2011 Favourites - Skincare

Every girl experiments with new products to finally realize the favourite ones with which she can stick to. Shifting to Mumbai to a totally different climate lead me to look out for a new skincare range which could help me to survive the humid weather conditions. Following are the items which have been my favourite skincare products for 2011:


Face wash/cleansers:

1. Forest Essential - Multani mitti Ubtan (Review HERE)

2. Lush - Coal Face Wash (during summers and monsoon)

3. Lush - Aqua Marina Face cleanser (during winters)

Face Toner:
1. Rose water spray by Fab India

Moisturisers:
1. Body Shop - Vit E Illuminating Moisture Cream

2. Body Shop - Vit E Nourishing Night Cream

Face Scrub:
1. Aroma magicMineral Glow Scrub

2. Lotus herbal walnut scrub

I won!! Shiseido gift pack

However after a long time I indulged in skincare and makeup, that too without spending money! I won a lucky draw by Shiseido at Shoppers Stop. I had  just filled a form at a Shiseido promotion counter and got a call next day about the draw. Who doesn't get excited to get a gift pack full of goodies from a high end skincare range.
Shiseido is a 130 year old Japanese cosmetic and skincare company. It is the fourth largest cosmetic company in the world.

I won a bag which included the following:
1. Ultimate Cleansing Oil- full size bottle
2. Shower and Bath Gel - 30 ml travel pack
3. White Lucent Brightening Refining Softner - 30 ml travel pack
4. White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam - 7 ml sample pack
5. White Lucent Brightening Protective Lotion - 7 ml sample pack
6. Extra smooth sun protection lotion 34 spf - 7 ml sample pack
7. Perfect Rouge lipstick in shade BE208 - 2.5gm travel pack
8. The Makeup- lasting lift mascara in black noir - sample pack

I wanted to try out the White Lucent range for a long time now but I already had my skincare and didn't wanna spend on more. Though the sample sizes are small but they still enough to know if they suit me. The lipstick shade is a very pale pink. Pale shades seems to wash me out but somehow i like this shade on me. I can use it for everyday wear. Also the texture is light and creamy and not glossy. I don't like very glossy lipsticks. I was specially very happy with the transparent and the golden bag I got. I was looking out for something similar as my travel bag for my cosmetics.

I will be using these products and will soon post reviews and my feedback. Let me know if anyone has used Shiseido products and how was the experience. Do you have any favorites in Shiseido range of cosmetics and skincare.

Review - Forest Essential Multani Mitti Ubtan

Its been long since I have written any post on Blogger. Blame it on my busy work schedule. Whenever I get time I feel like wasting the day and getting lazy at home :D.


Today I am going to review the "Multani Mitti Face Ubtan" by Forest Essential. I only use hair and body massage oils from Forest Essential and don't really indulge in their skincare. The last time I visited their store I asked them for a pack for oily skin as the rains at that time had made the weather in Mumbai really humid. The SA recommended the Multani Mitti Ubtan. Another reason I picked this up without reading reviews online was the fact that this product had won the Elle Beauty award 2010. I wanted to review the Multani Mitti Face Ubtan by Forest Essential only after using it for a long time. This product has been a part of my daily skincare for the last 4 months.


Forest Essential - Multani Mitti Ubtan -595/-  495/-

Forest Essential is an Indian company which makes natural skincare products. Forest essential products are used by Hotels like Taj and lots of Spas around India. I completely trust Forest Essential products as they are totally natural and free of any harmful chemicals. International skincare and cosmetics company Estee Lauder has bought stakes in Forest Essentials. 

What Forest Essential claims about this product:
An ideal treatment for blemished and acne-prone skin, it has a high content of pure Multani Mitti which is a rich alkaline soil, Jadhikai, Sandalwood and Green Grampowder. Its alkaline content corrects imbalances and  neutralizes skin tone. It is mineral-rich and anti-inflammatory, thereby being the perfect remedy for acne and blemishes. Its deep-cleansing action unclogs pores, lifts excess oil and impurities and purifies the skin, leaving it clean and fresh.

From the day I started using this product, my pimples and scars have got in control. My skin looks much more healthy. If I stop using this product even for three-four days I can see the difference. I use this every morning just for 5 minutes on my face and then rinse it off. I do not use any face wash. It removes the oil from my face and till evening my face doesn't require a face cleanser.


If you want to use this as a face pack then use it just once a week. Keep it on your face till dry and then rinse it off while slowly scrubbing it on your face. If you want to use this as a cleanser then just keep it on your face for 5 minutes and rinse it off even if its wet. Do not scrub it daily.


One container will easily last you three- four months. You can use this everyday with Forest Essential Aloe vera gel, rose water or just with plain water. You can also mix it with curd and use but this mixture didn't suit me as the curd made my face oily.
I totally love this product.

Ratings: ✰✰✰✰✰

Will I buy this again: I am already planning to buy my second jar next week. I totally love this product

What are Tinted Moisturisers?

I am not at all a foundation lover. Though I do keep one in my closet, I prefer using a tinted moisturiser. In Indian market after a lot of search I have found tinted moisturiser are only available with Oriflame, Ponds and Biotique (will be doing a review on each of these soon). Every drugstore makeup counter I have been to and asked the sales assistant for a tinted moisturiser, they were clueless. This lack of availability of tinted moisturisers as a product with Drugstore brands in India is the main cause of most of the girls being unaware of something known as "tinted moisturiser".


What is a tinted Moisturiser?
A tinted moisturiser is a combination of skincare moisturiser with a light foundation. It gives a very natural, lumnious complexion. It does not give a heavy cakey look, instead it just adds a slight tint to the skintone which gives a very natural, glowy look. It is the best product for daylight makeup.



Pros of Tinted moisturisers:

• Combination of moisturiser and makeup in one
• Provides light coverage and does not look cakey
• Most of Tinted moisturisers contains spf which is not found in most of the foundations.
• Less expensive as compared to applying moisturiser, sunblock and foundation seperately.
• Its very easy and quick application unlike that of a foundation
• Different shades to match your skintone.
• More long lasting.

Cons of tinted moisturiser:

• The only con is for women who want more coverage and are used to using foundation for their skin. This product will turn out to be light for their use.

Tinted moisturisers that I have tried and will be reviewing (in order of most favourites to the least) in my next post :

1. Mac - Studio tint with spf 15

Read the review of this product HERE

2. Oriflame peach me perfect cream

3. Pond's antiageing tinted moisturiser with spf 15

4. Biotique tinted moisturiser.

Tinted moisturisers can be found in high end brands like chanel, clarins, estee lauder etc. Most of these are available at shoppers stop in India and at Chanel boutique stores for Chanel products.