Maybelline's Bright Benefit Stick Review.

Hey Dolls,

So I've been asked to do some product reviews so here it is.. my first product review, and it had to be about Maybelline's BB stick. We all have been a witness to the sudden trend of BB & CC creams, all of our favorite brands have it in different texture & shades, basically these creams are nothing but tinted moisturizers with sun block properties. Its a good idea to switch your foundation with a more nourishing BB cream during a normal day.

But from just creating a substitute to your foundations, Maybelline has just taken this trend to another level by introducing its Clearglow BB stick. "The new concealer in your bag". I will highly recommend this product as it gives you this amazing coverage which can hide all your marks, dark circles and spots. So with this product in hand you can confidently bid goodbye to your concealer. The product contains SPF 21 so it is perfect for a normal day. The application is super easy with its oversized lipstick structure, all you need to do is just apply it directly on the areas you want to conceal.. just like you do with your concealer sticks and then blend it with your fingertips and you have flawless skin instantly. Check out this video for a visual.

It comes in a super cute packaging and its a super cheap product ($6-$7), a true value for money, its available at most of the drugstores you may also check for it online.

What's your favourite on-the-go product? 

If you do try this product comment below with your experience. Take care and get a lot of beauty sleep to reduce the need for a concealer. Keep your skin healthy by making sure you remove every bit of makeup before bed.

XOXO,

Anshika Agarwal.

Spices with benefits.

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Being an Indian I can proudly never emphasis enough on one thing, we love our spices! Whenever I browse through Pinterest, I find myself always stopping and staring at images of spices. There’s something about the colorful little mounds, scattered on top of dark surfaces, that is so visually appealing to me. It’s like an edible mosaic is created with the bright and bold hues, So on this republic day, I was inspired to do a post on different spices used in Indian cooking that exude that same color intensity. As much as they add flavor to meals, they are also beneficial in other ways besides just taste, and it’s interesting to learn how they can help us in our day to day lives.

Some of the most common spices used in Indian cooking are:

Salt

Pepper

Ginger

Turmeric

Paprika

Cumin

Saffron

A few of the above are great to help improve our overall well-being…

Pepper

Don't we just love a lot of pepper on your soups? Apart from taste it has a lot of benefits right from helping with severe diseases like cancer to day to day problems like digestion, weight loss, cold, it also increases your metabolism. The more shocking benefits are it beats dandruff, helps with anorexia as it improves digestion and stimulates our taste buds, it helps our organs absorb more nutrients from our food and is a natural antidepressant. Details

Ginger

Light yellow in color and strong smelling, some claim ginger to be the “wonder spice” for all of its health benefits. If you’re feeling nauseous or have an upset stomach, ginger can help get rid of these nuisances. From poor digestion to even sore joints, chew on a little bit or add some to a hot drink because ginger has the nutritional properties that can help. Ginger juice is also very effective for cold and cough.

Turmeric

I have used turmeric a lot in recent years. It’s one of those spices that is perfect to use in the colder months because of its warm color and smell. Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory used widely in ayurvedic medicine. It also helps boost your immune system, so this is a good spice to use if you feel a cold coming on. Have it with milk every night before bed and it will help you with most of the problems. I'll be doing a post on Turmeric mask for skin soon.

Paprika

Paprika is packed with healthy nutrients that are good for our bodies, and especially vitamin A. One tablespoon of this red-colored spice contains more than 100 percent of the daily intake requirement. As the vitamin A helps to improve eyesight, paprika also gives your body extra iron to help those bones stay strong.

Cumin

Cumin is pungent and strong, and acts as a great salt substitute. With its low levels of sodium, using this instead of extra salt can help reduce blood pressure, all while adding a delicious flavor to meals. Cumin is also a good source of vitamin B, which helps to improve sleep. Try eating a banana sprinkled with some cumin right before bed if you aren’t getting enough shut eye.

Saffron

Although this is one of the most costly spices, it’s worth it due to the multiple health benefits it provides also a few strands does wonders. From digestion help to reducing inflammation, you can use saffron in a lot of ways besides just adding it into foods. You can make a saffron milk mask by adding some saffron strands to raw milk. Allow the strands to sit for about 2 hours before using, turning the milk a reddish color. Rub the milk onto your face and leave on for 10 minutes before washing off. The saffron mask will help clear up dry skin and acne and brightens up your skin! It also gives your food a nice color so go ahead and eliminate your food coloring. Add it to any of these to add additional benefits (works for all skin types)

Hope you'all enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing this, do try these spices also try including some herbs if possible in your food. Stay healthy and do subscribe to make sure you don't miss any post. You can also instagram or tweet a picture of your healthy foods do tag me or use #bombaygirl07.

XOXO,
Anshika Agarwal.

Makeup Expiration: What is the shelf life of your cosmetics?

Hello you makeup junkies out there, the ones who have a stock pile or even those with only one lip gloss and mascara, Throwing your favorite makeup can be a lot worse than a heartbreak but today is the day you need to start going trough those cosmetics, and making a very important step in cleaning out those germ filled mascara tubes! This is one of the most committed beauty sins, as I have yet to meet the first woman who throws out her makeup when the time comes and the fact that these little bottles of addiction comes without an expiration date kinda makes us happy. We just can't seem to let go of our beloved and very expensive products after just 4-5 months months. It just hurts so bad :'(

 Mascara is a breeding ground for various eye infections, including pinkeye, and sties. Have you recently had sensitive, itchy, irritated eyes? Check your makeup! You have to get rid of it after 6 months, some even say 3. When in doubt, throw it out!

 Lipsticks starts to loose texture when it's gone bad. Toss it out after 2-3 years, and even though it seems like a long time, it's said that women tend to keep their lipsticks for up to 7 years! Eeek! Food has expiration dates, and people don't think twice to trow it out when it's gone bad, why should cosmetics be any different? The makeup you put on your face should be as fresh as the food you consume.

Liquid eyeliners is just as dangerous as mascara. Once it goes bad, usually 6-8 months, it's sayonara!

Face powders, Blush, Bronzer & Eyeshadows last up to 3 years. Since it's almost impossible to finish blush, (unless you're a makeup artist),  have a longer shelf life, and are lower risk for growing bacteria as it has little to no water at all. As with all cosmetics, it should be tossed within 2 years. You will notice powders become very dry and difficult to blend when it get older, don't try to fix it, just let it go.

 Foundation/ Concealers are good for up to 1-2 year. Not only does it harbor bacteria that you will then be applying to your face, but it also will become thick, making for an uneven application. This is a recipe for disaster. To extend the shelf life of your foundation a little bit longer, buy the ones that come with a pump or in a squeeze bottle. You want to avoid contamination, if you are having to put your fingers in the container, it will only shorten the lifespan of your makeup.

Lipgloss should be tossed after 2 year. It's also important to keep them in a cool dry place.

Don't buy more than needed for a full year, it's nice to have a little collection, but remember to keep rotating them, buying new and getting rid of the old.

Just remember to keep your makeup fresh, this will keep your skin looking and feeling healthy!

DIY Natural Cleansers for Dry, Oily & Normal Skin

Every morning and evening we wash our faces, hoping to rid ourselves of any 

potentially harmful substances that have come in contact with the surface of our precious skin. It’s important to know that we’re cleansing our skin with the 

best possible ingredients, which is one of the main reasons I love making my

 own beauty products.  Not all skin is created equal, though, so today I have 

recipes for three different cleansing concoctions: one for dry skin, one for oily

 skin, and one for normal skin.

First up: Dry Skin. Wintertime, hot showers, air conditioners & heaters are 

often the culprit for skin that lacks moisture. The base for this cleanser is

plain yogurt, which, apart from its natural cleansing properties, is full of 

protein to soften your skin. It’s also a bit acidic, so it acts as an exfoliator,

removing unwanted dead cells from the surface of your skin. Honey acts as

a humectants, drawing moisture into your skin and keeping it there, as olive 

oil adds further moisture. Apples give your skin vitamins A, B, and C, as well 

as a dose of antioxidants to keep you looking fresh.

Next up: Oily Skin. For those whose skin tends to be on the oily side, 

let lemon and oatmeal be your new friends. Lemon acts as an astringent 

as well as a disinfectant, killing any bacteria that may otherwise cause 

breakouts, while oatmeal exfoliates the skin, absorbing excess oils in the 

process. Honey will restore moisture into your skin, balancing out any 

dryness that could have been caused by the lemon.

Finally, Normal Skin For those whose skin tends to be somewhere in 

between dry and oily, this cleanser is for you. The yogurt and cucumber 

nourish and clear your skin without drying it, while the mint adds a 

pleasant soothing experience.

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3 Reasons Why Baking Soda is the Best Kept Beauty Secret!

Of all the beauty ingredients out there, one that is totally a must is Baking Soda! Not only will they give you super soft skin and gorgeously shiny hair, but you can also create a super easy scrub that will help lighten areas like knees and elbows. The funny thing is, it’s so easy to use and give such great results!

Super Shiny Hair

Baking Soda is AhhhMAZING at removing any residue or film that may linger on your hair after you wash it. To create an invigorating shampoo that gets rid of any build up, mix one tablespoon baking soda with your shampoo, then wash and condition as usual!

Beautiful Knees and Elbows

Getting your knees to match your elbows really shouldn't be that difficult, but it is! Luckily this scrub makes it a whole lot easier! Mix together lemon juice and baking soda to create a paste, then rub on elbows and knees daily! Refrigerate excess! The lemon will naturally lighten skin and the baking soda removes dead skin making this concoction very effective!

At Home Microdermabrasion

It’s so easy to get a super amazing microdermabrasion at home with baking soda! All you really need to do is mix a tablespoon of baking soda with your favorite face wash and voila, an instant and very effective face wash!

Facial at home

Facials are an important part of our skincare regimen, but going to the spa every month can get a little pricey! We shouldn’t neglect our skin just because we can’t make those trips to the spa. Here is a step by step way to do an at-home facial, in between spa treatments!

• Cleanse: You want to begin your at home facial by cleansing your skin with a gentle cleanser. This can be a  Milk facial cleanser, which won’t strip your skin of it’s natural oils but will remove makeup. You want to make sure you work the cleanser on your skin in circular motions for about a minute.

• Steam: Take a bowl of water and microwave until you see the water is warm enough to let off steam. Put a towel over your head and your face a comfortable distance from the bowl. This will open pores.

• Exfoliate: This will remove dead skin cells, and buffing away dead skin will keep your pores from clogging which keeps acne under control. We recommend All natural homemade facial scrub or PMD.

• Facial Mask: Follow with a face mask. This can vary depending on your skin type. If you have acne prone skin, you can benefit from a raw honey mask.. You can also use an avocado mask, If you want to get fancy, we recommend french rose clay. Leave your mask on for about 10min, and rinse with warm water. Masks are used to moisturize, detoxify, increase circulation and replenish nutrients.

• Toner: This step will tighten pores and balances skin PH. Apply with a cotton ball all over the face.

• Serum: Finally apply a serum on your kin. Serums come in oil or gel form, they will penetrate the skin more than a moisturizer, and provide skin with powerful antioxidants and nourishing vitamins. Some examples are Argan Oil. Find a face oil that’s a good match for your skin and you will see instant results!

• Moisturizer: If your skin is dry you will need to apply a moisturizer after the serum. The vitamins in Goat milk facial moisturizer regenerates, softens, and soothes your skin’s surface, acts as an anti-inflammatory that sustains healthy skin tissue, and contains nutrients essential for healthy skin cell development and maintenance.

Hope you try!