Update:on Cerave Moisturizing lotion

Long ago Ive posted a review on Cerave Moisturizing lotion, which I liked a lot and is the only moisturizer that was great on me( without clogging my pores) and that ive used for pretty looong time, almost like for an year. And after using this from Oct 2010 to August 2011, I finally made up to change this lotion as my moisturizer. Why...??heres my updated review on it..

Update:
Well, its great with moisturization,never gave me oily sheen, sinks into the skin right away, looks as though nothing is on the skin, did not clog any pores or anything of such, but the only thing ive noticed is that my skin turned ashy/ greyish with this on. It all happened one day, while im stepping out of the bathroom turning off the light(Warm shade, always makes skin look healthy) stared at the mirror once again, and there I go, I looked pale, ashy, u know my skin almost looked like ive used somekind of greyish powder. Rest of my body skin looked pretty good, but my facial skin..oh god! I thought may be im not eating healthy, so i turned on everything to look my best..but nah... Ive done facials..increased my water consumption etc..but nothing helped. Then one day Im discussing this with my husband, and he said that he observed the same thing happening with himself. Cerave is the only thing that we use in common and there I go. Stopped using it and my skin was back to form looking lively and healthy. I jsut dont know whats  in it that made skin ashy.

Finaly Conclusion:
is that Cerave is defenitely good in terms of moisturization but it turned my skin ashy/greyish.

Review: Himalaya Herbals Soothing Body Lotion (Dry Skin)

Ladies & Gentlemen..
Here with a review of my Holy Grail Body Lotion (so far)...
Himalaya Herbals Soothing Body Lotion, Dry Skin.

So far..after several trails..ive finally found a Body Lotion thats good for my dry body skin.

What the product claims:

"A daily use, non-greasy body lotion with Almond and Orange oils that penetrate deep into your skin to replenish lost moisture and ensure essential moisture balance, to keep your skin soft and supple. Sunflower oil softens and smoothens the dry and rough skin. Apricot kernel oil revitalizes the skin while Grapes, with their antioxidant activity, control blemishes and breakouts, and preserve the youth of your skin.

Directions for Use:
Best used after a bath when your skin is most receptive.

Indications:

1. Nourishes
2. Moisturizes
3. Protects

Pack size:
Soothing Body Lotion for Dry Skin is available in pack size of 200 ml & 400 ml.

Key Ingredients:

Each ml contains:
Exts.
	Sunflower oil	(Helianthus annus)	44 mg
	Grapes	(Vitis vinifera)	20 mg
	Apricot kernel oil	(Prunus armeniaca)	1.5 mg
	Flax seed oil	(Linum usitatissimum)	1.5 mg
	Orange oil	(Citrus aurantium)	1.5 mg
	Sweet Almond oil	(Prunus amygdalus)	1.5 mg"

Ok..now to move on with the main part of the Review..here are the tid-bits..

Price:
Costs around 200INR for 400ml.. and 100INR for 200ml. The prices mentioned are not exact..its just a rough figure that I could remember so far. So, when it comes to Himalaya Herbals price range, they are quite affordable or to say quite cheap for what the result they deliver. U need not think twice if u r on a budget.

Fragrance:
Its got citrus tones to it. Or much like an orange. But I love the fragrance. It may be strong after bath, but vanishes after sometime.

Consistency:
Much like a Body Lotion to say..If uve tried Vaseline White..its somewhere near to it.

Time to Absorb:
This is the worst quality of this product. It takes its own time to sink/absorb in to skin. U have to apply it, massage it twice or thrice to get the lotion soak in. Its horrible if its summer, though i manage it by applyin just a little during those hot/humid days.

Is it greasy??
Yes..it is greasy..but if ur body skin is dry.ul have that glowy look, but not the greasy feel. Basically, my body skin being dry, i prefer bodylotions, which adds some shimmer or glow. So this is not a prblem for me. But for those with normal/oily skin, they may suffocate like hell.

Does it moisturize enough??
Damn good.. Its my reliable lotion during winters. During summers, as i said, manage by applying just a tiny amount. Infact it used to moisturize so good, that my skin would behave normal, though i skip applying it the next day..u know when u r busy or tired..

Other Pros
My skin being dry, it shows up with some dark paches now and then. This lotion totally toned them down and my skin started to show off that brilliant glow. U know as though uve applied some sheer bronze.

So..am I done with all the things u need to say abt while Reviewing a product..?? I think i have to mention the Cons as well.. So here u go..

Cons
Nothing so far..atleast for me..but yaa..it takes forever to sink in to the skin..

And now for the latest news..
Just is the time, when I went searching the Himalaya Herbals Website, to get the prduct details and to my surprise, came to know that they've discontinued this product and introduced 2 products in.
Now I dont know whether either of the Protecting Body Lotion or the Nourishing Body Lotion will do just like the older one. But im sick of it..because earlier I used to love their Shampoo, but as soon as theyve changethe formula..i totally disliked it. Now Im a bit concerned what happens with this.
I just want to cry out.."Himalaya..Why do u have to change them when they are damn good..!!"

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.. :)

Review: Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Liner

Here with a review of..
"Neutrogena Nourishing EyeLiner (Cosmic Black)"

This is what they claim about it:

"Neutrogena® Nourishing Eyeliner defines and brightens eyes with luminous color. Subtle light diffusers make the whites of eyes appear whiter, while rich color nourishes skin with Olive Oil and Rainforest Shea Butter. The built-in sharpener gives precise definition and the contoured smudger softens and blends for a variety of looks.

Infused with olive oil and rainforest shea butter to condition the delicate skin around your lashes

Creamy automatic pencil glides on smoothly, then transforms into long-lasting finish that won't budge

Built-in sharpener and smudger allow to create the perfect look--from precise definition to smoky effect

Available in 6 shades"

I bought it in 'Cosmis Black' and here are the pros and cons of it..
Pros:

• Intense Black color, good color pay off
  
• Doesn't irritate eyes (mine is damn sensitive)
• Packaging: Retractable point makes it easy to use, sharpening to get precision

Cons:

• Super duper smudgy
• Easily transferable..mean to say, u can wipe it off with ur hand/fingers/tissue without any make-up remover.
• Long lasting finish? Hell nno..i cant even see the traces of it after an hour or so..

Price:
Bought it for around 5-6$. Pretty reasonable for an eyeliner from such a good brand. But I would say that the eyeliner is worthless.

Would I Recommend/ Repurchase:
Hell..noo.. I plead not to get this.

My Story:
Well, this part for those who wanted a more in depth review of it and my time with it. Okay, I have Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner and I love it and i find a bit hard to remove it. So I wanted a eyeliner which is good for eyes and ofcourse, I love NEUTROGENA for there skin care products. So, the ingredients list made me much more interested. It contains Olive oil and shea butter!
So is why, I picked it up. But it simply smudges no matter what i do. Raccoon eyes is another word! Got it??

Thats all..
Bye beauties..!!

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??

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..

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..

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.. :)

Review: Biotique Sunflower LipBalm

Up for another review about a LipBalm n its..,
Biotque Botanical Extracts Sunflower Lip Balm, BIOLIP
For Chapped and Dehydrated Lips.
" Apply a thick layer on the lips"
Yeah..thats what its says on the product.

Most of U might have a bit of awareness of the so-called-ayurvedic brand called 'Biotique'. I must say that there are several loyal customers out there in the whole world as well. Well, oh well, Ive been using this for an year or so.. and now I'm on my second pot of it. Is it too late for a Review?? Anyways, never too late. Dont get in to a false impression after 'me being on second pot of it' . Lets read on..

A Tale begins
Before starting..I want to tell u a short story. I bought this LipBalm last year, and went to get another one after 5-6 months. To my surprise, the 2nd lip balm that Ive bought is completely different in everything. So, for that sake, I might be referring the 2 , simultaneously, all through the review.

Packaging
Comes in a Eco-friendly characterised Green pot. Inside its got a white colored rim. In terms of packaing, its handly. But sometimes, it can be a bit heavy/huge(a bit) to carry on. Its weighs 16gms. But afterall, it can be easily dumped in to ur hand bag.

Color, Texture, Fragrance..
Color as u can see in the pic, its pinkish (my 1st pot) n red(my 2nd pot). Confused? Well, Im pretty much confused as well. When Ive bought it for the first time, the color is Pinkish and after 6months, when I bought another one, the lip balm is Red tinted (as in pic below, its the second one). I even tried to ask the Store manager, but I was told, that herbals formulations tend to change color, which I agreed, because its true.

Texture again..2 stories. First LipBalm's texture is thick and kind of buttery, whereas the second one is gelly. Fragrance..same, smells like an ayurvedic. Some might find it difficult to carry it on, but its barely there after applying it on lips.

KeyIngredients
Coming to the ingredients list..here u go..a pic for U..

Let me write up here as well, cos the pic is so dim (sorry..:( I tried, but.. )

• Arjun Chal -2%
  
• Lodhra Chal -1%
• Vach Mool - 2%
• Mulethi - 2%
• Badam Tail -1%
• Surajmukhi Tail -3%
• Arandi Tail - 16%
• Til Tail - 5%
• Kusumbhi Tail - 5%
• Q.S Maram Base (what??)

Treats sores, swelling, dry dehydrated chapped lips, Restores natural suppleness of lips.
Ayurvedic medicine (For External Use only) This is not a Cosmetic Product. It has therapeutic properties.
The feature that I like about Biotique, is that their Key ingredients are more than 10%, unlike several other products, where its less than 10%. Now, thats the ingredients list, n if u r eager abt anything, u can google search it, or ask me, Il update with with further details.

Price
Cost is 130 INR for 16gms. Affordable, Not Expensive, I say. If u happened to use Lotus Herbals Strawberry Lip Balm(which costs 60 INR for 8gms), BioLipBalm is of the same price, with added quantity.

Efficacy
As I said, the 2 pots, that I got are different, their result/effectiveness is different as well. Let me put in 2 different segments..

1st pruchase of BioLipBalm:
I loved it, when I bought it for the first time. It moisturized my lips. I can apply it whenever I want, and It gave the lips, that hydrated, watery look. Unlike other lipbalms, which creates the illusion of greasyness on lips (talking abt Vaseline), this made my lips to look watery, not at all greasy. The color on the lips looked birghter as well. Added, it toned my lips by making it brighter by 2 shades. The only bad thing abt this, is that I have to reapply it after 3 hrs..but its OKAY with me, when its doing such. I can tell that I liked it so much, that I finished it within 6 months, though a friend of mine, took for about 8-9 months to hit pan.

2nd Pruchase of BioLipBalm:
After turning in to my Holy Grail Lip Balm, I bought another pot. Soon after I opened it, I can see that the color is different.It looked with a red tint, unlike the past one with pinkish tint. Then I took out and applied, and it is gelly (the earlier one is buttery). There is this tingly sense over, soon after the application. And I checked out, on lips, and looked greasy. It no more gave me that watery/hydrated look. Moreover, it felt like Vaseline, with some color( that greasy texture prevails). However, I dint believe my eyes, for awhile, and thought of to use for some more days, and went on further. But it was the same look.
I dint mind the look, if its enough hydrating. In the long run, it dint moisturize, besides, it started to peel the skin over my lips. Turned the lips darker. So, stopped using it forever. Now im thinking of to use it for cracks (Nice idea right! )

But, why do they have to change the quality when its doing that great. Anyways, I sometimes think that the 2nd one might be an illegal duplication, but I bought it at the same place where I bought the 1st one. Anyways, I can in no way keep on testing it, so I have to skip it.

Pros: Tinted Color, Price
Cons: Different quality with each product, tingling, turns lips darker, peels off, greasy

Repurchase
No. With such a huge difference with each n every batch, I cannot keep on experimenting them, on my lips.

By the way, Have u tried it..?? How is it? Share it with us..
Bye Belles

Review: Vasline Intensive Care, Total Moisture

Yesterday, I was raving abt Vaseline Petroleum Jelly and today, I thought its better to post up the reviews about Vaseline things, that Ive used so far. So, now its..

Vaseline Intensive Care Total Moisture Dry Skin Lotion
U can go visit their website, and check out abt this product(thats available in India). Well, this claims that it is a body lotion that's meant especially for Dry Skin. With Soya & Oat extracts, for Healthy Skin.
To speak a few more cents, the product that's available across the world, is different from that what we get in India . Its basically manufactured by HUL (Hindustan Unilever Ltd.,) The word 'Different' implies on the terms of 'Packaging'. There is a lot of difference between the label graphics. But when it comes to the quality or the effectiveness of the lotion, I couldn't say anything cos, I haven't used the former one. But I've heard from a friend of mine, saying that its completely different and good, when she hated the one sold in India.

Anyways, it was last winter, that Ive bought this, since I was searching for a cheap Body Lotion to defend the winter dryness. My skin over body is normal (not dry even in winters), not at all problematic, goes with any kind of heavy lotions. The reason being that, I was left with several options to try, so I choose the word 'Cheap n Inexpensive' just to give it a bit of TLC. So, I went straight away to the drugstore and bought this bottle. So, here goes the review of it...

Packaging
The packaging is good. Its optimum. I don't need an expensive, glamorously looking product. Its handy as well. But the only problem, that I used to face is..its quite hard to get the lotion out of it. The lotion gets easily solidified and turns stubborn to come out, that I have to squeeze, shake it, make a heavy stepped dance to get a pea out of it. However, its Okay with me.

Color, Fragrance, Texture...
The color of the lotion is white in color. Fragrance, smells nice. I can say that there is an added fragrance ingredient (For those of u, who are allergic to topical fragrances). Texture, a bit thicker than lotions.

Ingredients
Check out the pic. Information regarding 'Key Ingredient' is all what Ive found on the rear label. In fact, its based on Indian norms, that no information about all the other ingredients be given..is something what I came to know recently.


Water, Stearic Acid, Glycerine, Petroleum Jelly, Vitamin E Acetate are the 'Key Ingredients'. On the front label, its mentioned that its got 'Soya & Oat Extracts', buts its no where mentioned in the Key Ingredients. I can think, they might have added it in the 'Other ingredients list', but doesn't that mean, that their concentrations will be less to make it a point?

Price
Dirt cheap. 40 INR for a 100ml bottle.

Efficacy
When it comes to SkinCare, how it plays its role,is what bothers me. The rest, like cost, packaging, fragrance,color, all these terms, I never bother. So, to talk about its efficacy, I'd say, it dint do what is said. Let me explain. I applied it the first day after my shower. It felt good, non-sticky/greasy, melts in to skin. Smelt good. Doesnt feel heavy, doesnt suffocate the skin. The whole day, Ive been doing the so-called 'Scratch-test' and it passed. I felt great for this product.

But the next day, when im off to take a shower, my skin is shedding flakes, allover. It was like, the lotion made my skin further more dry, by making it to get addicted. But I tried it further for few more days, and everyday, I see the same flakes. Losing hope, I gave this to my cousin and she got the same flakes too.

Later, Ive made a search, like why does it flake up the skin, when its got petroleum jelly with it. To my horror, I found certain information, saying that certain products zap the moisture from the internal layers of the skin to the upper layers, so that, the upper layers wont look/feel dry(thats where the scratch-test comes). By the next day, since it lost moisture in the deeper layers, the outer layers lose their hydration roots from the deeper layers and eventually turn dry and then in to dry flakes.

Due to this, I stopped it at once, putting it on, and the next day, my skin is back to normal, with no flakes. From then on, I never turned to any of their lotions.

Pros: Non-greasy, Light, melts in to skin, fragrance, cheap
Cons:Further dries up, by flaking the skin in a day.

Repurchase
No. I dont think I'l try this no matter what, when there are safe lotions out there in the market. Infact, its been several months, that they had launched 'Healthy White' Body Lotion, about which they claim it as the 'No.1 Whitening Lotion in India'. Perhaps, I saw several people who love it, but Im untouched with that.

Thats all..How did this product turn out to U ? Good or bad..??
Please share abt ur Opinions..
Till then Stay Beautiful..Ciao Belles..

Review: Brihans AloeVera Gel

SkinCare Product Review here.. its..
Brihans Green Leaf Pure AloeVera Skin Gel

Most of u might be completely unaware of this brand. Why, for that sake..even Im not aware of this until I bought this home. Ok, now to speak abt this product, Ive bought this an year back, at my local drug store, when the SA handed me this, along with 2-3 other products, when I asked him for AloeVera Creams. The others, being creams, I went thinking whether those creams mightn't suit my sensitive skin, so on a whim, I picked this Pretty Green thing, with elegant packaging. Then comes its usage and all the other practices.

So here goes the Review..

Packaging
The product comes in a transparent pot with a white cap. No spatula, nothing. U have to dip ur fingers in, to get. The pot looks so pretty with those curves, but asusual, I always feel whether its good to dip down ur fingers, which can be unhygienic sometimes. Ok, I can think twice, that there could be preservatives that are strong enough to defend, but what such preservatives could do to the sensitive skin.

Color, Fragrance, Texture, etc..
The product is Gelly in texture, with transparent green color. It looks just like the way it looks in the above pic. Smells like normal gel. Remember, how those Hair-styling gels smells?? This smells just the same.

Price
Its not at all expensive. Costs some 70 INR (im not sure abt the present price, Ive bought this last year, so this is the last year's news) for abt 125 gm(not much sure).

Ingredients
"Aloe vera 90% w/w, colour: brilliant blue FCF (E133), tartrazine (E102)"
These are the only ingredients listed out on the product.

Result
Is it effective?? Ask me, and Il straight away say "No!". Ive bought this, because my skin likes real plant AloeVera gel extract. So, this being the reason, bought this, in need of basic moisturization for my facial-skin, and which doesn't aggravate in to acne/allergy.

First application on face, I felt like heaven. Its a cooling sensation. After a while, my skin felt normal. Ive made several checks, just to make sure that there is no reaction. So Ive continued using it for weeks. Then after 2-3 weeks, I could see that there are small red bumps (like chicken skin) all over face. I thought, thats bcos, Ive skipped my workouts that week. Later Ive been to Dermatologist and was prescribed some other creams, and thats another story.

After abt 6-7 months, I went to see that this pot is sitting in my freezer. Took that out, checked the expiry date and started to use it again. Ive used if for abt 2-3 weeks again, finally finished the product. It brightened my skin a bit, added a certain glow to the skin. So, Ive stocked up with another pot. After some days later, those red bumps, that visited me 6 months back, visited me again. But this time, I haven't skipped my Workouts, neither my diet. In fact it is not enough moisturizing as well. After few hours, u get that papery textured skin appearing out. So, the realy culprit is this one. Ive saw, the same result on one of my freinds as well. Then is the time, that Ive dumped this.

Repurchase
No. Infact, everytime, I visit any Beauty store, these pots invite me to get them, cos of their lovely package, but I wouldn't think twice abt them.

Pros: Packaging, Price, Brightens n GlowsUp skin
Cons: Causes Allergy after 2 weeks of usage, not moisturizing enough.

Thats all..
Have U used it..?? How did u get the result turned out..?? Ild be glad to know abt ur results..
Please drop be some words abt it..
Ciao Bellas.. :)

Review: Himalaya Herbals ExtraMoisturising Protien Shampoo [New Version]

Hello again...
Enuf of those boring Quick Tips..Im back with another Review.
Now its "Himalaya Herbals HealthCare Extra Moisturizing Protein Shampoo.., Normal to Dry Hair".

Few days back, Ive posted a Review abt the Shampoo from the same brand but it was the older version. I have to switch to this newer version, bcos the older one is no more available. So, 2 months ago, I happened to go to the Himalaya Herbal Healthcare store, to get some Skin Care essentials and the Shampoo(older version) as well. But the Sales Assistant told me that its not necessary cos the newer one is better than the older one. Ok, without being skeptic, honoring the brand, added the new shampoo in to my cart, without any second thought. So, its bee more than 2 months now and I think i can make a Review session.

So, here goes it:

Packaging
The packaging is really different from what Ive expected. Mean to say, its not that great, but rises a "?" whenever i see the cap. U can see in the picture, that there is a curve on the top head of the bottle. Its not bad, but I feel it a bit funny. The rest is Ok/Fine with me. Comes in 100ml, 200ml & 400ml bottle. But the one Ive bought is 200ml, cos Im supposed to test it for the first time and then jump back to the heavy/huge 400ml bottle.

Color, Frangrance, Texture etc...
Now to speak abt how it looks/smells like, the shampoo is in white color, with pearly shine, with floral fragrance, which lingers around for a day. Texture is very runny. This disappointed me very much. I mean, the earlier version is a bit thicker, but this is very runny, in very diluted state. I usually mix a bit of water, lather and then apply all over hair( so that there is always less friction on scalp/hair). But this shampoo doesnt need to mixed be up with water.

Ingredients
To talk abt Ingredients..this is where I was left with an awe.I took the snap of it to post it here. As u can see in the pic, that it contains:

Exts. Palandu (AlliumCepa) -4mg
If uve been thru Homeopathy, U would know what this could be. Im not pretty much sure though, but my Doc prescribed me 'Allium Cepa' when im suffering with Severe cold. But whats it doing in a shampoo?? Im completely clueless. May be, the shampoo helps in healing cold/flu as well?? But whatever..I dont want my shampoo to put the drug in to my head, whenever I shower.. :P
Kharbuja(Cucumis melo)- 4mg
Known as Anti-oxidant  and best as Anti-aging and hair care ingredients, which constitutes high levels of potein.
Kumari (Aloe barbadenis)- 4mg
The plant thats well known in every household, I guess. I love this plant . AloeVera is a natural moisturiser, which contains high levels of polysaccharides, enzymes..which nourishes the hair from the root to tip.
Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra)- 3mg
 Also know as Licorice. Known to promote Hair Growth.
Methi (Trigonella Foenum graecum) - 3mg
Fenugreek seeds/oil whatever. Best known for moisturizing properties. I personally like Fenugreek seeds as  Hair mask..once every month or a while..whenever i feel inspired.
Tila (Sesamum indicum)-2mg
Sesame oil/extract. Its known for its high content of proteins. Best as moisturizer. 
 Other Ingredients
Potassium Sorbate,  Sodium Benzoate,  Methylchloroisothiazolinone,  Methylisothiazolinone.
These must be the preservatives. Im not sure how far they could be safe enough for sensitive hair. Anyways..thats up for another post, I guess.

Price
Price is not expensive. Its 105 INR for 200ml, pretty cheap of course. But, Himalaya's known for "giving the best results within the budget rate" misses here. Price is within range, but the Shampoo is not great, infact not atleast good.

Verdict
Though Himalaya Herbals tried to boost out the best in terms of packaging, that shampoo couldn't meet the basic priority. It said "Extra Moisturizing", but it dint moiturize at all. The older version, did pretty job on those grounds. The shampoo, being too much runny in consistency and the lather-up tendency being minimum, too much shampoo gets in to use for just a single wash. Besides, I feel this shampoo must be labeled as 'Commercial Shampoo', which does nothing besides such huge promises. If u ask me if there is anything that I like in this shampoo, its fragrance and packaging. I dislike the shampoo outcomes, the after-affects  (dint moisturize an inch), instead hair tuned out dry, n  the price is not even worth it.

RePurchase
No. After being my Holy Grail shampoo (im talking abt the older version)  for several years, this new shampoo completely left me blank to look after for another shampoo. Im not going to repurchase it, under any terms. Neither I suggest any of U to get it.

Pros:Packaging, Fragrance
Cons:Couldnt Moisturise/hydrate, Very Runny, Not worth of its price, Turned out as a Commercial shampoo.

Thats all Belles..
Hows ur weekend?? Well, Im on with a Hair mask now..Did u check when u got ur Hair mask last time??

Well, Ciao Belles..in the next post.. :)

Review: Himalaya Herbals Protein Shampoo [OlderEdition]

When it comes to Hair Care, U r ought to use the right shampoo. Many claim that Shampoos don't do much in terms of hair growth, but what I say, 'They shouldnt be bad for ur hair either..' Since my childhood, Ive been through several shampoos going from this to that. I have no fascination towards any of the available drug store shampoos, used to think, all the shampoos are the same, just some cleansers/soap thingy in it. But some did a huge damage, like heavy hair fall, while some did nothing, and some cant even clean properly.

So, now to move on to the review part, Im here to tell u folks abt the Himalaya Herbals Protein Shampoo for Dry/Damaged Hair. Himalaya Herbals, discontinued the product and replaced it with the newer version.
Himalaya Herbals Protien Shampoo falls in that category, where I would go to it without any second thought.

Himalaya Herbals Protein Shampoo, For Dry/Damaged Hair. Extra Conditioing.
(This is how the older version looked like)

Packaging:
The product comes on a white plastic bottle, with a luxorious green cap. Comes in 200ml, 400ml bottles, the later is what I used to opt for always. The Packaging is not so fancy neither clumpsy. Just the optimum level of excellence for a drug-store pharmaceutical brand.

Color, Frangrance, Texture etc..
The color of the shampoo is transparent Orange in color. Smells like a basic herbal shampoo, a good one. I dont think anyone could go wrong with the smell. I can say that the fragrance lingers around with u for a day. The texture is gel-like. No pearly look to it. Just a transparent orangy gelly like shampoo. I could have taken the pic of it, but Its no more available across.

Price
Price is very very reasonable. In fact I would say, its cheaper for what it does. Honestly Ive been thru several High-end shampoos, but used to always come back to this one. Its 145 INR for 400ml bottle. Its quite cheap, I must say.

Results..
Ok..now to move on to the actual Review part...., how the shampoo works, I would say its a good shampoo for damaged hair. Its a mild shampoo, which makes the hair & scalp squeaky clean. I used to have severly damaged brittle hair over the top notch of the head, where there are several bunches of fly offs. This shampoo made that part moist that hair dint fly. Overall, its a good mild shampoo, which cleans and doesnt do any damage to the hair.
I dont say that it moisturised my hair enough, but it dint strip off the moisture as well. As far as the shampoos Ive use so far, all of them striped off the moisture and left with very dry n brittle hair, but this one dint.
I sometimes even get off with just the shampoo and without any conditioner and still the hair goes on manageable all day. Ive been using this since 3 years... n this tells how much I adore.

My Final note is that If uve got Dry hair..this is the best shampoo to get for that price.