Swathy and Sky

My Hair Diary – May 2019

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It has been more than two years I have done a post in this series. Keeping a hair diary was fun for me! This last month I have experimented a bit with a different way to deep condition my hair which I shall talk about in the post. So, let’s start.

Honestly, till date, if I have to look back, the products which helped my hair maximum were the cysteine treatment, defabulous shampoo and conditioner duo and kama neelibrigandi hair oil. The transformed my hair in a completely different and great way and I would recommend them to you anytime.

Overnight Deep Conditioning

So, you would have read my review on the Sephora overnight hair mask. Well, I used the same concept with a different hair product once I ran out of the conditioner in the pack – parachute coconut creme oil. Well, honestly, the overnight treatment with this one was not really great.

But, I am sure I can get the same results with some other deep conditioning product. I did try another overnight treatment with olaplex no. 3 but again it was not very successful. But, to be honest, olaplex is not a deep conditioning treatment but a bond builder so you can not expect the same results from it.

Wash Hair when Needed

This is something I often fail at. You have to and must wash your hair as soon as you find your scalp getting greasy, products being too heavy for your hair or even when it is too exposed to environmental factors like sun and pollution.

I do not do it and I do find my hair falling a lot more consequently. Where as, if I am regularly washing it, the hair fall is considerably less and even non-existent. Also, use shampoo and conditioner mentioned for your hair type. Improper usage also leads to greasy scalp and stringy looking hair.

Products Used

Shampoo – Conditioner : OGX Morroccan

Hair Oil / Deep Conditioning : Parachute Coconut Creme Oil + Sephora overnight hair mask

I am also trying to grow out my hair. I am due for a hair cut for a very long time so I am gonna go for it this week. And, I am also traveling the entire month so I have to carry my shampoo and conditioner along. So, let’s see how the month goes for my hair. Will update in the next hair diary.

Till then, Swathy.

What Happens when You Wear Sunscreen Everyday?

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Image Courtesy : Photo by Porapak Apichodilok from Pexels

Recently, I observed a few moles coming out on my arms. You must already be aware that the development of new moles is usually not a good sign. It can indicate skin cancer at the very worst. When you wear sunscreen everyday, you can save your skin from such drastic changes usually.

I was really concerned since I have not been using sunscreen for the last two to three years at the very least. And, I can definitely say that if you do not wear sunscreen everyday, it shows up pretty easily on your skin. I have seen the effects of not wearing sunscreen everyday.

How sunscreen affects the skin if you wear sunscreen everyday?

Skin Aging Stops

Okay, this is an overstatement. But, if you wear sunscreen everyday, you would have already noticed your skin looking younger, firmer and definitely less wrinkly, especially around the eyes and lips. The deep wrinkles or lines or even laugh lines can be filled up by regularly using sunscreen.

Helps Keep your Skin Hydrated

Actually, sunscreen itself acts like a barrier and protects your skin. In the meantime, it also helps improve the barrier function of the skin and helps prevent your skin from losing moisture and lipids in the longer run. This is not a one time effect but something you will notice gradually over a period of time as you wear sunscreen everyday and regularly.

Allows your Night-time Treatments to work well

You can use the best anti-aging creams but they would not work if you are not complimenting them with protecting yourself in the sun. In fact, you can not use retinoids and AHA’s for your skin unless you wear sunscreen everyday religiously. Using these ingredients make your skin sensitive to sun damage.

If you are wearing sunscreen everyday, your night time treatments and retinoids also work really well. What I have often observed is that the deep wrinkles in the skin also fill up slowly once you start putting sunscreen and use the proper anti-aging products or even regular facial oils. Not wearing sunscreen regularly or even using it sporadically can lead to skin damage and wrinkles.

The quality of skin is very deeply affected and none of the antioxidants and treatments work for longer time in such cases. More serious than that is the chance of skin cancer. The advice to use a sunscreen is no longer merely a scare tactic to get you to use a skin care product and multinationals to mint money.   

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Photo by Tofros.com from Pexels

Do’s and Don’ts for Sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen everyday will provide a lot of advantages. But, before that, you must know how to wear sunscreen. I have mentioned these points at various times and places on the blog but repeating the important information never hurts.

Wear Enough Amount of Sunscreen

Always buy a spf 30+ sunscreen for everyday use. And, make sure you apply a coin sized product just for your face and neck. If you are not using enough sunscreen, it will not be able to protect your skin.

Use Sunscreen on All parts of your Body

Using it on face and neck is not enough. You must use sunscreen on your arms, legs and other exposed parts of the body. And, you must apply the same amount of sunscreen everywhere – a coin sized product each for both arms, legs and other exposed parts. Make sure to carry your sunscreen while you are going swimming and apply it as soon as you are out of the pool.

Makeup and Moisturizers with spf are not Sunscreen

Sunscreens are formulated differently than other products. Never confuse skin care products with spf as sunscreen. They are not designed to protect your skin as well as the sunscreen even if the ingredients seem to be same. Likewise, makeup and bb creams with spf are not enough. For lips, use lip balms with higher spf but keep on applying them as frequently as possible.

sunscreens, why

My Recommendations for Sunscreen

Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry Touch Sun Block : Absolutely my favorite and more affordable. I love to use this on my body as well as my face. If I am getting an expensive sunscreen for my face, I use this for my body.

Vichy Ideal Soleil Face Fluid Dry Touch : This is something I tried out last year and it is an amazing sunscreen for the face especially. It is matte and not really heavy, blends well and looks great. Protection is also amazing.

Shiseido Multi-Defense UV Protector: Absolute favorite but extremely expensive! I really love this and if you can afford it, it is amazing for the face. It sits well, less white cast and does not make the skin oily at all. Lasts pretty long and reapplication is also easier.

For now, my list is limited. I hope to update it as and when I like something I have used. I have started using sunscreen again so expect more posts and reviews.

Till then, Swathy.

Sephora Hand Mask Gloves – Aloevera

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Last week has been real crazy with my brother’s wedding, hence the missing posts! So, while shopping for the wedding, I visited Sephora for first time in Hyderabad. Their overnight hair mask was the one which interested me and I picked these sephora hand mask gloves along. You might have heard me cribbing about my extremely cracked and damaged skin on the fingers. I thought may be some moisturizing gloves might be helpful.

Sephora Hand Mask Gloves infused with Aloevera Product Review

Price : Rs 450 for one pair

Availability : Sephora shops and Sephora online

My Review

Well, the first thing I thought about this product was “damn! it’s really expensive”. Who wants to buy a one time use mask for 400 bucks? Anyways, I got the sephora hand mask gloves and the overnight hair mask, though in retrospect buying another pair of gloves would have been a better use for my money.

The pouch contains a pair of sephora hand mask gloves and there is no serum in the pouch as you would find in a face mask. The serum is present inside the gloves. You just have to put them on your hands and sit. The product specifies 20 minutes but I would recommend as long as possible though it does get tiring!

When you put on the sephora hand mask gloves, you would feel nothing actually but then about 2-4 minutes later, you can feel the serum around your fingers. I initially thought the quantity of the serum was very less but I do not think that is strictly true! The serum probably melts with your body heat or something like that.

I kept on the hand mask gloves for probably 30 minutes and there was still a lot of serum left inside so I passed on the gloves to my husband. He kept it on for probably 10 minutes and still there was a little bit of the serum left. I decided to store the gloves for another use, just in case. After removing the gloves, I massaged in whatever serum was on my hand.

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My hands were really moisturized, my cuticles looked amazing, the cracks on the skin had softened to touch and they looked brighter. Actually, my hands look a lot dull and dark, probably from the lack of hydration rather than moisturization. And, the sephora hand mask gloves really brightened them. Same goes for my husband who does not use anything at all on his skin.

And, just today, I put the gloves on just for 5 minutes to see if there was any serum left. It is almost over, might last for one more use of 5 minutes. My hands looked instantly brighter, cuticles were moisturized and nails were shinier. Boy, they are amazing for a quick pickup. In fact, instead of keeping them for 15 minutes at one go, you can get multiple uses of 5 minutes each.

Overall, I think sephora hand mask gloves are an amazing product if you do not get regular manicures and your hands just never look pretty. Yes, it is expensive but if I am planning to use it once a week for 5 minutes, I guess it will last me almost one and a half month which is a little less expensive, let’s say! But, yes, you should definitely try it out.

Have you used any hand mask gloves?

They have them in different variants. Have you tried out any? Avocado sounds interesting since it is heavy on nourishment. I shall definitely try them out when I am in a mood to splurge. In the mean time, you could ask someone to get them from US at 5$ a piece. Which variant is your favorite?

Till then, Swathy.