Oi ! Oi ! Marshmallow Root Extract

Image sourced from cookipedia.co.uk

Marshmallow - the pale pink flower the glows in the summer blesses you with the following skin care and hair care benefits making it a organic skin/ hair care product extract favorite

1. soothing skin irritations 
2. curb skin degeneration - this means anti aging for you and me !! 
3. heals skin wounds 
4. boosts immunity at a cellular level 
5. boosts moisture levels
6. dentangles and nourishes hair ! 
7. traditionally used by Indian women as a natural breast enlargement treatment 

I love this ingredient mainly because it comes from a pink flower and it makes your skin feel like one too !!!

You can know more at 

http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-marshmallow.htm

3 Step Ritual towards beautiful skin

Image sourced from  clinique.com

I believe skin is the index of your emotions.
You're shy - you blush, you're happy - you glow...you're sad - you look pale.
I was going through many changes in my life in early 2010.
These changes showed up as angry skin reactions on my face.
Nothing seemed to work - water, exercise, diet nothing could fight my skin's angry reactions.
That's when I stumbled upon Clinique's 3 step cleansing system
Based on a skin test at the Clinique outlet I was diagnosed as a Type 3 i.e. Combination oil ( No surprise here with the 90% humidity level in my city)
You can take this simple test on Clinique's website to determine your skin type.
You can match your skin type to the products as indicated on the website.
I'm a type 3 - so I need to use the products that you see in the image.
I'll be introducing these products in another post, right now I'll explain the 3 steps
Step 1 - Cleanse : here you will need to use the liquid face soap pretty much like you would use any face wash
Step 2 - Exfoliate : the Clarifying lotion step is like you would use a toner except that this one acts as a perfect after wash wipe and a pre-step for aiding the application of the moisturizer
Step 3 - Moisturize : this is a liquid based moisturizer that gets absorbed into your skin almost instantly. Works perfect

Now let me answer your question, can I follow the 3 step routine with just any other product? The answer is yes, then why did I buy the Clinique face care 3- step set?
To make myself feel good. That's what beauty is all about...feeling good within and without. Something about the way the product communicated with me made me feel like this is like telling myself " I love you" in skin care language.
Will review each individual product in the set I've used in the upcoming posts....

I'm a Type 3 - Combination to Oily

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

Oi ! Oi ! Sweet Almond Oil

Image sourced from naturaldogcompany.com

Just take a look at these soft, pink, happy sweet almond blossoms - now imagine bathing your skin in all their goodness - satin and smooth personified!!
Sweet almond extract is the fast track to smooth skin.
Products that contain these extracts are typically non greasy as sweet almond oil is easily absorbed by skin. It not only nourishes and protects your skin it has a rejuvenating effect as well !
Products that contain sweet almond oil extracts will have this listed in their ingredients -  prunus amygdalus dulcis.
And you thought sweet almond could only add grace to your dessert !

Image sourced from hotelandspaessentials.com

I'll leave you with a small tried and tested tip here - try some sweet almod oil on your hair and your chapped lips as well to give them a delicious moisture inducing treat....
If you would like to know more, you can check these places
http://www.dermaxime.com/almond-oil.htm
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Almond-Oil-for-Aging/Dry-Skin

Some classic moisturizing for your skin

I like a product with some history, some attitude and some personality. That's what I got with this fuss free moisturizer.
Creme 21 was one of the first skin care brands with an attitude in the 60s and was stylized and named after the German pop band Creme 21.
Orange and so iconic, you just have to have some on your skin.
Its so plain, simple, fuss free and fast absorbing. When I used it for the first time I didn't think it would work because its so light and my skin was so dry ! But quietly and subtly 2 days later I could feel my skin and I didn't want to stop. A couple of days later my skin seemed irresistibly soft to my partner...wow - that's true testimony. I love this cream.
The product I'm reviewing for you is the Soft care & hydro balance moisturizing cream with vitamin E.
Initially hydro balance didn't mean much to me till I realized that the cream actually helps the skin attain a natural moisture balance in stead of over working it.
Let's break down the ingredients for you

• Aqua - water
• Parrafinum liquidum - mineral oil - skin conditioning and skin protecting agent
• Glyceryl stearate se - emulsifying agent 
• propylene glycol - common skin conditioning agent
• glycerin - skin conditioning 
• octyldodecanol - fragrance ingredient which also acts as a skin conditioner
• potassium palmitate - cleansing / emulsifying agent 
• potassium stearate - cleansing / emulsifying agent
• cetearyl alcohol - stabilizer
• dimethicone - skin conditioning and skin protecting agent
• prunus amygdalus dulcis - sweet almond oil - guess what? well its a luxurious natural moisturizer 
• tocopheryl acetate- Vitamin E, anti oxidant, skin conditioner
• potassium carbomer - it forms a protective film and controls viscosity
• panthenol - its a form of Vitamin B5 which is used as a moisturizing compound 
• phenoxyethanol, methylparaben and propylparaben are presservatives commonly used in cosmetics 

The cream lasts for 12 months post manufacturing, I use it everyday after my bath and it vanishes into my skin to work its magic on me.

You could buy it from Amazon @ 12 USDs approximately 

• What I love about it - absolutely fuss free and fast absorbing, works fast - we love all this about products 
• Flip side - not available in organized retail yet ( In India) 
• Rating - 5/5 ( I love a product with attitude) 

Oi ! Oi ! Plum Extracts

Image sourced from plumbelievable.com

Your skin can never be glum if it gets a regular dose of some plum!
Use a product that contains plum extracts and just allow your skin to be moisturized, conditioned and smoothened.
Plum fruit is packed with Vitamin C which is nature's way of saying skin conditioning with a capital C.
It contains the right kind of free radicals that can have an anti aging effect on your skin and wait for it.... your hair too !!
This is definitely one indulgent natural ingredient for your hair and skin.



If you would like to know more about the use of plum extracts in skin care you can visit these websites :
http://www.naturesgold.com.au/kakadu-plum
http://meiganic.com/

Oi ! Oi ! Grape seed extracts

Image sourced from indiavision.com

Skin heaven is full of people who have a grapeful heart !
Grape seed extracts are a favorite organic ingredient in skin care products because they work as an excellent multitasking skin conditioning and hair conditioning agent.
Here are a list of all the tasks it performs:

• UV light absorber
• Sun screen agent 
• Anti fungal 
• Anti dandruff
• Anti microbial 
• Anti oxidant 

And if its in your oral care product it works its charm as an oral care agent as well.

Products that contain grape seed extracts would typically include this in their ingredients list :
extract of vitis vinifera seed or extract of vitis vinifera.

You know what? I say, its wine for the spirit and grape seed for the skin !!! A truly wonderful ingredient.

Oi ! Oi ! Lemon extracts

Image sourced from bradcreerhrcook's food blog

When life gives you lemons...you extract them and use it on your skin.
Lemon extracts work as a natural refresher and a purifier for your skin.
It has astringent and skin lightening properties.
It works wonders on oily skin by decongesting pores.
It works as a lovely toner as well.
Some schools of organic well being also believe that it works perfectly on dandruff because of its purifying properties.
It works on pigmentation and discoloration as well.
Products that contain lemon extracts will probably spell this out for you in their ingredients listing : "citrus medica limonum extract"

Oi ! Oi ! Aloe Vera

Image sourced from "whyaloevera.com"

Aloe vera is a miracle ingredient for restoring the natural balance and improving the health of your skin. It is also a perfect hair care product.
This makes it a favorite organic ingredient in face care, body care and hair care products.
It is my personal favorite because it has scar reducing properties.
Like water is the elixir of life for us, aloe vera is the elixi-gel of life for the skin.
Its so perfect.
Just keep applying it frequently especially on dry skin or troubled skin and stay cool.
A tip - it works wonders if refrigerated.
Aloe, ice and everything nice !!
To know more you can check this place out
http://www.whyaloevera.com/skin-care.html

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

Oi! Oi! Neem

Neem leaves are traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to cure almost any skin ailment. In India the Neem tree is called as the "Heal all" tree.
It is believed to have anti fungal, antibacterial properties and is a popular ingredient in face care products that target acne prevention and cure. 


To know more you can visit the site where I sourced this image from http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=132