Category Archives: Product Review

Product Review, Skincare

My favorite Skincare Products in 2020

2020 has been all about skincare for a lot of us owing to lockdown. I really feel good about this aspect that I became aware of my skin and what it loves and what it doesn’t this year. This is a big achievement for me. I also made some informed decision while buying good skincare products. Thanks to all the research I did this year 🙂

So here is a quick recap or you can say “my recommendations for 2021 skincare products to look out for“ as well. For most of these products I have already posted my reviews in my blog. So I will just post links to the reviews.

Face Mist / Toner: Facial mists are something which I use all the year around; at home, at office, while traveling (obviously before quarantine) especially in summer and even in winter as well for that quick touch of freshness. I prepared a couple of DIY face mists at home which are super easy to make and great for our skin too. Please check the post here and here where I have shared some quick tips. I also loved the  Lavender Mint Facial Spray with clay sage from the brand Urvija.

Face Masks : I specifically used 2 face masks this year. One is from the the brand Plum. I love their Green Tea clear face mask which makes my skin look very smooth and clear instantly . The second one is the Super volcanic pore clay mask from Innisfree. This one is obviously very popular and needs no introduction. While the tea tree face mask costs almost half of the volcanic one but I want to mention that it really makes my skin bright and refreshed after every application. Also, one extra point to Plum for being a Made in India brand as well :p

In this category a special mention to Tony Moly Tightening Cooling Pack (Click on the link to check my review.

Serums: I invested quite a lot on face serums this year. In general I really like the concept of serums. My most liked serum for this year is the Hyaluronic serum from the brand Dot and Key. Absolutely loved how light and refreshing it feels on my skin and also for that glow. I have tried Dot and Key’s other products but this one is hands down the best. A special mention to their Morning awakening serum. Check out my review for it here.

Hand-creams: Tried and tested quite a lot of hand creams. I reach out to my hand cream almost every hour owing to my dry hands. The one and only thing that have worked for me is the Bodyshop shea butter hand cream. Absolutely love the smooth and soft hands it gives me.

Face Lotions/ Moisturizers : Loved the Innisfree jeju Cherry Lotion (a little pricey) and Aroma Magic Juniper oil free moisturizer(very pocket friendly) for their feather light oil free texture.

Sleeping Pack : Two clear winners in this category- Laneige Water sleeping mask and Etude House Moistfull collagen sleeping pack. A special mention to the cult favorite Laneige Lip sleeping mask as well.

Hair Care : Mostly used virgin coconut oil that I bought from Kerala and the Kama Ayurveda Bringadi Intensive Hair Treatment Oil through out the year. This year I started using herbal Henna for the first time. I specifically used the Khadi Natural Nut Brown Henna and the Shahnaz Husain Henna Precious Herb Mix. I will do a separate review on the henna later as I am not using them in winter.

All of these mentioned products are going to be part of my beauty bag in 2021 as well. Hoping to discover some amazing skincare stuff next year as well. Thanks for following the blog!

Merry Christmas 😀

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Product Review, Skincare

Dot and Key Time Reverse Retinol Serum Review

Given the fact that there are not many retinol serums available in Indian market I decided to try the Time Reverse Retinol Serum from the brand Dot and Key. The decision to use retinol serum was based on the numerous great reviews I have got from famous youtubers and bloggers. However, some of the most popular ones are either very expensive or not available in common platforms. I guess Dot and Key is one such brand which is trying to create a lot of different types of serums which have high public demand in India. I have tried their Hyaluronic acid serum and Vitamin C serum and I liked them. Now let’s give you my review on the retinol serum.

Price and Quantity : The product comes in a 30 ml bottle with a dropper and it retails for INR 1195. You can buy the product from Nykaa or from the official Dot and Key website.

Description :

  • This supercharged anti-ageing serum promises a three-pronged action :
  1. Reducing fine lines
  2. Fading dark spots
  3. Enhancing skin’s elasticity.
  • The retinol serum contains Tripeptides and Retinol, that slows down skin ageing by capturing free radicals and promoting collagen regeneration.
  • Infused with a botanical blend of Rosehip, Ylang Ylang & Geranium Oils, and highly moisturizing vitamin E & A

Ingredient List :

Purified Water,Dimethicone (and) Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptied -5, Cyclopentasiloxane (and) Dimethiconol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol (and) Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxy Ethyl cellulose, Vitamin A Palmitate, Rosehip Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil, Geranium Oil, Helichrysum Oil, Perfume.

My take on the serum :

Let’s first talk about why we do need retinol. You will find plenty of blogs to understand what Retinol does and why people are going gaga over it. However, I did some digging into actual scientific research papers and found some interesting facts. First of all let’s understand that ageing of skin can be of two types. Chronological ageing is an inevitable process whereas photo ageing is the premature ageing of skin occurring due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation.  Photoaging is the superimposition of photodamage on intrinsically aged skin generally bringing about premature aging. This specific damage occurs by chronic exposure of the skin to UV light. Hence, the skin becomes coarse; epidermis thickens initially and then thins resulting in loss of elasticity. Hence, our skin can experience wrinkles, irregular hyperpigmentation etc. The pores of the skin become larger. Although retinoids show promise in the treatment of skin aging but it can cause irritant reactions such as burning, scaling or dermatitis. Other retinoids mainly represented by retinaldehyde and retinol are considerably less irritating. The importance of retinol (vitamin A) was discovered during World War I. The modern history of retinoids, however, began in 1909 when an essential factor in the fatty extract of the egg yolk, called vitamin A, was discovered. Vitamin A cannot be synthesized by the body; hence it needs to be supplied to the body. Various studies have confirmed that retinol should be effective in the treatment of aging and photoaging. Another research was conducted on usage of retinol with other anti-ageing products and a successful study published that repeated topical application of a preparation containing both retinol and vitamin C could reverse, at least in part, skin changes induced by both chronological and photoaging.

So, before using the product I knew that my skin will take some time to adjust to retinol serums. There will be skin purging or break outs. Thankfully I did not experience any breakout but I experienced dryness and a few bumps here and there. I have been using the product for 4 months now but not everyday. I have limited the usage to twice a week with a 3 -4 days gap. Another important point to note that retinol serums must be used at night as they can react in sunlight. After applying the serum I apply a cote of a light vitamin c based lotion to restore the hydration.

Now coming to the ingredient analysis of this particular product; Dimethicone crosspolymer is a silicone derivative that is used in skincare and cosmetic formulations to improve texture and help condition the skin and hair and it is considered to be safe for skin. Methylsilanol Mannuronate is an anti-ageing agent and is an organic derivative of seaweed that binds moisture in the epidermis therefore firming and strengthening the skin. Palmitoyl Tripeptied -5 is also another known agent for anti-ageing. Vitamin A Palmitate is the source of retinol in this product. They also have added some essential oils like rosehip (known for anti-ageing) and Geranium (to dilute the consistency of serum and also for removing wrinkles). They did not mention the exact percentage of these ingredients in the product.

Because I have this bad habit of rubbing my eyes; I noticed a few lines around my under eyes. Although I used an eye cream/gel separately earlier but they did not remove those lines. I put a small amount of the serum around my eyes and around my lips. These two areas I feel show the early signs of ageing. The serum is little runny and looks transparent. I did not feel any heaviness after applying it. It got absorbed quickly. After using it for the third week I suddenly realized that the fine line that were showing up in my under eye area completely vanished. I should have clicked a before and after picture as a proof but I myself could spot the difference. However, it did not remove any blemishes and I experienced dryness after applying. So may be in winter we need to supplement this serum with hydrating moisturizers. Please note that I did not use any expensive under eye cream in these 3 weeks but used a vitamin c based lotion on my face. That’s it.

I know there are some very good retinol serums but they are crazily high priced. So at this price point I really liked this serum given the result and will continue to use it in future as well. So a few key points I want to reiterate

  • Do not apply retinol serums during daytime
  • Do not use it everyday. Use it at a regular interval.
  • Listen to your skin. If you feel dryness use a natural/organic moisturizer which is hydrating.
  • A break out is common while using retinol products for the first time.

Hope you found this review helpful. Have a nice day 🙂

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Product Review, Skincare

Tony Moly Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack Review

I have been trying out well known sleeping packs/masks for quite some time. This is actually the 3rd one in that order. Please check out my review on Laneige Water sleeping mask here and Etude House Moistfull Collagen sleeping pack review here. So I bought the Tony Moly Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack first for their super cute packaging ; second for the 50% discount I got on Nykaa and third obviously because of the quality standard of Tony Moly products.

Packaging : The product comes in a cute banana shaped packaging. The packaging looks super adorable but I really struggled to take out the product out of the tube. It is super hard to squeeze out the product. 85 ml of the product retails for INR 850.However, I got it at INR 425 during a sale in Nykaa. So look out for the sales.

Description :

Hydrate and soothe your skin while you sleep with this nutrient-rich Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack! Wake up to a supple and brightened face that smells delicious!

Key Ingredients:

  • 10,000 ppm of Banana Extract – Potassium and Vitamin A helps hydrate and protect skin.
  • Milk Protein – Nutrient rich properties help replenish lost moisture in skin.
  • Chamomile Extract – Helps calm and soothe skin.

Full Ingredient List :

Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Beeswax, Petrolatum, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysorbate 60, Musa Sapientum (banana) Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Betaine, Urea, Peg-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Fragrance(parfum), Caprylyl Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Xanthan Gum, Dimethiconol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Laureth-7, 1,2-hexanediol, Disodium Edta, Yellow 5 (ci 19140), Yellow 6 (ci 15985), Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract

After Application

My take on the product:

  • Consistency of the product is thick and takes time to get absorbed. It feels heavier on the skin. I have oily skin and I started using it in Winter. So I did not experience any break out but I am not sure how it will feel in hot and humid weather for oily skin. However, this should work well for dry and normal skin.
  • It has a strong smell like banana. Since this is a sleeping pack and supposed to be used before bed I personally don’t like such strong banana smell on my face. It does get fade out after some time.
  • Now coming to the actual result. The skin looks super tight and glossy in the next morning. Did not notice such instant clear result with the other 2 sleeping packs that I tried. So super happy with the results.
  • Am I going to repurchase this? Only in Winters and although I really love their packaging I feel they need to change the tube as it is really hard to squeeze out the product.
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Product Review, Skincare

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask Review

When I was very young I used to see my mom applying thick night creams before going to bed and sadly there was no product like a feather light sleeping pack in the market in that time. Luckily our generation has plenty of products to choose from. My first sleeping pack was the Collagen mask from the brand Etude House and I am absolutely in love with it. You can check the review here. However, I wanted to test the Laneige Water sleeping mask because I have heard so many good things about it and love their lip sleeping mask. So I kind of knew I am not going to disappointed with this one as well.

Price & Quantity: It comes in 2 sizes 25 ml and 70 ml. I bought the 25 ml version at a base price of INR 700 and got additional 10% discount on it on Nykaa. The 70 ml version retails for INR 1850. I will recommend to buy the 25 ml version first for trial. Most of the time on Nykaa and on Boddess you will find complimentary deluxe samples if you make a certain amount of purchase.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask -25 ml

Description: Overnight mask that gives the skin the lively well rested appearance the next morning thanks to its sleep-tox purifying effect.

Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Root Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Potassium Alginate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearyl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, HYDROXYPROPYL BISPALMITAMIDE MEA, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Alcohol, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, CI 42090

My take on the product:

Now that I have used the moistfull collagen sleeping pack I will review this product in a comparative mode.

  • Price – Price wise Laneige is definitely more expensive.
  • Packaging – Both of them come in cute sturdy tubs. So extra points for hygiene. I would have preferred a tube like packaging.
  • When I compared the ingredient list atleast the first 6-7 ingredients are totally the same. For the moistfull collagen sleeping pack the second ingredient is hydrolyzed collagen which of course Laneige does not use. The 7 th ingredient for Laneige is sodium hyaluronate which is used for restoring moisture of the skin. After comparing the ingredient list I was little surprised because Laneige is quite expensive and I actually can get more or less the same thing at a cheaper price. I might be wrong but I have heard this so many times that only the first few ingredients matter in a skin care product. Rest of them are used in a minuscule quantity.
  • Now coming to the texture. This product is definitely feather light and looks like a gel. Gets absorbed into the skin like magic. Loved the baby blue glossy color of the mask and the soothing aroma. I used it after cleaning my face and applying the night serum. It was the last step of my night time skin care. When I woke up the next morning my skin felt hydrated and soft even in a cold weather in November.

Am I going to repurchase it? Only if Etude House stops the production of their Moistfull Collagen Sleeping pack. Yeah that is my honest answer.

Hope you found this review helpful. Please let me know in comments if you used this sleeping pack and what is your take on it. Happy Sunday 🙂

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Product Review, Skincare

Innisfree Jeju Cherry Blossom Lotion Review

I always wanted to try the Jeju Cherry Blossom range from Innisfree because of my love for the word ‘cherry blossom’. How silly… I know!! Whenever I think about cherry blossom it transports me into a beautiful picturesque world full of colorful flowers :p

Okay I need to come back to reality and do a proper review of this product.So as many of you already know Innisfree is a very popular Korean brand and I have used many products of them and liked them as well. So I obviously had a certain amount of expectation from this brand.Usually their products are little on the higher price side for Indian skin care market but if you compare it with other luxury skin care brands their products are affordable.

Price and Quantity: This lotion retails for 1200 INR and you get a 100 ml tube.I got it in a sale for INR 870. Also, I discovered a new website Boddess which gives pretty good discounts/freebies on Innisfree products.

Innisfree Jeju Cherry Blossom Lotion

Product Description:

Innisfree Cherry Blossom Lotion delivers abundant hydration to dry and dull skin for a moist and revitalized look.

  • A lightweight creamy lotion goes on smoothly without feeling greasy or sticky
  • Adds ample hydration and glow to the skin
  • Cherry Blossom extract helps heal irritated skin, even out dull skin tone, and lighten dark spots

Ingredients:

Water / Aqua / Eau, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Dicaprylyl Ether, Niacinamide, Betaine, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, C14-22 Alcohols, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arachidyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Fragrance / Parfum, Palmitic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Propanediol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Myristic Acid, Prunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract, Lauric Acid, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil

Innisfree Jeju Cherry Blossom Lotion Ingredients

My take on the product: I am not a dermatologist and have limited understanding of the chemical effect of the ingredients in the product.Whatever I could make out was that this a water based product with Glycerin and it also has Niacinamide and Betaine. I have recently seen a lot of influencers cum reviewers praising Niacinamide a lot. So I did a little research and found that it is basically a type of Vitamin B3 and it is quite a multitasker when it comes to deal with skin pigmentation or inflammation like redness reduction or giving our skin a bit of extra hydration.Some of the researchers actually praised it more than retinols or AHAs/BHAs or even hyaluronic acid because of its diverse skin healing properties.Okay so I am impressed.Also, just a little tip, we can include niacin into our diet by eating fish/meat/pulses which will then be converted into niacinamide inside our bodies.Quite cool!

Now the next ingredient is betaine. This is also good for anti-ageing and has skin healing properties.So much knowledge I gathered today! Happy puppy 🙂

But, sadly this product also contains fragrance which I am not sure why they included.I am absolutely fine to use a lotion without any smell and to be honest I did not like the smell at all.It did not remind me of cherry blossom atleast. It also includes various alcohols like C14-22 alcohol and Arachidyl Alcohol but I looked for them and found that these are fatty alcohols and mostly used as an emulsifier or like a waxy material to maintain the natural moisture of our skin. So they are not bad for our skin.

Moving on, let me talk about the product itself.It is a very light textured white colored serum like lotion which blends into my skin easily.It did not make my skin look oily or sweaty even during the hot summer. Even when I am working in an air conditioned environment I did not find my skin to be drying after application. So I felt this will work for both dry and oily skin in summer and in winter. It does not contain any SPF which is good actually. Not every lotion or face moisturizer needs to contain SPF. A small amount is enough for your face. A 100 ml tube will go a long way. It did not give me any acne and definitely I can see a glow in my skin. I haven’t noticed any impact on reducing my old dark acne marks. This range has other products as well which I haven’t tried. Yeah so that’s it.This is a travel friendly tube.You can just throw it in your bag and whenever you feel like a little hydration for your skin you can go for it.

Hope you find this review helpful.Stay safe 🙂

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Product Review, Skincare

Etude House Moistfull Collagen Sleeping Pack Review

Hello Everyone!! Happy Tuesday 🙂

Today I will review the Moistfull Collagen Sleeping Pack from the Korean brand Etude House. So, let me tell you this is the first sleeping pack I am using and I did not have much idea around what a sleeping pack is and also this is my first product from this brand.I have been using this product for last 2 weeks and will share my experience with you in this post.

Price & Quantity: You will receive a 100 ml tub for INR 1000.If you compare it with the Laneige water sleeping pack which costs for INR 1850 for 70 ml; this one is definitely cheaper. I have not used the Laneige water sleeping mask so won’t be able to compare it based on quality/effectiveness.

Product Description:

Contains 14% Super Collagen water, which is easily and softly absorbed into your skin,
and 5.3%water extracted from baobab trees, nicknamed “water reservoir”.Enriched in small Super Collagen water particles and baobab tree essence, this moisturizing sleeping mask protects skin moisture from evaporating or being dried out while you sleep, to provide a hydrated, elastic, and gelatinous skin appearance during the daytime.

Water-gel texture with densely packed water drops promotes soft absorption without leaving any sticky feel. The moisture barrier is lightly and smoothly spread onto your face to protect your skin from being dried out during the night and even until the following day.

My Take on the product:

Etude House Moistfull Collagen

Packaging: The product comes in a glossy peach plastic tub and you need to use your fingers to take out the product.I wish they packaged it in a pump like bottle.

Ingredients: Water, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alcohol, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Trehalose, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone, Polyacrylic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Propanediol, Dimethiconol, Fragrance, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearyl Behenate, Disodium Edta, Polyglyceryl 3 Methylglucose Distearate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Linalool, Limonene, Beta-Glucan, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Geraniol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Phytantriol, Poloxamer 407, Tocopherol

Ingredients: Etude House Moistfull Collagen

So it contains fragrance and alcohol. Hydrolyzed Collagen is the 2nd ingredient which is good.

Texture: Texture of the product is very light; gel/serum like but looks like white cream.It does not make my skin oily/greasy after applying.I have oily skin and it did not cause any trouble like break – outs.I did not know what sleeping packs are like and imagined it to be like a serum.Recently I came across some articles and youtube videos claiming the ‘Sleeping packs’ to be a very essential element of night time skincare routine.Sleeping packs basically gives you the hydration for the time you sleep and when you wake up you see a dewy supple skin.So now coming back the product it definitely is very hydrating on my skin and suitable for a humid weather.I can easily sleep after applying it.My skin breathes for sure.It did not give me a single pimple.So very happy about that.

Including Collagen in your skincare is very much needed when you are approaching your 20s. Atleast that is what I learnt.There are so many products claiming to reverse your age and all.Don’t know how true those claims are.Do not expect any magical transformation from this sleeping pack.If you someone who does not like to put thick creams or moisturizers before going to bed and want something lighter for your skin to breathe; you can use this one.I will try to use the Laneige water sleeping mask as well for a better comparison.

Hope you found this review useful.Stay blessed 🙂

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Product Review, Skincare

Dot&Key – Skin Awakening Moisture Boost Serum AND Illuminating Glow Moisturizer in Serum – Review

I remember I first came across the brand Dot & Key sometime last year and within a year you can tell that the brand has grown from its increased product line.I must say their products are quite unique at least for Indian market.

I recently tried my hands on 2 of their serums and this review is about them.The first one is the Skin Awakening Moisture Boost Serum and the second one is the Illuminating Glow Moisturizer in Serum.

Product Description:

Skin Awakening Moisture Boost Serum:

  • Boosts Collagen Production
  • Gently Soothes Sensitive Areas
  • Rejuvenates with soothing Lavender
  • Contains Shea Butter to moisturize
  • With the healing of Argan Oil
  • Calms Irritated Skin

Illuminating Glow Moisturizer in Serum:

  • Glow Serum for normal to dry skin
  • Contains Skin conditioning Actives
  • SPF 15
  • Ultralight Moisturizer in Serum Technology
  • Hydrates deeply
  • Reduces signs of dullness

Price and Quantity: Both the product retails for INR 695 and comes in a 50ml beautiful bottle.I got them for 10% off on each of them at Nykaa.

My take on the product:

Packaging: Firstly, let’s talk about the packaging. The outer packaging of the products came with a box made of thick paper or like a cardboard kind of material.You can re-use them to store small knick-knacks.The bottles containing the product is very cute and aesthetically pleasing. All of their bottles or tubs come in sea green or lavender or baby pink or chromatic yellow shades.

DOT&KEY MOISTURE BOOSTING SERUM
DOT&KEY MOISTURE BOOST SERUM
DOT&KEY ILLUMINATING GLOW MOISTURIZER IN SERUM

The bottles have small pumps which will help you to get exactly the amount of product you need. They have recently started a drive on their official website where you can send back the empty bottles and get rewarded.

Ingredients: The moisture boost serum contains some amazing ingredients like Vitamin C & E, Lavender essential oil, Peppermint Essential Oil, Argan Kernel Oil and Shea Butter. None of their products contain Paraben /Sulphates/phthalates and they are not tested on animals either.The illuminating Glow Moisture in Serum contains Frangipani Flower Oil and Ylang Ylang Flower Oil.

How they feel on my skin: So I bought the Skin Awakening Moisture Boost Serum First and completely fell in love with it because of its very light; almost airy texture.I don’t like to put on thick creams on my skin as I feel that my skin will not be able to breathe.This serum is an absolute dream.It did not cause me any break out.A little product like one pea size portion is enough for your entire face. The smell is like camphor.It does not look like usual transparent serum.It looks like a lotion but feels like feather on your skin.Due to peppermint oil there is a certain tingling cool feeling attached to it.

Moisture boost serum: Consistency

It instantly gives me the morning hydration that my skin needs in a very dry weather (where I stay).This product will work for all skin types. I have been using it for almost 2 months now and I can see that there is a very clear glow in my skin without making my skin look oily or causing me any acne.

The Illuminating Glow Moisturizer in Serum is rather new in my collection.As it says moisturizer in serum it actually is a face moisturizer than a serum. So keep your expectations right. It is definitely thicker than the moisture boost serum in terms of texture although not too thick.It does not have that airy feel but it feels like an actual moisturizer. Good! because that’s what it is!

Illuminating Glow Moisturizer in serum : Consistency

This one as well did not cause me any break outs but I use it every alternative day after shower.It contains mild SPF (15). So I guess it’s best to use it in daytime.The smell is floral but not over powering.It definitely gives you the instant glow and makes your skin supple.I think this one works better for people with dry skin.For combination or oily skin I will recommend it to use it in a regulated quantity but yes definitely this serum will feel more relaxing and light on your skin than the thick creams or lotions.

I will recommend you to try both of these products based on your needs as they are quite affordable and definitely good for your skin.Hope you liked this review. Have a nice day 🙂

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Product Review, Skincare

Aroma Magic Juniper Berry Oil free Moisturizer Review

Hello!

I recently picked up the Juniper Berry oil free Moisturizer from Aroma Magic. Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic is the largest Aromatherapy brand in India. With over 170 signature aromatherapy—based products including skin care, hair care, essential oils and curative oils. I have been particularly following Dr. Blossom Kochhar’s articles in various magazines where she introduced the concept of Aromatherapy probably for last 10-12 years.Yes She is a pioneer in this field. I use Aroma Magic products because it is completely free of petrochemicals, phathalates,paraben,artificial fragrances and colour. Also,this brand is very affordable and students/ college goers can totally afford them.

Now let’s do the product review.

Price and quantity: 100 ml pump bottle comes for INR 190. The 200 ml variant comes for INR 345. Packaging is nothing fancy but just useful. I struggled with the pump for the first time but just that.

Product Description: The Aroma Magic Juniper Berry Oil Free Moisturizer protects, moisturizes and brightens your skin. The multi tasking extracts of Juniper berry and Cucumber act as efficient anti ageing, anti inflammatory and anti oxidant agents protecting the skin from the sun by guarding it against harmful free radicals. An exotic blend of Patchouli and Lemon essential oil helps regulate the oil level in the skin. Together with Aloe vera juice, the non greasy gel formula of this potion helps heal acne and lighten blemishes leaving your skin well nourished, refreshed and brighter.

Aroma Magic Juniper Berry Oil free moisturizer

Features:

  • Has SPF 15
  • Infused with the goodness of wondrous natural ingredients
  • 100% free of petrochemicals, phthalates, toxic ingredients, parabens, artificial fragrance and color
  • For Oily skin
Aroma Magic Juniper Berry Oil free moisturizer

My take on the product: The product looks like a transparent serum but the consistency is little thinner than usual serums.It has a herbal smell which I did not like that much but it does not stay for long. The moisturizer feels very light on my skin and I can put it on easily whenever I want; be it day or night; and it gives a quick hydration. The product is water based and contains essential oils along with hyaluronic acid.

It perfectly worked on my oily skin in summer when I can not apply any heavy moisturizer yet want some hydration for my skin.There is a blend of Patchouli and lemon essential oil which helps to regulate the oil concentration level in the skin.I am not sure about its anti-ageing or anti-blemish properties as I don’t have wrinkles or blemishes on my skin right now but I guess it contains some really good ingredients like hyaluronic acid which are good in maintaining the hydration level and making your skin look soft and plump.

As I mentioned the consistency is like a light runny serum and just a little product gives you the right amount of moisture and hydration for 5-6 hours.You will not feel like re-applying again and again. I stay in Bangalore where the weather is very dry and this light moisturizer really suits in such weather.

Aroma Magic Juniper berry oil free moisturizer

I have not used it in Winter. So will not be able to comment if it will be super effective as a winter moisturizer.It did not cause any irritation or break outs in my skin as it does not contain any harmful chemical.It does not feel greasy at all and the claim of it to be an oil free moisturizer is really true. I really feel like my skin is breathing. You can easily use it as a base before putting on any make up. I am not sure if it will turn out to be really effective for dry skin beauties but for oily skin or combination skin it does its job brilliantly.

Hope you found this review helpful. Take care 🙂

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Product Review, Skincare

Plum E-luminence Deep Moisturizing Cream review

Hey Guys!!!

So I have been using a few products from Plum Goodness and I wanted to write a quick review on one of the products by the same brand – the e-luminence deep moisturizing cream. So Plum is an Indian beauty brand and offers some really greaaat products (especially theirs kohls and kajals) and all their products are vegan! I will add my reviews on their other products as well but for now let’s start with this one.

Price: The product retails for INR 575 and comes in a 50 ml tub.It is available in Nykaa and in the Plum goodness website.

Description: The e-luminence creme offers the hydrating power of Vitamin E and 12 phyto-nutrients boosted by a dozen potent plant nutrients, to provide unmatched hydration and nourishment to dry & damaged skin. The result: bouncy, hydrated skin that exudes a happy, dewy radiance.The cream comes in a thick milky white texture and has a mild scent.

So one thing I did not realize before buying this product was that it is best suitable for dry skin.If you look at the main ingredients, this product contains

1. Vitamin E – possibly the best hydrator out there

2. Jojoba oil – nourisher of choice for dry skin

3. Calendula flower extract – heals damaged skin

4. Red clover flower extract – reduces itching and calms down skin

5. Elder flower extract – helps fade wrinkles for a smoother, younger appearance

6. Rose flower extract – helps soothe and reduce inflammation

7. White willow bark extract – natural exfoliant, helps skin renewal

8. Plant-derived betain – controls water balance and maintains supple nature of skin

9. Kokum butter – a “solid” emollient brimming with micro-nutrients

10. Grapeseed oil – a top source of antioxidants for skin

11. Sea buckthorn oil – one of the richest sources of Vit C in nature

12. Capric/Caprylic Triglyceride – emollient, non-sticky ingredients derived from palm

13. Chamomile flower extract – calms & soothes skin

Well all these ingredients sound awesome but the formula is just not apt for someone with oily or combination skin.It has a very thick consistency. Especially if you have acne prone skin then it is an absolute no no product. Same goes for me as I have oily skin! Actually I was so amazed by their Tea tree night clarity gel that I did not do enough research before buying this one 😦

Plum e-luminence creme

Anyway I somehow wanted to use the product because my mom also has oily skin.So what I did was to wash my face first well with a facewash and then apply very minimum amount of the cream like 3-4 dots over my face and then just massage it gently.

I am yet to empty this!

I could apply it only during winter.It got absorbed quickly and thankfully did not feel greasy. Its thick consistency is not suitable for applying during summer as my skin started sweating because of its very oily texture. I applied it mostly after sunset because it does not contain SPF. It gave my skin a beautiful glow.That is for sure!

I think this will work wonders for dry skin beauties; especially during winter.

Hope you found this review helpful 🙂 Stay healthy! Take care!!

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