Five Series

SLS-free shampoos vs Regular Shampoos {Five Series}

Swathy · September 10, 2014 · 2 Comments

Ok, it has been like 2 years now that I have shifted to the non-commercial shampoos. It is not like I have completely chucked out the over-the-counter products which makes it even more easy for me to analyze and appreciate the difference between both types of products.

Yes, it takes time for one to adjust to the SLS-free shampoos because the feel of the hair is way different after using either of them. So, let me enlist the differences and see if you can agree with them!!

Feel of Hair

This was one of the major difference which I felt. When you use SLS-free shampoo, hair feels rough when you are washing it. Later on, it might not look as if you have get rid of oil entirely coz the hair feels a lot bunched up just like it does when you apply oil!!

This happens because of the silicone content in the regular shampoos. The silicon coats the hair and makes it feel smooth. Due to the absence of this ingredient in SLS-free shampoos, the hair does not feel as smooth.

Lathering Issues

It is a myth that SLS-free shampoo do not lather well. It really depends on the composition of the shampoo but of all the SLS-free shampoos I have used, organic surge, Madara, Omved, all of them have lathered generously enough.

Not all SLS-free shampoos are same

Well, just like the regular shampoos, these shampoo category also suffers from the same issues. The one thing which is important is that not all SLS-free shampoos have the same cleansing power. Some cleanse well and are good at removing oil but some might be just good on non-oiled hair and some might be too harsh for the hair as well because of their compositions.

SLS-free does not mean chemical free

This is the most important point I would like to make. There are brands which do not use SLS but they use ALS which is more or less harsh on hair or they can use parabens or any other chemical but not SLS. So, do remember to buy organic shampoos instead of just going for SLS-free ones.

Expense

Yup, they are comparatively expensive because of the demand and supply difference!!

What do you say? Have you used SLS-free shampoos? Do you find them different from the regular ones?

5 Steps to Oily Skin Care {Five Series}

Swathy · September 4, 2014 · Leave a Comment

I have never really suffered with the pros and cons of the oily skin but mostly in summers I have terrible T-zone problem and blackheads and even in humid weather, there is a terrible issue of constant sweating so I thought I might compile some of the steps to take care of oily skin.

Salt Water Tip for Oily Skins

Wash your face with warm salt water. It helps to control the oil and does not aggravate acne either.

Face Wash

I always check out for a face wash which is SLS free and for a thorough cleansing, occasional use of face wash with salicylic acid like Garnier pore unclogging. I seriously love that product but only when I have oily skin, mind you!!! So, yes, a good face wash is very very important.

Toner

Absolute must when you are suffering from a lot oil! For a recommendation and for those who can afford, I would suggest Clinique Clarifying Lotion which is a alcohol based toner but gave amazing results on my skin. And, for all others and those who love doing DIY’s, check this recipe out and you might just find it interesting.

Moisturizer

Well, this is one of the tricky parts of oily skin. For my combination skin, aloevera gel works well. But, for my friend, I had recommended this product which I found on Paris’s blog and the product looks interesting.

Tea Tree Oil

Did you know that there is only lavender oil and tea tree oil which can be applied neat on skin? They do not have to be diluted with any carrier oil so if you suffer from acne or even if its just oily skin, this might be just the best moisturizer. Ok, also, this will protect you from the mosquitoes and bugs 😀

So, these are few steps I use to take care of my combination skin in summers or humid weather. Check them out and see if they might be of some help to you as well.

Do you have any more ideas for taking care of oily or acne prone skin?

5 Goofups I made as a bride {Five Series}

Swathy · February 13, 2014 · 2 Comments

Huh…there were so many things I totally ignored or freaked out on unnecessarily. Ok, my only tip to all would-be brides over there – Do not really bother on what everyone says. Do your own thing in which you are more comfortable.

For me, makeup was something I should have never bothered myself with. Instead, I should have stuck to searching out a good place to get my skin and hair care getting done. Similarly, I had a lot of trouble making decisions coz of being out of station and lack of references. So, check out what went wrong and what can you avoid.

Makeup

Well, I have to say finally that whosoever does my makeup, I am not really comfortable with it. Yup, it can also be due to the fact that I did not get it done by some of the best but honestly, I do not give a damn to it. This is probably the most expensive thing which I completely wasted money on; that too on a lady whom I had employed completely on recommendation.

You might think that how can a bride not have makeup? How will a bride look like one? But, in my wedding, there was literally no makeup on my face! Only the two rituals before that, I had got makeup done which I honestly hated but thankfully the snaps are not glaringly aboard!

If you are like me, I would suggest you to dispense off with such pretensions and concentrate on things which really matter to you. Also, I bought so many makeup things which I will not end up using in my entire lifetime. I have no idea what to do with them!!

Appoint a Lady with the terms and conditions clearly explained

Gosh, the makeup and mehendi both were complete disaster in my case.

The lady, I appointed on recommendation, knew she was supposed to stay till 4 AM in the morning during the wedding because that was the last change of saree to Madhuparkam, a white saree with a red border, in which the actual wedding takes place. But, she started to make some hoobla at around 1. Then, she did not do any makeup but still charged the same amount. Also, she did not tie the Madhuparkam properly either.

Same thing happened with the mehendi lady. The girl came at around 4 PM and it took almost six hours for the design and she was constantly squabbling which was a real pain and then she made a hoobla on amount of money. I know it all sounds so messed up and yes I guess they were not professionals. But, I had no idea earlier.

If you are having an outstation wedding, better go beforehand and get a trial like almost a month before. I know its easy for me to say this but it was not possible in my own case.

Getting all worked up

Be calm, no matter what. And, always remember, things WlLL go wrong and that is absolutely fine!

Wedding is the time when we meet all kinds of relatives from ones you have grown up with to the ones you never knew existed. Everyone will come and offer help and create chaos in your otherwise organized plans. Even my mum got all worked up with the amount of advises poring in. It is better to turn a deaf ear to all such things.

No Hair Care

The biggest blooper in all of this was that I had not got any hair servicing done! I had been following a decent hair regimen but all the while I was getting my facials and other things done, I never paid the least attention to my hair. I would not say that my hair is looking terrible but I should have taken care of it.

Related to Blog

I think this was something which I should have planned early on. I totally forgot about my availability and took some products to review which obviously I have not been able to deliver till NOW!! In fact, I could not plan for the blog properly.

The wedding was fixed in September middle and the engagement was in last week of October followed by Diwali and then the wedding in November middle which was almost a one week affair if I think of all the rituals. I could not plan for the blog at all during this time either due to lack of interest or due to lack of time.

So, these were my goofups as a bride. But, if I look back, honestly, I do not think they were really much important. Except for my blog handling and time management skills, I do not really regret any of the bloopers above. So, again, I would reiterate: relax and enjoy and remember things will go wrong.

So, what were your goofups?