Books This Week 9

Hello people. Another edition of books this week in the offing. Let's get straight to it

Such A Long Journey- Rohington Mistry

I wanted to read this since I read 'A Fine Balance' by the same author last year (& if I'm a little more honest- since it was banned a few years back). I finally found this floating somewhere on the net. I'm disappointed with this book. It starts out great bit loses steam midway. Also I felt like there were a lot of loose ends at the end of the book. You keep waiting for answers but it never comes. The author could have added another 50 pages & ended it properly with answers to what happened to whom.

Gossip Girl- Cecilia von Ziegesar

Picked up this just for fun. You can read on auto pilot. One time read

Gorgeous For Good - Sophie Uliano

Love this one. I really liked that a "green beauty" enthusiast could be so practical. It's full of tips about beauty, health & fitness. The highlight though is her 30 day program which has a holistic approach towards beauty. She has even included recipes she has used. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has 'let themselves go' & is trying to get back into the groove of things.

That's all for this week. Any interesting reads lately?

My Very Own Box - December

Winter is definitely here & by the looks of it, is planning on staying for long. This month's box is made up of only necessities. Let's look at the stuff I got this time.

Ayur Herbal Body Lotion in Cocoa Butter

INR 200 for 1000 ml

I tend to buy the biggest sized bottles available when it comes to body lotions. I have used their 1 litre sized bottles while in college (it's super cost effective). It smells good & moisturises well.

Health & Glow Cocoa Body Butter

INR 199 for 250 ml

Before online shopping became such a rage, Health & Glow was THE place to buy makeup & beauty products. It wasn't before long that they came out with their own line of products. I really like this body butter-it smells amazing & is not sticky but moisturises really well.

Oriflame Tender Care Gift Box-Caramel, Vanilla, Coconut, Cherry

INR 1295 for 15 ml ×4

I like how cute this looks-4 tiny pots housed in a cardboard box supported by sponge. You can remove the sponge & use it as a jewelry box. Caramel & Cherry are my top favorites followed by Vanilla. I don't like the coconut one- I'm using it as a cuticle butter so it stays far away from my nose.

Books This Week 8

Hello all, time for mini reviews of books I've read past week.

The Palace of Illusions- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

This had been on my to read list from a long time. I love mythology, especially Indian & was looking forward to reading this book. This book tells the story of Mahabharata from the viewpoint of Draupadi. I enjoyed reading it but as with all popular mythological books, there is nothing new- it's a story we all have heard a million times. To be fair, the book is not boring & there are tonnes of smaller stories woven within the storyline. Liked it, just didn't love it.

Frugal Isn't Cheap- Clare K Levison

Since I'm struggling with my spending habits it made sense to pick up this book. I really liked the fact that the author doesn't blame credit cards for over spending. It's not like the card jumped out & decided to shop. High time for adults to start behaving like adults. The rest of the book is made up of points we've all heard & read before- it's a different thing that we don't follow them. Nice no- nonsense book.

1001 Ways To Stay Young Naturally- Susannah Marriott

This book has been targeted at 50 + age group but I feel everyone can benefit from the information. It's categorized into different areas like exercise,  skin care etc. The tip format makes it super easy to read. I think I'll dip back into this from time to time.

See you all next week. Cherrs

November Empties

Hi all, time for another empties post. Let's see what I managed to use up this month

Vaadi Herbals Lavender Shampoo

INR 59 for 110 ml

Love the smell but it doesn't do anything spectacular for my hair. No repurchase.

Garnier Fructis Oil- in- Cream

Free Sample of 7.5 gm

I finally caved in & bought a small tube of this & guess what! I've been bombarded with samples left, right & centre. Smells a bit strong like all Garnier Fructis products. Nothing special- its just leave in conditioner & I'm in no hurry to ditch my hair oil. Not repurchasing

Vaadi Herbals Olive Facial Bar

INR 34 for 25 gm

Had high hopes after seeing how good Vaadi Herbals Soaps were but this one dried out my skin terribly. Still have 5 more of these (Did I mention I have a bulk buying problem?) Obviously not repurchasing.

Aquasource Normal/Combination Skin Gel

Free Sample of 1.5 ml

One more sample. What exactly are you supposed to gague with 1.5 ml of product? Beats me. Smells ok, is lighter than Aloe Vera gel. Not buying retail.

Aroma Treasures Golden Glow Cream

Free Sample of 5 gm

Slightly heavy cream with a heady jasmine scent. Bit too rich for my oily skin. Have bought Aroma Treasures Golden Glow Oil last month.

Vaadi Herbals Exotic Kiwi Soap

INR 38 for 75 gm

I think this will be a staple in my bathroom.  Love these soaps.

Sure Women Anti- Perspirant Roll- on

INR 80 for 40 ml

Will buy this till the end of time. Why are there no non- alcoholic roll- ons in India?

Now for the decluttering part. You will be surprised with what you can unearth if only you clean your vanity regularly

Green Tea Sheet Mask

INR 25

This one's ancient. I had a mad sheet mask phase about 5 years back. It sounds good in theory but I simply can't relax with sheet masks on. They threaten to slip whenever I'm about to relax even a teeny bit. Glad that phase is gone.

Aromance Peppermint Essential Oil

INR 60 for 10 ml

Had bought this when I first started out with Essential Oils. There's still a bit left but don't want to use anymore.

That's all for this month. Cheers.

Books This Week 7

Absolutely crazy weather in my city- endless rains & a sun on holiday. Perfect weather to curl up with a good book & that's exactly what I did.

The Cuckoo's Calling- Robert Galbraith

I couldn't wait to read this one after finishing the second book in this series last week. Fabulous book - right amount of suspense & intrigue. Good enough but I liked The Silkworm a lot more.

Shiny Objects- James A Roberts

This book delves into why we shop the way we do & how shopping habits have evolved over time. Every single statement & theory is backed by solid research & tests conducted on a large number of people. Although the book talks about shopping habits of America, I felt it could be applied to just about any country. Shopping seems to be a global pandemic. Fascinating read.

That's all for this week. Read anything good lately?

Books This Week 6

Hi all, these are the books I finished this past week

The Silkworm- Robert Galbraith

What a cracker of a book! Thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. I picked it up without realizing that it was the 2nd part of the series. It didn't take away anything from the book. I'm turning into a die hard J.K Rowling fan. Can't wait to read the 1st part.

The World's Best Kept Beauty Secrets- Diane Irons

Picked this up on a whim. It has a lot of 'secrets' about skincare, makeup etc- some commonplace & some that I had never heard of before. It's a good book for teenagers who are just starting out with makeup & beauty.

Women's Fitness- 4 Weeks to Skinny Jeans

Love this. While in college, my one vice was buying magazines I could ill afford & then cutting the pages I liked. The second biggest pile of pages was fitness & exercise. I really like how this book has everything in one place- exercises, diet tips & helpful suggestions. I can see myself dipping back into this one.

DIY Sleeping Mask

Ever since bloggers started reviewing Memeboxes, the one thing that instantly caught my attention was the Overnight Sleeping Mask. It seemed like a godsend for a time strapped mom like me. Imagine slathering on a face mask as you get ready to sleep- you get your beauty sleep & the mask works its magic at the same time. Win- win. Since I was on a No Buy & then Low Buy & No Buy Challenge again, I never got around to buying it. My No Buy Challenge afforded me plenty of time to research & analyze every product that interested me. During one such foray, it hit me - sleeping mask was just glorified night cream. Almost everybody who used it claimed that it was like a rich night cream. Which means it's easily dupable & the beauty of DIY is that you can customize it to your skin needs.

I used the following 4 things to make my Sleeping Mask-

Lacto Calamine Reneu (anti- aging cream)

Regular Lacto Calamine (cuts down the greasiness & soothes the skin)

Khadi Herbals Facial Massage Gel- Aloe vera, Neem, Basil (claims to prevent pimples & soothe the skin)

Kamadhenu Laboratories Kumkumadi Oil (fabulous skin brightener)

I mixed it in the ratio 2:1:1 & added 5 drops of Kumkumadi Oil. Mix it till it comes together & store in an opaque container. I have repurposed an old Biotique lip balm container. I use it about twice every week & wake up to glowing skin. The only downside is that the mask makes your face a little oily & sticky. My husband complained about the chip chip the first time I used it. So now I just apply the mask about an hour before bed- this gives it time to absorb into the skin & the stickiness is also significantly less. You can increase the amount of Lacto Calamine to lessen the stickiness too.

I quite liked this DIY. Next time I plan on using Aroma Treasures Golden Glow Oil instead of Kumkumadi Oil.

Cheers.

My Very Own Box- November- Facial Oils

Hello people, new month means a new box. Its time for another edition of My Very Own Box. I've been intrigued by facial oils ever since they burst onto the beauty scene a couple of years back. What held me back was my super oily skin & a vague fear of oil induced pimples. I finally decided to take the plunge with these beauties. Read on

Kamadhenu Laboratories Kumkumadi Oil

INR 80 for 10 ml

Every few months, I keep getting bitten by the natural bug & only want to use age old or ayurvedic products. This is one such. I'm currently mixing this with my night cream. Still haven't worked up the courage to use it in the day time. Thankfully, it doesn't smell too bad & mixing with night cream seems to further dilute the smell.

Aroma Treasures Golden Glow Oil

INR 303 for 50 ml

I got this a couple of months back & was waiting for winters to start using this. The instructions say that it should be used within 4 months of opening. Planning on using this till February end. Will update with results then.

Vedic Line Anti Pigmentation Blend

INR 150 for 10 ml

I wanted to try the 'Radiance' blend but it was always out of stock. So settled for this one. It smells wonderful & I can't wait to try it.

Animate Facial Oil

INR 300 for 60 capsules

Who doesn't love ampoules? I can't seem to get enough of them. This one claims to contain aloe vera & vitamin E. Planning to use this once a week.

Do you use facial oils? Which ones worked best for you- keep me posted. Cheers.

Books This Week 5

Been a while since I did this series. Time seems to have grown a pair of wings & is flying like crazy. Anyhoo, these are the books I finished reading

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up- Marie Kondo

This one's an utterly hyped up book. The author recommends decluttering by category not by room & to discard first, organize later. Also discard everything that doesn't "spark joy" in you. She has a specific order in which decluttering has to take place & claims that you'll have to do it just once. It sounds too good to be true but the success of the KonMari technique lies in how much you can throw away. I don't see this working for me.

Casual Vacancy - J. K Rowling

Absolutely loved this one. I was a bit prejudiced about the author thinking she could only write fantasy. Never did I think that she could come up with something so dark & gritty. I was hooked from the beginning & thoroughly enjoyed the suspense. You know it's a good book when you finish reading it & you still feel like you are living in the make believe place inside the book. This is one of those. Go for it.

Mrs Funnybones- Twinkle Khanna

Funny, funny stories from the land of celebrities. This is an easy read- you don't have to invest too much time or attention. One time read.

I don't usually finish every post with a question but have you read any good books lately? I really, really want to know (Yeah! Even more than which lipstick shade Deepika wore recently) See ya.

October Empties

October has gone by so fast, I felt like it only had 15 days. Maybe that's why I was surprised to see so many empties. October also saw the untimely demise of my 100 Days No Buy Challenge. I lasted for all of 54 days before shopping mania took over.

Let's begin

Khadi Ayurvedic Vitalising Hair Oil
INR 350 for 210 ml

I had bought this with high hopes but it did nothing for my hair. It's a pleasant smelling oil with thin consistency. I didn't notice anything extraordinary & I developed dandruff in the colder months despite using this. Dud. No repurchase.

Patanjali Kesh Kanti Shampoo
INR 65 for 200 ml

My go to shampoo. I always have atleast 1 bottle of this shampoo with me. Obviously repurchasing.

Vaadi Herbals Sun Shield (2)
INR 64 for 110 ml

Phew! Finally finished using this one. Never again.

Gururaja Kumkumadi Taila
INR 150 for 100 ml

I wanted to try Kumkumadi oil from a long time but there's no Arya Vaidya Shala near my place. So picked this up from a nearby store. It stinks & I only managed to finish using it by mixing a little bit with my body lotion. No way am I repurchasing this.

Biotique Bio Carrot Seed Anti Aging After Bath Body Oil
INR 135 for 120 ml

Good enough. I quite liked this one. Repurchase

Ayur Herbal Deep Pore Cleansing Milk
INR 85 for 200 ml

This is the only cleansing milk that doesn't sting my face & effectively removes all makeup. Have bought & used umpteen bottles. I think I'll continue using this.

Lacto Calamine Reneu
INR 799 for 50 gm

God! This one stinks like rotting fevicol. It's quite rich & i thought it would be super greasy on my oily skin. Nevertheless I  used it for 2 weeks & it broke me out twice. After that (because I was on my No Buy Challenge) I mixed it with equal quantity of Lacto Calamine & used it up. No repurchase.

Vaadi Herbals Enticing Lemongrass Scrub Soap
INR 38 for 75 gm

Smells super fresh but the charcoal scrub particles are too harsh. I still have 2 more of these (I think). No repurchase.

Oatmeal powder NOT PICTURED

Love using this to cleanse my face. It really makes a difference on red acne marks & soothes skin. Definitely making again after I finish my stash.

That's it for now. How many of you post about Empties? Has it made a difference to your shopping habits? Let me know.

Cleansing Grains

I've always had really oily skin & face wash was my best friend closely followed by multani mitti. Anything that helped take the oil off was good. Eventually I noticed my skin was getting rather dull due to overuse of face wash. From about 2 years I've been using cleansing grains to wash my face & I have to say it's a change for the better. My skin has never looked better. I still use face wash but only once in a day. I think the humidity & pollution in India is too strong to just be handled by cleansing grains. Also if you wear sunscreen & makeup, cleansing grains can't take it off. I highly recommend using cleansing grains the rest of the time, when you just have a layer of night cream or so.

These are the cleansing grains I use. There are plenty of others like basic besan, haldi & sandal. But EVERYBODY & their cousins know of them.

1. Powdered oats- I never liked eating oats for breakfast but it does work wonders for my skin. Just grind regular oats to get a fine powder. Add a little water & let it rest for a minute. Mix it to form a gooey paste & apply on your wet face. Massage in circular motions & wash off.
WARNING : Oats are a particularly clingy grain. You need to wash really, really well to get rid of them. Also if they get stuck in your hair, it'll be a nightmare to get rid of. I always use a headband while washing my face so I don't end up with oats all along my hairline.

Even with these cons, I recommend oats because it's incredibly soothing on the skin & it fades red acne marks too.

2. Masoor Dal & Peanuts- This is fairly easy to prepare. For every tablespoon of masoor dal add a teaspoon of peanuts & grind till it becomes a smooth powder. Mix with little water, make a paste & cleanse your wet face with this. This is slightly grittier than oatmeal so I don't recommend using a scrub while using this as cleanser. This will brighten your face almost instantly.

3. Traditional Sunni Pindi- This is used by all the aunties & grannies for flawless skin. It's so safe that its even used for bathing babies. This one's the most complicated of the lot but is well worth the effort. I made mine almost a year back & it still smells fresh and hasn't spoilt. It can even be used as an ubtan but I like it more as a face cleanser.

Rice flour 100 gm

Besan 100 gm

Green gram (powdered) 100 gm

Rose Petal Powder 20 gm

Lemon Peel Powder 20 gm

Neem Leaf Powder 20 gm

Sandal Wood Powder 10 gm

Kasturi Turmeric 20 gm

Regular Turmeric 5 gm

Vetiver 20 gm

Liquorice 20 gm

Sugandha Kachuralu 20 gm

Bavanchalu 20 gm

Camphor 5 flakes

Powder all ingredients & sift with a sieve. Repeat. Mix everything really well & store in airtight container.

P.S : I couldn't find Lemon Peel Powder anywhere, so substituted with Orange Peel Powder. Vetiver & Liquorice are available at Ayurvedic Stores.

Sugandha Kachuralu, Bavanchalu are available at stores selling Pooja items. These are the Telugu names ( I got the recipe from my Telugu speaking neighbour), I have no idea what it's called in English.

4. Patanjali Body Ubtan

   INR 60 for 100 gm

I know it's sold as a body ubtan but I like using it as a face wash. This one smells amazing.  If you can't be bothered with finding & grinding a dozen different ingredients, go for this. Mix with a little water & apply onto the face. It's super smooth in texture & fabulous value for money.

Which natural cleansing grains do you use?

Biotique Bio Carrot Seed Anti Aging After Bath Body Oil Review

Hi all, I'll be reviewing the Biotique Bio Carrot Seed Anti Aging After Bath Body Oil today. I've beeen using this oil for the past month & it's time to articulate my thoughts.

Biotique oil comes in the regular Biotique bottle with a twist cap. It also has an inner stopper with a small hole to prevent spillage. The bottle is sturdy & oil doesn't leak out. All necessary details are on the bottle label. The entire bottle has a plastic covering for extra safety.

INR 135 for 120 ml

The oil is pale yellow in colour & completely non sticky. It has a very faint smell that smells a bit like men's shaving cream. In any case it disappears fairly quickly. The oil gets absorbed pretty soon & does not stain my clothes. It also keeps my skin moistuised through the day. After using it continuously for a month, my skin texture seems to have improved. It's looking firmer & more even. After my pregnancy, my body looked like a war zone, especially my abdomen. I'm quite happy with the results.

Yays

Non sticky, non staining & moisturises for a long time. What more do you want?

Cost effective

Improved appearance of my skin, especially tummy area

Nays

After a few days, my clothes started smelling vaguely oily (even after washing).I find this really strange because the oil doesn't smell well, like oil.

A look at the ingredient list will tell you that the main ingredient is peanut oil. I think I can make a much better version at home.

Repurchase? Not at the moment. Will consider it after I've whittled down my considearable stash.Cheers.

September Empties

This is by far my shortest Empties post. Let's dive straight in

Bio oil INR 450 for 60 ml

Had bought it a while back to treat stretch marks. Boy, is it expensive! By their own admission, it needs to be used consistently twice a day for about 3 months, to notice a difference. Since I was never going to follow through on this I just finished it up by using as a body oil. It does moisturize really well but I can get better ones at lesser price. No repurchase.

Castor oil INR 90 for 200 ml

Bought it a long time back to do Oil Cleaning Method. It's supposed to be THE oil to use on oily skin. But I simply didn't like the way this felt on my skin- it's super thick. Finished it by doing oil pulling on my rather yellow teeth.

I also finished a 100 ml bottle of Parachute Body Lotion but left it at my mom's place. I may be cuckoo enough to collect & photograph my trash; but I'm not so far gone as to carry it with me.

Until next time.

50 Days of No Buy Challenge

Hi all, today is my 50th day in the 100 days no buy challenge. The journey so far has been difficult & plain painful on some days. Only a hoarder will know the pain of not buying when there are sales pretty much everywhere. Thankfully, I had a ton of products (which necessiated the challenge in the first place) before i started the challenge. This made putting together my "boxes" easier but also more challenging. I had to look for themes within what I already had.

Anyhow after all these days, I'm happy that my clutter is visibly reducing. And I'm using it, not giving it away or throwing it away. This is a huge deal to me. I would almost always give away stuff that didn't suit me. Now I've learn to make it work. If a cream is too rich, I add Aloe Vera gel to make a gel cream;if it's too greasy, I add Lacto Calamine. I feel euphoric when i manage to finish even a single product. All the normal people out there might do this on a regular basis but hoarders like me only collect & don't use.

The only way I managed to stay on track is by redoing my wardrobe. In the past 50 days, I have organised my wardrobe & gotten rid of old clothes. I also updated my wardrobe by buying pieces that I felt were missing. I think, we Indian girls are spoilt for choice when it comes to clothes. Anyhow, I bought a golden blouse, a gown, a salwar set, a kurta, a few tops & a saree. Yeah, I know. I OD in everything.

Coming to the next 50 days of the challenge, I want to buy only the necessities. No makeup, no clothes & no skincare. Heaven knows, I have enough to last a long while. It's going to be tough but I think it will be for the better. I want to cut down my skincare stuff by half, by using-not by throwing away. Binning it is the easy way out. I want this to be a lesson for me - If I buy I have to use.

Wish me luck.

My Very Own Box - October

Hi people, it's been raining like crazy here. The entire city looks so clean & beautiful like it's gotten a long deserved shower. Everywhere you look its blues & greens and that is the theme this month. My box is entirely made up of blue & green coloured products. Let's start

Vaadi Herbals Aloe Vera Deep- Pore Cleansing Milk INR 155 for 350 ml

I always stick to my trusted Ayur Cleansing Milk. Wanted to try something else this time

Aroma Treasures Lemongrass Essential Oil INR 81 for 10 ml

There's something uplifting about this scent. Can't wait to add it to my DIYs.

Vaadi Herbals Blueberry Facial Bar INR 35 for 25 gm

The only facial bar available other than Facia. Plus how often do you come across something blueberry scented?

Vaadi Herbals Aromatherapy Body Oil Pure Lemongrass & Lily Oil INR 65 for 50 ml

Love, love, love. Wakes me up instantly. I have reserved this for Monday mornings

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo INR 205 for 300 ml

This has been on my wishlist from forever. Yet to try.

Vaadi Herbals Lip Balms in Mint & Blueberry INR 30 each

Yes! I have found a cheaper dupe for Lotus lip balms. These are amazing

ELF Mineral Primer in Green USD 6

Green primer is supposed to hide redness from the face. Yet to try.

Vaadi Herbals Olive Facial Bar INR 34 for 25 gm

Got it out of plain curiosity. Will try this next

Clean & Clear Pimple Clearing Face Wash INR 55 for 40 ml

Monsoon + oily skin = pimples. Need I say more?

Vaadi Herbals Exotic Kiwi Soap INR 38 for 75 gm

Love these soaps. They are fabulous

Khadi Amla & Brahmi Hair Oil INR 125 for 210 ml

Bought this on a whim, it was a BOGO deal. These BOGO deals will be the end of me.

Vaadi Herbals Enticing Lemongrass Scrub Soap INR 38 for 75 gm

Fresh scented soap with charcoal scrub particles.

My Very Own Box- September 2015

I'm really enjoying putting these boxes together. Shopping with a theme is FUN. This month's box will be full of anti- aging stuff. Once you hit 30, you start panicking that you might have missed the anti-aging bus & want to make up for lost time. Here's a list of the things I got.

Lacto Calamine Reneu Anti-Aging Cream INR 800 for 50 gm

Wanted to try this from a long time since I tend to trust products from pharmaceutical companies more than regular skincare brands. It's a pearly white cream which seems to be a bit too rich for my oily skin. It comes with fancy cardboard strips to measure before and after wrinkles. I'm using this at the moment.

Nature's Essence Seramide Anti wrinkle Cream INR 70 for 40 gm

Seramides are supposed to be the next big thing in anti aging & Nature's Essence products always work for me. How fun does this package look? Yet to use it.

Biotique Bio Carrot Seed Anti-Aging After Bath Body Oil INR 135 for 120 ml

Almost all anti aging stuff seems to be concentrated on the face. This was the only thing available for body. I'm using this from past 1 week & have finished 1/3 rd of the bottle. Will update with results in a few days.

Vaadi Herbals Anti aging Cream INR 55 for 30 gm

This has got to be the most cost effective anti aging cream ever. Will try this once I'm done with Lacto Calamine Reneu.

Do you use anti aging products? When do you think is the best time to start?

Days 11-20 of No Buy Challenge

Hi all, this is just an overview of the past 10 days in my No Buy Challenge

Day 11 - Used honey as a face mask before bath. Skin felt so smooth & moisturized from within. Want to do this more often. Drank close to 700 ml water.

Day 12 - Finished reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. While the points may be valid, I don't see this working for me. Water intake : 500 ml

Day 13 - Filed & shaped my nails after forever. Hopefully will paint my nails this week. Success! Guzzled 1 litre of water today.

Day 14 - Did a at home facial with Nature's Essence Diamond Facial Kit. Love the way my skin feels after this. Drank about 700 ml of water.

Day 15 - Read some reviews & was tempted by a few. Have added the products I liked to my "Want" list. If I still want the stuff at the end of the ban, I will buy them. Totally forgot about the water thing- just drank 2 glasses of water.

Day 16 - Wore Streetwear Pink Persuasion lipstick after a long time. Wow, Streetwear has come a long way- lovely lipstick. Back on track- 1 litre of water today.

Day 17 - Used my Nature's Essence Bridal Glow Face Pack. Watched Drishyam to distract myself from shopping. Drank 800 ml of water

Day 18 - Girls Night Out! Wore Streetwear lipgloss in Party Melon. I had been alternating between Maybelline MAT 1 & MAT 2 lipsticks from a long time. Poor water intake at just 200 ml.

Day 19 - Finally tried oil pulling with castor oil. My teeth are looking rather yellow due to my black coffee habit. Exceeded my limit by drinking 1.2 litres of water. Yay!

Day 20 - Yes! Yes! I'm gonna make it through this time. I feel it in my bones. Wore blush (Faces Pink Topaz) after an eternity. Level up!

Rules for the next 10 days

Learn to use a beauty accessory that I've ignored so far. I think I'll start with the eyelash curler. This thing scares me & has been sitting in my beauty drawer since 4 years.

Reorganize my wardrobe. I've been hanging all my clothes willy nilly but I only have 1 rod in my wardrobe. I think stacks are the way to go especially for t-shirts and kurtas.

How far have you gotten in the No Buy Challenge?

August Empties

It's time for another empties post. I decided to target my tiny bottles of shampoos etc from hotels this month. I always pick up those tiny bottles from hotels but NEVER use them. They just sit not- so prettily on my dresser & die a quiet death. I'm forcing myself to use these this month, even the stinky ones. Hopefully next time I won't pick up what I don't like/use. What else did I finish this month? Read on

Vaadi Herbals Heavenly Lavender Soap INR 38 for 75 gm

It's no secret that I love lavender scented products & this one's no exception. It cleans well without drying out my skin like other soaps. I'm slightly disappointed that it doesn't have the same ombre look as shown on the website. Nevertheless, repurchase.

Biotique Bio Dandelion Ageless Lightening Serum INR 199 for 40 ml

I love this stuff. It's like magic in a bottle. Read my full review HERE. Definite repurchase.

Vaadi Herbals Sun Shield INR 64 for 110 ml

This was part of an epic Vaadi Herbals haul. I didn't use it on my face but on my arms and legs. Nothing spectacular. Still have 2 more of these to go through.

Parachute Non- Sticky Hair Cream INR 44 for 50 gm

I really like using this as a leave- in conditioner for my curly hair. It has a very masculine fragrance but considering that it's targeted at men, no complaints. Yup, buying again.

Biotherm Aquasource Skin Lotion SAMPLE

This one's a toner, no idea why it's called lotion. Anyhow, works okay.

And now, the piece de resistance. I managed to finish 7 Body Lotions, 2 Shampoos & 1 Bath Foam from the hotel stash. I'll be honest- I used up the shampoo and bath foam by cleaning my bathroom tiles.

Decluttering part

Streetwear Mono Eyeshadows in Bombshell,  Cutey Petutti, Silver

These were the eyeshadows I started out with. They are ancient, dunno why I kept them for all these years.

Lakme Eyeshadow Quad in Peacock

Loved this one to bits when I first got it. I don't use it anymore.

Diana of London Classic Ultra Shine Eyeshadow Duo

This was a gift with purchase. Sorta chalky

Deborah Milano Eyeshadow Trio inTruly Diva

Poor colour payoff, hardly shows up on my eyes

Diana of London Juicy Plump Lipgloss in Cherry

This one's almost like a liquid lipstick & also my first red. Throwing it away because it's about 6 years old.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipgloss in Plum- tastic

This one hardly shows up on my lips.

Chambor Flowing Lipstick in Passion Rose

I HATE these kind of clickety click type products. Click, click nothing; click, click, sea of product. I never quite got the knack of getting the right amount of product. Also it settles into lines on my lips.

Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipstick in Plum Perfect

Another pet peeve- glitter in lip products. I haven't used it even once in the past 4 years.

Colorbar lipstick in Glamour

This one's smelling off. Time to get rid of it.

Done for this month. What have you got rid of this month?

Days 1-10 of No Buy Challenge

Day 1 - Used 2 brand new, unused products. Sorely tempted by the Phillips Bikini Genie review. Maybe I'll get a cheaper one after the no buy.

Day 2 - Weekend! Pigged out at Burger King to take my mind off the ban. Was looking at store displays & lamenting about lack of nice stuff when I realized that I can't buy anyway.

Day 3 - Had to go to a store for emergency stuff and saw a tub of Lavender Body Butter. I actually picked it up but then I reminded myself that I can't lose this early on in the challenge.  That tub will still be there when I finish the challenge or finish my stash, whichever is later.

Day 4 - Marked all shopping related stuff on gmail as spam. Less temptation. Did a facial at home with the Vaadi Herbals Lavender Facial Kit. Also changed sheets & cleaned up room in general. Started reading "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up " by Marie Kondo of the famous KonMari technique.

Day 5 - Started to inventory my stuff. I didn't know it was this bad. Done with skincare inventory. Tonnes of unused stuff. Did a fair bit of laundry too

Day 6 - Deleted the purplle app from my phone. This used to be my favorite way to pass the time. Browsing will lead to wanting, checking reviews & eventually "Poor me, can't buy xyz because of the ban". I want to change this stupid attitude. I have plenty, actually more than plenty. I should be bloody grateful.

Day 7- Had to go shopping with a relative. I didn't pick up A SINGLE THING. So proud of myself.

Day 8 - Wore eyeshadow after forever. Have actually forgotten how to apply- it looked quite patchy before I blended it properly. Also wore Rimmel lipstick in Cutting Edge as a stain. I bought this over a year ago (after lots of people said it was a dupe for MAC Rebel) but had never dared to wear outside

Day 9 - Wore a full face of makeup after atleast 6 months. Felt good. Makeup and beauty had become a sort of chore off late. Had forgotten how much FUN it used to be.

Day 10 - Yes! I reached the first milestone. Gave myself a pedicure as reward for finishing the first stage.

Looking back on my 100 Days No Buy Challenge Rules, I have done pretty much everything except for painting my nails. Ah well...

Rules for the next 10 days

Do at least 1 at home facial

Use 2 face masks- one natural & one store bought

Drink more water- start with 1 litre per day. Off late I've only been drinking about 2 glasses of water

Try to finish Lakme lip balm in Siren ( I think). I didn't use it for the longest time because it was so cute.

Books This Week 4

Time for another "Books This Week" edition. These are the books I read this past week

Organizing From The Inside Out- Julie Morgenstern 4/5

I'm a pretty disorganized person-I always start with a system but somehow it never lasts more than a week. Of course it doesn't help that I have a ton of stuff. This book arrived just in time. Love the simple organizing tips given in the book. Also I particularly love the fact that she doesn't ask you to purge your stuff left, right and centre. Instead she just tells you to have a place for everything. It's no wonder your stuff is everywhere-they don't have a home. Also her organizing ideas are not rigid, she tells you to change things around when a particular system is not working. Highly recommended for pack rats like me.

The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency- Alexander McCall Smith 4/5

Very simple story telling that takes you to the heart of Africa. I loved the protagonist- Precious Ramotswe's pragmatic approach towards detection and life in general. Characters are lovable and come to life as you read. Loved it.

Tears of a Giraffe- Alexander McCall Smith 3/5

The second part of The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I'm not able to stop reading this series.

My Very Own Box- August 2015

Hi all. My no buy is still going strong.  I'm almost halfway through half of the first instalment. I discovered so many new, unused products while doing my inventory that I can continue with "My Very Own Box" feature for 4-5 months more.

Most of us lavish all our attention on our face, but the hands and legs that do so much of our work are a neglected lot. So this month's box will have only stuff to keep them in good shape. Here we go

Biocare Foot Scrub with Apricot Jojoba & Organic Rosemary INR 180 for 500 ml

This is a cream based scrub with harsh scrub particles. It's very effective for scrubbing feet. Given the price,  I feel its fabulous value for money. I recently used it as a body scrub & was pleasantly surprised by how soft my skin felt. Loving this

Swiss Beauty Manicure Kit INR 175

I wanted an entire manicure kit which didn't take up too much space. This one fits in my palm easily and contains 2 nail cutters -one regular, one for ingrown nails, 1 pair of scissors,  1 nail file, 1 cuticle trimmer, 1 pair of tweezers,  1 nail pick. I love the design of the outer cover too. Looks classy

Pedispin INR 315

I was lemming for the Scholl foot thingy ever since it was launched, but at close to 3 grand it was way out of my budget.  I noticed this while browsing one day & decided to order. Not only does this scrape away the dead cells effortlessly,  it also collects them in a tiny chamber making cleaning easier. Also the pedicure effect lasts almost a week.  Love

V Color Nail Polish Remover Pads in Strawberry, Lemon, Grapes  INR 155 for 3 packs of 40 wipes each

This was an impulse buy which I'm regretting already. I bought it because it would be convenient to use while traveling.  Also I chose scented ones hoping it would mask the strong acetone smell most of these nail polish removers have. I have only opened the strawberry one so far & it reeks of beer. On the plus side, one pad is sufficient to remove nail paint from all 10 nails.

Vaadi Nail & Cuticle Oil INR 55

This one's just genius. Why didn't anyone think of this before? The oil is packaged with a roller ball applicator making using it a breeze. The uplifting lemongrass scent doesn't hurt either. I have only used this a couple of times but my cuticles are already in much better shape.

That's all for now. What are your stellar hand care products?

100 Days No Buy Challenge

Yesterday I took an inventory of all my stuff- both makeup and beauty. Oh dear Lord! I have enough to last a couple of years at least. Since I don't want to die smothered by clutter, I've decided to go on a "100 Days No Buy Challenge". I've tried it before in January of this year & failed miserably. I plan to be stronger this time. I think just looking at the number 100 makes it a huge thing. I plan to divide into 10 day increments so it looks doable. Afterall, 10 days is just a bit more than a week.  Surely I can reign in my inner shopping demon for a week. Plus it's not like I'm depriving myself of anything.  I'm just doing this to use stuff before it goes bad & make myself more accountable. Okay the rules first

Organize my stuff - I used to have an excel sheet with all my skincare products along with their expiry dates. Time to start again

Use makeup every time I go out- As a not so new mommy, time is at a premium. I want to spare 5 minutes before any outing to slap on the war paint.

Paint my nails- I have a huge pile of nail paints & I recently bought 24 glitter ones (I know, I know).

Purge- Get rid of old cream based products- cream blushes and lipgloss

Stop saving my special occasion makeup- Every day that I'm alive and healthy is a special occasion.  Whatever possessed me to "save" makeup?!!

Anyone want to join me on the challenge? Comment below. Stay strong people

Biotique Bio Dandelion Ageless Lightening Serum Review

Ever since I hit 30's only anti-aging stuff seems to be catching my eye. The latest one I've tried is Biotique Bio Dandelion Ageless Lightening Serum (insert obligatory long name comment). I've been using this twice a day for the past 8 weeks & my bottle's almost empty. Time is ripe for a review.

Biotique serum comes in a miniature sized version of the regular Biotique bottles housed in a cardboard box. The bottle has a stopper with a small hole to control the amount of product. All the necessary information is printed on the outer box as well as on the bottle label. The bottle fits in the palm of your hand.

M.R.P 199 INR for 40 ml

The serum is white coloured and ultra light weightweight. It simply melts into your skin. A little goes a long way- you only need about 3 drops for your face and neck. Also it has a lovely herbal type smell which I love. It suits my oily skin perfectly. I'm using it both as a night cream as well as day cream. I simply layer on sunscreen if I'm going out. Most night creams break me out but this serum didn't. After 8 weeks my skin texture seems to have improved quite a bit. My skin is brighter and my acne marks have faded. My dry patches are also gone. My frown lines have not reduced, I suppose that will take more time.

Yays

Lovely scent

Super light weight,  literally sinks into my skin.

Skin appears better than before- improved texture, acne marks faded, dry patches gone

Does not break me out

Nays

My biggest peeve is the bottle itself. It is not the most user friendly design & I had to keep it upside down to make using easier.  Also the last centimetre or so of product refuses to come out no matter how much you squeeze. Finally in desperation I pulled out the stopper thingy with a scissor.

At almost 200 bucks for just 40 ml (35 ml in newer bottles) of product, it's not the cheapest. But it lasts 2 months even with regular use. Also it's available cheaper online.

With such stellar results, I say go for it. I'm super happy that at least some products stay true to their claims.

Vaadi Herbals Lavender Anti-aging Spa Facial Kit Review

Since I've entered my 30's I've stepped up my skin care regime. One of the things I'm doing is a fortnightly at home facial. I'm simply loving these ready facial kits available in the market. Vaadi Herbals Lavender Anti-aging Spa Facial Kit is the latest one I've tried. It comes with 4 cute pots housed in a cardboard box. All the necessary information is printed on the outer cover.  Initially I had thought that it would last me for 4 usages but such less quantity is required that I think it will last more.

1. Lavender Anti-aging Cleansing Cream-  This is a really thick lavender coloured cream. I had some difficulty spreading this over my face given the thickness of the cream. I used a little rose water to give it some slip. After massaging for a while, I removed it with cotton.

2. Lavender Anti-aging Face Scrub-  This is a creamy scrub with tightly packed exfoliating beads. I spread this onto my face and scrubbed for some time. It does the job well. My skin felt really soft.

3. Lavender Anti-aging Massage Cream- This is again a thick lavender coloured cream, thicker than the cleansing cream. I took a bit and started massaging my face. After a while it actually sank into my skin. My face felt smooth and moisturized from within. I had not expected this - I had thought the cream would just sit on my skin.  Needless to say this is my favorite product from the kit.

4. Lavender Anti-aging Face Pack-  This is a smooth pack in a slightly dirty lavender shade. I applied it and waited for 15 minutes. There was slight tingling at the sides of my nose but it disappeared in minutes. The pack did not dry even after 20 minutes and I removed it eventually. 

The whole facial process was very relaxing because of the superb lavender fragrance but I didn't notice any glow or anything. Infact it make my skin look really dull although my skin felt very soft.

The big question-to repurchase or not? The scent is to die for but it doesn't do anything for my skin. If I'm investing my time and money,  it should have atleast a little return. My regular Nature's Essence facial kits work much better. So, not withstanding the fabulous scent , I have to pass on this. No repurchase. Maybe I'll purchase the individually available massage cream separately. Cheers

Books This Week 3

Another week flew by & it's time for mini reviews of the books I've read. Here we go

1. Scion of Ikshvaku-  Amish Tripathi 3/5

I normally love mythological books especially if the author has done a good job of interpreting the story. This one I didn't particularly like. Its good but not great.

2. Age Erase- Dr Rashmi Shetty 4/5

This is like a beginners guide to cosmetic procedures.  The author takes you through all the procedures available. The best part of the book for me though, was when she suggested how you can use the same cream in different ways- as is as cleanser, mixed with little sugar as scrub, layered on as a face mask, mixed with calamine as sunscreen,  mixed with essential oils as night cream, mixed with little water to hydrate the face & even as under eye cream and lip balm. We are so used to seeing different products being sold for different body parts that this seems like a radical idea.  I love the fact that she doesn't use "Use this high end cream or your skin is done for" tone that many others do. Also she suggests a very simple skin care regime, nothing complicated with various lotions etc.

3. Coconut Oil for Health & Beauty- Simone McGrath 2/5

As a self respecting South Indian, I love using coconut oil to oil my hair & even as a body moisturizer.  But this author takes things tad too far- she claims just about any medical condition will improve, atleast partly by including coconut oil in our diets. It seems too far fetched. Also there are a ton of recipes at the end of the book including coconut oil smoothie. Ew, I mean, just ew. A spoonful every other day might be beneficial but the dosage recommended is just too much. ODing on  something good can't be good in the long run. Moderation is key to good health.

That's all for now. Have you read any new books?

July Empties 2015

Another month has gone by which means it's time for another empties post. I'm eternally grateful to whoever came up with this idea. It's helping me keep track of my purchases as well as getting rid of those things nearing expiry. Let's begin

Meera Herbal Hairwash Powder INR 50 for 80 gm

This had a lot of herbal and ayurvedic stuff written on it which made me grab it without a second thought. It did cool down my head initially but with time the cooling ability seemed to lessen. Also it left my hair like straw despite oiling before bath- all dry and tangled up. It lathers like crazy which makes me question the whole herbal thing. Never again. Stay away from this one.

Medicare Anti Lice Treatment Shampoo INR 45 for 50 ml

I picked up lice from a school going cousin a while back. It was a nightmare getting rid of them- they multiply like crazy. This shampoo helped a great deal. Hopefully will never have to repurchase again.

Himalaya Herbals Oil Control Lemon Foaming Face Wash INR 65 for 50 ml

I've been trying to go soap free from a few months. I use face wash only at night so I can clean my face well before sleeping. Rest of the time I use powdered oatmeal or besan. So its a big deal when I finish a bottle of face wash. This one has a weird smell which I didn't like but it cleans out all the oil from the face. Repurchase?  Nah

Nivea Total Face Cleanup INR 99 for 50 ml

I loved this one initially but started hating it when I was midway through the tube. There was a burning sensation on my cheeks and the sides of my nose every time I used it. Also I'm not happy with the ultra mild exfoliation it provides. Not buying again.

Vivel Summer Fair INR 50 for 25 gm

This is the second and final tube of Vivel cream I bought a while back. I know its marketed as a summer cream-which I think means light moisturizer- but this one does not even moisturize. Glad to see it gone. Not buying again.

Garnier Skin Naturals Daily Moisturizer INR 10 for 7.5 gm

Once upon a time I used to have oily skin but since I hit 25 it's been steadily getting drier. I bought a small sachet just to test it. This cream didn't suit me earlier but now its just great. Will get the full sized one.

Maybelline lip balm in Mandarin INR 99

Such a pretty colour but a dud of a lip balm.

Vivel Kokum Butter Lip care (free with Vivel cream)

This is the first time when the free gift was better than the original product. Loved this, has a pleasant smell and softens lips.

Vaadi Herbals Luxurious Saffron Soap INR 38 for 75 gm

Lovely smell. This is the first time I used a 2 toned soap- half of it is orange coloured gel, the other half is a peach coloured regular soap. Love it.

Ayur Rose Satin Fairness Bleach INR 30 for 20 gm

I almost never bleach my face. I bought this to discolour a few stray hair on my face which are getting steadily thicker. Throwing away almost the whole packet as it expired last month -used it just once

My Very Own Box- July

Hi everyone,  it's time for another box. I adore the scent of lavender & I love it in pretty much every product I use. Here's the the stuff I got for this month's box. I've gone slightly over my budget of 1000 INR but in my defense,  all these things were calling out to me. Oh! & the theme? La Lavender of course.

1. Aroma Treasures Lavender Essential Oil INR 147 for 10 ml

This was the first thing I got. Coconut oil has been really big from sometime & I'm planning on using it as a body moisturizer this winter. But I don't particularly like the smell of coconut oil. A few drops of this mixed with coconut oil will solve the problem.

2. Vaadi Herbals Aromatherapy Body Oil with Lavender INR 65 for 50 ml

So relaxing.  I use this at the end of the day & sleep like a baby.

3. Khadi Lavender Ylang Ylang Body Wash INR 220 for 210 ml

Love this. It claims to relieve sore muscles,  I like to use it at the end of the day. The scent is super relaxing too.

4. Vaadi Herbals Lavender Shampoo with Rosemary INR 59 for 110 ml

Yet to try.

5. Biocare Lavender Face Scrub with Chamomile INR 155 for 500 ml

OMG! One whiff & I was hooked. Love using this, skin is left super smooth.

6. Vaadi Herbals Lavender & Rosemary Spa Facial Kit INR 275  for 70 ml

Smells ah!mazing. Loved using this.

7. Yardley English Lavender Luxury Soap INR 50

8. Vaadi Herbals Heavenly Lavender Soap INR 108 for 3*75 gm

Love this.

9. Vedic Line Lavender Gloss Serum INR 200 for 100 ml

Yet to try

I think I have gone overboard on the whole lavender thing. On the plus side, my bathroom smells amazing.
Cheers

Books This Week 2

Hi, time for mini reviews of books again. These are the books I finished reading this week

1. We Were Liars- E Lockhart 5/5

Fabulous book. I love the way the author uses different adjectives to describe different characters.  Also I'm in awe of the way fairy tales are used to describe the protagonis's current situation.  Love! The suspense keeps you on you toes till the very end. I almost didn't want the book to end.

2. How To Get Dressed- Allison Freer 4/5

Useful book for anyone staring at the wardrobe thinking "I've got nothing to wear". The author is a Hollywood stylist who takes you through the entire process- right from segregating your wardrobe to arranging stuff so its easily accessible. The book is peppered with funny real life stories. She also teaches you to care for your clothes - decoding the washing instructions, actually washing,  how to get rid of stains & how dry cleaning is not actually necessary. I love how detailed it is. Definitely dipping back into this one.

3. Daddy Long Legs- Jean Webster 4/5

Super charming,  old world type story. The entire novel is made up of letters written by the protagonist over the course of a few years. I love how simple it is. I could guess the ending easily but  that didn't take away anything from the book. If you loved "Little Women", you'll love this too.

Cheers.

June 2015 Empties

Another month just flew by. Let's get on with the empties for June 2015

1. Vivel fairness cream INR 45
What a disaster!  Horrible cream for my oily skin. I'm not overly picky when it comes to creams- it should hydrate without being greasy & should not break me out. But this one lets me down on all fronts. Skin feels stretchy after applying this(can't even imagine this on dry skinned girls). Broke me out as well. Can't believe I was foolish enough to buy 2 tubes. Obviously not repurchasing.

2. Himalaya lip balm INR 75
Quite nice. I love using this under lipstick.  It's not overly greasy. Will buy once I finish my considerable stash.

3. Lotus Orange lip balm INR 125
My HG overnight lip balm. Bought one in every variant on a BOGO offer. Still have a couple more to finish. Buying again? Of course.

4. Sure anti perspirant INR 75
The one and only affordable, alcohol-free, roll-on available in India. Had a mild smell which does not interfere with the perfume I wear. Will continue buying until there is another option.

5. Palmolive Crushed Coconut Body Wash INR 145
Love the scent of this one but it doesn't really go with summer. Now that winter is here in my city,  I used up the last remaining bit. Definitely buying again- both this and the blue one as well.

6. Patanjali body lotion INR 65
Why on earth did I buy this? Smells like super strong jasmine agarbatti which is a pity cause it has everything going for it - hydrates well, is non greasy. Bah! Why do you have to add horrible fragrance to a good product and desyroy it completely? Never again.

7. Vaadi herbals cold cream INR 75
What does a oily skinned girl do with a cold cream? Use it as a hand and foot cream of course. This has a very old world smell. Maybe not buying again.

Now on to the decluttering makeup part

1. Lakme lip palette INR 600
I loved this when I first bought it and used it a lot. Since then I discovered "Coral" and didn't want to use any other colour. I found this at the back of my closet with some kind of fungus growing on it. Ew! Into the bin.

2. Maybelline moisture extreme lipstick in Misty Mauve
Absolutely loved this one. It was also my first Maybelline lipstick. What a long way we've come! It's still in good condition- smells good, applies smoothly. I'm only throwing it away cause its atleast 5 years old.

3. Colorbar velvet matte lipstick in Smokey Rose
This was a free gift with purchase many moons ago. This one's in good condition too. Throwing it away for the same reason- it's almost 6 years old.

4. Davis lip liners in nude, pink and burgandy INR 20 each
Very ancient + I don't line my lips all the time

5. Davis eyeliner in grey and teal INR 20 each
Expired, has become very hard

6. Tips and toes eye liner in plum and green
Plum one hardly shows up on the eyes. Green one is super hard.
Getting rid of all this will hopefully give me more space for the things I do love.

Until next time.

Books I've read this week

These are the books I've read this week

10 Secrets to growing black hair long & fast- C Collins

The book starts with regular stuff like drink water, exercise, use less heat etc. What I am intrigued by is the inversion method suggested. She says to massage your head with oil while bending over- like you are trying to touch your feet- for precisely 4 minutes for 7 days continuously & then a break for 3 weeks. The author claims that following the inversion method will increase hair length by 1/2 to 1 inch in 1 week.  I'm very tempted to try.

Another thing suggested is sealing the hair to retain moisture by LOC method       (Liquid-Oil-Cream ) method. This is done by spraying hair with water, coating ends of hair with oil & finally applying a hair cream. Put your hair up in a bun or so after this to reduce contact with natural elements or even hair brushing against your clothes. This must be done once a week.

Sleeping on a satin pilow case. I've always wanted to try this to avoid frizzy hair and tangling,  but now I've found a way- a satin scarf. Drape the scarf on your regular pillow case and ta- da.

200 tips, techniques & recipes for natural beauty- Shannon Buck

Absolutely loved this one. There are plenty of recipes in every section & is extremely detailed. I like how she takes you through the entire process of making your own cosmetics; right from sourcing to mixing to storing. Worth every penny.  Must have book for everyone trying to start making their own.

P.S : If you don't want to invest in the book head over to her blog FreshPickedBeauty.com

Gone Girl- Gillian Flynn

OMG! I haven't loved a book this much in a long time. Many, many twists & characters that surprise you & themselves. Didn't like the ending but whoa! the rest of the book is a roller coaster ride. Try this.

My Very Own Box- June 2015

I don't particularly get the idea of these beauty boxes. You know the ones I am talking about- you pay a sum & someone, somewhere decides randomly what you might like & sends it to you. What are the odds of you liking what you get? Isn't it better to buy stuff yourself without getting the mandatory pouch. What the hell do you do with so many pouches anyway? So I decided to buy stuff for myself every month; & just because we are so big on themes, I'll have a theme for them as well. This month's theme : All Natural. Also, the products have to amount to less than 1000. I'm calling it "My Very Own Box". Here's the stuff I got this month

1. Khadi Sandal Massage Oil INR 135 - Love this. It has a subtle scent which lingers for a couple of hours. I'm using it as a body oil. Not overly moisturizing not sticky either

2. Khadi Neem Basil Massage gel INR 162 - This is just glorified aloe vera gel but I quite like it. Non sticky, it moisturizers my oily skin well. Plus I love the scent.

3. Khadi Chocolate Body Butter INR 126 - Super yummy scent. I'm using it as a hand cream for my really dry hands. LOVE

4. Khadi Nagchampa Bath Salt INR 270 - Ugh! This was hate at first whiff. It smells like a really strong agarbatti. Haven't gotten around to using this.

I'm quite happy with this experiment. Hoping to create a lot more "boxes" for myself. Cheers.

May 2015 Empties

I wanted to start an empties post from the longest time. I tend to hoard products, so many times, stuff would expire before I even remembered that I had it. Without further ado, here goes

1. Patanjali Kesh Kanti Milk Protein Shampoo INR 95 - Just a basic shampoo. Didn't do anything for my hair, neither good nor bad. Not repurchasing.

2. Baidyanath Mahabhringaraj Hair Oil INR 220 - This one's a star. Helped a lot with my bald patches. Will definitely buy again once I finish my stash.

3. Himalaya Gentle Exfoliating Face Wash INR 110 - This was just awful for my skin. It showed no signs of gefting over, I was actually planning on calling it Harry Potter- the face wash that lived. Finally finished it by using as body wash. Never again.

4. Himalaya Neem Foaming Face Wash INR 75 - Loved this. The convenient packaging adds to the charm. Repurchase.

5. Ayur Rose Water INR 25 - Run of the mill stuff. Nothing exciting. Going back to Patanjali rose water.

6. Vaadi Herbals Exotic Kiwi soap INR 35 - Love the smell + it cleans really well without drying. Definite repurchase.

7. Yardley Red Roses Soap INR 58 - The scent is nice, rose mixed with a little ginger but nothing great. Not buying again.

8. Nivea Happy Time Body Lotion INR 175 - Love the scent, texture everything. Repurchasing.

9. Boro Plus Body Lotion INR 45 - This was lurking somewhere at the back of my wardrobe. Moisturises really well but I don't really care for the scent. Not a repeat purchase.

That's it for May. See you all next month.