Category Archives: Skincare

Favorites, Product Review, Skincare

The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10% – Botox in a Bottle?

I came across the Ordinary Argireline Solution 10% on an Youtube shorts almost a year ago. The video claimed this product to be ‘botox in a bottle’. I immediately got intrigued and started digging a bit more. I watched a couple of more videos from the skincare experts whom I have started trusting over the years and also did a bit of independent research to understand this ingredient well. According to various articles that I have gone through, Argireline is a synthetic peptide that has several different potential wrinkle-fighting and anti-aging effects. It is claimed that, similar to Botox, Argireline prevents the muscle movement that leads to wrinkle formation. So, it can be effective for areas where we usually see repetitive muscle movements such as the forehead and around the eyes. Since Argireline also boosts the function of collagen, it helps to fight fine lines and improve overall moisture levels in the skin.

Product Description

It is supposed to be the part 2 of the skincare regime as suggested by the brand itself. It is formulated to treat dynamic lines, signs of ageing, crow’s feet.

Argireline Solution 10% offers an advanced formula targeting dynamic forehead, “eleven eye”, and smile lines in an effective, “non-injective” way. By incorporating a high concentration of Argireline™ , this lightweight serum improves the appearance of facial areas prone to deep-set lines, resulting in smoother, more relaxed skin.

Use the solution, daily, on the forehead and around the eyes, before moisturisers, in AM and PM routine.  

Patch Testing is highly recommended. Discontinue using, if any sensitisation or irritation persists and approach a Dermatologist. It is free from Alcohol, Animal Testing process, Esters, Oils, Gluten, Nuts and Silicone.

Ingredients List

Aqua (Water), Propanediol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Gellan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Isoceteth-20, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.

Key Ingredient – Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

Where to buy it in India

I couldn’t find it available on the Nykaa website which usually retails all the Ordinary products in India. So, I ordered it from Styledotty.com. They basically sell a lot of beauty products from UK/US/Canada to Indian customers. That’s why the price is in a higher range compared to other Ordinary products available in India. This 30 ml bottle costs Rs 1650 on their website. It came with a ‘use before 12 months’ tag. The shipping is free for first time customers and you can look out for some offers they give from time to time. In the official Ordinary website it retails for EUR 10.10.

My Take on The Ordinary 10% Argireline Serum:

What is it ? This serum has a lightweight watery consistency with Argireline™ Peptide complex which is known to be a proprietary solution of Acetyl hexapeptide-8. Peptides are amino acids which are known to be the building blocks of essential proteins for our skin like collagen and elastin. I have come across a lot of multi-peptide serums offered by the prominent skincare brands but Argireline solution provides more targeted solution for dynamic lines/wrinkles among all other peptides. It mimics the impact of botox by limiting the movement of facial muscles around eyes or laugh lines. However, what I have understood from my research and after using this product that we should not expect a very significant impact similar to botox because it is after all a non-injectable solution and there is no solid proof that it penetrates the deepest levels of our skin like what botox does. Hence, it may not have a very long lasting impact too.

Who is it for? If you are someone into preventive skincare and not yet sure about doing botox or any other cosmetic procedure then you can give this serum a try for overall smoothing effect on your soft wrinkles. Also, I personally felt that this serum boosts the moisture level of the skincare other than its wrinkle smoothing properties. So, if you have dry skin, this will give you a plumper skin.

Did it work on me? So, let me say first that both me and my mother used it. My mother is in her late 50s and me in my early 30s. The impact was different for both of us. I thankfully still don’t have crow’s feet or prominent lines on my forehead yet. Also, from all the reviews that I read and from the brand’s own description, I understood that this serum should be used only on the targeted areas and not on full face. So, I applied it only on my forehead, around my eyes and on the laugh lines. I used it for 6 months and I am still using it. I cannot claim that I saw any conspicuous effect of limitation of muscle contraction around the areas I used it. I deliberately tried to frown a couple of times 😀 after I used this serum and I actually could do it :p. However, this is also true that I did not see any new wrinkle/fine lines appearing on my skin in the last six months and the area around my eye look super tight. Due to working long hours in front of screens, I was noticing that my under-eye area was looking very dull and dehydrated. After using the Argireline solution, it looks so much better now. So, from a preventive skincare point of view, I am going to continue to use it.

Now, coming to its impact on my mother’s skin, it actually did not do much as we hoped for. She obviously has deeper permanent lines around her eyes and on forehead and neither she nor me saw any improvement whatsoever in terms of smoothening those lines. However, she has dry skin and she felt that this serum gives her skin a glowing, hydrated and youthful effect. She uses it on her entire face.

We did not experience any allergic reaction, still I would recommend everyone to do a patch test before using it. I used it after I cleansed my skin with the Neutrogena hydro boost cleanser and sealed it with the Neutrogena Hydro Boost water gel moisturizer. The Ordinary Argireline 10% serum works well with other peptide serums like The Ordinary Matrixyl 10% + HA (I did not try this combination though).

Hope you found this review useful. Let me know in the comments section, if you have used the Ordinary Argireline 10% serum.

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Product Review, Skincare

Sadhev Aloe vera and Saffron Gel Review

My recent inclination towards Natural or Ayurvedic beauty products made me discover an Indian luxury Ayurvedic brand from the majestic land of Kerala. Sadhev was launched in 2019. In their own words, all their products are “infused with precious insights from traditional Ayurveda, delicately blended with pure ingredients, sourced responsibly and carefully from Sadhev’s own 80-acre sustainably grown organic sanctuary- Sadhevana in South India.”

Sadhev offers an exciting range of Face care, Hair care and body care products. The most amazing part is that all their products are “natural, vegan, cruelty-free, plant-based, free from petrochemicals, parabens, phthalates, sulphates, synthetic colours, artificial fragrances, additives and other synthetic substances.” They source most of their natural ingredients either from their own 100% organic firm or in a sustainable way from other exotic locations. Their packaging is made in a way to preserve the bio potency of the ingredients.

In this post, I will review Sadhev’s Aloe Vera and Saffron Gel with Kumkumadi Tailam.

Price

Sadhev Aloe Vera and Saffron gel with Kumkumadi Tailam comes in 3 sizes. The 15 gm tub costs Rs 375, the 50gm tub costs Rs 1100 and the 100 gm one costs Rs 1950. I bought the trial version of 15gm at first. The pricing of course put the product in a luxury brand category for the Indian market but if you really want great quality chemical-free products for your skin, then this price makes sense. Also, they are sometimes on a 5-10% discount on the Nykaa website. So, you can buy it from there as well. Another option is to buy a refill pack of 100gm which costs Rs 1650. This is again a thoughtful attempt towards sustainability.

Description

I got to know from Sadhev’s website that they came up with the aloe vera and saffron gel after getting inspired by Mughal empress Nur Jahan’s secret rich beauty ingredients like Saffron and the Green Aloe Vera that grew in her royal gardens.

My Take on the Sadhev Aloe Vera and Saffron Gel

Ingredients

I love using aloe vera gel all year round. One of my favourite Aloe Vera gel is from Tony Moly. Primarily in summer I sometimes use only aloe vera gel as a moisturizer and don’t put anything else on my face. It contains vitamins C and E and is known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It works for all skin types. Sadhev’s product has added a nice twist to the otherwise popular aloe gel by adding saffron sourced from the valley of Kashmir. Saffron contains an active compound known as Crocin which has antioxidant properties. It protects against UVA rays and fights inflammation/redness of the skin. The most amazing thing is that I could actually see the saffron strings in this product.

They have added ‘Kumkumadi Tailam’ which is basically saffron oil. It used to be this miraculous elixir in the Indian mythological scripts describing the skincare routines of the queens. This is known for healing wounds. However, as per recent studies, for oily/combination/sensitive skin people, this oil may cause acne. They use 50mg of Kumkumadi Tailam in each 10 gm of their product. In my personal experience, I did not find this product to be greasy at all and it did not cause me any breakout.

This product use preservatives like undecylenoyl glycine, capryloyl glycine and benzoic acid. It also contains perfum and natural oil in their base.

Texture

It has a light and airy formulation. You can compare the texture to widely popular gel-based moisturizers like Clinique Moisture Surge or Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel. I can easily use it in hot and humid weather. It does not make my skin oily but I don’t go all out as I do for my other aloe vera gels. I treat it like a face moisturizer and just put 4 dots around my face, partly because it is quite expensive and partly because it contains saffron oil.

Did I notice any benefits?

Yes I did. The texture of my skin became super smooth and soft after using this. Also, it gave my skin a very radiant glow which I usually notice only when I use Niacinamide based serums. I do not have any acne at the moment. So I can’t comment anything on its acne healing properties but it definitely did not cause me any breakout. So far I have only used it in summer and it kept my skin hydrated throughout the day. I usually spray the Kama Ayurveda Rose toner on top of it and it keeps the moisture locked.

What I did not Like

One thing that bothered me was that they use perfum/fragrance. Saffron already has a very distinctive smell, so, I don’t understand the need for using additional fragrance even if it is natural fragrance derived from essential oils. The perfum did bother my sensitive nose. This is why I don’t use it before bed because strong scent troubles my sleep. Also, both artificial and natural fragrance can be drying for skin and may cause irritation in the long run.

Overall I liked the Sadhev Aloe Vera and Saffron Gel for its efficacy but I did not like the fact that they use ‘perfum’ in their natural base.

Hope you found this review helpful. If you have used this product, please let me know what you liked or disliked in the comments section.

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Product Review, Skincare

Kama Ayurveda Pure Rose Water – Review

When it comes to ‘Made in India’ pure Ayurvedic skincare products, Kama Ayurveda definitely tops the chart. Their products are all about authentic Ayurvedic formulations without harmful chemicals. Their brand prioritises long-term efficacy and wellness over short-term temporary results that can harm the skin.

I am in that phase of trying out many balanced natural skincare products without any harmful chemicals. Many Indian semi-luxury brands are doing a great job at creating this perfect solution for customers like us. On that note, I recently reviewed the Pahadi Local Rose Oil which I think is a hidden gem. If you haven’t already, please check that review. While looking for face mists to tackle the Indian summer, I picked up the Kama Ayurveda Rose water and here is my quick review of that.

Price and Quantity: The Kama Ayurveda Rose water comes in two variants – 50 ml and 200 ml. Price of the 50 ml bottle is Rs 495 and the 200 ml bottle comes for Rs 1445. I know it isn’t exactly pocket-friendly but sometimes good things come at a price 😀

Product Description (As per the brand website): “Our natural Rose water is made from the roses of Kannauj – a region in North India rich in white soil conducive to roses’ growth. The Kannauj Rose is considered special due to its similarity to the Bulgarian Rose. Its aroma is rich, floral, and emotionally uplifting. The steam distillation process used to create this Rose water toner ensures a high level of hygiene and unmatched purity.”

Kama Ayurveda Rose Water Review

Packaging: The rose water comes in a dark brown plastic spray bottle with a transparent plastic cap. It is very easy to carry while I am travelling or going to the office. Interestingly, this bottle does not come with any outer paper/cardboard packaging. I would say that is quite an environment-friendly choice.

My take on the Kama Ayurveda Rose water:

  • First of all, rose water itself is a versatile product. We can use it as a toner/face-mist/cleanser/make-up remover etc. Even sometimes when I am making some DIY face masks I use rose water instead of plain water. Now this Kama Ayurveda rose water does not have any overpowering smell which I noticed in the other rose-water brands available in the market. It has a very calming yet refreshing effect on my skin. I simply spray it 3-4 times from slightly at a distance and let it get absorbed on its own or sometimes I put gentle and quick pressure with my fingertips.
  • In India, this product is a perfect solution when the heat touches the roof, for a quick rejuvenation. When I wake up in the morning, after cleaning my face, I spray this rose water and then simply put the sunscreen in the summer. This Rose water acts as a natural astringent. It balances the skin’s pH and moisture level and helps to reduce any sort of inflammation. Even when I am going out for the office I just use this rose water as a primer and do some quick touch-ups. This product claims to effectively tighten pores. I haven’t noticed any big difference in my pores. However, since it is an alcohol-free toner, it works great for oily or acne-prone skin.
  • This product did not give me any sort of irritation. It stayed true to its promise of pure Ayurvedic formula. It makes my skin look hydrated and glowing with just a few spritzes.

Overall, I really liked this rose water cum toner from Kama Ayurveda. I know it is a bit pricey but it is top quality. Let me know in the comments section if you have found any good natural rose water brand which can give tough competition to this.

Have a nice day 🙂

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Makeup, Product Review, Skincare

Laneige Glowy Lip Balm (Berry) -Review

I recently stumbled upon a new lip product from Laneige which I believe is a recent launch to the Indian market (not sure though :p). It is their glowy lip balm range which has 4 shades or types. After my great experience with their lip sleeping mask (which I still use), I did not give a second thought while purchasing one of these lip balms. Let me share my honest review here with you guys.

Price and Quantity: 10 ml cute little tube comes at a price of INR 690. It is available in Nykaa. They come in four variants – grapefruit (coral), berry (pink), peach (light yellow/orange) and pear (green).

Product Description (According to the brand):

Lip balm that coats the lips with a layer of moisture and makes them look supple and glossy.

Benefits:

– Daily moisturizing: It instantly removes flakes and makes the lips look hydrated as though the lips are coated with a breathable layer of moisture.
– Texture that’s smoothly wrapping the lips: It applies as though it’s wrapping the lips with colorless thin layers, so the lips feel light, while still not damaging the color of the lipstick.
– For a healthy voluptuous look of the lips: It adds a natural healthy color to make the lips look full, voluptuous.

Texture: A tube type lip balm that fits the sticky form as if to coat it thinly.

Recommended for:

– Concerned about dry lips
– Concerned about dead skin cells when wearing a matte-finish lipstick
– To create a glossy and supple look of the lips

Full Ingredients list: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Diisostearyl Malate, Polybutene, Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Microcrystalline Wax / Cera Microcristallina / Cire Microcristalline, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Synthetic Wax, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Mica, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla)Wax / Candelilla Cera Hydrocarbons / Cire De Candelilla, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Fragrance / Parfum, Candelilla Wax Esters, Dimethicone, Dehydroacetic Acid, Methicone, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba)Wax / Copernicia Cerifera Cera /Cire De Carnauba, Silica, Yellow 10 Lake(Ci 47005), Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Blue 1 (Ci 42090), Water / Aqua / Eau, Propanediol, Bht, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli)Extract

My take on the Laneige Glowy Lip Balm ( Berry):

  • Let’s first talk about the packaging. The lip balm comes in a very cute and sleek pink tube. Laneige has customised the colour of the tube based on the variant. You simply need to squeeze a bit of the product from the tube and directly apply on the lips. The berry variant comes in this pink tube whereas grapefruit comes in a coral, pear comes in green and peach comes in a somewhat yellowish-coloured tube. The pink colour of the berry variant will remind you of their bestseller lip sleeping mask. The packaging looks and feels premium. No complaints about that.
  • There is a sweet bubblegum kind of smell to this lip balm. Not sure if they customised the fragrance based on the variants. I really wish they got rid of it especially since it is a lip product. I know a lot of people like this type of smell on their lip balm but it is simply not needed and we may not see the impact immediately but fragrance may cause problems in the long run. The good thing is that the balm does not have any taste if you accidentally lick it.
  • There is a slight sheen to this lip balm. I spotted mica in the ingredients list. So, maybe it was added to give this effect. When I applied matte lipstick after using this lip balm, that shimmery finish was still there and I did not like it. So, I try to use a very minimum product or take a tissue to remove the excess balm before applying a matte lipstick. But, on the other hand, if you want to use it as a lip gloss, it will work pretty well. Just use it on top of your usual lipstick and it will give you a glossy and moisturized finish. Although it has a pink tint when I took out the product on the back of my hand but the colour gets neutralized when you spread it on your lips. So, if you are wearing it on top of any shades of lipstick, chances are this balm will not change the shade at all. It doesn’t look like a tinted lip balm but I have pigmented lips. So, maybe for others, it may give a slight pinkish tint but my guess would be that the colour payoff is almost ignorable. If you are looking for a tinted lip balm then this is not the product you should buy.
  • Coming to the texture, it is a bit thick but not sticky like the Laneige lip sleeping mask. It softens my chapped lips almost instantly and keeps them that way. I have used a lot of balms which either take time to soften my lips or the dryness comes back rather quickly in a few hours. This is not the case with the Laneige glowy lip balm. It keeps my lips hydrated and soft for the entire day even after having a full-course meal.

Let me quickly list down the pros and cons of these lip balms

Pros:

  • Keeps the lips super moisturized for the entire day
  • Instant relief for chapped lips
  • Non-sticky, non-greasy, tasteless
  • Travel friendly and I am actually using it as an alternative to the OG lip sleeping mask just because of the ease of application 😀

Cons:

  • Contains fragrance
  • Not tinted (that’s not exactly a problem but the four different variants with different coloured packaging may confuse people that these are tinted)

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

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Product Review, Skincare

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream -Review

Recently after using the Super Serums by Olay, I was intrigued to try a few more of their products. I have heard rave reviews of the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream by skincare influencers and also, not gonna lie, the phrase ‘Micro-Sculpting’ pushed me to buy this cream 😀

I am not a ‘cream’ person due to my oily skin. I always look for oil-free moisturizers or gel moisturizers. Most of the time, especially during summer in India I only apply serums and sunscreen. But, in winter, from November to February, I need something more moisturizing. Hence, the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream was a perfect pick for winter. I have tried it for slightly more than a month and it is safe to say that I am eligible for writing a review on this.

Price and Quantity: The original price of the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is INR 1699 for a 50 gm glass jar. The good news is Olay products are almost always available at a discount in Nykaa. So, it is quite likely that you will get them at 30-40% discount easily. Also, a very important point to note is that there is a fragrance-free version of this cream available too. Please look for the ingredients while buying. These creams are easily available in stores too. As I bought them online, I missed this point and later found that my version has fragrance.

Product Description:

  • New Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with 20% more anti-ageing ingredients that reduce the appearance of 4 years of lines and wrinkles in just 4 weeks.
  • Firm skin’s appearance in the areas most prone to sagging—even the jawline—with a high concentration of our signature amino-peptide complex.
  • Hydrates on an intracellular level to help firm and micro-sculpt.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Isostearate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Nylon-12, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sodium Peg-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ceratonia Siliqua (Carob) Fruit Extract, Stearyl Alcohol, Polyethylene, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Titanium Dioxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Dimethiconol, Polyacrylamide, Fragrance, Peg-100 Stearate, Propylparaben, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, C12-13 Pareth-3, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Mica.

My take on the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream:

  • First of all, one thing to note is that there are multiple versions of the same cream with the almost same packaging. There is one fragrance-free version and one with a fragrance option. Although the fragrance did not bother me, I would recommend buying the fragrance-free version. Also, there is a day version with SPF and a night version too. If you use sunscreen then it makes sense to buy the one without SPF for both day and night usage.
  • Coming to the texture of the cream, I was worried that it will be too thick for my oily skin. Surprisingly, it feels a little thick in my fingers but while applying it on my face, it blended so easily and smoothly. It did not make my skin greasy or excessively oily. It got absorbed into my skin like a dream. I was honestly very surprised by that. In fact, after half an hour or so of the application, my skin felt slightly dry in winter. Later I found out that it is primarily because of the presence of the fragrance in my version of the cream.
  • Also, I noticed a bit of pilling while massaging this cream into my skin which felt weird but later I got to know this can happen if you have used any other serum underneath this cream and have started massaging the cream even before the serum got absorbed into the skin. This is true for sunscreens too. You will always have to give enough time to serums to get absorbed and apply the next layer.
  • Initially, in the first week, it gave me one or two zits but now, my skin has been used to it and the cream does not cause any irritation at all.
  • It contains some of my favourite ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Both of them are great for giving us bright, plump and smooth skin. It is also sulphate, phthalates etc. free but it is not paraben free.
  • Now coming to the results, this cream gave my skin definitely a tighter, plump and healthy glow. I do not have a lot of lines or wrinkles. I used it around my under-eye areas where I am seeing some very fine lines which are still not permanent. I did not see any noticeable difference in those lines after using this product.

Now, let’s quickly list down the pros and cons of the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.

Pros:

  • Easily available online and offline
  • Gets easily absorbed into skin
  • Gives a firm and smooth, glowy skin
  • Oily/Combination skin friendly
  • Can use it all year round

Cons :

  • A little expensive
  • If you are using the product alone then you may not see the desired results. You will have to use it as an intermediary product in your skincare routine along with some other good products too.

Hope you will find this review helpful. Have a nice day 🙂

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Product Review, Skincare

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Capsule in Serum – Review

During the Nykaa Pink Friday sale, I picked up the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Capsule in Serum. This serum is basically hyaluronic acid along with antioxidants. I think by the grace of thousands of influencers and skin experts, most of us are quite aware of hyaluronic acid and its impact on maintaining moisture levels, providing hydration and keeping our skin smooth and wrinkle-free.

Is this hydro boost capsule in serum any different than the other hyaluronic acid serums available in the market? Well, let’s find out. I have almost emptied the bottle and I am ready to write my honest review about this serum.

Price and Quantity: This serum comes in a 30 ml bottle and is priced at INR999. Compared to other popular hyaluronic acid serums available in the market, this one is costlier. A 30 ml bottle will last you 1-2 months based on your usage level.

Product Description: Dermatologist tested, this highly effective daily serum instantly quenches dry skin, that helps to repair the skin’s moisture barrier and protects against recurring dryness.

  • Purified Hyaluronic Acid – Naturally found in skin, hyaluronic acid acts as a sponge for dry skin, moisturizing up to 1,000 times its weight in water.
  • Antioxidant – Helps to fortify the skin barrier and protect against dryness.
  • In Serum – With improved moisture sensor complex, it replenishes moisture when you need it most while repairing and rebuilding skin barrier to lock that moisture in.
  • In Capsule – It releases anti-oxidant that fortifies the skin barrier and protects against recurring dryness.

Ingredients: [PR-018550], Aqua, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Mourera Fluviatilis Extract, Arginine, Alanine, Panthenol, Serine, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Threonine, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Niacinamide, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Butylene Glycol, PCA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Agar, Algin, Gellan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Disodium EDTA, Trisodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, CI 77891, CI 77019.

My take on the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Capsule in Serum:

  • The packaging is pretty interesting. I mean the serum in white capsules in a transparent glass bottle looks straight out of a fancy science experiment. It comes in a pump bottle with a lid. Pretty easy to pump a pea-sized amount on your palm and spread it on my face.
  • There is no mention of the percentage of hyaluronic acid in this serum. Given that all the hyaluronic acid serums in the market provide the percentages, I will consider this as a minus point. From the ingredients list, I could only figure out that it contains hyaluronic acid in the form of sodium hyaluronate but the weird thing is it comes quite late in the order of the ingredient list. It also contains Niacinamide which is the 5th ingredient on the list and which means this serum contains more niacinamide than hyaluronic acid. I found this to be a bit strange given that in the product description, they only stressed the hyaluronic acid part. Sadly, it also contains perfume/fragrance. The good thing is it contains vitamin E but again, no mention of the percentage. It is a non-comedogenic product, which means it does not clog pores.
  • Now coming to the texture part, it is a bit thicker serum with a silky consistency. It has mica in it. So, that is why you will find the serum leaves a subtle shine on your face. It blends very smoothly on my skin. I almost loved massaging my face with it or doing a little bit of guasha with this serum because of its thicker and silkier consistency compared to other hyaluronic acid serums available in the market. But, did it make my skin look super plump and hydrated? No, it did not. The bottle looks fancy. It feels good to put it on my skin but after using it for more than a month now, I did not see that my undereye area looks plumper or my skin looks tighter and well hydrated which basically any other hyaluronic acid based serums do.
  • Do I want to repurchase it? No, I will not. I am super sure the actual hyaluronic acid concentration in this serum is lower compared to other serums widely available in the market and maybe at a better price point. I loved the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel from the same range but not this one. You can check my review here.

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

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Makeup, Product Review, Skincare

Plum E-Luminence Simply Supple Cleansing Balm – Review

I was looking to buy a cleansing balm for removing my makeup easily. I found the one by Clinique which has great reviews but is quite expensive. The entire cleansing balm concept is still pretty new to me. So, I wanted to try a budget-friendly cleansing balm first and came across the Plum E-Luminence Simply Supple Cleansing Balm recently. Although this product has been on the market for quite some time, I did not get a chance to try it till now. So, here is my honest review on the Plum cleansing balm.

Price and Quantity: The cost of a 90 gm tub is INR 545 but you will find it at a good discount along with a few freebies from Plum either on Nykaa or at the Plum website 🙂

Key Ingredients:

  • Kokum Butter: A solid emollient brimming with micro-nutrients that not only prevent drying of skin but also reduce degeneration of skin cells thereby keeping your skin supple and deliciously healthy (Kokum isn’t just good for juice, you know)
  • Sunflower Seed Oil: Aside from being a rich source of vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, with its anti-inflammatory and calming properties helps soothe the skin and improves its moisture retention capacity to give soft, supple, hydrated skin.
  • Shea Butter: Shea is extremely hydrating, and at the same time, conditioning and non-sticky.

Full Ingredient List: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Aqua, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soy Polyglycerides, C15-23 Alkanes, Glyceryl Monostearate, Silica, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Synthetic Wax,Tocopheryl Acetate, Garcinia Indica (Kokum) Seed Butter, Coco Glucoside, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, CI 26100, Argania Spinosa(Argan) Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance

My take on the Plum Cleansing Balm:

  • The cleansing balm comes in a plastic tub with a lid. There is a small plastic spatula that comes with this to help scrap the product of the tab. This makes the process of taking out the product quite easy and hygienic.
  • The product has a thick waxy texture. In the beginning, I was quite disappointed with the texture because it appeared to be too thick and a bit grainy. It felt too harsh to put on my face and then massage it to spread out evenly. There were small granules getting stuck on my face. I expected this cleansing balm to be softer. However, later I realized that I am using it all wrong. I am supposed to scoop out a little product on my palm and it will soften up with my body temperature. Then I should apply it to my face. I have never used a cleansing balm before and so it took me a while to figure out the best way of using this product. However, I still noticed that a few small granules of the balm are very hard to melt and they get stuck to my face.
  • The product has a baby pink colour and a subtle fragrance. I wish they got rid of the fragrance. There are a lot of oils and butter in it to help melt all the makeup easily. Once I massage it evenly on my face, I let it sit for a while and then wash it off with water. Even after washing it leaves my skin very oily. If you just wash with water or remove the balm with a wet cotton pad, you will not feel very refreshed and the skin may feel sticky due to the excessive oil. So, I double-cleanse my face with face wash. I have noticed it removes all the lipstick stains with long hours stay claims, cleans my pores, and removes eyeliner and waterproof mascara pretty well. But, make sure to wash your eyes thoroughly with clean water. Otherwise, this oily cleansing balm will give you blurry vision for at least half an hour. This cleansing balm did not give me any allergic reaction or break-outs. Overall, I was not super impressed with the product but did not hate it as well. In future, I will try the cleansing balms from other brands as well.

Let’s list down all the pros and cons.

Pros:

  • Pocket friendly
  • Cleanse all the makeup residue pretty easily
  • Does not dry out the skin.

Cons:

  • Contains fragrance
  • I have not tried other cleansing balms, so cannot compare but I felt the texture is very thick and grainy and that is why it takes quite a lot of time to melt completely.

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

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Product Review, Skincare

PIXI Collagen Tonic – Review

Pixi is a trendy brand with a range of toners targeting various skin concerns. As I have crossed 30, I am explicitly investing in products to maintain my skin hydration and elasticity. Collagen is known to be a very important factor in maintaining our skin elasticity and making our skin look firm. As we grow older our skin’s natural collagen level production rate decreases gradually. Now, this is inevitable that we will age but we can follow a good skincare routine and diet with various ingredients which can promote collagen production and which in turn will make our skin look well taken care of. I purchased the Pixi botanical collagen tonic recently and have been using it for more than 3 weeks now. Let me tell you first, that I really liked this collagen tonic.

Price and Quantity: It comes in two sizes. The 100 ml bottle costs INR 1400 and the 250 ml bottle costs INR 2700. I think a 100 ml bottle will go a long way and if you are going to purchase it for the first time, it makes sense to try the 100 ml version.

Product Description: A volumizing tonic helps to smooth fine lines and improve uneven skin texture. Formulated with acacia collagen, peptides and botanicals to rejuvenate the skin while helping promote a youthful-looking complexion.

Product details:
– Helps to volumize, firm and revitalise skin’s elasticity
– Infused with botanicals to provide antioxidant benefits while promoting a youthful-looking complexion
– Mineral-rich formula replenishes depleted skin
– Alcohol-free
– Paraben-free
– Not tested on animals
– Suitable for all skin types

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Betaine, Acacia Seyal Gum Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Sea Salt Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Coenochloris Signiensis Extract, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-37, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Extract, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Extract (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Amyl Cinnamal, Linalool.

Ingredients Analysis: The good thing is that this collagen tonic is completely alcohol and paraben free. I could not neither spot fragrance in their ingredients list nor actually smell anything, So, that’s great too. This is a water-based toner with coconut water as the second ingredient. Coconut water has some great skin benefits because it contains multiple vitamins including vitamin c. It is known to be great to maintain skin elasticity. The third and fourth ingredients are propanediol and glycerine. Both of them help to lock moisture in the skin. That is why after using this toner I felt I can get away even without using a moisturizer. It also contains acacia seyal gum extract which is known for its skin-smoothening properties. Overall the ingredients list looks pretty good to me.

My take on the Pixi Collagen Tonic:

  • Let’s start with the packaging. It comes in a green plastic bottle with a slightly pinkish-brown liquid. You basically need to pour the tonic on your palm and dab it on your face. This type of packaging ensures you get the maximum of the product. I prefer spray bottles but I think that will lead to losing a lot of product. The 100 ml version is quite travel-friendly and there is no chance of product spillage.
  • From the price point of view, I know there are a lot of toners maybe at a cheaper price point but a 100 ml bottle of this collagen tonic will go a long way. Also, the next point will tell you why I really liked this tonic.
  • The main claims of this product are to smooth skin texture, reduce fine lines and rejuvenate skin. I can’t comment about reducing fine lines yet but this toner definitely has smoothened my skin texture and made it look firmer and well-hydrated. As I mentioned earlier, this toner has a very strong moisturizing property. It gives me instant hydration and maintains the moisture level. My skin looks smooth and supple noticeably post using this toner. It also did not cause me any kind of irritation. In fact, it always feels like this toner soothes my skin post cleaning my face with a face wash. So, every morning after cleaning my face I pour 5-6 drops of this tonic and dab it on my face with my palm. It instantly gets absorbed. After waiting for 2-3 minutes I apply my serums/lightweight moisturizer and sunscreen and it has never caused any irritation.

Now let me quickly list down the pros and cons of the Pixi collagen tonic

Pros:

  • Gives instant hydration and locks moisture
  • Makes skin look well-hydrated, smoother and firmer
  • Alcohol, paraben free
  • Suitable for any skin types

Cons:

  • A bit costly

I am surely going to continue using this collagen tonic and will recommend you try this out. Let me know if you found this review helpful. Have a nice day 🙂

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Product Review, Skincare

Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel Review

I wanted to try the Neutrogena Hydroboost water gel for a long time but somehow did not ever end up purchasing it. Recently during Nykaa pink Friday sale, I found some of the Neutrogena products at a great discount. So, I decided to try my hands on this gel moisturizer and let me tell you I absolutely loved it. I have used it for around 3 weeks now and I am ready to share my honest opinion about this.

Price and Quantity: A 50 gm tub retails for INR 1050 but you can get it for a 10-15% discount at Nykaa. There is also a smaller version of 15gm which retails for INR450. There is also a combo pack of the Neutrogena Ultra sheer dry touch sunblock with the mini version of the hydroboost gel. If you are trying out this product for the first time I will suggest trying the mini version first.

Product Description: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel with 50% more hyaluronic acid has a unique light-weighted fresh texture that can be instantly absorbed, proven to effectively lock in abundant hydration deep within your skin, and continuously quench your skin’s thirst throughout the day.

Key Features

  • Works at new skin depth, 2x deeper in skin**
  • Gives skin a pure boost of instant hydration
  • Strengthens skin barrier for protection against 5 aggressors
  • 5 dimensions of healthy skin achieved – smoothness, firmness, translucency, trouble-free and plumpness

Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone/vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Dimethiconol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Laureth-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance, C12-14 Pareth-12, Sodium Hydroxide, Blue 1.

Ingredient Analysis: The primary 3 ingredients are water, dimethicone and glycerine. That is why this formula is very gentle on the skin and has a soft gel-like consistency. Dimethicone provides long-lasting skin-smoothing benefits and glycerine is a humectant which helps to draw water from the atmosphere and smoothen the skin. It contains sodium hyaluronate which is basically what we know as hyaluronic acid. The percentages are not mentioned. Sadly, this moisturizer contains fragrance. It has a refreshing aqua smell which I like but from a skincare perspective, I wish they did not use any fragrance. Also, it contains an ingredient called blue 1 which is a water-soluble blue dye. Although I saw it is FDA-approved, I am not sure I quite like the use of an artificial dye on my skin.

My take on the product:

  • There are not a lot of gel moisturizers on the market. I can compare it with the Clinique moisture surge which also targets giving maximum hydration for a long period of time. I will try to do a thorough comparison later. This gel moisturizer is a little pricey for the Indian market. A 50 gm tub will probably last me 1.5 -2 months.
  • The packaging is a blue glass tub with a white lid. There is no chance that the product will spill out while travelling.
  • The texture of the product is a very soft gel which gives a feathery touch to my skin. As I have oily acne-prone skin, I simply cannot use thick face moisturizers. They are bound to clog my pores and give me red bumps all over my face. So, I am a sucker for gel moisturizers which will keep my skin hydrated for a longer period of time. The Neutrogena hydro boost water gel is great for people with oily or combination skin. I felt my skin smooth and supple and did not feel the need for additional application in a whole day even in winter. This one will work in both summer and winter for sure. My skin looked well hydrated and it did not give me any skin irritation. It gets absorbed instantly and does not make my skin look greasy at all. I can apply sunscreen or any other make-up product after applying this moisturizer.

Let’s quickly sum it up with a pros and cons list –

Pros:

  • Oil-free, light-weight, non-greasy formula
  • Non-comedogenic (Does not clog pores)
  • Gives long-lasting moisturization
  • Makes skin look smooth and well hydrated

Cons:

  • Slightly expensive
  • Contains fragrance and dye

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

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Product Review, Skincare

OLAY Luminous Niacinamide + AHA Super Serum Review

I have already reviewed OLAY luminous Niacinamide + Vitamin C super serum. You can read that review here. This range of serums is pretty new to the market and believe me they are super effective. They mean business. When I was younger I always thought OLAY specializes in products for matured skin but now they are experimenting with their product range. So, I wanted to share my experience of using the OLAY Luminous Niacinamide + AHA super serum. I am currently on my second bottle and I have definitely seen a marked improvement in my skin after using this product.

Price and Quantity: The actual price of a 30 ml bottle is 1999 but you will get it at a very good discount almost all the time at Nykaa. Right now it is selling at INR 1399.

Description: Olay has a total of four super serums in this range. All of them include niacinamide as the base and the second ingredient is vit C/AHA/ Hyaluronic/Cica. the Niacinamide + AHA serum is specifically targeted for acne removal and blemish mark reduction. It claims to remove acne marks of 5 years within 4 weeks and 2X clearer skin in 8 weeks. AHA (Lactic Acid) acts on skin surface while Niacinamide penetrates 10 layers deep to effectively target root causes of spots across skin layers. Dermatologist tested formula. Does not clog pores. Fast absorbing and non-greasy epidermis layer.

Ingredients: Well, one disappointment is I could not find the full ingredients list. It just mentioned that it contains Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), AHA (Lactic Acid), Pro-Vitamin B5 and Vitamin C. It is free from sulphates, parabens, phthalates, petroleum and mineral oils. It is not fragrance free.

Packaging and Use: It comes with an auto-dropper glass bottle like the other super serums by Olay. You just need to twist and turn the cap to automatically draw out the serum. Then simply press the pump to dispense on palm. They recommend to use it twice a day after cleansing and toning. If you are using it during daytime, make sure to apply sunscreen first because this does not contain any SPF. I personally prefer to use it at night after cleaning my face. I don’t like to put any additional moisturizer post this. However, now that it is almost winter in India, I have noticed that I need to add a light moisturizing lotion after 10-15 minutes of application of this super serum.

Does this work as it claims? Here comes the most interesting part. Does this product actually works as it claims? So, let me start with the consistency and texture of this product. It looks like a transparent, white, water based serum. The consistency is not exactly watery but also not too thick. I take two pumps on my palm and that is enough to spread over my entire face and neck. It gets absorbed very quickly. Does not make skin oily or greasy. It almost gives a dewy finish. Now coming to the effectivemess of the product, it gives my skin the much coveted glass-skin like appearence. My skin looks very bight, glowing and almost everybody around me notices the difference. Even if I am under stress or working really hard, this serum ensures that my skin doesn’t appear to be dull. I can totally say that you will notice a difference in your skin’s texture and appearance after using this product.

Now, did this remove blemishes on my face? Well no it did not. I have some very old acne marks. I did not notice any difference in their appearances. It made my skin look bery bright and may be that is why you will not get to notice those small acne marks that much but it definitely did not fade them away. I recently had a few bumps here around my chin, must be due to hormonal imbalance. I was using this serum at that time and now I noticed that they did not leave any spots on my face. I cannot say for sure that this is because of this serum alone because I was also using other acne treatments.

Overall I really loved this serum and I will continue to use it. This is my second bottle and it lasts me for a month. Hope you found this review helpful. Let me know in the comments section your experience of using it. Have a nice day 🙂

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