Soaps and more

I love soaps and amongst them i love transparent glycerine soaps. Those green soft mush of happiness which leaves skin squeaky clean which no bodywash can compare. Rubbing soap across body is therapy. it takes effort and great smelling soaps with clean fresh scent can refresh the mind and tired nerves.
So when i came across this i had to give it a shot ! That article was about making exfoliating soap using a regular bar of soap.
In india, melt and pour soap bases are not availaable like in the West. So when  i wanted a scrub soap. ...well i had to buy one. When i looked around there were hardly any in the market. i think Khadi makes a couple [those that are readily available] and one is made by Nomarks  which is quite scratchy and i didn't like it much.

Now that soap is once more a luxury..[ it started as luxury and now seeing the prices of good yummy soaps is enough to send aam admi in a tizzy].. so when i came across that article i wanted my own scrub soap.Since i did not want to use the Pears soap i tried Medimix soap with glycerine. I like the clean scent of medimix soaps and the newer variants the glycerine and the chandan one are particularly good !

I needed something that will melt into a clear base.Here's what i have made:

A multani mitti with ambahald ,almond powder and rose powder mix scrub soap

-Scraped thinly a 3/4th bar of Medimix Glycerine soap in a bowl.
 -In a small stainless steel container. I added 4 heaped tsp of above mixture of multani mitti and herbs.Multani mitti was in largest amount in above mix.
- Then i added coconut oil 1 tbsp, i teaspoon glycerine,1 tsp water and mixed it well
- I kept the container in double boiler and added soap shavings and mixed well while the soap melted.
- I had greased small vatis with oil to make soap bars. You can use moulds for soaps if you have any ! I use cut outs of tetrapack juice packets,cheese spread plastic dabbis or steel vatis whatever on hand !
- hile still hot pour soap base in molds and air it and let it cool and then refrigerate for an hour and un mould.
- after un moulding i let it airdry for another 2 days and then use. I have been using this one from last 3 weeks and still 3/4th of it is left. Talk about economically sound with ample of good stuff.

i am in love ! Multani mitti  i know is so great as facepack. but in soap its like a proper mud soap. Its scrubby and totally clarifying and soothing.Each time, my skin is soft and glowing. I use it on face and in this summer the ambahald and mulatani mitti is refreshing. I have used this to wash my hair it lathers and works beautifully  when i haven't had time for reetha [ or forgotten to soak ritha] My hair is silky and clean. I always do a vinegar rinse after using soap on hair.
The color of the soap is dark brown maybe not very appealing but once you use it you are going to forget everything else.

A rose powder and sugar scrub soap

Another love. I have been mixing sugar with oil and ambahalad for my scrubbing and pampering sessions since ages especially if i have been mentally tired and depressed. It used to always cheer me up. When i feel angry ,upset, tired neglected and when i have the time i clean the house ,my shelves or pamper my skin and hair. Sugar scrubs is way to go for a less messier pampering session.

In this one i used Fiama di wills transparent soap, melted it the same way as above, added sugar [half cup for the whole bar of soap- you can add more] ,coconut oil, glycerin, rose powder 1 heaped tsp.
I have been using this one  alternatively with the multani mitti one. i love it superlatively!

For hair i have made the following combinations:

1] Shikakai and reetha masala [powder] boiled in hot water [ very thick almost dry paste] 1/4 cup and 1 medimix soap[haldi chandan ] shavings+ 1 tbsp of my ayur coconut shampoo+ 1 tbsp of glycerina and coconut oil.

2] Khus powder + masoor dal powder 1 tbsp each+half cup of coconut shampoo+ Half medimix soap [glycerine]+1tsp of glycerine and coconut oil

Both the hair shampoo bars are not hard but not very soft either. They lather and clean beautifully and are mild.They are beautiful and moisturizing and quick alternative to my reetha shikakai mix. Remember to dry them in soap dish in between uses.
it leaves my hair soft and i am liking it so much.
I think these hair soaps are going to last me for god knows how long .
I have a few combinations worked out for future soaps depending on availability of herbs in my house....you know variety is spice soap of life !:-P

Even if you don't like soaps, i highly recommend that if you ever make only one. do make multani mitti one for summer. Start of with lower proportion of multani mitti and then make it up to almost half of the soap quantity.

Do let me know if you use any other soaps besides the ones which i have used.I have used glycerine ones because they melt into a clear liquid and i doubt if the regular soap will melt properly !

Panstik

If you are like me ,you have probably been searching for a good foundation to make you look flawless and born with perfect skin ! At the same time , the foundation could preferably be affordable, matches the skin tone and simple to use everyday !
I have realized i have that kind of face where even a little makeup like a blush , single colour shadow application and a lipstick makes me look 'madeup' .Do any of you face this problem ? Or is this my perception problem ?
Maybe i just don't use the colors right !

There are all kinds of foundations in the market today. The rupee bracket of 200-300 usually contain water based ones  which promise oil free and easy application e.g The ones made by Lotus herbals, Revlon [touch and glow] and Lakme [invisible finish ].The foundations of earlier decade mostly made the face look caked up and like a mask and worst ...there was dearth of shades.

I have hardly used foundation while growing up.I bought Lakme Perfecting Liquid foundation when i started working..thinking i 'll use it . However, i never did go around actually using it. Its sat in my cupboard,separated and then i had to throw it away.Then, i tried the Lakme souffle and since i never got the time in the morning rush to use it , it dried up and that too went in the garbage !

 Anyway, so you see, i stopped using foundations altogether till I found Maybelline's Stick foundations[ its been discontinued now]. It matched my complexion,application was easy however it left an greyish cast [at that time i didn't realize that !]. The problem with stick foundations is blending. A little goes a long way and if not blended properly it does not give an even finish.

Stick foundations are unforgiving if the color doesn't match to the T ! Our SA's at ALL the brand counters have 'fairness fixation'-  i have found they tend to give customers a shade lighter because they believe ALL Indian women want to look fair using a foundation [ wrong ! Wrong ! ]
It is simply wrong to use foundation to look fair ! The end result is a face white ghost like and arms,legs and horror – neck is wheatish brown ! I stopped using foundation for precisely this reason..i knew zero about makeup but i definitely knew i didn't want a mask like effect !

Here is my opinion of my brave buy of Max Factor's Panstik !

Pros:
1.Its compact, easy to carry in the purse. No spillage !
2.It gives medium to high coverage, a dewy finish and brightens the complexion on its own. I ,however do mix a drop of oil free moisturiser and the foundation to apply quickly like a tinted moisturiser.
3.Lots of shades to choose from. Pester the SA to check all the suitable shades against your skin.
4.I bought it in winters but since summer is already here , i find i can use equally well on my combination skin in hot weather.
5.A great concealor  especially for small imperfections, here and there. Partially covers dark under eye circles !
6.Does not feel heavy on the face.It stays for 8-10 hours on the go and out in the sun too. I think its sweat proof.I have never experienced this with any other foundation till date !

Cons:
1.Blend ,blend and blend. The best way to apply , i find, is on moisturised face , one part at a time. With a wet sponge, it makes the application easier ! Overall,not really a breeze on the application part !
2.Gives a whitish cast ! However , all i do is pat a wet palm all over my face and it becomes natural finish ! This works with my Maybelline stick as well !
3.No spf ! Its a shame. But i work this one with my Fabindia's Oilfree spf 15.

Price: Rs 660

Verdict: My search for a good foundation below 600-700 continues.But i like this Panstik way better than my Invisible finish lakme foundation. If you are ok with blending part you might want to give this a try !