Just Herbs Silksplash Neem-Orange Rehydrant Face Wash {Product Review}

Price: Rs 245 for 100ml

Ingredients

Neem extract 0.5%, orange peel 0.5%, aloevera 2%, honey 1%, calendule extract 0.5%, cucumber extract 0.2%, chandan (sandalwood) extract 0.1%, cleansing base.

Pros

- Doesn't dry out the face unless used in too much quantity

- Brightens the face

Cons

- Packaging is not very friendly

- Stings the eyes and nasal tract

- Doesn't cleanse well if you have done an oil massage

- Cleansing Base is a mysterious ingredient

My Experience

To start with, it smells nice but I hate the packaging. It comes with a open wide-mouthed bottle which always dispenses more than enough of the face wash and when in hurry, you can see that the product gets easily wasted. The bottle is not easy to handle in the shower either as it is slippery. A stopper or a flip-top cap would have been better.

Also, the product is very runny so use it with care. Very little product is enough for once. The bottle can easily last a month if used properly. Ok, the biggest problem with the product is that it stings my eyes and nasal tract badly. Ok, I cleanse my skin extra-properly because of which the face wash always gets into my eyes and this one gets into my nose as well coz its so runny :(

I have also noticed that it doesn't cleanse my skin well when I apply oil to remove the sunscreen in the evenings. But, otherwise, it really cleanses the face well and shows an immediate brightening of the skin. It also doesn't leave the skin stretched or dry. But, if the product is used in huge quantity, it does dry out the face.

Also, I feel Just Herbs is almost like Biotique because this also uses a mysterious thing called cleansing base in which other extracts have been added. I would love to know the details of this cleansing base. I want to try out their face masks as they seem really impressive and there is apparently no mysterious ingredient in them either. 

PS: Product sent by brand for consideration.
PS 1: Thanks a lot for the amazing response to my giveaway. Its over now and give me sometime to check up on all the entries and announce the winner.

My Latest Haul

My new specs and I love the blue-black combo

This is my most expensive haul of the whole life with my own money and I am really excited to share it with you all :) So, do let me know what you think??? And, let the pics do the talking!!!

those were my geeky purple specs but with not that wide arms!!

saw a Dolce & Gabbana but was too expensive to go for!!!

so I got my very own vogue :)

love the classy specs box

and, some side orders :)

So, what do you think about the haul??? And, btw, today is the last day to enter the giveaway so hurry :)

Flipflops from Oasap.com

the bow for the other flipflop came off :(

Hey guys, I wanted to share what I got from Oasap.com recently. So, check out the snaps. Btw, a word about the website, I love the things they have. They have amazing bags, belts, footwear, scarfs, everything!! And, I am not even speaking about the clothes which are just simply gorgeous except some of the things which you can't wear easily in India :)

are they looking asymmetrical or are they looking good even with the missing bow?

Pros

- worldwide shipping is free

- awesome stuff

Cons

- the bow on one of my flipflops came off!!! I would have liked it stitched instead of pasted with some quickfix or something.

- the flipflops are not exactly soft. I like soft footwear. 

- they are not flat even though they are mentioned under flats. They have an inch of heel, platform style. I like entirely flat footwear. 

What do you think? And, don't forget to check out their site here.

PS: I was provided a coupon from the website.

Hand Sanitizers and their Effectiveness {Skin Care}

A day back I talked about whether you wash your hands after your skin care routine or not? That time, Simran asked me my opinion on hand sanitizers. So, I thought I would rather do a post on it. I am not a fan of hand sanitizers. I like the feel I get from washing my hands instead.

Hand Wash vs Sanitizers

Sanitizers have hit the market with a vengeance and became popular within a very short time. The reason is because one doesn't need to wash the hands and simply rubbing the sanitizer on the hands ensures no germs and clean hands. This seems pretty convenient and saves the hands from the harsh chemicals when they are repeatedly washed with water. So, why don't I like the sanitizers?

The main ingredient of a sanitizer is ethyl alcohol. I remember that in Dettol hand sanitizer, it has around 65-75% of alcohol and its the first ingredient as well. And, as you all know, ethyl alcohol is drying for skin. No sanitizer can be made without alcohol coz alcohol is the ingredient which kills the germs so its an unavoidable ingredient. I did check out lifebuoy sanitizer as well which had around 30% of alcohol or something and that didn't convince me. May be I am wrong here. Ok, while writing the post, I googled for the images and I went through one of the articles which says:

"I used to work in a virology lab," Dr. Aiello said, "and we knew — it has been known for decades — that an alcohol concentration under 60 percent won't kill the microbes. It's really frightening to think that there are products out there that contain levels lower than that." (Source)

So, beware and when you buy your sanitizer, always check for the concentration of alcohol in it. Second reason is that I am a person who likes my hands completely clean and with no stickiness. And, the few times I have used sanitizers, my hands have become sticky even though alcohol does evaporate pretty quickly. Well, it can be psychological as well. And, another is that sanitizers are not as effective as they are touted to be. I had read somewhere (forgot the source) that sanitizers are effective for all of 2 minutes at max and then, again germs start building up on the skin. And, nothing can actually beat the effectiveness of soap and water. 

Do I ever keep sanitizers?

So, those were my reasons for not relying on sanitizers. Now, comes the second question that if I keep the sanitizers with me. I haven't till today but my mom does carry it during travel and yes, it does come as a saver when there is no water nearby or if you are having "meals on wheels" :D So, yes, I think a GOOD sanitizer is important when you have no access to water. Also, don't forget to take a hand cream so that you can counteract the dryness. 

Do you like sanitizers?

Image Courtesy:nytimes.com

PS: Last two days to enter my giveaway so hurry up!!

Home Remedies for skin dryness {DIY}

I received a comment from Khushboo asking me how to deal with skin dryness and bring a glow to the face and how to make the skin look fresh. Its a huge complicated thing and probably I can write many many posts on that. So, I thought I would start with home remedies for skin dryness.

Banana
Rub a slice of banana on your face and neck. It helps with anti-aging, tightening the skin and also moisturises your skin simultaneously.

More DIY's with Banana
Get a glow you deserve
A recipe for faster hair growth and beautiful looking skin
Your hands tell your age 
Keep your skin moisturized this winter with Banana
Get rid of the blemishes and dark spots on your body

Honey
Apply a thin or thick mask of honey on your face and let it stay for 15-3 minutes or more if you can manage. Wash off. Amazing for dry skin and not messy at all.

More DIY's with Honey
Honey as face cleanser
Sugar Body Scrub with a twist
A simple tip for a glowing face
Get rid of those Large Pores
Orange Sugar Body Scrub

Aloevera Gel
Natural aloevera gel is extremely beneficial for dry skin as it improves the hydration power of the skin from inside. Yes, it is drying for the skin so apply it first and follow with a moisturiser if you feel your skin has become stretched. It also is a great after-sun treatment and acts best when used as a night moisturiser.

More DIY's with Aloevera Gel
Aloevera: A Miracle Plant 
Natural Moisturizers for Oily Skin
Skin dryness and burning?
Aloevera for soft skin
How to treat Sunburns?

Products Recommended
Rustic Art Aloevera Gel
24 Letter Mantra Honey
Image Courtesy:iblue.hubpages.com,strangehistory.net,hansaaloevera.com

Child Abuse and SMJ

I have been hearing so much about SMJ (Satyamev Jayate) so I got curious and watched it just now. I watched the child sexual abuse episode. And, it was bad!!! No, not in the sense of the show or the content but the whole discussion and everything was so horrible in the sense of incidents. The things which people have faced and they have gone through and probably still going through are so heart rendering. Oh yes, I am a cry baby :D I cry in movies so real life will obviously make me cry. [And, talking about the host, I hate him. He is known as perfectionist and I really feel he is a snob. Ok, sorry for the personal comments on your favourite or responsible actor but this is my blog and I can put up my personal opinions. Yes, I do accept he has made amazing movies like Lagaan and Rang De Basanti.]

Anyway, talking about the topic, I would like to talk about a small incident of my life. It was 1996 and I was 10. Just like everyday, I caught a bus for the school. It was not a school bus and it wasn't even crowded for that matter. I got into the bus and since I couldn't find any seat so I was the only one standing. Then, a bearded man in the first seat asks me to sit down beside him. There was one middle place on the 3-seater. So, I sat there. Ok, at 10, I was not that developed like some girls are. So, after a little while, the guy started touching my chest And, I literally hated it. He continues doing that for what seemed like a long time and then, he got his hands under my skirt and I was completely clueless. Not going into the details, I still remember the sensations I felt at that time. One feels repulsed and disgusted just like you would feel when someone touches you as an adult and you don't even know what's happening to you. The whole thing was over in probably 10-15 minutes but that was my longest ride to school. 

At 10, a kid doesn't really understand what's going on but I knew that he shouldn't be doing that. I wanted to get up from the seat but couldn't gather the courage. I wanted to exchange seat with the other man and couldn't speak up at all. I wanted to literally run away and it was like my legs had frozen. I wanted to say to him to take his hands off me but I couldn't. Its a very difficult thing. The worst thing was that there was a man sitting to the other side of me and he kept his head constantly turned towards the window. Today, if I think about it, I guess he had noticed what was going on and kept shut about it. 

And, the irony of the story is that I saw this man after a few years again and he had a small girl with him who was probably his daughter. I hope he realised the consequences of his actions. Since then, I have always been sceptical of bearded men. It gives me creeps to think about it. And, writing this post was equally difficult for me. I wanted to write about this to bring out a part of injustice on children left out in SMJ and that was that such kind of things can happen at the most unlikely places as well. Yes, they won't carry on for long time durations but even 10 minutes are enough to leave an impression on the child. I have never told about this incident except for one male friend and that person didn't really understand the significance. And, strictly speaking, I didn't even know about what happened with me till I learned about child sexual abuse. 

PS: This is a post about awareness of social issues. Kindly keep the sympathetic comments to yourself. I am sorry if I sound rude. I would rather appreciate a discussion of the topic or the show.

PS 1: If you would like to discuss or talk about anything, you can drop anonymous comments as well.

Image Courtesy:absk-outofbox.blogspot.com

Are you a difficult customer? {Your Opinion}

This thought came into my mind when I went for my leg waxing last month. I am a very difficult customer. During my waxing session, I do complain a lot about the heat of the wax or cry out when it hurts :( My skin is extremely sensitive to heat and that too at different points, my skin's tolerance to heat is different so I always shout variably at different times :D Its hilarious when narrated as an incident but not as humorous in real life!!

Again, when I go to buy clothes, I am damn choosy and I hardly end up liking anything. My mom gets irritated with me!!! Similarly, I am very choosy when it comes to skin and hair products. I don't use any product which catches my fancy (most of the times). I do try to find out as much as possible about the product beforehand. Most of my purchases are instincts instead of impulses. 

So, what kind of customer are you?

Image Courtesy:cavsi.com

Black Pepper to cover Gray Hair {Reader's Tip}

I received this comment which I thought would be particularly helpful for everyone struggling with gray hairs instead of resorting to hair colors. 

"I don't have hair loss problem but my hair is dry and has lots of gray hair. I am applying yogurt mixed with black pepper thrice a week started this week. This is helpful to cover grey hair and my hair had become soft and looking darker."

Thanks a lot to the person who has dropped in this comment :)

Do join my giveaway here. 

And, read more Reader's Tips here. 

Image Courtesy:trendingfashions.com

Do you wash your hands after applying skin products and before doing your hair? {Your Opinion}

I like to keep my hands clean all the time. And, whenever I apply any moisturiser or sunscreen, I like to wash my hands afterwards. That's also a reason why I don't like hand creams because they tend to make my palms sticky. And, also, before doing my hair, I like to wash my hands so that the skin products don't get transferred to my hair and make it greasy or create a product build-up.

How do you manage your skin and hair care routine? Do you do your hair before your skin???

Image Courtesy:lovingyou.com

Natural Homemade Bleach {Reader's Tip}

This was submitted by a reader as a part of my currently going on giveaway. Don't forget to check it out!!! Also, I received a reader's query regarding bleach being harmful or useful to skin. So, hope this tip helps you.

"Take 1 carrot, 1/2 tomato pulp, some coriander, 1/2 lemon juice. puree whole stuff. apply on face, neck even arms for 15 mints. wash off with water."

And, read more Reader's Tips here.

Image Courtesy:colleenanderson.wordpress.com

Vitamin E for glow {Reader's Tips}

This is an amazing tip which I am definitely going to try.

Take a Vitamin E capsule, puncture it, and add to a dollop of your daily cream before applying on your skin. It really gives the skin a glow.

Do join my giveaway here. 

And, read more Reader's Tips here. 

Image Courtesy:bbc.co.uk

Lemon for acne scars {Reader's Tips}

This was submitted by Amee. She says:

Use lemon juice about 20 min twice or thrice in the week. It helped me a lot to remove the scars which probably cause due to acne and also helps me to even out my complexion.

Do join my giveaway here. And, a note to all those who have entered the giveaway, do not forget to answer the question about what you like and dislike about the blog. Its a mandatory entry and those who do not answer it would be disqualified from the giveaway. If you have by mistake entered no answer and want to edit your answer, you can simply click on the 'edit' option adjacent to the 'DONE' in the rafflecopter form. If you are not able to find it, drop me a note and I shall get back to you.

And, read more Reader's Tips here. 

PS: Hey All, I guess I am going to take a break from blogging for like a week or so coz I am really not able to concentrate. So, I shall leave you with Reader's Tips everyday. Hopefully, I should be back by Sunday, if not before. Take Care till then :) 

PS 1: I was indulging in some creativity so do you like the changes to the template? Do share the feedback? Ok, yes, I love cartoons a lot :D

Image Courtesy:recipestonourish.blogspot.com

How do you feel when you are down? {Your Opinion}

I feel wretched. Not only my hormones but my emotions start playing up on me too. I feel like crying all the day, I am moody, I feel all drained up as if I have no ounce of energy left in my body. I hate everything and fight unnecessarily. I shout on my parents. Yes, I am a bad daughter :( 

Even before I get them, a day or two, I am mentally pretty disturbed. My hormones start going wayward and with it my moods go through so many ups and downs that it takes me around a week to get into proper order. I do not feel inclined to do anything and I get extremely withdrawn from the world itself :D

Update: I watched 'Pyar Ka Panchnama' today and loved it. Its hilarious and emotional at the same time. And, the guys are all cute. If you have missed it, I would really suggest you to go and watch it right away. The full movie is available on youtube. This is the link for the movie and I am embedding a clip which talks about girl temperament when girls are not even PMSing :D Do watch it.

How do you feel?

Fun in SA with Kyra

Me (on phone) : Hey Kyra, great news!!! The trip is on. 
Kyra (replies back) : Great!!! Let's go shopping. Make a list of essentials and you know what tops the list, right??? Let's meet at 2.
Me : Seriously??? Not again!! It will be blazing hot. 
Kyra : Oh come on, its not as if you are afraid of getting sun-burnt, are you?? Don't forget the protection, obviously. 
Me : Yeah, but remember, no outdoors between 10 and 4??
Kyra : Yes, I know but are you gonna sit indoors in SA as well?? And, come on, its shopping for the trip!!

This was my conversation with my friend Kyra. We both are going off for a vacation this summer in the beautiful city of Johannesburg and are also covering Capetown. But, primarily we shall be spending our time at Suncity, the beautiful resort just two hours away from Johannesburg. The trip got confirmed yesterday when our parents said yes and passports and visa processing was started.So, now, we girls are gonna meet at 2 o' clock to shop for everything!!

Yes, Kyra loves sun and I don't. It gives me headaches. And, now, again I have to slap up a good amount of sunscreen to protect my skin. Gosh!! what life? So, talking about the shopping, we both are obsessed with something called 'sunscreen'. And, since this is South Africa we are talking about with its temperatures from 23 to 30 degrees, we definitely don't want to be sunburnt or miss out the fun on outdoor activities. So, miss anything or not, this is definitely gonna be there in our backpacks.

Me : Hey, so what all are we hoarding on?
Kyra : Not decided on the clothes but some scarfs and stoles and wide-brimmed hats and my favorite Lakme Sun Expert SPF 50...
Me : Not again!!

Lakme should seriously consider hiring Kyra as their brand ambassador, especially for their sun safe range. The way she goes on and on about their sunscreens is just too irritating. No, I don't use Lakme and never have till date, in fact. Oh no, we do have a lot of arguments on my and her choice of sunscreen and several times she has tried converting me to hers!! Well, don't think she has stopped trying coz that's not Kyra!!

Me (in the shop) : I am gonna wear jeans so I don't really need to get any thing. Lets look at some tees.
Kyra : Are you serious? What happened to the skirts and capris???
Me : Nah!! Then, I will have to apply the sunscreen on my legs too. Can't handle that much. 
Kyra : I know very well why you don't like it. You don't like the heavy feel, right? Use mine and you won't even feel like you have applied the sunscreen. Lakme is light and doesn't really feel like you have applied anything. 
Me : Can you please spare the lec, all time!! I don't wanna use it. 
Kyra : Fine! (and *winks*)

And, I know something is going about her brain. After we finish the shopping, I know the what the *wink* was for. She bought two sunscreens.

Me : Why you getting two sunscreens? You bought one just two weeks back!!
Kyra : Huh...yes. I am going on a vacation. What do you think, I might get finished with one half way through our vacation!! And what then? Use your yucky sunscreen?
Me : Really?? I very well think I might be forced into using yours!!
Kyra : Yeah, right!! As if you listen to me. 

But, I am pretty sure she is upto something. SA, save me from Kyra *pray*. 

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This is an entry for The Lakme Diva Blogger Contest.

www.facebook.com/ilovelakme

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PS: Hey everyone, if you like the post, please vote for me here. 

PS1: Your comments would be highly appreciated. Do let me know if you liked or hated the entry. And, don't forget to enter my giveaway. SA: South Africa. 

Image Courtesy: Lakme Facebook Page

Lose weight with these easy tips {Health}

The inspiration to this post is that I am trying to lose out all the extra flab I have put on and I have exactly a month to do that. So, lets get on with the tips :) I have done a post on all these tips individually so I am linking them to the posts directly. Click on the headings to read the post.

• Deep Breathing
• Water for Weight Loss
• Chew your food morsels properly
• Early to Bed 
• Early to Rise
• 20-minute Walk
• Eat four to six times a day
• Sit on the ground 
• Sit on the chair properly and with your spine erect

These were the simple habits which helps a lot in controlling the excess weight. Apart from that, simple yoga postures which help in weight loss are:

• Anuloma-Viloma
• Some postures to cut back the belly fat

Hopefully, this post will make me again practice all the simple daily habits which I had forsaken in the state of extreme laziness. Also, do let me know how do you like to lose your weight?

Image Courtesy:bestweightlossprogram.freereviews.org

My Mini-giveaway!! [Giveaway Closed]

So, as promised, I had said a couple of days back that I shall be holding a mini-giveaway when the blog fb fans cross 500 so here is the giveaway. This is not a sponsored giveaway and to be frank, its not really a big one either. So, consider it a mini-giveaway and I am sorry if it doesn't come up to your expectations. And, now, over to the Rafflecopter form. If you are reading the post in your mail box, kindly login to the blog to enter the giveaway. 

Give the Rafflecopter form a few seconds to load. The first day is like a trial basis for the rafflecopter form to work properly so in case you have issues entering, please drop me a comment below and I shall revert back ASAP. And, thanks a lot guys for entering the giveaway. Your support is highly appreciated :)

Prize: Rs 500 voucher to any of your favorite shopping websites where netbanking is allowed :D

Update: Please follow the Rules
1. You have to subscribe to the email updates. The subscription form is in the right sidebar. Please enter your email id and confirm the email id from the mai you get in your inbox.
2. Leave a blog comment mentioning your favorite beauty tip.
3. Enter the answer for what you like and dislike about PSCfy.

All the entrants should fulfill all the above rules to qualify for the giveaway. If any of the rule is not adhered to, the person would be disqualified without further notice.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My current scent {DIY}

Remember the perfume oil DIY series I had done long back?? Yes, I am back with another one on that and today I shall share the current EO blend I am using which is completely flowery and summery and springy all in one. And, I adore it and the best part of this is that its a universal blend which you can customise accordingly later on even if you end up making a lot!!! I did that and now, I am trying out adding spice and musk scents to it. Anyway, lets go with today's blend.

Ingredients

• Bergamot EO
• Neroli EO
• Ylang Yang EO

Blend

• Add 10 drops of Ylang Ylang to a clean dark glass bottle. (base note)
• Add 5 drops of Neroli. (middle note)
• Add 10 drops of Bergamot. (top note)
• Let it stand for a month or two in the dark. 
• Add 18 drops of the blend to 60 drops of almond/jojoba oil to make the perfume oil. Again, use dark amber-colored bottles.
• Let this stand for a week to blend well. 
• And, your perfume oil is ready :)

My Opinions

Its a beautiful citrusy flowery blend and instantly lifts up my senses and I am absolutely in love with ylang ylang!!! I did make a whole bottle of this blend (around 15ml) and now, I am experimenting with some other scents. Don't make the mistake of making a huge amount of the blend. You really need a drop or two at a time and this lasts way many days and you will get bored by the time the quantity gets over. The whole fun of this DIY is in experimenting :)

Image Courtesy: etsy.com

Instructions to oil your hair {Hair Care}

So, I did talk about the intensive hair growth treatment I am currently on. So, there is particular routine I am supposed to follow (which I'm miserably failing at!!) and that includes a particular way to oil the hair. I just wanted to share it but let me make a disclaimer first: I am not spilling out any beans or secrets. So, lets get on with it. The routine is just a revisit to our old traditions. There is particular way to massage your scalp and that's what the routine incorporates in some ways.

Silver Utensil for Oil

The girl asked me to use either a silver or an aluminium utensil for pouring out the oil before starting to apply it. This is because both of these metals are really beneficial for hair. Now, how much is either of the metal going to affect the hair when simply used as a container is out of my understanding.

Anyway, the girl takes a huge bowl of silver (just like the ones in the dinner sets) and fills it up to half with oil and that's the amount of oil I am supposed to use every time I oil my hair!!! No, I don't use that much coz 90% of the oil is drunk by my pillow and by my skin and clothes. And, of course, the oil is pretty expensive, as well.

Cotton Ball to apply Oil

So, moving on, the next instruction includes the use of a cotton ball instead of fingers to apply hair on the scalp. I guess its coz of the long nails, some might have, which can tear and snag at the hairs. So, using a cotton ball is gentler on the hair. Dip the ball in the oil and rub it on the scalp. Now, while applying the oil on the scalp, run the cotton ball on the hair length as well on the section of hair in your hand to apply oil to the hair strands from root to ends.

Remember to lift the hair to directly apply it on the scalp and results are best if done with small sections of hair. Yes, it does take a very long time. Also, when you are running the cotton ball along the hair strands, it is difficult when done on own and you can actually see the number of hairs falling which is very disheartening.

All the weak hair falls from the scalp when you move the cotton ball along the hair length. That's in a way good as it allows the old hairs to shed and new hairs to grow. And, those old hairs would have fallen in due course, anyway.  Now, a very huge con to this method is that a lot of oil gets soaked by the cotton ball as well so I dip only a corner of the ball instead of the entire ball and I finish up my scalp first and then proceed on to oiling the hair lengths.

Head Massage Techniques

After finishing with all the oiling, it is the time to massage your scalp. Scalp massage is the actual action which helps stimulate the hair follicles and helps in hair growth. So, this is the most important step and the more the time you devote doing this, the better the results would be. And, this also helps the oil to reach the hair follicles to nourish them. So, move the scalp instead of the hair whenever you do a massage.

Try to keep the nails short or engage someone with short nails. Otherwise, you can end up scratching your scalp. Try to massage from the ears and proceed to the center of the scalp and similarly from front and back to the center using both of your hands. Always use finger balls. Be a little quick with the movements. After covering the entire scalp, take small sections of the hair and pull them very gently. That helps in hair growth. Also, it gets rid of the weak hair. Cover all the hair this way.

After this is over, take the cotton ball and rub it in circular motion where ever you desire hair growth. Do that for like 3-5 minutes continuously. That helps stimulate the area. By now, your scalp should be feeling warm. Now, all this done, you can see that there is a lot of oil in the bowl left which is supposed to be literally poured on the head. Yes, this is one of the ayurvedic techniques for relaxation and stimulation. Actually, I did mention about this long back in one of my posts. It feels amazing.

So, that's all the hair routine I have been instructed to follow but of course, I don't do all that and I kinda developed my own oiling routine which I shall share with you soon :)

Related Post:
How to massage your scalp?

Image Courtesy: howtomakeyourhairgrowfasterx.com

Lotus Herbals SAFE SUN COLLAGENSHIELD SUNBLOCK SPF 90 PA+++ {Product Review}

Price: Rs 595 for 50gms

Ingredients

Pros

- blends easily with my skin

- goes well on the bare skin too

- gives a nice base layer for makeup

- can be finished off with a loose powder dusting and a lipstick

Cons

- expensive!!!

- too high claims from my point of view

- can't apply the required dosage of sunscreen because of the tint

My Experience

I have been using this sunscreen since almost a month. Frankly, doing a review of a sunscreen is a very difficult task for me :( Either I know too much about it or I have an obsessive compulsive disorder. So, let me try to give an impartial review.First of all, I was actually frightened by the claims and the spf. I mean 90 is way too high and actually there is only a marginal protection increase between 30 and 50 and 90.

Anyway, talking about the product, if you need a proper protection, you need to apply proper amount of sunscreen. So, nearly 1/4th to 1/3rd of a tea spoon of sunscreen should be applied daily. Now, since this sunscreen is tinted, that proves to be a huge problem as the tint tends to get patchy and sits on the skin which looks really bad, obviously!!!

And, one more thing I noticed is that my skin gets heated up sometimes to an uncomfortable degree when I am applying the product. That's kinda weird, actually!!! Another con for me was that the sunscreen used to flake off my skin!!! Yes, I tested the sunscreen on bare skin and on skin with moisturiser and there was no pattern to flaking off. And, that was actually very inconvenient.

Yes, lots of cons so let me talk a little about the pros. It really gives a nice tint and is more or less sheer on the skin. But, it does give an even look to the skin. Finishing off this product with a loose powder and a lipstick is a really good idea. The sunscreen does give good protection and I am not the kind who reapplies. I did go out in the sun in the afternoons with this on but no, I didn't tan out considerably.

Ok, another con is that this can't be used as a body sunscreen. One more thing is that I think the tint is too dark and may make the fairer ones look a shade darker than they are. It blends nicely with the skin, though. And, to be frank, I did try to apply the required amount of sunscreen which is an impossibility when it comes to tinted products but yes, I have to use a tissue paper to remove the excess product almost always.

And, it does make my skin look shiny immediately on application. Though, the skin sort of settles down after an hour or so. And, yes, it does make the skin look a little brighter and that stays till the evening. And, this photographs well also. So, can be used as a foundation as well. So, as a sunscreen, my answer is no because its a chemical one and my personal preference is a physical sunscreen but if I have to say something, its a decent enough sunscreen though my preference would still be Neutrogena because of the stability factor.

PS: Product sent by the brand.

Other product reviews from Lotus Herbals:

Lotus Herbals WHITEGLOW Oatmeal and Yogurt Skin Whitening Scrub

Lotus Herbals VanilaSmooth Body Lotion

Do sunscreens prevent tanning? {Reader's Query}

Sunscreens are essentially made to prevent the sun's rays to harm your skin and trigger skin cancer. But, depending on the strength of the sunscreen, it might have tanning prevention abilities. 

Physical Sunscreens

Predominantly used physical sunscreen agent, Zinc Oxide, is a broad spectrum sunscreen which protects skin from both UVA and UVB rays (both types). Generally, it helps a lot in preventing tanning. But, there is a loop hole here. The abilities of the sunscreen depends on the strength of its protection. For example, if you are using a spf 15 sunscreen, it filters out 92% (rounded figure) of the sun's rays and still allows 8% to go through. Those 8% of the sun's rays can still harm the skin. 

Similarly, when talking about Titanium Dioxide, it filters out all UVB rays but only half of UVA rays which reduces the strength of the sunscreen considerably. In spf 15, 8% of rays are still passing through to the skin and also, UVA rays are separately affecting your skin because the sunscreen can't block them. Also, Titanium Dioxide is responsible for generating free radicals in the body unless it is coated.

Chemical Sunscreens

The major issue with chemical sunscreen is the stability factor. The chemical ingredients breakdown on exposure to sunlight. Yes, that's a contradiction to the function of the product. That's the main reason why a sunscreen has to be reapplied after every two hours. Also, they have a tendency to generate free radicals in the body which can also trigger cancerous reaction within the body.

Also, let me say here that the "Helioplex" of Neutrogena is a stabilising formula (read this post for more details) to prevent the breakdown of the chemical sunscreen ingredients which makes its sunscreens effective on a longer length of time. But, again the strength of sunscreen decides the amount of rays passing through to the skin and they can cause tanning. 

Also, a sunscreen which doesn't have PA ratings gives no protection against UVA rays so still your skin is vulnerable to tanning and aging. PA ratings gives protection against the UVA rays and spf gives the protection strength against the UVB rays so a sunscreen needs to have both these factors mentioned for it to be a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Recommended Sunscreens:

MVO Moisturizing Face Screen
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock

Related Posts:

Do layers of sunscreens help? 

Sunscreen and Myths 

Dark and Dull Skin in summers 

Zinc Oxide vs Titanium Dioxide

Is my sunscreen working?

Surfaces and Radiations

What are UV Radiations?

What Sunscreen should I buy?

Sunscreen Ingredients

Use sunscreen 365 days a year

How much sunscreen do you apply?

Sunscreen: Role in anti-aging Skin Care

PS: Just checked out that Hermes stores are there in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. Btw, any one has idea if there is a Hermes counter / Store in the Dubai airport, those duty free ones???

48craft.com coupon redeemed and other things

I won a giveaway at Ansh's blog and that included a 750 rupees gift coupon to 48craft.com website. So, I got these things. Do let me know if you like them :)

I love the colors in the bag

Also, check out the items which arrived in the mail this week.

I am so excited to use the BB cream and love the colors!!

So, that's all for today. See ya tomorrow :) Have fun on Sunday!!

Some more things about me!!!

Thanks, Ray and Rashmi :) And, check out my answers. Hope you don't get bored.

11 random stuff about me:

1. I like to live every moment of my life and lately, I have been missing out on that. 
2. I talked to four of my friends tonight :D All of them older ones, long lost types but we have been in constant touch. So, now you know why the post is late :D
3. I have a til on my right eye. Any one knows the significance???
4. I love my name, too much actually.  Shweta and Swati are confusing names, apparently and many times people call me Shweta and they are on my hit list!!!
5. I love slings more than anything. 
6. I want a hermes scarf, no matter what their cost. 
7. I don't grow my nails but they always grow in shape, luckily :)
8. I have not regretted anything in my life till date - bad and good. 
9. This is somewhat personal but the state of being married makes me apprehensive to the core.
10. I love Agatha Christie. She has taught me some of the very important things in life. Or, rather her books before you get the idea that I am visited by her ghost :D
11. Some one said that my writing was self-deprecating and witty. Any thoughts or comments??

Ray's Questions

1. Idea behind the name of the blog?

Well, actually, I wanted to name my blog with the niche words and somehow this struck up. I don't even remember my thinking process now!!!

2. Meaning of my name.

Swati means the first drop of water which falls on the ground, the most awaited one. Or, the dew drop. Or, its a lotus. 

3. Why I started the blog?

Boredom, need for something different and love for my hair and a will to share my new-found knowledge. 

4. Fashion Idol.

I totally, absolutely adore Angeline Jolie. She is "the perfect" for me :D

5. What's my first cosmetic?

Well, I am confused between cosmetic and beauty product. I think it means makeup so guess it was a Lakme compact.

6. Who got that?

My mum. 

7. My Staple product I have been using till date.

Roghan Badam Shirin :)

8. Favorite Sunscreen.

Marie Veronique Organics Moisturising Face Screen

9. Do you consult a dermatologist / dentist regularly?

Err...nope!!! No dermatologist is reliable and dentists are way too busy :D

10. Favorite cosmetic brand.

Ooops..can't think. Thinking...thinking...yeah, I remember, its Nivea and not a cosmetic but a beauty product. 

11. Mother's day gift for mom!!

Nothing!!

Rashmi's Questions

1. What is one quality you adore and one you hate in your best friend and/or boyfriend?

I admire the struggles he has been through and still emerged pretty well. And, I hate that he doesn't take out time for living life!! All work and no play.

2. One movie and one song that was,is and will be your favourite always?

Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and "Har ghadi" from Kal Ho Na Ho. Also, I love "Confession" from Josh Groban.

3. One product that is always in your vanity?

Baby Wipes.

4. Cheapest and costliest beauty product you own?

Cheapest is nivea lip balm right now. And, costliest is The Body Shop Polynesian Monoi Oil in my stash.

5. Topmost thing in your wishlist right now?

A DSLR or P&S from Canon.

6. Do you any phobias? Which is your biggest one?

Heights. Dead afraid of them!!!

7. One thing you think you are best at?

Being myself.

8. If given choice you could convert into any one person for one day, who'd that be? and why?

I would convert to the person I most admire and live their life and understand life from their perspective.

9. One rule you have broken?? :D

Many actually!!! Listen to what parents say.

10. One thing that is indispensable in your life??

As I said yesterday, specs!!!

Thanks a lot, guys!!! It was fun answering the questions!! They did make me think a lot as well :(

Update: There is this very very beautiful piece of post which I would want all of you to read once. Please!!! I am pretty sure you will like it :) Click here to read it. 

Disaster Strikes!!!

You know how you feel when one of the most indispensable parts of you fails??? Ok, not so serious that it goes into physical inability but its my specs. Imagine the horror I felt when I saw a crack in one of the lens!!! Its not a nice thing for a person who wears only specs, has a bad spare which gives headaches and feels like a tonne on the nose and lands you right back into the ancient ages!!! I feel like a grand mom wearing my spare.

Yeah, so, I had to run immediately to the near by specs store and hopefully, he would give back my specs by evening (post writing time - 5:45). So, that was the gloomy part of it but every cloud has a silver lining, right??? I get to buy a new frame, yay!!! Of course, when you are pinching and saving, your money goes down into some expense which is completely unavoidable. 

So, the summary of the story - get new specs, don't pinch and scrape, spend!!! And, sorry for no beauty post. I am not feeling inspired. Hopefully, should feel by tomorrow :D Btw, do you have something so indispensable in your life???

Update: I got my specs back in perfect form :D And, I got my first google adsense check. And, my blog's page views crossed 150,000 last month. And, I am just 6 to 500 fb fans!!! I know the stats aren't much to boast about but I am proud of them. So, I wanted to announce that a small giveaway is in the offing when fb fans turn 500. So, guys, like the page below if you haven't yet. And, let me warn you beforehand that it will be a very small giveaway. And, just noticed, this is my 751st post :)

Lactocalamine Deep Cleansing Face Wash {Product Review}

I know this product has been there in the market since quite long and it wasn't a buy either. I got it free with the lactocalamine bottle. Initially, to be frank, I wasn't interested in using it and was wondering "will I get one with every lactocalamine, yikes!!!" Anyway, let's get on with the review and let's see if I really would mind getting it even for free :)

Price: Rs 65 for 70ml

Ingredients

Pros

- it feels really cool when you wash your face, the best part

Cons

- it has SLES
- doesn't really control oil for long time

My Experience

The gel is light purple in color and smells awfully like a bubblegum!!! I don't really like the smell but its not exactly offending. Whenever I apply the face wash, there is an immediate cooling effect like you have applied menthol or something on the face. That's what made me write this review :) Definitely a very useful thing in hot summers :D Right??? It has menthol and raspberry extract too which is pretty interesting. 

It does make my skin feel a little dry after the wash but then, it is meant for oily skin and mine is a little quirky kind which oscillates between dry and oily. So, wouldn't really blame the face wash and even then, it doesn't leave my skin stretched or anything. I can easily grab a light moisturiser and I am good to go. But, the biggest thing is that it doesn't help me with the oil on my nose and chin :( They get oily in an hour or two after washing my face.

Have you used this face wash? What do you like or hate about it?

Other products from Lactocalamine:

Always have a bottle of calamine lotion