Kajal Face-off Round 1: Himalayan Herbal Kajal vs Hashmi Kajal

Product Descriptions

Himalaya Herbal Kajal: This creamy herbal kajal is infused with damask rose, almond oil and triphala (an aryuvedic herbal rasayana churna that has equal parts of Amalaki, bibhitaki and Haritaki…uh…what?? Let's just say it’s a mix ...of 3 super berries, herbalicious and good for you). Can be found in India or on eBay.

Hashmi Kajal:

This is the old school kajal all Indian girls used growing up. It has a chalky consistency, may or may not contain lead (still remains unknown), and boasts supreme staying power. This tried and true kajal can be found in the back of your grandmaa's closet or at your friendly local Indian grocer.

I wore each one of these for a week to take a look at 3 factors on the Meena Kajal Scale (MKS):

1: Jet blackness, 2: Smudgyness, 3: Staying power

Below are my findings!

1: Jet Blackness - Himalaya kajal is definitely more of a deep, dark black compared to the Hashmi kajal. Its smooth consistency makes it look like it has more depth, whereas the Hashmi looks flat and almost powdery. Himalaya: 9/10, Hashmi: 6/10

2: Smudgyness - Himalaya smudges more in this category just because of its creamy texture. Hashmi definitely gave less smudgyness around the eyes. However, the caveat is that this smudgyness factor can be different based on your own eyes…it is dependent on eye sensitivity, how much your eye waters naturally, how much you rub/touch your eyes, and eye shape. Himalaya: 6/10, Hashmi: 8/10.

3: Staying Power - Given the Hashmi consistancy (it "feels" waterproof), I thought that Hashmi would last longer than Himalaya. However, after walking around for a few days with Hashmi on one eye and Himalaya on the other (and then switched for a truly controlled experiment), I realized that both have a very similar staying power. Himalaya: 7/10, Hashmi: 7/10.

It was a close call (Himalaya: 22/30 & Hashmi: 21/30) but based on the scores and overall feel, I vote Himalaya Herbal Kajal as the winner. Bonus points for the warm fuzzy feeling of putting roses on your eyes instead of lead.

Stay tuned for Round 2: Himalaya Kajal vs. Shahnaz Husain Kajal!

It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's SUPERFOOD!

Ok Beautistas, its time to put antioxidents IN your face, not on your face. Nowadays, almost every skincare product claims to be a free radical fighting, antioxidant containing, super cosmeceutical.  What are we, in a cosmetic comic book warp zone??

If your skincare product claims that it contains antioxidants, that’s great!  But do you need to spend oodles of money on these products? Not necessarily….why not just eat your antioxidants instead? 

What you may be spending on expensive products, you could get much more beauty and health benefits by changing around your diet instead. Some of you might be asking, what are antioxidants anyways?  To put it simply, antioxidants can help prevent the effects of free radical damage in the body - they basically neutralize the process of oxidation and cellular damage which contributes to aging and disease.    Some foods are incredibly high in antioxidant content and they are very easy to add into your current diet.  Superfoods can can considerably reduce the signs of aging, reduce blood pressure and help prevent various diseases.  I'm not going to bore you with all of the things your parents told you ("eat your broccoli, its good for you") but I will list some of the best foods to introduce into your diet if you haven't already!

• Berries - who doesn’t want berries in their diet?? Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries - they all offer so many antioxidants that can help prevent cancer and heart disease.  Eat blueberries as part of your 3:00 work snack instead of chocolate, buy frozen berries and throw them into your smoothie, or start growing a blackberry bush (on my bucket list)!
• Chia Seeds - I started eating chia recently after being introduced to them by my sister and now I put chia in EVERYTHING.  This is a superfood that was an important part of the Aztec & Mayan diet.  Not gonna lie, that’s what sold me on this, because underneath it all I just want to feel connected to my Aztec homegirls.  Anyways, chia seeds are super rich in antioxidants, and you can put them in just about anything.  They have a mild nutty flavor and can be sprinkled in a smoothie, in yogurt, oatmeal, in banana bread, chia chocolate pudding, cereal, salads, I could go on and on.  Chia needs its own blog post - just go to your nearest health food store and pick up a bag of this superfood!
• Green Tea - This should be an easy addition to your general diet because green tea is everywhere!  Try substituting your morning coffee with green tea instead...or if you are drinking 2 cups of coffee a day, try substituting at least one of those with green tea.  Green tea has been shown to be preventative against cancer, heart disease and high cholesterol.  It has a high concentration of catechin polyphenols which work with other chemicals in the body to increase levels of fat oxidation.  If regular green tea bores you, make a quick stop to DAVIDS Tea and prepare to be amazed by all of the green tea options available!
• Tomatoes - If I could name a favorite vegetable, this would be it.  All I need in life is a good tomato and good cheese!  And its sooo easy to put tomatoes in everything!  Tomatoes are the richest source of an anticancer agent called lycopene.  For optimal absorption to occur, lycopene needs fat!  What does that mean for you? Include some healthy fat olive oil when cooking with tomatoes to help increase levels of lycopene. 
• Broccoli - Yup I just wrote that.  Ok who am I kidding, I don't eat broccoli.  But if YOU want to, it’s so good for you, I promise!  It has more calcium than a glass of milk and more vitamin C than an orange...now say that in a super hero announcing voice...

It's true what they say...you are what you eat.  So in simple terms, really I'm just hoping you turn into a free radical fighting, antioxidant containing super woman instead of relying on your skincare to save you! 

Doing Ombré the Easy Way

Ok some of you might be asking…how do I do this ombré  trend without looking like a slave to the next new trend? Others might be saying...why are people letting their roots grow out so much???  Whatever your view, here is a quick post on Ombré : how to say it,  what it is and how to include it into your fashion repertoire!

How do I say it?
Ombré (not to be confused with ombre, a card game) is pronounced "ohm - bray"… now say it casually with a flick of your hair like you regularly use this term in conversations at the water cooler.   There, that’s fabulosity at its finest ;)

What is it?
Ombré is anything that goes from light to dark in graduating shades, and this trend is hitting the streets like a storm.  Canada is generally a smidgen behind on these types of things so I'm guessing this trend will likely last well into summer.

How to wear?
Hair - Ombré Hair is all the rage and your instagram/pinterest/instyle magazine will give you plenty of ways on how to do it.   One way is to go to a trendy salon and get this look done.  They will dye your hair in graduated tones so you end up with a look where the color goes from darker to lighter.  If you are brave enough, you can also DIY at home - there are tons of youtube tutorials on doing this look yourself.  I've also read of some people using Sun In (remember that product?) to lighten their ends the low maintenance way and produce this look gradually. The easiest way?  Just let your roots grow out!  I have leftover light ends from a sunny trip in December, so I figure if I let my roots grow I can rock a subtle version of the ombré hair trend.  How it will turn out, who knows but I have never been one to shy away from a fashion experiment!

Nails - Here is an easy, non-committal way to try this trend!  This can be done in a few ways, ombré  on each nail (this is a bit trickier and will require a lot of patience) or a different shade on each nail so your whole hand has a monochromatic ombré look.  Sephora has the cutest little nail packs (can be found here) with teeny ombré colors so you don’t have to go out and buy a whole bunch of random fullsize colors!

Clothes - This is the easiest and most non-committal way to wear ombré! For my crafty ladies, you can even DIY a dip-dye look.  For all my Bollywood Beautistas, I also threw in a picture of some Manish Malhotra saris because he sure does love his ombré!

Thirsty Skin? Drink Up!

Lingering winter weather making your skin thirsty for some moisture?

Origins Drink Up Intensive  Overnight Moisture Mask is perfect for those nights when your skin feels tight, tired and dehydrated.  This thirsty feeling can be caused by so many things - low humidity environments,   fluctuating temperatures, too many flights jet setting around the world (lucky you!), you name it.   Your face just loses moisture throughout the day in general when exposed to the elements, which is why it is important to build back that moisture into your face before you go to bed.  This product is perfect for dry skin or normal to dry skin.  It’s a mix between a gel and a balm and smells super yummy & delicious.  Your skin needs moisture to stay youthful, so this is a product that can really work with the rest of your routine to prevent signs of premature aging.

As an added bonus, this will introduce you to the Origins brand philosophy, which is so divine.  The Origins Mission is "High Performance Skincare Powered by Nature and Proven by Science" and they use natural and certified organic ingredients and 100% essential oils to make their products.  The mask has avocado and apricot kernel oil  to replace the moisture in your face, and also has Japanese seaweed to repair skin's barrier and prevent future dehydration.  For more on Origin's ingredient listing, take a look here.

How to use?
This product will last you forever as you only need the size of a pea.  To use, massage the pea sized amount into your face before you go to bed.  Avoid your eye area, but don't forget your neck!  It may or may not absorb into your face, depends on how parched your skin is.  If it does not absorb, tissue/towel the residual off.  This will work overnight to quench your skins thirst and you will wake up with skin that feels soft, supple, plump and hydrated.  It really feels like a spa treat for your face! It also works well on skin that is flakey.  This is a staple by my bedside and I generally use this about 2 times a week in the winter and anytime my face is feeling dry in the summer.

Where to buy?
Origins counters are generally located in department stores like Hudson's Bay.  You can also order this product online.  Price is around ~$27.00, but you might be able to try out a sample before you invest or buy it as part of an Origins gift set.

If you try this product or have tried it in the past, let me know what you think!

Swirls and Twirls for my Curly Haired Girls

Curls...we love to hate them and hate to love them.  I think I speak for all of my naturally curly & wavy haired beautistas when I say that all we want is soooo simple: gorgeous, frizz free, springy, defined, smooth, shiny curls.  It doesn't have to be so difficult, you just need the right product!

So let me introduce you to a product that I absolutely love - Joico Joiwhip.  This is a product that I have been using for years and I absolutely can't live without it.  I've come a long way since using tubs of Dep gel - and as my curls have evolved from tight ringlets to looser curls, my product choice has evolved as well.  Joico Joiwhip is available anywhere Joico is sold, including salons, Shoppers Drug Mart, or your local Walmart.  

Now some tips on how to use this product...and how to get yourself out of a hair rut! With curly hair, you need to experiment to find a method that works best for you.  To give you some context on what my hair is like, I am close to a 3A (Curly Twirly) - find your hair type here: http://www.naturallycurly.com/hair-types. Below are a few different options on styling curly hair. There are so many more ways to work with curly hair but these methods are what I use most often! 

Dry It Naturally: Shampoo & condition your hair.  When conditioner is in your hair, detangle it with your fingers.  This should be the only time that you comb your hair! You want to let the natural curls clump together and form as they most naturally do - when you comb your hair after it is washed I find that it effects the quality of the curls.  Wrap your hair in a towel until excess moisture is absorbed.  Your hair should be 30% dry when you remove the towel.  Then, take a dallop of Joiwhip (you will need to experiment on the right amount depending on the length and thickness of your hair and the hold that you want) and scrunch it all over your hair.  Try to avoid putting too much product into your roots.  Then, clip up the top half of your hair.  It doesn't have to look good, this is just so that when it dries, it dries with volume.  When your hair is around 90% dry, take your hair out of the clip.  

Diffuse Your Curls: All the same steps as above but don't towel dry your hair too much - keep it a little wetter than the method above.  Scrunch your hair with a dallop of joiwhip.  Then, use the diffuser attachment on your hair dryer.  How to do this? Flip your hair over, and work with it in sections.  Take a section of curls and pile them on the diffuser, then lightly massage the diffuser fingers on your scalp.  You don't have to dry each section completely, you can diffuse until around 85-90% dry.  When you have gone through each section, you should be ready to rock.  The diffuser method will make your hair much more voluminous and probably make your curls a bit curlier and your whirls a bit whirlier.  

Sleep On It:  When I'm super lazy I take the easy way out.  I basically follow the first method but instead of putting my hair in a clip I go to sleep! Somehow, when I wake up in the morning the pillow has done all of the scrunching work for me and my hair is springy and voluminous. Other times, I'll wake up and have a mutated monstrosity of curls because I slept on them wrong.  Usually I get it right 50% of the time so its a gamble, but if I wake up with a mess I'll just fix my hair up in a quick sock bun (more on that in another post).  Either way, its worth a try!

Hope you enjoyed this curly post and wishing you lots and lots of whirls and twirls and springy swirls!

Smells Like Free Spirit!

So I was in a bit of a hippie mood a few weeks ago – you know, that mood where you feel like running barefoot in the meadow and using natural patchouli scented deodorant??? Ya that type of mood.  Anyways, I was visiting my (sister’s) local Whole Foods to pick up chia seeds (why put anti oxidants on your skin when you can eat them instead?) when I wandered into the “natural beauty” section.  Oh the wonderful things I found!

Now I can never refuse anything rose scented, so I was drawn towards a shelf full of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Pure Castile Soap.  What is Castile soap?  Centuries ago, all vegetable based soap was made in the Castile region of Spain from local olive oil.  Now “castile” refers to any vegetable oil-based soap versus animal based soap we have all come to know.  Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap is a combo of organic extra virgin olive oil, jojoba oil, hemp oil and coconut oil put together with other essential oils.  For the tree hugger in you, this soap is made with certified fair trade and organic oils using sustainable farming practices.  It is completely biodegradable and has no synthetic foaming agents, thickeners or preservatives. 

This bottle packs a punch and boasts tons of uses.  You can use it as body wash (few drops on loofah sponge works into a velvety lather), household cleaner (dilute 1 part soap to 40 parts water and put it in a spray bottle to clean off counters), laundry detergent for your delicates, shampoo (haven’t tried this one but would try it if I were trapped on an island with no shampoo), toothpaste (not sure about this one...), cleaner for makeup brushes, spot cleaner on stains (works amazing!) the list goes on and on.  I even use it to clean my yoga mats – spray, wipe and go! 

Small version of soap + soap diluted in a spray bottle for household uses

Now I have to say that this won’t lather the same way you are used to with a regular body wash, but it does have a light, gentle scent and leaves your skin feeling soft.  The other downside is that it is not a true rose scent...it smells like fake roses.  So smell before you buy! And if roses aren’t your thing, this comes in a variety of different scents like lavender, peppermint, citrus, almond, eucalyptus, etc. Probably better to use peppermint if you use this as a mouthwash.

So go ahead beautistas! Embrace your inner bohemian soul, take a shower and then run barefoot in a lush meadow and smell the wild flowers.  And then use your body wash to do your laundry, clean your counters, brush your teeth and refresh your yoga mats.  Who knew being a hippie could be so efficient?!

I spy with my little eye cream, something that is...

Smooth!   Bright!  Refreshed!

I get so many questions on eye creams…when to start using them, how to use them, and which ones to use.  So let me try to break it down for all of my favorite beautistas:

When should I start using eye cream? 

Ummm…yesterday.  No really, not even kidding.  If you have not yet put an eye cream into your daily skincare regimen, now is the time to start.  The most important thing to do when you are in your 20's and 30's (and let’s be honest, 40's, 50's, and 100's) is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!  Moisturize the face and neck 2 times a day, and add in an eye cream to treat the sensitive areas around your eyes. You can start with using eye cream at night before you go to bed, but ramp it up to twice a day (morning and night) if you feel that you need it.  The quick way to remember to use eye cream is to place it on your night stand and put it on before you rest your pretty head for some beauty sleep! 

How should I apply eye cream?

Ever tried to use eye cream and felt it burn??? That's because you probably weren't putting it on right! There is a specific technique for applying eye cream, and its really quite simple once you get a the hang of it.  To correctly apply eye cream, scoop a very small amount using your ring finger.  The ring finger is the only finger on your hand that provides the least amount of pressure and most control for this sensitive area.   Then, gently tap the eye cream around your orbital bone.  People usually think that you need to slather this on your eye and eye lid…but this is not the right way to use eye cream.  If you gently tap all around your orbital bone, the heat from your eye will draw the product into all the right places.   Where is your orbital bone? Place your finger on your eye (sure go ahead…do it right now!) and feel around the bone that your eye socket sits in.  This is your orbital bone!

Which eye cream should I buy?

This is the tough one…there are so many products out there that claim to do so many different things!  I have tried tons of eye creams over the years and below are my favorite 3 at multiple price points.  Please keep in mind these are based on my experiences…each person has different needs so you may need an eye cream tailored to your specific needs.  For example, are you trying to reduce puffiness? Prevent wrinkles?  Minimize the look of fine lines?  Refresh tired eyes? Make sure you know what you are looking for before picking an eye cream! Most brands will allow you to take a sample and try eye creams, so take advantage of that! My picks are below:

1. Burt's Bees Radiance Eye Cream (~$25): This can be found in any drug store and is a great product for the price point.  This natural eye cream has a royal jelly base (apparently from the bees…) made of nectar, pollen, vitamins, minerals, flower parts, bee hormones (???) and other natural ingredients.  This special royal jelly contains 7 Amino Acids, Vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, C and E, along with Biotin, Niacin and Folic Acid.  It has a beautiful milk & honey scent, and it does a great job softening the delicate skin around the eyes.  I find that it makes the eyes look more radiant and bright, and reduces the look of fine lines. 

2. Clinique - All About Eyes (~$37): My general face care regimen is Clinique based so I love this eye cream.  This is a gentle gel that is non irritating, and it reduces the look of bags and dark circles.  It is a great product for preventative care so it's a good eye cream to start with if you are just starting to add eye treatment to your skin care regimen.  It's also great for puffiness and it leaves the skin around the eyes feeling rejuvenated and brighter.  This also works great as a primer under eye makeup - it gives a smooth base for concealer.  Overall love this product!

3. La Mer - The Eye Concentrate (~$250) I started using this product about 1.5 years ago, and I absolutely love it. Would I recommend it for the steep price tag? Probably not, because I feel like any of the above creams will do the job.  But there is just something about this eye cream that I love - it is very moisturizing and de puffs, minimizes lines, awakens, and sooths.  Love the scent, very refreshing. It comes with a metal applicator that you can use to apply the product that adds to the La Mer "experience".   It claims to dissolve the appearance of dark circles - but not sure how accurate this claim is.  All in all, amazing product but very high price point.  I would recommend going to your nearest Holt to get a sample of this to see if you like it and if it is worth investing in!

Now before you run to the nearest store to pick up some eye cream, one last piece of advice.  The MOST important thing about finding the right eye cream is to remember that the little crinkles around your eyes add character...so don’t try to moisturize away the laugh lines around your eyes!  In One Direction's words…that's what makes you beautiful! Yes, I just quoted One Direction - this eye cream is really doing wonders to regress my skin back to what it looked like at 16. ;)