Are you making the same mistakes as I do while exfoliating your face? {Skin Care}

photo credit: FoundryParkInn via photopin cc

So, now that winters are almost in full swing, hopefully you are doing what I am doing these winters! And, then, now my skin is absolutely perfect. But, then, I suddenly noticed my entire face is not so soft! In fact, one of my readers also sent out the same query. Check out!

I use fair n lovely face wash I also apply the same cream after my wash....n when I touch my skin honestly I do not feel anything like cracking and all...I sense it smooth...but at the same time when I touch the corner part of my nose I feel it rough n its like skin coming out! What should I do?

So, now you would have already understood what I mean to say in this post. So, let us see if we really exfoliate our face properly!! And, discuss what are the proper exfoliation methods. Lets start.

What is the best time to Exfoliate?

So, this is the first thing I would like to clear. Now, my favorite time is the night time. Because, a proper exfoliation in the night helps the moisturizer to soak in better. Also, exfoliating in the night avoids the fresh skin to get exposed to the morning sun! 

Where as, the morning time is a better time. Because, the skin rejuvenates in the night and in the morning, your face has a layer of dead skin which is ready for removal. But, then, the fresh skin is exposed to the harsher sun light and might tan unless one is diligent in applying sunscreen. Btw, exfoliating in the morning also helps the makeup go on better. 

So, you can decide which is the best time for you! 

What to use for Exfoliation?

So, what is your favorite ingredient for exfoliating your skin? For me, it is sugar and salt!! Well, is it really correct for my skin type? Ok, so sugar is an all-rounder when it comes to exfoliation and gives a smooth and perfect skin. For dry skin, it is quite hydrating and nourishing.

But, for oily skin, salt is an absolute must. Salt absorbs the oil and provides the minerals which sugar can not. It also detoxifies the skin which is why even people with dry skin should use salt once in a while for exfoliation. Do check out my homemade DIY body polishing scrub!

Never Exfoliate on Dry or even Damp Skin!!

Have you ever done this, anywhere on your body? Like scrubbing the dead skin on your heels or even nails? If yes, DO NOT ever repeat it. It is extremely harmful for your skin and you can end up injuring yourself. Exfoliate only completely clean and dripping wet, preferably soaked with warm water so that the pores are open, skin.

Don't forget these areas during exfoliation!

And, then, we take the scrub and apply it to the face. Start from the forehead and proceed to the cheeks in light circular motions. Be gentle and have a light hand. And, DO NOT forget these areas -  

• crevices around the nose where it generally gets dry and skin peels off - extend your nose as if you are removing blackheads and scrub the crevices thoroughly!
• corners of the lips - extend your mouth like you are applying the lipstick and scrub off the corners.
• inner curve below the lower lip and above the chin - extend the lower lip over the lower jaw to make the curve flat and scrub it
  
• on and behind the ears
• lips - press your lips tightly to avoid tasting the scrub :P, and, finally 
• neck lines - extend your neck like a giraffe and giving it a thorough scrub. Moisturise in the same way!!   

photo credit: FoundryParkInn via photopin cc

Leave the scrub on for sometime to help it soak into the Skin

So, now that you have scrubbed your face, leave it on for sometime while you finish washing or scrubbing yourself. That will make the skin even more softer and helps the active ingredients of the scrub to soak into the skin.

And, finally, wash off with luke warm water and last rinse should be cold water. Do NOT forget to Moisturize. Just because your skin is feeling awesome does not mean you forgo the skin care routine. So, do not forget to tone and moisturize your skin with your favorite oil or serum.  

And, now, we have one more thing!

Type of Skin and Frequency

Now, this has been said time and again that oily skin should not be exfoliated as often as dry skin. For one, oily skin if exfoliated regularly produces more oil causing more oiliness. And, dry skin accumulates more dead skin which needs to be removed regularly for a fresh and glowing look. So, twice a week is enough for oily skin and for dry skin, thrice a week of exfoliation is enough.  

So, what all steps do you follow? Do you have any exfoliation tips!!

Related Posts:
Dry Skin Causes and how to heal it?
Dry or Dehydrated; Moisturized or Hydrated!!
Excess Body Heat and Acne

Omved Anirveda Body / Bath Oil {Product Review}

Price: Rs 590 for 80ml

Availability

Online - Naturalmantra

Ingredients

Almond, Olive, Jojoba, Orange, Lemon, Lavender and Mogra (Jasmine) oils

Pros

it gets absorbed super quick!!

keeps skin moisturized for decent time
 will suit all skin types, even oily

Cons

damn the expense!! 

might not be enough for extremely dry skin!

hate the packaging!

My Experience

Ok, I got the 30ml bottle from the website as part of their promotional campaign. Well, as you all already know that I do splurge heavily on the website so what else should I say?

Ok, I won't say its the perfect website to shop from coz there have been hitches but Nishant and Tina (the owner couple) are very helpful and generally handle the grievances soon enough and very efficiently.

And, coming back to the product, it gets absorbed into the skin like a dream!! Seriously, it beats Forest Essentials as well in that depo if you don't count the fragrance. 

This smells more herbal and Earthy which is also not repulsive but I donno why it smells like that considering the essential oils in the product. But, the problem is that it might not be enough for extremely dry skin in winters. 

It comes in a aluminium or tin bottle (donno which) and has a round opening with a stopper. I wish it came in a classier looking packaging looking at the price! Donno if the packaging differs for the 80ml pack.

But, one thing which I really want to mention is the price!! Its damn expensive. Also, I wanted to remind you guys that last few days are left to avail the special 10% reader discount at the website so don't forget to use it :)

PS: Product sent by website for self-promotion.

Other products from Omved:

Omved Intense Moisturizing Cream
Omved All Skin Types Ubtan

Some Random Product Reviews - Part I

Vaseline Total Moisture Cocoa Glow

My Experience

Ok, my experience is not much so I am not officially reviewing it but its definitely a product to look forward to!!! I have used for, what, 3-4 days. And, my skin was soft, moisturized and not dry for a decently long time, till my next bath which is like in the evening or night!!

A habit which my mom really detests and she says I caught cold coz I have bath at really weird time :D Moms and their complaints!! Anyways, the only problem with the product is it gets sticky if your over-apply. Otherwise, it smells yummy!! Almost like the Vanilla Body Butter by TBS which I got for dad.

The Body Shop Vanilla Body Butter Duo

My Experience

Again very less experience with the product so not a review exactly. But, it smells yummy!!! And, as the name says it has two compartments - one is creamy and not very thick which gets absorbed really quickly and the other is a little heavy but it also gets absorbed quickly enough.

I used the product by mixing both the compartments which gave me a good moisturizing. And, its not greasy either. And, the smell is what lasts with you. My dad has stored it for special occasions looking at the price tag :D And, yes, he loved it as well.

Nivea Creme

My Experience

Totally love this. I mean if you get a chance to go to Germany, don't forget to get the Nivea products from there. Nivea is a German brand and Europe has a quite strict policies of skin care products so their products are really amazing. Its not greasy at all and helps with dry patches.

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

Vaadi Herbals Amla Thanda (Cool) Tail (Oil)

Nivea pure effect Total Face Cleanup

Get from flipkart:

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:

Winter Skin Care Lotions 

Nivea Fruity Shine Dragon Fruit vs Pomegranate 

Nivea Refreshing Cleansing Milk

Nivea Repair and Protection

Nivea Nourishing Body Milk

Nivea Sun Moisturizing Lotion SPF 50 PA++ 

Nivea Sun Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 PA++

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

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.

• Price: 22$ for 8oz. Expensive!

• Availability - Le Beurre Website 

• 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

Loving It / Using It Vol. 8 - Le Beurre Shea Butter Face Cream and Lip Balm

Long time back, I had ordered cocoa butter because I wanted to create my own face cream and body creams minus all the other useless ingredients. That cocoa butter is still lying in my fridge but I was contacted by this company to review the products and jumped at the offer. What could be better than using the natural products, right? So, let us see how did they fare in my review!

Shea Butter Face Cream

• Price: 12$ for 2oz

• No smell at all. 

• Packaging not really great. In fact the labels also get dissolved if the shea butter melts on it. 

• Moisturizes well. Shea Butter is awesome. In fact, it made my skin look glowing and hydrated even if no exfoliation was done!

• Ingredients not mentioned. 

• Does not travel well. The cream can melt in tropical temperatures and leak! 

• A small quantity is enough. Otherwise, it will make the face look oily. And, it is definitely a winter or dry season product. 

• Not suited for oily skin. 

Loving It / Using It : Using It

Shea Butter Lip Butter

• Price: 3$ for 0.5oz

• No smell at all. 

• Packaging good. The tin can can be reused for homemade lip balms or solid perfumes. 

• Moisturises well. Shea Butter is awesome. Lips look pink and beautiful.

• Ingredients not mentioned. 

• Absolutely travel-friendly

Loving It / Using It : Loving It

Availability

Website - Le Beurre

Overall Verdict

Totally love the lip butter. Definitely recommended! For face cream, I had only a sample size so can not really comment more.

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

Related Posts:

Loving It / Using It Vol. 7 - Madara Colour and Shine Shampoo for Colored / Treated Hair
Loving / Using It Vol. 6 - Vaadi Herbals Chandan Kesar Haldi Face Pack
Loving / Using It Vol. 5 - Vaadi Herbals Nails and Cuticle Oil

Loving / Using It Vol. 3 - Kama Ayurveda Rose Jasmine Bath & Body Oil

Loving / Using It : Loving It

I absolutely am loving this oil. And, fortunately it is one of the few products which has jasmine but still smells like rose. Jasmine is so over-bearing that Kama has managed to put rose as the dominating scent in the oil. And, using it is absolute luxury :)

Have your used this oil? Share your thoughts!

Related Posts:

Loving It Vol. 2 - Nivea Pure Effect Total Face Cleanup
Loving It Vol. 1 - Garnier Pure Active pore unclogging wash

Vaadi Herbals Aromatherapy Body Oil Pure Lemongrass and Lily Oil {Product Review}

I simply love body oils and this one is fast growing on me. Though I don't like the fact that it gets finished off too soon for me, it sure smells really fresh and lemongrass-y. I love the citrus-y smell which hits the nose as soon as you open the bottle.

The fragrance is strong but not overly so which does make me a bit suspicious if it is natural or not. I have never actually smelled lemongrass essential oil, hence, my suspicions. I have had bergamot though it wasn't this strong. But, it was equally refreshing!

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Pros

gets absorbed easily

smells refreshing

moisturizes the skin well

cute packaging

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Anyways coming back to the product, it comes in a cute green bottle with a stopper. You have to pierce the stopper but I, being lazy, chucked it out altogether. Don't do that because then you don't really know how much of the product is enough for one use.

Due to that issue, earlier I used to end up using a bit too much of the oil but then slowly I decreased to using around 5-10 drops of oil for each body part. Applied on damp skin, the product gets absorbed really easily and moisturizes the skin well.

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Cons

doesn't do anything for the tan and blemishes as it claims!

can be sticky if overused

smell might get too strong for sensitive noses

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I won't say that it made my skin glow or remove the tan or did what it claims but it is definitely worth a try. I think a 100ml would last around a month of usage. And, the price is decent for the quantity.

Price: Rs 65 for 50ml

Availability

Website: Vaadi Herbals, Flipkart

PS: Product provided by brand. 

Have you used this product?

Related Posts:

Nivea powerfruit relax Shower Gel
Ponds White Beauty All-in-One BB + Fairness Cream SPF 30 PA++
Garnier Daily Care Gentle Cleansing Milk

Get from flipkart:

Ponds White Beauty All-in-One BB + Fairness Cream SPF 30 PA++ {Product Review}

I have delayed this review by like almost three weeks! Anyways, so are you a BB-cream lover. Ok, I want to make one point over here. BB creams or any other creams for that matter are not a substitute for sunscreen!! So, please use a sunscreen separately.

Now, let me come on to my trysts with BB creams. I have not really been lucky with them. Either they leave a white cast or make my skin too dark or too oily. I rather prefer using base and follow up with my sunscreen and I am done.

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Pros

blends easily

gives a dewy glow to the skin

leaves the skin looking a little bright

easy to carry

very less product needed so lasts long!

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So, how did this product fare for me? For the starters, I like the packaging. Its stylish and very easy to carry and the mouth of the tube dispenses exactly the amount of product you need which is, trust me, less than a black pepper corn size!

Any more and you might end up with a white cast on the face. Using the right amount of the product, however, leaves the skin dewy. It does provide a little coverage but I can not really comment because I do not have small blemishes that I could cover up.

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Cons

leaves a white cast which might not suit all skin types

makes the skin a bit oily 

does not last beyond 2-3 hours

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But, I have issues with its lasting power. It does make my skin look a bit oily and dull by the end of the day so that did not quite work out for me! Also, I do not think it really lightens up the skin or clears up the tan or makes you look fair. It just brightens the skin subtly which is something which you will like when the product is fresh on skin.

The texture of the product is a bit creamy and it leaves a dewy finish, as I mentioned earlier. Whether it will lead to breakouts or not is something I can not vouch for! As for the cleanup part, the product gets cleansed off easily without any issues so hopefully it is non-comedogenic and does not cause clogged pores.

Price: Rs 65 for 9gms

So, what about you? Did you use this product? Do you like any other BB cream?

PS : Product sent for PR purposes.

Related Posts:
Garnier Daily Care Gentle Cleansing Milk
Clear Nourishing Scalp Care Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Nivea Sun Light Feeling Daily Face Sun Fluid 50+ Very High

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Organic Surge Daily Care Facewash {Product Review}

Guest Post by Roshni

A big thanks to Swati for letting me do a guest post :) Hope you all like it! [Me: I should be thankful to you, Rosh, instead!]

After my Dove Beauty Moisture face wash got over, I decided to order the Organic Surge Daily Care face wash since I had read a lot about it. The one tempting factor of this face wash was the rose geranium oil which is one of the ingredients of the face wash. I love anything that smells of or contains roses and so I had to give this face wash a try!

Price: Rs 660 (Got it for INR528 from medplusbeauty.com)

Quantity: 200ml

Ingredients

My Experience

I will start off by saying I have become a big fan of this face wash! And this is not only due to the rose smell ;-) The face wash has all natural ingredients with no SLES or parabens. I find this to be another big attraction. It of course smells like roses – more like a gulkand smell. This is very refreshing. 

The face wash is not very runny nor creamy. It is a golden yellow in colour and lathers very well. I take a pea sized amount in my wet palm, rub it between my hands to generate lather, and then apply it to my face and neck. I then rub it gently and in a circular motion over my face and neck and wash it off.

My skin feels squeaky clean but not dry. It feels hydrated and soft. Also, my face tends to get small boils on the cheek bones and near the nose every few days if I don’t apply an antibacterial cream every 2-3 days. But since I have started using this face wash, the appearance of the boils has reduced and I do not need to use the antibacterial cream for many days at a time. So I am completely overjoyed!

Pros

• A small amount works a lot. This face wash will easily last me 6 months, I guess. I got it in April and little more than half is still left and that is with my husband using it half the time!!

• The rose smell! – even people who do not like rose smell or have a sensitive nose can use this cause the smell does not linger.

• Makes my skin squeaky clean without drying it.

• Reduces the appearance of boils.

• Comes in a pump dispenser bottle with a cap on top. So very easy to get the face wash out and also travel friendly.

• Contains natural ingredients which are definitely proving very good for my skin.

Cons

• Availability (only available online)

• Expensive? – I don’t think so cause it will last really long as I said above and is well worth the price!

So have you used this face wash? How do you like it?

Me: You have definitely sold me over the product, Rosh! Its on my list!

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Check out Roshni's quirky posts at Everything that Clicks!

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Other products from Organic Surge:
Organic Surge Moisture Boost Shampoo

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?

Related Posts:

Should you use body powder on face?
Do you apply Egg on Hair?
Do you get boils on your nose bridge or around in summers?

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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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!).

Have you tried Aloe Vera? {Skin Care}

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Omved Sushwasa Body & Bath Oil {Product Review}

Price: Rs 490 for 80ml

Ingredients

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

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

My Experience

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

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

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

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

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

Availability

Online - Natural Mantra

PS: Product sent by website.

Other products from Omved:

Omved All Skin Types Ubtan

Omved Intense Moisturizing Cream