Do you clean your mobile? {Your Opinion}

So, when I was cleansing my face and was about to wash off the sunscreen, I noticed that the screen of my mobile was also dirty and had a layer of my sunscreen and sweat due to the excess heat in Hyderabad. 

Then, I thought that even if I do wash off my sunscreen properly from the face, this residue on the mobile screen can get transferred back on to the face, right? And, make the skin dirty and may clog the pores as well!!

Fortunately, my skin is not prone to breakouts. But, this can be a huge problem for acne prone skin or oily skin! The residue can cause a lot of breakouts on the cheeks and the chin area. So, I took a baby wipe and cleansed the mobile screen. Do you do that regularly as well?

And, this also reminds me that the same thing can happen with the pillow covers as well. The sweat and oil which gets transferred to the pillow at night does transfer back to skin the next night and the accumulated residue can harm the skin over a long run. So, do you change the pillow covers regularly?

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Blogging Series Vol. 6 - How to design the layout of the blog?

So, layout is something which you would have seen a lot of changes in if you have been reading this blog since quite long. And, I am quite proud to say that I am happy with the current layout. 

I have definitely received many comments saying it is not girlish enough or its too bland and not colorful or some other things. So, let me acquaint you with the first rule of design.

Some Pointers

white background, preferably!

minimal elements

ad placements should be not very obvious

font size should be decent (18 is the new 12)

It is good to have a really intricate design but when it comes to blogs, there are varied kinds of people, who would be reading it, with various tastes. And, it is not easy to make everyone happy. But, the least you can do is come up with a design which would be easy on everyone's eyes. 

Readers are fickle. Trust me! If they would not find your blog easy to read, they would happily go to someone else's. So, try to keep the design layout of your blog as simple as possible with minimal elements. 

Also, there is an issue of page loading and page speed which contributes to the user interaction in a major way. If your blog takes forever to load, people would be tired of waiting and not open it again!

If you keep a lot of widgets and gadgets on your blog which might be fun but take hell of a time to load, it can make anyone testy. So, try to keep the elements in your blog simple and as less as possible. 

And, also, the design or layout of any blog is not perfect. You can only try your best. There can be thousands of things which can do with bit of improvement. So, always be patient with your blog and learn to play around. And, always remember, things always evolve over time and so will your blog. You wouldn't get it right the first time!!

Related Posts:

Blogging Series Vol. 5 - How to time the posts?

Blogging Series Vol. 4 - How am I able to try out so many products and its affects on my skin?

Blogging Series Vol. 3 - Don't forget to buy the domain first!

Coup-o-nation!!

So, How many times have you bought online by now? Well, for me, the count is like around last one year, almost everything was done online. Well, am I fan of online shopping? Nah, I still like the idea of going to shops and checking out things, especially books.

But, things are still easy online when you are feeling lazy. And, now the good part is you have so many coupons which you can use to avail discounts on the websites. Sounds awesome, right? I recently came to know of the coupon culture in US and now its in India!

Anyways, let me recount what happened yesterday. My dad is gonna come to Hyderabad so he needed to finish the hotel booking. And, only recently, I came to know of Couponation. So, I was very happy to direct dad to the site when he asked me if I had any coupons or discounts!

And, guess what, he got a damn good deal on the hotel booking. But, the flight was booked just a day before when I totally forgot to tell him about the website. So, that was sad. But, still I went and checked out the website for what coupons it had and it had some good deals for Makemytrip, Yatra and GoIbibo (well, that's my favorite of all).

So, that was quite an experience, huh! Oh btw, in case you are thinking you have to waste money buying the coupons, its free! You don't have to even register which is like awesome coz I totally hate going to a site and getting a page which says fill in your details.

So, have you shopped coupons yet?

PS: This is a sponsored post but the personal experience described is true.

Just Gossip Vol. 29 - A Blind Test and The Week!!

PS: I am sorry for posting this but my post went up live quite before it should have been!!

So, I was preparing lunch today taking instructions from my mom on phone when P got this courier. It could never have come on a more opportune time! I was just waiting for the bhindi to get fried to go for a head bath. I had slapped quite a generous amount of oil in my hair right when I got up thinking it would be a nice day to give my hair a very relaxed weekend. 

What courier am I talking about? Ok, I was approached by these PR people to be a part of a blind test they are conducting. An international brand is launching itself in India with its Love Long Hair Range and it has found out a very innovative and interesting way to get everyone's attention. 

So, I think many of the bloggers would be getting these shampoo and conditioner bottles with no names or anything and we have to test the product for two weeks and get the verdict out before the brand reveals itself!! Did it catch your attention? Well, it did mine! 

And, I am soooo excited to test this product out. The best part is the conjecture about what brand it could be? Well, the conditioner smelt something familiar to me. My guess right now is on Pantene but I have to say that the shampoo did not really lather that much! Update: Now, I think it is L'Oreal coz it smells almost like the Total Five Conditioner!

Anyways, lets wait up to two weeks and see how the product works out for my hair. For now, I can say that, even though I thought it would fail, it did pass in removing all the massive amount of oil from the hair in two washes!! And, yup, today, I made the first almost entire meal of my life :D It is so damn exhausting to work the entire day in the kitchen :|

So, how is your weekend going on?

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Just Gossip Vol. 28 - The Secret is Out!!
Just Gossip Vol. 27 - Tidbits!
Just Gossip Vol. 26 - I am off to Delhi!

Just Gossip Vol. 9 - Since how long have you been reading this blog?

Hey Everyone. Yes, I am skipping a beauty post today coz honestly I am very very tired and feeling a lot sleepy and its just 8. I have not yet had my dinner also so have to remain awake till then. 

So, I thought I would keep today's post very light and try to find out who among you have been the oldest reader of my blog. I know most of you are passive readers but I would earnestly urge you to please comment on this post just to let me know you are there.

Bloggers are very insecure people. They need a lot of encouragement and lot of reassurances. So, please answer this question. Since how long have you been reading my blog?

The answer can be anything from the date if you remember :D or in months or years or at least a tentative year month specification like around December 2010 or whatever you remember. I am looking forward to your answers :)

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Just Gossip Vol. 7 - What did I pack in my travel beauty kit? 

Weekend Gossip Vol. 6 - On turning 27!

Exercises and Health {Health}

I have come to realize of one important factor. And, that is that if you are regular at exercising from the earliest in your life, any disease you might have developed can be controlled. Be it heart issues, blood pressure, diabetes, PCOS, any other hormonal issues, or any major chronic diseases, the exercise is your only savior. 

The reason I am doing this post is because I have lately seen so many people who try to control what they eat in order to control their weight. Well, a conscious diet a very good habit but one has to remember that exercise is an integral part of your routine. 

You might go for crash diets or leave milk or take to fruit diets or go for healthy diets (which is very good) but all of them can not do what exercise does for your body. Without exercise, your body wouldn't have proper blood circulation or properly toned muscles or stronger bones. And, these are very important to prevent any kind of diseases in the long run.

Yoga is one of the best ways to regain the body strength. But, how so ever much you want to avoid exercise, you can not do without it. So, do exercise for a healthy life and not just for weight loss. Think that as an added incentive.

The reality is that a person who has exercised all his life reaps the benefits during old or middle ages when a normal person is actually prone to feel the lack of energy. And, here comes one important message for even the thin people who don't ever feel the need to exercise - you do!

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Salon Range Products or Natural Products for Hair? {Your Opinion}

I have always been torn between these two. Well, for starters, I love experimenting with natural products and home remedies!! But, on the other hand, professional products are well-researched and prepared and categorized exactly for your hair type and issue. 

If you ask me to choose between the two, I would be hard-pressed. These days my hair care routine or habits have changed so much. If I look at all my hair diaries which started way back in 2012, I used to use over-the-counter products and stressed more on natural brands (mainly Biotique) or home remedies. But, slowly, I can see myself transition into using hassle-free products. 

I have started spending more and buying SLS-free shampoos and professional range conditioners because the regular conditioners do not work for me at all. Ok, one reason I can say natural products or herbal brands appeal more is the expense. The professional products are usually very expensive. I would love to give Kerastese a try, its not that I can not afford it but somehow I do think before going for it, not that I can guarantee Kerastese will work fabulously on me!!

Also, lately, I have started hating applying products which are gooey and need a lot of pre-processing or post-processing like mixing some herbal hair powders with water or something else or mashing banana and papaya into a mix and applying it or even curd, for that matter. For one, the smell is awful and second, you really need to make sure nothing is dripping all over the house while you are working with all that on your head.

So, I have reached a compromise with myself and have started buying ayurvedic oils which I try to diligently apply before every hair wash. I do love to check out different ones so you will never find me sticking to one which is quite sad in one way!! And, I have started buying organic shampoos and conditioners, not professional yet, which reduce my time in the bathroom. Also, as a leave-in, I am sticking to natural oils for now because they are working great.

What do you prefer - the natural or herbal products or the salon or professional ranges for hair care?

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Sleep and Skin {Skin Care}

So, having girl colleagues and girl friends can actually be awesome! Oh, I do have many girlfriends but none in Hyderabad so I used to miss the gossip part. Now, I am getting that in extra-servings. That's getting a little irritating but I am digressing. 

So, one day we were just talking about dull skin and not so good sleeping routine. So, my colleague told me that why the skin glows after a really good refreshing sleep. The blood circulation improves in the scalp and the face during the cleansing process which makes the skin glow. 

Now, if you did not have proper sleep, the circulation is not good and the face goes dull. Anyways, that is also the reason why hair grows well when you have proper sleep routine. Ok, there is another theory which I want to share with you.

Have you ever wondered why sometimes you wake up feeling refreshed and sometimes you feel so sleepy, both after having the same amount of sleep? That is due to the 90-minute cycle of sleep. So, the body goes through all phases of sleep every 90 minutes. And, you need minimum of 4 of these 90-minute cycles (4 hours) for a restful sleep.

If you wake up between this 90 minute cycle anytime, your head feels groggy and heavy. If you had a restful sleep, that was because you completed the 90 minute cycle, that may be 5, 6 or 7 in number. For example, if I am getting up at 7:00 and sleeping at 10, I got 9 hours of sleep which is 6 cycles of 90 minutes. 

So, if you get 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or any number of cycles of sleep, you will wake up refreshed but if your sleep breaks between this 90 minutes, you would not be refreshed and you would have a sleep hangover almost all day. Also, it is necessary that you should not oversleep either. 

So, having a set routine of sleep helps the body maintain itself. What do you think?

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Update on Onion Juice for Hair Growth - Part I {Hair Care}

Since I have done the post on benefits of onion for hair and how to use onion juice for hair growth, I have received an onslaught of questions from various readers and they all ask me the same kind of questions. So, I thought I would create a small FAQ sort of post which will be helpful for one and all. Also, there have been some updates over the three years so check out the post for more!!

How does Onion help with hair growth?

Well, onion has sulphur which is an essential nutrient for hair growth. So, regular application of onion juice on the scalp enables the scalp to absorb the nutrient and nourish the follicles.

Big onions or small, red onions or white?

Big or small does not really matter but big makes the job easy! For one application of onion on my scalp and hair length which is medium, I prefer half an onion of medium size. And, red onions have more sulphur content than white ones so prefer them.  

How to apply onion juice?

Grate the onion - squeeze the pulp and extract the juice in a bowl - take a cotton ball - dip in the juice - apply on scalp - cover the entire scalp and hair length - let it dry for an hour - wash off.

Onion juice becomes powdery when it dries off so be careful and do not comb your hair after applying the juice!

How many times should the onion juice be used on the scalp?

It is completely safe so it can applied as many times as you want. But, if you want my advise, apply it every time before you shampoo depending on the condition of your hair.

If the hair fall is pretty bad or if the hair is very thin, you can do it three to four times a week in the starting for about 2-3 months and then reduce the application to once a week.

If it is only for hair care, once a week is fine. 

How long does it take to show the effects?

Ok, this is a trick question! Every person reacts differently to various home remedies so whether it will work for you or not is something I can not tell. Yes, I can at least say that you can always give any home remedy a try unless you are allergic to the ingredient. It will never harm you.

I have been using it for a month but I can see no difference is something I come across often. First, your body might be late in reacting to the remedy. Second, hair takes a lot of time to show any results as the growth rate is less comparatively. Thus, any hair remedy must be used for at least 2-3 months before you decide to discontinue it!!

Does it help with alopecia or male pattern baldness?

Honestly, I have no idea. If you have any of the skin disorders, you should ALWAYS consult a trichologist or a dermatologist and never completely rely on home remedies. The medicines prescribed to you can be taken in compliment to the home remedies.

Like, you take tablets and use other home remedies like applying oil or any juice to the scalp. Caution should be taken when you apply any ointment to the scalp. Always apply the ointments to the scalp after washing the hair. Its more effective that way and remember never to mix the ointment and juices.

More of the FAQ's to be continued in another post!! 

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Just Gossip Vol. 8 - Not Gossip but News!

Ok, this post had started in my mind on quite a different note. You must be already aware of the Hyderabad blasts!! Its a really sad event (for the want of a better word).

I feel what people or shall we say a community of anti-socialists gain by killing people?? Apparently, a terrorist attack message was intercepted a few days back but they could not make sure where the attack would be.

Well, in reference to this incident, I recollected all the past bomb blasts and other terrorist attacks including the famous Kandahar airplane hijack, Mumbai blasts, the previous Hyderabad blasts (they happened when I had just arrived in Hyderabad). They were all sad tragedies in recent India.

On a separate note, I would like to talk about the brave lady who jumped from a running auto to save herself. Why? This also happened in Hyderabad and happened pretty close to the place where I live. She was traveling from one place to another in a shared auto when she found herself alone after all other passengers had alighted from the vehicle. She, very propitiously, had a pepper spray and made judicious use of technology and informed her friend of her where abouts. And, yes, she was lucky not to be in hands of animal-turned humans, thank goodness. She sprayed pepper spray into her abductor's eyes and jumped out of the vehicle and sustained head injuries but was immediately taken to the hospital where she is supposed to be fine.

Another note, and this one is real good, I received a very huge (wrong superlative) happy news today night and I have no words to express it. I know you will hate me but let this be a surprise for a while :D Just wish me all the best wishes you can!!

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Have you tried Aloe Vera? {Skin Care}

Yup, I know you would have already used it. I have also been recommending aloe vera since ages. But, today, I am going to talk about my friend's routine with aloe vera which she is very diligent about.

She is from Delhi and surprisingly she did not find aloe vera plant in Hyderabad. Really, right? Nah, aloe vera is easily available here but she or rather we were too lazy to buy a plant and nurture it.

Also, keeping an aloe vera plant among girls can dry it faster than a rose plant in a desert :D Well, obvious, no? Granted that aloe vera plant is quite adaptable but still you get my point! Anyways, coming back to my friend, she got lotsssss of aloevera leaves from home and keeps them stored in the fridge. 

And, almost every evening or once in three days (I don't know the frequency), she takes a small piece of the leaf and rubs the entire gel on her face for like 30 minutes or so while watching television. 

And, then, she rolls off all the extra pieces or small sticky things present in the leaf which cling to the skin and lets the gel get absorbed entirely. And, she sleeps just like that without washing it off.

Results? S attests to the fact that this is one of the reasons why her oily skin turned normal. She is prone to pimples but fortunately its frequency has decreased. And, as I said, she does this very very diligently!!

So, for all the oily beauties, try this and you might get lucky! Also, for all skin types, aloe vera improves hydration of the skin and makes the skin glowing and really supple!! This is one of the great skin care tips for summer as well.

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Femina Salon and Spa Magazine Review

Price: Rs 100

 

Femina presents its latest addition to the slew of magazines in her kitty, Femina Salon and Spa. The goal of this magazine is to promote the beauty basics customized to the Indian skin tone and hair type. And, it does that with a bang in this issue of its!!

So, let me start with the cover girl feature of Aditi Rao Hydari. I totally love this lady and the magazine covers a snapshot-cum-tutorial session detailing gorgeous hairstyles ranging from refined fish-tail braids to carefree waves and an interview with this lady discussing her beauty secrets (click on the below picture to enlarge it and read the tutorial)!

its so chic!

She is one of the very few woman I actually admire looks-wise and reading her interview was fun. The flawless skin is thanks to the female genes in her family and she loves her eyebrows the most. I do too (her eyebrows, I mean)! The shape is just awesome. And, she loves natural remedies and relies very less on makeup.

i love this!

Princess Jasmine knots from Walt Disney cartoon Aladin

my favorite current trend - the OMBRE effect I would love to get dark mahogany with blue highlights!

Moving on, the hair care section is HUGE! It includes all the latest trends in the hair styles right from braided twists to ombre hair effects. The section has a talk with Chelsey Lloyd, global expert, TIGI about hair coloring basics and which colors best suit the Indian skin tones and the Do's and Dont's for the hair colorists. And, she also emphasizes that the colorist should make sure that the hair should be healthy initially so that the color would show up nicely.

these are my two favorite looks of all!!

Next is a section on makeup, the higlight of which in this issue is the dramatic use of eyeliners. Followed by a tete-a-tete with Bobbi Brown. And, a few Q&A sessions with Ojas Rajani and Colleen Khan.

And, the final section is the spa and salon section which talks about some of the professional spas, a little about salons across the metros, features hair stylist Deepak Jalhan and a lots on hair color which is very useful if you are one for it!!

My Verdict

Overall, the magazine is a treat for beauty addicts with the bonus of being customized to Indian audience which makes most of the tips practically usable. A few things do bother me like some of the color combinations in the magazine are little difficult to read. They have used red at some places which glares in the eyes instead of being readable.

And, the glue for the magazine did not hold well. I, for one, handle the books and magazine delicately but still it did not stand well which is sad :( I do not know if that should be mentioned in a review but then here it is!!

Have you read the first issue of the magazine which features Yamini Gautam?

Just Gossip Vol. 7 - What did I pack in my travel beauty kit?

So, I just wanted to do a small post on travel kit packing tips. Will talk about the clothes later. So, lemme tell you my travel kit is generally the heaviest which my mom always keeps on complaining about!! But, my effort is always to keep it as small as possible. 

Since my trip was almost 10 days, I had to ensure everything was there. Since I don't use makeup, that keeps my kit lighter comparatively. Let us talk about skin, hair and miscellaneous items separately. Then, we will move to talking about modes of travel.

Skin Care

• Face Wash - Nivea Aqua Effect Refreshing Face Wash
• Moisturizer - Nivea Creme
• Sunscreen - MVO Moisturizing Face Screen + MVO Kid Safe Screen
• Lip Balm - Nivea Essential Care + Nivea Pomegranate lip balm
• Body Lotion - Nivea Body Milk + Johnson's Baby Lotion
• Compact - Faces Mineral Pressed Powder
• Face Oil - MVO Anti-Aging Oil+ 
• Makeup Remover - Himalaya Baby Wipes
• TBS Body Gloves + Face Buffer

This looks like a Nivea store :D Ok, one sunscreen is enough. You might want to carry a new bottle so that you don't run out of it accidentally. Since I use face wash as a body wash as well, that was enough! And, I have no different moisturizing routine for night and day so that was equally fine. 

I had actually carried a smaller bottle of Nivea body milk but I ran out of it so I had to get the Johnson's. I could have spared the compact and face oils as I didn't even use them! Well, they were not exactly heavy. Baby wipes are must from removing sunscreen to cleaning the hands in absence of water. And, body gloves and face buffer was for exfoliation purposes.

  

Hair Care

• Hair Oil - Sesa Hair Oil + Parachute Jasmine Oil Sachets
• Shampoo - Pantene Lively Clean Sachets (3)
• Leave-in Serum - Dove Vita Oil Serum
• Comb - TBS Wooden Comb
• Hair Clips + Accessories

I skipped the conditioner because leave-in was enough and I wasn't sure how long would I get to get ready. You can skip the oil and go for the conditioner. If you use a brush, you might want to check out if there is a travel version of that brush available as well in a smaller size.

Miscellaneous

• Oral Kit
• Maybelline Colossal Kajal
• Perfume Sample
• Soap Strips
• Medicines - Paracetamol + Pudin Hara 

Well, according to where you travel and what your preferences and problems are, you should take those medicines. Like, if you are prone to allergies, taking an Avil tablet  or if you are prone to motion sickness of any kind,land or water, don't forget those tablets. 

Air Travel

Ok, you need not carry the entire kit in your handbag so you can keep some of the essentials outside like face wash and oral kit if its an overnight journey (international flights), moisturizer, sunscreen, lip balm, baby wipes and compact. 

Keep the comb outside with other hair clips and accessories. Keeping the soap strips might help when you do not have face wash handy but if you are a sanitizer person, you can take that. And, some of the medicines should also be carried in your handbag.  

Train or Road Travel

Since you do not have to divide the baggage, you can keep the entire kit with you in an accessible place. Oh, yes, do not forget hand towel for especially train and road travels at ANY cost.I am mentioning this because sometimes I do :(

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Does oil leave buildup on hair? {Your Opinion}

So, today, I have a very interesting observation to share with you and ask a question. We apply products on hair and claim that even a shampoo can leave buildup on the hair so isn't possible for even the hair oils to do the same?

Well, why did I think of this? Honestly, it was a random thought and I am not able to think of the context in which this thought entered my head. When I racked my brains on this topic, I came to a conclusion why it might be so.

All the commercially available oils have additives and some percentage of them is mineral oil. And, mineral oil creates a layer on the hair strands so it is quite possible for it to leave a residue. Even if there is no mineral oil, the other additives can leave the residue. 

Now that we have got the commercial oils out of the way, what about the vegetable oils or the pure oils? Yes, I am including all the cold-pressed and organic claiming brands.

One observation is about pure coconut oil. In some post lately (I don't remember which), I had read that if the coconut oil is freezing in winters, it is pure. This claim is wrong. It is the property of coconut oil to freeze even if it has additives added to it in some quantity.

Anyways, coming back to the topic, I was concerned about all the amazing oils which I use, whether expensive or inexpensive, what if they leave a residue? Well, my answer is the purer oils don't leave a residue but still it is good to clarify the hair every month.

I love using this ginger infused vinegar DIY. I remember doing this sometime in January or December and will do it in some days again. If you ever feel your hair looks flat even after washing it well, it might be time to clarify your hair.

What do you think?

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Do you love searching for new products? {Your Opinion}

I have always loved going to supermarkets and checking out their beauty section. And, always, more often than not, I find something interesting to buy which is not so widely known of or available. Yesterday again I got a chance to go to a new supermarket with my colleague for her household shopping.

And, I got a hair oil concentrate which should be diluted in usual coconut or mustard oil and applied on the scalp. It sounded so interesting and it was also very inexpensive so I got it immediately and I am dying to try it out!! Of course, I will let you know about it if I like it or not!!

Recently on one of my trips, I also found out that Dabur sells tiny vials of clove oil for prevention from tooth aches. Now, I have mentioned that I love using clove oil for my hair. And, these clove oil bottles will work perfectly as they are so tiny and one vial can be diluted with 100ml of regular hair oil.

Also, there I found something called kalonji oil which is black seed oil. I have no idea about how it really helps but it has multitude of health benefits but there is no scientific evidence on the beauty benefits for now!! So, these are small kinds of things which I love to explore and come to know when I go to the supermarkets. 

Also, a few days back, while we were on a walk, we found the Art of Living divine shop which is just like the patanjali shops. They have suddenly cropped up quite a lot of places. I got a body oil from there! 

They have almost a huge section of cosmetics and I got to know about some other better products from there which I am itching to go and buy. Will talk about them once I am convinced of their quality.

Do you love shopping beauty in supermarkets? Or, do you just prefer to go to the regular brands?

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Some Random Product Reviews - Part III

Nyah Honey! I Love Strawberries & Jasmine Natural Handmade Bar

Price: Rs 200

My Experience
This was a brand which Roshni introduced to me and I got this soap from flipkart. Well, it did sound really exotic but unfortunately it fell flat during usage :( No, its not that bad but its expensive. 

Anyways, as you can see in the pic, it has a glycerin top part and is like a natural bar below it. And, one of its edges has a hard scrubbing side. And, it really is very harsh. I got scratches on my body after using it :(

Overall, the soap was fine. It did not moisturize my skin but it did not leave it dry either. But, overall, I did not fancy the soap much!

Olive Tree Virgin Olive Oil Soap

Price:  Rs 99 (I guess!!)

My Experience

I didn't know it could be used on hair as well, read it just now :)

This product, I picked up from Ratandeep, a well-known supermarket in Hyderabad! It looks tempting, isn't it?? Ok, its a solid white colored soap which doesn't lather AT ALL. But, cleanses really well.

My guess is that it is probably the famed castile soap which is made of pure olive oil which lathers minimal and cleanses really well. Also, it lasts reallyyy long so the price justifies the product.

Yes, being used to lather, it was frustrating to use it in the beginning but now I like it a lot. I would definitely suggest you to pick up some if you stay in Hyderabad.

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Books 2014 Vol. 4 - "The Cuckoo's Calling" by Robert Galbraith aka J.K.Rowling

Finally, I finished the book. As far as I remember, I had mentioned this in the first week of January or soon after. Yup, a crime thriller which took me almost one month of reading. And thereafter, I gave myself a few days to internalize the book to know how I feel about it.

So, lets begin to talk about the book. The story begins with Robin lost in thought of her recent engagement and hunting for the office where she is supposed to be acting as a temporary secretary for a week. Cameron Strike, the detective and an ex-army guy who lost his leg in Afganistan, is her employer. 

Strike has recently broken up with his ex-fiancée and has been living in his dumpy office. He is completely broke, receives murder threats from his previous client, and in huge debt. Robin's arrival to his office changes his fortune in one way!! He is visited by John Bristow, a lawyer, to ask Strike investigate the death of his sister, the very famous model Lula Landry, which had taken place three months back.

And, then, begins a very disconnected process of investigation which picks up pace in the last few pages of the book. The entire plot seems to like have been churned out in bits and parts from all the other detective novels. That is also one of the reason I could not bring myself to stick to the book. 

Accepting that book is good in bits and parts, I think it could have been easily edited to a novella if we leave out the personal lives of the detective and, though less described, his assistant. They stand out in the entire process. One tends to lose interest about their personal lives and ends up wondering why they picked the book!!

My Verdict

It is not an amazing book and you are not losing out on anything by missing it out.

Have you read the book?

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Cosmedic Lumifast Brightening Face Mask {Product Review}

Price: Rs 330 for 50gms

Pros

gives a subtle glow

Cons

bad packaging!

might not suit really sensitive skin

not really inexpensive!

instructions to use not very clear!

My Experience

I have used this product for a very long time (above 2 months) and took my own time to review it. Even now, I would say I am confused. It comes in a really bulky tub which is heavy and has a very narrow mouth so getting the product when the tub is almost empty is kind of difficult. A tube would be better. 

The product is ashy grey in color and smells weird. It is a thick cream and doesn't really glide on skin easily. First of all, the instructions are not very clear as to how the product should be used? Is it supposed to be used on dry skin, wet or damp?

So, to clear the confusion, the cream glides on well only on damp skin. And, let me tell you that it doesn't glide on really smoothly unless you take only a bit of the product. If you take excess on your finger, it will clump on your skin. I apply it on face and neck. 

When on skin, it tingles a lot for a few seconds but its not exactly an uncomfortable feeling. I leave it on for 10 minutes. Now, taking it off is a damn pain. Best way to take off this product is using a wash cloth. The product is so sticky that it makes the cloth also sticky!

And, it takes a lot of water also to wash off. Now, results? I did not really see much of brightening. But, this mask served more as a nourishing face mask which leaves a subtle glow of hydrated and healthy skin. This glow stays till next morning. 

I wish they improve on the packaging and mention proper usage instructions. Also, I felt that it might not suit sensitive skin or dry skin either coz I sometimes found it a bit drying or even those who are sensitive to lactic acid. I found it a bit expensive as well!

Availability
Online - Cosmedic Website
In stores (only in Delhi, Agra, Lucknow and Meerut) - check locations here

PS: Product sent by brand. 

Other products from Cosmedic:

Cosmedic Avederm Soothing Facial Cleanser

Cosmedic Alpha Q Brightening Face Wash

Happy Valentine's Day!

Image Courtesy: youthjournalism.org

3 foods that digest food immediately {Health}

Sometimes I eat so much unknowingly and suffer with a stuffed and over-filled stomach tending to burst. Recently, I have found ways to reduce the uncomfortable feeling with the help of following three foods which can be had right after the meal. They empty your stomach in a jiffy by boosting your metabolism and making you damn hungry in the next two hours!!

Green Tea

On top of my list is this one coz you can have this anytime of the day whether you are stuffed or hungry or whether you feel like munching junk or just want to sip some water. Also, being hot, it relaxes the mind as well. A glass of green tea can make your tummy feel lighter in just about 15 minutes. 

You might say how can I have water over a filled tummy? Well, you need not gulp down the tea. Boil the water, brew the tea and sip it slowly. Trust me, its extremely relaxing, just as much as a body massage. And, do check out how to make green tea properly unless you love the bitter taste.

Ginger Tea

Well, not really my favorite but one of my colleague vouches by this. Now, there are two versions of this tea. One is the {ginger boiled in water} tea and another is the regular milk tea we make at home. If you are just boiling ginger in water, you can have it right after the meal and ginger is amazing for its potent anti-oxidants.

But, you can not have the milk tea immediately. You need to give it a half hour to one and then have a small cup of this tea. Make sure sugar is less and ginger is more! And, your food will digest off in one hour!!

Fennel

Reducing the bloating and improving digestion is one of the prime reasons for this spice to be an inherent part of the meal. And, since I have discovered that chewing fennel is extremely soothing for the stuffed tummy, I have never missed a chance to pop some. Btw, stay away from the sugar coated fennels as they tend to pump more sugar into the system than the goodness of fennel!!

A TIP: Try not to drink any fluids immediately before meal. If you do feel thirsty, keep a glass of warm water by your plate. Warm water helps with the digestion process, I believe!! 

What are your remedies to help with over-stuffed tummy?

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Blogging Series Vol. 5 - How to time the posts?

So, I did receive some encouragement for this series so here goes another post. But, I want to say this beforehand that these series are based on my personal experiences and problems I have encountered as opposed to the blogging rules laid down. For such rules, you can google them.

Now, getting back to the post, this is a problem I have encountered in two extremes - posting too many in a single day or not posting for quite a long time. This is not only a problem of writer's block or lack of enthusiasm but also a problem of not being able to do proper management.

Excess of Enthusiasm
This is a case which generally happens when you start writing a blog or sometimes when the writing juices are continuously flowing. And, you come to a standstill when those juices stop.

Total Blockage
When writing, in general, passionate writing gets influenced by a lot of factors - your mood, your life, pressure of other works or many other things. And, sometimes, you are just not able to think of any topic plainly.

So, how to deal with either of these situations. You get a feature called Schedule. No, I am not telling you about this feature in this post. When you get used to writing for quite a long time, you understand these timing issues and start using this feature on your own.

So, what is this post about? Actually, I have started another blog and honestly I am not able to write for it even though I want to. So, I have decided that I shall start with aiming for one post per week. What if I write 2-5 posts in a day? Then, I shall schedule these posts till the one post per week condition fulfills for the entire year.

And, only then, will I start scheduling for 2 posts or so on. And, writing even 1 post per week for an entire year is not exactly easy. Anyways, the moral of story is that give your readers a timeline to expect your posts. Giving them a barrage of posts one day and leaving them thirsty for another month is a bad option and it kills their enthusiasm.

Yes, you would argue that you are writing for yourself not the readers. But, ultimately it the readers you find your real fulfillment in!! So, remember to time the posts according to your writing capabilities. That helps in keeping you happy and satisfied as well :)

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5 Goofups I made as a bride {Five Series}

Huh...there were so many things I totally ignored or freaked out on unnecessarily. Ok, my only tip to all would-be brides over there - Do not really bother on what everyone says. Do your own thing in which you are more comfortable.

For me, makeup was something I should have never bothered myself with. Instead, I should have stuck to searching out a good place to get my skin and hair care getting done. Similarly, I had a lot of trouble making decisions coz of being out of station and lack of references. So, check out what went wrong and what can you avoid.

Makeup

Well, I have to say finally that whosoever does my makeup, I am not really comfortable with it. Yup, it can also be due to the fact that I did not get it done by some of the best but honestly, I do not give a damn to it. This is probably the most expensive thing which I completely wasted money on; that too on a lady whom I had employed completely on recommendation.

You might think that how can a bride not have makeup? How will a bride look like one? But, in my wedding, there was literally no makeup on my face! Only the two rituals before that, I had got makeup done which I honestly hated but thankfully the snaps are not glaringly aboard! 

If you are like me, I would suggest you to dispense off with such pretensions and concentrate on things which really matter to you. Also, I bought so many makeup things which I will not end up using in my entire lifetime. I have no idea what to do with them!!

Appoint a Lady with the terms and conditions clearly explained

Gosh, the makeup and mehendi both were complete disaster in my case. 

The lady, I appointed on recommendation, knew she was supposed to stay till 4 AM in the morning during the wedding because that was the last change of saree to Madhuparkam, a white saree with a red border, in which the actual wedding takes place. But, she started to make some hoobla at around 1. Then, she did not do any makeup but still charged the same amount. Also, she did not tie the Madhuparkam properly either.

Same thing happened with the mehendi lady. The girl came at around 4 PM and it took almost six hours for the design and she was constantly squabbling which was a real pain and then she made a hoobla on amount of money. I know it all sounds so messed up and yes I guess they were not professionals. But, I had no idea earlier. 

If you are having an outstation wedding, better go beforehand and get a trial like almost a month before. I know its easy for me to say this but it was not possible in my own case.

Getting all worked up

Be calm, no matter what. And, always remember, things WlLL go wrong and that is absolutely fine!

Wedding is the time when we meet all kinds of relatives from ones you have grown up with to the ones you never knew existed. Everyone will come and offer help and create chaos in your otherwise organized plans. Even my mum got all worked up with the amount of advises poring in. It is better to turn a deaf ear to all such things.

No Hair Care

The biggest blooper in all of this was that I had not got any hair servicing done! I had been following a decent hair regimen but all the while I was getting my facials and other things done, I never paid the least attention to my hair. I would not say that my hair is looking terrible but I should have taken care of it. 

Related to Blog

I think this was something which I should have planned early on. I totally forgot about my availability and took some products to review which obviously I have not been able to deliver till NOW!! In fact, I could not plan for the blog properly.

The wedding was fixed in September middle and the engagement was in last week of October followed by Diwali and then the wedding in November middle which was almost a one week affair if I think of all the rituals. I could not plan for the blog at all during this time either due to lack of interest or due to lack of time.

So, these were my goofups as a bride. But, if I look back, honestly, I do not think they were really much important. Except for my blog handling and time management skills, I do not really regret any of the bloopers above. So, again, I would reiterate: relax and enjoy and remember things will go wrong.

So, what were your goofups?

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Omved Sushwasa Body & Bath Oil {Product Review}

Price: Rs 490 for 80ml

Ingredients

Pros
smells good
gives a fresh and cool sensation
doesn't feel very sticky

Cons
very expensive!
wish the stopper came with a hole!

My Experience

I got this product from natural mantra as part of their promotional campaign. But, the bottle wasn't too big that the product could last long enough so I shall write about the product based on 5 or 6 uses I could get.

Its a colorless oil which smells of camphor and ginger and feels awesome to apply. It doesn't really disappear into the skin like the Anirveda oil. But, I did like the ginger combination in the oil.

Regarding the moisturizing capability, I would say its good but not great so it would suit the normal or oily skin perfectly. Dry skin people might need another layer. But, it does make the skin really soft.

Also, due to the camphor, the oil feels a little cool sometimes. This is a feature which would be great in summers so you might want to try it then. But, the presence of ginger and black pepper doesn't make the oil feel warm. 

The only issue I have is that the bottle comes with the stopper but no hole so its an added work to pierce a hole. I wish it came with a standard hole in the stopper so the bottle is usable without any work. And, yes, it is expensive!

Availability

Online - Natural Mantra

PS: Product sent by website.

Other products from Omved:

Omved All Skin Types Ubtan

Omved Intense Moisturizing Cream

Baby Oil vs Vegetable Oils {Skin Care}

I have been using the regular Johnson's baby oil to remove sunscreen from the skin. And, in the meantime, I have been searching for a more natural product to use instead of mineral oil. In this interim, I also came to know that usage of mineral oil daily accelerates the aging process. 

Whether that point is true or not, I can not say. But, I can point out one thing that while I was using baby oil, I was not able to get rid of my blackheads. And, in fact, my blackheads were getting worse day by day. The day I started using the coconut oil, I could see them gone soon enough.

Also, I had been using groundnut oil a year back when it had totally eliminated my blackheads. Also, from the perspective of money, coconut oil seems cheaper at Rs 42 for 200 ml. I am currently using the Patanjali one. Whether it is pure or not is something I can not answer.

But, I do have a question which if you can answer, please do so. When I went to the Kama store couple of months back, I saw that they were selling 100 ml or something at 800 bucks which makes it literally 8 times more than the Patanjali one. 

One would say its the quality difference but is the price difference really justified??? I do not know how to react to such difference in prices. No, this is not the only instance either. Anyways, this post is about baby oil vs vegetable oils. 

And, my experience says that the vegetable oil is anytime better than baby oil. What do you say? 

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Tea Tree Oil for Lice and Dandruff {Hair Care}

A few days back I mentioned that my dandruff and hair loss both are in control or let me say less considerably. But, I forgot to mention about Tea Tree EO. Well, it works amazingly for scars and acne and other breakouts as reported by those who tried it so I thought I would give a try on the scalp.

Since tea tree oil is an antiseptic, it is able to fight the infections and the bacteria. And, thus, an amazing deterrent for lice and dandruff. Tea Tree EO can be applied directly on the skin as well which is why I use a couple of drops (2-5) on the scalp and the hair length.

The fragrance of the oil is enough to keep away the adult lice and kills the young lice when the eggs hatch. Also, it controls the oil production on the scalp and keeps it moisturized. Tea Tree Oil is best for oily scalp but dry scalp can also benefit from it. Mixing tea tree and lavender EO's, both of which can be directly applied to skin, will help with hair growth and stimulate the blood circulation. 

But, be cautious in the amount of EO's used as they are ultimately pure essences and can cause irritation if used in excess. Also, people with eczema and psoriasis and such skin disorders should never apply any essential oil on the skin directly.

Have you use tea tree oil for hair problems?

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Blogging Series Vol. 4 - How am I able to try out so many products and its affects on my skin?

This is a question which I have been asked quite a lot of times. Being a beauty blogger, I do get lot of opportunities to try out various products and being an enthusiast, I love to discover new brands. Anything which appeals to me, I make a point to try it.

Over the years of blogging, I have found many brands which appeal to me and I have also found out what kind of products appeal to me more and what are mere whims.

Good Skin Genes

I am thankful to both my parents for having great skin. Though, I prefer my mom's skin a lot more but its hell lot sensitive as well. Mine is just perfect which troubles me with only a few products!

Good Skin Care

Changing products very frequently does wreak havoc on the skin. But, I have a few things in my routine which never change. One of those habits is using oils. I always treat my skin to something familiar everyday so that at least one aspect of my skin care does not change. 

Also, when trying out a lot of products, always keep in mind to change one product at a time instead of changing the entire set. That will ensure you know what does not agree with your skin. 

Also, another thing which helps is being able to judge what will suit you or not. That is where the knowledge of ingredient list comes in handy. Also, when you are trying out natural or herbal products, you should be shrewd enough to make out which brand is merely advertising for its benefit and which brand is actually worth it. 

Another point which I would like to make here is that always remember that price tag does not reflect quality. Some product may be heinously expensive and do nothing for you. So, always try to judge the products objectively and take time in doing so because sometimes we just get carried away. And, the ads and product packaging these days really don't help there either!

One more point is that I always stay away from the products having actives like retinoids and other such things which can wreak havoc on skin. Once your skin gets used to those things, it becomes very difficult to judge how will the skin react to other products.

Patch Test

Ok, this is something I have never done but this is extremely important. Always try to do a patch test before trying out any product. And, instead of using your inner elbow, do the patch test on the skin behind the ear. Because, the skin on the inner elbow and the face can have different sensitivities.

How do you take care of your skin?

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