Kama Ayurveda Rose Jasmine Bath & Body Oil {Product Review}

So, this was on my last loving it list! And, I am really missing this product. It has been over for a month now and I just realized that I have not yet reviewed it. So, here I am gonna review about the product. Please bear.

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Pros

gets absorbed very easily

keeps the skin nourished and moisturized for 8 hours

smells delicately of roses

Cons

very expensive

can get oily if applied in excess

packaging not friendly

bottle is brittle so beware of its handling

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Now, have you ever come across any product which has jasmine but does not stink of it? Well, this is one. It smells of a garden of fresh roses instead of jasmine. I have come to hate the strong scent of jasmine. The problem with jasmine's fragrance is its over-bearing nature which kills all the delicate smells.

So, I absolutely love that Kama has come up with such a product. Well, we can as well say that they need not mention jasmine! Anyways, the product gets absorbed easily into the skin and you do smell of rose for quite sometime but the fragrance comes as a part of you than overwhelming the entire room.

The only issue I faced with this product is that the bottle does not come with a stopper so you have to be careful of the amount of oil you take. If you take excess oil, obviously, it gets oily and shines on the skin though it disappears in a good 15-30 minutes. And, you need very little of the product to finish the job of moisturization.

No doubt the product is very expensive but once in a while indulgence is fine. Also, since you need only a bit of it, the product does last quite a decent time. For a regular usage of twice a day, it lasted me a month or more and that too when I used the product a bit more than required. So, do give it a try :)

Price: Rs 795 for 100ml

Availability

Kama stores across India

Have you tried this or any other Kama Ayurveda product?

Related Posts:

Kama Brigandi Intense Hair Treatment

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Nivea pure effect Total Face Cleanup

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Nivea Express Hydration Body Lotion {Product Review}

Price: Rs 179 for 250ml

Pros

gets absorbed really quickly

hydrates really well

lasts long

My Experience

As you all know, Nivea is my favourite brand. Ok, I know I am sounding like a broken record...repeating the same thing time and again. Anyways, I got this body lotion when I had run out of everything but later on, I did find a body butter left over and parachute body lotion as well. 

Back to the review, the product is white in color and comes in a typical Nivea packaging. The texture of the product is really thin so it gets absorbed really fast but, amazingly, it stays on skin for long. As far as I have seen, it stays all night long.   

It keeps the skin moisturized and hydrated and stays true to its claims of express hydration. It boasts of hydra IQ formula (which is really good) and blue lotus scent (which I didn't really find amazing). The product makes the skin look glowing and supple and has no cons for me.

Anyways, I do know that nivea has amazing creams which have been launched outside...wish they come to India real soon. This product is an absolute try and the best part is it relieves my skin's dryness even these days so it is absolutely useful for dry skin as well. It also works well on dry feet.

Have you tried this? What did you think?

Other products from Nivea:
Nivea Fruity Shine Dragon Fruit vs Pomegranate
Nivea Refreshing Cleansing Milk
Nivea Nourishing Body Milk

Biotique Bio Wheatgerm Firming Face & Body Cream {Product Review}

Price: Rs 199 for 55gms

Ingredients

Pros

keeps the skin moisturized

amazing as hand and feet cream

can be used for cuticles and nails as well

removes tanning to an extent and lightens skin tone

Cons

can be greasy for not so dry skins
ingredients list is a mystery still!!

My Experience

Its been an year since I have used it but when I thought of putting up its review, it was already summers so it wouldn't have been of any use to anyone. So, I thought of deferring the review for these winters :) And, do I need to say more that I waited for winters to put up the review?

Biotique as a brand I love but their ingredients list is always an issue. But, their products almost always work for me so I do think of going back to them. This is also one of the good ones. The texture of the product as you can see is pretty thick.

Yes, it is absolutely amazing for dry skin. In winters, it absolutely solves the dry patches problem. One needs to use a wee bit amount of the product and you are good to go. It does lighten the tan and pigmentation you might have. But, the best way to use it is as a hand cream.

It is thick so it keeps the hands soft and moisturized all winters. And, as I said, it also lightened the color of my hands. And, it kept my cuticles also in check. Yes, I have used it on my face also and totally liked it but yes, it can get a bit greasy so unless you have very dry skin, you can skip it.

Its also great for arms and legs and feet as well. Just as it keeps the hands soft, it keeps the feet moisturized and prevents cracking of the heels unless you torture them :D So, yup, go for it this winters, if you haven't used it and I am sure you will love it as well :) And, if you have used it, so share your views!

Other products reviewed from Biotique:

Biotique Bio Musk Root Hair Mask 

Biotique Bio Pistachio Ageless Nourishing and Revitalizing Face Pack 

Biotique Mountain Ebony Fresh Growth Stimulating Serum 

Biotique Bio Henna fresh Powder Hair Color 

Biotique Bio Flame of the Forest Fresh Shine Expertise Oil

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.

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?

Related Posts:

Dry or Dehydrated; Moisturised or Hydrated!!

Dry Skin and Cracked lips in Summers

5 Skin Care tips to deal with Roscea, Psoriasis and Eczema

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

As you all know, I love oils. In fact, so much so that I would love to own all the apothecaries in the world! And, recently again, due to improper care my skin started to look and behave a bit weird so I thought I would go about giving it a good dose of care which does not ruin my easy life either. And, I have plethora of oils in my closet!!

So, that was when I started searching for how to use facial oils most optimally. Well, I know many of you are scared just when an oil is mentioned but guess what it is the best thing you can do for your skin. But, before that best, you do have to go through a fair share of trials and errors to know which one works best for which skin.

How to find the best oil for yourself?

Is your skin dry? Go for coconut oil. It has the fatty acids which instantly lift and plump up the skin and hydrate it from inside.   

Sesame oil is generally for normally dry to combination skin. 

Apricot oil is something which gets absorbed very very easily into skin. Grapeseed oil is also equally amazing for oily skin. 

I am not sure of almond oil. Some say that the molecules are too big to penetrate the skin so it does not really cause breakouts. But, I have no history of breakouts so I can not really answer that. But, it is great for under-eye areas.

Olive oil is something I will never really recommend. I have heard quite a lot of complaints about it but many raves also but personally my preference is not that.  

One more oil which I have used is evening primrose oil. I absolutely love it and would recommend it for mature skin, especially.

How to use Facial Oil?

Any oil should be used on damp skin. Why? Damp Skin is a good absorber and oils get spread on damp skin more easily. 2-3 or maximum 5 drops of any oil is enough to cover the face, neck and décolletage. Or, one pump if your oil comes with that. 

Always remember to treat your neck and décolletage with the same products you would use for the face whether a mask or scrub or face wash or even the makeup remover or even sunscreen. 

After that bit of lecture, let me tell you how I use the facial oils. This is when toner comes into use the most. Wet the face with the toner either using a cotton ball or just with the toner collected in cupped palms and then while your palms are wet, take the drops of facial oil and rub the palms till they get a bit warm.

Press the palms on your face starting with cheeks and then forehead and then nose and chin so that least amount of the oil gets deposited on the T-zone. And, then start massaging into the face and then neck and décolletage. There is no need to use more oil unless you feel dry. 

So, these are my few cents on the topic. I hope this article has helped a bit. This is the first part though. I was writing the post and realized it was just too big so I thought I would publish the rest in a separate post.

So, do you use facial oils? If yes, are there any tips for us? 

Related Posts:

Facial Massage for Anti-Aging Skin Care

Aarohi Oil of Apricot

Tips on How to use Bath Oil?

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Homemade Castile Soap

Guest Post by Waseema

This is the first time that I am writing a review and I am excited and nervous at the same time. Today I would like to review a pure olive oil soap also called Castile Soap handmade by me at home.

Why I got into soap making is because my daughters aged 5 yrs and 1 yr have very sensitive skin and any soap I use caused dry flaky skin or dry patches with redness and itching on them. 

The soaps I make are cold process soaps which have a high percentage of glycerin in it as a result of the saponification process. Hence, these soaps are very conditioning and do not dry out skin unlike commercial soaps.

Ingredients

Saponified oils of olive, castor, lye and distilled water.  Unscented, Uncolored.

My Experience

This soap does not lather like the commercial soaps as it contains 90% olive oil, but the addition of castor oil helps with bubbles as seen in the picture above. If you use a pouf/nylon mesh scrubber you can get decent lather. Though this soap does not lather much but it cleanses very well and does not dry the skin. 

Ever since my daughters have been using this soap their skin is behaving well and does not break out in itchy rashes or flaky patches.  I would recommend this soap for babies and those with sensitive and dry mature skin. Overall this works as a great soap for all skin types.

Editor's Note: This is so true. Read what I wrote about the difference between soaps and bathing bars.

Due to high glycerine content these soaps melt very easily and to keep it around longer you have to avoid holding it in the shower stream, and make sure that you store it on a well-draining soap dish, or else it can end up in a gloppy mess. 

I make these soaps at home. Currently I have a batch that’s cured and ready to be used. You can check more pictures here. If you would like to buy them, let me know. 

Price: Rs 99 for 80gms 

Thank you so much for reading my review!
Luv,
Waseema.

Editor's Note: Thanks a lot Waseema for letting us know about the castile soaps. They are indeed really awesome!

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Do you use moisturizer in summers? {Your Opinion}

Ok, I will be a very bad beauty blogger if I say no! But, the sad truth is yes, I am not using moisturizer these days, neither on face or body! It is so damn hot and my exposure to air conditioning is quite minimal.

In the morning, my routine is to apply the sunscreen right after stepping out from shower. I am using MVO Moisturizing Face Screen which needs an oil base to go smoothly on skin. But, even if I apply a drop of oil, my skin turns out oily after 10 minutes so I found out a new base to apply. I am using Maybelline on the face instead of only the eyes as it is meant for! Honestly, it is totally matte and blends really well with the skin giving me a smooth base for the sunscreen application. And, finally, my skin is not THAT oily either at the end of the ritual.

And, at night or in the evening, I use coconut oil to remove the sunscreen so I slather it in a decent quantity for 5 minutes and remove with a tissue paper. And, go for a face wash. After that, IF I feel like which is not quite often, I wipe my face with a toner which totally makes the skin feel heavy! So, no place for any mositurizer.

And, the story of a body lotion is altogether different, laziness being the foremost reason. And, I think I was using Nivea for dry skin couple of days back which was in March probably. And, obviously, it was not a great choice for summers! It made my skin feel really sticky so I started skipping the entire routine instead of just changing the product! Now, I am using a lighter lotion but I still do not use it everyday.

Btw, someone told me Vaseline Aloevera is a decent choice right now in Hyderabad weather. I was thinking of getting it but have not yet implemented the thought! I thought at least a small bottle would serve as a hand cream but nope! I am using the Vaseline cocoa butter which my friend has in the office which is obviously again not a great choice!

Btw, which hand cream are you using? Or, are you using it? If you are not, I have to say that at the very least keep on moisturizing your hands because they get extremely dry because of all the work they do and the constant washing they undergo! I had stopped moisturizing my hands totally till few days back and I realized they were looking so 70-year old!! So, that is something one has to do consistently. Now, my hands are a little better.

I know not moisturizing is a cardinal sin when it comes to skin care and would never ever ask you to resort to it. But, then I got thinking what exactly is necessary at this point? Moisturization or Hydration? Are they both different? My skin does get dry! It is not like its a pan of oil but somehow it ends up getting hydrated from inside so I don't really feel uncomfortable. Then, do I need moisturization in such a case?

Now, its your TURN! What do you do? Do you also skip your moisturization due to heat or humidity or laziness? Or, you try to follow the routine religiously whether you feel dry or NOT?

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Should you use body powder on face?
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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

From the Archives : Do you know why is your Skin Dry? {Skin Care}

Revisiting this post and updating it. So, please go through it once again! 

This winter has been particularly dry in the city and after ages of time, I experienced flaky and cracked skin! And, it has been hell for me for the past couple of days! Which made me realize why is my skin reacting in this way!

I have used coconut oil, almond oil, apricot oil, even cocoa butter and the recent DIY - washed ghee. They have all helped a bit but not much! And, then, I recalled that there are actually two types of dry skin - dehydrated and actually dry skin!
  
Do you really know the difference between dry skin and oily skin? Yes, you will say. Dry skin feels stretched and oily skin is like a frying pan. But, ultimately the chemistry of both these types of skin lack some important ingredient which keeps the skin balanced. Either the skin lacks hydration or moisturization. 

Hydration means water and moisturization means oil.

Now, do not confuse the two. A healthy balance of the above two is the key to that perfect skin and solving all the skin issues which plague you. So, let us look at both of the terms with respect to their skin conditions a little closely. 

Why Dry skin?

Skin can be dry for two reasons - it lacks water or the hydration levels of the skin is too less because of the less water consumption by the person, if we cancel out all other factors which lead to dry skin and assume that the person is following healthy skin habits. Also, there is a decrease in the natural skin oils or lipids which create a protective layer over the skin and help keep it moisturised.

So, to counter dry skin, apply both oil and water based moisturizers or you can use different moisturizers having water and oil and layer them. That is what I do. I use aloevera gel first and follow up with a facial oil. Doing just either of these steps will make the skin feel stretchy. Also, a tip is to apply the moisturisers and oils on damp skin.

Also Read: What hydrates our skin?

Which Dry Skin do You have?

So, now, it is up to you to decide which dry skin do you have? In most of the cases, generally the reason for dry skin is dehydration instead of lack of oils!

Drinking More Water does NOT help

Now that you know that your skin is dry due to less water content, I would like to add that drinking up a lot water and herbal tea does not replenish the moisture levels in your skin! The acidic level of the skin and the lipid barrier has been disturbed which is why skin is behaving in the way it is!!

Even Oily skin can be Dehydrated!

Even in oily skin, there is ample of oil but what it really lacks is hydration. Even oily skin can get dehydrated and this dehydration sends mixed signals to the brain which in turn causes skin to produce more oil to counter the missing water from the skin.

Result - even more oily skin but no hydration. So, to counter oily skin, apply water-based moisturizers regularly.

How to Treat this kind of Dehydration?

• Eat a lot of omega 3's - nuts, flax seeds, fish.

• Eat water based fruits! 

• Avoid dry brushing at this time as it can worsen the situation! 

• Avoid hot water baths at ANY cost! Trust me, I am doing the same. 

• Check out the cleanser you are using. Make sure it is mild and is not made of any acids, even salicylic acid! 

• Exfoliate your skin regularly because it will be turning flaky quite a lot! And, always use hydrating scrubs. The best bet would be sugar scrubs. Avoid salt and harsh scrubs at all costs!!

• Apply sunscreen in the morning and follow a stringent skin care routine at night. Use of toners is a good choice! 

Remember that skin will take time to heal!! So, be regular with your skin care routine. And, your skin will improve in 2-3 weeks.

What do you say? Is your skin dry or dehydrated? Does it need more water or oil? And, what are you doing to keep your skin soft this winter?

Related Posts:

Excess Body Heat and Acne
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How to make the skin clear and get rid of scars and blemishes and dark spots?

Tip of the Day

I love winters probably coz it gives me more reasons to cuddle :) Well, in winters the only thing irritates me is dry skin. So my mommy gave me a tip, which she read in some newspaper. So, here is the tip.

Take half banana add 2spoon of olive oil & blend/mash it. Add some drops of lemon.

This will reduce dryness & gives a glowing skin as well. Instead of lemon you can also use some other citrus fruits which might be less acidic in nature like oranges. [Check out this post in which I discuss the pH levels of all citrus fruits]

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Thanks Punam for such a wonderful tip :) Btw, you might also want to check this amazing product reviewed by Punam.

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Does Coconut Oil make the skin dark? {Your Opinion}

So, I was discussing this matter a few days back with my colleagues. One of the girls said that coconut oil makes the skin dark!! I was quite surprised because a long time back some body had said that besan (chickpea flour) also turns the skin dark!

I was pretty sure that this statement was equally a myth. But, then, I decided to google a bit on it. I did not really find any thing useful!! It just says that coconut oil is amazing for hair and skin and all. I have been using coconut oil for like, a month, now.

I mainly use coconut oil to remove the sunscreen from my face, neck and arms. I haven't noted any discoloration or pigmentation recently. In fact, my skin has become more plump and more hydrated and my skin has started to glow. 

When I had dry patches, I had hoped that coconut oil would be able to make it fine but that was something I could not achieve but then it was the product which was making the skin dry. Anyways, what do you think?

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Soulflower Rose Geranium Aroma Massage Oil {Product Review}

Price: Rs 450 for 90 ml

Ingredients

Pros

smells of roses!!

makes skin soft and glowing

Cons

might not suit very dry skin in extreme winters

My Experience

Ok, I hate the product!! Why?? Because, everyone is asking me what I apply that I smell so rose-y!! Every one says they can smell my oil at the end of corridors or as soon as they climb the stairs of our floor. Can you imagine that?? Seriously!! One gal even started calling me Rose coz of this :( :D

Ok, moving on from the smell, the product is thick in texture and is a massage oil so I apply it at night. If you are going out, this is not a great choice!! Coz, it doesn't really disappear into the skin. I have also noticed that it doesn't help with extreme skin dryness or dry patches. 

I hate the packaging in fact. Its all plastic with no stopper. It has rose petals in it which gives a good visual effect to the soap. I wish it came in a glass packaging or anything more eco-friendly!! It makes a very luxurious sleep as well. 

So, should you try it? I would definitely say yes!! If you do not like the smell of roses, that's a totally different issue. Actually, I did realize that I do not really love the smell that much but the extra attention was something which made me uncomfortable about the product.

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Banana Peel for Acne {DIY}

I had long back mentioned that banana peel is amazing to get rid of dry skin and dark spots and blemishes but my hubby contributed or lets says attested that banana peel helps with healing acne as well. If you rub the inside part of the peel on the pimples/acne, unless its cystic, it gets healed within a week along with the scar!! So, you might wanna check it out!!

Have you used banana peel on acne?

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