badge

Friday 26 June 2020

Blue Nectar Briganantadi Conditioner Review | Bhringraj & Shikakai Scalp Anti Dandruff Conditioner Review | Beauty Review | Beauty Collaboration

'Dandruff Begone' is the chant many of us constantly bellow out in hopes of banishing this malady and I am no exception *sigh*. Over the years I have zero down on Khadi Herbals Neem Shampoo as the only shampoo that truly keeps dandruff away from my problematic scalp but it also keeps my hair super-dry. So I am always in need of a good conditioner. This product from the kind folks at Blue Nectar Ayurveda was a god-send for review purposes, an anti-dandruff conditioner.



Packaging of  Blue Nectar Briganantadi Anti-Dandruff Conditioner is in a sturdy blue-hued plastic bottle with pump dispenser that is also leak-proof and travel-friendly. 

Ingredients list includes a potent mix of herbs such as Bhringraj, Amla, Shikakai, Hibiscus, Brahmi, Onion Oil, Vitamin E, Aloevera, Glycerin, all in a 'conditioner base' that is not specified. I am not a stickler for ingredients most of the time but I know there are many who like a complete list of each and every ingredient. I just trust Blue Nectar to give me Ayurvedic base.

Claims that this conditioner works against dandruff, promotes healthy scalp, restores moisture to hair.

Availability of Blue Nectar Anti Dandruff Conditioner is very good online on Amazon and the 200ml bottle is available for Rs. 645 which makes it mid-range luxury.

Quantity is this 200 ml bottle is enough to last 4-5 washes only on my curly, frizzy hair which is very veryyyyyyyyy dry.

Usage - Apply on hair length, not on scalp, after washing and let it stay for 2-3 minutes before rinsing off. 


Effect - I was excited to try this anti-dandruff conditioner from Blue Nectar Ayurveda with an abundance of Ayurvedic herbs such as shikakai, methi, reetha, neelambari, and morrrrrrrrre, especially since I have not yet found the holy grail for my super dry, crazy frizzy curly hair. 

The only conditioners that have come close to making my hair soft for longer times are Himalaya Detangler, Aaranyaa Argan Hair Spa, and Enliven Conditioner. But these also stop working after a couple of months so I keep rotating between them *sigh* Turns out my head gets used to any treatment very quickly and I need to feed it new brands :P

Anyway, so Blue Nectar Briganantadi Conditioner looks beautiful in that classic blue packaging, and has an amazing spa-like fragrance that lingers for whole day, not chemically at all, but naturally appealing. It honestly is the best part about this product, its incredible natural soothing calming luxurious smell. There are no added chemicals, colors, or fragrance in this concoction.

My hair is super-duper dry and curly and horribly frizzy so I need heavy-duty conditioners or hair masks to tame them. This does not claim to work on such dry frizzy hair and it doesn't. It works as a decent companion to whatever anti dandruff shampoo one is using. I always want intense condition from my conditioners and not every conditioner can give it to me...that is the story of my hair and scalp. One thing that confused me-the bottle says it is 'scalp & anti dandruff conditioner' but in usage it is clearly written that 'use only on lengths, not on scalp'! It is quite confusing. Anyway, it is common sense that one should not use conditioner on scalp as it can increase buildup, cause clogged hair follicles, increase dandruff and so on. 


Rather than on my curly frizzy hair, it worked better on my mom's straight fine hair with minimal frizz. I used it twice and yes, it did give my hair some softness and detangled my hair a little bit, it worked way better on my mom's hair. Incredible softness and shine. So this turned out to be a great product not for the beauty blogger but the beauty blogger's mom blessed with normal hair and scalp! 

Thus, I would recommend Blue Nectar Briganantadi Conditioner to those hair types (normal, neither too dry nor too oily, not frizzy, not curly), it is a natural sulphate free ayurvedic conditioner for normal, straight, wavy hair types for conditioning after using drying shampoos. One thing is commendable that it does provide moisture to the hair and makes hair feel healthy but on my hair the results were mild and lasted only for a day. So my quest continues. 

As of now, I am back to using Aaranyaa hair spa and alternating with Himalaya Detangler. My mom continues to use Blue Nectar conditioner and since her hair is shorter and finer than mine, she will use it for 3-4 times more. Win for her, meh for me :)

YES 
  • Incredible smell, easily the best fragrance I have found in a conditioner
  • Beautiful, travel-friendly packaging
  • Abundance of Ayurvedic goodness in the form of bountiful herbs
  • Does provide good companionship to any dandruff shampoo
  • Gives decent moisture to the hair, detangles knots 
  • Works best for normal, straight, non-frizzy, or wavy hair

NO 
  • Those who want complete list of ingredients will not like the mention of conditioner base
  • Will not work for super-dry curly and frizzy hair, results will last temporarily
  • Seems expensive 

Recommended -Maybe, depending on your hair type. Good for my mom's hair but nothing exceptional for me. Rating is 3.5/5.    


Thursday 25 June 2020

Zilch On Cloud 9 Face Wash Jelly Review | Favorite For Healing Skin Moisture Barrier | Beauty Review | Beauty Collaboration

Welcoming my most favorite facewash in recent times to the fold, Zilch On Cloud 9 Face Wash Jelly :) After Himalaya neem face wash and Just Herbs neem-bitter orange face wash, this is the only one I have come to love with all my heart! From the start, the Zilch brand looks outstanding from all the clutter in the market. Their philosophy is admirable too, with promotion of no BS, no drama, plain simple good stuff for skin. Everything, from their packaging to their website follows this philosophy.




Packaging of Zilch On Cloud 9 Face Wash Jelly is in a sturdy plastic body with flip cap that is secure enough for traveling. It is leak-proof, I tested :D

Ingredients list has many tempting ones like aloe vera, rose water, glycerine, lactic acid, and some minimal chemicals necessary for formulating any product. All good, nothing bad, even on my super-sensitive skin.

Claims to be paraben-free, alcohol-free, sulpahte-free, silicon-free and moisturize even after cleaning face without clogging pores.

Availability of Zilch On Cloud 9 Face Wash Jelly is good online on Amazon, and it is available for Rs. 700 for 200 ml which is amazing. 

Quantity of this 200ml facewash jelly is enough to last more than 2 months even when used twice a day since only 2 drops of jelly are enough for my horsey-size face too.

Usage - Like any cleanser. Take a drop of jelly, spread all over the face for 30 seconds, wash off.

Effect - Apart from the past year that was bad for my health and skin, this year too brought its share of problems. The last 2 months I am battling recurrent acne, inflammation, painful pimples, and I had to devise a complete routine to subside it all. It includes Choonkar Neem Oil, Indrani Cosmetics Anti-Acne Gel and this Zilch On Cloud 9 Face Wash Jelly :)

I have tried quite a few face washes in my life and my favorites are Himalaya Neem and Just Herbs Neem-Bitter Orange, and now Zilch. There is a difference between them, the other face washes are a bit drying, and strong, and in case one's moisture barrier is compromised then it is not good to use very strong products. This is exactly what I am battling right now. Going to soon do a post about compromised moisture barrier. However, for now, just know that it is a painful condition especially for someone with sensitive skin from birth, like me.


This is the first time I have used a jelly face wash and realized how much better it is...

-Glides like softest cloud on skin
-Feels cool and soothing
-Leaves skin feeling hydrated somehow
-I love it so much I leave it like a moisturizer on my face for 2-3 minutes before rinsing off and it still does not dry out my skin 
-Is extremely mild yet cleans my face nicely, leaving it plump and supple

But yeah this is not deep cleaning for those who need to remove makeup. I loved using it specifically because my skin is going through a repair mode after succession of acne attack, inflammation, dryness, rosacea..so I am using only the mildest products on my skin and This. Is. The. Bomb. 

It fulfills all its claims completely, so absolutely recommended, especially if your skin is ultra-sensitive and problematic. I will ensure I have this by my side at all times from now on!

YES 
  • Fulfills all its claims completely
  • Cleans without drying
  • Leaves my super-sensitive skin feeling cool, supple, hydrated
  • Huge quantity, makes it value-for-money
  • Helping my skin in healing from intense acne and inflammation
NO 
  • Can be considered as pricey in one glance
  • Will not remove stubborn makeup, but does not claim so either
Recommended -YES, a thousand times YESSSSSSS. An absolutely incredible product, use it, your skin will thank you. Rating is 5/5.

Wednesday 24 June 2020

Nilgiri Aroma's Shea Butter Daily Moisturizer Review | Savior For Dry Itchy Inflamed Rashes-Prone Skin | Beauty Review | Beauty Collaboration

We live in amazing times where we get to find hidden gems everywhere. Look at this Nilgiri Aroma's Shea Butter Daily Moisturizer I have fallen in love with over the past month.




Packaging of  Nilgiri Aroma's Shea Butter Daily Moisturizer is in a sturdy plastic bottle with pump dispenser. It is not very travel friendly since once the pump is activated it does not retract easily. It can retract, I tried but it still feels like it may leak. So if you plan on traveling with it, take the product in a different container to be absolutely safe.

Ingredients list includes Shea Butter and Aloe Vera in cream base. The base is not specified but it will have basic minimal chemicals needed for formulating any product, so no big deal. The shea butter component is the majority and it shows its effects on usage.

Claims that this moisturizer is good for itchy skin, dry skin, thick skin, rashes, sunburn, and will give 24-hour hydration for noticeably smoother skin.

Availability of Nilgiri Aroma's Shea Butter Daily Moisturizer is good online on Amazon and the big 500 grams bottle is available for just Rs. 500 which is fantastic.

Quantity is this 200 grams bottle is enough for lasting more than a month on applying all over body everyday since only a small quantity is needed for each use.

Usage - Apply all over body or on affected area. Gently massage till the lotion is absorbed completely.


Effect - Simple and straightforward, Shea Butter and Aloe in a cream base, this thick buttery lotion is a god-send for-
Dry skin,

Itchy skin,
Rashes,
Inflammation,
Dehydrated skin

A little goes a long way and it is mainly for body use but if you have normal skin with excess dryness or dehydrated patch on your cheeks due to environmental change, you can spread just one little drop of this lotion and see the dry patches disappear overnight. My mom had little dry patches on her outer cheeks and she applied just one little glob of Nilgiri Aroma's Daily Moisturizer and in 2 days her skin is back to normal, plump, hydrated. I have not applied it to my cheeks since I am already battling dirty painful acne outbursts and trying to minimize the usage of products on my face.

It does not have any added fragrance, just a very mild nutty Shea butter smell that wears off after a while, but it's moisturizer capabilities go on for atleast 12 hours even on my super dry skin..AND it soothes cracked heals too! I apply it liberally all over my hands and feet and it takes some time to get completely absorbed. But once it does, it makes my skin feel plump, hydrated from inside.

Living in Covid times, we are all washing our hands multiple times throughout the day and it left my hands too in a very rough state. But using this lotion through the past month has completely healed all the rough and dry patches on my hands and I cannot praise it enough. Everybody knows about the magical effects of pure shea butter and this moisturizer has it in droves.


LOVE LOVE LOVE this one to death and will recommend to everyone.

YES 
  • Filled with pure shea butter goodness
  • True to its claims, gives long term hydration and noticeably smoother skin
  • Perfect for removing dry patches overnight, providing skin with smooth nourishment and protective cover from environmental factors
  • Will work on face for normal dehydrated skin too that is not prone to acne
  • Very value for money
  • Works on stretch marks too, noticeably lightened effect in a fortnight
  • Works on cracked heals almost overnight
  • Makes skin healthy in long term, my hands and feet feel moisturized all the time now
NO 
  • Those who want complete list of ingredients will not like the mention of cream base
  • Will not work on face for those with super-sensitive acne prone skin but it does not claim to either

Recommended -YES, a million times YES. A value-for-money product for everyone. Rating is 500/5.

Tuesday 23 June 2020

Indrani Gold Facial Kit Review | Hidden Gem | Glitter Like Gold | Beauty Review | Beauty Collaboration

Once upon a time, I had used VLCC facial kit at home and it was okay. Never had the inclination to try another one. but the kind folks at Indrani Cosmetics sent this beautiful Gold Facial Kit for trial and it looks so appetizing that I tried it today on myself as well as my mom's face and it turned out to be a total pampering day.




Packaging of Indrani Cosmetics Gold Facial Kit is beautiful with hues of gold that are not gaudy. Little pots with ample products to last 4 sessions easily. It is travel friendly.

Ingredients list of each product is different and clearly labelled at the back of the package. Every product has gold dust that does not stick to the skin artificially, rather it sinks inside!

Claims to nourish, brighten, make the skin glow, and provide anti-ageing that is true of all gold products.

Availability of Indrani Gold Facial Kit is good on Amazon and it is available for Rs. 466 which is extremely value for money.

Quantity of this facial kit is more than enough to last 4 times which is so much better as compared to facials in salons that cost thousands per session.

Usage - I applied the gel, followed by scrub, followed by cream, and finally the pack, and it worked wonderfully.



Effect - My skin is super sensitive combination acne prone and my mom's is normal mature with mild pigmentation on cheeks. This kit has suited both of us. It has-

Gold gel
Gold scrub

Gold cream
Gold pack

I did not use the scrub on my full face, only on my nose for the pesky blackheads. I am still undertaking a rigorous routine of neem oil by Choonkar Organics and the marvellous anti acne gel by Indrani Cosmetics twice a day for my acne rashness and inflammation on cheeks.

First step- provided hydration with the help of gold gel, massaged and it felt really cool on skin,

Second- scrubbed off nose with gold scrub. Mom used it on her whole face, no issues, skin left baby soft as dead skin cells washed away, left skin bright,

Third- massaged with the soothing gold cream for couple of minutes and let it sink in, gave mom a full 10 minutes massage and it literally made her glow,

Finally- applied the pack..it had dried inside the container so mixed it with a little rose water for making proper paste, it dried on face in about 5 minutes,washed it off...




And tadaaaaaa, glowing, smooth, baby soft skin with ample hydration all over, all blemishes temporarily out of sight, my mom's skin especially loved the pampering session and her cheeks had big pigmentation patches that are noticeably brighter and lighter :)

No rashes, no allergies, nothing bad...oh and all the products have this beautiful Gold dust that glitters like fairy magic and also smell so so good!

Perfect pamper routine for EVERYONE true to all its claims. Very much recommended :)

YES 
  • Easy to use facial kit
  • Gives clear glow and deeply cleans
  • Suits even my super sensitive skin
  • Gold dust in every product seeps inside skin and gives internal glow
  • Very value for money
  • Sturdy travel-friendly packaging
  • Available on Amazon
NO 
  • None really!
Recommended -YES. After its anti-acne gel, this is another great product from Indrani Cosmetics. Rating is 5/5.

Monday 22 June 2020

Indrani Anti-Acne Gel Review | Miracle Acne Treatment | Beauty Review | Beauty Collaboration

An unexpected premium product that helped save my skin in past 15 days after a surprise acute acne attack is here in the form of Indrani Cosmetics Anti-Acne Gel with Neem and Salicylic Acid. Yes, this is the same acne attack that I talked about in my Choonkar Organics Neem Oil Review. 

One fine day I woke up to acute redness all over my cheeks and big painful pimples..and it is by combination of these two products that today it is much under control- Choonkar Neem Oil and Indrani Anti-Acne Gel. Here is a detailed look at Indrani's star product :)



Packaging of Indrani Cosmetics Anti-Acne Gel is simple and beautiful I like the way they have kept their brand packaging simple but to the point. This one has a soothing green hue to signify the presence of cleansing and purifying neem. 

Ingredients list is simple with Neem and Salicylic Acid being the star products and some other minimal chemicals that are necessary for any product formulation. It is not paraben free but that had not harmed my skin in any way.

Claims to reduce acute condition of acne. Simple and to-the-point. LOVE IT.

Availability of Indrani Anti Acne Gel is good on Amazon and it is available for Rs. 234 for 50 grams which is extremely value for money considering its effects.

Quantity of this gel is enough to last 20-25 days even if applied liberally on all acne spots twice a day.

Usage - Apply on clean face at night, wash off in the morning.





Effect - The anti-acne gel with Neem and Salicylic Acid as the main ingredients, promises to work on acute acne and is especially for oily skin.

I have combination and ultra sensitive skin that faces inflammation and acne outbreaks from time to time and about 15-17 days ago I woke up to painful pimples all over my cheeks.

This beautiful anti-acne gel is one of the few products that worked in taking away the pain + redness, alongside Choonkar neem oil. Yup, I doubled the amount of neem for faster results because the pimples were hurting real bad.

It smells little medicinal, not bad but strong, it is expected from an authentic neem product. After applying a thin layer, it absorbs a bit on my skin and rests on top too but I don't feel any tingling or increase in inflammation. Rather I feel soothed and it instantly calms my skin down.

I keep it on for about 3-4 hours before washing it off because I am very cautious about my facial skin and don't take any chances with any product but I am sure this is fine to apply for whole night too. I have a night routine where I only apply aloe vera gel for whole night and this is a routine I have followed for years. My problematic skin has its own tantrums and I don't want to experiment and worsen anything there. But my skin is a rarity and if your skin is normal-ish then you can easily trust this product to work on your acne all night long :)

Trust me, if it works on my super problematic skin, it will surely work on anyone's skin! It is a miracle product and I highly recommend it to all acne sufferers.  


YES 
  • True to its claims
  • Soothes, calms skin, gives a protective feel on acne spots
  • Reduces inflammation of acne spots really quickly
  • Value for money since only a small amount is needed to be applied
  • Travel friendly, easy to use, serene packaging
  • Available on Amazon
NO 
  • None really!

Recommended -YES. An absolutely amazing product from Indrani Cosmetics for all acne sufferers. Rating is 5/5.

Sunday 21 June 2020

Choonkar Cold- Pressed Neem Oil Review | Miracle Worker For Acne Redness Inflammation | Beauty Review | Beauty Collaboration

Want to meet a miracle worker? Here you go- Choonkar Organics Pure Cold-Pressed Neem Oil, Raw & Natural. And trust me, while I am easy to please, this product has made a special place in my heart based solely on its performance overnight. 

Neem is famous in India as a traditional authentic potent Ayurvedic remedy for external as well as internal use. Internally it purifies blood and externally it is applied as a miracle remedy for pimples, rashes, acne, boils, and this is why I specifically chose Neem oil from Choonkar for review purposes because I had been battling horrible recurrent acne, rashes, redness, inflammation on my face, specifically my cheeks area for past year.   




Packaging of Choonkar Organics Pure Cold-Pressed Neem Oil is in a simple plastic bottle that seems sturdy, but the cap may leak the product if kept in a slanted position so I won't call it travel friendly. I suggest to transfer it in a more secure container if taken while traveling.

Ingredients list has just one name-100% pure, cold-pressed, raw, natural neem oil.

Claims to be GMO-free, Gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, pure and natural, and work on skin, hair, nails in the typical potent neem way.

Availability of Choonkar Organics products is good online on Amazon, and this miracle oil is available for just about Rs. 199 which is amazingly affordable.

Quantity of this 60 ml oil is more than sufficient to last ages even when I use about 10 drops every night on my face as massage oil.

Usage - Internally as well as externally since it is pure neem oil. I use it solely on my face for reducing acne and inflammation. I suggest patch test for everyone before using any new product.


Effect - I woke up one fine day with my cheeks filled with big red angry pimples and my cheeks covered in rashes. It may be due to changing weather or the fact that I had used some new beauty products in past week or due to hormonal changes *sigh* I don't know. Something triggered a massive acne and redness attack on my face and the pimples were hurting very bad. 

This has been a pattern with me for past 1 year when I have battled many health issues and family issues so I was not surprised. Thankfully, I had this Neem Oil in my stash from Choonkar that I had not yet used. 

But this was the perfect opportunity. So I stopped using every beauty product and simply washed my face with my trusted Himalaya Neem Turmeric Face Wash, mixed this Neem Oil with Lacto Calamine Lotion and applied on my skin. In evening, I again washed my face with Himalaya and applied Indrani Cosmetics Anti Acne Gel and let it stay on my face for about 3 hours. Then I washed it off and applied this Neem Oil mixed with Calamine lotion and went to sleep. 

3 days later, my pimples had vanished and my redness was much controlled. Since then, I have used more or less the same routine and my skin is thanking me right now. I had heard about the miracles of neem oil but this time I saw the miracle with my own eyes. Choonkar Neem Oil is a potent product that smells strong, showing its purity. It also stings if it goes near the eyes so I suggest everyone to be careful about that. 

Since it is such a strong product I do not apply it directly on my skin because I don't know when my problematic skin will start acting up. Right now I am mixing it with my Patanjali Aloe Vera Gel and applying it. But I am sure normal skin people can use it directly, and maybe I can too, I just need courage to do that :D 

In any case, it is an incredible product and I am always going to keep it by my side as it leaves my skin purified, soft, redness and acne free. Soon I am going to use a few drops in my shampoo and oil too for getting rid of dandruff permanently. What an amazing multi-purpose product :)

YES 
  • Miracle worker, pure potent Neem Oil
  • Soothes, calms skin, works on acne and inflammation overnight
  • Extremely value for money
  • Multi-purpose for skin, hair, nails
  • Available on Amazon
NO 
  • The bottle is not travel friendly as the cap can let the oil leak sometimes
  • Neem oil is so strong, it will sting eyes if it gets near, so be careful

Recommended -YES. An absolutely incredible product from Choonkar Organics that everyone should have at home. Rating is 5/5.