Clean & Clear Essentials oil-control toner Product Review

Published on December 4, 2015 by Swati 7 Comments

So, this was one of the finds in Malaysia. And, somehow, even though my skin is dry, it has always loved alcohol toners. I know it sounds weird and I can not really explain why either. Apparently, alcohol is supposed to strip the skin off its lipids and everything else and make your skin extremely dry and prone to bacteria.

But, for me, I think it just restores my skin’s pH (I am not claiming it, this is just what I think) and makes my skin better by removing the dead skin cells and excess oils and then I immediately apply my serums and replenish the lost moisture. So yes, I do not feel dry or dehydrated or stretchy at any point of time.

The result was the same once when I had a chance to use the Clinique toner once upon a time. My skin loved it. Also, I have to mention that I use this toner only when I double cleanse my face after removing the sunscreen. I try not to use the alcohol toner regularly. Instead, I use hydrosols or floral waters to dampen my skin before following up with my night skin care routine.

Oh yes, I use toners only at night. In the morning, I try to keep my skin care routine simple as sunscreen application itself takes me quite a long time, though I am getting better at it now!! And, I am almost done with this product so no more alcohol toner available for me to use either. I would not buy one just to be on the safer side!!

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Shiseido Gentle Sun Protection Lotion For Face / Body spf 30 Product Review

Published on December 2, 2015 by Swati 1 Comment

Whenever I would ask my darling husband to go shopping back in Malaysia during our vacation, he would just postpone it to the next time. And, ultimately it was the day of our flight back home. He assured me that the airport was equipped with all kinds of duty free shops. So, I acquiesced with his opinion and decided to spend money there.

But, to my horror and his glee, we could not find even a single shop at KLIA 1. While he was snacking at Harrod’s, I slipped away to ask the passenger service desk for shopping options. They told me that it was available in the other part of the airport which was connected through a bullet train. So, without informing my completely clueless husband, I just left for the other part of the airport thinking I would be back in 15 minutes at max.

And, that was the most blissful 30-45 minutes of my life. I was literally rushing through the shops and grabbing the products on my list. Yes, I had compiled a list of products I wanted to buy, thanks to Tine’s most worthy splurges and Paris’s recommendations. And, when I was on my last item, I realized that I had exhausted all the money I had got!

Once back to my husband, I found I had to deal with something else totally than telling him that I had finished the money 😀 He was furious and had been searching for me. Just falling short of reporting a missing complaint, he had searched that part of the airport thoroughly and could not find me. He was just furious. When I think back, I secretly laugh at the entire scene which played out and I am sure he curses me to this day for putting him through it.

Worse was yet to come. Because, he had planned to buy a few of liquor bottles and I had spent all the money, poor guy was speechless when he came to know about it!! Honestly, that was when I really understood how shopping can be a therapy and addictive. The orgy continues to this day. In fact, I have started feeling very much like I think Rebecca Bloomwood, from Confessions of a Shopoholic, feels when she buys clothes. Only I like cosmetics better.

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My Skin Diary – September 2015

Published on October 12, 2015 by Swati 2 Comments

If you remember, I had shared with you a huge haul right after my vacation. Once I got all the amazing products and my sunscreen back into my shelf, I decided it was time enough for me to start taking care of my skin again. Honestly, since I was so excited to get so many products, I literally used everything on the shelf once a day so you would literally find a barrage of products in the ‘products used’ section. And, I would strongly urge you not to follow my example.

My Skin Type

I have combination dry skin which keeps on changing its texture depending on the climate. Also, it is more dry these days as a result of age and negligence. But, then, I have been using alcohol based toner and still my face does not feel stretchy or anything. It is really difficult to make out what my skin type is. It behaves so differently all times. I do also need to use anti-aging skin care products for my skin I guess since I am entering my 30’s now.

My Skin Condition

My skin is, thankfully, quite co-operative and does not breakout at its convenience and my inconvenience. I have always taken very good care of my skin but since my wedding two years back, I have been a little careless with my grooming routine. I have not used sunscreen since two years and I can see the effects. My skin is dark and dull and patchy all over. Also, I have been gaining and losing weight, the effects of which are quite obvious on my skin. And, entering into 30’s is also definitely taking its toll. So, overall, I need to take good care of my skin.

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Kama Ayurveda Amber Ginger & Lily Bath and Body Oil Product Review

Published on October 7, 2015 by Swati Leave a Comment

Hey Everyone! Well, I am back. Seems like there is a non-stop flow of activity in my family since almost March. March, May, July, August, September, October, November and then February. I have never really been this busy with family EVER! It is exhausting and add all the travelling and no wonder I am draining out!

I really have to be on top of things so that I do not abandon the blog whenever I have to disappear. Btw, it is dad’s birthday in a couple of days and I am thinking of gifting him Forest Essentials Date ad Litchi Anti-Ageing Cream. He loves skin care and yes I inherited it. And, this way, I also get to try the product and give out a review of it 😉

And, back to the review. I have always been a super huge fan of Kama products! Not doubt they are damn expensive and I have not really explored their whole range either. I have just used their Vetiver Water, Rose and Jasmine body oil and that’s it! Holy, not that less. Even I did not realize I had not used any of their other products. Though, I do have many of their essential oils.

So, this time when I went to their outlet, I was disappointed to know that their Rose and Jasmine body oil was out of circulation. I am a huge fan of the product because of its delicate rose fragrance. Since there was no other option, I got the Ginger and Lily body oil. But, I am not really disappointed either!

Kama Ayurveda Amber Ginger & Lily Bath and Body Oil Product Review

Essentials

Price : Rs 725 for 100ml (expensive!)

Availability : Kama outlets + Online Website

Packaging : Not really travel-friendly I would say. And, I have to add that I do not like the packaging either. It is a thick plastic bottle which comes with just a screw cap, it is not a flip top neither does it have a stopper on its mouth. So, you have to pour the product on your palm and regulate the quantity there by.

Texture : Oil feels a bit thick but not very thick, spreads easily. The feel of the oil does not have a lot of slip to it unless you take a lot.

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Does Your Face need a Wash in the Morning?

Published on September 19, 2015 by Swati 9 Comments

After a long long time, I am back with a skin care post. Yea!! I do have a lot of good news in my kitty but I shall go slow this time. I do not want to overwhelm myself 😀 So, yeah, lets go back to do you really wash your face in the morning or more correctly does your face need a wash in the morning?

Well, I am sure you obviously wash it! You would rather ask me if I had gone mad!!

Anyways, you remember the huge and awesome haul I shared with you a few weeks back from my Malaysia trip 🙂 I am still so excited about it that I am not able to decide what to use and when? Just yesterday, I tried out the SKII facial treatment mask and boy they are expensive as hell!!! So, was it worth it? No, I do not know. I still have 5 more and I would like to do a detailed review. Anyways, why am I even talking about masks?

Night Time Skin Care Routine

Yeah, right, I was talking about washing face in the morning. Now, let me just go back a little and talk about your night time skin care routine. So, what exactly do you do? Cleanse off your makeup, wash your face, tone it (optional) and moisturize. So, are you one who just prefers a single layer of one product or go with multiple products. Whatever the case be, you do cleanse your face properly at night, right? Then the question arises that what do you do in the morning?

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Kama Ayurveda Rose Jasmine Bath & Body Oil {Product Review}

Published on September 12, 2015 by Swati 6 Comments

So, this was on my last loving it list! And, I am really missing this product. It has been over for a month now and I just realized that I have not yet reviewed it. So, here I am gonna review about the product. Please bear.

Pros

gets absorbed very easily

keeps the skin nourished and moisturized for 8 hours

smells delicately of roses

Cons

very expensive

can get oily if applied in excess

packaging not friendly

bottle is brittle so beware of its handling

Now, have you ever come across any product which has jasmine but does not stink of it? Well, this is one. It smells of a garden of fresh roses instead of jasmine. I have come to hate the strong scent of jasmine. The problem with jasmine’s fragrance is its over-bearing nature which kills all the delicate smells.

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Garnier Pure Active Real Neem Face Wash Product Review

Published on August 24, 2015 by Swati 4 Comments

If you are a regular reader on the blog, you would know that I am a die-hard fan of Garnier Pore Unclogging face wash even though it has SLS. On my last trip to the supermarket, I was searching for another face wash which my skin would love and I picked up this Pure Active Neem one thinking it would be just the same and more over it was in a buy 2 get 1 offer. Bad idea to buy things for the first time in such offers!!

Anyways, needless to say the product disappointed me a lot. Why? Let us check out.

Garnier Pure Active Real Neem Face Wash Product Review

Price : Rs 90 for 100gms
Availability : at all the supermarkets and online shopping sites
Packaging : travel-friendly like all the tube face washes.
Texture : gel face wash, green in color and needs a bit of water to wash off as it leaves a slimy feel after washing the face.
Ingredients : It does have SLS, salicylic acid and sodium benzoate instead of parabens as preservatives.

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