While I have night time skincare regimen sorted, as I prefer using oils during that time, it's the day time regimen which becomes quite a task in order to pick up the right cream for my skin type. I am a very picky person when it comes to choosing a day cream for my overly dry winter skin because I do not use commercial skincare products anymore.

My search ended when I came across Aloe Day Cream by Venustas Essentials. VE is a Pune, Maharashtra based brand spearheaded by Mrs Seema Rai who painstakingly handcrafts body butters, day cream, scrubs, soaps etc in her kitchen. Some of the products that I have used from the brand have given me good results (you can search 'Venustas Essentials' on the blog to read the reviews). I mean seriously, her products are SO good and chemical free, of course.

About The Product: 

While the night creams repair the skin while you sleep, it is equally or rather more important to use a good quality Natural day cream. As it is during the day that your skin is exposed to maximum pollution, Sun and stress that damage the skin and lead to skin discoloration and premature ageing.

This all Natural, non-greasy Day cream has been specially formulated for warm summer days. With Hydrating and rejuvenating Aloe, cool Cucumber extracts and potent essential oils like Sandalwood, Carrot seed and rose hip that protect, hydrate and rejuvenate your skin all day.

Ingredients: 

Aloe, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E, Rose, Sandal, Virgin Coconut Oil, Almond Oil, Blend of Essential Oils.

Venustas Essentials Aloe Day Cream

My Experience:

I am on my second jar of the cream and that says a lot about it, right? I first got this cream in the month of July and me and my mother loved it a lot! It has a relaxing cucumber aroma (due to the presence of cucumber EO) which is mild and calming for the senses. I cannot stand overly scented skincare products. I just can't.

The cream comes in a 50 gm pot with an inner lid to protect the contents. I have been using this cream consistently since July and this cream is such a rockstar. It literally sinks into the skin and provides just the right amount of moisturisation to my overly dry skin (I had combination skin during July-Oct and it didn't cause any flare-ups) without feeling heavy or leaving an awful greasy residue behind. The presence of aloe soothes the skin immediately. And guess what, the surprise element of this cream is, the  lovely dewy finish it gives a few minutes after it's application. Expect a healthy glow as well as unbeaten moisturisation for up to 8-10 hours (this is coming from someone that has overly dry skin!) before your skin screams for moisturisation again.

I love my essential oils and this cream contains rose and sandalwood EO alongside aloe which make it all the more special. According to various researches, rose EO contains certain therapeautic compounds that promote healing. Rose EO also defines skin texture and tone. Whereas, sandalwood EO helps soothe the skin, relieve inflammation and irritation.

Aloe vera is a great moisturiser! It soothes, softens the skin and is loaded with anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties in abundance.

There are two important things which I would like to point out - 1) It does not replace sunscreen as it contains no SPF. 2) It didn't do anything for the dry patches as mine are more of an hormonal issue.

Yays:

• Handmade. 
• Not tested on animals.
• Contains no harmful chemicals.
• Provides adequate amount of moisturisation.
• Causes no irritation.
• Reasonably priced for the quantity. 
• Has a relaxing aroma of cucumbers. Won't bother sensitive noses.
• Contains a potent blend of oils.
• Gives a dewy finish.
• Lightweight and leaves no greasy residue behind.
• Great for all skin types.

Oranges have been a part of our diet for the longest time. The versatility of the fruit is such that it can be both eaten and applied topically on the skin. Like oranges, their flower called the orange blossom is known as an aphrodisiac and is the national flower of the state of Florida which is being used for over centuries in traditional skincare. Today, I will be talking about The Ritu^l Orange Blossom Face Scrub in the post, which contains orange blossom, (as the name suggests) as the main ingredient.

About The Brand:

“Tradition does not mean to look after the ash, but to keep the flame alive” – Jean Jaures

There is something magical about the word ‘handmade’, isn't it? It stands for uniqueness, personalisation, and discernment – all of which Artisanal Skincare embodies. Our range of skincare and wellness products are not only handmade, but limited edition as well. We produce them in small quantities and without any preservatives, in order to stay true to the inherent goodness of the ingredients.

Our products are not traditional but come from tradition and from our belief that what you cannot eat should not be put on your skin. The oils, herbs, and spices that go into our creations are sourced from all over India – from Himachal to Kerala – with some even coming from across the oceans, which is why the end result is near perfect. Each eco-friendly, natural ingredient has neither preservatives nor chemicals – just pure, authentic skin care.

Artisanal Skincare is the brainchild of Shivani and Akanksha. Shivani is a reiki practitioner and yoga teacher, and a lifelong believer that Mother Nature has answers to most things. Akanksha is an award winning wildlife filmmaker with a deep connect with nature and wilderness that only few people have. Our collective belief in the healing power of nature is what gave birth to Artisanal Skincare. To present traditional skincare recipes with a modern twist. We come from India but our sensibilities are of the world.

Each magical mix is derived from our travels, and recipes passed down from our grandmothers. Take that, and our focus on the miracles of nature, and you have Artisanal Skincare. In fact, we are so committed to delivering nothing short of perfection that all our products have been tried and tested on our family and friends before being made commercially available. This also tells you that we do not test on animals.

Free from preservatives, chemicals, and essences, and packaged in recycled plastic, we believe that nature delivers best when used without adulteration. Hence most our products are available in powdered form. This helped us to avoid preservatives, and increase the shelf life of the products. Apart from lasting longer, our products are in powder form for ease of travel and limiting spillage.

Precise instructions on our back label also enable you to use the product accurately, without wastage. And that is the least we could do to contribute towards the environment.

Welcome to the world of Artisanal Skincare.

We thank you for using our products and hope you enjoy them as much as we loved creating them.

Note: The brand recently had a makeover and they now operate under the new identity of 'Artisanal Skincare'. 

Ingredients:

Green Gram, Orange Peels, Basil, Red Rice Flour, Kasturi Manjal, Orange Blossoms, Sandalwood, Neem (since my skin is allergic to neem, so I had requested the brand to omit it from the jar that was sent to me). The product has now been reformulated, with the addition of Garbanzo Bean Flour, whereas rest of the ingredients remain the same.

Orange Blossom Face Scrub, comes in a plastic jar with a screw lid that shuts tight making the jar travel friendly. The scrub is powdery in consistency and fine in texture with a faint smell of oranges. I got this product when the brand was running an offer and they were generous enough to send me a 100 gm pack even though I had ordered a 50 gm jar.

Made of orange blossoms and orange peels I got this product primarily to use as a daily cleanser in hot summer months as my skin gets quite tanned and the T-Zone gets oily. The orange blossoms and orange peels are loaded with Vitamin C, which helps in banishing acne, blemishes and reducing blackheads. Addition of Kasturi Manjal (wild turmeric) and Red Rice Flour makes it effective for the absorption of extra oil and take away the sun tan while gently removing dead skin cells.

In order to use the product, I take desired quantity in my palm, added a few drops of water (floral hydrosols and milk can be used as well) to create a paste and scrub it very gently across my face in small circular motions while focusing more on my nose and forehead. The product works really well as a cleanser because it's super gentle and exfoliates the skin, without any abrasiveness. If you want to use the product as a scrub, I would advice to skip creating a paste and instead use the dry powder on a damp face using gentle circular motions. After using it for 3-4 times a week for about 3 months, I noticed that my skin feels fresh as it removes every trace of dirt, dead skin cells and the extra oil effectively without stripping the skin off its natural oils. The complexion of my skin appears brighter and clearer while the it does not appear dull anymore. People with oily skin and sensitive skin, troubleshoot your skincare woes with this product!

Would I recommend:

Absolutely. Indulge in the goodness straight from nature's lap.

Face packs have been in use since time immemorial and are one of the effective methods to take care of skincare woes. I am a face pack hoarder and unintentionally, I have a face pack for every concern in my stash, WHOA. So, a couple of months ago when it was way too humid here and I was experiencing my occasional acne bout, I had to pick this face mask up. Keep reading to know if it was a hit or miss. 

About The Product:

Why Indulge in Pure Suds Skin Treats Black-Out Face Gel Mask?

Activated Bamboo Charcoal, Rose-Geranium Essential Oil, Tea Tree Hydrosol, Lavender Hydrosol, Glycerine. 

My Experience:

Pure Suds Black Out Face Gel Pack comes in a plastic jar with a gold coloured screw lid that shuts tight. The packaging is sturdy which makes the jar perfect to travel with. The pack is jet black in colour and as the name suggests, it has a gel-like consistency. The pack is ready to use and requires no mixing.

When I first received the pack, I was totally expecting it to smell not so pleasant. But, upon removing the lid, I was encapsulated by the enchanting rose-geranium aroma. The aroma is not strong therefore people with sensitive noses will not be bothered. 

To use, I scoop out the required amount on a small plate and apply an even layer on clean and dry skin. I let the pack sit for 7-8 minutes as the instructions on the pack read and tadah, upon rinsing I am greeted with a skin that looks fresh, supple and toned. The excess grime and oil are removed and neither does the skin feel parched nor stretchy. I have observed that while the pack is on the skin, it causes a bit of warm tingly sensation around the nose area and I was informed regarding this by Mrs. Doshi, the founder of the brand. According to her, it's the working of the active ingredients in the pack and the sensation subsides quickly and I was delighted to find her claim about the product to be true. The sensation does subside within a short span and causes no redness. However, a patch test is recommended for any allergies. 

This pack is enriched with a stellar ingredient like bamboo charcoal, which has the ability to absorb minerals, grime, excess oil and keeping acne at bay. I have used the pack consistently for over 5 months (2 times a week) and can confidently say that it does help in treating acne, preventing further breakouts and drawing out impurities from the skin without dehydrating it. However, as per product claims, I didn't notice any difference in blackheads and whiteheads. I have also observed that the mask leaves a black tint due to the presence of bamboo charcoal which could be removed using a toner. 

Yays:

• Availability.
• Didn't help in treating blackheads and whiteheads. 
• Leaves a black tint but that can be easily removed by using a toner.