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My Favorite Sulfate Free Shampoos from Love Beauty and Planet:

2023-07-14T14:04:00.001+05:30

You know me well if you’ve been following my blog posts. I love a good a sulfate free shampoo for my super oily, fine hair. In fact, I have been using Sulphate Free cleansers religiously for more than a decade now, yes… for both hair and skin.

So… many of you would agree with me when I say that I get bored with my shampoo after sometime. But because of my sensitive hair, I don’t, rather can’t dare to change my shampoo very often. This time, I got a bit desperate and I tried 2 ranges from the brand Love Beauty and Planet because of their awesome sulfate free shampoos. And I got amazed to see the ingredients. They are made of all good things in bottles.

I tried their Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Sulfate Free Volume and Bounty Shampoo and Natural Argan Oil & Lavender Sulfate Free Anti-Frizz Shampoo for one month respectively. And I loved both.

I really admire their Tag line- “No Silicones, No Parabens, No Dyes, No Guilt. Yes vegan, Yes Peta certified cruelty free.” Cheers to that.

The Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Sulfate Free Volume and Bounty Shampoo has Organic Coconut Water, Fresh Mimosa Flower and 100% Organic Coconut Oil. The Natural Argan Oil & Lavender Sulfate Free Anti-Frizz Shampoo has Pure Argan Oil, Fresh French Lavender, and 100% Organic Coconut Oil.

Both the shampoos are really refreshing, they clean all the oil deposits (both natural, and oiled) superbly and keep the lashes soft, supple, and shiny. As my hair is already oily from roots to mid length, I don’t use any conditioner while shampooing, but I do use a hair mask once a week. You can comfortably use the conditioners according to your hair types along with the shampoos. The shampoos don’t weigh the hair down but at the same time keep it really hydrated. You know I what I mean, right! But yes, the volume shampoo doesn’t provide that much volume, but I blame that to my hair type, not the shampoo.

The brand is committed to maintain the environment friendly world and hence they claim- “Every one of our bottles is made from 100% recycled materials and are recyclable” which is quite fascinating. BTW, the price is great too- INR 650 for 400 ml and you get discount in every website all the time. What else can we ask for, right!

So, do try them if you are in a mood and in search of a good Sulfate free Shampoo. You won’t be disappointed.

Cheers…

Happy Living…

A Perfect Anti-aging Skin Care Routine With Snaana Ayurveda

2022-12-27T15:25:00.007+05:30

My search mode for finding out ‘the perfect skincare products’ is always on. Moreover, if you love using natural ingredients-based products like me, then you know that is an add-on to a lot of extra work and extra bucks.

It happens to be such an interesting coincidence that Snaana contacted me right when I wanted to try something new. What inspired me to work with them is that they believe in using 100% natural ingredients in their products.

Nowadays, when the market is full of gimmicky ‘natural’ tags in an innumerable number of products, believing the brands could be a really big deal.

But Snaana’s transparency says it all and leaves no doubt.

I have tried their Goat milk Soap with Malai, Rose Water, and Pomegranate- Tamanu Age Delaying Face Oil for a good month on my skin. And, I think they are worth every penny.

How I use them:

After washing my face with the Goat Milk Soap with Malai, my skin feels soft and supple. The soap gently cleanses the skin without stretching and pulling out the natural oils. Moreover, it provides additional hydration. It smells like an Ayurvedic soap, but its fragrance is not overpowering. According to the brand, this soap is a tonic for “Dry, flaky & dehydrated skin and eczema-prone skin.”

I spritz the Rose water all over my face after washing the face. The fragrance is just delightful, and I feel like I am inside a spa. The rose water is gentle and soothing for the skin. I get redness around my nose after cleaning my face. It instantly calms my skin with subtle hydration.

I let it sit on the face for 30 seconds, and then I take about 3 to 4 drops of Pomegranate- Tamanu Age Delaying Face Oil. I dab the oil on my skin to warm it up. I gently massage to spread it evenly. The oil is nongreasy, very lightweight, and very hydrating. It gives a sheen to the skin, which I love. It smells like gentle ayurvedic oil, and the good part, my skin feels rejuvenated the next day. It has Jojoba oil, Almond Seed Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Tamanu Oil, Cucumber Seed Oil, Turmeric Essential Oil, Rosemary Essential Oil, and Frankincense Essential Oil. There is nothing but ayurvedic goodness in a glass bottle.

All these products are 100% natural, chemical-free, and preservative free. If you are keen to know about the benefits of a particular product, head over to their website snaana.com. Everything I believe should be in a skincare product are in the skincare range of Snaana. The soap and the Facial oil work their best on matured skin (30- 59 years as per brand).

I will provide links to buy all the products below if you wish to check them out. But remember the mantra: don’t forget to patch test before using anything new.

Goat Milk Soap – With Malai for Dry Skin

Rose Water (Mist) For All Skin Types

POMEGRANATE-TAMANU Age Delaying Face Oil for Normal Skin

** Please note that this review is in collaboration with Snaana Ayurveda. I do not get to earn a single penny if you buy any of the products from the brand. All my reviews are 100% my honest opinion- tried and tested.

Cheers…

Happy Living…

HOW TO USE SEEDS AND NUTS IN YOUR DAILY DIET

2022-12-09T12:58:00.000+05:30

Perfecting a balanced diet every day is an art. We need to get to know our food very well. Whether you want to opt for vegetarian or meat, it’s up to you. Just make sure, you are eating the right thing, the right way, and in the right proportion.

In our daily meals, we include carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. However, they may not be in sufficient quantity at many times. Do you know these are important not only for a healthy body but also for a sound mind?

Along with regular meals, incorporating nuts and seeds are a great fulfilling option to give the necessary nutrition.

I am going to be covering those Seeds and Nuts that I like to have in my daily diet.

SEEDS:

Pumpkin Seeds

These seeds are rich in magnesium, zinc, phosphorous, and vitamin k. They have anti-inflammatory properties, may help lower the risk of diabetes, have anti-cancer properties, and help function our heart as well. Superfood is the word, isn’t it?

Sunflower Seeds

These are excellent sources of Vitamin E, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Iron, Copper, Selenium, Manganese, Zinc, and Potassium. They support our immune system, boost energy levels, have anti-inflammatory properties, and maintain heart health too.

Flax Seeds

These seeds are believed to help in digestive health. They may help in relieving constipation and lower total blood cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol levels that is related to heart disease. They are a good source of protein, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, thiamine, and copper.

Chia Seeds

These seeds are full of powerful antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals. They help fight the free radicals in our bodies. They improve blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and also help in improving heart health as well. They are better for our bone health and also keep the stomach fuller for a longer time and thus help maintain weight too.

NUTS:

Almonds

They are packed with excellent nutrients like Vitamin E, Vitamin B2, Manganese, Magnesium, and so on. They are loaded with antioxidants. They regulate our blood sugar level, may help control cholesterol, and are beneficial for our heart too.

Walnuts

These are the super plant source of Omega 3s. They are loaded with Iron, Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Vitamin C, and Niacin among many others. They promote a healthy gut, decrease inflammation, and support maintaining a healthy heart, brain function, and healthy aging. They also help control blood sugar and blood pressure.

Cashews

Cashews are a good source of Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, and Zinc. They are rich in fiber, plant-based protein, and heart-healthy fats. They help in energy production, brain health, immunity, and bone health.

Pistachios

They are packed with Manganese, Phosphorus, Copper, Potassium, Vitamin B6, and antioxidants. They help in keeping our blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol in check.

Except for these, you can also choose to have Sesame Seeds, Hemp Seeds, Pecan Nuts, Hazelnuts, or Brazil Nuts in your daily dose of Seeds if they are easily accessible to you. Each one of them has their own benefits. They are a great addition to our healthy diet routine.

*Disclaimer:

Remember to use all the Seeds and Nuts in proportion and with caution. Excessive usage may lead to weight gain, bloating, stomach issues, and other health problems.

Each body is unique in its own way and has its own boundaries. This article is made for a general knowledge and one must not consider it as a medical advice. Share your medical history with your doctor.

You must consult with the doctor before you incorporate anything new into your diet.

How to use Seeds & Nuts:

Use them in your Porridge/Muesli for breakfast
Have them as a Midday Snack
Can use them in Smoothies
Use them as toppings on salads
Make a granola bar
Use them as toppings on your Yogurt Bowl or Fruit Bowl
Add them in homemade desserts like pudding, muffins, Kheer, etc.
Use them in your Homemade multigrain bread

I love to use most of them in their raw forms to hold their maximum benefits. But for almonds, I soak them overnight, peel the skin off, and then have it. Similarly, you should not consume Cashews, Pistachios, Walnuts, etc. with their skin on. If you wish, you can slightly toast the seeds and nuts without any oil and salt. That improves the taste for sure.

Eat healthy food, do your daily exercises, work hard, and stop stressing out too much. Life will be a whole lot better.

Cheers…

Happy Living…

A Perfect Morning Skincare Routine for the Winter

2022-11-01T21:06:00.000+05:30

When options are limited, we gotta choose what is available, right! But what if there are ample of options? Then, we get confused so easily. Do we need this or that?

As a picky skincare fanatic, I study and research a lottttt. What would be the best thing for my skin. It is changing so fast with age. But what to use and what not? Such a monumental task (I am kidding!!!)

Well…if someone who knows my skin, helps me with the perfect routine, I can save so much time and energy of my life. That’s no joke. But… that’s rare to find. So, I had to dig deep and find out the best routine to save my skin from the winter. Hopefully, this helps you too.

First off, we have cleanser.

A mild cleanser which doesn’t strip away the natural oils from your skin would be the best for winter morning. For that, I love my Just Herbs Silksplash Rehydrant Face Wash. It’s natural, ultra-mild and cleans beautifully even though it doesn’t lather much. Except their really irritating pump (you need to pour the product somewhere else), I love it. See a full review HERE

Alright… I prefer to scrub my face once a week. And for that, I mostly go for homemade scrub which provides me a little hydration as well. What about a nourishing pack made of honey, coffee granules, little bit of brown sugar, and aloe vera gel? Wooo… just perfect. Put it on for 10 minutes, let it dry a bit and then gently scrub it off your face.

Well… after this don’t forget to take steam for 5 to 10 minutes. Your pores are already unclogged because of the exfoliation, so it works the best.

Next stop, we have Toner. And, I have the perfect solution. I don’t recommend chemical exfoliating toner for winter because your skin is already dry and broken because of the strong winter wind. It already lacks moisture and hydration. Why to tear it more with harsh chemical peels? So, to me organic mists are the gentlest way of toning your skin.
I recommend the Kama Ayurveda Rose Water Mist (review HERE)

or the Juicy Chemistry 100% Organic Lavender Water. (check out HERE)

Now, if you are scrubbing your face, use a hydrating face pack, or just move into the next step. It’s time to seal your skin with some hydration. If I am going out, I use a light Moisturizer like Clinique Moisture Surge. But if I am home, I top it up with a facial oil. My current favorite is the Juicy Chemistry Saffron and Red Raspberry Facial Oil.

Don’t forget to hydrate those chapped lips too with your favorite lip balm. I can't think of anything else except my Laneige Berry Lip Sleeping Mask. It is a dream product for your lips.

And last but not the least, use a Sunscreen, no matter you are home or going out. Since the last couple of years, I opted for mineral sunscreen. I am loving the La Shield Fisico SPF 50+ & PA+++ Mineral Based Sunscreen Gel. Its very lightweight, gives a matt finish, non-greasy, and doesn’t leave a white cast. Pure love…

I am sure this post will help you prepping for a winter skin care. Stay tuned for a relaxing and rejuvenating night time skin care routine.

Cheers…
Happy Living…

Top 5 Organic Face Mists for Summer

2022-04-28T15:08:00.000+05:30

I am a big fan of Organic Face Mists, especially because of their multipurpose use. And when it’s summer, they are literally my go to skin care. These facial mists work excellently as toners. They tighten up the pores, prep my skin for moisturizer, and keep me hydrated. I love to use them in my face mask too. And what makes them special is that whenever my skin feels rough, dull, and lifeless in the heat, I spritz some mist and instantly feel rejuvenated.

I have tried sooooo many mists over the years. Not all of them turned out as effective as I expected. But there are five facial mists who are my absolute favorites and most importantly, they work wonderfully on my skin.

Kama Ayurveda Pure Rose Water

Full review HERE.

Juicy Chemistry Lavender Water
Forest Essentials Facial Tonic Mist – Panchpushp
Kama Ayurveda Pure Mogra Water
Kama Ayurveda Vetiver Water

Every single facial mist mentioned above are amazingly beneficial for skin. They maintain the skin’s natural ph balance, excellent for calming an inflamed skin. If you are prone to acne or heat rashes, these mists will come really handy.

While Rose Water has antibacterial properties, Vetiver Water clarifies and tightens the skin. Lavender Water is anti-inflammatory and Mogra Water cleanses the pores and soothes the mind.

Lastly, Panchpushp Water is extremely hydrating and provides a cooling sensation to the skin which is what we look for in the Summers, isn’t it!

So, keeping a travel friendly bottle in your purse is an excellent solution to beat the heat when you are outside.

These facial mists are 100% natural, steam distilled, chemical and preservative free.

What are you waiting for! Spritz some cooling mists, relax yourself, and stay fresh in the Summer.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

The Tribe Concepts 90 Day Miracle Oil Review

2022-04-21T12:38:00.000+05:30

Hello everyone, it’s been a while. Frankly, energy seems to be going a little low on fuel because summer heat and high humidity are in action.

I don’t know how your skin and hair are handling the situation; but my skin is angry on me and so was my hair till I found a one-stop solution.

The Tribe Concepts 90 Day Miracle Oil

Being a fine hair owner, my struggle is real. Moreover, last year, I moved to a new city and both my skin and hair started acting weird. I was not used to the heat and humidity for a loooong time. Pfff… My hair started falling more as the weather became dry, humid, and dusty all of a sudden.

Just imagine the mess!!!

Till now, I have been using various oils, homemade packs which were somewhat working. But the new weather took a toll on my skin and hair. Nothing seemed to be working. And there’s stress and monumental work of moving to a new place which again were an added bonus (mess).

So… obviously I panicked and started researching again. It took some time. And, finally, when I found this oil, the first thing that caught my eyes are the ingredients list.

I was hooked.

I gave it a try without a delay. One week, 2 weeks, a whole month, there was no improvement. But then… Just after 1 month, I could see so many baby hair on my scalp. It was just like a sweet dream, too good to be true. Time went on and gradually, my hair fall had reduced, a lot. The ends of my hair used to be so dull and dry before, but now they are soft. I can notice a visible shine and a natural bounce on my hair which were never there before.

Moral of the story: It is indeed a miracle oil (at least, for me).

And why won’t it be?

Just look at the ingredients.

Extra Virgin Black Sesame Oil
Tunga Musta
Sun Dried Hibiscus
Indian Gooseberry (Amla) Extract
Bringraj
Kachuralu
Bavanchalu
Fenugreek
Sun Dried Curry Leaves.

Amazing, isn’t it!

One of the awesome things about this brand is that they are so transparent about their ingredients. This oil is chemical free, vegan, cruelty free, sustainable, all natural, and it comes in a glass bottle. All good things in one pot.

It works great on post postpartum hair-loss, some forms of alopecia, and another interesting thing, you can use this on your kid’s baby hair too.

The ‘miracle oil’ name seems to be justifying, right!

Don’t think twice, try it once.

You can buy the oil from HERE

Cheers!

Happy Living…

SEVEN MUST-HAVE SUMMER SUPERFOODS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR DIET RIGHT NOW

2021-03-31T22:04:00.001+05:30

Summer season is ruling the house again. The rough wind, the heat waves, the sweat, and the irritation are back. Right now, our life is already hectic and stressful in the middle of a pandemic. We need to be extra careful in every step. And alongside that, we need to take special care of our well-being in this season.

Once the temperature rises outside, our body tries to find the most effective and instant solution- Cold beverages. That may give relief to your thirst for the moment, but your body still needs sufficient nutrients to function its best.

You see, Indian cuisines are crafted and curated by intelligent and experienced brains. It is perfect for our body, mind, and soul and so compatible according to our tropical seasons.

Whenever I have searched for any balanced diet on the internet, many things have popped up. But I have found very few of them sustainable. They are not easily accessible, super expensive, and they do not go very well with the kind of weather condition we have.

Today, we are talking about some Superfoods that are perfect for Summer. They are available anywhere, anytime. And they will help you keep your internal body calm, protected, healthy, and summer-ready.

Take a sip in some chilled lemon honey water and let’s get started.

1. Tamarind:

Tamarind pulp is extensively used in South Asian cuisines. Its health benefits are worth mentioning. It has Polyphenols that have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. These can protect your body from heart diseases, cancer, and diabetes. Tamarind extract can help lowering blood sugar levels, hypertension, and reverse fatty liver disease.

It also has antiviral, antibacterial properties. It is full of nutrients, such as Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B3, Phosphorus, Iron.

It is excellent for our digestive system. Stomach and digestion-related ailments are common in Summer. Tamarind helps to combat digestive issues like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation.

It can heal wounds, calm down swelling, and helps to fight certain parasitic and bacterial infections.

How to use Tamarind as a Summer Superfood

· Prepare soupy curry using Tamarind pulp.

Soak Tamarind pulp (available in the market) in lukewarm water for half an hour. Squeeze out all the extracts, strain them, and use them while making a light soupy curry. You can use fish or vegetables in the curry. Don’t use excessive spices or oil. Temper the soup with just one teaspoon of oil, mustard seeds or panch phoron, and whole green chili/red chili. Use a little bit of salt and turmeric powder. Balance the taste by adding 1 tsp Sugar (optional). Simmer it for 10 minutes. And that’s all. Enjoy it in your summer lunch.

You can have tamarind rice for a tasty, healthy, and light meal.
Savor Tamarind Chutney as a delicious side dish.

2. Raw Mango:

Raw Mango aka Kachchi Kairi (in Hindi) is a must-have superfood in Summer. This fruit has tons of nutrients. It is full of Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Calcium, Magnesium, and more.

Raw Mango may cure stomach disorders such as constipation, bloating, indigestion, and diarrhea.

The nutrients in it help to balance the body’s hormonal system.

It detoxifies the liver, cleanses all the toxins from the body. It prevents dehydration and also improves cardiovascular health.

How to use Raw Mango as a Summer Superfood:

Prepare Aam Panna to protect your body from heat stroke
Raw mango Chutney as a side dish
Soupy Raw Mango Chutney aka Kancha Aamer Jhol, mostly prepared in Bengali cuisine (a personal favorite)
Aam Dal (Dal or Lentils using Raw Mango)
Raw Mango Rice, a healthy and light dish for your taste buds which is perfect for Summer

3. Curd:

This Superfood is a perfect digestion and immunity booster during the Summer. Curd is full of Good Bacteria that are excellent for our guts. It is also a great probiotic which helps to eliminate the bad bacteria in our digestive system. It soothes the inflammation and treats stomach upset.

Being an immunity booster, the goodness in Curd protects us from catching cold and viral infections. Curd is packed in Calcium and Phosphorus and good for our bones. It is a good substitute for milk, so if you can’t have milk due to some health condition or other reasons, you are not missing out on the nutrients.

Apart from this, Curd is also beneficial for heart diseases and great for women’s vaginal health.

Are you suffering from chronic infections down there? You must include curd in your everyday diet.

Avoid flavored yogurt if you can. Have homemade sour curd or preservative-free curd from the market instead every single day.

How to use Curd as a Summer Superfood:

Have one bowl of Curd after your meal
Prepare Buttermilk or lassi
Curd rice
Have it as Raita (vegetable salad with curd) in your side dish
Use it in a smoothie or in your breakfast bowl

5. Coconut Water:

Nothing can beat the health benefits of Tender Coconut Water. Moreover, it tastes delicious too. Coconut water is full of antioxidants that protect your cells from damage. It has a bucket full of nutrients- Vitamin C, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Sodium, and so on. You name it.

Having a glass of Coconut Water everyday can fulfill many of your vitamin and mineral deficits. It can help reducing blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.

It also has cholesterol-lowering properties that are beneficial in preventing heart diseases.

Coconut water is a good source of Electrolytes in Summer, especially if you are out in the sun or after finishing a solid workout. It keeps you hydrated and lowers your blood pressure level. It can also prevent having kidney stones.

How to use Coconut Water as a Summer Superfood:

Have a glass of Coconut Water every day without adding any sugar.
Please avoid taking packaged Coconut Water. It is not the ideal thing for your health, no matter what the ingredients list says.

6. Watermelon:

Do you know that Watermelon is 92% water only? Surprised!!! Yes, that’s why this Superfood is a must-have to keep ourselves hydrated in the summers.

Watermelon is one of the lowest-calorie fruits and has Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Potassium, Magnesium, Lycopene, Vitamins B1, B5, and B6, and other good things.

It helps in digestion, relieves muscle soreness, treats inflammation, and keeps your heart healthy.

It also helps to control heartburn during pregnancy. Enjoy this in the Summer and safeguard your body from heatstroke.

How to use Watermelon as a Summer Superfood:

Put the fruit in the refrigerator, slice it up and enjoy during summers
Prepare refreshing watermelon juice with mint and lime
Have it in a fruit bowl

7. Amla/ Indian Gooseberry:

Amla aka Indian Gooseberry is a rich source of Vitamin C. It also has Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Iron, Calcium, Polyphenols, Alkaloids, and Flavonoids.

It is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It prevents cancer, it is amazing for your heart, and it controls diabetes.

It helps in digestion and boosts immunity. It has powerful antioxidants and is a natural blood purifier.

Amla cools down your body in the Summer and helps detoxify your body.

How to use Amla as a Summer Superfood:

Prepare Amla Chutney
Slice it up, dry it in the sun with some salt. Store in a container and have it after meals to aid in digestion.
·Prepare Amla juice

*Remember, no matter how beneficial something is for your health, eat them within limits. DO NOT GO OVERBOARD. If you are not 100% sure about anything or have any doubt, do not hesitate to ask an expert.

I am not a medical expert. I have been following a few diet routines for a long time for my family’s well-being. This list is one of them. After consulting our doctor, we find it compatible according to our health & lifestyle.

**If you are pregnant, or breastfeeding, or have some medical conditions, please ask your doctor before using anything, be it a food item or cosmetics.

It is of utmost importance to have a balanced diet in your daily life and maintain a healthy lifestyle. So, include fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts, drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. Sleep properly. Cut back your alcohol consumption and include homemade chilled juices and smoothies instead. Exercise daily, let go of your stress as much as possible and give yourself a mental detox by keeping your gadgets aside for some time.

Take Care, everyone…

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

SUMMER SKINCARE WITH DEYGA ORGANICS

2021-03-21T15:07:00.004+05:30

The sweet summer is here and so is the heat which is not at all sweet, ehh! Summer has its charms and I love it. But at the same time, it is so difficult to manage my sensitive combination skin in this season. Sometimes my skin gets dried and irritated because of the strong heatwave, and other times the acne and pimples take over to add on. Uffff!

But this summer, it’s gonna be a different story. Why? Because I have found Deyga Organics, an Indian Organic Skincare brand, who has come up with their beautiful Clear Skin Combo. Deyga kindly has sent me two of their best-selling products, a gorgeous Charcoal Bath Bar and a very soothing Aloe Vera gel and I am all smiles with these two products as the timing and the season are just perrrrrfect 😉.

Deyga crafts and curates its products with love. The products are 100% Pure, Cruelty-free, and Natural. The brand creates each of its products following the age-old traditional recipes.

According to the brand, “Our Ingredients are 100% Natural. Natural ingredients originate from nature and ONLY undergo chemical changes due to biological processes such as fermentation, distillation, and cold processing… OUR PRODUCTS DO NOT CONTAIN SLS, SLES, Parabens, MEA, DEA, TEA, Petrolatum, Phthalates, Ethoxylates, and Silicones.”

Deyga’s Aloe Vera Gel :

My skincare is incomplete without using Aloe Vera. I love it to the core, especially in the Summer. I have been using Deyga’s Aloe Vera Gel for 2 weeks now. And I am simply loving it. I love the fact that this gel is completely fragrance-free, supercooling, and non-greasy.

It is a beautiful, translucent Aloe Vera Gel.

It is so healing for my hormonal acne and pimples and calming for the heat rashes.

Before applying this gel, I keep it in the fridge for 10 minutes, and et voila! I feel refreshed and reinvigorated as soon as it touches my skin. As it is non-greasy, you can apply it as your favorite day moisturizer in the Summer. Top it up with sunscreen and you are good to go. You can wear Makeup on it without any worry of creasing. I do love to use it as a cooling face mask in the afternoon if I step out in the sun for any chores. I also mix it with Wild Turmeric Powder & Honey as an acne-clearing face pack, and the aftereffect is delightful.

This gel has a self-life of 6 months.

Deyga uses Aloe Barbadensis (Cold Pressed) Aloe Vera Extract, Aloe Hydrosol, and Geogard ECT (Certified natural preservative) in it.

You can feel this gel is au-natural when you use it.

I admire the fact that the brand is open in declaring its ingredients to its customers. Respect!

It is priced at INR 350 for 100 gm/ 3.53 fl oz. You can buy this gel from here.

Deyga’s Charcoal Bath Bar:

Well…this is the very first time that I am using Charcoal Bath Bar that too on my face. I have used Charcoal Scrub and Face pack before, and I have loved both of them. But this time, I won’t deny it, I was damn scared to use the soap bar on my face for the first time. After patch-testing it, when I used it, ohhhh! I was blown away.

I am so obsessed with this soap, I can't tell you in words.

I must say, it is one of the most wonderful skincare products I have ever used.

After a sweaty workout, when I use this bath bar, it gives me a very satisfying experience.

You see, when you get that ‘squeaky clean feeling’ after washing your face, that’s a blessing, right! My skin (or is it me?) literally floats like a cloud. 😊

This bath bar is:

Cold Pressed
Natural
Vegan
Paraben-free
Fragrance-free

This soap is made of Activated Charcoal Powder, Olive Oil, Castor Oil, Tea Tree Essential Oil, Unrefined Shea Butter, and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.

It is free from any Artificial thickeners.

I couldn’t be happier because this came into my life when I needed it the most. My hormonal acne was all over the place and I was desperate to get a solution. Yes, this soap makes your skin dry, but if you apply Aloe Vera Gel or any moisturizer afterwards, then you are sorted.

This is a Charcoal bath Bar. Its job is to clean your skin and throw out all the gunk from its core. And it does that just perfectly.

It is very effective in clearing out active acne and pimples. It unclogs your pores and clears out the blackheads like a dream.

You can see a visible difference from the first few uses. I use it only on my face as my body skin is dry.

Do try it on your body too if you have body acne, it’ll definitely help.

I have a good feeling that it may even prevent your skin from breaking out. But that’s for the future to decide, I can’t comment on that right now. I must say if you have normal to oily or combination skin and you are suffering from acne or pimple, give it a try. Use it alongside the Aloe Vera Gel, your skin will thank you for sure.

One Charcoal Bath Bar is priced at INR 410. You can buy it from here.

You can buy the Clear Clean Combo here.

I feel these two products complement each other so much. And I am loving them both.

Deyga Organics has a wide range of Skincare and Haircare products. I am eyeing their Rose & Mulethi Skin Brightening Face pack and also their Turmeric Healing Face pack right now. They seem very tempting.

Deyga Organics ships their products internationally. Isn't that great! Head over to their website to find out more about them.

** Please note that I don't get to earn a single penny if you buy any of the products from the brand. All my reviews are 100% my honest opinion- tried, tested, and very much loved 😊.

** Please use any cosmetic product after knowing about them and at your own risk. Consult medical professionals if needed. The blog or the author is not responsible for any after-effects. And yes, do not forget to do a patch test before using any new product.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

HOW TO USE MORINGA OIL TO BOOST YOUR SKIN & HAIR

2021-02-25T13:16:00.008+05:30

Moringa or Drumstick has several health benefits. Believe it or not, the whole Moringa tree from its bark to its leaves has miraculous properties. It is also widely used in Indian cuisines. In our house, we use Drumstick in our daily cuisines such as in Sambhar, or Curry, and also eat its leaves and flowers.

Moringa Leaves

Apart from its health benefits, Moringa Oil is known as Miracle oil for its amazing nutrients and benefits. It is extracted from the seeds of the Moringa Oleifera tree, in a cold-pressed process. It has a pale-yellow color, and a nutty aroma. You will be amazed to know that this miracle oil is your skin and hair’s best friend.

Drumstick

It has:

Vitamin A which helps to build collagen in the skin

Vitamin E which is not only anti-inflammatory, but also has properties to strengthen the immune system, regenerate body cells.

Vitamin C and Phenols which act as powerful antioxidants. Vitamin C reduces fine lines, protects your skin from free radicals, and repairs cells.

Cytcytokinins which promote cellular growth and delays the signs of aging.

Fatty acids create a barrier and give protection to your skin. Skin gets glowing, plumper, and smoother in time.

In a nutshell, Moringa Oil has antimicrobial, antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, and anti-aging properties. I think, this sorts out all our skin worries, right!

Kama Ayurveda Organic Moringa Oil

How to Use Moringa Oil in Skin Care & Hair Care:

1. Facial Oil:

Moringa oil is excellent to use as a facial oil as it hydrates the skin very well. If you have dry skin or dry patches, this is the food for your skin. Even combination and oily skin people can use it every day without any worry. You can use the oil as it is, after cleansing and toning your skin, or mix a few drops with your favorite moisturizer. This is the way I like to use this oil.

This oil is great to use for a facial massage. It gives you a glowing, soft, healthy skin. It heals your scars and helps reducing pigmentation in your skin.

2. Hair Oil/ Hair Serum:

Mix a few drops of this oil with other carrier oils to give your hair a good massage and spa treatment. If you suffer from dandruff or dry scalp, this oil will help you solve the issues real soon.

Similarly, you can take a few drops of this oil and use it as a hair serum after washing your hair. You can also mix this oil in your Shampoo or Conditioner to give extra nourishment to your hair.

3. Body Oil:

Pamper yourself with a massage with this lightweight, nutty flavored oil. This nourishes the skin so well and also helps to reduce the stretch marks in time. You can also put a few drops of this oil in your Bathwater to give yourself a calming pamper session.

4. Makeup Remover:

Are you a fan of Natural oils for removing your Makeup? Then this is a must-have for you. Switch over from Coconut Oil and start using this as your go-to product. This oil is so lightweight that it doesn’t break out your skin and removes your make up like no one’s business. Whether you have dry skin or oily skin, you will love it anyway.

5. Anti-aging treatment:

This Natural oil is superb for treating the signs of aging. The vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids help to restore your skin cells, and treat skin wounds and scars. This also protects your skin from any damages caused by the environment.

You can definitely use it as your eye cream and as your lip oil as well. No matter what season is in, this oil will not let you down. If you live in extreme humid area, use it as your facial massage oil and wash it off after 30 minutes to get the most beautiful skin.

Personally, I love to use the Kama Ayurveda Organic Moringa Oil which is a beautiful product.

I have been using it for a year now. And I simply adore it. This oil is 100% Natural, Preservative free, Cold-Pressed, Non-greasy, Lightweight, and very Soothing and Calming for my Sensitive Combination Skin.

The price is INR 1450. And a 100 ml bottle goes a long way for me and gives a very satisfying experience.

You can buy it from here.

Moringa Oil is indeed a Miracle Oil, right! What do you say!

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

REVIEW OF ‘SEER SECRETS’: A NEW FACE OF NATURAL SKINCARE

2020-08-25T15:07:00.009+05:30

Life is going quite crazy and unpredictable right now, isn’t it! Amidst this recent virus scare, sanitizers and disinfectants have become our new BFFs. Gone are the days when we used to spend zillions of hours in spas, salons, or even used to get ready for going out 😢. I think, we do deserve a little pamper time at home for ourselves, even if we can’t go out, right!

Frankly, for me, putting on makeup seems a little weird now, but I feel, taking care of my skin has become more important. Why! Because we absolutely deserve it after a tiring day.

Today, I am sharing with you a new face of a natural skincare brand that will satisfy your skin. Let’s welcome SEER SECRETS.

A view inside the Seer Secrets Ruby Gemstone Soap

The brand has kindly sent me three of their bestselling products for review purpose. And I have ended up falling in love with them.

Key Highlights about the Brand ‘Seer Secrets’:

100% Natural
Handmade with Love
Cruelty-Free
Made in India
Dermatologically Tested
GMP Certified

The specialty about the Brand:

“We deal with traditional ancient techniques of macerations, fermentations, double boiling, steam distillations, to get our extracts…”

Their “aim is to shy away from all the harmful products like triclosan, butylated hydroxytoluene, phthalates, formaldehyde, ethoxy cinnamate, silicones, etc. and include rosemary oleoresin or Vitamin E for phthalates (which is a plasticizer used sensibly by some brands under trademarked products) natural oils and their derivatives e.g. oleic acids, plant cholesterols, plant sterols, etc. in their products.”

Let’s talk about:

BERGAMOT & RAW SANDHAL ENERGIZING YOGURT ENZYME BODY CLEANSER

Description:

Quench into a woody redolence with this beautiful bath time indulgence. With a ligneous sandalwood note & the essence of bergamot, this energizing yogurt enzyme body cleanser provides a shiny & younger-looking skin. With an energizing scent, the formula is infused with sandalwood & bergamot essential oil and extracts of amla & reetha which provides the essence of energization in a blissful relaxing effect of aromatherapy in your shower. Woody notes in a formula infused with yogurt extract & coconut derivatives stimulate your mind & spirit in a blissful shower experience.

Ingredients:

Coconut Derivative Base, Aqua, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bergamot essential oil, Yogurt Extract, Amla & Reetha extracts, Sandalwood essential oil, lactic acid.

Price:

INR 486 for 200 ML.

My Experience:

I am loving this body cleanser nowadays. The aroma of sandalwood takes your bathing experience to another level. It lathers very well. The essential oils in it give you very hydrated, supple skin. I have never used a product that has yogurt extract and lactic acid in it. Lactic Acid "helps stimulate collagen synthesis, improve skin texture, the appearance of wrinkles, and improve skin discoloration by reducing hyperpigmentation." The packaging of this product is unique as the bottle comes within a tin container which gives it a luxurious feel. I love to use this cleanser for my evening bath before I go to bed. It not only gives me a super soft and refreshed skin but washes away all my tiredness.

RUBY GEMSTONE BATH BAR

Description:

Ultimate Luxury: After a long, tiring day, treat yourself to the finest form of relaxation. A bath paired with our gemstone bath bar will melt away your stress while nourishing your skin. You'll feel refreshed and ready to take on what comes next! 100% Natural: Made with lots of love: our soap is handmade and contains organic-based ingredients. It's 100% pure and safe. It contains no parabens, alcohol, petroleum, dyes, animal fat, or GMOs. A Detoxifying Agent: It has the goodness of essential oil that serves as a detoxifying agent, controls acne & improves skin elasticity. Added rosewood essential oil helps prevent wrinkles and premature aging reducing the onset of pimples, acne, and blackheads while controlling the amount of sebum secreted by your oil glands. Gentle Cleansing and Long-lasting: They are made with extracts of the earth including real gemstone powder, they are totally natural, biodegradable and light.

Ingredients:

Glycerine Soap Base (Used instead of natural Quartz), Calcium Carbonate, Rose Geranium essential oil, palmarosa essential oil, rosewood essential oil, Ferric Oxide, Micas, Mineral Corundum (Aluminium Oxide), Silica.

Price:

INR 342 for 160 GM

My Experience:

As the description says, this soap does look like an ultimate luxury product. It is so gentle on the skin, smells just divine. It doesn’t dry away your skin and gives you a luxurious bathing experience. As soon as I took out this soap from the packaging, my entire room started smelling incredible. It has a beautiful, sweet smell which indeed gives you a ‘spa’ like feeling. I love to use this soap for my morning bath. It gets me started for my entire day. The soap bar is quite big, so even though it is expensive, it will stay with you for a long time. I have cut the bar in four equal parts and I am still using the first portion for the last 10 days. Being a natural, preservative-free soap, it doesn’t lather too much, just enough. This soap has worked beautifully on matured skin as my mom is currently loving this too. Her skin feels very soft, and healthy. The fragrance of this soap lingers on the skin for quite some time and keeps you energized throughout the day.

HYDRATING SHEET MASK

Description:

* Naturally Brighter Skin Tone – when used regularly they can help diminish signs of dark spots, pigmentation, circles, and puffiness.

* Moisturizing Hydration – Infused with natural botanical ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Watermelon With Niacinamide (Vit-B3), Aloe vera, it's gentle on dry, oily, or sensitive skin.

* Revitalizing Skin Therapy – A deeply-hydrating experience, our face mask sheets infuse your skin with vital moisture while helping improve overall tone and firmness.

* Premier Face Mask Quality – Infused with Anti-Aging Antioxidants – A truly age-reversing formula, our face masks help create firmer, healthier, more balanced skin for radiant confidence.

Ingredients:

Price:

INR 199 per sheet

My Experience:

This sheet mask will be a really nice addition for a pamper session. After cleansing and scrubbing your face, when you use this sheet mask, you feel rejuvenated. It is hydrating and gives you glowing skin. On a side note, it is an expensive product to indulge on. I feel including some more serums in the sheet would make it awesome.

I have enjoyed all three products. But if you ask me, I have loved the Ruby Gemstone Bar and the Bergamot and Raw Sandhal Body Cleanser the most. Give them a try, definitely!

‘Seer Secrets’ has provided me a very special discount code just for you. By using the code happy10 you can shop any products with an additional 10% discount from their website.

Buying Links (Click on the following links to buy the products):

BERGAMOT & RAW SANDHAL ENERGIZING YOGURT ENZYME BODY CLEANSER

RUBY GEMSTONE BATH BAR

HYDRATING SHEET MASK

** Please note that I don't get to earn a single penny if you buy any of the products. The coupon code is just a goodwill gesture from the brand. All my reviews are 100% my honest opinion, tried and tested 😊.

** Please use any cosmetic product after knowing about them and at your own risk. The blog or the author is not responsible for any after-effects. And yes, do not forget to do a patch test before using any new product.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

HOW TO SANITIZE EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS AT YOUR HOME

2020-05-10T21:23:00.003+05:30

In the current scenario, humans are living one of their most sensitive moments. Fear is taking a toll drastically on our minds. We are not safe outside even though pollution is at its lowest level right now. Being inside our homes is making us agitated though that seem to be the safest places on the earth right now.

Maintaining ‘Social Distancing’, and ‘staying at home’ can save our lives.

How life gets changed in a jiff, I wonder all the time.

More or less, most of us used to follow decent hygiene in our day to day lives. But right now, we all have gone into the next monumental level, when it has become a necessity, a ‘new’ unmissable part of our lives.

Two months back, when hand sanitizers became the part and parcel of our lives, we saw a scarcity in the market. Everywhere it was unavailable, even if it was available, those products seemed less reliable.

Health is wealth, right! So just right then, I have started my quest to find the most trustworthy and consistent solution to make my family’s health safe. After all, hygiene comes first and foremost in terms of safety.

So far, this is how I roll to take care of my home. Below are a few tips and tricks I have been following to sanitize the everyday essentials at my home and kitchen. This is my way of staying the safest way possible.

Pic Credit: Unsplash

How to Disinfect your Home & Kitchen:

a) Alcohol-based Cleaner:

Use a strong alcohol-based cleaner to wipe off the floors, furniture, doorknobs, etc. at your place. Alcohol-based products are the most proven effective solution right now to safeguard your home.

b) Synthetic White Vinegar:

White vinegar can be used as a natural disinfectant. It has antibacterial agent. It is an excellent option to use as a kitchen cleaner as it can effectively kill foodborne bacterial pathogens. You can put an equal amount of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, and clean your glass tabletops, kitchen counter-top, doors & windows, sinks, etc. Make sure you don't use this solution on wooden furniture or any natural stone as the acetic acid (with which the synthetic vinegar is made of) can damage them.

Remember, White vinegar is not scientifically proven in killing the Covid-19 virus. It is most effective in safeguarding from food bacteria such as Salmonella, E. Coli, etc.

c) Lemon Juice:

It is an amazing cleaning agent which has antibacterial, antiseptic properties. It also acts as a bleaching agent. You can add lemon juice to your vinegar-water disinfectant solution to neutralize the smell of vinegar.

Not only this, with some help of Baking soda and lemon juice, you can also remove stains, and grease from your counter-tops, sinks, etc.

How to Make Hand Sanitizer at Home:

Right now, it is always recommended to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. If you are at home, you can simply use soap and water. That is a much better way to sanitize yourself.

Only if, in some condition, soap and water are not available to you, then use hand sanitizer.

You can check HERE to find out the recipe for homemade hand sanitizer if you are running out of market ones. This recipe includes an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

How to Disinfect Fruits and Vegetables:

a) You can make a vinegar and water solution to cleanse the fruits and vegetables. Heat up the water and let it come to a semi-warm temperature. If you have lots of items, then put the water in a bucket, I put 1 tbsp of synthetic white vinegar in 5 liters of water. Soak the items for 15 minutes. After that, clean everything under running water, wipe the excess water, pat dry, and store them.

b) In the same way, you can use salt and semi-warm water to disinfect fruits and vegetables. I use 1 tbsp of salt in 5 liters of water.

I use both salt and vinegar if my food items need extra care.
Do not use dish-washing liquid or soap for cleaning fruits and vegetables.

How to Sanitize Packaged Groceries:

Most of the non-perishable items (and some perishable items too) come with plastic packaging. You can put them(only the non-perishable items) under the sun for some time or just leave it alone for 24 to 72 hrs. After that, you can make a solution to clean them to the next level. This solution consists of ½ tbsp dishwashing liquid, a few drops of Antiseptic liquid, and the required amount of water. Take this solution in a bowl. Take a small kitchen towel, and wipe off the outer layer of the packets nicely. After that, you can dry the packets and store them.

Do not put packaged items in a bucketful of water or any solution. If there’s a leakage, the entire item will go wasted.

Disclaimer:

I am not a medical expert. These tips given here are based on my personal experiences that I have been following for long. They neither provide any specific guarantee nor claim any scientific benefits. Use everything with caution and at your own risk.

So far, these tips have helped me immensely to run my home and kitchen quite smoothly. Hope they can help you too.

Let me know if you know of any other useful tips & tricks.

Take care, everyone,

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

QUARANTINE TIME (INDIAN) MEAL PLANNING FOR A WEEK

2020-04-07T00:34:00.000+05:30

We all have been pretty much locked inside our houses for the last few days. It is indeed the safest place right now; we must understand that. It is for our own good, and of course, for the greater good. So, giddy-up, everyone…

In this chaos, as a home manager, I have been struggling a lot to arrange healthy foods for my family. Though right now, many online services are available to many of us, ordering from them and getting the things we want right on time, is a ginormous task. Most of the time, the delivery slots are not available, and when it is, the things we want are gone, poof!!!

Anyway, I have been activating some extra intelligence in my head to get the best out this situation. 😈 And the first thing I have done is to note down a 7- day meal planning. This has helped me in buying the exact things I want and also saved me big time not to hoard things.

Most of us Indians are not used to a One-pot meal concept, at least I am that person. So, meal planning is hard right now for me because many things are out of my reach. Still, I have given some thoughts, and this is what I have come up with.

Pic Credit: Unsplash

I am gonna cover three main meals for the day. Remember, this is a typical Indian meal planning, so things may vary according to your choice. Not only this time, but you can include these meals in your daily diet throughout the year. Bear with me and get some inspiration if you like to.

Here we go...

Monday:

Breakfast: Poha (Flattened Rice)

Lunch: Palak Paneer (Spinach with Cottage Cheese in a Curry), if it's available/ Malai Paneer (Cottage Cheese in Creamy gravy) and Roti/Rice (Indian Flat Bread/ Rice)

You can make fresh cream at home with the help of milk which is widely available.

Dinner: Rajma Chawal (Kidney Beans Curry and Rice)

Based on your preferences, you can switch between Roti and Rice.

Tuesday:

Breakfast: Upma (made from Suji or Semolina)

Lunch: Fish Curry and rice (for Non-vegetarian people) or Soya Curry (for Vegetarian people)

Dinner: Chole Chawal (Garbanzo Beans Curry) and Rice/ Roti

Wednesday:

Breakfast: Masala Dosa (a batter mixture of rice and lentil that you can make at home, it is also available in ready-made package when you have less time)

Lunch: When you make Dosa batter, make some extra and have it in lunch as Uttapam (a crepe-like dish made with the same batter as Dosa/ Idli) with various vegetables. This will also save some time.

Dinner: Chicken Curry with Roti/ Rice (non-veg option) or Paneer Bhurji / Paneer Butter Masala (veg option)

Thursday:

Breakfast: Idli (pretty much same batter as we use in making Dosa, you can use the previous day batter), (can be prepared at home or can use ready-made package)

Lunch: Chana Masala (Brown or Green colored Chickpeas Curry) with Rice/ Roti

Dinner: Egg Curry with Rice /Roti (non-veg option) or Dum Aloo (Potato in thick gravy, veg option)

Friday:

Breakfast: Bread Toast with Egg Omelette/ Sandwich

Lunch: Mix Dal (Mix of different Lentils) with Roti/ Rice or Lauki (Bottle gourd) dal or Palak (Spinach Leaves) dal or Methi (Fenugreek Leaves) dal

Dinner: Paneer Masala/ Kadai Paneer (Cottage Cheese Curry) with Roti/Rice

Saturday:

Breakfast: Oats/ Granola/ Muesli Bowl with Fruits and Nuts

Lunch: Vegetable Khichdi (an Indian dish made with Rice and Lentils). You can add available vegetables from your pantry.

Dinner: Chicken Stu with Bread/ Roti (non-veg option) or Vegetable Stu (veg option)

Sunday:

Breakfast: Heavy-duty Smoothie with various fruits/ Green Juice

Lunch: Multigrain Chila (a crepe-like dish made with different flours like wheat, Chickpeas, Oats, etc. with some added vegetables)

Dinner: Vegetable Pulao (Pilaf)/ Chicken or Egg Fried Rice with Raita (a side dish made with Curd)

If it is not possible to buy packaged Paneer right now, you can make Paneer or Chenna at home with only two ingredients- Milk and Lemon Juice/ Vinegar.

You can have nuts, fruits, salads, curd, buttermilk, etc. as per your choice. They are good for your health. So, have them in proportion if it is possible.

I know, for many people, getting all these things are beyond their capacity right now. My heart feels for them. As a family, we try our best to do something to help them in this situation.

Please mind that my sole intention is to give some ideas so that you can prioritize things to your choice and capability.

A small disclaimer: I am in no way an expert. So, choose your food according to your current health condition. Seek advice from a health expert if you are allergic to something or trying something new.

Hopefully, this can give you an intimation of what to buy and what not for an entire week. You can also prepare some extra food and store them in the fridge to have it in the next day. I have mostly included non perishable food items for majority of the meals. This meal planning includes the necessary amount of Protein, Vitamin, Minerals, and fiber for an adult. Of course, you can alter things that suits you the best.

Stay Healthy…

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

THINGS I HAVE BEEN DOING TO BOOST MY IMMUNITY

2020-03-27T00:26:00.004+05:30

Amid this very recent virus scare, our lives have almost come to a standstill. Cities are locked down; people are inside their homes trying their best to protect themselves. We are desperately waiting to get over this nightmare like reality. The way things are right now, it is our sole responsibility to stay calm, be at home under protection even if we are inside this storm. Plan well for the upcoming days but do not get paranoid.

Pic Credit: Unsplash

If we think of the virus day and night, we won't be able to function correctly. So, to protect your mental health, divert your mind by doing something constructive that you love to do. Spend time with your loved ones, do your household chores happily because ultimately what you are doing is the best thing for your family. Maintain 'social distancing' because that will help us to get through this uninvited phase of our lives.

We all know that, if we have an excellent immune system, our body will always be ready to fight back in unwanted situations. For that, I have been implementing a few this and that to improve my family’s overall health. (See disclaimer at the bottom of the post)

Our family has been following a strict but healthy diet, where we are trying to add a few things to boost our immune systems. For example, we are taking enough Vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant and helps to protect cells from damage. We are also taking Garlic cloves regularly which have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties along with several other health benefits. We have included various Nuts in our daily diet as they are packed in fiber, protein, good fat, vitamins, and minerals. Except a few mild changes, we have been incorporating these foods since a long time.

In this current situation, having fresh vegetables every day is kind of difficult. We are including different kinds of lentils, legumes in our diet.

I am also making an herbal tea every day that my Mum used to make in my childhood days, especially when I used to suffer from cold and cough. I am sharing the recipe below. These herbs can make your internal health stronger, keep you invigorated throughout the day to function better.

Pic Credit: Unsplash

Herbal Tea Recipe:

Ingredients are listed for 2 persons:

Two cups of water
1-inch Raw Turmeric/ ½ tsp Turmeric Powder (rich in anti-inflammatory properties and full of antioxidants)
1-inch Ginger (helps in digestion, eases common cold and flu)
¼ tsp Black Pepper (known for its anti-inflammatory properties and it is high in antioxidants)
2 teaspoon Jaggery (aids in digestion, builds up resistance against infections) or 1 tbsp Honey (known for its antibacterial properties)
Basil leaves (has anti-inflammatory properties)

Method:

Crush all the herbs in a motor pastel. Boil water in a saucepan and put all the herbs in that. Let it simmer for 5 minutes at a low temperature. Switch off the flame. Add jaggery or honey and strain the drink. Your Herbal Tea is ready.

These ingredients have antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antibiotic properties. They can make you stronger, healthier from inside.

But remember, boosting your immune system is not a one-day task. It's a lifetime process. Quit alcohol and smoking if you can. You gotta Exercise regularly, Meditate , eat healthy foods that include green vegetables & fruits, maintain a balanced and less stressful lifestyle to make it work.

Try these tips. I am sure they will help you a lot.

Disclaimer:

I am not a medical expert. These tips given here are based on my personal experiences that I have been following for long time. They neither provide any specific guarantee nor claim any magical benefits. Use everything under proper guidance and supervision from your health expert. Use with caution as one may be allergic to some ingredients.

Take care, everyone,

Cheers!!!

Happy living…

BASIC ESSENTIALS YOU NEED DURING A QUARANTINE PERIOD

2020-03-17T23:55:00.001+05:30

COVID-19 has been ruling the world from the past few months. Right now, things are getting into the unruly mode. People's life is going haywire as we are struggling big time to stop the contamination. As cities are eventually going into lockdown, panic is full-on. Everybody is pretty much in self- quarantine zone in their homes. Minds are acting crazy; many are fighting for things where others are fighting for their lives. Basic necessities are selling out in a jiffy, Masks are gone, Hand Sanitizers are vanished. People are accumulating many things in piles without thinking about the others.

Do we need to hoard the essentials insanely?

The answer is NO. We don’t need to hoard things like crazy. We need to plan well and stock up the essentials so that life can go on in this crucial moment.

If anyone is reading this Blog Post, please share with others that we all need to calm ourselves down. Everybody needs to go on with their lives but with extreme caution. So, the basic necessities should be available to everyone.

I am sharing a few ideas below, which I have been following during this period. I am also providing a list of food items that I have been stocking up as per the availability and my eating habit.

Hope this will help you to decide on the list of things you need carefully and pragmatically.

Pic Credit: Unsplash

Remember to buy:

Food items:

Stock up the non-perishable food items. Lentils, dry fruits, biscuits, tea, sugar, salt, oil, rice, flours, milk tetra packets, canned foods will come really handy, They can last for months without going wasted. You can also buy a bunch of chocolates and energy bars as they come handy in times of emergency.

Medicines:

Basic medicines are always mandatory to keep at home. Medicines for normal fever, cold, cough, stomach upsets, nausea, digestive reliefs, etc., are essential to keep at bay. Regular paracetamol tablet also doubles up as a pain reliever. You can keep antiseptic liquid, band-aids, cotton rolls, and bandages in your first aid kit. If you are under daily medication for any specific disease, remember to stock for that too.

Please follow the proper regulations and directives in case you have symptoms similar to COVID-19. Do not hide your symptoms. In case of any doubt, immediately call your nearest health care for COVID-19 and self quarantine yourself.

Hygiene Essentials:

Bathing soap, shampoos, daily used creams, etc. are some things that are always present in our bathroom. But it is time to keep some disinfectant liquid at your disposal. Household cleaners, antiseptic liquids, hand washes, sanitizers, antiseptic soaps, toilet paper rolls, sanitary napkins, diapers for babies are some essential items to buy.

If you can’t find sanitizers in the market, do not panic. You can make your own hand sanitizer at home with two things only.

How to Make Hand Sanitizer at Home:

You can use Isopropyl Alcohol/ Rubbing alcohol and Aloe Vera gel to make your own hand sanitizer.
Fill a bottle with at least 60% of alcohol and rest with Aloe Vera gel, and you are good to go.
These two things are enough to use as a sanitizer. But you can also add few drops of Vitamin E Oil to increase the shelf life. Along with that, a few drops of tea tree essential oil or lemon oil can also be added to make it smell good.

Remember, you are gonna need a sanitizing agent only when soap and water are not available near you.

Your daily life will not stop despite this emergency situation. So, make proper use of your time if you are feeling physically fit.

Exercise daily
Meditate and stay stress-free as much as you can
Sleep well
Watch your favorite show and Relax your mind
Be strong both physically and emotionally
Stay Hydrated and Eat healthy to boost your immunity
Do not gather in a group anywhere even if it is your own residential area
Stay indoors and engage your kids in various creative activities at home
Protect yourself and protect others.
Do not panic but please take necessary precautions.
If you feel sick, call the nearest health care facilities who will take proper care of you and your family.

Disclaimer:

I am neither an expert nor a medical adviser. This post has been made based on my experiences on life in an attempt to help others.

Take care of yourselves, everyone.

Things will get better soon, definitely.

Cheers to that!!!

Happy living…

TANGLE TEEZER VS WET BRUSH REVIEW

2020-02-27T16:10:00.001+05:30

Around 5 years back, I have written a post about the famous hairbrush called Tangle Teezer. When it got introduced in the market, minds were blown, and many hair worries had gone in the wind. It was and still is an excellent hairbrush.

Until very recently, I haven't looked at any other hairbrush except my trusty Tangle Teezer. I have fine, flat, very oily hair. It is prone to breakage naturally. Suddenly, for the past few months, I have been facing some issues which haven’t been existed before. I've developed extra sensitive scalp, which hurts if my hair gets pulled off a little. I have a terrible habit of combing my hair when it is wet. And for that reason, I face extra hair fall. I’ve switched shampoos, hair oils. Nothing has changed. And finally, it came to me what if I needed to use something else for my wet hair. After detailed research as always, I've found one hairbrush, which is just ideal for all my hair woes. This hairbrush is called Wet Brush- it is the best for fine hair, sensitive scalp, and extremely tangled wet hair.

I have written a detailed post about the Tangle Teezer. Head over here to take a look.

As we are discussing the Wet Brush for the first time, first let’s look at the Key Features of Wet Brush:

This promises to give pain-free detangling for wet hair
The bristles are finer than other hair brushes
This brush effortlessly glides through the hair without any tugging or tangling

Both Tangle Teezer and Wet Brush are designed to use either on wet or dry hair. But after using them for a dedicated amount of time, I’ve come across a few points that make both the brushes unique yet different in their own stands. Let’s find out what they are.

Tangle Teezer vs. Wet Brush

1. Tangle Teezer is fabulous when you are combing your dry hair. Its two-tiered teeth system technology, which is a combination of long & short bristles, helps to grip your hair very comfortably. Whereas Wet Brush is fantastic to use when you have wet hair, and you need to comb it right away (like me 😉). As your hair is prone to breakage more when it is wet, the soft Intelliflex ball-tipped bristles help a lot to glide through the hair smoothly without putting any stress on your manes.

2. If you have a sensitive scalp, then Wet brush is your friend for life. As my experience goes, the Intelliflex bristles of the Wet Brush are more soothing than Tangle Teezer. My Wet Brush is a paddle detangler. It has HeatFlex bristles. And it too is very comfortable for daily use. In my experience, people with sensitive scalp may feel a pulling sensation while using Tangle Teezer.

3. If you have thick hair or curly hair, I think Tangle Teezer is your thing. Its long-short combination of bristles is sustainable enough to hold and glide through your hair at the same time. The award-winning design features longer teeth for detangling while the shorter teeth do the smoothening of the hair cuticle. The hair would be shiny without any trace of any knot.

However, if you have fine, straight, tangled hair, the soft bristles of the Wet brush would be extremely comfortable for you. As this hair type is prone to breakage most of the time, the bristles are gonna be more helpful in controlling your hair.

4. Tangle Teezer is really sleek in design. Therefore, some may find it extremely comfortable to hold while brushing. It fits right in your palm. But this brush is not suitable for blow-drying your hair.

Wet Brush comes with a traditional brush handle, which also provides a good grip. Whether you are using the regular hairbrush or the paddle brush, it is really great to use while blow-drying your hair. Wet Brush paddle Detangler comes with HeatFlex Bristles which are heat resistant. Its AquaVent design is made for an easy cleanup. It holds your hair just perfectly while you style your hair.

5. Tangle Teezer is the best hairbrush to use for on the go purpose. Because of its sleek design, it is very easy to carry on your handbag than the traditional shape of Wet Brush.

After using both the brushes, my vote goes for the Wet Brush as it suits my hair type just perfectly. It’s also a great tool for brushing through conditioning treatments and hair masks.

I hope you can decide better according to your hair types after going through this post.

Let me know what’s your take.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO USE TURMERIC POWDER IN YOUR SKINCARE

2020-01-25T17:51:00.001+05:30

Turmeric powder, aka The Miracle Spice, is a staple ingredient in the Middle East and Southeast Asian cuisine. No Indian kitchen can run without this vibrant golden orange-colored spice. Its distinct pepper-like taste and pungent rustic flavor delight the hearts of food lovers.

Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent. It is used as an effective disinfectant since the ancient ages of Ayurveda. When consumed internally, it can do wonders for your health.

But today, I am not going to be sharing about its health benefits. That is for another day. I am going to tell you my wonderous experiences with this herb in my Skincare. I have been using turmeric since my childhood days. And it is an integral part of my Skincare.

I like to incorporate turmeric to tackle various types of skin worries. So far, it has stood out in all the fields and proved its power. As it stains the skin with its pungent color, it is not possible to mingle it with any moisturizing agent. But if you use it in your homemade face packs, it will do miracle for your skin. You just need to keep it on your face for a half-hour, and voila! You are done! Your skin absorbs all the goodness from the extract and performs its best.

So, let’s begin how to use turmeric for different skin issues.

1. Anti-Acne Face Pack

If you are suffering from pimples, acne, or heat rashes, this face pack is going to do wonders for your skin.

To make this face pack, you need,

Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) paste or powder 1 tbsp
Turmeric paste or powder 1 tsp
Pinch of clove powder
Organic Honey 1 tsp
Rosewater to make a smooth paste

Mix all the ingredients and keep it on your face for 20-30 mins until it gets dried off completely. Wash your face and apply your favorite moisturizer. You can use this twice a week.

2. Anti-tanning Face and Body Pack

During the Summers, your skin tans a lot. When you travel to a tropical place or spend time on a beach, again, your skin gets tanned or burned.

This pack helps your skin cool down and helps to remove the tan very easily. You can use this on your face and also on the entire body, whichever part is exposed to the sun. Accordingly, you can double up the measurement.

For this you need,

Chickpea flour 1 tbsp
Curd 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder 1 tsp
Organic Honey 1 tsp
Lemon Juice 1 tsp
Rosewater to make a paste

If you have sensitive skin, you can skip the lemon juice, and add only rose water. Allow this mixture to sit on your skin for 20 minutes and gently rub it to get it off. The scrubbing will help to get rid of the dead skin cells and tanning smoothly.

3. Hydrating Face Pack

For this you need,

Aloe vera juice or gel 1 tbsp
Organic Honey 1 tsp
Turmeric powder half a teaspoon
Rosewater to mix

If your skin is dehydrated, this pack will help you deal with the dryness. You can use it twice a week.

4. Scar Removal Face Pack

Acne, pimples sometimes leave a harsh scar. If you take care of your skin, it will lighten and go away eventually. This following face pack helps a lot in this process.

You need,

Raw cow milk 1-2 tbsp
Sandalwood Powder 1 tsp
Organic Honey ½ tsp
Turmeric Powder ½ tsp

5. Bridal Care Face and Body Pack/ Ubtan

Well, brides need a special glow for their most special day. In India, pre-bridal Ubtan (a homemade powdered mix of Ayurvedic herbs and natural ingredients) is famous for taking out the best of that inner glow of the skin. Everybody has their unique recipe, which is passed on through generations. I am giving the method I follow and have learned from my mother.

Just double the amount if you need extra.

You are going to need,

Oatmeal powder 1 tbsp
Almond powder 1 tsp
Turmeric powder 1 tsp
Sandalwood powder 1 tsp
Rosewater to make a smooth paste

Of course, you can use this even if you are not getting married today 😉. Your groom can use it too to look his best. This mixture will bring back the glow on your face for any special event.

6. Oil Controlling Face Pack

Oil dripping from your face, not an issue!

All you need is this,

Curd 1 tbsp
Sandalwood powder 1 tsp
Fuller's earth/ Multani Mitti 1 tsp
Turmeric powder 1 tsp
Rosewater to make a smooth paste

If you can grind fresh raw turmeric, make a paste and use on your skin, it would be awesome. You can even dry it on the sunlight, make a powder, and store it in an airtight container. But let’s be frank here, this process can be time consuming and almost impossible to achieve regularly given the busy schedule of our lives.

I will suggest using Organic, Natural Turmeric Powder for your Skincare. Turmeric powder used in cooking is not recommended at all. But there are some products which can be used both in cooking and skincare.

I have been using Seeds and Hands Turmeric Powder for a long time. It suits my skin amazingly. They also have Wild Turmeric Powder and White Wild Turmeric Powder, specifically for Skincare. It is an authentic Indian wild turmeric powder. Their wild turmeric roots are sourced directly from Wayanad, Kerala. Their organic, handpicked spices consist of pure grounded turmeric roots, without mixing any other material, free from any artificial color, flavor and are GMO-free.

If you are interested in buying this, you can check out the links below.

Seeds and HandsTurmeric Powder

Seeds and Hands Wild Turmeric Powder

Seeds and Hands White Wild Turmeric Powder

Do remember to take a patch test before using anything new.

I hope this post helps to solve your skin worries.

Let me know how you feel.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

BEST LIP BUTTER FOR THE WINTERS FROM THE BODY SHOP

2020-01-07T14:09:00.001+05:30

Strawberry… this pretty looking, delicious smelling fruit has some magical power. Most of us girls get attracted automatically to any skincare related to strawberry, I guess 😉. I am no exception to this charm. I love to try skin care products that have strawberry essence or extract or fragrance in them.

And that’s how I have found this beautiful lip butter from The Body Shop. I also wanted to try a lip butter for a change to see the effect.

To start with, I am blessed with good looking lips 😉, but they are not blessed with moisture. They do feel like another form of the desert if they are not appropriately moisturized. I have to apply lip balm every time I eat or drink something, or clean my mouth. Otherwise, they tend to develop cracks. In the winter months, they become their worst because of extreme dryness. Yeah… you can understand that the whole situation is not an ideal vision.

I love applying lipsticks, but I try to avoid them as much as possible as my lips become drier than usual. The lip balms I use are 100% natural and preservative-free. But still, the effect of the products on my lips seem to wash away early than expected. One fine day, I decided to buy this lip butter in a whim though most of the reviews available online were against it.

And I loved it.

The Body Shop Strawberry Lip butter

According to the brand,

Instantly hydrate and soften your lips with this fruity lip butter. Full of sweetly scented strawberry seed oil, it will keep you coming back for more.

Features:

Lip butter
Nourishes & softens lips
Gives lips a light, natural-looking sheen
Keeps your lip soft and smooth
Delicious fruity scent
Cold-pressed strawberry seed oil

Price: INR 250 for 10 ml.

What I like about the product:

Moisturizes the lips deeply
Heals the cracks, dryness
Provides a protection layer
Smells fantastic if you love the scent of strawberry
The texture of the product is buttery smooth
Glides smoothly on the lips
Doesn’t feel heavy on the lips, therefore comfortable enough to wear during the sleep
Perfect for hydrating and protecting your lips during your sleep
Perfect to wear under lipstick to keep them moisturized
Suitable for all seasons

What I dislike about the product:

It leaves a white cast behind.
For that, it is not comfortable to wear on its own if you are going out.
Would have been great if there's a tube packaging available (for hygiene purpose)

Buying Links:

Nykaa

The Body Shop India Website

How to Take Care of your Lips:

Remember to scrub your lips once a week before you apply any lip product. If you already have dead skin cells piled on the lips, no lip balm or butter can help you fully. Just take half a teaspoon of Almond Oil and quarter teaspoon of brown sugar. Mix them and scrub your lips gently for 30 seconds. Do not over do. Rinse it with water and apply your favorite Lip balm or Lip butter. For other days, you can take a clean towel to scrub the lips when it is wet. And you are good to go.

As I searched for this product's ingredients list on The Body Shop UK website, I noticed that there's the latest version of this lip butter, which is entirely different in texture. I do hope they don't discontinue this version because it is just perfect for my lip's health. Do try it out while you can.

Also, let me know if you’ve found a good lip product for yourselves yet!

Cheers!!!

Happy living…

BEST PARABEN & SULFATE FREE SHAMPOO FOR THE WINTERS

2019-12-23T19:50:00.000+05:30

My hair care journey has never been easy. As I suffer from severe hair fall, and I have fine hair naturally, it is always my topmost priority to take special care of my mane. Trust me when I say I’ve tried everything in my hand to minimize the hair fall. If you have fine hair, then you know that this whole process is ridiculously tiresome.

However, over the years, I’ve incorporated a few changes, both in my lifestyle and in using hair care products to give them the best chance possible. And now, I think my hair looks its best. They may not be fuller, but they are healthy.

As I always say, internal health is a prime factor in having good skin and hair. So, make sure there are no deficiencies or health problems. If you do have any health problem, first fix that before you do the next step, which is to start using the right products.

No matter it’s for skin or hair, I always make sure to minimize the use of harmful chemicals and preservatives. Let’s be frank here, I am not 100% free user of chemical, preservatives, or cruelty-free products in my life. But I try my best.

You may already know that hair oiling is essential to massage your scalp, increase the blood circulation, nourish your hair follicles. Along with this, choosing a suitable shampoo to cleanse your hair correctly is equally important. And for that, today, I am presenting a shampoo from the house of OGX, which is extraordinarily good. In this winter, this shampoo protects my hair as well as deeply nourishes the roots.

OGX Argan Oil Of Morocco Extra Strength Shampoo

Description as per the brand,

Indulge your hair with this creamy lather, made with repairing silk proteins and hydrating Argan oil. It will help restore your hair while locking in intense moisture to create silky, perfect strands.

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Coco/Isostearamide, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Silk Amino Acids, Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Laureth-4, Laureth-23, Polyquaternium-6, Polyquaternium-10, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Methyl Gluceth-10, Trideceth-12, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance (Parfum), Red 40, (CI 16035), Yellow 5 (CI 19140).

Price:

INR 725 for 385 ml.

My Experience:

I have been loving OGX shampoos and conditioners for about 10 years now. According to the season and health of my hair, I keep on switching the variety. For the summers, I mostly prefer OGX Strength & Body + Bamboo Fiber-Full Shampoo. For the winters, OGX Argan Oil Of Morocco Extra Strength Shampoo is my favorite.

In the winters, though, my scalp goes oily as usual, but the rest of my hair strands become dry. This Argan Oil of Morocco shampoo cleans your scalp and hair thoroughly, maintains the moisture in the hair, and gives a great volume. It makes your hair look great and smell just delicious. And most importantly, this shampoo is free from Parabens and Sulfates, which is all I want for my hair. Though it’s a sulfate-free shampoo, it cleanses your hair thoroughly, deeply conditions, and maintains the natural oil balance without stripping your hair off. To me, that shows the quality of this product. And all these qualities make this shampoo just perfect for sensitive scalp and hair too. With the use of this particular shampoo, my scalp is never itchy, my hair never feels dry, and I skip my conditioner on most of the days. As this shampoo maintains the balance, there is no problem of dandruff during the winters.

All the ranges from OGX have shampoo and conditioner both. Some even provide a separate hair mask, which is an absolute delight.

Let’s look at the pros and cons.

Pros:

Free from Parabens and Sulfates
Contains goodness of Moroccan Argan Oil
Makes your hair soft, healthy, naturally shiny
Gives volume and nourishment
Doesn’t strip off the natural oils from your hair
Lathers great and deeply cleans your hair
Repairs frizzy, damaged hair
Perfect for sensitive scalp and hair
Ideal for all hair types
Suitable for color-treated hair
Smells delicious
Keeps away dandruff
Works great on its own without any help from a conditioner

Cons:

Not 100 % natural if you are super fussy about that (for me, it’s not an issue)

Buying Links:

Nykaa

Myntra

You can give it a try without any worry. Even according to your hair types, you can choose from their vast ranges. I am sure these shampoos will never disappoint you.

Share your feedback here if you've already tried any shampoo from OGX. I would love to know about your experience.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

PALMER’S COCOA BUTTER FORMULA SKIN THERAPY OIL REVIEW

2019-12-09T14:54:00.001+05:30

Winter is here. And like every other season, it also comes with its add-ons. Dry, flaky, dull skin becomes everyone’s unwanted guest. Moreover, no matter how late you are in the mornings, if you get scared to take a bath and do not moisturize your skin, there comes itchiness. So, in a nutshell, for our skin, winter is a total nightmare.

For all such nuisances, Cocoa Butter works the best. It is simply amazing for skincare, and it comes very handy during the winters. I have already shared thoughts on my favorite Himalaya Cocoa Body Butter with all of you. You can check all about it here. I can’t tell you how well that body butter behaves with my skin and makes my life so easier.

Anyway, I love that throughout the year. But for winter, my skin needs an extra special treat. For that, I think oils are great. If you can massage your skin with virgin coconut oil, or olive oil, or sweet almond oil, that will be really beneficial for your body. But to be frank, no matter how helpful these oils are, they are heavy, they stain your clothes, and moreover, coconut oil leaves a weird smell behind which I am not a fan of.

After quite a few trials and errors, I am currently using a body oil which has been really good to me. So, without wasting any more minutes, let’s talk about it.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil

Some Key Features of this oil as per the brand,

It helps to improve the appearance of dry skin
This nongreasy skin therapy oil is a non-staining formula that is easily spread and absorbs gently by skin
It heals the old scars and damaged skin
This product can be used all over the body
It reduces the Stretch Marks, fine lines and dryness
It is Dermatologically Tested and rich enough in Vitamin E, Pure Argan Oil, Natural Oils, Cetesomate-E Complex, Rosehip, Sesame, and Canola Oil

Ingredients:

Price:

INR 495 for 60 ml. & INR 890 for 150 ml.

Buying Link:

Nykaa

There are other online websites too from where you can buy it easily like Bigbasket, netmeds, firstcry, etc.

My Experience:

I have been using this body oil for the past 3 months now. And I love it. Not only it is made of some awesome ingredients, but what is great about it is that it is paraben, phthalate, and mineral oil-free. It has incorporated some excellent oils like Argan, Sesame Seed, Sunflower Seed, Rosehip, Canola, etc., which are marvelous for the skin. The Cacao Seed Butter and Vitamin E repair the damaged skin while other oils work their charm.

The oil is very light and just glides on the skin. It has a faint sweet aroma of cocoa butter. It is immediately absorbed into the skin, so there is no chance of any stain on the clothes.

Once a week, I just use this as a body massage oil. And the rest of the days, I mix some drops of this oil with my favorite Himalaya Body Butter, and my skin becomes buttery soft. It gives a subtle sheen, which I love. My skin looks healthy, dewy. There is no dryness involved for the whole day, even if the weather gets chilly and windy.

As far as the claim to work on the stretch marks goes, I won't say they will reduce miraculously. Actually, newly developed stretch marks can still be faded. But old marks are really stubborn to go away. The marks on my body are there, but they show a difference. Some marks were uneven in texture before, but now I can see they have smoothened up a bit. Frankly, I am not bothered by the stretch marks on my body. But I am glad that my skin doesn’t feel patchy or dehydrated anymore.

Pros:

Made of some beautiful oils, Cocoa Seed Butter, and Vitamin E
Free from Paraben, Phthalate, and Mineral Oil
Skin becomes glowing, healthy, and buttery smooth
Safe to use during Pregnancy as this oil belongs to Palmer’s Prenatal section (they have a separate oil too for extra dry, itchy, skin and a massage oil for stretch marks during Pregnancy)
Softens scars
Very light and quickly absorbs in the skin
Doesn’t stain clothes
Smells very soothing
The spray bottle is very convenient to use

Cons:

I feel, they can exclude the unnecessary fragrance as it may bother some people especially during Pregnancy

Give it a try. Your skin won’t be disappointed. But as I always say, never ever forget to do a patch test before you use it regularly.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

ZARA WOMAN ROSE GOLD PERFUME REVIEW

2019-11-27T15:04:00.001+05:30

How do you define a scent? To me, it is such a powerful illusion because it can transform your mind in a jiff and elevate your body & soul to another transcendental level.

I am clearly, unconditionally obsessed with scents. Even, as a sweet memory, I have kept my very first high end perfume bottle with a little bit of liquid left in it. It was Dior's Hypnotic Poison. I adore the fragrance and the sentiments attached to that.

I like to buy perfumes very frequently. But I invest carefully. The impatient side of my mind gets bored with same fragrance very often. That's why I like to buy the travel sized version, and if it's not available, then I prefer to go for the smallest size, always.

In my closet, you’ll always find two high end fragrances for special occasions and two mid-range, budget-friendly perfume bottles, which I use alternately on a regular basis.

I have been loving Zara’s perfume ranges for years. They are budget-friendly and have various options to choose from. Some smell magnificent, whereas some are basic but decent. But to me, there is one flaw for which they couldn't come in the same league of other branded editions. The smell doesn’t stay for long. I don't know about all the perfumes from Zara, but what is available in India, I am talking about them. Till now, I have tried at least 10 varieties of them. Even if you spritz a reasonable amount, they tend to wash away after some time.

But… there's a change in action recently.

I guess the smell fairies have popped in to rescue the mission. Or finally, Zara is kind enough to bring their incredible range in the country. Whatever is the reason, I've found a fantastic Zara perfume which can give a neck to neck competition with any premium brand.

Let’s welcome…

ZARA WOMAN ROSE GOLD PERFUME

Price: INR 1190 for 100 ML (3.4 FL. OZ).

Description:

Oriental Eau de Parfum. The scent reveals notes of magnolia, gardenia, and amber. It's a warm, sophisticated and opulent fragrance.

My Knowledge so far about Perfumes:

Though I am not the best person to let you know about all the fancy and chemical details of a perfume. But I can tell you this much that you must have a clear idea about perfume notes before going for its shopping. It is important to know what kinds of scents are appealing to you.

There are three notes of a perfume.

a) The Top Notes, also known as Opening notes or Head Notes

b) The Middle Notes or the Heart Notes

and c) The Base Notes

Depending on the fragrances, these notes blend in together and create a phenomenal scent. Perfume is just like a surreal blend of musical instruments. It creates a sensation in your heart like the harmony of a symphony. With the help of these three notes, the fragrance becomes more alluring.

For general purpose, I am a fan of floral scents. And I like a little hint of musky scent too. That’s why this perfume has attracted me to itself on the first moment. This Zara Rose Gold Perfume is the perfect compilation of both the scents. It comes in a very elegant and classy looking glass bottle. The liquid has a beautiful rose gold-y hue in it which makes it prettier in appearance.

Pros:

Smells just heavenly and divine
Will keep you refreshed throughout the day
The smell lingers in your skin and on your clothes for hours. (In fact, I can feel it on my clothes till the time it goes for wash)
Has a perfect combination of floral and musky warm tone
Can be used both in the day and evening time
This comes in a budget-friendly price, one 30 ml. bottle will go on for a long time
Doesn’t stain your clothes even if you spritz it directly on them
Goes well with both ethnic and western wear

Cons:

Are you kidding, none at all! But a glass bottle is not ideal or convenient all the time to carry when you travel.

Give it a try the next time you are in Zara. If the store is not available near you, you can now order it online. But I would suggest you to take a sniff before you go for any perfume in your life. And always remember to patch test before applying anything new on your skin. It is never too much to be careful for yourself.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

HOW TO LOOK BEAUTIFUL NATURALLY (WITHOUT MAKEUP)

2019-11-07T18:52:00.000+05:30

“You've got beautiful skin." Whenever we get to hear this compliment from someone, our faces bloom like shining stars, our minds overwhelm with immense joy and happiness. Though, technically a hormone called Dopamine releases from the body whenever we get appreciation from others, but what matters is that we feel happy.

As women, we learn to take care of our skin, hair, etc. since the time we grow our senses. Skincare becomes a ritual and makeup becomes our best friend. Makeup, of course makes us feel great and confident. But it shouldn't be the only way to feel confident. FYI, I am not against makeup! In fact, I love them and use them whenever I feel like it.

No matter what skin complexion you have- fair, medium, dark, pale, extra pale, etc. etc., you are what you are. And you are the most beautiful person ever when you love yourself. And the magic to look good naturally is taking care of your health. But you gotta remember that you need to take care of your physical as well as mental health.

So, I am sharing the top 10 tips and tricks from my experience that I have been following for the longest time I can remember. These are all holistic ideas. And these tricks have helped me love my skin and myself a little bit extra every single day.

1. Hydrate yourself

Pic Credit: The Economic Times

Drinking water is the first and foremost thing you can do to take care of your health, both internally and externally. This is a generic info but it is recommended to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. In fact, if it's possible, then drink lukewarm water 2-3 times a day to get rid of the toxins from your body. This also helps to dissolve your fat faster. You can also opt for freshly squeezed juices and soups if you can’t drink plain water at first. And remember, while drinking water, try to sit down somewhere and take little sips. Do not try to gulp it at a time. Also, do not overdo it. According to your weight, it depends to person to person how much water one should consume. Too much consumption of water can affect kidneys adversely.

2. Avoid Caffeine as much as you can

Pic Credit: baseballstrength.org

Some people can't start their day without a sip on their favorite cuppa. This is nothing but a pure addiction that our brains get accustomed to gradually. And therefore, our body feels lethargic without some form of caffeine. I am not saying to sacrifice caffeine entirely. Go ahead if you can. What I am suggesting is to cut down the intake. If you are an avid drinker (I am talking about Caffeine Drinkers😉), slowly but steadily try to cut down the caffeine. Remember that most of the cold beverages also contain caffeine. So, they are unhealthy too.

3. The daily dose of diet

Pic Credit: cdc.gov

Your body needs a proper dose of carbohydrate, fiber, proteins, vitamins, minerals every single day. Include green leafy vegetables, different colors of veggies and fruits in your diet. Different colors add different benefits in giving food values. Try to eat at least 2-3 types of fruits in your daily meal. You can also opt for fresh fruit juices. Do not go for packaged fruit juices as they have no food value in them. Most of them are synthetic and do not add additional benefits. If you are non-vegetarian, then including protein is not a big deal as animal fats are fantastic for your body. If you are vegetarian or follow some other diets, then it will be tricky. You can eat lentils, legumes, cheese, tofu etc. so that your body get enough amount of protein too.

4. Choose the right Cookware for preparing food

Pic Credit: Amazon.com

I have a detailed post on what is the safest cookware for our health. Link here. When you are adding all kinds of beneficial foods in your daily diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, they work their best when you cook your food in the right cookware. If you don't, then the necessary food items that you are incorporating in your daily lives will have very fewer benefits. So, please be careful while choosing the right Cookware for your kitchen.

5. Avoid Junk and outside food

Pic Credit: The Economic Times

This includes all the oily and spicy foods, fries, chips, refined flour, sugar, etc. Go far away from them as much as you can. Guys, I am not that pathetic and unrealistic person that I would talk you through something impossible. So, every once in a while, you can indulge yourself for a little bit of junk, but mind it that it should be within a limit. After that, if you still can't help yourself, try making your favorite junk food at home. But it would be for your best interest to sacrifice them as it’s gonna be a blessing for your health.

6. Follow a proper Skincare Regime and opt for trustworthy Skin Care Products

Pic Credit: Perfect365

After taking care of your body internally, the time comes to take care of it with some added products externally. Skincare is essential. Cleansing, Toning, Moisturizing- these three steps you cannot ignore no matter how busy you are. Every other day, some new trends are coming into action to prove their effectiveness. It's okay if you don't like all the hustle and bustle. These three steps are sufficient enough to get you into the mode.

Go for well-known, good skin care brands. Nowadays, there are so many brands available in the market and also online. But choose wisely. You don't always need to go for luxury brands. Because price tags never decide whether the product will suit you or not. Try your best to use fewer chemicals and preservatives on your skin. Look for paraben, sulfate, and phthalate-free skincare. Natural products sometimes can cause an allergic reaction, therefore always try a patch-test first and then use regularly. I have also mentioned about proper skin care in this post. Take a look here.

If you are Pregnant or Breastfeeding Moms, always consult your physician before you try something new.

7. Avoid Makeup on Problematic Skin

If you have injured skin right now because of acne, pimples, or some skin infections, do not make any attempts to cover them up. That will be the worst thing for your skin. Instead of getting healed, it will be prone to severe infection. So, avoid any kind of makeup if you are breaking out.

8. Exercise and Sleep

Pic Credit: Besthealthmagazine

No matter if you are extremely busy or lazy, every day, some form of exercise is a must. Do some yoga, go for a brisk walk for 30 minutes, dance, do Zumba or any other form of exercise whatever you like. What matters is that you work out enough to run some sweat from your body. Put on your favorite music and start today. If you are new to it, the first few days will be difficult. But then, you will be flying.

The second important thing is sleep. It is recommended to sleep for at least 7-9 hrs. at night . Your body and mind both need to take proper rest to run the system. If you are facing a problem sleeping correctly, there are healthy ways to help you with that. One of them is exercise.

9. Know your body and Try maintaining a less Stressfull Life

If you do not feel healthy internally, obviously, your external appearance will suffer. Go for a regular health checkup. For women, it is very common to suffer from hormonal imbalances. So, keep an eye and handle that with patience.

The trickiest thing to follow is to lead a less stressfull life. It is easier said than done, I know that. But remember that every single person is stressed out for every other reason. Knowing that makes it more comfortable to deal with. What gives you peace that you need to find out on your own. People can help you, but you can heal yourself most effectively. Find out your inner peace and try your best to lead a healthy, less stressful life as much as possible.

10. Stop comparing your life with others

Mental health plays an integral part in shaping your physical health. In this age of social media, people are becoming more competitive and more stressful. Remember that everything looks its best in the picture. So, do not judge your own self or your life with someone that looks shinier than yours. That will hurt you unnecessarily. Devote your life to doing constructive, positive things. And find your own path, your personal goals. Being a compassionate and less judgmental person help you lead a blissful life.

Remember, you can't get a healthy body, skin, or mind in one day. It’s a process and a slow one. It takes lots of effort to look pretty outside and beautiful within. You can feel impatient and disheartened at times. But keep motivating yourself by doing whatever makes you happy. Follow the techniques, but do not hope for a miracle overnight. If you go steady and keep your patience at your side, you will get amazing results eventually.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

BEST SKINCARE PRODUCTS FROM JUST HERBS IF YOU HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN

2019-10-14T15:50:00.000+05:30

My journey towards the path of Natural Skin Care never takes a stop. It’s a continuous process and I am obsessed. I thrive every day with the fascinating discoveries of goodness of nature.

Just Herbs is one of the most recognized Natural Skin Care Brands from India whose products have been captivating me and pampering my skin for years now. They are 100% Ayurvedic, Cruelty-Free, and free from Petrochemicals, Parabens, SLS/SLES PEG/PPG, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), and other harmful synthetic ingredients.

Among their vast range of various Skin Care Products, there are two products without whom my Skin Care routine feels incomplete. My sensitive skin just loves them to the core.

1. Just Herbs Silksplash Rehydrant Face Wash

2. Just Herbs Livelyclean Honey Exfoliating Face Cleansing Gel

My Take on these Products:

I have been using Just Herbs Silksplash Rehydrant face wash for the last 5 years. No matter what I buy in between, I always have one bottle of this face wash in my bathroom. It just mesmerizes me every time I use it. I have bought the other product Just Herbs Livelyclean Honey Exfoliating Face Cleansing Gel around 8 months back. And I have been using that once in every week. Whenever my skin is breaking out or feels extra sensitive, I always use this gel. My skin loves it, and it leaves behind a healthy, glowing skin.

These two products go hand in hand together and work gorgeously on every skin type. If your skin is sensitive, then I would highly recommend you to give these two products a try. Your skin worries may come to an end in a significant way.

1. Just Herbs Silksplash Rehydrant Face Wash

According to the brand,

A gentle Ayurvedic cleanser with a faint herby aroma to remove the last traces of dust, grime and make-up residue, yet retaining the inherent moisture of the skin.

Key Features of this Face Wash:

Cleanses
Non-drying
Sulfate & Paraben Free
Suits all Skin Types

I am going to talk about the pros & cons here to help you decide whether this product is for you or not.

Pros:

100% Ayurvedic
Made from all-Natural Ingredients
Free from Petrochemicals, Parabens, SLS/SLES PEG/PPG, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and other harmful synthetic ingredients
Perfect for all seasons
Ideal for all skin types, especially for sensitive skin
Maintains hydration in the skin.
It doesn’t strip away the natural oils from your skin like other face washes do.
In the summer, it is perfect because it washes off the sweat and grease clearly. Similarly, in the winter, it sustains the moisture balance in the skin.
Cleanses gently without harming your skin
Gives a clean, fresh, supple skin

Cons:

As a product, the only thing that can bother you is that this face wash doesn't lather much if you are too conscious about it. For me, it is not an issue.

Ingredients:

neem* (azadirachta indica) ext. 0.5%, bitter orange (citrus aurantium) peel ext. 0.5%, aloevera* (aloe barbadensis) leaf juice 2%, honey (mel) 1%, calendula (calendula officinalis) ext. 0.5%, cucumber (cucumis sativus) ext. 0.2%, chandan (santalum album) ext. 0.1%., purified water (aqua), steam distilled sandal (santalum album) wood water, steam distilled orange (citrus aurantium) blossom water, decyl glucoside**, cocoamidopropyl betain, lauryl glucoside**, sodium cocoyl glutamate, vegetable glycerine, soy lecithin, cold pressed wheatgerm (triticum aestivum) oil , potassium sorbate, gluconolactone, ethylhexylglycerin, caprylyl glycol, sodium gluconate**, natural preservative blend of herbs and essential oils, citric acid (pH adjuster).

Price:

INR 495 for 100 ml. & INR 825 for 200 ml.

Buying Links:

Just herbs Website

Nykaa

2. Just Herbs Livelyclean Honey Exfoliating Face Cleansing Gel

According to the brand,

A light-weight, mildly foaming exfoliator with Arjuna, Symplocos bark, and jojoba meal to remove dead skin cells and with Honey to keep skin hydrated.

Key Features of this Cleansing Gel:

Scrubs gently
Suits Oily/Combination Skin
Non-Drying
Sulfate & Paraben Free

Like before, I am going to talk about the pros & cons here to help you decide whether this product is for you or not.

Pros:

100% Ayurvedic
Free from Petrochemicals, Parabens, SLS/SLES PEG/PPG, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and other harmful synthetic ingredients
Made from all-Natural Ingredients
Perfect for all seasons
Excellent for all types of skin, especially for sensitive skin
Doesn’t contain harsh, gritty particles/beads
· Gently scrubs your skin and takes away the dead skin cells
If you have Acne-prone skin, this scrub will be perfect for you as it is really mild in nature
Gives you back a refreshing effect and a clean, healthy skin

Cons:

This cleansing gel/scrub is very runny in nature, so it is little challenging to manage in the beginning. Once you get the hang of it, it won't be that difficult
If you like scrubs which have firm grits or beads, then you may not like this one

Ingredients:

neem* (azadirachta indica) 2%, tulsi (occimum sanctum) ext. 2%, arjuna (terminalia arjuna) 2%, symplocos (symplocos racemosus) bark 2%, bitter orange (citrus aurantium) peel 2%, haridra (curcuma longa) 1%, honey (mel) 2%, cold pressed jojoba (simmondsia chinensis) seed meal, purified water (aqua), steam distilled sandal (santalum album) wood water, steam distilled orange (citrus aurantium) blossom water, decyl glucoside**, cocoamidopropyl betain, lauryl glucoside**, sodium cocoyl glutamate, vegetable glycerine, soy lecithin, cold pressed wheatgerm (triticum aestivum) oil , potassium sorbate, gluconolactone, ethylhexylglycerin, caprylyl glycol, sodium gluconate**, natural preservative blend of herbs and essential oils, citric acid (ph adjuster).

Price:

INR 545 for 100 ml. & INR 895 for 200 ml.

Buying Links:

Just herbs Website

Nykaa

I want to tell you all that it is always the best option to include Natural Skin Care in your daily life. As much as I love Natural products, I also want to mention that many people could be allergic to many natural ingredients. So, do not follow or trust something blindly. It is always recommended to do a patch test before you decide to go for something new in your life, whether it is a natural product or something else.

You see, it is never enough to give the love to yourself that you deserve every single day. 😊

Let me know if you, too, are a Just Herbs fan.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

BEST MAKE UP SPONGES ON A BUDGET FROM MINISO

2019-09-27T12:32:00.000+05:30

Makeup is every girl's best friend. Some of us feel the best only by applying a little bb cream, eyeliner, and lipstick, and some love a full-on gorgeous look.

Of course, to look your best, you need a healthy skin. And for that, it is mandatory that you follow proper skincare, good lifestyle, and a balanced diet. Everything is equally important. One cannot do without the others. However, who doesn’t want a little extra healthy glow on the face for a special occasion, right! That occasion could come once in a while or every single day, who cares! At the end of the day, whenever we look at ourselves in the mirror, we should always feel confident, and the best. 😊 That matters the most.

To do your base makeup, a foundation or a bb cream is a must. You can obviously use your fingers to blend the makeup and sometimes, the warmth of your fingers do help in blending the product. But for some products, to get a flawless, polished finish, a foundation brush or a beauty sponge works excellently. If you are a hardcore makeup lover, and of course, budget is not an issue, then go ahead and invest in a good foundation brush. Some of the world's best brands of Makeup Brushes are available in India, like Mac, Real techniques, Boby Brown, etc. They can be found both on the stores and online. But if you don’t fancy it, then a beauty sponge is the lifesaver. Even for that too, the famous ‘beauty blender’ is there to give you the best look. Then, it also is an expensive tool.

If you are like me who do not want to invest in ultra-expensive Makeup Brushes, then we are quite the same in that way. Nowadays, many dupes of ‘beauty blenders’ are out there. I have tried some. But to me, they don’t really stand a chance. Most of them are very hard, uncomfortable on the skin, and get worn out easily. Not only that, it is hard to blend the makeup and look natural. I keep my search radar on all the time. And that has led me to a makeup sponge which is pretty darn good I would say.

Okay, enough now. Before you kill me here or leave without reading this post, let’s start talking about it. Sorry…had to build up the foundation😉

Miniso Square and Oval Makeup Sponge

Miniso is a Japan-based designer brand. It was co-founded by Japanese designer Mr. Miyake Junya and a Chinese entrepreneur Mr. Ye Guofu in Tokyo, Japan. It is a variety store chain who sells all the cute little stuff in the world.

Anyway, since they are in the Indian market, I think in whichever cities it is available, most of us girls always find a chance to go to that store if not anywhere else.

My old makeup sponge did a decent job and left for the unknown universe around 4 months back. I needed a refill immediately. Surprisingly, I visited Miniso around that time and found these softies. I got the pack of sponges as it was super cheap and I was getting 10 sponges which would last for me a long time. Though, I didn't have any extraordinary expectation, but I was literally shocked by the results (in a good way 😛).

This is the softest Makeup Sponge I’ve ever used. There are five square and five oval sponges in a pack. I’ve taken out 2 sponges and using them alternatively. I like to wash a sponge after every single use. By doing this, my skin doesn’t face any infection (acne or pimples due to buildup make up). I have used each of the sponges 6 to 7 times as of now. After the 6th time, I could see a little bit of tear in one of them. I can't blame the sponge entirely because I was little harsh while cleaning the sponge one time. But it will still work for days, I know that though. The other one is completely decent. Given the price I've paid, this is a big Yaaaay!!!

These sponges are so soft in texture. They work very gently on the skin. I've tried them using a heavy coverage foundation, and they blend it like a dream. There are no harsh finish lines afterward. And the foundation sits on the skin so well without looking cakey. Not only that, I like to use my blush too using them. And that also works amazingly.

How to use it:

Though you know how to use a Makeup Sponge already, still I would like to repeat the drill. Just run the sponge under water for some seconds. Squeeze out the excess water. Use your base on the face by dotted marks. Dab the sponge on your face gently and even out the product. Et voila! You are blessed with a beautiful look.

How to clean them:

Do not use makeup removing scrub pad, or stuff like that. That can tear these sponges as they are extremely delicate.

I like to wash my brushes or sponges by using natural products. I take 1 tablespoon baby shampoo and one teaspoon Olive Oil. Mix them in a glass using some room temperature water. I soak the sponges for 15 minutes, and after that, I remove the excess make up from the sponge very gently using my fingers. I wash it thoroughly under the water and dry them. Personally, I like to dry my brushes and stuff in the Sun to get rid of the wetness completely.

Price:

INR 190 for 10 sponges

What else you will get at this price! To me, it's an unbeatable price. These sponges are one of the best things in Miniso.

Next time whenever you are visiting the Miniso store, definitely try them once. You will love them surely.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

MAMAEARTH ALOE TURMERIC GEL FOR SKIN & HAIR REVIEW

2019-09-19T14:34:00.001+05:30

Have you ever noticed that whenever most of us hear the term ‘Aloe Vera’, we always pay some extra attention. 😁 Undoubtedly, Aloe has some magical benefits. But not all products based on Aloe Vera are excellent. In the market, there are hundreds of Aloe Vera gels. Some are heavily scented, some are tinted, some are the sources of all kinds of harmful chemicals.

What to do? Who to believe?

In the age of Social Media, sometimes, it is hard to trust someone. People or brands can be very misleading. In the name of serving ‘Natural’ products, what kinds of ingredients a particular brand is using, is impossible to tell. Most of the brands don't even provide the full ingredients list, which makes the whole thing shadier.

Anyway, my search for Natural Aloe Vera Gel is still on. And recently, I’ve come across a much-hyped product.

mamaearth Aloe Turmeric Gel

I have been using this Gel for the past 20 days. And I think it's time to share my experience regarding this much-promoted product.

About the Brand:

mamaearth is an Indian Skin & Haircare brand who claim to produce Natural products. Their products are free of harmful toxins like Parabens, Mineral Oil, Silicones, etc.

About the product:

mamaearth Aloe Turmeric Gel for Skin & Hair

Some key features of the product:

SOOTHES RASHES, ACNE, PIMPLES
ANTI-BACTERIAL PROPERTIES
PROMOTES SKIN & HAIR HEALTH
MADE FROM ALOE VERA, TURMERIC, AND VITAMIN E

Key Ingredients list:

Aqua, Aloe Vera Extract, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Turmeric Extract, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Vitamin E, Vitamin E, IFRA Certified Allergen Free Fragrance.

Price:

INR 249 for 150 ml. & INR 399 for 300 ml.

My journey with Aloe Vera Gels:

This is the very first mamaearth product I've ever used. They have been in the market for quite some time now. We get to hear all the raves from most of the Influencers about their ‘natural’ products.

I didn't decide to buy the product because of the raving, to be frank. I do not trust anyone except my own self in the matter of Skin or Hair care. I genuinely keep my eye in the skin care industry in search of an Aloe Vera Gel which would be

a) natural

b) a trust worthy brand

c) chemical and preservative free

I love Forest essential’s Aloe Vera Gel, but they are just so overpriced. You can go ahead and read the review here. Among other gels available in the market, I have tried many, but everybody has failed terribly to match my expectation. You can read about the famous The Face Shop Aloe Gel here.

Surprisingly, the Soundarya Aloe Gel from Patanjali suits me, but every time I use it, the green color keeps me a little agitated. Is it really natural? I wonder. And there is no full ingredients list available too.
Anyway, after all the 'natural' saga, I have decided to give mamaearth Aloe Turmeric Gel a shot.

My Experience:

I use Aloe Vera Gel every single day without fail. As I have certain eczema-prone areas on my body, it soothes the itchiness, calms down the redness, and inflammation big time.

I have been using this Aloe Turmeric Gel on my skin for the last 20 days. Texture-wise, they are an exact match to the Patanjali one. It is neither too runny nor very thick. It is very smooth in form. This makes the Gel easy to apply and glide into the skin. There is almost no fragrance except a faint hint. The smell is just like any medicated fragrance-free gel if you’ve used it ever. The gel is in the light yellow color. I guess it could come from the turmeric.

According to the brand, you can “Slather this gel from head to toe to moisturize skin & hair, to soothe sunburnt or shaved skin, and to soften dry or frizzy hair.”

One thing I am not at all happy about the brand is the fact that they have NOT provided the full ingredients list, only the key ingredients are mentioned. This is the first level on which one can trust a brand completely. I don’t understand why these brands don’t do that. I just hope they have not used any harmful chemicals or preservatives as they have claimed.

So far, it seems to be an 'ok' product. I am yet to try this on my hair. But my husband has used it on his hair to give it a little texture. And it works very nicely for that. I have thin eyebrows, and this Gel provides an excellent definition to my eyebrow without using any brow product.

It is a good gel, not a magical gel that once you start using this, all your skin problems will go out of the window. I don't think there is any magical skincare available in the market at any price. Some products do work wonders for our skin, and our skin definitely feels marvelous and magical. But to get healthy, glowing skin from within, you need to eat healthy, exercise, maintain a good lifestyle.

I think I am gonna continue using this for some time. This Gel has Aloe Vera which soothes the irritated skin, calms down Acne and Turmeric which has excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Together, they will come handy in protecting the Skin.

Where to buy:

You can buy it directly from mamaearth website. I've got mine from there.
It is also available on Amazon India.

Let me know if you’ve known of any other awesome Aloe Vera Gels. I would love to try them.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

BEST CAST IRON COOKWARE AVAILABLE IN INDIA & ITS AMAZING BENEFITS

2019-08-22T14:46:00.003+05:30

Once upon a time, Non-stick Pots and Pans used to rule in my Kitchen. All I cared about was to use less oil in my food. I simply used to overlook the gory details of the harmful side effects of Non-stick Cookware.

Thankfully, the time has changed since then, and so has my brain. Finally, I have realized the destructive features of Non-stick Cookware, and today, I can proudly say that I am Non-stick free.

In my latest “Kitchen & Living” post, I have shared my thoughts on my favorite Stainless-steel Cookware. Click HERE to take a look at the post. They are the dominant Cookware in my Kitchen, and they really amaze me every day with their impressive performance. But there is one thing for which they are not the best.

Being a hardcore non-vegetarian, my family can't survive a single day without non-veg items. We don't prefer Chicken every day, once a week is alright for us. Naturally, the next best thing which would be delicious and healthy to consume every single day is Fish.

My Stainless-steel Cookware has served every single purpose except the fact that I can't fry fish in them, in less oil. Of course, deep frying is not an issue in Stainless Steel, but I don’t prefer that every day. If you come across Indian cuisine, specifically Fish delicacies, then you'll know that some regions in India prefer to eat Fish dishes after frying them. Whether it's a grilled fish or fish curry, to some people it tastes the best when it is at least shallow fried.

Anyways, the moral of the story is that I needed a Safe and Sound Cookware to fry Fish in less oil. And what comes up to save the day?

Cast Iron Cookware.

There are so many kinds of Iron vessels available in the local markets. I've used a few of them. But nothing comes up to the expectation I look for. For me, less oily food is really relevant. It's something I have been following at least since the last 15 years or so. I have grown up seeing my Mum cooking delicious food using minimum amount of oil. And when I learned to cook, I have followed and adopted the same techniques.

The difference between Regular Iron vessels and Cast Iron Cookware in terms of their making is difficult to discuss here. Frankly, all those scientific details are a lengthy process and also not everybody’s cup of tea. Ultimately, here, we are trying to decide what to buy and why? When I was researching for the details, I was hoping for an article which will simply let me know about the difference in a simple manner and in terms of usage difference. Sadly, I couldn't find anything specific in one single article. I had to spend a lot of time to finally understand the in-depth details. So, I thought, why don’t I share the things I have learned in the hard way, so that many like me come to know about it. So, here we are.

The Difference between Regular Iron and Cast Iron Cookware from the Usage Perspective:

1. Local/ Regular Iron vessels are typically lighter than Cast Iron Cookware. So, in terms of Cooking time, durability, and consumption of oil, Cast Iron is a far better option. When seasoned well, Cast Iron acts like a Non-stick surface, and you can cook your food in very less amount of oil. This doesn't happen that well in case of regular Iron.

2. It takes a long time and tremendous effort to season Local Iron vessels properly as the sellers sell them in their raw version. Whereas, well-known Cast Iron brands already pre-season the Cookware and then sell it. It saves time and effort, both equally.

3. Even after seasoning, local vessels can leach out blackish or brownish color element in the foods. In my experience, I haven’t faced such mishaps in Cast Iron vessels.

4. Both Local Iron and Cast Iron Cookware require an oil-coating after cleaning and drying. When I tried to use the local products for the next time, no matter how well I’ve cleaned it, I have noticed the rust coming out when I wipe out the oil from the pot. In Cast Iron, no such thing has happened to me as of now.

5. Many local sellers sell the Iron Pots and Pans with a fine coating which is artificial and can be injurious to health. Well-known Cast Iron cookware is always free from such synthetic lining.

6. In terms of weight, Cast Iron Cookware is super hefty, so they can be quite uncomfortable to handle in the beginning. Normal Iron vessels are always not that heavy compared to Cast Iron. It makes a massive difference in terms of managing the pots in the longer run. Cast Iron obviously wins for their amazing durable feature.

7. Last but not least, there are huge, I mean huge price difference between a local Iron pan and Cast Iron Pan. While local products’ cost can vary from INR 150 to 1oo0, a quality Cast Iron pan’s price begins from INR 1500. This can make or break the deal for many users, but all I can tell you is that a Good quality Cast Iron Pan will last you for generations.

How to Season and Take Care:

A well-known brand of Cast Iron Cookware always come with the pre-seasoned process. But still what you can do to take care is:

While using the Cookware for the first time, wash it first with a gentle liquid dish wash. After drying with a dry cloth, heat it on the cook top on a slow flame for 15 to 20 minutes with some vegetable oil. Repeat this process 3 times. You can even fry some onions to make the surface Non-stick like. Remember to throw the onions after frying them and wipe out the oil using a tissue. Your Cookware is well-seasoned now and ready to use.
After using the Cookware, always clean it gently with liquid soap, and if possible, with lukewarm water. Dry it, heat it on the stove top for a few minutes so that no moisture is left in it, and then coat it with some oil to keep it off the rust. Store them in a dry place.
Do not use harsh soap or harsh scrubbing pad to clean the surface.
While cooking, first put the cookware in the lowest heat, and then gradually increase the heat.
It is best to avoid cooking acidic items like Tomatoes etc. in the Cast iron as they react with iron and you will get a weird metallic taste in the food. But after using the Cookware for a time being, it gets seasoned well and you can give it a shot. But keep an eye.
After cooking, give the pot or pan time to rest. Let it cool down entirely before you wash them.
If by any chance, traces of food are stuck in the bottom, soak it in lukewarm water for 10 minutes. All excess stuff will come off easily.

If you follow these methods, your Cookware will shine forever and go on for years after years. You many feel hesitation whether to invest your money on Cast Iron Cookware or not, but I can assure you that if you maintain them well, it will serve you for the lifetime.

Brands I trust:

1. Lodge Cast Iron Cookware:

Undoubtedly, they are one of the best Cast Iron brands. Lodge Pots and Pans are widely available online. You can buy it from Amazon India. But, be careful with the sellers as you may end up buying fake products. It's safer to buy from the Company distributor itself. You can take a look in the following links as they seem to be the Distributor of Lodge in India. Click in the Links below.

Cast Iron Tawa/ Griddle

Pic Credit: Amazon India

Cast Iron Skillet

Pic Credit: Amazon India

Cast Iron Grill Pan

Pic Credit: Amazon India

Amazon India Links if You want to buy from there:

Cast Iron Tawa/ Griddle

Cast Iron Skillet

Cast Iron Grill Pan

2. Meyer:

Meyer has launched their Cast Iron Cookware in India now. I have bought their Cast Iron Tawa (large flat, concave or convex disc-shaped frying pan, e.g: dripping pan/ flat skillet/ griddle). Though it is a Roti (Indian Flat Bread) Tawa, it is wonderful to use for frying Fish (which I, in fact, do regularly), sautéing vegetables, making Pancakes, Omelettes, Chilla recipes (spiced pancakes using different flours), and even yummy Tawa Recipes. I bought it recently after much research, and have been using this daily since the last six months. It hasn’t let me down so far.

I chose this Meyer Tawa over Lodge Cookware only because this Tawa has a concave bottom which makes it perfect for preparing Rotis, Paranthas (both are Indian Breads), etc., for frying fish and making Tawa recipes in a small batch. Other necessities are covered by my Bergner Stainless-steel Cookware. Otherwise, I would definitely have opted for a Lodge Skillet or Pan. I am still eyeing them though regularly for the near future. 😉

I bought my Tawa from the Pots and Pans Website. They also sell it on Amazon India.

Click on the links and take a look at the Tawa.

The Cast Iron Tawa I bought from Meyer

This brand 'Meyer' has also provided a Handle Holder to hold the hot handle comfortably. There is no chance of any mishap during the cooking time.

Amazon India link For Meyer Cast Iron Tawa

Pic Credit: Amazon India

Pots and Pans Website link For Meyer Cast Iron Cookware

Give Cast Iron Cookware a go if you haven’t already. You won’t be disappointed.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…