Swathy and Sky

Skin Care for Brides {Bridal Files}

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As a second post in the series, nothing is more important than how to take care of the skin for the ultimate D-Day. And, I am not talking only about the face but also of the entire body. Surely, you wouldn’t want your hands to look dry or feet to look cracked. So, this is a just a start up on that series.
Moisturize well
Dry skin always gets dark and dull and its your special time so you can go any lengths to invest in products. Get a good moisturizer and moisturize yourself well day and night. Especially, now. The weather is changing and it takes toll on the skin.
Dry Brush
Another of amazing saviors. It helps me fight excess weight, fat accumulation, improves blood circulation and makes my entire body glow. I would definitely advise you to get the Catus Brush from TBS but yes, its expensive so you can choose some of the lesser priced ones too. But, let me tell you that the cactus (I don’t know if its really cactus, though ;P) bristles are more likely to prove more useful than flat brushes.
Soaps and Scrubs and Masks and Other Treatments
Ok, if it was my marriage, I would most definitely invest in the charcoal range of Lush. Its a dark desire 😀 Seriously, the range fascinates me with its face cleanser and body scrub. But, I am not too fond of Lush soaps to be honest. I have used one and didn’t really like it. So, if I were to advise you, I would say Earthy Goods has good soaps at lesser prices and Rustic Art soaps are little expensive but equally good.
Regarding masks, no harm in trying out Lush coz I have never tried. The only issue is you should be able to finish them before they expire otherwise your money goes down the drain 🙁 Or, you can try your favorite masks or facials at the salons or even the DIY’s. Btw, if you are going for salon treatments, make sure you go to a good reputed salon and always get a trial beforehand to make sure the facial and the ambience of the place suits you.
Body Massages
Getting body massages is a good idea if you are not inhibited. I personally am so I do it on my own at home and follow it with a good scrubbing session. I really love spending on oils and I recently got the TBS Polynesian Monoi Oil which I had been coveting since long and which is definitely pretty expensive. But, its good for my skin. So, get a few body oils and some EO’s can help you too. [I shall do a post on EO’s separately]
Other things for glowing skin
The usual recital of water, sleep and food and even exercise follows. So, don’t ignore them. Trust me they work wonders when synced with each other harmoniously.
A little tip: Try to sleep by 10. I know its difficult but nothing relaxes body better than that and it helps with many things too. More in some other post.

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Treatment {Product Review}

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Price: 14 Pounds (around Rs 1200) for 150ml
Ingredients
It has a huge list and the pic was really not very clear.

Aqua (water), Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, Cetearyl alcohol, Calodendrum capense (yangu) seed oil, Glyceryl stearate, Glycerin, Vitellaria paradoxa (shea butter), Rhus succedanea (sumac) fruit wax, Parfum (fragrance), Citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) fruit extract, Kappaphycus alvarezii (red algae) extract, Pyrus malus (apple) fruit extract, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Crambe maritima (blue seakale) leaf extract, Gossypium herbaceum (cotton) flower extract, Behentrimonium methosulfate, Cetrimonium chloride, Panthenol, Butylene glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Linalool, Benzoic acid, Phytantriol, Maris aqua (sea water), Dehydroacetic acid, Sodium hydroxide, Fructose, Glucose, Inositol, Sucrose, Trehalose, Isomaltulose, Trehalulose, Citric acid, Sodium citrate. 

My Experience

The ingredient list is pretty impressive anyways. So, I was obviously very excited to try out the product and wanting it to really work. Btw, my hair is not very coarse or dry and this product is meant for very rough hair and my hair is in fact fine but yes, it is dry to an extent and I can definitely use some softening and shine.

The product has to be applied like a conditioner and kept for minimum of 10 minutes after shampooing. And, for extra boost, 30 minutes is the stipulated time. To be frank, I am always in a hurry and staying patiently doing nothing for 10 minutes is a little difficult for me coz I do not proceed with my shower before washing off my conditioner.

Anyways, keeping that aside, somehow I do manage to keep it for 10-15 minutes on my hair after shampooing. Results? My hair wash extremely soft and manageable. The frizziness was definitely tamed to an extent and I would say that the shine is very subtle and natural, not like the serum shine or anything. It didn’t weigh my hair down too. Since I have not used their shampoo and conditioner, I have no idea how well it complements the botanical range.

The texture of the is very light and gets easily applied on the hair. And, it also smells really wonderful but some might not like it. That’s my gut instinct. The smell stays on the hair after the conditioner is washed off. But, it is very subtle and doesn’t bother your head or nose. But, of course, it doesn’t do anything to the split ends. And, you have to follow with a leave-in for better results.

Availability

PS: Product provided by the brand.
Other reviews from Liz Earle: 

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask

Top 5 DIY Ingredients for Brides {Bridal Files}

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So, as I said that I would be doing some posts on bridal series, the first and foremost request is always how to brighten the complexion.I am listing down 5 of the ingredients which can help a bride achieve the most wanted glow.
  • Tomato: Rub a slice of tomato on your face and neck. Let the juice dry on the skin and wash off with cold water. Tomato is great for removing the skin tan and also suits all skin types a sit is comparatively less acidic than lemon. And, it also makes hair shiny.
  • Honey: A thick honey mask helps to keep the skin supple and moisturized always. It can be used every day too and helps with all skin types. Honey is also a great cleanser.
  • Almond Oil: As Punam commented on earlier post, dark circles and puffy eyes are a common occurrence when one spends their nights talking to the fiancées, almond oil comes to rescue. Apply almond oil on the eye area while going to bed. It helps with the dark circles and also with wrinkles which might be developing there.
  • Sugar: Sugar is the most amazing and cheapest scrub you can ever find and this is my most favorite DIY till date. Sugar has glycolic acid in some measure (depending on how much it has been been processed) and thus cleanses and exfoliates the skin thoroughly and makes it glow. And, you can add your favorite ingredients to it.
  • Spices: A mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves did wonders to my skin. It clears the skin and also helps deal with acne and pimples in the long run. It should be used on alternate days for best results.
These are some of my favorite DIY’s with outstanding results so hope you will enjoy them 🙂 And, do remember to treat your neck as part of your face otherwise it can betray your age!!