Tag Archives: Skincare product review

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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Product Review, Skincare

Minimalist 10% Niacinamide Serum – Review

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

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

Minimalist 10% Niacinamide + 1% Zinc Serum Review

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

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

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

My experience with it:

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

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

Have a nice day!

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Product Review, Skincare

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Essence Review

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

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

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Essence Review

Description :

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

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

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

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

How to Use :

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

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Essence Review

My take on the product:

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

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

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

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

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Favorites, Product Review, Skincare

Laneige Cream Skin Refiner Review

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

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

Laneige Cream Skin Refiner
Laneige Cream Skin Refiner

Features:

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

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

Laneige Cream Skin Refiner

My take on the product :

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

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

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Product Review, Skincare

Plum E-luminence Deep Moisturizing Cream review

Hey Guys!!!

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

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

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

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

1. Vitamin E – possibly the best hydrator out there

2. Jojoba oil – nourisher of choice for dry skin

3. Calendula flower extract – heals damaged skin

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

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

6. Rose flower extract – helps soothe and reduce inflammation

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

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

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

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

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

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

13. Chamomile flower extract – calms & soothes skin

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

Plum e-luminence creme

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

I am yet to empty this!

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

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

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

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Skincare

5 Skincare Products I absolutely loved during Quarantine

I have been in quarantine for almost 2 months now.I guess most of you are as well.Staying home for such a prolonged period was unprecedented but anyway I could put the time into some productive use as well. Also in these last 2 months I have not used a single make up product and mostly focused on my skin care regime.So here are a list of 5 products that I used almost everyday or every alternate day.

Facial Mist: I never really used facial mists/sprays earlier and did not have an clear idea what they are used for. So these facials sprays are absolute blessing during a dry summer. Just a few quick splash and I feel all rejuvenated. So I use Rose water spray from Kama Ayurveda (INR 275) and the most pocket friendly Dabur Gulabari. Both of them are available in a 100 ml spray bottle.There is another one which I recently discovered is from the brand Urvija. It is their Lavender Mint Facial Spray with clay sage.

Urvija Lavendar Mint Facial Spray

It is a home grown brand and the product retails for INR 190 for a 100 ml bottle.The uniqueness about this particular spray is that along with an amazing smell they it gives an amazing glow and a cool refreshing feeling even if you don’t refrigerate it.

I also made some DIY facial sprays all by myself and it is actually pretty easy and does not cost much. First one is a lavendar and aloe spray – I just took an empty 100 ml spray bottle and filled 80% of the bottle with distilled water.Then added 5-6 drops of lavendar essential oil and just one table spoon of aloe vera gel. You can use your home grown aloe and extract the gel from it as well. Now coming to the other spray this one is also very simple to make. Just extract some fresh cucumber juice (around 2 table spoon) and add 1 spoon aloe vera gel in it and fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water.

Face serums: I am currently using 2 face serums alternatively and both of them are from the brand Dot&Key One of them is their GLOW REVEALING VITAMIN C SERUM CONCENTRATE and another one is their WATER DRENCH HYDRATING HYALURONIC SERUM CONCENTRATE.

Dot & Key Vit C serum

Both of them cost around 900 INR for 30ml of the product and trust me if you have oily skin or if you don’t really like to use all those thick creams these 2 serums should be in your shopping cart. Hyaluronic acid is also much talked about these days because of its anti-ageing property.I love to apply these serums and then massage slowly using my ROSE QUARTZ FACIAL GUA SHA stone for my night time skin care routine.

Hair oil: I will have to admit I was kind of really reluctant to use hair oil but because I got to stay at home during this lockdown period I got plenty of time to apply hair oil.I am currently using BRINGADI INTENSIVE HAIR TREATMENT OIL from Kama Ayurveda.It retails for INR 650 for a 100ml bottle.

Kama Ayurveda Bringadi Intensive hair treatment

This product is meant to prevent hair loss, dandruff and premature graying. It is also a natural conditioner for lush hair growth. In addition, it cools the head. The herbal formula includes indigo (neeli), Eclipta Alba and gooseberry to promote hair growth; liquorices which acts as an anti-fungal agent; and balloon vine which prevents scalp infection. I have very thick wavy hair and this oil never made my hair sticky; not even a greasy scalp.It has definitely given me volumes and the smell kind of de-stresses me everytime I use it.

Eye cream/gel: Because I have a job which requires me to constantly look at the screen for atleast 7-8 hours and even if I don’t include that my screentime is definitely not less than 12 hours everyday. Although I don’t get deep dark circles around my eyes; I have noticed some dryness and hence, I started using an eye gel from the brand Aroma Magic.Most of the available eye creams/gels cost a bomb to be honest but this one is really pocket friendly.It costs just INR 195 for 20gm product and does its job too.

Aroma Magic Eye Gel

I am not sure if it will be that impactful for heavy dark circles but if you just want an eye cream to refreshen and moisturize your under eye area this product will work for you.

Lip masks: I have already talked about this Laneige lip sleeping mask and how amazing it is. So obviously it is part of my lipcare routine. Also I used the organic juicy chemistry lip scrub twice a week for exfoliation.It retails for INR350 for 10gm of product and goes a long way.

Hope you liked this post! Stay healthy!

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Skincare

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask Berry Review

So I am sure if you love to see the skin care routines of the Supermodels or Victoria’s Secret Models on Youtube there is one product which I have seen a lot of them absolutely swear by for their gorgeous lips and that is Laneige Lip sleeping Mask.Also, this is probably one of those products which I could actually afford :p

Now coming to the product; Laneige is a very well known Korean skin care brand.I have noticed that they do not come up with a lot of products every now and then.They are very specific about a few key products that are actually really popular.So generally the quality standards are really high.

Price and Quantity: It comes in 2 sizes – 8 gms for INR 500 and 20 gms for INR 1150.I would recommend you to go for the 8 gms tub because it goes really long way trust me!

Description: – A leave-on lip mask that soothes and moisturizes
– Has a softening balm texture that closely adheres to lips
– Offers a nutritiously sweet and fragrant blend
– Forms a protective film over the lips to lock in moisture
– For smoother and more supple lips

My take on the Laneige lip mask :

Well I honestly did not have an idea of what a lip mask is before buying this.Also, I am a person who is generally averse of the idea of putting a mask before sleeping.I mean it is kind of weird right ! But to put all your worries away let me clarify this is not like a mask you will generally think of.This product has a balmy texture and has a sweet berry like taste (in case you lick it accidentally,whoops!).It has no color at all; totally transparent and glossy. The texture is thick and sticky; almost like you have put honey on your lips but it quickly melts into your lips.It comes in a cute pink tub and I know it feels kind of gross to dig your finger to take some of the product out but this is actually a mask and not a balm.Hence, the product consistency is not something which you could package in a stick.

Now coming to the main question; did I notice any difference to my lips ?

Yes I did and that is why I absolutely love this product and can’t stop going gaga over this. It actually works.A lot of Korean brands have really conquered the skin care market and out of them Laneige is quite a silent but really steady player.Their product gives you result.I wish I could show you a before and after picture of my lips but I actually forgot to click one before I started using it.I am no experienced beauty blogger 😦

However, I can describe my experience. I got dark outer lip lines due to sun damage.I used lip scrubs but somehow the pigmentation did not really go away.I religiously used this product for 2 weeks; every single night and I could see the darker lip line to fade and gradually the pink soft lips coming out; as if my older pink soft lips getting a rebirth. The product is rish in Vitamin C, shea butter and berry extracts and lots of good ingredients.No paraben and totally cruelty free. Why is it called a mask? I assume if we actually used it as a balm we would end up eating it :p . Using it as a sleep mask helps to absorb it totally while we are sleeping.

Hope you liked this review! Stay healthy 🙂

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