Indulgeo Essentials Squalane Skin Hydrator Review | Rose Oil Natural Hyaluronic Acid Variant | Repairing Skin Barrier | Beauty Blogger | Beauty Review

The one product that changed my skincare game forever - Indulgeo Essentials Squalane Oil i.e. Squalane Skin Hydrator ❤️ 

Feb 2020 onwards I have been battling issues like rosacea, acne outbreaks, inflammation, and from April 2020 onwards, full on damaged skin barrier, meaning unbelievable amount of inflammation and outbreaks and redness on my cheeks and actually all over face. I am fed up of how my skin is behaving all of a sudden. All my life I have had pretty nice naturally glowing skin with minor skin troubles now and then...but now *sigh*.

Anyway, I started researching like crazy and came across all sorts of suggestions from skin experts, dermatologists, beauty bloggers... 

Stop exfoliation (done!), 

Stop picking on pimples (done!), 

Stop using tonnes of beauty products (done!), 

Start using ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides, peptides...

Oh boy, so much to learn and be confused about! 

Squalane oil kept popping up as an ingredient to soothe and hydrate skin as well as repair the skin barrier. So I looked around and found this offering from the famed brand of Indulgeo. They are famous for gold-based oils but I have never been interested in pricey or gold-flake-based products, but now, with Squalane, I got no option but to buy it. And I did!

Packaging of Indulgeo Squalane Skin Hydrator is quite travel-friendly. Simple green glass bottle, that is not good news for clumsy hands, but be careful and it is all good :D

Ingredients list is pure squalane that is 70% olive derived and 30% sugarcane derived. Well, this is the Rose Oil variant so it must also have some rose essential oil though it is not mentioned in the ingredient list on the packaging.

Claims are nothing short of miraculous, in fact, it makes me wonder why we did not hear of this earlier! Squalane is similar to Squalene that is produced naturally in our body but its quantity decreases as we age. This Squalane mimics natural sebum, controls oil production, works at a cellular level, helps in conditions such as acne and eczema, helps in collagen production and aging gracefully, is exceptionally hydrating even for oiliest of skins since it is so natural...etc...etc...

Availability of Indulgeo Squalane Skin Hydrator, like other Indulgeo products is quite good on its own website, Nykaa, Vanity Wagon, as well as on Amazon :)

Quantity of this 30 ml little bottle is enough to last 2 months even with daily usage of 2 times since only 3-4 drops are required every single time for entire face.

Usage - AM as well as PM, just 2-3 drops are needed after water-based moisturizer and before oil-based or heavy moisturizers. 

Effect - My facial skin is combination-dry, ultra-sensitive and acne-prone and as I said, I got this exclusively for the research that said it will help me in repairing my damaged skin barrier :) 

❤️ I actually got squalane options from 2 other brands also, and I sent them DM asking about the method to apply this, as in should I use it in conjunction with something else because I was focused on repairing skin barrier. Only Indulgeo replied on instagram, others ignored, so points to them for customer service.

❤️ They said I should use it after water based products (such as toner or facial mist) and before oil based products or moisturizer. I found this strange because it's an oil...but I thought okay,let's try...

❤️ It is expensive no doubt. But I got it at 25% discount from Vanity Wagon. And this has rose oil as natural hyaluronic acid, so I got squalane + hyaluronic in less than Rs. 1100 and it lasted me 2.5 months on daily application (Already ordered 2nd bottle)

❤️ My routine for the first 15 days after receiving this- cleanse face with Himalaya neem face wash, spray rose water, put squalane just 4 drops all over face, finish with a layer of lacto calamine.

❤️ After 15 days I introduced Tribe Concepts Kumkumadi Tailam + brightening cleanser before squalane, and finish with Deyga Organics beautifying serum.

❤️ Either way, Indulgeo Squalane Skin Hydrator calms my skin down immediately, gives a soothing silky finish, hydrates and plumps my skin. For the first 15 days when I used it alone, it did immense work in my skin repair, as evident by pictures.

     Before                                          After a week

I. Love. It. 

Even now my skin has its own share of problems but it is much much better than it was 6 months ago and I give the credit to all these products-

Himalaya Neem Face Wash

Patanjali Rose Water

Tribe Concepts Brightening Cleanser + Kumkumadi Tailam

Deyga Rose & Mulethi Face Pack

Indulgeo Squalane Skin Hydrator  

Deyga Beautifying Serum

GlamAroma Washed Ghee

Patanjali Aloe Vera Gel

Indulgeo Squalane was the one product that immediately showed its results. That is why I regard it so highly, as it gave me noticeably calmer and smoother inflammation-free skin within a couple of days. There is a lot of work to be done but Indulgeo Squalane is definitely going to be my go-to for a long loooooooong time.

YES 

• All I need to say, YES, it worked as expected and in fact even better in helping repair my skin barrier

• Non-comedogenic

• Lasted more than 2 months on my horsey-sized face so not very expensive

• Hydrates skin like nothing else without making it oily

• Available in Amazon, Nykaa, Vanity Wagon, often at good discounts.

NO 

• Hmm, the glass bottle is not good for clumsy hands :D

Recommended -YES. Want a good hydrating oil? Want an oil that works at cellular level of your skin? Want to repair skin? Want to keep your skin routine simple yet effective? Squalane is good for all these situations. Rating is 5/5.      

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
• Available on Amazon
• 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.

Plum Green Tea Pore Cleansing Face Wash Review | Smytten Haul | Beauty Blogger | Beauty Review

Plum is one of the most talked-about and raved beauty brands in India for past couple of years. I had seen its products and multiple reviews from my fellow beauty bloggers but was not sure which one product to pick from their wide range :D When I saw this Pore Cleansing Face Wash from Plum at Smytten as a sample, I thought, BINGO! I can now try this iconic product that seems to be one of the favorites of every beauty blogger :)

Packaging of Plum Green Tea Pore Cleansing Face Wash is very travel-friendly. The simple but beautiful white colored tube has an ultra-tight screw cap that needs full force to open :P

Ingredients list includes Organic Green Tea, Glycolic Acid, and Cellulose Beads and claims to have no soap, no parabens, no SLS, no bad chemicals, and no animal testing ever.

Claims that this face wash is suitable for combination skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin and will banish clogged pores, clean pore-clogging dirt and oil, giving refreshed and healthy skin.

Availability of  all Plum products is very good online on Amazon, Nykaa, Smytten, Flipkart. It is one of the best online brands visibility and availability wise :)

Quantity is this sample tube is enough to last about 10 days when used everyday on face and neck since only a small quantity is needed. I am sure that the full-sized 75 ml tube will easily last one and a half months.

Usage - Like any face wash. Apply on damp skin, massage, rinse off, follow with a moisturizer and sun protection.

Effect - My facial skin is combination-dry, ultra-sensitive and acne-prone so this seems like a good product to try. When I bought the sample from Smytten, I did not pay attention to the fact that it has mild cellulose beads for daily exfoliation. When I finally paid attention to it on the tube, I was worried since my skin breaks out in rashes, redness, pimples if I use any harsh substance/exfoliator on my face. But my worries were needless :) 

The beads are veryyyyy mild and do not tear into my very sensitive skin. Of course, I would suggest anybody with a sensitive skin to use this face wash and any beauty product with any exfoliating beads in a very careful manner or it will definitely scratch your skin. I used it carefully. I applied a thin layer on my damp face, let it sit for 1 minutes and then gently, very lightly massage it and rinsed it off. 

Yes, as per it claims, it completely cleaned my skin, all oil and dirt was gone, my face felt refreshed. From a face wash, I honestly cannot expect anything more. I have not seen any miracles on my acne marks but it is not within the purview of any face wash. 

For miracle results, we need to invest in better moisturizers, serums, oils, lotions that can work on our skin for hours on end. Nobody can get miracles from a face wash that sits on our skin for 1 minute at most.

Overall, I am happy that I tried it, it is good for oily and combination skin but dry skinned beauties will feel their skin turn very dry after using it. So they should choose something else from Plum range of goodies :)

YES 

• No SLS, soap, alcohol, harmful chemicals, and no testing on animals
• True to claims, leaves skin refreshed and cleans pores
• Can be bought from Amazon or other online e-commerce sites easily

NO 

• The exfoliating beads may be bad for veryyyyyyyy sensitive skin

Recommended -YES. Just be sure that you are using the exfoliating beads with a light hand and do not have dry skin. Rating is 4/5.    

Votre Multi Vitamin Rejuvenating Whipped Clay Mask Review | Luxury Vegan Ayurveda | Beauty Review

Votre is a luxury brand I often saw on Nykaa, Amazon, and even tried the much-raved Votre Face Serum some years ago and quite liked it. But since I have very sensitive and problematic skin, I do not prefer to invest in expensive products before trying them out and confirming that they don't give any allergies to me. So it was perfect when I saw Votre Multi Vitamin & Rejuvenating Whipped Clay Mask 30 gms sample on Smytten, I could first try it out and see if it suits me.

Packaging of Votre Multi Vitamin & Rejuvenating Whipped Clay Mask is simple and elegant, a curved little plastic tub with secure lid. Votre has sublime packaging and design.

Ingredients list is full of tempting ones like Avocado, Papaya, Strawberry, Sweet Orange, Pomegranate, White Clay, Fullers Earth. Basically it is similar to a fruit pack with clay.

Claims to provide essential vitamins, hydration to the skin, repair it, keep it smooth and irritation-free.

Availability of Votre Multi Vitamin & Rejuvenating Whipped Clay Mask is easy on all online sites such as Amazon, Nykaa, Smytten, Flipkart and pricing is on luxurious side with 50 gm retailing for around Rs. 800.

Quantity of this 30 gm sample from Smytten was enough for 8 uses on my big face :D

Usage - Take required quantity in spatula or spoon, apply all over face and neck, let it dry or semi-dry and wash off. For cold weather or dry skin, wash after 5-10 minutes and apply moisturizer.

Effect - As I have used many other clay masks, I know many of them can be very drying for skin as clays deep cleanse the skin and take out all the oil from the pores. For very oily skin, it may be a blessing but for dry skin, or combination skin, or dry weather, it can be very drying and may lead to redness, rashes, inflammation too. It can be very severe for sensitive skin. 

That is why when I saw 'whipped clay' I wanted to try it because it gave the impression of being fluffly, creamy, and not drying like normal clay masks. And as per my expectation, it is a creamy-textured mask. I cleansed my face and applied it all over in a thin layer and let it semi-dry. It did not feel stretchy dry at all and left my skin smooth, clean, hydrated when I washed it off. 

The first time I applied it, I let it dry completely because of which I saw little red blotches on my cheeks and then I realized my mistake. Then onwards I only let it semi-dry, never completely dry. And my skin always feels extremely soft, extremely smooth, and extremely bright after I rinse it off. It takes a little bit of effort while rinsing off, but that is true for most clay masks. As per general rule, it is important to always follow up with a good moisturizer. Overall, it is a winning product for me :)

YES 

• Vegan, Natural, Organic, Ayurvedic ingredients
• Leaves skin soft, smooth, hydrated
• Creamy texture, good for skin that does not tolerate normal stretchy clay texture
• Available on Amazon, Nykaa, Smytten etc.

NO 

• Expensive
• If you let it dry completely, super-sensitive skin may get redness or rashes

Recommended -YES. A good face mask with great effect on all skin types. Rating is 4.5/5.

Fuschia Activated Charcoal Detox Face Mask Review | Natural Handmade Skincare | Beauty Review

One of the ingredients making the biggest splash in today's global beauty industry is Charcoal. Everybody is talking about it, everybody is raving about its deep-cleansing and detoxifying properties, every brand is launching charcoal-based beauty and skincare products... I have also used Mamaearth C3 Face Mask and Aroma Magic Charcoal Face Mask and loved both of them. 

So when I saw Fuschia Detox Face Mask Activated Charcoal sample at Smytten, I had to try it, more so because I had no clay or charcoal-based beauty product in quarantine and needed something for deep cleansing.

Packaging of Fuschia Detox Face Mask Activated Charcoal is a typical little plastic tab with a secure lid. It feels pretty travel-friendly and compact.

Ingredients list is goodness personified with Rose Water, Kaolin Clay, Glycerine, Aloe Vera, Bentonite, Charcoal Powder, Clove Oil, Vitamin E.

Claims to deep clean, bring out dirt from pores, tighten pores, and smoothen skin.

Availability of Fuschia Vkare Detox Face Mask Activated Charcoal is easy on all online sites such as Amazon, Nykaa, Smytten, Flipkart and pricing is a bit on expensive side with 100 gm retailing for Rs. 450.

Quantity of this 20 gm sample from Smytten was enough for 5 uses on my big face :D

Usage - Apply like a face mask-it is not written on this sample pack. I am assuming since it is a face mask, it must be applied after cleansing and toning skin :D

Effect - As I have used and loved other charcoal based face masks from Mamaearth and Aroma Magic, I had a good idea for what to expect from this one too. I expected it to stay true to its claims and it completely did :) I slathered a thin layer on damp skin after cleansing with Just Herbs Silksplash or Aroma Magic White Tea & Chamomile Face Wash. Then I let it dry for about 6 minutes and then washed off. It truly deep cleansed pores, not much for pore tightening, but it did leave my skin smooth and bright. 

It is a nice face mask that has some amazing ingredients for deep cleansing skin, keeping it moisturized, brighten it, and they work nicely together. Though very sensitive skin types like me should not use it more than twice a week or it may lead to redness and rashes on cheeks because charcoal, bentonite are very potent ingredients. One thing that I loved-I had a budding pimple on my chin but I used this mask and it instantly reduced the size of the pimple. INSTANTLY!

And it is essential to always follow up with a good moisturizer. This is true of all clay based or charcoal based masks. Overall, it is a winning product for me :)

YES 

• Has some amazing ingredients for deeply cleansing and smoothing skin
• Works on my super-sensitive acne prone skin
• Reduces pimples and breakouts instantly
• Vegan and free of nasty chemicals
• Available on Amazon, Nykaa, Flipkart etc.

NO 

• A bit on expensive side
• Super-sensitive skin should not use it very frequently-general advice for all potent ingredients

Recommended -YES. A good charcoal-based face mask for all skin types. Rating is 4.5/5.

Aroma Magic White Tea & Chamomile Face Wash Review | Aromatherapy Skincare Essentials | Everyday Pollution Defence | Beauty Review

Aroma Magic products always seem to be a win for my combination acne prone super-sensitive skin. I have used and loved their-

Microdermabrasion Scrub, 

Charcoal Pack, 

Anti-Pigmentation Glossy Pack, 

Detoxifying Pack, 

Hydrating Seaweed Pack

I saw this Aroma Magic White Tea and Chamomile Face Wash sample at Smytten and guess what, this is the only product I picked up because the packaging looked so pretty :D Well, that, and the fact that I trust Aroma Magic products to be good to my skin. I genuinely feel these products are made with a unique formulation that makes them good for all skin types.

Packaging of Aroma Magic White Tea & Chamomile Face Wash is compact and travel-friendly in a tube with flip-open cap. It is one of the most gorgeously designed packaging with a floral theme :)

Ingredients list is unique like all Aroma Magic products with only good stuff like White Tea, Soy Milk, Protein Beads, Chamomile Essential Oil. It has no alcohol, soap, artificial fragrances, coloring, and no testing on animals either.

Claims to deep clean and lightly exfoliate while keeping skin fresh, relaxed, and also works on preventing aging.

Availability of Aroma Magic Products is very easy on all online sites such as Amazon, Nykaa, Smytten, Flipkart and pricing is very reasonable with the 100 ml sized face wash only around Rs. 150.

Quantity of this 20 ml sample from Smytten was enough for 2 weeks on my horse-sized face. Only a little is needed each time.

Usage - Apply to moist face and neck. Massage and rinse off properly. Follow with moisturizer and sunscreen.

Effect - As I said, I have used and absolutely loved all Aroma Magic products I have used over the years. I completely expected to love this face wash too and it did not disappoint me one bit. It is a light-blue colored gel-textured face wash that lathers nicely without being artificially soapy. It has very few exfoliating beads and I was worried they would scratch my skin but actually they did not. Of course, my skin being extra-sensitive, I used very light hands to massage the face wash into my skin so that the beads did not scratch at all. 

As claimed, it deeply cleansed my pores, and at the same time, did not leave my skin dry like a desert either. In summers, it is perfect for cleansing out all the oil but in winters, like all face washes, it may leave the skin feeling dry. In any case, it is always nice to follow up a face wash with a good moisturizer or gel or facial oil, depending on the skin type. I always do :) 

The only thing is, it claims to work as an anti-aging agent but I am not sure, can a face wash actually do that? Anyway, apart from this little thing, everything else about this face wash is awesome and I shall love to repurchase the full-sized one again and again.

YES 

• Devoid of nasties like parabens, soaps, artificial fragrance etc.
• Amazing fragrance
• Value for money
• Deeply cleanses but does not leave skin dry
• Works nicely on my super-sensitive skin
• Easily available online on Amazon, Nykaa, Flipkart etc.

NO 

• Some people may not like exfoliating beads

Recommended -YES. Like all Aroma Magic products, it works amazing on my skin. Rating is 4.5/5.