Showing posts with label Facial Care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facial Care. Show all posts

Review: Cerave Moisturizing Lotion

Here with a review of Cerave Moisturizing Lotion..
I bet most of u may not be aware of the brand name 'Cerave'. Okay..to let things put simple, most of the people compare this with 'Cetaphil', so, got the point?

What it Claims:
Click here, if u r really interested to know what it says.

My Skin Condition / Past history... [A Story] :P
Ok to start with, my skin was never a problematic one, but past 1 year, its like hell. Its much like an Acne curse. Everyday I wake up with 1-2 added acne and it would take forever to goaway. Ive been to dermatologist n gynecologist as well..but they claimed that its just the hormonal imbalances and put me on medication. Yup, it went normal during that period but as soon as i stop the medicines.., they come back to mommy! By the way, my skin is dry-combination to say. Dry over the cheeks, forehead, chin and oily over nose.
Tried several moisturizers as well..but they,instead of moisturizing, blocked up the pores and created much of a havoc. To name a few, Lotus Herbals SheaMoist, Himalaya Face Moisturizing Lotion(intensive as well), Clean n Clear Oil balancing moisturizer, Biotique Morning Nectar, BioVera and some other prescribed creams.
Finally landed on this, and never had a problem with it. Searched for several reviews, been on reading reviews for months together and at a point of time, finally concluded 2 among them. One being Cetaphil and the other is Cerave.
Here, the Pros and Cons of it:

Pros:
  • Its Non-comedogenic. Never ever blocked out pores, or never activated a pimple (Unless its the time of the month..u know, nothing works then..)
  • Its not oily, not sticky or not stretchy (mean to say, it doesnt give that 'stretchy feeling' which is obvious with some gel moisturizers, ex. Lotus Herbals AloeVera Gel). Its even good for summers..
  • Its just absorbs in to the skin withing few seconds.
  • I had no issues of scaling or dryness since im on this.
  • Fragrance free..which is what i prefer for facial skin care.
  • Bottom Line: It simply moisturizes. Chupke chupke..This is my HG Facial Moisturizer..
Cons:
  • Hmm...have to think hard....Okay..its travel unfriendly. The packaging...comes in a huge bottle, that u need to pump some out in to a small bottle to carry it out.
Price:
Price..around $15... around 650-700INR. But thats not a concern..cos the amount u get..lasts for atleast 7-8 months i think..its 350 ml...

So..Thats my review... I wish this'ld be available even in India, so that ou lovely indians would benefit from it.. :)

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.. :)

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.. :)

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..

Facial Masks: DIY at home

Hey there..Im back with another post regarding the DIY Home facial Masks.

Now that the winter is here, Ur skin is prone to dryness, no matter how u take care of it, consequently, slathering on those heavy lotions wouldn't serve sometimes. There are several just-so-commercial creams/lotions out there in the market, that does nothing, rather than just sitting on the skin. Some creams even change the skin's texture in to dry, flakyly papery.

Then comes those Facial Masks to rescue. Basically, the masks for Dry skin are supposed to be highly moisturising, that penetrates deep in the skin tissues and makes them soft and supple. Follow this simple mask once every 2 days, and check the results.

Ingredients
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon rose water
  • 2 teaspoon cream
Process
Mix all the above ingredients.
Steam up your face and apply the mask for 10-15 minutes and wash off

Suitable for
This mask is highly suitable for Dry to Normal Skin Variations. If uve got Acne prone skin, check the ingredients list..its got Honey, Cream ,which may be allergetic to some acne/sensitive skin.

Night Care for your Skin


Get gorgeous with these simple night time beauty rituals that leave you rested sleep.

The day finally comes to a close, the sheets have been turned down and the lights dimmed. The stresses of the day have left their mark, the shoulders ache, the hair is straggly, the skin rough to touch and the face marred by pollution, heat, dust and remnants of make-up. The comfort of the bed beckons, but before sleep overtakes you, it’s time to ready yourself for the next day—physically and emotionally. Night time rituals are as crucial as those that come with the sun’s rising. Check out what you need to do before checking in.

  • Take a bubble bath. Light scented candles, turn down the lights, switch on some soothing music. You can add 10 drops camomile, five drops geranium, seven drops of lavender, and four drops of lemon oil into a warm bath, and soak away the stress.
  • Use a body scrub during the night. It works better than using it in the morning.
  • Gently massage body lotion all over your body post the bath. The skin repairs itself during the night and it’s more effective to use the care products before going to bed.
  • Make sure you apply the night cream half an hour before going to bed. It should also be applied to the decollete as it the softest area and needs protection.
  • Give extra attention to your hands before going to bed. Cream your hands with an additional helping of skin care cream to feed your skin intensive moisturising substances and jojoba oil.
  • Gently scrub the feet and apply a foot cream before going to bed. It’s advisable to wear socks after applying the foot cream or body lotion.
  • Gently rub cool rose water on your skin, especially the face. It is one of the mildest astringents and the most natural way to make your skin come alive after a stressful day.
  • Add a few drops of calming aromas of lavender in sunflower oil and apply on temples or neck and shoulders. You can also use lime oil, eucalyptus oil or cardamom oil that are known for their stress busting properties.
  • Cleanse your face and neck with a mild cleanser to suit your skin type to remove all make-up and dirt from the neck and face. Always use a toner after to remove the residue of the cleaner. You can use a night time skincare formula on your face and neck. It could be a serum or a night cream that relaxes, repairs your skin’s epidermis while you sleep that is ideal for women who are 30 or older.
  • Lips retain less moisture than other parts of our body so they tend to dry out more quickly. A simple lip balm every night before you sleep works wonders.
  • Brush your hair and tie in a loose plait so that it doesn’t get tangled during sleep which could lead to breakage. Do not tie your hair too tight. Never sleep with wet hair as that’s when it’s most fragile and can get broken easily.
  • Once a week apply an olive oil-based cream on your hands and feet to keep skin supple and wrinkle free.
  • Have green tea every night before going to bed. It relaxes your nerves and detoxifies your system which will automatically show on your skin.
  • Do a little yoga, meditation or read a good book to help you clear your mind and relax.
  • Listen to soothing music and don’t think about what you need to do the next day.

Nature’s therapy
Dump those chemicals into the trash can and reach for natural products that will up the looking-good factor and help you unwind. Here is Bellepedia's list of the 20 best and especially good for the night care:

1: Aloe Vera Moisturises and softens the skin. It speeds up healing and is great as a sun screen.

2: Almonds are Rich in proteins and minerals. Almond oil prevents aging. Use it in your hair for a soft, silky feel and to keep away premature greying. Yogurt Eating one cup every day helps protect skin from damage from sun and acne.

3: Milk is the magic ingredient to supple skin that works as a gentle cleansing agent.

4: Honey with natural antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, protects the skin, is great to fight acne and ideal as a moisturiser.

5: Lemon acts as a natural bleach, anti dandruff, antiseptic and is an astringent.

6: Papaya is great as low calorie food. Put ripe papaya pulp on your face for 10-15 minutes. It will leave your skin refreshed and smooth.

7:Orange acts as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and is a good moisturiser for oily skin.

8:Tomato helps open pores and combat blackheads. Rub a sliced piece of tomato on your skin and leave for 15 minutes to help the pores.

9:Cucumber works as an astringent, has cooling and brightening properties.

10: Acai Berries are known as Energy booster, fights free radicals and may prevent wrinkles.

11: Wheatgrass Energises and reduces fatigue. Its juice improves digestion. Its good for Aneamics as well.

12: Turmeric prevents and helps remove blemishes.

13:Rose extract and rose oil promote youthful complexion with good tone and elasticity.

14:Mint relaxes, refreshes and hydrates the body. Crush mint leaves and apply around eyes to take away the dark circles.

15:Green Tea suppresses inflammation and irritation and reduces cellulite.

16:Potatoes rich in chlorophyll, reduces blemishes, burns scars and pigmentation.

17:Sandalwood oil is a natural barrier to UV rays. Its best to use it before hitting the sack to reverse the Sun's reactions on skin.

18: Strawberries has toning and moisturising properties. Mash three strawberries and apply as a face mask for 10 minutes.

19: Coconut Helps hair growth and regulates the functioning of thyroid gland.

20: Castor Oil for those split ends. Apply them to those dry/fscary split ends at the end of the day and shower off the next day.

Thats all Belles..
Ciao later.. :)

Homemade AyurVed Face Mask

Ever been so inspired to do ur own facial treatment? Well, If so I ve got the right facial for u and more over its Pure Ayurvedic Facial. I can say that its also good for Sensitive Skin types, Cos mine is Sensitive and it suits me well. The Ingredients are highly natural and Ayurvedic and so quite beneficial. Ok..so no lets move on to it:

Ingredients Required:
  • 2 Teaspoon Sandalwood Powder
  • A pinch of Turmeric powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Neem Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Multani Mitti
  • 1 Tablespoon Orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon Mashed Cucumber
Process:
Mix up all of the above ingredients. Steam up r face. Cleanse with ur Cleansing Milk and then apply the mask. Let it sit for abt 20mins and rinse off, pat dry. Viola, u must be seeing ur face quite bright by now.
This is good for Acne prone skin as well.

Q-Tips: While u r in Shower

While U r in shower, try to wash ur face in the end of ur shower-session.

As far as possible, u have to go without splashing water on the face, from the start. Start with splashing water all over ur body, follow with soap, rinse off, and when u are all done by then, then splash water on face and follow the face-cleansing process.

Advantages:
  • By taking shower in that way, it ensures that there is not much moisture loss from face.
  • In other terms, ul be steaming up ur face since the start, while u r washing the rest of ur body and at the end, ul be cleaning the opened up pores on face, which reduces the need for heavy exfoliation.
  • This is a good thing to follow for dry skinned people.
So, Belles, next time when u r taking ur shower, wash ur face in the end when u r abt to step out of it.

Ciao Belle.. :)

DIY : Fruit Facial

A Quick Facial for Dead Cells:

Ingredients Required:
  1. PineApple Juice
  2. Apple Juice
  3. Lemon Juice
  4. Yogurt
Process:
Mix the aboce ingredients in equal proportions.
Mix up all of them and massage with fingertips gently. After it dries up, add another layer. Rinse Off and apply another layer. Follow this 2-3 times.

U would see that all the dead cells are missing over ur skin..

Q-Tip: Never Touch

Thats right..I said 'Never Touch'
Well..oh well...I dont mean to touch anything..But dont let anything touch ur Facial Skin. Thats what I mean.

Facial Skin is known to be the most sensitive skin than the rest of the skin, cos its got lots and lots of Sebacious glands. Hair-scalp comes first and then the facial skin in this row.


So, whenever u tend to touch the facial skin, comeon, no matter how hygiene u r..there would be atleast some or the other things over ur hand. Say for eg, hand lotion ?? So whenever u touch ur face..there are chances that ur hand would transfer then in to those millions n millions of sebacious glands, there by blocking them and causing skin out breakes.

So next time, whenever u touch ur face, make a note that u only do that while washing ur face or applying skin care things or makeup.

Thats all for now..Ciao Belles.. :)