This winter I converted to an almond fan and preferred it to other ingredients in my skincare. Therefore, when facemask with almond milk launched just around wintertime, it seemed like the perfect thing. However, The Body Shop marketed it as a gentle exfoliator. Unfortunately, it is not the case for me. I also do not have extra dry skin. 

However, I do have a skin concern that only product so far was able to tackle. In summers, my skin feels too hot especially after being exposed to the sun. Aloe gives me relief but does not add the needed moisture. Moisturizers just add stickiness. Face oils do not penetrate deep or give any instant relief. I need something that is soothing and moisturizing. Curd helps. 

(The only product that has helped so far is the Simple Deep Cleaning Face Mask. Simple is here in India but they decided not to launch this mask.) 

Therefore, I waited for the summers to try this almond milk face pack. I am glad that I did because I love every bit about it.

I am borderline ashamed of sharing this. 

Actually, chuck that. I am deeply embarrassed to share this. 

But, every failure can be a learning experience and that is how I would like to take it ahead. 

I started blogging around December 2011. I used to buy a lot of makeup and skin care inspired by the new launches and by other blogger Add to that the PR samples. In the summer of 2013, I realized that I might have a hoarding nature and posted my first ever Empties Post. 

I continued doing empties post and I had a very systematic method of decluttering as well. I used to give away things that I think I will not use anymore. 

For example, I buy a night cream. I used it for a month to review it. I already have another night cream lined after that. Therefore, I give away the half tub of night cream to someone in my extended family or I use it up as body moisturizer and feature it on empties post. 

Things were going smooth. 

Then, I moved to Noida in 2017. There were a million things on my shoulders. I was working from home but my work hours were pathetic. The light condition in my home was terrible. The images clicked by my camera were sub-par. I tried. God knows I have tried but I could not do much. 

In addition, my skin was not great (which later turned out to be because of stress arising from the points mentioned above) but I felt it was not right to share skincare reviews. My confidence level plummeted. I was actually not even taking proper care of my skin because nothing seemed to work as the issue was not even tropical. 

Anyways, when the issue of stress was resolved, I tried to bring my life back on track. I lost a lot of readership but I am equally thankful to all who still comes to visit me here. (A million kisses for you.) 

The Body Shop Sale season is on. I was about to suggest what to buy and what not do when I realized that the review of a few products was not up. I do remember updating the review. Are they lost in the drafts folder? Anyways, here is the review of the Spa of the World Firming range. This review is after one year of use. 

Niacinamide. 

Big Name. 

Fret not, it is just Vitamin B3. 

It comes with 1% zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid. 

The Ordinary claims that it reduces the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion which keeping sebum activity in balance. 

In simpler terms, prevents oil overproduction and reduce blemishes. 

(The Ordinary Haul)

Why Vitamin C for skin? 

What is special about the Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension? 

I recently reviewed the first products I got from Bath and Body Works - Aromatherapy Stress Relief. They were just three. There is always a Buy-3-Get-1-Free offer going on at Bath and Body Works India shops. So, I like to believe this is my free one - Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy Focus Body Scrub. Which BTW is not true because the free one is the least priced one and this is not. 😊

Today, I am excited to share this with you - Limited Edition The Body Shop Cactus Blossom Hand Wash. 

Because: 

1. I have been following The Body Shop for almost 10 years. In all these years, I have never seen a hand wash from TBS. In fact, this is the first time, I am reviewing any hand wash on Sweet And Bitter Blog.

2. Cactus Blossom! How interesting does it sound? I have never tried anything with Cactus Blossom. I do not even know what Cactus Blossom smells like in real! (But I am eyeing the Bath and Body Works Cactus Blossom candle.)

3. Limited edition. Will go away from the market soon. 

In 2012, I planned a trip to Andaman. On day 1, our driver informed that we might be able to get entry to Jolly Buoy. I had not done much research, and I was not aware of what I was about to witness. Without a doubt, what I saw was the best things that my eyes have ever seen believe - coral in a myriad of colors. Beautiful creatures that I could not believe are on the same planet we live in. In the next 15 days of our trip, I saw more corals. Scuba dived at Havelock Island and witnessed lovely fishes. However, I also learned how plastics are damaging them. How the change in water temperature is harming them! I want them to survive. I want them to live. I want my future generations to see what I have seen. 

I was always against the use of plastics. I hated how stray animals will eat food in them and the plastics later developing issues. I do not want to dig deep. Please google this. Even writing about it gives me chills. 

But, after I returned, I realized that something needs to be done. It was a slow change but the biggest change started to come around last year. I am still far from perfect. Here are just some little things I do to do my part: 

1. Refuse: I refuse a plastic bag altogether. I never buy groceries from malls because they need to tag everything and even a small item needs to be inside a plastics bag. Luckily, I have a farmers market outside my society every Friday where I get my weekly vegetables. Even at Malls, I say no to paper bags. I always carry a tote with me in which I shove in everything I buy. There have been days when I have a cart full of things but because I forgot my tote and the shore had no option of the cloth bag, I have dropped everything and returned without buying anything.