Welcome back to another edition of Be for Beauty’s beauty favorites: a combined edition of April and May 2017.
After talking about our jewelry and perfume favorites, let’s dive straight in the beauty department (you shall be seeing our style favorites in our photo shoots and on our Instagram feeds). Most of our favorites are ideal for summers, super light on the skin and are picked from responsible brands.
Bali Alus Frangipani Traditional Spa Essential Scrub
If you’ve been to Bali, you know the smell of Frangipani blooms everywhere. I found it near my villa, on our walks, even on the city side (Seminyak) and I absolutely fell in love with the smell. Confession: I was actually looking for a body or a hand cream and I picked up the wrong box: which was a good thing!
A GMA and ISO certified brand, Bali Alus is a natural brand and it’s very obvious they let their ingredients shine.
About Frangipani Essential Scrub: First up, the smell is amazing, it’s perfect for summer and for you sensitive noses out there, it’s not overwhelming.The texture is whipped, which means its light but creamy. This scrub has softening ingredients like flower extracts and milk along humectants like glycerine. Unlike my salt scrub which I just apply and rub for about 20 seconds, applied on your body for several minutes. Use small circular motions since the overall idea is for the coconut to slough off dead cells while the milk is supposed to soften your skin!
For best results in summer, keep it chilled in the fridge!
Bali Alus Coconut Face and Body Masker
Another buy from the same brand, this one is in a word, awesome. Ideal for weekly beauty regimes, this is a godsend for all skin types. Made with kaolin clay, milk, and coconut, this mask can be used on both body and face. When I opened the packet, I actually saw grated coconuts and was overjoyed. I actually grated the pack a little bit more with the mortar-pestle we usually use in the kitchen because I didn’t want the coconut flakes to get into my pores. I used it with water and the effect was instantaneous: my skin felt softer, supple and clearer.
About Bali Alus Coconut Masker: Made with kaolin clay, milk, and coconut, this mask can be used on both body and face. When I opened the packet, I actually saw grated coconuts and was overjoyed. I actually grated the pack a little bit more with the mortar-pestle we usually use in the kitchen because I didn’t want the coconut flakes to get into my pores. I used it with water and the effect was instantaneous: my skin felt softer, supple and clearer. I’m also going to try this out with coconut water or cold milk.
Essence The Gel Nail Polish
Just like all of us, I love nail polishes too. On Pragati’s last trip to India this April, she got me a lot of Essence Nail Polishes from their Fall 2016 range (you can check out the swatches on Imabeautygeek) and I absolutely love 2 shades: Gossip Girl (No 88) and Do You Speak Love (No 14). I honestly don’t know why nail polish brands rely on cheeky names for their nail polishes but all’s good when the product is good. Not only was the color great, the brushes too. The shades lasted for about 7 days (10 days if you’re lazy like me) so it’s a great win for me. They’re about Rs 1000 per bottle on Amazon but are much cheaper in Europe.
Aaranyaa Anti-Bacterial Tea Tree Oil Face Wash
A lot of you know that I’ve been working as a social media and communication consultant at Aaranyaa. I’m constantly rewarded with customer testimonials but I feel it’s equally important for me to keep trying Aaranyaa’s products. Since it’s 42 degrees on an average here, I use the face wash once in 2 days, especially in evenings. The smell is a bit too overpowering for me, but you can feel the effects of tea tree the minute you apply it onto your face. I love sulphate-free products and I think a lot of you could make use of this if you face breakouts or reddened, angry skin. PS; the price is an absolute steal. Many brands like The Body Shop charge up to Rs 900 and more!
Thayers Original Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera
Using a toner on a clean face is a must-do for all of us women (and men). Witch hazel extracts are taken straight from the bark (and not distilled) while the toner is super mild and alcohol-free. Since witch hazel is generally not found in India easily, I asked a friend to order it via Amazon. Thayers is certified organic which makes it safe to use! While the cotton soaked pads are cheaper in India (linked above), the toner bottle is of 355 ml which could last a year (if not more).
Aldo Vandini Lip Duo Peel and Repair Lip Balm
My lips have been going through something insane. All these matte lipsticks make them so dry, my best scrubs are of no help. Another gift from Pragati, this lip balm is a part of duo kit from a vegan, cruelty-free brand, Aldo Vandini. The peel (not photographed) is made of brown sugar and apricot. Massage it in for a minute without swallowing it (tastes really bad). Don’t peel, just massage it off with a washcloth. Then apply the lip balm which apparently makes them look fuller. Since my lower lip is pretty full, I only noticed that it does make my pout softer. However, you need to reapply it every 4-6 hours. The price is a steal (6 Euros meaning Rs 500 is a great price!)
Manavi Siddhanti is a lifestyle journalist and ex-magazine editor based in New Delhi, India. She writes about beauty and lifestyle. Pragati Siddhanti is an IT manager who is based in Basel,Switzerland. She writes on travel, expat life and motherhood.
