Going Natural – The Wonder Mask

Tags

Anti-aging, Beauty, Breakouts, Face Masks, Homemade, Natural, Skincare

Happy Monday World!

I have been on a face mask obsession lately and have been dabbling into both commercial and home-made ones. The best part about home-made masks is how customizable they are – it is so easy to substitute, add, or leave out ingredients based on personal choice and skin types! One face mask concoction that I created for myself has become one of my all-time favorites. This has been super good for my oily-combination skin helping with both break-outs and fine lines.

I used clay in this mask to draw out the impurities and detoxify the skin. Rice and oat flours help to exfoliate and brighten the skin. Neem and turmeric are known for their anti-bacterial and skin-refining capabilities, and also are great for anti-aging. Matcha and Rosehip seed oil provide also add to the anti-aging capabilities of this mask. Even though this mask does not have the prettiest color (far from it!), it is an amazing all-natural way to pamper the skin!!

I love to slather this mask on, while relaxing in a hot bath with my favorite candles from Bath & Body Works. The steam from the bath opens up my pores for the mask to work its magic!

 

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What you need:

Organic rice flour – 1 tsp
Organic oat flour – 1 tsp
Bentonite clay – 1 tsp {I use Indian Aztec Healing clay}
Neem powder – ½ tsp
Turmeric – ¼ tsp
Matcha – ¼ tsp
Rosehip seed oil – a few drops
Apple Cider Vinegar – 1 tsp
Water – as needed

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The Method:

Mix all dry ingredients together.

Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry till you get the consistency desired.

Apply the mask and wait for it to dry (approx. 15-20 minutes)

Wash off and follow with regular skincare.

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Have a beautiful week!

**Disclaimer: I am not a skin expert or an esthetician. This recipe worked for me. Please use caution and your best judgment if you are going to try any of these ingredients based on your personal skin type and allergies.

A Water Challenge

Tags

Beauty, Natural, Skincare, Water

While everybody around me is busy doing the ice-bucket challenge, I have decided to do my own water challenge of another kind, since dousing ice-cold water on myself is not really my cup of tea water. So instead, I have decided to drink the required amount of water for my body for at least one month from now and see how it benefits my skin and overall health.

Some background on that – there are some days that I drink absolutely no water, seriously. It’s crazy, I know, but sometimes you just are not thirsty or maybe simply forget to drink when you’re working! I also have this weird thing – sometimes the water just doesn’t go down my food-pipe that easily. Yeah, I have issues…

So anyhoo, I think I need to set myself a challenge to drink more water and see the health benefits it gives me (mainly better skin, *wink* *wink*). Which is what this post is about.

We have all heard everyone recommend the 8-glass rule – that your body needs 8 glasses of water every day. But to me, this concept seems so vague! Does this mean that a 100 pound girl and a 300 pound man have the same water requirements? Considering about 60%* of the human body is made up of water, this doesn’t seem mathematically correct! After doing some research on questionable internet resources (no seriously, do you trust everything you read on the internet?), I have come to the conclusion that drinking 2 litres of water every day will be a great goal for me!

P.S. I only drank 500 ml today, so sad 😦 … But technically, the challenge starts tomorrow.

*Only an estimate according to various internet sources

Me No Likey

Tags

Beauty, Burt's Bees, Natural, Products, Review, Shiseido, Skincare, YSL

Hello hello!

During the course of my day, every day, I am constantly thinking of things I want need to write about, to review, to vent. But time, my dear, is a fickle thing. 24 hours have never been enough! So basically, I have been absolutely hating some products that I tried recently and wanted to vent out about them. It is a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions when you really, reallllly want to like something but it turns out to be such horrible quality (or to be a little less harsh – maybe just doesn’t suit you)!

Burt’s Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser

What do I say about this? My friend gave this to me to try and I have hated the icky mess it is from the very first use! It is a cleanser with a thick gel-like consistency with a strong smell of orange zest, which I do like. The bad part is the texture and the thick oily layer it leaves on the skin. It is a non-lathering cleanser with a ton of oils in its ingredient list. It feels like rubbing petroleum jelly on your face, without getting your face clean. The cleanser really doesn’t do anything except leave a thick layer on the skin. To top it off, it doesn’t help that I have a combination skin. Dry-skinned ladies (and gents) might actually like the texture and that it is non-drying to the skin, though I would still questions the product’s cleansing abilities. I have wanted to love the Burt’s Bees brand so much, but unfortunately it’s products never seem to work for me :(. Oh well…

Shiseido Cleansing Wipes

I am not one for face wipes. For me, face wipes are never good for using during the day because I do want to keep my minimalist makeup on the face. As for when I want to wipe off the makeup at the end of the day, wipes never can beat a good face wash. But I decided to try these wipes anyway, just because you see wipes everywhere and everyone using it, you know… Well, long story short – these Shiseido ones are horrible! They don’t do a good enough job cleaning my face, and also cause a significant burning and itching to my skin. Is it just me? Has anyone else felt that too?

Anyways, suffice to say this is something I will never be re-purchasing.

Yves Saint Laurent Top Secrets Pro Removers – Demaquillant Micellare Tonique

What IS the deal with micellar waters?? Provided I have not tried any of the others, but I don’t get the concept – is this a makeup cleanser, a toner, or just some glorified water? I tried the YSL Micellar Water via a super deluxe sample I got at Sephora. I use it according to the instructions on the package, but it just lends an icky sticky feeling to my skin. And then they tell you to leave it on there and not rinse your face! Is that supposed to be it?? I’m definitely not impressed.

Did these products work for anybody? I would love to hear your experiences.

 

 

The Miracle Soap

Tags

Acne, Beauty, Favorites, Indian, Medimix, Natural, Products, Review, Skincare, Soap

One thing that makes me sad is that despite a major drive to move towards all things natural and organic in skincare and makeup, none of the beauty brands from India, which is really the source of all Ayurveda, is known / recognized / popular at an international level! Now I haven’t tested a lot of the new beauty products in the Indian market so I can’t vouch for the efficacy of a majority of them. However, I have tried one soap, and for over 10 years now, that I can certainly vouch for!!

It was during my late teens in the early years of the 2000 decade, and I was fighting with a major acne breakout on my face and body – mainly upper back. I had been able to control my face acne to a reasonable level by using dedicated face washes, but had no clue what to do for my body. Then I saw a commercial for this Ayurvedic soap called Medimix, which was claiming to be a handmade, body-beautifying soap for controlling acne and all kinds of skin ailments. I am glad for the day I decided to try it because that was the day my life changed. It really did!!

Packaging:

The soap comes in a simple white and green cardboard box. Inside, it is packaged in sealed plastic to keep it fresh. I have no complaints about the packaging – after all it’s a soap! 😀

Product:

The soap is dark green colored that comes in a 125 grams size bar. It is quite a “soft” soap and can become gooey if left in the water. It is recommended to drain the water from the soap case, as with all soaps, but more so with this one!

Perfume:

Due to the presence of all the herbs, Medimix smells really fresh and herbal! It does have added fragrance, so I would not recommend using if you’re allergic to fragrances. However, the smell is very pleasant and is great for a fresh bath.

Performance:

Contrary to its name that makes it sound like a “medicated” soap, Medimix is a 100% natural handmade soap with 18 herbs (read here) and claims to get rid of all skin ailments, make the skin bright and smooth, control body odour, and even remove dandruff (though I have never felt too comfortable using a soap in my hair)! From the time I started using it, my body acne vanished, my acne scars disappeared, and my skin was overall brighter and smoother. I am in love with this soap and always go back to using it after dabbling in fancy body washes for a while. It can be a bit drying for the face so I would not recommend using it all the time on the face – I typically use it on the face about once in 2 days while in the shower.

I have used the “original” Medimix for a long, long time, though recently they have come out with more varieties including a moisturizing soap with glycerin, another with Sandalwood for skin brightening, and even a liquid face-wash. I am dying to try the one with Sandalwood, which is one of my favorite herbs for the skin! On that note, do give Sandalwood a try if you haven’t already. This is the stuff that Indian princesses used all the time for a natural glow to their skin, and is a wonder herb for the skin.

You can buy Medimix in any “Indian” grocery store (there are many in all major cities across the US now), or even on Amazon. It is so inexpensive and sooo good, I promise it will be the best 3 dollars you ever spend!

Going Natural – Anti-aging Exfoliating Mask

Tags

Almonds, Beauty, Bentonite clay, Calendula, Chamomile, Essential oil, Homemade, Natural, Neem, Oats, Rice flour, Rosehip oil, Skincare

I’ve always been a huge proponent of natural beauty products, and am constantly on the lookout for brands that are environmentally conscious as well as use organic and natural ingredients. And even more attractive to me is the idea of making my own skin care products, right in the comfort of my own home!

I grew up with Ayurveda all around me. My father has been a big follower of the art, and would make us strange healing herbal concoctions whenever we had the flu and such. I myself got into it as a young teen when I discovered I could get rid of acne and improve my overall skin quality with natural ingredients from our kitchen (ohh and it worked!!).

After trying Eminence Organic’s Strawberry and Rhubarb dermafoliant (and since I’m obsessed with scrubs and masks these days), I decided to experiment with creating my own dry scrub that would be gentle to the skin and all-natural. Here is a recipe that I used to create an anti-aging and hydrating scrub (since it is winter and this polar vortex never seems to end!).

Anti-Aging Exfoliating Mask (good for all skin types):

• Rice flour: Exfoliates and brightens the skin
• Oats: Great natural exfoliant, especially good for oily skin and healing skin problems like acne. Is soothing and anti-aging as well
• Almonds: Brightens skin and is anti-aging
• Bentonite clay: Extracts impurities from the skin and controls oil
• Neem: A wonder herb from the South-Asian region, helps to stave off all kinds of skin problems and purifies the skin
• Chamomile: Soothes and heals skin irritation, and has anti-aging benefits
• Calendula (or Marigold): Hydrates and heals the skin

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What you need:

Organic rice flour – 3 oz
Organic oats – 2 oz {I use the steel-cut kind}
Ground almonds – 1 oz
Bentonite clay – 1 tbsp {I used the Indian Aztec Healing clay}
Neem powder – 1 tbsp
Chamomile – 1 tbsp
Calendula – 1 tbsp
Rosehip seed oil – 15 drops
Chamomile essential oil – 15 drops

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The Method:

Finely grind all dry ingredients in a spice or coffee grinder. Make sure everything is ground very finely. I like to use a sieve to sift out the thicker particles and grind them again.

Once ground, mix all the dry ingredients together. 

Add the oils, a drop at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Store in a glass container in a cool dry place.

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To use:

This can be used as a scrub or a mask. Mix some of the product with your favorite liquid – milk, rose water, juice or plain old water – to make a paste. Apply on face and neck and leave for 10-15 minutes. Wash off while scrubbing for smooth and radiant skin!

**Disclaimer: I am not a skin expert or an esthetician. This recipe worked for me. Please use caution and your best judgment if you are going to try any of these ingredients based on your personal skin type and allergies.

2014 Skincare Lust List

Tags

Beauty, Face Masks, Natural, Review, Skincare

So 2014 is here and we’re already 2 weeks in! Time really does fly!! There were so many things I wanted to get accomplished in 2013, but never really got down to them. My most important “resolution” for this year is to manage time more effectively and complete all the things that I kept procrastinating on last year. Oh and yes to drink water, lots of it!

Since this is a time for new resolutions and to-do lists for the year, I wanted to list my top skincare products that I tried and loved in 2013, mostly by way of samples, and are on my list to get full-size products of. I feel like these are some lesser known products that I believe really do perform brilliantly based on my first impressions and are a must have in everyone’s beauty closet.

Alchimie Forever’s Kantic Brightening Moisture Mask: I tried a sample of this mask not hoping for anything spectacular, especially since I had a single-use paquet from one of my beauty box subscriptions. However, I was so amazed at the results, that I am willing to break my vow of not buying new skincare till I finish my existing stuff! The mask is a dusty pink colored paste and claims to “soothe, protect, and brighten dull skin“. It smells so amazing and even looks like blueberry yogurt (AND doesn’t hurt that it contains blueberries)! And I can honestly say that my skin was visibly softer and brighter! Even the husband claimed that I looked “very pretty” (of course men don’t realize WHAT really changed!). This retails for $60 for a 3.3 oz jar, and can be purchased directly from the Alchimie-Forever website.

(Photo credit: http://www.alchimie-forever.com)

Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant: I received a deluxe sample of this in one of my Blush.com beauty boxes and again, one use and I was sold. The scrub comes in the form of a fine white powder that smells oh-so-mazing! It contains super yummy ingredients like strawberry, rhubarb, oats, ckickpea flour, and rice. You just mix it with some water or your regular cleanser and exfoliate. And the results are immediately visible – clean, smooth, and super radiant skin. Another favorite for life! This retails for $48 for 4.2 oz, and can be purchased from the Dermstore website.

(Photo credit: http://www.dermstore.com)

Going Natural – Coffee Love

Tags

Beauty, Homemade, Natural, Skincare

I absolutely love body scrubs! They are not only a necessity for smooth glowing skin, but there is also something extremely sensual about them. Rubbing the body with a messy mixture that smells and feels exotic makes me feel extremely primitive and sexy. It is the perfect pick-me-up!

We recently bought a coffee maker. I hated having to throw out the brewed coffee grounds that smelt sooo heavenly, so I decided to use them to make a yummy body scrub. Is it just me, or is my skin glowing?!

Coffee and Vanilla scrub:

Coffee is excellent for cellulite, and removing dry skin. The sugar is a great exfoliant as well, while the oil helps soften the skin. This scrub is especially great in the cold winter months, ‘coz it keeps the skin moisturized and hyrdrated.

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What you need:

Ground coffee – 1/2 cup
Brown sugar – 2 tbsp
Almond or Olive Oil – to mix
Vanilla essence – 1 tsp for fragrance

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The Method:

Mix all the ingredients together till you get the desired consistency. 

Scrub all over body, leave for 1-2 minutes, and rinse off!

Have a sexy bath!

Going Natural – A Natural Bath

Tags

Beauty, Homemade, Natural, Skincare

I love DIY skin recipes. They’re not only fun to make and use, but also provide the skin with excellent nutrients direct from the source ingredients instead of little hints of them that are present in commercial skin products, and without the associated harsh chemicals.

A Cleopatra-inspired milk bath:

Milk is known for its softening and moisturizing properties. It acts like a natural exfoliant and removes surface grease without upsetting the skin’s oil balance. This bath has been used by people for thousands of years for beautiful flawless skin.

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What you need:

Powdered Milk – 3 cup

Oatmeal – 1/4 cup

Dried Orris Root – 1/4 cup

Almond Meal – 1/3 cup

Vitamin E Capsule – 1

Cornstarch – 1/2 cup

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The Method:

Mix all ingredients and store in an air-tight container.

To use, take some of the mixture and tie in a muslin bag, or a facecloth.

Tie to the tap and let warm water to run over the bag into your bath.

Soak in the bath for smooth hydrated skin!

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Something to do this week after work, maybe? Have a relaxing bath!

Rapunzel Rapunzel, let down your hair..

Tags

Homemade, Natural, Skincare

Growing my hair longer is number one on my to-dos right now. I used to have lovely long luxurious locks, but after a very tumultuous 2011, I decided to get a new look which meant chopping all of it à la Alexa Chung at that time. Stepping out of the salon looking so stylish and fresh, I was elated. However, I regretted my decision right after the first wash *sob* *sob*. I am not one to spend hours on hair styling; I am a wash-and-go girl. And the hair looked terrible un-styled. I have since been trying to grow them back. But 10 inches was a LOT of hair!

Recently, my hair was in a terrible state also – it was breaking like there was no tomorrow, was rough and oily at the same time, and the scalp got flaky and itchy. Terrible, to say the least! I started taking a hair and nail supplement, and oiling it at times to help improve it a little bit (which I think it has somewhat).

As a little extra, I am now turning to nature to revitalize and make my hair naturally beautiful. I LOVE herbal remedies and Ayurveda, which is the ancient Indian science of herbal medicine, and so I researched and through a lot of experimenting, have found the things that work best for hair:

Diet 

A friend of my mother’s had amazingly gorgeous hair and I asked her what she did for her lovely locks. “Yeast”, came the answer. Yeast, you say?! Yes, so apparently brewer’s yeast is an excellent source of biotin, that is a nutrient that aids hair growth in the human body, as well as various other minerals and amino acids (aka proteins). Now I’m no doctor, but all those nutrients all sound EXCELLENT for the hair! Other than that, ofcourse a healthy wholesome diet will solve most of our problems.

Hair Masque / Deep conditioning treatment

I have been using Oscar Blandi’s Marine Mud Treatment, which works great, but is just so expensive! As an inexpensive and completely natural treatment, I found the recipe below works wonders for my hair. People always tell you to apply egg to your hair, which I’ve tried and hated since sitting around smelling like raw egg makes me want to throw up. Not to mention that the smell seems to linger long after I’ve rinsed my hair multiple times! What I loved most about this masque was that this has eggs and one doesn’t have to deal with the smell!

What you need:

½ ripe avocado

1 jar of full-fat Mayonnaise

The Method:

Mash the avocado and add double the quantity of mayonnaise. Blend well. You may also add a little lemon juice if you have dandruff. Apply throughout the hair and leave for 15-20 minutes. For better results, wrap with a hot towel or shower cap. Rinse well with warm water and give a final rinse with cold water for extra shine.

Have you been doing anything special for your hair?

Ta ta for now!

Go Go Go…

Tags

Beauty, Natural, Skincare

September 20, 2012.

Appearance at the moment: Decent skin clear overall, a few spots here and there. Not particularly glowing, though.

Time remaining for the wedding: 4 months!!

Target for the wedding:

1. Longer hair (that I had very stupidly got cut 10 inches shorter)
2. Smooth glowing skin
3. A body to die for!

Time  is quickly running out! Therefore, today, I start my new regimen – a new healthier protein rich diet, exercise and all. Get ready to see a new improved me in 4 months!!