How to use aromatic essentials oils in 5 different ways

 I discovered the magic of essential oils or aroma oils a few years back. Ever since then I am hooked. At no point of time will you not find a few bottles in my home. These oils have multipurpose benefits besides of course soothing your senses.And I use them in multiple different ways mostly to create a spa like setup at home. Being a spa junkie these oils instantly help in creating an ambience that puts me in a relaxed mode.

Vasu Healthcare an Indian company that is 40 years old and is present across 40+ countries recently sent me samples of its essential oils to try and I must say I am really impressed. They sent me their lavender and tea tree oils which are 100% pure and natural and smell divine. Here is how I suggest you can use them too:

1) Use them in a diffuser

I think this is one of the primary reasons to buy them. Put a couple of drops diluted in water in a candle burner. lavender fragrance has been known to soothe the mind and calm it. It acts as an instant distressed.

2) Use them mixed with hair oils

Put a couple of drops of these essential oils in your regular favourite hair oil. Each essential oil has a different benefit. Tea tree oil helps in controlling dandruff, while lavender oil because of its distressing properties helps in restful sleep, reduces headaches. In fact to relax the mind one can even put a couple of drops on the pillow cover just before sleeping.

3) Use in Skincare

I just recently made soaps at home and infused them with a few drops of these oils. They smell divine. Besides that one can even mix them with body lotions a couple of drops every night. Lavendar oil helps to lighten skin and is an effective stress reliever while tea tree oil improves skin appearance and has anti-acne and anti inflammatory properties.

4) Use in making Candles

If you are someone who makes candles at home and loves the aroma of essential oils then use these oils to add some fragrance to your candles and make them aromatic. Sit back and relax to the light smell of lavendar float in your house.

5) Use them to take steam

This is something I have to try myself. While taking steam if one has cold or in general to clear out the nasal passage put a couple of drops of any of these oils will instantly smooth the senses and distress you.

Purchase these Vasu healthcare oils from the links below:

Amazon        

• Tea tree: https://amzn.to/3gHDdVP
• Lavender: https://amzn.to/2Px2iqy

VasuStore        

• Tea tree: https://bit.ly/33GCKQ6
• Lavender: https://bit.ly/2PAd7Ir

Where to shop online from - Jabong.com

For me the only reason to shop online is to avail discounts on the brands I normally buy or to buy something really stylish but affordable from an unknown brand. Most of the times these two points are never ticked off either the known brands hardly have some offers, if there is an offer than the right size is never available. Or if there’s even something decent available from an unknown brand it is never worth the price. 

But offlate I feel there is one website that has totally upped it’s oomph factor and that is Jabong.com. From associating with Lakme Fashion Week to introducing their uber cool magazine The Juice to tying up with celebrities like Alia Bhatt for limited edition collections to bringing UK giants like River Island, Dorothy Perkins and New look to India. It has really kept the interest of its shoppers alive.

Thus, when I wanted a pair of simple but affordable tan shoes to match my everyday wear I thought I should give the website a try. On entering tan shoes there are quite a few interesting options that come up.

On the left hand side there are different filters to help one choose from different barnds, sizes. I entered the budget that I wanted.

On entering my budget there were quite a few options that I liked. But I shortlisted on the one below

The site allows gives a good view of the product on zooming as well. It helped me to check if the sole is of good quality and non-slippery. There were some more colour options available too and the size chart also helps in selecting the right size for you for that particular brand.All the things looked fine to me so I went ahead and checked out and bought it. 

As soon I made the payment I got an SMS and an email id with my order details. the order was shipped and dispatched on the same day and arrived at my doorstep within the estimated delivery date.

 

In all I was quite happy with my purchase and the whole experience with jabong. Here's what worked for me and what could be better:

What worked:

• Excellent delivery service - No follow ups required, prompt intimation, no shipping charges
• Always on Sale - There is always some or the other sale on, on the website that will tempt you to go check if your kinda stuff can be availed for lesser
• Premium and Designer Brands- Aldo, Mango, Dorothy Perkins, Tresmode, River Island, Veromoda all present under one roof alongwith biggies like Ritu Kumar, Manish arora, Satya Paul. Need I say more?
• News and Style - Gives you the latest updates on beauty and style trends. Good reading material before you decide on what to shop

What could be better:

• Style filter for clothes and Accessories: It would be great if they had a filter on the style of clothes (like v neck, round neck or maxi, mini etc) just like how they have a filter for sizes,brands and colours

Overall it was a quite a smooth experience shopping on jabong. And next time if I want to also buy something from one of my favoruite brands without stepping out of my house I know where to login!

P.S.Look out for their GOSF 2014 offers. Some of the offers that I am looking forward to are

• Buy any 3 shoes for 999
• Fcuk at upto 50% + extra 30% off
• Carlton London at extra 30% off

Happy Shopping guys!

How to wear red lipstick and not look dramatic!!

I know Red is old news. Infact the rest of the bloggers are done with reviewing red lipsticks, claiming their love for Mac's Ruby Woo and Scarlet Ibis and have moved on to the other colours.

But how many times have you excitedly applied red lipstick and then wiped it off thinking it gives clown lips or for the lack of a better word makes you look OTT and trashy. Well welcome to the club!

Like the rest of the world I too bought a lot of red shades, to find my 'the one' as mentioned in my earlier post Colorbar's Hearts and Tarts is the one that suits my yellow skin the most. However, that was not the end of the problem. When wearing red I am always confused what makeup to pair it with. Especially with Indian wear (read while attending weddings) just a lipstick with no other makeup looks to plain no? I know the trick is to always pair bright lips with muted eyes but even a simple Kajal, eyeliner and neutral shadow would look to stark on the face. So I did some experimentation at home, and after some trials and errors here's what I found:

• Always wear red in the matte form
• Skip kajal completely or apply a very thin line
• Apply eyeliner thinly and a thin cost of mascara
• Use only neutral eyeshadows like gold or copper
• Use a very neutral blush bordering on coral/brown

I also googled some pictures of actresses wearing red for inspiration that led me to this conclusion, here are they:

I tried this look on myself and here are my pictures:

With flash

Without flash

The products I used

1. Colorbar Hearts & Tarts lipstick mixed with Colorbar Obsessed with Orange lipstick to give that slight orangey tint
2. The brown eyeshadow from the Lakme 4 in 1 Eyeshadow quartet - Silk Route
3. L'oreal Trumatch Blush - Pink Grapefruit
4. Revlon Lash Fantasy Mascara
5. Benefit High Beam highlighter
6. Chambor dark brown eyepencil - to line my lower eye lid (instead of black kaajal)
7. Avon eyebrow filler

Missed on clicking my foundation and finishing powder - Used Mac Studio Sculpt N30 and Loose Powder N30

What do you couple your red lipstick with? I would love to hear. Do drop your inputs in my comments box

5 must have lip shades for yellow skin and my favourites

While the words "5 must have lip shades" may not sound like rocket science..I feel that finding the right shade that suits one's skin tone within "the must have shades" is a task na? Any girl who is wee bit into fashion and beauty would know what the most in or the must have lip shades. But what I find most helpful is when I come across blog posts/articles that mention shades that suit a  particular skin tone.

So I thought i'll share my bit of research with you all. I am yellow skinned, (I know most Indians are right?) but my skin has no warm tones just cool ones. And I've tried lots of reds, sometimes wasted money, by buying a particular lipstick and then not wearing it cos I feel it looks weird on my complexion. But yes! after a lot of trials I have across these 5 shades that are as distinct from each other as they can be, but yet suit my yellow coloured skin. And the best part - All of them are really affordable and super lasting as well!!

For me to judge a lip colour -a hand swatch is just not enough, because so many a times it looks different on the hands and when applied on the lips it looks different ( lip pigmentation has a role to play here you see!) and thus, I have put both hand and lip swatches for you'll to judge.

#1  A baby pink lipstick 

A baby pink shade for all those times when you want your lips to look naturally flushed. You know something that you feel like putting on when your mood is in between a sheer lip balm and a lipstick?
The one that suits me the most is - L'oreal Infallible Tender Berry. (MRP - Approx 700)
This shade when swatched on the hand looks purplish but is not! I had spoken about this lipstick in my post here. Love the texture cos its creamy and not very drying.

#2  A bright pink lipstick

Because you are a girl and you love all things pink! For those days, when you don't care what the world thinks, and want to wear pink unapologetically!
The one that suits me the most is - Maybelline Super Stay - Stay with me Coral. (MRP - Rs 450)

Is it just me who feels that this shade shouldn't have been called Coral? You can look at the pictures above and below. Everything about this lipstick screams fuschia pink. 

This pic is a lil blurry but the shade is much brighter in real                              

(Btw Revlon Just Bitten - Sweetheart comes a close second here)

#3  An orange lipstick

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When I saw this pic of Kareena's I knew I had to get an orange lipstick. Not many girls can carry off an orange lipstick. But once you find the right shade, you'll love the sunkissed effect it gives to your face.

The one that suits me the most is - Colorbar - Obssessed with Orange. (MRP - Rs 250)
Believe me you'll really get obssessed once you start using this colour. This shade just magically matches everything that I wear.It's not peach it's not coral it is orange but yet does not look stark and blends so beautifully with my skin tone. I'm totally in love with this one right now!

#4  A nude lipstick

On the days when you feel like you've all grown up and want to keep it subtle and classy!
The one that suits me the most is - Chambor - Desert Rose. (MRP -  Approx Rs 500)
I had worn this shade here with a gloss on top. Although, this shade is great and is the perfect nude for yellow skinned people without making them look tan ( a la Gauri Khan) it is slightly drying and will need a gloss to be applied to avoid making one's lips look chapped. 

#5  A red lipstick

Because it is red and everyone's wearing it!!!
The one that suits me the most is - Colorbar - Hearts & Tarts (MRP -  Rs 250)
I think when it comes to lipsticks Colorbar beats any other brand be it MAC, Revlon or Inglot! They are super lasting, super affordable and what a range! All colours are so apt for the Indian skin. I have tried many reds, reds from Indian brands as well but nothing comes close to this one when it comes to lasting power + red that suits and does not make you look cartoony/slutty.(Disclaimer: I have not tried the much acclaimed MAC Ruby Woo, but I'm happy with this one currently!)

And the customary hand swatches

So what are your favourites? Have you tried any of these? what do you think about them? Go ahead and tell me. I would love to hear!

USA Beauty Haul - Sephora and Bath and Body works

So what comes to your mind when someone you know says he\she is travelling to the NYC? Statue of liberty? Wall street? Empire state? Snow? Lots of shopping?

I'm sure for a lot of girls like me the most spontaneous reaction would be - " If you don't mind, here's my shopping list" right? So recently, when my dad found out that hell be travelling to the US even before he announced his travel plans knowng his darling daughter he just said "hand me over your shopping list." Who can resist an offer like that now!!

So I quickly went online checked out all the exclusive beauty products not available here in Mumbai and put them on my list. Here's what all I got from Sephora  and Bath and Body woks (My favourite brand for fragrances) US.

US Beauty Haul

Products from Bath and body works - Twilight Woods body lotion, body mist and CO Bigelow Mint Lip tint

Passion fruit shower gel and lip gloss from Philosophy

The most famous coral blush in the world - Benefit's Corallista and Sunbeam highlighter.. for a sunkissed look

Fab fab fab!

Beauty Editor Darlings kit by Too Faced (small size version of each of their best products)

The five products that it has..including their very acclaimed eye shadow primer

The details of the products

Here are all the products.. love!

Still beaming!! :))) Thanks dad!!

My first Velvette Box - February Valentine special

After reading numerous posts about the Velvette box all over the blogger world, I finally succumbed to the temptation and ordered myself one as a Valentine gift to myself. For those of you who are not very clued on to what the Velvette box is ( just like I was two months a ago), this is what the service does:

Velvette box much like the Birchbox company abroad delivers 3 beauty product samples every month for a price of INR 399 to your doorstep. The 3 product samples that are chosen depend on your preferences and your skin type. Thus, it is like a surprise package that comes to your house where you don't know the contents but it is definitely exciting as you know you are going to receive some lovely products from very well known companies that you may have never tried earlier, may have not even seen those products.

So this is what my February Velvette Box looked like:

The box was a little broken though

A red heart shaped fridge magnet as Valentine token

 This is what my February Velvette Box contained:

1. Pureply Pro (full size product and not a sample size)
2. OFRA Vitamin C Day Cream
3. Fig and Rouge - Aloe & Mint Balm (full size product and not a sample size)

Although, my Velvette box was hardly a surprise as everyone got the same products this time. Except the OFRA product varied, some got under eye cream gels instead of the day cream. But still I loved it. and here's why:

• Complete value for money as 2 of my 3 samples were actual full sized products. Thus in INR 399 I got products worth more INR 2500
•  Its got a mix of makeup and skincare
• Brands that are internationally very well known but not so famous here, nor available thus, get to try new products
• The lip balm is 100% natural and organic. I am always on the lookout for good lip balms as Ive tried almost everything and nothing really works on my dry lips except for the C O Bigelow one (check here) that I tried lately

So will I subscribe for the Velvette box again?

Yes definitely although, not immediately as I have ordered lots of products from Sephora USA (my dad is going there) and I am really excited about trying them out. So maybe after a couple of months. 

Shall review these products individually soon.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate - Is it really a magic potion?

Its funny how these beauty companies will not let us stay in peace. Don't understand? Ill elaborate and I am sure you will agree with me. 

Just when we were all getting used to using sunscreens and day moisturizers they introduce us to BB creams, just when we learnt how to apply the perfect base they go ahead and launch primers to make it more complicated for us, just when we thought shampoo + conditioner + serum is the perfect answer to hair problems they tell us that we are missing out on hair masks. And just when we got started using night creams as the ultimate solution to ageing they launch oils and serums that are supposed to be more effective. Now don't you agree with me? If a girl starts using all of these products then all she'll end up doing the whole day is stand in front of the mirror and apply products to her skin and hair.

One such product that I came across recently is Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate which is a lavendar oil based product that is supposed to be like a "magic potion" and make your skin better, younger, smoother and more beautiful. After following their much advertised Facebook campaign me and my friends got convinced enough to atleast try out a sample if not buy the product. (Yes they are pretty generous with samples).

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Here's what Kiehl's USA website says about the product:

Purely Potent Over-Night Repair.

•Lightweight, overnight treatment.
•Regenerates, repairs, and replenishes skin for a smoother, healthier skin.
•Works with the skin’s natural nocturnal activity when skin is most receptive to repairing itself from daily aggressors to dramatically restore skin.
•99.8% naturally-derived and paraben-free.

So the SA was kind enough to give me a sample of this replenishing oil alongwith it's under eye cream version.

This is how the sample looked like:

Packaging & Ingredients

Since I got the sample version I will not be able to comment on the packaging of the actual bottle nor the ingredients as they were not mentioned on the sample.

The sample packaging was a cute plastic one in the shape of a bottle. 

The Product:

The product which is made up of essential oils is an oil itself. Clear and lightweight are 2 words that come to my mind (you'll have to try hard to see the oil on my palm in the above pic). 

How to use:

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The SA advised me to take only 2 drops every night on my palm inhale the oil so as to calm my senses before sleeping and then apply it. Although the sample is just of 2ml but it lasted me for more than a week! Just 2 teeny weeny drops are enough to apply it all over your face. I followed this ritual every night for 9 nights in a row till the sample lasted. The oil feels a little greasy on application but will get soaked in quite easily. 

So did it magically transform my skin?

 I find it difficult to comment on how well it did cos honestly I don't how long is one suppose to use it to actually check for any effects. But yes, my face did look fresher every morning rather than groggy or puffy. And don't if it was the winter glow but it did make my face radiant for the few days that i used it. Will I actually buy the product? I would have, had it not costed me a bomb.

Positives:

• Just 2 small drops are enough so lasts really long
• Almost fragrant free
• Gives a glow in just a week
• Almost paraben free
• Does make skin look fresher and smoother

Negatives:

• Makes your skin greasy so you might think twice before applying in summer
• High price 

Price:

2750 for 30ml bottle

3 easy looks using Maybelline Color Tattoo

 love makeup.I love reading about makeup and makeup trends. I love collecting makeup too. Do I love wearing it? Yes! I love how I can add some spark to my face with a lipshade or a coloured eyeliner. But do I actually wear it? Err. Hmm. Not really.. Why? Cos I feel shy. I feel what if people start think, "what was she thinking? who wears makeup to office" or "why is she wearing makeup for a movie"?

I love putting it on for weddings and parties. But besides that I don't really wear anything besides kaajal and a lip balm/gloss anywhere else. But this means I can't buy more till I'm done with what I have  I mean what's the point of just hoarding on things. So I've decided to try and find ways in which I can utilise the hoards of makeup that I have.

I have the Maybelline Color Tatoo eyeshadow in Edgy Emerald that I bought some two months ago. Now the pigment is really strong and the colour quite dramatic making it not a very "everyday" product. So I thought of different ways in which I can wear it to utilise it better.

You will need:

• Maybelline Color Tatoo in whatever shade you have
• A thin line brush

Look 1: Coloured eyeliner for a casual movie/lunch outing

1. Take a small amount of the shadow on your brush 
2. Line your upper lash line thinly
3. This is a nice option for a soft dewy fresh look for the daytime

Look 2: Smudged shadow for a formal dinner date

1. Dab your fingers on to the pigment
2. Smudge only the lower half of your lid
3. You can then use your black eyeliner or even a dark blue one to line your upper lash
4. Wear this look for a formal dinner date or when you dancing to give your eyes the right amount of pop!

                           

Look 3: Edgy emerald with gold shadow for wedding functions

1. Apply gold eyeshadow with your finger tips in your inner part of your eyelids
2. Apply the edgy emerald pigment with your fingers again on the outer part of your eyelid 
3. Try to blend the two shadows in the middle
4. Line your upper lash line with your favourite black eyeliner thinly
5. line your lower lash line with the edgy emerald pigment and smudge to create an even effect
6. Wear this look for dramatics eyes with your heavy Indian outfits

What do you'll think of these looks? have you'll used the color tattoos before? Do let me know how did you wear them.