My Vanity Treasures

Moss Skincare Illumina Vitamin C Perfecting Treatment Intensif Review

2018-09-17T14:28:00.003-07:00

Hi All,

Ever since I came across Moss Skincare, I have always wanted to try them especially since the formulations looked right up my alley! Thanks to The Boxwalla subscription which featured Moss Skincare Beurre Celeste Cleansing Balm and Illumina Vitamin C Perfecting Treatment Intensif serum in their June 2018 Box! BTW if you aren't subscribed to The Boxwalla I highly highly recommend to do so if you are interested in trying luxurious green beauty products! It's the BEST green beauty subscription box in the market. Period!

Coming back to Moss Skincare, Illumina Vitamin C Perfecting Treatment Intensif serum (that's quite a mouthful) is Vitamin C and exfoliating serum in one. It uses Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate which is a stable form of Vit C and Pumpkin Enzymes to gently exfoliate the skin. The formulation also includes Moth Bean extract which is botanical form of Vit A similar to Retinol. Retinol can be harsh and not everyone can tolerate it, Moth Bean extract has shown to give similar results as Retinol but without causing any irritation. Research has shown it helps to boost cell turnover and reverse signs of sun damage and hyperpigmentation. The serum also contains White Willow Bark extract which is botanical form of BHA ie Salicylic Acid, one of my favorite ingredient to decongest the skin and keep it clear. It also contains Plant ceramides which helps to strengthen the skin barrier.

Ingredient List:-

Viola Odorata (Violet) Leaf Hydrosol*, Water/Aqua, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Fruit Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Vigna Aconitifolia (Moth Bean) Seed Extract, Salix Alba (White Willow) Bark Extract*, Serenoa Serrulata (Saw Palmetto) CO2 Extract*, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Glycosphingolipids, Gluconolactone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Methylpropanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract*, Magnolia Grandiflora (Magnolia) Bark Extract*, Andrographis Paniculata Extract*, Epilobium Parviflorum (Smallflower) Extract*, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract*, Arctium Lappa (Burdock) Root Extract*, Monarda Fistulosa (Bee Balm) Oil*, Palmarosa Oil, Coriander Oil* *Organic/Wildcrafted *Organic/Wildcrafted Botanicals 100% non-toxic, safe and gentle ingredients

My Thoughts:-

I have been using Illumina serum consistently for past few weeks every single night and let me tell you this stuff works! If you are a regular reader of my blog/instagram you know I swear by my Epionce Lytic Plus Tx lotion to keep my skin free of congestion/clogged pores but ever since I started using Illumina I haven't touched Lytic Plus Tx Lotion! This serum is quite potent and even though Celestyna the owner and creator of Moss Skincare suggests to use it every other night I could tolerate it every night without any irritations. Please remember I have been using chemical exfoliators on my skin for quite few years and have slowly build up the tolerance, if you are new to chemical exfoliators and vitamin c serums I would suggest to use 2-3 times a week first and then slowly build up to everyday usage depending upon your skin condition.

The serum is light weight and has lotion type consistency, it absorbs beautifully in the skin without leaving any sort of residue behind. I find 2-3 pumps are more than enough for the entire face and neck. I directly apply it after cleansing my face before applying any serums or moisturisers. This is one of those serums where you see the results overnight! My skin feels bright and even toned in the morning! It literally makes my skin glow and I don't say that lightly! I don't get hormonal acne anymore but do get congestion sometimes and using this serum it has helped me to keep breakouts at bay. It definitely helps with lightening of the dark spots and previous acne lesions. The biggest change for me was softening of the scars! With regular usage I found my deep rooted scars have softened quite a bit and skin looks more healthy and luminous. It has become one of my favorite discoveries of this year! Having said all that I have heard this serum purges but I personally did not face any purging, probably because I am used to using stronger exfoliating serums but if you are unsure I would recommend to get a sample to try first!

Overall highly impressed by this serum and would definitely recommend it in a heartbeat! This serum retails for 145$ for 30ml, it's definitely expensive and as much as I respect Celestyna for her knowledge and formulations, I know not everyone can afford to spend 145$ on a single product. But if you want to try one product from Moss definitely check Illumina out..it works! You can buy Moss Skincare products at Aurora Beauty my favorite retailer for all things green beauty! Also don't forget to use the code "PARITA15" to get 15% off your entire order! This is non affiliate code ie I do not gain anything in return if you use my code other than your love and support :) Plus it's the only green beauty retailer who offers free shipping over 50$ with samples! You can also buy samples of products you want to try, I personally have bought samples from her many times and they are always very generous sizes!

I hope this review was helpful and if you have any questions please feel to free to leave them below in the comments and I will definitely get back to you asap.

Until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Disclaimer - Boxwalla June 2018 Beauty Box was sent to me for consideration, however all my reviews are non biased and my own. This is NOT a sponsored post.

Sanitas Vita C Serum Review

2018-09-14T07:29:00.004-07:00

Hi All,

If you ask any dermatologist what their top 3 must have products are Vitamin C based serum would probably make the list! We all are aware of the health and skincare benefits of Vitamin C. It's an antioxidant which helps to fight the free radicals that are often triggered by sun exposure and pollution. It also helps to stimulate collagen production which in turn helps the skin to stay firm and youthful! Research has shown it also helps with dark spots and hyperpigmentation!

Unfortunately not all Vitamin C serums are stable, in fact the most common form of vitamin c serum on the market are made from L-Ascorbic Acid which is highly unstable in nature and loses its effectiveness once exposed to air or light, also it's quite acidic in nature which can cause irritation and inflammation on the skin. Another problem is that not all Vitamin C ingredients are oil soluble ie they will only work on the surface of the skin and not penetrate the epidermis where it can stimulate collagen production.

Since my skin could not tolerate L-Ascorbic Acid and would always end up having congestion I went looking for other vitamin c options and came across Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate , an oil soluble form of vitamin C which is stable and non-irritating on the skin! During my research I came across Sanitas Vita C Illuminating Serum which has Tetrahexyldecyl Ascrobate as the second ingredient so I knew the % would definitely be very high!

Sanitas skincare uses Biogenic science ie they use active ingredients which are natural but found in biology and in the skin as well. If you look at their ingredient lists, the formulation is very simple and straightforward with not huge list of ingredients and that was one of the things which attracted me towards this line as it's free of any unnecessary fillers! So you get what you pay for!

Sanitas Vita C serum has whopping 30% of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate which is the highest amount of THA I have ever seen in a serum yet! The serum is housed in a beautiful glass bottle with a dropper, it's definitely on heavier side but it's travel friendly as well. The serum is clear oil based but has a nice slip to it. I use 3-4 drops directly after my acid toner and its enough for both face and neck.

Full Ingredients List: Squalane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Safflower Oil/palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuau) Seed Butter, Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D), Palm Alcohol, Lecithin, Phytosteryl Canolate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil.

Results:- I have been using this serum for quite sometime now and really really love the results! With regular everyday use my skin definitely appears more brighter and radiant. The complexion has evened out and even deep scars have lightened up. My skin had become quite dark and dull during the course of my pregnancy but with using this everyday for past few months my skin is now in much better place! Not only it helps to fight the free radical damage caused by sun exposure, due to its oil soluble capabilities it penetrates deeper into epidermis and helps to stimulate collagen which I believe has helped to lighten the pigmentation and plump up the scars making them not that visible! The ingredients are pretty impressive too with first ingredient being Squalane, followed with Safflower oil which is high in linolenic acid, murumuru seed butter from brazil and cupuau seed butter contain essential fatty acids to keep the skin moisturized and strengthen the skin barrier.

This serum is also very moisturising on its own due to the inclusion of butters and oils, it has never clogged my pores or caused any kind of irritation or congestion. There is absolutely no redness and inflammation which would occur whenever I used a higher dosage of L-Ascorbic Acid based serum. It's the most gentle yet most effective form of Vitamin C out there so if you have sensitive skin or even your skin reacts badly to L-Ascorbic based Vit C serums, give this a try!

It retails for 99$ for 30ml, since you just need 3-4 drops per use, it lasts quite long time, I have been using mine everyday for past couple of months and still got quite a lot left! Plus you can always get 20%-25% off from Dermstore, Pharmaca , PremierLook or EDCSkincare :)

Hope this review was helpful, if you have any questions please feel free to leave them below.

Stay blessed and stay beautiful!

Epionce Skincare Line Review - Lytic Gel Cleanser, Lytic Plus Tx Lotion, Intense Defense Serum and Renewal Facial Lotion

2018-08-17T09:57:00.002-07:00

Hey Everyone!

Skincare for me is all about results. If you have been following me on Instagram you know my love for the Epionce line! This review has been long pending but better late than never. I was introduced to Epionce products via Brianna Stanko on YouTube. If you are a fellow skincare junkie like myself you probably are already following her, if not then I suggest you do it right away! Her skincare and makeup recommendations are absolutely spot on and have never failed me yet. She is also the owner of Premier Look - An online skincare boutique which btw have amazing customer service..speaking from personal experience :)

A little bit about Epionce skincare - "It is a physician-strength skin care line created by clinical dermatologist, Dr. Carl Thornfeldt. Our unique approach provides a blend of key botanical ingredients to reveal healthier-looking skin that can help improve the visible effects of aging – giving you smoother, more radiant skin. Our gentle and effective formulas are paraben, fragrance, sulfate and gluten-free. Restorative botanical ingredients incorporate powerful multifactorial antioxidants along with barrier boosting cholesterol, ceramide and free fatty acids in proven concentrations to improve the overall health and appearance of the skin."

I personally have tried 4 products from the line and repurchased them again and again! Yes these are that good! The best part about this line is that they have different version of products for all skin types! I typically use the ones for normal to oily skin prone to congestion.

Let's start with the cleanser, I absolutely love the Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser! As the name suggests it is a gel based cleanser housed in a see through plastic bottle and comes with a pump and is very travel friendly as the pump locks so no spillage! Even though it does foam up beautifully it is Sulphate free and Paraben free and is not drying at all. It gently yet thoroughly cleanses the skin leaving it soft and glowing! I love the refreshing fragrance of menthol it leaves behind which instantly wakes my skin up! It also contains Orange fruit and Lavender extracts along with Willow Bark Extract which contains natural BHA for gentle exfoliation. Even though they say on their website that it can remove makeup, I don't use it as a makeup remover and would not suggest to do so either. Always remove your makeup before hand ..oil/balm based cleansers work the best to remove stubborn everyday makeup and SPF!

Ingredients:-

Water (Aqua), Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Althaea Officinalis (Marsh Mallow) Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Oleate, Hexylene Glycol, Lavandula Augustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Menthol, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dactylifera (Date) Fruit Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Sodium Hydroxide.

Next product in the line HG for me and something I will never be without..never! The Epionce Lytic Plus Tx Lotion is the only lotion/treatment product which works to keep congestion and acne away for my skin! I love it and my sister loves it as well! She get's hormonal acne mostly on the jaw line and it works amazingly well for her as well. Even though it typically falls under exfoliator/acid/treatment category it's not drying at all! In fact I have used it morning and night everyday for months and it never dried my skin! The formula is light and has lotion type consistency, on application it does have a slight cooling sensation which I believe is from the menthol, so if you are sensitive to menthol I would suggest to check out the gentle version of this treatment. The Lytic Plus Tx is specifically for oily and acne prone skin.

The Lytic Plus Tx lotion is their maximum strength formula containing Willow Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid and Azelaic Acid. It gently cleans out the stubborn congestion by penetrating in the skin and dissolving the dead skin cells and killing off the bacteria. Azelaic acid helps with inflammation and brightening up the spots as well as it has antibacterial properties! I personally find the combination of BHA ie Salicylic Acid + Azelaic Acid fantastic for my skin! With regular usage it has helped my skin to stay clear and free of congestion! It works great as a spot treatment as well and overnight will reduce the size of the zit!

Ingredients:-

Active: Salicylic Acid 3%. Inactive: water, Butylene Glycol, Salix Alba (willow) Bark Extract, Ppg-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Limnanthes Alba (meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Polyacrylamide, Phoenix Dactylifera (date) Fruit Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Allantoin, Atelocollagen, Azelaic Acid, Bisabolol, C13-14 Isparaffin, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (orange) Fruit Extract, Cyclohexasiloxane, Emulsifying Wax, Ethyhexlaglycerin, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Hexylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Lavandula Angustifolia (lavender) Flowr Extract, Lecithin, Linalool, Limonene, Linum Usitatissimum (linseed) Seed Oil, Menthol, Peg-100 Stearate, Petrolatum Phnoexoythanol, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Sodium Hyroxide, Xanthang Um, Zinc Pyrithione.

Next we have the Intense Defence Serum, this is probably the most expensive product from their line and well worth it as I have repurchased it multiple times! It's highly advanced anti-aging serum which provides complete set of multi-vitamins for your skin using botanical sources of A, B, C, D & E. It contains two of my all time favorite ingredients - Niacinamide and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate along with many botanical extracts like melon fruit extract, sea fennel extract, cotton seed oil, raspberry seed oil etc. If you are serious about anti-aging , the ingredients to look out for are antioxidants! Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is a highly stable Vitamin C derivative which is oil soluble ie it has the ability to penetrate deep into the epidermis layer and work it's magic! Most of the vit c treatments in the market use L-Ascorbic Acid which is the basic Vit C form but this ingredient is highly unstable and oxidizes easily! It also can be very irritating on the skin causing congestion and breakouts. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate on the other hand does not cause any irritations and is suitable for all skin types! Another of my favorite ingredient is Niacinamide! Research has shown that this ingredient helps in refining pores, dull skin, uneven skin tone, fine lines and also helps in strengthening the skin barrier! It's a fantastic ingredient and a must have in your skincare products!

The Epionce Intense Defense Serum comes in an airless pump packaging which helps in maintaining the freshness of the product which is a must especially since the price is so high! I have used this serum on and off for over 2 years and absolutely love it! It gives me almost poreless skin especially when used along with the Epionce Lytic Plus Tx lotion. With regular usage I find it helps in brightening over all skin, smoothing out the smile lines and refining the texture of the skin! I don't have any fine lines or wrinkles so cannot comment on that. Overall I really adore this serum and definitely would like to repurchase it..the only con I can think is the price! It retails for 136$ for 30ml which is definitely on the higher side but if you are willing to splurge this is a fantastic serum for overall anti-aging benefits!

Ingredients:-

Water (Aqua), Propanediol, Niacinamide, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Cucumis Melo (Melon) Fruit Extract, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Maltodextrin Crosspolymer, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Raspberry Seed Oil/Tocopheryl Succinate Aminopropanediol Esters, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Triethanolamine.

Lastly we have the Epionce Renewal Facial Lotion. It is moisturizer for oily/combination skin. It comes in a see through pump packaging and retails for 94$ for 50ml of product. It is described as "Facial Lotion that protects the skin from oxidative damage while strengthening skin's natural moisture barrier. Ceramides along with hyaluronic and essential fatty acids and seal in moisture while a botanical complex of meadowfoam, flax, avocado and lavender calm inflammation and neutralize free radicals. Zinc fortifies against future damage." The consistency of this moisturizer is thin lotion type and is absorbed immediately into the skin. It makes the skin look plump and hydrated immediately! It does not have any fragrance so people with sensitive nose can enjoy this as well.

I have used this moisturizer both morning and night time and it works well for both. It does not feel heavy on the skin nor does it clog my pores or cause any congestion! It especially works extremely well under makeup! I have used it as a primer underneath makeup and it helps keeping my makeup fresh throughout the day! I love the dewy finish it gives to the skin making it appear well rested and hydrated. I have repurchased this twice already and will always have it in my skincare collection!

Ingredients:-

Water, Butylene Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius (safflower) Seed Oil, Limananthes Alba (meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Cyclophentasiloxane, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Ppg-2 Myristyl Ether, Propionate, C10-30 Cholestrol/lanoestrol Esters, Poalycraylamide, Linum Usitatissimum (linseed) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Beeswax, Bisabolol, C12-20 Alkyl Glycoside, C13-14 Isoparaffin, C14-22 Alcohols, Capylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (orange) Fruit Extract, Cyclomethicone, Dimethiconol, Ethylhexylgylcerin, Hexylene Glycol, Lareuth-7, Lavandula Angustifolia (lavender) Flower Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Magnesium Salicylate, Magnesium Stearate, Malic Acid, Manganese Glycerophosphate, Persea Gratissima (avocado) Oil Unsaponifiables, Phenoxyethanol, Phoenix Dcatylifera 9date)f Ruit Extract, Phytosphingosine, Pyrus Malus (apple) Fruit Extract, Rosa Cainina Fruit Oil, Rutin Sodium Hayluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Zinc Pyrithione, Zinc Stearate.

Epionce products are available at Dermstore, SkinStore, EDCSkincare, SkincareRX , LovelySkin and PremierLook. These are the online retail stores I generally prefer to buy, always use trusted authorised retail partner stores only to buy any type of skincare or makeup products. Currently (as of 17th Aug 2018) Dermstore is having their Birthday sale with 25% off discount on most brands and Epionce line is included as well! Don't forget to use Ebates, if not signed up yet..you can use my referral link to sign up and get 10$ ..sign up here or directly go to Ebates.com to sign up!

I hope this review was helpful, if any questions please feel free to leave them in the comments section and I will get back to you asap!

Thank you for reading and stay blessed!

SkinOwl Neck+ Super Smoothing & Contouring Neck Concentrate - Does It Work?

2017-09-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

Its not very often you come across a product which really surprises you and surpasses all your expectations and this one seems to have done just that! I have to admit something here, I have always concentrated my skincare purchases mainly focusing on my face never really giving enough attention to my neck. Usually I'll just slather on the same serums and moisturisers on my neck which I use on my face, I figured if they are good enough for my face they ought to be good enough for my neck too..right? I was so wrong. Even though I used all these serums and moisturisers on my neck I never really saw any visible difference apart from the hydration factor.

After my trip to India in the Feb this year my skin around my neck was looking even more dull and I saw more pigmentation. Now I don't really have too many visible wrinkles but definitely I started seeing more rough skin and fine lines appear. While searching for a product for my neck concerns I remembered Nicki Evans from @nici_evans on Instagram had mentioned about SkinOwl Neck+ gel and how much she really enjoyed it. To be honest just by looking at the ingredient list I really wasn't impressed as they were quite simple ingredients which were present in many other products which I had used earlier and I wasn't even sure if this would really help with any of my concerns but the reviews were pretty good and the size was quite decent so I decided to take the plunge and am so happy that I did!

Before I share my thoughts let's take a look at the description and ingredient list.

SkinOwl Neck+ - A symphony of healing herbs, restorative plant and flower compounds, and Ocean Mineral Complex in a super concentrated, bio-available delivery system. Our first ever super-smoothing & contouring neck concentrate made with superstar age-defying ingredients to create a smooth, youthful, and contoured neck and décolleté. Skin looks smooth, supple, and quenched, with dark spots & crease marks visibly reduced. Tight, toned, and radiant skin will be the evidence of this product's efficacy.

Ingredients - Aqua (Deionized Water), Hamamelis Virginiana Water (Witch Hazel), Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Organic Aloe), Sea Water Extract (Ocean Mineral Concentrate), Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Organic Jojoba Oil), Achillea Millefolium Extract (Yarrow), Chondrus Crispus Extract (Irish Moss), Curcuma Longa Rhizome Extract (Organic Turmeric), Spirulina Maxima Extract, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose, Carrageenan, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin

My Thoughts -

So I bought this in the first week of April this year and ever since I have been using it pretty much everyday in the night time. SkinOwl Neck+ is designed to be used on Face, Neck and Décolleté but honestly I not used it on my face yet although I am tempted to give it a try! May be I will and also update this review accordingly. Neck+ comes in a glass bottle with a pump which I love! I find one pump to be more than enough for entire neck and décolleté area. The texture is similar to aloe vera gel and spreads easily onto the skin. Its light yet hydrating enough. It does not leave any kind of residue behind infact it does have a slight cooling sensation onto the skin. Now for the million dollar question..does it work? Yes it does! First couple of weeks I didn't really notice a big difference but one day during our weekly skype chats with my in laws my mil pointed out suddenly that I seem to have lost weight and she specifically pointed out to my neck saying that it looked a lot less chubby..lol! I was really surprised! Who doesn't like to hear those golden words right? Even though at 2-3 weeks the difference wasn't huge but still there was a difference! My skin on the neck and chest looked more toned and definitely the pigmentation around the lower creases of the neck looked lighter! I was ecstatic!

With continued usage of Neck+ once daily in the night time the texture of my skin has improved a lot. It looks a lot firmer, toned up in texture and pigmentation has reduced a lot. Fine lines have visibly reduced and the skin just looks and feels more contoured! In fact I used to have double chin, I still do to some extent but the skin right below my chin has also firmed up a lot, of course I also have been exercising and have lost over 15+ pounds in last 6 months but sometimes weight loss can make your skin loose its elasticity but since I was using Neck+ regularly I didn't feel any of those negative side effects. Another really important aspect is that the results seem to last for a long time, for eg many a times once you stop using a product your skin might return to its previous state but with Neck+ I have found the results to be almost permanent. I have been using Neck+ since April now and I have used only half of my bottle so one bottle with one pump usage daily will still last you a very long time. I find the price pretty reasonable for the quality and quantity of the product I am getting. SkinOwl Neck+ retails for 68$ for 118ml or 4oz and that is a lot of product. You can get your hands on Neck+ from Pharmaca, CultBeauty, etc (Affiliate Links). I picked up mine from Pharmaca during one of their 20% off sale....such a steal! I do believe Pharmaca is having a 25% off sale with code "HELLOFALL" at the time I am publishing this post so if you are interested this would be the best time to try this beauty out! Also both Pharmaca and CultBeauty ship internationally!

Even though the ingredients seem not so extensive but the synergy in which they work together really makes a huge difference and SkinOwl Neck+ proves that! If you are in your twenties I don't really think you need this but if you are in your thirties with concerns similar to mine I would highly recommend to check this out! Its definitely worth a shot. I hope the review was helpful, if you have any questions please leave them down below and Ill make sure to get back to you asap.

Until next time take care and stay beautiful

Parita.

*I bought this product myself and all views expressed in this review are my own.

You Skincare Essential Hydration Serum Review & Why You NEED IT In Your Life!

2017-09-18T16:22:00.001-07:00

Before I go gaga over this amazing You Skincare Essential Hydration Serum...let me first give you a little background story. In the first week of Aug this year my skin went completely bonkers! I got a severe reaction to a custom serum which was made specifically for my skin, I believe it was due to a very high concentration of essential oils. Initially I was really surprised as my skin is not really sensitive and does handle essential oils pretty well but I think since the concentration in the sample was a bit too much, it was very harsh on my skin. My skin barrier got pretty much destroyed, there were tiny little bumps all over my face especially on forehead, cheeks, chin, jawline and on smile lines! I never get such tiny bumps ever! They were not your regular pimples/acne but just small tiny under the skin bumps. My forehead especially is a bit sensitive and gets easily irritated than rest of my face. Of course I immediately stopped using that serum and one would think that after few days or even weeks the skin would get back to normal..right? Wrong! Once the skin barrier is compromised it takes a hell lot of time for the inflammation to go down and for the skin to repair itself. Nothing was working for my skin! Even the most tried and tested products were not showing any results and I truly was getting frustrated and anxious!

Fast forward to last week of Aug, it was over three weeks my skin was still inflamed and irritated. I suddenly remembered Amy who is the genius formulator and mastermind behind You Skincare, she had sent me her new products to try out and it included Essential Hydration Serum. I decided to give it a try and it worked like magic! Before I jump ahead lets first take a look at the ingredient list of this serum.

You Skincare Essential Hydration Serum

Description:- Hydration is essential for optimal skin health. Our Essential Hydration Serum is an intense, hydrating treatment that soothes dehydrated skin. It combines hyaluronic acid, provitamin B5, peptides, and many extracts such as mushroom, prickly pear, Amla, and cucumber to help replenish your skin with the lost nutrients it needs to become and stay healthy. Hyaluronic acid and sodium lactate are the top two moisturizing ingredients which are included in our advanced formula. They will bind moisture to the skin to give you long-lasting hydration all day. Essential Hydration Serum can be used alone or combined with other serums or moisturizers. YOU Skincare’s Essential Hydration Serum doesn’t contain any fragrances or essential oils.

Best Suited For:- All skin types, especially acneic, dehydrated, and barrier-compromised skin. Also helps skin suffering from the overuse of acids and tretinoin. --- (Looks like it was custom made for my skin condition!!!)

Ingredients:- Aqua/Water, Aloe Barbadensis Juice, Lactobacillus/Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi Mushroom) Extract /Lentinus Edodes (Shitake Mushroom) Extract Ferment Filtrate, DimethylSulfone (DMSO), Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Panthenol, Opuntia Tuna (Prickly Pear) Flower/Stem Extract, Phyllanthus Emblica (Alma) Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Levulinate, Glycerin, Sodium Lactate, Allantoin, Sodium Anisate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Butylene Glycol.

My Thoughts:-

This serum truly saved my skin! Like any serum it takes few weeks to show results, nothing really works overnight unless you are going for a surgical procedure! The serum as you can tell comes in a standard glass bottle with a pump and a cap. The texture of the serum probably surprised me the most as its extremely liquidy! Usually other hydrating serum that I have used in the past had a bit thick gel type texture but the Essential Hydration Serum is exactly opposite! But in all honesty this is the BEST hydrating/soothing/calming serum I have ever used! Period! No Doubt!

This serum is so much more than just a hydrating serum! It not only hydrates but soothes and calms down inflammation like nothing other. My skin even though was compromised it wasn't dry probably because I live in FL where most of the year the temperature are in the 90s! I use this right after my treatment/acid toner stage and before my moisturizer. Since my skin was so much inflamed I chose not to incorporate any other actives apart from my Epionce Lytic Plus Tx lotion which I would use once daily. Within a week my skin started to heal, the bumps were going down and the texture was becoming normal. My old acne scars which had resurfaced due to the extreme inflammation and dehydration started to soften again. Unfortunately we were hit by a major hurricane Irma last week back and we had to evacuate our home! We temporarily moved to Atlanta and I only took this serum, Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore moisturizer and Epionce Lytic Plus Gel cleanser along with a couple of other mists. Yup that's it!

The weather in Atlanta was extremely dry and once we reached there my skin started to dry out and peel especially on the forehead and around the smile lines. Again this serum helped so much with dryness, redness and peeling, I would literally apple this serum 2- 3 times in a day and by the time we returned home after a week my skin was back to its original state to about 90%. I still have couple of tiny bumps on my forehead but thats it! My cheeks, chin, jawline etc areas are completely clear of those pesky little bumps! I did use a heavy moisturizer like the Triple lipid restore during the night time when in Atlanta to elevate the repairing of my skin's natural barrier.

This serum is so much more than your basic hydrating serum! The name really doesn't do justice to this fantastic formulation. If you have any kind of inflammation going on say due to over exfoliation, bad reaction to a product, rosacea, acne, redness, broken skin barrier, dry skin, dehydrated skin..anything at all this serum is a must try! Majority of the "hydrating serums" on the market mainly contain some form of hyaluronic acid but if you look at the ingredient list for this serum, its far superior to any other hydrating serums on the market! Not only does it contain hyaluronic acid but it also contains peptides, mushroom extract which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and also contains Vit D and antioxidants. The serum also has Panthenol which soothes irritated skin along with Cucumber extract, Amla extract , Prickly Pear extracts, glycerin and a bunch of other beneficial ingredients.

I have used this serum so much you can see how beat up the label has become! This has become my HG serum for when my skin is acting up and just need that beneficial blanket of ingredients to keep it healthy and supple! I have always been a huge fan of Amy's formulations but truly with this serum she has knocked it out of the park! I haven't tried the hydrating serums from Skinceuticals, IsClinical etc but by just looking at the formulation and ingredient list the You Skincare Essential Hydration Serum is the best bet especially for the price! It retails for 56$ for 30ml and you can find it online at YouSkincare.us. I suggest to sign up for her newsletter as you can get 10% off on your first order and she also does sales now and then for the subscribers so you don't want to miss that!

I hope this review was helpful, if you have any questions please leave them down below in the description box and Ill be more than happy to answer them for you.

Until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Parita.

Leanne Grace Miracle Beauty Oil & Serum Review And A Possible Dupe For Sunday Riley!

2017-08-24T14:35:00.003-07:00

If you have been following me on Instagram you'd probably seen this product mentioned a lot of times. Its no secret that I adore face oils! My skin loves them too and one of the first face oil I ever tried apart from the Clarin's Lotus Face Oil was this Miracle Beauty Oil & Serum by Leanne Grace! I picked up mine first time way back in Sept 2015! At that time it was being sold under the brand name The Blissful Body over on Etsy! Back in the day I remember this line being mentioned on Jaclyn Hill's YouTube channel and I thought let me check out! I didn't buy this because of JH, those who know me, know that I never buy anything because of YouTube influencers, obviously they do have an impact but I prefer to do thorough research before investing especially when it comes to skincare! But once I looked at the ingredient list I was sold! The ingredient list reminded me a lot of the Sunday Riley Juno oil but with 1/3 of the price! Now to be fair its not an exact dupe of the SR nor do I believe that was the intention behind creating this oil but overall the ingredient list is very impressive and loaded with healthy omega oils!

Lets talk little bit about the brand Leanne Grace! The mastermind behind this line is gorgeous Cassie Platt, she does have background in massage therapy and hence knows her oils! The brand was initially called The Blissful Body on Etsy but recently she changed the brand name to Leanne Grace after her two beautiful girls! How amazing is that? To read more about her and her line check this link out. Apart from this face oil she also has some of the most amazing body butters I have ever tried as well as a face/body scrub! Reviews of the body products will soon follow! She just came out with new skincare products called Boosters which are suppose to be used in conjunction with the Miracle Beauty Oil & Serum. The boosters come in three categories Brightening, Hydrating and Anti-Aging! I personally have not tried any of them but definitely am excited to give try the brightening one as it contains oil soluble Vit C!

Miracle Beauty Oil & Serum

Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil*, Rice bran oil*, Macadamia nut oil*, Jojoba oil*, Camellia oil*, Red raspberry seed oil*, Pomegranate seed oil*, Argan oil*, Carrot seed oil*, Maracuja oil*, Cranberry seed oil*, Sea buckthorn oil*, Blackberry seed oil*, Rosehip oil*, Lavender essential oil, Rosemary extract, Vitamin E

*Organic ingredients

Lets talk about what exactly does this oil do? I mainly use oils/balms to nourish, moisturise and balance my skin. The texture of this oil is very light weight and absorbs immediately into the skin. With all oils you only need 2-3 drops for your entire face and this holds true for this oil as well. It does smell lightly like lavender as Cassie does mention on her website that since she uses organic cold pressed oils, some of them do have odour and to offset that she uses therapeutic grade lavender essential oil. The fragrance is not strong at all and does not linger behind either so if you have sensitive nose you need not worry.

What I love about the formulation is the inclusion of antioxidant rich oils and absence of essential oils apart from Lavender! A lot of oils on the market contain bunch of essential oils, now I personally don't have much issues with formulations that contain the right amount of EO's but often the EO's used are pretty strong and that can really irritate the skin! Hence I recommend this oil for sensitive skin types. I also love the inclusion of Linoleic Acid rich oils, if you didn't know oily/acne prone skin usually have higher % of oleic acid in their natural sebum and lower % of linoleic acid, hence using oils with higher % of Linoleic Acid will balance the skin's sebum production therefore balancing out the skin. If you are interested to learn more about why Linoleic Acid is so important, Lab Muffin has a detailed post on the same, read here. Similarly if you have extremely dry and mature skin you would want to use blend of oils which are rich in oleic acid.

I typically will use oils/balms mostly during the night time as I want that extra nourishment since I tend to use retinols and other AHA/BHA based products mostly during the night time. There are exceptions to this rule but more on that later! The morning after I use this oil I find my skin well balanced! I often suffer from dry dehydrated skin around my jawline and nose area whereas normal-oily (depending upon the season) on the rest of my face and this oil helps with balancing out the excess sebum production and also help with dry patches. However I highly recommend using a good moisturising hyaluronic acid based serum underneath for dehydrated skin issues! The face looks well rested, moisturised and plump. It looks like its been on a healthy diet! With prolong use the skin feels and looks better, if you have texture due to clogged pores it will help with that as well, although I highly recommend using a BHA based product to tackle the clogged pores issue but this oil will also help by balancing out your skin.

I know a lot of people tend to think oils will aggravate acne situation but I myself am prone to congestion and hormonal acne and this oil has never caused any irritation to my skin nor has it aggravated the acne any further. In fact since it does not contain any essential oils and the blend is rich in antioxidants and linoleic acid based oils, it will help to balance the excess oil production and therefore reduction in acne and/or clogged pores. Also since it has a lot of antioxidants rich oils it will help protecting from damage caused by the free radicals but to get proper protection its important we always wear sunscreen!

The best part Cassie offers a travel size of this Miracle Beauty Oil & Serum 1/2oz for 20$. If you are interested in trying this oil I highly recommend to invest in the trial size first and 1/2oz is a good size and will last easily for 3-4 weeks even with regular night time use! Plus its at a great price point as well! Taking about great price point the full size of this Miracle Beauty Oil & Serum retails for 52$ for 50ml! Yes! Its not the usual 30ml or 1oz but you are getting almost the double size of any standard oil/serum in the market! How's that for the price vs quantity value?

I hope this review was helpful, if you have any questions please do feel free to leave them in the comments section below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Until then take care and stay beautiful!

Parita.

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @beautybyparita

YoDerm Review : Treat Your Skin With Your Own Personal Online Dermatologist!

2016-09-18T20:29:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone!

When YoDerm contacted me and offered a free consultation with their dermatologist, I admit I was intrigued as I have never consulted a dermatologist online and I wasnt sure how it was going to work out. I am in my early thirties and I still suffer from hormonal acne from time to time, also one of my main concerns when it comes to my skin is the hyperpigmentation and dark spots left by previous acne, these are often stubborn and take a while to fade. Even though I do use retinol based products, I always wanted to try prescription strength retinol as I know they are quite strong and the effects can be seen immediately! So when YoDerm offered their consultation I did my research on their panel of dermatologists and immediately accepted!

So what exactly is YoDerm offering? YoDerm offers consultation with dermatologist at fee of 59$ per consultation. All the dermatologists on their panel are US board certified and you can see all the information of them on their website! The way this works is that you need to register, fill out some information regarding your skin history, skin concerns, previous medications which you were on etc. All these questions are extremely important for the doctor to prescribe you the medication for your skin concerns. Next you need to upload three pictures of your face close up left side, right side and facing straight. If you have any other concerns like back acne you can attach the pics for that as well. The form filling takes few mins and is pretty simple and straight forward!

Once the form is submitted it takes few hours for them to assign you to a dermatologist. I got the response pretty quick and was assigned to Dr Kober, MD. The very next day I got my prescription and since I had chosen my preferred pharmacy, the prescription was automatically sent to my pharmacy..its that simple! The best part about the consultation and YoDerm is their customer service, I had some issues with my prescription since I wanted to start a prescription of tretinion, I reached out to them, they not only resolved the issue in a day but also offered a discount coupon which you can show at your local pharmacy while picking up the prescription meds!

Overall I am pretty happy with YoDerm services, it definitely makes life easier if you cannot physically visit a dermatologist due to time constraints or any other reason. YoDerm is so easy to sign up and the prescriptions are legit and I can tell this from my own experience visiting many different dermatologists! If you are interested YoDerm has provided a link for my readers where you get 10$ off on your first consultation using this link - http://yd.md/myvanitytreasures . They also sent me some really cool samples from Cerave, Neutrogena and Aveeno, I think they perfect for travelling and will definitely come in handy in future :)

Hope this post was helpful to you all, please do not hesitate to leave your comments and suggestions below! Until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Shimmery Purple Smokey Eyes Makeup Tutorial - Video

2016-09-07T21:48:00.002-07:00

Hey Everyone!

I have a new makeup tutorial live on my channel and its shimmery purple smokey eyes makeup. This look can be worn for indian weddings, indian parties, date night etc! Its perfect for a special occasion and very simple to recreate. Also use whatever products you have on hand and if you do recreate it please do #beautybyparita so that I can see it :)

♥ Products Used ♥

Face:

Hylamide HA Blur http://bit.ly/2b3RbAk

Smashbox Primer Water http://bit.ly/29EEDh8

Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation in the shade Golden http://bit.ly/2bNScxU

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in Medium Dark Neutral http://bit.ly/2bBty2c

RCMA Loose Setting Powder http://bit.ly/29L2JJO

Benefits Hoola Bronzer http://bit.ly/29EGAd4

Devinah Cosmetics Highlighter in the shade Rolo http://bit.ly/2ceIPsg

MAC Shaping Powder Soft Focus as all over face powder https://bit.ly/2bga0Uq

Loreal Voluminous Mascara https://bit.ly/2bpY4iW

Anastasia Beverly Hills Browwiz in the shade Ebony http://bit.ly/29L3pPu

Eyes:

MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot http://bit.ly/2cj6sR9

Viseart 01 Neutral Mattes Palette http://bit.ly/29EFq1l

Viseart 04 Dark Mattes Palette http://bit.ly/29EFq1l

Devinah Cosmetics eyeshadows Ursula and Shack http://bit.ly/2cbx6tT

Sephora Collection Matte eyeshadow Blueberry Muffin http://bit.ly/2c6nFLe

Clinique Quickline for Eyes in the shade Really Black http://bit.ly/29EFONj

Ingot 77 Gel Liner http://bit.ly/2bNNEad

Lips:

Colour pop liquid lipstick in shade Lumiere2 https://bit.ly/2cDN15W

Hope you all enjoy this video, until next time, take care and stay beautiful :)

Indian Festive Makeup - Red Green Duo Chrome Makeup Tutorial Featuring Inglot and Makeupgeek!

2016-08-24T10:36:00.008-07:00

Hey Everyone!

This Red Green Duo Chrome Eye Makeup Look is perfect for the coming up festive season, especially for occasions like Indian Wedding and Parties. Lots of our Indian dresses have shades of green, teal, reds and maroons and this eye makeup look is perfect for that! Hope you enjoy this makeup tutorial, if you do please do give it a thumbs up and Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more festive looks coming up. Also if you have any request of a makeup look you would like me to recreate please do comment on the video and I'll be happy to film a tutorial. Thank you!

♥ Products Used ♥

Face:

Smashbox Primer Water http://bit.ly/29EEDh8

Hylamide HA Blur http://bit.ly/2b3RbAk

Urban Decay All Nighter Liquid Foundation in Shade 7.75 http://bit.ly/2bg9G8e

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in Medium Dark Neutral http://bit.ly/2bBty2c

RCMA Loose Setting Powder http://bit.ly/29L2JJO

Benefits Hoola Bronzer http://bit.ly/29EGAd4

Becca Moonstone as highlighter http://bit.ly/29EFuhJ

Bobbi Brown Corrector In Shade Dark Peach http://bit.ly/2aUE44g

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure http://bit.ly/2bq0j2C

MAC Shaping Powder Soft Focus https://bit.ly/2bga0Uq

Eyes:

Inglot Pigment in the shade 85 http://bit.ly/2bCoPPl

Makeup Geek eyeshadows - Creme Brûlée, Latte, Frappe, Bitten in the crease http://bit.ly/2bAwxJc

Anastasia Browwiz in the shade Granite for brows http://bit.ly/29L3pPu

House Of Lashes Siren False Lashes http://bit.ly/29L3lz9

Clinique Quickline for Eyes in the shade Really Black http://bit.ly/29EFONj

Lips:

MAC Captive Lipstick http://bit.ly/2bCoMms

Nyx Tiramisu Lip Gloss http://bit.ly/2bg9B4j

Epionce Lytic Plus Tx Lotion Video Review - Best Product For Acne/Clogged Pores/Dark Spots & More!

2016-08-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

If you have been following me on Instagram or YouTube for a while, you know how I love this range from Epionce skincare! Epionce Lytic Plus Tx is the best acne treatment lotion I have ever tried!

Epionce is a medical grade skincare brand and is available through authorized Spa's and dermatologists. You can get your hands on Epionce products directly via their website or authorized online retailers like Dermstore, SkincareRx etc. For list of all their authorized online retailers click here! Make sure you always purchase via their authorized retailers only as there are a lot of counterfeit products out there and it can be dangerous to buy products from Amazon or Ebay as they can be expired products or even worst tampered with!

Epionce lytic plus tx lotion is specifically for oily/combination acne prone skin, its a treatment lotion which contains 3% Salicylic Acid! Along with Salicylic acid it also contains a bunch of other beneficial ingredients like Azelaic Acid, Lavender extracts, Meadowfoam Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil, Glycerine, Hyaluronic Acid etc. In my review video I have explained the benefits as well as how this lotion has helped me, I have also compared it with other BHA/Salicylic Acid treatments available in the market like Paulas Choice 2% BHA and Obagi Clenziderm Pore Therapy 2% Salicylic Acid Toner! Check out my youtube review for further details!

Products Mentioned

Epionce Lytic Plus Tx (Buy From Below Stores)

Dermstore - Currently 25% off using code DS17 http://bit.ly/29gaK6q

SkincareRx - Currently 28% off http://bit.ly/29I9gSH

Epionce Lytic Sports Tx

Dermstore Currently 25% off using code DS17 http://bit.ly/29gaK6q

SkincareRx - Currently 28% off http://bit.ly/29I9gSH

Obagi Clenziderm Pore Therapy 2% Salicylic Acid Toner (Currently 15% off) http://bit.ly/2aKypRJ

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid - https://goo.gl/fAV4BF - Get 10$ off your 1st order + Free Shipping!

Classic Black Smokey Eyes Video Tutorial - Beginner Friendly!

2016-08-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Classic Black Smokey Eyes Video Tutorial is now up on my YouTube Channel! Its very easy and beginner friendly, so if you have always wanted to try to do a smokey but was scared of looking like a panda, definitely check my tutorial out and I am sure you guys will love it!

For reference below are the products used to achieve this look!
Face:
Hylamide HA Blur http://bit.ly/2aUDXG8
Smashbox Primer Water http://bit.ly/29EEDh8
Smashbox 15 hour hydrating foundation in the shade 3.3 http://bit.ly/29L2yOR + MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in the shade NC42 http://bit.ly/29EEI4l
Mac Pro Longwear Concealer in the shade NC42 http://bit.ly/29EEI4l
Bobbi Brown Corrector In Shade Dark Peach http://bit.ly/2aUE44g
RCMA Loose Setting Powder http://bit.ly/29L2JJO
Cover Fx Mineral Foundation G50 http://bit.ly/2aa4GRG
Benefits Hoola Bronzer http://bit.ly/29EGAd4
Tarte Exposed Blush http://bit.ly/29L3zX8
Becca Champagne Pop highlighter http://bit.ly/29EFuhJ

Eyes:
Kat Von D Shade n Light Palette http://bit.ly/2aa1x4o
Anastasia Browwiz in the shade Granite for brows http://bit.ly/29L3pPu
Loreal mascara
House Of Lashes Boudoir False Lashes http://bit.ly/29L3lz9
Clinique Quickline for Eyes in the shade Really Black http://bit.ly/29EFONj

Lips:
Colourpop Tootsi Lipliner https://bit.ly/2aa2jPb
Mac Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Touch The Earth http://bit.ly/2aUDhQW

Hope you guys enjoyed the tutorial, if you have any other requests for reviews and tutorial please feel free to leave them below!

Until next time, take care and stay beautiful!

Okoko Cosmetiques Skin Brightening L'ÉLIXIR DE CLARTÉ Review, Interview With The Founder Oyeta Kokoroko and A GIVEAWAY!

2016-07-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

If you have been following me on Instagram you already know how much I love this serum! I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to try this serum and today after using it for almost two months I am ready to review it for you guys! Please visit my YouTube channel to see the review of Okoko Cosmetiques Skin Brightening L'ÉLIXIR DE CLARTÉ Serum!

Oyeta the owner and founder of Okoko Cosmetiques was kind enough to do a special interview for readers of my blog! Thank you so much Oyeta for your kindness! Also stay tuned for an amazing giveaway coming very soon on my Instagram! So if you have not been following me there, I'd suggest you do it right away as trust me you DONOT want to miss this giveaway!

Enough of my blabbering, lets get started with the interview!

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1) Tell us the story behind Okoko Cosmétiques and what inspired you to start your own skincare brand?

My journey began while seeking a natural solution to my skin problems. My skin type is oily and acne prone and I got tired of not seeing the results that I wanted with my everyday generic skincare… So, I started reading food labels, skincare labels and researching ingredients. This led me to become more serious about the quality of products I put into my body and on my skin.

Since then, I have continued learning about natural skincare, ultimately taking advanced professional cosmetic formulation classes with one goal in mind: fresh, high-performance skincare using premium, natural and whenever possible, organic ingredients that work! My first mission was to help savvy, eco-conscious women who want to make smarter decisions about what they put on their face by using simple but luxurious, healthy skincare products that are effective. Mission accomplished. Okoko products were born out of a desire to help you exude radiance, look and feel sublime.

Also, I’ve always been a strong believer in “slow” beauty and beauty with a “conscience”, meaning, preferring a minimalistic, results-oriented beauty routine and doing good by supporting small businesses such as eco-entrepreneurs in emerging countries, women-lead initiatives and green and sustainable-oriented companies. I’m proud to say that we’re doing exactly that and we hope to be able to do even more as our company grows.

2) What sets Okoko Cosmétiques apart from other natural organic skincare brands in the industry?

First off, we are a small indie beauty brand comprised of a small team including my beloved partner. We work hard to create exquisite, effective radiance-enhancing skincare products to help you solve beauty issues, and look and feel sublime naturally. We use exotic, high-quality ingredients sourced from around the globe and they truly deliver. We do not outsource the making of our products; all of our ingredients are mixed by us in small batches to maximize the freshness and activity of our masks and serums…this keeps us quite busy!

What sets us apart is three things:

1- A MINIMAL SKINCARE ROUTINE: We offer a simple but powerful skincare line, using intelligent formulation, that addresses specific concerns such as skin clarity, fine lines, complexion and brightness. We believe in using only a few, intelligently crafted products to achieve your goals; thus we keep the number of products per collection minimal. What you get are wonderfully effective products that also promote sensual enjoyment, physical radiance and overall vitality.

2- OUR FORMULATIONS: We take the best of botanical skincare – combined with the best parts of scientific skincare – the scientifically proven active ingredients, to create our line of high-performance, high-end skincare that YOU and your skin will love. As I often say: we use only the finest ingredients for your precious skin. Plus, all our products are entirely vegan, raw and cruelty-free!

3- WE EMPOWER WOMEN: Finally, we are committed to helping and empowering women through our brand in many ways such as:

• sharing this message, (which is also my motto): Exude radiance. Love your skin, celebrate your beauty. We want to promote the diversity of true beauty/inner beauty across cultures and society. All women, all people are beautiful…

• through the transfer of knowledge and education on simple, effective and healthy beauty. As a cosmetics formulator, I love educating and sharing my knowledge to help others through skincare tips, tutorials and workshops.

• by offering economic opportunities to women-lead businesses and initiatives. A lot of our ingredients such as argan oil, baobab oil and marula oil are sourced from small community initiatives in emerging countries, we support them by engaging in a fair trade commerce. Other ingredients are sourced from a local “farm-to-skin” business here in Vancouver, Canada.

3) What is your take on the whole green beauty revolution we are seeing in the beauty and skincare industry?

I’m happy to see so many people becoming more conscious about what they put on their skin and in the quality of the food they eat. People are making smart, informed decisions and embracing a healthier lifestyle in general. Even a small change in routine can one to see improvements and this develops a positive feedback loop that helps to continually evaluate and improve habits.

When we founded Okoko Cosmétiques, my partner and I wanted to help solve beauty issues while supporting slow "beauty" and beauty with a “conscience". Following “slow” beauty is about making conscious choice about your skincare such as preferring a minimalistic but effective beauty routine. We believe in using a few simple but powerful, all-natural skincare products in our daily routine. We are proud to be among a new generation of green indie beauty brands that allow you to rely on pure, natural, effective alternatives that produce results and rival conventional products on the market.

So this is an exciting time for us! And we are here to support our beautiful eco-conscious community make better, smarter choices and create the best products that we can, for you.

4) If there is one product which you could recommend to everyone from your line which would it be and why?

All our products are receiving a lot of praise! (a big thank you to everyone that has supplied feedback!) But right now with the heat of summer, everybody needs to grab our purifying face mask LA D'TOX NOIRE(the black detox cleanser). LA D’TOX NOIRE is a clay-based powder purifying facial mask made with rhassoul, bentonite and Canadian glacial marine clays, vitamin C, and the superfoods spirulina, chlorella and raw cacao. The clays and activated charcoal help to clean acne-prone skin, remove oil and deep cleanse pores. Cinnamon, ginger and cayenne act to warm and energize the skin. It does such an amazing job at purifying, fighting acne, and energizing dull and tired skin, ultimately revealing a more radiant complexion. If I can sum it up, you’re getting the benefits of a luxurious spa treatment, with professional results in the comfort of your own home. If you desire “The Divine Complexion”. I also highly suggest our brightening serum L’ÉLIXIR DE CLARTÉ (the clarifying elixir) which is amazing for exfoliating, hydrating and providing glow to let your skin’s natural radiance come out. Be prepared to: Exude radiance!

5) You have gorgeous flawless skin! Can you please share your skincare and diet routine with our readers?

First off, the secret to my skin has been using my Okoko Cosmétiques skincare line consistently everyday and living a healthy lifestyle. Taking care of yourself from the inside out resonates with me – it always has. I really like the holistic approach, along with the idea of plant-based skin care. I have always been a believer that beauty starts within; before creating Okoko Cosmétiques I studied holistic nutrition, botanical medicine and naturopathic medicine, which gave me the knowledge to make smarter choices and live a cleaner life. Here’s my few simple steps to beautiful bright skin:

1- Drink water, and more water, lots of it! Your skin will look plumper and more radiant and it will help your body to flush toxins

2- Add loads of COLOURS to your salad: Start with a green background (spinach + kale), then slice some carrots, add a couple red chunks, make it yummy with avocado and don’t forget to top it with antioxidant rich lemon juice! (See my detailed recipe below).

3- Replace unhealthy snacks with small fruits and blueberries. Add them to your salad, dessert or smoothie and give your skin an extra collagen boost! You can never have too much of these vitamin C rich goodies.

4- Nettle tea is something you need to adopt if you desire gorgeous skin. I drink a mix of nettle, turmeric and dandelion tea regularly to flush toxins out and help my skin shine. I’ve been doing this for years and I can say with the utmost confidence that it really works!

5- Lavender, geranium, carrot and lemon are some of my favorite essential oils for beauty.

Lavender is great for calming and healing inflamed skin, acne and scars (some people are sensitive to this so try it in a small area first). Geranium has astringent properties and helps tighten pores. I love adding a drop of lemon essential oil and carrot oil to promote a glowing, unified and brighter complexion. Plus, they help to keep fine lines at bay (They really work!).

If you desire more tips like this, make sure to sign up for our mailing list at www.okokocosmetiques.com to receive a free guide revealing 5 more important ingredients for glowing skin. Plus, you will also receive my exclusive expert’s tips to help you achieve your goals.

6) So what's next for Okoko Cosmétiques? Will you be coming out with new products? Can you please share few details with our readers?

There so much going on, where to start? First off, we’ve started developing an ebook called "the Radiant Skin Formula" with skincare tips for glowing skin + our first gift boxes. I can’t wait to release them and bring your unboxing experience to the next level! Also, we are launching a sublime, limited edition red melting balm soon. It’s a brilliant multi-purpose balm you can use to moisturize skin, enhance radiance and cleanse the skin. Then, in a couple months, we’ll be launching something new and beautiful to change the way you feel about blemishes, damaged skin, scars and hyperpigmentation. This new product has an unusual ingredient that I’ve been loving very much! Next step is to work on a purifying collection designed specifically for combination, oily and acne-prone skin types. I am over the moon talking about this. I would love to surprise you along the way, so make sure to follow @okokocosmetiques so you do not miss all our wonderful surprises.

7) It’s always fun to know - apart from your own brand do you use products from other brands when it comes to skincare, makeup and haircare? Can you please share few of your favorites?

My oily and acne prone skin is loving the Rare Indigo balm from Mahalo! I also enjoy using Yuli Cell Perfecto serum. It’s incredible! And my most recent obsession is the current Sappho Cosmetics line. I discovered the products during a beauty workshop by Jacqueline from Beauty Reawakened and seriously, I have to give it a huge 2 thumbs up!! I love how gorgeous this pure, natural, effective makeup line makes my skin look. I’m really happy to have found (Sappho’s) effective, high-quality makeup products that produce results and rival the conventional makeup I was using a couple years ago.

8) What are your favorite core ingredients which you like to use in your skincare and what are their benefits?

• AHA (alpha-hydroxyl acid). These are natural citrus acids that exfoliate, brighten skin and unify skin tone

• Vitamin C: I find it powerful for restoring glow and radiance and studies show it can help boost collagen and make you look younger

• Rhassoul clay: A spa-quality mineral-rich clay that gently cleanses and improves the texture of the skin

• Favorite oils: Prickly pear seed oil, seabuckthorn oil and argan oil. They are truly amazing for promoting healthy and radiant skin

9) What advice would you give to other young entrepreneurs who want to start their own brand?

1- Take the time to perfect your formulations, ideas, vision and brand before launching. You need to be knowledgeable about skin science, formulation, good manufacturing practice, preservation, laboratory equipment, legal requirements etc. If you’re unsure, take your time and get the right education to achieve your goals first.

2- Also, it’s important to have a vision and to make sure you know what’s important to you, what drives you, what you need to accomplish. And work on that until it resonates and that vision is solid in your mind because it will sustain you.

3- There will be challenges and hurdles; don’t give up and have fun with it: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.

10) If there is one advice you could give to your younger self what it would be and why?

There’s surely more than one lol ;).

I would probably tell myself: Innovate. Persevere. Have a vision and believe in yourself. Always keep the fire inside you bright, strong and true. And ultimately, you will shine…

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Thank you so much Oyeta! You are so amazing! Lots of love and best wishes to you and of course Okoko Cosmetiques!

I hope you guys enjoyed reading this post, don't forget to check out Okoko Cosmetiques here, you'll receive 10% off on your first order! And follow me on instagram for an amazing giveaway coming up real soon!

Until next time, take care and stay beautiful!

Sunday Riley New U.F.O - Ultra Clarifying Face Oil First Impressions Review

2016-07-19T16:52:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Sunday Riley has just released two new products in their line - U.F.O Ultra Clarifying Face Oil and Martian Mattifying Melting Water Gel Toner! Both these are currently available online on Sephora website. The UFO retails for 80$ for 30ml and Martian is 55$ for 4.4oz which is pretty good compared to the previous oils from Sunday Riley!

I was able to get my hands on the Ultra Clarifying Face Oil last week from my local Sephora and I have been using it pretty consistently since then. I picked up UFO as its specifically made for oily-acne prone skin and consists of 1.5% of Salicylic Acid! I also filmed my first impressions on the Sunday Riley U.F.O and have uploaded on my YouTube channel! Yes! I now have a YT channel..Finally ...I know :) Please do check out my channel and give the video a thumbs up if you like. I already have three more videos already uploaded on my channel :) Please subscribe! Thank you!

I have linked the video below and also added some close ups of the oil itself with the description, ingredient list etc.

I hope this post was helpful, until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Bohemian Collection Cacao Clay Cleanse, Rosehip Facial Serum, Organic Oats Scrub & Herbal Steam Review, Discount Code & A GIVEAWAY!

2016-07-12T14:24:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone!

In my journey of exploring natural and organic side of skincare, I am fortunate to connect with beautiful souls like Dominique who along with her beautiful family are the owner and mastermind behind the Bohemian Collection, a new apothecary line focused on overall holistic lifestyle right from head to toe! Their products feature natural and organic ingredients, highest quality of cold pressed plant based oils and essential oils, recyclable and reusable apothecary glass bottles and of course lots of Bohemian Love! You can read more about their journey here

The moment I received the package I knew I was in for a treat! Why? It was radiating beautiful aroma encapsulated by this gorgeous packaging! I must say the packaging is one of the best I have seen in a very long time! It shows how much love and care is put into each package! After all, it is like receiving a gift for oneself!

I have been using all these products for weeks now and they have impressed me beyond my expectations! The formula and ingredient list is incredibly impressive and all of them work together in harmony which only goes shows how much thought was put into the formulations!

My top favorite product from this line has to be the Cacao Clay Cleanse! This is a dream for all those who love a good all natural cleanser along with this sensual aroma of chocolate! The moment I touched I was taken back to the days when I used to bake all day covered in whipped chocolate buttercream frosting as it's exactly how the cleanser feels! The texture is like a whipped chocolate mousse, dense and airy at the same time! If you have ever made or eaten a mousse you know what I am talking about!

The fragrance and texture remind's me of May Lindstrom Honey Mud but just not as sweet! It can be used as a cleanser as well as a mask and I love it both the ways! I usually will apply the cleanser and keep it for 20-30 mins after which I will gently scrub in circular motions and wash away with cold tap water. The skin feels soft, smooth and radiant! No dryness at all! I am almost half way through my tub and ordering more right away coz I never would want to be without it!

Ingredients: *Kaolinite (Kaolin) Clay, ***Raw Honey, *Theobroma (Cacao) Powder, *Rhassoul Clay, *Marshmallow Root, *Rosa damascena (Rose) Hydrosol, *Citrus aurantium (Neroli) Hydrosol, *Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, *Theobroma (Cacao) Extract, *Cucurbita pepo L (Pumpkin) Seed Oil, Persea americana (Avocado) Oil,*Coconut Oil, *Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary in organic olive oil base) CO2, Lactobacillus Ferment, Potassium Sorbate, Essential Oils of: *Leptospermum scoparium (Manuka), *Commiphora myrrha (Myrrh), Citrus aurantium (Bitter) Orange, *Juniperus virginiana (Cedarwood), *Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium)

As per the ritual you follow up with their Oats Scrub which comes in two types Oats + Hibiscus for mature/sensitive/dry skin type and Oats + Bamboo Charcoal for oily/acne prone/combination skin. I received a sample of the Oats+Hibiscus and I must say it was such a pleasant surprise! If you are a regular reader of my blog or if you follow me on Instagram (which if not..you should!) you would know that I am big on my acid toners for exfoliation nevertheless this was lovely to use! The grains are very fine, in fact, it almost feels like a powder but still is grainy enough to gently scrub away the dead skin cells. Does not feel abrasive at all and the aroma is quite unique, very herbal to my nose :P

The only suggestion would be to list the Essential Oil Blend in the ingredient list, but I am sure you can get the list by contacting them.

Ingredients:

Oats + Hibiscus - (For dry/ mature/sensitive skin) *Oats, *Kaolinite Clay, Rhassoul Clay, *Chamomile, *Marshmallow Root, *Hibiscus, *Raw Cacao, *Tumeric, *Essential Oil Blend

Oats + Bamboo Charcoal - (For oily/acne prone skin) *Oats, *Kaolinite Clay, Rhassoul Clay, Activated Bamboo Carbon Charcoal Powder, *Black Walnut, *Marshmallow Root, *Yucca, *Tumeric, *Essential Oil Blend

Facial steams are pretty new to me, the only time I have experienced them were during my facials at a spa but I really haven't tried using dried herbs and flowers at home for a facial steam until Dominique sent me one of their Herbal Steams and boy I am hooked for life! Not only they are relaxing but also help in relieving stress and improving mental health! With herbs like neem, lavender, marshmallow root, eucalyptus, rose, rosemary etc the benefits are enormous from deep pore cleansing to hydrating skin cells and maintaining good health!

The herbal steams come in three blends Bohemian Forest for congestion & pain relief, Farmer's Daughter for oily/acne prone skin and Fields Of Glory for dry/mature/sensitive skin! Don't you just love the names of these! Now no need to wait for your next spa visit to enjoy the benefits of facial steam when you can do so in your home, at your convenience and at a fraction of a cost! I like to use it over the weekend or anytime when I have little more free time in my schedule. I really want to give their Bohemian Forest blend a try as I do suffer from headaches and congestion all the time!

Bohemian Forest - A deliciously opening blend of herbs, botanicals, spices and essential oils for cleansing, purifying and opening nasal passages for easy breathing. Especially useful during times of headaches, cold, flu and other congestive illnesses.

Ingredients: *Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus) nitens leaf, *Althaea officinalis (Marshmallow) Root, *Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf, Illicium verum (Anise Star) Pods, *Echinacea purpurea (Echinacea) leaf, *Sambucus nigra (Elderberry), *Citrus sinensis (orange) peel, Syzygium aromaticum (clove), +Thuja plicata (cedar) leaf, *Proprietary Essential Oil Blend including *Ceylon (True) Cinnamon

Farmer's Daughter - (For Oily/Acne Prone Skin) A deliciously soothing blend of botanicals and herbs useful for purifying, cleansing and hydrating skin for a healthy natural glow.

Ingredients: *Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry) Leaf, *Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf, *Eucalyptus nitens (Eucalyptus) leaf, *Citrus sinensis (orange) peel, Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile) flower, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) flower, *Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) leaf, *Helichrysum arenarium (Helichrysum) flower, *Calendula officinalis (Calendula), *Trifolium pratense (Red Clover) Blossom, Rosa damascena (Rose) Petal, *Echinacea purpurea (Echinacea) leaf, *Proprietary Essential Oil Blend

Fields Of Glory - (For dry/mature skin) A deliciously soothing blend of botanicals and herbs useful for purifying, cleansing and hydrating skin for a healthy natural glow.

Ingredients: *Urtica dioica (Nettle) leaf, Juniperus communis (juniper) berry, *Citrus sinensis (orange) Peel, *Symphytum officinale (Comfrey) Root, *Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf, *Calendula officinalis (Calendula) flower, Rosa damascena (Rose) Petal, *Centaurea cyanus (cornflower), Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile) flower, *Althaea officinalis (Marshmallow) Root, Elettaria cardamomum (cardamom), *Proprietary Essential Oil Blend

Finally to lock all the goodness what better than a face oil which is high in antioxidants, fatty acids and vitamins! Rosehip Facial Serum is an herbaceous balancing and nutritious blend of natural oils that aid in beautifying and improving skin and its elasticity. This is a powerhouse of plant oils suitable for all skin types including oily and acne prone! The aroma is lovely and uplifting! It's one of the drier oils I have used in a long time, meaning it absorbs almost instantly in the skin leaving behind no oily residue of any kind! I have combination skin and it has never congested my pores, but if you have extremely oily skin you may need to do a patch test as sometimes rosehip oil can aggravate acne but again this happens in extreme cases. Also since the oil is very potent you only need 3-4 drops max to cover your entire face and neck. For better absorption apply the oil after a face mist, it'll help to absorb much faster in the skin.

Ingredients: *Avocado Oil *Rosehip Seed CO2 Extract, *Evening Primrose, *Jojoba, *Tamanu Oil, *Argan Oil, *Sea Buckthorn, *Supercritical Chia Seed Oil, *Hempseed Oil, *Carrot Seed Oil, *Rosemary CO2 Extract, *Calendula Extract, Non-GMO Vitamin E, *Proprietary Essential Oil Blend Including; *helichrysum, *lavender, *Palo santo

I hope this post was helpful to you guys, I honestly am so impressed with all of Bohemian Collection skincare range that I literally cannot wait for their new products coming out this fall! Apart from Bohemian Collection which is their Apothecary line, they do have an established haircare line known as NattysNaturals! I plan to do a separate blog post on this line in near future so definitely stay tuned! Dominique was also kind enough to share a discount code for all my readers which will get you 20% off their entire collection including skincare and haircare when you place an order via their website - NattysNaturals. Use the code 'BEAUTYBYPARITA20' and get 20% off your entire order! And NO it's not an affiliate code, meaning I do not gain any money out of it. Also they do offer travel sizes in most of their range so don't miss this chance and get yourself some bohemian love!

If that was not enough I am having a GIVEAWAY on my Instagram page where you can win my favorite product from their line which is none other than their amazing Cacao Clay Cleanse! So head on to my Instagram page for all the details on how to enter. My Instagram id is @beautybyparita.

Until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Love,

MakeupArtistsChoice (MUAC) Mandelic Acid Toner Review

2016-06-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) Mandelic Acid Toner was in my May 2016 monthly favorites which if you have missed you can check here. I came across Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) products quite a few years back while I was researching for AHA/BHA peels and immediately stood out because of their simple website, no extravagant marketing strategies and tons n tons of positive review with before and after shots! Fast forward to early this year one of my favorite YTuber Nurberxo mentioned about this toner on her snapchat and since I was almost out of my Pixi Glow Tonic (even though I did have a backup :P) and I wanted to try something stronger I decided to pick the MUAC 5% Mandelic Acid Toner.

In the past few years I have made quite a few changes wrt my skincare and one of them was to avoid using products having alcohol in it. In the past I have used and liked Clinique Clarifying Lotion which contained a hefty amount of alcohol in it, but since it can cause irritation to the skin I decided to stay away from products containing alcohol until MUAC toner came along!

My biggest concern about this toner was the alcohol content and so I reached out to MUAC customer service which by the way is probably the best customer service you will ever find! They are extremely educated and if you are confused so as to what products will suit your skin they do provide a free consultation as well! Take a bow MUAC team!

So when I reached out to their customer service team about an alcohol free option for the toner they explained that Mandelic acid dissolves best in an alcohol base and helps in delivery as well, they recommended to use a good hydrating serum after the toner like their hyaluronic acid serum to help with dryness if any. Further in my research I found even Vivant Skincare line which specialises in Mandelic Acid based products did contain Alcohol as the first ingredient! And this range is thrice as expensive as MUAC! Anyways so I decided to go ahead and pick up the toner as well as their trial size of the 40% lactic acid peel which I am yet to try.

The toner comes in a very simple plastic bottle packaging with a flip cap. Its one of the most raw boring packaging I have ever seen and I honestly could care less as the product inside is what matters and in this case it does deliver! The toner does come in many sizes like 4oz, 8oz and even 1oz trial sizes which is great! I went ahead full blown and picked up 8oz and its been over 2 months now and I am still not even half way so it'll last a long long time!

Ingredient List:-

Purified Water, SD Alcohol, Propylene Glycol , Mandelic Acid (5%), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal) Extract, Malic Acid, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Equisetum Hyemale Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phytic Acid, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate.

My experience:-

I have to admit..even though I was skeptical due to the alcohol presence I love this toner! Since I started using this toner I have seen a huge difference in the texture of my skin, it feels a lot smoother. I used to get tiny bumps under the skin which I believe was congestion especially below my temples but since I started using the toner..no more bumps! It contains 5% mandelic acid which is great for oily, acne prone skin which gets congested easily. I use this toner every single day morning and night and it has helped me to keep the acne away! Not gonna lie the first time you use you get that alcohol smell and if by chance you pour too much on your cotton pad chances are you are not gonna like the strong alcohol whiff!

It deep cleanses the pores and also has helped with the pore size! Nothing is going to vanish your pores but since I started using this toner I see a big difference in pore size, they appear smaller and tighter which is due to the pores being clean! Earlier I would also get clogged pores in the inner cheek area but that too has reduced along with the occurrence of blackheads and whiteheads! It also works in brightening the overall tone of the skin since it gently exfoliates the dead skin cells. The PH of this toner is 2.5 which is sufficient for exfoliation...lower than that can cause serious irritation to the skin.

As always start with trial size if you are interested in trying out this toner and always so a patch test just to be sure! Even though the toner does have alcohol I don't mind cause first - it has not irritated my skin or caused any severe dry skin issues and second the smell of alcohol goes away in few seconds plus only tiny bit is required so a little goes a long way! If you have acne/blackheads/whiteheads/uneven texture etc issues I highly recommend you to check this toner..infact check out other products from MUAC brand as their products are high quality with very reasonable pricing! I myself am eyeing their Mandelic Acid Serum which is 10% mandelic acid and their Niacinamide (Vit B3) serum!

Availability :- MakeupArtistsChoice website.

Price:- 16.50$ for 8oz (They do offer 4oz and 1oz sizes)

Don't forget to sign up for their newsletter or check out the coupon code section as they always have 20% off offer going on!

I hope this review was helpful, if you have any questions please do leave them in the description box below and Ill get back to you asap!

Have you tried any of the MUAC brand products? What are your thoughts and suggestions? Please do share them below as I would love to try few more products from them!

Thank you, take care and stay beautiful!

Siam Seas Skincare Overview & Interview With The Founder Supadra Geronimo + Giveaway & Discount Coupon!

2016-06-08T15:19:00.002-07:00

Hey Everyone!

I have been enjoying Siam Seas products for almost over a month now and as you all know I love them! I was immediately drawn to the unique south asian ingredients, I remember I wanted to try them all and I still do! I purchased the Purifying Herbal Head To Toe Mask and since I really wanted to try the face oil and serum I messaged the founder/owner Supadra for samples and she kindly added them to my order! I remember when I first time used the mask I was thrilled! When you hear words like purifying you immediately think of clay based mask with bunch of essential oils to clarify and purify your skin but NO this mask is different! It is one of the most gentle mask I have ever used! To find out more about this mask and to know why I love it so much read my previous post on my May 2016 monthly favorites here.

So after trying the mask I had high expectations from the serum and balm and boy they do not disappoint! Lets start with the balm first! SEAS Beauty Elements Balm comes in green forest like color with delicious jasmine scent. The fragrance is sweet, herbal and earthy... very different than anything I have ever tried. The texture soft and melts upon contact with skin. The way she suggested to use is to massage the balm on damp skin and later follow with the serum. Twilight BeCalm Serum is gorgeous saffron coloured and has similar sweet and earthy fragrance. I have used both the balm and serum quite a few times in my routines and absolutely love them! They are perfect on their own but work even better if layered especially after a mask or even chemical treatment.

If you remember my review of the Niod Flavanone Mud Mask few weeks back you would know thats its an amazing mask but the downside is that it leaves behind a strong stinging sensation after its rinsed off! I don't have very sensitive skin but the last time I used this mask the stinging sensation was way too high and it almost felt like burning and it wasnt coming down even after few mins. I sprayed some mist and immediately applied Siam Seas Beauty Elements Balm and followed by the Twilight BeCalm Serum and viola! Within matter of mins my skin calmed down and the stinging/burning sensation went away! I truly was shocked and immediately messaged Supadra to let her know and thank her for her wonderful creations! Thats when we started talking and one thing led to another and I requested her to do an interview for my readers and she generously agreed!

So without any further delay lets get started with the interview! Enjoy reading!

Please tell us something about yourself and how Siam Seas was born?

I was born in Thailand. Growing up spending majority of my time with my beloved grandmother, which also means a lot of time in the herbs room in the kitchen. For as far as I remembered, my grandmother was always in the kitchen either cooking or mixing some kind of potions for skin or medicine for all our boo boo. My grandmother instilled tremendous knowledge of herbs within me since the young age. I remembered feeling so serene every time she and I were in the kitchen making our potion and use it on ourselves.

However, Life completely changed when I moved to the States. I started pursuing Billiard and competing in the professional level. My focus was shifted - I didn't take care of myself but rather focus on my career. At some point I did not even own a lotion or sunscreen. I thought my youthful skin didn't really need care or protection - it looked good the way it was. It was such awakening moment when all at once, I started breaking out all over, having pre-mature wrinkles and sunspots. Next thing I know I am covering it up with thick makeups all the time, no one ever saw my bare skin, my self confidence plummeted, it was such a dark little corner I was in and I know I wasn't happy. So I started looking for a cure, I tried everything on the market that said wrinkle reducing, acne curing, spot brightening and nothing worked. It wasn’t until a bare, emotional time of my honeymoon in Hawaii - after sometime to decompress, reflect of where I’m from and who I am combined with a stumble upon an herbal handmade soaps store. I started to reconnect with my roots remembering why I didn't have this skin outburst before. Not only because my grandmother had always taken care of my skin care routine, the diet was different, my mom made sure of that. Suddenly it was all coming back to me. I decided to fly home after looking everywhere for the ingredients that had worked magic on my skin and I just wasn't able to find them. At home, I met with a long time friend who is already a step further in the natural path, together we work with Thai herbalists and alternative doctor to create a exotic and effective hair, bath and body products. Through the process I learned from our team of herbalists how plants work together, its properties and how to extract them to formulate a complex skin potion that heals my skin. It is formulated by me for my personal use and when I see how amazing they are on my skin I started sharing with my family and friends. Not only the stunning result but the history of these botanicals are so captivating to me and I want to share them with you.

What are your favorite ingredients that you incorporate in your skincare line and their benefits?

Hmm I have so many favorites but my long-time love would have to be Thanaka. Thanaka has a potent detoxifying, oil absorbing and pore tightening properties. It also has a strong natural sun protection and works as cooling aid to help release heat from skin. It is the first thing I reach for when I’m out of balance and breaking out. During monthly cycle especially when my hormone is off the chart and my skin is a bit oily. It is the main ingredient in the herbal mask.

I also love

- Plai – historically used on Thai boxers to reduce inflammation after a fight or training. And if you ever see how they train Thai boxers, you will know how strong Plai is for anti-inflammatory. It’s a main ingredient in The SEAS Elements Beauty Balm

- Clinacanthus Nutans - a very strong anti-toxin and ant-inflammatory. Such a powerful herb that In Thailand the main use of this plant is to treat inflammation from snake and insect bites as it neutralizes toxins from wounds. . The Twilight BeCalm Skin Serum

- Pueraria Mirifica – contain natural estrogen. Indigenous to Thailand. We use it to clarify and tightening our pores, helps brightening skin. And it cant be in anything other than the Purifying Herbal Mask

I’ll have to stop here before I go on to the next ten herbs that I love!

What sets Siam Seas apart from other natural skincare brands?

Siam SEAS is different because it brings something that is not yet known to the western side. These botanicals are used to heal skin effectively for centuries in respected healing method such as Ayurveda, Thai and Chinese alternative medicine. Each ingredient has its history. Centuries of the cultivated knowledge of these botanicals - how they are used and their healing abilities are mind blowing and it is just too beautiful not to share. Moreover, my line is focused on a super sensitive skin. I pick the ingredients not only from organic and wildcrafted sources for its extreme potency but I carefully pick only ingredients that do not congest a sensitive and problematic skin such as mine. So it is well nourished and hydrated without getting congested.

What advice would you give to our readers to improve their skin conditions?

From first hand experience, great skin is combination of internal and external healing with internal being the utmost important. No matter how great skincare is, it can’t sustain a healthy and glowing skin if your diet is imbalanced and contains more toxin than your body can rid of. Next is stress management- you will be surprise how much your body releases hormone when your mind is stressed and how drastically it causes disruption in the whole balance system in your liver. And then we look into skincare. I believe in giving the skin the right tool at the right time to achieve a full potential in skin healing and having youthful appearance. As we age, our skin works slower, takes longer to repair, produces a lot less support. My best advice is to observe your skin, notice and take note of your individual rhythm. No one knows your skin better than you do. So listen to it. if your skin is easily congested then manually exfoliate your skin (find your own rhythm, know how often your skin needs it) to help it rid of dead cells so it wont become a pore clogging agent, use repairing skincare for night time as I believe that it is the time your skin spends all its energy in healing itself and I use protective skincare during the day to help defend and protect it from the environmental aggression that causes moisture loss and free radical to go hay wired.

Can you please share some of your favorite products from your line and why?

SEAS Element beauty balm - if I could only take one thing with me, this is it. I love the texture, the scent, the color and most of all how it brightens my skin and refines my pores. It hydrates and nourish without leaving a greasy feel. It’s incredible and my most treasured skin treat.

Twilight BeCalm Skin serum - This serum is unique in a way that it uses the herb that’s culturally used to treat inflammation from snake bites. Its ability to calm inflammation is so incredible. The delicious organic oils, organic butter and organic aloe gel emulsify when shaken creating this gorgeous, fast absorbing serum that your skin drinks it right up.

Purifying Herbal Mask - ahh this is my special girl :) She is like a wonder woman. She is versatile and will turn into a mask that best fit your skin on the day. My skin is not always the same, some days are dryer, some days are oilier, some days are flared up with inflammation. But I can make the mask that’s best treat my skin on that day by adding different liquid mixture. Liquid suggestion is put in each box for your convenience but if you want to play skin chef, this mask can still be a part of your ritual.

Can you please share your skincare/makeup/haircare routine with us?

I rarely use make up anymore - only on rare occasions. But when I do my skin LOVES Vapour beauty

My morning routine is very simple. On the normal days, I don’t’ wash my face in the morning. I spritz rose water on my skin then I massage the secret face serum I have formulated (to be released soon!). If my skin is overly oily, I use the purifying herbal mask mix with water into a paste and cleanse my skin with it first before spritz and serum. If I am dealing with dark scar then I put on spots treatment after serum (Also releasing the spot treatment soon too, promise!)

On body, I use The Radiance of Love Body Oil, our soon to be released in body collection, all over my skin..the scent is incredible. And the history is amazing. I can’t wait to share with you. If I am going to be in the sun in a long period of time Zatik is my preferred sun protection. The texture is so light and it doesn’t have white streak. And I’m out the door.

The evening routine is when I take my time and I breathe. I exfoliate every other day with either Mangosteen fine facial scrub or Turmeric and Thanaka facial scrub.

On the day I am not exfoliating I use a cleansing balm (soon to be released) with cleansing cloth. I love this cleansing balm! It’s so unique!

If I mask (2 times a week), it will be the next step I do. I will conjure up the liquid mixers depending on how my skin feels lately.

Then with mask, or cleansing balm on, I jump in a shower with my favorite handmade soap Turmeric or Papaya soaps. Or I use Noni and Honey or Lakoocha body scrubs. I can’t get over the scents of these two.

I wash my hair every other day, so I usually coordinate it on the day I scrub. So when I do I have more time to soak in the hair mask while I scrub. I use coconut (it reminds me of home), rice and silk protein, butterfly pea. These are my favorites so I have 3 of them at hand and I rotate them depending on my mood that day.

After cleansing steps my moisturizing steps are pretty much consistent. I use the SEAS Elements Beauty Balm on my completely wet face. I skip towels altogether. I massage the balm until the lavender and herbal scent transfer into jasmine scent. Then I apply the twilight BeCalm Serum and take my time to gently press this aloe gel + oils emulsifying serum onto my skin as I breathe and relax. I do spot treatment if needed. Then I slather on the white tea and rice body butter on my wet body. Towel dry my hair. And I am off to bed.

(Love that smile!)

What should readers expect from Siam Seas in future? Any new products in the making? Can you please share some details?

The ultimate goal of Siam SEAS is to bring these incredible healing ingredients from the forest of Southeast Asia to spotlights and to combine synergistically with the wonderful botanicals from the rest of the world for skin healing. So you will start seeing more of the magical potion of luxurious and exotic skin treats from Siam SEAS.

I have quite a few products in the making - mostly in the refining stage. The next two that will be released are essential and quickly becoming my favourites One of them is a cleansing balm – formulated using traditional Ayurveda pulling and cleansing oil combined with Southeast Asian herbal extracts. It comes in a balm state so it is easy to apply, it melts into oil once massage on the skin. NO drips, no mess. It not only cleanses skin without strip your acid mantle but also help neutralising toxin within your cells. It has enzymes that will eat away those dead skin cells making your dull skin brighter and more dewy after, plus the scent is so amazingly uplifting. Next is a spot treatment. Inflammation is my worst enemy. It creates dark scars that would last for months. So I have created a spot treatment that not only lighten the dark spot and help it heal faster than I could imagine, it also stops the acne and inflammation its track. For body collection, I have the most romantic body oil called The Radiance of Love. It uses oil that has traditionally been used on the bride for ultimate glowing skin before the walk down the aisle, combined with the most exotic flower oils of Asia. It smells so romantic, in fact it has becoming my personal scent and I get asked all the time of what I use as purfume. This body oil is lightweight and not greasy at all. It’s so wonderful! I promise I will be releasing them soon. I can’t wait to share these two items with you.

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Isnt she amazing? I am so thankful to her for doing this interview for my readers. She has also offered a special discount for my readers, use the code Parita and get 15% off your entire order.. (non affiliate) ...And did I mention she offers free US shipping on all her orders? Yes! Also you can reach her anytime if you have any questions or queries, she replies back immediately! Best customer service ever!

Also check out my instagram @beautybyparita ... I am giving away Siam Seas Purifying Herbals Head To Toe Mask in honor of reaching 1K subscribers!

Until next time take care and stay beautiful!

May 2016 Beauty Favorites - Glossier, Sunday Riley, Mahalo Care, Siam Seas, Holy Snails & MakeupArtistChoice

2016-06-06T15:27:00.002-07:00

Hey Everyone!

You probably have heard this like a million times already but OMG how is it June already? This year has gone by like a breeze for me! I cannot believe we are already half way across the year! Anyways today Ill be sharing some of my favorite products from May 2016. If you follow me on IG(beautybyparita) which you should as I post my daily skincare routines there along with a lot of the stuff like hauls/first impressions etc, most of these products you would have already seen being used in my daily routines.

Lets start with my favorite morning cleanser Glossier Milky Jelly! I have to admit I am a little late on the Glossier bandwagon but now that I am on there is no stopping! There is only one word for this cleanser 'Amazing'! I adore glossier's simple feminine packaging, the cleanser comes in see through plastic bottle with a pump... of course! The texture is so weird! It reminds of vaseline but in liquid form. I remember the first time I tried it on...I used it on dry face and found it really difficult to massage it in. It works much better if massaged in on wet/damp skin. It is completely soap free, sulphate free and fragrance free and does not foam at all but still cleans very effectively without leaving your skin dry and stripped of its natural moisture barrier. This makes a perfect cleanser for morning time or even as second cleanser in the night. Not to forget it is on the most affordable cleanser priced at only 18$ for 6oz or 177ml! Its going to last me a long time!

If you are interested in Glossier products don't forget to use my link and receive 20% off your order - http://bff.glossier.com/dWpNC

Ingredients:-

Water/Aqua/Eau, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Propanediol, Isohexadecane, Poloxamer 184, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Xylitylglucoside, Betaine, Allantoin, Glycerin, Panthenol, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Anhydroxylitol, Polysorbate 80, Xylitol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Isopropyl Myristate, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide

Next up is the Makeup Artist Choice 5% Mandelic Acid Toner! After finishing quite a few bottles of my Pixi Glow Tonic which btw I have reviewed here, I was looking for something a little stronger and one of my favorite YT nurberxo had mentioned about this toner on her snapchat. I already was aware of this brand and how amazing their products were especially for acne prone skin so when they were having 25% promotion I decided to give this toner a try and boy I am glad! Its a fantastic toner/chemical exfoliator for everyday! I saw a huge difference in smoothness of my skin. There is no stinging sensation or peeling at all, the only problem I see is that it does have alcohol in it but as per my research and pls do correct me if I am wrong Mandelic Acid requires alcohol as a base to be as effective. It refines the skin and helps with lightening of the acne marks and spots. It also helps with keeping acne at bay and plus it hasnt irritated my skin or caused severe drying even though it has a PH of 2.5. They always have on going promotion of 20% to 25% on their website and they do offer trial sizes for almost all their products so definitely check them out if you are battling with acne and if you don't mind the alcohol content.

Ingredients:-

Purified Water, SD Alcohol, Propylene Glycol , Mandelic Acid (5%), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal) Extract, Malic Acid, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract, Equisetum Hyemale Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Phytic Acid, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate.

Availability:- MakeupArtistChoice 16.50$ for 8oz!

Next is Holy Snails Perseids Oil, I will not go in detail about this oil as I have reviewed it couple of weeks back here. In one line its a fantastic oil with amazing skin benefitting ingredients at affordable price point!

Availability:- Holy Snails Online Store 30$ for 30ml

This post will not be complete without mentioning Mahalo's Rare Indigo Balm! When I received the rare indigo balm in my May Beauty Heroes Box I was ecstatic! If you guys love clean, natural and high quality skincare and makeup definitely check out the Beauty Heroes Box, its quite unique and definitely worth it!

Mahalo Rare Indigo Balm was in my wishlist but due to it being so pricy at 110$ for 30ml I couldnt really justify the purchase especially since its not locally available in the stores so you can't really test the product before splurging! But I am so glad that Beauty Heroes were able to include this in their subscription box as the balm is amazing! It is everything and more that people rave about! The fragrance is so enticing and it literally takes me a different world. I use the rare indigo balm at night time because it helps me calm down and sleep better. Since I started using the balm my skin is doing so much better, no congested pores, overall the skin has brightened and looks more even toned, no dry patches, the texture looks refined..its just amazing! My only gripe about this product would be the shelf life! You need only a pea size product for your entire face and neck so the 30ml will last me quite long and the shelf life mentioned is 6 months which to me is ridiculous since no one can ever finish this huge jar in 6 months until and unless you start using all over your body :P

Ingredients:-

cannabis sativa (hemp)*, astrocaryum murumuru*, orbignya oleifera (babassu)*, sclerocarya birrea (marula), vitis vinifera (grape seed)*, camellia japonica (tea seed)*, aleurites moloccans (kukui)*, euterpe oleracea (acai)*, proprietary infusion of organic botanicals*, polygonum tinctorium (indigo), rosa damascena*, matricaria chamomilla*, achillea millefolium (yarrow)*, helichrysum italicum*, cananga odorata (ylang ylang)*, citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot fcf)*^, lavandula angustifolia (lavender)*, boswellia carteri (frankincense)*, abelmoschus moschatus (ambrette hibiscus), ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10), daucus carota (carrot seed)*, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (vitamin C ester), non-gmo mixed tocopherols, vanilla planifolia, iris pallida

Availability:- Mahalo.Care, Beauty-Heroes, Detox Market - 110$ for 30ml

Next one is a special brand that I came across last month known as Siam Seas. The owner Supadra is the sweetest soul and her products are true reflection of her knowledge in the field of traditional south asian herbs. The ingredients are procured from thailand if I am not wrong and she hand blends each and every product by herself! What intrigued me the most was the unique ingredient list! Its very different from what we see usually in the products. I picked up Purifying Herbals Head-To-Toe Mask to try first and now I want to try her beauty balm and face serum as well!

Apart from the exotic south asian herbs it also has one of my favorite ingredient ever ie Turmeric! I love turmeric in my face masks and have used raw grated wild turmeric on face for as long as I can remember! The fragrance of the mask takes me back to my childhood days when we used to make homemade masks using multani mitti (fullers earth) and rose water! Its a very different mask, most of the masks make skin dry, stretchy and irritated whereas this mask does not do that. It gently purify's the skin without making is dry or irritated. It soothes and calms irritated skin and gives a subtle glow. I like to mix the mask with little honey and rose water but you can use plain water as well. The powder is finely milled and another way I love to use it , is as a face cleanser/scrub in the mornings! Absolutely love it and high recommend trying out Siam Seas products for yourself!

(Hint:- I might be having a giveaway very soon ;) follow me on IG for further details :))

Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate (natural occurring calcium salt), Limonia Acidissima (wood-apple) Powder, Zingiber Cassumunar (Plai), Curcuma Aromatic Salisb (Wild Turmeric) Powder, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Extract, Terminalia Chebula, Acacia Concinna (Som Poy) Powder, Garcinia Mangostana (Mangosteen) Powder, Knema Cotisosa Lour Herb, Pueraria Candollei Grah EX Benth Var Mirifica (White Pueraria) Powder.

Availability:- SiamSeas.com 40$ for 200gms! Thats a steal!

Last but not the least is the Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream! I was lucky to win this cream in a giveaway on instagram as otherwise I would never have tried it on my own. I think it was due to the fact that in my back of mind I feel Sunday Riley products are tad bit over hyped and expensive even though Good Genes is my bae but I still feel paying 105$ for a chemical exfoliator is a bit too much but more on that later.

The first time I used Tidal I was pleasantly surprised! The cream comes in a plastic tub packaging and contains 50ml of product for 65$..it is expensive! Even though the cream looks and feels like a gel once you start applying on face it does feel a bit more heavier like a cream. Tidal is described on Sephora as "An advanced brightening, refining treatment infused into a next-generation water cream" and its absolutely true! The skin feel brighter and more even toned immediately, the pores look more refined and smaller, the textural irregularities literally disappear! The skin feels hydrated and moisturized the entire day, I oily feel it controls shine and oil throughout the day and its very hot and humid here in florida!

Ingredients:-

Water, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Tamarindus Indica (Tamarind) Seed Gum, Ethyl Macadamiate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer (and) Lecithin, Isododecane, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer, Lauryl Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Strelitzia Nicolai (Bird of Paradise flower) Seed Aril Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) seed extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Papain and Carbome 1, 2-Hexanediol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Algin, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract, Melia Azadirachta (Neem) Leaf Extract (and) Melia Azadirachta Flower (Neem) Extract (and) Amino Esters-1 (and) Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract (and) Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract (and) Lawsonia Inermis Extract (and) Ocimum Sanctum Leaf (Holy Basil) Extract, Pearl Powder, Fragrance, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.

Availability:- Sephora, Nordstrom, Dermstore, SpaceNK, CultBeauty

I hope this post was helpful and if you have any questions or request please leave them below in the comments section and I will get back to you asap!

Until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Shea Terra Organics Argan, Zafron & Camel's Milk Brightening Lait Cre'me Review

2016-06-01T14:11:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone!

(Affiliate Links)

Description :-

99.7% Natural. Brighten and plump skin with the powers of 3 ancient beauty secrets. Far more concentrated than cow's milk, camel's milk provides skin with a powerful boost of lactic acid to brighten skin as it breaks down dull skin. Genuine Moroccan saffron (not Spanish safflower) aids in brightening skin. The two beautify skin as organic argan oil and pure, organic aloe vera juice (not recycled water) give cells a boost of ultra-hydration. The result is glowing skin that is lush, soft and dewy. Sweetened with a kiss of bitter almond. 82% certified organic ingredients, this lait cre'me is made with a combination of pure aloe leaf juice and argan nut oil. This lait cre'me is light enough for day wear.

Shea Terra Organics has to be one of my favorite skincare lines when it comes to All Natural, Organic and Green Beauty products. I have raved about their Authentic African Black Soap Powder here and till to-date it remains one of my favorite cleansers of all time and I believe the love will only grow stronger!

With Black Soap Powder I did pick up few other items to try out and Argan, Zafron & Camel's Milk Brightening Lait Cre'me was one of them. What attracted me towards this line of skincare is how simple their ingredient list is! The line is completely natural, free from unnecessary fillers and procure their ingredients directly from the local african farmers!

Ingredients :-

Pure aloe vera leaf juice, organic argan oil, vegetable emulsifying wax, camel's milk, bitter almond extract, natural based preservative (glucono delta-lactone), sodium benzoate, naturally grown Moroccan saffron threads

Shea Terra Advantage :-

- 99% Natural

- No synthetic fragrances

- No parabens

- No minerals oil

- No petroleum

- Naturally brighten's skin

- No bleaching agents

- 82% certified organic ingredients

Shea Terra Organics Argan, Zafron & Camel's Milk Brightening Lait Creme comes in a standard 2oz dark glass container jar. I do like the fact that it comes with 60ml rather than standard 30ml of cream, so you definitely get more bang for your buck!

First thing you notice once you open the jar is the smell! It definitely is not perfume like as the product is free of any artifical fragrance or essential oils. It mainly smells like some cooked milk product! Not enticing to the least! But if you can get past the smell I think its a great day time moisturizer for normal/combination/oily skin. Dry skin people will definitely need a more heavy duty moisturizer but layered under a good oil/serum it should work fine IMO.

The texture is very light, almost feels like whipped cream. It spreads evenly and gets absorbed into the skin almost instantly without leaving any residue behind! Works perfectly beneath makeup so thats a huge plus! I love how hydrating it feels on the skin without being greasy or oily. For my combination its perfect day time moisturizer. It does not contain any SPF but then I always use a separate SPF anyways so I don't mind that but I do know some people don't like to layer multiple products so do consider that while purchasing. In my humble opinion one should always use a separate sunscreen as the sun protection SPF in moisturizers is not always enough.

Now coming to the brightening part of the claims. It works! With regular usage I did see lightening of spots and overall brightening and evening out in skin tone. The credit goes to the lactic acid present in Camel's Milk along with Vitamins B and C. It gently breaks down the discoloration and helps in achieving a more radiant look. Although it did not do much for my hyper pigmentation around the mouth, I think its not strong enough for that area. It does not clog my pores or feels heavy on skin but rather works as a fantastic gentle exfoliator!

Overall I highly recommend this moisturizer if you are looking for everyday cream which is completely natural and organic.

Price:- 26$ for 60ml or 2oz

Availability:- Drugstore, Pharmaca, SheaTerraOrganics, Amazon

Shea Terra Organics have monthly 30% off code which is circulated via their newsletter so I highly recommend signing up for the that.

I hope the review was helpful, if you have any questions please do feel to leave them below in the comments section and I promise to get back asap!

Until next time take care and stay beautiful

Deciem NIOD Flavanone Mud Mask First Impressions Review - A Long One!

2016-05-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

I am not sure about you guys but I am always looking out for something different, something unique in terms of science and ingredients used in skincare and of course how well the product delivers on the claims and I feel NIOD from Deciem fits the bill perfectly! Deciem was founded by Brandon Truaxe (formerly associated by Indeed Labs) and they call themselves "The Abnormal Beauty Company". NIOD as known as Non - Invasive Options in Dermal Science is on the higher end side of skincare spectrum with some very unique products fully backed up with science. Naturally it intrigued me!

Niod is mostly known for their CAIS ie Copper Amino Isolate Serum which focuses on improving the overall skin health rather than visible signs of ageing like fine lines, wrinkles etc. You can read more about Niod here on Caroline Hirons blog. Do not miss it as there is tons of info there!

They recently added a new addition to their ever growing line of products, a mask called Flavanone Mud and after reading their claims and description I had to pick it up and test it out myself to fuss what exactly is the fuss about!

Flavanone Mud - Flavanone Mud is a three-phase rinse-off dermal decongestion system that disrupts neither the skin surface equilibrium nor its density. While FM can be classified as a masque for categorical convenience, its approach varies substantially from that offered by the concept of masques today both in terms of its way of positive influence on the skin as well as its respect for dermal integrity.

DECONGESTION APPROACH

Masques in general offer decongestion of the skin by means of including muds and clays to absorb surface impurities. While some level of deeper cleaning does occur with this approach, muds or clays are unable to solubilize surface impurities and so the decongestion is inefficient. Furthermore, the visible effect is very temporary and further exposure to pollution and cosmetics will undo most of the positive effect.

FM approaches dermal decongestion in three phases:

Purifying Phase

This phase is the simplest one in the formulation and the one that is most closely aligned with masques as they are known today. In this phase, surface impurities—which include oil- and water-soluble pollution, cosmetic product build-up and excess sebum activity build-up—are physically solubilized and removed.

A highly-efficient bio-solubilizing technology breaks down both water- and oil-soluble impurities within seconds of application;

A delivery system for molecular oxygen gas within the formulation increases oxygen supply in the upmost layers of the skin, increasing the skin's aerobic energy system while, as a side effect, opposing reactive oxygen species that contribute to longer-term ageing; A black Amazonian clay with very high concentrations of titanium and oligo-elements binds to solubilized external impurities while reducing visible pore inconsistency immediately; A sedimentary white clay binds to excess sebum function bi-products without impairing surface barrier integrity; A copper-rich—yet stable—clay from Brazil reinforces surface barrier function during the cleaning process.

Protective Phase

This phase of FM's formulation offers the most innovative approach to decongestion by introducing technologies that offer a shield against external build-up.

A sea polysaccharide from microorganisms found in Polynesian coral reefs fights ongoing build up of urban pollution, builds a shield against external aggression and allows for better response to climate changes which occur even when not travelling; An advanced analogue of resveratrol, which enables a first-ever topical utility of this incredible molecule, is a potent inhibitor of dopa oxidase to protect against environmental browning; A bio-technological derivative of bitter orange peel targets the JAK enzyme to protect against over-expression of pro-inflammatory factors which can be triggered by external aggravation and lead to premature ageing; An ultra-pure bisabolol—with up to 900 times less impurity than standard German chamomile flower derivatives—fights inflammation through a secondary support mechanism while forming a mild but sustainable barrier against climate change.

Responsive Phase

This phase of the formulation introduces signalling mechanisms to support inherent dermal immunity against environmental congestion factors. This phase is the most important phase of FM with respect to supporting health and longevity. The presence of "Flavanone" in the name of the product emphasizes the importance of this phase.

A highly-purified flavanone derived from the inner white parts of citrus peel, triggers a sustained circulatory, non-inflammatory response to support dermal detoxification and immune functions; A pre-cursor to a modified oleic acid that is naturally produced on normal skin by a yeast offers a slow, non-abrupt, increase of this acid without disrupting dermal pH or density. This acid is naturally a distress flare that acts as a defence response and an anti-inflammatory agent unlike many other direct acids used in skincare that actually increase inflammation, reduce skin density and can reduce skin defences.

The result of this combined approach is one that offers dermal decongestion from the inside, the outside and by means of a further shield against congestion. This purification process allows for a form of sustained dermal radiance that is not "fabricated" through short-term inflammation or peeling.

RESPECT FOR DERMAL INTEGRITY

Masques and rinse-off treatments often highlight a promise toward glowing skin without respect for the simple fact that for skin to be truly glowing, so much needs to be in order including purification, texture regularity, pigmentation regularity, microcirculation, pore prominence and sebum function. Since masques in general at best address the issue of surface purification, their promise of glowing skin often would fall short and, in order to avoid user disappointment, these formulations often include more aggressive clays, acids and exfoliation mechanisms mainly to introduce enough irritation to increase circulation for a temporarily "glowing" tone. This approach, however, disrupts skin pH immediately, reduces skin density (thickness) and always causes inflammation which may lead to undue longer-term ageing.

FM avoids the use of aggressive clays, direct acids, low or high pH, exfoliating agents or any material that would disrupt dermal balance or cause undue inflammation. This approach means FM has to work much harder to achieve the perceived "glow" that excess inflammation would offer temporarily and that's what FM is, in fact, designed to do: work much harder and from many different perspectives to build sustainable purity and the radiance that follows.

USE

One of the most advanced technologies used in FM is actually one that sounds the most boring: a very refined dispersion mechanism that allows for a very thin layer of the formula to cover the skin surface very evenly. Most masques require a thick layer to be applied to cover the entire face mainly due to the fact that clays and muds do not disperse well. This drawback generally wastes a large amount of product that will sit in a thick layer on the skin's surface while only the very thin layer of the masque is actually in contact with the skin. In addition to product waste, many technologies used within masques become trapped within the thicker fast-drying layers of the formulations, rendering their utility highly inefficient for the skin.

FM's dispersion advancement reduces the amount of product needed to cover the skin surface by as much as 80% compared to traditional approaches which means each 50ml container will offer between 18 and 25 treatments. The dispersion technology also allows for very rapid surface drying which translates to very quick absorption of the non-surface technologies used within the formulation.

FM is designed to be used once per week. Its circulatory—yet non-inflammatory—targets may lead to a stinging sensation which actually increases for a few minutes after the product is rinsed-off. The product should be applied on clean, dry skin as a very thin even layer and left on for 10 minutes. Some benefit will be seen immediately after the first use, the benefits will be more evident 24-48 hours after application and will continue to be maintained—and improved in the initial weeks—with continued use. Note: An accelerated method of use would be to use FM once per day for the first five days followed by weekly maintenance applications.

Ingredients:- Aqua (Water), Montmorillonite, Kaolin, Bisabolol, Glycerin, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Silica Cetyl Silylate¸ Isodecyl neopentanoate, Panthenyl Triacetate, Glucosyl Hesperidin, Perfluorodecalin, Ethoxydiglycol, Argilla, Butylene Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydroxyresveratrol, Naringenin, L-Arginine, Alteromonas Ferment Extract, Glycosphingolipids, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan, Acacia Senegal Gum, Mica, Quartz, Sucrose Palmitate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

My thoughts and experience:-

Lets talk about the packaging quickly, I honestly am not a fan of this glass bottle packaging as the opening on the bottle is quite narrow and as you use up the mask it can become quite difficult to get it out in future, I think I'll have to invest in a tiny spatula or a spoon! I wish it would come in a more wider mouth bottle or even plain simple tub packaging would be great unless and until it does not compromise the product :P Yes I can be quite demanding :P

The mask itself is quite unique! It is no doubt the smoothest texture I have ever come across especially in a clay based mask! The mask is deep rust color not something I expected in a face mask but then its Niod so I guess we should expect unexpected :) The first time I used this mask I was blown away! Niod recommends to let it sit for 10 mins but I know Gill from Victoria Health kept it on for longer (read about it here) and didnt face any issues so I went ahead and kept it for over 30 mins! Results - Unbelievable! My skin looks literally poreless and trust me that is impossible task to achieve! The skin appeared smooth with even skin tone. The thing that blew me away the most was how the texture of my skin looked improved. The result reminded me of a peel but without the waiting period! Now Niod does mention there might be a little bit of stinging sensation after you remove the mask and yes there is but its not unbearable and does fade away in 10 mins. I had few clogged pores and after one use of this mask, they literally disappeared over night! Which if you are skincare junkie like me..you know nothing really happens over night!

I was so impressed by the first time use result that I decided to go for the accelerated method of using the mask consecutively for 5 days and than once a week for maintenance and thats when the things went south for me! Let me explain. As I mentioned above day one results were fantastic, day 2 was also good but I noticed the stinging sensation was a bit more this time, but as I was so happy with the day 1 results I didnt bother much and the sensation did go away. The worst mistake I made was to use an acid toner after the mask! DONOT use any kind of exfoliator chemical or physical after this mask or else you will wake up to a very angry and irritated skin!

The next day ie Day 3 in the morning my skin was a bit red and appeared rough, I got really confused so as to why this happened. If you have ever done chemical peels stronger than 25% you know how the skin turns red after the peel and there are few rashes as well, thats what happened with my skin. From that day I stopped using acid toner and my priority was to calm down the skin and get it back to its normal state. Using all moisturizing and nourishing products my skin was back on track. I did use the mask for next two days again but this time I avoided the use of acid toners completely but still the stinging sensation increased everyday to a point that on the last day ie day 5 the stinging went on for almost 30 mins after removing the mask! Even my Avene Thermal Spring Water wasn't helping much in calming the skin down! Clearly I had over exfoliated my skin!

Final Thoughts:- Is this mask worth it.. Yes Absolutely BUT only as once a week treatment! Flavanone Mud is amazing when it comes to removing dead skin cells and helping with congestion, the results are exactly same if not better as using a chemical peel on the skin! But the accelerated approach of using the mask 5 times consecutively each day is a bit too much! That is way too much exfoliation for skin and causes serious irritation especially since your skin does not get enough time to repair itself and regenerate the top layer! The skin is extremely sensitive and using it everyday for 5 days causes over exfoliation which further irritates the skin and can cause breakouts! Recently Molly from Skinritualdiary wrote a fantastic post on exfoliation! Read it here.

I still will be using this mask on weekly basis as its a fantastic mask and I highly recommend the same but however I don't recommend going for the accelerated approach! Of course this is a personal preference and would depend upon individual's skin type but if you have sensitive skin first do a patch test, also avoid any kinds of exfoliation chemical or physical scrubs, also after the mask incorporate nourishing and repairing oils and moisturizers!

Flavanone Mud mask is currently available for 39$ for 50ml with free world wide shipping, also till 31st May 2016 use code "LOVEYOU2016" to get 20% off your entire order! I finally might get CAIS serum!

I hope this first impressions review and experience was helpful! Until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Follow me on Instagram @makeupbyparita for more pictures and my everyday skincare routines!

MAC Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Softening Lotion Review

2016-05-23T14:04:00.003-07:00

Hello Everyone!

MAC is known for their vast makeup range but recently MAC has done quite well with their small skincare range starting with the MAC Lightful C Marine Bright Formula products. The range consists of Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Cleanser, Lightful C Marine Bright Formula SPF 30 Moisturizer, Lightful C 2-IN-1 Tint & Serum with Radiance Booster, Lightful C Vibrancy Eye Cream, Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Essence, Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Moisture Cream and lastly Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Softening Lotion which we will be talking about more in detail below. This Lightful C Marine Bright Formula is quite raved about in the blogging world and even got 5 star rating from on Beautypedia aka Paula's Choice. Lets take a closer look now!

MAC Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Softening Lotion - A softening lotion infused with the active, high-power impact of our Marine-Bright Formula and Super-Duo Charged Water. Conditions and boosts depleted skin with moisture for a smoother, more supple look. Leaves skin refreshed, exceptionally soft, more clarified and brightened. Impact increases over time.

Ingredients - Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Polysorbate-20, Yeast Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract, Porphyra Yezoensis Extract, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Arginine, Tourmaline, Phospholipids, Silk Powder, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Magnesium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Jojoba Wax PEG-120, Esters, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Nitrate, Potassium Hydroxide, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Yellow 5

My Thoughts

I was introduced to Marine Bright formula line of skincare at the end of 2014 and since then I have repurchased this lotion twice! At the time I was living in an extremely dry climate and needed a moisturizing lotion for day time and this suited the bill perfectly! MAC Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Softening Lotion comes in a stunning white and silver packaging. The bottle is quite heavy and I wouldn't necessarily say its travel friendly due the bulky screw cap! The cap is so much more heavier than the bottle itself and is just strange to me, although I do like that the opening on top is tiny as this is quite a potent serum/essence and you would not want a ton of product on your face..but more on that later!

The softening lotion is very moisturizing so it can be used as a hydrating toner as well as a moisturizer. The consistency is very watery and to be honest I was surprised how moisturizing it felt on the skin because the lotion itself feels very light weight. I apply it after my acid toner using a cotton round and often like to mix in few drops of Paula's Choice 2% BHA liquid with it. Due to very high content of glycerin which is the second ingredient in the lotion it does feel a little tacky afterwards and does not give a matte finish. I don't mind it much as I go over it with my moisturizer and this beneath actually helps with better absorption of my moisturizer.

The lotion is jam packed with hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid and lots of antioxidants, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory plant extracts! It does contain added benefits of Vitamin C which helps in reducing the dark spots and hyper pigmentation. It definitely is very hydrating and softening on the skin. With time I definitely saw an improvement in my overall skin tone as it imparts a healthy glow and also helps in overall brightening of the skin. It helps to reduce the redness and inflammation on the skin if any. This does not necessarily replace your Vit C Serums or other hyper pigmentation products but I think its a good moisturizing essence/lotion for day time use especially in summers as it is quite moisturizing. It also works perfectly under the makeup so that is an added bonus! I do think it will suit all skin types, extremely oily skin may not enjoy it much due to the tackiness it leaves behind but if you layer a more matte finish moisturizer or spf it should work fine. Dry skinned beauties will definitely need a moisturizer on top of this, but if you live in a hot humid weather depending upon your skin type you can definitely get away with it as a stand alone moisturizer. Also just to keep in mind, this does have a tiny bit of fragrance in the ingredients but its way far below on the ingredients list and it did not irritate my skin but this may be a problem for people with sensitive skin.

Overall I think its a really good skincare product, which I did not really expect from MAC being primarily a makeup brand, although a tad bit expensive but as I mentioned above you really don't need a lot of it, a little goes a long way!

Price:- 35$ for 150 ml

Availability:- MACCosmetics, Nordstrom, Macys, Belk etc - I always prefer to buy from Nordstrom as they have excellent customer service plus free shipping with 3 samples!

As always I'd suggest to get a sample first and try it before investing in a full size.

I hope the review was helpful, pls do leave your suggestions and queries below and I will get back to them as soon as possible.

Thank you for reading, until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Holy Snails Perseids Oil Review and Comparison with Sunday Riley Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil

2016-05-19T14:04:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone!

If you have been following me on Instagram (which you should as I share my daily morning and evening skincare routines there plus a lot of extra stuff) this post would not come as a surprise to you, as you have seen me mention this oil several times in my skincare routine in past several weeks! Face oils have come a long way. I remember when I started using oils as moisturizer 3-4 yrs back the only oils I could find were the Vit E from The Body Shop and Clarins Facial Oils, latter being my favourite for past several years and you can find the detailed review here.

Today every skincare brand has their version of a face oil or serum. There are so many options available in the market that it can be overwhelming especially if you are new to skincare. It is very important to know which oils work for your skin and for that one must first understand the needs/demands of their skin and what exactly are you looking for in terms of benefits. For eg if you are looking for oils which are high in antioxidants or Vit C or anti-ageing or you want something more clarifying if you have issues with congestion and acne etc. Personally for me it all comes down to the ingredients as well as the knowledge and experience of the creator of the product. I therefore like to invest in indie brands where I can connect with the owners/creators of the brand and get to know their thought process behind a particular product. One such DIY queen and skincare expert is Chel from Holy Snails blog, if you have been following her you know all about her DIY creations! Not long ago she opened her webstore where she started selling her own DIY formula's after testing them for months! Her products are hand crafted by herself using high quality ingredients and backed up with science! Perfect!

One of her creations is Perseids Oil. I was looking for a new face oil and one look at the ingredients list I knew I had to try it asap! Ordered right away and have been using it over a month now!

Perseids Oil is a facial oil blend rich in antioxidants and the perfect defense for your skin this winter. Aside from the many delicious fruit and nut oils, it also includes Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Bisabolol (anti-irritant/anti-inflammatory), and Squalane (emollient).

Ingredients: Avocado Oil, Meadowfoam Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Jojoba Oil, Abyssinian Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Macademia Nut Oil, Castor Oil, Squalane, Borage Seed Oil, Blackberry Seed Oil, Blueberry Seed Oil, Cranberry Seed Oil, Kiwi Seed Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Red Raspberry Seed Oil, Rosehip Oil, Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil, Argan Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Rosemary Oleoresin Extract

How to use: This can be used on its own in place of or in addition to your favorite moisturizer. You can also add a drop or two into a serum, cream, or foundation. If you are using other Holy Snails products, the product layering order would be Snowbang Essence -> Shark Sauce -> Perseids Oil.

Suitable for: All skin types, although those with oily skin might want to consider a sample sized bottle first to see if it is too heavy.

Warnings: Please always patch test any new products. Perseids Oil contains many fruit and nut oils, so please check the ingredients list if you have known allergies. This product does not cause purging, so if you experience breakouts or irritation, please discontinue use.

This product does not contain any photosensitizing ingredients, but the most vital and effective anti-aging step in your routine will always be sunscreen. Please always use (the correct amount of) sunscreen for best results in fading hyperpigmentation.

Notes: This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional skin care provider. It does NOT have any fragrances, so there will be a slight smell. No returns or exchanges will be offered, so please consider this before purchasing.

My Thoughts:-

As I mentioned above, I have been using this oil for over a month now and to tell you the short version I absolutely love it! It comes in a gorgeous dark maroon purplish glass bottle with a pipette. Its simplicity at its best! I really don't have any issues with the packaging, although I hope she includes the description and ingredient list on the bottle itself, not a showstopper but definitely something to consider.

The oil itself is dark yellow in color as you can see in the picture below. The consistency is very light weight so all skin types can use this oil. I honestly was shocked the first day I tried as it got absorbed in matter of seconds! No oily residue left behind! My skin just drank up all the oil leaving behind a soft glow..love it! I use it every single night and wake up to well hydrated glowing skin in the morning. It does not clog my pores or has caused any breakouts. You can use it in the mornings well if you have extremely dry skin, for me personally since I have combination skin I dont feel the need to use oils in mornings but if my skin feeling is feeling parched or irritated I will use this oil and immediately it soothes my skin down.

One important tip - Spritz your face with water/rose water/favorite toner before applying the oil. If you have issues with oil not getting absorbed properly, try this trick and you'll see a world of difference! Not only your skin will absorb the oil but the oil will penetrate deeper in your skin!

Lets see some of the super ingredients present in this oil!

Avocado Oil - Rich in Oleic acid hence makes it perfect for dry , dehydrated and mature skin, it also has essential fatty acids and Vit A and E.

Meadowfoam Oil - Very stable carrier oil and closely resembles the skin's natural sebum just like jojoba oil

Borage Seed Oil - Contains GLA - Gamma-Linolenic Acid, it has anti-inflammatory effects.

Blackberry Seed Oil - Highly stable source of vitamin C; helps even skintone and support natural collagen.

Blueberry Seed Oil - Contains extremely high antioxidant, vitamin E, and omega 3 levels; provides a three-pronged defense against premature aging.

Cranberry Seed Oil - Contains a perfect balance of omega 3-6-9, and vitamins A, C, E, and K; aids in the skin's absorption of essential fatty acids for ultimate regeneration; may enhance UV protection.

Red Raspberry Seed Oil - Anti-inflammatory action helps with the effects of eczema and premature aging; provides broad-spectrum, anti-UV qualities to complement (not replace) sunscreens.

Pomegranate Seed Oil - Rich in omega-5, a unique fatty acid, as well as anti-oxidants and phytosterols.

Rose Hip Oil - Its high in lycopene and trans-retinoic acid. It is also high in essential fatty acids, omegas and anti-oxidants

Seabuckthorn Oil - High in antioxidants and Vitamins A, C and E

When I was going through the ingredient list of Perseids Oil, it oddly felt familiar, little research later I found the ingredients to be quite similar to Sunday Riley Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil! I don't own a full size of Juno but I have tried a sample and remember liking it but at that time the price of 90$ for 30ml seemed too high!

Below are the ingredient list for both, see yourself! The ones in bold are common in both the oils.

Holy Snails Perseids Oil - Avocado Oil, Meadowfoam Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Jojoba Oil, Abyssinian Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Macademia Nut Oil, Castor Oil, Squalane, Borage Seed Oil, Blackberry Seed Oil, Blueberry Seed Oil, Cranberry Seed Oil, Kiwi Seed Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Red Raspberry Seed Oil, Rosehip Oil, Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil, Argan Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Rosemary Oleoresin Extract

Sunday Riley Juno Oil - Juno Organic Superfood Seed Oil Blend [Rubus Fruticosus (Blackberry) Seed Oil, Vaccinium Corymbosum (Blueberry) Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Chardonnay Grape) Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Wild Carrot) Seed Oil, Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil], Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil.

By analysing you can see that Sunday Riley's Juno Superfood Seed Oil Blend (Blackberry+Cranberry+Red Raspberry+Blueberry) is also present in the Perseids oil along with a ton of other beneficial oils!

Please note this does not mean that Perseids Oil is exact dupe or better oil than Sunday Riley Juno! I incorporated this comparison in this post so that all those out who are looking for an affordable version of Sunday Riley Juno Oil can benefit and have other options like Perseids Oil. I have tried a sample of Juno and remember quite liking it, in texture if I remember correctly Juno absorbed pretty well and for me personally I get the same results from Perseids Oil which is literally 1/3 the price of Juno! Again that does not mean Juno is bad but only that you don't have to break a bank to get a face oil which is rich in antioxidants, omegas and vitamins!

Availability :- Holy Snails webstore

Price :- 30$ for 30ml, Chel also sells 7ml samples if you'd like to give a test drive!

I hope the review and comparison were helpful, if you have any questions please do leave them in the comments section below and I will get back to you asap!

Until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm Review

2016-05-16T13:05:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

Every other company is coming out with their versions of "Cleansing Balms" all thanks to Caroline Hirons! Clinique was one of the very few first companies to come out with cleansing balm and let me tell you straight up they have hit it out of the park in the first try itself! It is a bit on a higher side but worth every penny and let me tell you why!

What is it? Lightweight makeup remover quickly dissolves tenacious eye and face makeups, sunscreens. Transforms from a solid balm into a silky oil upon application. Cleans thoroughly, rinses off completely. Gently helps remove the stress of pollution so skin looks younger, longer. Non-greasy. Non-drying. Ophthalmologist Tested. For all skin types.

One beef I have with Clinique's website is that they have no mention of ingredient list anywhere! I couldn't even find the ingredient list on Sephora! C'mon Clinique! In today's day and age not mentioning the complete ingredient list of a product is totally NOT acceptable! I hope they change this soon!

Ingredients:- Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Polyethylene, PEG-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Water, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol

My Thoughts:-

I have been using Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm for over 2 years now and have repurchased quite a few times, infact I would never want to be without it..ever! The balm comes in simple sturdy plastic packaging containing 125ml of product. The outer packaging is quite lovely with bright purple accents! The balm itself is white in color and melts right away once it comes in contact with your skin.

It is a fantastic cleanser for makeup removal and removes the most stubborn makeup including waterproof mascara and eyeliner. Its completely fragrance free and very gentle so does not irritate the skin around the eyes. You just need a small dollop of this balm and massage it on DRY skin. It melts the toughest of the makeup! To remove simply use damp hands or a damp washcloth and gently swipe it away. The balm turns milky white when it comes in contact with water and washes away quite easily!

Its completely fragrance free and free of essential oils, mineral oil etc which is more than one can expect in a balm! The formula contains safflower oil and vit e and is suitable for all skin types. The best part for me personally is that it DOES NOT leave any residue behind other than smooth soft skin! A little goes a long way and if you are someone who wears makeup everyday or even few times a week you need this cleanser in your life!

Another way I love to use this balm is after waxing! If you are someone who waxes your face/hand/legs using those ready made strips like Veet etc you know the sticky residue it can leave behind sometimes and that stickiness does not go away with water, it needs a good oil based cleanser and this balm works fantastically well for that purpose! It has never broken me out or irritated my skin! Highly recommend this balm to everyone!

Price:- 29$ for 125ml

Availability:- Clinique.com, Sephora.com, Nordstrom.com (Free shipping always), Macys.com(free shipping always), Belk.com (free shipping always), Ulta.com and other major retailers! Also Clinique website offers 15% off for new customers!

I hope the review was helpful, if you have any questions or queries or if you would like me to review any other product please do leave your suggestions in the comment box below and I will get back to you asap!

Until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Deciem Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age Serum Review

2016-05-11T10:58:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

My skin has changed a lot in last few years from being combination - oily to dry and dehydrated all thanks to my hectic work schedule and traveling! Also as we age our skin tends to become more and more dry and signs of ageing start to show. Even though I don't have any fine lines or wrinkles my skin does tend to get dry a lot almost to a point of feeling tightness in the skin and not in a good way. Hyaluronic Acid based creams and serums are exploding in the market all thanks to Caroline Hirons, atleast that where I first heard of it!

If you don't know Hyaluronic Acid is a component naturally found in our bodies and has the tendency to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water! Thats some intense hydration! Hylamide is the first born of the brand Deciem and one of the most affordable options in skincare combined with some very high level science!
Clinically-advanced serum for multi-depth rehydration, visible plumping and texture regularity.

So what is Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age Serum exactly?
A highly active concentrate of advanced hyaluronic complexes, next-generation peptides and biotechnological technologies to target rehydration on and below skin surface, while visibly improving lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and textural damage.

SubQ anti-Age Technologies
Clinically-advanced serum for multi-depth rehydration, visible plumping and texture regularity.

Copper Lysinate/Prolinate

Next-generation Swiss technology targets multiple types of collagen for overall improvement in visible skin health and visible skin age

Nonapeptide-3 Retino-Complex

A novel technology that promotes better visible anti-aging results than Retinol with less irritation

Next-Generation Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38

Advanced form of Matrixyl (TM of Sederma) helps to reduce the look of lines, wrinkles and surface irregularities

Contains five forms of hyaluronic compounds to target multiple depths:

Ultra pure, non-animal-origin Hyaluronic Acid targets surface hydration and elasticity

Two forms of very-low-molecular Hyaluronic Complex absorb quickly to target below-surface rehydration

A novel Hyaluronic Acid pre-cursor helps visibly plump skin

A tamarind-derived plant hyaluronic form offers immediate rehydration

Contains a multi-functional skin barrier saccharide identical in form to skin carbohydrates:

Offers instant and longer-term rehydration

Promotes comfortable skin feel within just 2 weeks

Improves visible skin surface texture

Improves skin barrier function

Contains an Antarctic and Hawaiian Algae Complex to promote renewal and help prevent moisture loss

Contains a next-generation skin binding glycoprotein for increased active exposure:

Advanced binding agent optimizes skin exposure to active technologies for a boosted effect

Full Ingredient List:-

aqua (water), glycerin, ethoxydiglycol, hydrolyzedyeast extract, sodiumhyaluronate crosspolymer, pentylene glycol, tamarindus indica seed gum, pseudoalteromonas fermentextract, hydrolyzed sodiumhyaluronate, sodiumhyaluronate, polyacrylatecrosspolymer-6, trisodiumethylenediamine disuccinate, lactobacillus/eriodictyoncalifornicum fermentextract, saccharideisomerate, copperlysinate/prolinate, palmitoyl tripeptide-38, myristoyl nonapeptide-3, ahnfeltia concinna extract, ethylhexylglycerin, methylglucoside phosphate, cetylhydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcyclodextrin, polyglucuronic acid, hexylene glycol, salicylicacid, lecithin, phospholipids, caprylyl glycol, sodiumhydroxide, citric acid, potassium sorbate, sodiumbenzoate, sodium citrate, chlorphenesin, phenoxyethanol, leuconostoc/radish rootferment filtrate.

My Thoughts

I picked up Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age serum along with their eye cream(review coming up soon) last year in November during their black friday promotion and have been using it ever since, infact I am almost done with it. The serum comes in a very stylish and modern packaging which to me is very feminine and attractive! It comes in a frosted glass bottle with a pipette and bright purple sticker! I love how the purple stands against the plain white frosted bottle!

The consistency of the serum is thicker than I expected, it almost feels like oil but once applied on the skin it vanishes in few seconds! My skin literally drinks it up instantly! It gives a boost of hydration and skin feels soft and plump. The serum contains very impressive ingredients including 5 types of hyaluronic acid blend which is a blessing for likes of us having dry and dehydrated skin! Before using this serum I used to get dry patches around my nose and sides of the mouth but since I started using this serum the dry patches gone! Even if I don't apply the serum consecutively everyday I no longer get those dry patches!

It is a fantastic hydrating serum on its own but my favorite way of using is under moisturizers/serums and oils! It keeps me hydrated through out the day as compared to using it alone. The serum will work for all skin types as its hyaluronic acid and gets absorbed instantly without any sticky residue behind! Only 2-3 drops are needed for the entire face and neck so a bottle does last a long time! You can even mix it with your other serums and moisturizers and it works fine.

The only grips is I did not see any textural changes in my skin mainly referring to scarring, I still have visible pores on the cheeks and still have some texture due to previous battle with acne. Having said that I do not have any fine lines or wrinkles yet (fingers crossed) so I really cannot vouch for that but I have heard people say it does work on fine lines and wrinkles making them appear lesser as hyaluronic acid makes the skin plump and well hydrated.

Over all its a fantastic serum when it comes to hydration issue especially for the price point it really is very high quality! Hylamide also has booster series with a lower price range and I picked up the Low Molecular HA to see how it compares to its big brother SubQ Anti-Age and Hydraluron so definitely stay tuned for a comparison in the future!

Please do check out the Deciem website to read about their science in detail along with their other brands like NIOD, Hand Chemistry etc

Availability:-

Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age Serum and in general Hylamide range is available in CVS, Target, Joyus, LookFantastic and Boots websites.

Deciem website offers free world wide shipping plus currently they have 20% off going on throughout the month of May 2016 with the code LOVEYOU2016 so definitely take advantage of this offer if you have been wanting to try out any of their products!

Also look out for offers from CVS and LookFantastic as they always have 20% - 30% off going on! For eg only for today ie 11th May 2016 you get 25% off on CVS online store with the code 25FREESHIP and free 2 day shipping no minimum!!! This happens very rare!

I hope this review was helpful, if you have any questions or requests please leave them below in the comments section of you can even email me directly via Contact Me page.

Until next time take care and stay beautiful!

Pixi Glow Tonic Review & Is It Worth The Hype? With some dupes and suggestions!

2016-05-03T17:56:00.002-07:00

Hey Everyone!

Finally I have a new blogpost up for you guys! If you have been following me for long you know how much I love chemical exfoliations ie my AHAs! I have been using Glycolic Acid/Lactic Acid products for more than 4+ years and they do work very well for me...for eg Glyco A. However I wanted to incorporate AHA in my daily skincare routine in the form of a toner and since Pixi Glow Tonic is now available in Target I bit the bullet and finally purchased it last year in September and since then never looked back!

As I mentioned I started using Pixi Glow Tonic last September when my skin was going through a rough patch. It felt dry, rough, dull and lacked glow, nothing was working and thats when I decided to add AHA toner in my everyday routine. What is it you ask?

Exfoliating facial glow tonic. It helps tone, firm and tighten the skin. It removes dead skin cells for healthier looking skin. For all skin types. Alcohol free

Ingredients:- Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Glycolic Acid, Ammonium Glycolate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol (and) Fructose (and) Glucose (and) Sucrose (and) Urea (and) Dextrin (and) Alanine (and) Glutamic Acid (and) Aspartic Acid (and) Hexyl Nicotinate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Biotin, Polysorbate 20, Fragrance

Lets look at the key ingredients

AloeVera Leaf Juice - Soothes and moisturises the skin, treats sunburn and acne as well as fights anti-ageing!

Witch Hazel - Its natural astringent and helps with oily skin problems like acne, its also known for soothing irritated skin.

Horse Chestnut Extract - It has Anti-inflammatory properties

Glycolic Acid - My favorite! Glycolic Acid is an AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) derived from sugarcane and is highly effective in treating dullness, pigmentation, acne, fine lines, blackheads etc!

Ginseng Root Extract - Anti-oxidant and Anti-inflammatory properties!

My Thoughts -

There is no better way to say than I love this toner..a lot! When I purchased it I wanted a mild AHA since it was the first time I was incorporating AHA toner in my skincare routine and this one is perfect for that! I have used this toner for over 6 months and have repurchased it a number of times! It comes in 2 sizes 100ml and 250ml so if you want to try this toner I'd say start with the smaller size and always do a patch test.

Since I started using it I have seen a huge difference in just the texture of my skin, it feels a lot smoother, softer and less blackheads! Its very gentle on skin, there is no alcohol so sensitive skin people can rejoice! I love the addition of ginseng extract and witch hazel, you can definitely smell the ginseng its very soothing on the skin and for the nose as well! The fragrance is not very strong so people with sensitive nose can definitely give it a try!

The toner contains 5% glycolic acid making it very gentle and soothing on skin making it perfect as everyday AHA treatment without irritating the skin. It also is a perfect toner for morning time skincare routine as most of us would prefer gentle products and nothing too strong for the day time! The consistency is light weight and gets absorbed immediately leaving no sticky feeling behind, also it does not sting at all! It gently exfoliates the dead skin cells on the surface and makes way for new brighter skin! Since its alcohol free it does not dry out your skin like some toners with alcohol.

When to use? I use it directly after I cleanse my face morning and evening ie

Cleanse -> AHA/BHA Toner/Treatment -> Serum -> Moisturizer

Over all I highly recommend this toner to everyone! It will suit all skin types!

Rating:- 5 out of 5!

Price:- 15$ for 100ml and 29$ for 250ml

Lets talk availability as I know this product is not available across all countries so Ill try my best to list down few dupes or similar kind products!

US - Target, Pixi Beauty website

UK/International - LookFantastic (the price of pixi glow tonic is 26.50 which is less than US price of 29$ and LookFantastic does ship to International including India!), CultBeauty(Shipping is free on your 1st order - Yes even for International customers! If you are from India and would like to try this product definitely checkout CultBeauty as they ship to India and have a fantastic customer service plus you will get your 1st order shipped free no min!). ASOS - Currently out of stock but you can keep checking here

Dupes/Similar Options

Pixi Glow Peel Pads (22$ for 60) - Pixi Beauty have come out with whopping 20% glycolic acid pads which are great! I would advise to use them weekly or max 2-3 times a week! Available at Target, PixiBeauty, LookFantastic , BeautyBay and CultBeauty.

SilkNaturals 8% AHA Toner 9$ for 120ml - This is a lactic acid based toner and has got fantastic reviews and they do ship internationally

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads (60 count) 12.99$ - 2.8% Glycolic Acid, even milder than Pixi Glow Tonic hence perfect for 1st time acid users, available at Target, Ulta, Walgreens , CVS etc

First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads (30$ for 60 count) - FeelUnique, Sephora, Dermstore (Free shipping always, no min plus receive 15% off on your first order! This is one of my favorite sites to shop as they have Anastasia, Becca Cosmetics, Coverfx, Tarte, Sunday Riley, LORAC and 100s other brands!

For more dupes check out Caroline Hirons post here on top 10 Acid Toners!

For all my Indian readers check out Ethicare Acmed Pads, they have both glycolic acid as well as salicylic acid! Very reasonably priced for around 400/- for 50 count and available across all pharmacies, you can also get in touch with their customer service or email them online and they reply back almost immediately! The % of both the acid in Acmed Pads is Salicylic acid 3% and Glycolic Acid 5%!

Hope this review and information was helpful, if you have any queries or request kindly leave them in the comments section and I will get back to you asap.

Thank you!

Looxi Beauty Auroras Eyeshadow Swatches and Review!

2016-02-16T09:17:00.001-08:00

Hey Everyone!

If you are regular an instagrammer like myself I am sure you would have come across this brand named Looxi Beauty which is making rave reviews everywhere! Looxi Beauty is an indie company founded by Jessica D and is based out of Woodstock, IL. She herself mixes and hand presses all the eyeshadows and highlighters available in her online store! She has a bunch of different eyeshadows ranging from mattes to shimmers and recently she released her auroras which are duo chrome eyeshadows! She also has a quite a few highlighters with dupes for Becca Champagne Pop, MAC Cosmetics Whisper Of Guilt, MAC Cosmetics Oh Darling, Laura Geller Guilded Honey etc..also she has liquid highlighters known as Kickers which can be used alone or under your powder highlighters for an extra oomph!

Today Ill be sharing my current collection of Looxi Beauty eyeshadows, I do have few of her highlighters as well but I am currently testing them out and will review them soon!

Lets start with matte eyeshadows first as I have a soft corner for them :) I have 8 matte shades from Looxi and I love them all! Formula wise they are top notch and exactly same as makeup geek ones if not better! All the shades are extremely pigmented and blend effortlessly! The below swatches are from a single swipe apart from Gone Girl swatch which are two swipes.

Sorbet:- Light peach, perfect for blending out the shadows in the crease

Durty:- Neutral brown, perfect transition shade

Truffle:- Warm brown, again perfect in the crease, similar to Frappe from Makeupgeek

Pharoah:- Neutral orange brown

Wheatness:- Yellow based brown, similar to MAC Uninterrupted

Spiced:- Gorgeous Deep Maroon shade! Dupe for Bitten from Makeupgeek

Bad Girl:- Dusty light plum with purple undertones

Vino:- Dusty dark plum with purple undertones

Next are her auroras and shimmer eyeshadows. These remind me a lot of the makeupgeek foiled and duochrome shades! The formula is insane, so rich in pigmentation, extremely soft and buttery! Super blendable eyeshadows! If you are planning to try anything from Looxi Beauty check out her Aurora Collection as they are beautiful!

The only thing I would say about these are that since they are hand pressed the consistency is bit loose ie they essentially are loose pigments which are hand pressed so when you touch them in pan there is a bit of powder fallout. I don't mind it much as I always tap the brush before applying the eyeshadows on my eyes and in this way you avoid a lot of fallout

Queen Of Mean:- Dark teal + green with gold reflects

Berry Sexy:- Brown + Magenta

Omega:- This has the most duochrome, it goes from Bright Teal to purple to blue! Gorgeoussss!

Malibu:- Gold base with light blue reflects, this is similar to makeupgeek Chameleon pigment

Mocha:- Shimmery brown

Latte:- Its similar to Becca Opal but on steroids!

Orion:- Warm coppery rose gold

Whithered Rose:- Taupe shade with silver and pink undertones

Copper Popper:- Bright Copper shade

Urbane:- Dull blackened greenish gold

Sunset Drive:- Rose Gold + Copper

Price:- 5$ each but use SAVANT20 to get 20% off your entire purchase which essentially brings down the price to 4$ each!

Rating:- A+

Availability:- LooxiBeauty.com

In the below look I have used Durty in the crease as transition shade, Gone Girl in the crease, Vino + Spiced mixed together in the inner corners and outer corners and Whithered Rose in the center of the lids. Brows filled in with Anastasia Beverly Hills browwiz in Granite. For more pictures follow me on instagram @ makeupbyparita

I hope the review and swatches were helpful, if you have any questions or queries please leave them down in the description box and Ill get back to you asap

Till next time take care and stay beautiful!