Four Things to Do for Your Skin Before Bed

Negligence and laziness are the two worst enemies of your skin. If you do not take care of your face, you are bound to end up with a dull complexion, pimple breakouts, blemishes and wrinkles.  

I have a very simple before-bed beauty regime for you guys. I am myself a very a lazy person and cannot get into the hassle of cleansing, toning and putting on face masks every day. So, all you have to do is follow these four easy steps every night and your pampered skin with glow every morning :).

1. Remove Make-up

Foundation, eye-shades, eye-liner, blush-on, face powder and even a moisturiser which you applied in the morning should be washed off before you go to bed. If you sleep with your make-up on, it will end up clogging your pores. This is how those ugly zits, blackheads and blemishes appear on your face overnight.

Moreover, some make-up products contain ingredients which are harsh for the skin. Do not keep your skin exposed to this stuff all night. So, even if you are wearing a thin liner, it needs to be taken off.

Simply washing with water will not help, specially for oil-based make-up products. At least in my experience I have never been able to take off my make up with water and face wash alone. Eye make-up is particularly hard to get rid of completely. So, you need a proper make-up remover. It is a product which is specially designed for this purpose and is not harsh on the skin.

Recommended: Nivea Visage Eye-Make Up Remover. You will find many other good removers in the market, but this is what I use and I am very happy with it. I know it is an "eye-make-up" remover, but I use it on the whole face. Being designed for the sensitive skin of the eyes, it is gentle on the rest of the face as well.

2. Wash!

Make-up or no make-up, you do need to wash your face every night before going to bed. Even after using a make-up remover, some make-up residues are still left which need to be washed off. Plus, you also need to get rid of the chemical-based remover. So, simply wash your face with your favourite face wash. I use the age-old clean & clear face wash. It is mild, gentle and removes grease and dirt really well.

If you sleep without washing your face, all the grease and dirt is going to clog your pores and bacteria will also accumulate on your skin. Result: pimple breakouts and blackheads.

3. Moisturise

A face moisturiser is a must every night after washing your face. If you do not moisturise, you are going to end up with wrinkles. Plus, your skin will also start developing dry patches.

While you moisturise your face, do not neglect your neck. A wrinkly neck never looks pretty.

Similarly, do not forget your lips and your hands. You need different products though. Face, neck and lips can be covered by your face moisturiser (yes I put on a face lotion on my lips as well), but it is too mild for the hands. You need a proper body lotion or cream for this purpose.

It is better to use a moisturiser which contains vitamin E. Check the ingredients of your product. If it contains anything called tocopherol, that means you are putting vitamin E on your face :). This vitamin is great for fighting the signs of early ageing, like wrinkles, dark spots etc.

Recommended: Olay's Night Firming Cream. This cream really makes your skin feel pampered and rejuvenated. It shows visible results within a few days.

4. Put on your Eye Cream

Even though you have moisturised your face, the sensitive skin around your eyes needs special care. In addition to preventing fine wrinkles around the eyes, an eye cream also deals with dark circles. It also prevents puffiness which we often wake up with in the morning due to late nights.

Recommended: Olay Age Defying Eye Gel. To find out more about the product, click here.

So here you go. Your entire beauty regime will be complete in ten minutes. This is all it will take to remove your make-up, wash, moisturise and put on an eye cream :). No hassle and no laziness at all.

Olay Age Defying Eye Gel Review

If you have crossed 25, it is time to stop taking your beauty for granted. Start taking care of your skin now before the damage becomes permanent.

Here is something we all need at any age above 20 - an eye cream. Get rid of (as well as Prevent) dark circles, eye bags and fine lines by providing your eyes with moisture, antioxidants and other ingredients which will stop or slow down the process of ageing.

Olay is my favorite brand as it delivers what it promises. "Olay Age Defying" is a new line of Olay's anti-aging skin care products. I have used the eye gel and have seen really amazing results :).

The Perfect Anti-Ageing Eye Cream by Olay

My opinion about the product is that it is WONDERFUL! :) The clear gel inside this tiny little bottle is really amazing. It is refreshing and revitalizing and gets you rid of puffiness just after the first use.

What the Product Promises

• Olay's anti-ageing eye gel prevents the appearance of fine wrinkles and diminished those fine lines which have already been formed. 
• Gets rid of puffiness.
• Reduces dark circles. 
• Prevents the formation of eye bags.

Olay Age Defying Eye Gel

What I Love about Olay Age Defying Eye Gel

• The gel is very light and non-greasy. It absorbs into the skin in an instant.
• It feels cool and refreshing when you apply it around the eyes.
• Your puffiness is gone just after the first use. 
• The delicate skin around your eyes feel well-moisturised (without oiliness), well-nourished and pampered.
• There is no overwhelming fragrance.
• Although the bottle is tiny, there is plenty of gel inside for at least 3 to 4 months of use. 

The Magic Ingredients

Here are the key ingredients which make this anti-ageing eye cream so wonderful.

• Green tea extract
• Vitamin B3
• Pro vitamin B5

The special combination of these three magic ingredients provide you with anti-oxidants and other nutrients important for cell-renewal and for fighting the free radicals which lead to ageing.

So this eye cream is highly, highly, highly recommended by me to all girls above 20 years. Olay has given us the perfect solution for late nights, prolonged exposure to computers and long hours of studying :). 

What do you think? Do let me know by commenting below :). 

Silk 'n Sleek - Smooth 'n Shine Polishing Serum for Hair

A couple of years back I was searching for a shine serum for my hair, but I never found one. If ever I did chance upon such a product, it used to be way too expensive. But today, thankfully, there are a number of shine serums on the market which are also comparatively affordable.

I chose Silk 'n Sleek which is a shine polisher as well as a heat protector. In other words, it protects your hair from heat when you use a straightener or blow dryer. At the same time, it gives your hair an intense shine after the heat treatment.

118 ml Bottle of Silk 'n Sleek Smooth 'n Shine Polishing Serum

Overview

Silk 'n Sleek is made in USA by Schwarzkopf & Henkel - a very famous name associated with hair products.  So, other than its affordability, this was one of the reasons why I did not hesitate buying this product.

The bottle in the picture contains 118 ml of the serum. It is a clear, viscous liquid which is easy to apply on the hair. The liquid comes out by pressing the cap open.

Press the cap open to pour the viscous liquid out

 Exotic Oils and Amino Acids

The bottle says that exotic oils and amino acids are the constituents of this serum. As your hair are naturally made of protein, these amino acids (constituents of proteins) will protect your hair from damage when you use heat frequently.

The exotic oils will condition your hair and will prevent them from getting brittle after use of straighteners, blow dryers and electric curlers.

How to Use

Use your fingertips to apply the liquid to your hair prior to heat treatment. It can be applied on wet or dry hair both. For hair which are too coarse or frizzy, you can also give a little touch after heat styling for a glossy and fine finish.

 My Own Experience

 I only used Silk 'n Sleek a couple of times as I did not get the results I wanted :(. Instead of looking shiny, my hair were left looking greasy.

Well, I should let you know first that my hair are naturally thin and straight. Maybe that's the reason why this serum made them greasy instead of glossy.

The product is only meant for coarse hair which are frizzy or curly. While my hair will be protected from heat damage, they will also become limp and oily. All those with my hair type (straight and thin) can still use Silk 'n Sleek to create a glamourous wet look.

Why You Should Buy Silk 'n Sleek

 Although I did not get the desired results for my hair type, I still suggest that you try the product yourself due to the following reasons.

• If you want a sleek look for your coarse, frizzy or curly hair, the serum is meant just for you.
• It is affordable and, therefore, worth giving a try.
• Silk 'n Sleek is a reliable product as it is made by a renowned company - Schwarzkopf & Henkel.
• The 118 ml bottle is small and handy. You can carry it in your bag while travelling for a vacation or to attend a wedding.
• Its a good product for creating a wet look.

Why Silk 'n Sleek is NOT Recommended

Yes, despite the above mentioned pros, I do not recommed the product due to the following reasons. It was just a waste of money for me :(... (Thank God it wasn't too expensive).

• Do not buy Silk 'n Sleek if you already have naturally straight and thin hair.
• The serum makes your hair look more greasy than glossy. Maybe coarse hair will look better (but I can't say that with surety).
• Your hands get too messy with the viscous liquid. The liquid is transferred to your dryer and straightener as well. So the whole process of styling gets messy. A serum which can be sprayed on your hair will be a better option.

You can give Silk 'n Sleek a try. While for me, the search for a shine and heat protecting serum still continues :).

Garnier BB Cream - is it a Beauty Miracle?

Garnier BB Cream - is it a Beauty Miracle?

Have you tried this popular cream yet? Well, calling it a cream is not appropriate. It is more like a fluid which acts as your moisturizer plus sunscreen plus foundation. The end result: A fairer looking complexion with a delightfully smoooooth skin. Yes, it definitely is a miracle which makes you look beautiful in just a few minutes.

Buttttt... wait a minute. It is not all that miraculous ;). You have to use a few tips and tricks to put it on properly. And you also have to select the right type for you - the thin tube or the fat little tube? 

Right when the product hit the market, I bought one for myself as I was attracted by what it promises. Plus it is also very affordable - just Rs. 399. So, I have been using it for quite some time and have assessed it quite well by now :).
This BB cream is an all-in-one beauty product and it acts as all of the following:

• a moisturizer
• a sunscreen
• a foundation
• a concealer

The product promises to brighten up your complexion and make your skin smooth in an instant. 

You will find two types of Garnier BB creams on the shelves. A thin tube and a smaller fat one. You can see them in this photo.

The two types of Garnier BB Creams on the Market

Both of them come with two shades of foundation: light and medium. I have used the light shade for both the creams. Here are the main differences between both.

The Thin Tube                                VS                            The  Fat Tube 

-Made in France                                                              - Made in Germany
-SPF 20                                                                          - SPF 15
-Comes with minerals                                                       -Comes with vitamin C
-Dries on the skin with a                                                   -Stays a little greasy
 matte effect
-Makes the complexion light                                             - Even the "Light" shade is a little dark
- Makes pores looks small                                                - Does not have any visible effect on pore
  and hides blemishes                                                           size or blemishes

So, here are my opinions. The thin tube is better if you want a lighter complexion and a matte effect. Plus, it also hides small marks and blemishes well in an instant. On the other hand, the cream in the fat tube remains a little greasy on your skin. It does not mask any spots and blemishes either. However, it moisturizes your skin better as compared to the thin tube which keeps your skin feeling dry.

Which Tube to Pick?

In a nutshell, the thin tube gives you a much better foundation and concealer while the fat tube gives you a better moisturizer. Which one are you looking for? You can find better moisturizers on the market, but an affordable instant concealer in this thin tube is a much better option.

A Better Foundation and Concealer

 Let me also share with you that after using for a few days, I felt that the fat tube was making my skin better. Maybe it is the vitamin C. On the other hand, the thin tube only gives you temporary beauty. When the cream comes off, you have your same old skin back with all its flaws just as prominent as before - large pores, blemishes, dark complexion ...But, i would say again that there are better moisturizers than the cream in the fat tube. You can spend your money better on better products out there.

A Better Moisturizer with Vitamin C

Well, now we know that if you are looking for an instant concealer, it is the thin tube you have to pick. it also makes your skin look lighter. One big drawback with the fat tube is that the cream makes you look tanned.

The problem with the thin tube, on the other hand, is that it makes your skin look too dry and flaky. It dries up on your skin too quickly and so is also very hard to spread on your face. It can form patches on your nose, around the lips and forehead, making the foundation appear too prominent. But these problems can be dealt with quite easily. As I have been using it for quite some time, I have learned a few tips and tricks :). Let me share them with you.

Tips and Tricks

Take a normal fluid moisturizer in the palm of your hand and mix some BB cream with it. Now apply this to your face. It will spread more easily and will not form any flakes or patches. Plus, your skin will not feel dry and uncomfortable as you will be using a moisturizer. I have used clean and clear moisturizer and I have also tried Olay's fluid moisturizer. You can use any face lotion of your choice provided it is non-greasy.

Apply the mixture in small dots on your face. Blend with your fingertips. Concentrate on one area of your face at a time. If you cover the entire face at the same time, the cream will dry up and will be harder to spread even after mixing a moisturizer with it.

Results

After using the tips and tricks mentioned above, I have been using Garnier BB cream (the thin tube) quite effectively with the following results.

• The complexion brightens up within an instant
• Blemishes and dark spots become light
• Fine lines are hidden
• Overall, the skin looks smooth

What it Does NOT Do!
Garnier's BB cream is great. But, you should not expect too much from it. You should know that there are no long term effects. Plus, if you have an acne problem, the cream will not cover up your pimples. In fact, if there are any dry patches or pimples on your face, the cream makes them more prominent by flaking up around such areas.

So, the BB cream is a miracle only if you have minor flaws on your skin :)
Feel free to ask any question by commenting below. 

Food, Health and Beauty - an Introduction to My Blog

Food, Health and Beauty

So here we go... my very first post on this blog :). Let me give you folks an introduction about what this is all about. Food, health and beauty - three common interests which most women share. We love to cook, we want to live a healthy lifestyle and, of course, we all want to look beautiful! 

So I will post recipes for you, share health tips and cool beauty tips with you along with beauty product reviews. Wait, that's not all... there will be much more... discussing fashion trends, online shopping tips, restaurant reviews and even reviews on the latest gadgets in the tech world... I will keep you updated about almost everything you can possibly be interested in ;). 

Some of the beauty products reviewed by me - coming up soon

Now something about me... I am not a dedicated cooking teacher or a skillful makeup artist. I am just an ordinary person like you and want to share my own experiences with the other girls out there. The recipes that I have tried, the places I have visited, health topics I have researched ... I want to share all this with you, hoping to make some difference in your life ;).

Some of my cooking experiments ;)

So, keep checking for updates. I will keep posting new stuff every now and then. Hope you find it useful and enjoy it as well :) .. c ya!