Review: Always Personal Care Range

Hi friends, again after a short hiatus (which is becoming a regular on this blog now) I am back with a new brand in personal care products.

Called Do More Always, this brand has been launched by a group of athletes with the intent to provide clean high quality products for active people.

Their current personal care range includes a face wash, moisturizer, sunscreen, body wash, and a body lotion. All products are paraben free. Let's dive right in and see what each of these products has to offer.

Always Cleanse Foaming Face Wash

This face wash comes in a pump bottle of 60ml, just the right size for travel. The face wash itself is a foamed product which feels very very light on the skin. I used about 3 pumps to cleanse my face and neck. It washes off easily and leaves behind a super clean yet soft feeling skin. I actually did not need a moisturizer after cleaning my face. The face wash contains neem and aloe vera which make it ideal for acne prone skin too.

Price: Rs 400 (60 ml)

Always Hydrate Moisturizer

A non greasy moisturizer which boasts of Niacinamide, Vitamin B5, and Vitamin E, all ingredients that are meant to repair and hydrate the skin without making it greasy. The moisturizer has a very light weight texture and immediately gets absorbed into the skin. With regular use the actives in this moisturizer can boost skin health that gets deteriorated due to the daily grime.

Price: Rs 500 (50 ml)

Always Essential Skin Kit

Always Protect Sunscreen

The sunscreen Always Protect has SPF50 and a non-comodogenic cream with a very light texture. It gets absorbed easily and does not leave a white cast. It comes in a small pump bottle making it a good travel companion so you can re-apply as necessary.

Price: Rs 500 (50 ml)

Always Essential Skin Kit Swatches

Always Fresh Body Wash

Oh this one smells AMAZING! Yes this body wash would be loved by all coffee lovers. The whiff of coffee as you pour out this body wash engulfs you in the shower. This body wash contains aloe vera, cucumber extract, coffee extract and tea tree oil. All these ingredients are antibacterial and perfect for an after gym shower. Always Fresh body wash also targets body acne though I will have to use it longer to give a verdict on its efficacy. It comes in a flip-top bottle of 200ml.

Price: Rs 450 (200 ml)

Always Body Fit Combo

Always Nourish Body Lotion

I really like how the face moisturizer, sunscreen and even this body lotion are made with a non-greasy formula. Always Nourish Body Lotion is made with rich body butters like shea butter, mango seed butter, and cocoa butter, yet it feels light in texture. This one is also infused with coffee oil which keeps the skin supple though it does not have a strong coffee fragrance. That is good because I wouldn't want to smell of coffee all day long!

Price: Rs 450 (200 ml)

Always Body Wash and Body Lotion Swatches

Currently the brand has discounts going on all their products and even offer face care and body care kits that come in cute pouches.

You can purchase these on Amazon.in for good discounts and sometimes extra discount coupon over and above the discounted price.

My favourite product from the range is the body wash followed by the foaming face wash. Do try these out and let me know in the comments what you think about this entire range.

Review: Deyga Anti-Acne Kit

Hello everyone! A few days back I shared my views on the Deyga baby care products. Today I am sharing my views on the Anti Acne kit by the same brand.

The Deyga Anti Acne kit comprises of 5 products. It aims at treating acne along with clearing clogged pores. All products are natural and handmade.

The five products in the kit are a cleaning bath bar, tea tree oil, neem seed oil, a tea tree toner and aloe vera gel. There are two bars of the soap in this kit. They come in a cute jute bag.

You can purchase these products separately as well. Check out the Deyga website: https://deyga.in/collections/combo/products/acne-control-kit

Deyga Anti Acne Kit

From left to right in the above pic we have a toner, aloe vera gel, tea tree oil, neem seed oil and soap.

The tea tree facial toner comes in a plastic bottle with a spray nozzle. A quick spritz gives a fresh feeling. Tea tree in this toner acts on the active acne by eliminating impurities and leaving the skin clean and shine free. I spray this on my face (keeping my eyes closed) and then gently pat my skin until it gets absorbed.

The aloe vera gel comes in a small plastic container and you need to dip your hand inside to take out the product. It is best to use a small spoon to scoop out whatever amount you need so that you don't contaminate rest of the product. Aloe vera is known for its moisturizing properties. This is the best moisturizer for acne prone skin as it does not give an oily feeling and doesn't clog pores. The best part is it can be used under make up as well.

The tea tree oil in this kit comes in a tiny glass bottle with a dropper lid. Tea tree oil is known as a natural antiseptic and has been part of every acne kit I have every tried. Pure tea tree oil is very strong and must be used with care.

This kit also contains neem seed oil. I have never used neem seed oil before on my skin. I have used it to kill insects on my plants. I have used neem leaves directly on my face as a teenager. The Deyga Neem Seed Oil is 100 % pure and you will surely notice the strong neem smell when you open the product. It comes in a glass bottle with a dropper. It's a heavy oil and does leave it's smell on the skin until washed off.

The soap in this kit is a Charcoal bath bar, this can be used on the face as well as body. I used one for my face and kept the other to use in the bath. Activated charcoal in this soap helps reduce acne and really gives a very clean feeling after use. On days when I was lazy I would simply use the soap while I skipped rest of the regimen. 

Price: Rs 2060

Deyga Neem Seed Oil

The team at Deyga recommends using this kit in a particular sequence.

1. Rinse your face with water

2. Apply a few drops of neem seed oil to the whole face and let it sit for 30 minutes

3. Clean the face with Charcoal soap

4. Apply tea-tree toner over the face and pat dry

5. Apply aloe vera gel

The above sequence does not mention anything about the tea tree oil. The way I used it is to add a couple of drops to the neem oil and use it as part of the step 2 above. Tea tree oil can also be added to bath water. Remember to not go overboard with tea tree oil, it is strong and needs a carrier oil or base oil to work.

One unique tip I got from the Deyga website was to use a drop of the neem seed oil on my belly button before sleeping to help get rid of acne faster. And it works!

When I started using the kit I had quiet a lot of active acne specially on my back. So I used it for my face and also started using the charcoal soap on my back. Following the regimen regularly did help heal my active acne. Unfortunately I got caught up with house work so much that following the whole regimen seemed like too much of a task so slowly I drifted away. Now that I again have active acne I plan to return to this regimen once again. Whenever you start using any skin-care product kit it is important to follow the regimen because the products are designed to work together. The above products are good individually as well but they work the best when used together. 

Here's hoping I will step into the new year with clearer skin!

Happy Holidays!

Follow Me On | | Pin It

POSITIVE 3 in 1 Activated Charcoal Peel-Off Face Mask Review

Hi everyone! I'm trying to get back to product reviews slowly and the first product being reviewed this month is Positive 3-in-1 Activated Charcoal Peel Off Mask.

Positive is a brand that I'm trying out for the first time and I noticed it because of their onion hair oil. Onion hair oils are really creating a buzz these days but more on that later as I've got a review of it in my next post coming out in quick succession to this one. Back to the activated charcoal mask.

The mask comes in a tube with a flip cap and is ready to use straight out of the box. I love these kind of masks where I don't need to bother about mixing ingredients myself. They are easy to use and are travel friendly.

The mask is black in color and has a shiny appearance. It's thick enough to easily get applied to your skin but runny enough to come out of the tube if you open the lid and let it sit pointing down - basically you'll get a hassle free application if you use your fingers or a brush for putting it on your face. I prefer using a brush for an even application to my skin.

Lujo Box - A New Subscription Beauty Box

Hi Everyone!

Today's post is all about a new beauty subscription box that just launched. It's called the Lujo Box (pronounced as lu-ho box)

The box that came in for the month of October is a black cardboard box which looked quite nice to open. Inside it housed a card with details of this month's box contents, a t-shirt, some products enclosed in a nice looking paper with the Lujo Box logo all over it. And below all this was a red velvet storage pouch which can be used to actually keep jewelry.

Subscription to Lujo Box is priced at Rs 1250, you can subscribe Here

Now let's dive in to see what beauty products came in the box.

Vaadi Herbals Divine Honey and Sandal Shower Gel - Review

Hi friends! I've been trying to move to more natural chemical free products lately and during my search for something gentle to use in the shower, I came across Vaadi Herbals Shower Gels.

The ingredients mentioned by the brand are all natural. I even tried to confirm from their customer support and in the online chat they confirmed that their products are 100% natural and paraben free. So I went ahead and ordered myself one of their shower gels to try out.

I picked out the Divine Honey and Sandal Shower Gel which claims to lighten the skin. 

Sandal is known for it's skin loghtening and brightening proeprties while Honey is a skin elixir of sorts as it helps moisturise the skin.

The brand claims that honey eradicates the skin of dirt while Sandal helps clear up acne. I've been suffering from bacne again and this was the reason why I chose this particular variant from the shower gels from Vaadi Herbals.

The shower gel comes in a fuss free transparent bottle, it has the ingredients mentioned on the bottle. The bottle has a disc top cap which makes it convenient to use in the shower.

Price: Rs 205 (300 mL) [ purchased online from https://amzn.to/2N0HTHG ]

My Experience With Vaadi Herbals Divine Honey & Sandal Shower Gel

My first reaction to this shower gel was actually doubt. The fragrance is very strong and I know Sandal based products usually do have a strong fragrance but this one had a kind of chemical Sandal fragrance.

Unboxed: My Envy Box - Beauty Edition December

One box, cold winter months, and MAKEUP - yes, that is all you need for a little cheering up on days that let you down.

My Envy Box December edition is a beauty box. It comes with 3 makeup products and 1 skin care product. The box is red in color with a snowflake sweater print - very Christmas oriented and surely a nice gift for your girl friends.

So this month's box came with just 4 products - I'm just being greedy, I've been spoilt with a minimum of 5 products each month! But this month the box contains all four FULL SIZE products - yes all of them!
But is it worth your money? Read on....

Oriflame Skin Pro Cleansing System Review

Getting a good cleanup of your skin really makes a difference. I was earlier using the handheld facial cleansing brush from Twowoo - it worked well but required a manual operation. Recently I upgraded to the Skin Pro Cleansing System from Oriflame.

The Skin Pro cleaning system is a motorized brush that aims to clean your face with gentle strokes leaving your skin feeling soft and smooth while leaving it squeeky clean.

The gadget comes in a box with batteries, a stand and a travel pouch. There is one brush head already attached to the device and extra brush heads can be purchased seperately. 

Price: Rs 3199 - available at discounts on the amazon and flipkart great India sales

Himalaya PureHands - 5 New Flavours To Sanitize Your Hands (Review)

Himalaya's PureHands is a hand sanitizer by Himalaya Wellness.
I first started using PureHands in their original variant a few years ago when they launched in India.

Now Himalaya PureHands is available in 5 exciting flavors (fragrances?) of Green Apple, Litchi, Strawberry, Orange and Lemon.

I am a huge sucker for good fragrances when it comes to any skin care. And these new products in the Himalaya PureHands range are just what I needed.

Himalaya PureHands is an effective, herbal, alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
It kills 99.9% of germs which means you can be assured that it will help prevents infection and ensures total hand hygiene. Now available in 5 exciting flavors- Green Apple, Litchi, Strawberry, Orange and Lemon.

PureHands is available in travel friendly packs that you can carry with you wherever you go.
Anytime you touch anything in a public place (read railings, escalator hand rail, doors) your hands can catch an infection.

A lot of times you are out shopping and don't have a place to wash your hands before you grab a bite. You can easily sanitize your hands and have them smelling all clean and fruity with these new flavors.

Each flavor has a different color when you take it out of the bottle. Its a translucent product that simply vanishes when you rub it all over your hands.

Sometimes sanitizers can have a very bad after smell but the Himalaya PureHands smell great, all the variants do but if I had to pick one, it would have to be Litchi - the fragrances is so refreshing and Litchi-like!

The product comes in a plastic bottle with a flip cap.
Price: Rs 300 for the entire pack of 5 [available individually as well - click here for online options]
Rs 55 for the 50ml bottle and Rs 80 for the 100ml bottle

Which variant would you like to try?

Follow Me On | | Pin It

7 Different Types Of Pedicures for Healthy And Happy Feet

7 Different Types Of Pedicures for Healthy And Happy Feet
- Best Types of Pedicure Worth a Try

Apart from the beautiful appearance that pedicure promises, it also comes with a lot of health benefits, from skin care to mental and feet relaxation. Well, did you know that there are different types of pedicure, each with a different procedure and purpose? If you have been doing one type of pedicure all through, then you cannot say you have experienced the sweetness of pedicure.

What is a pedicure or manicure?
A pedicure is a treatment done to your feet and legs. It involves cleaning of the feet, clipping and polishing the toenails. A manicure is the treatment done to the hands and fingernails.
So, what are the different types of pedicure and which is the best for me? Okay, the best type of pedicure to go for will vary from time to time depending on the current needs. To ensure you have an easy time choosing the most appropriate pedicure, I have discussed the different types of pedicure.

1. Regular pedicure 
The regular pedicure is still the most common and preferred type of pedicure out there. If you hear someone mention a basic pedicure, you are not lost, this is what they are talking about.
It starts with soaking the feet in warm water which helps to soften the dead skin and cuticles. The pedicurist will then scrub the feet to clean the nails and exfoliate any dead skin. From here, you will choose the length and shape that you desire on your fingernails.
The pedicurist will now begin clipping your nails right, shaping the edges and pushing the cuticles. Following will be a foot massage as the moisturizer is applied and lastly the toenails are painted with your favorite nail polish.
This type of pedicure is best for those who are in need of a basic and simple feet treatment. Also, it will be the most appropriate for those who are doing a pedicure for the first time.

2. French Pedicure 
If you are a pedicure lover, chances are, you have heard or even tried the French pedicure. It goes by the procedures of the regular pedicure, only that there is a difference in nail polishing. When it comes to polishing, the nails are first polished with clear, beige or pink coating and then a solid white nail polish is applied at the nail tips.
This pedicure is best for those who are craving for a more neutral and fancy pedicure.

3. Gel pedicure 
The gel or shellac pedicure is by far the most long lasting pedicure that you can find. It involves three coatings of regular nail polish. However, the gel pedicure appears almost exactly like the regular pedicure since they both use the same nail polish. The only difference between the two is that gel pedicure uses UV light to dry the nail polish which is applied three times.
The advantage of this pedicure over the regular one is that your nails are dried completely after each coat is applied. So, you don’t have to panic about messing up with your newly painted nails. Another advantage is that gel pedicure lasts longer compared to the regular pedicure.

AGEsmart Facial At F Salon, Rajouri Garden

F Salon is situated in Vishal Enclave, Rajouri Garden. The place happens to be very close to home and I took my mom for trying out their AGESmart facial.

About F Salon
F Salon provides a wide array of beauty and style packages. They offer services that cater to your skin, hair, and nails. The main services they boast about are their Majirel hair color, stylish hair cuts, and facials to give your skin a new look.

The salon is nicely spaced out with different areas for different services. They keep offering you bottled water and tea. The products used in all categories are of good brands.

AGEsmart Facial At F Salon, Rajouri Garden

AGESmart Facial

I was invited to try out their AGESmart facial but since this caters to mature skin I took my mom to try it out. The facial was done in a separate room where my mom was first given a robe to change into. Her hair was nicely tied back and she was asked to relax as the facial began. A number of products were used beginning with a facial cleanup. This was followed by a scrub, facial massage and finally the face pack. This whole procedure took around 60 minutes. After the facial my mom looked very relaxed and she was quite happy with the service.

TBC by Nature - Frosted White Power Magic Peeling Gel Scrub - Review, Swatches

Summers are a time we cherish for the long hours in the pool, for the cool lollies we relish and for the mango shakes that make the day worth living. But, summers are also synonymous with skin concerns like tanning, damage to skin cells from dust and pollution, and oil clogged pores from all the sweating if you are headed out!

Exfoliation is very important in summers to remove all the dead skin cells so that you always look your best. Attempting to answer our summer skin concerns TBC has launched a new Signature Series of products. I tried out their Frosted White Power Magic Peeling Gel Scrub that claims to remove impurities from your skin instantly.

TBC by Nature - Frosted White Power Magic Peeling Gel Scrub - Review, Swatches

Power Magic Peeling Gel Scrub comes in a tube form with a flip cap. It is an alcohol free product. The term 'magic' is used because the scrub is actually in a gel form that visibly rolls over your skin to life off dead skin cells as you massage it onto your skin.

The main ingredients of Pineapple, Keratinase, and Pomegranate help replenish the skin. They help peel the dead skin layer to reveal a fresher complexion without causing any irritation or drying of the skin. The gel lifts of dirt and impurities to decongest clogged pores.

TBC by Nature - Frosted White Power Magic Peeling Gel Scrub - Review, Swatches 

Price: Rs. 350 for 100g [you can find TBC products online here]

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ Review

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ is someting I've been using since December last year. I am almost finished with my tube and that is the reason behind my review. 

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ Review

If you are a regular reader of the blog you know my acne voes and how moisturizers and face creams seldom get acceptance by my skin. But this one is a sure winner and I'm super glad it worked!

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ is a multipurpose face cream - it helps unclog pores, works as an anti-imperfection cream, and gives your skin hydration without causing stickiness or greasiness. The cream comes in a tube form with a slim nozzle head. It has a screw top cap and is hence easy to carry around.

Price: Rs 1350 for 40ml [buy online La Roche Posay]

The cream is on the costlier side but one tube has lasted me almost 3 months of usage and I still have some left. I've used it regularly every morning and mostly at night too.

Read on to know if it's worth your money!

My Envy Box - #Getup&Boogie New Year 2017 Edition

If you are still in the new year celebration mood then here is just the little box to make your day!

My Envy Box came out with a party themed box for January 2017. Here's a look at the lovely looking box and its goodies!

You can subscribe to the box or purchase just a month's box at www.myenvybox.com - use the coupon OEWSHILPA to avail 15% off

And here are all the details about the contents.

Medimix Ayurvedic Face Wash - With 6 Essential Herbs

Medimix has launched a new face wash at a pocket friendly price. The face wash boasts of being paraben free, soap free and made up of eco-friendly ingredients. 

The face wash from Medimix is made up of 6 essential herbs of neem, aloe vera, turmeric, lodhra and manjishtha.

While neem helps battle acne, turmeric acts as a natural anti-septic for the skin. Aloe vera helps provide moisture to the skin. The herb lodhra is said to reduce skin inflammation and improve skin complexion. Manjishtha helps improve the skin texture. All in all these 6 herbs packed together in this gel based face wash provide deep cleansing and nourishment to the skin.

Price: Rs 60 (50 mL) [available on amazon.in]
Rs 100 (100 mL) [available on amazon.in]

Organic Harvest Anti Tan Mask

Organic Harvest Anti Tan Mask is a mask targeted to help remove tan. The mask contains Seaweed jelly that is the core ingredient which helps remove the tan on our skin.

The mask also contains olive oil to give moisturization, while Mulberry extract & Daisy flower extract enhance the skin and provide glow to the skin.

Key ingredients: Seaweed jelly, Olive oil, Vitamin C, Mulberry extract & Daisy flower extract, certified organic Xanthum gum in cream base.

The anti-tan mask comes in a small pot. It also houses a spill proof inner lid.

Unboxed: My Envy Box June 2016 And Discount Code

Summery, girly, beautiful! What other adjectives come to your mind when you hold a box this pretty!

My Envy Box June 2016 is another keepsake for me. The box is white with this lovely floral print.

Before I reveal the contents here is some good news. You can use coupon code OEWSHILPA to get 15% off - yup specially for all of you who follow the blog - go indulge!!!

Price: Rs 850 for one month subscription - you can get the box HERE.

Now let's jump straight to the contents.

1. O3+ Aloe Derma Hydrating Gel (Price: Rs 385 for 50 ml) - the box contains a 50ml tube. This seems like a good product for summers when you need the hydration but not the greasiness of creams. It claims to soothe the skin while preventing redness that is so common in summers.
2. Calvin Klein CK2 Vial (Price: Rs 3800 for 100ml) - love the fragrance and I'm happy to have this in my box. I know perfume vials are really tiny samples. But all the vials so far have been extremely useful for me to carry around in my purse and I quite look forward to every months new fragrance sample.

LUKE Mugwort Nose Strip Review

Time to get rid of those blackheads!

Hi friends, I'm sharing a review of a sheet mask that I used recently from Skin18.com

It's called LUKE Mugwort Nose Strip - sounds like some weird character straight out of a Harry Potter script!

 

Its a free sample that I got with my recent face sheet masks. Its a tiny light blue strip that comes attached to a plastic sheet. 

Price: $0.65 (approx Rs 60)

Oriflame Optimals White Foaming Gel Face Wash Review

Oriflame Optimals Foaming Gel Face Wash has been a good companion through the months of January and February this year. It comes in a bottle of 200ml with a pump dispenser making it super easy to use in the bathroom.

Oriflame Optimals Foaming Gel Face Wash Review

The ingredient list is mentioned on the back.

Oriflame Optimals Foaming Gel Face Wash Ingredients

Price: Rs 549 (discounted to Rs 480 on flipkart.com)

The face wash is transparent and has a very mild fragrance. It lathers well and removes most makeup (for waterproof mascara I have had to use a makeup remover). 

The face wash cleanses the face well and leaves it feeling soft. It did not aggravate my acne and worked well in keeping my facial oil away. Once I stopped using this face wash I would wake up to a slightly oily face.

DOY #BringBackGentle

All mother's would agree that being a mother is not an easy job. It surely is the most important one. Children closely watch everything their mothers do and say. Owing to a stressful life, mothers are losing their gentleness and there is simply a lot of chaos in their day to day lives. This indirectly affects their children. DOY has launched a new campaign called Bring Back Gentle. To communicate this message they have created a cute video which you can watch below:

Under their #BringBackGentle campaign, DOY has launched 3 new variants of their soaps. The three new variants are Pure & Mild, Clear & Natural and Soft & Gentle. The soaps work gently on your skin reminding you each day of this campaign so that your children grow up watching the gentle YOU!

Say Bye Bye Dry Skin With Parachute Advansed Body Lotions

Different people have different moisturiser needs based on how dry their skin is. We all need to moisturise our skin to keep it soft and supple. Parachute has 3 variants in their Advansed body lotion range to target different needs.

Parachute Advansed Body Lotions are enriched with coconut milk and are named Soft Touch (for dry skin), Deep Nourish (for extra dry skin) and Refresh (with cool mint extract for the warmer weather)

Say Bye Bye Dry Skin With Parachute Advansed Body Lotions

The body lotions come in a smooth hourglass shaped bottle with a flip cap. The ingredients are mentioned on the back of the bottles.

Price: Rs 132 (for 250ml) 

The price is a plus point as these moisturisers are affordable and give you a good quantity for the price.

Say Bye Bye Dry Skin With Parachute Advansed Body Lotions