Green Tea Alcohol Free Toner from Plum | Review

In my everyday CTM regime, I have elucidated how important a toner is. Today, I will be reviewing about Green Tea Toner from Plum that I am currently using.

Packaging :

The toner comes in a sturdy white bottle with flip top cap. I am a big fan of Plum packaging. Good packaging wins my heart instantly.

Green Tea Alcohol free Toner from Plum

Ingredients :

Aqua (Water), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, FDA Approved Colours, Fragrance Glycerin, Glycolic acid, Phenoxyethanol

My Experience :

I 've been using this toner twice daily - morning and night. The toner is simply a transparent liquid and looks just like water. In the beginning, I was skeptical about the results this water like liquid will produce but after using it about two weeks I realized this is not "just-water" but a magic liquid for the skin. I have noticed the pores on my skin has reduced considerably. My face has toned out and the acne marks on my cheeks have reduced visibly. Another commendable feature about this toner that is worth mentioning is its fragrance. The toner smells amazing. As much as it sound weird, I will be upright honest that I am addicted to using this toner just for the beautiful fragrance it has. Trust me you are going to love it.

The toner claims to be alcohol free. After some research on the Internet, I found that certain alcohol are good at closing pores of the skin instantly. While this is true, on the long run they can be harmful to the skin causing damage and break outs. So this green tea toner which is alcohol free may not give you immediate results but using it regularly will definitely help in shrinking the pores.

Price :

INR 380 for 200 ml

Pros :

• Amazing fragrance
• Free of harmful alcohol
• 100 % vegan
• Sturdy Packaging
• Truly works for its claims
• Paraben, sulphates and SLS free

Cons :

• Available only in one size.

Rating :

4.9/5

Verdict :

I am in love with this toner not only for the excellent results it gives me but also for that gorgeous fragrance that I am totally addicted to. This is definitely worth buying.

Hello Aloe Gentle Cleansing Lotion from Plum | Review

Today I am going to review about the Hello Aloe Gentle Cleansing Lotion from Plum which is currently part of my C-T-M routine.

Packaging :
The cleanser comes in a white round plastic bottle with a transparent pump dispenser. I generally like the pump dispenser kind of outlets as it helps me squeeze out the product as much as I want to. So I must say I was smitten by the packaging of this cleanser.

Hello Aloe Gentle Cleansing Lotion

Ingredients :

My Experience :
I have been using this cleanser everyday for a while now as it is part of my everyday C-T-M routine. The cleanser is a white fluid which is neither creamy nor gel like but somewhere in between. I squeeze out a small amount and massage it on to my face and neck. As I have a sensitive skin, the cleanser on application gives a mild burning sensation which is not something to worry about but also I cannot go blind eye to this. The smell of this cleanser is also decent, nothing that I would complain about. The cleanser being a lotion doesn't lather like the face washes do. It simply gets absorbed by the skin on massaging. On the packaging, it is instructed to wipe it off using soft cotton. However, as I don't want any of the product to be left on my face, I use some cotton to wipe off my makeup and then completely wash my face and neck with water. It makes my face feel fresh and clean eliminating dirt and excess oil which gets accumulated through out the day.

Price :
INR 299 for 200 ml

Pros :

• Packaging (Pump dispenser types are my favorite)
• Cleans , removes dirt
• Eliminates excess oil on the face
• Paraben, sulphates , SFS free
• 100 % vegan

Cons :

• Available in standard size of 200ml.
• The mild burning sensation. Although, this didn't create any problems.
• Doesn't easily remove makeup. Not really effective when it comes to removing eye makeup

Rating :

3.75 / 5

Verdict :

A good cleanser free of  harmful chemicals that cleans well but not good enough to remove makeup.

My Everyday C-T-M regime | Cleansing | Toning | Moisturising

A stroke of kohl on the eyes, BB cream for the face and a nude lippie or a lip balm is my everyday subtle makeup look. I cannot imagine a day without these. So I can truthfully say that I wear makeup everyday. A basic skin care routine should be followed by someone who wears make up on regular basis. Today I am going to elucidate on the importance of having a regular CTM - Cleansing, Toning and Moisturizing regime and also share with you the products that I am currently using for my CTM. If you are following me on Instagram, you will be aware of my recent haul from the brand Plum. And yes, my current CTM are all from Plum.

Step One: Cleansing

Cleansing is the first step of basic skin care. A cleanser is essential to remove makeup, oil and also get rid of dirt and other pollutants that get accumulated on the face. This is a simple step which also helps to refresh our skin from all the stress and tiredness. Currently, I am using the Hello Aloe Gentle Cleansing Lotion from Plum. It helps me wipe out my makeup, dirt and excess oil that gets accumulated on the day and also refreshes my face instantly.

Step Two : Toning

I will be upright honest here: I have never used a toner before. I am sure most of us would skip this step as our aim is only to get the makeup off and get a clean skin but allow me to unfold the magical power of a toner. Its not until recently that I discovered how important toning is. Toning, in my experience is undeniably the most important step. After cleansing, you would have noticed that the skin gets super dry. This is because the cleanser removes away natural oils present on the face along with the dirt. Consequently, it alters the pH level of the skin which should be maintained at 5.5. A toner helps maintain this pH level. While a cleanser unclogs the pores and removes dirt that get accumulated inside the pores, a toner is required to close the pores. When used daily, it helps in shrinking of the pores. The toner I am using is the alcohol free Green Tea Toner from Plum. I must say this works like magic for me. I have fallen in love with its fragrance.

Step Three : Moisturizing

Moisturize to hydrate your skin

Moisturizing is the last and a crucial step to keep the skin hydrated. A moisturizer  prevents the skin from becoming too dry or too oily. I have got a combination skin with few acne spots and so I am using the mattifying Green tea moisturizer from Plum. This is an excellent moisturizer that is light on the skin and doesn't make my skin oily.


So, this is all I have to share with you about my CTM regime. I have been following this every night before I hit the bed and have experienced amazing results. What is your everyday skin care regime? Do let me know in the comments :)
Thank you for reading :) Have a great day ;)

Coffee Body Scrub from Skin Yoga | Review

I have heard from one of my relatives that the coffee powder that is left on the coffee filter after making the decotion can be used as a body scrub. I haven't tried this though. Recently, in one of my fab bags I was thrilled to have received the Skin Yoga Coffee Body Scrub. I am always fascinated by the beauty products that are made of natural ingredients and are chemical free, this one genuinely grabbed my attention. 

Skin Yoga Coffee Body Scrub

Packaging :

I received a 100g of the scrubin a golden zip open pouch.

Ingredients :

• Ground Coffee Beans
• Pure coconut oil
• Pure sesame oil

My experience :

As instructed on the pouch , I used a small amount of this scrub and gently massaged it on my wet skin. The coffee granules are quite big in size and therefore make sure not to massage brutally but simply follow soft and gentle massaging. The scrub undoubtedly smelled like fresh coffee which is heavenly for coffee lovers like me. After gently massaging for few minutes , I washed it away. The whole process seems to be tedious and messy, however the results are amazing. My skin felt a lot smoother and supple. Places where I had dry skin also was rewarded with enough moisture. The scrub with the presence of oils pleasantly gave me a smoother and glowing skin.

Inside the pouch : large coffee granules

Price : 

INR 845 for 100g

Pros :

• Repairs damaged skin
• Fresh coffee fragrance
• Eliminated skin dryness
• Natural ingredients and preservative free
• Makes skin smooth, soft and supple.

Cons :

• Expensive
• The process is messy

Rating :

4 / 5

Verdict :

Undeniably, this is an excellent scrub. However, too pricey for something that can be easily made using kitchen ingredients. 

Geri G Innocent Foundation - Medium Review | Swatch

Today I am going to review about one of the products that I received in last month's fab bag - Geri G Innocent Foundation in the shade medium.

Geri G Innocent Foundation

Some information about Geri G :

• Geri-G is found by a renowned Hollywood makeup artist Geri Giagnorio.
• Geri-G products are vegan and cruelty free.
• These products don't solely concentrate on surface issues but also helps in promoting beautiful skin from inside.
• Currently there are 6 products- Transecutional Canvas, Innocent Foundation, Plush Mascara, Cheek and Eye Duo and a brush.
• Nanomarine 5 is present exclusively on all geri-g products. It is the presence of Nanomarine5 that provides a nutrient dense formula. It is created of sea and land based proteins, vitamins, minerals and omega which is cell permeable and easily absorbed by the skin.

Packaging :

It comes in a transparent plastic bottle with a pump dispenser and a silver cap.

Pump dispenser

List of Ingredients

My experience :

I pumped out a pea sized amount of the foundation which was more than enough to cover my entire face. It had a faint smell and the texture is very smooth and creamy like a mousse. As the name entails, it was super light and innocent on the skin unlike other creamy foundations which are usually heavy. It provided a sheer to medium coverage which was fine with me as I don't like sporting a completely artificial skin. It did conceal my blemish marks to certain extent. The finish was matte and at the same time this didn't lead to any break outs and kept my skin hydrating enough. The lasting power of this foundation is also pretty decent. Another interesting and noteworthy feature of this product is that I found my face glowing after removing the makeup using this foundation. Wonderful isn't it?

Swatch

Price :

INR 2500 for 30 ml

Availability in India:

Fab Bag website

Pros :

• Light on the skin.
• Matte finish.
• Leaves a glow after removing makeup.
• Mousse like texture
• Good packaging. Pump dispenser makes it easy to use.
• Sheer to medium coverage.

Cons :

• Expensive

Rating :

4.5 / 5

Verdict :

A foundation that not only helps in make-up but also nourishes the skin. Its definitely a win-win for the skin. 

Bio Green Apple Fresh Daily Purifying Shampoo and Conditioner | Biotique |Review

After having loved the Bio Aloe Vera Sunscreen lotion , I was curious to explore other range of products from Biotique. Coincidentally, I was running out of shampoo and so decided to pick the Bio Green Apple Fresh Daily Purifying Shampoo and Conditioner.

Packaging :

It comes in a translucent round bottle with their trademark green cap. The shampoo is green and gel-like(not the usual creamy type).

Bio Green Apple Fresh Daily Purifying Shampoo and Conditioner

Usage :

Since this shampoo is for oily scalp and hair, I applied generous amount of hair oil to my hair, allowed it to stay for 2 hours so that the scalp absorbs it before washing it off. I have the habit of diluting the shampoo with little water before using it to wash my hair. The shampoo smelled like green apple literally. It was not harsh on my hair and felt very light. Upon drying my hair after the wash I noticed the shampoo has sucked away all the oil from my head which was dripping oil before the wash. I also discovered that my hair became soft without the use of any hair conditioner.

Price : 

INR 159 for 190 ml

Pros :

• Inexpensive
• Made of natural ingredients
• Excellent for oily scalp
• Conditioner is not required 
• Smells precisely like green apples
• Very light and not harsh for the hair

Cons :

• None!!

Rating :

4.5/5

Verdict :

I am already smitten by this brand and cant wait to get my hands on their other range of products. I will undoubtedly continue using this shampoo until I find my next favorite.