Skin Care routine for the monsoon season!

Don’t let the rains wash out your skin glow!

Pleasant Earthy Scent of rain, the Dark grey clouds and the Breezy weather! Rains are back and now is the time to enjoy hot cup of coffee with onion pakodas.

But as we enjoy this monsoon, one thing we need to be careful about, is our Skin. While monsoon is about freshness, it also brings skin woes with it and along with the rains, come oily skin, white/ blackheads, clogged pores and hairfall. During rainy season, we need to take extra care of our skin to get away from any kind of fungal/bacterial infections.

So keep your worries aside and enjoy this monsoon with these skin and hair care tips-

1. CLEANSING

We all know, during monsoon our skin gets very sticky and oily. It is very important to clean our face atleast 3 times a day to get rid of excessive oil and dirt and to help removing grounds for germs and infections to breed. Washing face with oil control face wash will help us getting away with the excessive oil in this humid weather.

Currently I am using Crescent White cleanser from Esteè Laùder which also provides UV protection to your skin. If you do not want to spend much, try Mama Earth Ubtan Face Wash, which I am soon gonna buy. I have used few of their products like lip balm and hair mask (worth buying) but would love to try their Face wash as well.

2. EXFOLIATING

After cleansing, it is very important to exfoliate the skin atleast twice a week during monsoon. Exfoliation helps in removing the barrier of dead skin cells clogging the skin and uncovering fresh new cells below. This opens the way for moisturizing products to penetrate more deeply into the skin making it work effectively. I have been using Everyuth Naturals scrub for quite sometime now. It not only works well for exfoliation but removes tan and rejuvenates the skin. And it is quite affordable too, worth at its price.

3. TONING

Toning after exfoliation is an important step of our daily skin care regime. It helps to remove excess dirt, traces of oil and makeup. It also helps to correct and balance pH levels of our skin and helps control acne. It is also very beneficial to acne prone skin by helping in cleaning and closing pores. I use Neutrogena deep clean toner that has helped me in achieving all of the above plus giving cooling effect to my skin.

4. MOISTURIZING

The next step is moisturizing the skin. A light moisturiser during rainy season helps skin remain healthy. Moisturization and hydration are two confusing topics. Dehydrated skin lacks water and therefore needs to be hydrated. Dry skin lacks oil and needs to be moisturized. Dry skin hydrated, but not moisturized will still flake and have a rough texture. I use Clinique moisture surge which provides both the hydration as well as moisturization to my skin. Since, this gel is on expensive side, I would suggest another name- Hydrafresh Genius Water from L’oreal Paris provides the same moisturising and hydrating effect to the skin.

5. SUNSCREEN

During monsoon, we hardly see the sun but even when it is overcast or cloudy, we should not ignore sun block. The UV rays responsible for ageing penetrates the clouds and can damage our skin. I normally use either Lotus sunscreen which is gel based because my skin is oily and sensitive, or cucumber sunscreen by Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic. The Lotus sunscreen gel is very light in concistency and since it is gel based, it does not feel sticky on my skin. Likewise, Aroma magic cucumber sunscreen is very light, non greasy but it is creamy and blendable. I love using these because they are natural and free of parabens.

6. SERUM

Though not a must, but it is very advisable to use serums during night to ensure the moisturiser applied gets properly absorbed into the skin. There are many anti-ageing serums available in the market and serums are costlier than moisturisers because serums go deeper into the skin whereas moisturizers stay only on the upper layer.

I like Advanced Night Repair serum from Estèe Lauder as it makes my skin smooth and even toned. It feels soft and supple all the time. Though it is bit on expensive side, so I suggest Olay Total Effects 7 in one Anti ageing smoothing serum. It also works quite well.

7. LIP CARE

The most common thing during rainy season is chapped lips. Lips are way too sensitive as compared to facial skin, so it is utmost important to take proper care of them too. Prevent them from cracking by applying lip care product regularly.

I use strawberry Lip care by VLCC.

8. HAIR CARE

Hair is the most talked about topic during monsoon. Due to excess humidity in the air owing to the monsoon season, hair becomes dry and brittle and we notice excessive hair fall during that time. To avoid it, we must use warm oil for our scalp and massage atleast twice a week. This will make our hair stronger from the roots and prevent itchy scalp and dandruff.

I use Patanjali Kesh Kanti which has given me good results so far.

Also, we should use hair serum to coat the surface of the hair from getting affected by heat, moisture and dust in the air. For that I suggest St. Botanica Moroccan Argan Hair Serum for all hair types.

And not to forget, a balanced diet and proper intake of water is also essential for maintaining the glow of skin and hair.

So, that is all for this post. Hope you enjoyed reading. See you in my next post.

Till then,  Bubyyeee…

Salon like Hairstyling at home!

Hi Everyone,

Currently, I am only sharing reviews about the products that worked well for me. In the near future, I will come up with anti hauls (products that did not work well or I am not happy about).

So today, I will be reviewing Havells HS4152 hair straightener which I have been using since March, 2019. After I coloured my hair last year, I noticed that my hair had started looking frizzy, they had lost the shine, flow and bounce. I started using chemical free shampoos and hair conditioner to get that smoothing effect back in my hair. I went through regular spas and fortunately after all those efforts my hair look better now. But the day I shampoo my hair, they look frizzy and the frizz settles down in a day or two. I am not much bothered about my hair when I am at home but while going out with friends, I would really want my hair to look good and shiny.

Havells HS4152 Hair Straightener

So I ordered this flat iron from amazon which is called Havells HS4152 hair straightener to help me achieve glossy, salon like hair.

What company claims-

Perfect Shiny Hair

The titanium plates provide an exceptionally smooth glide through your hair, helps to eliminate frizz and keep hair shiny.

Achieve Perfect Curls

The thin plates and curved edges can help you get perfect retro and bouncy curls with additional effort.

The 25x100mm Titanium coated plates distribute the heat evenly and protect the hair from over- heating. Floating plate adjusts to individual hair strands for even and faster styling, prevents hair breakage.

And not to be ignored, it comes with two years manufacturer guarantee.

Price- Rs. 1850 (on Amazon)

Though I purchased it for Rs. 2100 when it was first launched in March.

My experience with Havells Hair Straightener-

Honestly speaking, I never used hair styling tools ever before I ordered this and it truly came out to be the best purchase and worth every penny. It is very light in weight and it just glides through my hair while straightening. As it claims, yes its titanium coated plates give shine and gloss to my hair and make it frizz free. Though I have to use hair serum as thermal protection underneath before ironing or curling. I have very dense hair and because of its long plates that cover a big bunch of hair, it takes hardly 15-20 minutes to cover all my hair for straightening.

I make two sections of my hair and pin them up with the help of clutches, then I start ironing taking one small bunch of hair from the back, at a time.

Not only straightening, it is also a best option for curling your hair. Since it is very sleek in built, you can roll it along from the ends of your hair to get curls or waves. It takes only 5 seconds to heat up and is ready to work.

I generally work at minimum temperature i.e. 155 degree but it can go upto 230 degree as per your styling requirements. It also has a locking system (a button that lock the plates) while not in use. It comes up with 1.8m flexible cable which can be moved around while using it. And it is very travel friendly due to its sleek body.

I think I will not purchase any other styling tool in future if I have this. I do not use it very often but whenever I use it, its effect stays on my hair till I wash them. I am really happy to buy this product as it gives salon like effect to my hair.

And last but not the least, as compared to other high end brands like babyliss this is very affordable, giving the same results.

Good about the product–

1. Titanium coated plates

2. Light weight

3. Quick heat up (5 secs)

4. Worth the price

5. Gives glossy finish

6. Glides on your hair well

7. Comes with finger gloves

Not so good about the product-

Nothing! I just liked everything about it!

SF rating – 5/5

Hope you enjoyed reading. See you in my next post. Till then…

Bubyeeee…

Nykaa Molten Matte Lip and Cheek Color- Review

Hi Everyone,

Now that I have introduced myself in my previous blog, I have selected a few products to review that I have used recently and found them helpful. One of them is Nykaa Molten Matte lip and cheek color which I am using since April 2019. The product reminds me of Nyx Soft Matte Lip Creme. I got the shade 08 (Monica) and have been using it for the last few months very frequently.

The lip color is versatile as it can be used for lips, cheeks and can be applied as eyeshadow as well (probably to match the outfit you are wearing).

It comes with doe foot applicator that makes the color spread evenly and precisely around the outer edges of your lips.

The texture of Nykaa Molten Matte Lip and Cheek Color is creamy and the formula is weightless. It feels so light and comfortable as if you haven’t worn anything on your lips. Due to the presence of Argan oil and shea butter in it, your lips do not feel dry. But to keep in mind not to layer too much with it, just two swipes are enough. It does not accentuate fine lines even if the lips are not well hydrated. It blends flawlessly on the cheeks. However, you have to be really fast while blending. It would be better and easy to do one cheek at a time. Blending can be done either with the fingertips or with a sponge to lighten the color.

Hand Swatch in the Natural Day light

About the pigmentation of this lip creme, yes it is intense with a single swipe and efficient to hide minor flaws on the lips. But since, it is meant to blend (for cheeks as blush), you cannot expect the color to be fully opaque. It gives a rich matte finish to the lips upon drying in a few seconds. It is not transfer proof though and stays for 3-4 hours without disturbing.

Overall – The Nykaa Molten Matte Lip and Cheek Color 08 (Monica) is bright red color with warm undertones, a light weight creamy texture with powder matte finish to the lips and good staying power.

Good about the product–

1. Precise applicator
2. Shade Monica 08 is a Pretty bright red color
3. Suitable for light to medium skintones
4. Can be used as blush and eyeshadow
5. Weightless creamy formula
6. Powder matte and comfortable finish

Not so good about the product–

1. Transfers lightly.
2. The color is slightly restricting.

Price in India : Rs.525 for 9gm

SF rating: 3.5/5

Recommendation

The Nykaa Molten Matte Lip and Cheek color is surely a good buy due to its versitality if you want to give it a try once.

Shall I buy it again?

I would love to try other colors in this range.

Hope you enjoyed reading. Will come up with more reviews soon, till then bubyeee…

Also Read: Fighting with Acne during Menstruation

Fighting with Acne during Menstruation

Hi Everyone,

So, after thinking more than 100 times about the topic of my first blog post after my introductory post, I came up with this topic. ACNE😖 during periods.

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when hair follicles plug with oil and dead skin cells. During menstruation, our hormones play a big role that trigger our sebaceous gland to produce more sebum oil. This oil gets trapped in the swollen pores of the skin causing acne. Almost every second or third woman in the world, faces the problem of acne during menstruation.

I know before coming to my page, you all must have read a lot about preventing and curing acne. There are “n” number of posts on acne with “n” number of remedies in the google world. But I am just here to share what works for me and what not.

It is necessary to stay hydrated always not only during periods but also otherwise. Washing face twice/thrice a day, applying moisturizer etc. But sometimes, in spite of keeping all those points in mind and even after adhering to all that, we get pimples.

Many of us have tried popping them up standing in front of the mirror for a while. I too did during my teenage, even after knowing that was not a good idea😜 Result – scars on face, spreading germs/bacteria around. But that ended up soon when I came to know a single thing that works great and do wonders for any skin type.

Since last 10 years I am using only and only 1 cream on my acne and that is Vicco Turmeric WSO cream. It is such a miraculous cream that do wonders to my skin. I usually apply as dots over my pimple thrice a day. And in just a day pimple sets down. It is very cool and soothing. It contains extracts of turmeric which works as antiseptic and sandalwood that provides soothing and cooling effect to the skin. It has all natural and chemical free ingredients. Right from the first application, the cream deeply penetrates into the skin and starts working from within. Applying during night before sleeping has more effect on the pimples. I am not exaggerating but honestly, after using it, I have completely stopped applying anything on my acne. Have tried using different types of faces washes that are especially meant for acne, other medicated creams, face packs etc. but nothing worked rather this.

So, this is all about acne during menstruation for today. Hope you liked it. I will come up with another post soon. Till then take care, stay hydrated, stay healthy and stay connected. Let me know in comments if you have already tried this before or this worked for you as well or if you have any other remedy that worked for you to treat acne.

Bubyyyyee!

Genisis

EVERYTHING THAT INSPIRES!

Monday, June 10, 2019 Anjali Poddar

Welcome to my First Blog post!

Hello friends,

Welcome to my nest which is just fresh with the twigs and green grass around. Thank you for stopping by and peeping into.

This is my first blog post wherein I will be sharing about myself and my blog. So, let’s break the ice between us and move ahead with me to explore this colourful journey.

My name is Anjali and I was raised in Jaipur (the Heart of Rajasthan). I have done my Masters in Commerce (Finance) and have worked with MNC’s for a couple of years in the field of finance. Got married in 2010 with a mariner and shifted to Mumbai with him. Had lost the idea of working outside as he used to come home for two months, on and off. Blogging became my passion since 2014 when I first read beauty tips and skin care routine by Ankita Chaturvedi. She has been my beauty blogging inspiration since then.

I sometimes try my hands on cooking as well. My husband says I am a good cook. I love travelling and have been to many countries including US, UK, Thailand, Maldives, Singapore etc. but unfortunately I never thought of making travel blogs then. But now, this is the platform where I shall be sharing my travel blogs as well. My forte is Lifestyle including Fashion, Food, Beauty, Travel, Make up, Skincare and much more.

To start with, I may come up with my opinions on tried and tested beauty products as Product Reviews are my Love!!! Though I am not an expert or a perfectionist, I will try my best to give the best of everything. And for that, your support, feedback and suggestions are highly needed and appreciated.

Thank you!

CONTACT:

You can contact me at poddar.r.anjali@gmail.com for any queries.

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton