware of the benefits of olive oil its demand in the market has also increased. Now it is available everywhere and many people are using it in different ways. Extra virgin olive oil is considered to be good for cooking. The cold pressed ones are beneficial for skin and hairs. It has Vitamin E & antioxidants which is great for skin.

Below I am listing few of it's benefits-

• Moisturizes the skin, makes it glowing, removes dark spots & wrinkles 
• Removes makeup
• Can be used under eye for reducing dark circles
• Mix it in home made face packs
• Promotes healthy hair & nails
• Cooking- reduces cholesterol, anti breast cancer properties, prevent diabetes, aids weight loss

And there are endless benefits of olive oil. But do not consume it more as anything in excess could be dangerous. Do take a patch test before using as some might be allergic to it.

Hair fall treatment and hair conditioning pack ( introducing potato)

Namaste!!!

Post chickenpox I noticed that I am having an extreme hair fall. I even got my hair colored from the ends but I don't think it should matter much as it was done from the ends and the roots were untouched. This problem I am facing from the last few years but now the condition got worsened. Everyone is complaining about my hair fall problem. My hairs are lying everywhere, in my home, office, bed, bathroom ( the pipes also got jammed as my hairs went inside the drainage system).  My maid once refused that I'll not clean your room as my hairs were lying everywhere on the floor. I am not exaggerating but this is the truth.

I have used hairs packs many years ago, now I don't get enough time but finally I have to use it as this problem is increasing. I don't want to use any chemicals to treat this problem so I thought to apply the henna pack for conditioning which includes curd, henna powder, methi and mustard oil. This pack helps a lot to soften your hair and there will be no need to apply conditioner after using this pack. My maid suggested me that I should also add potato juice in it as it will help in my hair fall problem. So I added potatoes in it after grinding it and than soaking the juice from it.

So the pack goes like mixing all the above ingredients. You will be needing 1 cup henna powder, 1 cup curd, 1/2 cup mustard oil, 1/3 cup home grinded fenugreek seeds(methi) and juice of 2 big potatoes. Mix them well and leave the pack overnight in the refrigerator so that all ingredients can soak up well and the pack will become more effective. Apply the pack on the next day in your entire hairs. Let it sit for good 2-3 hours and than wash it off with mild shampoo but only  one wash with shampoo should be done.

Henna powder

Curd

Mustard oil

Fenugreek seeds

Potato juice

PROS 

• Hair becomes very soft.
• Conditioner not required 
• Safe and chemical free treatment 

CONS

• Little messy
• The smell will not go in first wash 
• Particles from pack can be left behind on hairs if not washed properly 

Improvement will not be seen in one go but you have to use this pack at least twice a month to see improvements. I have used this pack twice and have noticed the results. From the past one month I have not used conditioner and my hairs feel so soft. Hair fall will also reduce eventually. 

White Essentials For Summers

Namaste!!!

As we all are very much aware of the fact that whites can never go out of fashion. During the 1960's and 70's the pastels and whites were in vogue. White has made a come back from 2014 onward and has set a new trend from clothes to accessories to footwear. It becomes even more essential for us when the weather is so hot and if the weather is hot than why should we remain cold. So gear yourself with these essential whites we all need for this summer.

1. White Shirt- We have so many options to play with it, with a formal trouser, denims , plazzo pants, skirts and even like a shrug. 
   
2. White Top- You can again team up the top, jeans , trousers etc but this gives you more feminine look, so if you are in a mood to look more sassy than go for a white top. 
   
3. White Kurta/Kurti- I personally love wearing ethnic clothes and we have so many options again to play with a white kurta as it can be teamed up with any color leggings, salwar, plazzo, skirt, denims.
   
    
4. White Denims- This gives such a cool yet sheek  look in this hot weather and so many of the actresses are seen in white denims these days. So go for it. 
   
5. White Cotton Dress - It looks so fun to wear a cotton comfy casual dress in summers. Gives the right summer chic look. 
   
6. White Maxi Dress-  For the days when you don't want to wear a short dress and look more feminine. Its so comfortable as well. 
   
7. White Shoes/ Heels - It's the biggest trend since last year. Everywhere and everyone from Hollywood to Bollywood, men or women all can be seen in white shoes. It looks so cool with denims, shorts and short dresses. 
   
8. White Nail Polish- This year white nail polish has taken over reds and black. It has become so popular in west and spreading in India as well. But nails should be well clipped and shaped then only apply it otherwise it can look weird. 
   
   
   
9. White T-shirt- I think I don't need to describe how important it is for everyone. 
   
10. White Accessories- Like watch, bags, hairbands, neckpiece, flowery floral white rubber bands, they all look so classy. 
    
    
    
    

Beat the heat and spread the white magic all around :)