Toner

The Backups …..Continue

P1010089

Pixi Glow Tonic – simple, effective, affordable, gentle, good ol Pixi Glow Tonic! Always have one bottle on stand by…just in case.

Nuxe Reve De Miel Hands & Nail Cream – Instantly absorbed and wonderfully moisturizing. Part of my life.

Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm – this one is an obsession. period.

Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Moisturizing Stick – clearly the obsession continues! Same scent, same properties as the lip balm above but in a portable handbag friendly avatar. What’s not to like!

L’occitane 20% Shea Butter Rose Hand Cream – Oh Lord, this smells insanely good! Moisturizes even better. Generous quantity which means it lasts forever.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color – Blush Pink – I have been addicted to this lip color for the longest time. This lip color has witnessed me go through many breakups, but BB stuck by me hence I have one on stand by.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum in Oil – This product has been featured multiple times before, and its my solution for any skin problem. Any. period.

Biore UV Aqua Rich Sunscreen – I do NOT use any other sunscreen but this. It has saved my ass in New Orleans, Vegas, Houston and Miami summer like no other. Cheap and Cheery. Always have multiple tubes on the go, one in car, one in travel toiletries bag, one in my husband’s toiletries bag…I guess you get the drift.

xx

HHW.com

Advertisement

2014 EMPTIES

GOOD LORD!!! Where did 2014 go? This is pretty much the same thing I say every year end. Anyway so as I mentioned few months ago, I was gathering most of my empties for 2014 and would do a post on them. So without further ado let’s get started (based on categories).

P1000974

Andalou Naturals Clemetine Ginger Shower Gel – nice while it lasted.

Dr Bronners Magic Soap – comes in many fragrances and I’ve pretty much tried ‘em all. Always a repurchase.

Forest Essentials Mashobra Honey & Vanilla Shower Wash – got these during our holiday in India and these smell heavenly.

Kiehls Vanilla & Cedarwood – nice but not a repurchase left my skin dry.

L’occitane Amanda Shower Gel – Love & repurchase.

The Body Shop Tropical Oasis Shower Milk (now discontinued) – creamy wash which smells frigging awesome but sadly discontinued.

P1000970

Yes I’m Eucerin Junkie and so is my husband. One bottle for each quarter.

Dove Nourishing Lotion – this was a holiday emergency purchase, needless to say went back to Eucerin.

Argan Body Crème – this stuff is RIDIC, sold in Spain supermarkets for ‘a Euro’ and smells divine and ultra-nourishing. Waiting for next Spain trip to stock up.

Bath and Body Works Twilight Woods – purely used it for its fragrance period.!

P1000993

EO Organic Deodorant – purchase from Whole Foods, nice while it lasted.

Bath and Body Works Brown Sugar and Fig Body Splash – simply and purely for fragrance.

Secret Clinical Strength Sport – have repurchased this many times and will continue to do so.P1000980

This one is a mixed bag. Somehow I managed not to save my shampoo or conditioners!

Aveda Invati Shampoo, Conditioner and Scalp Revitalizer – good while it lasted, not a repurchase

Aveda Pure Abundance – same as above

Daily Beauty for Wildlife Beach Spray – Yep I will repurchase, once I get through the million products I’m working through.

L’Oreal Everstrong Overnight Hair Repair Treatment – Nope made my hair flat.

Eva – Nyc Therapy Session Hair Mask – Nice while it lasted not a repurchase, same as above.

Random Samples – Molton Brown conditioner, Lush Hair Doctor – not purchasing any of these.

P1000996

Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Cleanser – very affordable glycolic cleanser with slight tingle, repurchase at some point in future.

Priori Gentle Facial Cleanser – expressed my love before, repurchase at some point in future.

Reviva Brighten and Lighten – experiment which was pleasant and will keep this cleanser in mind when I’m seriously broke but don’t want to compromise on results.

Nuxe Comforting Cleansing Milk – love the scent, repurchase at some point in future.

Skin Blossom Gentle Cleansing Milk – nice but won’t repurchase.

Vasanti Brighten up – read here why I won’t repurchase this cleanser.

Dermalogica Precleanse – we’ve had on and off relationship, repurchase at some point in future.

Clinique Take the Day off Makeup Remover – same as above.

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm – Defo repurchase when I’m in London.

P1000998

Frutique Papaya Enzyme Exfoliating Gel – raved earlier about it here, though not a repurchase.

Real Chemistry Peeling Gel – trial from Birchbox, did nothing to my skin, therefore not a repurchase.

Organi Enzyme Honey Peel – Extremely pricey but darn good. Can’t repurchase as it’s sold only in Australia.

P1000992

Neostrata Oily Skin Solution (2 bottles) – we’ve been consistent with each other and will repurchase at some point in future.

Alpha H Liquid Gold with Glycolic Acid – same as above

Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Floral Toner – nice while it lasted.

L’occitane Roses Hydrating Face Mist – same as above

Pixi Glow Tonic – Love this product and working through the back up bottle now.

Rohto Hadalabo Gokujyun Hylauronic Lotion – will repurchase at some point in future.

P1010003

Alpha H Liquid Gold Intensive Night Repair Serum – This has been repurchased for second time and it is FAB.

Aesop Oil Free Hydrating Serum – Whilst it’s pricey, it lasted forever. Made my skin appear oilier hence not a repurchase.

Juju Aquamoist Whitening Essence – experimental order from sasa.com which left me underwhelmed.

The Body Shop Nutriganics Smoothing Serum – This is excellent as day time serum, working on my second bottle now.

For localized spots in addition to La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, I tried Aesop Control Gel (great product but too pricey for what you get) and Burts Bees Acne Solutions Spot Treatment (no repurchase, except giving a cooling sensation did nothing).

P1010001

Hydraluron – I have ranted about this endlessly….refer Here.

Bioderma Hydrabio Legere – Excellent product, immediate nourishment and have a back up.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo – Lifesaver, always a repurchase.

Juju Aqamoist Hylauronic Essence – experimental order from sasa.com which left me underwhelmed.

P1000991

Origins Ginseng Eye Cream – Loved it, wanted to repurchase but it was out of stock. Hopefully when I finish my existing one I may come back to this.

P1000989

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask – working through my third jar right now and still loving it.

Andalou Naturals Pumpkin Enzyme Mask – Holy smokes this stuff was good, but many similar products on market which I’m keen to try.

Aveda Intense Hydrating Masque – Loved the scent, this was a trial pot but lasted me a while so I might take the plunge at some stage.

P1000976

Biore UV Aqua Rich Jelly and Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, bantered on about this in my previous posts too.

P1000985

Revlon Colorstay Foundation – always there, one of my unsung hero.

Lakme Absolute Foundation – plesant while it lasted.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer – In a committed relationship with this concealer, currently working through 2 of these simultaneously (one in purse and one in ‘concealer drawer’).

Bobbi Brown Gel Liner Black – Loved it! Trying Maybelline now.

Mac Paint Pot – Bare Study – this shade dried out too soon, not repurchasing.

Nars Pro Primer – Defo repurchase.

Guerlain, Clinique, Make Up Forever & Lakme Lipstick – Loved ‘em all while they lasted. No repurchases here.

P1000984

Kiko Night Balm – Nice but can’t repurchase till I travel to Europe.

Nuxe Reve De Miel – we share a very committed relationship where I have backed up 3 more of these lovely pots.

P1000982

Kiehls Hand Salve – www.thebomb.com yes love this product and been using for 4-5 years now. Always a repurchase.

Eucerin Intensive Repair Hand Cream – by now you may have guessed anything with AHA and I’m all over it.

Hope you all have a wonderful and safe New Year eve and may the new year bring you lots of love, luck, happiness, health, wealth, and peace in your lives.

xx

HHW.com

DIY Aromatherapy Facial

P1000875

We’ve been to spa’s or heard of various Aromatherapy treatments. One of which is the aromatherapy facial, which got my attention. These facials are known to soothe the skin and relax your mind. With the use of essentials oils based on your skin type, the scents from these lush oils induce relaxation to a stressed mind. Different essential oils are suited to different types of skin such as:

  • Dry Skin- cedarwood, clary sage, geranium, jasmine, lavender, lemon, myrrh, patchouli, roman chamomile, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, ylang ylang
  • Oily Skin- bergamot, clary sage, cypress, frankincense, geranium, helichrsum, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, orange, patchouli, peppermint, roman chamomile, rosemary, sandalwood, tea tree, ylang ylang
  • Normal skin/Combination skin- geranium, chamomile, lavender, orange, ylang ylang petitgrain, palmarosa.
  • Sensitive Skin- geranium, jasmine, lavender, chamomile, neroli
  • Mature Skin- clary sage, cypress, frankincense, geranium, helichyrsum, lavender, lemon, myrrh, orange, patchouli, rosemary, sandalwood, ylang ylang.

While the above list is commercial, I was once advised that take a deep breath and have a good sniff at these oils. Based on that, listen to what your body signals. Your body and mind will react to the scent either in a pleasant way (wanting more) or simply gross you out. This exercise will determine what your skin/body needs. I haven’t looked back since and truly believe in this method. At home aromatherapy facials have shaped up as follows:

Cleansing – Makeup RemovalRodial Dragon’s Blood Cleansing Water to remove my eye makeup and whatever is left on cotton pad I swipe across my lips and rest of face. Then follow with Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm and gently massage all over my face. Once the balm is all over my palms, I cup them and inhale deep breath. Wipe with warm wash cloth.

Cleansing – Skin Nourishment – Followed with Rodial Stem Cell Super Food Cleanser and again massage away to glory. Dip my hands in ice cold water and shock my skin with varying temperatures. Now I don’t know if this would be recommended however I know I thoroughly enjoy it.

Steaming – Next step of temperature shock is boil a pot of hot water, add a few drops of essential oil, hold a towel over my head and let my skin steam away. In an ideal spa environment, this stage will be followed by extractions but I’m a chicken when I do it over myself.

Exfoliating – Instead of extractions, I use grated almond shell (nourishes and gently exfoliates) with orange rind (vitamin c) mixed with whole cream milk (lactic acid) and gently massage all over my face. Wash it off with regular tap water.

Alternatively I use PMD after steaming. Will post a separate review on that.

Mask – Back to wonderful smells and injecting hydration in skin I smear Una Brennan Rose Hydrating Mask all over and let it sit for 15-25minutes. If I fall asleep I guess I stop there if not…here’s how I continue

Toner – Spritz Pixi Glow Tonic, very refreshing and smells wonderful

Moisturizer – Followed with Dr Scheller Lavender Night Moisturizer, since it has water content skin will absorb immediately and then follow with

Facial Oil – Estelle & Thild Oil – Rose scented goodness!

Understandably,  to some this could be sensory overload or a simple assault on senses but to me this is perfection!

xx

HHW.com

Arsenal of Toners

P1000862I’ve been a huge fan of toners since its terrible astringent & alcoholic days. They sure have come a long way since we’ve known them to strip our sensitive skins. I’ve been stashing and using various types of toners such as exfoliating, calming, hydrating, brightening, and clarifying! I’ve also tried them from all different geographic regions….USA, France, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia and home turf (DIY – homemade).

A quick spritz of toners on skin, straight from shower is not only refreshing but also great for skin. It immediately calms down any redness and starts communicating with my open pores (from hot shower) and balances pH levels in skin. The fascinating part of toners are not only its properties but in its application and benefits its ingredients provides. These are some of my favourite toners from over the years:

Andalou Naturals Clementine Vitamin C Brightening Toner

Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Floral Toner

Rohto Hadalabo Gokujyun Hylauronic Lotion

Shiseido Ibuki Toner

Acure Rose and Red Tea Toner

Pixi Glow Tonic

Neostrata Oily Skin Solution

Alpha H Liquid Gold Toner

Forest Essentials Facial Tonic Panchpushp (distilled flower water)

L’occitane Rose Et Reines Toner

Thayers Witch Hazel with Tea Tree Oil (Oil is my addition)

DIY – Green Tea and Glycerin

A lot of these are on a rotation. My skin’s needs are assessed and then I determine which toner will be my best choice. Sometimes, I choose a toner purely based on its fragrance and how it makes me feel. Sometimes I think even if my skin needs something specifically but I choose a fragrance pleasing toner, I feel I’m psychologically toning my skin. May be this concept is valid only in my slightly delusional head (very likely possibility). So what works for you? Which toners are your go to?

xx

HHW.com