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Should you use a body cream or a body lotion?

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There is a lot of confusion between which product is better for skin: a cream or a lotion. So, I would start by giving you a definition of both the terms and then you can yourself decide which is the best for you.
Lotion: It is a mixture of few drops of oil in water held together by a chemical substance because oil and water do not mix.
Cream: A mixture of few drops of water in oil. The density of the product can vary according to various formulations.
When compared, body lotions are easier to apply as compared to creams. But, when your skin is damp, creams are also easy to apply as they spread well in contact with water.
Which one is better?
I can not answer this question. It is a personal choice but I can answer a different question: why cream than a lotion? Have you ever felt that your skin has become drier after applying a lotion? I have. This problem is common in people with dry to normal skin and in extreme weathers. Why so? Because, when you apply the lotion on your body, it spreads easily creating a large surface area for water in the cream to evaporate quickly. Thus, it ends up drying your skin after a little while instead of keeping your skin moisturized. The rate at which evaporation takes place is dependent on the environment and the viscosity (thickness) of the lotion. More thick the lotion is, better it will keep your body moisturized.
My Recommendations
Thus, I would just recommend that recognize your skin type correctly and choose products mentioned for your skin type only. Using wrong products can affect your skin and make it look aged.
Dry Skin: Oily creams or thick lotions
Normal Skin: Your choice and preference
Oily Skin: Oil-free moisturizers and light watery lotions
Now, a latest skin type is aging skin. How do you categorize it? Well, according to me, it should go under dry skin because as you age, your skin loses its tendency to keep moisture intact and becomes dry. Also due to the loss of collagen, it is no longer firm.
Whatever my thoughts be, I would definitely love your opinions on this topic. Do not forget to write down your comments.

Instructions on washing your face and body

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Yes, it is something you have been doing since time unknown but are you sure that you are washing your face correctly? It is possible that you are over-using your cleanser or your hair is peeping on your face when you are washing your face. Similar to washing your hair, washing your face is no big deal but changing little things about your routine will show amazing changes in your skin texture. And, the same principles apply when you take a shower too.

What is the correct way of washing your face? I have elaborated on some steps in the routine which should be given attention.

  • First step will always be to remove the makeup.
  • Pull all your hair back from your face using a hair band. Do not pull it too tightly otherwise it will damage your hair.
  • Splash water on your face. Do not use too cold or too hot water. Neither will do your skin any good except for drying it. Room temperature water is fine even for closing the pores.
  • Take a little amount of cleanser in your hand. Keep it at the bare minimum. The aim is not to get more lather but to clean your face without drying it. You would notice that in case of some face washes, a very little amount produces more than enough of lather. More lather producing products would be more drying for your face.
  • Rub your palms together and apply the cleanser or face wash to your face in circular motions. Do not press to hard. And, see if you can get the circular motions with upward strokes as in case of facial massages. This action would ensure a gentle massage for your face and prevents, in the long run, your skin from hanging down.
  • Be very gentle near the eyes. Sometimes the foam enters the eyes and causes irritation so take care to avoid such a situation as it is not good for the eyes.
  • Do not forget to get the grime out of your eyelashes and eyebrows, behind the ears, on the curve of the ears, creases along the nose and edges of the eyes. These places, often, get very dirty.
  • Do not exceed the time limit of one minute. Excess washing is again not good for skin. Splash lukewarm water first on your face to wash off all traces of the cleanser or soap. And, then conclude with room temperature water splashes on your face. Make sure your face is squeaky clean and no layer of cleanser or face wash is left behind. In case you feel a greasy layer on your face after washing it, get rid of the face wash or cleanser you are using and try a new one.
  • Now, you can proceed to tone your face using green tea or any other toner of your choice. You can even skip this step if you do not want to do it. But, if you do not want to invest in costly chemical laden products, then splashing green tea on your face regularly keeps it looking fresh and dewy. It is a natural toner and without chemicals and full of anti-oxidants. Give a minute for green tea to sink in to your skin before washing it off.
  • Pat your face damp. Do not let it dry completely. Do not rub your face to dry it. The friction from the towel causes the skin to get dry. Or, if you have time, let it air dry. It takes only a minute. Moisturize while your face is still damp.It locks the moisture in.

Same routine should be applied while taking shower. Use as less soap or body wash as possible as they lather a lot. And, do not keep on lathering your body for unlimited time. Instead, finish off as soon as possible. Using lukewarm to little warm water is best for your skin. You would see the difference in your skin within a week of following these strictures to the ‘T’. Do not forget to moisturize your body as soon as you are out of your shower. Best place to moisturize your skin is inside the bathroom. The heat and humid atmosphere will make sure you lock in more moisture and keep your pores open.

Finally, I would wind up this post by stating some tips and precautions:

  • If you use a loofah or flannels in your shower, to get better results, soak them in a mug full of warm water 10-15 minutes prior to your shower. They would become soft and give better lather and are not too harsh on the skin.
  • Do not use dry brushes, loofahs and other exfoliating accessories in the shower more than thrice a week. It can seriously damage your skin.
  • Do you have sensitive skin? Stay away from using any kind of brushes or flannels in the shower.
  • Do not exfoliate your body more than once or at most twice a week.
  • If you take bath twice a day, limit your baths to not more than 5 minutes. And, accordingly reduce the water temperature too.
  • Do not buy a soap which makes “bubbles” in your bath. It strips off the oils from your skin.
  • Always use a non-soapy cleanser.

24 Letter Mantra Products by Sresta Natural Bio Product Limited

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Disclaimers: This is not a brand endorsements or even for that matter a review. I am just recommending a brand which I found useful and beneficial for me. I was not sent any samples for reviews. Rather, I bought the products from nearby supermarket, Spencers. And, I am not compensated to write this post. The views and experience is entirely mine.
I have recently seen a huge increase in the people going for Olive Oils and other products which are deemed to be good for body but not produced in India. Thus, we have to rely on the international companies and buy what we get. But, as I pointed out in one of my posts, even the most famous and popular of the brands sell adulterated olive oil labeling it to be Extra-Virgin. You can read the article here. So, how much would you like to compromise on the quality? If you ask me, I would prefer to go for products produced in India so that at least I am able to distinguish between the qualities.
So, I would like to introduce you to one of the first food organic company of India – 24 Letter Mantra. First, let me talk about its certifications. The company is registered with US FDA and is certified from USDA Organic, India Organic and Control Union. You would find their symbols on the products and the license numbers are also give in its site. And, has various process and quality certifications of ISO 9001 and 22000 among others. The products range from all fruits and vegetables to spices and bakery. I have not yet had a chance to visit its retail store. Once I visit it, I would surely report back. Unfortunately, it has only two retail stores across India – Hyderabad and Pune and has partner stores across the main towns across the country. Its website provides the requisite information. The one thing which struck me was that it does not label everything to be organic. For instance, it labels the raisins (kismis) ‘Natural’. And, makes a clear cut distinction among its ‘Organic’ and ‘Natural’ products. It claims most of its products to be organic.

I have had a chance to use many of its products including spices, dry fruits and vegetable oils. The vegetable or cooking oils are all cold pressed and organic. It has five oils: Safflower, Coconut, Mustard, Peanut / Groundnut and Sesame Oil. I had a chance to use Mustard oil till July. The duration for safe usage of the oil was just 9 months. Same goes for the Groundnut oil. The texture of the oils are rough and the taste is harsh on the mouth specially for the Groundnut oil which makes it pretty clear that it has undergone minimum processing. I applied the oil on my hair too and I can definitely say that the result was better than the commercial oils I have used. Both mustard oil and groundnut oil cost 200 INR for 1 liter bottle. In case of spices and dry fruits, most of the spices are good to use for only 4-6 months. Some of the packed are usable for a year but not more.  And, the cost is reasonable. The packaging is neat and clean.

Update: So, recently, I  bought a jar of honey of the same brand. The jar is labeled ‘organic’. The ingredients list contains only honey. When I opened the jar, I was immediately repulsed by the smell of honey and I was happy!!
You see contrary to the widely held belief that honey is very aromatic, the smell is unusual and takes getting used to. I know this because some years before I had a bottle of honey straight from the beehive when a certain beehive was burnt in my locality. So, I know what a real honey tastes like. (I consider myself lucky for that.) Real Honey is pale yellow in color (actually that might vary because of the quality of flowers on which the bees have fed and other environmental factors) and is extremely thin in consistency as opposed to the thick ones available in the market. It is not even that sweet as much as the market honey is made to be. This happened in 2006 or 2007. And, I am never likely to forget the smell and taste.
Coming back to the product which I bought, it is touted to be ‘Himlayan Multiflower Honey’. I do not know how much truth is in that. But, at least the consistency of the honey is thinner than others and smells foul. Regarding the taste, I can say it tastes tad sweeter than the one I tasted long ago but I think that again varies on the flowers fed upon by the bees and environmental factors. The color is almost like Dabur Honey. The price of the jar is 115 INR for 300 gms. And, the expiry period is after 12 months from the date of manufacture.
I do have my own reservations on the product but the fact that it is organic and smells foul and is thinner in consistency wins the argument and I would say that this product is worth a try. The fact that it is USDA certified Organic makes it better for me. I have already posted on how chemically treated honey is poisonous for our body.

So, in case you get a chance to try out these products, I would recommend you to. And, if you are already using these products, I encourage you to share your views and experiences.