When The Body Shop store first came to our city, I was so excited! I tried out so many of their products from their Tea Tree to Seaweed to Vitamin E to Vitamin C range! It was during this time that I came across their Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream. I used to apply a bit of this cream after cleansing. The cream has a gel like consistency and sinks into the skin quickly. It has a very pleasant smell. After all things said and done, this cream is not for me. It does not provide adequate hydration for my temperamental dry/oily skin. And what's more, you cannot layer this cream with other products. It results in "pilling" or flaking of the product on your skin. I think it is because of the presence of silicones in this cream. Since I follow up my daytime moisturizer with sunscreen, I had to reconsider using this product because I wasn't able to layer it up. All in all, I think it is a product meant for really oily skinned beauties who are looking for a light, gel/cream. I won't be repurchasing this product.
Price: Rs 995 for 50 ml
Available at The Body Shop counters and here

I was never really into lip balms. I found them waxy and sticky. They just sat on my lips and made me feel uncomfortable. After reading countless "Beauty Editor Must Have" lists, one name kept cropping up again and again: Smith's Rosebud Salve. So I made a mental note that I'd try it out if and once it became available in India. Once Luxola started shipping to India, after browsing the site, I found that they had the Rosebud Salve in stock! Curiosity got the best of me and I ordered it immediately. When I first received it, the first thing I noticed was the size of the tin. It was much bigger than the other lip balm tins I had seen before! The old school packaging of the salve won my heart. The balm itself is not waxy and is quite easy to apply. It gives a sheer pink tint to the lips and has a powdery rose scent. Now, the best part. I applied the balm liberally to my lips and went to sleep. When I woke up the next day, the balm had literally sunk INTO my lips, leaving them plump and moisturized. Score! I've been using this lip balm every night since then and it moisturizes my lips so well that I don't need to apply any lip balms during the day! Its a total winner. 3 months on, I'm still using my first tin. But I have a backup with me. Will definitely keep repurchasing. It is totally worth the money. Try it and you'll understand why the beauty editors love it so much!
Price: Rs 713
Available at Luxola India

After looking high and low for a good, non drying foaming cleanser, I stumbled upon the Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Foam. I use it as my "second cleanse" in the double cleansing routine I perform at night. It has a pH of 5.5 which is more on the acidic side. It is said to be the ideal pH value of normal, healthy skin. The product comes in a no fuss pump bottle that dispenses the perfect amount of foam. I use 1-2 pumps of the foam and massage it into damp skin before rinsing off with warm water. It cleans my face quite well, without drying my skin. It has definitely helped me in keeping acne at bay, however only using this cleanser alone as an acne treatment won't be completely effective at controlling breakouts. The foam is said to contain panthenol that soothes and regenerates the skin. I cannot say much about regeneration, but my skin is definitely not irritated when I use this cleanser. I am on my third bottle of this cleanser. Each bottle (150 ml) lasts me 1.5-2 months. I will keep repurchasing it.
Price: Rs. 630
Available at medical stores or Nykaa.com and Healthkart.com

Okay, so my favourite type of eyeliner isn't a pencil or a liquid.....it is gel. I absolutely LOVE gel eyeliners. They are matte, long wearing and give the precision of a liquid liner without the fear of getting a wobbly line. But they also have their disadvantages. The little pot of liner dries up! Even after you've stored the pot upside down and diligently put the lid back on after every dip of your brush....it dries up. Now, a pot of gel eyeliner drying up isn't such an issue if you're using a brand that's not pricey. But what if you're using a liner that's relatively more expensive like Bobbi Brown or MAC? That's where Inglot Duraline comes in. It is an amazing product for reviving dried out gel eyeliners. Just adding a drop of Duraline to your pot of eyeliner and mixing well makes your eyeliner as good as new! No clumpy, flaky lines! Duraline can also be mixed with powder eyeshadows to create liners and liquid eyeshadows that stay on your eyelids all day! It makes them completely smudge proof! Inglot Duraline is a godsend if you're obsessed with eye makeup. It comes in a 9 ml dropper bottle that will last you a long time. This waterless, clear liquid hasn't irritated my sensitive eyes at all. Love love love this product! Will definitely repurchase!
Available at Inglot stores.

Hello everyone! Today I'm going to be reviewing the Colorbar Spotlight Illuminating Lotion. It is a part of Colorbar's skincare range. This lotion comes in a beautifully packaged pump bottle. The lotion aims to provide moisture and hydration to the skin, along with a glowy, luminous finish. It also contains the mega hydrating ingredient hyaluronic acid. For me, this lotion works brilliantly as a primer. On days when my skin is feeling dull and lifeless, I smooth on two pumps of this lotion and then process with my base makeup. Under my foundation/tinted moisturizer it gives me a wonderful "lit from within" glow. The biggest pro of this product is that it does not contain those hideously large shimmer particles that make me look like i fell face first in a pile of glitter powder. No. It has a gorgeous iridescent finish to it. The lotion is hydrating but not greasy. And it hasn't broken me out. It makes base products glide on seamlessly on my skin. Right now, it is my favourite face prepping product. Total thumbs up! Will definitely repurchase.
Price: Rs. 950
Available at Colorbar counters, Nykaa.com and Amazon.in

I have nothing but good things to say about The Body Shop's Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil. The first time I saw it in the store, I bought it immediately. And it has become one of my favourite makeup removers. Two pumps of this beautifully scented oil massaged into your dry skin dissolve every bit of your makeup. You then need to emulsify this oil with a few drops of water, whereby it turns milky. Then wipe the oil away with a warm flannel or muslin cloth. Splash face with warm water and you'll find that your skin is perfectly clean! I tend to use this oil as a "first cleanse" after which I use another cleanser. This cleansing oil removes gel eyeliner and long wearing lipsticks effortlessly. However I use a separate makeup remover to remove my waterproof mascaras. I love this cleansing oil as it performs brilliantly and has never broken me out. The Body Shop has really hit the spot with this one!
Price: Rs. 1095
Available at all The Body Shop stores and at www.thebodyshop.in

Hello readers! I'm sorry that I haven't been able to post more frequently. But now, no more excuses. I am back with a review of a cult product: Alpha H Liquid Gold. Liquid Gold's chief ingredient is glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliant that dissolves dead skin cells and reveals fresher, healthier skin. It is an ideal exfoliant for people who suffer from acne or have wrinkled skin.

How does one use Liquid Gold?
Cleanse your skin with a gentle and non foaming cleanser. Apply Liquid Gold onto a cotton pad. It has the consistency of a toner: water like. Swipe the soaked cotton pad over your face and neck, avoiding the eyes and lips. Voila! Its as simple as that! You can follow up with a moisturizer or leave it on as it is for the night. You may experience a slight tingling sensation. Don't expect instant results though. Your skin will look fresher in the morning, but the real results will be seen only after diligent and consistent use. I use it 2-3 times a week, without a moisturizer.
My skin is clearer, more even toned. Discolouration has reduced considerably. I have been using Liquid Gold for 2 months now. And the bottle will last me another month and a half with ease.
Liquid Gold is available on Luxola India. They've recently launched the super sized (200ml) bottle. Can't wait to get my hands on it!
All in all, Liquid Gold has become a firm favourite of mine and I will keep repurchasing it for a long time!
I'd love to try out some more products from Alpha H for sure!