Hair and Health

Haul from India: Fair and Lovely Winter Fairness

2011-01-16T21:27:00.001-08:00

Product name: Fair and Lovely Winter Fairness

So it wouldn't be a blog about India unless we mentioned a fairness cream, especially one as popular as Fair and Lovely. Being Indian, you know we had to do it. I personally am against the whole skin whitening craze, but I happen to be in the minority. Monika, however, is an advocate, so here is her take on this very popular product.

First of all, Fair and Lovely works REALLY well for her skin. In fact fairness is the least of the benefits she gets. She first started using Fair and Lovely in middle school, when your skin is going through that horrible phase where it breaks out and refuses to cooperate. Her mom's friend suggested that she try Fair and Lovely, and she did. The first week she used it, it broke her out, but she was told to keep using it, so she kept at it (When using this product you may break out, but it's only because it's deep cleaning your pores by bringing the dirt to the surface). After that initial week, she has not broken out again, save for a random pimple every so often. Lo and behold, the damn cream worked. Plus, she was able to skip the whole awkward-teenage-bad-skin phase. Not a bad phase to skip right??

The key benefits Monika saw with the Fair and Lovely line were:

It kept her skin moisturized
It helped with the acne
It evened out her skin tone
It has triple sunscreen which protects her skin from the sun
It also works as a really good makeup primer
The triple sunscreen is awesome; it's like a natural makeup

The Winter Fairness product is a new addition to the Fair and Lovely line. The difference is that it has active moisturizers to help hydrate your skin during the harsh winter weather. The original Fair and Lovely lacks this quality, making skin slightly dry and cracked. Monika's experience with the Winter Fairness is that it made something really good even better. During the winter, it kept her skin moisturized without making it too oily, and it still had the same benefits as mentioned above. Monika's rating: A++. It's definitely one of her essential products.

For best results, use twice daily on washed face and neck.

Price: Around $1 per tube if bought in India. It's also available in most Indian stores, but in the U.S. you should expect to pay anywhere between $4-$6.

Haul from India: Pond's Gold Radiance eye cream

2011-01-16T20:56:00.000-08:00

This next product is one of Monika's favorites.

Product name: Pond's Gold Radiance Youth Reviving Eye Cream with Real Gold Microparticles

Yes, Monika is aware that she is only 26 years old, but she realized that her mom has a lot of eye wrinkles, which of course made her want to take care of her eyes at an early age. Enter Pond's Gold Radiance!

Monika picked up this product in India, as mentioned earlier, because she saw a commercial which made it look really cool. Her main attraction was the real gold microparticles inside the cream. Indian commericals have a way of making everything seem glamorous :)

This is what the box claims:

It treats the first signs of aging and is infused with real gold microparticles
It refreshes tired eyes, diminishes puffiness and the look of dark circles, making your eyes look instantly brighter and younger

Directions: Use twice daily by dotting small amounts under the eye area and gently spreading outward

In Monika's experience, this cream is amazing! Most eye creams tend to burn or irritate her, but this one doesn't. Even though it says to apply under the eye, she also applies it on top of her eyelid, since that's where most of the wrinkle problem is in her family. So it's versatile. Her eyelids feel quenched and refreshed, like she just gave them a drink of water. It diminishes the puffiness and dark circles, and the gold flecks in the cream add a hint of shimmer and sparkle which makes her eyes look brighter. All she does is apply some of the cream and some eyeliner and she's good to go!

As far as the wrinkles, she hasn't noticed a *huge* difference since she didn't have that many to begin with and she's only been using it for a couple of weeks, but it does add some light to her dark eyelids. Her final grade for this products is A++!

Cost for the cream: Around $15 or so, bought in India. It may be more expensive online, but it can be purchased there.

All Pond's products are non comodogenic

Haul from India: Livon Silky Potion

2011-01-16T20:32:00.000-08:00

Hello faithful blog readers! I want to talk about some specific products Monika discovered on her recent trip to India (she will be posting pictures shortly). In this section I'll talk about the hair products, and there will also be a discussion about the cosmetics in the makeup section.

The hair products she found are as follows:

1). Livon Silky Potion--A detangling hair fluid. This product is designed to work with a unique formula called CutiSoft, which "instantly softens and smoothens the hair cuticle, transforming your rough, dry and brittle hair into soft and silky hair". It also nourishes, defrizzes and detangles using Vitamin E.

The product is ideal to use on damp hair, but can also be used on dry hair to bring it back to life after styling.
On the days you skip washes, you can apply Livon to slightly re-wettened hair to bring back its health and shine.

Monika's personal use also found that the product does all of the above, PLUS it's lightweight and will not make hair oily or greasy. She was able to use it 2 days after she washed her hair and it completely brought the life back. She used it in Mumbai, a city notorious for humid weather, much like our own Houston :) However, there are 2 disclaimers to keep in mind:

1). Monika has very fine, silky hair which is also curly. She has used it on both curly and straight styles. However, people with thicker, fuller hair may have different results.

2). This product contains mineral oil, which some people feel dries out their hair. If this is you, beware

The only drawback that she found was that once the product was brought back to the states where the temperature is significantly cooler, it did not hydrate as well as she hoped. The lesson here? Use this product more in the warmer, more humid climate. Our final rating is a B+!

Side note: For people who have hair like mine (thick, frizzy and somewhere in between curly and straight), I will post a follow up once I try it for myself. In the meantime, hang tight and keep checking back.

Guy sex mystery revealed!

2010-06-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

Ok ladies, this post is for all of you who have ever been frustrated after sex. Ever wonder why that after sex, men don't feel the need to be as emotionally close to you as you do to them? AND why all they seem to want to do is sleep? Well, I did some research and found out. Aside from the fact that sex completely drains a man's battery, there is a fundamental reason why men want their space after sex, at least more so than women do. The reason women want to talk to their men and connect with them afterwards is because that's when we feel closer to them--AFTER sex. Not so for men. From what I found out, men feel closer to women BEFORE sex, which is essentially the chase leading up to it. The meeting point where both men and women connect on the same level is during sex. It's like a plateau--men feel closer to women leading up to sex, then it levels off during it, and then women feel closer to men after winding down from the act. It seems to me that this is a no-win situation for women, because if men feel the closest to women before they sleep with them, they eventually get what they want (unless they've *really* screwed up), but women will always be frustrated because men will never have the energy or willpower to connect with them afterwards. Sucks for us, but at least now we know why it is that way. Better than nothing right?

---CHANDANI

Living Proof: Wave Shaping Curl Defining No Frizz Styling Spray

2010-06-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

Ok so recently Chandani posted a review on Curl.life by Matrix. That seems to work really well for her, but when I had tried it I had found it to be too heavy for my hair. I have really thick hair, but it's extremely fine. This spray on the other hand is AMAZING! I just get out of the shower, put in my Matrix Sleek.look serum (review on this line later), spray this in and scrunch my hair. When my hair dries it is curly and frizz free!!!

The spray is for Fine to Medium hair, but they do have a cream for thicker hair. :)

Pros: Curls my hair, no frizz, not heavy
Cons: The smell is a little strong, which may not be good for those who are sensitive to strong fragrances.

Personal Rating: 5 out of 5

---Monika

Rose water

2010-06-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

An easy and effective tip for keeping skin healthy--rose water. It's natural and inexpensive and keeps skin looking great. I've always had problem skin--acne, sensitivity, irritation, etc. I found that the rose water not only instantly smooths and softens my skin, it also helps to keep it clear and even. I use it either in the place of or after my toner twice a day, and I absolutely LOVE the results. You can find a bottle at any grocery store (well if not, ANY Indian grocery store). For those who either want help with problem skin or just want to keep their skin healthy, it's definitely worth a try. I put this blog under health because healthy skin is an absolute essential. Without that, even all of our fabulous makeup tips are useless ;-)

---CHANDANI

Here's one I found on Amazon, click ad below:

Grown Up Soda (GUS)

2010-06-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

Ok so when I was in New York recently I went to A Cafe and had an Extra Dry GingerAle by GUS (Grown Up Soda). You've got to love the name! I also loved loved loved the drink. It tastes amazing, is 100% Natural and not too sweet! It contains about 90 calories and honestly I fell in love in 1 sip! Also the packaging is cute and it's a very trendy drink I think you guys may enjoy.

Also great for mixing drinks and cocktails!

I decided to post this under health because I think that what we put in our bodies has a very big effect on our beauty. It's rare to find something that is a healthy and tasty alternative to sodas.

Check out the site for where to buy!

---MONIKA

Josie Maran: Argan Oil

2010-06-14T18:43:00.000-07:00

This is a new product that I recently purchased from Sephora. It's an all natural Moroccan oil that is well rounded. Benefits it claims to have are adding a glow to your skin, hydrating skin, fixing cuticles and repairing split ends. This oil has also been said to firm, tone and help with acne.
I have found is that all this to be true. I believe beauty begins with good health and skin care. This is one of my new beauty health staple items. I absolutely LOVE it!!!!! It makes my skin glow and I don't need any foundation! :)

Pros:

Does what it says it does.
Also as an added benefit I found that it was a natural sunblock due to the fact that my skin didn't burn or tan. (This was a personal experience and may not be the same for everyone)
Does not irritate my sensitive skin
Only a 2-3 drops are necessary for face and the same amount for hair
I found the oil lightweight and easily absorbed
Great moisturizer
Does not break me out!!!!

Cons:

May feel a little greasy when applied to your face for some. (This was true for my fellow blogger Chandani)

*The oil is housed in a recyclable glass bottle, and purchased from women's cooperatives in Morocco to support their social and economic welfare. These cooperatives work within a UNESCO biosphere reserve that ensures the protection and reforestation of Argan trees.

Josie Maran Argan Oil 0.5 oz

---MONIKA

Garnier Fructis Style Curl Sculpting cream-gel

2010-06-13T19:45:00.000-07:00

This was my first attempt at trying to style curly hair. The cream is not too heavy, which is good for thick hair like mine, but I noticed that as the day went on it had the opposite effect on my hair--instead of enhancing the curls, it made them fall out. I've only used it once so far, so before I completely disregard it I'll try it again and update this post. Check back again in a few days for my second-chance review :)

---CHANDANI

Matrix curl.life products for curly hair

2010-06-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

So I recently started wearing my hair in its natural, wavy-curly state. Until a few weeks ago, my Ultra Chi was my lifeline. When I decided that I didn't want to make the time or effort to straighten my hair anymore, I asked around for the best products for curly hair, and more specifically for my hair type, which is thick, frizzy and somewhere in between wavy and curly. My fellow blogger Monika introduced me to the Matrix curl.life system, and so far it works great. The ones I am using are the contouring milk, spiraling spray gel and all-day reactivator.

Contouring milk--1.7 oz (trial size)--Comes in a creamy, milky form.

Pros: Doesn't require a large amount; a nickel-sized portion is more than enough for people with thick hair. It defines natural curls and does not leave hair feeling crunchy or sticky.
Cons: You have to make sure not to use too much, or it will weigh down your hair and give it a hard, unnatural feel.
Spiraling spray gel--5.1 oz-- Comes in an easy to use spray.

Pros: Curls are bouncy and the hold is great.
Cons: You have to be careful not to use too much to avoid the crunchy effect. Not cute!
All-day reactivator--8.5 oz--A light spritz to spray on hair to reactivate falling curls.

Pros: Reactivated curls almost instantly and leaves hair feeling soft and natural.
Cons: You may have to use it at least a couple times throughout the day to maintain its effect.

---CHANDANI

Below are the links for the products. Feel free to browse through them.

CURL LIFE by Matrix DEFINING SYSTEM CONTOURING MILK FOR NORMAL FINE HAIR 5.1 OZ

CURL LIFE by Matrix: DEFINING SYSTEM ALL DAY REACTIVATOR 8.5 OZ

Curl.Life Spiraling Spray-Gel 5.1 fl oz (150 ml)