• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Swathy and Sky

  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Pet Care
  • Books
  • Beauty
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • Instagram
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / Archives for Beauty

Beauty

Should I apply conditioner or not? {Hair Care}

Swathy · February 14, 2012 · 12 Comments

PS: This post is in perspective that leave-in serums are used after washing the hair.
A week back, I was too tired of washing my hair and applying the conditioner and waiting in the shower so I made a simple process by simply washing my hair and sticking to the leave-in serum. And, I found my hair was really fluffy and well-behaved and was not weighed down for 3-4 days which wasn’t there earlier. This prompted me to think if the conditioner is really needed for hair?
Fine Hair and Conditioning
Since I have done the article on hair textures, I have been inclined to think about hair care separately for both kinds of hair. Yes, conditioners are very necessary for hair but then a lot of other things also affect it – amount of conditioner needed and types of conditioners needed also depend quite a lot on your hair texture, right? So, why to make it a universal rule that you need a conditioner for your hair howsoever your hair and leave-in serum is also a conditioner.
Conditioner keeps hair soft
But, there is another perspective that conditioner does keep the hair soft. So, leave-in serum’s job becomes easy – to protect the loss of moisture. And, conditioner helps detangle the hair too by providing a little slip to the hair. And, many conditioners are able to tame frizzy hair. But, conditioners also have  big disadvantage – they can weigh the hair down.
So, what do you think – Conditioner or no Conditioner?

Vedic Line Papaya Scrub and Papaya Face Pack {Product Review}

Swathy · February 13, 2012 · 15 Comments

Wish you a very happy Valentine’s Day!!!
In case the title is misleading, they are separate products but I wanted to review them together because I used them together and they are complimentary products. Papaya extract is one of the most powerful Alpha Hydroxy Acids and does a lot of good to the skin. So, let’s get to the review part.
Price: Rs 175 for 100ml (for both)
Ingredients
So, you can see that the ingredients are all same except that the scrub has walnut shells for scrubbing!!!


“In a nutshell”

Pros

  • Ingredient List is very impressive, no parabens
  • Both make the skin glow beautifully and make it look pink
Cons

  • Scrub is not the one you would reply for a hardcore job
  • Smells sickly sweet (con for sensitive noses)
Wish List (to the brand)

  • Packaging – I really wish they could be put in dark glass jars. That makes it look classy and is good for the active papaya extract too.

My Experience with the Scrub and Pack

They both are muddy and brown in color and have a very sweet fragrance. I can’t describe it but its very familiar. And, needless to say, I don’t really like it. But, the good thing is that it doesn’t get inside my nose and bother me. Otherwise, it would have been very difficult for me to use them. As you already must have checked out, the ingredients are entirely the same.

Let’s talk about scrub first. First time I used it, I hated it and liked it as well. I hated it because the walnut shells are really harsh and they really hurt my skin!!! It’s grown sensitive over time. But, I liked it because it gives a rosy glow to the face after you are done and even the clay helps in the exfoliation.
And, now comes the problem, it is a little difficult to wash off!!! The clay tends to accumulate on the skin so it needs more water to wash off. I have used it for the entire body too and is good enough for that job as well. But, another issue I have with this is that this is not a heavy duty scrub. It is good for regular exfoliation but if you are ex foliating after a very long time, this is not ideal for that.
And, coming to face pack, I have lesser complaints. It is supposed to go on moist skin and spreads easily. I like to put on a thick layer and keep it on for 15-20 minutes when it gets a little dry. The pack states it should be wiped off when its half-dry so I get it off after that. And, my skin is always invariably glowing and pinkish and really bright which I love.
Like the scrub, it takes a little time to wash off but on the good side, it removes my tan and also with the uneven skin tone of my forehead!!! So, as a final word, I think this is a good pack to try. Ok, this pack does tingle a bit when applied on but then it has papaya extract and that is the reason for the tingling nature. The pack doesn’t burn or anything.
The final word I would say is that they should really change the packaging. I have no issues with tub packagings but it is made of cheap plastic and has a false bottom and strictly speaking, it might be a bit expensive too (but the product works so that’s fine). I would rather say that an elegant glass packaging might give a different look to the entire product. Btw, both would probably last 10-15 times each more or less which is decent enough for the price.
Availability
Online – UrbanTouch.com
Have you tried this brand?
PS: Product sent by the brand.
Other reviews from the brand:

Vedic Line Neem & Brahmi Disinfecting Face Wash

Biotique Bio Almond & Cashew Fresh Repleneshing Hair Serum {Product Review}

Swathy · February 6, 2012 · 8 Comments

I have not been online for quite a number of days so if you have sent me mails, please give me sometime. My lappie crashed, then windows didn’t recover, so shifted to ubuntu and now, the touchpad is being erratic so it’s an ongoing schedule of laptop disasters!!! But, I am hoping to be back soon and I have a huge backlog of product reviews which I have committed to. So, this was requested by Divine Blush. Hope you find it satisfactory 🙂 I had long since wanted a leave-in hair serum which doesn’t have silicones and keeps my hair healthy. So, I got this the first time I laid my eyes on it.

Price: Rs 159 for 35ml

Ingredients

I don’t know if you can read it properly but I, sure as hell, can’t. So, here’s the list: Nariyal Jal (3%), Dudhal (3.5%), Manjishta (2.1%), Cotus Bergamia [wrong spelling, couldn’t read] (0.5%), Kaju (0.5%), Badam Tail (2%), Himalayan Water Q.S

Pros
– Ingredient List is very impressive
– It keeps the hair soft
Cons
– It doesn’t really do anything on its own unless you lock it in the hair (I am guessing this!!!)

My Experience

I am actually a bit confused about the serum even now after using the entire bottle. So, I shall first talk about its texture. Let me say this that I love the ingredients and the texture of the product is like a thick gel but it is not at all sticky on the hair. It spreads easily through the hair and keeps the hair really soft.

And, here is where my problem began. Once, it wasn’t able to control the frizz in my hair. Then, next time, it kept my hair really beautiful and soft and manageable. Then, again, it made my hair a bit greasy as I applied a bit more (or, it might have been the oil or hair not being washed properly, I am not really sure).

Since I was so confused about the product, I experimented a lot with it. I have applied this serum and followed with a drop or two of oil to lock in the moisture or followed it with a single pump of Dove Nourishing Care serum. Both times, I would say that it kept my hair really beautiful, shinier and moisturized.And, the best part was that my hair was hydrated for a longer time.

The reason for good hydration, as I think, is the ingredient list. It is full of water so locking it with oil or a moisture-locking serum works wonders for the hydration levels of the hair and that’s why, this product works. It doesn’t weigh the hair down but a little trial and error is required to make out how much of the product is required for the hair.

Have you used this serum?
  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 45
  • Page 46
  • Page 47
  • Page 48
  • Page 49
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 86
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Product Reviews

healthy skin with vitamin c

Role of Collagen in Anti-Aging Skin Care

Mother Sparsh Plant Powered Ultra-Rich Face Wash

2 Best Face Wash for Combination Skin Available in India Under Rs 500 – 2024

The Body Shop Hemp Range - Lip protector, Hand Cream and Foot Protector

The Body Shop Hemp Range Review – Hemp Lip Balm, Hemp Hand Cream and Hemp Foot Cream

Skin Care

skin care, dehydrated skin, skin is dehydrated

3 Potent Signs Your Skin is Dehydrated

5 Practical Winter Skin and Hair Care Tips for this Autumn and Winter

antioxidants list

What are Free Radicals?

Hair Care

Mother Sparsh 30 Herbs Oil

Why switching to an Ayurvedic Hair Oil is a good choice for you?

pantene intense rescue shots product review

Pantene Intense Rescue Shots

My Hair Diary – May 2019

Health

dog sniffing flowers, therapy, mental health

What do You Do for Yourself Everyday?

tree

The Evil Eye is Real.

how your house is making you sick, allergens, house allergies, dust mites, cold, cough, flu, house wellness, mold, mildew, humidity

6 Shocking Ways Your House is Making You Sick

Sky’s Says

Life with my Reactive Dog – February 2024

reactive dog, dog reactivity, outdoor exposure, socialization

Life with my Reactive Dog – January 2024

dehydrated treats, bite me treats and more, house of canis, ghar ka maal, dog treats

Favorite Single-Ingredient Dehydrated Treats

Book Reviews

tenth avatar, dr. kanchan joshi, book review

The Book Corner Vol. 10 – Tenth Avatar by Dr. Kanchan Joshi

agniputr by vadhan

The Book Corner Vol. 9 – “Agniputr” by Vadhan

georgette heyer books, these old shades, devil's cub, the nonesuch, sylvester, frederics, grand sophy

The Book Corner Vol. 8 – 5 of my favourite Georgette Heyer Books

Copyright © 2025 - swathyandsky.com