Ci ! Ci ! Extraordinary Vitamin E

Image sourced from myorganicchemistry.wikispaces.com

Ever thought about the effect of applying vitamins to your skin? Go fetch some almonds or chew on an avocado for a feel good effect while you read the rest of the post.

Vitamin E helps your skin in the following ways

• anti oxidant
• pollution protection 
• UV rays protection
• anti aging
• after sun care
• scar lightening 
• skin strengthening
• restoring natural oil balance of skin 

Okay these are just the top lines, in summary this is a must have in your skin care product. Its chemical extract will have this - "tocopherol" - as a pre fix to these words - " acetate/ extract / alpha / mixed" etc
If you're thinking why apply it when you can eat it, think twice - its always better to pamper yourself inside out and what better way to do it than to indulge in some wholesome skin care products???
You can read more about the benefits of Vitamin E here
http://www.healthy-skincare.com/benefits-of-vitamin-e.html
http://www.aromantic.co.uk/vitamins-skin.htm

Ci ! Ci ! - Chemical Ingredients

For products that are largely chemical based, I will try my best to include an image of the ingredients mentioned on the packaging. If this is not possible or unreadable, I will type it out for your reference because I definitely do that much for you !!!
Also, based on research I will try my level best to include an explanation of the formulation.
Please remember I am neither a professional nor an expert on chemical product formulations and my research will be largely based on secondary sources of information and wherever possible an expert professional interview will be included.
Once more, I am not endorsing the use of any products I review, what I'm doing is merely reviewing the product based on my own personal experience or wherever possible a genuine consumer interview ( I will mention who is consumer and give a reference to the context in such a case) - please do consult a proper dermatologist / skin expert for recommendations on product usage, its for your own good my gorgeous productaholics !!
Happy reading and happy product worshipping !!! :D

Too hot to handle? Try a sun screen face wash!

When I spotted this product I felt like I'd struck gold! I was in Dubai -  its perpetually sunny in Dubai.
I felt a new confidence when I started using the Lotus Herbals safe sun range's sun screen face wash gel with grapes & plums for sun protection.
Grape seed extracts help in deep cleansing and normalizing the skin's ph balance apart from acting as an excellent sun screen agent, while plum extracts helps deposit the active sun screen agent evenly on the skin.
Initially I didn't believe this product and I thought I'm going to have a cling film feeling but wow ! after I used it, my skin would feel fresh and protected at the same time.
Obviously you would combine it with a sun screen if you're leaving your home or office but when you're indoors and you still need sun protection, this is the perfect answer.
Did you know that in direct sun light can also damage your skin? If you didn't know buy it from me now and try sun protection even if you're exposed to indirect sunlight.
For people who like hassle free face care at home or in office, this is the perfect product.
Cost - INR 99 (2 USD approx)
What I like about it - I love the way the product feels in my hands and on my skin, I love the after effect of feeling protected 
Flip side - why can't I just walk out wearing just this?!! 
For largely chemical products I will put up the ingredients as mentioned on the packaging and will share information based on my research, please remember I'm a consumer I'm not claiming to be an expert on chemical formulations. 

1. p-Methoxy 
Cinnaomidopropyldimethhyllauryl
2. Ammonium Tosylate Peg -12
3. Dimethicone Disodium E.D.T.A. 

My research 


The product packaging mentions that the product contains an innovative sun screen agent which is newly invented - which makes me believe I may not find these ingredients easily 

1. Not able to access information on the first ingredient, however the chemical " methoxycinnamate" is commonly used for UV protection as a 
Sunscreen Agent; Ultraviolet Light Absorber; UV ABSORBER
2. Not able to find the exact ingredient however, found a similar sounding CETRIMONIUM TOSYLAT which is a quaternary ammonium salt and is used as an emulsifying agent in products 
3. Dimethicone - is a commonly used as a skin protectant, skin conditioner or anti foaming agent

Source for information on chemicals - http://www.ewg.org/skindeep
For more information you can visit the Lotus Herbals site : http://lotusherbals.com/

Here comes the sun! Try a Lotus umbrella

The perfect matte block

I like this product by the Lotus Herbals Safe Sun range for only one reason - its called the 3 in one matte look daily sunblock and it really lives up to being a matte look sun screen.
I've tried the SPF 40 UVB version which is suitable for all skin types. I obviously wouldn't use it when I'm out in the sun for a very long time - the kind of sun you are likely to experience at the Maldives or say Goa. This is a perfect everyday use sun screen when you know you're not in the sun for more than 2 hours.
The product promises sun protection, skin lightening and a matte effect and based on my experience it delivers excellently on the 3rd promise. The skin lightening effects are not rapid enough for me to notice how its working. Sun protection like I said , I would not experiment with this product under direct harsh sunlight. Works perfect if I have to zip out for a drive in the sun, hit the super market, come back home and then step out again. It won't work if I'm at the beach or by the pool or in it all day. In case you're a only one sun screen at a time kind of girl, then I would recommend frequent re application - it doesn't build up on your skin and its easy to apply.
Cost - INR 295 ( 6 USD approx)
What I like about it - the even toned matte look it creates, easy to apply - thats just perfect when you're on the go, feels so light.
Flip side - requires frequent application, though its good hygiene for all sun screens I'm lazy
Rating - 3/5

Ingredients as mentioned on the packaging 

My research
I'm only going to try and attempt to explain the chemical sounding ingredients, you obviously don't want to read about "water" and "glycerin". Where I don't find information, I can't write much about that ingredient, the objective of this is to help you understand my experience.
So here goes

• Kaolin : this is used as a Abrasive; Absorbent; Anticaking Agent; Bulking Agent; Opacifying Agent; Skin Protectant;Slip Modifier
• Oxybenzone : sunscreen ingredient associated with photo allergic reactions
• Methoxycinnamate : found in sun screen products it acts as a Ultraviolet Light Absorber; UV absorber or a UV filter 
• Titanium dioxide : used in sun screen products as a UV absorber or a sun screen agent 
• Butyl Methoxydibenoylmethane : used in sunscreen products as a sunscreen agent; Ultraviolet Light Absorber; UV Absorber ; UV filter
• Cyclopentasiloxane : skin conditioning agent 
• Phenoxyethanol : used as a fragrant ingredient or a preservative
• Methylparaben : used as a fragrant ingredient or a preservative ( this isn't a typo or repetition it really does this according to my secondary source) 
• Propylparaben : used as a fragrance ingredient, perfuming, preservative
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone :  widely used preservative; has been associated with allergic reactions ( I did not face any allergic reactions !) 
• Methylisothiazolinone :  widely used preservative
• Iron Oxides : Cosmetic colorants ( this products looks like a regular foundation lotion) 

Aha! Now I see how it lasts for nearly 4 years!!! My pack was manufactured in Jan 2011 and I can use it all the way upto Jan 2014