The Best Tinted Lip Balms for Summers ft. Aroma Essential

Good news for the lovers of 'classic lipbalms'!! Now you may get one for yourself that will not only moisturise your lips but will give your lips lovely-looking slight coloration. Wondering what's special in that?

The lipbalms that I'm talking about are handmade with love by one of the well-known personal care brand Aroma Essentials. This range of lipbalms have emollients like Shea butter, Mango Butter Almond oil, Coriander oil and have got lipsafe colours in it.

A range of 5 flattering shades have been launched last month in Pink, Megenta, Red, Maroon and Caramel. I received two of these for consideration.

Since these lipbamls come in stick format, I really like it for the ease of use. It's more hygienic than a pot packaging where you have to put your finger inside and apply the product on lips. And I don't share my lipsticks and lipbalms with anyone, so I need not worry about feeling unhygienic.

The lipbalms are creamy-soft in texture and gives a dose of extra nourishment while hydrating your lips for many hours. If you are a true lipbalm addict, I'm sure you must have mastered the art of sneakily apply it even without a mirror while attending a lecture in college or a office meeting. So if your chapped lips need reapplication, just a quick swipe of this lip balm can enhanced your 'natural' beauty look. The USP of the product is that it boasts of additional care of Sun Protection Factor that will save your lips from darkening during harsh summers. Infact Coriander oil infused in the formula helps lightening lip pigmentation.

Speaking about the tint, the lipbalms give a pop of colour subtle enough to get away with your everyday look. I personally prefer swiping a little extra on my lips for the light sheen and plenty of softness.

I love the mild cooling sensation on my lips that I experience for a couple of minutes after applying the lipbalm.

These lipbalms are made in small batches and no preservatives, parabens, phthalates, or SLS are used in it. Just make sure to store them in refrigerator.

For a tinted lip balm that offers equal parts colour and hydration, Aroma Essential has this impressive bargain at Rs. 225 each that too has been cut off to Rs 200 as an Introductory Offer. 

Must try product from my best-loved brand... Go for it!

2000 FB Likes Contest (closed)

An achievement like this cannot happen overnight (actually can happen in few cases, which I didn't opt for, just kidding). Anyways, the wheels started rolling years ago and I've eyed on every single 'like/follow' so lovingly. I've been fortunate enough to be backed by a few spontaneous blogger friends and supportive readers to make it happen. I cannot thank everyone enough for their involvement and their willingness to stick with Alive n Kicking beyond their comfort zones! 

I believe - 'when we achieve, we always do so because others have helped.' And that makes me feel appreciative to you all and so here is the gifts for lucky ones in return :)

We've come up with a lovely contest. Once again, the contest is sponsored by none other than my beloved Aroma Essentials. Let me show you what you can win --

These colourful, handcrafted soaps are infused with 100% natural ingredients & are skin-friendly and child-safe. Aren't they as cute as our little kids? :) 

Prizes:
We're giving away 3 hampers containing 2 soaps each to three best entries.. (the colour and shape of soap may vary depending on availability during dispatch)

Rules:

1. Follow Alive n Kicking and Aroma Essentials on Facebook. 
2. Post a cute picture of yourself with a child on this post to whom you would like to gift these soaps. (you may be the mom, dad, uncle, aunt or grandparent of the child). 
3. Share the giveaway post publicly on your facebook timeline using hashtag #dohazaar. Tag both pages and atleast 5 of your friends whenever you share.

Bonus Points to those who:

• Follow Artisanme79 and Aroma Essentials on Twitter. 
• Follow ShilpaBindlish and Aroma Essentials on Instagram. 
• Subscribe to my blog via email and verify your subscription.
• Comment on blog posts during contest duration.

The contest starts today on 20th June and ends on 10 July. Valid for Indian residents. 

p.s. Its a sponsored contest, so I won't be held responsible for delay or damage of prize hamper in transit.

Winners Update: Congratulations to Krishna Maharana, Sonali Sonawane, Sudhanshu Gupta (not responded in given time frame) Suruchi Aggarwal to win the cute soap hampers for their kids. Please DM me your complete postal details including Pin Code and Contact No. in next 24 hours, else another winner will be selected. 

Benefits of Aroma Essentials Rice Tulsi Soap

Recently I received a handmade soap from Aroma Essentials in unique combination of Tulsi and Rice with some other ingredients like Mint, Clay Kaolin, Ricebran oil, Sunflower Oil and Almond Oil. Those who have slightest of idea of the properties of these ingredients must have understood already that it's a great moisturizing soap bar.

This one is mildly scented soap bar, smelling quite close to natural fragrance of mint + tulsi. So will appeal those who avoid piercing aromas. The ivory blue colored soap with a hint of rust in-between, perfectly denotes ocean waves :) The sleek soap is opaque in look and produces creamy lather to make your skin feel refreshed. It's easy to rinse off without leaving any sticky feel behind. All this attributes to highest-quality ingredients used by AE to make products from scratch.

So here is how you get benefited by using this soap-

• The people who have dry skin that gets flaky during extreme weather conditions can bathe with this soap bar to boost the moisturizing level of the skin while cleaning it. 
• The rice content  in the soap helps trigger melanin synthesis which leads to skin lightening and is a good source of natural antioxidants (though I barely expect changing of skin tone).
• Presence of natural herbs and oils help to pacify minor skin issues.
• The soap not only purifies the skin from within the anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties of the ingredients work to keep skin free from acne, breakouts.
• Mint is a rich source of Vitamin A and C. It kills germs and bacteria from the skin surface, and tackles suntan too.

With a clean fresh feel and light cooling sensation on skin, this soap is sure to bring multiple benefits that you didn't expect.

Quench Your Skin's Thirst With Aroma Essentials Body Sorbets

I've been a sucker of moisturizers, lotions, body butters and bath oils since forever. You ask why? Simply because my skin type is such that it can accommodate as much moisture as I pour over it. Gone are the days when I used to stick to traditional mustard oil for its emollient properties. Now I've experienced a number of quality products that offer better miniaturization without being oily. A cool and calming range of 'body sorbets' is my skin's new companion that I received from Aroma Essentials.

Those who are wondering what a body sorbet is, it is a lightly textured formula that instantly melts into the skin and moisturizes the body. I tried Aroma Essentials Sorbets in five variants in following unique scents -

The sorbets are infused with 100% organic Aloe Vera. The additional ingredients in the sorbets supplies nutrients to skin that can address your skin additional concerns. All the sorbets are richly moisturizing and indulgently fragrant. Simply applying a light layer of sorbets makes you feel closely wrapped up in the authentic aroma of natural ingredients used in the formula. The sorbets are quick to sink in the skin and leave your skin feeling silky-smooth. The sorbet's lubrication doesn't stays as long as a body butter or a cream, but nicely softens the skin when applied to pre-dampened skin for a quick moisturization. If you have dry skin type, it'll help to prevent further loss of moisture by creating a barrier. You can apply the sorbets not only on body parts including hands, elbows, legs and feet, but on face as well. There is no stickiness or oily sheen left behind. Each of the sorbets is almost identical in its texture, rigidity and absorbency despite specialized ingredients. 

Lemon Ylang Geranium

Orange Grapefruit

Sandalwood Lavender

 Jasmine Mogra

 Rose Geranium

Using these sorbets not only improves the skin texture topically, but are also believed to heal and balance the 'body chakras' which are the energy centers of our body. You may question whether these chakras actually exist, but can find its mention in ancient Ayurvedic and Aromatherapy concepts. Each of the chakras is directly associated to a specific part and nerve center of our body. When any of the chakras gets unbalanced due to negative energy flowing through it, it disturbs its spinning rate resulting in affecting a part of the body as well as our spiritual and emotional balance.

I'm only recommending to give yourself a gentle dose of body sorbet massage to reap the benefits of aromatherapy and bring your mind, body and spirit balance back.

Why to Use Jasmine Ylang Ylang Oil

Skin moisturization ideally should begin while you're still in the shower. If you apply a body oil, or body lotion during the shower before you towel off your skin, you can successfully seal in the moisture for longer and better hydration. I've managed to solved many skin issues just by religiously hydrating my extremely dry skin at the right time, in the right manner and by using right products.

Body/Bath oils, being my absolute all-time favourites, magically offer my skin great relief and this is why you might find me admiring and approving a number of brands that have suited my skin type. One such brand that masters in formulating pure, handcrafted products is Aroma Essentials (that doesn't seek an introduction any more) whose Jasmine Ylang Ylang Bath Oil had been super nourishing blend of Jasmine Mogra essential oil, Almond Oil and Apricot Oil with skin loving baby oil as the base. 

I always say (and believe) Jasmine flowers have got incredible fragrance that is much more enchanting than any other flower. The flower petals in each bottle scents the oil with natural scent and it smells heavenly. I can inhale it forever ;)

Why and How to use?

• Ylang Ylang is most efficacious to relieve negative emotions such as anger and frustration. With a blend of Jasmine, it stabilizes emotional balance and generates euphoric sense. You may apply it to your pulse points, behind ears or on the neck to play with its anti-depressant properties. 
• A massage of this romantic potion results in sensual awakening effortlessly and brings your seductive side effortlessly.
• I find this oil to be really joyful and peaceful for my senses, so it doesn't harm mixing a portion into my usual coconut oil and give my hair a good massage to strengthen and condition my tresses. It supports healthy circulatory system and calms me down.
• There are occasions when you find yourself spiritually drained due to tough-to-handle circumstances. Simply inhale the oil for few seconds after regular intervals and it influences bringing your mind and spirit back to place.
• Ylang Ylang works best to balance the secretion of sebum and improve the texture of skin when massaged regularly in a limited quantity. Make sure to use only few drops else may cause nausea to sensitive people.
• Using 3-4 drops of the oil is a better alternative to sedative, when your body needs undisturbed night sleep.
• The most surprising way the oil has worked for me is to make my painful periods much more bearable while tackling other associated issues like mood swings, fatigue n frustration by controlling my body temperature.

You may order a 100 ml pack of Aroma Essentials Jasmine Ylang Ylang Oil at Rs 400. 

The benefits of Jasmine Ylang Ylang oil can be reaped depending on sensitivity of skin. To avoid any reaction, avoid using the oil in heavy doses and do an allergy test before application.

Buzz Away Mosquitoes With Mozzy Rep

One thing that's most annoying about summer season is the increase in the number of pesky mosquitoes. All the tricks like covering the body with full sleeve shirts, long pants and scarfs go waste to prevent annoying itchy bites most of the times. The locality where I live is more prone to breed mosquitoes due to greenery all around. Protecting my family from mosquitoes borne diseases had always been a serious concern for me. And to get rid of these bugs, I decided to try a 100% natural mosquito repellent from Aroma Essentials called Mozzy Rep (sounds like a dance form) ;)

Mozzy Rep is a topical insect repellent which simply means that it has to be applied on your skin and not on your clothes or bedding. The product is a gel based formula containing Aloe Vera as the base and some effective natural ingredients that repel mosquitoes such as Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Lavender and Lemongrass. 

The moment you apply the mozzy rep gel, a cooling effect takes the itch away instantly. Eucalyptus oil is one of the well-known natural repellents whose therapeutic effects prevent bites and soothe minor skin issues too. Rosemary oil is said to be effective to repel bugs with most irritating stings. Lavender oil (which i thought of as a calming one only) is the oil that can even pacify bee sting and is largely acceptable to repel certain ticks. Lemongrass oil may treat the swollen bite area in few minutes. All in all, aloe vera gives the product a moisturizing base too. Mozzy Rep has sharp smell but isn't nauseous. You'll start liking after a few uses.

Now talking about effectiveness of the product, Mozzy Rep is a repellents containing only natural plant extracts, so you will need to apply it more frequently to protect against bites than a chemical formula; which is perfectly alright to remain safe from side effects of DEET based products. Also, unlike some commercial repellents that claim to work in a few spritz or dabs here n there on your skin, it is highly recommended to apply a thin layer of mozzy rep covering all exposed areas of skin for the proper protection. 

The most appealing thing about the product is that you may use it for your children without worrying of possible allergies. So it's the time to replace your usual mosquito repellent with a gentler n organic version. 

Storage Instruction: Store it in the refrigerator.

Amazing Uses of All Purpose Aloe Vera Gel ft. Aroma Essentials

If there exists something called Miracle Plant, it certainly has to be Aloe Vera. The thick, clear substance hidden within its long leaves provides natural relief for a variety of issues related to skin or hair.

I've been sent the All Purpose Aloevera Gel by Aroma Essentials.

It is a perfect blend of Aloe vera Extract and Hibiscus Extract while Grapefruit n Lavender essential oils are added to it for the aromatic feel afterwards. It is a clear gel without any artificial colors into it and is not sticky in application.

Since, it is a multipurpose gel, I didn't limit myself to use it topically onto my skin, but tried it differently every time (except consuming it). So I'm sharing some simple to follow ways to use the Aloe Vera Gel (can be from any brand)-

• For Skin Healing: This gel, without adding any extra ingredients into it, is readily usable for applying directly on skin as a mask to soothe the sunburn inflamed skin to reduce redness and pain quickly. No need to wash the skin. The gel can be applied on minor cuts and burns for instant relief.

• As Skin Exfoliation: To avail the peaceful winter skin, make a paste by mixing required quantity of Oatmeal and Honey into Aloe Vera gel. Massage it on the skin for a minute or two and wash it off after 10 minutes. This mild exfoliation paste works excellent for deeply leaning and moisturizing all skin types whether oily, dry or sensitive without any side effects.

• To Combat Skin Ageing: Applying aloe vera gel on your face regularly help to reduce appearance of wrinkles and improves skin elasticity due to vitamin C and E present in the gel. The soft, supple and hydrated skin starts looking firm and healthy.

• As Hair Conditioner/Serum: Dilute aloe vera gel with plain water in a small bowl and pour the liquid in a spray bottle. Shake it well and spray it on your unmanageable hair to to close the hair cuticles and thereby control hair frizz. When you run a comb through your hair, it detangles easily.It can be used on your hair anytime , not necessarily after a head bath.

• For Better Hair Growth: Apply the all-purpose aloe gel on scalp directly and cover your hair and scalp with a shower cap. The hibiscus extract stimulates hair growth by allowing blood circulation to the scalp and the amino acids or protein present in Aloe vera extract accelerates usual rate of hair growth. One can prevent scalp itchiness and dryness by applying this gel on scalp.

• In Hair Colour: Many people who prefer to use their favourite hair colour purchased from drug stores can mix this aloe vera gel into their hair color to soothe their hair and prevent it from chemical damage. 

I know there are innumerable benefits of Aloe Vera plant for us, but I've shared the  ones that I tried. Hope you may find the tips useful.

Hydrate Your Tired Skin With Lavender Mask ft. Aroma Essentials

I've been living under extreme work pressure since many days and it's not going to end for one more month. This daily stress and other environmental issues leave my skin sickly-looking & washed-out. To combat the tiredness of my skin, I've started using Lavender Mask because Lavender oil counteracts various skin disorders.

The Lavender Mask that I'm trying these days is sent to me by one of the most authentic herbal brand Aroma Essentials and I totally trust the indulgent ingredients used in its products. So had high hopes with this product as well.

The mask has jelly-like (not gel-like) appearance and is thick in viscosity. If you tilt the tiny tub containing the product, it won't spill. The light-green colour and soothing aroma are quite refreshing to my senses. The application of mask is quite easy involving no mixing or diluting. Just spreading a thin layer of mask on face for 10 mins and wiping it off with wet tissue. This is the reason that I'm using it every alternate day usually in the afternoon during my lunch break at work because by that time my skin starts showing signs of fatigue.

The mask gives mild cooling sensation while on skin and calms inflamed skin. The skin feels de-stressed, hydrated and looks glowing for next an hour or two. The only con that I find with the product is that the radiance on the skin is quite short-lived, otherwise there is no arguement about benefits of Lavender for skin.

Other than Lavender oil, the mask is infused with Chamomile flower oil and aloe gel. Chamomile possesses effective characteristics to heal wounds, burns and scars on the skin. A prolonged use of the mask can render numerous benefits for all types of skin and enhance the appearance of otherwise sallow skin. 

Being cruelty-free, chemical-free, artificial-fragrance free and dermatologically tested are added pluses for the product. So your search for a natural skin-healer ends here. The lavender mask is available at Rs. 300 for 35 gm. 

Pamper Your Skin With AHA Skin Polishing ft. Aroma Essentials

While your mind is keeping you more than occupied, don't forget to take care of your skin. If you are trapped in similar situation like I'm, don't panic to find your skin misbehaving in this changing weather; simply catch up on your favourite skin care products and indulge into some self-pampering time.

I confess that I've been really careless for my skin since last one month or so, and of course the effect can be seen on different parts of my body. To rescue my skin from more damage, I took a skin exfoliating treatment at home using Aha Sugar Polish sent by Aroma Essentials.

Skin Polishing is an exfoliation treatment much like scrubbing, but the purpose varies. While the scrubs are meant to clean the outer layer of the skin by removing dead skin cells, dirt and oil; the skin polishing targets moisturizing n smoothening the skin by exfoliating the already cleansed skin and bring the radiance out.

The Aha Sugar Polish as the name suggests uses Brown Sugar as the base ingredient which is really gentle on skin. The other ingredients include Tamarind Powder, Jaggery, Lavender Buds Powder, Sugar Powder, Walnut Powder Apricot Oil, Castile Soap. I can confidently say that I've found the most indulgent natural ingredients in the AE products and using these products add to my knowledge too ;)

Aha Sugar Polish is a thick, brown colored, abrasive product with heavenly fragrance. The product is to be used during the shower on the wet skin, left on skin for 10 minutes and then rub gently before rinsing off. 

This grainy mixture of skin-sloughing ingredients instantly rid your skin off dry, flaking skin on rough areas of body like elbow joints and knuckles. But be gentle with your rubbing strokes as the ingredients in the product do not dissolve cent-percent and may leave marks on skin if you are aggressive. There is visible improvement on my back skin after using it twice. A moisturised layer of fresh, clean and smooth skin is all what I wanted and achieved. The only thing I wish is to add some more essential oils in the product for extra dry skin so that a body lotion can be completely skipped post shower. For making my experience more productive, I recreated the sugar polish by adding few drops of sweet almond oil and enjoyed really soft and silky skin packed with little more moisture.

If you are using it on delicate skin of your face, limit the use twice a month only. The sugar polish is suitable to almost all skin types including sensitive skin and doesn't break out. The aroma of the product stays for some time after washing your skin off and the ingredients used in it keep on relaxing and stimulating your senses. 

The 100 gm packaging of the sugar polish is priced at Rs 650/-

So next time, when it's the time for a hot shower, don't forget to carry Aha Sugar Polish along and come out with glowing skin.

Best Natural Shampoos For All Hair Types

Surround yourself with all things good! And if that’s not possible for you at the moment, at least decide to switch to a natural hair cleanser that is free from SLS, sulfate and other chemicals because the store-bought commercial shampoos claiming to be the best in hair care are one of the most unsafe products that degrade the health of our scalp and tresses.

From past few weeks, I have been washing our hair with Aroma Essentials shampoos that are made of finest natural ingredients. The brand sent the shampoos to me in two variants i.e. Onion and Banana. I'm using a shampoo made of these ingredients for the first time from any brand so far.

Having Onion as the key ingredient of a shampoo first received some frowns from my family members, but after a thorough discussion that it's a composition of onion pulp and shea butter with olive and mustard seed oils, everyone showed excitement to experiment with the product. The onion shampoo is a relatively thin consistency cleanser in off-white colour. It lathers decently, but not very rich. So for my long hair, I would need extra quantity to be used for properly cleaning my hair and scalp. It is free of any artificial fragrance. It has a unique fragrance that I'm unable to define exactly, but it is not that strong disgusting onion smell that you would dislike to have in your hair. To reiterate the benefits of onion, it has rich sulfur content and improves the blood circulation when applied to the scalp. Onion juice increases the strength of the hair thereby prevents thinning and breakage to great extent. Using an onion shampoo is like using a natural tonic which promotes hair growth and reverses hair loss in long term.

The other variant is again an excellent combination of banana pulp and shea butter with goodness of Pro-Vitamin B5 that is a boon for dry hair specially. Its a sweet smelling shampoo in peach color and of similar consistency like that of onion shampoo. I'm more inclined to this variant for the reason that it addresses dryness of scalp and hair. It is a savior for people battling dry locks and frizz. 

Both the shampoos are mild and can be used on daily basis if required. These are lightweight and rinsed out quite easily leaving hair silky and shiny after removing all the dirt n grime. My hair look and feel equally voluminous after using these shampoos which I appreciate because the hair care products that weigh down my hair are completely No-No ;) The packaging is in small plastic bottles which is travel friendly and are good for those who want to try sampling out the products once for making a final decision. 

The plus points of these shampoos (just like all other Aroma Essential products) are that they involve use of clean and green ingredients sourced out fairly, not tested on animals, don't cause side effects and are skin-friendly. You may even store these shampoos in a refrigerator for a specific season as they have a shelf life of 6 months.

So, if you are looking for all natural hair cleansers with an impression of purity, do give these pure products a try and feel the difference how your hair behave well :)