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!

What's In My FabBag: January 2016 Edition

Hi Everyone!

Here is a quick video of the unbagging of FabBag January 2016 Edition.

Natural Bath & Body French Red Clay Face Mask

Product Price: INR 450/- for 100 gms

Sample Size in Bag: 20 gms

Natural Bath & Body Whipped Cream

Product Price: INR 275/- for 50 gms

Sample Size in Bag: 15 gms

Votre  Face Serum 

Product Price: INR 1670/- for 12 ml 

Sample Size in Bag: Full Size

BBlunt Spotlight Hair Polish 

Product Price: INR 250/- for 30 ml

Sample Size in Bag: 30 ml (FullSize)

Sugar Matte As Hell Crayon Lipstick in 04 Holly Golightly

Product Price: INR 799/- for 2.8 gms 

Sample Size in Bag: Full Size

Fashionography Ear Studs

Price: Not mentioned.

I am very impressed with the January 2016 Bag. The curation is excellent and had me really excited. The personal touch this time went beyond the bag. I had forgotten whether my subscription ended in December '15 of January '16. So I called their number and the team immediately sent me a link to renew my subscription and sent me a link to choose my favourite Sugar Matte as Hell Crayon Lipstick. However the link that came in the mail, took me a page where there were many things to choose from, but no lip crayon. o confirm whether I had been able to register my choice, Team FabBag called me back and personally registered by choice. I am floored!

Verdict on the Bag: Great, value wise. 3 full sized products! Wow!

Total Value of Bag: INR 2891/- (Approx) Wow! Considering that a month's subscription is INR 499/-

FabBag is a monthly subscription service starting at INR 499/-. Each month's bag contains 3-5 products from national and international brands ranging from drugstore to luxury. Product sizes range from small sample sizes to full size. To join this service click HERE.

First Impressions: Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Hey Everyone!

This is a post of firsts. Its my first 'First Impressions' post, first 'talk-through' video post, first beauty vlog.... etc., etc....

I recently bought the real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge at a really good discount on Amazon. And it just struck me that I could do a First Impression video... So I just got to doing it, and here it is!

I know of course, that it is not a patch on what some vlogger gurus have achieved, but I thought why take myself seriously!

So enjoy the video, critique  it, give me suggestions, but most important smile!

I will be doing a detailed review of this sponge in a bit. I'm not sure I its going to be a video, so lets see what happens!

Use the comments box below to show some love...

Buy this product HERE

Think and Stay Beautiful!

Devjani's Corner Cook With Me: It's pickling time.... With Gobi, Gajar and Shalgam

(From www.sanjeevkapoor.com)

Come winter in north India Gobi Gajar and Shalgam ka achhar (Indian Pickled Cauliflowers,Carrots and Turnips) is a household must do. Since every family has their tried and tested secret recipe tucked away there are as many versions of this recipe.

My friend Raseel and I decided to try out her family recipe . " for years my mother made this achaar and gave us, it's time I used her recipe and gave her some"...

So she dug into the recipe book of her 85 year old mother, Satwant Sawhney , an alumni of Lady Irwin College , Delhi...and I hope you enjoy making and sharing it with others as much as we did ...and as did Raseel's mother for all these years!  



This recipe will make around 6 large 1 kg jars. It is slightly time consuming so save an afternoon for this. And as we realized it's fun doing it with friends.


You will need :

2 kgs each of carrots, cauliflower and turnip. Get the freshest possible , it adds to the taste. Do not peel, wash well cut into 2 inch strips, slices or florets and dry for 3-4 hrs in the sun or use the fan overnight.

 

Other ingredients:
1. 250 gms each garlic, ginger, onion peeled and ground not too fine. 

2. 200 gms rai, ground dry

3. 50gms Kashmiri chilli powder and 1-2 tbsp red chilli powder or to taste.

4. 1tbsp Garam masala
5. 1/2 liter mustard oil
6. 800 gms Gur or jaggery
7. 1 cup vinegar

Method:


1. In a large karahi, heat oil till it fumes , add the garlic, ginger, onion paste and fry till golden in colour. Remove from fire. 
2. Add the chilli powders and salt and mix well and let it cool. 

3. When cool add Garam masala and rai powder. 

4. Divide this mixture into 4 parts . Similarly divide the vegetables too into four parts and mix each portion of the prepared masala into a portion of the vegetables. This division is important to ensure a balanced mixing.

   

5. Put into jars and leave in the sun for 3-4  days. The vegetables will mature in the spices and settle leaving space in the jar. This  breathing space is important for the next step.  

6. Heat the vinegar and Gur after the last step has been achieved. Using a spoon evenly pour into the jars.        

        

7. The pickle will be ready in another 2 days.

Enjoy and share.


Do let me know your variation of the same pickle.

Devjani is a wife, mother, teacher, social worker, a gardening and cooking enthusiast, a globe trotter, a bundle of boundless energy and an extremely creative person. She loves to share easy recipes, ideas to keep kids creatively occupied, and a host of other tips and tricks around the home and beyond.

LOTD: Neutral Eye with Glossy Lips

Hey Everyone!

Spring is almost upon us, after an exceptionally mild winter. So I though to do a fresh make-up with muted colours in a bid to welcome the new season. I have kept the look light with a neutral eye with a hint of gold on the lids. A gentle, winged out liner on the top lashes, softly coloured cheeks and  glossy, plummy-pink lips.

Do remember to moisturise your skin well before starting out, to counter the dryness and avoid a flaky base.

I was quite happy with the result and thought to share it with you...

List of Products Used for the Look:

1. Polaar Icy Magic Instant Skin Perfector
2. Lakme 9 to 5 Flawless Makeup in Shell (Foundation)
3. Maybelline New York Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Honey
4. Lakme Absolute Face Stylist Concealer in 05 Honey
5. Chambor Silver Shadow Powder Compact in RR5 Noisette
6. MUA Mosaic Bronzer in Sunkissed Glow Shade 02
7. Maybelline New York Cheeky Glow Blush in Creamy Cinnamon
8. Revlon Highlighting Palette in 020 Rose Glow
9. Beauty UK Eye Shadow Collection in 07 Naked
10. Maybelline New York The Colossal Liner in Black
11. Catrice Longlasting Eye Pencil in 050 Brown Town Girl
12. Lakme Eyeconic Eyeliner Pencil in Brown
13. Maybelline New York The Falsies Volume Express Mascara
14. Maybelline New York The Jewels Lipstick in 82 Refined Wine
15. Maybelline New York Lip Polish in Glam 13
16. Kama Ayurveda Pure Rose Water (to set the makeup)

Hope you liked the look as well. How is your spring look shaping up? Let me know in the comments box 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!