Tag: skin

An Ayurvedic End To The Day

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Ayurveda dominated the wellness space in 2017 and is here to stay in 2018 (moringa, anyone?). But while most of these wellness trends are suggested to everyone, the real magic unfolds when you choose the right treatments for your dosha. This is easy when it comes to food, difficult when it comes to skincare. So imagine my joy when I found an oil cleanser for Pitta, my dosha. Pitta skin type is super oily which makes finding the perfect oil cleanser slightly challenging. Samaya’s Pitta Hydrating Cleanser is creamy, removes makeup almost instantly and, leaves my skin feeling hydrated AND clean. Also, this cleanser leaves virtually no residue which makes it literally magic. My quest for the perfect oil cleanser has officially ended.

I follow the oil cleansing with Purearth’s Turmeric Exfoliating Face Sand because double cleansing is life. It instantly brightens my skin and unclogs my pores. On some days I spread an even layer of the sand on my face and leave it on as a face mask for ~20 mins. The routine ends with heavy moisturizing of my squeaky clean skin followed by (on good days) a sheet mask while I lay on the couch binge watching Season 2 of Hello! My Twenties.

The best natural and cruelty free skincare – India Edition

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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.

The best skincare for oily skin

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You know how you’re never supposed to pour water on an oil fire? When it comes to skincare for oily skin, the same principal holds… almost.

The media, a few dermatologists and your aunt love to tell everyone how oil-free cleansers, moisturizers, everything are the best way to go for people with oily skin. Not true. As someone who has had oily skin from literally day 1 of life, I can attest that this is just not true.

In fact, the renaissance of my skincare routine began the moment I added an oil cleanser, facial oil, oil-based moisturizers, a weekly oil hair mask and oil serum before styling my hair. Here’s how it’s done:

  • Adopt a 2-step face cleansing routine. Start with an oil cleanser and end with a foam cleanser. Your skin will thank you. (Oil cleansers are magic because only oil removes oil… from your face.)
  • Use an oil-based moisturizer during the day. It sounds intimidating and probably not the best idea if you live in a hot/humid climate but this is a total win for the winter/colder climates. I really believe that too little moisturizer makes my skin over-secrete oil thus making it look wayyy oilier than it is. The key to keeping your oily skin at bay is to make sure that your skin is nice & dewy (counter-intuitive, I know).
  • !SKINCARE GAME CHANGER ALERT! A wonderful, aromatherapy inspired, soothing cocktail of face oils for the night. Almond oil + rosehip oil + argan oil = THE BEST your skin will ever look in the morning. Puffiness be gone! Acne be gone! Dark circle be gone! I can’t even begin to tell you just how amazing this blend is — try it and let me know how it works for you! (Any face oil at night is great – lots of options out there!)
  • Weekly oil mask – I usually massage some warm coconut oil into my scalp on Saturday night while I’m binge watching something on Netflix. Coconut oil is my fav and it smeels soooo good that I sleep with it on and wake up to lightly scented, moisturized hair. The coconut hair dreams must end so I wash it off and then let my glossy locks air-dry. If coconut oil isn’t your thang, a cult-favorite (and mine) is the Bringadi hair oil by Kama Ayurveda.
  • Oil on wet hair + before styling. I love love love Ouai Hair Oil. It is seriously da bomb. I can rub it on wet hair, dry hair, semi-dry hair — it just always works.

 

Supplements that REALLY work

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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

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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

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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 22

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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 Glow Life Beauty Sweet Treats

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Hi guys,

So, my last blog post was about my plan to start a daily beauty newsletter with skincare & makeup treats delivered to your inbox everyday of every week! I sent the first one out today (click here to subscribe)!

Here are the stories:

JULY 8, wednesday