Tag Archives: Skincare product review

Favorites, Product Review, Skincare

The Inkey List Alpha Arbutin Serum | Remedy for Hyperpigmentation| Review

My battle with hyperpigmentation has been quite a struggle. Even though I am quite particular about using sunscreen and maintaining an effective skincare routine, I was not like this when I was in college. At that time, I absolutely hated applying anything on my skin. No skincare, no makeup. I also had severe acne issues, like most teenagers and young adults. Now that I am very much invested into my skincare regime and have a fair idea about what works for my skin, I have been doing a lot of research to find out what actually can help me to get rid of hyperpigmentation. I have tried a lot of natural, homemade remedies but they did not work as much as I expected. Finally, my relentless search led me to a great product to put up a good fight with hyperpigmentation and that product is the Inkey List Alpha Arbutin Serum which contains 2% Alpha Arbutin and 0.5% Squalene. I saw some great results and here is my review.

What is Alpha-Arbutin?

Alpha-Arbutin is a derivative of hydroquinone which has skin lightening properties. Now hydroquinone is banned in many countries due to its potential side effects but Alpha-Arbutin is not banned and it is safe to use everyday. Alpha Arbutin has depigmenting properties similar to hydroquinone. It works on age spots, acne spots and any sort of dark spot. We encounter dark spots in our skin from an enzyme called tyrosinase which is responsible for secreting melanin. The melanocytes cells in our get triggered when the skin encounters UV light for a longer period resulting in freckles and sunspots. Now, Alpha arbutin gets transformed into hydroquinone in our skin over time and it impedes tyrosinase and thus prevents creating any further dark spots and also improves the appearance of existing dark spots.

The fact that Alpha arbutin gets transformed into hydroquinone in our skin, it is less potent than the original hydroquinone and thus does not have much risk of side effects. It is also available without prescription as a topical cream/serum.

In this post, I am particularly going to review the Inkey List Alpha Arbutin Serum which contains 2% Alpha Arbutin.

Price:

This product is not available in India at the moment. I bought it from StyleDotty for Rs 1638 for the 30ml tube. You can get it from a lot of Instagram sellers who source products from UK/US/Canada. It’s original price in the Inkey List website is $12.99. One 30 ml tube should last you for 6-8 weeks as you just need a pea size amount everyday.

Product Description (From the Inkey List’s website):

A concentrated 2% Alpha Arbutin serum to help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots and keep skin at an optimal hydration level. Derived from the leaves of the bearberry plant, this non irritating serum helps to brighten the skin and improve overall skin tone. Added Squalane helps to increase skin hydration and smoothness.

Targets:

  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Scarring
  • Uneven Skin Tone
  • Redness

My take on the Inkey List Alpha Arbutin Serum:

The Brand: Inkey List is a UK brand which focuses on ingredient driven skincare. Their moto is kind of similar to the Ordinary. They focus on one or two ingredients for effectively targeting specific skin concerns. Their products are vegan and cruelty free.

Packaging: They have a minimal packaging but the serum comes in a tube which seemed very inconvenient to me. Almost every time I take out more product than I actually intended. I would have preferred it to come in a bottle with a dropper. Not sure if they had a scientific reason to package it in a tube. I also saw some leakage issue as I did not screw the cap tightly enough. Overall, I found this tube like packaging quite inconvenient.

Texture and smell: It is fragrance free which I absolutely loved. The consistency is actually watery and not like a gel. In their website the color of this serum was milky white but surprisingly when I received the product it was already oxidized and turned into chocolate brown color. I got to know that a lot of other people also experienced the same and the Inkey list also addressed the issue and clarified that it is totally okay to turn into brown as it contains natural ingredients. It does not impact its efficacy and rightly so, it worked on my skin totally and did not cause me any irritation.

Ingredients: The ingredient list looks solid. I did not spot any problematic ingredient. Water (aqua / eau), Butylene glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Alpha-arbutin, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Caprylyl glycol, Squalane, Phospholipids, Glycine soja (soybean) oil, Carbomer, Polysorbate 60, Sodium phytate, Glycolipids, Sorbitan isostearate, Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, Sodium hydroxide, Glycine soja (soybean) sterols, Hyaluronic acid, Tocopherol.

Performance: Now coming to the most important part, did it deliver? Yes, it did. I am writing this review after using it for 6 weeks as recommended and I can see some of my very stubborn dark spots have lightened up significantly. I don’t know if you can see it clearly in the photo, but some of the spots I had were quite prominent but now they have faded at least by 70%. I used to have some red spots around my nose, I can hardly spot them now. I am definitely going to continue to use it. It delivered!

It is very easy to spread on my skin because of its runny consistency. You can use it both at AM and PM. After cleansing, preferably use a hyaluronic acid based product and then after waiting for a minute or so apply the Inkey List Alpha Arbutin Serum. You can apply your moisturizer after this or use you sunscreen as well but just give it some time to fully absorb into your skin. You can skip the moisturizer too because it has squalene in it which also gives the skin the required moisture it needs.

Hope you found this review helpful :)Let me know what you use for hyperpigmentation, in the comments section.

** Disclaimer – This is not a sponsored post.

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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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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

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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