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Just Gossip Vol. 12 - Happy Holi!

eah, I have become very unreliable! I am angry with myself as well so please be easy on me. And, I am really sorry to everyone who has commented and sent queries to me. I am going to reply to them very soon. The thing is I am not able to do proper time management and excess backlog is creating a lot of workload. And, I have taken few decisions to keep up with the blog work.

Before I go on to other things, wish you a very very Happy Holi! Few of my friends were getting irritated that nothing happens in Hyderabad on this day. Well, as a rule, I am not a big fan of holi but true! Hyderabad is a little boring on Holi but even then our neighbors enjoyed a lot. The problem I have with Holi is the irritating chemical-laden Holi powders! I get allergies with them. And, they are not even good for the environment. 

Ok, I shall stop my preaching! Anyways, these days eco-friendly holi colors have come up. So, have you used those? Guess what, the society I stay in decided to play Holi with kesar, turmeric, almond paste and flowers among all other good things. And, outside colors were strictly forbidden. Such a good initiative, na? 

Anyways, regarding the blog, I have noticed that I have become really lazy and have been neglecting the blog a lot so I have decided that I shall re-time my posts. I have decided to post only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (three times a week) and then slowly get back on track to 5 days a week. I am also taking this week off. So, I shall see you all on April Fool's day :)

Related Posts:
Just Gossip Vol. 11 - Sneak peek into upcoming posts!!
Just Gossip Vol. 10 - Whats up?
Just Gossip Vol. 9 - Since how long have you been reading this blog?

Again Lemon!

One of the most simple and cheap things you can do to beautify your skin is hot lemon water.

An age-old cure for sore throats, this simple drink is amazing for your body and skin, and ultimately your beauty.

Every morning I boil up 1.5 cups of water and add a quarter of a fresh lemon to it. The fresh scent of lemon invigorates the senses to wake me up, and helps me cut down on my caffeine intake which only dehydrates me and irritates my skin.

There are several other perks to hot lemon water.

1. Balances your pH: Lemons act as an alkaline in your body which helps regulate your pH balance. A disrupted pH can lead to acne breakouts and other skin issues.

2. Anti-Aging: The vitamin C found in lemons helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as blemishes. It does this by purging your body of nasty toxins in your blood that affect your skin clarity.

3. Hydrating: Not only is this additional cup of H2O hydrating to you, but it quenches your lymph system’s thirst. Your lymph system is integral in ridding your body of toxins, maintaining a healthy balance of nutrient and mineral distribution, relieving stress and creating energy. All of these things affect your body’s largest organ; your skin!

If you want clear, radiant, youthful looking skin then add a cup or two of hot lemon water to your daily routine and enjoy the beauty boosting benefits.

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Author Bio: Sabrina is a beauty blogging jet-setter who loves sharing tips and tricks on how to look and feel your best via TopBeautyBrands.com. While she's on the go she writes product reviews and creates DIY's like How to Massage Cellulite Away.

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Blogger Series Vol. 7 - Should you give feedback to your blogger?

This is not for the bloggers but for the readers! So, you all have your favorite blogs and not so favorite blogs. No assumptions over there. But, no blog is perfect. Sometimes, you might have some readability issues or slow loading issues or some other issues with any blog. 

Now, many of the readers don't even bother to give any feedback. If they like a blog, they continue reading and if they do not, they can just move on! Well, that sounds very practical. But, what if your favorite blogger has some real issues with her/his blog?

These issues can be technical in nature or may be in her/his writing skills or in pictorial representations on the post or may be a lack of detail in the post. The issues can range far beyond what I have stated. So, have you ever thought that by letting the blogger know about your issues, you might help her improve the blog?

Your feedback is extremely important to any kind of blog - big or small. As a reader, you would be doing a favor to the blogger. Now, how the blogger reacts to your feedback is something which lies in their jurisdiction. So, do not take it personally if they do not respond back or do nothing!

Many readers or rather I would say it is a problem in real life that we never think of reporting the problem. We just love to sit back and crib. So, take some action. Go ahead and report your issues. But, yeah, one more thing is do the thing gently and diplomatically because some times your wording may sound very rude, whether you want to or not. 

And, whatever the blog, if it is made for the readers, they would DEFTINITELY listen to you! So, do not be skeptical. Aah..let me also add that please, PLEASE do not expect the answer immediately. Very few bloggers are full time and they might also not get time to reply to your suggestions or in general any query immediately. Please give me them time and if they do not, it is quite possible that they have missed your message as much as is possible that they have ignored your message!

So, how many times have you helped your favorite blogger improve her blog?

Related Posts:

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

How do I hydrate myself these days? {Health}

Hyderabad is getting unbearably hot! And, I had started to get horrible headaches everyday. That was one of the reasons I was not very active in the past two weeks.

And then, I had to find a solution for it because my energy was literally being sucked out by sun! Oh, do you also remember that glucose ad in which sun drinks a boy's energy using the straw? It was an amazing concept!

The only answer in summer to this excessive drainage of energy is Hydration. You may drink loads of water but at the end its of no avail. So, what other remedies I used to keep away the dehydration.

Curd/Buttermilk/Yogurt

Every night I save a glass of curd in fridge and pour it into a bottle in the morning, add just a bit of water and keep on sipping it till the end of the day. No doubt, this has worked like a charm.

Curd is great at regulating the body temperature. But, it is always better to have it in the buttermilk format instead of the full-of-fat curd format. Since I don't have a choice, I do not bother with it. But, you can definitely give a try!

And, moreover, I like curd and do not really care much about fat and other things. Also, I do not put any salt or sugar in the bottle. Its filling as well. And, my headaches have been in control.

Fruit Juices

I have upped my intake of fruits and fruit juices very recently. I prefer citrus or hydrating fruits instead of banana (which is my fav!) or mangoes! The advantage is the citrus and hydrating fruits have lesser sugar content and easy on the stomach as well!!

So, gorge on watermelon and berries and mausambis (I do not know what is it called in English!). And, surprisingly, I am liking watermelon now (I generally hate it!). Oh, I forgot about the other melon varieties - musk melon and family.

No Spices and Heavy Foods
As it is, I eat the food prepared by the cook which is not so homely. So, I avoid eating spices or anything heavy in the entire day. In fact, in summers, my body repulses anything which is excessively fried or any junk. 

That makes my stomach very happy. But, this might not be the case with everyone. So, I would just say avoid excess of spices, heavy foods and non-veg as well. 

Non-vegetarian food increases the body temperature. And, it makes the body dehydrated. Also, one of my friend got boils on her body because of the heat so I shall be discussing how to combat body heat!

So, are you feeling the summer effects? How are you keeping yourself hydrated?

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When should you use home remedies? {Beauty Products}

Ok, being a more natural blogger, this is one of my major concerns. At least one reader among all reader's queries I get everyday ask me when will they see results or ask for home remedies on issues like eczema, psoriasis or hyperthyroidism. That attitude of people disturbed me a lot.

As a reader of the blog, I probably have assumed too much from you. So, this is a post to clear out those assumptions and make you more aware that this blog is merely a zeroth step when you face some issue whether it is skin or hair, in the least. If you have any issue which you think is beyond normal, you SHOULD immediately seek doctor's advise.

Why? Let me tell you that some of the very minor skin or hair problems can also be treated as symptoms of something major problem in the body. For example, a small lump in the skin for a prolonged period or sudden appearance of too many brown spots on skin can mean that you should get yourself checked for cancer. Or, excess hair loss can lead to diagnosis of PCOD or thyroid or any other issue.

 

Ok, HOLD ON!! Don't just run to the doctor right away. Please finish reading the post.

It is natural for a human being to exaggerate the minor-est of the symptoms. So, if you find yourself losing 30-40 hairs, please note it is quite NORMAL to lose up to 200 hairs everyday in this hectic lifestyle!! Oh yeah, you must be wondering why I am telling you this. Trust me, there are people who get concerned about even 15 hairs falling per day!

No, I am not making fun of you. I appreciate your concerns about yourself. But, it is very important to know WHEN to consult a doctor. Do NOT rely on home remedies when you already are aware of any serious problem in your body. That is why it is very important to get whole body checkups done every six months but once a year is also fine!

And, to answer the question I posed? Use the home remedies as a preventive measure than a curative measure. You can ask me a question now - Should I consult a doctor if I have regular acne because the medicines prescribed for acne are birth control pills? It is a very difficult question to answer. So, I would say yes. If your case is bad acne problem or if you regularly get cystic acne, it can be a result of hormonal problems. So, you can try out the home remedies for a limited period of time and if there is no change, I would definitely suggest a doctor.

And, when will the home remedies show results? Honestly, there is not guarantee that a particular remedy would work for you! It might work and it might not work. It might show results soon or it might take time. Its more of a chance than a surety. So, when you try a method, be positive and hope that it will show the effect but do not get disheartened if it does not. Also, when you are trying out a new remedy, always give it a month at least so that your skin or hair adjusts to it and gets some time to show the difference! 

Dermatologists are not easy to get. Yes, absolutely TRUE! It is damn difficult to get a good dermatologist. At least I did not get one till date! And, many might not even have the money to spend on going to different doctors. So, what to do in such a case? I would say go to a good general physician or a family doctor and ask for their opinion. And, also beware of the fact that some of them have collaborations with the brands so they can suggest you really expensive medicines or products!

Should I use pharmaceutical brands? I will take a case to explain this. In case of acne, there are many drugstore products which have salicylic acid. Or, some anti-aging products have retinoids or such ingredients. Or, some people like taking supplements. Always remember that DO NOT take the supplements without consulting your doctor. It is not a good habit because excess of any vitamin can be equally harmful as its deficiency! Same way, do not use products which are supposed to be prescribed because you think it might work. Using over-the-counter products is a different deal, though! Also, changing products too frequently can cause skin sensitization which is equally harmful.

Do you agree with me? Do you also think that people should be aware of when to rely on home remedies and when to consult a doctor? And, do you prefer taking the supplements on your whim? 

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Clinique 3-Step Skin Care Samples {Product Review}

Well, you must have already been aware of the amazing 3-Step Clinique skin care routine. I got their samples very recently and I used them for a week now. Since the turn-around time was very less, please consider this as a preview instead :)

I was definitely excited about using their products because I have heard all the amazing things about the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. So, finally, I got a chance to use it and how did it fare for my skin? Ok, let me start with the face wash. Before I start, please consider that the products I received were for dry-combination skin.

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild (1st Step)

The product is transparent and is gel-like in consistency. I don't remember reading the ingredient list so can not say if it has SLS but I think it is soap free. Anyways, it lathers really well. But, somehow I felt it has alcohol because it smells of it sometimes! But, the product is really gentle on skin and cleanses well. I do not remember it drying my skin.

Clinique Clarifying Lotion Clarifiante 2 (2nd Step)

The toner is supposed to clean the skin, remove the makeup residue and the dead skin cells. It smells strongly of alcohol. And, stings the eyes real bad! I am using it very regularly after the face wash. It cleans the skin well as it is supposed to. It also controls the oil production and the best part is it leaves a cooling sensation which stays for like 10-15 minutes which feels really awesome in these hot summers. 

excuse the extremely dry skin!!

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (3rd Step)

The product is very light and non-greasy and literally disappears into the skin. But, since it is for dry-combination skin, I guess it wasn't enough for my skin! Sometimes, I did feel dry after using it. But for the most part, especially in the morning, it suited me perfectly. The MVO sunscreen glided on the moisturizer easily and my skin did not feel dry AT ALL which it sometimes does because of the Zinc Oxide in the sunscreen. And, the oil on my skin was almost non-existent!

Overall Experience with Clinique 3-Step Skin Care
Since my skin is not exactly troublesome, I would not say I saw drastic difference. But, when I started using these products, for the first two days, I saw my skin behave really well. But, later, somehow it returned back to normal or may be I just got used to the change. I am not able to decide which one is the case with me! But, yup, if you are willing to shell money, I would definitely recommend the kit. And, I think it would be of more help to the oily skin people. But, damn the expense (the regular kit is around 4k!).

Auravedic Ritual Cleansing Ubtan Mask Sandal Saffron {Product Review}

Price: Rs 200 for 50gms

Pros

makes the skin silky soft and glowing!

cleanses the skin really well

Cons

leaves the yellow tinge on skin!

My Experience

Last time I had reviewed the Auravedic Skin Lightening Mask which was basically this ubtan mixed in oil or honey base as a ready made mask. This product is just a variant of the homemade ubtans and works like a charm!

As you can see, it has all the good ingredients and smells herbal. It is a soft powder which when mixed with milk (that's how I used it mostly), goes on the skin smoothly and dries up in 5 minutes.

and you can see the product gets accumulated at the neck!!

And, then, you can scrub it off. Results? It is not at all harsh on skin and leaves the skin totally smooth and silky in texture. And, the skin glows very naturally. And, the best part is this ubtan can be used everyday, even twice a day.

Now, lets come to its biggest con. It leaves a yellow tinge on the skin, especially the palms, fingers and the nails!! Otherwise, its an amazing product. And, oh, it also cleanses the oil off the skin.

I once used it after using coconut oil to remove the sunscreen and after washing my face with this product (I used only water to mix it that time, not milk), the oil was totally gone from the face. And, the skin wasn't dry either.

I loved the product but I am definitely lazy to mix it with milk and use it everyday so I have ended up using only a bit of it yet but yes, it is a good product to be tried out!!

PS: Product sent by brand.

Other products from Auravedic:

Auravedic Botanical Actives Pulpy Facewash Honey Almond

Auravedic Pomegranate Grapeseed Face Polish
Auravedic Facial Skin Repair Moisturizing Lotion

Weekend Gossip Vol. 7 - 10 things about me!

Roshni of Everything that Clicks nominated me for an award. And, she posed 10 questions for me. So, let me try and answer them!

1. Which is the place you would most like to visit?

Antarctica! I wanna see Polar Bears and Penguins :)
I forgot Polar Bears are there only in Arctic so add that as well!!

 

2. What do you love the most about yourself?

Wow...that's a difficult question! I guess I love my smile the most.

3. What is more formal? Trouser or skirt?

I would prefer formal trousers. 

4. What is more stylish and why? Sequins or Metallic

Ok, my style is quite conservative! So, neither!

5. What is more cute - bunnies or puppies?

Bunnies, hands down! Ok, puppies are also cute depending on the breed. 

 

6. What is your idea of the best date?

He reading a book to me! Probably Georgette Heyer :D 

7. If you could go back in time, which period would you go back to?

I would go back to Jim Corbett trip and hunt for the tiger :D

 

8. Which is your favorite book?

Which girl does not like Pride and Prejudice!

 

9. Post your most favorite outfit.

Well, my most favorite outfit till date is this year's birthday dress which is a dark green (bottle green) kurta with orange pajami.

10. When you close your eyes, what is the first thing/person you see?

That's a secret! :D

And, now, I am supposed to pass on this award to few others. But, I would rather tag all of you reading this post. Copy the following questions and answer them in the comments. I would love to read your answers :)

• Which is the place you would most like to visit? 
• What is your idea of bliss?

Post Now!! I am Waiting!

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Weekend Gossip Vol. 6 - On turning 27!
Weekend Gossip Vol. 5 - Back to Hyderabad!
Weekend Gossip Vol. 4 - Back from Vacation!

Happy Holi !!

Wish you all a very very happy holi!!!
And, please don't forget to take care of your skin and hair on this holi :)

Home Remedies for Hair Fall {Pregnancy}

Hair Fall is one of the very common issues. When I googled about this topic, I found one common suggestion which was to use a shampoo that contains biotin and silica.

Honestly, I don’t have any idea of such shampoo but you might ask a dermatologist or a trichologist. If you can find such a shampoo, do let me also know :) And, coming on to the regular mom's remedies, let's check out what my mom suggests.

Warm Ghee
My mom suggests me to apply warm ghee (Indian butter) to reduce hair fall during pregnancy. I think this remedy can also be used when not pregnant. But, remember to use only the pure ghee. And, eat lots of sunflower seeds, walnut and almonds. I never tried this as I can’t bear that stickiness of ghee but my sister had good results using both the things.

Oils and Derivatives
Applying mixture of castor and almond oil does help a lot. Also, coconut milk hair mask was very useful during my pregnancy.

Regular Tips

• Avoid or minimize the use of hot styling instruments on your hair, such as blow dryers or flat irons.
• Be calm and happy during pregnancy, its really important coz stress can be the reason for your entire problem during pregnancy.
• Massage your scalp with warm oil and relax your self.
• Brush your hair regularly. 

Thanks a lot, Punam, for this helpful post. Co check out her blog here :) 

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Just Gossip Vol. 11 - Sneak peek into upcoming posts!!

Yes, I have been literally absent from the blog for too many days. And, the reason is lack of energy and the oppressive heat and my recurring headaches!! It has become so difficult to manage the time and I am so distressed about not blogging that my body clock is working weirdly. I woke up at 4 one day and today I got up at 5. I guess my body is telling me to go and blog :D

Honestly, I am not able to think of anything to write. Nah, I have quite a lot of posts lined up in the brain. Hopefully, I should be able to put them on paper keyboard soon. I thought you would find it interesting to know what posts you can expect soon enough.

• Foods to tackle the increasing heat! (or, may be only fluids)
• post on PCOS
• hair loss and and PCOS and thyroid problems
• how I have started using toner and how it is helpful?
• how to take care of eye area?
• how to take care of dark neck?
• may be some post on sunscreen :D
• some product reviews - clinique 3 step skin care, auravedic ubtan
• a post on sugar and effects on skin
• thinking of starting monthly ski care diary as well

I have been thinking of writing these posts for quite some time. Many are just lying in my drafts half-written. And, there are some posts coming up from Punam on pregnancy as well!! Whew...I have been so lazy.

And, I know you have sent me your queries and awaiting my responses. I have a lot of catching up to do so give me sometime and I shall do it. I have yet to reply to the comments as well!! Thanks for bearing with me :)

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Which Shampoo to Use? {Reader's Query}

"Could you please suggest a shampoo for 8 yr old girls? I am using J&J baby shampoo still but I have started observing it is not working on their hair and cleaning it properly? I see dandruff also started developing in their scalps. Any remedy for that?"

Actually, I would suggest organic surge shampoo for anyone. I would say stay away from sls shampoos and get organic products. They help keeping the scalp healthy and moisturized. The dandruff being developed might be due to the dryness of the scalp as far as I understand. Do you oil their hair? I would suggest you to oil their hair regularly and then use shampoos. Or, you can also go for body shop or schwarzkopf shampoos but all of them are definitely expensive!!

Thanks so much for the reply! I'm oiling their hair with J&J baby hair oil only. Do you suggest any other oils (brands)? Also can you please recommend any brand for organic shampoo? I heard Body shop products have lot of chemicals and they tend to dry hair. I've no idea about schwarzkopf shampoo. Should I get one for me first and see :-) 

I would suggest you to go for pure coconut oil or such things instead of J&J baby oil and all. It has mineral oil and might not suit everyone. Also, if possible, I can suggest to you the bhringraj oil or neelibrigandi sort of oil from arya vaidya sala shop or website or even pure coconut or sesame or mustard oils from 24 letter mantra or any other organic brand. If you stay in Hyderabad or Bangalore, I can suggest you to check out goodseeds website. And, for arya vaidya sala, they have lot of shops in Hyderabad and Bangalore as far as my knowledge goes.

Check out the following:
www.aryavaidyasala.com/(S(emocbj45sqglubyiy2aeivib))/Index.aspx
https://www.facebook.com/goodseeds

And, regarding organic shampoo, I would say Organic Surge brand is really really good. I have been using it almost since a year and its awesome. And, regarding body shop or schwarzkopf, I have not personally tried them so I can really not say anything about them. I just suggested coz I have heard good reviews about them!!

What do you say? Any pointers as to which shampoo should she use?

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Love Long Hair - Secret Unveiled!

So, finally, that we know which brand is it, are you happy or sad or were you expecting something else? 

Previous Posts:
Love Long Hair Range - Update III
Love Long Hair Range - Update II
Just Gossip Vol. 29 - A Blind Test and The Week!!

Do you warm up the oil before applying? {Hair Care}

Yesterday, there was kinda a huge disaster averted. It arose from the same topic as I am about to discuss. Do you warm the oil before applying it? I love to do it as often as possible. I love the relaxation it gives me and I feel oil gets absorbed better on those days! 

And, for me, its a perfect end for a stressful day. Anyways, what I used to do was boil a medium sized utensil full of water and then put the oil bottle into that utensil for like 15 min. Oh! make sure that the oil bottle is not plastic or the water is not boiling hot coz the oil bottle can deform due to excess heat. 

And, then, pour the heated oil from the bottle into a small bowl and apply the oil using cotton ball immediately on the scalp. Or, if I am using this nozzle tipped bottle, I put that bottle directly into the hot water. You can get the water from the geyser as well, btw! 

These methods of heating the oil are perfectly safe but since either of these methods have not been working out for me recently, what I was doing was taking a bowl of oil and heating it directly on the gas. Worst idea EVER! Keep the oil bowl for 2 minutes on the gas and oil boils over. But, I managed it somehow until yesterday. 

I had kept a bowl of oil on the gas for like 1 minute probably and the moment I came back into the kitchen, the oil caught fire right in front of me!! I was like stunned. It was burning high and I could not use water to extinguish it coz any drop of water would make the fire blow up even more. 

Then, I had to call my MIL. She tried to blow off the fire but the oil was igniting again and again. So, finally, she took the bowl with the handler and somehow managed to drop it into the sink. The oil spluttered and the fire blew up for a second and then extinguished. But, it was a lesson for me :D 

Never again will I try it and am before-hand advising you to stay away from such experimentations. It is a bad bad idea. Better to stick to dropping the bottle in hot water. I am not even going to microwave the oil ever again.

So, have you ever had any of such almost-kitchen disasters?

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Love Long Hair Range - Update III {Product Review}

So, I am back with the more advanced and in-depth review on the product. Let me start with the texture. Both the conditioner and the shampoo are white in color and creamy in texture. But, conditioner is not that creamy as much as one would like especially if they have dry hair!

A dollop of shampoo when I squeeze the bottle is enough for two washes for my hair. I always dilute my shampoos with water and even then the shampoo lathers conservatively and removes the oil without you realizing it. When you are gonna apply the conditioner, the hair might feel a bit stringy and oily but that is absolutely fine. After it dries off, there is no oil in the hair!

I have used the shampoo once without oiling my hair and no conditioner either. The hair was soft and shiny. I did feel, though, that the scalp was left a bit dry. So, its better to shampoo after applying oil. Also, I am not sure but my hair might have been left a bit drier without the conditioner.

Oh btw, I have not talked of applying the conditioner. You squeeze the bottle and get a dollop of conditioner but when you are applying it on the hair strands, it just disappears and becomes watery and does not give you the creamy feel like other conditioners give. It gets washed off very easily without leaving any slimy feel behind or without using a lot of water.

And, my final use before publishing this review was today morning. I was in a hurry so I did not apply the conditioner for that long but used the rosehip oil as a leave-in afterwards. My hair is, sadly, feeling a little dry and not so shiny which is really sad. Anyways, once I use the entire product, I shall update my final verdict in the hair diaries. 

For the bloggers who tested it, did you like the products? And, for others, are you excited to know which brand is it? It is gonna be unveiled pretty soon :)

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Books 2014 Vol. 5 - "It Started with a Friend Request" by Sudeep Nagarkar

Source

Well, P likes a lot of Indian authors! And, for good reason, sometimes. He prefers to read something totally non-brainy and fun and something which have a close resemblance to real life and a book which gets finished in a jiffy! I put all the desi college love stories by the budding authors into that category.

I generally tend to ignore such books coz they are too tame for me and they do not give me the adrenalin rush which I crave after a book is over. Thriller is my genre and romance is his! Anyways, let me come back to this book. I read the book coz I was getting bored and I did not get a good book for myself since quite long and also thi book is good.

Aleesha moves to Bombay from Kolkatta right when the novel starts and she lands up living with Tamannah, daughter of a family friend, until they are forced to shift on a short notice by the landlord. Aleesha meets Akash in a night club on one of the nights she goes out with Tamannah. And, they end up exchanging their BBM pins and start talking. 

It is a typical love story of Aleesha, a bong beauty cum brains, and Akash, a poor and hard-working guy who lost his father too early and is responsible for his mother and sister, who are aptly supported by their respective friends, Kritika and Aditya. And, there is another track of Tamannah's obsessive love with her colleague, Deep.

The writing is simple and story moves quickly without dragging at any place. The story resonates very closely with the couples we see in real life. The intent of the author is glorify the protagonists love. Indeed every love story is special but I failed to connect with it. Yes, I enjoyed reading it but it never gripped me that I was desperate to find out what happened. But then, I think I was not the right audience for this book.

My Verdict

The book is simple and good for a train journey or a bus ride. Its a well-written book. But, if you are looking for a thought provoking or a nail-biting page turner, this one did not turn out one for me. But, please remember, I love thrillers instead. I would recommend it to people who like love stories and enjoy romance at its best.

Have you read this book? Did you enjoy it? 

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Just Gossip Vol. 10 - Whats up?

I am getting so tired these days and life is not exactly moving smoothly so lets just say I am not having ball of a time :D Anyways, dad's coming tomorrow so I am gonna be busy this weekend and I shall hopefully have amazing food!!

Oh btw, I saw Kai po che last weekend. Have you seen it yet? I would say that I am not really a fan of Chetan Bhagat but I loved five point someone at a point of time. But, 3 mistakes of my life doesn't make to my favorite reads. But, I would still recommend you to check out this movie, if you missed it. The performances are commendable! And, just for that you should see. And, yes, its a total copy of the book but the climax is twisted!! I didn't like the climax :(

And, what are your plans for the weekend? Oh ya, one more thing is I have bought soapnuts again last weekend along with lot of other things and tried it out on Wednesday. Honestly, I shall probably never learn how to really use it :( I did not apply any oil but even then there was no lather! Can anyone of you please share a procedure which you have tried and which actually works! Also, can you lemme also know if it works on well-oiled hair as well?? Someone had left a huge comment describing how she uses soapnuts sometime back but I totally forgot where it was. I shall search it for sure. 

So, see ya :) And, yeah, there might not be a post on Monday!

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Excess Body Heat and Acne {Skin Care}

So, this time when I went to Delhi, my mom was shocked by how much I had gained!! Well, its time that I start on my health routine seriously. Oh btw, I got the regular health checkup tests done a few days back and got my reports yesterday. So, I do not have diabetes or thyroid or any kidney issues but my cholesterol levels are kinda on the border level!! 

Huh...now new problems to deal with :( Anyways, I was talking about my weight gain. So, I started talking to mom about my daily routine in the past month and I realized that I have been junking heavily!! The only healthy thing in my entire day was sugarcane juice which I had started consuming heavily again!! 

Every day in the evening I feel hungry and I gorge on samosa or egg puff or paneer puff or potato wedges or samosa ragda or some stuff like that. And, gulp all that down and wash it off with two glasses of sugarcane juice so as not to feel guilty on spoiling my health so much. And, all that showed effect. And, guess what, lately I have been facing so many boils on my body. 

What happens when excess heat produces? Big red boils appear one day, trouble me for some days and go away again and the cycle repeats at some other point. Why do they suddenly come up? Well, the simple answer is because of the increase in body temperature. Human body performs optimally at 98.6 degrees but any change in the temperature which is due to internal issues affect the body and it tries to reduce the temperature by various means which can also result in acne. 

Why does body temperature rise? Because of reduction in immunity levels, increase in oily and fried and spicy foods, excess physical activity, thyroid issues, burning in stomach and so on. And, these things can result in stomach ulcers, headaches, acidity, skin rashes and boils and quite a lot of other things. 

How to avoid? So, if you are suffering from acne, the simple reason can be excess body temperature. Acidity and constipation are some of the very obvious symptoms to know that. May be cooling down the body might help in controlling the acne in those cases so drink lots of sugarcane juice, coconut water, buttermilk, eat lots of cucumber and watermelon, stay away from almonds and family and reduce junk food.     

So, do you think your body is producing more heat and acne is one of the ways to expend the heat? How do you regulate your body temperature?

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Do you believe in medical examination before marriage? {Your Opinion}

As I said earlier, the girly gossips at office are a mine of information and I get so many ideas for the posts :D Btw, I was thinking of starting an office gyan section on the other blog in which I was thinking of discussing the office gossip and satires on the office politics! What do you say?

Anyways, coming back to the topic, I have always believed that both the would be bride and groom should undergo medical examination to ensure that any kind of medical problems should be known to both beforehand and the decision can be taken fairly!

And, it seems like the medical examination should be even more mandatory now! One of my acquaintances told me that if the bride and groom both are thalassemia carriers, the progeny of the couple can have the disease and may not live longer than 20!

Thalassemia is a blood disorder in which the red blood cells multiply haphazardly and this can lead to lot of complications! Now, whether the above statement is true or not but it is always advisable to be double sure about the partner.

And, it also seems like there is another disorder called beta thalassemia. Now, I have no idea how the child can be affected by it but it also falls under one of the inherited blood disorders. And, there is always HIV to reckon.

No, I don't mean you should doubt the other person because HIV can spread via thousand ways apart from physical relationships. It is just a precaution to take so that at a later time when you come to know about any such issues, the marriage is not affected due to prior ignorance.

If you think that it is easily said than done, yes it is. Parents very often don't support such forward ideas. And, getting an understanding partner who would willingly and without any bias or ego issues, go ahead with medical examination. So, I can only say its good to give it a try!

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The Oil Cocktail {DIY}

It has been so long since I have done any DIY!! Anyways, I mentioned in my hair diary that I have been using an hair oil cocktail. So, let me share the recipe with you. Now, it does have some not very easily available things. In fact, I have them on hand right now but even I have no idea how to procure them once they run out. 

Ingredients

• Mustard oil
• Camphor oil
• Clove oil
• Oil of Wintergreen

Method

You simply mix all of them, right? Ok, so, let me explain all of them. 

• Mustard oil is the base oil in which all of these other oils go. 
• Now, all these oils are basically pretty strong oil so they should not be used in heavy quantities. They should be diluted with the carrier oil or the base oil just like the essential oils. 
• Put 20 tablespoons (20 ml) each of camphor and clove oils in mustard oil (100 ml). 
• Put only 5 tablespoons (5 ml) of wintergreen oil for 100ml. 

And, the oil is done!! 

Why?

Now, I have already talked about mustard, clove and camphor oils. 

Oil of Wintergreen is basically a naturally occurring salicylic acid methyl ester from the family of aspirin. It is actually a medicinal herb which is widely used to relieve muscle joints and heal the skin diseases. And, it is highly toxic if used in high quantities!! 

For our purposes which is how it is beneficial for hair and scalp, it acts like an astringent and helps contracting the hair follicles, there by, strengthening them. Also, since it belongs to the family of salicylic acid, it acts as mild exfoliant and keeps the infections at bay which is why it is used in cosmetics.

The oil stimulates blood circulation and is easily absorbed. It has a warming effect on the area where it is applied which is why it helps with pains. But, the oil should never be taken internally or used in huge amounts on skin or hair or anywhere else!! I think oil of wintergreen (which is also called gaultheria oil) might be available in ayurvedic stores. Will confirm and get back on that. 

Btw, I do have EO's as well in my recipe but it just struck me now that I have no idea how wintergreen blends with other EO's so it is always best to use it in seclusion instead of blending with oils. Yes, clove, camphor and wintergreen can blend together coz all of them are stimulants and relieve pain.

So, what do you think of this DIY? Does it sound interesting for you to try out?

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My Hair Diary - February 2013

My gosh, we are in third month already!! Honestly, the year is moving too fast for me even though February was hell longer for me than usual for being the smallest month in the year! I have so many deadlines to meet in this month!

Anyways, coming to how cared for my hair this month, I was a lot more diligent in oiling the hair every time before shampooing. And, I used the grapeseed oil on the scalp after washing my hair every time.

Grapeseed oil stimulates the hair follicles for hair growth. Whether I have seen any improvement is yet to be decided so I wouldn't say anything. Btw, I HAVE to share this with you.

Remember my friend whose aloevera routine I had shared with you a while back. She has an amazing hair. Its perfectly naturally straight and is really shiny and guess what it doesn't even get limp!!

But, I have seen the way she cares for her hair. First, she has always stuck to parachute since she was a kid and never changed. She uses some L'Oreal shampoo which is not available in India and sunsilk conditioner! But, those were just the products. She applies curd on her hair almost every time for 30 minutes before shampooing. And, once in a week (this is something I am guessing) she mixes the curd with Biotique musk root (which I also love totally) and applies it to her hair for 20-30 minutes. And, sometimes, she applies henna to her hair twice a month for just conditioning!

In fact, her routine is quite inspiring me to get back to the old methods! I would say that it is true that this much care does help the hair even if one is not blessed with perfect hair genes!

Products Used

• Shampoo - Kamini shampoo + Neev Olive Neem Shampoo + Organic Surge Moisture Boost
• Conditioner - Kamini Conditioner
• Leave-in and Scalp Treatment - Soulflower Grapeseed Oil with Rosemary EO
• Hair Oil - Kamini Oil + Parachute Hot Oil Treatment

Related Posts:

My Hair Diaries - January 2013

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Cosmedic Dermave Nourishing Cleanser {Product Review}

Price: Rs 400 for 100ml

Pros

doesn't dry out the skin!

Cons

clumps at a place and doesn't spread easily

really expensive! 

My Experience

I am not sure as to what to say about this product.  It is meant for dry skin. It is white in color or rather translucent and it lathers easily. But, there is a problem. 

The texture of the product is a little goeey and it sticks at one place on the palm and doesn't slide easily on skin because of which washing the skin becomes difficult. 

You need only one pump for the face and neck and it cleanses the face well. Now, regarding the drying part, it doesn't leave the face dry or anything!! But, you do need to moisturize the face afterward. 

But, one thing I noticed was that after being used to SLS free face washes, my skin doesn't react well to the face wash having SLS. Even though Cosmedic says it uses a technology which makes SLS non-irritant to the skin, somehow my skin took time to get used to the face wash. It happened both in the case of Brightening face wash and this one! But, my favorite still is Soothing face wash.

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 Lumifast Brightening Face Mask
Cosmedic Avederm Soothing Facial Cleanser
Cosmedic Alpha Q Brightening Face Wash

Love Long Hair Range - Update II {Product Review}

I am loving the super awesome weather of Hyderabad. I would love to curl up in my bed with a book and coffee or may be get a chair and sit in front of the balcony with a thriller!! Oh yes, I am daydreaming but some day its gonna come true :) And, I also hope that my dream of long and healthy hair also comes true!! 

Speaking on the same note, I have started testing the love long hair range which I had talked about some days back. This time my product review is not undergoing the usual one month rigor which is sad but then I can always update on the results!!

But, for the starters, the product has surprised me. I was not really expecting the shampoo to wash off all the oil which I had slathered the day I got the product! In fact the shampoo did not lather much and I felt the hair a bit stringy post the wash. I was sure the product would disappoint. 

But, it turned the other way round. Once my hair was dry, it was soft, more shiny and definitely not oily. But, the cynic in me never deters. So, the next time I washed, my hair was greasy with four days of no-wash. The results were not something to jump at. But, definitely, my hair was shiny and looked moisturized.

And, then, I went to Delhi and there I used my mom-made oil which is absolutely smashing for hair. And, once I washed off my hair (trust me, it was damn greasy!) and it was dry, it looked soooooooo shiny. The results lasted for 2 days. And, the result repeated the next time I used the product as well.

My hair was super silky and shiny and moisturized and now I am confused as to what to attribute this change to - the new comb (plastic vs wooden), the oil, the product range or even the water change. In fact, I have one complaint that the results do not last longer than one and a half day to two days at max!! 

Coming back with more testing next week....

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Some Random Product Reviews - Part IV

Dove Essential Nourishment Body Lotion Deep Care Complex

My Experience

When the ads came up on television, I was quite excited about it but then never really came around buying it. So, when I got this in a package from BeBeautiful, I was kind of excited to try it out. 

And, I am happy that I didn't buy it. No, I don't wanna say its a bad product. But, it has quite many disadvantages. As you all would already be aware, my skin is dry and, in winters, it needs proper moisturisation with thick lotions. 

So, I thought this would be a good fit. It glides on skin very easily and disappears soon enough. And, here, starts the problem. After a while, it becomes sticky! Even the clothes start sticking to the body!! 

And, it was still sticky when I used to take only a pea size amount which was quite surprising. And, considering Hyderabad is a dry climate area, humidity issue is ruled out.

Lakme Peach Milk Moisturizer

My Experience

It is a thin pinkish lotion. There is an issue with the product. Sometimes, you can see only pink water coming out of the bottle which means emulsion is not stable. So, I had to shake the bottle every time before using. 

Now, when I used it as a moisturizer, my skin felt dry after 20-30 minutes of application only. So, I had to discontinue using it as a moisturizer but it was perfect for a body lotion. 

My body never felt dry except my arms which are prone to excessive dryness. So, I would suggest this as a body lotion unless you have a normal skin. I am not sure if it suits oily skin!

Ponds White Beauty Peel-Off Instant Brightening Mask

My Experience

This was another product I wanted to try but never got around buying it and I am glad. Nah, the product is good and delivers immediate but short-lived results. But, the problem is its smell.

When I apply this product on the face, it smells so strongly of something like ammonia or some chemical that it becomes difficult to breathe. The smell doesn't linger on skin. It stays for just a few seconds while applying the product. 

But, its enough to deter a person to use the product. One needs to apply a thick layer of this mask which dries off in about 15-20 minutes and then it peels off easily without clumping anywhere. 

The results were amazing when I used it for the first time. I could see immediate brightening of the face. But, sadly, it wasn't visible after 2-3 hours which was quite disappointing. 

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Some Random Product Reviews - Part III

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Some Random Product Reviews - Part I

My Hair Diary - February 2014

Finally, I have started taking back my life in control!! This month has been really good on my hair and the hair growth regime is back with a bang :D So, check out what happened.

The good news first. 

- One, I got a haircut so most splits gone :)

- Second, I have been pretty regular at oiling so my hair is back to its old silky self

- Third, less hair fall 

- Fourth, dandruff and lice gone :)

- Fifth, tried a new cocktail of oil!! Oh yes, I have new oils to talk about. 

- Sixth, I got the wooden comb finally! Oh, I forgot to tell you all that my TBS comb broke sometime back in December or January and I was not able to find it for one month in any of the outlets. Finally, got it in Del. And, my hair is happy again :) 

Now, coming to the bad part! My scalp still itches and hair fall is not entirely gone. Mum said that hair itches even during hair fall so I am guessing that might be it. And, I did not really get any time for hair spa which I had determined to get at least once in three weeks. 

Anyways, I have to mention a few points this time.

- Wooden comb is really better than plastic when it comes to frizzy hair! I do not know if it is more efficient in distributing the oils, though. 

- My hair gets itchy on the second day of the wash so it can also be due to any sweat or dirt which gets accumulated on the scalp and hair fall is a direct result of it. 

- My MIL also loved the Kamini shampoo! I got 3 bottles for her this time. I mean the shampoo is really awesome even though I do not know the ingredient list. 

- The Love Long Hair Range is performing well on my hair and I am guessing if it is Pantene only. My dad also suspected the same! 

- Since I got finished with the grapeseed oil, I got rosehip this time to use as a leave-in though I have not yet started trying it!

Products Used

• Shampoo - Madara Shampoo + Love Long Hair Range

• Conditioner - Love Long Hair Range

• Hair Oil - Cocktail (which I will talk about soon)

So, how was the month for your hair? Is it over the winter blues?

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My Hair Diary - January 2014

My Hair Diary - September 2013
My Hair Diary - August 2013