#FlipkartKids and the changing face of shopping for kids in India

Flipkart is now a household name. At least,in my household, we have been using Flipkart as our go-to shopping destination for everything from gadgets to cosmetics and everything in between. Speedy delivery, discounts, comfort to shop from home are just some of its positives. The very news of Flipkart launching an online shopping destination exclusively for kids was enough for me to get uber excited for this #FlipkartKids Indiblogger meet.

So there I was, at The Blue Frog in Lower Parel,Mumbai on 19th Dec 2015 at 2 PM,ready for this exciting adventure to begin. It was the grand occasion of launch of ‘Flipkart Li’l Stars – India’s Biggest Online Kids Store’ after all.

After a breezy registration, we were ushered in the huge dreamy Blue Frog where amazing cocktails and lunch spread waited to entice us all. Pretty soon, bloggers (mommy, daddy in the majority!) started streaming in and then began the selfie session that lasted till the end. The proceedings of the afternoon were started with a lively introductory speech by Kalpana Behara who talked about how she fell in love with blogging as a mommy, her struggle with writer's block and her ongoing journey. Then came the highlight-we had Chhota Bheem walking around the venue! He was waving and dancing and taking pictures with everyone, setting the tone perfectly for the next item-a panel discussion with executives from Flipkart, Disney, Mattel and Chhota Bheem. The most illuminating discussion of the afternoon, it opened our eyes to many facts-

• The parents and kids today are very aware of what is happening in the world,especially the kids, who are in tune with worldly trends
• Technology has changed the way we shop and kids are no different
• Chhota Bheem is exceptional as it has made its own mark among the Disney, Mattel toys. While Barbie is still extremely popular, Chhota Bheem is a mark of Indian excellence as kids are crazy about it!It is turning into a sensation everywhere!
• Kids are so advanced these days,they want what they want and they want it then & there. This is a challenge for the sellers to improve their logistics
• Flipkart is also bringing thousands of toys for special needs kids from international arena which will take some time to be shipped,but it is a big step forward.
• The best part is that the e-commerce arena has brought the magic of shopping for whatever we want,right from the comfort of our own home.

Pondering over these points in themselves was a big brainer, then came some light entertainment in the form of Indiblogger's own music band and the amazing Ad Mad game where we all chipped in teams on 10-11 each trying to sell Flipkart kids' toys. The event ended on a high note when we were each presented with a Chhota Bheem souvenir by Flipkart. I am positive that #FlipkartKids is going to be a huge success too!

Survival of the greatest #madeofgreat

Looking at Tata Motors' #madeofgreat campaign, I started thinking of a truly person whom I consider inspirational and great and the answer propped up, none other than Steve Jobs!

I don't have any Apple products, they are too expensive for me. But the fact that everyone yearns to own an Apple product, looks longingly at iphone, ipads and macbooks everywhere is an inspiration. And then looking at Steve Jobs' life, it becomes enchanting to see what makes him great. 

He was always a visionary, and a major risk taker who decided to drop out of college and start the path of turning his dreams into reality. He was the one who dreamt of user-friendly computers and brought about a revolution in tech industry,all while he started working in his home garage! A lot of people would think that he was arrogant but he was just very sure of what he wanted, and always had his hand on the pulse of the people. He foresaw the way technology would revolutionize every person's life and I think that was his greatest contribution to humanity. He brought computers on our desks instead of them sitting in offices alone! He brought music to our fingertips with ipods instead of bulky music players! He always thought from the viewpoint of the end user and that was his biggest victory back in the days when it was really difficult to find such attitudes prevalent anywhere else. That is what made him and Apple stand out from the competitors!

What is really interesting is that he was kicked out of the company he himself started,but his never-die-spirit and unparalleled tech vision made him do even better and greater things than before. Eventually,he was called back and he did go back to gift the world everything that we associate with Apple today. He was relentless in his pursuit of the next big thing,something to amaze everyone as well as make our lives easier. He invested in companies like Pixar which have made the most amazing movies of all time when it comes to animation! He made the impossible possible and that is why he will always be regarded as one of the greatest persons and inspirational figures who ever lived. 

It is the same attitude of excellence, dedication, never say die spirit that is evident in Tata Motors' association with Lionel Messi as their Global Brand Amabassador. 

So, What do you think of Tata Motors' Association with Lionel Messi? The best answer will win an Amazon voucher worth Rs. 750. Contest ends on 26th Nov. 2015, so comment soon!

Great Purchase - Forest Essentials Mysore Sandalwood & Nagkesar Facial Treatment Masque Review

I have a oily combination skin and always on lookout for good facemasks. This luxurious maque claims 'Nourishing Facial Pack is made with pure Sandalwood, Rosewater, Black Himalayan Clay and Potent Ayurvedic Herbs like Nagkesar to permeate the tissues and nourish and rejuvenate the skin. It *lightens * adds glow * rejuvenates.' 

It smells heavenly, just like sandalwood and really gives a luxurious feel. On applying it, I feel soothed and my skin feels so smooth and soft. It deep cleanses my skin, also gives such a cooling effect and since it is completely natural, it does not cause any pimples or break-outs which is always my biggest fear. After listening to so many people rave about Forest Essentials products,I am happy to use this and have become a fan of this brand myself. I will be trying out other FE products soon. 

My rating- 4.5 on 5

Sweeter and Better,that is my life,with Honey

The other day, my mother was talking to me about one of her friend's daughter who is very picky about what she eats, so much so that her mother is going crazy trying to figure out what to feed her. But like all of us have a tendency to look at the brighter spots in life, her mother said that at least she will grow up to be a size zero model as she hardly ever eats anything! For some reason, it made everyone laugh and even my mother was recounting this incident as a hilarious episode.

We all come across such incidents now and then. For all the talk of 'inner beauty', we still consider looks and figure as the most important criteria to 'judge' someone the moment we meet them. Not that there is anything very wrong in that. Because a person takes a lot of time and energy in looking good, so it is natural that we appreciate that aspect too. But it is harmful when taken to extremes. Such as -Size Zero modelling. We have all seen those stick thin models walking on ramps during London or Paris fashion week, and let us not forget the size zero craze that happened in our own India with Kareena Kapoor during the movie Tashan! A craze to look so thin that one might get confused if a person is starving! How is that considered healthy?

Let us remember what we were taught in school-Carbohydrates, Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals, Fats-all are essential to our body and life. Our body is made up of so many components that they need a mix of everything to derive energy and keep us in A-1 shape. But unfortunately, due to this 'dieting' craze,we have all forgotten the basic. Any wonder then that most of our modern society is plagued with so many lifestyle diseases and people are popping more pills than real food?

I have been a part of this craze too! I am lucky that I have never been overweight but still, not blessed with a figure that can be a part of the modelling world. And in college, I wanted so bad to be a model that I was ready to do whatever it took to reach that 'ideal weight'. I spent most of my pocketmoney in buying powders and pills that promised to banish all the fat and make me svelte like those Hollywood starlets. I tried Atkins, Herbalife shakes, Detox diet and some really un-pronounceable ones too! I exercised for hours, took some protein shakes and even though I felt weak, I would carry on thinking that this is what my body needs to go through in order for me to be a supermodel. Everything was perfect,until one week before my graduation final exams, I was diagnosed with Jaundice! Turns out that all the miracle weight loss pills and powders had weakened my liver to a dangerous extent and I had to be bed-ridden for nearly a month. Never mind that I lost one complete year of my studies, I also found the biggest lesson of my life. That is, these 'miracle diets' are nothing but death traps.

It was during this time that my doctor planned an entire diet chart for me,which took care of all my nutritional requirements without adding on the unnecessary calories or empty calories. Starting right from using Honey instead of normal white sugar. This one change made the biggest difference in my life. I have been able to crave all my food cravings without piling on bad calories as well as maintain a healthy weight and BMI. Not only this, I am also always energetic and ready to go for whatever task awaits me. I am not a model but working for a agency that works with celebrities and I can vouch for honey diet being the reason behind my glowing skin and hair too,I never use makeup! I look, feel and work better and I credit all this to my trusty friend Dabur Honey.

How to #StartANewLife with confidence

The moment I decided to take up my new job,I knew this was the start of a new life as everyone talks about that big moment when one's life changes. My life has been quite normal so far. Normal parents, normal middle class household, normal education, normal everything. My mother is a teacher so in my house,education came first over everything else. I always knew I would do a job as I could not even think of just staying at home whole day for any reason. I love housework and help my mom in cleaning, cooking whenever possible but I cannot imagine spending my whole time doing just that. And growing up,we always talked about Kiran Bedi and Indira Gandhi as role models in our home,so if they could balance their personal and professional life,then any woman could and so would I. It is just that I had never stayed outside home with anybody else, always my own family members and cousins during vacations. But I was pretty excited about the prospect too.

When I came to Mumbai,I got a rented accommodation with a very nice lady in Andheri East. She is a widow with two sons both of whom are settled in USA,so she has this big house with 3 bedrooms which she rents out to single working girls. There are 4 girls staying in 2 rooms, so the first day I came here,I met my roommate and was very excited to stay with her. She seemed like a very nice girl and we bonded over music and movies. Her parents lived in Hyderabad and she had grown up in quite a different home than mine. A few nights later,I found her tip-toeing back into our room at 4 AM in morning,which was strictly prohibited by our landlady. She told me that she had been out with a few friends and it got late. She had made a copy of the main door and did this now and then. I felt bad as she was cheating our nice landlady but she made me swear that I would not tell on her. However, a few nights later this again happened and this time I could also smell a lot of alcohol. I did not tell on her but I told her that this was not a good thing, she should at least respect the rules of the house as we are living in. Also,the neighbors might notice and say something. Mostly,I was just scared of the kind of people she was being friends with and if they were really nice people or if they were also into drugs etc. Finally about a month later,she did not come home all night and in the morning, the landlady aunty asked me about her whereabouts. I told her what she knew and also apologized for not telling her about this earlier. She was sad but did not scold me at all. I felt very bad and called my parents on what had happened and my mom said that I should again apologize to her. When my roommate came home at about 9 in the morning, I told her what had happened and asked her on the landlady aunty's behalf to leave the home as this was not the conduct of a good person from a good house. The landlady aunty also asked her to do the same.

Looking back at this,I remember being all new in the city and also a little bit shy but I learnt something very important-honesty is the foundation of everything. I could not start my new life on the basis of cheating or lying as my roommate was, it was not something I was taught by my parents and it was not the right thing to do. It taught me to be confident enough to do what was right without worrying about what anyone else was thinking. I used to care about my roommate enough to lie for her but then I realized it was my own lack of self-confidence that stopped me from doing the right thing. Today I live in a different house but I am still in touch with the landlady aunty and she always reminds me to remember the start of my new life here in Mumbai. Remember this as you browse through Housing website and see this video.

 

How to Lookup in life

As I got ready to start my new job in an all new city,my mind was filled with a thousand questions and will I be able to make it to the top on my own. Then there came the moment of meeting my grandparents and saying goodbye to them. We have a big joint family who have always been together and this was the first time I was going to be away. When I met my aaji (grandmother) and told her about my fears,whether my boss would be nice, whether my colleagues would be nice, how would I be able to remember to pay all my bills on time, she started laughing loudly and told me that I would do everything nicely as she had done all of that such a long time ago.Then she told me her story.

Well,my grandmother was born in modern day Pakistan,Lahore to be exact. When partition of India happened,her parents decided to move to India along with a lot of other hindu families living in their little colony. Many of their friends and neighbours were Muslims,some of whom helped in getting them safely onboard the trains coming to India but many also turned violent as it was a turbulent time when friends turned foes overnight. One of my grandmother's childhood friends was Muslim and even her family decided to come to India too. These 2 families came to Delhi together,thankfully (as my grandmother says) the train they came in was not looted and they came in safely as this was a big thing back then as many trains were completely looted and all people butchered in them. Well, they all reached Delhi and were herded into refugee camps with nowhere to go. The officials there told them that surely they will find some alternate accommodation,jobs etc. but they will have to be patient as the whole partition process had rendered a lot of loss on both sides and the economies of both the countries were not enough to give a good life to each and every person. So they had to wait. Meanwhile, my grandmother's mom got very ill as she had pneumonia for some time now and it was not possible for her to bear all the stress and those ill-living quarters and stay healthy! My grandmother and her friend then decided to start some work on their own to save some money as they couldn't live in those camps forever. They started to do some stitching work for other refugee ladies and slowly for some residential quarters near the camps in Delhi itself. Soon they branched out in embroidery work as my grandmotheer's friend-Saraa,her name was-really good in embroidery work while my aaji was good at math. Together,these friends saved enough money to start a kind of shop doing such work for many ladies on a permanent basis. Unfortunately my aaji's mother died of pneumonia complications soon after but my aaji and Saraa soon got both families out of desperation. They moved on to own a big shop in Delhi selling all kinds of dress material, sarees, bags, doing embroidery work on the same. This is how my aaji started her life after a tragedy like partition. 

After telling me this story,she asked me, how could I not succeed when she had under such difficult conditions?And listening to her made me feel a surge of hope and optimism like nothing else. Today,whenever I feel down or scared,I just remember her words and am able to smile and look forward to future with happiness,just like the feeling one might get as one browses through Housing website.

Okay Purchase- Lotus Herbals Whiteglow Skin Brightening Whitening Serum Review

Having heard from all my friends and neighbors on how important it is to have a serum in everyday beauty routine,I went ahead and bought 3 different serums and today I will review the first one that I used for 1 month regularly.It comes from the famous herbal brand of Lotus Herbals and has really good reviews too.

It claims, ' Enriched with Grape, Mulberry, Saxifraga extracts and Milk enzymes that are known fairness agents A proprietary formula that distributes via an advanced delivery system It visibly refines large pores, eliminates blackheads and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles'

On application,it simply seeps in my skin without making any kind of effect,it is not a cream so it does not leave any kind of sheen behind,it however gave a little matte effect on my skin after 2-3 minutes which I like.On top of it,I put sunscreen before going out and it held together very well. After regular use,I think I can see tighter pores and a little permanent glow which is a good thing. This is the first time I have used a serum and I think I was expecting a little more,but I think a very oily skin like me needs something more potent because I want oil control,blackheads control,squeaky clean yet hydrated skin and this serum only gives hydration and little matte effect for 5-6 hours. Apart from that,I think even if I use other products without using a serum,I would get same effect of glow and tighter pores! Also,it is expensive for the little quantity,I think just because it is called a serum,the brands charge more for it!

My rating-2.5/5

Okay Purchase- Lotus Herbals Safe Sun Anti-Tan Scrub Review

I am not a big fan of scrubs but got this last week because one of my friends said this works during hot summers which is happening right now.

It comes in nice tube,is creamy,has tiny granules,is quite thick & spreads easily over skin. Thus it gives good exfoliation but has almost no tan-removal properties,even though it is very useful in scrubbing,even for sensitive skin. Nobody should be expecting miracles but it is useful in removing blackheads too,so I would recommend it as good exfoliant, nothing else. Smell is nice which lingers for some time too.

My Rating-3/5

Good Purchase- Aroma Magic Insta Radiance Green Tea Pack Review

I like pampering my skin with face packs and my oily skin is always needing something to suck up the excess oil. I bought this pack as recommended by a friend.

I like applying the creamy mask as it does not feel slippery and actually feels very light on application,it makes a very glossy effect on my skin. The fragrance is also awesome. I like drinking green tea and the fragrance reminds me of that even though there are other ingredients in this too. The tube is very attractive. On washing it off, I like the clean feeling that I get, my face is free of all excess oil and there is a temporary brightening effect. This would be a great purchase if this glow stayed for 2-3 days but it days for 1 day only. So I like using this once every 3-4 days.

My Rating- 4/5

Good Purchase- Himalaya Herbals Footcare Cream Review

My mom bought this last week and asked me to review it here so as to give everyone an idea of how it is. She really loves it and this review is only based on her experience.

Comes in a standard tube like all other Himalaya products and is easy to carry around. The cream is thick and smooth in texture. It smells very strong & purely herbal. The smell is nice to my mom's nose and mine too. She has been applying it every night for a week and feels that she gets instantly soft feet after applying it. She sleeps at night after applying and in the morning she wakes up to really smooth feet and within a week her rough heels have become much smoother to touch. Now she has started applying it twice a day and the only thing is-after applying it in the morning,she waits for 10 minutes before putting on slippers otherwise the cream might feel sticky. But in 10 minutes it is completely absorbed. She loves it and now even I am thinking of applying it. Great product.

My Rating-4.5/5

Okay purchase- Aroma Magic Beauty Pack Review

This is a face pack I purchased about 10 days ago and I have used it enough times to properly review it here. So here it is, a review of Aroma Magic Beauty Pack! I had heard a lot of good things about Aroma Magic face packs and so bought this for trial.

I love the all new packaging of Aroma Magic products. Simply charming and so colorful. The tube is travel friendly and face pack is white in color with creamy texture. I think it gives a tingling feeling on application so sensitive skin people may need to check it before applying! It doesn’t dry out completely & is easy to wash off with water. I have used it 5 times so far and it does give a little glow on washing off but I have an oily skin and I think it leaves a little slippery feeling behind which vanishes after some time. There is no 'magic' so I will not repurchase it but dry skinned people may like this more as it does add to hydration. Also it is available for around 375 rupees which I think is a bit on expensive side.

My rating-3/5

Good purchase -Aroma Magic Under Eye Gel Review

Bought some aroma magic products about 10 days ago,so let me start by reviewing my favorite from the lot-Aroma Magic under eye gel.

It is perfect for my oily skin,as unlike the earlier cream that I used,it does not leave it feeling stretchy at all. I have been using it regularly for about 8 days now and it has made me feel fresh in my under eye area, no immediate results but I like applying it everyday and am addicted to it! It comes in a hygienic tube that is easy to carry around. It has an immediate cooling effect on the eyes and the best part is that very little quantity is needed so it will easily last me 2-3 months even if I apply it everyday twice! I am going to use it and update you on its efficacy over long run!

My rating-4/5

Great Purchase-Himalaya Clarifying Mud Pack Review

This is the last product I bought from Himalaya when I went on a binge shopping about 10 days ago! This is the perfect product for someone like me with such oily skin!I had been looking for a perfect mud pack and here it is!

It comes in a standard tube which is travel friendly and has ingredients like Multani Mitti, Mineral Clay, Khus, Walnut and smells okay,some people will find the smell bit weird but I like the little citrusy kind of smell it has. The texture is very thick and I always use it with a little bit of rose water. It takes about 10 minutes to dry and when I wash it off, it also becomes a kind of scrub, leaving my skin fresh, even toned and clearer! It controls pimples too, absorbs oil and leaves the skin really clear. I love the effect it has on my skin as I completely forget how oily my skin is after using it! Dry skinned people should stay away from it unless they want their skin to look like a desert. But all oily skinned people should definitely use it 3 times a week to emerge with a brighter skin like me! Enough product to last a month if used 3 times a week and it is very pocket friendly like all Himalaya products.

My rating- 4.5/5

Okay purchase- Himalaya Herbals Fairness Face Pack Review

When I bought Himalaya fairness cream about 10 days ago, the sales lady also told me to buy this and this will lead to increased 'fairness'. Well I am not interested in fairness but since I travel a lot in pollution,it leads to darkening of my skin so I want bright skin,so I bought this. It is the only product from Himalaya that has not been a great purchase for me or anyone in my family. 

On the pack,it says,' Himalaya’s Fairness Face Pack is a unique natural formulation that evens out skin tone for a fairer you! Saffron, Turmeric, Walnut, Indian Aloe and Kaolin rejuvenate and cleanse your skin of impurities, to reveal a natural glow. Saffron and Turmeric enhances your skin’s complexion and elasticity. Walnut and Indian Aloe heals skin and removes blackheads, while Kaolin removes impurities. CINNABLOC, our patented herbal sunblock, protects your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.'

It comes in a squeeze tube which is nice to travel around with and has enough product to last about a month if used everyday. The texture is creamy and spreads easily on face. It dries off in about 7-8 minutes after which I wash it off. It does not feel slippery or oily on my face which is a good thing but there is no fairness like glow on my face after this. It is just another facepack which gives a little cleaning and fresh feeling. The smell is very pleasant but frankly,the fruit face pack from Himalaya gives a much better glow and bright look to my face. I gave this to my sister also and she also found it to be okay,on her dry skin it lead to little stretchy feeling and she had to use a moisturizer but again, no fairness effect unlike the fairness cream from Himalaya where results are visible in a week.

My rating- 2.5/5

Good purchase- Himalaya Refreshing Fruit Pack Review

I wanted to buy the Himalaya Neem Pack since I have heard so many good things about it and I have such horribly oily skin. But the day I went to buy it,it was out of stock and so I bought this and even this is a very good pack! 

On the pack,it says ' Apple, a rich source of  natural Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) that improve and nourish skin texture.Fig & Cucumber provide cooling effect to the skin. Papaya removes freckles and smoothens the skin.  Mineral Clay soothes the skin and removes deeply embedded impurities.' I was apprehensive since it said, 'normal to dry skin' but then I saw clay in the ingredients and bought it since it absorbs oil. It is easy to apply and the tube it comes in is travel friendly. It has a pleasant smell and is very thick in texture.I love to apply a thick layer over my face and let it sit for 15 minutes and then wash it. All the oil is absorbed by the mineral clay and I am left with nice skin which is a little slippery to feel in beginning but in 5 minutes it becomes smooth and soft. I do not need to use any moisturizer after it but the dry skinned people will have to. After about a week of use,I can say it does impart a nice glow to my face and makes it fresh and bright to look at. It also feels smooth. So it does everything that it claims. It is a really good face pack to have.

My rating-4/5

Good Purchase- Himalaya Revitalizing Night Cream Review

I bought this specifically for mom since she wanted a night cream since a long time! She has been using this for past 10 days continuously and is very pleased with it, so let's review it here. 

It comes in a very small container of 50 gms but it needs only a small amount to be applied every night so it will last for 2 months even if used everyday and that makes it a very good price. It is available for about Rs. 200. I got it at a big discount since I bought a lot of products together and I got about 15-20% discount as I know the sales lady personally! This cream does not promise anti-ageing or brightening,it is just revitalizing and my mother uses it every night and wakes up with smooth skin in the morning. There is no miracle but the results are visible after the first week,it is smooth baby like skin. My mother does wish it had more benefits like dark spots reduction or wrinkle reduction but as of now, she is happy with smooth skin, no pimples, simple glow of healthy skin. It is a lotion kind of cream which is perfect for my mother who has combination skin. It will also suit dry skin people I think. I have not used it yet but I think it won't be bad on my oily skin also. The sales lady said it suits all skin so I might try it some day too! The smell is very pleasant and my mom loves to touch her face to feel how soft it is.

My mother's rating-4/5

Okay Purchase- Himalaya Herbals Face Moisturizing Lotion Review

I bought this along with a lot of other Himalaya products 10 days ago and it did not suit me one bit. The saleslady gave me a lot of products to work with, I told her I have oily skin and she said this will be fine with my skin too since due to pollution it had lost its sheen and I need a face lotion to make it all shiny! But this lotion is better for dry skinned ladies!

It says 'All Skin Types' but trust me,it is not good for oily skin!

I am saying this is an Okay Purchase since my sister is using it nowadays and she liked it. The packaging is strong and the bottle is travel friendly. The consistency of the lotion is very liquidy and on application also it does not mattify the face which an oily skinned person needs, it adds to the moisturization which is perfect fro dry skinned people. The only thing I can say is-I used it for 2 days and even applied it over my pimples and it did not worsen them, so that is a plus point! On my sister's skin, this does impart a glow and shine to her face and the smell is also pleasant like most Himalaya products. She thinks this is a nice product for summers and maybe even rainy season. In winter she would need something stronger as this is a light lotion.

My rating- 2/5

Great scrub- Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Scrub Review

10 days ago when I picked up some beauty products, mostly from Himalaya, I also purchased this since I have very oily skin and the sales lady said I must have this neem based product to combat oiliness. I already love my blossom kocchar scrub still bought this and this is a fantastic product!

On the pack,it says' Specially formulated to give you clear,problem free skin, this scrub works with a dual exfoliation and purifying action. Neem, well known for its purifying and antibacterial properties, kills problem causing bacteria. Combined with exfoliating apricot granules, it gently scrubs away blackheads, dead skin cells and embedded impurities, leaving your skin soft, clear, refreshed and problem free.'

I do have problem of blackheads, dead skin and all that comes with oily skin so I thought let me try it. The packaging is very sturdy and tube is nice. Product is enough to last a month if used daily. It does not have very scratchy granules but still the sensitive skin people might not like it. I liked it since it instantly cleaned my oily face feeling. Also the blackheads were scrubbed off to a large extent and it smells of fresh neem leaves which I like a lot but again my sister hates the smell! I had some pimples on my skin so I did not scrub the area but it did not irritate them and also they dried away quickly. So I love it a lot.

My rating-4.5/5

Good Purchase- Himalaya Under Eye Cream Review

I do not have much dark circles under my eyes but nowadays due to spending lot of time on computers I do feel fatigue and tired bags have started appearing under my eyes so I bought this about 10 days ago and let me review it now. 

On the pack it says that 80% of the Dark Circles will be reduced in 4 weeks. It also helps to Reduces the under eye wrinkles & fine lines by 28% in just 4 weeks and helps to Brightens & smoothens our eye contour.

These are tall claims and I don't know how much effective it is on dark circles but I assure you it does make eyes appear brighter and less tired. 

It smoothens my skin under the eyes and leaves it too soft but also a bit oily which bothers me since I already have oily skin but it is good that there is no stretchy feeling and I am sure dry skinned people will love it. I use it twice a day and it keeps my under eye area nourished for long. Packaging is especially good since it comes in travel friendly tube. 

price-Rs. 150

My rating-4/5

Good purchase- Himalaya Herbals Fairness Cream Review

I must confess, growing up I was always thinking about being fair. Thankfully,as I grew up I became happy with my skin and no longer worry about fairness but once in a while when my skin darkens with pollution I do use some 'fairness' creams just to regain some normality. Otherwise, fairness is not important for me. Himalaya is a brand everyone in my home trusts a lot so I purchased this to take care of my skin getting darker under the sun nowadays. I have used it for about 10 days now!

On the pack,it says, '“Fairness in 4 weeks” – The unique natural formula of Himalaya Fairness Cream is absorbed faster into the skin and works throughout the day, making your complexion better each time, every time. Prevents dark discoloration of the face.

The product comes in a standard tube, packaging is quite nice. The cream is white colored and smells pleasant. The cream is quite thick, but gets absorbed into skin easily and it instantly removes the oiliness in my skin. My skin looks so brighter and feels fresh. I have noticed in past 10 days that I am looking a bit brighter which probably means that the pollution is not affecting my skin a lot which makes me very happy. I don't think it will be nice for dry skinned as it completely absorbs oil from my skin so I think the dry skinned ladies should skip this or use it with really heavy moisturizer. I am happy and will repurchase it.

Price-Rs. 30 for this small pack which would last a month

My rating-3.5/5

Best Scrub- Aroma Magic Mineral Glow Scrub Review

Right about a month ago when I started using Aroma Magic Under Eye cream, I also picked up Aroma Magic Mineral Glow Scrub. My skin is really oily so I need a scrub to constantly scrub off the dirt and pollution and blackheads. My old one was Himalaya Apricot Scrub that I have used for over 2 years now and it is good,but I wanted to try something new. 

On the pack,it says 'This microderm face & body scrub cleans pores, removes oil, blackheads, dead cells & exfoliates the blockages. Reduces wrinkles, sun damage & improves texture. Skin appears lighter, brighter, smooth & glowing.'

The scrub is of pistachio green colour and the granules are very non abrasive. It is not at all like the rough scrubs available in apricot or walnut varieties and has a slippery texture which is not bad and perfectly moisturizes my skin. I thought it would not be good for my oily skin but it does not make it oilier and I think it will be perfect for dry skin too. It cleans well without stripping the skin of essential oils but the only drawback is,it does nothing for my blackheads for which I will have to continue using my Himalaya Apricot scrub. But this is gentle and good for using almost everyday. One more thing-it is really weird smelling which is fine by me but my sister hates it!

Price-Rs. 140

My rating- 3.5/5

My new love- Aroma Magic Almond Under Eye Cream

I have been dealing with many beauty related problems,the most main one being DARK CIRCLES! I tried using cucumber juice but it does nothing more than refresh my eyes temporarily, also used lemon juice but it stings. No remedy having given satisfactory results, I decided to go take some cosmetic treatment and many of my friends recommended this cream! Aroma Magic Almond Under Eye Cream. It comes from the house of Blossom Kochchar who is widely reputed with bringing aromatherapy in our homes and really quality products too!

Vitamins A and C give excellent tone, nourishment, suppleness; minimize wrinkles and rings around the eyes.

Directions to use:  Gently pat the cream around the eyes with finger tips and wipe off with damp cotton after 20 minutes.

Active ingredients: Extracts of almond, lemon peel, Bach and pure, organic essential oils of rose, carrot and lavender.

As we can see, The packaging is hygienic,cute and travel friendly. The tube is small and we can easily carry it along everywhere.I have been using it for a month now and I can see little bit reduction in my dark circles which have plagued me for over a decade. I would like an eye cream which works faster but this one has good ingredients which have not irritated my under eye area so I am continuing with it and it is also very pocket friendly!

Price: Rs.135 for 20 gm.

My Rating: 3.5/5