Vichy Aqualia Thermal Night Spa

The Brand: Vichy Laboratoires is the number 1 skincare brand in European pharmacies. All Vichy products are hypoallergenic, formulated & tested on sensitive skin & combine soothing Vichy Thermal Spa Water with the latest innovations stemming from dermatological research. Vichy Thermal Spa Water from the hot springs of the town of Vichy, France, soothes sensitive skin & reinforces the skin's natural protection.

What Vichy Claims: Inspired by the Vichy Thermal Spa, this ultra-comfortable, velvety sleep mask infuses the skin with hydration overnight, when skin is most receptive to treatments. Skin is soft, smooth and supple by morning.

The Low Down on Sleep Masks: Overnight sleeping masks aren't a new trend. They're prevalent in Korean skincare and have been adopted internationally since (like the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask). As the name suggests, you slather on the mask and let it work its charm while you get a good night's sleep without bothering about getting the mask on your pillow, because these are formulated to stick to your skin and renew it.

Packaging: It comes in a blue glass jar (which is kinda heavy by the way) with a white plastic screw on lid and looks pretty sophisticated.

Scent & Texture: Personally I love the smell of Vichy products and this was no exception. It has a mild floral smell which is not too overpowering. The cream itself is bluish in colour and has a dense gel like consistency but goes on transparent on the skin.

How to Use: Now this can be used as a night cream, an intensive treatment or as a sleeping mask.
When using as a night cream, take a tiny amount of the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Night Spa, rub onto your neck and skin.
If you're using it as a sleeping mask, then apply a thin layer and let it get absorbed for a few minutes before you sleep.
For an intensive treatment, apply a thick layer of the cream onto the face and neck, let it sit for 10-15 minutes and wipe off the excess. Or what I like to do instead of wiping the stuff off is to get a detoxifying face massage with the leftover cream till it's absorbed.

Ingredients List: Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Carpric Triglyceride, Squalene, Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltauramide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol among others.

My Experience: If I find a brand that works for my sensitive combination skin, i stick to it. Here in comes my love for Vichy. Their formulations are aimed specifically at sensitive skin, are mild concoctions and do not break me out, yet always give me desired results. The Aqualia Thermal Night Spa was no exception. I use it as a night cream and as a sleeping mask when I need that excess dose of hydration. It has been a boon specially during these dry winter months.

Pros:

• It is Paraben-free. 
• Formulated with Hyaluronic acid known to replenish the hydration levels of skin.
• It gets easily absorbed into skin.
• Scent is mild and does not irritate the nose.
• Did not cause breakouts on sensitive skin.
• Replenishes, smoothens and re-plumps skin overall (based on 4 weeks of usage), gives visibly hydrated smooth skin the next morning.

Cons: Tub packaging. Nothing else I can think of!

Price: INR 1690/- only

Availability: Available in India on Nykaa.com and Amazon.in

Final Verdict: I would rate it a solid 5/5. If you have dry skin and craving hydration, go buy this baby, you won't regret it! :)

Za Skincare Total Hydration Range

About the company: The Za skincare range is all the rage in Japan and was introduced in India by Shiseido a couple of years ago.

Here's what the company's website had to say:

 Za is a total beauty brand supporting Next Asian Generation by offering various beauty solutions - skincare, makeup and Men’s grooming product. It is currently launched in 14 countries in Asia, such as Japan, China, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, etc. Za products are developed to realise the fast and reliable product performances despite its simple step.

P.S. However due to lower sales apparently they will discontinue the skincare line by the end of 2015. :(

Za has introduced three ranges in India - Za Perfect Solution for mature skin, Za True White for healthy skin whitening and Za Total Hydration for its younger audience. 

Za Total Hydration Range is aimed for people in their 20s. It is enriched with Hyaluronic acid as one of the main ingredients which helps maintain supple and youthful skin.

What the Range Promises: Resolves dryness and stickiness. For resilient skin with less visible pores. Full of the moisture and ingredients that the skin needs. Results in smooth skin that glows from within.


Packaging: The cute pink bottles with ergonomic design are a wonder to behold. And I am not exaggerating. When it comes to cute packaging, Japanese skincare brands can do no wrong. The bottles are sleek and easy to carry, the caps fit snugly and they are travel friendly if you don't mind lugging over 100ml of products.
                                

I got my hands on 3 products from their Total Hydration Range:

1. Fresh Lucent Toner
2. Milky Moisturizer
3. Hydration Mist

Read on to find out how they fared for my sensitive combination skin type.

• Za Total Hydration Fresh Lucent Toner: Instantly hydrates skin to impart a look of healthy radiance and a vibrant glow.

How to Use: Smooth an appropriate amount (1.5ml) over the entire face with hand after cleansing. When using a cotton pad, smooth over gently from the center of the face outwards. (I personally use the cotton pad method)

Ingredients List:

My Experience: It is a clear, watery liquid with very mild fragrance which does not persist on the face. The back lists alcohol as one of the ingredients, but there is no stinging (this is coming from a person with very sensitive skin) sensation or smell of alcohol. It is quite soothing and does live up to its claim of giving you supple, hydrated and clean skin.

Price: Rs. 549 for 175ml

• Za Total Hydration Milky Moisturizer: Minimises greasiness and gives the skin a smooth-textured vibrant glow.

How to Use: Smooth an appropriate amount (1.0ml) over face with hand after toner or lotion from the center of the face outwards.

Ingredients List:

My Experience: It is of a lightweight, runny and milky consistency that gets absorbed into the skin easily and keeps it supple and hydrated while imparting a dewy glow. However, I found it to be inadequate in winters on its own. It is a wonderful moisturizer for those sultry Indian summers. A little goes a long way with this moisturier. It spreads easily but if you go overboard with it the skin tends to feel sticky. It works as a good skin primer prior to application of BB or CC creams. Due to its light, watery consistency it would suit a lot of different skin types.

Price: Rs. 599 for 150ml

• Za Total Hydration Energy Mist: Instantly restores dryness and other daytime hazards and makes skin smooth and radiant.

How to Use: Hold 15cm away from the face and spray a few times to apply an appropriate amount over the entire face, and smooth it out with the palm of the hand. It can also be used over makeup.

Ingredients List:

My Experience: Ideal for summers, this is a light weight water based spray that comes with a built in nozzle to disperse the liquid evenly on the face. Do not expect it to work wonders. The energy mist hydrates the skin and makes it glow instantly. I feel like it's a fine suspension of water and moisturizer, since it does feel a little oily when you massage it into the skin but it leaves no oily residue, just soft dewy skin. However, it makes light coverage liquid foundation run streaky when used over makeup, so I would not recommend using it to set make up.

Price: Rs. 549 for 80ml

Overview of the Za Total Hydration Range:

Pros:

• None of these products have broken me out. Most skincare lines either break me out or leave my skin red and inflamed.
• They have a mild florally smell which does not irritate the nose.
• The range lives up to its claim of imparting dewy, radiant skin with regular use.
• It provides adequate hydration to the skin during summer months.
• All three products are refreshing on the skin and will suit different skin types as they are formulated for 'all skin types'

Cons:

• Does contain parabens.
• Pricey.

Final Verdict: Go for the Za Total Hydration range if you need hydrating care during mild asian climes. They work amazingly well for sensitive skinned beauties and can be used by different skin types.

Buy Za products online from Nykaa.com at http://www.nykaa.com/brands/za.html

REVIEW: MSM Box - A Lot in a Little

Launched on October, 2014, MSM Box is a fairly new competitor in the beauty subscription box market. MyStyleMile.com began as a beauty and fashion blog and have now ventured into the beauty box market with their two curated boxes: MSM Express and MSM Select box. 


Here's the blurb from their website:
"Simply put, MSMbox.com is a discovery e-commerce platform that offers consumers the opportunity to buy, try and enjoy beauty brands in the market.For a nominal subscription of either Rs 495/- for the MSM Express Box or Rs 995/- for the MSM Select Box, every month, you get a surprise goodie box containing beauty, grooming and lifestyle products from new and established beauty brands, and then some!For starters, the box contains full size products along with carefully curated samples. Besides that, to really delight the consumer, we don’t just take care of your beauty and grooming needs. We go the extra mile and offer something more through our collaborations and associations with leading salons/spas, cafe’s and shopping."

Pocket Pinch: Rs.495/- for the MSM Express Box or Rs.995/- for the MSM Select Box, every month.Get your box HERE.

Review: I had ordered the MSM Express Box and received it this week. Here are the contents that I received in my box.
The box itself is a cardboard one and came securely inside another brown cardboard box.


The card specifying the items contained/instructions:


Organica Tea:


Maybelline Color Show Mint Mojito Nail Polish:


Soultree Viola & Kokum Butter Lip Balm:


Soultree Turmeric & Indian Rose with Forest Honey Face Wash:

Soultree Apricot oil & Honey with Kokum Butter Moisturiser:


Innisfree Capsule Recipe Face Pack: This is about the only thing that I'm looking forward to using. 


Pros: Competitive pricing.
         Six full size and sample products (which is more than most beauty boxes offer).
         The box can be used for storage purposes.

Cons: Not in league with global subscription boxes.
          No mail with tracking links after shipping.

Overall, I didn't find the MSM Box very alluring compared to others in it's category. Most of the brands are available locally and doesn't wholly justify the price. I feel like the whole point of beauty subscription boxes is to try new brands that you wouldn't generally have gotten your hands on. Although the products contained in the box can be used daily and I find the concept of putting green tea (or food items in general) in a goodie box wonderful! Given the fact that MSM hasn't been in business a long time, I'm willing to give it another shot. :)

Beauty Box Subscriptions - Indian Edition

With the Beauty Box trend finally catching up here in India, as a beauty blogger I felt obliged to do a post on it so that beauty aficionados can discover (or get updated on) the variety of boxes and get on board the beauty box phenomenon. :)

To start with, here are some of the common queries people have,

So what is a beauty box?

A beauty box (or bag) is a subscription box full of sample sized/full sized deluxe beauty, skincare and lifestyle products delivered monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually to your doorstep in exchange for a minimal price.

Why should I subscribe to one(or all) of these boxes?

If you've always wanted to try out a sample of a deluxe beauty product or perfume with a heavy price tag before investing in it then beauty boxes are for you! Periodically you get to experience a variety of brands (both local and global, but mostly global) that you've always wanted to try (or have never heard of, but fall in love with them after you've tried samples) for a minimal price.

Can I choose the products I get in my box?

Different companies have different policies on this matter. But most beauty box companies based in India don't offer you to choose the samples. However, they do provide you with a beauty profile form and have Experts analyse it. So you're sure to get products customised to your needs and beauty profile. Plus it's more fun to be surprised by the products in your box, ain't it?! ;)

• The low-down on Beauty Boxes in India :

The beauty box trend started with blisscovered.com and a glossybox india promising deluxe samples in their beauty subscription boxes. The Indian edition of the globally acclaimed GlossyBox never saw the light of day while blisscovered discontinued their boxes after a single run! It was the indigenous Vellvette team who successfully introduced the indian masses to beauty boxes and continue fulfilling our subscription box dreams under a different name - The Fab Bag!

• List of Beauty Box Subscriptions in India :

Now-a-days we have Fabbag, My Envy Box, BeautyWish box and MSM box- a new addition, to choose from with countless others following suit. It's enough to boggle anyone's mind!
Here's a definitive list of the various beauty subscription boxes in the Indian market to help you choose the one to your liking and needs:

1. The Fabbag (formerly known as Vellvette box): is the longest running beauty box subscription and offers monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual subscription schemes. They provide three or more sample and full-sized products from both local and renowned global brands in a nifty bag. Personally I love the bags in which the products come, they are spacious and can be re-used for a number of purposes (make up bags being one of them). Pocket Pinch: as low as Rs.399!Personal Experience: haven't had a bad one yet!
   Find your Fabbag HERE.
                 
   
2. My Envy Box: also comes with a monthly, 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year subscription scheme and a price tag of Rs.850 for their 1 month subscription box and is the closest one can get to an international beauty box. Envy Box usually supplies 5 trial sized deluxe samples from global brands like Clarins, Avene, L'occitane, Eminence Organics, H2O, etc. They even give you perfume samples and vouchers- ranging from makeover to discounts. It all comes in a beautiful box with magnetic closure. What's more is that they donate 1% of the subscription revenue to the Elle Breast Cancer Campaign and now you can join in and do your bit.Pocket Pinch: Rs. 850 for 1-month subscription!
   Personal Experience: I loved my pastel orange box.Get your EnvyBox HERE.
                             
3. BeautyWish Box: is a subscription box from The Nature's Co. and comes with 5 deluxe sized and 1 retail pack size beauty samples and delightful freebies at a price of Rs.595 per box. They have 1-month, 3-months, half-yearly and annual subscription schemes and you get all of The Nature's Co.'s products to try out before buying along with discount vouchers and store event invites. The Nature's Co. is a PETA certified Vegan and cruelty-free Indian brand who come out with wonderful bath and skincare products with all natural ingredients.Pocket Pinch: Rs.595 per month.Get your fix of vegan beauty HERE.
                
   
4. MSM Box: launched on October, 2014 is a fairly new competitor in the beauty subscription box market. I've subscribed to their January'15 Express box and am waiting for it, I'll be sure to review it for you guys as soon as I get my hands on it! MyStyleMile.com began as a beauty and fashion blog and have now ventured into the beauty box market with their two curated boxes: MSM Express and MSM Select box. Here's what their website had to say about the MSM Box."Simply put, MSMbox.com is a discovery e-commerce platform that offers consumers the opportunity to buy, try and enjoy beauty brands in the market.For a nominal subscription of either Rs 495/- for the MSM Express Box or Rs 995/- for the MSM Select Box, every month, you get a surprise goodie box containing beauty, grooming and lifestyle products from new and established beauty brands, and then some!For starters, the box contains full size products along with carefully curated samples. Besides that, to really delight the consumer, we don’t just take care of your beauty and grooming needs. We go the extra mile and offer something more through our collaborations and associations with leading salons/spas, cafe’s and shopping."Pocket Pinch: Rs.495/- for the MSM Express Box or Rs.995/- for the MSM Select Box, every month.Get your box HERE.
   

This post will be updated as newer and authentic beauty subscription boxes crop up in the market. Keep an eye out! 

Till then,

Subscribe and Stay Beautiful :)

A Rant and a Review : Nail Polishes from Revlon and Rimmel

The rant: 

A few days back I received a parcel from a reputed Indian beauty site (read Nykaa.com) with a trio of nail polishes. While two of those polishes were intact, the bottle of the third one(and by far my favourite) was broken and the contents were oozing out of it. I contacted their customer care and they offered replacement or money back, I opted for the latter. Two mails later I still haven't heard a word from them!
Has anybody else come across such unfortunate circumstances while shopping at Nykaa? I'd like to know what my next steps should be and whether they worked for you!
Just to clarify, I have shopped before at Nykaa, and this is the first time I'm facing such a problem from their end. :(

Anyway I ended up buying the Rimmel Lycra Pro Professional Finish Nail Polish again from a local drugstore! The things I do for pretty nails! *sigh*
Now to the review part. I got the Rimmel Lycra Pro Professional Finish Nail Polish in shade Beige Style(365) and Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel in the shade Fall Mood. (pictures below)

• Rimmel Lycra Pro Professional Finish Nail polish lives up to its name, in the sense that it truly gives a professional clean cuticle finish. That's right no clean up is required afterwords (and I, my friends, am a clumsy, clumsy person when it comes to nail polishes!). It has something to do with the brush I believe. It's a maxi brush and thicker and stubbier than the Sally Hansen ones. It coats the nail in one stroke and is an amazing life-saving little equipment! I am so keeping this brush, it paints like a dream. The drying time is also less compared to the Maybelline Color Show polishes.

The Colour & Formula: Beige style is a classic nude colour and goes with every outfit you can think of. It looks more posh and expensive than it costs. It gives a sheer colour in one coat and goes opaque in two coats.

(picture taken at the 9th day mark)

The Staying Power: Rimmel claims that it stays for upto 10 days. While I like to switch up my nail polish every few days (or keep my nails unpolished to let them breathe, it's important ladies!), I kept this one on for 10 whole days for testing purposes. Now it does stay on for 10 days with minor chipping at the top edges of the nail. But since every polish does that on my nails, I can't exactly tell you whether it's the polish or simply my wayward nails. The shine does go away within a couple of days though.

The Verdict: Priced decently at Rs. 255, it is worth every penny. The colour payoff, the staying power and the brush, especially the brush make it an amazing buy! I wholeheartedly recommend it.

The Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (for the dullness of nails after day 2)

• Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel in the shade Fall Mood is a beautiful holiday shade. It is a part of the new and revamped Colorstay Longwear nail polishes from the house of Revlon. And yet again, the brush, is the hero in this one as well! The handle of the brush is long and it helps to grasp the brush securely while painting the nails.

The Colour & Formula: It is a slightly holographic-y copper/rose-gold/bronze-y foil polish which looks different depending on the lights and the angle it is viewed in. It is a very beautiful shade and apt for the fall. With the holidays lined up, I can see why this particular shade is a hit among the masses. The formula of this polish is to die for. The tapering wide brush provides fluid motions, and the polish itself is a one coater. Whereas two coats definitely adds a subtle depth to the colour.
I did notice a bit of grittiness on my nails after about 2 days though, but it was nothing too concerning.

 

The Staying Power: According to Revlon website, the nail polish lasts for upto 11 days and provides gel-like shine. While I can vouch for the shine, however, unfortunately the staying power isn't that amazing. I should probably mention here that I tested out both the nail polishes without a top and a base coat, so I'm hoping that it'd last a tad longer with the base coat. The polish started chipping from the top and bottom edge after 6 days, one might argue that it is still pretty decent staying time.

The Verdict: The pocket pinch is Rs.350 in case you were wondering. I'd say the colour payoff and the colour itself is pretty darn good. However 350 bucks for a nail polish seems a bit too extravagant (for a student at least!). Do go for it during a Revlon sale, you wouldn't want to miss out on this colour. 

Buy Revlon Colorstay Nail Enamel, Fall Mood 20, from Amazon.in

The Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (only if it stayed a little longer without chipping)

Till next time, Stay Beautiful :)

Scribble your heart away…in Matrikas Stationery!

Voltaire famously said ‘Writing is the painting of the voice’. As much as we love blogging and keeping lists in our electronic devices there is something to be said about the solace derived from jotting down our thoughts and adventures on a sheet of paper. Personally I love to write, be it lists or random thoughts. 

Matrikas, a paper products company, has come up with a wide range of journals, diaries and notebooks to appease the Romantics and art nerds in us and they very kindly sent me four of their very best stationery items.

 As you can see, the spread is lavish and colourful. Let’s get on to the individual products…

MATRIKAS CUBE WORKS - RING BOOK (ruled pages)

Pages: 160
Price: Rs.110

Cube works is one of Matrikas flagship products and are available in all major stationery shops across India. The outer pink cover, engraved with intricate and a fun design, boasts of 160 pages and great paper quality. I’ve bought notebooks from their Cube Works range before and I’ve been going back to them ever since! :) This particular ring notebook I received has a sturdy spiral binding and flaunts one of my favourite colours, so I had to love it. These ring notebooks, with the signature cube works design cover, come in a variety of colours and sizes from what I’ve seen in different shops.

MATRIKAS 5 SUBJECT BOUND NOTEBOOK (ruled pages)

Pages: 400
Price: Rs.177

I instantly fell in love with the aesthetically pleasing traditional silver cover art on this 5-subject notebook. The paper quality is, as usual, very good. I wrote in it with a variety of ball point, gel and roller ball pens and sketch pens and they didn’t bleed or show up on the other side of the page. It has a basic black binding adding to its charm. There are coloured pages acting as dividers for different subjects. I love the fact that they are plain coloured pages because then it allows me to use them for writing or letting my own creativity shine through (read fun and colourful doodles :P )

MATRIKAS 6 SUBJECT BOUND NOTEBOOK (ruled pages)

Pages: 288

Price: Rs.277

Though similar to the 5 subject notebook in terms of look and feel, this one came in A4 size and is great for school purposes. It is a 6 subject notebook. There is a quirky print on the glossy cover which certainly catches the eye. The best part is there’s a mini game at the back of the notebook, so this one’s definitely coming to class with me! (Guess who is going flaunt a brand new notebook tomorrow? ;) )

MATRIKAS CUBE WORKS PRIVY DIARY (ruled pages)

Pages: 256
Price: Rs.450

I kept my favourite for the very end of the post. This one is ‘Privy’ diary/ournal from Matrika’s Cube Works Collection. It offers “complete solutions for office, academy and private” usage. Starting with a Personal Data page, it comprises of 4-5 index pages, pages for all your contacts and account summaries and ‘Action Plan’ pages. What’s more is that it has dedicated pages for all your To Do Lists :) 

The ruled pages for writing are of high quality and carry space for the date on the upper right corner. I believe these diaries come in various colours but I’m stoked about the colour I received, it is a very attractive moss green hue.
Now to the part that I love about this journal : Along with the black satin bookmark the Privy journal also has a elastic which holds the journal shut from prying eyes. The elastic is of good quality and robust. It also doubles up as a bookmark. 

PROS:
1. Stylish and trendy design
2. Good paper quality
3. Something for everyone
4. Moderately priced
5. Easy availability and shipping

CONS:
None!!

I’d be more than happy to ‘scribble my heart away’ in these beautiful notebooks and diary. I have an inherent love for stationery items and Matrikas has definitely quenched my thirst for pretty writing pads. All of you must get your hands on these amazing products, and trust me, there’s plenty to choose from!
So what are you waiting for? 

Till next time,
keep scribbling your heart away =)

Note: I was sent these 4 products by Matrikas in mail for reviewing as part of the "Scribble your heart away…." Campaign!. All opinions expressed are my own and are unbiased. I am in no way associated with the brand except as a consumer.

 If you need any clarification on any aspect of the products mentioned, feel free to ask in the comments section, and I’ll be sure to reply. Thank you.

Review: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV moisture SPF 50+ PA+++ With Helioplex

When it comes to the skin, the less product we use the better. That being said, a sunscreen is probably the most important part of our daily skin routine, whether you're slaving in the sun all day or have slight to moderate sun exposure on a said day. The hassle of using a moisturizer, waiting for that to dry, putting on a layer of sunscreen lotion and then waiting some more for that to be fully absorbed is pretty time consuming if you ask me. So when I saw the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV Moisturizer, I couldn't contain myself and bought it instantly. It's a two-in-one product as the name suggests, a moisturizer with SPF content. It's pretty much the IT thing for me, as I'm a college-goer and don't really put on make-up so I have to forego the make-up with SPF option. Also Neutrogena's products are aimed at sensitive skinned beauties so you can use it without the fear of ending up with itchy, flaky skin or acne. 

Do i need to go higher on the SPF content while choosing my sunscreen?

"Sun reaches the earth in the form of UVB and UVA rays.  UVB radiation plays a key role in skin cancer, and SPF refers mainly to the amount of UVB protection a sunscreen offers.  Thus, higher SPFs can help: An SPF 15 sunscreen blocks 93 percent of UVB radiation, while an SPF 30 sunscreen blocks nearly 97 percent.  Furthermore, higher SPF values offer some safety margin, since consumers generally do not apply enough sunscreen.  To evaluate SPFs, testers apply two milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin.  But in everyday life, most people apply from only 0.5 to one milligram per square centimeter of skin.  Consequently, the actual SPF they achieve is approximately 1/3 of the labeled value.

Despite these advantages, there are potential downsides to using products with very high SPFs.  First, above SPF 50 (which blocks an estimated 98 percent of UVB rays), the increase in UVB protection is minimal.  Second, although UVA protection is also important (UVA not only accelerates skin aging, but contributes to and may even initiate skin cancers), SPFs mainly measure UVB protection.  Individuals applying high-SPF sunscreens may not burn (UVB is the chief cause of sunburn), but without UVA-screening ingredients they can still receive large amounts of skin-damaging radiation. To avoid such a scenario, regulatory bodies in Europe and Australia have adopted UVA testing guidelines and measurement standards, and capped the SPF of sunscreens at 50+." - taken from skincancer.org/SPF

*My advice is go no lower than SPF 30 and no higher than SPF 50 for optimal protection from the sun's harmful rays.

Here's my experience with Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Complete UV moisture SPF 50+ PA+++ With Helioplex

What Neutrogena claims about their Ultra Sheer Complete UV Moisturizer:

Provides complete and long lasting protection against UVA/UVB rays and environmental aggressors. Stabilized with patented Helioplex™ that works like an invisible shield to give you superior protection from skin darkening and signs of premature aging. In a moisturizing formula that protects against dehydration, yet is oil-free and non-greasy. With Dry Touch Technology, it spreads on smoothly to a clean and non-shiny finish.
Dermatologist tested. PABA-free, oil-free, does not clog pores.

Ingredients:

Ethylhexyl Salicylate 5%, Octocrylene 4%, Benzophenone-3 5%, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane 3%, Homosalate 10%.

Water, Homosalate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Alcohol Denat, Cetyl Dimethicone, Octocrylene, Silica, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dimethicone, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer,  Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer,  Steareth-100,  Cyclopentasiloxane,  Trisiloxane,  Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Steareth-2, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Neopentyl Glycol Bisabolol, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Fragrance, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Mannan, Xanthan Gum, BHT, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pantothenic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate.

Price: INR 399/ P460
Quantity: 30 ml
Shelf Life: 2 years

Recommended usage: Apply liberally to face and neck 15-30 minutes before sun exposure. For added protection re-apply after swimming, excessive perspiration, towel drying or extended sun exposure.
Use as the end step of daily skincare routine.

product swatched on hand - after(left), before(right) 

What I love about this moisturizing sunscreen :

• True to its word, it fares well in the moisturizing department. My skin is dry and this doesn't make it drier (although it contains alcohol) but makes my skin soft and supple.
• Best thing about this sunscreen is that it's non-greasy! Finally something that doesn't produce icky grease on face.
• It gives a matte finisha nd keeps oils at bay for most part of the day. 
• Doesn't leave a whitish cast like most sunscreen lotions
• Contains Avobenzone and Oxybenzone and thus offering a broad spectrum coverage.
• Mildly scented (it's not an offensive smell; bearable.) 
• Non-comedogenic; doesn't clog pores.

What I don't like about it:

• I sweat a lot and have to reapply it every 4 hours but that's really not a con.
• Might seem a tad pricey.

I couldn't help but compare it to the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock with SPF 50+ PA+++ with Helioplex.

Although both of them offer the same amount of SPF, I found the Complete UV moisturizer to be better for my dry, sensitive skin. The dry-touch sunblock does make skin greasy in summers and leaves a mild whitish cast on skin. But the complete UV moisturizer doesn't suffer from any of those problems.

Would I suggest it?

I have come to love this product and with summer approaching fast I would definitely suggest it. I've found my HG sunscreen. Have you? I would love to know what products you use to stay safe from the sun! 

Stay beautiful, stay protected! :)

Review: Votre Moisture Magnet Cream

 About The Company: "Votre is a premium skin care brand. All Votre skin care products are hypo-allergenic and non-comedogenic. They are dermatologically and clinically tested for safety and efficiency." It says on the tub that it's an Ayurvedic product marketed by Trumount Cosmoceuticals (you can get further information at www.trumount.com)Price: INR 340.00 for 200gmShelf Life: 2 and a half years
What It Claims: Votre Moisture Magnet Cream is a unique formula to give pigmented and dry skin it's water supplement. Herbs like Crocus sativus along with almond oil moisturizes and works on melanin targeted areas for clear skin. (To be followed after scrubbing with Votre Dermabrade Scrub) Key Ingredients: Crocus sativus - or saffron (kesar) gives radiant and fairer skin and is widely popular even today as a key ingredient in many ayurvedic concoctions apart from various fairness creams. The little known antifungal property of saffron makes it effective for treatment of blemishes, acne scars, dry and dull skin, and imparts bright luminous complexion.Almond Oil - We all know how almond oil is a great massaging option if you want to opt for a non-greasy oil and it moisturises the skin effectively. But little did we know that almond oil is an excellent emollient (it gets absorbed easily into skin thus preserving tthe moisture content of skin) with anti-inflammatory properties and also helps in lightening pigmented skin. What's more, it also contains vitamins that help it delay the appearance of wrinkles. Talk about win-win!Aloe Vera Juice - Aloe vera is a wonder product, you'll be hard put to find a single disadvantage of using aloe vera gel/juice in your daily health regime be it for your skin or for your stomach ;-)
It is high in vitamins, fatty acids and contains all 8 of the essential amino acids so basically you cannot go wrong with it! Aloe vera moisturizes, hydrates, rejuvinates, de-pigments, soothes irritated skin. When applied topically it helps soothe burns, wounds and even insect bites!


Directions For Use: Take approximately 10 gm of the cream and massage thoroughly all over the scrubbed area. My Skin Type: Combination dry skinMy Take On The Product : With winter approaching fast my skin has already started shedding (yep you read that right, it becomes so dry during these balmy months that it literally sheds! and I'm in my 20's too...whoever said tween skin is to die for surely didn't have to combat extreme dryness)
and so in a bid to save and salve my skin I resorted to this moisture magnet massage cream. Frankly, I got lured by the phrase "moisture magnet", for someone with my skin's disposition its a boon to find a cream that hydrates effectively. And wholla! this cream did its job and how! :D
Usually Nivea is my go-to winter cream but it tends to make the skin greasy after a while and that attracts more dirt, but the Votre Moisture Magnet skin cream goes on lightly and gets fully absorbed without making the skin oily. Its a moderately light cream,white in color with a lovely floral smell which tends to linger (its nothing overpowering though). The texture is watery yet its thick enough to hold its shape in the tub. It lives upto it's claim of hydrating the skin for upto 5-6 hours, then you'd have to re-apply. I use it as a massaging cream after scrubbing at night and it certainly did soften the skin with regular use. You can even wear it during the day beneath your makeup (infact it serves as a good moisturizing base).
Now for the not-so-good part, it comes in a tub packaging with a plastic lid that doesn't fully close and you need to pressurize it into its place (I don't know if only I have this issue with it). Personally I don't like tubs as you have to dip your hands into the contents and risk contaminating it, so I keep a clean dipping spoon handy to scoop out the cream. I cannot comment on the de-pigmenting property as I don't really have pigmented skin (as yet!). As for fairness, I don't believe any cream can possibly make you fairer but this cream certainly brightens the skin. The plus point, I have sensitive skin and it didn't break me out, so all you dry skinned beauties can give it a go.

 

Pros:
1. Light weight cream goes on smoothly

2. Gets absorbed quickly

3. Softens and brightens the skin

4. Does live up to its claims of hydrating and softening the skin

5. It has a lovely flowery smell which tends to linger but it's nothing overpowering

6. Provides good quantity for the price as a little amount goes a long way

7. The outer packaging is pretty professional looking with a sturdy tub pack material
Cons:

1. The tub packaging with a faulty plastic lid is unhygienic

2. Availability (Although it is available on all leading online shopping sites)

Do I Recommend It: Yep! All in all it's a very good massaging cream and you can definitely give it a try during the winter months as it suits all skin types. Complete with natural active ingredients I think its a good buy!
My Rating: 4/5