Product Review - Marks & Spencers Floral Collection Lavender Moisturising Hand and Nail Cream

Hi,

My skin is super dry and esp the palms are very sensitive which gets worse when in contact with dish or laundry detergents. Being a housewife I have to deal with these on daily basis, and because of it my skin suffers a lot.

I have never used a hand cream. Dryness on my palms is way worse for a cream to handle. Please don't laugh at me when I say that I swear by using a foot cream on my palms while going to bed.

This time I tried a proper hand cream from M&S. Infact, I was very skeptical at time of buying it. But I had to because of its fragrance.

Now here I share my experience with the product.

Product Review - The Body Shop Strawberry Beautifying Oil

Hi Friends,

I have very dry skin which gets worse with changing weather and water conditions. Recent traveling and touring had taken a toll on my already dry skin, to an extend that it started flaking despite of use of heavy body lotions. I got a magic potion for myself, named - Beautifying Oil - from The Body Shop.

 

Skin Care routine for Dry skin with Acne

Hi Friends,

What can be more frustrating than oily skin with acne ???? No points for guessing .. Its Dry skin with Acne .. 

Dry skinned people can not even make out what is aggravating acne on their skin as they think that oil is the main culprit for forming acne. 

I would insist on reading the article here to clear doubts about How acne is formed - 

http://shwetasarawgi.blogspot.in/2012/12/what-is-acne.html  

Now that we know that oil, dead skin and bacteria play major part in forming acne, the question arises that where does oil comes from in dry skin? We all have some form of oil in our skin whether it dry or oily. Plus excessive oil from moisturizers add to this oil. Some people with dry skin get so desperate to soothe their skin that they use very rich moisturizers with heavy grease that can clog pores. Dry scaly skin adds on to the dead skin accumulation.

Now coming onto the products to use for treating acne.

Same as my last post over acne : http://shwetasarawgi.blogspot.in/2013/03/skin-care-routine-for-acne-prone-skin.html

The key ingredient in fighting Acne are :

• Benzoyl Peroxide, and 
• Glycolic Acid 

Morning Routine:


Cleansing : I would suggest using a Benzoyl Peroxide face wash ( my preference is Benzoyl Peroxide 4% Creamy Wash). Dry skinned people can even use some Facewashes specifically meant for dry skin like:

• Lush Angels On Bare Skin 
• Cetaphil cleansing lotion for sensitive skin 
• Dove Beauty Moisture Face Wash 
• Oilatum cleansing bar 

Toning : Toning is important for acne issues. Otherwise in general I suggest to avoid Toning for dry skin. Don't use Alcohol based toner at all. My best pick would be rose water for dry skin. You can slo try

• Biotique Bio Honey Water Lightening Freshener, 
• Dabur Gulabari, 
• Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner. 

Spot Treatment : Use a Benzoyl Peroxide ointment as a spot treatment. I prefer Persol gel (5%) for beginners, Then slowly move to Persol Forte Cream which is 10% Benzoyl Peroxide with precipitated sulphur 5%. But Persol Forte should be used later when you get used to 5% concentration.
Apply this ointment just on the spots and let it dry. You can skip this step if your acne is not very annoying.

Sunscreen : Apply Sunscreen According to your skin type. Don't avoid this step. It is extremely Important step.



Evening / Night Routine :

Cleansing : Same as Above.

Toning : Same as Above.

Glycolic Ointment : This is the time to use a Glycolic based ointment. My personal favorite is Glyco -A. It is cheap and effective. The best Glycolic based ointment I have ever used. I use this every day. It is an excellent excellent excellent exfoliator, keeps open pores, black heads , white heads at bay. And the best part is it isn't expensive. I dont have to burn a hole in my pocket to get salon worthy exfoliation. I recommend this to everyone no matter what their skin type is.
Apply tiny pea sized amount to entire face , avoid going too close to eyes. rub it into the skin and let it get absorbed for 2-3 min.
Glycolic is very effective for dry skin as it helps in shedding that dry scaly skin better than a physical exfoliator.

Spot Treatment : Same as above.

Moisturizing : This is the most important step for dry skin. The market is flooded with so many moisturizers. Choose one which is non-pore-clogging. My top picks are :

• Cetaphil Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating Lotion (for Dry to Very Dry Skin) (pharmacy) 
• Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion (pharmacy) 
• Oilatum Cream (pharmacy) 
• Oilatum Lotion (pharmacy) 

There are numerous excellent products in market. Choose any according to your budget and availability.

Other Skin Care Routine:

• Avoid pricking any Pus acne. the pus will spread to other parts and cause new pimples. 
• Squeezing pimples will leave scars. 
• Scrub twice a week. Gently in morning. The day you scrub avoid using Spot Treatment (Benzoyl Peroxide) immediately after that. 
• Start using spot treatment as soon as you see a acne surfacing. 
• Stop using spot treatment as soon as acne clear off. No need to apply it on heeled skin. 
• Continue Using Facewash with Benzoyl Peroxide as a preventive treatment. It will help new acne from forming. 
• Once acne have cleared You can alternate between Benzoyl Peroxide and Glycolic Based Facewash. 
• Glycolic based ointment will help with lightening acne scars. Continue using it everyday. 
• Try this Routine for atleast 2 weeks if still you dont find acne getting better consult a doctor and get antibiotics prescription. 
• Moisturizing is integral part of dry skin routine, try and wash hands before applying moisturizer. 
• Always consult a doctor if condition remains unaffected or worsens. 

Stay Beautiful :)

Shweta

HomeMade Body Scrub for dry rough skin

Hello,

Suffering from Dry Rough winter skin??? 

To scrub away the winter blues let the Kitchen Cabinet to come to the rescue ..

Relaxing Guacamole Body Scrub 

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup mashed avocado
• 1 tbsp milk cream
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• A few drops of lavender, or your favorite essential oil (optional)

Process:

Stir ingredients together in a large bowl until well mixed. Use in the shower or bath to exfoliate elbows, knees, heels, or any dry, scaly areas. Rinse well. 

Avocado and olive oil both contain fatty acids to replenish your skin’s natural protective barrier. In fact, some of my patients with rashes such as eczema or “winter itch” prefer olive oil and other natural oils to soothe their sensitive skin because these oils don’t sting or irritate. Lavender is a scent commonly used in aromatherapy — they've been shown to help you sleep more soundly. Consider adding a few drops of this oil if you scrub before bedtime. 

There are many more packs to choose from - read more about Home-Made Packs

Do you like doing Body Polishing at home?? try my method of Body Polishing this winter season.

For face I have just the perfect Face Pack-cum- Scrub recipe


Stay Beautiful,
Shweta

My Skin Care Routine

My skin is very unpredictable, it changes with season, places I reside and water hardness. It behaves best when I am in my home town, Water there is very soft and probably i have been accustomed to the weather there. We cannot have all the good things all the time :-/ .

My current skin care routine is what I would like to share with you, as I have recently moved back to India and my skin had to face some drastic weather changes. It took me around 2 months to get my skin accustomed to these changes. But now it’s doing pretty well. So here is my Basic routine.

Foreword:

I am living in a very humid climate down south (no winters), my skin had been very dry earlier, i had acne breakouts instantly as we reached here. Oiliness (majorly because of humidity), open pores, white heads and black heads became a regular problem.

I had a talk with my dermatologist before I started with this regime. I suffered from all the dreadful effects of the key ingredients, majorly skin redness, peeling and burning sensation as few ingredients were new to me and for others concentration was increased. I took all the possible precautions and overcame the effects.

I have been using Glycolic acid peel (35%) since last 3 years and my skin loves it. Glycolic acid peels refreshes my skin, exfoliates, removes tan, white heads, blackheads and kept my skin soft and supple over these years. I was particularly impressed by the way it has kept my skin wrinkle free. (Touch wood).My Doc here, asked me to continue with my fortnightly glycolic peel regime along with an additional lower concentration (10%) daily usage.     

I used Salicylic acid 2% as an active ingredient in my face wash every day since last three years. Juggling between two products of major skincare brands. My Doc here asked me to increase the concentration to 12% ointment to be used once a day for 2 weeks.

Benzoyl Peroxide is a new component my dermatologist added to my skincare regime. She asked me to use 10% benzoyl peroxide directly onto the acne as spot treatment. This was to be used once a day for 2 weeks in a row.

Hydroquinone was given to me as an anti-scar solution for the nasty mosquito bite scars I had developed in initial days of my stay. (I guess mosquitoes were lured to a fresh supply of blood and therefore decided to bite me more than anyone else in home). I have been applying this on the scars of my hands and legs with definite improvement, but I have yet to see them gone.

My Routine:

Morning:

Step 1. Face wash (Garnier Pure Anti-Blackheads Deep Pore wash, I bought this one in U.K., but I have found exact product in India too, see here. It’s probably one of the best face washes I have ever used; it contains Salicylic acid and Polyethylene particles.)

Step 2. Toner ( Rose water or Alum, Depends on the weather, if it’s too humid I like using alum for not more than 1 min and it takes away the oiliness for few hours. Otherwise, Rose water)

Step 3. Sunscreen (Lotus 3-in-1 Matte Look Daily Sunblock)

Step 4. Salicylic acid Ointment (Salicylix SF 12*, it’s a 12% concentration ointment, it caused me lot of burning sensation at first, but my skin got use to it, if someone who is new to salicylic acid this high concentration is not advisable. I use it as a spot treatment on my occasional acne, whiteheads and blackheads).

Step 5. Moisturizer ( De Tuinen aloe vera hydraterend Day & Nacht, bought this from Amsterdam, and I love it, its light and moisturizing)

Evening (before bed time):

Step 1. Face wash

Step 2. Toner

Step 3. Glycolic Acid Ointment (Glyco-A*, its glycolic acid 12%, to be used on entire face. I don’t see a lot of difference with this product but other products better in conjugation with this one).

Step 4. Benzoyl Peroxide Ointment (Persol Forte Cream*, this is 10% benzoyl peroxide with added benefits of Sulphur 5%, to be used as spot treatment on acne, I used this over my open pores and whiteheads, this caused me extreme peeling and dryness, but when the dead skin peeled off, it reduced the appearance of open pores by 90%, blackheads too are totally eliminated, but whiteheads still persist but have reduced to an extent. I have stopped using this product after two week exactly and I don’t have any breakouts later. But again it is a very high percentage for new users or one with sensitive skin).

Step 5. Hydroquinone Ointment (Lomela*, this is 2% concentration ointment, it has reduced the mosquito bite scars, but I guess I need a higher percentage to get rid of them. I scrub my hands and feet mildly with a pumice stone while in shower to remove the dead skin. And have used Glycolic Acid peel 35% twice in past one month, I haven’t used it on my face, but I guess it’s good to use on acne scars as well, but u have to be very careful with this, it should not be used on open wounds or sensitive skin. Plus it should not be used along with Benzoyl peroxide as it can cause extreme burning, redness and peeling).

Other Skin care stuff I use:

1.  Lakme Winter care lotion and Botique Morning Nectar Lotion as my body lotion.
2. I have used Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Gold Ultra Restorative Capsules Intensive Treatment and loved it, but can’t afford it usually.
3. I have used H2O Plus Sea Results Overnight Perfecting Peel, it was the first product which introduced me to Glycolic acid, loved it, but it’s kind of mild for me now.
4. I occasionally use Biotique Fruit Face pack and Biotique Milk Protein Face pack.
5. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream (not available in India) is the best cream I have ever used; I have asked a relative returning from US to bring it for me.
6. I don’t use any fairness product and I am strictly against it.
7. I have given up on treating my dark circles as they are hereditary, I still use Biotique Almond undereye cream before makeup if my skin is very dry. 

P.S. Anyone who wants to try the above stated products should try it on their own risk, this post is solely my skincare routine and i don't advice anyone to follow it blindly. 

* marked ointments are prescribed by my Doctor and can be found only in medical stores.

Stay Beautiful :)

Shweta 

Are You Eating Foods That Are Good for Your Skin?

Keep the focus on healthy foods. Low-fat proteins, complex carbs, and vitamin-packed fruits and vegetables provide the building blocks for beautiful skin.

Keep tabs on your alcohol consumption. One alcoholic drink a day won't cause damage, but in excess, alcohol can cause problems. Enjoy alcohol in moderation if you want a healthier complexion.

Stay hydrated. Keep that water bottle handy — by drinking plenty of H2O (or eating it, in water-packed fruits and vegetables like watermelon, blueberries, tomatoes, and peppers), you ensure your body stays hydrated and will keep your skin supple and glowing.

Limit sweets and baked goods. Studies are finding that sugars can damage your skin's collagen, weakening the cells and speeding the development of wrinkles and sagging. So stick with whole grains, such as quinoa and barley, and whole-grain pastas and breads on the carb front, and keep limiting your intake of sweets — that'll help keep your skin looking good.

Eat your vitamins. Look for ways to add even more antioxidant-rich foods — like berries, dark, leafy vegetables, and even unsalted roasted peanuts — to your diet. You'll be helping your skin fight off the damage that can cause premature aging and sagging.

Keep eating healthy fats. Nutritionists recommend that people eat omega-3-rich fish like salmon, carp, albacore tuna, and sea bass at least twice a week — along with such plant-based omega-3 sources as flaxseed and walnuts on a daily basis. You'll not only reap the benefits with healthier skin, but you may preserve your heart's health and prevent certain types of cancer as well.

Stock up on green tea. Most studies suggest that a cup or two of green tea a day is all it takes to reap the benefits of its potent antioxidants — so try to drink at least a cup a day.

Reasons for Exfoliation

Hi,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Do you have anyone or more than one of the given problems?

• Skin looks dark and tiered; it has lost its glow and luster
• Doesn't looks smooth
• Uneven coloring
• Spots on face
• Visible Large pores
• Black heads and white heads
• Pimples and blemishes
• Lines & Wrinkles 
• Makeup doesn't goes on evenly
• Makeup makes u look dull instead of making it look smoother

If you have these problems than you must resort to exfoliation. It is the single most effective treatment for all (well most) of the skin problems. 

Try products with Glycolic Acid. Start with lower strength like 10-12%, then move on to higher strengths like 25-30%. Unfortunately, in India, most of us are not aware of Glycolic Acid. Well, to introduce you to this product in short I can say that this is THE gold standard in skin care.  I'll do a detailed post if request.

In India, 10-12% creams are easily available at the pharmacies. Although I would suggest to consult your dermatologist before use.  Glycolic acid is the product which is used for chemical peels by all the dermatologists and skin care institutes world wide.

For any reason if someone doesn't wants to use glycolic acid, they can stick with physical exfoliation.

But the bottom line is, Exfoliation, no matter which product is being used, is the single most important step in skin care.

Stay Beautiful :)

Shweta  

HomeMade Face Pack For Dry Skin

Let the kitchen cabinet come to rescue your dry skin.

Things you will need:

 1 Tbsp Red Masoor Dal,
 1 Tbsp Chironji Dana,
 1/2 Tbsp Honey,
 1/2 Tbsp Milk Cream,
 a pinch of Turmeric,
 Few Lemon Drops,
 Raw Milk to soak.

Soak Red Masoor Dal and Chironji dana for over night in raw milk.Grind this into a thick coarse paste. Add other ingredients to this paste. Apply the face pack on face and neck and leave it for 20-25 mins, when almost dry rub gently with moist fingers. Apply this twice or thrice a week, this pack helps to cleanse and nourish dry skin. 

Red Masoor Dal is an excellent scrub, Chironji Dana is good source for antioxidants, its rich and creamy texture helps to restore oil in dry skin, it also helps with blemishes and dark spots. Honey and Milk cream are known for healing dryness. Lemon is again rich in Vitamin C and helps clear blemishes.  

Stay Beautiful :)
Shweta

Having Dry Cracked Heels?

Hi,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Not ATTRACTIVE right?? Having dryness on the foot which seems to go nowhere, no matter how much moisturizer you apply? Then this post is for you!

First thing first. Having permanent dryness around the foot and toes, which looks like skin flaking and no moisturizer helps it then probably you should turn to your doctor and ask for anti- fungal treatment as it is Athlete’s foot.  

And if it is not Athlete’s foot, you simply have dry cracked heels then give the following method a try.

Method

• Dip your foot in warm water and soap solution. Slowly scrub the dead skin off, remove any dust and dirt which may infect the cracked wounds. Add a few drops of an anti-bacterial solution like Dettol or Salvon to the water.
• Pat dry your feet and apply some foot cream and wear cotton socks.
• I suggest doing this before bed time.

Explanation

Dipping feet in water soapy solution with an anti-bacterial solution serves three purposes. Firstly, warm water soothes out pain and ace. Secondly, soap removes the dirt build-up. And thirdly, Anti-bacterial helps to prevent from infection causing germs. Pretty self-explanatory.

Scrubbing removes the dead skin already present.

Foot cream (esp. medicated) helps the cracks to heel quick. And wearing socks ensures that the cream doesn't get rubbed off on the bedsheet, while sleeping.

And doing this at bedtime aids foot to relax and gives ointment time to do its work.

Products

My THE favorite product in this category has always been

Krack foot cream 

Then there are many others like:

Biotique Bio Costus Foot Cream 

Himalaya Foot Care Cream

Scholl Cracked Heel Repair Cream

Stay Beautiful :)
Shweta

Rough knees and elbows?

How to heal rough dry knees and elbows 

Hi,

Rough and flaking skin on knees and elbows is not necessarily dry skin. It can be result of many different process like inflammation on the skin and thickening of the skin.

Explanation

This is because when skin is injured, it either darkens or thickens or both. Knees and elbows get injured by normal kneeling and rubbing on daily basis. This causes the skin in these areas to thicken and darken. And that thickened skin develops these flakes, which we tend to think as dry skin.

Solution

The solution is an exfoliant, which will remove the thickened skin. Try using a pumice stone on to the problem area. Just gently rub it onto the knees and elbows (try bending the joint so the skin is stretched) along with some gentle soap. And after washing it off with water, apply a thick moisturizer or petroleum jelly. Do this every alternate day.

Once a while, a homemade scrub can also be applied. Raw potatoes ar
e even good as they have bleaching properties. Soon you will have clean and soft skin. This is same as pedicure, but for knees and elbows. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen when you go out with these areas exposed.

Products

 Pumice Stone

These are available in all shapes and sizes. I love using Faces pumice with brush, Just for the fact that it has a handle and is soft to use.

Petroleum Jelly

What other than Vaseline.

Homemade Scrub

1. 1 tbsp Besan (gram flour),
2. a pinch of turmeric,
3. Milk Cream to bind.

This scrub can be applied. When dry, rub gently with moist fingers. Rinse. 

There are many more packs to choose from - read more about  Home-Made Packs

Do you like doing Body Polishing at home?? try my method of Body Polishing this winter season.

And if winter is giving you bad dry patchy skin, You just might like the Avocado at home scrub  too.  

For face I have just the perfect Face Pack-cum- Scrub recipe 

Stay beautiful J

Shweta

Winter skin and Hot water bath

      Hi,    

Winter is approaching, weather has already started changing. And everyone loves to have a hot water bath to get rid of the chilliness in the air. Relaxing right? Relaxing yes! But is it good for our skin no!  Dry flaky skin is a penalty we pay for the having beautiful winters and hot water baths.

Hot water overdries the skin. It does that by opening the pores of the skin. By opening the pores you loose more moisture that makes your skin dry. Hot water may relive itching that you already have, but is really bad.  After 15 mins or so, after u bath with hot water there is a reflex release of a compound, Histamine ( as when a mosquito bite causes your body to release more histamine in the area of the bite, making your skin red and itchy), and this makes your skin itch even more. Solution- Use warm water.

If you have an option of choosing between having a bath and shower, chose to bath. This way the skin absorbs more moisture.

And remember the grandma’s way of adding oil to the bath. Please don’t do that. This way oil will coat the skin and prevent moisture being absorbed into the skin.

Always Pat dry, don’t rub dry. Rubbing the skin with towel irritate the skin even more.

Use a rich moisturizer right away on the body after the bath. This will help to “lock in” whatever moisture the skin picked up in the bath. Like Lakme Fruit Moisture Winter Care Lotion Honey and Avacado, Oilatum lotion, Dove Indulgent Nourishment etc. 

Hope winter treats you well

Stay beautiful J

Shweta