The Body Shop VANILLA MARSHMALLOW (Winter Special Limited Edition) (What To Buy and What Not To Buy)

My first visit to The Body Shop store was around Christmas time. The SA convinced me to get the winter special – Spiced Vanilla because it is a special edition and people wait an entire year for those. I had just dipped my toes in TBS addiction waters, so I was not aware of the whole thing. Anyways, I got it, and I still thank my stars for doing so. Unfortunately, Spiced Vanilla did not show up after a couple of years. There was one Vanilla Chai last year, but it was nowhere close to what I needed in my life. 

So, you can imagine how happy I was when I got the news about the Vanilla Marshmallow range. I love all of them except one. 

Postcards from Jaipur (Weekend Trip)

When I used to travel from Noida to Gurgaon every day for office (ie. 2010!), there were times when I spotted a big white bus with two puppets, which will immediately, put a smile on my traffucked life. Later, I got to know that these were the buses which ply to Jaipur. At that time, my husband's and my parents were not aware that we go to trip together. Hence, we always avoided two states while traveling - J&K (because it was not very safe around then) and Rajasthan (What if someone for his family spotted us?)

Therefore, Jaipur remained a mythical place for me and the plans to visit never materialized.

Eight years went by and I could not visit Rajasthan. (Last year, I went to Jodhpur and Udaipur but those were to meet some people and not to travel.)

My journey started on Friday. It was quite an eventful start. 

For now, here are some clicks from the trip.

8 The Body Shop TEA TREE Skin Clearing and Anti-Imperfection Review

8 The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing and Anti-Imperfection Review

One of my favorite products from The Body Shop is the Tea Tree 3 in 1 Face Wash, Scrub, Mask. I love it as a mask, and it pulls out white heads that are under the surface like a champion. Tea Tree is one of TBS's bestselling range with organic Tea Tree from Kenya.

The star of the show is the Tea Tree Oil. Then, there are two lines of products - 

• Skin clearing: Basic everyday skincare with face wash, wipes, and toner.

• Anti-Imperfection: Special care skincare with the daily solution and sleeping mask.

But, what I love most is TBS 3-in-1 Wash Scrub Mask. 

8 Nuxe Paris Travel Essentials Review

Nuxe Prodigieux Trousse de Voyage and Nuxe Les Indispensables Trousse de Voyage

A few years back I got to know about Nuxe France. Nuxe dry oil is raved all over the globe. I was not much into oils back then, but when the face-oil-love ignited in my heart, Nuxe was added in the wishlist. I once even picked it up with Sephora - with a lot of courage in my heart, I checked the price - and quickly placed it back in the shelf worried that if the glass breaks then I will have to pay the hefty price tag.

But, if something is supposed to come to you, it will.

In February, I joined a French company, and within a couple of months, my colleague was supposed to travel to Paris. He got me not one but two Nuxe mini travel sets because I wanted to try before buying. You must have seen the French Skincare Haul post.

Favorite Series - Crime, Mystery, and Thriller

I already wrote part of one this post. If not then please do. Here is the link - Favorite Shows - Comedy and Drama. Go and read. I will wait till you finish.

Done? So, here is the part two - My Favorite Series featuring crime, mystery and thriller. I have tried my best to not give away any plot or spoilers.

Favorite Series - Comedy and Drama

It was my second year of engineering - 2006 - started watching 'Friends' - the rite of passage for all binge watchers. It was only regional movies and series for me. It began to become a hobby then - arrange things and binge watch. Start a new series on the laptop and while watching dump all things you own on your bed, clean shelves, and categorize them as to keep and to throw/donate, and gulp down shows after shows. It is still my favorite hobby but not something you can frequently do when you have a permanent roommate grunting that I eat up all the space on the bed.

Forest Essentials RASA Activating Serum and TEJAL Balancing Water Review

Forest Essentials Rasa Activating Serum and Tejal Balancing Water Review

Is there a medical term to describe my uncontrollable urge to get new skincare because the ingredients are just way too good? Please give me a yes because I do not wish to be branded as a shopaholic.

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Review

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Review

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay - if you have not heard about this detox mask then sister, you must be living under a rock. The whole world knows about this. A cheaper answer to all the maddening skyrocketing skincare treatments in the world. Mix it with apple cider vinegar, and you have the magic potion ready. 

Therefore, this was in my to-try list. Unfortunately, I forgot to add it my card initially while purchasing products from iHerb. I made another purchase from iHerb just to add this.

For weeks, I was contemplating the idea for how risky it might be - it literally says - feel your face pulsate!

Pixi Skin Treats GLOW TONIC Exfoliating Toner (5% Glycolic Acid, No Alcohol)

Pixi Skin Treats GLOW TONIC Exfoliating Toner (5% Glycolic Acid, No Alcohol) 

I used to believe that I spend the most money on face oils. I still do, but then I discovered something even more important and worth spending money - toners. I have my kidney worth toners in my stash. Some are just facial water posing as toners to get into the big boys club to glamorous marketing and fancy names. Some work great as face mist but yet wish to break free from their category. One of them confidently says, "Glow tonic."

Is it?

Why Pixi Glow Tonic? I decided to splurge on this when I realized my favorite La Roche Posay is not only out of stock in India but also in Paris! It also has alcohol so, I decided to hunt for something better. LRP has salicylic acid. This time I decided to go beyond and try Glycolic Acid for micro-exfoliation. Also, it is alcohol-free.

iHerb.com Skincare Haul

Someone agreed to get a few things from the USA when he was coming to India for his wedding. This post was supposed to be a glamorous post with products from iHerbs, Colourpop, and The Ordinary. I placed my order from all three. Unfortunately, there was some issue with the delivery, and the Colourpop and The Ordinary and those parcels reached him after he boarded his flight to Delhi.

Anyways, I have the iHerbs parcel with me and here is what I picked from them.

• LifeFlo Rosehip Seed Oil: This is a magic potion and works exceptionally well with acne scars. It is something that I recommend all the time. Nishu converted me, and I never miss an opportunity to request others to try it. All the eight bottles (forgot to click one) are not for me. Already gifted four of them (Yes, those are empty packages with no oil inside 😄). One in on my nightstand and another is in my office bag. One is reserved for someone. How about a giveaway the eighth one? Comment and let me know. 

French Skincare Haul (from Parapharmacie, Paris)

A haul of French skincare products from Paris.

Well, this was bound to happen because I switched to a French company this year and someone or other is always is always traveling. I just did not expect that it would happen this fast. I had just joined and there was somebody about to travel. I asked him if he would be able to pick a few skincare products for me. I assured him that these will be available in random pharmacy and he will not have to go anywhere special.

Innisfree Perfect UV Protection Essence Water Base SPF50+ PA+++ Sunscreen Review

Innisfree Perfect UV Protection Essence Water Base SPF50+ PA+++

There are two things that most people skip in their daily routine – Sunscreen and Eye cream. And yes, I am one of those people. I tend to forget to apply eye cream. (Recently, started using The Body Shop Oils of Life one. I will review it when I am regular with that for a month…fingers crossed). 

Sunscreen is something that most people skip. Reason: It gives them an oily face. Who needs that when it is hot and humid? The cream formula is not the best solution because it not all of them are mattifying. My go-to ones are Lotus Herbal Matte and Neutrogena….until I discovered Clarins and The Body Shop. The latter two made me realize that even watery ones work well. 

So, to explore more, I purchased this water-based sunscreen from Innisfree. 

6 Glamglow Masks Review #MultiMasking

Glamglow Masks Review Supermud, Youthmud, Gravitymud, Thristymud, Flashmud, Powermud Review

Since the time Glamglow entered the Indian market, everyone is raving about them. And since it is skincare, it is tough for me to turn a blind eye to the Glamglow masks. Issue – The price. A whopping Rs 1600 for just 15 grams. To make you feel that 15 grams is a good amount, they even pack them up in glass jars. How much is 15 grams? Well, the free masks sachets that The Body Shop gives are 5 grams each. Those last for around 2 usages….thrice if you can stretch them. So, Rs 1600 for something that won’t even last 8 proper applications is heartbreaking. But, I was tempted the whole time and wanted to try multiple of those. Then one day my friend informed me that she has got one of them. I could not control myself any longer. I had to check at Sephora. There I found this multimasking trial pack which is not only value for money, but I also get to try all their masks. The dam gates of my self-control crashed open.

The Body Shop Lip Juicer

The Body Shop Lip Juicers Acai, Blueberry & Ginger,
Kiwi, Kale & Watermelon Review

Just look at them. Yes, take a full minute and look at them. How cute are they? Something like EOS but also like a chubby crayon. The Body Shop launched five of these moisture-boosting balms around a month back. I picked two - one without tint and another with the highest tint.

Stationery Fair 2018 Haul

Delhi Stationery Fair Haul

I was dreaming about visiting them since I got to know about this couple of months back. Then, I forgot about it and spend my money somewhere else. Anyways, I could not say no to 'Stationery' to off I went there on Sunday afternoon - returned broke!

The fair majorly have four types of stalls

• Start-ups with notebooks, etc. with quirky prints. You will get things are all over Instagram plus something new. Should not be missed because you never know what you discover here.

• Major brands with paper products like Navneet. Go here with specific requirements. You might not get good looking products, but paper quality will be good here.

• Export houses who are here with some export reject and some nice stuff. The prices here are low but you have to check the paper quality.

• Stationery shops which sell imported goodies. You get the expensive-not-made-in-India products here. Some of those have cute made in China or Korea products.

Some of the stalls were not sold so, there are also some random chips and pickle shops. I ignored them all. 😑

Dr. Sheth's Basic Brightening Extra Gentle Daily Peel Review

Dr. Sheth's Basic Brightening Extra Gentle Daily Peel Review

What is a peel? To answer in the most basic layman terms – a peel is a beauty product that dissolves the top layer of your skin to kick start repair. So, why not use scrubs? It is said to be better than scrubs because there are no abrasives involved which might cause damage. So, this is a good choice for sensitive skin to reveal the glow within. But, peels are expensive and can sting a lot. 

Good peels do sting a little but it should not be uncomfortable. But, they are supposed to – a little – to make sure that something is happening. 

Dr. Sheth's Basic Brightening Daily Cleanser

If you love skincare then you must have heard about Dr. Sheth’s products. 

In case you haven’t. here is a little back story – Dr. Sheth’s products are developed by a dermatologist - Dr. Rekha Sheth – who formulated these luxury products tailored for Indian skin. Indian skin has melanin, more prone to pigmentation, and have to tolerate harsher sun rays and more pollution. To fight against that, Dr. Sheth’s products have more skin actives than other skincare products which are formulated majorly for Caucasian skin (fairer skin with less melanin) 

They have a nice range of products which are available online on their website. Recently, I even spotted them on Nykaa. I discovered them in a store – Rangeela in Goa – a store I went just to browse because it was a very old Portuguese home tastefully decorated. Anyhow, I saw Dr. Sheth’s there and two product that went into my cart – Basic Brightening Daily Cleanser and Basic Brightening Extra Gentle Daily Peel. Reviewing the Daily Cleanser today. 

The Body Shop British ROSE Petal-Soft GEL TONER & Chinese GINSENG and RICE Clarifying MILKY TONER Review

The Body Shop British Rose Petal-Soft Gel
& Chinese Ginseng and Rice Clarifying Milky Toner Review

I was never a toner person. Then, I discovered La Roche Posay Astringent, and there has been no looking back. But, time and again many people have told me not to use a toner that has alcohol. I know I have to make a shift, but that is not happening anytime soon. Meanwhile, I am interested in trying new toners. Here I have not one but two truly unique toners. The Body Shop has these superfood masks you must have heard about. Extending the line, TBS launched these two toners.

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Cleansing HAIR SCRUB Review

The Body Shop Fuji Green Tea Cleansing Hair Scrub Review

What did you just said? Hair scrub? A scrub for your scalp that refreshes and cleanses? Please take my money and give me one.

But, the more I learned about it, the more debatable it got. Especially the fact that you cannot use it on colored/treated/chlorine affected hair. Now, I am very confused. Luckily, I have a straightforward hair care routine with just five products. All of which are close to natural or as chemical-free as possible (Let me know if you wish to read about that). But, what is the harm in trying something new?

Kama Ayurveda DARBARI Meditate Body Oil

Tired of dry skin in winter? I can feel that sister. Most people don’t moisturize regularly but not me. I used to moisture twice a day. I would finish tubs of Nivea Soft Crème. I loved the fragrance, and I liked how it moisturized without stickiness. After I had gone through my arms worth of Nivea crème, I realized this was not solving the real issue. Right then begin my search for a new moisturizer. The fact that I could use my review for blog motivated me more. But, in the last couple of years, I have concluded that nothing works better than oil. I still use crèmes and lotion, but at times you are in a hurry and do not have the liberty to slather yourself with oil.

I have gone through several body oils and here is another one reviewed for you. 😘

Nainital Shopping Haul (Local Handmade Products and More)

Hello from Nainital - The City with Beautiful Lake

This is my second trip to Nainital. Last time it was in 2011 with Mr. Boy (now my hubby) and this time with my Mom. My grandfather has used to come around this area for business, and he always told my mom that one must visit Nainital once in their lifetime. Nainital is no more as untouched as it used it back when my grandpa used to come but I decided to fulfill her dream to visit Nainital. Thankfully we visited during the non-peak season. I love Nainital far more this time than my last visit. There is hardly any crowd and rates for most tourist areas/activities is fixed.

This is a haul post. If you want a travel post, then let me know. Meanwhile, check my Instagram feed. I am spamming Instastories with pictures of the blue sky, blue-green lakes, and yummy food.

The Body Shop SHEA Body Butter, Shower Cream, Scrub, Body Mist, and Hand Cream Review

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter, Scrub, Shower Cream, Hand Cream, and Body Mist Review

I thought maybe Delhi winter is over, but it is not. The temperature dropped again. I am not complaining here. I am happy. I know that once these cozy blanket days are gone, we will be sweating from all our pores in Delhi summer. Its either ice or fire in Delhi. There is nothing in between. Le sigh.

In this weather, the one thing that encourages me to take a shower is The Body Shop Shea range. I first discovered the Shea body butter back in 2010. It was my first body butter. Back then there was hardly any brand having shea products. The nutty aroma of shea made me feel as I am in a safe cocoon unharmed by the world. (I used to live in a Gurugram PG back then.) I kept the tub beside my pillow. Using it was my everyday ritual.  Over the years, I have used all the products from the range of the soap and body lotion. The only thing I haven't used is the Shea Beautifying Oil.

Also, now, we have several shea butter products available in India. So far, I have failed to find anything up to the match of The Body Shop.

Now, sitting in Nainital (where the temperature is lower than Delhi), I realize how much I love this. Absence makes the heart grow fonder? Eh?

DIY Hand Painted Earthen Pots/Planters and Upcycled Teacups

Terracotta Earthen Clay Pots Indian Boho Tribal Painting DIY

Hope you are having a great new year and 2018 is treating you good. One of the biggest events of the year (so far) is that I left my job. I have been there for more than eight years! I will be joining another job in Feb. Till then, it's all about self-care. Today, I even had my first piano class 🙊

.I said at the start of the year that I want to do more DIYs. Most planters we have in our house are the ceramic ones. But, I was getting bored of those. So, I thought of painting the clay pots. Don't they look lovely? Disclaimer: I painted these while watching 'The Middle' on Amazon Price so, they are not perfect. 😁