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Girnar Green Tea, Instant Premix and Infusion Review

2018-03-20T23:28:00.001+05:30

In my quest for what new thing can I buy, I came across a box of Girnar Detox Kahwa in a supermarket and it has altered my being; changed my soul. It even went on to affect the lives of the people around me. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that Girnar should hire me to market their products because I convert more people than a 'Flat 70% off with cashback' does. As of now, I am only doing this because I want to spread happiness in the world.

Let's begin.

Girnar Calming Green Tea (Instant Premix) :
All you need is a mug of hot water to get a perfectly sweet and sour cup of green tea. Calming Tea is composed of lime, green tea powder and jaggery which makes it ideal for the 'not feeling well' days. One sachet is meant for 100ml of water, but I like using one pack in 200-250ml of water. It doesn't calm me down and in all honesty, nothing less than a anesthesia has the ability to do that. However, I enjoy drinking it frequently and it makes a sore throat feel better.

Girnar Kashmiri Kahwa (Instant Premix):
This is an interesting blend of green tea extracts with saffron, cardamom and almond flakes. It doesn't quite feel like a green tea because it takes the colour of saffron with pieces of almonds floating in your mug. Once again, one sachet is meant for 100ml of hot water and I end up dissolving it in 200-250 ml of water. It is a little too sweet without enough of green tea for my liking. However, I would definitely call it worth trying. Another thing, it is expensive in comparison due to the saffron and nuts.

Girnar Lemon Tea / Girnar Lemon Ice Tea (Instant Premix):
The beauty of this black tea mix is that it can be used with hot and cold water. So, why brand them separately? Because not everyone has figured this out yet. Well, the hot Lemon Tea mix is meant for 100ml of water and the Lemon Ice Tea mix sachet is twice the quantity of the hot tea mix and is meant for twice as much water, i.e. 200ml. They're great for workplace and aren't very sweet. This is a great buy for summer. I would recommend buying.

Girnar Camomile with Honey Infusion:
Camomile is supposed to be great for stress and nervousness. I decided to try it because Girnar claimed it's good for headaches and I am one of those people who believe. So, I got me a box of Camomile with Honey infusion. Once you dip the bag into water, you cam smell the flowers and I was excepting the taste to blow me away. However, this didn't rock my world. The tea tastes like coconut and I find myself not reaching for this anymore. To be fair, all my people liked it a lot.

Girnar Rosehip and Hibiscus Herbal Infusion:
Again, this is not a tea. When I ordered this, I was only concentrating on Rose and I expected something floral. On arrival, I noticed the hip in the Rosehip and I didn't really expect much. Then? I was blown away. I love love it. I have already started telling people that this is what I will start drinking whenever I am expecting. The infusion is beautiful ruby red with mild sourness of berries( that's what Rosehip is). I cannot taste the Hibiscus neither do I know what it tastes like.

Girnar Live Lite Green Tea:
This was ordered because the description was really fancy on the website. The tea mostly tastes like ajwain. I can drink it with a spot of lemon, but I know I won't be buying it again.

Girnar Detox Green Tea Desi Kahwa:
I have saved best for the last. This green tea has rock salt, citric acid, nutmeg, asafoetida, black pepper and ginger among other things. I am addicted to this tea and like a true propagator, I have gotten others addicted too. This green tea tastes sour on its own because of the citric acid, but I really like to add more lemon juice. The hot water turns muddy in appearance on adding the tea bag and I would suggest waiting for a minute to allow the flavours to infuse. Usually, I drink it after meals. I do believe that it works wonders when you have had too much to eat or when you have acidity.

Final Verdict: You still don't get it? Let me spell it out. I am in love! In the past few months, we have consumed 7-8 boxes of Detox Kahwa, 5-6 boxes of Calming Tea, 4 boxes of Rosehip and Hibiscus Infusion and 2 boxes of Lemon Ice Tea(summer has only started).

We are waiting for the rains to enjoy the Girnar Masala Tea Instant Mix and maybe some other variety on offer.

The Body Shop Moringa Body Mist Review

2017-09-23T16:37:00.000+05:30

Do you know what is moringa?

If you just answered the question with a yes, we really do need to be friends. I for one had no idea that something called Moringa existed. Let me give you some context first, I think TBS does a great job with lotions and shower gels, but the mists and EDTs are not complex enough for my liking. However, my first encounter with this fragrance has turned me into a believer. I bought a couple of bottles to be handed out as bridesmaid's favours.

On my way back home, I said," Moringa and Mogra have to be related". Because? Their names. Google told me they weren't. *insert sad emoji*. Anyway, Moringa turned out to be Drumstick/Horseradish tree.

We just happen to have one in the garden and it gets beautiful white flowers in the season. Although, I never deemed the flowers interesting in the past so, off I went to smell them and they were no match for a tuberose or night Jasmine. TBS must be needing a LOT of Moringa to achieve the beautiful white floral fragrance on offer.

About the mist:
Moringa body mist makes you smell beautiful. It is a beautiful feminine floral fragrance which is easy on the nose and the pocket.

As with most body mists, the fragrance lasts for 2 hours at best and will have to be re-applied. You can try layering the lotion and the body mist to make the fragrance last longer.

Verdict: 8/10
This was a great buy specially if Body Shop is running discounts. Even at the full price, the mild floral fragrance will fetch you compliments.

Now, one last image of Moringa with Moringa.

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue EDT for Women Review

2017-04-28T00:30:00.002+05:30

Some people have a signature fragrance that becomes a part of their personality while others have deodorants. D&G Light Blue could have been my signature fragrance if I could just get myself to buy bottle after bottle. My main problem is that I like buying things on discount and I absolutely do not consider anything less than 50% off as a discount.

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue for Women

My bottle of Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue was a gift from a friend and is almost a decade old. Initially, I decided it would be opened and used on special occasions, but I didn't think any event was worthy of the bottle for a very long time.Eventually, I started using and it was love at the first whiff.

About D&G Light Blue:

TOP

Invigorating Sicilian cedar melds with the crisp vibrancy of apple and the guileless charm of the bluebell, to evoke the essence of a South Italian summer.

HEART

The freshness of bamboo nestles amid a glorious feminine bouquet of decadent jasmine and delicate white rose.

BASE

Redolent citron wood is entwined with voluptuous amber and a suggestive caress of musk.

My Experience:

I love the fresh and fruity smell of Light Blue. It is perfect for a hot Indian summer day and lasts from morning till evening without re-use. It is perfect for the workplace too as it manages to strike the fine balance between being strong enough, but not strong enough to kick in anyone's allergies. Usually, the top notes are very strong and one has to wait for the fragrance to settle before making up your mind. However, Light Blue smoothly lifts you up and settles you into an envelope of amber and musk.

D&G Light Blue is just a perfect fragrance. I know the world is crazy about #5, but I couldn't see what all the hoopla was about. The price tag of this fragrance might be the only deal-breaker.

The bottle is made of thick glass so, you can carry it around. I do try to keep the bottle inside the velvet box because prevention is better than buying a new bottle.

Verdict: 10/10 Love Love Love

On a parting note, I have ordered my second bottle of my first love because we live only once and I don't have to save as I am sure my future kids will be able to fend for themselves.

Update: The Mister noticed and complimented on this fragrance which Never happens!

Bath & Body Works Be Enchanted Shower Gel Review

2017-04-22T21:48:00.000+05:30

I am a huge Bath & Body Works fan. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE their products. If they are running a deal, I usually buy way more than I need. Usually, the intention is that I will gift 'some' of the stuff to friends and family, but I end up just hoarding.

I am sure I have more BBW things than those being sold on the Indian online shopping scene. Now, Be Enchanted Shower Gel was a gift and I had been saving it for...I don't know what. I finally decided that it was time to start using it and here we are.

About Be Enchanted:
Wash your way to softer, cleaner skin with a rich, bubbly lather bursting with fragrance. Moisturizing Aloe Vera and Vitamin E combine with skin-loving Shea Butter in our most irresistible, beautifully fragranced formula!
Top Notes: Mouthwatering Citrus, Iced Pomegranate, Chilled Wildberries, Crystallized Passionfruit
Mid Notes: Sheer Honeysuckle, Floral Frosted Bouquet, Sugared Violet, Dew fruit, Asian Pear
Dry Notes: Whipped Vanilla, Creamy Musk, Sandalwood

My Experience with Be Enchanted:
The good thing about all the Bath & Body Works products is that you can never go wrong with them. The quality will not disappoint you and the only matter of contention will be the fragrance. As a shower gel, Be Enchanted works well - it is not drying and lathers very well.

The only thing which I did not like about the shower gel was the fragrance. It smells really sweet and fruity; almost bordering on a cough syrup's smell. I have used the Be Enchanted Body Mist where the middle and bottom notes were more evident. In case of the shower gel, it just stops at being a dense berry-like smell and Pomegranate gets lost somewhere.

Verdict: 7/10 It's a good shower gel, I am just not very fond of the fragrance. Try it if you like sweet fruity smells.

Have you tried it? And, did you like it?

Vega Premium Collection Wooden Paddle Hair Brush Review

2017-01-14T13:36:00.000+05:30

A friend was ordering the Vega Wooden Paddle brush for herself and considering my soon-to-husband decided hadpofying? Borrowing and not giving back? my old Vega Wooden Paddle brush, I ordered one too.

Vega Premium Collection Wooden Paddle Hair Brush

And, yes, I will be getting married on this 19th February and telling people that has been one of the most awkward things I have had to go through. I don't know how people breeze through it. I never though I would crib about shopping but I so do now!

Pros:

It has thick handle with a grip which definitely makes it easier to use compared to the older wooden paddle brush by Vega which was just wood.

The bristles are made of Nylon so, you won't feel any static

Massages the scalp while brushing

Cons:

You cannot use it to detangle your hair
It's tough to clean the brush because hair gets stuck to the cushion.
The rounded ends of the bristles are glued in so this cannot be your happily ever after brush

Verdict:

It's a good brush and you can try it out.

7/10

The Little Door, Pune

2015-02-08T23:45:00.000+05:30

In general, the problem with going out in Pune is that you either go out to eat or you go out to drink. If you want to do both at the same place, you will be left with limited number of places, especially if you are a vegetarian!Usually, I am offered a choice between Paneer and you know, Paneer.

I was pleasantly surprised when at The Little Door-Pune, I was offered amazing variety. For the non-vegetarians, you have a wider menu to choose from(literally).If your agenda is to drink and eat and drink some more, this is the place! Their food menu is varied and the bar menu is even bigger. I'd suggest trying out Vol Au Vents, Cottage Cheese Ratatouille, Lambonioni, Popper Pops and Rum Drum. The Drunk'essert aka Rum Drum deserves a special mention for making alcohol taste heavenly.

If you already know about The Little Door-Mumbai, you would not need any introduction to the friendly atmosphere and the great food.

Greek Nachos - Yes, it was as good as it looks!

Everybody I know in Pune is in love with Kokum and if you are like them, don't forget trying out Podka.

Cottage Cheese Ratatouille

For the beer lovers, they have a beer chugging competition on Thursday and if you win, you get free beers for the entire month (otherwise, you get at least a free beer).

The picture doesn't do the dessert justice.

Alcoholpathy - Making Brandy taste better!

For those who like to sing after getting drunk, try the Sunday drunch for great food, unlimited drinks, good music and KARAOKE.

SOS Organics Vanilla Lip Balm Review

2014-01-19T10:30:00.000+05:30

I bought this lip balm because it was on discount. I think I bought it from Craftsvilla for 40-45 INR. I didn't really have any expectations so, it technically didn't let me down.

Experience:
The only upside is that the lip balm comes with a stopper and a cap. The first thing that bothered me was the smell. In fact, I couldn't quite place the smell. Was it really vanilla? It could have been anything from the smell of wax to apricot, but it was not at all like vanilla. The other thing that was wrong was the texture because the balm was difficult to apply. I still tried somehow finishing it off as a cuticle/heel cream. It works very well as both, specially when you apply it on your feet before going to bed.

My Verdict: I really prefer it as a heel cream....what can I really say?
However, I don't buy things just because they are on sale...not most of the time at least!

Butterfly Pink - Grey Peep Toe Flats

2013-12-01T22:44:00.001+05:30

I buy shoes to keep myself happy, but I do have to pay the rent and eat; so, I look for deals online.
Moreover, thanks to e-commerce website, I don't have to move out of the house to look at shoes and I just have to go to work in order to get them. Anyway, I have made a lot of blunders in shoe-shopping even though I do a lot of research before buying any new brand online. To make the matter worse, more and more brands keep coming up with no standard sizing. I ended up buying some flats which were supposed to be size 41 but, they were size 38, at best.

I am going through a, " I will buy all the shoes with bow on them" phase. I took a chance with these peep-toes from Butterfly and bought a size 41 just to be safe. The shoes were cute and inexpensive, a must-buy combination.

These shoes are muted pink and the picture above has been taken with a flash, hence the bright pink. The upper material is synthetic and muted silver or grey( whatever you want to call it).

FYI: Just for reference, I wear a Reebok size 7 and a standard size 40 fits me. However, Butterfly's size 41 is more like my size.

Experience - Foodhall

2013-11-14T23:27:00.001+05:30

At home, we have developed a recent obsession where, we watch all the food channels all the time. The only other show worth watching right now is Bigg Boss. I really enjoy the ridiculousness of it all. Anyway, I recently checked out a new store called Foodhall at Phoenix Marketcity, Pune. They had a lot of hard to find things (in Pune, at least) like marshmallows and Avocados. You can even get Guacamole made at the store if you buy their Avocados, that too free of charge! They even carry different varieties of Paneer( cottage cheese), baked bread loaves and cup cakes.

If like us, you are into trying out all the TLC and Food channel recipes then, you can definitely go looking for the ingredients.

If you don't mind spending, you could consider buying these potted herbs.

This was something that was made by spinach and goat cheese. Delicious! ( I was freaked out by the fact that the cheese had been made by Goat's milk, but oh well! )

Review: Flipside Flip-Flop Combo

2013-10-18T12:11:00.001+05:30

This time, I did really need a pair of slippers because the one I have from Puma has this suction-kind of a sole which makes a ridiculous noise while walking on tiles. I still don't understand why would they sell slippers such as mine for INR 499. Although, when I bought it, I figured it would have a better grip but, I slip more frequently compared to my normal rate.

Anyway, I was planning to buy only a pair of flip-flops which was for some 200 INR and then I saw this combo for INR 299. Obviously, there is only one thing better than a pair of cute slippers ; i.e. two cute pair of slippers. I had never before heard of Flipside but, I decided to take a chance.

I was happy when I received the combo as the slippers were like the ones in the picture ( I bought these online). I started using the white one AND the print came off in a day! If you don't mind wearing flip-flops that fade in a day and start looking like you have been using them for at least half a year or so, you can try these. I could argue that they were for 150 INR (effectively) but, we do get much better stuff on the foot-path. There are two consolations- they don't make that annoying noise while walking and they don't slip (not yet, at least).

Allergies from Jewellery ( Nickel Allergy)

2013-07-31T17:40:00.002+05:30

A lot of people develop rashes if they wear a certain kind of jewellery. I spent my entire life attributing my inability to wear silver earrings to an allergy. However, I can get away with wearing rings and bracelets made of silver. Recently, I started having seconds thoughts about the reason behind my allergy to silver and I stumbled upon the concept of Nickel Allergy.

As some of you might know, metals like gold and silver are mixed with other metals like Zinc, Copper and Nickel in order to make jewellery. Hence, 24-Carat gold is the purest while 18-Carat gold has 18 parts of gold and 6 parts of another metal. If your jewellery contains Nickel, it is likely to cause an allergic reaction. This reaction is called Nickel Dermatitis. The intensity of reaction differs from person to person on the basis of their tolerance.

If you are wearing heavy jewellery, specially in hot and humid conditions, rashes might appear because of the sweat getting trapped in the pores. Another possibility is that sweat comes in contact with the nickel in the jewellery and dissolves it in order to form salts of nickel; which end up causing the rash.

Some ways to prevent an allergic reaction:

Before wearing any jewellery, make sure the area is completely dry, specially in case of fingers and ears.If you are wearing heavy jewellery, try to keep the skin covered by jewellery dry.
Apply clear polish on the surface of the jewellery which will be in contact with skin. You will have to re-apply it every once in a while.

If you have an allergic reaction from nickel, taking antihistamines will help. Application of hydrocortisone creams will help in reducing the rashes, but because of the side-effects involved, care should be taken.

The ideal way to prevent an allergic reaction would be buying jewellery which doesn't contain nickel.For example- Sterling Silver contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper.

Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 Cream + Serum Duo - Review

2013-06-18T16:34:00.001+05:30

I shop for anti-ageing products very frequently for my mom as she doesn't have the time to buy things for herself and I am just your average jobless person who has a job! I had sent her the original Olay cream and she liked it.

So, when I was given a chance to try the new Olay Total Effects 2in1 Anti-Wrinkle cream + serum. Considering, I still don't feel I am old enough to defy ageing; I passed it on to my mom.

Experience:
She was initially skeptical about using this as she is not a fan of trying new products and she was pretty happy with her Olay moisturiser. However, after she used it religiously for some days she felt a difference. The only complaint is that cream+serum doesn't have enough sun protection. The cream+ serum formula has SPF 15, but it is not enough for the harsh Indian summer. As you grow older, the skin starts losing out on moisture and this product definitely keeps your skin moisturised. This cream+serum also increases the micro-circulation, hence, the tightening effect. This formula is more convenient as you don't have to apply a moisturiser and then follow it up with serum.

Pros:

Keeps your skin moisturised
If you are just starting out with the anti-ageing regime, this one product is more than enough
SPF 15
Pump dispenser with a cap is hygienic and convenient

Cons:

None really.

Verdict: Definitely a good product, but you need to regularly apply it. Once a day, once in a blue moon won't work.

**I am trying out Olay Total Effects as a part of the product review program at BlogAdda.com

Food!!

2013-06-07T11:44:00.000+05:30

My life revolves around making things complicated and FOOD. I have picked up the habit of clicking a picture of any dish which seems nice or interesting. I have been told that it's my way of torturing the world, but honestly, you gain no calories in looking at the pictures!

This picture is in loving memory of my I-cannot-really-afford-buyin-it-again camera. I have compressed the image but it still looks so very good. This is strawberry and cream, for those of you who are wondering.

Butterscotch pastry. It was moist, creamy and caramel chunks. Love.

Prickly Heat - Some Causes, Remedies and Prevention

2013-06-05T23:05:00.001+05:30

I never expected something like prickly heat could cause chaos but it does!! This is very common in children because there sweat glands are not developed but obviously they affect adults too.The air-conditioning at work kept conking off for various reasons and I ended up with Miliaria or prickly heat. And, it was very annoying. The Miliaria cases can lead to heat exhaustion but mostly it feels like a bunch of pins are pricking you all.the.damn.time. Who knew that salt(there is salt in sweat, in case you didn't know) could be such a powerful irritant?

Later on, I did a lot of research on prickly heat just for your sake. Here are some of the things that I tried or read about which made sense/were effective:

Clotrimazole Dusting Powder: Clotrimazole is anti-fungal as well as anti-bacterial and the powder will absorb the sweat. This might calm your skin if the rash is only beginning but if you have a severe case of prickly heat, you will lose patience before the powder starts working. You can use this as a prevention measure.

Calamine Lotion- Calamine soothes the skin. You get various calamine lotions in the market and you can use the one that you like.This will also help if you sweat a lot as calamine will keep your skin cool.

Anti-Histamines- These are the drugs you take when you have an allergy. Mostly, they will make you sleepy but they also suppress the itching and swelling.But,seriously, go to a doctor.

Take frequent baths- This will keep you clean and those pins pricking your skin will stop bothering you, for some time.After that? Take another bath!

Try using a wet cloth compress over the affected area.

Ice- This will give you instant relief as well as reduce the swelling. Regular use of ice compress will also reduce the rashes.

Sarna Lotion- This was prescribed by the doctor. This lotion is composed of menthol, camphor and phenol which calm the skin. This will only take the itching away but that counts.

Hydrocortisone Creams- This reduces the inflammation and reduces the pain. It is available in low concentrations without a prescription. Consult a doctor before you decide to treat yourself with higher concentrations as there is a risk involved.

Prickly Heat Powder(s)- You have a lot of choice in this section, but all of them are useful in preventing prickly heat or maybe in providing relief in a milder case.

The list is by no means exhaustive. Fell free to share something that worked for you.

Dove Intense Repair Shampoo and Conditioner Review

2013-05-16T23:40:00.000+05:30

Let me begin by saying, I am not a fan of Dove, specially the shampoo. I remember using a friend's bottle of Dove shampoo in the hostel which resulted in hair-fall and a lot of it! This incident is old but it is still fresh in my memory which is why I stayed away from Dove shampoos for a very long time.

I don't remember how I ended up getting the bottle of Intense Repair but I was in for a surprise!

This shampoo turned out to be great. I had been experiencing hair-fall which reduced remarkably and except for the shampoo, I had not altered any other thing in my routine. I was so very happy with the results that I went around singing praises for it at my work-place. Btw, every one who tried is happy with it, including some of the guys with a long mane.Now, I am not saying that this shampoo will change your life but given the amount of money involved, I think it is worth trying.

The conditioner, although, is an average affair. There is nothing special about the conditioner so, if you have something that is already working for you, just try the shampoo.

Price: 123 INR for 200 ml shampoo (Buy the shampoo Here)
64 INR for 90ml Conditioner

Verdict: Try the shampoo! Conditioner? We have seen better.

Btw, I have been busy writing assignments,just in case you were wondering.

Experience : The Four Fountain Spa

2013-05-08T12:37:00.001+05:30

I got an opportunity to visit one of the Four Fountains Spa in Pune. I had heard a lot of good things about the one in our area from a friend who went their for a facial and her face was glowing (I am one of those who don't notice differences so, take my word for it).Anyway, when I finally went their in middle of a extremely hot Saturday afternoon.

I was not sure which treatment I would like to try so, I asked the staff for some suggestions. I ended up trying their new Summer Splash therapy which uses Swedish massage technique using Aloe-Vera gel with Lime and Mint extracts(smelled great, btw).

They also suggest therapies based on your lifestyle, aches(if any) and stress levels. While waiting for them to prepare for the therapy, I noticed the reception had small wooden beads to massage your back and even the door handles were made of wooden rollers meant for massaging your hands.

After the therapy, they served green tea. While leaving, I was given a coupon for a free head massage if I came on a certain date for a therapy as well as a diet plan based on my lifestyle and a small tub of de-stressing gel. I have kept all of it very safely, so safe in fact that I need to now look for it.

However, I would like to have creamier body wash option after the treatment, just saying! On a more serious note, the whole range of therapies, facials, wraps are actually affordable. You can definitely treat yourself every once in a while!

Why Do You Need to Pay Extra For COD Orders?

2013-04-30T17:31:00.002+05:30

I didn't want all my research to go waste, hence the post. I was a huge fan of shopping online and to a certain extent, I still am! It is just easier to order a certain shade of a nail polish online than to go looking for it from mall to mall. I found my bottle Revlon's 410 Slipper online and I have not found another store/outlet which has it in stock. Oh and I also got free shipping so, it was cheaper than going around looking for it and wasting fuel (which, btw is very expensive in Pune thanks to Octroi and what not taxes).

Coming back to the point, websites are charging extra for COD because
a) People tend to return the COD orders a lot more
b) Courier companies take their own sweet time in handing the money over to the website in question
c)Courier companies charge extra for COD orders.

The reasons mentioned above are the major reasons and a lot of e-comm websites are start-ups so, they have cash flow issues when the courier companies don't pass on the money right away.

Hence, they expect you to pay extra for COD orders. Now, not all of them charge it because they have found a way to work around it. For example, Flipkart has its own delivery in major cities. However, not every site can afford to employ a large work-force to make deliveries.

You do have the choice of paying before hand but there are people like my brother who think it is a needless chore to make a payment online. I think he will stop reading the day Flipkart stops COD. There is obviously the risk of a payment failing or the order not being fulfilled properly but you can always ask for a refund. It is a hassle but then you return/exchange things that you buy from stores too!

Another alternative would be to order the things that are available on huge discount or are really hard to find so, you can justify the whole deal.

Enliven Coconut and Vanilla Shower Gel Review

2013-04-14T23:27:00.000+05:30

Browsing shopping portals is such an important part of my routine that I actually feel something is amiss when I don't browse.I bought Enliven Coconut and Vanilla shower gel because it was just for INR 60. This is the only product that I have used from Enliven.
[I have realised, moving has become a new hobby. I feel like moving to x,y or z before I have even settled in!Weird, huh?]

My Experience:
Well, the shower gel smells of coconut and even if there was any smell of vanilla, I couldn't make out! Considering the price, I think the shower gel fared well. It doesn't make the skin dry and lathers well too. The smell of coconut might not be liked by everyone but the bottle is a convenient size to carry while travelling.

Price: INR 60 for 100ml bottle

Pros:

Affordable
Flip top cap
Lathers well

Cons:

Not easily available
Contains SLS

My Verdict: Convenient size, packaging and price. You can definitely try it if you like coconut's fragrance.

Beige Ballet Flats

2013-03-26T01:42:00.000+05:30

When my shoes from Catwalk gave up on me a lil' too quickly (considering they were worth 1395 or 1495 INR), I went in search of cheap flats which I could wear to work. Yes, there are people who dress up very nicely for work but I feel no such thing, hence, the search.

Anyway, I bought the shoes pictured above for INR 300 from MG Road, Pune and another black variant for the same price. The black one lasted for some 2-3 months which is just right for the price. Whaddya think?

Also, I cannot seem to find my (relatively) new and fabulous camera from Sony and lost items drive me crazy. Please pray that I find it.

Google Reader Alternatives

2013-03-19T13:00:00.002+05:30

Those of you who just asked, "What's that?"; this post is not for you. Those of you who are already moaning the discontinuation of Google Reader, please find a list of services that you can switch too.

Here's a list of (free) services and sites that you can use instead of Google Reader and the most of them will offer you :

NetVibes- It even has a Google-like interface.

Feedly- Takes a bit of getting used to but it has mobile apps too!( Click here to learn more about migration from Google Reader)

Bloglovin'- They already have a tool in place to import the feeds from Google Reader (Click Here)

Oh! They also tell you the number of people who are following you.

You an also subscribe to the email updates but getting too many emails in a day is not exactly an ideal situation.

L'Oreal Paris Femina Women Awards 2013

2013-03-18T16:59:00.001+05:30

I have almost disappeared thanks to the various ruts I have got myself into. I don't really understand how people exist peacefully because I just move from one rut to another. Now, coming back to the topic!

The L’Oréal Paris-Femina Women Awards is all about felicitating women who have made a difference. Women who have stood up for a cause that’s closer to their hearts; whose efforts have brought smiles on faces of many, and who have helped others lead a better life. The list of nominees includes women who have excelled in their fields, stood by what they believed in and helped the society in general.
The aim of the L’Oréal Paris Femina Women Awards is to honour these women.

They have three categories in the L’Oréal Paris Femina Women Awards. They are as follows:
· Readers’ Choice
· Editor’s Choice
· Jury
Honouring women with extraordinary accomplishments, outstanding leadership qualities and exceptional commitment to their careers and communities; the L’Oréal Paris Femina Women Awards will have 17 categories including science, business and entrepreneurship, sports, art, education, television, and music, among others.
What’s special about this year’s awards?
This year L'Oréal Paris is going a step further and will not only felicitate these remarkable women but will also provide grants to the winners of four categories that will be voted for by the readers and fans of L'Oréal Paris and Femina.
There are four categories under Readers’ Choice awards. They are as follows:
a) Favourite Face of a Cause
b) Science and Innovation
c) Online Influencer
d) Social Impact

To vote for your favourite nominee under the Readers’ Category click here: http://bit.ly/VoteForReadersChoice

To know more about our nominees visit our application here: http://bit.ly/LOrealParisFeminaWomenAwards

Orly Cosmic FX - Space Cadet Swatches

2013-03-03T12:14:00.000+05:30

After admiring hundreds of pictures of Orly's Space Cadet, I really wanted one of my own but it was sold out everywhere!!! I made a friend of mine check a lot of stores for this one polish [surprisingly, she is still a friend, even after the ordeal.]. Anyway, I finally located one bottle online and here it is!

About Orly Space Cadet:
The polish is supposed to have a very strong duo-chrome effect but it is on the sheer side so, I decided to layer it over a black creme. You can obviously build the layers but that's just wasting a perfectly gorgeous polish, in my opinion. You can afford the luxury of using Space cadet on its own only if you stay where it is easily available.

Layers of Polish Required:
On its own: 3 or 4 depending on the thickness of your layers.
Over a Black Creme: Just one!!

Note: You seriously need polishes like these in your life. I have spent a lot of time admiring how it looks under the lights in my office which also means, no work was done.

New Suede Boots

2013-02-24T22:25:00.000+05:30

I have been cutting down my shopping in general and shoe-shopping in particular. I have even started working on one shoe at a time so when I eventually have to move, I know which shoe I can leave behind but the decision is still tough. Anyway, I don't exactly remember when I bought these but they were on discount and I don't have any pair which is quite like these.

My Acne Story Part III - Making the Dermatologists Richer

2013-02-16T12:56:00.002+05:30

Once I realised that my acne is not going to go away by itself, I had to consult a dermatologist. Along the way, I have changed many doctors for one reason on another before I finally found a doctor who had a prescription which worked.

While I was spending my time trying different doctors and trying to see which one of them actually works, I couldn't stop going out or living in general. I have never allowed the way I look affect my opinion about myself (which has always been high, by the way!). I am not saying that acne didn't bother me but it is not a big enough issue to put your entire life on hold. People have come up to me with suggestions like, " Why don't you go to a doctor?" or "You should do something about this!". Well, I felt like screaming,"What else do you think I am doing?" [However, this was usually followed by few adjectives which are very guess-able.] You cannot get rid of such people so, the only choice is to ignore them.

Now, let us continue with the list of things that I have tried-

Acnoff Bar/Soap- This soap had tea tree oil in it and it did turn out to be very effective in controlling oil. I must have finished a lot of bars. I have tried other acne bars too but this one stood out. I even got compliments about how my face looked clear-er. This soap again made me obsessed about procuring tea tree oil in pre-e-commerce era.
(Composition-Allantoin B.P ,Vitamin E Acetate I.P, Titanium Dioxide I.P ,Tea Tree Oil B.P)
Adit Cream- This has been one of the most effective ointment that my dermatologist prescribed. He did tell me it would cause peeling [which would reduce the the resemblance of my skin to moon's surface]. I had to deal with a bunch of people who would tell me how my nose was peeling and how I should use a moisturiser [ few expletives later, they stopped]. I just had to apply the cream once before going to bed. However, my skin became extremely sensitive to sun light during my treatment and it still disliked sun very much.[I pretty much turn the shade of tomato if I am out in the sun for long i.e. more than 5 minutes].
(Composition- Tretinoin)
Benzoyl Peroxide- Have you seen those ads of Proactiv? I had seen those too but what caught my attention more was Benzoyl Peroxide. I started looking for some cream which would have Benzoyl Peroxide and Google only told me names of brands which were not available in India. I had pretty much given up when I came across Benzac AC. It comes in concentrations of 2.5, 5 and 10. I started with 2.5 and more research led me to believe it is considered the safest bet as it is not too strong but still works on your acne. My skin became even more sensitive to sun when I was using Benzac AC and I just could not stand in sun without feeling that my face had been lit, almost. You need to follow this with moisturiser too otherwise skin becomes very dry. Benzoyl Peroxide definitely works.

I have spent a substantial amount of time visiting different dermatologists and you just have to keep on changing doctors until you find somebody who prescribes the medicines which work on you. Usually, it helps if you go to a doctor who is considered good by everyone.

Read Acne Story Part I, Acne Story Part II

* What worked for me might or might not work for you. There are some home-remedies that I have mentioned, please feel free to try those but as far as medicines and ointments are concerned (when they are not the Over the Counter kind), it is always better to consult a doctor.

Eye Am Falling in Love - Limited Edition Colossal Kajal From Maybelline New York

2013-02-13T12:12:00.001+05:30

Maybelline New York asked its fans to show their creativity. With over 150+ entries received, the Limited Edition Valentine’s Day Colossal Kajal is now all ready, and waiting to be bought by millions of girls in India!

It's Black. It's Bold. It's Smudge free and guess what? It's now available at select Maybelline New York counters!

This Valentine's Day, EYE AM falling in love! Get yours today!

Maybelline Colossal Kajal (Official Website)