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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

My Hair Diary - September 2014

Huh...I miss doing these series the most and guess what, there are only 12 of these posts in a year! And, this is the 10th month of the year and next month would be my first wedding anniversary. Gosh, how time flies! Soon, I will be the old bride :(

Anyways, this year has been really tough on my hair. If you actually notice there are only four hair diaries this year - January, February, June and now this one! So, let me just list down what I did which is not really much!
  • Hair Cut - Totally cut off the entire length to get rid of the splits and straw-like ends. Mr. Hubs was a little peeved with it, though! But, I think the new length suits me differently. Will post the snaps soon enough :) 
  • Oiling - Have been more or less diligent about it. And, mixing castor oil in the regular oil as well. 
  • Massaging - Recently, I have been feeling a lot of pain in my hair roots. So, a light massage really helps calm down the scalp. And, regular massage helps the hair to grow. 
So, that is it! Not really much but it is a start :) Now check out the products I used:
  • Shampoo - Omved Shampoo (review coming soon)
  • Conditioner - Omved Conditioner (but only 2-3 times, review coming soon)
  • Leave-in - Morrocan Hair Treatment (review coming soon)

What all did you do for your hair this month?

Nivea Whitening, Cell Repair & UV Protect Body Lotion {Product Review}

Price: Rs 225 for 950ml

Pros
gets absorbed really quickly into the skin
keeps skin hydrated and moisturized for a long time 
very thin in consistency and you don't require much
has UVA protection

Cons
doesn't have UVB protection
I am not sure about the whitening claims
can't be applied at night coz of UV filters in the product

My Experience
To start with, the consistency of the product is really thin so it gets absorbed very easily but do not underestimate its moisturizing or rather the hydrating properties of the product. It keeps the skin in a great supple condition for almost 6-8 hours and that's the max I have used this product because I remove it in the evening.


I had read somewhere (in someone's review, don't remember which!!) that it helps curb tanning but I don't think I really saw anything like that. The product boasts of 40X Vitamin C but I really didn't see it do anything extraordinary. I think the reason may also lie in the fact that I used it only while going out and not at night or otherwise.

I think it would have been better if the product did not have UV filters so that it can be used at anytime and probably might show some effect on tanning.I totally don't like the whitening claims and regarding UV claims, I always prefer to use sunscreen. I tend to stay away from products which say they moisturize as well as protect. So, I used to layer this upon the sunscreen.

Overall, I am not really sure about the product so I guess they should launch the same in a variation which doesn't have sunscreen. Have you used the product? How did you like it?

PS: Product sent by brand.

Other products I love or hate from Nivea:

How to start planning the wedding? [Part - II] {Bridal Files}

Ok, I have to mention here that these days are just rolling by crazily even if every second feels like an eon. And, the worst part is that I have really no idea of how much planning and everything really goes into all of this. In fact, I should be thankful I don't have to worry about what to wear during the actual wedding as it is fixed.
 
What will you wear and what jewelery you will pair it with?
Now that you have a list of all the customs from the last post I wrote on the topic, you can start deciding what all to wear. 

What color combinations you would like, what kind of clothes you would prefer (may be start learning wearing them and feeling comfortable like sari), what makeup would you want and what kind of jewelery you will pair each of your clothes with, whether artificial or diamond or platinum or gold or silver or white gold or what not!!

Sigh...there is so much for females and this is just the starting. May be start browsing around for jewelery and trousseau designs if you have never done so.

Hunt for the perfect tailor and MUA
Ok, these are probably the most difficult. The tailor is important even if you go to the most exquisite of the boutiques and this is an issue especially when you have recently relocated or are staying at a place where you have never really bothered to get your clothes done!!

And, of course, ask around for the makeup artist in your friend and family circle or of course the blogs :) And, don't forget getting a trial by either of them!!

Get a list of things you actually wanna get done or may be get a Bridal Package!
Ok, so I was sitting with my friends yesterday getting totally bored and suddenly this girl pops up what exactly are you going to get done for your face and body and hair. 

I know this is a point which anyone can take care of but if you are like ME, you really need a tutorial on this. I think I will put up another post narrating my experiences for your benefit. Hopefully, you will find it amusing :D

For now, these are the things on my mind. I will of course add to it as it comes my way!! Ciao till then :)

Do send me some tips as well :)

Related Posts:
How to start planning for the wedding? [Part - I]
Gynaec consultation before marriage
Don't try any new product before your wedding

Perfect Skin Care for you this month! Vol. 1 - September 2014

upcoming reviews at Perfect Skin Care for you
Upcoming Reviews on the blog

Well, as you all are well aware by now that I have started blogging full time and I am revamping the entire site slowly. So, expect a lot more changes in the coming times and so this is one of the new features on the blog. Basically, it will just be a round up of what has been happening behind the scenes and what you can expect in the coming month. So, lets get started :)

A lot happened this month and I am extremely happy with myself. Hope you are liking the new content.

This month 


Here are some of the highlighted posts of the month:

Products Reviewed:

Books Reviewed:

A Special Note: I am participating in the Game of Blogs contest by Blogadda where each team of 10 members have to create and develop a story around the characters provided by Blogadda. And, I am extremely happy to announce that even after the initial hitch-backs in the story development, we, #StoryWeavers, are the seventh team to make it through second round. So, yay to us :) And, please wish and pray for us so that we make it through the third one as well which is also the last round.

Next Month


books to be reviewed by Perfect Skin Care for you
That's my bed side table!

I am planning a change in the blog header so yup that is up for unveiling it after the holidays.

I have also made a lot of changes to the blog layout which I shall be documenting in a Blog Diary Series coming soon. 

What am I currently using and testing?

  • Omved Purifying Shampoo and Gentle Conditioner
  • There is this new soap I got from Hyderabad Goes Green Shop - Holy Lama Naturals Kewra
  • Pro Naturals Morrocan Argan Oil Hair Repair Treatment
  • Vaadi Herbals Instaglow Almond & Honey Face Pack
  • Vaadi Herbals Face & Body Scrub Walnut & Apricot
  • Barever Natural Hair Inhibitor (this will take a little longer to review)

What am I currently reading?
  • Robert Calasso's Ka
  • George Martin's A Feast for Crows
  • Deepak Chopra's Perfect Digestion 

Learned a lot from Deepak Chopra's book. Will be doing a short post on the book soon. 

So, this is for the month of September. And, wish you all a very Happy Navratre and Saraswati Puja. We are off for a short vacation this weekend. Are you doing something special as well?

    Books 2013 Vol. 9 - "The Guardian Angels" by Rohit Gore

    When ever I sit to write down a book review, it really scares me. It is so difficult to review someone else's work which is something they have believed in. If you hate it, their entire work goes down the drain and the hope is just extinguished. That does not mean I rave all the books I have read till date but I do try to be very objective when I am reading the book. It is no longer about whether you have enjoyed it or not but it is about telling everyone what they can find for themselves in the book. But, yes, ultimately the review is biased because not everyone looks at the book holistically, not even the author.

    Well, I think that was a nice introduction, right? Anyways, I would rather start talking about the book now. The premise of the book is a story of two people spanning from the moment they meet to the end. Well, the end is something you have to figure out for yourself. It is their story which sometimes becomes too larger than life, too cliched, too bollywood-y but remnants of which does tug at your heart strings.

    Aditya is a billionaire who was born for cricket but the family business was his purpose. Radha is an extremely pragmatic person who believes in her principles and ideologies so much that she fails to understand the world is gray and not just black and white. And, what happens is their life of ups and downs and what each other really mean in their lives.

    I have not read the author's previous works but I will say that he has tried to put down an epic love story when he was writing this. The novel is divided into four parts - the story starts with their teens when they meet, their late teens, their late twenties and the  thirties. The language is clean and decent when I compare with the amount of usage of Indian slangs. 

    Regarding the plot, the story moves very slowly in the first part. The author spends too much time in describing the emotions which Adi and Radha go through. It would have been better if he had inspired those emotions in the reader instead of just explaining them. Somehow probably a reader who does not belong to the social class of Adi would never really connect with those happenings in his life because its something you get to see in the movies than in real life.

    The second part is a little detached where both Adi and Radha are struggling to maintain their long-distance friendship and balance their lives minus each other. This is where other significant people enter their respective lives and they start drifting apart. The twenties are more of a haze when Adi returns into Radha's life after two years of complete absence. All this while, most part of the story is narrated by Radha through her diary entries. 

    But, the most significant and maturely handled part was the last one in which both are in their thirties and it is sort of a climax to their lives. They are together and still they can never get together. It is sort of a paradox. The epic which Rohit aimed at was not completely successful in my opinion because I felt the story did drag a bit in parts but yes few other parts of the story will definitely move you. All in all, it ends as a good read.

    Have you read the book? How did you like it?

    Related Posts:
    Books 2013 Vol. 8 - "Toke" by Jugal Mody
    Books 2013 Vol. 7 - "Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier
    Books 2013 Vol. 6 - "F?@K Knows" by Shailendra Singh

    Tuesday, September 29, 2015

    Oh My God!!!

    Ganesh at Perfect Skin Care for you
    So, how was the Ganesh visarjan?? Oh, did I share my cute little eco-friendly Ganesh ji with you? Check him out :D Ganesh Visarjan has a very special place in my life and I totally love this day. In fact, in Hyderabad, it always rains without fail on the final day of immersion. Even today, it rained a bit and the weather was just awesome!!

    And, yes, I am extra happy today. As I said, this is a special day for me and somehow all things just fell in good places today so my day was absolutely gorgeous. Oh btw, I did a bit of shopping - a book "The Legend of Amrapali" (haha, no cosmetics)!! I bought the book from Crossword and then I went to Gloria jeans and ordered a Cafe Mocha and curled up into one of the sofas and I was lost from this universe. Yup, I totally love reading and once I pick up a book, I generally lose all my contact with the present world.

    Btw, did any one of you check out the Cadbury Gems Ganeshji in Hypercity, Hyderabad? I was missing my camera so badly then but as they say, "Eyes are the best camera". And, yup, reverting back to the title of the post - did you check out the movie? One of my friends went for it and she said its way better than the one I watched or wasted time on last week. Wish I had opted for this instead of that!!! Its a comic movie and really paisa vasool type.

    So, what you doing this weekend? And, what did you do today?

    Update: Heard another good review of the movie!!

    Monday, September 28, 2015

    Exercising and Pregnancy {Pregnancy} [Part - III]

    Read the previous part of this series here. This is the last post of this series. 

    Guest Post by Punam

    General cautions for pregnancy exercise

    While most forms of exercise are safe, there are some exercises that involve positions and movements that may be uncomfortable or harmful for pregnant women. Be guided by your doctor or physiotherapist on those positions but let me share some of the generic cautions:
    • Avoid raising your body temperature too high – for example, don’t soak in hot spas or exercise to the point of heavy sweating. Reduce your level of exercise on hot or humid days.
    • Don't exercise to the point of exhaustion.
    • If weight training, choose low weights and medium to high repetitions – avoid lifting heavy weights altogether.
    • Don’t exercise if you are ill or feverish.
    • If you don’t feel like exercising on a particular day – then don’t! It is important to listen to your body to avoid unnecessarily depleting your energy reserves.

    Exercises to avoid while pregnant

    During pregnancy, avoid sports and activities with increased risk of falling like:
    • Contact sports or activities that carry a risk of falling (such as trampolining, roller blading, downhill snow skiing, horse riding and basketball)
    • Competition sports – depending on the stage of pregnancy, the level of competition and your level of fitness
    • After about the fourth month of pregnancy, exercises that involve lying on your back – the weight of the baby can slow the return of blood to the heart. Try to modify these exercises by lying on the side.
    • In the later stages of pregnancy, activities that involve jumping, frequent changes of direction and excessive stretching (such as gymnastics).
    • If you're not sure whether a particular activity is safe during pregnancy, check with your doctor.

    Pelvic floor exercises and pregnancy

    The pelvic floor muscles are weakened during pregnancy and during normal birth (vaginal delivery), so it is extremely important to begin conditioning the pelvic floor muscles from the start of the pregnancy. Appropriate exercises can be prescribed by a physiotherapist. It is important to continue with these throughout the pregnancy and resume as soon as is comfortable after the birth.

    Abdominal exercises and pregnancy

    Strong abdominal muscles support your spine. The internal core and pelvic floor abdominal muscles act as a natural ‘corset’ to protect the pelvis and lumbar spine. Traditional sit-ups or crunches can be ineffective during pregnancy and may make worse the condition known as diastasis recti abdominis (a painless splitting of the abdominal muscle at the midline).

    Appropriate core stability exercises are recommended during pregnancy to strengthen the muscles of the abdomen:
    1. Concentrate on drawing your belly button towards your spine.
    2. Breathe out while pulling in your belly.
    3. Hold the position and count to 10. Relax and breathe in.
    4. Repeat 10 times, as many times a day as you are able.
    5. You can perform this exercise sitting, standing or on your hands and knees.

    Warning signs for exercising during pregnancy

    If you experience any of the following during or after physical activity, stop exercising immediately and see your doctor or physiotherapist:
    • Headache
    • Dizziness or feeling faint
    • Heart palpitations
    • Chest pain
    • Swelling of the face, hands or feet
    • Calf pain or swelling
    • Vaginal bleeding
    • Contractions
    • Deep back or pubic pain
    • Cramping in the lower abdomen
    • Walking difficulties
    • An unusual change in your baby’s movements
    • Amniotic fluid leakage

    And, finally, Things to remember

    • Exercise during pregnancy offers many physical and emotional benefits. While exercise during pregnancy is usually encouraged, you may feel it’s not right for you.
    • Talk to your doctor, physiotherapist or healthcare professional to make sure your exercise routine won’t cause harm to you or your unborn baby.
    • Any illness or complication of the pregnancy should be fully assessed and discussed with your doctor before commencing or continuing an exercise program.

    What do you say? Do you think it is good to exercise during pregnancy? Did you doctor recommend it to you? Or, did they cite reasons for it being unsafe for you?


    Punam is currently busy with her second baby and I wish she will soon come on board with more articles like these. She blogs at be beautiful with Punam


    Related Posts:

    Heart and Cardiovascular Diseases in Women? {Women Stuff}

    Today is World's Heart Day. So, I am borrowing this article from The Hindu Magazine, September 23, 2012. They had published a small article on how to take care of the heart. I shall try not to infringe on the copyright and am again asserting that this post may end up being a copy of the article. So, the entire credit for the post goes to the Hindu newspaper.

    Symptoms of CVD in women

    feeling of discomfort between breasts or behind breastbone
    pain radiating over arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
    shortness of breath, weakness or fatigue
    unusual anxiety or nervousness
    indigestion or nausea 
    sudden sweating, dizziness and collapse

    Cardiovascular diseases are getting more prominent in women. Its no longer a man's disease!!!Its especially dangerous if you smoke, drink or lead a sedentary life or have high blood pressure or sugar or cholesterol levels or are under huge amount of stress due to personal and professional problems.

    In fact, even children are at risk from the condition called Cogenital Heart Defect. The improper development of heart during the pregnancy can result in this. Mothers who do not take care of themselves or their diet during pregnancy have a high risk of having children with this defect. Also, if you are a diabetic, your child is prone to heart-related problems.

    How to Prevent?
    Be physically active!!! Walk or exercise daily.
    Avoid salt, sugar and fatty foods. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. 
    Maintain a healthy weight.  
    Quit smoking and avoid respiratory irritants. 
    Limit or stop alcohol. 
    If you have lung problem, get influenza vaccination annually. 

    The reason for these heart diseases are mainly the fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries. Interestingly, these deposits may occur on both the inner walls as well as the outer walls. And, in fact, there is absolutely no cure to remove the deposits on the Outer walls of the arteries so that makes weight management and diet a very important consideration in life.

    If the arteries are blocked even partially due to these deposits, the blood flow is not smooth to the heart and heart may fall short of adequate oxygen and other nutrients needed to function properly. When this blockage gets severe, it can result in heart attack. Women of 50-52 are at more risk and especially if there has been a family history of coronary diseases.

    So, how do you take care of your heart?

    Related Posts:
    Why should you take proper sleep?
    Reducing Belly Fat
    Daily Body Massage to cleanse your body
    Sexy @ Sixty

    From the Archives : Why do we get Headaches? {Health}

    Have you ever wondered what causes the headaches. I have had headaches since 1998 as far as I can remember and it is definitely never a great experience. Instead, I feel like my head will come out of the skull. I have always wondered what causes headache. The reason which I knew was less blood supply to the parts of the head. Yes.

    If you are suffering from any kind of headache without having any ailment like cold, sinus, any kind of flu or fever or any other medical problem like tumor, it is just because you have less blood supply in your scalp and its nerves. The blood vessels are constricted and reduce the flow. This starts right from the neck blood vessels.

    Time for reality check. I would like to share some issues regarding headaches which probably many of you are not aware of. At least, I came to know of them today itself. Coffee and sweets are two things which can cause or increase the intensity of headaches. This is because of the caffeine content in the coffee and chocolates. Caffeine decreases the blood supply to the head by constricting the blood vessels.

    And, the other sweets increase the blood sugar level which in turn also decreases the blood supply by constricting the blood vessels. Other foods which might trigger headaches are processed food, foods high in sugar, cheese, food additives, alcohol, carbonated beverages, red wine, Chinese food and even citrus fruits and bananas.

    You can also be sensitive to other things which you include in your diet so keep an eye open. There are many other factors too which cause headaches like stress, lack of sleep, bright lights, weather changes, loud noises and strong odors. Wearing a hair style which pulls your hair tightly or tying a hair band too tightly can also trigger headaches. It is best to leave your hair free in that case or use a clip to just catch hold of your hair.

    Mensuration cycles is again one of the common reasons for headache in women. Eye sight is also a very big catalyst in headaches. Excess exposure to sun is also a cause for headaches.

    The lesson to be taken from all this is that you should be conscious of what you are eating and doing so that you can trace the reason of your headaches. Anything can trigger a headache within an hour of its consumption so keeping a little check on eating patterns can help you discern the reason and get rid of headaches easily.

    If you would not do so, these headaches may easily develop into migraines. I am sure many of you would really not be aware that you are suffering from migraines. One of the most common symptoms of migraines is a nauseating feeling accompanies by vomiting. Some headaches are so severe that they get resolved only after vomiting.

    If you are sensitive to bright lights or noises or odors, you should seek help from a doctor and clearly outline your case of headaches. Sometimes, doctors might also just ignore your complain of headaches saying it is normal or it is due to eyesight (if you have one). Be prepared for this. If you have such experience, try to find patterns on your own.

    Chances are that you yourself would be able to figure out the cause of your headaches. Sometimes, it is as simple as sitting a lot before a computer or watching too much of television or even too much of reading. Such things can easily be improved by changing a little of the lifestyle.

    The best remedy for headaches is to lie down in a dark and quiet place. Instead of going for medications, you can also use balms (which you can apply on forehead) or get some to do a scalp or body massage for you.

    So, what do you do for your headache?

    Related Posts:

    Sunday, September 27, 2015

    What happens when you do not use Sunscreen? {Sunscreen}

    This post is specially for people who have not yet adapted this routine thinking it to be just a frivolous stuff. Well, may be it was and that was the doubt which made me do this little experiment. I forgo-ed sunscreen for almost two weeks and now I am putting up these findings.

    I have been using sunscreen more or less regularly since a year. And, I apply sunscreen only once in a day. But, I do apply a good amount of it for proper protection. And, yes, I do go out in the peak time of 10 AM - 4 PM as well. So, lets get on the with my findings.

    My arms are back to whatever state they were tanned prior to my use of sunscreen. Interestingly, I observed the tanning only after a couple of days without sunscreen. The first day I didn't apply sunscreen, my skin was looking more or less the same. 

    Talking about the face and neck, yes, they are also tanned. Not as much as my arms coz I did use sunscreen on and off. And, I am using a lightening oil as well at night to combat this tanning but still I know that my complexion has grown darker. 

    So, now that I know that sunscreen is extremely important to preserve my skin complexion, I would try not to skip it. And, this is my first advise to everyone who love their skin. Oh! Btw, please remember that the benefits of using sunscreen are apparent only if you use the proper amount and after around a month of use. That's when you will see changed in your skin, be it color or texture. 

    So, what do you think? Do you find yourself getting tanned whenever you skip sunscreen? 

    Related Posts:

    Saturday, September 26, 2015

    Nutmeg for Dry and Oily Skin {Reader's Tip}

    This is one of the tips I found in the comments while browsing through them.
    Hey friends..! Try this.. really works.. Oily skin : Nutmeg paste prepared with water (apply it on face, leave it for 20mins and wash it off). Dry skin : Nutmeg paste prepared with raw milk (apply it on face, leave it for 20mins and wash it off). You can use honey instead of water too. Hope this will help you all :) on Difference between Pimples and Acne {Reader's Query}
    As the reader said, nutmeg works wonders on the skin. Yes, the tip is extremely useful. And, do not forget to check out other Reader's Tips.

    Do you stop in middle of your exercises? {Your Opinion}

    This question is prompted by two facts. One of my friends with whom I regularly go for a walk always gets tired by the end of fourth round and prefers to sit down before continuing. We walk on a walking track of around 750 metres on which we prefer to take four rounds every night. Also, I have another friend whom I used to accompany occasionally on her walking trips and she used to totally halt in between the walks because she used to get tired. And, no it never used to be brisk or on a very difficult terrain either and not long even (around just 1km) and she always had jogging shoes on!!!

    Yes, I do feel bad for people who are young and can't walk even that much. This is when I always realize how important it is to be physically active because I do not desire to be in either of my above-mentioned friend's place. I am lazy and that's where it all ends. But, I just wanted you to ask if you stop in between when you are doing any mild form of exercise. Also, it opens up an interesting theory which I have been meaning to share with you all since quite long.

    Did you know that when you are exercising, it is advised to vary your paces with time. So, for example, if you are walking, start slowly and then work up to a brisk walking pace and then suddenly slow your pace to slow walk and then keep on varying the speeds of your walk. Likewise, when you are cycling, going from vigorous to light to medium to heavy to vigorous is recommended. The reason is it improves stamina and burns more calories. But, at any point of time, stopping the exercise in between is never EVER recommended. If you are used to doing so, never ever do that!!! Always start slow and end slowly and if you feel you are tired, slow down but NEVER STOP.

    So, for how long do you take your walks or keep your exercises going? Do you prefer to stop or vary your paces?

    PS: For all the book lovers, check out my review of "The Krishna Key", the latest anthropological thriller by Ashwin Sanghi here. Looking forward to seeing you there :)

    Related Posts:

    Ok, I am getting out with it!!!

    I have pondered on this topic of how to break the news but seriously I have no idea on how to go about so let me just say I am getting married!! Yay!

    Ok, its an arranged and granted I am pretty old but I have so much of experience in measuring up guys that everyone is pretty relaxed and heaved a sigh of relief when I finally said yes.

    It took almost a week of it to sink the feeling in myself and now I am happy :D

    Today, I announced the thing in my office also and thankfully my boss wasn't in a scowling mood so that makes me extra happy. If you would see me now, you would find nothing but a goofy grin on my face.

    The next 2-3 months are gonna be a blur of activity and I have no idea how to deal with the changes. Worse still, I hate wearing a saree. Gosh, help me!! So, yup a lot of things to do and learn. But, for now, I can just sit and relax and be happy :)

    Loving It / Using It Vol. 9 - Le Beurre Shea Butter Body Cream Vanilla

    Le Beurre Shea Butter Body Cream Vanilla product review

    Since I have come to know about shea butter, I have always wanted to get the raw material and make body creams with it. But, since that never really happened, I was happy to experience this product and see if shea butter really does what all its touted to do!

    And, honestly, I am loving shea butter. So, check out what I think about the product.

    Le Beurre Shea Butter Body Cream Vanilla product review

    • Price: 22$ for 8oz. Expensive!
    • Smells subtly of vanilla but nothing overwhelming. 
    • Packaging. Comes in a wide-mouthed plastic container with a lid. The product has to be scooped from the container. The irritating part is that the product gets under the nails!
    • Moisturises well. It really takes care of the dry skin. In fact, the cream is also in part responsible in healing my cracked heels. It is perfect for heel care.   
    • Ingredient list not mentioned. 
    • Does not travel well. The cream can melt in tropical temperatures and leak! 
    • A small quantity is enough. And, it is definitely a winter or dry season product
    • Absorbs immediately into the skin
    Loving It / Using It : Loving It

    Overall Verdict
    Definitely recommended!

    Have you used the product? Would you like to try out the products after reading the review?

    Related Posts:
    Loving / Using It Vol. 1 - Garnier Pure Active pore unclogging wash
    Loving / Using It Vol. 3 - Kama Ayurveda Rose Jasmine Bath & Body Oil
    Loving / Using It Vol. 4 - Dabur Vatika Enriched Olive Hair Oil

    Friday, September 25, 2015

    Using laptop and mobiles during Pregnancy {Pregnancy}

    What are we pregnant women not warned against - drinking, smoking, eating, stress? And now, add to the list, its mobile and laptops. All electronic devices and gadgets produce heat and radiation which are harmful for us but, imagining a life without mobiles and laptops is kind of difficult today. But, unfortunately, laptops produce intense heat that is harmful for all of us and especially for pregnant women. 

    Do's & Dont's

    Pregnant women should not keep laptops on their laps or stomach.
    If you are working on laptop or desktops, take more breaks and relax your body more often.
    Blink your eyes more often to stay away from strain.
    Try to use the best comfortable position for your body and neck.
    Minimize your use of cell phone and get shifted to old tring tring :)
    Don’t keep your cell phones near your bed.

    If you have a bad habit of keeping your laptop on your lap (yes, I know its meant to be that), then avoid it. Doing it a lot can lead to toasted skin syndrome, an unusual-looking mottled skin condition caused by long-term heat exposure. You can also see some dark skin coloration on your thighs. I know its difficult to do but if you are pregnant, try to use laptops and mobiles a little less. You will be troubled not only from the heat produced but also, hunching on laptops can lead to muscular pain, back and neck ache. 

    Similarly, mobile phones are even more harmful than laptops for pregnant women. My hubby hated when I used to talk on phone during my pregnancy. He always asked me to use the landline instead. Well, when I googled about the harms of mobile for pregnant women then I was shocked!! Research says women using mobile phone often are more at risk of giving birth to a baby with behavioural problems. Using a mobile two to three times a day is also enough to raise emotional and hyperactive problems.

    And, this advise can as well be taken by everyone coz laptops and mobile phones are equally harmful for one and all. How long do you stay glued to your laptops and mobiles? I, for one, am not a mobile person but I do stay glued to my laptop :(

    Thanks for such a great post Punam :) And, hope you all find this helpful. Btw, I would like to tell you all about Punam's blog as well - be beautiful with Punam.


    Related Posts on Pregnancy: 
    How to deal with nausea?
    Dealing With Heightened Sense Of Smell
    Importance Of Folic Acid

    How to start planning for the wedding? [Part - I] {Bridal Files}

    So, how do you think you would start the wedding preparations once everything has been settled? Would you wait for nick of time or do some kind of arrangements before hand. If it would be me, I would say the following things would be on top of my head. I will probably start compiling things mentally while people are busy eating sweets!!

    Lists, Lists and More Lists!!
    There are so many things to write about and if you do not, be assured you WILL forget them. So, keep a notepad with you or use technology and sync up your lists with your mom and dad through mobile.

    The first list would be, according to me, the immediate people whom you will have to call and inform about the upcoming wedding. Dates need not be announced. These are close friends who should know this happy news. And, of course, relatives.

    The second list - who are the invitees? Third - Jewelery shops. Fourth - Where to get Clothes from? What would be available where? Fifth and most important to you - What all things you need to buy beforehand like makeup, shoes, trousseau or any other miscellaneous thing which will go into your kit. Jot down every single thing which strikes you otherwise you are sure to forget.

    Some miscellaneous things to note are what kind of invitations cards you would like to get printed, the venue for the wedding which is extremely difficult to get in the season, the return gifts you are planning for guests and other such small small things involved in the events.

    The next list? Check out the next point :)

    What are all the functions going to be done and what are the customs and traditions?
    Whether your's is a cross-culture wedding or a same culture wedding, some things do vary from family to family. And, even if you know each and everything in minute detail, it would help to jot them down. It is always good to cross check with your in-laws and your parents and relatives if you are required to wear something special for the wedding which you might not have much choice in choosing or likewise.

    Why will you not have a choice in your own wedding? Well, certain things happen in certain way only. I can not really vouch for any other community or culture coz I am woefully ignorant in all these things. I have hardly attended 4-5 weddings in my entire existence and most of them were when I was a kid and I was hardly ever interested in those things.

    But, in my culture wedding, the bride is required to wear only white sari with a yellow or red border while the main wedding is going on. So, the choice is obviously limited. So, such kind of functions might or might not happen in your culture but keeping a tab is good.  

    This is the first part of this post. It was getting too long so I have broken it down into two! So, see ya tomorrow with the second post!!

    What are the points you would suggest?

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    Dry Skin Causes and how to heal it? {Skin Care}

    Beginning of Navratres (Indian festival which precedes Dusshera) signify the start of fall for me. The end of October signifies winter season and shivratri signifies the upcoming spring season. Yeah, I know it is actually holi but the thing is Hyderabad gets hot so quickly that there is literally no spring but only summers and rainy season starts in the mid of June.

    This is my seasonal mind and body clock. Of course, things work very differently in the real life, thanks to the global warming :)

    Anyways, since the fall is already here, have you noticed your skin drying up more than usual? Well, my skin has been getting drier and drier since the weather has given way to rains. And, I thought I would share some of the tips to avoid dry skin. Well, you might already be aware of some or all of them but let me just reiterate them!

    Hair Removal

    Waxing or shaving are both drying for skin so whenever you do it, make sure you treat the skin gently and thoroughly afterwards. 

    After waxing, wash the area with warm water and follow with ice cubes and aloevera gel in case of irritation and moisturise there after. 

    For shaving, a better and natural option is to use homemde shaving oil made of castor and coconut oil. 

    Dry Brushing and Exfoliation

    Well, it is extremely important to remove the dead skin cells so that you can allow the skin to heal and regenerate. 

    Dry Brushing is my favourite way of getting rid of the dead skin cells but you can also use homemade scrubs or the commercial ones available in the market. 

    Massages

    Get some oil on your skin. Almond oil is rich in Vitamin E, coconut oil is rich in fatty acids important for skin and sesame oil is the recommended ayurvedic therapy for skin. Use essential oils for a relaxing and luxurious therapy. Do this after dry brushing for more effectiveness.

    Turn down the shower temperature and time

    Reduce the heat of the bath water and the length of time you take your shower. Hot water is extremely drying and helps the skin to age quickly. Make it warm and short and extremely relaxing.


    Use natural products

    Whether it is your soap or face wash or the body lotion you use, try to get the natural and organic products. Alcohol toners are a strict no no. And, natural oils are the best moisturisers. 

    Over indulgence is bad!

    Do not exfoliate your skin daily or over do on the AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) or BHA (beta hydroxy acid) exfoliators or peels. Even fruit based face masks like papaya or pineapple or sugarcane juice must be used sparingly. It is best to stick to besan + milk as lactic acid is milder than others. Also, people with acne must be careful and not use dairy products.

    Applying body lotions and creams

    If the regular watery and light body lotions are not sufficing your skin dryness, you should really check out the body butter segment or go for cocoa based products. 

    If you have cocoa butter or shea butter available, you can also make yourself some of the products!! Don't forget to apply the products repeatedly in case you feel really dry.

    Try to find products with ceramides. They are the protein molecules which make up the lipids layer of the skin along with other elements.

    Avoid airconditioning

    Absolutely impossible for people in corporates but a regular application of products combined with a good diet really helps.

    Shift to dry fruits for snacking

    Carry a handful of nuts in your purses so that you may gorge on them when you feel hungry and let your skin also feel supple. Vitamin E helps moisturise your skin from inside. 

    Drinking Water

    Well, hydration always beats dryness from inside. 

    Use silk instead of cotton

    Well, not only for hair but silk bedsheets and pillows both help your skin as well because they do not absorb the moisture from your skin. So next time you get your bedsheets, make sure they are of silk or a cheaper alternative is satin.   

    Cottons and wools increase static in the skin. The undergarments can be a good quality satin, instead to prevent drying of skin.

    Also try to avoid cotton towels.

    Diffusers are a good option in winters

    Humidifiers and diffusers which constantly introduce water into the atmosphere are a good option. 

    Diffusers are amazing, in my opinion, as you can use essential oils and they create an extremely relaxing environment in the house while purifying it.

    Hormonal Imbalances

    Menopause, PMS, thyroid or any other imbalance in the body may make the skin dry. So, regular exercise is important to make sure the hormones act properly in the body. 

    What are your tips and tricks to beat dry skin?


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    Thursday, September 24, 2015

    From the Archives : Use ginger to get rid of acne {DIY}

    PS: Everyone has been asking me about how to get rid of acne so this is an old and a very useful post on the same topic. Hope this helps :)

    Ginger is a very useful spice. And, it has great anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties along with its astringent properties which comes handy when you are dealing with a stubborn problem like acne. Acne can come in form of pimples, outbreaks or even worse. So, let us discuss what all you can do from ginger.

    Ginger is great as a drink every day. Yes, it is pretty bitter in taste but it improves your skin from inside. It helps your body fight the free radicals and keeps your digestive system in order. It cleans out the toxins from your system. Ginger improves the blood circulation throughout the body and also cleans out the blood. Not only this, it also improves the skin tone and helps in getting rid of blemishes and spots.

    Squeeze out a little of ginger juice and apply it on your face or just the acne-affected areas and see your skin improve in a matter of days. It works very well for unexpected outbreaks and pimples. You can also use the juice as a face mask for blemished and sun-burnt skin. And, you can also help your body by including this spice in your daily diet.

    A little every day goes a long way. You can also use a little ginger in your spinach-lettuce juice in the morning. Pass a small slice of ginger along with spinach and lettuce while making the juice. It would give a spicy taste to your drink. And, not to mention, ginger is really good for throat infections, dry coughs and colds.

    So, have you used ginger on your acne ever? Does it help?

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    5 Steps to get fairer skin? {Five Series}

    PS: This post is for all those people who have asked me to give tips on fairer skin. I am sorry that I couldn't reply to you all personally but hope this post is helpful to you :)
    Since quite long, I have been seeing a trend of questions on this topic from people who are either getting married or who have darker skin tones. So, first of all, I would like to say that you can't really lighten the skin complexion. The skin color is determined by the amount of melanin your skin has and you can't do anything to reduce the amount of this pigment inside your skin. Ok, after that bit of science, I would like to say that you can do somethings to preserve your original complexion.

    Sunscreen
    Yup, that's the first step to any kind of skin care. And, I totally stress on the importance of this routine. I would suggest Neutrogena Ultra Sheer but my favourite is MVO Moisturizing Face Screen. I have often heard complains that the sunscreen does nothing but the secret lies in using the proper amount of sunscreen to provide full protection.

    Double Cleansing
    To remove makeup or sunscreen after an entire day of work, use oil or a good makeup remover before washing your face. Its one of the most important routines of the night. 

    Face Wash and Tone
    Use your face wash as you would and don't forget to use the toner if your face is oily. I would suggest using homemade toners for your skin type. Green tea for oily and combination skin and rose water for dry skin. You can do other experiments with them as well.

    Moisturize and Nourish
    One of the most important routines even if your skin is oily. Get a good moisturizer. Or, use aloevera gel if your skin is oily. Its the best bet. For dry skin, I would suggest using a facial oil or serum instead of moisturizer at night. 

    Face Scrub and Mask
    The above steps were regular routine. But, some extra love is needed to keep skin in perfect condition so exfoliate on every alternate day for oily skin or if you layer too many products on your skin at day time. And, if you have dry skin, exfoliate twice a week. 

    For dry skin, use sugar to exfoliate. For combination and oily skin, mix salt and sugar to exfoliate. They have alpha-hydroxy acids which help with removing the blemishes and dark spots on regular usage. Also, they keep the skin supple and improve the skin tone by making the skin look brighter.
    After scrubbing, always follow with a mask. You can use any commercially-available products. I would not suggest you to use fruit masks after scrubbing with sugar because fruits also have active enzymes and sugar also have active enzymes so that can too much for your skin at a single time. 

    If you plan to use fruits, remember that they have active enzymes which do both the jobs - exfoliation and acting as a mask so keep the fruit juices on your skin for 15 minutes and wash off. Using sugar to exfoliate and using fruit juices as mask afterwards can make the skin sensitive. Honey is a good mask in such cases.

    These are the steps I follow regularly to keep my complexion glowing. Please remember that whatever you do to your face, do the same to your neck and decolletage. You don't want your neck and lower body to look older and uncared for. But, also remember NOT to overdo things EVER. Keep things regular and you will notice difference in a month. 

    What's your secret to preserving your skin complexion? Are you already following a particular routine or going to follow this routine? Do share your results :)

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    Choices are what makes us! [Game of Blogs - Part 15]

    Story Weavers 

    Read the starting chapter of the story here and the previous part of the story here.

    Cyrus was trying to capture more of the videos. He was happy that the first upload was successful. He was not aware of the furore it had caused in the outside world.

    He had started blogging just because it was the trend now a days. But, being an introvert and having low self-esteem, he had not really told anyone of his blogging proclivity. He had started writing all that he could not really express to people who knew him intimately. And, he had found a dedicated reader soon enough with whom he interacted on a very personal level.

    The first upload had not gone really smooth. It was quite an adventure. In fact, this was the first real adventure in Cyrus's life. He was not dimwitted in real life but yes definitely short of common sense and looked dumb in his big specs which covered his entire face.  He had somehow managed to think of his mobile and what he could do with it! He despised mobiles. It made him feel so unwanted. He had no one to whatsapp him, no friends to like his pictures on facebook, hardly talked to his parents once a week and that too the bare felicitations.

    Fortunately, for today's meeting, he had to carry the gadget. And, he was gonna make sure that it is used properly. But, first, he needed to take it out of his secret pocket which was not possible with these masked hovering around him. He gathered all the courage and spoke to the masked man standing just a few steps away from him, "Sir, can I please use the washroom. I have a chronic prostrate issue because of which I need to visit the bathroom frequently". He knew simple request to use the washroom was not gonna work so he had to make this excuse. And, as expected, the masked men who heard him laughed and used derogatory words but allowed him to use the loo. One of them escorted him to the loo door.

    Since he could not risk not using the loo, he thought he might as well do it and take out his mobile in the same process. The main concern would be how to keep the mobile away from their eyes and record at the same time. So, he pretended to use the washroom for a longer time and said to the man waiting outside, "Sir, I need to use the washroom for some more time". The reply was a rude explicit but the man acquiesced. Cyrus changed his phone to silent no vibration, switched on the recording mode and arranged his shirt to let his shirt tails hang and fixed the mobile in his jeans keeping the lens peeping out in the gap of shirt tails so that the camera could record everything. He splashed around some water, flushed the toilet and came out and was dragged back to join the other hostages. The only hope he had was that mobile stayed fixed and camera recorded what was available.

    In the meanwhile, another masked man came strolling with his huge old samsung tablet and started punching something. Suddenly, Cyrus got up and was immediately nabbed. He tried to struggle for a while and then sat down. The man continued talking on the phone as he moved. Cyrus could hear a little and then the words trailed away. After sitting for thirty minutes, he again asked permission to go to the washroom using the same excuse to gain time and was granted the wish. Once in the loo, he just hoped there was network and immediately uploaded the video. He waited with bated breath for the successful completion, embedded in his post and arranged the mobile again on recording mode to record more. This time he tried to gain some other angle of the hotel. He knew more trips to the loo would be difficult but he wanted to try once more till he was caught.

    -x-

    Roohi remembered the story of danger associated with the bad wolf in the Little Riding Hood Story and knew her mother would understand the term at once so she just barged into the me-lee and shouted “Mummy. MUMMY!!!Red riding hood! RED RIDING HOOD!”.

    Tara heard Roohi shouting. Jeniffer, on the other hand, was confused and she did not know what to do. Ibrahim Rehman might have given her purpose but these people had given her life. It was a time of choice for her and she decided to do the right thing whether she lived or died.

    She went to inspector Arjun whom she had already spotted. And, took him aside and, "Arjun, I have been inside the hotel. I can tell you the positions of the terrorists. At least as close to what they were a while back.". Arjun aka Shekhar was suspicious of her but decided to play along.

    Tara went back to Roohi and hugged her. "Roohi, are you crazy? How could you be stupid to come here? I told you that you should stay at nana's place till I come back, right? Now, go back and stay there. Dad, please take her home and do not start on another 'save Tara' mission", Tara said to her approaching father. After bidding goodbye to her father and daughter, Tara went to join Jeniffer. 

    When Shekhar notices Tara coming towards them, he realizes she is coming to join Jeniffer and will not abandon the rescue mission so easily. He hurriedly asks his next-in-command to take over and goes away from there in some pretext.

    To maintain the trust of her terrorist friends just in case someone was watching the scene outside from the hotel, Jeniffer called up Kareem, "Kareem, I am going to join the army people to see what they are planning next. This plan can not get foiled like the railway station attempt and we have already lost abba. We can not take more chances". "Ok, Ahana, do as you think is right but please be careful. We can not lose you. Btw, Aryan called up. His mission is going as planned.". "Who is Aryan, Kareem?". "Oh, didn't abba tell you about him? Ok, it is not important. You focus on what you have to do.". "Ohk, I will talk again and do tell me about him. I will get back to you in sometime.".

    Jeniffer could not convey this information about some Aryan to any of the army men. She could not risk telling everything about herself so she decided to find out more about Aryan before she revealed this bit of information and, in meanwhile, she would also find out a way to explain how she came across this information. 

    Armed with information provided by Jeniffer, the army marched on to regain the hotel and save the hostages though Shekhar was also aware this could be a trap.

    Read the next part of the story here.

    “Me and my team are participating in ‘Game Of Blogs’ at BlogAdda.com. #CelebrateBlogging with us.”

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    Feminism or Gender Equality {Women Stuff}

    Ok, so, how do you really define or understand feminism. When I googled for the dictionary definition, I got "the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes".

    Before I really get into terms and meanings, the logical question which comes to my mind is why do we need to advocate women's rights and not men's? Why is it so obvious that men will have all the freedom in the world right from ridiculing women to being granted the freedom if they do not fulfil their familial responsibilities up to the mark when compared with a female.

    Granted that nature has defined a standard role for women and yes, as much as we want to say, nothing a man can do can replace the necessity of a woman. She is the soul of the house and family. And, this cause itself should be the ultimate liberating factor for a woman.

    I really do not understand feminism that well but what I have seen in my own circle is, well, boys do not have the right to express their feelings. If a female cries, even males come and listen. If a male cries, not one female is gonna give a shit! So, why do we not talk about giving rights and freedom to both the sexes.

    When a girl is raped, it becomes the talk of town. Does anyone even remember that even men or at least boy child are also abused in an equal measure. In such a case, it becomes a case of child abuse instead of a male human harassment case. Why is that only females have the right to speak if they are not happy in marriage and why not the males who are oppressed by dominant females who control their every action.

    If the girl is not able to bond with her in-laws, she is accused or insulted and if by chance the boy takes her side, irrespective of where the blame lies, he is immediately termed as a joru-ka-ghulam (wife's servant) and all further relations are cut off. Why does the boy not have the freedom to speak openly in such a matter, taking in the case of girl being right. 

    And, by chance, if a girl demands divorce from a perfectly innocent boy's family because of the issues created by her, why does the boy's family have to go through the stigma of divorce and looted by the girl's family in the name of alimony. Why is a female given so much of a leeway?

    Is it not the responsibility of both the genders to respect each other and in case of any disagreements, part ways amicably and without any future damages? 

    How do you define feminism? Or, do you advocate gender equality?

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    Wednesday, September 23, 2015

    Are you sold the fairness products by sales assistants? {Your Opinion}

    When I went to watch Heroine, I also went to check out products at the H2O+ counter at Shopper's Stop just like that to get some samples :D I did get samples but the guy was repeatedly selling me the whitening range of their products!!! I told him that I do not need any whitening products but still he continued with that. Its not the first time I had this kind of an encounter. Female assistants are even worse, in my opinion. 

    If they see any person with darker skin tone, they simply start selling the whitening products!!! To give credit to the guy I mentioned above, he did try to sell me the brightening products later on! Anyways, I have often noted that this is a trend everywhere. And, I don't think its fault of the SA's but the society on the whole as Indians are really and I mean REALLY obsessed with white skin. 

    I wanna clear a small misconception that many people have. Even many of the South Indians are in fact very fair and have flawless complexion, may be not as much as Kashmiris but definitely fair in a creamy complexion kind of a way. So, yes, those people are really proud of their complexion and often look for people with the same complexion. I have often noticed that North Indians often think that all Southies are dark but that's not true at all. I'll elaborate more on this theme later :) 

    Anyways, you tell me - do you get irritated by these whitening products unnecessarily thrusted upon you or you like to buy the fairness products?

    Don't forget to share your opinions on these posts:

    All about Facial Oils? [Part - II] {Skin Care}

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    Continuing from yesterday's sermon on how to use facial oils, we will talk about different methods to use facial oil and how oil helps the skin. Read on...

    Extra Rich Treatments using Facial Oils
    Now, there are two kinds of options available to you. You can try either of them. Leave the massaged facial oil as a moisturizer just as it is for a nightly treatment.

    Or, you can keep on massaging for 5 minutes to ensure that most of the oil gets absorbed into the skin. In this method, you can take a bit more of oil, like 10 drops, if you feel like. Keep the oil for 5 more minutes if you want or take a tissue and blot off the excess oil on the skin. And, follow with your favorite night cream or serum.

    Another simple method is the Oil Cleansing Method itself. One can use heavy or the lighter oils, as the preference lies. Take a generous quantity and massage for 15 minutes. If done on clean skin, skin does absorb quite a good amount of oil.

    And, use a face wash cloth to remove the rest of the oil just as in the OCM treatment. Do not wash the face. Follow with your favorite product or leave it just as it is. Also, let me tell you that this method with the oil which suits your skin is absolutely amazing to remove blemishes and scars and dark spots!!

     photo stock-photo-beautiful-young-woman-receiving-facial-massage-43575766_zpsb1884d44.jpg

    My Skin is Oily. How can I use oil???
    This is the most common question when it comes facial oils. Yes, you CAN and you SHOULD use oils. The trick is to find the correct oil which suits your skin. My recommendation would be to start with grapeseed oil. And, you can probably use 1-2 drops instead.

    Why facial oil helps any kind of skin?
    Well, for one, oil is the only thing which can actually break down the dead skin cells binds and wash them off so oil acts as an exfoliant for all kinds of skin. Also, the molecular formula of oils is similar to the lipids present in our skin. [Remember the lipids?]

    So, these oils go and form bonds with the lipids ensuring that skin remains at its best. Now, these lipids are mainly fats which is why we are advised to intake as much of Vitamin E and omega 3 as possible.

    This is why oil is recommended even for oily skin. Also, oil and lipids on the skin only control the excess secretion of sebum as well so if skin is properly hydrated, skin generally does not produce more of oil.

    So, you think you are up to use oils now? 

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