Fashion Panache

So, here comes the reveal from my Facebook, Instagram & Twitter sneakpeak last week! Many did guess the location right - yup, its Tranquebar aka Tharangambadi.

One of the only 3 tiny little towns that were Danish colonies in India, this place has a very unique feel to it, esp in terms of architecture, that's not familiar to the rest of India. I visited the place recently and more about it is on My Travelogue. Here's my OOTD!

Recently Himalaya Herbals launched a campaign called #ChennaiPonnu and sent me some neem based skincare products. I was also sent this adorable bag with a Chennai Ponnu (Chennai Gal) driving an autorickshaw!!! The yellow and black combo of the autorickshaw totally inspired me and I wore the same combo.

As you can see in the illustration, in the back seat of the auto is a pack of Himalaya Purifying Neem Facewash! 1, I trust Neem as an amazing skincare, haircare and antiseptic herb and 2, I trust Himalaya Herbals! Neem is a traditionally used product for haircare, wounds and even to purify air in Tamil Nadu, to the extent that its worshiped as God's form!!! I've already reviewed the Himalaya Purifying Neem Facewash in my blog. The rest 2 products are also fantastic. Just like the Walnut Face Scrub, Himalaya Purifying Neem Scrubs too has a nut as the scrubbing agent - in this case Apricot! The granules are so fine that it actually doesn't hurt the skin, but pretty gentle. Soon after rinsing off, the skin feels so soft and supple! The Himalaya Purifying Face Pack has Neem & Turmeric, another traditional Indian medicinal herb! This though, made my skin feel a bit stretchy after usage. Perhaps for oily skinned beauties, this might be perfect!

Top & Trousers: Primark

Cardigan: Hangten

Sunglasses: Romwe

Footwear: Flipkart

Earrings: Handmade by the craftspersons of Chattisgarh

Necklace: Onecklace

The location as I said earlier is Tranquebar aka Tharangambadi in its Danish Palace (which is Neemrana's Bungalow on the Beach, today), Danish Fort and the Beach! Also the deep red of the Postbox also was very intriguing and I had to pose with it!

P.S: The skincare product was gifted by the company for reviewing purpose, however the opinions are of my own experience and are this post does not to advertise the product.

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Written by Bhushavali

You’ve always known my craziness for lip balm. You’ve already read my posts here, here, here, here and here. 2 more additions - Berry lipbalm of The Nature’s Co and Cherry Lip Balm of Himalaya Herbals.

If you’ve already read my earlier posts, you’d know, I hate applying petroleum jelly on my lips. It gives a very blocked, yucky feeling personally! Both these lip balms do not contain petroleum jelly and that’s a great relief...

The Himalaya Herbals lip balm is called the Strawberry Shine Lip Balm. It has the Strawberry Seed Oil and Apricot Kernal Oil. It is a stick packaging and the content is a dark pink stick of 4.5 gm priced at Rs.120.

Though it says it gives a glossy shine, it doesn’t. Atleast when compared to Nivea, this doesn’t, it just gives a tint. The lips are left moisturized for a long time, however not as good as Intensive Moisturizing Lip Balm. Its good if you love Cherry Flavour, if you’re looking for a tinted lipbalm and you’re lips aren’t too dry.

The Nature’s Co came in a cute packaging of little heart shaped plastic box, as a part of the Beauty Wish box. However the original packaging is a super cute colorless, transparent, cube shaped tub! Its a light pink lip balm, that’s tint-less on the lips. Its good and hydrating. I've been using it as my night time balm. Its priced at Rs.225 for 10ml.

Both the lip balms, do not have a SPF factor, which is bad. I always said - my part of the world has 3 seasons - hot, hotter and hottest. Its December already and now climate is really cool at around 26-28 deg Cel in midday. At many places, even in India, this would be termed ‘hot’... So, I’m always looking for things that protect me from sun - body lotions and face lotions are aplenty. But hair care and lip care that protect from sun - too few to choose from, if at all there are any??? The Nature’s Co and Himalaya Herbals - are you listening?????

P.S: The product was gifted by the company for reviewing purpose, however the opinions are of my own experience and are this post does not to advertise the product.

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visit my online store at www.bhushavali.com

Written by Bhushavali

After the Himalaya Herbals Facewash review in the last post, now its time to review a shampoo. I had used Himalaya shampoo long long back (I mean, about some 3-4 yrs back), but I was totally disappointed with it. After all these years, now after the brand has done a great makeover I thought its time to give it another try.

The pack I tried this time is called the Himalaya Herbals, Improved conditioning, Anti Hairfall shampoo. I've been using this for about 2 months now.
It has a flip cap. Same off white, green packaging like most other Himalayas products. It definitely smells much better than the one I used years ago. That one smelled like I walked into a herbal medicine store, that overwhelming!!! This one does smell herbal, but much pleasing...

The main ingredients are Butea Frondosa, Bringraj & Chickpea. Chickpea as we all know is a major source of protein, which is essential for hair growth. Bringhraj is another commonly used plant that helps strengthening the hair.
Now what is this Butea Frondosa? Its Flame of the Forest. Remember, while travelling in the train for long distances, we see an outburst of orange flowers in the midst of greenery. That is Flame of the Forest, scientifically Butea Frondosa, and Palash in Hindi. How helpful is that? Well, they've researched the effectiveness and also managed to get a Patent for it!!!

My way of shampooing my hair is always after oiling and letting it sit for atleast half an hour. So none of the shampoos dry out my hair. This too didn't.
I particularly wanted to check if it frizzes out my hair. So deliberately I did not use conditioner after using this. My hair isn't as soft as, if I had used conditioner. But my hair wasn't frizzy either.
Certain shampoos that I had used add some shine to my hair. This one didn't. Anyways, dealing with hairfall - Well, the pack declares that it helps against hairfall only due to breakage. Sadly, right now I cannot comment on it, coz I have such super short hair now that breakage doesn't happen. Hairfall for me, happens from the scalp, not along the length!!!

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Written by Bhushavali

"Are you Nuts?!", I asked my vanity case and it said "Nope. But I have many within me"!! As I took out an almond soap from the shelf I suddenly realized it's been so many nuts that I'm using in my skin care section!!!

Starting with the Khadi soap about which I already reviewed here. One of the variants in the Khadi soap is Apricot!

Moving over to my scrub and it said Walnut! Yup, the Himalaya Herbals Walnut Scrub.

Next in the list is a soap! The Himalaya Herbals Moisturizing Almond Soap containing Almond & Rose. It also has extracts of Lemon, Vetiver / Khus, Manjista, plus several oils including Wheatgerm. Its a 125 gm soap with 76% TFM. You know what's the best - the aroma. It has a very pleasing aroma. Bathing using it, actually leaves you relaxed, thanks to the aroma. Nuts in general, have a very high oil / protein content, thanks to that, the soap actually left my skin very much soft and supple. Many a times, soaps have this tendency to strip the skin off the oils and leave it stretched. Well, good news, this doesn't do it! And ofcourse, as always Himalayas has the 'No Animal Testing' policy which adds a feather to its cap!

Next is not a soap, but a liquid body cleanser. Biotique Apricot 100% Soap Free Body Cleanser. Apart from Apricot, it also has Turmeric, Wild Turmeric, Ritha (remember the soap nuts our moms used in the home made Shikakai preparation for hairwash?!) and Bitter Oleander. It's a not-too-thick and not-too-watery lotion, red - hot pink in color. It has this extremely pleasing, herbal aroma. Come on, when you mix apricot and turmeric, what can you expect - a very fabulous aroma! I didn't even use a loofah, but it lathered pretty well. Its not a soap at all, so obviously it didn't leave my skin stretched or stripped off its natural oils and left my skin much softer. Think of it - how would it be in a bath-tub filled with warm water and this lathering, herbal aromatic, body cleanser. You just don't need a spa!!!

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Written by Bhushavali

I already discussed the difficulty in following the ideal skincare of CTM or Cleansing, Toning, Moisturizing. Here comes the CTM of Himalaya Herbals.

The cleansing milk is called Refreshing Cleansing Milk, and is meant for all skin types and has Lemon, Grape seed & Mentha. It has this slightly citrusy aroma. The consistency is watery. But the cleansing is way too good! Let me surprise you with the same thing that I was totally surprised, and totally taken aback with... This cleansing milk removed the Lakme 9 to 5 High Definition Eyeliner!!! Generally its so difficult to remove it, but this one worked perfectly!!!

The toner is called Refreshing & Clarifying Toner, and was a watery colorless fluid, to an extent that you could mistake it for water itself! This too had a slight citrusy aroma, but a bit stronger than the cleansing milk. This has Lentil & Citrus Lemon, and is meant for all skin types. The toner really really refreshed my skin and made it soft & supple and I loved it.

The next is ofcourse the Moisturizer. Its called the Intensive Face Moisturizing Lotion meant for dry & extra dry skin. It gave slight minty aroma and is a slightly thicker white liquid than the cleansing milk. This one has Aloe Vera, Indian Madder & Country Mallow. Its extremely extremely moisturizing and makes the skin extremely supple and soft and I really wanted to keep touching my skin. Sadly mine is a combination skin and this moisturizer made my skin a bit too oily and shiny! But what am I complaining about, its meant to be used before retiring every night, so its kinda ok if my skin looks oily! However, Oily skin people stay away from this...

You may click onto any image above and in the back of all containers, in the bottom right corner you may notice 3 little symbols - for box weight and recycling and the other one is what I love. A cute bunny in a circle with a line across it - Yup, 'No Animal Testing'. I am so so glad Himalaya Herbals is into this!!!

The product was gifted by by the company, however the opinions are of my own experience and are this post does not to advertise the product.

Follow me on Google Plus, Bloglovin', Networked Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest!!!
visit my online store at www.bhushavali.com

Written by Bhushavali