Summer Skin Care with Deyga Organics

 With summer having arrived, it's time to switch up your skin care routine a little bit. Temperatures are rising and the air around us is drier and tanning sunburn may become more common. So I have been trying out 3 lovely products from Deyga Organics

Let us talk a little about these three beauties.

Rose and Mulethi Skin Brightening Face Pack

It comes in a simple packaging of a round plastic jar. The artwork is is pretty and minimalistic. The product itself comes in a dry powder form. Let me list the ingredients in the facepack:

1. Native Roses
2. Oatmeal
3. Mulethi
4. Almond Oil
5. Cucumber Hydrosol
6. Aloevera Hydrosol
7. Potato Starch
8. Xanthan Gum
9. Vitamin E Oil
10. Geogard ECT (ECOCERT approved preservative)

All these ingredients are packed with amazing skin benefits!

It is very easy to apply, just mix with milk or rose water to make a paste and apply on your face and let your skin soak in the goodness of this hydrating pack! This pack is suitable for all skin types. Since this is not a clay based product, it does not dry out the skin at all! My skin felt cooler as I applied the pack and loved the gentle exfoliation as I washed it off while gently

 

Pre monsoon summers in Delhi can be very dry and despite the high temperatures, often lips can get dry and chapped. The Deyga Strawberry Lip Scrub and Beetroot Lip Balm ready for the rescue!

The Strawberry Lip Scrub promises and delivers on the following points:

• Exfoliates dead skin cells
• Reduces pigmentation 
• Makes lips soft and supple
• Enhances the overall texture of lips 
• Helps in better absorption of lip balm 

It contains Avocado oil, Organic Shea Butter, Almond Oil, Vitamin E Oil, Granulated Sugar and Strawberry Essential Oil.

Do pay attention that it does contain essential oil. So incase you have any sensitivity to essential oils, you might want to be careful.

The Lip Scrub comes in a small aluminium container with the trademark minimalist artwork. The product feels so luxurious against the lips... I really do enjoy using it, specially when I'm getting ready for an event. It preps my lips well for liquid matte lipsticks.

 

The last of these three beauties is the Beetroot Lip Balm. Filled with the goodness of Almond, Jojoba and Avocado Oils, Beetroot Extract and Beeswax, it soothes chapped lips and nourishes the lips.

The Lip Balm also comes in a round aluminium tin. It has a beautiful red colour and leaves a light tint in the lips.

All of Deyga's products use natural ingredients and traditional recipes that are time tested and aim towards being sustainable.

Check out my video demonstrating how I use the trio of Deyga's Face Care Essentials Combo on Instagram HERE

The Combo is priced at INR 1130/-.

You get 100g of the Face Pack, 8g of Lip scrub and 10 g of Lip Balm.

This is already my favourite summer skincare combo. What are you waiting for? Go get yours!!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/keeping_1t_real for more beauty content!

Chinese Skin Care Products Demo and Review

Hey Everyone!

Today I'm reviewing a bunch of Chinese Skin Care Items I picked up during my Beijing trip. 

The set consists of a skin lotion, a day and a night cream and an eye cream. The products contain extracts of pearl, gold, silver and ginseng.

For more details check out the video below:

Stay Beautiful!!

Product Review: The Nature's Co. White Tea Night Cream Atmospure

Hey Everyone!

Here's another Product Review Post for you! This time I am reviewing The Nature's Co's. White Tea Night Cream Atmospure. I received this in the FabBag May 2016. I have used this off and on through the month and I'm ready to tell you how the product has fared on me.

Product Price: INR 895/-  for 50 ml
Product Claim and List of Ingredients: 

From brand's own promotional material

My Take on the Product:

I can't comment much on the packaging of the product, except that it comes in a jar, since I only have a sample jar. On to the product itself. The product is vegan, is not tested on animals and is paraben free. These are big pluses. 

The moment you open the jar, a lovely, herby fragrance hits your olfactory senses. The cream is pale peach in colour. The texture is more like a gel cream than purely cream. It spreads easily but needs about a minute of light massage to get absorbed into the skin. In drier weather, it felt quite comfortable on my skin. But now that the weather has become more humid, I find that the application of this cream makes my face sweat more than usual. Though I definitely will get back to this cream when the weather gets drier.

The product is very moisturising and is great for normal to dry skinned beauties. However, despite having an oily skin, this product has not broken me out at all. So its good for sensitive skin too. 

As far as its anti ageing properties go, I do not have a lot of wrinkles, so I can't say whether I have any fewer wrinkles. However, when I did apply the cream at bedtime, I did wake up with softer, brighter skin in the morning.

Pros:

1. Free of parabens
2. Not tested on animals
3. Vegan product
4. Lovely, herby fragrance
5. Spreads easily
6. Absorbs well
7. Moisturises well
8. Good for normal to dry skin
9. Did not break me out
10. Woke up with softer brighter looking skin
11. Competitively priced.

Cons:

1. Can be a bit uncomfortable for oily skin in humid months. 

Overall Verdict: 4.75/5. Its quite a nice product and I'm quite happy with it. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone with sensitive skin, normal to dry skin.

What did you think of the review? Have you used this product? what are your thoughts about it? Do let me know in the comments section below...

Think and Stay Beautiful!

Product Review: Gratia Bela Shower Gel

Hey Everyone!

Hot and sticky summers are here to stay! So how do you try to stay fresh through these humid days? I for one take a lot of showers. I love shower gels since they impart a sense of freshness without drying out the skin too much.

Recently, Gratia Luxurious Bath and Body  sent me a couple of products to try out. Among them was the Bela Shower Gel. I have been using this for a some weeks now and I'm ready to review his product for you.

But before that, a brief introduction about the company:

From Brand's own promotional material

From Brand's own promotional material

From Brand's own promotional material

Now to the product:

Product Claim and Instructions for Use:

Product Price: INR 250/- for 200 ml of product

List of Ingredients:

My Take on the Product:

The product comes packed in a cardboard carton. The carton itself is textured, pink on colour with floral accents. The bottle is a clear plastic with a brown coloured cap. The product is dispensed from a pop-open nozzle.

The product itself is pale yellow in colour. It is runny, but not watery. Its not thick like gel either. I t has a lovely fragrance of  jasmine flowers. It lathers well and feels really pleasant on the skin. The shower gel leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh. It does not strip away the skin's natural moisture. The fragrance lingers for about an hour after the shower. I am really enjoying using this shower gel.

However, I have not noticed any advantage that this product has over the shower gels from other brands. But if you look at this products on its own, then it is a good product to try. I'm definitely looking forward to trying their shower gels in different fragrances!

Pros:

1. Fuss-free and leak proof packaging
2. Lovely fragrance which lingers for a while
3. Lathers well
4. Rinses off easily
5. Refreshes skin
6. Does not dry out skin
7. Competitively priced.
8. Not tested on animals
9. Is available in many fragrance variations

Cons 

1. Contains SLS
2. I did not feel this product really stands apart form any other brand in its category.

Overall Verdict: 4.5/5. The brand must try to place itself in a unique position in the overcrowded shower gel market.

Buy Online HERE. 

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me by the brand for reviewing purposes. I have not been paid any money for this review. This fact has not allowed my review to be clouded or less honest.

Product Review: The Nature's Co. Corn Exfoliating Face Pack

Hello Everyone!

Hot and Sticky summer months are here to stay for at least three more months. So what we need is a clay-based mask to soak up the excess oil that is secreted by the skin, something to freshen things up. 

In comes The Nature's Co. Corn Exfoliating Face Pack. 

Product Claim:

Get a brand new face with the natural goodness of our Corn Face Pack. It has pronounced pore-cleaning and exfoliating properties that gently removes excess oil leaving the skin soothed and softer. Apply the pack on your face and neck in circular motions, leave it on for 15 minutes or until dry and then wash it off.

Product Price: INR 1895/- for 200 gms of product

This is a photograph of a sample i had received earlier.

 Ingredients:

My Take On the Product

The Nature's Co. Corn Exfoliating Face Pack comes in an opaque, white plastic tub with a brown, -screw-on  plastic cap. The product itself is a soft paste which can be easily scooped out. It has a grainy texture. The nature's Co. products are completely vegan and cruelty free and use only natural ingredients. I love the faint chocolatey fragrance!

The  spreads easily on the skin. I usually massage the product on my face for about 2 minutes and then leave it to dry out for about 15 minutes. The problem is that the corn grits are quite large and feel very abrasive on the skin. Smaller grits would have also done the job, but would have been more gentle on the skin. To give it credit, the product did not break out my acne-prone skin.

The product definitely helps to clean up and freshen the skin. My skin feels less oily and sticky after using the product. But I have to be careful when exfoliating, since its so abrasive.

Pros: 

1. Pretty and practical packaging
2. All Natural ingredients
3. Vegan and Cruelty free product
4. Yummy Chocolatey smell
5. Helps clean and freshen skin
6. Product spreads easily
7. Easy to use
8. Great for oily skin
9. Did not break me out

Cons:

1. The corn grits feel too abrasive.
2. Bit pricey

Overall Verdict: 4.5/5 Though its a great product, I wish it was less abrasive. Its also a bit steeply priced, in my  opinion.

What did you think of this review? Have you used this product? What's your opinion on the product? Drop me a line in the comments section below.

Think and Stay Beautiful!

Product Review: Soultree Amrita Cleansing Milk

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing a cleansing milk by Soultree, one of the many ayurvedic brands in India.

Product Price: INR 295/- for 120 ml

Product Claim: 

Organic Aloe and fresh Rose water made from the wild Indian Rose is blended with Ayurvedic extracts of organic Licorice to give your skin multiple benefits. It cools and heals skin, lightens sun tan and using it daily as a cleanser ensures an even skin tone with visibly reduced blemishes.

List of Ingredients: 

 My Take on the Product:

I love using ayurvedic products because the are usually free of harmful chemicals. However, there still are brands that include parabens as preservatives. Soultree claims that this product has neither this category of nasties, nor does it have any silicones.

The product comes in a transparent plastic bottle with a black screw-on cap. The bottle itself is covered with a brown paper label which has all the product details printed on it. The texture of the cleansing milk is like any other, a milky white, slightly runny composition. It has a nice fresh herby fragrance which I approve of.

The product spread well and easily on my skin and it felt nice to massage in this product into my skin. It cleaned up an entire day's make up and grime in a couple of minutes. It even cleaned up eye makeup effectively. Including all eye-shadow and mascara. However, I must mention here, that I always use washable mascara, never the waterproof ones. So I cannot say if this product works on waterproof mascara as well. The only problem is that it did sting the eyes a bit (you can see me squinting in the demo video).

The product leaves the skin feeling comfortably moisturised. But I did not feel any residue on my skin after I wiped it off with damp cotton pads. Though I do like to go over once with a face-wash as well. This I do since I have always had oily skin.

This cleansing milk is full of the goodness of aloe and rosewater, both proven to be excellent for skin care. I would definitely recommend it to all my beautiful friends and readers.

 

Pros:

1. Fuss free packaging.
2. Full of the goodness of aloevera and rosewater.
3. Pleasant herbal fragrance.
4. Free of parabens and silicones.
5. Did not cause any fresh breakouts (I had a bout just recently)
6. Cleansed every last bit of makeup and grime.
7. Cleansed eye make up effectively.
8. Very reasonably priced.
9. Ideal for beauties with normal to dry skin.

Cons:

1. Stings the eyes a bit.
2. Oily skinned beauties may have to follow up with a face wash.

Overall Verdict: 4.5/5. It loses marks only for the stinging! Highly recommended!

Have you used this product? Did you like it? What did you think of this review? Do let me know in the comments section below...

Product Review: Skin Yoga Oats and Roses Facewash

Hey Everyone!

Lets do a quick review of a nice skin-friendly product. For the longest time busy women like us have been forced to use harmful chemical laden skin products. We just do not have the time, like our mothers and grandmothers to make and use home-made, skin loving products. However,now a number of brands are coming up with hand pound/hand - made products free of chemical preservatives, perfumes et al.

Skin Yoga is one such brand started by three sisters to bring to people the goodness of nature. To read more about that, head HERE

One of the products from the Skin Yoga stables is the Oats and Roses Facewash. I received this product sample in one of My Envy Boxes.

Product Price: INR 1450/- for 50gms

Company Claim:

For Toning and Cleansing

Rose petals are considered to be a natural toner and an excellent sunblock. Oats contain natural cleansers that remove dirt and oil from the pores without causing irritation. This vitamin C enriched combination with real rose petals will leave your skin feeling protected, clean and toned

Directions For Daily Face Wash

Take approximately 1 tsp of the powder in cupped hand. Add few drops of water to make a paste. Apply to face and massage gently into skin. Rinse thoroughly.

Dry 

My Take on the Product: 

Skin Yoga Oats and Roses Facewash contains exactly that, powdered oats and dried and crushed rose petals. They are not too finely milled and swell when mixed with water. Once rubbed on the skin, its acts like a really soft and gentle scrub. The product definitely cleanses the regular grime, but is not effective on makeup. I love the fact that this product is free of any preservatives, parabens and other such nasties. 

I love using this natural cleanser every morning. Rubbing the product on my skin wakes me up. It does not leave my skin feeling dry and stretchy. In fact it leaves a pleasant light, glowy film on the skin. Oats has its own natural oils which, when rubbed on the skin, transfers on and moisturises the skin. Dry skinned beauties might still need moisturising,but oily skinned ones may not need any. 

However, the product is on the pricier side at INR 1450/- for 50 gms. If you do have the time, you can sun-dry rose petals, crush them and powder some rolled oats and mix both to make your own cleanser. 

On mixing with water

Pros: 

1. All natural.
2. Soft particles
3. Gently cleanses
4. Can be used as daily scrub.
5. Free of Parabens and other harmful chemicals
6. Has its own natural oils, oily skin may not need any extra moisturiser.

Cons:

1. Ineffective against makeup
2. Quite Expensive.

Overall Verdict: 4/5 A really nice product that can be used as a daily scrub. I am really enjoying using it. Will I buy this product? I'm not sure I want to buy an expensive product, but I would love to receive it as a gift! ;D

You can buy this product on Nykaa or Skin Yoga

Think and Stay Beautiful

Product Review: Za Total Hydration Face Wash

Hi Everyone!

Let's do a quick review of a lovely face wash by Za. Now, Za is a line of products developed by Shiseido, a Japanese beauty care brand. Shiseido is one of the oldest personal care brands in the world. Za is a budget range that was launched a sometime in the middle of 2015 in India.

Product Price: INR 299/- for 100gms of product

List of Ingredients:

Product Claim:

• A Refreshing cleansing foam that polishes the skin to form a clear complexion.
• Cleanses impurities while retaining vital moisture for clear skin
• Removes excess sebum and pore-clogging impurities
• Fine textured, rich foam gently covers the skin while cleansing.

My Take on the Product:

Za Total Hydration Face Wash comes in a baby pink, plastic squeeze tube. It has a flip-top cap which I like since it is leak-proof. The product has a creamy texture and contains these tiny blue particles. They are not very abrasive and are far too gentle to be exfoliating. It has a very gentle, nearly imperceptible fragrance. 

True to promise, the product foams up really well and a tiny bit goes a long way. Just take a pea-sized amount add a few drops of water and rub your hands together for a rich lather. For the Japanese its a complete no-no to be rubbing your facial skin directly with your fingers. The idea is to gently massage the foam on the skin. 

The face wash is quite gentle yet takes off all the grime that collects on the face. However, it is not entirely effective when it comes to waterproof makeup. So if I have that on, I first remove the makeup with relevant cleansers and then follow it up with this Za face wash.

The product does not leave my skin dry, but it does feel a wee bit stretchy if I do not follow up with a moisturiser. I have oily skin with a few dry patches, so I wonder how this product will fare on dry-skinned beauties. 

What I like best about this face wash, is that it does not have any of the regular nasties like parabens or SLS. So that's a huge plus for me.

Interesting update: Za products were easily available in online stores like nykaa.com and fabbag.com, but as I was writing out this post I realised, they weren't available here anymore. However, amazon.com and flipkart.com did seem to have them. I wonder....

Pros:

1. Convenient, spill proof packaging
2. Lightly scented
3. Creamy texture.
4. Non-abrasive cleansing particles.
5. High foam
6. Little product goes a long way.
7. Takes off daily grime.
8. Did not strip my skin of moisture.
9. No Parabens and SLS.
10. Reasonable price point.

Cons: 

1. Not very effective on water-proof/long-lasting makeup.
2. Can dry out already dry skin.
3. Was available easily online, but not anymore.

Overall Verdict: 4.75/5 

I have loved using Za Total Hydration Face Wash and am looking to buy again once I use up the product.

Have you used this product? How did it fare on you? Let me know in the comments section below...

Think and Stay Beautiful!

Product Review: Lakme Absolute Lip Tint Creme

Hey Everyone!

Time for another review. This time its a lip product for the Lakme stables. I picked up the colour Plum Rush since I was looking for a deeper shade for the winters. Let us see how the product fared on me...

Product Price INR 650/- for 3 gms 

Product Claim:

This is more than just a hint of tint! The new Lakme Absolute Lip Pout brings you a thick creamy Crayon that will give your lips a rich deep color and incredible shine in just one stroke. A range of high performance make-up collection, these lip tints come in pop, happy colors that will make your pout definitely stand out! Pick the Lakme Absolute Lip Pout Creme Lip Color in Coral Pink, right away!

• Extra creamy lipcolor with excellent color pay off
• Retractable pencil that requires no sharpener
• To be stored below 30°C
• Comfortable application and Vibrant shades
• Available in 10 shades

My Take on the Product:

The Lip Crayon comes in a plastic case with a silver coloured cap. It has a twist-up format which I really like, since it means almost no product wastage. The formula itself is really creamy and moisturising. The colour pay-off is quite good, considering this is a lip tint. It has a mild, candy-like fragrance and after-taste, if you happen to lick your lips, But it disappears soon and didn't really bother me.

The shade that I picked up is called Plum Rush. It is a rich, brownish red colour that adds warmth to my complexion. It has a very 'lip balmy' texture. The application is smooth. But it tends to be a bit streaky on the first swipe. It takes about 2-3 swipes to even out the colour on the lips. The Lip Tint has a lovely sheen on application. The product is really moisturising, though you cannot apply it over chapped lips. The product tends to 'grab' around the dry bits. I do not have very dry lips, so it worked pretty well for me. 

The Lip Tint survived some light snacking, but smudges and wears off during meals. It is not transfer resistant so it will stain glasses as you drink. It did settle into the fine lines of the lips, but I spotted it only when I looked very, very carefully. So That is not really an issue. The product does not really stain when it wears off, just leaves behind a hint of colour. Reapplication is not a problem. And I love the fact that it is easy to remove. I hate long-lasting lipsticks and eye products, which require too much rubbing and scrubbing to get off your face at the end of the day! 

In natural day-light

In white light

Pros:

1. Comes in a sturdy, retractable packaging, thus minimising product wastage.
2. Creamy and moisturising.
3. Moisturising effect remains even after the colour fades.
4. Good colour pay-off
5. Candy-like fragrance, but not too sickly sweet.
6. Decent staying power. Lasts for about 4-5 hrs with light snacking.
7. Easy to remove.
8. A good range of shades.

Cons: 

1. Application can be a bit streaky.
2. Price is a bit steep for what the product offers.

Overall Verdict: 3.5/5.  Though I liked the product very much, it is unlikely I will buy any more shades from this range. Similar products are available at a much lower price point, especially if you are looking to buy the lighter shades in this range. However, all said and done, its a nice product for dry lips.

Think and Stay Beautiful!

Product Review: Totally Peanuts Facial Cleanser by SaND for Soapaholics

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Hello Everyone!

This is the first Review post of this year, so I thought lets make it about skin care. I got this SaND for Soapaholics Totally Peanuts Face Cleanser in one of my FabBags. Its more of a scrub than a cleanser. So let's see how this product fared on my skin.

Product Claim: 

Get-up-and-get-going with our nutty cleanser concoction blended with Nature’s own energizer, Honey. We make sure that our Peanuts rest in the ground for at least six months to provide you with that burst of Vitamin E that you deserve. By combining our backyard beehive with exotic Cedarwood and Rose Essential Oils, we provide you with the perfect splash of moisture and protection to last you till Happy Hour! 

Recommended for: Normal to Dry skin

Directions to use: Take a small amount, mix with water and blend into a paste. Massage face for a minute and rinse off with warm water.

Shelf Life: 4 months from date of packing.

Ingredients: Every 10gm contains Vegetable Glycerine (38.10%), Peanut Seed Pdr. (Arachis hypogea) (30.90%), Kaolin (24.20%), Honey Liq. (4.35%), Ess.Oil blend of Patchouli Leaf (Pogostemon patchouli), Cedarwood (Cedrus deodara) & Basil Leaf (Ocimum sanctum) (1.44%), Pink Clay (0.97%)

Price: INR 159/- for 30 gms of product. 

My Thoughts on the Product:

The product comes in a mustard coloured, plastic tub with a screw-on cap. I have not tested if the cap is leak-proof, so I cannot really comment on that bit. The moment you open the tub, a pleasant aroma of patchouli and basil greet you. The product colour is a pretty brownish pink.  The formula is rich and thick and is packed with peanut powder. The product is full of natural goodness, if you read the ingredient list. All ingredients are natural and have no nasties like artificial preservatives, parabens and phthalates!

The grains of the scrub itself are soft and do not feel abrasive on the skin, though they help exfoliate quite well. My skin feels fresh after every use! I see no redness after scrubbing my face with 'Totally Peanuts'. My skin feels smooth and hydrated after use.  I have had oily skin for most of my life, but lately, I feel a lot of dryness, and the cold weather does not help much. But this product has been a game changer. I'm in love!


Pros: 

1. Simple packaging. I love this because it means less pressure on the environment.
2. Full of natural goodness.
3. No parabens, artificial colouring, perfume or phthalates.
4. Pleasant smell.
5. Soft scrub particles.
6. Exfoliates effectively.
7. Does not leave skin red and raw. 
8. Does not dry out skin surface.

Cons: 

Can't think of any!!

Overall Verdict: 5/5! I love the fact that the product is absolutely natural with no artificial preservatives. Which is why all the products have a very short shelf life. So most of their products come in three sizes 30 gms, 50 gms and 100 gms. 

You can buy this product HERE

Have you used SaND for Soapaholics products?what do you think of them? Let me know in the comments section below...

Think and Stay Beautiful!

Product Review: Avon Metallic Effects Nail Enamel in Jade Reflection

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing a new nail polish launched by Avon India. Avon has a wide selection of nail paints at different price points. The new Metallic Effects range has just been launched in August 2015. It comes in five shades namely, Jade Reflection, Icy Purple, Foiled Chrome, Arctic Steel and Copper Gleam. Of these, I am reviewing the shade Jade Reflection. Let us see how the product fared on me...

Product Claim:

Avon's Metallic Effects Nail Enamel comes with

• Ultra Reflective Mirror Shine Finish
• Intense Metallic Polish
• Chip Resistant

Product Price: INR 249/- for 8ml

 My Take on the Product

The Avon Metallic Effects Nail Enamel comes in a rectangular glass bottle with a black plastic cap. The brush has a good thickness and helps apply the product smoothly. The formula of the product itself is excellent. It is not thin and runny like many nail polishes. It is comfortably thick and gives true colour and opaque finish in one application. For the swatches here I have applied only one coat. I'm not so sure of the mirror finish, but its definitely has a beautiful metallish sheen to it. It really does catch the eye!

The product lasted well on my nails. Considering I had applied only one coat and no top coat, I could see fading on the tips after 4 days of wear. That too was quite imperceptible and would be visible on close and careful scrutiny. There was no chipping for almost 6 days. So, I would say, the product comes good on its promise.

All the colours in this range are really pretty. I know I will pick up more shades in this range.

Pros:

1. Good packaging.
2. Good brush, helps in smooth application.
3. Few shades, but each one is really nice.
4. True colour and opacity in one coat.
5. Lasts for a good 4 days before fading at the tips.
6. No chipping for 6 days.

Cons:

1. I would have loved a lower price point..

Overall Verdict: 4.8/5. I've loved this Nail Enamel. And I'm buying more shades!!

Have you used Avon Metallic Effects Nail Enamel? Did you like it? Let me know in the comments section below..