Ever since I went completely green and natural with my skincare, bath and hair care routine I have come across tons of Indian brands that make amazing handmade soaps and what amazes me is that how gorgeous a bar of soap can look and that's the beauty of handmade soaps as they are customisable and are made using natural stuff! Today I will be talking about one of my favourite soap from the house of Pure Suds which smells so exotic. The brand is spearheaded by Mrs. Bhavana Doshi who handcrafts soaps, body lotions, creme soaps, face masks using natural ingredients and her products are a great alternative to commercial products that are loaded with harmful chemicals that cause a lot of harm in the long run. You may read more about the brand HERE.

About the product:

Amber Royale is a sensational bar of nourishing soap with Top notes of leather, nutmeg, saffron and spicy notes; middle notes are amber, lavender, patchouli, sandalwood, and vetiver; base notes are moss, musk, tonka bean, and vanilla. This is a highly recommended soap for those who love exotic oriental fragrances.

Ingredients: (please refer to picture below)

Amber Royale is a dark creme colour soap with swirls of maroon, white and mustard colour. I love the packaging of the soap. It comes in a cardboard box which bears the name of the soap (there's a misprint on the packaging), ingredients, price, shelf life etc. There's a plastic film on top too which gives one a sneak peek into the soap which I absolutely love. The soap bar looks absolutely beautiful and smells exotic. The smell captivates your senses like no other. The fragrance lingers on the skin for some time before fading completely and it also makes my bathroom smells fantastic.

The soap doesn't lather a lot but it does produce lots of bubbles and a mild lather. It cleanses the skin really well without making it feel stretchy/dehydrated. It gets washed off very easily without leaving any sticky feeling or residue behind and doesn't melt very fast, however, make sure that it is dried between uses. The soap truly feels luxurious when used and it gives any high-end product a run for the money.

The best thing about all the bars by Pure Suds is that they are made using only natural and pure ingredients as reiterated earlier.

• Availability - Not a con for me though as I don't mind buying online.

Price and Availability: 

The soap is priced at INR 300 for 110 gms but I got it for INR 270 as the brand was running a discount offer. It is not available currently because Mrs. Doshi is on a maternity break and will reopen her Facebook store only after Diwali. Meanwhile, you may ogle at these beauties HERE.

Will I recommend:

Yes!

Have you tried this soap too? If so, then what was the experience like, did you like it?

Until next time,

Deepika

Disclosure: The soap is my own purchase and the views expressed here are unbiased and honest.

My facial skin starts to behave weirdly as soon as the humidity hits the air. It gets moderately oily esp. around the T-Zone area but even then I avoid using the products that are meant exclusively for oily skin types as I have experienced that those products tend to dry my skin, doing harm than good as my skin starts feeling stretchy. However, my opinion changed when I used Bulgarian Lavender and Black Rice Face Cleanser from Juicy Chemistry. Today, I shall be discussing if the product stood true to its claim of deep cleansing the skin from within, leaving it shine free and healthy.

What the Brand Says About the Product:

Does your skin get dull and oily half way through the day? Crave for a quick cleanser cum mask for an instant pick me up! Powerful Black Rice is blended in with gorgeous Organic Bulgarian Lavender essential oil to perk up your skin cells into behaving themselves. Areetha, and Rhassoul Clay help control oiliness and gentle adzuki beans with green tea cleanse the skin from deep within leaving it shine free and healthy! Cooling mint helps beat the summer heat keeping you refreshed!

Ingredients:

Juicy Chemistry Bulgarian Lavender and Black Rice Face Cleanser - Ingredients

My Experience:

Juicy Chemistry is one of those very few Indian green personal care products’ brand that is 100% organic and natural. The products are meticulously handcrafted using choicest organic ingredients sourced from all over India. I have been using their products for more than a year now and have rarely been disappointed.

Juicy Chemistry recently launched a variant for oily skin types in their range of facial cleansers/cleansing grains which is preservative free and chemical free like their other products. When I expressed my desire to try the product; Mrs. Megha Asher, the founder and owner of the brand dispatched it to me  in no time (however, please be noted that this is not a PR sample). 

Juicy Chemistry Bulgarian Lavender and Black Rice Face Cleanser

I was slightly skeptical about using the product because of my previous track record with products meant for oily skin types. But oh boy, did this product work. It turned into my Holy Grail cleanser! The cleanser is in powder form with a grainy texture. The grains are finely milled and it has an herbal fragrance with strong hints of Bulgarian lavender. To use the cleanser, I take desired amount of cleanser in my palm using the wee spoon provided by the brand (please avoid digging wet fingers or spoon to scoop out the product as it will contaminate it), mix it with a few drops of water (you may use floral hydrosols, raw milk) to create a paste and massage it across my face using gentle strokes focusing on my nose slightly more. I leave it on for a minute before rinsing with tepid water. Post rinsing, I am greeted with a squeaky clean face with no trace of grime or oil AND no blackheads or whiteheads!! I have stubborn blackheads on my nose which don’t come off easily but this cleanser makes it looks like a cake walk. The cleanser didn’t dehydrate my skin either which is huge for me. My skin also looks polished and smooth every time I use it as the grains provide a mild exfoliating effect.

According to me, the star ingredient of the product is Adzuki beans, used in Japanese skin care regimens for centuries, Adzuki beans contain a natural foaming agent called saponin that helps cleanse pores by absorbing excess oils, removing dirt and dead skin cells, drawing out impurities and promoting circulation.

Overall, I am highly satisfied with the cleanser. It comes to my rescue on those days when my skin is feeling tired and dirty than usual and those stubborn blackheads refuse to come off easily.  The product is 100% natural and it caused no irritations or breakouts but a patch test is still recommended.

Have you used the cleanser too? Share your experience with us!

 Love,

Deepika

Disclosure: The product was sent by the brand however it's not a PR sample. Opinions expressed are my own and 100% honest and unbiased.

In this day and age of convenience, we have (almost) everything and anything available at the click of a button, and in the last couple of years online shopping in India has only got bigger. Gone are the days when we would scout in the hot sun amidst heavy traffic to shop for items that are now easily available online. Today, I will take this opportunity to introduce a new e-commerce website Aplava.com to our readers. 'Aplava' (pronounced AAP-luv) is a Sanskrit word which means taking a bath to purify oneself. It's an ablution process of cleansing oneself. Aplava describes itself as 'a personalised beauty service tailored to your taste, budget and lifestyle that helps you look and feel your best every day'. Let's see what sets Aplava apart from the rest:

Yays about Aplava.com:

Nays about Aplava.com:

To sum it up, Aplava.com looks promising and if they are able to provide quality service to the customers in the long run, they could easily give other e-commerce giants a run for their money. So, just drop everything and place your first order on Aplava right now and do not forget to avail the initial INR 75 discount HERE.

Note: Currently Aplava ships only within India.

Till next time,

Deepika

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post but the opinions expressed are unbiased and honest.

The Holiday Pomegranate Soap by Marjees Handcrafted Soaps is priced at PKR 400/- and can be purchased online through the brand’s online facebook page HERE.

“Jo's Organic Beauty Cocoa Divine Scrub is a bundle of skin rejuvenating, hydrating, and soothing skin care. Its magical properties will give you results such as: 

“The finest base of Belgium chocolate blended with the goodness of cane sugar, coated with honey and powered up with vitamin E oil and essential oils for complete skin care. All safe and natural ingredients. No nasty chemicals.”

Sugar:

First, sugar is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the environment into the skin. So when you apply products with sugar or sugar derivatives, they’ll actually help hydrate your skin and keep moisture within. Secondly, sugar is a natural source of glycolic acid, and alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that penetrates the skin and breaks down the “glue” that bonds skin cells, encouraging cell turnover and generating fresher, younger-looking skin. Because glycolic acid — and all AHAs — exfoliate the top layer of skin, it’s important to always follow with a sunscreen if going out during daylight hours to avoid damaging the tender skin. (x) Raw sugar also reduces skin pigmentation by forcing melanin out of skin cells through the lymphatic system, and then out of the body. Raw sugar is considered an antioxidant due to its ability to protect cells from damage caused by oxygen and free radicals. (x)

Chocolate:

With at least 70 percent cocoa, dark chocolate is the only chocolate which delivers beauty benefits. Flavonoid, a naturally occurring plant substance in cocoa, improves blood flow to the skin, skin hydration and complexion, absorbs UV light and protects skin against sun-induced damage. Cocoa helps in reducing the stress hormones, resulting in less collagen breakdown in the skin decreasing the wrinkles. Antioxidants present in dark chocolate help your skin look its best, fights free radicals and improves hydration and thickness, which are important for having a young looking skin. (x)

Honey: 

Honey's natural antioxidant and anti-microbial properties help to protect the skin from the damage of the sun's rays, supports the skin's ability to rejuvenate and refresh depleted skin, leaving it feeling silky soft and supple. One of the most common natural skin care benefits with honey is related to treatment of minor acne acne which could be caused by hormonal changes or "heatiness in the body", as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) would call it to refer to the imbalance of yin and yang in the body. Honey absorbs impurities from the pores on the skin, making it an ideal cleansing agent. With the wide-ranging of natural skin care recipes, it is no wonder that there exists a huge number of honey products in the market for hair care, baby care, skin care for sunscreen, hand lotions, facial scrubs and moisturizers. (x)

Vitamin E Oil:

Vitamin E prevents water loss from the skin, and helps it to retain its natural moisture. Thus, it makes dull, dry skin look healthy and well-moisturized. If it is used for the purpose of deep pore cleansing of dry skin on a regular basis, it restores the normal oil balance of the skin. (x)

Usage Instructions:

The Cocoa Divine Scrub by Jo’s Organic Beauty is priced at PKR 700/- for 250 gms and can either be purchased online through the brand’s official facebook page HERE or any of its official stockists artsy.pk, and sheops.

I am a lip balm hoarder, like I love lip balms beyond acceptable levels. Oh well. I will be about talking one such lip balm from my kitty, which comes from the house of Organicmill. The brand had sent me a couple of products to try one which was this lip balm. I also did a brand story which may be read HERE. Um, so, keep reading the post to know how the product fared for me.

About the brand:

Organicmill is 100% chemical and preservative free organic skin care beauty range. Products are freshly prepared on order basis.

Packaging:

Organicmill lip balm comes in an acrylic jar with gold coloured lid and an inner plastic disc to further protect the content. The packaging bears labels mentioning price, ingredients, shelf life, date of manufacture and usage instruction. I love the no frills simple packaging of this product.

Ingredients and their benefits:

Shea Butter: Shea butter is a skin super-food that comes from the seeds of the fruit of the Shea (Karite) tree and that is naturally rich in vitamins A, E and F. It offers UV protection (it is SPF ~6) and provides the skin with essential fatty acids and the nutrients necessary for collagen production. Shea butter has been used in Africa and other countries for years to improve skin and hair. (x)

Beeswax: Beeswax has an abundance of benefits when applied to hair and skin. It is incredibly moisturizing and contains vitamin A, which is known to promote healthy skin. Many common skin creams and lotions contain harsh preservatives and petroleum that can suffocate. Unlike these types of formulas, many moisturizers made with Beeswax contain other natural ingredients that promote genuine healing. (x)

Rose Essential Oil: Rose oil is traditionally used to calm and uplift. It is an anti-inflammatory, cooling and soothing oil, and as such is beneficial for dry, hot, inflamed or itching skin and for many other inflammatory conditions, like conjunctivitis (although it would be rose water rather than the oil that is used for this).

In addition, rose is excellent for  treating scarring, broken capillaries and mature skin types. Rose’s cooling and soothing properties are excellent for treating stress related conditions in adults and children.

Rose oil has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties. In one laboratory study, Damask rose demonstrated antibacterial activity against 15 strains of bacteria. (x)

My Experience:

Containing only three ingredients and smelling delightfully of roses, the lip balm is baby pink in colour and has a soft texture. It applies clear on lips and doesn’t feel heavy at all! I am a huge shea butter fan because of its intensely moisturizing properties. To use, I take required amount using my finger (always use a clean to scoop out the product OR you may use a Q-tip!) and apply it on the lips. The lip balm glides on easily and nourishes the lips, making them super soft. It keeps my dry lips moisturized for over 6-7 hours before the need for reapplication arises. I cannot comment on it's ability to heal chapped lips but, it should as, it contains shea butter. I have noticed that consistent use render healthy appearance to the lips. My lips appear pinker too. Since the lip balm contains no chemicals or petroleum jelly its safe for kids too.

All in all, it’s a wonderful lip balm, in fact, I would say one of the best lip balms I have used to date and a must try albeit a little pricey for the quantity.

Yays:

Nays:

Price and availability: The lip balm is priced at INR 250 for 10 gm. Hop on to the brand's facebook page HERE or WhatsApp Mrs Dishi Jain on +91-99716 48091 to place your orders. 

Did you Organicmill lip balm? If so, then  share your experience in the comments section below. We love hearing from our readers! 

Till next time,

Deepika

Disclosure: The product is a PR sample and the views and opinions expressed hereby are strictly unbiased, based on my personal experience. 

Hello, girlies!

Taking care of our body skin is as important as taking care of our facial skin. It’s important to moisturise our body skin by using body butters, oils, lotions (whichever y'all prefer) and yes, scrubbing twice a week is important too in order to remove dead skin cells. Today, I will be talking about a body sorbet and two body butters that I received from Aroma Essentials a couple of weeks ago.

Before I start, let's see what the brand, Aroma Essentials says about themselves:

Aroma Essentials is a range of skincare products that may make a useful addition to your daily skin care regimen. These include cleansers, sunscreens, moisturizers, exfoliants, facial cleansers, toners, retinoids, herbal and nutrient supplements, and cosmetics.

Natural handmade skin and hair care products. All our products are freshly handmade in small batches using the finest natural ingredients.we do not use harsh chemicals like petroleum or mineral oil.the color and scent of our products occur naturally from our ingredients and essential oils.no artificial colors and scents are added.store in a cool dry place away from sunlight.

Left to right: Lavender Body Sorbet, Rose Body Butter & Mogra Body Butter

Jasmine Body Butter: Ah! The smell of this body butter is absolutely…. invigorating but strong and it takes time to dissipate. It is a reminiscence of my childhood, when I used to go to the famous Hazratganj market of my city Lucknow where the street vendors would sell beautiful jasmine gajre. The body butter is white in colour and comes in a travel-friendly plastic jar filled up to the brim. It has a light whipped crème like consistency and a velvety texture. It spreads on to the skin easily and I prefer using it post bath on damp skin as the skin is able to seal in the moisture for longer. A little quantity is sufficient as it absorbs into the skin very easily. The body butter consists of shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, soya extracts, and jasmine EO. The body butter keeps my dry body skin moisturized for a good 5-6 hours before the need for reapplication arises as I have to sit in AC for hours due to my job. The butter doesn’t feel heavy post application and leaves no oily residue. Oily skinned beauties can adjust the quantity. The product is priced at INR 350 for 50 grams.

Rose Geranium Body Butter: The body butter comes in a white coloured plastic jar filled up to the brim and is light pink in colour. It has a whipped crème like consistency and a velvety texture. The body butter smells absolutely divine and moisturizes the skin for a good 5-6 hours before the need for reapplication arises, giving it a healthy appearance. What I also love is that the scent lingers on the skin for a couple of hours before fading. The body butter is made using shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, soya extracts, ylang ylang and rose geranium EOs. I use this body butter the way I use Mogra Body Butter, and like it’s counterpart, the body butter hydrates the skin nicely without leaving any greasy residue. It’s one indulgent way to pamper your skin! The product is priced at INR 350 for 50 grams.

Lavender Body Sorbet: Pale violet in colour, lavender sorbet comes in a plastic jar, which is slightly bulky to travel with. Madhurima has a knack of only producing amazing smelling products and this one is no different. It smells predominantly of lavender and has a mousse like consistency This weightless body butter also has English lavender buds suspended in it. The product is perfect for humid summers to moisturize the skin lightly  But if you have dry body skin like mine, this wouldn’t be moisturizing enough and you will need to reapply often or go for their body butters. The product is priced at INR 550 for 100 gm.

Availability: You can find Aroma Essentials products on their Facebook page here or you may WhatsApp the brand on +91-7760988272 and the founder Madhurima Ramakrishna shall address your queries therein.

Until next time,

Deepika

Disclosure: These products are PR samples and the views and opinions expressed hereby are strictly unbiased, based on my personal experience.