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L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream Review

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L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream Review

I had shared my experience about 99labels.com and that I got the L’occitane Lavender hand cream…I am using it from these many days..and read on to know more 😉

What the Company clams: A signature L’Occitane essential. A worldwide best-seller. Blends the nourishing benefits of Shea Butter with soothing A.O.C. lavender essential oil and rosemary extract. Contains vitamin E, shown to help encourage cell renewal, and–for sheer pleasure–bestows the subtle fragrances of the Mediterranean upon your senses. Feel transported to Provence with every application.


Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Cyclomethicone, Honey Extract, Polyacrylamide, Ceteareth-33, Phenoxyethanol, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Fragrance, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Beeswax, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Methylparaben, Laureth-7, Linalool, Menthol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Limonene, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Coumarin, Citral, Benzyl Alcohol, Geraniol.

MRP: Rs. 495/- for 30ml

I never used a hand cream before…my hands are soft and any normal cream worked for me just as fine..But I had heard so much about it that I wanted to try..and when I saw this on offer I could not resist myself 😉 I am glad coz I am loving the experience..

Its a normal white colored cream..not too thick or greasy neither runny..normal consistency..spreads easily and gets absorbed in a jiffy ! It smells DIVINE !!
Seriously I am so in love with the lavender smell now..and the smell stays on for 3-4 hours…and I like keep smelling my hands :p I am so addicted to it now 🙂 Its so small..it fits in the palms..

Pros:

1. Smells super awesome.
2. The smell stays on for 3-4 hours.
3. Hands stay super soft..especially when used over night..you wake up to soft hands having amazing lavender smell 🙂
4. It gets absorbed in a jiffy…and its not at all greasy kinds..so you would not have that sticky greasy feeling..I hate those thick greasy creams :/
5. I like the packaging..its kinda different but a trademark L’occitane of course
6. Has shea butter,sunflower oil,lavender oil,rosemary oil,honey,coconut oil, xanthum gum and other ingredients..does feel great on the skin.
7. I use a little for cuticles and nails too..and like how they feel 🙂
8. Travel friendly.

Cons:

1. Expensive…you get only 30 ml for 495..you can get double qty at the same price from The Body Shop.
2. No SPF.
3. Has parabens and alcohol.

Overall I am in love with it…but its a splurge surely..and not an economical buy..but sometimes you can pamper yourself 😉

Rating:

Quality: 5/5
Value for money: 3.5/5
Availability: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4/5

Would I buy it again: Yes… 🙂

Have you tried the L’occitane hand creams yet ? 

Problems and Solutions : Ingrown Hair

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Problems and Solutions : Ingrown Hair

 Hi,

I am starting a series of problems and solutions. I have covered Dandruff problem before here. Now I am dealing with the problem of Ingrown Hair today which most of us face…even I do sometimes if I do not exfoliate skin well…or post waxing for few days..till hair completely grows out.

What is Ingrown hair?

 Ingrown hair, or razor bumps, occur when the shaved or waxed hair gets trapped inside the hair follicle and curls or  grows back sideways into the skin in the follicle or fails to grow outwards and stays embedded into the skin.

 What causes it?

 Anything which causes the hair to be broken off short with a sharp tip can cause ingrown hair. Shaving is the leading cause, followed by waxing and tight clothing.

Symptoms:

  • Rashes
  • Itching skin
  • Bumps
  • Sometimes pus and infection
  • Inflammation

How to prevent it ?

The best way to  prevent it is by letting it grow..and not bothering it or cutting it in between. Exfoliate regularly so that the dead cells go away from the surface of the skin..and my dermat had recommended me to moisturise my skin well…as even dry skin can cause the in growth of hair. Wear loose clothes and give the skin some space.

 How to treat the already ingrown hair?

 1. Use a warm moist cloth and press it several times against the ingrown area…to soften the skin and let the hair come up on the surface…this is the most basic method. But if your ingrown hair does not come up you need to follow other methods as some grown inside are a little stubborn.

 2. Regular use of salt and sugar scrubs over that area..but if you have broken skin do not use salt scrub even anywhere  near that area.

 3.  Use of acne medication like salicylic acid benzoyl peroxide over the affected area…what you can do is make an aspirin mask..by dissolving it in little water and apply on the affected area.

 4. Last resort would be physically plucking it with tweezers..but be careful that you do not harm your skin or bleed in the process..though you do need to sanitize properly before doing it…stay away from alcohol based products as they would further dry the area making it worser.

 If you suffer from this problem too much..you can even go for permanent laser hair removal or electrolysis.

Lotus Herbals Intensive Sun Block Spray SPF 50 Review

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Lotus Herbals Intensive Sun Block Spray SPF 50 Review
Lotus Herbals is very good with their sunscreens..I have tried two of them and loving them..I tried the Nomarks sunscreen before but it used to sweat me out..so I use to stay away from sunscreens but then I have realised the importance of sunscreens and how they are important to protect skin in the long term too..

I thought of giving the Lotus one a try..and I am so glad I did…It has SPF 50 and UVA Index 16

What the Company claims : This easy to use fine mist spray offers quick protection from UVA & UVB rays. It contains natural actives of chamomile, sage and thyme. Use on all exposed parts of the body, reapply frequently.

Directions for use : Spray directly on all exposed parts of the body (neck, arms, legs etc.) before exposure to sun. For face, spray into hand and apply to face. Re-apply frequently.

Active Ingredients: Extracts of sage as a natural sunscreen, chamomile for moisturising & thyme to protect from environmental damage.

MRP: Rs 195/- for 80 ml

Its a spray bottle…but its not a watery spray if you think so..Its a white liquid..spreads easily..and gets absorbed very fast..and is not at all greasy..it has no smell as such.

Pros:

1. Its the best sunscreen I have used till now.
2. Absorbs super easily and not at all greasy.
3. Claims to be sweat and water proof and it sure is.
4. Easy to carry and nice spray packaging.
5. Economical compared to other sunscreens.
6. Has no weird smells.
7. Did not break me out and neither sweats me out.
8. Does not give a whitish cast like other SPF products.
9. Its available at all supermarkets mostly.

Cons:

1. Dry skinned people may need a moisturiser beneath.

Rating:

Quality: 5/5
Value for money: 5/5
Availability: 5/5

Would I buy it again: Yes for sure..Its my HG sunscreen for now.

Have you used Lotus sunscreens ? Which one is your HG ?

Colorbar I Glide Eye Pencils Prunella, Jaded Review,Swatches

Colorbar, Eye Liners, Eye Makeup, Eye Pencils, Makeup, Reviews, Swatches, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Colorbar I Glide Eye Pencils Prunella, Jaded Review,Swatches
I love love these pencils…I have not tried I Define…but I love I Glide and these are more creamier too..I got Prunella and Jaded as I love both these colors…I think all bloggers have atleast 1 of these..Prunella is a very pretty royal purple..and Jaded is a jewel toned green and is a bit glossier..

Do let me know if anyone wants the ingredients list..its given on the carton.

What the Company claims: Defines like a pencil and glides like liquid eyeliner, the I-Glide Eye Pencil, with its smooth formulation, gives your eyes rich colour in a single stroke and blends in easily after application. Lasts longer than 8 hours; does not feather or bleed. This effortlessly easy to use I-Glide Eye Pencil is available in six shades including Silver hue, CocoBar, Jaded, Electra, Prunella and Blackout

Ingredients

MRP:  Rs.325/- for 1.1g

Check out the shades on site

Up- Jaded-Down- Prunella

Pros:
1. They are super creamy..nice and easy to line..without ant tugging or pulling.
2. The colors are intense….1 swipe is enough.
3. Packaging is nice…colors at the end to locate and a tight cap.
4. Decently priced considering the quality and compared to Revlon and Chambor.
5. They are water proof.
6. Stay on the whole day without smudging.
7. Can be smudged within a minute of applying for that smokey effect.
8. These are matte and so can be used anytime..unlike the Maybelline Vivid and Smooth which are all shimmery.

Cons:
1. These are very soft and have to be sharpened carefully.
2. These get over pretty soon 🙁

Rating:

Quality: 5/5
Value for money: 4/5
Availability: 5/5

Overall rating: 4.75/5

Would I buy them again: Yes yes I would..I love them..:) There are 4-5 new colors added in it..And I also like the Coal Mine shade.

Which I glide do you have ? Which color is your favorite ?

Palmolive Naturals Moisturising Body Wash Milk and Honey Review

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Palmolive Naturals Moisturising Body Wash Milk and Honey Review

Palmolive Naturals Brand is not paid much attention to,and I don’t know the reason why,perhaps the marketing is not so good for their skin care and body wash range. They have a cream named Charmis which claims to have Vitamins A.C and E and anti oxidants,would like to try that,though I have not heard much about it. Even their Halo Shampoo has been much ignored.

Coming to the body wash, Palmolive has Milk and Honey- Soft Nourish and Milk and Almonds- Rich Nourish in Moisturising Body Wash category. They have Aroma Shower Gels separately in Relax and Vitality and also Thermal Spa Body Wash in Massage and Firming.

Well I have just tried the Milk and Honey Moisturising Body Wash as of yet..but I would love to try their other products too..

What the Company claims:
The Palmolive Naturals Milk & Honey range contains a combination of natural extracts of milk & honey that gently cleanse your skin and protect it from excessive dryness.

All Milk & Honey products contain moisturisers to help nourish your skin and leave it feeling wonderfully soft. The gentle ingredients envelope you in a soft Milk and Honey fragrance.

Ingredients: Water, Potassium laurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Myristate, SLES, Sorbitol, Potassium Palmate, Glycol Distearate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance, Tetrasodium EDTA, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Polyquaternium-7, Guar Hydroxypropyl, Trimonium Chloride, Lactose, Milk Protein, Honey, Citric acid, Tartrazine C.I. 19140,FD & C Red 40,C.I. 16035

Directions for use: Can be used with a loofah or by hand.
With loofah : Pour little on your wet loofah. Apply gently over wet skin. For best results, use loofah to work up rich lather before rinsing off.

MRP: Rs.45/- for 125ml (I had got it at Rs 40/-)

Its a light yellow colored sheer runny liquid with a mix of honey smell and a slight coconuty smell. It moisturises well as it claims.

Pros:

1. Lives upto its claim as its very moisturising.
2. Lathers well.
3. Comes with a loofah.
4. Very economical.
5. Travel friendly.

Cons:

1. Has SLES for its lather.
2. Packaging is not that good..when the bottle is half finished..its a pain to use as you have to press and hold for long for the product to dispense, plus the bottle looses the shape 🙁
3. The lotion gets dried up and collected at its opening like few face packs, which is to be cleaned. A little unhygienic.

Rating:

Quality: 4/5
Value for money: 3.5/5
Availability:4/5

Overall rating:  3.75/5

Would I buy it again: May be..I would love to try the Aroma Shower gels and others from this range.

Have you tried the Palmolive Naturals Range? What do you think of it ?

Oriflame Soothing Foot Cream Review

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Oriflame Soothing Foot Cream Review

I am not much into foot creams but when I saw this in the Oriflame catalog..I thought of giving it a try and I am happy I did..read on..

What the Company claims: With a unique blend of moisturisers, chamomile and primrose to soften and soothe. For best results, remove hard skin with the Footfile and massage into feet.

MRP – Rs. 198/- for 75 ml (I got it for Rs. 158/-)

Ingredients : AQUA, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, UREA, GLYCERIN, PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM, SODIUM CETEARYL SULFATE, CETEARETH-12, DIMETHICONE, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, PARFUM, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, LIMONENE, HEXYL CINNAMAL, SORBITOL, CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA EXTRACT, PRIMULA VULGARIS, LINALOOL

It is a white colored light cream with a pleasant minty smell. I apply it at night and leave them overnight..the feet are so soft and smooth to touch the next day. I do not have cracks but my mom has..she used it and found a lot of relief in her cracked heels too.

Pros:

1. It moisturises feet amazingly well and leaves them all soft to touch.
2. I love the minty smell.
3. Economical at 198 plus there are always discounts coming up every month..I would suggest to stock it up at a discount.
4. It heals cracked heels in about a week.
5. Fulfills what it claims.
6. Tube packaging which is hygienic.

Cons:

1. Availability..as for all Oriflame products..through consultants. They do have an online option. Check out the Oriflame India site.
2. If you apply a bit too much you would feel greasy and have to wait for it to sink in.
3. It has parabens.

Overall rating- 4/5

Would I buy it again- Yes..its a very nice foot cream…and I think everyone should try it atleast once.

Have you tried it ? Which is your favorite foot cream ?

The Body Shop Bath Gloves Review and a Dupe

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The Body Shop Bath Gloves Review and a Dupe
I think the Body Shop Bath Gloves are the best thing ever made…they are simply awesome. And I know all my fellow bloggers wouldnt agree more..I am in love with them..And  they are my HG for body exfoliation.

As I had said earlier about the benefits of exfoliation that it helps remoce the dead skin cells from the skin’s topmost layer i.e the epidermis so that the new cells formed can form up the topmost layer.What the Company claims : Best if you want to remove dead skin cells and increase the lather of your body wash with exfoliating mitts.

Source

How it works:
Textured mitts are elasticized to stretch to fit any size hands.
Available in a variety of colors. (White, Yellow,Orange,Green,Pink,Off White,Lavender,etc)
Particularly for use on dry skin that needs intense exfoliation on a regular basis
Elasticated and woven nylon material – provides intense exfoliation.
An elasticated wrist band on each glove – stops the gloves from slipping off the hands during use.
A loop on each glove – enables you to hang them in your bathroom for ease.

Recommended use: Use the gloves two to three times a week for maximum effect. Pour a small amount of body wash onto gloves and rub in circular motion over body. Rinse after use and hang to dry. Regular exfoliation and massage can help to tone and firm skin. For extra exfoliation, use with one of The Body Shop® scrubs.

Instructions :  Pour a small amount of body wash onto the gloves and rub over the body in circular movements. (You need to wet the gloves before pouring body wash on it.)

Price : Rs 245/- for a pair. (Increased to Rs.395 now)

Pros:

1. It is the best for exfoliation and no loofah can beat this.
2. Lathers all body washes well.
3. Easy to use.
4. Fits all sizes of hands coz of its elasticity
5. Shrinks back to its own size after drying.
6. Long lasting. I am using it from 6 months and they still have the same effect.I think you can change them after a year for hygiene purposes.
7. I have them in PINK..!!
8. I also use them lightly on my nose for exfoliation and it works fine but be gentle.
9. Leaves my skin super duper soft and smooth even with using it twice a week.
10.Lightened my dark elbows a bit.(I am habituated to keep elbows on the table from the start 🙁 )
11.Reduces bathing time to half as this hardly takes only 10 mins.

Cons:

1. They are a bit rough and abrasive at the start for 3-4 washes but then the texture is perfect and fine enough for exfoliation.

Overall rating- 5/5

Would I buy this again : Yes..forever..they are full value for money..!!

P.S : There is a similar product in the market called Fenny Bath Gloves and those are for Rs 110/-. I dunno about the quality but they look exactly similar. Check them at Suma’s blog here

Have you used these ? Do you like them or should I say love them ?? 

Update: These need to be changed after 7-8 months as they loose their elasticity later.

Bourjois Khol and Contour Eye Pencil- Review and Swatches

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Bourjois Khol and Contour Eye Pencils Noir Expert, Blue Virtuose- Review and SwatchesBourjois Khol and Contour eye pencils come in 8 shades. They have changed the packaging now and they write New Khol and Contour. But I think the formula would be the same as the rest of the things are still same.

What the Company claims : Intense color upto 16 hours. Enriched with pure pigments, this khol allows for an intense result from the very first stroke and lasts up to 16 hours.

Its soft and blendable formula is ideal to apply both on the inner and outer rims of the eye.
Hypoallergenic, with natural wax and vitamin E, it is gentle on the delicate eye contour area.
Intense color in just 1 stroke.
Comfort and hold.
High tolerance. Ophthamologically tested on sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

Qty : 1.14 gm

MRP- Rs 220/-

I have 2 of these in 72 Noir Expert (Black) and 81 Blue Virtuose (Navy Blue)

The Noir Expert has not been mentioned on the site and there is some other black shade which were not there on the counters.

The other shades available are :

71 Ultra Black
73 Gris Ingenieux (Grey)
75 Prune Moderne (Purple plum kind)
78 Brune design (Brown)
79 Bronze Raffine (Brownish Bronze)
80 Vert Expressif (Dark Forest Green)

Here are the swatches :

L- Blue Virtuose R- Noir Expert

Pros :

1. They are pocket friendly..not very expensive.

2. The shades are all nice and dark.

3. They are tested to be suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

4. They are waterline safe and do no irritate eyes.

5. They are made in Czech Republic.

6. This makes lining my upper lashline very easy.

7. They do not tug and glide on easily.

8. They do last long on my upper lashline.

9. These are blendable and can be smudged and used as eye shadows.

10.They sharpen easily and there is no much waste of product.

11.They are in pencil form so you can sharpen them and keep away from microbes for those who are more towards hygiene and don’t prefer mechanical pencils.

12.They are travel friendly.

13.They come off with a normal cleanser.

Cons :

1. They smudge a lot when used on the lower lashline but then they never claimed to be smudge proof or water proof.

2. They do not last 16 hours as claimed !! But ya these last 5-6 hours normally but less on the waterline and the Blue Virtuose smudges horribly when used on lower lashline.

Overall rating : 3.5/5

Would I buy it again- Yes ..love it for my upper lashline. I find it convenient,quick and easy as I have shaky hands and take more time with liquid liners.Plus I can carry this along with me if I need to.

Do you have these ? How is your experience ?