MY TOP 10 FAVORITE SKINCARE PRODUCTS!

Been quite busy and I just realize Ive been neglecting, well I don't want to say that.. Cuz I think about my blog all the time, but I was waiting on pics from a Fashion Show and Ive been a bit tied up with a gazillion things, so in the wait of my pics (and because I've been trying out a few products) and people ask me what product is good and so forth, I thought I'd do a TOP TEN of my FAVORITE SKINCARE PRODUCTS. Each Product has its own benefits and it doesnt mean its the Number 1 is better than number 10, its just random but per category they rank the highest amongst similiar products targeting same issue.. Stay Tuned!! :D

Dried out Hair??

During the summer, especially if your always out and about contstantly doing your hair, or in the sun alot, hair becomes weak easily! And coincidentally ever since I have had that incident where my hair was shedding non-stop, it was getting weaker, drier, and HIDEOUS-ER!--
So, from the previous posts, my hair is slowly getting better. Minimal Shedding!!!! I mean MINIMAL!!! It's quite amazing how fast its repairing. I started using Dabur Amla Oil-- from the indian store, in my teens and I would throw it in right after I showered and my hair was still some what damp. It kept it curly on my off days (days I didn't do anything to it) which happened to be like every day but it was for the summertime. Dabur Amla adds great sheen to your hair and loads of nutrients and literally brings it back to health. It has a distinct smell so people who are sensitive can possibly get headaches from it. Im pretty used to it, but Ive noticed the newer bottles dont have a strong smell. Ive been using it for 2-3 days and its working its magic!

Heres how to use it: If you have it already, use an empty hair coloring bottle and empty the contents of the orginal bottle into that, because its easier to get into the scalp, its hardly messy, and easy to use.

(The original bottle has an wide opening so it tends to get messy and leak)

 

Dabur Amla's consistency is fairly thin, so to make it thicker, you can add Castor Oil, which is super thick and it gives it a proper consistency and takes away the smell!! Try it out!! it works wonderfully! :)

Save your hair before its too late!

About a month ago, I had like the biggest crisis of my life, -- My hair started falling out in chunks and I was about to die. Not even lying. Those of you who know me, know my hair is in good condition, its not super thick, but definitely not thin, even with a razor cut, the overall feel is still thick. All of a sudden, it started falling out in chunks and all through out the day. I couldnt seem to figure it out,
I dont think I have vitamin deficiency ESPECIALLY since for about 2 weeks I was eating more veg and drinking so much water that I couldnt even imagine lacking nutrients-- and MCD's was so not in my diet.  My hair went from being uber hydrated, strong, and not frizzy to becoming super brittle, dry as like the desert and would break easily and it was constantly knotted and so frizzy, that no conditioner could break through it,
I was LITERALLY in panic mode.. BUT I had to nip this thing in the bud. So the first thing I did was change my shampoo and conditioner.

My mom normally gets the "bulk shampoo-conditioners" from Sams Club so I decided to the kind for chemically treated hair, since she colors her hair.. I thought why not-- generally these type of shampoos have more nutrients in them + to keep hair really shiny and healthy and hydrated b/c hair dyes dry out hair..
Gardiner Frutis came out with a new conditioner its in like a raspberry red bottle--  and it SUCKS. I mean it was like using White Rain on my hair-- no offense to people who use it, or non-brand from Dollar Store.. it was just awful. Got rid of that thing, and switched to Vatika Shampoo from the Indian Store, its a shampoo thats consisted of Olive Oil, sometimes other oils, depends on what you get, Henna Treatment, and something else-- cant remember right now.. and Sauve's comparison to Avedas Voluminous Shampoo-- a friend of mine with amazing hair told me she only uses Suave and she colors her hair consistently, and another one told me Aveda's shampoos are really good-- so I thought I'd try this..

I went for a hair cut after that, it had been about 11 months, since I got my last cut, and I thought that was the main reason it was falling out, but I was consistent in taking care of my hair-- I straightened it about 2x a month or curled it, I usually have a hair serum/heat protectant for my hair, I don't put any products in my hair and I oil it regularly with Amla Oil, sometimes mixed with Castor, or whatever I can find. 

It was still doing the EXACT same thing! the one thing that was in great shape was literally falling apart, and I started looking bald too :S I wanted to shave it all off. I thought lets just try the vitamins, It had been a month since I stopped cuz I ran out, so..

Anywhos, I had to get my blood work done, thought it maybe Thyroid.. I was hoping atleast, because it would solve soooooooooooo many of my issues-- but FAIL. My blood work was EXTRA normal.. except my good ol cholesterol-- thats obviously my eating habits. But anyway that ruled out so many possible solutions. 

I got back on taking ONE A DAY, really 2 a day Gummie MultiVitamins and then I came across this :
HUDABEAUTY reminded me about a vitamin supplement I used to take a few years ago, just to keep the hair/skin nails in tact, Read Here BIOTIN!  I went and got that too! I went for my follow up  which mentioned Vitamin D deficiency, -- I mean Im not a fan of tans, and B12, and a ton of other blood work I need to get now :( and LASTLY- Olive Oil.. I just put that in my hair 2 nights ago and its amazing right now!

BUT the reason I am writing this today..  b/c to some extent, all of these things have been working

Vatika Shampoo-Keeps my hair Shiny and nourished
Suave's Aveda version- Keeps it Voluminous and untangled
Gummie Vitamins are ALOT easier to take + Biotin is really good for alot of things
Blood work is always good to sort out any issues ur having that u might or might not know of.
Olive Oil- Helps hair re-growth and keeps it shiny and smooth!



BOTTOM LINE! My hair is NOT falling out anymore! and its getting healthy again! I woke up today and thought OMG what a big change! Have to blog it!! So thats my story! Ill keep u posted on my recovery--Im going to switch shampoo + conditioner soon b/c its running out so I will add results to that..

If you have any comments, tips or concerns please contact me!! or comment below! Hope it helps!!

Quick Update

Hi! Sorry been a tad MIA lately. The following weekend after the Race was my friend's wedding! here's a pic of me from the wedding. I was actually waiting till this day so I could show u about 2 weeks worth of Full Recovery on the face with and without makeup but I didn't get a chance to take any, b/c I was running around like a lunatic taking pics of the event, etc. But all in all Twas lovely. Yesterday was the Deepak Perwani Show did the makeup for 6+ models with my friend Sonia.  Will have pics up soon! Hope u all had a lovely weekend! :)

Race For Hope 2011

Thank You! To those of you who donated. The race was incredibly awesome, and fortunately the weather was just right!  Here's a pic of me getting close to the finish line. And Yes I did make it :)

 

Peroxide-Soda = Clear Skin and Lightener.

Today, I decided to make a little concoction, as if I'm like a chemist or something but little to my surprise, I created something that is a combo of a skin lightener, exfoliator, scrub in one. Apparently The Peroxide works as a lightener, I didn't realize the teeth whitening worked on the face. I googled "Hydrogen Peroxide for Acne" so it lightens as well as brings pimples down b/c it is an antiseptic. So here's what I did. I took about 1/4th Shot cup of Peroxide, diluted it with Water, 3/4th and put enough baking soda till it turned into a paste. After that I took one of those super big Cotton Balls, and dipped it in, applying it to my face in a circular motion. Now this works like one of those scrub pads for the face, and the cool thing about it is, u can apply it as soft or as rough as you want. If you have Sensitive Skin or Dry skin obviously don't go over board, BUT even after washing my face, I still got a good amount of dirt off. I went at it for a second round, dabbing over the areas that had issues, acne, discoloration, etc. for a bit. Keep on till it drys off and you can wash your face. Seems to work really well and its like a 3 in one. Plus its not messy at all.  :)

I use Vitamin E oil usually afterward, and my skin the next morning is super glowy! The consistency is sort of thick but absorbs AMAZINGLY leaving like NO RESIDUE the next morning. "Love the skin you're in". ;)

I spent 1.40 USD for Acne Fighting Product and Teeth Whitener :D

So, as I mentioned on Facebook earlier, I had some great products that help for Acne and Whiter Teeth!
so here's what I got for $1.09 (actually,  I just looked at the receipt.)
Recently, I read a few articles on getting whiter teeth, quick and easy and I found a few products that really help and maintain healthy teeth. The first thing I bought today was Hydrogen Peroxide 3%. I don't think Ive ever seen anything more than 3 but according to this article Perfectly White Teeth says its safe to use 3 to 5% for your mouth. (I don't think as far as OTC is concerned, you cant get more than 3% anyway.)
For Hygiene, I read on a few websites that it is good to rinse your mouth with HP just to kill bacteria overall plus for a few mins longer, 2-10 minutes, it will help whiten teeth. I tried that today it made a huge difference. Overall my teeth looked brighter instantly. Only thing is -- and one thing you can do to test how much you can handle, pour some in the cap and dip you brush in the peroxide and brush your teeth.
Also, for proper teeth care, you should brush your teeth for like 2 minutes, but I don't know if that's possible so by rinsing your mouth with peroxide, its easier to brush for a shorter period.

 if u are using whitening trays, strips or tooth paste, you can get maximum results! Test it out, try it or even dilute it if its too strong and your experiencing gum/tooth sensitivity etc. Remember, I'm not a dentist. ;)

The Peroxide cost 50 cents because there was a sale, 2 for 1. I just bought one and Generic Baking Soda cost 79 cents. 

Okay, so my next product, Baking Soda. I had a bit of a breakout going on so I felt that I needed a good scrub to smooth out my skin and remove dead skin, so of course Baking Soda was exactly what I needed. A lot of Scrubs at Drug Stores and Dept Stores are fairly harsh but Baking Soda is pretty good when it comes to Acne, and what I did was, I had some Rice Water poured in a bottle when my mom was making rice, and I used a small glass, poured some of that water, and you can use regular of course, mixed with baking soda till it becomes a paste and put it on my face.  (As for the shot glass, so my mom goes to a Hollywood, on her way back from a religious conference, and out of all the souvenirs on this earth, she pics up a shot glass LOL! - and for those who are reading and don't get it we don't drink at all and my mom's a fob. Thanks)

Now, again you want to test this out, do it on a small portion of your face, I experienced a bit of tingling. So here's what I did. I spread it all over my face, moistened my fingers with regular water, and spread my fingers  evenly and in a circular motion, massaged into my face for about a minute or so, depending on how sensitive your skin is, you can do it lightly or a bit rough. I went rough because I needed to feel like it was doing something and I just realized the more rigorous you are the more it feels like Microdermabrasion. Kind of like rubbing sand paper on your face. Its pretty cool. Afterward use Aloe Vera Gel and your good to go. My pimple went down drastically and some of my marks. Do it at night because there's a good chance your face will get super red! Good luck, if you need any advice or have concerns/questions hit me up!