The case for organic body oil

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Lately, I’ve been paying more attention to the labels on my beauty products and less attention to the brand name. Mainly, I’m leaning towards organic and natural products. India has really great natural beauty brands like Khadi, Forest Essentials and Kama Ayurveda, to name a few. I’ve used numerous products from all these brands ranging from face creams to body lotion but none of their body oils have really struck a chord with me. Khadi’s body oils are too thick and don’t really absorb into my skin post shower. Forest Essentials and Kama Ayurveda body oils are less thick but heavily perfumed which can be a tad overwhelming for my olfactory system.

I live in Mumbai so it’s almost always too humid to apply body oil during the day. Which means that I usually give my skin a good scrub-down and a self body oil massage post shower and right before bed. The perfect body oil will be light enough to fully absorb into moist skin and heavy enough to leave my skin moisturised. Also, it can’t be too perfumed because a strong fragrance wakes me instead of helping me relax before hitting the bed.

After trying all the well-known natural beauty brands in India, I found Ayca’s Jasmine & Rose Body Oil and it was love at first application.

The oil absorbs perfectly, my skin feels moisturised the next morning and the scent is light and refreshing.

 

The case for cold showers

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I get it. The last thing you want to do as soon as you wake up and before you prepare for the fabulous day ahead is shock your body with a cold shower. But, if there is one routine switch that will instantly improve how you feel, it is this. Like most great things, it’s certainly intimidating but it literally takes only a few seconds for your body to get used to the temperature and it’s smooth sailing from then forward. And, the benefits of cold showering last throughout the day.

The initial shock of the cold water hitting your skin gets your heart pumping and blood flowing which almost feels equivalent to doing a handstand for 30 seconds. I’ve been showering with cold water almost everyday for the last year and thanks to it, I’m more clear headed all day. And, on the handful of days this last year that I have showered with warm water the difference is clear — as I walk out of the shower, I’m not as alert and my skin doesn’t feel as refreshed.

For those not ready to take the plunge yet, I would suggest that your last rinse be with cold water. Switching between hot and cold water works too.

Give it a try and let me know how you feel after!

 

What I’m about this week – Jean Stories

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So, today I stumbled upon this wonderful fashion website that’s about everything denim! It was co-founded by Jane Bishop and Florence Kane when they realized that there was nothing online that talked about denim for women. The stories are great and the fashion inspiration is monumental.

I love denim. I’m the kind of person that you’ll catch wearing denim on top and bottom (different shades/colors, of course). Anyone who knows me, knows that 90% of the time I wear jeans. And they’re usually the skinny kind. I’m also very selective when picking denim related clothing so when I find something that works, I stick with it until it literally falls apart.

I’ve completely worn most of my jeans down and I’m really itching to buy a new pair so Jean Stories is just what I need in my life right now. Brb.

A suprising zit zapping night cream

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Snail cream, snail gel, snail everything is all the craze now and all for good reason. Snail slime, when applied to skin, is said to stimulate the formation of collagen and minimize the damage created by free radicals that are responsible for premature skin aging. And I have one more benefit to add to this list – keeping diet, exercise, weather and daily skincare regime constant, snail mucin clears zits!

I had a pesky little zit coming up on my cheek last week (probably due to the arrival of the wonderful Bombay monsoon) that looked like it was there to stay. I applied Missha’s Super Acqua Cell Renew Snail Cream the night that the pimple showed up and every night thereafter and the pimple cleared in record time of 3 days! This has never happened to me before and thankfully probably will happen again (the disappearance of the zit, not the presence of) thanks to this wonderful creation.

My only complaint is that the fragrance is slightly overwhelming for a night cream. But, I can live with that.

Have blackheads? Use this.

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Heard of a blackhead removal product or technique? Chances are, I’ve tried it. Never has more research and testing effort been put into finding a solution that will rid my skin of the gunk that refuses to part with my pores. And never has a product or technique worked as magically as Dr. Jart+ Pore Penetrator. This miracle serum-type product goes on smooth and removes blackheads as effortlessly as the product description says it will. It’s more effective than most blackhead removal strips but much kinder to your skin. My sensitive skin thanks the wizards at the Dr. Jart labs.

Note: The instructions recommend keeping the product on for 5-10 minutes but for best results, I would suggest letting it work its magic for around 15 minutes while you take sip on your drink of choice in anticipation of your newly polished skin.

Live in a tropical city and have oily skin? Try this gel cream

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There are few things in life that can give the same satisfaction as finding the perfect day moisturizer — no matter where you live but especially so in Mumbai, India where we only experience two seasons: summer and monsoon. It’s nearly impossible to find a moisturizer that provides enough hydration and is yet light enough to leave my skin feeling perfectly supple. So, you can imagine my joy when I started using the SN Plant Stem Cell T Cream – Sebum Control System. It is literally the best day moisturizer that I have EVER used. It contains madecassic acid that has anti-inflammatory properties, regulates your skin tone and stimulates the synthesis of collagen types I and III.

The cream comes on thick but quickly absorbs into my skin. It smells amazing and my skin feels fresh, perfectly moisturized and ready to take on the day.