Happy New Year..!!

Happy New Year..!!
This Year has brought me several new things in to my life..and the particular being is this Blog. Ive read some few reviews here and there and in the next second I made up my mind to start a blog of myself..and here I am.

I never thought that Blogosphere would be this vast and to speak honestly..I came to know a lot more than I ever expected. To mention this happened in just a past couple of weeks, where Ive met some beautiful Indian bloggers and reading their blogs really sets my stress off. Keep going on beauties..and I cannot wait to explore more..

Well, I cannot mention from name to name..but I really Wish everyone out there to have a Happy & Glorious New year ahead..

Huge Lips and Skinny Hips

Well.. Im not describing any chic..rather its all about a lip gloss. Most of U might be already using this or to say have heard about this. But this made me to think far more than enough.

Huge Lips and Skinny Hips
is a lip gloss from Purple Lab, based on the theme of "Double duty Beauty for Multi-tasking Mavens". (this is what they claim in their website)
Apart from the basic moisturizing oils or lip plumpers, it contains "Hoodia", an all natural extract from a cactus-like plant indigenous to South Africa/Namibia, which is the main source of lime-light diversion. They explain that Hoodia is made up of something called P57, which targets the part of the brain that tells you when you’re full by mimicking the effects of sugar. Thus, it helps in controlling Ur cravings and ur hips turn skinny...?? But what If I put it on after I eat my Cheese Burger?? Or what If one got addicted to these lipglosses and were suddenly discontinued.. (a wild imagination is running..don't ask what it is..hahaa)

Well, It costs $25 each...the colors are all good..but I don't think I'm sold for this. I belong to 'eat well, workout more' category, so this doesn't go. Moreover, I don't want any herb to control what I eat. I just think Cosmetics should just meet the cosmceutical needs and leave the rest to pharmacy..!!

In the end I just think that Its jsut a marketing gimmick to bring out the hype. :D
What do u say..??

[Image Courtesy: PurpleLab]

Review: Nivea LipCare, Star Fruits, Cherry

Review again..
Nivea Lip Care
Star Fruits, Cherry.
"Daily Lip Care with a fruity shiny color,
UV Protection..,
NEW, Extra shiny and glossy, 8 hours moisturization"

Well, Its(the review) been forever hanging in the 'Upcoming posts' section.. Sorry, for the late post, but its all party fever everywhere, that I couldn't make up here. Perhaps I should resume atleast now.
To start with Ive made a review of Nivea LipCare Star Fruits, Strawberry earlier. So better click here and read that, because most of the qualities are same, except for 2.
1: Fragrance..
2: Obviously, the color..
Anyways, to move on to the formal review part.. Here it is..

Packaging, Price, Ingredients, Texture..
Same as that of Strawberry flavoured. If U want to digg down, I request to read it here.
I want to point out another one, is that this lipbalm is quite soft or buttery than that of the Strawberry flavoured.

Fragrance
Well, Fragrance really deserves a special sub topic. Why? Let me tell you. Its not as pleasant as Strawberry flavoured. Rather it smells like a medicated one that I ended up wondering whether the real cherrys smells the same way? I love eating them..but why did they smell this way here in the lip balm?? I even though it might have expired, but no.
Anyways..I don't have any issues with the fragrance so far, but If u are looking for it, I'd really suggest to sniff it, before u bring it home.

Color in tube & on lips..
Well, the color is, as U can see in the above pic..its just the same.
On lips, its gives this pinkish hue, gives out more cooler look, unlike the Strawberry one which gives out warmer tone. But the color stays put for longer time.

Efficacy..??Does it Moistuirise..??
Well, it is good in terms of moisturization, but not as good as Strawberry flavored. U need to reapply it more often than the later one, for hydrating the lips.
Added, its (the balm stick) is more softer, that just one swipe is good enough to bring out the color. Rest is same as that of Nivea LipCare Strawberry.

Pros: Price, Packaging, Color (a cool, pinkish tint), softer texture
Cons: Fragrance, Need to reapply every 2hrs to get hydration

Repurchase
Well..I think I will repurchase this one..just because of the color. Im basically a lipbalm baby..haha..Infact I should share here, that a friend of mine even makes a line for me, that goes like this.. "Balm Baby...!! Whats the Balm, Baby?? ". Yeah, she called me a Balm Baby...funny! She asks in this way, whenever I try a new lip-balm.

Recommend
Depends, again. But its good for teenagers, who cant go with lipsticks.. :)

So, Have U tried it?? Do share ur experiences..!!
By the way..how are ur holidays??

Merry XMas..!!

Merry Christmas Everyone..!!
Though a bit off time or.. pretty late..I know..but I've got no time to make a post.. :P
Been on a short holiday trip and had a rocking Holiday Season bash.. The past 2 days as been like a roller-coaster ride..



The pretty part in Holiday session..is 'Beauty Shopping'. Yay! I tried to make certain purchases(which Il post later), a simple haulage to say. Anyways..Im off to hit the sack now..

Hows ur Christmas by the way..?? Rocking n Cool..??

New: Himalaya Herbals Face Washes

Check out..
Himalay Herbals Healthcare, revamped their Facial Washes..Just the packaging..Im not sure about the changes in efficacy, though the Acitve ingredients remain the same.

[Clicking the image will take u there]
From the CHANGE in their Hair Care range of products..guess its time for skin care range as well. Though there is not much difference in the packaging..I really appreciate the change once in a while. By the way, Ive read somewhere, that it happens once every 18months. I wish if they doesnt change their skin-care products' formulas, because the lotions/potions are really good and doesn't think they need a change.

And..How are your holidays going..??Sorry for the lack of reviews so far..Im really pi*sed off today..thus arises this post of other stuff.

Happy Holidays Beauties.. :)
[Image Courtesy :Himalaya Herbals Healthcare]
[P.S: Im in no way related to Himalaya Herbals Healthcare. Just posting it on the grounds of spreading information]

What did I do last sunday..??

The title might elevate curiosity a bit.. But the image might diminish it. Anyways..
Last Sunday (20-Dec), I felt quite bored, and thought of to go on with a TLC-session. So, after several thoughts, finally picked up to do a hydrating mask. All Naturale... :P
Ingredients that I picked:
Soya Beans: Grinded the beans in to a fine powder, with the help of a heavy duty grinder/mixer.Thats all..just a single element :P

NOTE: Soya beans are hard to turn in to a fine powder. If its not quite possible, then soaking the beans in water overnight, would soften them, which makes them easy to blend in to paste.

Procedure
Here is how I did it.. I just added a tablespoon of Soya bean(fine grinded) powder to 1 spoon of warm water and mixed it in to a paste. The paste is quite thicker in consisteny, so added a spoon of AloeVera juice( I have several Aloe trees across my home :P ) untill it turned in to a paste, to go as a facial mask. Applied it allover face. Let it for 15-20mins.
Its soo good, that I even tried it on Monday evening...

But Why this..??
Everyone know that milk is good enough as a perfect nourishing agent. But it may irritate sensitive skin (y..it does irritate me! i get red bumps..) But Soya bean powder/milk is a best soothing n hydrating agent. So, its best to pick Soya beans or Soya Milk , if Uve got Sensitive skin.

Result
Ive mentioned it already that I had it twice already as a face pack, which just says how much I like it. U can read here, about Soya Beans properties..and how good it is for skin.
It hydrated my skin, turned smooth and supple. No rashes so far hehee... Its just a hydrating mask.
But i think its better to do a patch test before, If u wanted to try it.

2 Ways..
My Way: I grinded a Cup of Soya beans to a fine powder(dry), so that I can use(a spoon) it whenever I want. Just add a hint of water, its good to go. I think it lasts me for 3-4 weeks.
The Other Way: Soak the soya beans overnight, grind it the next day morning and apply.

Thats it..Il update if any thing strange happens..
Till then Ciao Beauties.. :)

New Year's Resolutions..

Another Year is just a couple of weeks away, infact less than that. So, isnt it a custom or culture to make a New Resolution chart.. whether one follows it or watever.. Well, I do make the list prepared every year and dump it without even following it atleast a week. Yeah..my bad!
And to start with, Im ready to share my New Year's Resolution over here with u.. (whether I follow it or not) about which Ive been thinking of the whole yesterday and made just this..??

1. Be regular at Workouts : FYI..I don't workout regularly. E.g If i worked out today, I might skip the next 2/more days. Sometimes, I even make it reasonable/flexible to workout atleast 4 days a week, but that doesn't work either.
2. Drink Water early in the morning EVERYDAY: I do drink water early in the morning, but only if I wake up early, which is pretty rare. Had I got any time, I try to sleep and wake up just an hour before I'm supposed to step out.
3. Stick to Diet: Ease out there. My Diet is not a hard one. I'm just supposed to eat 'Sprouts +Banana+Milk' for breakfast and in lunch..6-8 Dates/Figs together with food. As-usual, I turn sick psychologically, and end up eating junk, the next day.
4. Less time for games: I'm a PC game freak. I love NFS, Sims2 (I dint get Sims3..all my friends & family are against me on this n plays evil, to reach it) that I usually end up playing until 3-4AM. n Nowadays, Im playing "Emily's Delicious Holiday Season". Anyways, I made a plan, its just 2 hrs of game play.

Thats all for now.. I'l update from time to time, whenever a new thought creeps in.
Till then..Ciao Belles..
By the way, whats ur new year's resolutions??
Do share it..trust me..its fun.. :P

New: Avatar..!!

I mean.. the movie..
Ive been waiting for this movie to release since ever..and now finally I got the chance to watch it NEXT weekend.."A Boooo.." there.. I know, but I tried so hard to get the movie tickets asap, but destiny wins. Unfortunately, Im liberally free this weekend and got nothing to do, other than feeling bad & waiting for the next week end to arrive fast. I might even suppose to make the coming week days, less productive, by just dreaming about this movie. haha..Honestly, I'm not a movie buff and to judge it, I go to the theater once/twice a year..yeah U heard me right. Ofcourse, I watch TV a lot. Back here, Ive been waiting for this movie, just because its by James Cameron and added, sci-fis are one of those genres that I adore a lot.
Oh man..this is really on my nerves..Cant wait.. :P

Anyways..Any recent movies that Uve watched..??

News: Nicole's trend??

Correct me If I'm wrong or lost..
But is this a new trend or what??
This is how Nicole Kidman was spotted at the red carpet premiere for 'Nine'.
What was that white powder doing underneath her eyes and nose??
Is that....[speechless] ohh..i couldnt figure it out..
or does that belong to winter theme..??
Who did her make up..?? I just want to know who could go this far in terms of sheer negligence..?? Or is he/she drunk?? Going under severe trauma..??

Ohh baby, Nicole is no doubt one of my favorite artists, but dint she have at least a bit of time to glance at herself..??

And I really feel bad about talking about celebrities..Honestly,which I never did before. I used to feel that they had the liberty to wear/carry whatever they want.. I used to justify no matter how so ever they looked, But this instance is really cracking me nuts.

Upcoming Shoping List

I made a schedule to go on shopping just on the word of "XMas-Shopping". Though I don't need any basic necessities so far..Ive managed to pick out some items, that I would make them subjective while shopping.. :)

Beauty related stuff..lined up apart.. and here they go

• Himalaya Herbals Neem Face Pack (200gms) : Restocking up
  
  
• Biotique AloeVera Protective Body Lotion SPF70 : Just to try..heard my friend raving +ve about it..Added im a lunatic for Neem based products, and this contains neem as well.
  
  
• Eyetex Dazzler LipStick: Just to try..they are new..never heard of them before..
  Thats my friend who actually called me up to air-mail them, cos she couldn't find them online.. So, this made me to break into further more queries and im all sold out. Im going to try it out as well. Lets wait for the formal review..
  Basically, I know this brand.. called 'Eyetex' which is quite popular for Kajal/Kohl. Back those days, when Im just a kid, 'Eyetex' was treated as a synonym for Kajal. Its only later that I came to know that its the brand name.
  
  
• Hair Gel & Spray :Restocking again..

So..these are the things that creep in my mind so far..Its quite tiny though..But I did manage to grab out to buy something when I don't need to. Anyways..I'm even planning for another Lakme Haulage..while I visit their Lakme Saloon, but that's later..
Till then Bye..

Review: Nivea LipCare, Star Fruits, Strawberry

As promised.., review of Nivea LipBalm. Sorry for the delay, my bad..Blogger didn't show up the pictures from picasa unfortunately, and it took untill now to get it resolved. Anyways.. It says..

"Nivea Lip Care
Star Fruits, Strawberry
Daily Lip Care with a fruity shiny color,
UV Protection..,
NEW, Extra shiny and glossy, 8 hours moisturization"

The lame blurry picture again..I dont know whats wrong with my Camera..Anyways..I bought this in a Drugstore, after reading several reviews. Added, I can remember, back in 'Sawaal-Ibibo' account (Yup, I used to be there before..but not now) someone suggested me to use Nivea lipbalm, for chapped lips. So, as soon as I saw this..I just grabbed it. They even got Cherry flavour, but for some/other reason, I liked this color better than Cherry.

Packaging
A bit similar to ChapStick..looks like a fatty-chapstick tube. Cap extends, till the bottom. If u see the pic, the whole strawberry colored part is the cap, while the white color below, is what covers the lipbalm-stick. Convenient to carry around. It being in a twist up tube, need not dig in Ur fingers and very convenient to use.

Texture, Color, Fragrance..
Fragrance..I'm spellbound. Smells truly like Strawberries. I'm a die hard fan of Strawberry fragrance. There are times, where I just open it, just to get a sniff, a mean try to elevate senses. hehee..
Color..same as the tube's color.
Its a warm coral red. Glides on well, giving out a subtle sheen to the lips. Few more swipes, can beat any sheer-coverage lipsticks. Though not darker..but U can reach the same color as that of the balm. If Uve got uneven/pigmented lips(like most Indians), this might nor cover up the unevenness. The color just brigtens up the whole look.

Texture is glossy on the lips. Feels neither greasy nor waxy..but feels very light..
But the balm/stick is a bit harder. Not like those buttery sticks, which just glide on while melting up. Ive heard, that in some other warmer countries, it even melted out. :P Dint happen to me, though I went trekking.

Ingredients
Heres the pic of the rear view. Click on the pic to view it large...I tried to get a better one, but this is the best Ive got. I think I should atleast stop holding camera again..
Just to mention..the product is manufactured in Thailand and shipped in, which made my skepticism to rest at bay. No Offense, I just hate some products manufactured in India, because I just don't get why all of them are meant/supposed to be matte. However, 5 years back, Nivea 's Lipbalms are completely different from this. I remember they are around 2o INR..but they are as bad as possible.

Price
Cost 120 INR for 4.8gms. I bought this some 5-6 months back..and its still on the go.

Efficacy
On the label, it said '8 hours of moisturization'..whereas I would say, "2-3 hours of no-drying effect.., whereas the tint lasts untill u wash". There wouldn't be any gloss after 2 hrs. Another swipe after those 2-3 hours, gains back the gloss, with added tint.

Okay..to speak about moisturization, its not a perfect moisturizer, but It can be treated as a lip-tint, which doesn't dry up the lips. In other terms, Ur lips will not be deadly dry at least for those few hours. However, my lips did chap/flaked out after some 4-5 hours, as soon as the balm went off, making me to reapply often.

I have to mention that this could be good for sensitive lips as well. Mean to say, certain products darkens my lips( which is quite common for sensitive lips),yeah even the lipbalms, but this didn't.

Pros: Color, Fragrance (heavenly), Price, Packaging, Tints lips, Glossy sheerness, doesn't darken the sensitive lips.
Cons: Not a complete moisturiser that have to reapply often.

I feel that is should be named rather as "Lip Tint" than LipCare.

If U ever been through Revlon's Beyond Natural Lip Tint..this is just the same.

Recommend?
Well, depends. If u are really interested, U can go ahead giving it a try..but I wont say U'ld lose Ur life, If u wouldn't try it :P Its just a lip tint.

Repurchase
No. Though it is a good liptint(as I say), I sometimes don't prefer the gloss, whenever I need to look formal.

But I really have to drag myself, and heavily make up reasons to break up with it, which shows how much I liked it :P
So..have U tired it anytime..?? Do U like it..?? Pls let me know..
Ciao Belles..

News :Clean & Clear Revamps

Hello Beauties..
If U are one of those teenagers, who are through acne-curses, I bet u would know Clean & Clear range.. So, after getting through several changes in their products since the past few decades, I'm a bit interested to know about their products, n so I just made a search and found that their

Website is fully revamped, with a more girly-desk look...
[Click the image to let U there.. :) ]
Well, I went nuts for its design..because its so far the best I could see among any other Indian(though Clean& Clear is international) Skin-care based websites, with that girly touch. Im loving it..
Apart from that..Its got some skin care tips as well..Go indulge urself for a while,with that Girly theme..

What do u say..??
Do U like it..?? Yay..?? No..??

Q Tip: Go "Oil" in!

Moisture boost for dry hair...and your self image!

Dry humor is funny; but dry hair isn't.
For a moisture boost and hair care pick-me-up, use Coconut oil or Almond oil for a hot oil treatment.

• Simply shampoo hair as usual..,
• then massage warmed oil in to your hair..,
• wrap your hair with a towel or turban and relax for 5-10min..,
• while the oil does its work, then wash and condition as usual.

You're "Oil" done!
Stay Cool and never dry up..Ciao Belles.. :)

Review: Biotique Almond Kaajal

Another Review.. n Now its..
Biotique Botanical Extracts Bio Kajal, Almond Kajal (Black)

If it ever happened to visit their website, U can browse and get to see whats abt this product, BioKajal. But the packaging of the product(in their website) looks completely differect from what Ive got(below). Anyways, to speak about the brand, Biotique is a brand, where it claims, in short, that its completely natural, with no chemicals/preservatives.

Ive bought this Kajal, last year December, so... Isn't it quite a time to shoot out a review now? Anyways, to start with, I have sensitive eyes, like, I cannot go with Mascaras, Eye shadows, Eyeliners or any of the other Eye Makeup elements, without bleeding or without turning myself as a disastrous raccoon. The minute I put on something over the eye area, my eyes instantly start to weep. I dont know how instant it could be.
So, after searching for a while, I thought I should pick this BioKajal, because there couldn't be any ingredients which could make my eyes irritated.

Packaging
Comes in a transparent twist-up tube (like that of a lip-stick tube). Kajal comes in like a long-shaped cone, in the tube. Packaging is not so great, especially, though u twist inwards, the Kajal-stick heads out a bit, that it could be a bit necessary to pay caution while fixing up the cap. Apart from that, quite easy to carry.

Price
I dont exactly remember the accurate figure, but it ranges in between 110 -130 INR ( cos its last year's story)

Ingredients
Ingredients are on the cover, which I lost :( . Though, not sure about their percentages, here is the ingredients list.

• Sesame Oil
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Eclipta Alba
• Indian Gooseberry
• Berberis Aristata

Now, If U are into Ayurveda anytime, U would know what 'Triphala Churna" is..and this got it too.

Fragrance, Texture, Color..
Fragrance..just is the time, when I went back to it, to take a sniff. Doesn't smell anything.
Texture is creamy but gives a matte finish. It is quite soft that just a swipe gives out a great black line.
Color is intense black. It stays the same color all through the day, unlike some which changes in to greys. This is the best thing about this....The dark black color, which freshens up the entire eye look.

Now to move on to the point..
about how well it does...its a good Kohl/Kajal except that its a super smudging Kohl. It smudges that great, that u dont even need any eye-makeup removers. In fact, U can just wipe it off with any tissue or ur fingers, and u can see Ur eyes are all clear with no kajal. Sometimes, it smudges that badly that, I always end up wiping off the smudged area, and reapply again and again. Because of this, I never apply it when I have to step out. I use it only during weekends or whenever I stay back home. Thats the thing I hate with it, that since then Ive been searching for a Kohl which doesn't smudge.

On the other side, it cools up the eyes, never gave me any irritation, freshens up the eye-look, Very dark colored black that never fades.
Ive read in their website, that it helps in the growth of eyelashes. I'm not sure whether it did that, but it definitely helped in not plucking it away. To speak here, Ive used Lakme Kajal, and everytime I remove it, I get 2-3 lashes fall off everytime. So, keeping that in mind, Biotique Kaajal, dint do that any.
Overall, it can make a Good Kohl, If u know how to manage on the smudging grounds.

Pros: Intense Black Color, Super Cooling, Freshens up, Good for lashes, Packaging, Price.
Cons: Super duper smudgy..

Repurchase
No. Well, Im thinking of the other Herbal Kajals now..

Recommend
No. Remember..smudges so badly..

Thats all for the review..
Hows Ur weekend by the way.. I felt so tired, that I dint even get the mood to write up.
Okay..Ciao Belles.. :)

Review: Himalaya Herbals Lip Balm

A review about a product from Himalaya Herbals range of Personal Care products..and its..

Himalaya Herbals Lip Balm
"Nourishes Lips. Prevents drying and chapping"
It says over here (in their site) that..
"Action:
Lip Balm prevents chapping, drying and cracking of the lips. It contains a natural UV filter and Vit.E which nourishes, tones and softens the lips.

Indications:
Chapped, cracked or dry lips.

Ingredients Include:
* Ricinus communis (Castor, Eranda)
* Cocos nucifera (Coconut, Narikela)
* Triticum sativum (Common Wheat, Godhuma)
* Wrightia tinctoria (Sweet Indrajao, Hyamaraka)
* Daucus carota (Carrot, Garijara)

Use Directions:
Apply smoothly on your lips."

A Tale..
FYI..I dint buy this..infact, I have 3 of these(of which 1, hits pan) all of them are free with 'Himalaya Herbals Face Moisturizing Lotion' & their 'Intensive Face Moisturizing Lotion' as well. Im not sure, whether the offer still exists. But this is what the best thing I like about Himalaya Herbals....some way or the other, U get something free with every purchase...Like the other day, I got their Neem Face wash free with Protective Sunscreen Lotion. Not just that..there are several other offers too..which Il definitely mention, when its time. Okay..now its time to move on to the review..

Packaging
Comes in a Squeeze-out tube, with a Screw top cap, in teal-green color. Very handy to carry on. Weighs 10gms..

Price
I feel its not important to mention Himalaya Herbals Price ranges, as they are always in limits/budget levels. Anyhow..it costs 20 INR for 10gms. So, how much does each gm cost? hehee...

Texture, Color, Fragrance..
Texture is just like that of white petroleum jelly, a bit more on the runny side(Click on the pic)...the way it feels when there are some oils mixed up with petrolatum..,so, it must be a petrolatum based lipbalm. When u apply, it feels gelly & after few minutes, a bit of it absorbs/sinks in and there remains out that messy-greasy feel.
Color..as u can see in the pic..its white
Fragrance..nice smell...i find it a bit on floral/herbal side. But barely there.

Ingredients
Coming to the ingredients list..I like to mention it that "Based on the Indian Norms" nobody is supposed to label the whole 'Inactive Ingredients list' on the product or anywhere else. Though it dint mean in the direct way..but this happens with all the personal care products. So, here comes the ingredients list..

(Click on the image to view it clear/large..)

I bet U cant read what it is on the above pic, unless U view it large :P Sorry, my bad..I dint have proper time to get a clear/better pic. Anyways..It says..
"Enriched with Carrot Seed oil, a natural sunscreen and Wheatgerm a rich source of Vitamin E, to nourish and soften lips."
Each gm contains:

• Oils Eranda (Ricinus Communis) 10mg
• Garijara (Daucus Carota) 10mg
• Godhuma (Triticum Sativum) 10mg
• Hyamaraka (Wrightia tinctoria) 10mg
• Narikela (Cocos nucifera) 10mg

So..all make 5% of the total product (math again! :D). If u are clueless about any of the above ingredients, U can make a Google search, I know..I know..I dint have to say that though :P

Effectiveness
Overall, its a good balm. I don't say that its a Holy grail..but it does what it says. Completely heals chapped lips. Those of u, who got extremely dry lips n continuous chapping lips, this is a must try. The best thing, is that it doesn't make ur lips addicted. Mean to say, u can go with bare lips , after treating ur lips with it. For eg, I tried it one day, and I dint feel the need to apply the next day. Good...isn't it? Added it toned up my lips as well, unlike certain lipbalms, which turn the lips darker..it brightened up the lip color.
The only thing that I dint like about this is the greasiness on lips and the pale-sick color(being white in color) it departs on lips. It just feels like Petroleum Jelly on lips...yeah..a greasy texture.

Pros:Packaging, Fragrance, Price, Hydrates perfectly, Tones up by a shade(Never darkens even the most sensitive lips)
Cons: Greasy feel, white cast on lips.

Repurchase
Well, I have a handful (just 2 to say) of them now, sitting in my vanity desk. I'm not sure though.. Besides I even made my own lipbalm and I love it. So, I think I'll buy it, only if im left alone in an Island ,where there is just that Himalaya Herbals stand-alone store. :P

Recommend
Hmm..not sure..but depends on u. If u are not allergenic/dislike Petrolatum based lip balms, then u could try this. This could be very handy than that huge pot of Petroleum Jelly jar, in Ur sedentary work life. In other words..this is the best option for those Petroleum Jelly lovers..
And those who hate that sick-pale-white cast on lips, this is a no-no balm for them.

Have u tried this..
Please let me know, what u think..

Q Tip: Just one finger on ur Face..

Yup..Its ur 'Ring Finger"..
Mean to say, whenever U need to do some facial-care routine, one is not supposed to use their entire palm.
Be it massaging, cleansing or applying any makeup..or touching ur face..U just have to get used to 'Use just ur Ring finger' If u need more pressure, U can use ring finger of both the hands, but not any other finger..or whole.

Ive mentioned here, not to touch ur face other than when its ur TLC time. Now, telling that its good to use just ur Ring Finger whenever u have to touch ur face (I mean whenever u r following ur beauty-care routine)

Why?
Basically, Ring finger is the best finger, in giving out the optimum pressure (not much like index ginger nor less like small finger) on face. Facial skin is the most sensitive skin, thus it needs less pressure whenever it is supposed to get.

So, next time, try to use just ur ring finger..
Ciao.. :)

Review: ChapStick Classic, Cherry

Now, ask any American about ChapStick and I bet there wouldn't be one, who cannot answer without giving a weird gesture at U, as like 'Don't U really know? '. Besides, its even called as 'America's Legendary LipBalm'. And to move on to the review..Ive tried Classics, Cherry Flavoured, so this is the review of it.

ChapStick Classic, Cherry
"Skin Protectant/Sunscreen SPF4"
Go check out its full details over here in their website..
I ordered this in bulk (10 of them), all Classic range, an year ago. Fasciated, I took out the Cherry flavored.
Tried it for 3-4 weeks I guess and finally, dumped this in bin & ended up distributing the rest, 9 chapsticks, to the near and dears. Not just because I love them, just because I thought it might at least be good on them. Though I never asked them, I could figure that they dint like it much either, because none of them ever mentioned a word about it. :D Anyways, to move on to the regular format of reviewing(boring, yeah, I know!)..

Packaging
Comes in a regular twist up tube. Very, very convenient to use n carry. U can even dump it in ur back-pocket and nobody could ever notice that. But some find that the cap is quite small, that could easily go missing.

Ingredients
Now that I don't have this one (its in the bin, remember!), one can get its ingredients list in their web. However, heres the ingredient list...
ActiveIngredients
Padimate O -1.5% (Sunscreen), White Petrolatum -44% (Skin Protectant)
Iactive Ingredients
arachidyl propionate, camphor, carnauba wax, cetyl alcohol, D&C red no. 6 barium lake, fragrance, isopropyl lanolate, isopropyl myristate, lanolin, light mineral oil, menthol, methylparaben, octyldodecanol, paraffin, phenyl trimethicone, propylparaben, saccharin, white wax

Color, Texture, Fragrance...
Color is in pink color, much like a Candy pink.
Texture..very greasy. And the stick is so hard, that I need to put a bit of pressure to apply. I even made certain experiments, like preheating it in over for a sec..but no result.
Fragrance..ooh I love it. Its only quality that I love, that made me to stick with it.

In the end..Is it GOOD...??
Honestly, NO!
Ive made a lot of search before ordering it. Its like some liked and the rest hated it. For me, Petrolatum moisturizes like nobody's business. So, Chapstick, constituting Petrolatum, thought I would fall in to the "hearts" category. But, figured that there are 56% other ingredients which doesn't suit me. I even felt like "?" for several days..like why it doesnt suit me, when its called 'LEGENDARY' and been answered when I read this one..
"Stop use and ask a doctor if
• rash or irritation develops and lasts
• condition worsens or does not improve within 7 days "
So, is it a foreword or what? Anyways..

Efficacy
It did NOT moisturise my lips. So, I turned to use it as a sunscreen for lips. And it did'nt do that either. Infact, my lips turned 2 shades darker by 3 weeks. Chaps are never healed. So, it went in the bin.

Pros:Packaging, Price, Fragrance
Cons:Doesnt heal chaps(though reapplied often), turned lips darker, not a good sun protectant.

Repurchase OR Recommend?
No.. If U are thinking of to get ur hands on this one, its better to stick with Petroleum Jelly.

By the way, have u tried it? Is it good with U?
Please do share.. :)

Review: Lotus Herbals Lip Balm, Strawberry

As mentioned, here is the review of
Lotus Herbals Strawberry LipBalm
"Rehydrates Dry & Chapped Lips"


Ive got this lipbalm free with "Lotus Herbals SheaMoist" (the review of it will be coming up soon..). As it came to me, I just have to try it. And here goes about it..

Packaging
The balm comes in a tiny pot and the balm weighs 8gm. The walls of the pot are tranparent(not visible in the pic), while the cap is cream-coloured, as u can see. Packaging is good, classy, handy. U can carry it wherever u want :P .

Color, Texture, Fragrance, etc..
Strawberry flavoured lip balm is red in color, While the Orange lip balm is orange. The LipBalms' color is same as the colour thats indicated on the product/pot.
Texture..is gelly and waxy. Not thick, but with medium consistency, like that of a cold-cream.
Fragrance..smells like a true strawberry. If there are any, who can go nuts about the strawberry flavour (I belong too) they would end by sniffing this balm till they hit pan :P

Price
Costs 60INR for 8gms of lipbalm. Both the flavours( Strawberry & Orange) costs the same. I dont say it is cheap/affordable, because different people have different levels of categorization for cost price. But, I categorize, based on its effectiveness, how well it performs n so on.. So, based on that..it is pretty expensive.

Ingredients
"strawberry extract, honey, jojoba oil, almond oil, wheatgerm oil"
Again, no infromation about the preservatives or what so ever..

Effectivenss
To say it short, 'It is not a good one", when there are several out there in the market.
This smells good.
When applied on lips, it gives that glossy finish( which I liked), but the red-tint never shows up on lips, like the way it looks in pot.
Talking about hydration, the lipbalm dissolves/disappears within an hour, that U need to reapply it often. Sometimes, I feel that, it must have decided to turn my lips addicted to it (like the other commercial lipbalms).
But still, whenever I apply it over, it just sits there, doesn't moisturize at all. More like a wax, that never sinks in to Ur lips.

Pros: Packaging, Fragrance
Cons: Never hydrates, never shows up the tint on lips, need to reapply often.

Ok..with that said, it straight away goes in to the bin. Or sometimes, I just open it to sniff the fragrance. :)

Repurchase
No. Well, for that sake, I didn't even buy it. Its free..with a moisturiser. Im not sure whether this offer still exists, though.

Recommend?
No. I'l never recommend this to anyone. Instead, I'ld say Vaseline does good (to those who are not allergenic to petrolatum) interms of moisturizing.

Thats all. Have u tried this anytime?
Please let us know.. :)

My Holy Grail Face Wash..

Ever wished to get that one face wash, all year long, without looking back or thinking twice, whether its doing good or bad for ur skin?? Well, I no more fall in that category, because I already found my Holy Grail Face Wash..And that is..

Besan OR Gram Flour
Most of U might be using it for cooking purposes, but Whenever I go to grocery shopping, I make sure to get 500gms of Gram Flour, just to fill the need of face wash.


Usage
The usage is quite easy.. U just have to take a spoon full on Ur palms, add some water and then rub against both the palms, until it turns in to a paste, apply on face..and then massage with circular movements. Rinse off with water. Repeat twice if ur's is an oil slick.

It can be a bit messy, in the start, but as time passes by, I got used to it..and now I carry a pot/jar in my hand bag too, for whenever I need to wash my face, when away from home.

Advantages
Well, I used to have oily/combination to start with, in my school days, later once, my Cousin, told me that she was asked to 'Stop soap and use GramFlour to wash face' when she went to a beauty-related audition. So, I started to use it as well. The results are amazing. After using it for some more days, the oil-secretion went controlled. Now can stay for longer periods, without looking like an oil-slick.
In winters, my skin is completely reverse. Its extremely dry. When i started using this, it went mild on my skin, and it made my skin supple.
Whenever, I get acne..(ahem..u know..) I mix in some neem powder and use it, which acts as both cleanser and anti-bacterial.

Properties
To look in the properties, GramFlour is a flour made from ground chana dal, a legume otherwise known as Chickpeas. Its rich in Carbohydrates with no Gluten. Now u can make a google search about its constituents, but Im going nowhere. Just because Ive been using it since my high school, :p Its been more that 4-5 years now..and I cannot think of any other face washes( neither of any soap-frees).

Pros: Moiisturizing, Controls OilSecretion, Makes skin Supple, Price, Mild Exfoliator
Cons: Hmm..?? Cant think of any..yeah..usage(but just in the start)

Whats Ur Holy Grail Face wash by the way..??
Please do share with Us..
Untill then Ciao Belles..

Q Tip: Cranky Skin..??

Got Cranky skin..??

Get to the cause of what's irritating your skin.

To avoid irritating your skin or if your skin is already irritated, try using only one beauty product at a time to see which one may be the offender. When using multiple products, it is more likely you may experience an ingredient that triggers a reaction.

And in the end..Off with the beauty talk..I deeply regret for not being able to publish any posts since 2 days..Ive hanled it to the technical team for some maintenance.. and now that Im back..Il definitely make a point to be diligent. :)

Till then..Ciao Belles.. :)