The best natural and cruelty free skincare – India Edition

India is the country that brought Ayurveda to the world. The centuries old Indian system of medicine provides super effective solutions for all your pitta, vata and kapha problems.

However, when it comes to skincare, super natural = preservative free = can last up to 30 days only if refrigerated. If you’re into that, check out Waterline – skincare so pure you can eat it (seriously).

For those who lack refrigerator space or prefer to store their skincare stash in their bedrooms/bathrooms – Kama Ayurveda and Forest Essentials give you all the Ayurvedic luxury minus the high maintenance. (On a side note, both of their hair care lines are top notch and I personally vouch for Kama Ayurveda’s Bringadi Intensive Hair Treatment Oil.)

Ayca is another all-natural Ayurvedic brand which brings more of a modern twist to Ayurveda by incorporating new-age aromatherapy to their products. Their Jasmine and Rose Body Oil is light on the skin and olfactory system. Perfect.

Moving on from Ayurveda to their Korean counterpart – Innisfree. (Note: Innisfree isn’t doesn’t have any ancient Korean medicine roots.) With stores around the country, they are definitely the biggest Korean skincare company in India — and I love them. The Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum is a best seller in its own right — use it as an essence and apply right after toner before serum.

Yes, this article is about skincare but a little organic, cruelty-free makeup never hurt anyone. Ruby’s Organics lipsticks and blushes are DA BOMB — super high quality at an unbeatable price point. Must buy.

Supplements that REALLY work

I am obsessed with self improvement and I try almost anything that is a) safe b) recommend by the internet c) comes from a reliable source. As a result, I’ve tried almost every supplement out there and continue to take the ones that prove their efficacy over time. Here are the supplements that have really worked:

  • Zinc to prevent colds. This is an absolute miracle pill. I pop one as soon as I feel the sniffles and voila – after a good night’s rest I am virtually sniffle free.
  • Fish oil is amazing for my hair, my skin and my brain. Enough said.
  • Marine collagen makes my skin glow, my hair grow faster & thicker AND reverses all the damage done to my nails through the numerous acrylic nail sessions. I drink it first thing in the morning but it’s also a popular addition to my smoothies.
  • Magnesium – I take it right before I sleep and wake up feeling ah-mazing. 

What supplements have worked for you guys? Would love to hear from you in the comments!

The Beauty Dose – August 3

It is an understatement to say that I love Korean beauty. If you look at my beauty stack, all you will see are Korean brands and I’m very happy labeling myself as obsessed. Literally every new skincare tech is created in Korea and then adopted by brands around the world months or maybe even years later. I remember, BB cream (which originated in Korea) was super popular in South Asia when I was in Taipei in 2011. I only started seeing BB cream around the US in 2012/13 and in India in 2015.
Also, the Korean skincare market is SUPER competitive and companies release new products literally every month. Isn’t that crazy? Makes me want to move to Korea right now hehe
So, today’s focus is Asian skincare because I’ve also included a piece about a cool Japanese carbonated face treatment.

Today's focus: Asian Skincare

One K-Pop Star Shares the Secrets to Korean Dream Skin

Japanese Carbonated Face Treatment
 
Other News:

Try-On Beauty Apps Cher Horowitz Would Totally Use Today

Feed Your Face: The Foods You Should Try If You Want Perfect Skin

The Beauty Dose – July 28

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The world of skincare can be intimidating. It can be difficult to navigate through all the products, the skincare steps or even figuring out what type of skin you have. It took me a good year to figure out my skin type and what routines & products actually worked for me. After a lot of internet research and even more trial & testing, I have realized that your skin type can change over time which means that you skincare routine must evolve depending on the season/your skin.

Here are some pieces that can make the process easier – from multi-tasking products to a list of the tried & tested best products.

Two-In-One: Makeup Products with Skincare Benefits

How to Create a Skin Care Routine for Beginners

Ideal Skin Care Routine for Combination Skin

Vogue Beauty Awards 2016: Best of Skincare

The Beauty Dose – July 26

So today I discovered two exciting skincare news. The first is that washing your face with water that’s just been drained through raw rice makes it super radiant! It’s an ancient Chinese technique that’s still used today. That’s one more thing to add to my natural skincare routine 🙂
The second piece of news is this awesome new mask technology that looks like a regular ‘ol sheet mask but is COMPLETELY dry! Check out the review below.

Have a beautiful Tuesday, guys!

JULY 26, tuesday
 

Culture Insider: Skincare In Ancient China

Introducing Dry Masks - The Canadian Skin Phenomenon That's About To Hit Stateside

The 10-Product Summer Beauty Routine

How To Layer Your Skincare Products

5 Skincare Mistakes Every 20-Something Should Avoid

Confessions Of A K-Pop Star

The Beauty Dose – July 25

I’m a strong believer in aging gracefully. No amount of moisturizer & SPF is going to keep your face completely wrinkle free so it’s best to come to terms with it and instead of fighting time, make it your friend. Today’s pieces include tips on using the right products to maintain or improve the elasticity of your skin. But since beauty is skin-deep, the food you eat also impacts how young you look. So, I included a piece on turmeric, my favorite super spice. Enjoy and please let me know if I have missed anything you would like to see 🙂

July 25 – monday

Kim Kardashian’s Dermatologist On The Future Of Anti-Aging

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Your Beauty Products (But Should)

The Super Spice That’s Taking Over The Beauty Industry

 

The Beauty Dose – July 22

So, someone gave up beauty products for a week and at end of the week realized that life without beauty products < life with beauty products.

Skincare and makeup doesn’t just refine my face but is also a fun activity that allows me to focus on myself 🙂 However, it can be time consuming which is why I’m a fan of the no-makeup makeup look mainly because it takes less time to achieve that look and with a packed work week I can only really set aside 15 min/day for skincare + makeup application. Today’s pieces include tips on creating a strong base for a quick, yet effective makeup routine.

July 22 – friday

What Happened To My Skin When I Gave Up *All* Beauty Products For A Week 

8 Of The Best Hair And Beauty Tips Selena Gomez Has Ever Given Out

A Step-By-Step Guide To Eyebrow Grooming

My Everyday Summer Base

The Micellar Water Showdown

 

The Beauty Dose – July 20

A good skincare routine + great products = best skin ever

Here’s some help to get you started on picking the right routine and products for your skin ❤

July 20 – wednesday

How To Find A Skincare Routine That Works For You

How To Get The Best Skin Ever In Your 20s

Best Skin Care Tips To Fight Pollution, Detoxify, And Prevent Dry Skin

5 Kinda-Weird Skin Products You Should Be Using This Summer

7 Wholesome Skincare Products To Perfect Your Summer Beauty Routine

The Beauty Dose – July 19

Self care is the best care. After all, if you don’t look after yourself first how could you possibly have enough energy to look after anyone else? Looking good is also proven to boost self confidence which provides an overall richer & happier life! Personally, a good skincare routine gives me time to focus on myself and has now become a meditation since I’ve started really focusing on the process.
I hope you enjoy today’s pieces that are about making your life brighter, with a little help from skincare.

 

JULY 19, tuesday 

How Beauty Products Helped Me Combat My Trichotillomania

11 Beauty Myths You Believed In The 90s

The Organic Moisturizer That Doubles As A Luminizer

Three Skincare Staples You Need This Summer!

What's A Good Skincare Routine For Dry, Sensitive, Aging Skin?