Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil & The Body Shop Vitamin E Serum in Oil - Those That Changed My Skin

My skin is as bipolar as myself. It goes from very dry to oil factory before you can say 'duh'. On top of that it is extremely sensitive. I was looking for an all natural remedy to my skin and as everyone and their third cousin was going gung ho about facial oil in 2014, I thought about trying my luck as well. Around the same time I came across a raving review about Kumkumadi oil in a fantastic blog (http://www.sweetandbitterblog.com/). I was all set to visit the Kama Ayurveda shop when I saw the Iraya one on sale on Jabong. And thought about trying it . After 4 months, I just went throgh my first bottle, on my second and already have stocked the third. This much I love it.

Ingredient :

Cow's Milk, Sesame Oil ( Sesamum Indicum ), Rice Bran Oil(Oryza Sativa), Rose Water ( Rosa Centifolia ), Saffron ( Crocus Sativus), Sandalwood (Santalum Album), Lodh Tree Bark (Symplocos Racemosa), Red Sanders Wood (Pterocarpus Santalinus), Coomb Teak (Adina Cordifolia), Vetiver (Vetiveria Zizanoides), Manjishta (Rubia Cordifolia), Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra), Lotus seed (Nelumbo Nucifera), Turmeric(Curcuma Longa), Indian Barberry (Berberis Aristata), Cobra Saffron (Mesua Ferrea), Flame Of The Forest (Butea Menosperma),Priyangu (Callicarpa Macrophylla), Banyan(Ficus Bengalensis), Mustard (Brassica Campestris),Ginger (Zingiber Zerumbet), Essential Oils of Bergamot and Lavender.

What is claims:

Prescribed in Ayurveda as a ‘Miraculous Elixir’ for the skin, Kumkumadi is an absolute classic! This revered formulation contains pure Saffron and 25 precious Ayurvedic herbs that have been relied upon through the ages to lighten and brighten the complexion. It evens skin tone, clears blemishes, minimises fine lines and surface imperfections and also helps improve skin’s texture.

What I Liked:

• I used 4-5 drops in winter and 2-3 drops right now in the summer, every alternate night after cleaning my face.


• I Never had a single pimple after using it, when most bb creams give me horrible breakouts.


• My existing marks are almost gone.


• Skin is much clrearer, but not lighter. For that matter nothing healthy should ever change your complexion. If it would have been the case, I would have stopped using it from the next day.


• Skin is healthier than ever, it may also because of my skin regime but this oil surely contributes to it.

What I Did Not:

• It is expensive as hell (995 for 10 ml), I will be looking for discounts.


• The husband went crazy because of the smell for first few days, but I like it .

I Received the saffron elixir sample , but it did not suit me.

You can check their website: http://www.iraya.in/198-kumkumadi-facial-oil-10-ml.html

Now the second produc is of course The Bodyshop vitamin E serum in oil, which when used alone works good for me but when I use it alternate day with the kukumadi oil , the result is stunning.



This surely burns a hole in my pocket but am using it for 5 months now and still has some productleft, so the investment is worth.

What is your skin care secret? let me know.

 

Carpe Diem !!!

This post is going to be bit of random rambling, consider yourself warned.

The other day saw me googling "how to survive a workoholic partner". Dont get me wrong, I am not a bored housewife (there is nothing wrong being one though, homemakers usually contribute more to the economy than rest of us and are mostly superwomen, like my Mom). I have a very demanding job, most days I work for more than 10 hours and burn quite some night oil. But the man in my life takes it to a next level. Weekends, dinner time, our hour long drive to and from work (that used to be our only us time for some time) he is always over call , speaking in software language that gives me headache. For last 6 months I go out on weekends alone , shopping alone, eating out alone with a second helping of self pity. But today I had my self pity over sauration level with diminishing marginal return and high marginal cost and I realized the best way to survive a workoholic partner.

Repeat after me :

BY NOT GIVING A DAMN.

There are too many things in life to do , read a book ( loads and loads) , watch a movie, compliment a stranger, pamper yourself, develop a hobby. You can devote your time on your kid if you have one , but for gods sake dont become Norm Bates or an average bengali mother in law ( but I repeat myself ;)) .

On the otherhand this is what happening in my life

[caption id="attachment_140" align="aligncenter" width="730"] Yes My Lists are Colour Coded[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_141" align="aligncenter" width="730"] This book is nightmare inducing....but in a good way[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_146" align="aligncenter" width="730"] We have a theatre festival going on at my 'Para"(locality),, how cool is that[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_142" align="aligncenter" width="730"] My obsession with Madhubani painting is unlimited. And I Love pretty notebooks[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_143" align="aligncenter" width="730"] A set of multicolur pens... small joys of life[/caption]

Rediscovering Kolkata : Part 2

I have heard a lot about Gariahat shopping, while I am a regular to big stores like Byloom, Fabindia, Sharee Kuti and likes I never exactly went on to street shopping there. Last weekend I went to dokkhinapon to pick up some handloom stuff and while returning took a peek at gariahat market. It was too hot and humid and I was feeling too dizzy to scan the street shops. But then I am a junk jewelley junkie and armed with a liter of mineral water I attacked the fabulous jewelley shops. Though I am sure I should have bargained better but had a fabulous haul never the less. Have a look.   I really liked how the setting sun has played on the silver and red colours ( no filter).

Horror Can Be Beautiful Too: Discovering Emily Carroll

Last year in July I was reading rave reviews about "Through the woods" ,looked high and low but could not find the book in my city. Instead I came across the website of this amazing artist/writer http://www.emcarroll.com/ . I went through web series like "the hole the fox did make", "out of skin" and then Margot's room happened. It stole my heart, the clever clues. the enchanting drawing, the chilling story , what not to love .



And then a friend was kind enough to send me the book. It has five stories, from supernatural, horror to good old ghost one.

What I loved:

• The stories are scary, downright scary .


• The have that must have quality of short stories namely "ended but lingered".


• The artwork is so breathtaking .

What I did not love:

NOTHING

Rating: 10/5 ( you see I really loved it).

I leave you with few snapshots of the book , but no spoiler included. (All are collected from google image)







Last but not the least, how could you not love a book which ends with this



Please buy the book , it is strictly in "Do not miss" category

"All Those Who Wander Are Not Lost"

In this weekly series I will document my not so fabulous life , be warned it is a photo heavy post.

[caption id="attachment_105" align="aligncenter" width="730"] These two rose based products from Khadi..I love, I adore, give these a try.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_106" align="aligncenter" width="730"] Revisiting the first book I ever read, fairytale in my native language , pure bliss[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_107" align="aligncenter" width="730"] The first rain and her gift on my car[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_108" align="aligncenter" width="730"] Came acros this stunning wall[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_112" align="aligncenter" width="730"] The new favourite food joint , Paris Cafe[/caption]

A Jittery Flyer & Paperboat Rasam

(Rasam is a tamarind based soup, originated in southern part of India. Beside tamarind, tomato, chili pepper, pepper and cumin are also added.)

Are you a nervous flyer ? Has 2014 made your flying time hell? Come sit beside me . I hate and dread flying (during long haul international flight I usually drink some wine, some more than required and sleep)  and during take off and landing as I cant use my ipad or kindle to distract me, I read the inflight magazines word by word .  In January while travelling to Delhi, in one such magazine I came across an interesting ad, that of chilled rasam by a company with a very nostalgic name "paper boat".  I could not find that particular ad online but I got this on their website

 Source

Truth be told I have never seen rasam in Kolkata or Delhi  and only had it twice when a friend from Chinneai invited me to her place , bless her because I loved it. I thought it is a nice concept, ready-made rasam but with the bumpy landing forgot all about it promptly .

Today while walking down the big bazar isle and scowling at the guy next to me who was channeling "Sallu Bhai" while ordering the SAs I found the rasam again and thought I will heat it up and will have with rice :). Then I read in the instruction that it is indeed a drink. See I don't usually write songs about a "ready to drink " product but this is seriously good, wickedly good. The chilled rasam tasted as good as the piping hot one and I am cursing myself for not picking up more. I loved the tangy spicy taste of tamarind, tomato, the lack of sugar and the authenticity which I never could imagine you can obtain in a packed food. The price, 30 bucks is worth, believe me.

I am even thinking about preparing rasam for tomorrow's lunch from the scratch. And as the product claim to have bottled memory, this is my memory, paper boat and my mom's "Lakkhir pnachali"( book on goddess lakhsmi you read and chant from during prayer).

P.S: This is NOT a PR post, I am not related (I wish) or payed by the company (I wish more) to write this stupid review. I have spent 30 bucks from my month end rapidly vainishing hard earned money :)

I am Trying to Love You, My City of Joy: Rediscovering Kolkata Part I

I was born in kolkata , but stayed most of my life in Delhi. When I had to come back here, for first few months ( a year) I hated the city with everything I had. It was illogical, i got home cooked food, I could take a public bus at 9 pm and be very safe, I got a chauffeur driven car, things which were unthinkable in my student and single life in Delhi. But still I was missing Delhi and more so my friends. It was like having a physical pain, I was going into depression . And then I decided to take control of my life, started working out again, started reading everyday and started something which is therapeutic for me, going to shopping all alone (I know it may sound lame but it is my choice of poison).
Last week I went to new market alone. For people from outside Kolkata, it is one of the oldest markets in Kolkata , like a maze , and as legend goes if you search you will find everything there. I got lost thrice and ended up buying small things I completely adored.

This is not a very clean part of Kolkata but unlike the malls you will ge a flavour of old world "Calcutta"