Patanjali (Baba Ramdev) Products: Aloe Vera Gel Review + 2 Soaps overview

Hola ladies! Or should I say Namaste Bhaktjano ;) as today I am about to review a few, very desi products!!
I hope you guys remember my Patanjali products haul at the very beginning of this year! Well, I took my own sweet time to try them out. The main reason was that, it wasn't working as I expected it to, during the winters, so I waited for the weather to change to see some different results. Was it different? Read on!

PRICE: Rs.75

QUANTITY: 150 ml

WHAT IT CLAIMS: USEFUL IN REJUVENATING, NURISHING, BEAUTIFYING AND GLORIFYING SKIN, HELPS IN RETAINING HEALTHY SKIN.

INGREDIENTS:

MY EXPERIENCE: I was very keen to try out the Patanjali products as I heard a lot of good things about their range and all the products are oh-so-affordable. I thought of starting with their Aloe Vera gel. Prior to this I have never used any aloe-vera gel from any brand or in its natural form. So I had nothing to compare it to. However, I expected that an organic product won't be harmful to my skin. So I went ahead and bought it. I started using it in lieu of moisturiser for my face. But it tightened and further dried out my dry skin like anything. After a few more tries, with some resultant breakouts (yes it is sensitive too..like me :P) I thought of giving it a break and wait for the season to change. I don't blame the gel for the breakouts but the dryness it caused might have resulted in excess sebum secretion and thus the breakouts. My milia got aggravated too (I don't know if this product was the culprit) and I had to consult a doc :( However, my mom became a fan of it from first use (and she also has dry skin) and she said it really gives a good feeling on her skin and asked me to get another tube for her.

Now, that the weather has got really hot here, when I don't feel like putting heavy creams on my face as my face turns really oily, I use this before going out, but first I moisten my face with Liz Earle toner and let it settle for a few seconds and then massage in the gel. It helps to keep the oiliness and stickiness at bay for a few hours. It also brightened up my complexion to some extent (not the fairness cream claim type). But it didn't do anything for the acnes or dark spots. To sum it up,

WHAT I LIKED:

•  It is quite a nice replacement for the heavy creams during summers for my dry combination skin.
• It helps to keep my skin dry to some extent.
• It brightened up my face on regular usage.
• Cost effective for the quantity.
• Effective packaging and you can see how much of the product is left. 

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:

• Caused breakouts due to extreme dryness of skin during winters. 
• Not a sole reason maybe, but my milia got aggravated post using this.
• Didn't work on acne/spots till now.

 

RATINGS: 3 out of 5

I would also like to give some overviews/mini reviews on the two soaps I bought along with the aloe vera gel. Though I have used them up long ago but didn't find anything extraordinary about them to write full reviews.

INGREDIENTS: 

KANTI ALOE VERA - 75GM     

Rs.12.00

SOMYA HALDI-CHANDAN -75GM     

Rs.12.00 

Both the soaps are mild and didn't dry out my skin. I didn't see any commendable improvement of my skin but they are quite nice, regular priced bathing soaps. As you can see from the ingredients list it is made from organic substances. However, I am not too thrilled to see Goumutra as an ingredient in the aloe vera soap (which I just noticed while uploading the pics). I know its quite a holy product in India and is used in many *pujas* for purification purposes of body and soul and such, but listing it as the ingredient is giving me the creeps!! In cases like these I would rather welcome the brands to suppress this kind of information. It's better for me to not know :P! 

RATINGS: 4 out of 5

VERDICT: I must belong to some weird species for whom cosmetic/un-natural products works better than natural/organic products and this has been the case for most of the herbal/natural products I have used till date, so I am not complaining about this range. The aloe vera gel might suit oily skinned ladies better than the dry skinned ones. 

Have you tried out these products?  Share your experiences with me!

Winner: Jamberry Nails Giveaway

Thanks to all the lovely people who entered the giveaway, inspite of the little glitch in the rafflecopter form as it wasn't working on some browsers.My giveaway has ended, and its time to pick up a winner :D.

UPDATE: The previous winner didn't contact me within the stipulated time. Hence a new winner is selected!

So the winner is,

DAWN M.

 Melita

Congratulations Melita :D I will emailing you in a few minutes. You have 48 hours to respond and claim your prize. Else, I would have to select another winner.

Others, who didn't win or didn't enter, please don't be disheartened, there will be many more giveaways coming up soon.So stay tuned :D

Read more »

PR Info: Illamasqua's SS12 Human Fundamentalism Collection

An explosion of your alter ego, Human Fundamentalism is about becoming who you are and not what society tells you to be. Beauty isn’t about conformity but the fundamental human desire to express your inner beauty on the outside. rise above mainstream limitations and join our world where individuality is received with celebration not derision: break the mould to show strength not instability. embracing our glorious imperfections and showing the world we’re not ordinary but extraordinary is what Illamasqua stands for.
We’re beyond conformity, celebrating instead freedom of expression.
We’re beyond hiding who we really are.
We are not a religion, but the singular opposite.
We are Illamasqua.



“Human Fundamentalism is the unique spirit and fundamental human drive for individuality. It’s a belief, a movement and an emotion. A connection with the spirit of the age and its global motifs. You are your own human hybrid, a unique nomad of street cultures and global trends.”
Alex Box, Illamasqua Creative Director.


Human Fundamentalism is a celebration of humanity’s connection with colour, where blinding flashes of kaleidoscopic pigment provides a sharp contrast to warmer tones, resulting in a saturated palette that catapults your alter ego to the next level of self-expression. Mix contrasting textures – including a myriad of matts, glorious creams and rich metallics… to express your true self. This is nonconformity at its most fundamental and at its unpredictable best.

''Human Fundamentalism to me is physical expression of your self-belief, sharing your opinions with colour that shape the narrative of your thoughts and inner self. It is a statement of conviction and colour confidence, it states, this is me and now see what I see, be tinted by how I express colour and behold an oblivion to social convention and constraints.''
David Horne, Illamasqua Director of New Product Development



Products:
Powder Eye Shadow (£15.00)
An explosion of highly pigmented Powder Eye Shadows in six bold shades: Burst (Blue Green), Cancan (Lilac Purple), Pivot (Yellow Green), Vernau (Yellow Ochre) Obsidian (Rich Black), and Sex (Pure White). Intense and long-lasting the easily blendable shades express every aspect of your humanity.

Sealing Gel (£10.50)
A single drop of Sealing Gel turns any powder product into a water-resistant, colour-intense paste, perfect for adorning your face and body with bold tribal stripes, intricate gentle lines or bold geometric patterns of pigment. Use with Human Fundamentalism Powder Eye Shadows to unleash your artistic potential.

Palettes (£30.00)
Fundamental Palette – The Fundamental Palette is a playground for self-expression, created to allow you to experiment with contrasting textures, from glistening Liquid Metal in molten pewter to matt Cream Pigment in mint green. Coupled with two vibrant Powder Eye Shadows in Inception (Rich Violet) and Hype (Bold Yellow) this palette demands nonconformity.

Neutral Palette – Create sculpted highlights and stark contours anywhere on your face and body with these four fundamental Powder Eye Shadows. From new matt shades in Stealth (Creamy Buttermilk), Wolf (Chocolate Brown) and Vintage (Antiqued Gold) – a shade exclusive to this palette - to the accents of Obsidian (Rich Black), express your inner light and darkness in a rich riotous glamour.

Precision Ink (£17.00) - In pure white, our Precision Ink in Scribe is the ultimate anti-liner - subvert expectations and highlight the unconventional, creating white-lined eyes and white-out brows with Precision Ink’s super-fine tip. Waterproof and extremely long-lasting, Precision Ink also makes the perfect nail art pen! Just apply on top of any shade of Nail Varnish then seal with Illamasqua Top Coat.

Nail Varnish (£13.50)-New Nail Varnishes in Nomad (Bright Jade) and Stance (Bright Mauve) are fearlessly fresh and vibrant. High-gloss and packed with pigment, they are the most stunning shades of idiosyncrasy.

Lipstick (£15.50)- Dare to be you by choosing our vibrant new Lipstick shade, Apocalips (Bright Teal). This stunning turquoise blue shade speaks of uncompromising self-expression, the fundamental desire to stand out and a deep connection with the power of pure colour. However, if your alter ego manifests itself in the richest of reds, our deep scarlet Lipstick in Box [named after our Creative Director Alex Box, who designed it!] takes you way beyond conformity.

Skin Base Foundation Shade Au (£25) Limited Edition- When the world says blend in, we say stand out - Skin Base Foundation in Au [the chemical symbol for gold] contains micro flecks of subtle metallic shimmer combined with our cult BB cream-inspired foundation that smoothes, softens and conditions your skin. Mix with foundation for a subtle glow, underneath for a luminous glow, or go all out and transform yourself in to a gilded god or goddess.

Human Fundamentalism is available from March 15th 2012

www.illamasqua.com

www.illamasqua.com/socialise

Lotus Herbals Gorgeous Natural Diva Kit Review

Hey girlies! I am back again after a brief lull in posting! I got a nice little surprise in my mail some two weeks back in the form of the Gorgeous Natural Diva Kit by Lotus Herbals.

The Kit consists of :

• Lotus Herbals Colour Dew Nail Enamel in Crimson Red 912
• Lotus Herbals Natural Blend Swift Makeup SPF 15  in shade Natural Beige 720
• Lotus Herbals Pure Color Lipstick in shade Red Rose 612

The kit is available on an offer price of Rs 499 (original price of the 3 products Rs 593).

I would do a summarized review of the first two as I have already reviewed the two products before on my blog and a detailed review of the Lotus Herbals Pure Color Lipstick. So get ready for a pretty long pic heavy post! :D

Lotus Herbals Colour Dew Nail Enamel in Crimson Red 912:

Lotus Herbals Colour Dew Nail Enamel is available in 10 beautiful shades. I was happy to receive the Crimson Red 912 in the kit, which is a pretty Valentine red that never looks OTT. It is perfect for weddings or parties. 

PRICE:  Rs.99 

QUANTITY: 8 ml

SWATCH:

The swatch is only one thick coat. It gives a glossy finish to the nails which I quite like but it forms tiny bubbles on 1-2nails which is quite irritating. You can read my full review on Lotus Herbals Colour Dew Nail Enamel here.

Lotus Herbals Natural Blend Swift Makeup SPF 15  in shade Natural Beige 720 Review:

 Lotus Herbals Natural Blend Swift Makeup SPF 15 is a 4-in-1 stick foundation. The previous shade I bought from this range was a mismatch, but the Natural Beige 720 blends with my skintone perfectly.

PRICE:  Rs.249

QUANTITY: 10g

SWATCH:

 

I don't dare to use it as a foundation as it is a bit heavy but as a concealer (ya this shade works for me) and as an eye makeup base. You can read my full review on Lotus Herbals Natural Blend Swift Makeup SPF 15 here.


Lotus Herbals Pure Color Lipstick in shade Red Rose 612:

Since I am a fairly new user of  lipsticks, I haven't tried this oh-so-affordable and pretty shades from Lotus Herbals Pure Color Lipstick range.

PRICE:  Rs.225

QUANTITY: 4.2 g

WHAT IT CLAIMS: ‘Pure Colors’ is a range of 12 exciting moisturizing lip colors in pinks and browns. There are 6 shades of each type. They have natural extracts of Jojoba and Aloe Vera. The unique product qualities are: – Uniform dispersion of pigments – Rich payoff – Smooth application

Active ingredients :
JOJOBA – Jojoba helps promote healing of the skin. – Its antimicrobial properties in addition to the chemical composition that closely resembles skin’s natural sebum, makes it easy to absorb and non-allergic even in the most sensitive individual.

SWATCHES:

MY EXPERIENCE: I had mixed feelings when I got this shade, as I have told you guys many times that red lippies are not my forté. But, Lotus Herbals Pure Color Lipstick in shade Red Rose is not a bright in-your-face red, rather it a subtle red hovering more on a deeper pink side and makes it wearable. But, it is still too dark for my liking. However the shade changes color in different lighting, like, it looks more pink on my lips (in normal daylight) but deep red on my hand (which is nearer to the actual shade) like in the swatches above. Other than that, I found this lipstick to be very moisturizing (I tried it directly on dry lips and it made them considerably soft) and gives a satin finish, much like the Lotus Herbals MoistPetals™ Lipstick. To sum it up,

WHAT I LIKED:

• It is a creamy and moisturizing lipstick that gives a satiny finish and feels quite light.
• Doesn't feather or bleed much or transfer to teeth. (Yes I had that experience :"> )
• One swipe gives enough coverage.
• Doesn't settle into fine lines.
• Quite affordable for the quantity.
• The packaging is sturdy and travel friendly.
• Lasts more than 3 hours and leaves a slight tint on fading off.
• The shade brightens up your face.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:

• Transfers to objects very easily. I accidentally rub it off sometimes.
• The shade is too dark for my liking.

VERDICT: The range seems nice and I have heard a lot about it too from my fellow bloggers. Would love to try some other shades.

RATINGS:  4 out of 5

**Product sent by PR for consideration but it doesn't influence my honest opinion! Read my disclaimer.