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Diet & Lifestyle Changes for Better Skin Health

Diet & Lifestyle Changes for Better Skin Health

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Diet & Lifestyle Changes for Better Skin Health

Hi guys,

Diet & Lifestyle Changes for Better Skin Health

I get asked about skincare often and it’s not just about applying external products but also some internal changes and lifestyle changes required for good overall skin health.

Of course, you can’t control the hormonal changes during that time of the month but try to make some regular changes for the skin to improve and improve each day.

Some changes have worked well for me.

1. Excluding/limiting sugar

This will be the number one change required in your diet. Excess consumption of sugar leads to chronic inflammation which leads to acne and in the long term, loss of collagen and elastin which will make your skin dull and age the skin faster. This includes all forms of sugar, which are a part of ingredients in most processed/packaged foods. Read your labels, before buying anything. Check the quantity of sugar as a % and if it is more than 3-4% of the total, do not buy it. I know it is difficult to give up sugar altogether, so try and eliminate it slowly. First, from your tea or coffee which you consume daily, then restrict the sweets to once a week and limit the portion size. You can switch to natural alternatives like honey, maple syrup, or artificial sweeteners like stevia (nothing with aspartame) but again in limited quantities. Some other alternatives are coconut sugar and jaggery which are not exactly better in terms of calories but they at least have some nutrients, in case you crave something sweet and cannot resist.

2. Excluding/limiting dairy

Milk and milk products are highly processed these days and are loaded with hormones which lead to acne and breakouts. If you cannot stop having dairy products completely limit your intake. Yogurt and buttermilk are better since they are probiotic and are good for gut health. Limit the milk, cheese, and paneer intake, or try and switch to alternatives like tofu, soy milk, oat milk, or any nut milk.

3. Exercise

Try and get some body movement every day, at least 20 minutes a day. Walking, jogging, running, stretching, home workout, yoga, whatever is comfortable for you. Blood circulation and muscle movement during exercise are important for both your body and skin.

4. Massaging/Dry Brushing

Body massage, facial massage, or just dry brushing at home, works the same way as exercise and is even better post-exercise. Again it helps with blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, i.e. it removes the toxins from your lymph nodes. Try to include some sort of massage in your routine at least once a week, if not more.

5. Cleansing the skin

It is equally important to cleanse your skin thoroughly each night and apply some moisturizer for your skin to work on, while you sleep. Your skin regenerates at night and that is the most important time for your skin to be nourished. That is the main reason why everyone advises not to sleep with makeup on 😀 But again, just removing it with a face wash and not cleansing properly will be of no use as some makeup could still be clogged in pores. Start with an oil or balm to melt all your makeup at first emulsify it with water and wash it off. Then go ahead with a face wash, again use a cleansing tool is preferable as your fingers cannot remove the makeup in your pores thoroughly. But the cleansing tool shouldn’t be harsh as that will, in turn, break your capillaries and lead to excessive dryness and irritation. I love using the Foreo LUNA 2 as it is super gentle and removes my makeup thoroughly. I can even see some leftover makeup on the device after a good first cleanse! The opposite side can be used for light massaging which helps absorb skincare products better. You can also try the LUNA Play which is a smaller version and perfect for travel.

6. Sleep

It is important to get 6-8 hours of sleep (depending on the body and physical work during the day) every day. And also to have an approximate fixed time range for your sleep, if not exact, as the body gets used to going into sleep mode around that time. As mentioned earlier, your skin regenerates when you sleep and if the body and skin don’t get the required sleep, your body will be tired and lethargic and your skin dull and lackluster. It will first be visible through your eyes, leading to dark circles, puffy eyes, under-eye bags, etc. Along with good sleep, massaging the eye area also helps in increasing the blood circulation around the eyes which means fewer dark circles and under-eye bags and delays in wrinkles. 😀 I love using a good eye cream and massaging the eye area with the Foreo IRIS every night before sleeping. I wake up to fresher-looking skin and eyes, with no bags or puffiness 🙂

7. Supplements

Your body does not receive all the nutrition from food and with the changing lifestyle and highly processed foods (including chemical-laden fruits and vegetables). It is important to supplement the body externally with nutrients. Even though all vitamins and minerals are equally important for your body, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin D, Omega 3, Iron, and Zinc will keep your oil and hydration levels in place, and in turn will help with acne and breakouts and overall health of your skin and hair. Try and include foods that have more of these vitamins or a daily supplement orally. (get it prescribed by your physician)

8. Water

This has been spoken about quite a lot already, having 8 glasses of water a day is the standard we have read for everything since the time we were kids 😀 But it’s true, water helps in flushing out all the toxins and waste from your body. If you have acne-prone skin and break out a lot, just add one additional litre of water to your daily intake and you will see a major difference in your skin in 10-12 days. In case you are already having enough water, you need not increase it. If you have too much water and not enough salts/sodium, that would do more harm than good with low blood pressure, etc. Everybody is different and try and figure out what works for your body. Ideally, between 2-3 litres is good but it also depends on your exercise/physical activity (how much you sweat, etc) and if you have more water, make sure you include some salts in your body.

And goes without saying, sunscreen is the most important and without that, anything else you do is of no point.

These are some of the changes required for good, healthy, glowing, plump skin. If you try and incorporate these changes, you will surely see a huge difference in your skin health.

My Current Favourite Skin Care Products Step by Step

Reviews, Skin care, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My Current Favourite Skin Care Products Step by Step

Hi guys,

So I did this skin care series on my Instagram, and if you follow me on Instagram you would know I am obsessed with skin care. I thought of sharing the same here on my blog as well.

I absolutely love skin care and I feel good skin is the base for any makeup look, you don’t need super heavy coverage foundations and concealers if you have good skin, the layers will only end up making your base look heavy and cakey. A major % of how your skin behaves depends on genetics and diet. You can only control the diet part of course and regular skin care with good diet can solve a lot of your skin concerns.

I have been super regular with my skin care since more than a year now and have noticed a huge difference in my pores, lines, texture, pigmentation around the mouth, etc. I do have a detailed skin care routine video on my channel, but the products keep on changing as I experiment and review new brands and as per how my skin is feeling, the order is the same though (Watch HERE)

Step 1: Double Cleanse


Starting with Step 1 which is Double Cleanse, as the name suggests it means cleansing twice. First cleanse with an oil/balm especially if you are wearing makeup/sunscreen. Oil or balm will melt all the makeup/dirt/grime from the pores. You need to massage the oil or balm well for 30-40 seconds and then emulsify it with water for 10-15 seconds. Then follow with the second cleanse, which will be a gentle foaming cleanser. It will wash off all the excess oil/dirt left, if any. You can also use a reusable cloth wipe to remove the makeup after first cleanse, only water also works for me.

I haven’t bought makeup wipes in years and would not recommend them at all, they are very harsh on the skin + not bio degradable. I do have a few bio degradable ones which I use, only when I am travelling.

Coming to micellar water, you can use it as a first cleanse but you absolutely need to do the second cleanse with it unlike the ‘no rinse’ marketing claim. Micellar water is made of small micelles which leave a surface residue on the skin. I am not a fan of micellar waters because oils/balms do the best job in removing makeup for me, plus some micellar waters sting my sensitive eyes.

Products shown:

1. Isadora Cleansing Oil
2. Pixi Beauty Hydrating Makeup Remover with coconut & probiotics
3. Heimish All Clean Balm
4. Pixi Double Cleanse Balm
5. Clinique Take The Day Off
6. Pond’s Cleansing Balm
7. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
8. Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash (soap free)
9. Suganda Centella Green Tea Face Wash
10. Forest Essentials Kashmiri Saffron & Neem Delicate Facial Cleanser
11. Kama Ayurveda Sensitive Skin Cleansing Foam with Sandalwood & Aloe Vera

Step 2 is Tone/Treat, it’s CTTM now in place of CTM. Treat is a very essential step in skincare and all your actives, serums, essence are a part of Treat.

Toners and Serums can be exfoliating or hydrating. If you use an exfoliating toner, go for a hydrating/calming serum and vice versa. You can also use both hydrating (if you have exfoliation in your cleanser/moisturizer) but don’t use both exfoliating because we don’t want to sensitize our skin. I like actives (Vit C, Chemical Exfoliants, etc.) in the form of toners and serums. Things you should add in your skincare routine, if you haven’t already:

Vitamin C
AHA/BHA
Niacinamide (optional)

Vit C (Ascorbic Acid) increases production of collagen, reduces hyper pigmentation and evens out skin tone, brightens skin and protects against pollution and sun damage.
Best used in serum form (10-20%) Start with 10%, when used in the mornings before sunscreen, boosts the protection from sun damage.


Alpha Hydroxy Acids i.e. Glycolic, Lactic, Mandelic, etc are water soluble and work on surface layer of skin, works better for dry/dull skin.
Beta Hydroxy Acids i.e. Salicylic Acid is oil soluble and goes deep into the pores to unclog the pores and hence works well for oily, acne prone skin.

Both AHA/BHA unglue the bond holding dead skin on the surface and exfoliate the skin. Also help improve the texture, bumps, minimize the appearance of pores and uneven skin tone, etc. But you need to be regular to see results.

If you are a beginner at chemical exfoliation, start with Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic which has 5% Glycolic Acid and is gentle enough for everyday use as well.
Suganda AHA/BHA serums are also very gentle for beginners as they are balanced with Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) and Green Tea.
Paula’s Choice 8% AHA gel works well for dry skin and 2% BHA liquid exfoliant for oily/acne prone skin or those with enlarged pores.
Dr.Sheths Gulab Glycolic Toner is also very, very gentle for daily use. (You can use my coupon code ‘BHUMIKA’ to get 20% off on Dr.Sheths products)

Niacinamide (Vit B3) helps in reducing inflammation, redness, regulates oil production & minimizes the appearance of pores. Works best with Zinc, in serum form. (5-20%, can start with 5-10%) You can add it at a later stage.

Step 3 is Repair/ Hydrate which will again have serums and essences, now if you have used an active serum/toner, you can use an hydrating essence to balance and calm. This will include mostly calming, repairing and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, cica, honey, propolis, ceramides, etc. Some repairing serums/essences may have little actives, so on some days you can skip actives all together and just use this.

The Paula’s Choice Azelaic Acid and the Olay Retinol24 Serum fall under actives but I use them on non active days or just with Niacinamide (not with AHA or BHA) and they have a cream gel and a serum like consistency + some hydrating ingredients.

Products shown:

Secret Key Multi Cell Night Repair
May Coop Raw Sauce
Guerlain Abeille Royale
Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic Serum
Dr.Sheths Cica & Ceramide Repair Serum
Nacific Fresh Herb Origin Serum

Step 4 Moisturize

Now you generally wouldn’t go wrong with a Moisturizer, it’s a pretty basic skincare product and most brands make a good one. The only rule you need to remember is keep it simple, less ingredients, and no fragrance if possible.
Moisturizer should have occlusives, humectants and emollients.


Occlusives (petrolatum and other oily substances) hold the water in. Humectants (glycerine, honey, panthenol, etc.) pull water both from the air and from deeper layers of skin. Hence occlusives and humectants are used together, to trap the moisture in, and to not let it pull from the skin. Emollients like some fatty alcohols fill the dry, flaky skin with fatty substances, called lipids, which make your skin smoother and softer.

Other ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamins, etc. are added benefits.

Now you can use the same Moisturizer day and night if you like, but I would say use a night cream with a slightly heavy texture or a sleeping mask, which will help repair the skin. Also since most people now sleep in an air conditioned room, the added moisture and sealing helps.

Products shown:

1. Clinique Moisture Surge
2. Pixi Beauty Rose Ceramide Cream
3. Pixi Retinol Jasmine Lotion
4. Nellietier Face Cream
5. Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer
6. Etude India Soon Jung Hydro Barrier Cream
7. Etude Moistfull Collagen Cream

Night Creams:

1. Dr.Sheths Haldi Hyaluronic Sleeping mask
2. Iunik Propolis Vitamin Sleeping Mask
3. Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing Overnight Rice Mask
4. Pixi Vit C Caviar Balm
5. Dr.Dennis Gross C+ Collagen Deep Cream

Apart from these, I also really love Suganda White Lotus Moisturizer in summers and the Rosehip Moisturizer in winters.

Step 5 for daytime and the most important is Sunscreen.

You may spend thousands on skin treatments and expensive skin care products, but even few minutes of direct sun exposure without sunscreen can negate all the effects.

UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer and lead to premature aging, wrinkles and sun spots.
UVA (Aging) rays can cause tanning and aging and UVB (Burning) rays can cause burning, your sunscreen should be broad spectrum meaning protect against both rays.

Chemical exfoliation and actives make your skin photosensitive, so you cannot skip your sunscreen at all.
Sunscreen can be physical (with zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, etc.) Or chemical (with avobenzone, octisalate, oxybenzone, etc.) Earlier, physical sunscreens used to leave a strong, white cast but now you most physical sunscreens use nano technology and the nano particles blend in better. Physical ingredients block the UV rays and chemical absorb and scatter. I like a mix of both in my sunscreens, but if you are allergic to any chemical ingredient, make sure you check the ingredients before you buy.

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) denotes the time your skin can be protected from UVB rays i.e.burning. If your skin would normally burn after 10 minutes in the sun, applying an SPF 15 sunscreen would allow you to stay in the sun without burning for approximately 150 minutes.

You can use SPF 30 or 50, but the key is reapplication every two hours!
PA denotes protection from UVA rays and PA+++ is the best and highest level (some countries have researched and included PA++++ in certain products)

So SPF 30 PA+++ should be good enough, but make sure you reapply. You can reapply in spray or powder form if you have makeup on through the day. Also you need one teaspoon qty for face and one shot glass qty for entire body in one application (especially the exposed skin)

Products shown:

1. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ PA+++
2. Brinton UV Doux Silicone Sunscreen Gel SPF50 PA+++
3. Biotique Bio Aloe Vera SPF30 (good for indoors or entire body)
4. Skin & Lab FreC Sun Lotion SPF 50+ PA+++ (with Vit C)
5. Organic Harvest SPF 60 PA+++
6. Avene Very High Protection Emulsion SPF

Weekly Treatments

Apart from my daily skincare routine, I also use some masks and additional exfoliation products once a week or once in 10-11 days.

You can increase Retinol to once in 2-3 days once your skin is past the ‘Retinization’ phase, I am using it once a week currently. I use the @deciem Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2%. Granactive Retinoid has hydroxypinacolone retinoate (HPR), a retinoic acid ester with a similar action on the skin as Retin-A. It is not the same as Retinol, and hence 2% of that is actually equal to very less retinol comparatively but there is no exact proven measurement.

Also once your skin gets used to regular acids, you can try the 30% AHA, 2% BHA from Ordinary which is an amazing at home exfoliating peel. But do not try it if you have very sensitive skin or your skin barrier is compromised or you can’t tolerate acids. There are a lot of precautions you need to take like skin should be dry, not to keep longer than 10mins, follow with a rich Moisturizer and loads of sunscreen, etc.

For beginner level, I would recommend the Secret Key lemon sparkling peeling gel, Pixi Peel & Polish.

My favourite masks when my skin is feeling dry are Fresh Rose Mask, Biossance Squalane + Vit C Rose Mask and Glamglow Thirsty Mud. For breakouts, Glamglow Supermud, Raw Nature Dead Sea Mud & Charcoal, Pixi T zone Peel off mask.

Also apart from these, pretty much all of The Body Shop Masks. I am not a fan of sheet masks, I haven’t bought a sheet mask in years (also most are not bio degradable). But I do have a lot of them from PR which I am trying to finish.

Let me know your skincare routine and your current favourite skin care products in the comments below 🙂

Smell Fresh All Day with the New Fiama Scents

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Smell Fresh All Day with the New Fiama Scents

On a hectic day there is nothing more annoying than having to keep going and checking yourself out to make sure you smell right 🙂 For me my days are packed and I have to look fresh and sweet smelling for every engagement.

A few months ago I came across Fiama Scents, recommended by a friend who couldn’t stop talking about the fact that with a slight rub on the skin, this body wash actually last for 7-8 hours.

I am a fan of both the Juniper Berries & Geranium and Mimosa & Neroli body washes (though I have to admit that the latter is my favourite) – It’s like magic, you just rub the skin and you smell fresh again, as the scent bubbles get activated.

So with a little bit of technology magic called fragrance encapsulation, the brand has hit the nail on the head providing me with the freedom to do as many things in a day without those momentary break to “check” oneself.

These are also priced economically at, 250ml for ₹199 and a travel pack of 100ml for ₹55 (Buy HERE or HERE) Bright and fun, the smaller 100ml bottles are perfect for travel. If you live in a humid city (like Mumbai), Fiama Scents are definitely a must try because we need something which keeps us smelling fresh through the day. I definitely recommend them.

#Fiamascents #DilKoDeLift #Skincare #BodyWash #JoyOfBathing #AllDayFreshwithFiama

Top 3 Basic Steps To Take Care Of Your Skin While Travelling, This Will Change Your Skincare Game

Foreo, Skin care, Travel, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top 3 Basic Steps To Take Care Of Your Skin While Travelling, This Will Change Your Skincare Game

Hi guys,

Many of you have often asked how I take care of my skin when I travel or what’s my basic skin necessities while I travel. It’s difficult to carry a load of products when travelling, especially the big, bulky bottles or tools that I use for everyday basics, but I have some tricks that have helped me. Read on to know more…

As you guys know, cleansing the skin is of most importance and for me as it’s very important to remove all the makeup completely and thoroughly. I have mentioned more on skincare and cleansing in my previous post HERE

Further to investing in my FOREO LUNA2 I have never looked back on deep cleansing, as it has really helped my skin remove dirt, clogged pores and prevented blackheads from occurring while being gentle at it and also helps with anti-ageing especially after I hit my 30’s. But it’s quite big to fit in my travel pouch on days when I want to bag pack. However since I can’t live without my LUNA2 and my love for it even when I travel, I thought I should get something handy and travel friendly, so I got myself the FOREO LUNA Play. It’s the size of a macaron that fits well in my bag yet still cleanses the skin powerfully and thoroughly.

My New Mini Travel Cleanser The FOREO LUNA Play

Moving on to the skincare routine, I remove my makeup with a cleansing wipe from KAYA to get rid of all the basic makeup. I go over with a cotton ball and micellar water by Garnier to take off any waterproof makeup remnants that still sticks to my skin. I gradually use the LUNA Play with a facewash by Vichy as the final step, to ensure complete removal of makeup, dirt, grime. When you are travelling and out the whole day, there is a lot of dirt, sweat, pollution etc. in your pores which when not cleansed properly, will result into break outs and damaged skin.

Once the skin is completely cleansed, I use a hydrating moisturizer from Clinique and a toner from Pixi Beauty. But for travel I generally pick sample sachets from dutyfree and use them as and when needed or transfer small quantities from the big containers into small containers to travel with.

Moving on I use Kiehls Eye Cream with avacado along with my FOREO IRIS eye massager around my eye. The IRIS’s two tap eye Tsonic technology helps reduce visible signs of crows feet, dark circle, eye bags and beautifully absorbs all the ingredients from my eye cream. Inspired by the lymphatic eye massages practiced in Asia, the innovative IRIS enhances the visible benefits of this technique beyond the capability of fingertips alone. Its unique T-Sonic technology features 2 modes, each designed to gently massage and smooth the eye contour. Not just that my eye feel completely relaxed after a long day out travelling in the sun and time difference, that often leads to jet lag and I can’t sleep well when I travel and it shows under and around the eyes immediately with dark circles, under eye bags and puffiness.

After My Skin Cleanse I Switch To My FOREO IRIS to relax my eyes

IRIS helps with blood circulation around the eye area, so this is a must have when travelling. You can be rest assured there will be no puffiness or under eye bags if you use every day during your travel.

Lastly, I use a face mist to keep the skin fresh and hydrated. Of course, lots of water to keep the skin and body hydrated internally.

My Travel Skincare Essentials That I Swear By

That’s about it, not too many products but these two tools have definitely helped keep my skin clear and fresh when I travel. Most products I use are definitely towards cleansing as that is the most important step in skin care as I already mentioned.

How do you take care of your skin when you travel? Let me know in the comments.

Jan 2019 Fab Bag Unboxing

Fab Bag, Subscription Boxes, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jan 2019 Fab Bag Unboxing

Hi guys,

I got the Jan 19 Fab Bag today itself, on 31st Dec 18 🙂 It’s the ‘The Big Steal Jan Fab Bag’

MRP: Rs.599/- (Buy HERE)

Sugar Nothing Else Matter Lipstick Swatches – https://youtu.be/73Wqcnu113A

Products received:

  • Sugar Nothing Else Matter Lipstick Browning Glory – Rs.499
  • The Nature’s Co Kelp Bath Salt – Rs.400/- for 100g
  • Palmolive Facial Soap- Rs.55
  • Hip Hop Nail Polish Wipes – Rs.10/- for 2 wipes
  • W2 Peach Moisturizer – Rs.220
  • BioBloom Mint Lip Balm – Rs.140

Total value comes to around Rs.1400

I picked the Sugar Nothing Else Matte Lipstick in Browning Glory out of the options available because it’s a perfect nude and will work for all skin tones, and I am giving this away to one of you on my Youtube channel.

I do like the bag and products this time, it’s a good mix of useful products.

You can get 10% off on 6 and 12 months’ subscription using ‘BHUMIKA10′

Makeup item is available to choose for 3, 6 and 12 months’ subscription

How I Protect My Hair From Damage

BBlunt, Conditioners, Hair Care, New Launches, Reviews, Shampoos, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How I Protect My Hair From Damage

Hi guys,

I have been using this new range from BBLUNT for about two weeks now and if you follow me on
Instagram, you must have seen the story I did about this new haircare range and how my hair looks the
day after I wash it.

It was this Repair Remedy Range from BBLUNT. This range is specifically meant to help hair that has been damaged by chemical treatments, pollution and heat styling, get back to life!

The two key ingredients of this range are Keratin and Argan Oil which help repair damaged hair and give it a shiny, smooth and soft feel and look respectively.

BBLUNT products are specially created for Indian hair and this range offers colour protection as well, so even if your hair is coloured or chemically treated, you can use this range.

Repair Remedy Shampoo

MRP: Rs.675/- for 400ml 

Repair Remedy Conditioner

MRP: Rs.450/- for 200g

Claims: Severe damage to hair caused by pollution, chemical treatments and heat styling results in the need for extreme repair. Made with a special blend of Keratin and Argan Oil, this conditioner is perfect for coarse, brittle and damaged hair that needs a bit of love. Hair looks shiny, feels soft and smooth from root-to-tip. The deal fix for your hair hangover! Helps dry, damaged hair get back to life. Specially created for Indian hair. Colour protect

Repair Remedy Leave-in Cream

Claims: This hydrating leave-in cream helps replenish overly damaged hair, leaving strands supple and repaired without sacrificing natural bounce and movement. It works to smoothen hair whilst protecting it from harmful pollution, chemical treatment and heat styling damages. The special blend of Keratin and Argan Oil helps prevent split-ends and protects against breakage. The ideal fix for your hair hangover! Helps dry damaged hair get back to life.

MRP: Rs.550/- for 150g

I love the bright red colour and the packaging as usual is very convenient, a press pump for shampoo and a cute squeezy round conditioner. The leave-in cream has a very unique and interesting shaped bottle.

I have tried all the hair care ranges in BBLUNT and I have to say, this one is my absolute favourite.

My hair feels super sleek and smooth, very straight and shiny after using this range and stays so for 3 days. The best part is there are absolutely no knots in the hair even after washing, when there are usually at least 2-3.

I don’t use heat everyday or colour or chemically treat my hair, but sometimes for shoots you do have to style or use heat and that does damage your hair eventually. Since the time I have started using this range, I see a visible difference in my hair health and it feels so smooth, that I just can’t stop touching my hair or running my fingers through it.

Shampoo foams well and the conditioner is rich enough to hydrate the ends, but not weigh the hair down. It also amazingly detangles. The leave-in adds to the shine and smoothness and nourishes the ends.

I am super impressed with this range, and honestly it delivers much more than I expected it to. Highly recommend the BBLUNT Repair Remedy Range, especially if your hair is coloured/chemically treated/dry/damaged.

Dec 2018 Fab Bag Review & Unboxing

Fab Bag, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dec 2018 Fab Bag Review & Unboxing

Hi guys,

I got the Dec 2018 Fab Bag today and it’s all Christmasy and holiday-y 😀 With the red and fur, the bag is quite cute. It’s called ‘The Merry Indulgence’ Dec Fab Bag.

MRP: Rs.599/- (Buy here: http://www.fabbag.com/women.html)

Products received:

Floh Tampons Pack of 3 – Rs.35
Disguise Cosmetics Lipstick Model Red – Rs.500
Bliscent Hair Pack 100g- Rs.300
Spa Ceylon Hand Cream
Global Beauty Secrets Turkish Day Cream 10g- Rs.120
Kronokare Anti Pollution Face Mist – Rs.495 for 30ml

I had an option to pick one lipstick shade from Disguise Cosmetics which is a 100% vegan and cruelty free brand and is toxin free, made with marula and avocado oil.

They had all basic shades from nude, red, pink, peach, etc. I went with the red one, it is definitely very creamy and is a little task to apply. I am so used to my matte lipsticks now. Creamy red lipsticks always transfer on my teeth and everywhere around, so I just avoid.

It is very pigmented though and once blotted, stays put through the day and is very comfortable on the lips. The stain stays even after lipstick wears off. The packaging is also quite nice, sturdy and bright.

I am also excited to try the Spa Ceylon Hand Cream, Global Beauty Secrets Turkish  Day Cream and the Bliscent Hair Pack. I am loving all the products and brands this time in Fab Bag.

Total value comes to around Rs.1500/-

I definitely recommend the Dec Fab Bag, it’s a total value for money and all the brands are pretty good.

You can get 10% off using ‘BHUMIKA10′ on 6 and 12 months’ subscription

Let me know what you received in the Dec Fab Bag.

Oct 2018 Fab Bag Unboxing | 10 LIPSTICKS?! 10% off Coupon Code

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Oct 2018 Fab Bag Unboxing | 10 LIPSTICKS?! 10% off Coupon Code

Hi guys,

I thought I posted this blog post, because I edited pics and all, but I guess I got confused :p

I got my Oct Fab Bag early this time, on 29th Sept which was amazing! And I just a mail the previous day that they had 10 mini lipsticks this month and I was pretty excited.

The theme for the Oct month is ‘The Colour Your Way’ Bag and the bag itself is quite nice and sturdy.

MRP: Rs.599/- (Buy HERE)

Products I got:

  • Seduction Las Vegas Mini Lipsticks Set of 10 – Rs.499
  • Tvakh Elixir Hair Growth Concentrate – Rs.400 for 20ml
  • The Soap Company Hand Crafted Luxury Pomegranate Soap – Rs.350
  • Bioayurveda Miracle Moisture Toning Face Cream – Rs.875/- for 20g

Total value of the products come to around Rs.2100/- I love the lipsticks set and they have all the shades from a nude to orange, to deep berry, to cool and warm toned reds. These are perfect size for travel and very handy. These are quite pigmented and semi matte, not bad at all quality wise and I love that there are 10 shades in total!

01,02,06,07,08,09,10,11,16,19

Also the hair elixir is something I am looking forward to try, as it has onion extracts too which is amazing for hair growth. Handmade soap of course, is great for everyday use.

I definitely recommend this month’s bag, love the lipsticks they have included.

You can get 10% off using my code ‘BHUMIKA10‘ on 6 and 12 months’ subscription of Fab Bag. It’s not an affiliate code.

Did you order yours yet?

Swatches – New Shades 37 to 42 in Sugar Smudge Me Not Liquid Lipsticks

Lipsticks, Liquid Lipsticks, New Launches, Reviews, Sugar Cosmetics, Swatches, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Swatches – New Shades 37 to 42 in Sugar Smudge Me Not Liquid Lipsticks

Hi guys,

Sugar Cosmetics added 6 new shades 37 to 42 in Smudge Me Not Liquid Lipsticks

Check out my previous swatches HERE, HERE and HERE

MRP: Rs.499/- for 4.5ml (Buy HERE)

GET DISCOUNT USING ‘BTXSUGAR‘ on https://in.sugarcosmetics.com

Shades:

37 Hot Apricot – Peachy Nude
38 Dose of Rose – Rosy Mauve
39 Pink Sync – Rosy Magenta
40 Fuchsia Fantasia – Fuchsia Plum
41 Gotta Terracotta – Burnt Orange
42 – Toast Roast- Deep Reddish Brown

Here are the swatches..

Hot Apricot, Dose of Rose, Pink Sync, Fuchsia Fantasia, Gotta Terracotta, Roast Toast

And the video..

My favourites are Hot Apricot, Dose of Rose and Gotta Terracotta

Let me know your favourites in the comments below 🙂

Random Rambles : Shy Influencer? Overcoming it? ‘Reality’ of Blogging?

Fashion, Fashion Trends, OOTD, Random, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Random Rambles : Shy Influencer? Overcoming it? ‘Reality’ of Blogging?

Hi guys,

This post is totally different from what I have done till now, I always stick to makeup/outfits and very rarely I do post about my personal life. I did when I got engaged, married and had met with an accident. Life has been routine pretty much, but I was just wondering how much I have grown and just wanted to share some random personal thoughts on my mind.

It’s difficult for people to believe that you are a shy/introvert person when you are a social media influencer/blogger/YouTuber as in most cases, it’s the opposite 😀

I saw Jordynn from Colourpop mention once on how all the international Youtubers they meet for the first time, are very shy. So it’s a usual phenomena because sitting in one room and recording alone is very different than going out and actually meeting people. The same goes for bloggers, as they just sit and write about their experience. Though it’s different for the new age influencers who start with Instagram/Musical.ly and likes, as they are young millenials and love interacting and meeting new people. It’s all about videos these days, and most of them are outgoing extroverts.

I am a very shy person and quiet in general, I don’t talk much even with family and friends. I have always been quiet, and when I was studying alone whole day for CA exams, etc., I was just with my books for 80-85% of my day. Even now I am pretty much all alone through the day, except when hubby or house help at home, or I am talking on the phone (which again hardly lasts 1-2 mins). Maybe it all added up and I became quieter in life.

Now how difficult is it to become an influencer if you are an introvert? It is surely difficult, you have to overcome your shyness and do many things out of your comfort zone almost on a daily basis. You attend events, meet people, network and socialize, even that is difficult when you are just shy in general. It’s all awkward initially, I remember my first 2-3 events and it was difficult even conversing with people and I used to hardly talk. I am more of a spectator at events, though I have improved a lot and overcome most of my shyness in the past few years. I still only talk more with people I am comfortable with and know since a long time. I still can’t talk to new people 😀

Certain campaigns require you to do certain things, and if you are not this over the top happy and goofy/excited person all the time (totally not me), it’s difficult to act like that and your work won’t get approved till you show that enthusiasm, especially for video campaigns. It requires multiple takes and approvals in that case!

Also if you have met me during meet and greets or even generally, you must have noticed that I don’t talk much or am not that ‘excited all the time’ person. I am not snobbish, but I just can’t talk and take forever to open up.

I have grown so much and overcome a lot of my fears/shyness. I experiment with shoots, outfits, and feel like doing so much more. I used to only work with Sneha from Rhythmic Focus and was very comfortable with her, even she has seen me grow and the change in me from what I was 2-3 years ago. I couldn’t even pose back then, and I still feel awkward in public places but I really admire the young influencers I see around and get inspired by them. I am open to learning and change, and improve things. I have also started working with other photographers who wanted to collaborate with me, as it was a good opportunity to break out of my comfort zone. It also helped me understand what angles/poses work for me.

The more work you do, the more you experiment, the more confident you become. I started YouTube around 3-4 years ago and even though I am far from pro at it, I have come a long way and can face cameras confidently now. My initial few videos I was very shy and conscious, I was awkward at events where they required video bytes. Now I am always ready for any video bytes and don’t think twice 😀 Blogging, Reading, YouTube and making videos has also helped me a lot in the way I write, speak and converse, I have become so confident overall and I can see my growth from 2010 to now.

I was quite naive initially and even till 2-3 years ago I was gullible and people have used me at many instances. I have worked for free, have adjusted and compromised many times, shared my own pictures and work with people, covered events for someone else, have helped people with hashtags, handles and what not because they are too dumb to remember or even know the spellings, even after sharing multiple times!

I have gone out of my way to help people and continued doing it almost 6-7 years. I have learned to say ‘NO’ now, there comes a point when you realize it’s enough and you have to take a stand for yourself. You don’t want to be used anymore! The very same people vanished after that 😀 Haha, isn’t that obvious? Because they don’t have any benefit being friends with you now!

I have met so many new bloggers who are very warm and friendly. You can find out how a person is when you meet them often and talk to them, see how they behave and how they are online. Of course there are many living a dual life and fake it online, they don’t want people to know their reality! I have seen so much in these 8-8.5 years, people are completely different online or once when you shoot/record and offline once the recording stops. Some are here just for the money and there is so much jealousy and negativity, it gets on you at times.

There are Instagram pods where a group of bloggers like and comment on each other’s pictures. There are many such pods in India too, but I never participated in them. I have seen the very same bloggers who write amazing things on each other’s pictures bitch about them behind! I can’t handle this hypocrisy or being dual faced, it’s my pet peeve. I like and comment when I feel like or I genuinely love the picture/person.

There is this thing about liking and commenting on each other’s pictures, even without a pod. Like bloggers would like and comment only if you do the same on their pictures. It’s like ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours’ funda and I don’t really get it. I like so many pictures on a daily, not just bloggers, but so many followers and random accounts too. If I like the picture, I heart it. Why the unnecessary drama?!

You may have ‘friends’ in this blogging world, but you are truly on your own, like in every industry! Some people are friends with each other, only because they like each other’s pictures or shoot for each other. No one is friends here without any benefit. Some are on and off friends and make fun of the so called ‘friend’ and bitch about them, when off. Until they are friends again! Some try to spread negativity about you, or want to take advantage of the situation. Everyone knows everything, but they just don’t talk about it, like in any glamour industry. I would just say ‘Don’t be fooled by what you see online’ and ‘Don’t follow anyone blindly’. Take everything with a pinch of salt. Nothing surprises me anymore in this blogging world, as I have literally seen it all. And from what I have heard, it’s not restricted to beauty and fashion blogging, but in all genres.

I have always believed in ‘Live and Let Live’ and ‘To Each His Own’, so whatever works for you. I stay away from all of this and just do my own work. I wanted to write down my thoughts as my mind was cluttered with many things.

Coming to the pics, I had this bath tub theme in my mind since a long time and when I finally got this opportunity, we decided to shoot it. It feels amazing when you think of a concept, and the outcome is very similar to how you imagined it.

I am pretty happy with how it turned out, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Location: Sahara Star
Shot by: Sneha (Rhythmic Focus)