body care

Neev Rose Olive Body Wash {Product Review}

Swathy · November 9, 2012 · 4 Comments

Price: Rs 160 for 200ml

Pros

cleanses really well

natural ingredients

smells awesome!!

Cons

does nothing for dry skin

My Experience

After a very long time, I have used a body wash. I bought this on recommendation from Shikha herself, one of the founders of Neev. She said that it is one of their bestsellers and I can imagine why. Its simply amazing in one word.

The ingredients list is on the top of my list in the praises for the product. It uses lye (potassium hydroxide for liquid soaps) which is equivalent to lye (sodium hydroxide in solid soaps) in handmade soaps. It also has rose petals in the bottle.

It comes in a flip top bottle and the texture of the product is quite weird. The top of the layer generally crystallizes which I guess is due to the reaction with air but otherwise the soap is liquid. When I say crystallizes, it just becomes a little jelly kinds.

Whether in crystalline form or liquid form, it lathers really well and is very gentle on the skin. The only problem is that you HAVE to follow it up with a moisturizer otherwise the skin does feel a bit dry. No, there is no stretchy feeling.

I think this may be due to the dryness in the weather. But, it will suit the skin in summers. It smells really good of roses. And, it also leaves the skin really soft. I would definitely recommend you to try this once. They also have shampoo with the same formula.

Other products from Neev:

Neev Almond Rose, Lemongrass and Patchouli Handmade Soaps

My Skin Care Routine {Skin Care}

Swathy · November 2, 2012 · 30 Comments

Being a beauty blogger, many of you would be thinking that I have a very elaborate routine and am very diligent about it. Nothing could be farther than truth. I am the most lazy person you will ever come across and I can ignore my skin or hair for a long time.

The maximum I have ignored my hair is a week, after that I have to at least wash it. I do many times skip conditioning or oiling as well. And, skin, I can ignore for months together except for basic cleansing and moisturizing. Right now, I am passing through that kind of lazy phase.

Cleansing
Obviously, can’t ignore it. Ok, there have been days I have done that. But, these days, I do follow that coz I am having my bath twice a day. Having a geyser at my disposal is actually harming my skin more. Why? I used to stay in a hostel earlier which had just one common geyser for the entire floor.

I used to use a heating rod to heat the water [was too lazy to carry buckets of water from the bathroom to my room!] But, now, the geyser is right there in my bathroom. I like hot baths and, now, I am trying to control the temperature of the water I use so that it doesn’t dry my skin too much.

Moisturizing
I am using the Lotus White Glow Emulsion for day time and for night, I generally use Rustic Art Aloevera Gel and follow with a drop or two of any facial oil. Sometimes, I prepare my own. Yup, I know I haven’t done any DIY in a long while but I lack inspiration and patience both!!!

Sunscreen
If I actually see the pattern of last month, there have been many many days when I have blatantly skipped the sun protection. Ok, let me confess, I don’t really like applying it and it takes too much of time and effort and it increases my getting-ready time exponentially.

But, let me also add that when I skipped the sunscreen, my skin has perceptibly darkened and since I have started it again, I have seen my skin come back to its original color gradually. So, yup, its an unavoidable nuisance. I use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer.

Lips
I have been using Nivea Pomegranate for lips in the morning and at night, I have been using Aloe Veda lip balm. But, my lips are really getting dry coz I miss out using lip balms generally and in the office, its really difficult for me to remember. AC is also taking a toll.

Body Care
I do tend to skip the morning miniaturization coz of the scarcity of time. Currently, I am using the Nivea Express Hydration lotion. And, at night also, many times, I skip but do not do that!!! Otherwise, I am using The Body Shop Polynesian Monoi Oil. And, if need be, follow with the nivea lotion again.

That’s it!! Yup, there are a lot of things missing. Exfoliation or Dry Brush which I totally love. I haven’t exfoliated my face since like ages and dry brush, trust me, I am missing it desperately but I misplaced it while shifting and I am afraid I lost it!!!

Anyways, so you have seen my routine, you would want to ask how is my skin feeling? Its become dry since August and I can’t really do without moisturizing. I have to be a regular at it. Otherwise, my skin is soft and good enough. So, what’s your skin care routine?

Rustic Art Algae Organic Bathing Soap {Product Review}

Swathy · October 8, 2012 · 15 Comments

Rustic Art Algae Organic Bathing Soap at Perfect Skin Care for you

Price: Rs 155 for 100gms

Ingredients

Pros

just like all handmade soaps, gentle on skin and doesn’t leave skin stretched

can be used easily on a baby as well

doesn’t melt so easily and does last around a month with two usages per day

Cons

not as moisturizing as it says

expensive!!

My Experience

I totally love natural handmade soaps and love to try out various different ones so this one was on my radar since I got Rustic Art products for review. The usage of Algae made me curious to check it out. But, the soap is nothing in fancy in looks. In fact, its a dull dark brown in color and no fragrance at all.

As it says “an ultimate moisturizer”, I thought it would leave my skin really soft and not very dry. It didn’t leave my skin dry at all nor did my skin feel stretched even if I forgo the moisturizer but I do feel one needs to moisturize immediately afterwards. I felt as if the Algae did nothing extra!!

Ok, it will be unfair to say any product should be doing a double duty and moisturizing is a routine one must not forgo in any case. Surprisingly, the product didn’t melt as soon as I feared it would. It did last me around a month of good usage. The best part of the product is it is organic but I do feel its expensive as well.

Other products from Rustic Art:

Rustic Art Spa and Lotus Organic Bathing Soaps
Rustic Art Aloevera Gel