Four Ways to Make Your Summer Better

It's getting​ hotter by the day, and God knows we start worrying about our skin, amongst other things, even more during these times. Here are some tips to make sure your skin is glowing and you are comfortable even through the hot, dehydrating summer days!

Aloe Vera Gel

A very versatile product, you can leave it on for a few hours after a grueling day in the heat, or even overnight. It acts as a cooling agent and it also moisturizes skin very well. It plumps up your skin, and helps regain the softer and smoother skin you love.

Drinking more water

Water keeps you hydrated and fresh. It is much more important in summer because there's a higher chance of dehydration, so you gotta be much more careful. Always carry a water bottle so you can keep track of your water intake. Oh and fruit water works wonders too! You could also carry a small spray bottle to mist your face once in a while to refresh yourself or simply carry a pack of wet wipes!

SPF Sunscreen

This is actually a prerequisite for all seasons but it's always good to pay extra attention in summer. Always look for an SPF sunscreen with a factor of at least 15, irrespective of skin type and ethnicity. Damaging UV rays can penetrate all types of skin. However, the lower the melanin content of your skin, the higher the SPF you require, because melanin is like a natural UV filter of sorts.This Kaya sunscreen is my personal favorite and I absolutely recommend it! Find it here.

Loose clothes

Loose clothes allows your skin to breathe easily and light colors does not trap heat as much as dark ones. Think soft colors, flowy fabric, and airy silhouettes. An extra tee shirt in the backpack will always come in handy.
An added bonus: These clothes are super comfy!

Would you like to see me talk more about specific skincare products? Let me know on Instagram/Twitter!

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Picture Credits:

express.co.uk

ayurtimes.com

pinterest,com

nykaa.com

pinterest.co.uk 

My Top Six Uses of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is something the west discovered fairly recently, but we in India have been swearing by it for ages, millennia actually.
Coconut oil is deep rooted in Indian traditions and for very good reason.
Indian heritage uses many natural herbs and oils that are very useful in order to heal the body and provide nourishment and good health. I use organic cold pressed coconut oil, and that is the kind I would recommend.
Coconut oil is one such magical oil that provides so much! Read on to know my top six uses:

1. Moisturiser and lip balm - You can use this as a lip balm and as a body moisturizer. I have personally tried this and I am absolutely satisfied with the results! Your skin will very well moisturized without any of the harmful chemicals.
In a tropical climate like ours (India), it is almost always liquid, so in summers, you can use it at home before bed. When it's colder outside, it turns solid so you can carry it around in a little tub and use it during the day as well.

2. During and post shower - In the shower, use coconut oil as a shaving cream substitute. After your shower, apply coconut oil liberally all over your body. Coconut oil will hydrate dry skin, and helps to soothe skin after shaving. Coconut oil also has a natural SPF and is a great and easy way to protect your skin from harmful rays and sun damage.

3. Hair leave in conditioner - After you wash your hair, let it air dry or use a cotton t-shirt to absorb the water. After hair is fairly damp, or semi dry, apply coconut oil to the ends and part of the length of your hair. There is no need to apply to the roots. The ends need most nourishment so be most liberal here. Instead of using chemical laden conditioners, it is best to use a natural product like coconut oil. Your hair will thank you. This works best for thick/coarse hair. If you have fine or limp hair, don't use this as it will weight down your hair.

4. Vegan substitute in baking - It is a great substitute for butter, milk, eggs, shortening and so many more. Check out this link for comprehensive information. That website on the whole is a wonderful resource for learning more about your journey towards veganism.

5. Anti acne - Although people do believe that acne and pimples are caused due to oil and sebum in skin, and that oil would make it worse, they're wrong. Coconut oil has anti bacterial properties, and it will work to combat the harmful bacteria, which is the root cause of these skin issues. If you feel it is more severe, you can also mix it with a little bit of tea tree oil, as it has strong purifying and antibacterial properties. Just dab on a little, leave it overnight, and you will see a change in the morning!

6. Boost Nutrients in Smoothies – Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to any fruit smoothie for a boost of cholesterol fighting compounds. Side benefit? It improves the texture and taste of smoothies, while adding healthy fats to your diet. Over time, if you enjoy the taste, you can add it to vegetable smoothies as well. It'll help make it more palatable as people do take some time to get used to the taste of vegetable smoothies!

These are just a few of the awesome results that you can get from coconut oil. It is truly a versatile ingredient with uses from skincare to food to healing to being a part of your vegan/vegetarian journey! Would you like to see more articles about healthy, DIY and organic skincare? Let me know in the comments below!


Photo Credit: Well-beingsecrets

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Review - Aplava.com

Hi guys! Now I don't often post on beauty products and suchlike, but I just HAD to write about this place. Two reasons, mainly.

One, a lot of you have asked me to write about skincare and haircare - products as well as styling tips (thank you all for the compliments on my hair!).

Secondly, this website is actually different. Now, I've always loved staying up to date with innovative startups, and I will continue to do so. I feel like the startups scene in India will really help our country reach new heights, but that's a story for another day. Aplava is one such startup based out of Bangalore, the startup hub of the country; and it's growing in leaps and bounds.

Pronounced as “Aap Luv“, it is Sanskrit for "taking a bath to purify oneself". Aplava sells authentic skin care, hair care, wellness products and fragrances. There is a separate section for men and children.

Aplava is a beauty shoppe with a difference. How is it better than the rest of them? Let's find out.

So far, so good. What's their key differentiator?

1) Take a personalized profile quiz - Here, you create a profile with requisite information. Aplava's algorithm will then analyse that information.

2) Receive personalized recommendations - Based on your responses in the first step, they run your details through the algorithm to tell you about your skin health, skin type, and recommended products.

3) Build your regimen - Pay heed to their recommendations, and start improving your skin with the help of their double whammy, algorithm + dermatologist advice.

I especially liked the 'Ask the Expert' section, because what is really the point in having loads of products if you don't really know what works for you? Better to ask than to blindly experiment and harm your skin in the process.

For all you makeup and beauty buffs out there, check out the 'Just Arrived' section for updates about their newest offerings. 

They've also conveniently divided their products into three sections - Best Sellers, Exclusives, and Sale Products.

Let's just say that instead of concentrating on writing this article, I ended up 'researching', which actually meant that I was completely stalking their website and staring at all the skincare products I wanted to try. 

Just look at the detailing of the filters on the left. I love websites that can filter their products/services well, that's just half the battle done in terms of customer attraction. Aplava has done a beautiful job of that, and somehow their product placement order selection is so good that I wanted to try each one of the first six products I saw there! I would not be surprised if they use a back-end algorithm for that too. For all you beauty buffs who can't be bothered with what I'm talking about, suffice to say, you will find what you love without struggling to look for it. You might even find something new to fall in love with that you didn't even know you needed. Something like toning water. It is an awesome thing to have, trust me. 

Overall, I think the website is really helpful. Whether you are totally into beauty and skincare, or just starting out a regimen of your own, this will really help you gt better. Their use of technology to ensure your skin is happy, well, what can be better? I especially appreciate the dermatological advice. After all, an expert opinion always helps.

The only thing I can see as a drawback is that they don't have the multitude of products that more established brands/websites have, but that's really a very minor issue, because what they do give you is so much more, and they are stocking up on new products ever so often. Do visit the website; I bet you'd love the effort they've put into skin profiling and providing expert opinion to all of us. 

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