3 Super Easy DIY Recipes

Guest Post by Iswarya
Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #19

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Homemade Rose Water

If you don’t want to use ready-made rose water from the stores, you can try this quick easy recipe. All you need to do is pick a bowl full of fresh rose petals. Then take a wide mouthed enamel or glass pot or bowl with a cover or closing lid. Take another heavy bottomed open vessel. You need kitchen gauze or a strainer too. Now place the wide mouthed enamel pot on the gas stove. Keep the gauze inside it and spread the rose petals to it. You can crush the rose petals if you want. Note that the bowl should be heat resistant. For 1 bowl of rose petals add 2 cups of distilled water. Now keep the second open vessel above the gauze and close the lid in an inverted position.
             Light the gas stove and wait for 2 minutes. Once it starts boiling simmer it, keep adding crushed ice and wait for another 15 min. The rose water will condense and fall to the open vessel above. Even a layer of rose essential oil will be formed. If you need oil you have to separate it from water. Once the mixture cools you can store this in old serum bottle and you can refrigerate too. You can carry this to your office too. For people sitting in ac for a long time this might help to overcome the dullness. Spray to your face during regular intervals. You will enjoy this refreshing and moisturizing experience!!


Aspirin Mask for Acne Control

Aspirin masks helps to control acne. Take 4-5 uncoated aspirin tablets (as required) and mix it with little distilled water and make in the form of a paste. Apply this to your face once a week. It should not be used daily because skin may be irritated as it cannot bear sensitivity caused by aspirin.


Pumpkin Face Mask

Pumpkin is excellent for skin. It is rich in vitamins A and Antioxidants and zinc. Take cooked pumpkin (smash it) and mix it with honey and milk. Add egg white to this mixture. Mix well. Egg white helps to bind the mask together. Apply this to your face and see the miracle it does to your skin.

                     Hope you liked these quick DIY Recipes. Which is your favorite own DIY recipe?

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7 Tips to Save Money While Shopping

Guest Post by Vandana
Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #18

Shopping is our birth right and we should try to get  it anyhow. Ha ha ha..Yeah we must do shopping but we should try to save some hard earned money also because shopping be fun and not complete loss. Agree?
Okay so follow these tips and enjoy shopping.

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• Before going to shopping make a list of all the things like clothes, footwear, accessories etc. This will help you in making a rough estimate of the money you need to carry with yourself.

• Now whenever you go out for shopping, focus on the things you want to buy. Do not get attracted by other things which you don't need. Search for the shop from where you want to buy the things required by you.

• First buy the things which you really need instead of other things you desire for.

• Try to do shopping in the months of big sale, at the end of the season many good brands start sale and in this way you can save some bucks and buy other useful things.

• Don't get distracted by the banner BUY ONE GET ONE FREE because sometimes you don't like the clothes in this section but you buy them because of the offer.

• Always do try the clothes before purchasing them because it happens that we buy things in hurry and when we try them at home they does not get fit to us. We cannot even return or exchange those clothes so its better to go for shopping when you have enough time.
  Do check out many shops before buying clothes etc because sometimes we find the price difference from shop to shop.

• After coming home do check all the bills correctly and write your total shopping amount in a notebook etc so that you have a clear idea of how much money you spent.

                  Hope you liked these tips. Do you have any specific shopping tip that you wanna share here?

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Amway Attitude Sunscreen Lotion Review

Guest Post by Iswarya
Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #16
 
Sun screens offer us sun protection and prevent sun burn. They reduce the harmful effects of sun. I never step out without sun screen because my skin is sensitive and will tan badly. Sun screen is a must have product for me. Since I tried Amway attitude face masque and it worked out for me; I decided to try the sun screen from the same attitude range. So here is the review.

Product Description:
Attitude Sunscreen Lotion is a non-greasy lotion, which gets absorbed quickly. It has SPF 15 level sunscreen agents, which protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun.
Use a natural sunscreen whenever possible, regardless of whether or not you plan on spending much time in the sun. The sun's rays are very damaging and if you get in the habit of applying sunscreen every day, you will never be left out without protection. The sun's most beneficial rays occur at sunrise and sunset. All Attitude products contain Skin Vitalizing Complex.


Usage Directions:

• After Cleansing, Toning & Moisturising the skin, take a little quantity on your fingertips and smooth gently   over face.
•  Apply 15 mins before sun exposure.
•  To open the pump, rotate it in anti-clock wise direction & to lock it rotate in clockwise direction.

Price and Quantity:
Rs.349 for a 150 ml pack.


My Experience with this Product:


Packaging:  It comes in a light orange bottle with a light yellowish cap. It is in the form of a pump dispenser system which is white and golden.

Colour, Consistency & Fragrance: The colour of the sun screen is white. It has a medium runny and creamy consistency. My fragrance is mild and good.

How it works:  To be frank, it didn’t suit me. My face is on the oily side and this sun screen increases my oiliness.
It gets absorbed by the skin easily but still leaves that greasy film behind. It has SPF 15 which is not enough for those who step out in harsh sun. It moisturises the skin well and only a little amount is required for every use. It works for dry and normal skin and not for oily or sensitive skin. For those who are less exposed to sun and have dry skin, this is enough and it may work.

Swatch:

Pros:

• Good packaging
• Suitable for dry skin
• Moisturizing
• Didn’t break me out

Cons:

•     Available only through Amway agents
•     Sticky and greasy
•     Price is little high
•     Less sun protection.

My Rating: 3/5


Recommendation: I recommend this only roduct for normal to dry skinned beauties.


Would I Repurchase?:  No. it doesn’t do anything much other than moisturising.

          Have you tried Amway Attitute Sunscreen Lotion? Which is your favorite Sunscreen till date?

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Choosing Products for Eye Makeup and Eye Care

Guest Post by Iswarya
Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #15
 
Eyes are the most sensitive organ in our body. They are very delicate. Eyes are mirrors of our personality. They are so expressive. Eyes show the early signs of aging. Wrinkles and puffiness may develop if we don’t take proper care of it. We must use quality eye care products. Many of you would have been blessed with stunning eyes; for others it is achievable. Little care and pampering can keep your eyes as beautiful as possible. We must ensure that we are not neglecting our eyes. The tissues surrounding the face is different from rest of the face. It is 5-6 times thinner. Soothe sore, tired eyes with these tips.

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• While choosing eye care and eye make-up products make sure that they are nontoxic and safe for use on eyes. We must make healthy choices. When it comes to eyes we must never choose a product based on its marketing.

• Mineral make up is best for summers. We must keep our eyes clean and avoid products that result in infections.

• Try to keep your eyes clean.

• Switch to hypo allergic products.

• Before buying a product read the complete ingredients list carefully. Stay away from products with ingredients like parabens, talc, and color additives like kohl, silicates and polymers.

• Eyes have a fragile nature. Don't rub them too hard.

• Don’t buy any thick or strong creams for the eye. Only a mustard sized amount is enough for the eyes. Apply in dabs. Less is always more when it comes to eyes.

• Many of us will be using concealers, illuminators etc. for the eyes. Always remember to use an eye make-up remover before going to the bed at night. No traces of make-up should be left.

• Try to give a light massage to the eyes. Take olive oil in ring finger of left and right hands and massage in semi-circular movements. Don't apply more pressure, be gentle.

• Everyday morning and night wash your eyes with a splash of water. They will be healthier.

• Use eye compresses. Simply take a piece of cotton pad and moisten it with the milk/rose water/tea water. Put it on your eyes and wait for 5-8 minutes. Apply a moisturizing eye cream of your choice. This will prevent inflammation of eyes.

• Eat right, wear sunglasses to protect the eyes from pollution.

• Sleep well so the blood circulation under your eyes improves. Your eyes need rest.

• Opt for a good vitamin E eye cream. Retinols can remove discolorations.

• Choose an eye product according to your specific needs and those which are specially formulated for the eye.

• Spend some time before the mirror concentrating on your eyes. Analyze yourselves what changes you need to bring to your eyes.

• Refrigerate your eye cream and use it cold. It works the best this way.

• Cucumbers can cool and refresh the eyes. Keep two round pieces of cucumber on your eyes for 15 min and relax. Those with dark eyes can use potato slices too.

• Apply oil to your eyes brows and eye lashes so that it will get lubrication and grows well.  Shape your eyebrows.

• Try to use natural products. Olive oil can also be used to remove make up.

                         Hope these tips are quick, simple and useful. Share your ideas and feedback below!

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Banjara's Aloe Vera Under Eye Gel Review

Guest Post by Iswarya
Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #14
 
Aloe Vera has a proven track of records for its benefits. It is a world renowned plant and is used as a part of beauty regime. It is also called as the lily of dessert. Due to lack of proper sleep I developed dark circles under my eyes. I was in need of a product which could help me reduce the same. I used to extract fresh aloe juice and apply to my dark circles, but since my plant dried up I bought the Banjaras aloe Vera under eye gel. Today I am going to review the Banjaras aloe Vera under eye gel. Go ahead!

What the product claims:
The under eye area is one that shows signs of stress and fatigue early. Banjaras under Eye Gel helps in countering that. A compound of Aloe Vera and Green Tea, it helps in reducing the strain and tiredness affecting the eyes.
It acts as a coolant for the eye and helps in getting rid of the under eye lump. It also works wonderfully in preventing fine lines. As an overall effect, it provides a protective barrier making skin under the eyes less prone to wrinkles.


Price and quantity:
Rs 120 for 175 grams


Variants:

•     Banjaras all-purpose Aloe Vera gel
•     Banjaras all moisturising  Aloe Vera gel
•     Banjaras Aloe Vera under eye gel

My Experience with this Product:

Packaging:  It comes in a see through tub with a green screw cap. It has a label with pictures of aloe Vera.

Colour, Consistency & fragrance: It doesn’t have any colour. It is a transparent gel and has strong a weird smell than the aloe plant. I doubt the presence of chemicals as the shelf life is 3 years. It has a medium consistency.

How it works: It works well. It gets easily absorbed into the skin. Pea sized amount is enough for the whole face. It gives a cooling sensation when applied. It gives light moisturisation to the skin and soothes my tired puffy eyes as well. It is decently priced and doesn’t make our face oily i.e. no shiny layer. It is like  water and spreads quickly on my face. It gives a glow to my face as it is a gel. (I am applying this to my face as well). It soothes any rashes, burns or redness caused by threading and waxing. It is not sticky and light weighted, overall a good product for non-sticky product lovers and oily skinned people.

Swatch:






Pros:

•     Decently priced
•     Little goes a long way
•     Soothing, cooling and relaxing
•     Easy absorption by skin
•     Serves multiple purposes
•     Goodness of aloe and green tea
•     Reduces puffiness of eyes

Cons:

•     No ingredients mentioned
•     Tub packaging is unhygienic
•     Packaging is not travel friendly. It is bulky and difficult to carry.

My Rating: 4/5


Recommendation: I recommend this product especially for summers.it suits oily and sensitive skin. Dry skin may need more moisturizing than this. It can be applied by everyone for dark circles.


Would I Repurchase:  Yes, until I get a new aloe plant. Fresh juice of aloe plant is better than this product. Those who don’t have it can try this.

        Hope you liked my review of Banajara's Aloe Vera Under Eye Gel. Have you tried this product?

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DIY Milk Foot Spa at Home

Guest Post by Iswarya
Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #13
 
We are all on our feet all day and by the end of the day it becomes exhausted. Boost your spirits and relax with a simple foot spa and your feet will thank you. Here is a tutorial on how to do a foot spa at home without spending big bucks. I will be giving you the foot soak recipe, steps and how to do a foot massage. Keep Reading!

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Things you will need:

•     Milk -1 cup
•     Hydrogen peroxide- 2 caps
•     Olive oil- 3 tbsp.
•     Essential oil like lavender or rosemary- 1 tbsp.
•     Honey – 1 tbsp.
•     Baking soda-2 tbsp.
•     Epsom salt- 1 cup
•     Lemon juice- 4-5 drops
•     Liquid soap/shampoo

Steps:

•     Fill a tub with Luke warm water and add all the ingredients mentioned in the foot soak recipe.
•     Slice a lemon into half and put it into the tub
•     Add rose petals to it and a few fresh mint leaves if available
•     Add a few pebbles to the bottom of the tub ( I took some marble stones from the river and painted it)
•     Now dip your feet into the tub. Soak for 15-30minutes. If you are doing it regularly 15 min is enough.
•     Cleanse your feet with rose water and Glycerin.
•     Take a pumice stone or a foot file and work on the rough skin
•     Use a scrub. Sugar and olive oil will work good
•     Rinse the feet with cold water
•     Trim and shape your nails
•     Give a nice massage to the feet. You can use a massager too
•     Remove any old nail polish and paint your toes
•     Apply moisturizing foot cream
•     Wear socks or flip flops

Massaging your feet:

Take any massaging cream or oil and rub it in your both palms. Apply to your feet with both hands. Work to and fro with light strokes in the direction of toes. Gently pull your fingers. Rotate clock wise and anti-clock wise. Push thumbs to and fro in the sole. Apply sight pressure to the heels and ankles with a firm motion. You can use a massager as wekk. You can use a marble pebble and using it do circular motions in feet. You are done! Soft, silky feet are all yours!

Hope you liked this Milk Foot Spa Recipe. Share your comments and love below

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DIY Hair Masks from Your Kitchen

Guest Post by Iswarya
Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #12
 
Hair masks are great for improving the condition of the hair. They nourishes the hair and they also helps in deep conditioning. Whether you have dry, damaged, dull hair, split ends or it may be any hair problem; hair masks can fix these problems. Believe it or not hair masks can even reduce hair fall with proper usage.

These hair masks can do miracles to our hair. They provide essential nutrients.
While there are so many products in the market, they are very pricey and contain loads of chemicals in it. They tend to worsen the condition of our hair rather than restoring it. Let’s learn to make homemade hair masks today and how to use them effectively to get the maximum out of them.

   The products used are available right in our kitchen. The biggest advantage is that these are natural and do not contain even a single chemical. We can save a lot of money and time by using this method. The first step you have to do is identify the hair type i.e., whether it is dry, oily etc. and depending on your hair type find out which of the masks suits you.

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Banana Hair Mask: 
Bananas are so cheap and are available all through the year. All we have to do is peel the bananas and puree it in a blender until it is smooth. There should not be any lumps because it will stick to the hair and will become difficult to remove. This hair mask helps in strengthening our hair and helps to add volume. We can notice the immediate improvement in our hair condition. You can also add any oil of your choice to this smoothie recipe to combat extra dry hair.


Yogurt Hair Mask: 
Apply plain yogurt to your hair. It will result in soft, dandruff-free hair. It does wonders for people with itchy irritated and flaky scalp. The lactic acid present in the yogurt stimulates hair grow and will get you long and thick hair. Lactic acid has anti-bacterial properties that cleanses the scalp and pores as well.


Mayonnaise Hair Mask:
The three main ingredients in mayonnaise are egg white, oil and vinegar. Mix these three ingredients if you don’t have ready made mayo.This hair mask is great for adding shine and lustre to your hair.


Epsom Salt:
For a wavy and volumised hair use Epsom salt with jojoba oil. Mix these two with half cup water and store it in a spray bottle. Use it on your damp hair. Epsom salt is crystal form of magnesium sulphate and it helps the hair to replenish the lost magnesium. You can also heat Epsom salt and add it to your conditioner and use.


Aloe Hair Mask:
Just extract the gel like juice from the plant called Aloe Vera and apply it directly to your hair. Remember to use fresh gel. It gives you a radiant hair.


Fruit Hair Mask:
Blend your favorite fruit (Banana, Apple, Avocado etc) with little milk in a blender and apply the mixture to your hair. Your strands are sure to sparkle.


Berry Mixture Hair Mask:
Blend strawberries, black berries, blue berries or even goose berries (Amla) and apply it to your hair for a silky hair.


Fenugreek Hair Mask:
Soak fenugreek seeds in curd overnight. Next morning grind it to a fine paste and apply it to your hair. It helps in controlling hair fall naturally.


Oats Hair Mask: 
Boil oat meal in little water and blend it to a fine paste. If you feel it is messy you can powder this oats and use. Apply this to the scalp. Oats contain beta glucan which protects hair follicles, soothes inflammatory and sun burnt scalp. This fresh oats hair mask helps to remove oil and dirt as well.


Avocado Hair Mask:
Whisk the mashed avocado and use it on your hair. You will love the result.


Honey Hair Mask:
Apply honey to your hair. It helps in De-tangling and regulates frizz.


Oil Mixture Hair Treatment:
Mix olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil and any aroma oils such as lavender, tea tree oil etc together. Heat it slightly and apply to hair. Heating the oil helps in deeper penetration.


How to Use These Hair Masks?
Apply your hair mask before shampooing your hair. Comb your hair with a wide toothed comb, section your hair and apply using a brush covering the scalp, roots and ends as well. Wear a shower cap. If you don’t have a shower cap, use a plastic cover. Keep it for at least thirty minutes. You can cover with a towel soaked in warm water or steam hair for ten minutes to help with better penetration. After steaming pour cold water to the hair so that the pores opened by steaming process will close. Then shampoo and condition and style as usual. Rinse out well. Repeat this usage at least once in two weeks. If you are allergic to any of the ingredients stop using it.

  You can rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar, black tea water, beer, diluted lemon juice and baking soda. These help to remove product build up. For controlling hair fall try applying onion juice and coconut milk to your hair.
Include lot of vegetables and fruits in your diet, exercise and meditate to stay stress free and drink lot of water
You can also take biotin and vitamin supplements on a daily basis. [Consultation with your physician is must]

All these will add vibrancy to our lifeless hair. All these hair masks serve as hair food. They are what fertilizers are for plants. They hydrate, revitalize and rejuvenate hair.

                    Hope you all enjoyed reading my post. Which is your favorite DIY hair treatment?

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2 Quick Home Remedies to Lighten Your Skin Complexion

Guest Post by Vandana
Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #11
 
Here are some very easy tips to improve your complexion and to reduce dark spots on your face. Check them out, try at your home and do let me know how it works.

Remedy 1:

Cucumber Overnight Fairness Pack

If you think that no face pack can make your your skin fair then you are wrong. I have tried a home made paste which really worked. Just follow these simple steps and your skin will look more fairer and spot free.

Things required to make a paste are:

• Cucumber
• Rosewater 
• Glycerine

Firstly take out the cucumber juice by using mixer. Now add rosewater and glycerine in equal quantities to the cucumber juice. Make sure that the paste should neither be thin nor too thick. Now apply it over your face at night time before going to sleep.
       In the morning, wash your face with clean water and pat dry. After some days you will see amazing change in the complexion of your skin and even the dark spots will lighten.

Tip: If you feel lazy making this everyday then you can make this paste for 3 days and you can keep it fridge and use it everyday.


Remedy 2:
Banana Glow Face Pack

To give instant glow to your face before going to a party or something, you can try a banana face pack. To make this pack you don't have to make any effort. You just have to peel banana and take out its pulp and crush it to make a smooth paste. You can make this paste using mixer as well. Now apply this banana paste on your face and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Later, remove it with clean water and pat dry.

Results? You will see that yourself. You will notice that your skin is glowing and you will feel a new softness and smoothness on your skin!

                      Hope you liked these fairness home remedies! Share your comments below
                                    And do you have any special skin lightening DIY recipe girls?

 Image source: 1, 2

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NeoVeda Acne Free Aura Review

Guest Post by Shruti Lakshman
Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #10 

Hello :) Monsoons are here and the weather is amazing. A couple of months ago I had a sudden eruption of pimples :( Too much of heat. The acne face washes I came across all had Sles or Sls but Tea tree oil figured in most of them. That's when my gray cells started working. Why not get Tea tree oil and apply it directly? Careful guys. Tea tree oil, in very concentrated quantities, can numb skin. So to be on the safer side, I got this from healthkart. To be frank, the yellow packaging caught my eye :)

Product Description:

Ayurvedic belief holds that if selected correctly, essential oils have the ability to advance mystical ecstasy and heighten awarness.
Neoveda is the modern day adaptation of Ayurveda (Ancient Indian knowledge of life and well being) and is a natural way to rejuvenate and relax both body and mind.
Reduces acne, pimples and blackheads


Price & Quantity:
Rs.200 for 10 ml


Key Ingredients:
Essential oils: Lavender and Tea Tree
Carrier Oils: Almond and Grapeseed.


Experience with this Product:

Packaging:  A cute glass bottle with a white plastic cap. It has a nozzle which regulates the amount of oil. Sometimes its difficult to get the oil but all you have to do is tap it.

Colour,Consistency & Fragrance: the oil is transparent and smells like a bouquet of flowers. The most prominent would be the smell of lavender.

How it works: I had this phase where a lot of pimples started appearing on my face, mostly on my chin. My friend and I picked this up and split it. I started applying it just on the pimples every night before going to bed. The next morning I could see a visible reduction in the pimples.My friend had these weird little boils around her nose.But in a week they had reduced considerably :)

Swatch:

PROS:

•     Reduces pimples to some extent
•     Gets absorbed in the skin
•     Smells nice
•     Only essential oils plus some carrier oils.
•     No animal testing
•     Nozzle controls the amount of oil
•     Small and travel friendly
•     Affordable

CONS:

•     Sensitive skinned people must do a patch test before use
•     Check for allergies from essential oils
•     No visible reduction in blackheads though
•     Keep out of reach of children (not a con but a warning)

My Rating: 4/5


Recommendation:
Totally! Tea Tree is oil the most commonly used ingredient in acne face washes and creams. But these have it in very small concentrations. What better way than to use it directly! Rest assured, this is mixed with carrier oils so you don't have to worry about it numbing you skin. Or maybe you could team up wid your soul sister and split it :)


Would I Repurchase: Yes. I am also planning on getting essential oils and making my own acne free aura :) What say?

                                     Try it. I am sure it would work :) Leave your comments and feedback below!

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Forest Essentials Facial Toner Panchpushp

Guest Post by Shruti Lakshman
Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #9
 
My search for a toner ends here! I never did follow the whole CTM routine (Yaaa..I am a noob). Then after reading a lot of stuff on how IMPORTANT toning is, I started looking out for a natural toner. I have sensitive skin and I am very careful as to what I put on my skin. After careful research (with the aid of my office computer), I zeroed in on this.

Product Description:
Facial Mists are excellent for rehydrating and freshening the skin. They help alleviate the effect of environmental pollution and daily stress.

•Tones • purifies

This hydrosol or floral water comes from the condensation collected during the steam distillation of flowers when extracting essential oils. This contains five flowers of which the Rose is naturally hydrating , Bela helps in retaining moisture , Marigold is toning , Kewda is softening and Saffron gives a glow to the skin.
• Recommended for all skin types.


Price & Quantity:
Rs.945 for 200 ml 


Key Ingredients:
Steam Distilled Rosewater, Steam Distilled Marigold Water, Steam Distilled Kewda Water, Bela Steam Distilled Water, Saffron Ext.


Experience with this Product:

Packaging: It comes in a plastic bottle with nozzle and a plastic lid. Very similar to the cleanser from the same range. If you are traveling, just throw it in with the rest of your stuff and you are good to go. The bottle is transparent too.

Colour, Consistency & Fragrance: Its golden in colour!! I can’t describe the smell but it is something which peps me up!

How it works: Again an amazing product from Forest Essentials. After cleansing my face, I spray this toner. I just love the smell. After using this for a couple of weeks, I have noticed a visible reduction in my pores. An additional bonus is that it doesn’t dry my skin☺ And my skin has a visible glow (which I attribute to the presence of saffron)

PROS:

•     Suits sensitive skin perfectly
•     Has reduced my pore size
•     Doesn’t dry out skin
•     No chemicals at all.
•     Against animal testing
•     Lovely smell
•     Very travel friendly.
•     Gives quite a nice glow

CONS:

•     Price. Price. Price!

My Rating: 4.5/5 (I have reduced 0.5 for the price)


Recommendation:
If you have some money saved up and love chemical free toners, go ahead!!


Would I Repurchase: Yes. My skin loves this.

Have you tried Forest Essentials Facial Toner Panchpushp? Which is your favorite skin toner?

Leave your comments and feedback below!

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Forest Essentials Delicate Facial Cleanser (Mashroba Honey, Lemon and Rosewater) Review

Guest Post by Shruti Lakshman

Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #7

 

I had heard a lot about Forest Essentials and was very tempted to get at least 1 product. Also I realized that my current cleanser was hardly doing its job and leaving me oily faced and dull:-(. So after a lot of fighting with my debit card and my conscience, I finally got my hands on this ‘wonder in a bottle’.

Product Description:
The first rule of Ayurvedic skin care is cleanse, tone and nourish. The secret to proper cleansing is to remove dead cells and toxins, clear clogged pores and clean make-up without stripping the skin’s natural oils and moisture content.
• Tones • Purifies • Adds glow
Pure raw honey, containing vitamins B and C along with active enzymes, hydrates and softens the skin. Natural rosewater tones the skin while balancing lemon oil cleanses and purifies it. Nutritious royal jelly and bee pollen nourish the skin and add a vibrant glow. Suitable for all skin types.


Price & Quantity:
Rs.875 for 200 ml


Key Ingredients:
Steam Distilled Rosewater, Lemon Juice, Organic Honey, Royal Jelly, Nagkesar, Anantmool, Kumud.
Nagkesar:  It is used as an astringent and enhances complexion
Anantmool: Known as Sarsaparilla. It is used to treat skin disorders and as a blood purifier and general detoxification aid.


Experience with this Product:

Packaging: It comes in a plastic bottle with a pump dispenser and a plastic lid. Perfect for travelling( I just put this in my handbag a couple of days ago and it hasn’t spilled. Touchwood) Also the bottle is see through so you can keep a track of how much you use.

Colour, Consistency & Fragrance: It’s the colour of honey (obviously!!). Consistency is neither thick nor runny.
And the fragrance is TO DIE FOR. It smells of honey and rosewater( Aaaaaah heaven!!)

How it works: I am in love with this cleanser. It works perfectly for my sensitive skin. One pump and my face is clean and glowing. It doesn't dry out my skin. I have the habit of washing my face often and this keeps my face fresh. Apply a small amount on wet skin and massage it in small circular motions. Rinse with water and voila! Your face glows.

PROS:

•     Suits sensitive skin perfectly
•     Doesn’t dry out skin
•     No chemicals at all.
•     Against animal testing (Yay animal lovers)
•     Very travel friendly.
•     Heavenly smell
•     Hygienic since it comes in a pump dispenser
•     Gives quite a nice glow
•     One bottle comes for atleast 2 months
•     No lather
•     No need for a moisturizer :)

CONS:

•     Price.
•     Lather lovers might feel that it doesn’t do its job.

My Rating: 4.5/5 (I have reduced 0.5 for the price)


Recommendation:
This cleanser would suit all beauties. It's very gentle on the skin and doesn't dry out your skin. Only negative is the exorbitant price but 1 bottle comes easily for a couple of months.


Would I Repurchase: Yes. But I might go for other variants. I got this from their official website. You can also purchase it from Urban Touch.

Hope you guys liked it :) Do let me know how it fared with you.

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Colorbar Velvet Matte Lipstick Misty Cocoa Review

Guest Post by Smita

Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #6

Hey gals,

Lip colours and girls cannot be separated from each other. In my college life, I used only pink lip glosses. Never thought of putting on lipstick, because I was very shy gal. But now I am so much into makeup and skincare that I have collected so many lipsticks in my vanity. My lip colour range consists of matte, glossy and ultra moisturizing. I am so much in love with colobar these days. So here I will be reviewing One of them here.

Product Decription:
For a rich lip colour with a creamy shine, the Velvett Matte Lipstick, available in stunning shades infuse the lips with vibrancy. Its unique 2-in-1 formulation gives the lips a creamy, yet matte finish. A one of a kind product in India, it has super softening agents that give the lips a soft and supple appearance while keep them nourished with Vitamin E. Staying on up to 5 hours on application, the Velvett Matte Lipstick can be further accentuated with lip gloss and lip liner.
    

Shade: Misty Cocoa

Price: Rs.225

My Experience with this Product:

I am a complete lover of Colobar velvet range, they are good on pocket and lips as well. Their entire range of colors is meant to suit all complexions. I myself have 5 from this collection.

      They are good enough to cover pigmented lips in one or two swipes. Staying power is additional bonus of having Colorbar in your kitty. After having meals they stay as a stain on your lips, so they won’t let you down anyway.

I have read many reviews saying this lipstick has flimsy packing, but girls that’s not the case.  It’s quite sturdy. For me it’s cute transparent packing. Even VOV has same packing for lippies.

     Misty cocoa color is good to wear with saree and salwar kameez in evening parties. It will suit almost all complexions. I like to wear this shade with my black tee’s. Though this is not as good as other browns but it doesn’t make me look dull also.

PROS:

•     This lippy is quite economical.
•     Transparent packing and colour swatch at end of tube makes it easy to stack.
•     There is a little fragrance but not that prominent, for me this fragrance has no problem.
•     It stays even after having light meals, and it can be seen as stain on lips.
•     Just One swipe is required to cover pigmented lips.

CONS:

•     This color may not be choice for all, it can add few years to your age.
•     Fragrance can be problem for some gals.

Rating: 4/5

Would I Repurchase:

Yes I will buy this again, as it goes well with my sarees for a simple evening look.

                                     Hope you liked the review. Please leave your comments and feedback below :)

                                                                            Don't forget to visit Smita's blog here

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How to Change a Dress into an Ethnic Wear?

Guest Post by Vandana Choudhary

Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #5

Sounds interesting isn't it???

Friends.. I am sure at some point of life you have also faced the type of confusion I faced two days ago. Two days ago I got a call from my aunt that she is organizing a puja in her home on Thursday and the dress code is anything in pink color. I was happy for get-together but to follow the dress code was quite difficult on such a short notice :D But I managed. I had a pink dress which I converted into  an ethnic wear with my creative skills. So today  I am going to tell you how you can easily make your one-piece dress into a nice pair of Kurtis-churidar.

Follow these Simple Steps and Get Ready for any Family Function

STEP 1:

Take out dress from cupboard which you want to change into a kurti.

STEP 2:

Go to market and buy a small cloth of the same color as your dress or of white color.

STEP 3:

Now if you have purchased the same color cloth then its well and good but because of any reason you are unable to get that particular color,and you have bought white color then you can get that cloth dyed of the same color of your dress,(for eg: I asked the person to dye it with pink color).

STEP 4:

After getting the dye work done,go to any boutique or tailor you know. Ask him/her to cut sleeves from that cloth and attach those sleeves to your dress.

STEP 5:

Now your dress ohhh... sorry your kurti is ready  and you can wear it whenever you have to attend any puja or any family occasion where you have to wear only traditional clothes. To complete the look you can select any color of leggings available in your wardrobe (for e.g.,with this pink kurti I did choose black legging,navy blue will also make a nice combination). I really loved experimenting with my dress. I hope you will also like to try this type of dress designing and use your creativity.  

                                                                            Thank you lovely friends for reading it.

                                                    Please do leave your comments on whether you liked my idea or not?

Image source: 1

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10 Essential Hairfall Rescue Tips

Guest Post by Shruti Lakshman

Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #4

Hiee!! You can call me a late bloomer!! What I mean to say is that I got introduced to the fascinating world of skin care, hair care and makeup very recently.:) I am a software engineer from Mumbai but now based in Chennai. I spend a considerable amount of my time in office looking at beauty blogs and that's when I came across this blog ;). I love the fact that you review goodies which are affordable and the tips you give me are quite useful. I love writing and its been a long time since I wrote something apart from software codes!! I also love animals (be it fluffy, four legged or 3 legged). This is my 1st article on anything related to beauty and hope you all like it!!
 

Given the stressful lives we all live nowadays, I am not surprised to see everybody complaining of 1 thing! Yes, I am talking about hair loss. The crowning glory on which we, not just women but men too nowadays, spend a lot of time taking care of. I live in a humid city where no matter how many times I wash my face, I start looking like an overflowing oil can. I find time to wash my face but not my hair often (Yes you can imagine its state then!!!). So here are certain things I follow to ensure that I don’t end up looking like Mogambo ( if you havn’t seen Mr India , go watch it)

• First and foremost, never comb wet hair. It’s something we all do when we are pressed for time (guilty). But wet hair equals fragile hair which easily tends to break. Let it dry naturally.

• Always use a wide toothed comb. People say its difficult to comb with it but trust me. It’s easier than it looks.

• Towel drying is another issue.  Picture this. A piece of cloth being washed on the stone by beating it repeatedly on the stone. Now replace the stone with your hair. Get it? Just gently rub the towel on your hair.

• ALWAYS COVER your hair with something when you travel. Use old dupattas.

• Use shampoos which do not have SLS, SLES and parabens.

• Do not use conditioner every time you shampoo. Restrict it to once a week or 2.

• Essential oils like Rosemary, Clary Sage and Basil are very good for combating hair fall. Add a couple of drops to coconut, olive or almond oil and apply it to your scalp. Worked wonders for me!!

• Do not tie up your hair too tightly. It makes hair vulnerable. Also gives a headache.

• Every night comb your hair atleast once to remove knots.

• AND THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL- Do not stress too much about hair fall. You stress, your hair stresses. It’s a vicious cycle.

I hope these small tips help you guys. Stay stress free and have a good hair day!!

Image courtesy- Google Images

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New Clear Women Anti-Dandruff & Anti Hair Fall Shampoo Review

Guest Post by Prachi Awasthi
Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #3

Hello all. Now who hasn’t dealt with some amount of hair fall? We all have at some point or the other and because of that also have tried a gazillion products and home remedies and what not. Those who have dealt with hair fall will understand what I am talking about. 

        We women have to go through so much *sigh*. Anyway coming back on track I recently tried a new product New Clear Women Shampoo Anti-Dandruff/Anti Hair Fall. Now we all are familiar with the brand ‘Clear’. This shampoo is from their new diversified range for men and women and basically targets hair fall and dandruff as we all know Clear’s main arena is anti dandruff products. I won’t say extra ordinary or as the pack says 98% less hair fall.

Price & Quantity:

RS.220 for a 400 ml bottle.

Packaging: This product is packed in a off white coloured bottle with a comfortable flip type cap.

Usage Directions:
Use like any shampoo taking a dollop in your palm and rubbing it in wet hair forming foam.

Pros:

• It has been about 10 days that I have been using this product and I find it fine.
• It smells great and has considerably reduced hair fall up to a good extent
• The packaging can be handled easily and looks fine.

Cons:

• They makes claim it contains vitamins and mineral nutrients. Honestly, I haven’t felt it much. 
• It just leaves the hair a bit dry therefore, conditioning becomes very very necessary. The product doesn’t come with its own conditioner therefore selecting a conditioner after use is another hassle.

Rating: All in all I give this product a 3.5 on a scale of 5 if measured

                                  Hope you liked the review! Do share your comments and love below.
                                                      Don't forget to visit Prachi's blog here :)

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RevAyur Orange Lotion Review

Guest Post By Iswarya

Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2 Giveaway Entry #1

I am a graduate in visual communication. I have been regularly reading product reviews,DIY,make up tutorials on this blog and love it. I have visited many blogs but i must say that this is the most informative. Makeup and beauty home has made the Blogging world more fun and happening. I have learnt so many things from your blog

I bumped into this blog just casually surfing the net, and since then I’ve bookmarked it to be visited daily
I love writing and this blog has given me a wonderful opportunity. Now let's move on to the product review.

Who needs body lotions in monsoons? I need. I'm always on the hunt for a good lotion that will provide extra moisturizing and seal in the benefits. Last weekend, I went to big bazaar to buy jergens body lotion. To my disappointment, big bazaar did not have it. They had the regular ones like Nivea, dove etc. The skin care section is always crowded but to my relief, one of the counters was free. I found a new small brand called Revayur in that counter and the girl there was quite good. She helped me pick up the Revayur Orange Lotion and I thought of giving it a try and rushed to the billing counter. It was by chance that I came across this lotion.

RevAyur Orange Lotion

What the product claims:

RevAyur Orange Lotion - skin nourisher for all skin types -For dehydrated, dull and mature skin
types in need of brightening-non greasy 24 hours moisturizer with orange oil

Speciality of Revayur Orange Lotion:

• Has detoxifying & deodorizing, stimulating and revitalizing effect.
• Specially formulated for dehydrated, dull, and mature skin types in need of brightening.
• Enriched with natural vitamin C from oranges
• The skin will look more velvety, supple and "plumped out".

Usage Directions:

• Use it daily on a cleaned skin.
• Leaves the skin feeling fresh and hydrated.

Key ingredients of Revayur Orange Lotion:

Silicon oil, Orange oil.

My take on the product:

Every winter I seem to struggle through the months trying to find items that will keep my body
moisturized and it seems like this was a difficult task. Fortunately RevAyur Orange Body lotion came to my rescue when I found it.

RevAyur Orange Lotion

              I thought RevAyur is an initiative by the brand Ayur. But later I came to know that it has nothing to
do with Ayur. The texture is rich and smooth and you can use this all over or just to give your hands or feet that
extra attention. By seeing the packaging and name I thought the product may contain natural ingredients but the
ingredient list is indeed very scary with many chemical names.

Pros:

• Great for rough elbows and knees
• The orangey fragrance which is not heady
• Easy Availability
• Hygienic Packaging- bottle with the pump i.e., does not spill out.
• Suits normal & oily skin
• Non greasy. Easily absorbed by the skin as it is light weighted
• Small amount goes a long way
• Deodorizing

Cons:

• Presence of parabens and chemicals
• Nothing miraculous or extra-ordinary about it other than moisturizing
• No long lasting fragrance
• Price is bit high.
• Not suitable for winters and dry skin

Final Verdict: Definitely, worth trying! 

My Rating: I would give it 3.5/5

Will I repurchase: It depends. I don’t like to use it as my body lotion but I may use it for hands, feet
and elbows

What do you think about this lotion and my review?? Do share your comments and love below

*************************

About the Guest Writer:

Iswarya is a graduate in visual communication from Palakkad, India. She loves media; design is my passion and her passion for design is much more than sitting in front of computers and making ugly things look beautiful. She also love typography. This is her first guest post on our blog! Please welcome do her dearies.

Important Note:

Don't forget to e nter our Weekend Fun Giveaway July Week 2! The winner will be declared next Sunday!

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