The Lone Survivor

As I sit alone and stare at the blue sky, I feel the need of a partner, a friend or just a companion. With whom I can share my joys, my sorrows or simply sit quite but still be content that I am not alone.

Just few years back we were a group of identical friends always together – dancing, singing and merry making throughout day. Our motto was live for today, there was no tomorrow in our dictionary. Those days are still fresh in my mind.

The topography of our area was almost circular and very densely populated. Genetically even we were healthy and very dark in complexion. I heard people saying the darker you are the better it is. We were always pampered with good oils, Expensive shampoos followed by conditioners which made us feel so light and shiny that if let lose we could fly like a bird high in the sky and once in while she – our landlady used to apply some sticky substance which almost froze us. But once washed we used to shine even brighter.

Then suddenly I don’t know what happened to her she applied something on us and we all lost our original color and looked like some alien may be. But she seemed to be happy. So we all were happy. But this didn’t stop; now she tried a different color on us. I should admit it was very suffocating. I felt that I am losing my individuality. The process went on. But this time it was just enough she simply changed my shape. From being straight I was made curly. I felt so depressed. My self-respect was hurt.

From being a bunch of happy friends now we were tensed and depressed. We lost our glow. The chemicals were painful. I started getting split ends and my skin was rough. I even lost weight and from a healthy hair shaft now I am just a lean fellow. Life still went on till we lost one of our very young friend. Losing him was a big shock. We were always prepared to lose our matured members but losing a young soul without any valid reason was scary and then I heard we lost one more young soul. The matured one were already leaving us in great numbers but now the young ones too. The birth process even slowed down. Due to usage to harsh chemicals our infant were suffocating. They were suffering from malnutrition and thus unable to fight the game of survival. Slowly but steadily the hair follicles were getting infertile. There was no reproduction so no new life-no new hair. It looked like a barren land with scattered fertilization. Each one waiting for their turn and now it’s only me.
As I stare till where my vision takes me it’s just barren land. All lost and I am just the lone survivor. My roots are weak, don’t know till when I can sustain. Even a simple breeze scares me.

Many a times I found her crying standing in front of the mirror, visiting various parlor and dermatologists but all in vain. She covers her head whenever she steps out. Doesn’t attend any social events and her once best friend- the mirror is like her worst enemy.

Crossroads….

Today, I am standing on the crossroads-one on which I am walking and the other is dark and unknown.

The first one is risk free, yet stagnant. There is nothing much that I gain and nothing that I loose. But it has given me my identity. It made me what I am today and like a loyal friend will be there with me.

The second one is like a closed envelope. Nobody knows what is there inside. It may be a pot of gold or a bag of ashes.

However both the roads have their own pros and cons. One gives me financial stability, independence, social status, security, my own identity but takes away my time.

The other gives me time and rest all are unforeseen. It may be …. May not be.

People tell that I am fickle minded, I cannot concentrate and I am not focused. I say I am just knocking on all the opportunities which cross my way. It’s like a snake and ladder game. I either reach the top or fall in that dark pit. But I know I cannot travel two roads at the same time and neither can I keep the one not travelled for tomorrow. One road always leads to the other and never in life will we ever come back to the same crossroads.

On whichever way we are walking in our lives the one not chosen will always remain a mystery. But I believe is whichever way I choose I should have full faith and trust in myself and accept the consequences and let go the road not travelled by.

Standing on a crossroad and taking a decision is like risking all your winnings on one turn of pitch – and – toss. It takes a lot of courage to take the road less travelled by and definitely that will make all the difference.

Note:image taken from google.

Aroma Magic Almond Moisturising Lotion

Dear Friends,
I was introduced to Aroma Magic products almost 6 years back by one of my PG-mates. Though I am not in touch with her anymore but have never left my touch with Aroma Magic products and one such product is their Aroma Magic Almond Moisturizing Lotion.

Company Claims: The Ultimate Moisturizer with cocoa and shea butter that hydrate and nourish the skin. Easily absorbed to make skin soft, supple, fresh and provide barrier against pollution. Also help in stretch marks and dermatitis. Non greasy.

Price: 150/- for 120ml
Shelf life: 2 yrs

Aroma Magic_Almond Moisturizing Lotion_GH_1

My Experience with the Product:
• It lives up to the claim of moisturization, hydration and nourishment. Once applied the moisturization effect lasts till evening.
• Texture is neither runny nor very heavy. Just appropriate.
• Soft creamy texture helps in easy application.
• Gets absorbed easily and leaves a subtle glow.
• Gives an instant boost of moisture to the skin which remains till late evening.
• Decent smell makes the application process very luxurious
• Travel friendly bottle.
• Affordable
• Not tested on animals.
• Mainly for dry skin but oily skinned beauties can mix little water while application and enjoy the goodness of the lotion
• A complete savior in these harsh winters.
• Enriched with essential oils.
• I am even using it as night cream and love the glow on my face the next morning

What I didn’t like about the product:
• Complete ingredient list is missing and only active ingredients are mentioned. I really dislike hiding facts. It here where I get suspicious regarding the authenticity of the product and brand.
Rating: 4/5
Recommendation: I strongly recommend this product because I feel it’s a good product and stands true to its entire claim.

Biotique Morning Nectar Lightening Lip Balm

Hello Friends,

Today I am going to share my experience with Biotique Morning Nectar Lightening Lip Balm. I have a very bad habit that I hardly stick to a single product for long. I feel that the market is flooded with so many good products and I should try them at least once. So after my Lotus lip balm got over my quest for a good lip balm began. I kind of have a love/hate relationship with Biotique where most of the products haven’t worked for me but still I don’t know why I keep on trying and testing them. Anyways…

When I saw this little pot on the rack I thought I would pass, but SPF 30 UVA/UVB sunscreen caught my fancy and I picked it.

Company Claims: This anti-ageing lip balm moisturizes and revitalize lips. Fights collagen loss and fills-in creases to smooth out dry lines fo noticeably smoother, younger looking lips.

How to use: Smooth on and around bare lips alone or under lipstick.
Price: 99/- INR for 16 gms

Shelf life: 3 yrs from the date of Manufacture.

Packaging: Their cute little tub in that old boring green color.

Biotique_Lip Balm_glowinghalo

Biotique_Lip Balm_Glowinghalo

Biotique_Lip Balm_Glowinghalo

Biotique_Lip Balm_Glowinghalo

Biotique_Lip Balm_Glowinghalo

My Experience: I really loved the SPF 30 factor and the claim which says “lightens and protects”. I am sick of my pigmented lips. It really feels embarrassing at times. The color of the balm is of light milky cream colour, with a distinctive smell. But I somehow liked it. However under AC I observed that the balms condenses on the lips and leaves a white cast. And this is one primary reason that this balm should not be applied under a lipstick. I found all my lipsticks giving me a cakey look after application. So first I apply this and after 5 mins remove it with soft cotton ball and then re-apply.
The moisturization affect hardly stays for 1-2hrs and beyond which you have to re-apply else there is a stretchy feeling. But there is one thing that made me fall in love with it and that is it helped me lighten my pigmentation marks by 10%. I apply a thick layer before going to bed and the next morning my lips are soft and with reduced marks.

Pros:
As claimed lightens the pigmentation marks
Moiturizes the lips
Has SPF 30 and UVA/UVB sunscreen
Affordable and easily available

Cons:
Quite heavy in texture.
Constant re-application is required.
Under AC condenses and leaves a white cast.
If applied under lipsticks, it leaves a cakey look.

Rating: 3 (With all the cons it still give a rating of “3” because it had actually helped reducing those ugly dark spots on my lips)

Recommendation: If you have pigmented lips you can at least try during the nights to see the difference.

Garnier BB Cream – Miracle Skin Protector

Hello Girls,

I had heard a lot on BB creams and wondered actually what is meant by a BB cream. Then Maybelline came with its own BB cream. I had a huge urge for buying it but didn’t buy it. Now don’t ask me why because I also don’t know why I didn’t try it. But when I saw Garnier coming with their BB cream I knew I am going to own this and the moment I saw it in Health and Glow, it made its way to my daily routine.

Company Says:

Is BB cream right for me?
Yes if you are looking for skin care that instantly and effectively helps make your skin perfect which is fairer, glowing, smooth, even toned, moisturized.

How does this Miracle work?
This all-in-one high performance skin care contains Vitamin C derivative known to have anti-oxidant properties. It helps boost skin glow and brightness. Enriched with mineral pigments, BB cream instantly beautifies your skin. It instantly spreads evenly for a flawless finish. Its light weighted and comfortable texture blends perfectly into the skin. Lets skin breathe. Its and 8H moisturizing formula with almond extract. Its SPF24 filter helps protect the skin from UV.

How to apply?
Spread the BB cream like your regular moisturizer. Apply with light circular strokes from the middle of your face outwards on perfectly cleansed skin.

Packaging: I loved the packaging. Very stylish and cute.

Price: 99/- (introductory offer) for 18 gm

Shelf life: its 36 months from the pkd date.

My skin type: Normal to oily. well Behaved

My Complexion: Dusky

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Gar_BB_2_GH

My experience:
I feel all that has been claimed by the company stands true to a great extent. I don’t expect a miracle product but at least a product which decently does what it claims. The cream is really light weight with a sweet mild smell which is loved by my nose. I apply the cream in dots all over my face and neck and with my clean finger tips spread it evenly. It doesn’t take much time to get absorbed. And once absorbed it leaves back a nice matte glow and feels really light on the skin and makes your skin very soft to touch. My skin was oil free throughout the day. But girls with very dry skin may require moisturizing prior to application.

I don’t know in the long run if it’s going to help my skin get perfect but at least post application is evens out my skin tone but fails to cover all the dark spots.

The best thing I love about this product is – it moisturizes, gives a foundation finish and protects my skin from sun damage. Now I need not carry 3-4 products in my vanity.

But it comes in only one shade

Gar_BB_3_GH

Gar_BB_4_GH

To summarize: – A decent product. This is not a miracle product so please don’t expect miracles to happen else you will get depressed resulting in dark circles. Lol.

Pros:
Very Light weight.
Spreads evenly
Post application provides a soft and matte glow.
Helps skin to remain oil-free,
Mild soothing fragrance.
Gives sheer coverage
Budget friendly
Packaging is quite cute yet sturdy and travel friendly
Availability
Over all an all-in-one product (moisturizer + foundation + sun protection)

Cons:Only one shade is available.
Dry skin may require additional moisturization

Overall rating: 4.5/5

My recommendation: I will try and stick to this until I get something better and at the same time would recommend everybody to try this at least once.

The Game of Power

The Game of Power.

What is Rape all about? Is it all about lust and excitement? No its nothing but the feeling which says “I am Superior”. It’s the Game of Power. Most of us may have experienced this situation in a crowded place. Irrespective of age color or size, when we are shopping in those street shops, or travelling in a crowded bus or train or simply walking down the footpath. All of a sudden somebody smack your back and gets diluted in the crowd or push you or simply try to touch you. Do you think the boy or man was sexually aroused or lust you. No. never…It’s just a feeling which tells them that “you are a Man, You are
Superior, you have the right of doing this”.And when the girl’s protests, their supremacy are hurt. They take this as an insult and start to devise plans on how to take revenge on her.

We girls are not lesser in any attributes except a social stigma that was again created by Man himself to maintain his highness. A man knows that he cannot affect a girl in any other way except this one single way. In the recent incident “that animal” lost his control because Amanat/Damini was giving him a tough fight. Instead of surrendering to him, she protested. She hurt his Little Male Ego and he taught her a good lesson.

In our society, in every home it’s taught that girls/women should keep quite and tolerate because a man is the head of the family. Then what are we??? Where do we stand?

Did we ever think who has given this power? Its we..And today it’s again we, who are suffering. In some ways our society are more matured. Where a family brings up a son and daughter equally with equal dignity and some still remain with this thought that daughters are a curse to the family. They are just fit to be in the kitchen and in the Bed. And when people from these two mentalities collide it gives rise to incidences like this.

We do have Men who are loving fathers, protective brothers, who respect each girl they meet and there are some who believes that there is only one way to prove your power of manhood and that is when you cripple a woman’s sanity. Until we have an educated society which will bridge these two strata’s of thinking, such incidences would continue to happen

DIY: Facewash, Scrub and Pack

Dear All

Post Pregnancy my skin lost all its charm, it may be due to the huge hormonal change, Bangalore weather, stress, work pressure, lack of sleep (mother of a toddler). Tried lots of products, some helped and some didn’t. The glow was still missing. So finally thought of putting an end on wasting all my money on those magic products, which are actually of no use and stick to my kitchen recipes. As kids our mother was strictly against the use of chemical products and had always encouraged the use of easily available kitchen products.

The DIY, which I am going to share today is what I am using every day and within 3-4 days I did see a change in myself.

Ingredients:-
1. Besan

2. Milk Powder

DIY_Milk Power

3. Turmeric (optional)

Mix besan and milk powder in equal quantities and little turmeric, again if you want to. Then pass the mixture through a sieve several times. This ensures a uniform mixture and as well removes any hard unwanted particles. You can store this mixture in any air-tight container and keep it for future use.

I have kept it in my bath room and everyday use it at least twice. Once in the morning and once before going to bed, following it up with a moisturizer.

Just mix a little water and make a paste and apply it on my face. Keep it for 20-30 secs and wash off. The days I need to scrub just slowly rub it in circular directions and wash off. For a face pack I keep it on my face still it dries and wash off for that glowing skin.

This can be used as a bodywash even. Just dampen your body and apply it evenly all over. Again as per your requirement you can use it as a wash, scrub or pack.
You can even mix it with coconut oil and any other oil of your choice when using as a body wash.

After one week I do see my black scars fading and there is an even glow on my face. The tan on my hands and neck have faded.

You can add, remove or edit the ingredients as per your skin type or choice. Like when I have some extra time, I mix curd and honey to the mixture.

If you have any more suggestions please let me know.

Disclaimer: Images used have been borrowed from google search and I don’t own them.