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Skincare, Product Review

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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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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Product Review, Skincare

Favorite Face-wash/Cleansers- 2022

Here is a quick review of four of my current favorite face washes. There is no clear winner. I prefer to use them based on my skin condition. So let’s start with the review.

The first one is the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam. This is part of the anti-blemish pack of Clinique and you can purchase it separately as well. I like Clinique’s products as they are very targeted and always address one specific concern at a time. So, they have an entire anti-blemish routine starting with this cleansing foam then a toner, and a moisturizing lotion as well. For this review, I will stick to the Cleansing foam only.

If you want to purchase it separately without buying the other products in this range, it will cost you INR 2100 for a 125 ml pump bottle. This sounds pricey but tries to buy the combo pack which comes at around INR 2500 along with the toner and the lotion. This way you can try the cleansing foam and see if it works for you.

This cleansing foam has 2% salicylic acid which helps clear and prevent acne and unclog pores. I prefer to use it when I spot a bump on my face or when my face feels a bit oily. The texture is completely foamy. It comes in a pump bottle and when you squeeze the pump you will see a dollop of foam on your palm. Just spread it nicely all over your face and massage it a little. It will get smoothly spread out all over the face and then it is just like any other face wash. Once I clean my face with water, the face becomes super smooth and clean without a trace of extra oil. It does not make my face extra dry. The product is allergy tested and 100% fragrance-free. It is also free of Oil, denatured alcohol, synthetic colors, SLS, SLES, and gluten. It can be used when you already got acne on your face or you can also use it as preventive care if you have oily skin.

The second product is Pixi Glow Tonic Cleansing gel. This is part of their popular Glow Tonic range and is used as a first step in the daily skincare routine. It retails for INR 1950 for a 135 ml tube.

This is actually a glycolic gel that acts as an exfoliator. This is a transparent cleansing gel with no specific strong smell. It contains fragrance in their ingredients list but I believe the quantity is very less. It gives a soothing freshness and a bright glow instantly. I use it sparingly like maybe twice or thrice a week especially while cleaning my makeup. It really cleans well without any irritation or dryness and leaves a very smooth finish on my face. Also, a 135 ml tube goes a long way. So it is value for money. It has aloe vera which calms the irritation and ginseng which energizes the skin. It is suitable for all skin types and we can use it all year round.

Moving on to the third product The Bodyshop Deep Cleansing Seaweed Gel Wash. I have been using it for quite some time. It is really good for controlling excess oils in your face and leaves a very soothing and refreshed feeling on my face. It has a soothing fragrance. However, it makes my skin a bit dry especially if I am using it in winter. So I make sure to quickly apply a hydrating lotion after applying it. It contains seaweed which is known to be good for the skin. I prefer to use it when I have a little dull acne on my face or just to give a good cleaning around the areas of my nose where usually the oil concentration happens. It retails for INR 945 for a 125 ml tube. Again a little amount is sufficient for this face wash and so it will serve you for quite some time. It is suitable for oily or combination skin types.

Here comes the fourth and last product. It is again from the brand Clinique. It is their liquid facial soap oily skin formula. I got a couple of mini versions of this face wash as a free gift when I bought other clinique products and I actually liked it. It lathers up when you use it, so it is not exactly like the other three, I just reviewed.

But the lather is very soft and minimal and does not dry up my skin at all. It maintains my skin’s natural moisture balance. It does not contain parabens, phthalates, and fragrances. This facewash is pricey, retails for INR 2000 for a 200 ml bottle but there is another mini version of 30 ml which retails for INR 850. It is targeted for oily skin people and I think will work for combination skin pretty well.

Hope you found this review useful. Let me know in the comments if you have used any of these and if you liked them. Have a nice day!

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Favorites, Product Review, Skincare

YBP Barrier Repair Tonic – Review

I am back with a great product review today. I mentioned in one of my previous blogs that I have been using the YBP barrier repair tonic for quite some time now and I wanted to share my experience with everyone. Sadly, due to extremely busy days in the past few months, I couldn’t pull myself to sit and write a detailed review. Firstly, let me share with you this is an AMAZING product which has improved my problematic skin texture. It truly says what it does! How great that is!

I don’t know why this product is not that popular yet. Maybe because it is not available on Nykaa! That is a surprising fact though. I remember YBP used to sell their initial make-up products through Nykaa and their own website but their skincare range is only available on their website currently (at least that is what I am aware of). I think they have a very niche market and their production is also limited compared to their peers. But I gotta say they have an amazing eye for every little detail in terms of packaging and tries to come up with products which really make a difference.

YBP Barrier Repair Tonic

Description: As mentioned on their website, here it says “Barrier Repair Tonic is a multi-benefit brightening/exfoliating treatment that effectively works in reducing excess oiliness, redness and congestion. This luxurious facial tonic helps with improving skin texture and resurfaces and softens skin while significantly improving skin elasticity and the appearance of dark spots and pigmentation. Formulated with gentle yet effective blends of Acids, Zinc Sebum, and Plant Extracts that not only exfoliate dead and strongly pigmented cells, but they also encourage cell turnaround to renew the skin.”

Price and Quantity: 60 ml spray bottle of barrier repair tonic retails for INR 1500.

YBP Barrier Repair Tonic

Ingredients: Aqua, Urtica Dioica Leaf Water, Centella Asiatica Leaf Water, Glycerin, Zinc Chloride + Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein + Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract + Thymus Vulgaris Extract + Malva Sylvestris Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract + Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Sodium PCA, Laminaria Digitata, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol + Ethylhexylglycerin, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract + Magnesium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lactic Acid, Sodium Gluconate

What I liked about the YBP Barrier Repair Tonic :

Packaging: All their products come in handmade paper packaging. The spray bottle is made up of glass and is aesthetically pleasing.
Consistency: The product is water based as you can see from the ingredient list. When you spray a certain amount onto your palm it feels and looks like any other toner. Once I put it on my face it simply gets absorbed. I don’t need to blend or anything. I simply pat it gently over my entire face and the product does not make my skin dry or oily. It just feels very refreshing like it would have felt after a face wash with water.


Does it work? Well, at the beginning of 2022, I had a horrible breakout on my face. It was gut related and I had to make severe changes in my diet. But, along with that, I understood that my skin barrier is compromised and that is when I started looking for something which will improve my skin barrier. Let me tell you, I have never used any product from YBP previously. I thought to give this one a try and it worked!!
 
I obviously became more conscious about eating clean and included more veggies and fruits in my diet before making changes in my skincare routine. I also decluttered my skincare routine because once you have breakouts, there is no point in mixing and matching products. We need to be minimalistic and just use the products which will not aggravate the situation. So, after cleaning my face I simply use the YBP Barrier repair tonic as a toner. Earlier I used to notice a sudden redness post washing my face. Later I realized it is happening as the pH balance is not maintained. The barrier repair tonic completely changed the situation for me. My skin feels very calm and well hydrated after application. One of the product claims was that it maintains the optimum pH balance of our skin and I think it actually does! I don’t see any redness or any type of skin irritation. After applying this tonic I let it get absorbed into my skin and then proceed with a serum or you can use any hydrating face moisturizer. As I understand this tonic will help to lock in the moisture in the skin for hours and also reduce excess sebum production. I have seen visible improvement in my skin texture and I have stopped getting acne completely. I will stress the fact that it is a combination of a clean diet, less stress and the right skincare product which will give us the dream skin that we want. No standalone product will be a game changer.
 
This tonic is going to be a staple in my skincare routine and I sincerely hope that they don’t discontinue the product. I am at my second bottle and this has been definitely a key product which has healed my skin in the last 7-8 months.

What I did not like about YBP Barrier Repair Tonic:

The only two complaints that I have are that I specifically did not like the smell of the product. It has a lot of natural ingredients and does not contain fragrance and maybe that is why the smell is a little weird but I try to ignore it because of the amazing things it does for my skin. The second problem is that it is a bit expensive for a 60 ml bottle. They give some discounts from time to time on their website. So watch out for them.
 
Hope you found this review helpful. Have a nice day!!

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Product Review, Skincare

OLAY LUMINOUS NIACINAMIDE + VITAMIN C SUPER SERUM : REVIEW

I have been using the Olay Luminous Niacinamide plus Vitamin C serum for over a month now and I have almost emptied the first bottle. So, I believe that makes me eligible to review the product. When I bought the product I think it was a pretty new product in the market. Olay launched 3 or 4 of these serums. One of them is the Niacinamide which I am about to review. The other ones were hyaluronic and most probably cica. Now, the motivation for me to try this particular Niacinamide serum was because of its tall claims that it clears spots and brightens skin etc. I was going through a horrible breakout since 2022 started due to extreme stress. But, that’s another story. Anyway, I had to do something to make these acne marks a little less visible. I was open trying anything and everything for a quick result. So, I wasted no time getting my hands on this serum and let me tell you I was not disappointed. Okay, so, let’s start the detailed review and I can share my exact experience with this product.

Olay Luminous Niacinamide plus Vitamin C Super Serum Review

Description:

The descriptions on the packaging says –

Olay Luminous Niacinamide + Vitamin C Super Serum is a concentrated formula enriched with Vitamin C and 99% Pure Niacinamide to reveal skin’s even glow from within. It penetrates 10 surface layers deep^ and is easily absorbed to reduce the look of dark spots, for visibly more even tone and texture in 28 days.

-Suitable for uneven skin tone.

-Fast absorption, non-greasy

-Formulated without nasties, which means, no parabens, sulphates, phthalates, petrolatum or mineral oils

Price and Quantity:

It retails for INR 1999 for a 30 ml bottle but I have seen almost all the time this product is getting sold at a 30-40% discount. That should bring down the price at INR 1200-1300. Still, I know it is a bit pricey.

Ingredient List :

The product has a long ingredients list. It claims to have 99% pure niacinamide and vitamin C in a concentrated form.

Water, Hexyldecanol, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Xylitol, Tapioca Starch, Panthenol, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mica, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Inositol, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, Benzyl Alcohol, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Aminomethyl Propanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Fragrance, Disodium, EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Laureth-7, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, CI 77891, CI 19140, CI 16035

My Experience with the Product:

Packaging : It comes in a glass bottle with a metallic cap. The cap has a pump-button like feature which basically acts as a dropper to get the product on your palm and it also makes sure that you don’t end up getting too much product at one go. It is a more sleek version of a dropper that you will find in a minimalist or ordinary serum. To be honest the bottle was a bit confusing initially to use but I could figure it out and I loved the design. It is totally mess-free and feels luxurious.

Texture : Well, when I think of serums I always visualize something with a transparent watery consistency but the Olay luminous Niacinamide plus Vitamin super serum was nothing like that. This serum is a cream-based serum. At least it looks like so. I can compare the consistency with Laneige Water Bank Moisture Essence. It looks and feels like a white lightweight lotion. When I applied it to my skin it simply smoothly disappeared into my skin. It was absolutely non-greasy. As it has a creamy consistency, it is very easy to apply a very small amount of product to your entire face. For many serums that I have used, I always felt like 2-3 drops are not enough for my face because they did not smoothly blend into my skin except hyaluronic serums. But, the Olay luminous Niacinamide plus Vitamin super serum gets soaked into every millimetre of my face like a dream 😀

Fragrance : It has a very subtle soothing fresh fragrance which I quite like when I put it on before going to bed at night. I know fragrances are not good for us but honestly, I will not mind a soothing relaxing one.

Did it improve my skin ? Plain and simple answer, it did. I am honestly impressed with this product. I did not have a lot of expectation as I have seen earlier products which make tall claims most often do not deliver. Sweetly, this is an exception. As I mentioned earlier, I had a bad breakout which left plenty of red blemishes on my face and I was looking for a quick solution to make those spots go away. Obviously it didn’t make the spots go away but the spots have faded quite a bit and my skin has definitely become brighter with a healthy glow. My cheeks were reddish due to the acne marks and it generally looked like I had some rash on my face. I have noticed that is not the case anymore after using this serum. My skin looks dewy and not tired at all. I could visibly see the difference. It didn’t happen overnight. I have used it regularly for a month and I am going to purchase it again for sure because it for sure works!

Also, let me clarify I was also using a skin barrier repair tonic from the brand YBP along with this serum to maximize the impact. I will review the tonic in a separate post as well.

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

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Product Review, Skincare

Aroma Magic Clary Sage Moisturizing Lotion – Review

Aroma Magic is a quite well-known brand and their products are pretty pocket-friendly yet good on the skin. I recently tried their Clary Sage Moisturizing Lotion which I bought from Nykaa. This lotion is particularly for people with combination skin and I tend to be on the side of the oily skin. But I tried this one because Aroma magic products are really affordable and they are almost always good. So no harm in trying right!

Price and Quantity: A 100 ml Bottle retails for INR 205. There is a 200 ml version as well. It comes in a clear plastic bottle. The packaging is very travel-friendly and by the way, it is recycled. So pretty great. It comes with a pump dispenser which is super helpful.

Aroma Magic Clary Sage Moisturizing lotion

Description (As mentioned in the packaging):

The Aroma Magic Clary Sage Moisturizing Lotion is rich in natural vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, and the combination of Kokum butter, Aloe vera juice, and Olive oil to nurture and deeply hydrate the skin. The exotic blend of Neroli, Clary sage, and Rosewood essentials oils together with extracts of clary sage, help to preserve the moisture in the skin. Their alliance keeps the skin calm and rejuvenated with each passing day. Extracts of Fennel and Lemongrass revive dull and tired skin to leave you refreshed and your skin reinvigorated.

Features:

  • Has SPF 15
  • Infused with the goodness of natural ingredients
  • 100% free of petrochemicals, phthalates, toxic ingredients, parabens, artificial fragrance, and color
  • For combination skin

Key Ingredients:

Aqua, Vegetable Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Juice, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Olea Europaea Oil, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare Extract, Salvia Sclarea Essential Oil, Citrus Aurantium Essential Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora Essential Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Food Grade Colour.

My take on the product:

The lotion contains a lot of essential oils and is specially made for people with combination skin types. It has a medium thick yet very soft and creamy consistency. It blends effortlessly with my BB cream. It blends really well into my skin even if I am not mixing with any other product. It also gets absorbed within a few minutes. The lotion feels very light on skin and does not nake the skin look greasy at all.

It has been formulated in a way so that it becomes more suitable for combination skin. However, it did not make my skin feel heavy or sweaty which usually other lotion does. I have been using Aroma Magic’s Juniper Berry oil-free moisturizer for more than a year now and it has been specially made for oily skin beauties. The clary sage lotion is definitely creamier and a lot thicker than the Juniper Berry moisturizer which basically feels like a serum. But the Clary sage lotion locks more moisture into my skin for a longer hour. It gives a soft and dewy finish to my skin. The smell of the lotion is very soothing and pleasant which is a very common factor for all Aroma Magic products.

Like its claims, the lotion provides a rich moisturization to my skin. It instantly makes my skin soft and smooth, and my skin looks healthy too. It repairs the dry, rough texture and keeps my skin hydrated for long. It is not a heavy moisturizer but works well in providing sufficient moisturization to the skin. I think the lotion will work for all skin types but, it contains a few essential oils. So, please check before buying. If you have very oily skin then this lotion may be better for you in Winter or monsoon. It contains SPF 15 which I think is fine for our current stay-at-home situation. I also like to apply it to my neck and to my hands and it keeps them hydrated for quite some time.

Overall, I will give it a rating of 4 out of 5 and will definitely purchase it again in Winter.

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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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