You know how it is, right? You wake up one morning, feeling under the weather and all you want to do is lie in bed all day. The thought of getting up and going to the bathroom to perform your skincare routine seems like a daunting task.
I've weathered a cold last week and I simply couldn't be bothered with doing my usual skincare routine. So I stuck to two products: Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion and Clean and Clear Oil Free Moisturizer.

I apply a dime sized amount of Cetaphil to dry skin and massaged it in well, after which I took a warm washcloth and wiped off the cleanser. There is nothing better than a warm flannel on your face while cleansing, especially when you're ill.
After rinsing off the cleanser, I let my skin air dry for a few seconds (not bothering with a towel!) and applied a dollop of Clean and Clear's moisturizer. Not only is it oil free and non greasy, but it also contains some amount of salicylic acid that helps me fight breakouts to an extent. It is one of the best and most affordable moisturizers I've found.

I stuck to this two step routine day and night, all week and my skin didn't even look half as tired as I felt! Granted, I got two hormonal pimples along my jawline (maybe due to stress or an unhealthy diet), but otherwise these two products kept my skin in relatively good shape! I've found my sick day skincare routine. What skincare products do you reach for when you're feeling under the weather?

Recently a friend asked me why I started a blog. Its such a simple question, isn't it? I didn't answer the question right away. The answer isn't a simple one.

Let's start from the beginning. When I was a teenager, just starting with skincare, I came across beauty blogs.
It was such a fascinating concept for me, that there were these massive sources of information related to my favorite topic: Beauty. They could be accessed so easily. I could find out how to treat my acne, or the shade of lipstick my favorite celebrity was using. It was so exciting!
I read numerous beauty blogs, checking them on a daily basis, gathering information, tweaking and refining my skincare routine, trying out different makeup looks. It was FUN! But more than fun, it gave me a chance to express myself.
It was around that time that the idea of starting my own blog started to take root in my head. I wanted my own little space, where I could talk about the things I loved and the things I didn't. But then, life happened. I suffered a few setbacks (that I won't get into at the moment) and I forgot about creating my blog.
Then last year, when I was right in the middle of one of the most depressing phases of my life, I remembered.
Without thinking twice, I started my blog and began writing. And I began recovering. Slowly, I'm gathering myself up again and this blog has really helped me.
It allows me to be constructive, to do what I like to do best. And it is the only thing that is truly MINE, you know? Right from the first picture to the last word, its all me. And I couldn't be happier.
Honestly speaking, my family hasn't been all that supportive about this blog. Maybe they don't understand it. But whatever, even though this blog was born out of depression writing here makes me happy and it gives me a sense of accomplishment. And that is something I won't give up for the world. 

Well, actually the title of this post is wrong. I'm not "currently" coveting the Prada Minimal Baroque Sunglasses. I have been coveting them since 2011, when they first came out as a part of Prada's Spring Summer 2011 collection. Now, I usually talk about beauty products, but these sunglasses DESERVED a special post.
Their round (they come in a rectangular frame too!), oversized lenses cover what needs to be covered (tired, hungover eyes). But the real star of the show are the arms of the sunglasses! The curly pattern at the temples makes these shades look like works of art! I had one look at these sunglasses and fell in love with them.
Back in 2011, I used to obsessively search the internet for photos of celebrities wearing these beauties.
Ashley Olsen, Zoe Saldana, Hilary Duff, Eva Mendes, Gwen Stefani and Olivia Wilde have been spotted wearing these sunglasses.

I have liked sunglasses and I have loved sunglasses. But with Prada Minimal Baroque, it is an outright obsession.

Recently I spotted these sunglasses at my local Sunglass Hut and they were as pretty in person as they were in the photos I had seen. But I looked at the price tag and flinched. Sadly, these sunglasses are WAY out of my budget.
I simply cannot afford them. Just because I cannot buy them, doesn't mean I'll stop coveting them, right, ladies? Its true love for me, with these sunglasses. But for now, I guess, I'll have to love them from afar.
*Le sigh*
 

Photo source: overstock.com

Since I was 13, I have suffered from acne. And its taken me a long time to get it under control.
But I consider my acne to be a blessing in disguise.
It has really helped me become more aware and proactive about skincare. Researching about skincare has really helped me tweak and modify my daily routine and has really helped me improve the overall health of my skin.
Today, I'm going to share with you all my top tips for having an efficient and effective skincare routine.

1) Cleanse.
Cleansing is a MUST. You don't need me to tell you that. But what is more important is how you cleanse your skin and which products do you use for it!
I have tried cream, balm, foam and gel cleansers over the years. Its just a trial and error process.
Please be gentle to your skin ESPECIALLY if it is acne prone.
Don't use aggressive products that dry and strip your skin of its natural oils. Use cleansers with an acidic pH as our skin's normal pH is acidic (below 7).
Don't over cleanse your skin. Twice a day (once morning, once evening) is enough.
In the morning, I use Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion (AKA Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser) on my dry skin and wipe it off with a warm flannel.

I double cleanse in the evening. My first cleanse is either Cetaphil or The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil (depending on if I'm wearing makeup or not). Second cleanse is always with Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Foam (pH 5.5).

2) Moisturize
Every skin type needs a moisturizer. EVERY skin type. It doesn't matter if you're oily or dry.
If you're oily use an oil free, water based moisturizer. If you are dry skinned, you can use a richer, more emollient moisturizer.
But whatever you do, don't forget to moisturize each time you cleanse your face. Personally, I feel that I don't need eye creams. If I apply anything too rich under my eyes, I suffer from milia. I just use my usual moisturizer under my eyes and its sufficient for me. If you want to use a separate eye cream and it works for you, by all means, go ahead!

3) Sunscreen
This is very, VERY important. Sunscreen is the best anti ageing treatment out there. Protect your skin from sun damage from an early age and you'll find that you have less issues to deal with when you grow older.
The lesser the extent of sun damage, the lesser wrinkles and sun spots you'll get when you're older.
Start now. Invest in a good sunscreen that is suitable for your skin type and STICK TO IT. Every day. Come rain or shine. You need to keep your skin protected.

4) Water
Drink more water people. It REALLY helps. Water helps flushing out the toxins from your body and helps skin hydrate internally. Drink 2 litres of water a day. You'll definitely notice a change in your skin.
Skin becomes brighter, clearer and you can even tackle bloating with water. Keep yourself hydrated.

5) Don't go overboard.
Skincare is exciting, for sure. And you'll want to try as many products on your face as possible. Don't do that. Your skin will become irritated and angry.
Keep your skincare routine simple. Cleanse thoroughly. Moisturize properly. Use sunscreen everyday. Drink more water.
Follow these four steps and you'll notice a considerable difference in the condition of your skin.

Acne. Wow. It is such a small word. But it affects us all so much. Acne usually hits us at the time when looks become the most important to us: our teens.

And that's when it hit me, too. I was 13. And my acne was bad. You know how it is, don't you. You're not a child, not yet an adult. Your hormones are creating havoc. And then you have a face full of red, angry, painful pimples. Not to mention, blackheads! There are some of us who survive their adolescence with perfect skin! No sign of any skin trouble! And then there are people who have severe acne, like I did.

And the others are all too quick to make us aware about the kind of battlefield our face has become. I was told about my acne by way too many people. My friends (I don't know if they can still be called friends), my relatives and even my school teachers! Heck, complete strangers also felt entitled to give me their opinion about my face.

Here are some examples about the things I've been told:

A friend once told me: "I cannot even touch your face, there are so many pimples on it!"

My grandmother: "DO something about your face!"

My 7th grade science teacher, who pointed at my face in front of a class full of girls and boys and said: "THIS is what happens when you don't wash your face."
I mean, you call yourself a science teacher? For God's sake, a science teacher of all the people in the world should know how exactly acne is caused!

Another friend: "I can't even look at your face."

And there have been many, many more such incidents of people making crude, unwanted comments about my acne.
When you face such comments about your looks (on an almost daily basis) during your most formative years, your self esteem is bound to take a hit. A bad hit. I used to cry myself to sleep. I refused to socialize. I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror!
I was angry. I was upset. I was depressed. Hell, I even had to take medication to deal with my depression!
And it has taken me a long time to accept myself the way I am. Its been quite a journey. Countless tears, endless days full of anger and frustration and multiple acne treatments later, I'm finally happy. I am realizing that I am more than what goes on on my face!

I want to tell you this: If you are dealing with acne, whether it is mild or severe, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You are a beautiful, strong and amazing person. Don't ever, EVER let anyone tell you otherwise. Your acne is NOT YOUR FAULT. And it's certainly not because you "don't wash your face." Your acne does not define you. Don't let anyone bully you, or hurt you because of it. Distance yourself from negative energy. Don't stress. Acne is just like any other illness. There should be no stigma attached to it.
Wake up every morning with a smile on your face and look at yourself in the mirror and say "I am beautiful." Because you are.