REVIEW: Garnier Clean Nourishing Cleansing Oil

I had mentioned in my DHC Cleansing Oil Review that I would like to try the new Garnier Cleansing Oil to see if it works comparably well so that I may spend a little less. Here are the results.

 While the product is called "Garnier Clean + Nourishing Cleansing Oil for Dry Skin", I do not believe the usage of this should be restricted to dry skin only. I personally have oily skin and have enjoyed using this oil for makeup removal a few times in the recent past. It is fairly thin in viscosity (not as thin as water but thinner than the DHC cleansing oil). I cannot point out the smell exactly but it is very  heavily fragranced. This might be a problem for skin types which get irritated by fragrance in products. It does a great job of dissolving my heavy sunscreen and foundation. I still stick to using a separate eye makeup remover but the 2 times I tried using just this, the eye makeup (mascara, eyeshadow, eyeliner, the works...) came off easily. When I wash it with warm water, it does emulsify beautifully and gets rid of all the makeup. I do always follow-up with a face wash, though it is not needed.

It retails for US $7.99+taxes for 4.2 oz. (around $1.6/oz.) which makes it much cheaper than the $4.17/oz. of DHC cleansing oil. But when I use the Garnier one, I feel like I am using a lot more product in one use so I will probably end up using it faster. Does that make sense? Maybe the thin-ness of Garnier makes me think I need more to remove the same amount of makeup that DHC removes in lesser amount. I will use the Garnier cleansing oil every once in a while, but I recent stocked up on my DHC and will always keep the DHC one as my stable product of use.

INSTITUT ESTHEDERM E. V. E Serum Source

E. V. E stands for Essential Vital Elements. Check the product on it's website here.

This is a much touted miracle serum and it is French (we all know of the craze around French skincare, don't we?). Well I just HAD to try it.It retails in the USD $120 to USD $140 price range. Which makes this product hideously expensive. Among it's many claims, this product also regenerates skin. As a previous cystic acne sufferer, I have a lot of pores and scarring on my skin and I will try anything to help decrease that. I am using this once a day (at night after washing my face) as opposed to twice. I will report it's progress in a few weeks. It promises results in 3 weeks if used twice a day, but since I'm using it just once a day, I will check back in 6 weeks.

LUSH Sandy Santa

LUSH recently had a BOGO sale on their website for a few items and I hauled big time. One of the items I got was Sandy Santa body butter. LUSH UK says the following about it: "With murumuru butter and shea butter, Sandy Santa is both a body butter and a sugar scrub. We’ve packed him full of butters this year to give a wonderful moisturising affect, and we’ve also included sugar and sand to smooth and polish your skin." I can't get get over the fact that they said "affect" instead of "effect". WOW!

Back to the topic at hand. Here is how you use Sandy Santa (and other body butters for that matter) After you are done with your shower, while you're still in the shower and wet, rub him all over (dirty!LOL!) You will be left with wonderful smelling sugar particles and moisturizing oils all over (especially his hat, when it melts it's like a yummy jam/jelly. Try to not eat it). Now scrub/exfoliate. Be gentle. Wash off with warm water. You will be left moisturized, soft and smelling wonderful. Most people don't moisturize after this, however I feel after you towel dry yourself, you do need to moisturize (especially in this dry winter). I love this scrub. It makes showers fun. But try not to use it too frequently. It is a fun treat but not a must-have product in my opinion (especially when you can do a DIY body scrub for the shower using sugar, lemon, EVOO and essential oils just as easily).  

Sandy Santa is generally available only during the holidays. But other body butters, such as Buffy, are available year round. 

Indian Facial Mask: Turmeric Mask

Although there are tons of recipes for this mask available on Youtube and Google, I thought I would put my version of it out there on the Internet too :-) (because, why not?)

This is not plagiarism, since this mask is something that all of us from India were subjected to, growing up. This is an old Indian kitchen beauty secret/treatment. One among thousands. You can Google the benefits of turmeric and the other ingredients used in this mask. Listed below is my recipe. I use it as and when possible (I have too many packaged ones to finish first)

TURMERIC MASK:

• 1 tbsp. Besan (Chickpea Flour)
• 1/2 tbsp. Organic Turmeric
• 1 spoon Raw Organic Manuka Honey
• [Whole Milk] or [Organic Yogurt + Freshly squeezed Lime juice] ... don't use lime juice and milk together since lime will turn/spoil the milk

Mix and make a smooth paste. Apply to a freshly washed face. Let it dry for 30 mins. or more. Wash with lukewarm water (no soap). Be gentle. Moisturize.

If you made this in excess, store in the fridge (not for more than 3 days)

If you have a lighter complexion (lighter than MAC NC35) this mask will stain your face with a yellow tint, but it does fade in a few hours (use high quality turmeric please)

If you try this, please let me know how this worked out for you. Thanks!

Hand Shit Hand Cream

Just like the name says, this is THE SHIT... In a good way(what has our English come to? LOL)

I occasionally use Hand Shit Hand Cream in Sweet Pea Lilac scent. It smells amazing and is a very thick hand balm. Heals dry hands, especially good for winters. I came across it in Asheville, NC and fell in love with it. Then came home and pronto purchased it online, on Amazon I think. Company called Blue Q makes it and they have a lot of products with "Shit" in the title. Just a quirky sense of humor. If the product is good, I don't care about anything else. Check out the ingredients:

Sunflower Oil and Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Ozokerite Wax, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax, Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Kaolin Clay, Pirified Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cocoglycerides, Frafrance, Glyceryl Caprylate & Glyceryl Undecylinate, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin E

Phew... Look at the pics...

Definitely recommend this shit!!!

Skincare/Haircare - Mad Scientist

Must have oils: (all should be hexane-free)

1. Almond Oil (sweet almond and cold-pressed)
2. Castor Oil (cold-pressed)
3. Coconut Oil (extra virgin and organic)
4. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
5. Avocado Oil (cold-pressed)
6. Sesame Oil (cold-pressed)
7. Mustard Oil

Must have honey:
Wedderspoon Raw Organic Manuka Honey

Must have kitchen skincare ingredients:

1. Organic Turmeric Powder
2. Lime/Lemon (fresh)
3. Honey (listed above)
4. Besan (chickpea flour)
5. Organic Yogurt (full fat preferrably, greek yogurt ok)
6. Organic Whole Milk
7. Grated Tomato (fresh and organic)
8. Potato (sometimes grated and sometimes just sliced)
9. Full Fat Coconut Milk (canned, since fresh is too much work)
10. Desi Ghee (purified butter from Cow Milk)
11. Crisco - standard, for shiny legs
12. Regular Granulated White Sugar
13. Hydrogen Peroxide (3% and in a spray bottle)
14. Distilled Water
15. Apple Cider Vinegar
16. Baking Soda
17. 91% Alcohol in a spray
18. Sea Salt
19. Eggs (organic free-range)

Currently testing:
Wedderspoon Raw Organic Manuka Honey with Bee Venom