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Skincare Brands I Love

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Some of my Favorite Products!

Well, I have loved skin care and trying out new skincare brands and their products and will probably continue to do so though not with the same fervor. In my 20’s, I wanted to try out all the new things. Now, my life is settled into a more mellow pace and combined with my need to enjoy what I apply and to compensate for my laziness, my list is limited to only serums and body butters.

I have never been a big fan of applying too many products but I did practice it religiously for sometime. Later, I cut out creams from my routine, slowly got rid of exfoliants as they started hurting my skin and now I have not applied any face mask for probably more than two years.

I just wash my face and apply a serum. I have even cut out the fancy vitamin C and hyaluronic acids and everything, for me it is just an all purpose serum which I can apply anytime of the day. That’s why I like to splurge on a good serum and I would definitely like to try out the best ones in the world.

Skincare Brands I Love #1 – Kama Ayurveda

I have not used all kama ayurveda skincare products but I still love the brand to a T. I love their body oils though I am not sure they are any longer available. I love their essential oils. I love their body butter. You really should try it if you have not. And, the neeli brigandi is the most amazing hair oil I have ever used. You can skip the face wash and shampoo and conditioner and even day cream for that matter. But, do give their night cream a try if your skin is prone to dryness. Absolutely worth it. And, the vetiver water is heavenly. Whew! Absolutely loyal to the brand. And, no I am not getting paid for this.

Skincare Brands I Love #2 – L’Occitane

The most amazing brand I have tried and yes this is pricey. Almond shower oil, shea body cream, the divine serum, all of them are sooo good. Worth every single penny I spent on them. If you do want to try out something really luxurious, definitely give this brand a try. This is closest you can get to at-home spa.

The Body Shop Hemp Range - Lip protector, Hand Cream and Foot Protector
The Body Shop Hemp Foot Cream which is great as Hand Cream as well!!

Skincare Brands I Love #3 – The Body Shop Spa Range

Okay, not a big fan of body shop but it stays on my radar somehow. In fact, sometimes I end up not liking the brand as a whole even. But, love their spa of the world body butters. They smell amazing and are simply great on skin. Great buys when you get them at 50% discount so keep an eye out. And, their hemp range is worth mentioning.

Special Mention – SOS Organics

This is a social initiative by SOS Organics Foundation to perpetuate sustainable holistic living. They sell natural products and do, please, do have a look at their website. Their soaps are amazing. Yes, now they cost twice as they used to cost a few years back. I have been disconnected from the brand for sometime but recently I went back to their website and loved what I saw. They also have non-perishable organic foods and their beeswax candles are just amazing. Really would recommend their products on the whole.

Another amazing product which I have not included in the list above is Estee Lauder Advanced Night Recovery, simply because this is just one product and I do not have any opinion on the brand. Which are your favorite skin care brands? Do share in the comments below.

Till then, Swathy.

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The Body Shop Spa of the World Hawaiian Kukui Cream

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The Body Shop Spa of the World Hawaiian Kukui Cream

I have been wanting to write about this product for the longest time now but could not since I missed writing it last year when it was still winter and one could use the hawaiian kukui cream. Now that the winter is about to start, this is the perfect time to get this review going.

Gets absorbed easily and stays on skin till the next wash. Perfectly suited for Winters.

The body shop spa of the world series and their body butters are definitely worth trying out. In fact, so much that my father is also a huge fan. Interestingly, my parents spotted these body butters available at 50% and got a few tubs.

As you can see in the picture, I have a couple of tubs emptied out and waiting for my trip to the store for their disposal. You can give all your body shop empties to the store back and they will take care to recycle the packaging.

The Body Shop Spa of the World Hawaiian Kukui Cream Product Review

[Read more…] about The Body Shop Spa of the World Hawaiian Kukui Cream

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Dot & Key Hydration Range

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dot & key hydration range

After using their hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serum, I was enthusiastic to try out the Dot & Key hydration range. Their lovely box arrived with their hyaluronic acid serum, eye cream, and two sleeping masks – one for face and one for eyes. I have never used eye products earlier very diligently before and I am in love with their sleeping masks. They are velvety and feel luxurious on the skin. Even before the review, I would definitely recommend them.

Dot & Key Hydration Range Products

I love the packaging of the brand, especially their tiny containers for eye cream and eye sleeping mask. The products would last a really long time and they look beautiful on my shelf. The Dot & Key hydration range consists of the following products:

  • Dot & Key Eye Cream Concentrate
  • Dot & Key Hyaluronic Serum Concentrate (Reviewed Here)
  • Dot & Key Eye Sleeping Mask
  • Dot & Key Skin Plumping Moisture Infusion Water Sleeping Mask
Availability: Online Website
[Read more…] about Dot & Key Hydration Range

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Dot & Key Water Drench Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum Concentrate

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Dot & Key hyaluronic acid serum
Dot & Key’s packaging is pastel and pretty!

As usual, my dilemma for finding the perfect moisturizer has not yet solved. So, after using the hyaluronic acid serum (Marine Hyaluronics) from The Ordinary, this is my second hyaluronic acid serum and I was and was completely unsure of what to expect. The best part is I am writing the review almost a month after finishing the product so I also have in mind how is my skin doing after I have discontinued the serum.

Dot & Key is a recent addition to my knowledge of brands. They have interesting products with their vitamin C and retinol serum still on the review shelf with me. After I finished the hyaluronic acid serum, I started with vitamin C serum and I am almost half way through it. As I have already said, hyaluronic acid is a great hydrating ingredient for the skin and if you have a dry skin, you should give hyaluronic acid serum a try.

Dot & Key Water Drench Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum Concentrate Product Review

Price : Rs 895

Availability : Online Website

Dot & Key hyaluronic acid serum, ingredient list

Ingredients

The packaging mentions key ingredients and not the complete set of ingredient list. The concentration of hyaluronic acid in the serum which proves the efficacy of such treatment serums is also missing. However, I am liking other ingredients in the list though the same argument goes for them too.

The concentration of ingredients is unknown because of the lack of complete ingredient list. Bulgarian rose oil and acai berry fruit oil look really interesting. Milk lipids help moisturize the skin. Ceramide 3 gets absorbed into the skin and improves the skin barrier, thus, helping the appearance of aging skin.

My Review

When used topically, hyaluronic acid creates a moisture barrier on the skin, helping to make it smoother and softer. This ingredient is able to hold up to 1000x its own weight in water, thus producing amazing benefits for dehydrated skin. (Source – https://stylecaster.com/beauty/skin-care-ingredients/)

Dot & Key hyaluronic acid serum

The serum comes in a nice blue robust bottle with a stopper. The serum is transparent and runny in texture. It has a mild fragrance to it which I did not like the first time.  But the smell did not interfere with my nose at all and dissipates as soon as I apply the serum on the face. Since the texture is runny, you have to be careful about applying it.

I started using the serum in mid-July and it lasted me almost a month with a complete pump for one time use twice a day. Since this is only a hyaluronic acid serum, it is not enough for complete moisturization so I paired it up with Organic Riot Dazzle serum. It is advisable to follow up with a moisturizer for any kind of serum or treatment you use.

As I mentioned earlier, the hyaluronic acid serum is very runny so I apply it in dots all over the face and neck and gently rub it in. The serum gets absorbed pretty quickly and does not leave any sticky feeling behind. In fact, it is easy to say skin drinks up the serum instead. However, the serum alone is not enough for me and I need to follow it up with moisturizer for sure otherwise my skin feels stretchy.    

Dot & Key hyaluronic acid serum, vitamin C serum, retinol serum
Love their packaging!

The serum does make the skin glow and hydrates it from inside though on some days it might not be enough depending on how you take care of your skin and the weather outside. The hydration lasts for an entire day even if you do not wash our face at night. It keeps the skin hydrated in air-conditioned environment as well for the entire day with a moisturizer. After I finished with the hyaluronic acid serum, I could actually feel my skin getting drier.

Overall, I loved the product especially considering that it is Rs 900. There are very few hyaluronic acid serums at that price range in the market and this is one of them which does a pretty good job. So, yes, you should make hyaluronic acid serum a part of your daily skin care routine. I also have Dot & Key’s vitamin C and retinol serum up for review in the upcoming weeks so stay tuned for them!

I would like to apologize to the brand as well. This review has been delayed for too long as I could not really find time to click pictures and put them up for the review. To update you about changes in my life, I recently started working again full time and since then my routine has been all over the place which is why the posts are sporadic. I am still trying to get everything back under control.

Till then, Swathy.

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How Men Can Establish and Maintain a Skincare Routine?

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men skin care routine
Photo by Hiển Nguyễn from Pexels

When was it that routine became a dirty word? Is it just something we invariably associate with the inexorable decline into adulthood? Something we surrender our youth and spirit to like the grueling daily grind, work, bills, and taxes? Something that triggers feelings of submission and defeat?

What if routine were to clean up its act, engender youthfulness and vitality, inspire confidence and élan, envy and admiration…?

It’s true, there are a lot of routines out there you should do everything in your power to escape before it’s too late! Your skincare routine is not one of them.

Make It Simple, Make It Matter

You can add a few minutes to your morning routine and shave years off your skin and the impression you make every day.

Three words: cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize.

Your skincare routine should be simple, methodical, and intentional. An essential part of ensuring it becomes second nature is in the products, not just the practice.

What if you had a Face & Body Scrub that both cleansed and exfoliated at the same time, and did so using a natural, unique blend of certified organic lime peel oil, jojoba, ginseng, kelp, azulene and aloe? What if, indeed!

MËNAJI’s Face & Body Scrub is all that and more, and it’s designed and formulated as such so that your skincare routine is as deliberate, disciplined, and uncomplicated as possible.

Whatever you’re using to cleanse your face and body should be able to remove all that excess dirt and oil you pick up out in the world, clear and unclog your pores, and treat your skin with natural vitamins, antioxidants, and botanicals to help restore and revitalize, not just get the grime off.

Once you’ve cleansed and exfoliated, a quick, light application of moisturizer helps lock in hydration, and if your moisturizer is MËNAJI’s Power Hydrator Plus Tinted Moisturizer, then you’re also getting SPF-30 for sun protection, and subtle tinting to even out your complexion.

The sun adds years to your skin. UV rays, even on cold and cloudy days, cause wrinkles, sun spots, burns, dryness, and as we all know, even cancer. With SPF-30 sun protection in your daily moisturizer, your skincare routine is like a force field that makes you look exceptional and protects your skin at the same time.

Skincare in Minutes A Day

We are really only talking about a few minutes a day, and like we said, it’s about the products, not just the practice. You’re already showering and shaving, brushing your teeth and combing your hair, so… sorry buddy, you’re already running on the hamster wheel of routine, only this is a routine you chose for a good reason.

The thing about a skincare routine for men is that not only does your skin require much the same care and attention as a woman’s, but it needs to be practical, specifically formulated for a man’s skin, and inclusive of all the things you might not use otherwise that promote healthy, vital skin.

MËNAJI’s entire suite of men’s skincare products and cosmetics are designed specifically for men. Everything from the ClearShave 3-in-1 Formula that literally replaces the post shave rinse with a built-in botanical moisturizer you simply massage into your skin, to the Power Hydrator Plus Tinted Moisturizer that moisturizes, conceals, and protects all at the same time.

In easy-to-use pumps, tubes, and practical applicators designed for real people, MËNAJI has identified and eliminated a lot of the obstacles and inconveniences that made an efficient and effective skincare routine kind of a pain; but those days are gone.

We’ve made it easy so it can work for you, not against you. With our complete line of cosmetic and skincare products that also includes products formulated for the occasional spot treatment, concealing, deep cleansing, and revitalizing, your everyday routine will keep you at your best every day, and your commitment to going deeper will indulge and revive for the long haul.

Routine Redefined by MËNAJI

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What Happens when You Wear Sunscreen Everyday?

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wear sunscreen everyday, sunscreen, skin cancer
Image Courtesy : Photo by Porapak Apichodilok from Pexels

Recently, I observed a few moles coming out on my arms. You must already be aware that the development of new moles is usually not a good sign. It can indicate skin cancer at the very worst. When you wear sunscreen everyday, you can save your skin from such drastic changes usually.

I was really concerned since I have not been using sunscreen for the last two to three years at the very least. And, I can definitely say that if you do not wear sunscreen everyday, it shows up pretty easily on your skin. I have seen the effects of not wearing sunscreen everyday.

How sunscreen affects the skin if you wear sunscreen everyday?

Skin Aging Stops

Okay, this is an overstatement. But, if you wear sunscreen everyday, you would have already noticed your skin looking younger, firmer and definitely less wrinkly, especially around the eyes and lips. The deep wrinkles or lines or even laugh lines can be filled up by regularly using sunscreen.

Helps Keep your Skin Hydrated

Actually, sunscreen itself acts like a barrier and protects your skin. In the meantime, it also helps improve the barrier function of the skin and helps prevent your skin from losing moisture and lipids in the longer run. This is not a one time effect but something you will notice gradually over a period of time as you wear sunscreen everyday and regularly.

Allows your Night-time Treatments to work well

You can use the best anti-aging creams but they would not work if you are not complimenting them with protecting yourself in the sun. In fact, you can not use retinoids and AHA’s for your skin unless you wear sunscreen everyday religiously. Using these ingredients make your skin sensitive to sun damage.

If you are wearing sunscreen everyday, your night time treatments and retinoids also work really well. What I have often observed is that the deep wrinkles in the skin also fill up slowly once you start putting sunscreen and use the proper anti-aging products or even regular facial oils. Not wearing sunscreen regularly or even using it sporadically can lead to skin damage and wrinkles.

The quality of skin is very deeply affected and none of the antioxidants and treatments work for longer time in such cases. More serious than that is the chance of skin cancer. Did you know that now skin cancer is also covered under cancer insurance plan. The advice to use a sunscreen is no longer merely a scare tactic to get you to use a skin care product and multinationals to mint money.   

wear sunscreen everyday, sunscreen, skin cancer
Photo by Tofros.com from Pexels

Do’s and Don’ts for Sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen everyday will provide a lot of advantages. But, before that, you must know how to wear sunscreen. I have mentioned these points at various times and places on the blog but repeating the important information never hurts.

Wear Enough Amount of Sunscreen

Always buy a spf 30+ sunscreen for everyday use. And, make sure you apply a coin sized product just for your face and neck. If you are not using enough sunscreen, it will not be able to protect your skin.

Use Sunscreen on All parts of your Body

Using it on face and neck is not enough. You must use sunscreen on your arms, legs and other exposed parts of the body. And, you must apply the same amount of sunscreen everywhere – a coin sized product each for both arms, legs and other exposed parts. Make sure to carry your sunscreen while you are going swimming and apply it as soon as you are out of the pool.

Makeup and Moisturizers with spf are not Sunscreen

Sunscreens are formulated differently than other products. Never confuse skin care products with spf as sunscreen. They are not designed to protect your skin as well as the sunscreen even if the ingredients seem to be same. Likewise, makeup and bb creams with spf are not enough. For lips, use lip balms with higher spf but keep on applying them as frequently as possible.

sunscreens, why

My Recommendations for Sunscreen

Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry Touch Sun Block : Absolutely my favorite and more affordable. I love to use this on my body as well as my face. If I am getting an expensive sunscreen for my face, I use this for my body.

Vichy Ideal Soleil Face Fluid Dry Touch : This is something I tried out last year and it is an amazing sunscreen for the face especially. It is matte and not really heavy, blends well and looks great. Protection is also amazing.

Shiseido Multi-Defense UV Protector: Absolute favorite but extremely expensive! I really love this and if you can afford it, it is amazing for the face. It sits well, less white cast and does not make the skin oily at all. Lasts pretty long and reapplication is also easier.

For now, my list is limited. I hope to update it as and when I like something I have used. I have started using sunscreen again so expect more posts and reviews.

Till then, Swathy.

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Organic Riot Dazzle Serum for Even Skin-Tone

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Organic Riot Dazzle Serum for Even Skin-Tone

I received this Organic Riot dazzle serum along with their spotlight cream. If you have followed the rantings on my blog, you would know how I never like any moisturizer ever and I am always on the lookout for a new one before I even finish the old. Please do share if you have a good recommendation for a moisturizer. Surprisingly, this time I do have a couple of very inexpensive recommendations in terms of moisturizers for dry skin.

Anyways, getting back to the product at hand, it is again a completely organic moisturizer which claims to control your hyper-pigmentation. Another thing interesting about the brand is that their packaging is made of recycled paper. Is that not impressive? Before getting into details, organic riot dazzle serum is another winner and I am definitely interested in other products they come up with.

Organic Riot Dazzle Serum for Even Skin-Tone

Price : Rs 1,490 for 50ml
Availability : Online Website

Organic Riot Dazzle Serum Ingredients

It is interesting to note that it has kiwi seed, avocado and jojoba oils along with minor amounts of raspberry seed and tomato seed oil. I would love to get a blend of facial oil with these ingredients instead of a creme.

[Read more…] about Organic Riot Dazzle Serum for Even Skin-Tone

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