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MAMAEARTH ALOE TURMERIC GEL FOR SKIN & HAIR REVIEW

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Have you ever noticed that whenever most of us hear the term ‘Aloe Vera’, we always pay some extra attention. 😁 Undoubtedly, Aloe has some magical benefits. But not all products based on Aloe Vera are excellent. In the market, there are hundreds of Aloe Vera gels. Some are heavily scented, some are tinted, some are the sources of all kinds of harmful chemicals.

What to do? Who to believe?

In the age of Social Media, sometimes, it is hard to trust someone. People or brands can be very misleading. In the name of serving ‘Natural’ products, what kinds of ingredients a particular brand is using, is impossible to tell. Most of the brands don't even provide the full ingredients list, which makes the whole thing shadier.

Anyway, my search for Natural Aloe Vera Gel is still on. And recently, I’ve come across a much-hyped product.

mamaearth Aloe Turmeric Gel

I have been using this Gel for the past 20 days. And I think it's time to share my experience regarding this much-promoted product.

About the Brand:

mamaearth is an Indian Skin & Haircare brand who claim to produce Natural products. Their products are free of harmful toxins like Parabens, Mineral Oil, Silicones, etc.

About the product:

mamaearth Aloe Turmeric Gel for Skin & Hair

Some key features of the product:

SOOTHES RASHES, ACNE, PIMPLES
ANTI-BACTERIAL PROPERTIES
PROMOTES SKIN & HAIR HEALTH
MADE FROM ALOE VERA, TURMERIC, AND VITAMIN E

Key Ingredients list:

Aqua, Aloe Vera Extract, Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Turmeric Extract, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Vitamin E, Vitamin E, IFRA Certified Allergen Free Fragrance.

Price:

INR 249 for 150 ml. & INR 399 for 300 ml.

My journey with Aloe Vera Gels:

This is the very first mamaearth product I've ever used. They have been in the market for quite some time now. We get to hear all the raves from most of the Influencers about their ‘natural’ products.

I didn't decide to buy the product because of the raving, to be frank. I do not trust anyone except my own self in the matter of Skin or Hair care. I genuinely keep my eye in the skin care industry in search of an Aloe Vera Gel which would be

a) natural

b) a trust worthy brand

c) chemical and preservative free

I love Forest essential’s Aloe Vera Gel, but they are just so overpriced. You can go ahead and read the review here. Among other gels available in the market, I have tried many, but everybody has failed terribly to match my expectation. You can read about the famous The Face Shop Aloe Gel here.

Surprisingly, the Soundarya Aloe Gel from Patanjali suits me, but every time I use it, the green color keeps me a little agitated. Is it really natural? I wonder. And there is no full ingredients list available too.
Anyway, after all the 'natural' saga, I have decided to give mamaearth Aloe Turmeric Gel a shot.

My Experience:

I use Aloe Vera Gel every single day without fail. As I have certain eczema-prone areas on my body, it soothes the itchiness, calms down the redness, and inflammation big time.

I have been using this Aloe Turmeric Gel on my skin for the last 20 days. Texture-wise, they are an exact match to the Patanjali one. It is neither too runny nor very thick. It is very smooth in form. This makes the Gel easy to apply and glide into the skin. There is almost no fragrance except a faint hint. The smell is just like any medicated fragrance-free gel if you’ve used it ever. The gel is in the light yellow color. I guess it could come from the turmeric.

According to the brand, you can “Slather this gel from head to toe to moisturize skin & hair, to soothe sunburnt or shaved skin, and to soften dry or frizzy hair.”

One thing I am not at all happy about the brand is the fact that they have NOT provided the full ingredients list, only the key ingredients are mentioned. This is the first level on which one can trust a brand completely. I don’t understand why these brands don’t do that. I just hope they have not used any harmful chemicals or preservatives as they have claimed.

So far, it seems to be an 'ok' product. I am yet to try this on my hair. But my husband has used it on his hair to give it a little texture. And it works very nicely for that. I have thin eyebrows, and this Gel provides an excellent definition to my eyebrow without using any brow product.

It is a good gel, not a magical gel that once you start using this, all your skin problems will go out of the window. I don't think there is any magical skincare available in the market at any price. Some products do work wonders for our skin, and our skin definitely feels marvelous and magical. But to get healthy, glowing skin from within, you need to eat healthy, exercise, maintain a good lifestyle.

I think I am gonna continue using this for some time. This Gel has Aloe Vera which soothes the irritated skin, calms down Acne and Turmeric which has excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Together, they will come handy in protecting the Skin.

Where to buy:

You can buy it directly from mamaearth website. I've got mine from there.
It is also available on Amazon India.

Let me know if you’ve known of any other awesome Aloe Vera Gels. I would love to try them.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

#Health

AN ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR BUYING BEST STAINLESS-STEEL COOKWARE IN INDIA

Saturday, July 20, 2019

A few posts back, I've shared with you my share of experience about the best and safest Cookware. If you’ve read the previous post, then you already know, I prefer Stainless Steel and Cast-Iron cookware for my daily cooking. But if you haven’t read it yet, I would request you to read it first and come back to this one. The link is here.

Before I talk about some of the best Stainless-steel Cookware brands, first, let’s see how to choose the right Stainless-steel Cookware. Of course, all of you may be quite well-equipped already. But it is always handy to know a little more.

I am gonna spare the details of what Stainless-steel is. If you want to know, click here. In the local markets, you will get to see various Stainless-Steel Cookware, both by well-known brands and local manufacturers. The problems with most non-branded products are that most of the times, we really don’t have any ideas about their composition or their qualities. No one can tell surely what are the materials used, how much quantity is used. Apart from this, they are really lightweight, merely a few hundred grams, and not at all heavy duty. For Indian Cuisine, lightweight stainless steel is not much of a use. Why? Let’s find that out.

a) Most of the dishes in Indian cuisine require extreme heat

b) As lightweight steel cannot handle high heat, during cooking, the food gets stuck in the bottom. Therefore, it won’t be cooked properly.

c) Lightweight Stainless-steel Cookware is made with various other materials. The unknown substances can be reactive with excessive heat and can react badly with your cooked food. This can jeopardize our health.

So, am I telling, all branded Stainless-Steel Cookware are suitable for cooking and for your health? Or all local made products are non-trustworthy?

Not necessarily.

So, what are the options? How do we choose the best Cookware?

Let’s talk about that.

Irrespective of branding, the first and foremost idea should be choosing the best composition for the Stainless-steel in your Cookware. It not only ensures better health; it also yields longer durability. So, whenever you are planning to buy Stainless-steel Cookware for cooking, you must invest in a quality product. In that case, you may have to invest a decent price in the beginning, but that is gonna last you for at least 5-10 years if you maintain them well. So, if you do the math properly, you’ll see that actually the price you are paying is serving you well.

What are the qualities to look for while buying Stainless Steel Cookware?

1. The Grade of Cookware:

Make sure you are investing in Cookware made with 18/10 or 18/8 stainless steel. The first number stands for Chromium and the second number stands for Nickel. Chromium protects from stains and rust while Nickel gives a high gloss finish. Try to go for those brands who make Tri-ply Cookware, i.e., they consist of three layers (the inner and the outer layer are steel, while the middle layer is Aluminum for even heat retention)

2. Stainless-steel with an Aluminum Core (middle layer):

Pure stainless steel does not maintain heat well; therefore, food can't be cooked properly. If the middle base is made with Aluminum in the pots and pans, it retains the heat evenly. Hence, the food doesn’t stick at the bottom.

3. The Weight of Cookware:

Make sure, all the Cookware has heavyweight. All heavy-duty pots and pans are amazingly sturdy, durable. If the Cookware is hefty, that typically indicates the materials used during the manufacturing are quality products, and also all the necessary elements are used generously. The heavy pans help to cook food well and hold the heat evenly. They also protect the pots from dents and hotspots. Whereas light weighted utensils are susceptible to dents, they are non-durable, and you’ll see black or brownish spot after cooking.

4. Buy Cookware with Handles and Lids:

If your pots and pans have handles and lids, that always come handy. Because good brands preferably use cool touch handles, that means you don't need to use an extra dry cloth to hold them while cooking. And all the lids are made in a way so that they are adjusted well with the shape of the particular pot or pan. If the lids sit well, the food will be cooked in less time using the accumulated heat and moisture inside the pots.

5. Plan Well before buying new Pots and Pans:

Before you plan to buy a new cookware, just go to your Kitchen, take a look around, and think what will be the purpose of the new Cookware. Various sizes of pots and pans are available in the market for different dishes. Plan accordingly.

I’ve got a Stainless-steel Wok, a Saucepan, a Casserole, and a frying pan in my Kitchen. The Wok and Saucepan are being used daily for cooking lentils, sabji (vegetables), and curry recipes. I use the Casserole mainly for cooking various Chicken recipes as it is big in size, and lastly the Frying Pan is amazing for sautéing veges and even making various Breakfast Recipes like Omelette, Upma, Poha, etc.

Is Stainless-steel Cookware Safe to use?

Many researchers claim that as Stainless-steel cookware is made from Chromium, Nickel, and other heavy metals, they are not that safe. Similarly, many claim them to be absolutely non-reactive to food.

I am not a pro. But so far what I’ve studied, reveal that there is always a chance of a reaction. Then, what doesn't, right! So, it is important that you invest in well-known manufacturing brands because they take good and sensitive care during the making-process. We need to believe in somebody. And I think, rather than using Aluminum or Non-stick, Stainless-steel is a far… far better and one of the most convenient options.

P.S: Nowadays, many brands are bringing Nickel-free Stainless Steel Cookware which are more healthier option in general, and a better substitute for Nickel-allergic people.

Brands to go for:

Some brands in the world make the finest Stainless-steel cookware, like Cuisinart, Calphalon, All-Clad, etc.

Sadly, in India, they are not easily available. And even though you can find it online, it is crazily expensive. If budget is not an issue, then obviously go for them.

The brand I trust and have been using for the past one and half years is Bergner.

Bergner Pots and Pans are made of:

a) Tri-ply Stainless Steel

b) The inner layer is made of 18/10 grade stainless steel, the middle layer is made of Aluminum, and the outer layer is made of 18/0 grade to make it induction compatible.

c) They are ideal to use on all sorts of cooktops- Halogen, Gas, Electric, Induction, and Vitrocemaric cooktops.

d) They are durable, scratch resistant, corrosion resistant, and produce even heat.

e) All the handles are made with cool touch technology. That means, they don’t get heated up easily while cooking.

And FYI, no food gets stuck in the bottom if you season the pan well with oil and proper heat.

Besides Bergner, nowadays, we also have brands like Vinod, Alda, Stahl, Meyer, and even Prestige, etc. who make good quality Stainless Steel Products. But personally, I have no experience of them.

Now, once you’ve invested your money and bought the necessary products, the job is not over. It is really essential to maintain them, so that they stay in your kitchen for years and be their best.

How to take care of the Cookware:

Always use a mild soap to clean the Cookware. If you can, then soak them in lukewarm water for some minutes after cooking and before washing them.
Never use abrasive brushes or scrub pads to clean them. If you want them to perform their best, you have to take gentle care of them.
Use a soft sponge to clean the Cookware. Right Cookware doesn't need the work of muscle to clean themselves. A few gentle swipes are good enough.
Do not use steel spatula for cooking food. Go for wooden spatulas.
Start cooking on low to medium heat to avoid food sticking at the bottom. As you become a pro, gradually you can start experimenting and adjust the temperature to your choice.
After cleaning the Cookware, wipe the water with a dry cloth and store them in a dry place.
After using any pots and pans for a long time, if you think the luster of the Cookware is gone or you see the hard-core stains of oil on the sides of the handles eventually, just make a paste of baking soda and water. Put them in the affected areas, keep it like that for half an hour. And then, clean them with a soft pad brush. Your Cookware will shine like new.

I am using all the cookware since the past 1 and half years now. I know, all these Cookware together seem pretty damn expensive for a tight budget. Obviously, you can adjust accordingly. But I can tell you infinity times that they are gonna serve you very well for a very long time. I wanted to invest in a good brand so that I can use them without any worries of leeching waste materials into my food or jeopardizing with my family’s well-being. So far, the cookware has been behaving amazingly.

Buying links from Amazon India:

Wok:

Pic Credit: Amazon India

Saucepan:

Pic Credit: Amazon India

Casserole:

Pic Credit: Amazon India

Frying Pan:

Pic Credit: Amazon India

They are also available on Bergner Website.

If you are using any Stainless-steel Cookware already, let me know about the brands you love. All the readers, including me, will be highly benefited by that.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

#Natural Hair Oil

KAMA AYURVEDA BRINGADI INTENSIVE HAIR TREATMENT OIL REVIEW

Friday, June 07, 2019

Taking care of your skin and hair become more challenging with age. Human body goes through quite a few trials and errors in the whole life span. As far as I've witnessed so far, for women, it happens when they hit puberty, second when they enter in their late 20’s and start dealing with mature aging, and lastly when they leave the reproduction age and gradually enter into menopause. Along with the body, skin and hair also go through considerable amount of changes.

I am grateful to come across a few classy, amaze-balls products in my life. And right now, they have been working wonders for me. So, for the time being, my worries to deal with skin & hair care are pretty much sorted.

As I have been suffering from severe hair fall throughout my whole life, I face a hell lot of challenges every now and then managing my hair. If you have read my previous post, you must know that I have extremely fine hair with an extremely oily scalp. Maintaining it is one of my biggest struggles I face in my everyday life. I don't experiment with my hair that often. But if I come across any products that are naturally made, I like to give it a try.

‘Kama Ayurveda’ is one such brand whose few products have been helping me immensely for the past 3-4 years. They are pure, natural, preservative free, and absolute blessings of Ancient Ayurveda.

Let’s talk about ‘Kama Ayurveda Bringadi Intensive Hair Treatment Oil’ in details.

As per the company,

An intensive hair treatment to prevent hair loss, dandruff, and premature graying. The secret to Indians' lush, glossy hair – this traditional Ayurvedic recipe consists of potent herbs extracted into pure Sesame oil and Milk. A natural conditioner for lush hair growth that nourishes deeply while cooling the scalp. Also includes Indigo, Eclipta Alba, and Gooseberry to promote hair growth. Anti-fungal Licorice and antibacterial Balloon Vine prevent scalp infections. The earthy scent of the oil has a calming, meditative effect that soothes frayed nerves, uplifts mood, and aids in a good night's rest.

Benefits:

• 100% Natural

• Relieves hair loss

• Promotes hair growth

• Prevents dandruff

• Natural conditioner

• Prevents scalp infections

• Cools and uplifts

Price: INR 650 for 100 ml. and INR 1250 for 250 ml. Here are a few websites from where you can place an order. Just click on the names- Nykaa, Amazon, Myntra, Kama Ayurveda Website

My experience:

I used to mix castor oil and organic sweet almond oil to massage my hair. That too used to work well for me. Since I started using this Kama Ayurveda hair oil, I didn’t go back to that.

This oil is greenish black in color and has a strong ayurvedic fragrance. But for me, it’s a no-bother. As I use oil on my hair pretty extensively each time, it takes a strict wash to get out of the grease properly. I skip conditioner on most of the days because this oil naturally conditions the hair. And without conditioner too, my hair feels pretty soft and shiny. If you wash your scalp thoroughly, you won’t find any traces of the oil left.

Apart this, this oil also helps keeping the dandruff at bay. Irrespective of what oil you use, when you massage your scalp gently, it activates more blood circulation. If you can get someone to help you massaging the scalp, it would be great as you’ll feel so relaxed and get a hair-spa like feeling. Actually, you can carry your own oil to the salon and request the salon-person to use it specifically.

Does it really reduce hair fall?

I can give you a one-liner short & sweet answer. But it’s better that I share little extra. See, how much hair fall one deals with will depend on so many things.

a) Heredity and gene

b) Internal health (hormones etc.)

c) Daily lifestyle

d) External care (the quality and usage of shampoo, conditioner, oil, heating & styling accessories, hair products, etc.)

e) Quality of water in your washroom

f) Age

g) Stress

The points mentioned above play dominant roles on caressing of your precious locks. Even if any one of them is active somehow, it takes a toll, and we suffer from excess hair fall. So, it is vital to take care of our health as much as possible.

Apart from this, no oil has magic power to stop hair fall entirely. Fragile hair is prone to breakage. So, like me, those who have that issue by birth, suffer from hair fall automatically. The question is, how much can you do to minimize it?

For this kind of hair, whenever we use any oil on our hair, the root becomes loose, and we see severe hair fall even if we are using our best product. It is essential that we see the growth of new hair strands after losing the old hair. With this oil too, I see excess hair fall the day I use it on my hair. But I believe, people who have got luscious locks and strong roots, will not face that much of hair fall. Do let me know.

I still think this hair oil is extraordinarily amazing. Why?

Because after using this oil, gradually, I have noticed small baby hair all over my head, which gives me confidence that this oil is helping in new hair growth, which is a must do. On other days, when I don’t wash my hair, I don't see excessive hair fall. As my hair is very knotty, at least I lose 40-50 stands every single day.

Moreover, my husband too uses this oil once a week. And he is also getting amazing result after using it. So, both men and women can use it regularly.

Every person is different. And every product acts differently on everybody. So, before you try something new, it is necessary to take a patch test first, and then go for it on a regular basis. If any product is causing any effect that is not supposed to happen, stop immediately, and consult your doctor. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should always consult their doctor before using any product.

Conclusion:

For me, this oil is a blessing because I don’t find hair products that often which help in growing new hair, don’t cause any side effects as well, and most importantly, is free from chemicals and preservatives.

Have you used this oil? What’s your take in it? Please share your thoughts here.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

#Summer Shampoo & Conditioner

HERBAL ESSENCES BIO:RENEW CLEAN WHITE STRAWBERRY & SWEET MINT SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER REVIEW

Friday, May 31, 2019

We tropical habitats have a love-hate relationship with summer. Sometimes, we detest it, yet we can't survive without it. Winter has its own charm. But who wants to wear a hundred layers of clothes, socks, gloves, etc. etc. for months when we have some awesome flowy summer dresses lying new in the cupboard? Anyways, summer always comes with its own perks. And though it is fun to wear comfy shorts and colorful floral dresses, the heat, dust, and sweat make our lives hell.

As summer leaves its harsh effects on skin and hair so much, it is necessary to take care of it gently yet tactfully. All the seasons demand separate attention for skin and hair. It is essential to have grease free, fresh looking healthy locks this time of the year without using too much product.

To rescue as well as save our precious hair, recently Herbal Essences has entered the country with their new Bio:Renew ranges, in five different variants.

1. Bio:Renew Repair Argan Oil Of Morocco

2. Bio:Renew Hydrate Coconut Milk

3. Bio:Renew Clean White Strawberry & Sweet Mint

4. Bio:Renew Strength Whipped Cocoa Butter

5. Bio:Renew Lightweight Shine Cucumber and Green Tea

I decided to go for the Bio:Renew Clean White Strawberry & Sweet Mint range. And today, I am here to talk about it after 1 month of trying the product. Around 5 years back, I have reviewed another shampoo from 'Herbal Essences'. You can take a look here.

Time has changed a lot since then, and so does my hair. Though the texture is same, I have noticed a few changes here and there over the years.

My hair:

I suffer from severe hair fall around the year. It is already fine, flat, and prone to breakage. Along with that, I have an extremely oily scalp. If I shampoo my hair in the morning, by the evening, the crown area will turn flat. The rest of the hair seems dry, and it takes around two more days to become full oily. But when the scalp gets oily that fast, it looks so dull and lifeless as you can understand.

My preferences to take care of my hair:

I like to take some extra TLC for my hair as it is fragile. For that, internal health is essential to maintain. A proper diet and a healthy lifestyle are always needed.

Externally, all I care is to use a shampoo that will be as natural as possible. My minimum requirement is no paraben, no sulfate, and no silicone. But every once in a while, I like to give a deep cleansing to my hair to get rid of all the dirt. So, I keep a sulfate-shampoo handy all the time.

Other than this, I try to do oil-massage once or twice a week. I have found an extraordinary hair oil about which I'll make a post soon. I am using that for the past three years, and I just love it.

About the shampoo:

When Herbal Essences came to India, like most of the girls, I too was super pumped up. My previous experience with the shampoo was not so good. So, I was a little reluctant at first. But then, I read about it and came to know about the new Bio: Renew range. And I decided to give it a try.

Among the 5 new shampoos, I have chosen Herbal Essences Bio:Renew Clean White Strawberry & Sweet Mint Shampoo and conditioner which claim to be free of :

Parabens
Colorants
Silicone
Gluten

Other available ranges are also free of the above things except that a few still have silicone in them. I don't like to give my hair an illusion of shine and smoothness for a regular basis, which exactly how silicone works (special events are different). That’s one reason, I’ve picked up this silicone-free variant of the shampoo.

My experience:

I have been using this shampoo since the last month. It is transparent in color and smells beautiful, just like a summery fruity drink. It lathers up well as it has sulfates in it. Before using the shampoo, I do oil-massage on my hair pretty extensively. And the shampoo does a good job cleaning up the gunk and leaves the hair soft, shiny, and manageable. I shampoo my hair thrice a week as I have an oily scalp. After using the conditioner, the hair becomes silky smooth. It doesn't weigh my hair down. I skip the conditioner on some of the days, and don't feel any dryness in the rest of my hair, which is really cool.

Now one issue I’ve noticed is that I feel my hair fall has increased a bit for some time. Now I know, it happens sometimes, when you use something new. It takes time to get used to it. As I was trying the shampoo for the first time, I had to use it on a regular basis which I don’t in general. I always prefer sulfate-free shampoo for regular use.

The problem is that I already have fine hair and I suffer from hair fall. In no way, I can take any chances to experiment too much. I have liked the shampoo otherwise, so I have decided to wait for another couple of washes. Till then, if it suits me, I will continue using this in the summers that too once in every 15 days. Otherwise, I’ll leave it for now.

However, I am not blaming the shampoo entirely right now because the season can be the culprit of all, or something else. I am not sure yet. As of now, I have to keep an eye.

But, at the end of the day, every product works differently on different people. This shampoo will undoubtedly help you a lot to get over the 'dirty, greasy' feeling of summer. Rest, you can decide once you give it a try.

I could just say I have a mixed reaction for this shampoo. But I wanted to discuss it further to know how others feel about it.

Pro:

Free of Parabens, Colorants, Silicone, Gluten
Made from 90% naturally derived ingredients
Bio:renew collections are a unique technology that blends antioxidants, aloe and sea kelp to help purify lifeless hair
It protects the colored hair from further damage
The transparent texture of the shampoo is perfect for oily hair
Smells awesome and fresh
Perfect for summer
Cleans up sweat, grease and gunk easily
Lathers well
Volumizes flat, fine hair
Hair feels soft, smooth, and lustrous
Comes under budget for a semi-natural shampoo and conditioner

Cons:

Contains sulfates, so I can’t use it on a regular basis
Causing extra hair fall for me as of now (but that could be possible for other reasons too)

Price:

Shampoo: INR 600 for 400 ml.

Conditioner: INR 650 for 400 ml.

I am providing the buying links here. Just click on the names of the websites to take a look- Amazon, Nykaa

Though I am unsure about it till now, one thing I must mention is that the ingredients are still way better than most of the market available budget-friendly shampoos. It has got almost everything else to make it a perfect summer shampoo. So, you can give it a try once, and see for yourself whether it is suiting your hair or not. I hope Herbal Essences brings the sulfate free range as soon as possible in my country. I would love to try it for sure.

Updated Thought: I am loving this shampoo and conditioner now. I assumed it was causing me excess hair fall before but that turned out to be a thing of the season.

Cheers!!!

Happy Living…

MAMAEARTH ALOE TURMERIC GEL FOR SKIN & HAIR REVIEW

AN ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR BUYING BEST STAINLESS-STEEL COOKWARE IN INDIA

KAMA AYURVEDA BRINGADI INTENSIVE HAIR TREATMENT OIL REVIEW

HERBAL ESSENCES BIO:RENEW CLEAN WHITE STRAWBERRY & SWEET MINT SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER REVIEW

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