Everyone's skin is different and so each one of us needs to take care of it in our own unique way. However, most of us don't realize this and so we follow set routines and use products just by their name and usage which may not suit us. I am glad that companies like Galderma who have successful brands like Cetaphil and Biluma, have launched a new initiative and made this month the Skin Awareness Month. With this they aim to educate consumers to Know their Skin, and what one needs to keep it healthy and beautiful. Basically one needs to know the importance of the right selection of products depending on our skin type.
The secret to healthy skin is moisture and hydration, and the secret to a happy you is a fresh and fragrant smelling you through the day! Well just imagine a body wash that not only provides nourishment to the largest organ of your body, but is also crafted with a fragrance encapsulation technology that enables fragrance release with a slight rub on the skin for as long as 8 hours after a bath - well that is the magic of Fiama Scents – Body washes with Touch Activated Fragrance, that I have recently come across. I am sure you too haven't come across anything like this!
Just like I love a glass of lemonade to make me feel refreshed anytime, my skin too loves skincare products with lemon as the main ingredient, for the refreshed and squeaky clean feeling it gives. In a store my hands always reach out to a product that contains lemon as the ingredient in it. Basically, I love anything and everything that is citrus related. There have always been age old tales of how a few drops of lemon can enhance your skin when used in various ways, yet not many are aware of it. People generally talk about how the intake of lemon in our diet has benefits, but skincare not many people know the benefits. Other than waking up the skin, Vitamin C in lemon is known to destroy free radicals in our skin, thus giving us even skin tone, clear complexion and a healthy glow.
Gold is a precious metal that each and every person aspires to own as jewellery or gold bars, but not many of us know the skin benefits of the same. In ancient times, gold was used for skin care and skin treatments. The Romans used gold preparations for the treating skin lesions and sores. The Chinese believed that gold was the secret to having youthful skin. Japanese declared a gold leaf facial treatment that would help the skin rejuvenate and reduce the wrinkles. Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian queen, who was known to be the most beautiful woman in the world in ancient times, was known to sleep with a gold face mask every night to enhance her complexion. So it is but natural, that with such history of gold being used for beauty treatments, today's skin products and treatments will obviously make use of gold in it to give us results.
Summer is already here! I mean I felt like it was summer in Mumbai right in the middle of February itself with temperatures hitting 38 degrees. Google also proves this to me every morning when it sends me messages not to step out as the UV rays are too strong. Things change with time, but who knew that with time the world would become a hotter place to live in! Well the issue of global warming is affecting us since a few years now, but instead of taking measures to slow it down, our country leaders continue to make developmental plans, which to fulfill, they do not mind chopping off humongous amounts of trees and mangroves that reduce atmospheric Carbon dioxide and prevent larger amounts of greenhouse gases from reaching the atmosphere. I remember when I was a kid, summer vacations would be the best part of the year because we would visit our native towns and play in the sun all day. In my childhood days, I never had a sun stroke or used any kind of sunscreen to stay safe from the sun because in those years, the UV rays weren't able to reach us that easily and there also were enough trees to protect us and reduce the atmospheric heat, but today that is not the case. Now we have this constant confusion on how to save ourselves from the heat and what to use to save our skin from the harmful rays of the sun.
Hello! I'm back with a skincare range review this time. Last month when I had reviewed the Lakmé Absolute Illuminate Makeup Range for you guys, I'd told you that I will be reviewing the Illuminate Skincare range soon, which I am doing today in this post :) The Illuminate Skincare range basically is known as the Lakmé Absolute Perfect Radiance Range which is a skin lightening range, and Lakmé sent me a pretty box with 3 products from the range. I tried out something new this time in the way I have reviewed this range, so read on to know it all!
The minute I mention to people that I bleach, I get the strangest stares like I am committing some biggggggggg crime. Well if you live in a city like Bombay(I still prefer to call it that than Mumbai,) then the pollution plays havoc with your skin especially if you travel within the city regularly. Along with pollution you are exposed to the harsh rays of the sun which together can cause real damage like dulling the skin, accelerated aging and uneven skin tone. All this is mainly caused because the level of oxygen in our skin decreases. But how would bleaching be an answer to this you must be wondering as bleach is considered harmful by most people, and that is why most people judge my beauty sense and knowledge. Well it is because I use the Oxylife Crème Bleach for women which is an amazing product that contains the goodness of oxygen and is suitable for any skin type.
Before my pregnancy I would usually head to the salon for my bleaching sessions, and the product used was of a brand of international repute. It was with the goodness of oxygen as well, but when I got pregnant I stopped bleaching altogether due to the doctor asking me to stop these treatments. Thankfully pregnancy had a good effect on my skin and as I hardly stepped out, my skin had a nice pregnancy glow to it which did not make me miss bleaching too much. After Aryaa was born, I decided to get back to bleaching as my engagements outside increased and my sleep reduced due to which the glow began to fade. But the salon that I earlier went too was in Colaba and so it was just not possible for me to go there all the way from Vashi. That is when a blogger friend of mine told me about Oxylife Crème Bleach which I could use at home and get similar results. The next day I went right ahead and bought it. What she said was true, it is a revolutionary bleach and after 10 months of no bleaching, the change showed immediately. Its special oxygen technology infuses a healthy glow and makes your skin look flawless.
When the scientifically formulated Oxylife Crème Bleach is applied on the skin, pure oxygen is released but the micro structurants that it contains help prevent the released oxygen from escaping into the atmosphere. The oxygen then carries active ingredients into the skin and thereby nourishes, energizes and protects it. The bleach comes with a very effective post-bleach radiance serum which further nourishes the skin and in tandem with the bleach, helps repair 5 problems like dark spots, uneven skin tone, dull skin, dead skin cells and sun tan for long lasting radiance. This cream is not for those who are looking at very strong bleaches. This is a mild yet effective bleach. The best part is that it contains no ammonia which is what most people fear.
If you have never used this before, I recommend a patch test first. Here are the directions for use:
Wash face with plain water and pat dry.
Take Crème bleach and powder activator in the ratio of 7:1 and mix well.
Mix well for 2 minutes till the powder activator doesn't dissolve completely.
Use the spatula and apply the mixture to the face and neck. Avoid eyebrows and around the eyes.
If your skin tone is fair leave on for 15-20 mins, if wheatish then 10-15 minutes and if darker then up to 10 minutes. Over time you will come to the time that works best for you.
After the recommended time is up, wash off with plain water.
When done, apply the post-bleach serum to the bleached area.
Here are the precautions you need to take:
Do not use soap for 5 hours after bleach
Avoid stepping out in the sun immediately
Use it once in every 2-3 weeks and not earlier
The Oxylife Crème Bleach costs INR 35/- for the 7gms pack which is for 1 use and INR 80/- for the 27gms pack which suffices for 3 uses.
My experience with this product was a good one. While I did feel a tingling sensation in the first 5 mins, it is normal for my skin to react that way with the mildest of bleaches and it is nothing to worry about. It has given me radiant skin and reduced my trips to the salon with similar effects coming for about 1/10th price. You must definitely give this a try! :)
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For the longest time in my life which was till the age of 25, I never bothered too much about skin care products for my facial skin. A simple moisturiser or face cream with SPF was the most I used to care about as I have dry skin. After I turned 25, people told me to start using anti-ageing products and I used to think "Damn! I am only 25, what rubbish are these people talking" and ignored their suggestions which till date I don't regret. However I did move onto superior day creams and night creams but never anti-ageing. Turning 30 was the point when I started considering anti-ageing products but again it was never a regular affair. Good products was always the consideration and not anti-ageing. But now as I inch closer to my mid 30s, anti-aging products have started becoming a regular part of my life. Well chosen, carefully researched and effective products from good brands is what I concentrate on now for my daily regime.
As I thoroughly research every time I plan on trying out a new product, the evolution of skincare products especially in the anti-ageing segment have totally blown my mind lately. One such product that I have started using is the Vichy LiftActiv Supreme which I will say has been my best find till date. What's so different is what you must be wondering? Well, it's not just a regular anti-ageing product focused on long term ageing - it's a product to combat day ageing! It deals with the simple problem of looking older in the evening than in the morning better known as over-day ageing which is something that most of us don't pay attention to or know little about. Day ageing in the form of a dulling complexion to fine lines is what contributes to long term ageing and hence correction must be brought in at the early stages. LiftActiv Supreme by Vichy is the first product in the market to combat this problem.
I have been using this cream for a month now which you can very well see with the amount that has already been used up :) I went for the normal to combination skin variant as this summer I saw my skin behave more normal than dry - something that was not the case before I had Aryaa. In a way it's good because having dry skin only makes fine lines and wrinkles appear much earlier than other skin types and needs a lot more care. The first thing that I felt was how radiant, supple and fresh my face looked even at the end of the day. Over a few days I also noticed my skin feel more hydrated and smooth without the oiliness even a few hours after application. Lastly I could see a reduction in the fine lines around my eyes and my laugh lines that had started to appear recently, along with the skin feeling much firmer. However the real test has taken place in the last 2 weeks when my daughter fell really sick and I barely slept taking care of her and being stressed. This product has worked wonders not letting any of it take a toll on my skin. You can no way tell looking at my face how stressful the last 10 days has been all thanks to this product. This is what has made me truly believe in the efficacy of the Vichy LiftActiv Supreme and how amazing it is. The only claim that I can't really comment on is the anti-wrinkle bit because thankfully I haven't developed any wrinkles yet :)
The main ingredient of this cream is Rhamnose(5%) that is responsible for the increased toning and firmness of the skin. Next is the powerful antioxidant Neohesperidine(0.2%) that fights fine lines and wrinkles. Together these two ingredients work wonders. To support them is Caffeine(0.2%) that fights puffiness and tiredness and Adenosine(0.1%) that helps prevent wrinkles. It also contains fortifying and soothing Vichy Thermal Spa Water and claims to be Paraben-free which makes it suitable for sensitive skin too. Hence you can apply it to the eye area too without any worries.
While in the jar the cream looks thick, it actually is very light and absorbs easily into the skin without leaving any white residue. It also doesn't feel greasy or sticky on touch. There also is an instant glow that appears to the skin once it absorbs the cream which is visible clearly in the second picture above. This is due to the 3D optical correctors that the cream is enriched with that creates an immediate blurring effect to give a luminious glow for the instant youthful appeal. I love the sweet fragrance of the cream which is unlike any of the creams I have used till date. You need to use just a pea size amount for it to work its magic. It's the perfect base for your make-up too. If you are stepping out in the sun, you need to use a sunscreen as it doesn't contain any SPF. I would only recommend this to be used if you are 30+
The packaging is very normal in a light silver jar(that looks more white in the pictures) and the only attractive part is the mirror effect cap. However the jar is made of really heavy plastic whose only benefit is that it will not break if you drop the jar. I missed having a spill proof lid which for a cream of this texture should have been present. I didn't really miss a spatula because as far as my face is concerned, I would rather use freshly washed hands to apply the cream than a spatula which stays dipped within the cream or has to be washed everyday before using the cream as I am very finicky about such things. It costs INR 2350 for 50 ml which is very justified for the effects it has on the skin and for how long it lasts.
I must say that Vichy after 10 years of research has created a one of its kind promising product with the Vichy LiftActiv Supreme that truly does what it says and this is just the beginning of my long relationship with this brand.
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Anti-ageing is the buzz word these days and in my post here I had revealed to you the recently launched Skin Perfect Range from L'Oréal Paris for 3 age groups - 20s, 30s and 40s addressing skin care needs specific to those ages. Now since I am in my 30's, I used the 30+ cream and here is my verdict on what I thought about the range.
I have dry skin and if not moisturised everyday dry skin ages earlier. So for me it was imperative that the cream I used had to have an effect lasting through the day which was the first most quality that this cream won on. Also since I step out quite frequently, this cream was perfect as it had SPF 21. Infact anybody who steps out for 5 minutes in a day, needs to protect themselves from the UVA and UVB rays. These are the first thoughts on what would make me consider a cream.
Here are my first impressions on the packaging. The cream comes in a sturdy glass pot bottle and is not very heavy. Once you open the pretty golden cover which closes quite tight, you see a spill proof lid with an easy to pick up finger-grip which is very essential for creams to avoid leakage. The bottle has the details mentioned very clearly on it and the paper box packaging mentions all details that you need to know on every main ingredient before you make the buying decision.
The cream looked a little heavy when I first opened the lid, but on touching it realised it was light and fluffy and not at all heavy. The cream is off white in colour and has a lovely smell to it. The skin absorbs the cream instantly and doesn't leave any film but that may be because I just take a pea size amount and spot it into 5 points on my face and rub it in and also because I have dry skin. I did have a few tiny breakouts on my forehead which disappeared in 2 to 3 days but then once in a while I do get some breakouts, so I don't know if it was because of the cream.
I have been using the 30+ Skin Perfect range for over 2 weeks now and have noticed a certain radiance to my face as well brightening of my skin. This must be the effect of the Vitamin 3X complex that this cream contains that acts on melanin responsible for dullness and darkness and Vitamin E which possesses anti-oxidant properties. Also my skin feels quite smooth which is the effect of the pro-collagen. I can apply make-up over it without the fear of my skin turning greasy which is a very important consideration for me while buying a skin cream. I leave it for 5 minutes before applying any make-up. Priced at INR 425, it is definitely one of the most reasonable creams in the market.
A combination of the above satisfying features is definitely why I will consider buying this product.
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Hello everybody! The weekend's here and I am sure all of you have some super plans lined up! And here I come with some exciting news to to add to it - L’Oreal Paris is giving one lucky person the chance to meet Katrina Kaif! Yes, you read it absolutely correct! One of you can be the chosen one :)
You already have read my first impressions on the Skin Perfect range of age appropriate creams in the posthere, and soon you will also get to read my review on the 30+ age cream. So to enter this contest, all you need is:
Post in the comments below, why Katrina Kaif loves Skin Perfect!
You have to be a follower of Ri(t)ch Styles on Google Friend Connect - right bar of the blog
Easy enough right? If you’d like to increase your chances then click HERE to go to their Facebook page and post directly to their page, or click HERE to follow them on Twitter and tweet a response to them. Remember to include #MeetKatrina!
There's nothing to wait for now! Go pick up your age appropriate cream and tell us why Skin Perfect is perfect for Katrina or even you for that matter and you could be the lucky star here! :)
Contest ends on 16th March 2015!
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You won't find a festival anywhere in the world as colourful as the Indian festival of Holi. It is celebrated to commemorate the victory of good over evil, and the end of the winter season transitioning into spring. Holi can be a crazy festival with the colours, water and fun, yet it can be really dangerous. So here are some really simple yet effective tips for you to take care and play without any worries about your skin, hair and nails. Check them out!
Do follow these so that while you have fun, you also play safe! Happy Holi Everyone!
When someone asks me to describe myself, I have multiple words to do so - Smart, Intelligent, Hard Working, Pretty, Affectionate, Ambitious, a Successful career woman and a fashion, beauty and lifestyle blogger, Fun loving, Ardent traveller, Doting daughter and wife, Super new mom and I can go on AND on. Well it's not being over-confident about myself, but just the fact that I believe that 'Sky is the limit' and there is much more to each one of us than just being one of the above. Being one-dimensional has become the norm of society where women are happy with being labelled with one thing like 'Gorgeous' OR 'Intelligent,' which leads to significant loss of potential as one starts to believe in just those labels about themselves. It's time for an awakening, one which makes women realize that we are a fabulous mix of a lot of things and have the right to achieve our full potential by embracing our ‘ANDs’ and not being limited by any ‘ORs’!
This is exactly why when Gillette Venus approached me to be a part of the “Use Your And” campaign, I was overjoyed. It is the perfect campaign that aims to inspire women of all ages to discard one-dimensional labels by encouraging them to #UseYourAnd and unleash their potential which they have allowed the world to limit by stereo-typing them. It's startling but true that 70% of women around the world have felt labelled by others as per a new Global Survey by Wakefield Research for Gillette Venus. I hope to contribute atleast something to the cause to change that.
When I started my blogging journey five and a half years ago, nobody took me seriously. What they did take seriously was my career where I was exemplary in the field of Marketing and Corporate Communications and that was the only thing encouraged. Today not only am I juggling both successfully, I'm also playing full time mom to my adorable daughter and loving it. Along the way there have been discoveries of a lot of new things that I am passionate about and plan to integrate into my life. All this has been possible only because I believe in my 'ANDs' not 'ORs'!
That brings us to the next most important point of this post - Shaving your unwanted hair! Well I for most part of my life believed (since I was made to believe) that shaving is a man's thing and not a woman's, and if one has to get rid of unwanted hair, waxing is the way. Well for most part of my life, that is exactly what I did also, despite it being painful and so difficult to manage in hectic schedules between all my work travels. But one fine day, I realized the stress wasn't worth it! I simply walked into a store, picked up a ladies razor and that day my life changed forever. No pain, no stress of appointments, no worry about has your hair grown enough for waxing or that you have to travel and whether you have the time, nothing! My own comfort and convenience whether at home or while travelling. Now I only wax when I have the time to get an appointment and head to a salon otherwise its the Gillette Venus that comes to my rescue.
Priced at Rs.199, the razor is a pretty blue in colour and has three fine blades for a close shave. It has a rubber grip handle for a stable hold. There is an indicator strip that fades when the blade is losing its sharpness which also contains Aloe and Vitamin E to ease out any kind of skin irritation. The pivoting rounded head helps me shave hard to reach areas as well as prevents any cuts. One stroke is enough for removing all the unwanted hair from any area.
Remember ladies - You are what you believe you are. Don't let labels define you. YOU =Your imperfections AND perfections! There will never be enough labels to sum us up.We can go on AND on AND on!
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