Category Archives: Skincare

Product Review, Skincare

TONYMOLY Aloe 99% Chok Chok Soothing Gel – Review

Almost every summer I buy an Aloe Vera gel as they are very soothing and light weight especially in the hot and humid weather. Aloe has great medicinal properties and works well on skin rashes, itches, redness and in general just to freshen up your skin. My mom even grows Aloe plants at our home and encourages me to just directly cut the leaves and squeeze out the gel. However, being a lazy bum I prefer to buy a ready made Aloe Gel…sorry Mom 😦

Last year I bought the Innisfree Aloe Vera gel and it was really good. I made a lot of DIY skincare and hair care items using that aloe gel. This year I wanted to try the Aloe 99% Chok Chok soothing gel from TonyMoly. So let’s start the review.

TonyMoly Aloe 99% Chok Chok Soothing Gel

Price and Quantity : So it comes in a 250 ml lovely summer green tube and costs INR 400. Look out for occasional discounts and you may find a good deal on Nykaa.

Description (As mentioned in the packaging) :

TonyMoly Aloe 99% Chok Chok Soothing Gel has been created as an instant soothing rescue for the skin, leaving it feeling calmer, cool and hydrated. This non-sticky formula is made with 99% aloe vera, great for sensitive skin. it can be used on both face and body as it instantly calms and replenishes tired skin with moisture!

Key Ingredients (As mentioned on the backside of the tube):

Aloe barbadensis leaf water (99%), carbomer, tromethamine, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil and fragrance.

My experience with the product :

  • So let me start with when I use it. I store it in refrigerator just to get the cool feeling on my skin. Once I take my shower and apply toner, sunscreen, serum and after that I apply this gel. Sometimes in the afternoon when I look for a quick snack in my refrigerator I also take out a generous amount of this gel and reapply it and it gives me that instant freshness.
  • Coming to the texture, it has a light weight, transparent, smooth gel formulation which blends very easily on skin and does not make skin greasy at all. Its consistency is little watery and simply melts when I put it on my skin. It gives that extra hydration plus moisturizing effect. I found the Innisfree Aloe Vera gel thicker than this. Aloe Vera gels are suitable for all skin types. You can even use it as a moisturizer like I do if you have oily skin. In fact you can use it anywhere in your body. I apply it on my elbows, knees and on summer heat rashes and it instantly soothes the skin. Any Aloe Vera gel can be used as a primer or base before applying make up. It helps create a smooth canvas for application of make up.
  • This product contains fragrance which is sad. The smell is refreshing though. However, I wish they did not use this fragrance. It does not contain alcohol.
  • I will score this 4 out of 5. Minus 1 for fragrance. Overall I really liked this one and simply find excuses to apply it frequently.

P.S. Chok chok means luminous in Korean. Surprisingly there is a similar word with exactly same meaning in Bengali. If you know Bengali you will know what I am talking about :p

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Product Review, Skincare

Minimalist 10% Niacinamide Serum – Review

I have been hearing a lot of noise about the brand Minimalist but didn’t get a chance to try them out. I made a rule to use the products first before buying the next one and because I already had tons of serums I had to wait to try this one. So, finally I bought the Minimalist 10% Niacinamide Face Serum with Zinc which is said to be great removing Blemishes, Acne Marks and Dark Spots from Nykaa.

Price and quantity: The 30 ml bottle of this serum costs for INR599 on Nykaa. Sometimes they offer 5% discounts but those are short-lived.

Minimalist 10% Niacinamide + 1% Zinc Serum Review

Packaging: Okay, so there was a lot of controversy regarding the Minimalist copying the Ordinary products and their packaging. However, minimalist now has changed their packaging and most of their serum come in a simple glass bottle with a dropper. They kept it simple. It looks like a typical medicinal packaging but I totally believe in the product quality and packaging does not matter to me much unless they are unhygienic.

Description : This is what is written on the packaging – “Minimalist Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Face Serum is a nourishing, daily serum packed with pure vitamin B3 and antibacterial mineral zinc that boosts dermal immunity, keeping your skin resilient and healthy. The soothing aloe-based formula contains pure 10% niacinamide that is clinically proven to promote protein synthesis, reduce melanin concentration and improve skin complexion in 2 weeks. This oil-free lightweight serum coupled with zinc balances sebum activity and reduces inflammation, leaving smooth textured skin with no sticky residue.”

Key Ingredients: Aloe Vera Juice, Niacinamide, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Propanediol, Ethoxydiglycol, Zinc PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin

My experience with it:

  • So, let me start with why I decided to buy a 10% Niacinamide serum at the first place. I already did a lot of research on the benefits of niacinamide and its different compounds. You can check out my article here for further details. Niacinamide is known to be great for improving skin texture, removing blemishes and acne marks. Recently I had a few ‘mask-ne’ because of double masking in summer and that too in India. Although the acnes disappeared pretty soon it left behind a few dark spots and that is when I decided to try this Niacinamide serum. I have been trying this serum for last 3 weeks now and let me tell you within 1 week of using this product my skin looked a lot more clearer and brighter. I used it in the morning after cleansing and after applying the cream skin refiner from Laneige. This is not a thick serum and gets absorbed pretty quickly. I take 4-5 drops on my palm using the dropper and then blend it in over my entire face. I wait for around 10 minutes and then I apply a sunscreen. I repeated the same routine at night. Except in place of the sunscreen I used a light night time moisturizer.
  • Now coming to the composition and key ingredients. This product contains 10% Niacinamide and 1 % Zinc (The Ordinary also has an exact similar product). Now a lot of research based articles mentioned that 10% Niacinamide may have adverse impacts on people with pre-existing allergies. They can try the 5% version. In general, Niacinamide can be used twice a day and it is well tolerable on skin for most people. Another quick tip is to never use Niacinamide and Vitamin C together. Both of them are great for skin pigmentation and blemishes but should not be mixed or used one after another. Zinc is also another great ingredient which works great for lightening blemishes. If you are not comfortable using 10% Niacinamide you can also try the 5% version from Minimalist. I plan to do so in future as I noticed a grey area there. People have mentioned that 10% Niacinamide can cause redness and irritation although personally I have not experienced that.
  • This product does not contain essential oil, fragrance, paraben, sulfates, silicon nothing. Great!

Overall this product has worked for me pretty well on lightening up my ‘mask-ne’ marks. I will definitely recommend it. As I mentioned earlier, if 10% Niacinamide worries you try their 5% version first. I will try and provide my review 🙂

Have a nice day!

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Product Review, Skincare

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Essence Review

Ok so if you have been following my blog for some time you must know how big of a fan I am of Laneige. I have loved each of their products that I tried in the past and some of them are part of my daily skincare routine. Now I cannot say that Laneige products are affordable. They are definitely pricey, however, they work and that definitely matters. So I bought the Laneige Water Bank Moisture Essence from Nykaa almost 2 months back. It was part of their holiday edition. The entire holiday edition contains two Laneige Cica sleeping mask(10 ml each) and two water sleeping mask(15ml each) and the moisture essence (70 ml). Surprisingly this limited edition package costs the same if you would buy only the moisture essence. So if they are still available on Nykaa or elsewhere, I would suggest you to buy the holiday edition for better value.

Price and Quantity : The 70 ml bottle of moisture essence costs Rs 2590. The holiday edition costs the same but we get 4 small sample size sleeping masks as well. Laneige products are hardly on discount but fortunately I got it at 20% off on Nykaa.

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Essence Review

Description :

WATER ZIPPER TECHNOLOGY FOR SKIN MOISTURIZING AT THE FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL : LANEIGE’s original technology boosts the skin’s moisturizing mechanism from generation to lock-in and purification to moisturize the skin from within, at the fundamental level.

ANTI-OXIDATION EFFECT, GARDEN CRESS : Garden Cress suppresses and removes active oxygen to purify the skin and create a clear bright luminous complexion.

HIGH CONCENTRATION OF MINERAL EXTRACTED, OCEAN BREW METHOD : LANEIGE’s original Ocean Brew method ensures the complete preservation of a high concentration of minerals extracted at a low temperature for five hours.

Ingredients : Water / Aqua / Eau, Propanediol, Glycerin, Squalane, Hexyldecyl Myristoyl Methylaminopropionate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Myristyl Myristate, Pca Dimethicone, Sea Water / Maris Aqua / Eau De Mer, Saccharide Isomerate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Tromethamine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Fragrance / Parfum, Disodium Edta, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Cynara Scolymus (Artichoke) Leaf Extract, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Lecithin, Brassica Oleracea Gemmifera (Brussels Sprouts) Extract, Phaseolus Lunatus (Green Bean) Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside.

How to Use :

So as described by the Laneige product development team, the moisture essence should be used as a toner or emulsion. You can take 2-3 drops and then massage by your fingers or take a cotton pad as well. I prefer to use my fingers. We can also add 1-2 drops of the Essence to our foundation or BB creams to create dewy glowing skin. It will make sure the skin looks flawless and stays hydrated from within. Also, we can soak cotton pad in Water Bank Essence and make our own sheet masks.

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Essence Review

My take on the product:

I will start with my overall verdict first. I just loved this product. This has completely changed the texture of my skin within 2 weeks of use. My skin looks dewy with a subtle glow (exactly what I want). My skin texture has become even. I had to achieve this kind of finish with the help of a BB cream previously but this essence has worked wonders on my skin. I feel confident to go out without putting on any make up on my face. So now you know how much I loved it. My skin looks recharged and fresh after I have started using it.

The essence is not too watery. I think the hydro essence is more water based than this one. The moisture essence does not feel like a lotion either. The consistency is between a cream based toner and a lotion. It will not make your skin feel greasy or oily. Gets absorbed very quickly and instantly gives a smooth and even base for you to apply your make-up on.

The only thing that I did not like about it is the presence of fragrance. It smells somewhat like a shampoo :p. Anyway, people with inflammatory skin condition should avoid it. I have read a few reviews before buying it and some of them praised it a lot and some of them did not like it that much. It obviously depends on personal experience but I will definitely buy it again.

Hope you found this review useful. Please keep following the blog. I will be encouraged to write more. Happy Sunday 😀 !!

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Favorites, Product Review, Skincare

Laneige Cream Skin Refiner Review

I got my hands into the Laneige Cream Skin Refiner finally after hearing rave reviews about it. When I first checked out the product on nykaa I was little confused about the ‘Skin Refiner’ part. As per the product description it was written that it is a “Miraculous skin fortifier, deep hydration repairs and strengthens skin barrier. It is a toner with new formula in which a whole bottle of cream is dissolved with safe ingredients to keep the skin hydrated and healthy. Leave your skin moisturized at the first step of your skin care routine with Cream Skin Refiner.” From the description I felt this is a toner but may have a moisturizing effect as well and decided to give it a try. So here is my review of the product.

Price and Quantity: The product comes in 2 sizes. The 150 ml bottle retails for INR 1850 and the 50 ml bottle retails for INR 750. I bought the 50ml one just to try the product first. It comes in a simple translucent white sturdy plastic bottle with a white cap. You just need to simply pour the product on your palm. There is no pump or anything like that; very standard packaging as expected from a toner.

Laneige Cream Skin Refiner
Laneige Cream Skin Refiner

Features:

  • – A two-in-one formula that preps and softens like a toner and moisturizes like a cream
  • – With Cream Blending Technology™ exclusive of Laneige, a jar of cream is dissolved in skin toner
  • – With White Leaf Tea Water having content of amino acid enriched through the specialized shadow-growing method
  • – It strengthens the skin barrier and provides a lasting moisturizing effect
  • – Cream Skin Refiner is filled with mild and safe ingredients which provides moisturizing effects for dry and sensitive skin

Ingredients : Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl- 10 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Disodium Edta, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol.

Laneige Cream Skin Refiner

My take on the product :

  • Price point wise I feel the product is pretty reasonably priced if we compare it to other K-beauty toners.
  • The packaging is on-point. Whenever I think about Laneige packaging all their products are packaged in a way which is user friendly with high quality material and muted yet beautiful colors. Their lip sleeping mask comes in pink tubs, water sleeping mask comes in blue tubs and hence cream skin refiners come in white bottles. No surprise. They want to visually send a message to the customers of their product’s intended usage. I dig that.
  • Now coming to the ingredient list. Obviously I do not have any professional qualification about this but I do check the ingredient list and do my research. The first ingredient is water as this is a water based toner. Their ingredient list mentions Meadowfoam seed oil which acts as an emollient that creates a protective seal over our skin to lock in moisture. It contains butylene glycol which is a Conditioning agent that add a layer of softness or improved texture to our skin. 1,2-hexanediol is used as a synthetic preservative and moisture-binding solvent which creates the clear liquid consistency and also helps to dissolve other substances. This does not contain any nasty chemical like paraben or phthalates.
  • When I first pour the product onto my palm I saw a milky white water like/ runny consistency which is what a toner is supposed be like. I simply applied the toner on my face and pat it dry slowly with my fingers. It got absorbed quickly and instantly my skin felt very moisturized and hydrated as well. This is not exactly how we feel after applying a toner right. This is where the cream skin refiner part is coming into play. It looks like a toner and feels featherlight on skin but leaves the effect of a moisturizer. This product is supposed to work great for normal and dry skin. However, it worked really great for my oily skin in relatively cold and dry weather. Not sure how it will feel in a hot and humid weather though. Laneige claimed to use a whole bottle of cream inside a bottle of toner using their trademark cream blending technology. That sounds scary for someone who has oily skin but it felt absolutely nourishing and hydrating for me without having any greasiness or any discomfort to be precise. This is indeed a magic bottle.
  • Coming to how I added it to my skincare regime, I firstly washed my skin with a cleanser and then applied this toner and after that applied the Laneige water sleeping mask before going to bed. When I woke up my skin looked super glowing and felt moisturized. This toner works great with a night cream or a light moisturizer and it will not make your skin heavy or greasy for sure.
  • Am I going to repurchase this? YES! for sure 🙂 It won my heart.

Hope you found this review useful. Please keep following the blog. Happy Sunday 🙂

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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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Skincare

2 Amazing DIY eye masks that will make your under eyes perfect

While doing my regular window shopping of beauty products I recently came across a turmeric based under eye cream by the brand FARSÁLI and it costs a bomb! For 15 ml product you will have to pay INR 3500. I must say I was intrigued by the composition of the eye cream. So I did a little research to understand which ingredients do wonder for the under eye area and tried a few of them at home. In this post I will be sharing the ingredients I used and what results I got.

In general all the popular eye creams available in the market are quite expensive but we also need to take good care of the most sensitive area of our face. So here are a few pretty easy home remedies you can try.I did it for myself and it worked really well for me.

Coconut oil and vit E mixture – Coconut oil has some amazing health benefits if you cook your food with it but it has also showed proven results on the skin and hair. I have been staying and travelling around southern part of India and noticed that each and every part of a coconut tree is used here.It can be used as cooking oil or hair oil or as a natural facial oil as well. Coconut oil will instantly increase the moisture content of dry under eye area and vitamin e is known to work as an antioxidant and fights UV damage. Here in India, at a normal temperature(20-30 degree Celsius) you will find coconut oil to be in a liquid state but during winter it turns into solid. I have seen stores selling coconut oil in an exorbitant rate but actually it is quite cheap if you are buying directly from a genuine source. Before buying please make sure that it does not contain paraffin or palm oil etc. I got myself a 1 litre bottle of pure coconut oil without any adulteration from Kerala.If you are buying from a store please look into its license or any government certification to be sure that what you are getting is absolutely pure.

Now coming to the mixture you need to get 1 tablespoon of pure coconut oil and 1 capsule of vitamin e and gently massage your under eye area in a circular motion. If you are in India you can buy a strip of Evion Vitamin e capsules for 20-30 Rs. Remember to always use your ring finger to ensure you are applying right amount of pressure.Under eye area is so delicate a little bit of extra pressure can really make things worse for you.It will take some time to get fully absorbed. Just close your eyes and play some nice music and relax. I will recommend you to apply this before taking a shower. You can also take a bit more oil and vit e and mix it well in a glass jar and keep it in fridge.the mixture will solidify and you can use it as a balm.How fun that is! This mixture is so good that you can apply it anywhere in your body like chapped lips, elbows or knee.

Turmeric and yogurt mixture – The other one is definitely my age old favorite which is a turmeric plus yogurt or curd mixture.This mixture as well can be used on any part of your body and face as a natural moisturizer. You can mix two tea spoon of turmeric with 3 table spoon of yogurt or even home made curd and put it in a jar and store it in your fridge for at least 4 days. Turmeric is known for its anti oxidant and anti inflammatory property.It is known to bring a natural glow to skin.In India at least before the rapid growth of cosmetic industry turmeric or ‘haldi’ was the best known ingredient to every Indian household to get that instant glow.Even till now there is a pre-wedding ceremony dedicated to celebrate turmeric at almost every Indian wedding.On the other hand fresh curd or yogurt contains lactic acid which reduces the appearance of wrinkles. This mixture worked wonders for my tired under eyes and I will recommend you to try them for yourself.

Hope you liked this homemade inexpensive DIY tricks for under eye care which will give you definite results without burning a hole into your pocket. Stay happy 🙂

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