How to take care of gray hair? {Hair Care}

This has been a long pending post which had been requested by Smile. I am so sorry for the delay. To start with, I don't have much experience with gray hair as my mom also has only couple of them coming up now that she is 51. And, she is not interested in covering them up. I do tell her to get the hair colored but she flatly says no.

Hair Coloring

This should come up as a different post altogether but I think its imperative to mention it here. You can always get your hair colored. Remember to get salon treatment. Shell out money coz its your hair!! It definitely falls on an expensive side when you count in the maintenance costs.

Henna-ing

This is definitely the most common practice but it turns the white or gray hair into orange which people now a days absolutely hate. So, really doesn't do much of a job. Also, using Lush Caca Noir also doesn't work on gray hair. I had suggested it to one of my friends but she confirmed that it didn't work on gray hair.

Hair Science and Home Remedies

The hair which has already turned gray can never be turned black naturally. For that you will have to color the hair. But, you can always prevent new gray hairs from coming up. Also, gray hair is a lot of times hereditary so in such cases, its a little difficult to control. So, let me suggest some home remedies to PREVENT gray hair.

• Use mustard or sesame oil on a regular basis, like twice or thrice a week. A regular usage helps prevent the hair from growing gray. They also help with hair which has turned brown!!!
• Black Pepper and Yogurt mask
• Curry leaves are supposedly great for protecting the black color of the hair. So, infuse your oil with dried curry leaves. (learn how to infuse oil here)
• Other herbs which are amazing to prevent hair from growing gray are rosemary, thyme and amla (Indian gooseberry). They also help with hair growth. 

So, what's your best bet to deal with gray hair?

Image Courtesy:Google

A News and a Request

Hey everyone, I want to let you know that we have a new member joining Perfect Skin Care for you. You have in fact read her first post as well. As to all those who thought I am pregnant, no, it was not a post written by me. Anyways, I want to welcome Punam, and gals and ladies, please make her feel comfortable and happy here :)

On the other hand, I have a request to all of you. I have submitted an entry to Indiblogger contest here (its on my other blog coz the topic was completely off-beauty). Its about arranged and love marriages. Please, please and please check out the post and do leave comments as to whether you liked it, hated it, enjoyed it or was at least tickled by it!!! I would be really really grateful to you all. Thanks a lot in advance. You can check the post here -  Behind the Scenes.

Lush Dark Angels Face Cleanser {Product Review}

Price: Rs 700 for 100 gms (approx.)

Ingredients

Rhassoul Mud, Cold Pressed Avocado Oil (Persea gratissima), Glycerine, Powdered Charcoal, Black Sugar (sucrose), Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Perfume, *Linalool, Sandalwood Oil (Santalum album), Rosewood oil (Aniba rosaeodora)

 

Pros

natural ingredients

makes the skin really soft

exfoliates amazingly!!

Cons

doesn't control oil production

doesn't remove oil or cleanse really well

very expensive!!

My Experience

I got this in June and have been using it on and off since then. I had been wanting to try the product since a very very long time so was very excited to try it out. So, how to use it a very big problem and trust me when I say its damn messy!!! It will blacken your washbasins and everywhere else it touches. 

How to use? Take a pea size amount and pour a drop or two of water on it and make a paste which will be a little watery and cleanse with it thoroughly. Though, I would like to say that it doesn't really cleanse well. I use oil to remove the traces of sunscreen from my skin and this product doesn't cleanse that oil as thoroughly as I would like. 

But, its a damn good exfoliator. It leaves the skin soft and smooth and removes the whiteheads but it didn't really have any noticeable effect on my blackheads. I use it on alternate days to scrub my face properly. Its not at all harsh. Oh btw, avoid looking in the mirror or you might frighten yourself :D Yes, it looks like black paint on the face!! 

 

Its definitely expensive and would last two months at max if used regularly which I think is way too less. The expiry period of the product is probably four months from the date of manufacture but I do have issues with this date things in Lush. They provide date of packaging and expiry but the date of packaging is date when you buy the product. So, how do they calculate the date of expiry? Honestly, Lush is not really working out well for me!!

Have you used Dark Angels?

Other products I love or hate from Lush:

Lush Caca Noir

Lush Aqua Marina Cleanser

Lush Gorilla Perfumes - Short Description

Update on Lush Caca Noir

How to deal with nausea? {Pregnancy}

Motherhood is a divine emotion. It’s obviously a good news to know that you are going to be a mother but one has to be more responsible and caring coz your body is going to face drastic changes and you have a new life inside. Pregnancy starts with the feeling of nausea and morning sickness for almost all the pregnant women. Today I am sharing my own experience of the first trimester and how I managed them.

What is nausea? 

It’s feeling of uneasiness that makes you urge to vomit. It’s not always necessary that one vomits.

In pregnancy this feeling is stronger in morning. The reasons given are hormonal changes. As I am not a doctor (I am just a doctor's wife), so I am not going to go into the details. I had severe nausea and vomits till the 5^thmonth and then it reduced gradually. But, the degree of nausea differs from body to body.

Few things that can help you deal with this problem - Do’s

• As soon as you wake up in the morning, eat something. Don’t keep yourself starving. 
• If you have a habit to start your day with tea, change it now. Either skip it or add some toast or biscuits with it and even ginger tea can help you but my mom used to say take ginger tea only in colder climate so I avoid it in the summers. 
• It’ll be great if you take an apple early morning and even before going to bed coz this will help clean your stomach and keeps you energetic.
• Citrus fruits are a great help in feeling of nausea. I always used to eat or chew lemon or orange slices whenever I felt nausea.
• Place potato chips or crackers near your bed so that whenever u feel hungry, you can eat them. This can suppress vomit but remember excess of anything is harmful, so just take few bites.
• Try to get up during night to eat something so that u may not feel too sick and weak in the morning.

Dont's:

• Stay way from strong smells.
• Don’t starve at all.
• Stay away from spicy food, colas and caffeine.
• Don’t get over-tired.
• Stay away from stress.

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About the Author: This post has been written by Punam. Thank you so much Punam for sharing your experience and I am looking forward to more posts from you :) What say, guys sorry, gals?

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Image Courtesy:Google Search

How to take care of your skin when ill? {Skin Care}

Last week, I wasn't keeping well so I had just left my skin to its own devices. I thought it would make a good topic to discuss about how to care for skin so I putting down my points to skin care when I am not well. 

Leave the skin as it is

Ok, I am damn lazy. I can lie on the bed for hours together. In fact, I have been doing the same today morning (written on Sunday afternoon). So, I just leave my skin as it is. I do not bother to wash, tone or moisturize or anything at all. Well, ok, one caveat. Before lying down or becoming lazy, do make sure that your face is clean of all makeup and grime. And, then, you can be free. 

Caution: Do not follow this if your skin is prone to breakouts coz you never know how the oil on the skin can react!! And, follow this only when you are not going out.

Sponge Bath

Leaving skin as it is works damn well for me coz I stay alone but if you do have someone at your beck and call, take advantage and ask for a sponge bath. You can add essential oils to pucker you up. And, it does make you feel better as well.

Skipping Skin Routines is OK
Don't fret too much about skipping the skin routines. Its good to leave skin on its own devices once in a while. That gives it time to repair itself with its own process. Also, did you know that once you do not wash the skin, your skin itself starts the cleaning up process. Well, I think it might also be a part of detox process.

But, what if you are a stickler?
Aaah...I can't leave my skin just like that? How can you even suggest such a thing? Then, my answer is to follow these tips:

• Get a quick face wash. 
• In case you don't wanna skip bath, add a cup of salt to the bath water. It relaxes the muscles and eases body pains.  
• Use a water-based moisturizer.
• And, lie and relax. 
• Drink lot of fluids entire day!!

That will keep you going and look great even when you are not up to the snuff. If you are a makeup addict, sorry, no tips!! Probably a concealer and lipstick should do the job, just guessing!

What do you do when you are not feeling well? 

PS: Also, sorry that there were rather less of tips than the encouragement to lie around :D 

Do men in your life take care of their skin? {Skin Care}

Well, at present, I just have my father and yes, he is very conscientious about his skin. He uses anti-aging cream from Garnier and does love to try out various things :D In fact, yesterday, he was telling me how I completely filled up his closet with my products!!! I keep a stock of products in Delhi so I won't have to travel with my toilet kit and even then, every time my toilet kit weighs more than my clothes!! Yeah, I am weird.

And, since their closet is full, mom and dad decided that they will use up my products!! And, my mom is one who doesn't really bother a lot. So, the duty falls into dad's responsibilities. So, yesterday, we fell into talking about things and I said that don't forget to do the same things with the neck as your do with the face and my dad was like "ya ya, otherwise it will look different na"!! And, honestly, I was astonished :D

So, do you have any men in your life who look after their skin as well? And, speaking of which, I got a mail saying my haul has been dispatched and I am looking forward to recieveing it...yay!! I just can't wait to start using the products, more so the shampoo. Oh yes, that also reminds me that I have got to go for a hair cut on Monday or Tuesday!!

Image Courtesy:askmen.com

Related Posts:

How does a man's skin differ from a woman's?
Tips to shave for men
Top 5 Beauty Tips for Men

Biotique Bio Flame of the Forest Fresh Shine Expertise Oil {Product Review}

Price: Rs 159 for 120ml

Ingredients

Pros

leaves hair soft and shiny

smells pleasant

gets washed off easily

My Experience

I have been meaning to try this oil since a long time and you might have seen this oil being mentioned in the hair diaries. I finally managed to finish the oil after using it on and off for a long time. The first thing to notice about the oil is its fragrance which is really pleasant.

The base oil is groundnut oil which is thick but even then, it gets washed off easily and leaves the hair really soft and adds a bit of shine as well. It did not give me any hair fall and whether it helps with hair fall or not is something which I don't know because I did not have hair fall at any time I was using this product specifically. 

Missing the cons? Well, I am not able to think any!! One more piece of information - "Flame of the Forest". It is a flower called "Palash" in hindi. It is supposedly amazing for dandruff and hair loss. The name of this flower is the only reason I got attracted to the product :) Have you tried it?

Other products I love or hate from Biotique:

Biotique Bio Almond & Cashew Fresh Repleneshing Hair Serum
Biotique Bio Honey Gel
Biotique Basil and Parsley Cleanser

Biotique Watercress Fresh Nourishing Conditioner

Biotique Bio Henna fresh Powder Hair Color

Biotique Mountain Ebony Fresh Growth Stimuating Serum

Biotique Carrot Protective Lotion

Biotique Avocado Body Massage Oil

Biotique Basil and Red Sandalwood Powder Talc

Biotique Kelp Hair Growth Protein Shampoo

Biotique Bio Pistachio Ageless Nourishing and Revitalizing Face Pack

Biotique Bio Musk Root Hair Mask

Winter Skin Care Lotions

Nivea Sun Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 PA++ {Product Review}

Price: Rs 299 for 125ml

Pros

gets absorbed really easily

no white cast

is non-sticky as it says

also, water resistant

doesn't get greasy!!

Cons

the ingredients are not stable so has to be reapplied every one to two hours without fail

less on UVA protection coz its just PA++ and not PA+++

My Experience

When I had started using this after its counterpart, I was very happy because of no white cast issues. Its of the same consistency but gets absorbed really easily and can be applied in any amount. It doesn't even get greasy and doesn't feel sticky which is one of the best features of the product.

This time, I took out time to analyze the ingredients. Check out the image but I noticed that they do not have any stabilizing agents. [Read about sunscreen ingredients here.] Because of which, I did notice tanning on my hands because I do not reapply the sunscreen (which is very important) and I do go out in the noons, at the peak times when sun's rays are strongest.

Why there was no tanning with the SPF 50 counterpart? Probably because spf 50 provides more protection and it left a white cast which prevented the sun's rays from directly hitting the skin. I didn't analyze the other's ingredients either so this is just hazarding a guess!!

PS: Product sent by brand.

Other products from Nivea:

Nivea Sun Moisturizing Lotion SPF 50 PA++

Nivea Nourishing Body Milk

Winter Skin Care Lotions

Reminiscing Life through Beauty Products

Nivea Fruity Shine Dragon Fruit vs Pomegranate

Nivea Refreshing Cleansing Milk

Nivea Repair and Protection Lip Balm

Do all shampoos work for me? {Hair Care}

Yeah, I know. Its a weird post but this is in reply to a really funny comment I got one one of my posts yesterday. So, the anonymous writes:

All shampoos give u good results?? Dove also kamini also Pantene?

I thought many of you might have the same question so I would rather do a post on it. Well, actually my hair type, as I have mentioned countless times is, dry and fine and feels soft to silky depending on its mood. I have colored it once last year and that was a disaster. But, otherwise, my hair generally behaves nicely.

As to all shampoos suiting me, mostly my answer would be yes. My hair doesn't react easily and result in hair fall. Yes, my hair does get dry and the scalp also feels dry but no shampoo has triggered any allergic reactions and I don't have any history of dandruff which needs taking care of. When talking about shampoos, let me start with ones I used this year.

Dove Nourishing Oil

It was drying for my hair but initially it was fine. The conditioner does a good job of preventing the dryness. But, why I said it worked was because of my lack of experience with better products. Now that I have used Kamini's shampoo, I know how some shampoos can be non-drying. So, yes, this shampoo is not for dry hair but it did not dry out my scalp excessively and my hair behaved decently when I was using it.

Pantene Total Damage
Yes, it suited my hair because it did not cause my hair to get dry really soon. And, no itchiness either. Its, in fact, a good shampoo and the conditioner is even better.

Dove Color Rescue
Definitely drying!!! And, I have recommended it for only oily hair.

Kamini Shampoo
Yes, it suits me but it does dry out my scalp and hair sometimes. That is why I am searching for some shampoo whose ingredients I am aware of and is natural as well.

Those were the shampoos I tried out in my recent memory and more or less, I did like all of them. But, one thing I would say is that whatever shampoo you use, never ever skip on conditioner. Its very essential even if you have oily hair.  

Find products which suit your hair type but never skip on the essential routines. 

Also, please note that a person's reaction to a product changes over time and may not remain same always whether the person is a blogger or a reader :)

Image Courtesy:omgdaily.com

Dark Patches on Skin {Reader's Query}

I am publishing one of the reader's query and would really appreciate if you guys can give any pointers to the problem.

My daughter is 7 yrs old. There are some dark patches on her neck and elbow and knees. that makes her more dark . Can u pl. suggest me what shud i do ?

My reply.

regd the dark patches, are they coming now or were they there since before (may be from birth). I would say use sunscreen on her. I wouldn't suggest you to use any DIY or anything on her coz she is too young to get into all that. just face wash and moisturize properly. rest, you can take care of as she grows up but don't for go sunscreen. (I am sorry for this typo but I meant DIY) 

Her query continued.

Thanx a lot for ur reply. These dark patches are not because of this recipe. I dont know when they came but probably for last 2 yrs they are. I used many medicines given by Drs. but no use. sometimes they disappear but come again. Dr. say its eczema but some of them say no eczema. I dont know what is this but it really made my and my daughter's life a hell. I accept color has no value now a days but on the other hand when somebody ask or make a fun at least that person (my daughter) gets hurt. She asks me to make her fair like others because she does not like when girls give comments. Anyways i m using ur recipe.lets wait and watch & hope for the option. When she was 2 yrs old she was fair (I used to apply besan and yogurt daily) but after that her color started becoming dark and when she was 5 yrs old then these black patches problem started. 

My reply.

hi Sandhya...yes, I do understand how it is when people make fun!!! especially on children it has even adverse effects. one thing I would suggest is sunscreen. another, what I am thinking is that she has probably got hyper pigmentation problem or melanin has been over-produced.

Honestly, I am baffled with the issue. I would suggest her to go to a doc but knowing the dermatologists, I know how irritating it can get and not to mention, the expenses!! In case, you have any experience with this issue, a lot of help would be appreciated. And, I do know that I am not a doc or anyone.

My favorite look of Madhuri

she looks gorgeous

Jhalak Dikhla Jaa is more interesting this time for me coz of many participants like Bharti who does give really funny one-liners (sometimes does get irritating) or Rithvik who I absolutely like!! But, the best part of the show is Madhuri Dixit who looks absolutely gorgeous in almost every episode.

can't help compare!!

the couple in HAHK

and now!! how drastically has Salman changed.

This week she had come in white and blue and she was looking absolutely ethereal. I do think cream would have looked even better instead of white but I am not complaining!! How does she really manage to look so gorgeous with the most gorgeous smile and an extremely graceful body???

Photo Credit: sawfnews.com

Eid Mubarak

Wish you all a very happy Eid. Its said that moon is not easily visible today so hope you all get to see it and wish for whatever you want :) I was leafing through Hyderabad Times or something in which there was a huge family photograph of Salman Khan which captured my attention. Its such a huge family and so diverse in religions with really no botheration to which caste or creed a person belongs to. Wish all of us enjoyed that secularism!

Image Courtesy:goheritageindiajourneys.com

Use SLS-free shampoo for hair growth {Tip of the Day}

This is a tip from a lady I came across recently. She told me about her hair story - how she had excessive hair fall and she consulted two doctors one after another and had been on various medicines and nothing worked out for her. And, finally, she simply changed her shampoo to Meera hair powder and her hair is now a lot healthier than it was. She also said that since she has switched, her hair has grown out a lot on its own. So, is it that may be the SLS shampoos are actually impeding the hair growth? Sounds too paranoid!!

Anyways, I have ordered the Soul Tree shampoo. I am yet to receive it. I did place quite a large order this time and shall be sharing it when I receive the products!! And, I am desperately waiting for the products to be delivered. The Kamini shampoo is good but I don't really appreciate the fact of not knowing the actual ingredients. And, also, that shampoo dries out my hair  and scalp sometimes. So, I would like to switch to a more comfortable brand. I am just hoping that this would be the shampoo for me :)

Image Courtesy:copperlotuscosmetics.com

Sexy @ Sixty {Book Review}

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Overview of the Book

Sexy at Sixty. Is that possible? Namita Jain, the prestigious wellness expert, shows you how in Sexy @ Sixty, which is a celebration of this wondrous phase in your life. She aims to make it even more wonderful by giving you enough ammunition, in the form of many helpful tips on lifestyle, food, exercise and staying positive, to slay the bugbears that threaten to rain on your parade. Aimed at the modern not so young man or woman, the book is full of practical, easy to understand information:

• Tables showing you the exact calorie count of your meals.
• Illustrations for safe ways to exercise, whether by gentle stretches or strength training.
• Chapters on how to tackle everything from skin care and weight gain to stress, arthritis and diabetes.
• Easy to follow explanations for menopause or prostate issues.

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My Review of the Book
To start off, I would like to say this is a book which will urgently make you go and exercise!! Yes, it really gives that feeling of urgency, written in a fun and very compelling way. I have never read any health books prior to this one and I beg ignorance about the author, Namita Jain, but apparently she is very famous and has authored quite a few books before this.

The book as the title suggests is aimed at middle-aged people. BUT, why am I suggesting this book is because an early start would only do you good. Namita talks about exercise and diet throughout the book and she outlines how the combination of two can protect your body from the numerous health risks which attack people above 30-35.

chapters covered

She covers all topics from menopause and prostrate to diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart issues, osteoperosis, arthritis, stress and also about Postures. I would have definitely loved if she had taken some of the topics in more detail but I think she meant the book to only be an introduction. The starting chapter of the book deals with the question that whether you are a couch potato or not?

which activity burns how many calories!

Can you climb up three flight of steps without gasping for breath? Do you sleep well? Do you wake up most mornings looking forward to the day? Do you go for a walk, visit the gym, play a sport or engage in some other energetic activity at least thrice a week? Do you eat wholesome, nutritious food? Do you relax and take time out without feeling stressed?

If you answered a 'yes' to most questions, it means you lead a fit life. And, if no, you need this book. Oh, I also forgot to mention that she provides some substitute recipes for high-calorie foods. Yes, the book did make me count the calories whenever I ate anything :( But, the author is very practical and realizes that today's lifestyle is different and mentions various things in a way which will sit well with our routine. For example,

If you are going for a party, take a light healthy snack before leaving. If you are dining out, order a clear soup and some salads to fill you up and prevent binging. If going for shopping, never go on empty-stomach. That makes you pick up cookies and indulgences which you would otherwise avoid.

calorie count of foods

And, that's really true!! Happens with me. She gives a lot of exercise tips and also illustrates various yogasanas which are easy for people of 35-50 to do. She also mentions what shouldn't be done. And, finally finishes off with chapters dealing with a well-balanced diet and colors on the plate and talks about surgeries like liposuction and tummy tucks and whether they are worth pursuing or not. The best part of the book is that it talks about weight loss being essential for health and not just looks. Many examples have also been given throughout the course of the book which makes it more relate-able.     

Availability
You can buy the book here on Flipkart.com
Price - Rs 164 (18% Off)

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This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

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PS: Post contains affiliate links.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV Moisture SPF 50+ PA+++ {Product Review}

Price: Rs 349 for 30ml

Pros

doesn't leave the skin dry if you skip moisturizer

no tint so you can apply enough sunscreen for full protection

Cons

expensive

not for oily skin

gets greasy sometimes (may be depends on skin type)

My Experience

I have been using this suncreen since the time it was launched in June. It comes in a 30ml pack and is way more expensive than its counterpart but I have not really found much of a difference. Anyway, the packaging is a white bottle with a very thin nozzle which dispenses a little product. 

The product is white and creamy in consistency but very thin. But, the weird thing is that even a little product does get greasy on the face so applying enough of sunscreen really becomes difficult. Also, a little excess of product and you are left with a white cast as well. I, almost always, had to blot out the excess of product after applying the product (after leaving it on for 15-20 minutes to get absorbed). 

Regarding the efficacy of the sunscreen, I am really not sure if it gives the same protection as the dry touch. Because, I did find my skin tanned and dark in between and since some days, I have been again using the dry touch which has considerably prevented my face from tanning. And, the skin is looking a little brighter as well. 

So, I am back to the previous sunscreen for now!! But, I do think that this sunscreen will suit the dry skin beauties really well. The dry touch is matte and this one is moisturizing. I do skip moisturizer whenever I use this and it never made my skin feel dry. The only issue is that this sunscreen finishes off in a month :( Well, remember that you have to apply sunscreen adequately for proper protection?? 

Btw, have you used this product? How was your experience?

Other products from Neutrogena:

Neutrogena Deep Clean Shampoo
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock
Neutrogena Body Lotion Light Sesame Formula
Neutrogena Rainbath Refreshing Shower and Bath Gel
Neutrogena French Milled Soap
Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser
Neutrogena Clean Conditioner

Chocolate Sugar Body Scrub {DIY}

After a really long time, I resorted to some DIY and I have huge expired Cadbury cocoa powder jar. So, what can be a better way to use it all :) Enjoy the recipe and don't forget to try it out!!

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
• 1 Tbsp Honey
• 1 Tbsp Raw Sugar
• 20 drops Body Oil /  Essential Oils

Method

Mix them all in a container. Make sure that you use a steel one if you plan to use essential oils. Plastic can change the composition. Add honey at the end just when you are about to enter the shower otherwise the sugar would melt!! When you mix the ingredients, it becomes a chocolate mousse (a little thick in consistency) and smells all of chocolate. In fact, it was a waste for me to add the body oil as its smell got masked by that of the cocoa powder. But, I guess essential oil should be good. Give it a try!!

Results

Well exfoliated skin which smells delicious and is so soft and hydrated. If possible, after scrubbing, keep the mask on for 5-10 minutes. Definitely recommended for a home pampering session.

Related Posts:

Chocolate Mask for you skin care

Chocolate Anti-Aging Mask

You can get hungry for water!! {Health}

We all get hunger pangs at different times of day. But, the weirdest thing I read about these hunger pangs was that sometimes, our body needs water and sends us signals which we misinterpret as hunger pangs and gorge in on the food and lead to excess of calories. 

In fact, the moment I was reading this piece of book (which I shall talk about in a week), I was feeling damn hungry. I try to make my dinner light and that day, I went for a long walk after my dinner. Consequently, I thought that my dinner is all digested and my body needs more fuel. 

I was thinking on what snacks to binge on but I came across this piece of information. And, funnily enough, I recalled that I had not had water since an hour or two so I fortified myself with water and voila, no hunger pangs any more!! So, if you ever feel hungry, try drinking water. It may be as simple as that!

Did you ever come across such piece of information?

Image Courtesy:www2.emmagem.com

Forest Essentials Mashobra Honey & Vanilla Bath & Shower Oil {Product Review}

If you remember my June mega haul, you would have noticed this. This was among my first buys from FE and honestly, the brand is expensive and I always thought it was over-priced. Yes, I am cynical about most things :) Let's see how I like this.

Price: Rs 340 for 50ml/1.69 Oz

Ingredients

Gokharu - Its an aphrodisiac and used for vata and pitta doshas. Its great for eczema and psoriasis and also relieves itchy skin.
Deodaru - Its extracted from the deodar tree. Its an insect repellant and has anti-fungal properties. Its used mostly in aromatherapy because of its aromatic properties.

Pros

smells absolutely divine

very light oil; doesn't get greasy on skin OR hair

moisturizes the skin adequately

fragrance lingers on the skin 

elevates the mood instantly

Cons

expensive!!

My Experience

To start with, the entire FE haul didn't really empty my pockets because I bought them against the gift voucher I received on redeeming my credit card points. But, this body oil was worth it!! So, lets start analyzing the product. I bought the travel-sized version because I wanted to try out many products though its also available in a bigger size for 1000 bucks.

I really don't know how actual vanilla essential oil smells but this was a bliss. To bathe with this oil soaked in my bath water elevates my mood instantly and really relaxes me on the whole. And, the fragrance of the product smells natural and is strong but doesn't hurt my nose at all. And, my nose is very particular about what it likes!

The oil is extremely light and disappears into the skin immediately. It keeps the skin well-moisturized and I am sure it would serve well enough in winters. Pouring 20 drops in hand-hot bath water gives off a very peaceful aroma and wraps you in the fragrance. A perfect choice for a luxurious and pampering evening or night.

I did try using it yesterday as a hair leave-in, taking two drops and distributing it evenly on the hair strands concentrating on the ends and after that was done, I rubbed my palms on the scalp. And, surprisingly, my scalp wasn't feeling dry (which it had been for past few washes) and my hair is not weighed-down even a bit and is soft and added advantage was that curls are more defined.

Yes, I absolutely love it and would recommend it to everyone. The only hitch for me is that its expensive. FE has four bath oils. I have the Tuberose one as well but this product is more strong and I love this more. Somehow, I am not a fan of rose essence!! Seems surprising but actual rose doesn't smell as awesome. Nor does Jasmine even for that matter. Both are strong and pungent and take a little getting used to. 

Related Posts:

5 tips on How to use Bath Oil?

Happy Independence Day!!

Wish you all a very very happy 65th Independence Day!!

Are you doing anything special today?

Image Source:entertainunlimited.com

Dare to Change: Close laptop an hour before you go to bed

Third Challenge for the month is relatively easy for me but I do know that its really difficult for the people who are addicted to gadgets. But, not to over-estimate myself, I do like sitting on laptop till the last possible moment. 

"Switch off all gadgets an hour or two before going to bed."

Why?

If you have read about my post on how to get undisturbed beauty sleep, one of the carnal rules of deep sleep is that you should be peaceful when you go to bed and this process should start a little earlier, almost after dinner. So, try reading a book (not e-books) before going to sleep instead of attending to comments and posts :) Bloggers do have a difficult life :D

Second Challenge Progress

I kept this week's challenge easier because I am really having issues with the second challenge (getting up at 7) :( I am trying. Ok, probably not very hard or honestly!! Its really difficult for me to get up so early but I am also happy to report that since the sun begins to shine in my room early enough, I do get up once at around 6:45 almost everyday. 

First Challenge Progress

Did slack up in between but I have started again very seriously (since only two days) :D But, I did check out that I have to climb 6 and not 5 floors!!! One extra floor in between and I am really afraid of supernatural creatures so taking the stairs at night is almost impossible :D

But, I am definitely trying. How are you doing?

Image Courtesy:mahira29.wordpress.com

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Get up 15 minutes early

Neev Almond Rose, Lemongrass and Patchouli Handmade Soaps {Product Review}

What's Neev?

Since I am reviewing only handmade soaps, I shall keep it to Pros and Cons. So, lets start. 

Price: Rs 80 for 100gms (for all soaps)

Neev Almond Rose Soap

can you see the almond grits?

Ingredients

Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Lye, Rose Oil, Geranium Oil, Palmarosa Oil, Rosemary Oil, Roasted & Ground Almonds

Pros

feels really luxurious when you use it

moisturizes the skin

has almond grits in the soap which tends to do a bit of superficial exfoliation

feels really soft on skin

Neev Lemongrass Soap

Ingredients

Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Lye, Lemongrass Oil, Lavender Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Citronella Oil

Pros

moisturizes the skin but not as much as the Almond Rose soap

it smells refreshing and feels refreshing on skin!!

Cons

does dry out the skin a bit

Neev Patchouli Soap

Ingredients

Patchouli Oil, Lavender Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Coconut Oil, Mahua Oil, Palm Oil, Lye

Pros

moisturizes the skin but not as much as the Almond Rose soap

it smells bit like Patchouli essential oils

Cons

does dry out the skin a bit

Cons (for all soaps) 
melts away easily so its better not to use it directly on body

fragrance of the soap is not strong

How to use the handmade Soaps?

Lather the soap between palms and then apply lather on the body. This prevents the soap to melt away soon.

Raw Sugar and Rock Salt {Ingredients}

I have been always raving about sugar and salt scrubs but I have heard so many complaints about sugar being too harsh on skin. So, I wanted to share the sugar and salt which I use for my scrubs.

Fab India Raw Sugar

Raw Sugar is called Khandsari in Hindi. It is a less refined sugar, next to jaggery which is completely unrefined. It melts easily on skin and is not at all harsh and exfoliates really well. You can use it in place of sugar as well. Its less sweet, as well!!

Price: Rs 150 for 100 gms (approx.)

Skin Type: Dry to Matured

Patanjali Sendha Namak

Rock Salt is amazing for skin. I found only Patanjali selling rock salt in Hyderabad so I used it. In fact, rock salt is a little clumpy and not free flowing but this one is as fine as normal sugar so I do have doubts on the quality. If you know of anything better, do feel free to use it.

Price: Rs 10 for 1kg

Skin Type: Combination to Oily 

So, do check out this amazing DIY using the above ingredients which makes your skin glow like anything!! And, do let me know your experience :)

Dove Deep Pure Face Wash {Product Review}

Dove soaps are not my favourite but their face washes did catch my eye and the best part is that they do not have SLS. So, lets check out if I liked it or not :)

Price: Rs 70 for 50gms

Pros

very less quantity required

no SLS

doesn't dry or stretch my skin 

Cons

no improvement in blackheads

doesn't really exfoliate as far as I could experience

My Experience

I don't know what to write in this review coz the face wash is nothing great and neither bad. Its formula is just similar to the Pond's face wash'es.The product claims to have micro-puff technology which cleanses the pores well and exfoliates at the same time.

Honestly, I don't think I really saw anything like that in my face. It doesn't brighten or stretch my skin or make it dry and neither does the face wash claim anything like that. It is an inexpensive and SLS free face wash which can be given a try.

PS: I have had two sources with dry skin inform me that it is indeed drying for skin so dry girls, take care!! Mine's combi.

PPS: I have decided to remove the Ingredients section for the products which are not natural. 

Other products from Dove:
Dove Color Rescue Shampoo and Conditioner
Dove Nourishing Oil Care Range

My Hair Diaries - July 2012

This month's hair!!

As I had mentioned in my last month entry that I am discontinuing the treatment I was on and going through the same routine using over-the-counter products. Lets see how did it go?

When I looked at the above snap, my initial thought was that my hair is not looking that bad but when I compare it with my during-treatment hair, I was shocked!! And, felt a sharp pang of disappointment and exhilaration too. Disappointment that I left the treatment and exhilaration that the money was worth it :) Yay!! Oh btw, I need to go for trimming as well.

Changes in my Hair

• I can definitely see difference in my hair volume, especially, on the bald spots (not exactly bald but really less hair and I guess its genetic) on the two sides of the head. Thanks to this oiling routine so I do recommend this to everyone facing hair fall and don't have good hair growth!!

• Since I have left the treatment products, hair is definitely less on shine!!So, yeah, that's definitely not encouraging :(

• I need an SLS free shampoo!! Probably would give Soulflower or organic surge a try!! Let's see. 

• Similarly, have to get rid of the stock of conditioners. Any ideas??? Nah, can't put them on sale coz most of them are PR products or I got them for free and they are all tubs mostly so hygiene issues as well!!! Btw, if anyone in Hyderabad is interested, drop me a mail :)

• I have not been following the oiling routine since like two weeks!!! Have to start following it again. Also, I can say that it is different from the regular oiling even though it takes a lot of time comparatively because using cotton stimulates the scalp better and also, the cotton method applies oil to the hair and scalp in a good quantity so the hair is softer and deep conditioned every time I oil my hair.  

• Before I forget, I did face or rather saw many hairs falling during this month. Its due to the monsoons. Rainy season always causes hair fall so don't really worry about it and check out this post on hair care tips for rainy season. But, that's not exactly serious and will be fine within a month or two. Also, the major hair fall I saw was when I ignored washing my hair. 

Products Used

• Aloeveda Herbal Hair Oil 
• Dove Color Rescue Shampoo and Conditioner 

Related Posts:
My Hair Diaries - June 2012
My Hair Diaries - May 2012
My Hair Dairies - April 2012
My Hair Diaries - March 2012
My Hair Diaries - February 2012
My Hair Diaries - January 2012