My Skincare Routine with Deciem The Ordinary Products

July 25, 2018

So I’ve had made some changes to my skincare routine over the past few weeks and the only products that I am using now are from the brand Deciem. In case you’ve not heard of Deciem, it is a Toronto-based company with a rather unusual tagline – “The Abnormal Beauty Company“. Deciem has a number of brands under its umbrella but the one brand that is proving to be a game changer in the skincare arena is The Ordinary. Deciem The Ordinary provides a range of treatments centered around pure skin-friendly ingredients like vitamins, retinoids, acids, hydrators and oils and the best thing about the brand is the pocket-friendly prices. The packaging is also fuss-free and minimalist.

Deciem The Ordinary Skincare

Couple of months back when I was in London, I visited the Deciem store in Covent Garden and asked the SA to suggest some products. She checked my skin, asked about my skincare concerns and I said that I wanted products to get rid of pigmentation, brighten and even out the skin tone, prevent fine lines and aging and in general, improve the appearance and health of my skin. Since I have combination type sensitive skin, I did not want to try anything too harsh so she suggested the below products.

Please note that while all of Deciem The Ordinary products are safe and I’ve not experienced any adverse reaction on my skin, it is always best to consult the specialists before adopting a new skin care regime. I know it is tough when the products are not available in your country but do read up about the brand/products/ingredients before buying anything. Also, all of these clinical formulas make the skin very sensitive towards UV rays so it is absolutely a must to wear a sunscreen with a high SPF once you start using the products.

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Lakme 9to5 Naturale Foundation Drops – Review & Swatches

June 23, 2018

Lakme 9to5 Naturale Range was launched last month with the Aloe Aqua Gel, Finishing Powder and Matte Lipsticks. You can read more about them here. This month they have launched some new products in the range and one of them is the Lakme 9to5 Naturale Foundation Drops.

Lakme 9to5 Naturale Foundation Drops

Lakmé Naturale presents the first-of-its-kind bi-phase foundation, infused with aloe vera and green tea extracts. It helps fight city pollution while giving you a natural, dewy finish.Choose from 4 unique shades to create a flawless, city bright look that appears untouched by city pollution. Its lightweight, fluid texture provides buildable coverage with each additional drop. Antioxidants and SPF 30 PA++ help protect you from city pollution.

Review

I was quite excited for the launch of this foundation because I felt that it would be perfect for summer. I usually skip foundation in this heat but sometimes when I do apply, I always opt for one with a light texture and buildable coverage. The problem with this product is that it is available in only four shades. I have shade 03 Silky Golden which was sent to me by the brand and unfortunately, it is not a good match at all. I have read in other blogs that the darkest shade in the range is also light for majority of the bloggers. At a time when brands like Huda, Fenty etc are expanding their shade range to include different skin tones, an Indian brand not giving importance to darker skin tones is quite disappointing.

The colour does not suit my skin tone and to use it, I will have to mix a darker shade but I did try it out on its own to write the review.

The light weight , easy to blend formula with SPF 30 is definitely a plus. It has a runny consistency and sets on the skin immediately giving a semi-matte finish. The coverage is light to medium making it suitable for work and everyday use. All of these qualities make it a perfect summer foundation.

If you get a shade that matches your skin tone, I think you will like the natural finish that it gives. It lasts for about 4-5 hours on me without a primer.

In the picture below, I have used a dark shade of concealer to even out the skin tone.

At the price, I definitely think that the new Lakme 9to5 Naturale Foundation Drops is a decent buy. It is nothing extraordinary but if you are looking for an everyday foundation that is reasonably priced, you can try it out. If you get a shade that matches your complexion!

PR Sample

The Body Shop Roots of Strength Skincare Range – Review

June 23, 2018

The Body Shop Roots of Strength is the latest skincare range from the brand consisting of three products – Firming Shaping Essence Lotion, Firming Shaping Serum and Firming Shaping Cream. Formulated around the key ingredients of Madagascan ginger root, Chinese Ginseng Root, European Ruscus Root and Community Trade Soya oil from Brazil, the range is aimed at mature skin above 45. I asked my mum to try out the products and she has been doing so for nearly 2 months so it is a good time to write down the review. Please note that I have not tried the products and the below experience is my mum’s who is 60 years old.

The Body Shop Roots of Strength range

About The Body Shop Roots of Strength Range

The Chinese have been using roots to look after their skin for centuries. Like the natural roots used to boost immunity in Chinese medicine, Roots of Strength is infused with three powerful plant roots to help restore your skin’s strength and shape; ginger, ginseng and ruscus root.

Firming Shaping Essence Lotion (Rs 1595) – This refreshing daily essence lotion is an essential next step after cleansing to help prepare and activate your skin for the benefits of the routine. Combining the lightweight freshness of water with the comfort of a moisturising gel.

The Body Shop Roots of Strength Firming Shaping Essence

Firming Shaping Serum (Rs 2595) – This uplifting serum glides effortlessly onto skin. From your jawline to every contour, skin feels moisturised and looks smoother, plumper and firmer, as if strengthened.

Firming Shaping Cream (Rs 1795) – This silky cream is wonderfully rich yet non-greasy on application. With a fresh, spicy scent, the refreshing formula helps skin to appear firmer and plumper.

The Body Shop Roots of Strength Firming Shaping Serum & Cream

The Body Shop Roots of Strength Range Review

The below is written by my mum and edited by yours truly. .

Unlike all you younger girls, packaging of products don’t really bother me too much but all I can say is that the products in their red bottles and tub look very attractive. I have combination skin with an oily t-zone so I always use products that don’t add to the oiliness. I am glad that these products don’t.

The Body Shop Roots of Strength

The Firming Shaping Essence is the first step in the regime and I apply it after cleansing my face. It feels like water with a light herbal scent. The first thing I noticed after applying the essence was the slight tingling sensation. In fact, that is the case with all the products in the range. The sensation does not last long. During the day, I only apply this essence and it keeps my skin moisturized for a long time. At night, I follow it up with the rest of the products.

The Firming Shaping Serum is the next step and it is white in color and has a gel-like consistency. Even this gives a slight tingling sensation but I like that it feels weightless and absorbs into the skin very fast.

The Firming Shaping Cream is to be applied next and it is a rich cream in texture so I apply only at night. The good thing about the cream is that it does not make the skin greasy/oily. It moisturizes very well and makes the skin very smooth.

I have been using these products for nearly two months now and I have seen results. Even my friends have told me that my skin looks smoother and I have noticed some of the spots lightening. At the age of 60, I cannot expect the lines and wrinkles to go away but my skin’s texture and appearance have visibly improved. It feels firmer and well moisturized. I will recommend this range to all you mature skin beauties.

Here’s a before and after. Left is the before without a speck of makeup and right is where she has compact powder on.

The Body Shop Roots of Strength

PR Samples

Inside Chatsworth House – The Grand Home of The Dukes of Devonshire

June 22, 2018

It was back in February when I first got to know of Chatsworth House. I was watching a Netflix series on the Secrets of Royal Palaces and one of the episodes was on Chatsworth House, a grand estate, home to the Cavendish family since 1549. That episode really intrigued me. The history behind the house and its inhabitants, the opulence, all upped my interest level and I made it a point to visit the estate once I returned to the UK.

Chatsworth House

The opportunity came in April. I was going to Sheffield for two weeks and I got to know that Chatsworth was only a 40 minute bus ride away. And the best thing was that the House was now open to public. For nearly a decade, it was undergoing a restoration worth 32.7 million pounds with the aim of bringing the 500-year old House to its original glory and the doors opened again in March. It seemed as if the universe wanted me to visit. Plans were chalked out, bus tickets from Sheffield Interchange to Chatsworth House were bought and on a cold, Sunday morning, five of us set out to explore this stately home.

History of Chatsworth House

Chatsworth is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family. It was built by Sir William Cavendish and then passed down to his son William, who rebuilt Chatsworth over a period of twenty years. During the Georgian period, Chatsworth was owned by five different Dukes of Devonshire, all named William. The 5^th Duke William in 1774 married the vivacious and fashionable Lady Georgina Spencer (Lady Diana’s ancestor) and that’s when the story becomes interesting. Georgina after her marriage learned that her husband already had a mistress, Charlotte, with whom he had a daughter and all that he wanted from Georgina was a male heir. Possibly frustrated with her marital life, she threw herself into the world of extravagance, throwing lavish parties and gambling away her riches. The story gets even more interesting when she traveled with her husband to Bath in 1782 and met Lady Elizabeth Foster or Bess. The two ladies became great friends and Bess came to Chatsworth to live with them. Unfortunately, her husband and Bess started an affair soon and strangely, Georgina accepted the “menage a trois” that resulted. After Georgina’s death, William married Bess and she became the new Duchess of Devonshire.

Chatsworth House

Many books have been written on Georgina’s life and the various scandals at Chatsworth as well as movies have been made. A recent one is The Duchess starring Kiera Knightley which was actually shot at Chatsworth House. Watch it if you are interested 🙂

The Chatsworth Estate

The estate is huge and is the size of nearly 20 football fields as told by our guide inside the house. It is located in the Peak District which is one of the most beautiful and picturesque locations in the UK. The estate includes the House, Farmyard and Playground and a 105 acre Garden. The price for tickets to see all of these is 23 pounds for adults and 14.50 pounds for children. If you don’t want to see everything together, prices are slightly lower. We did not go to the playground and only bought tickets for the House and Garden which was 21 pounds. If you are taking a car, it is better to book tickets online from www.chatsworth.org else you will need to pay a charge for parking. We took a bus that dropped us off right in front of the gates so we just got our entry tickets from the counter.

Chatsworth Estate

Chatsworth House

The Chatsworth Garden

I have honestly never seen a garden this big and this beautiful! The history of the garden is also an illustrious one. It was first started in 1555, then restored around 1811 on a grand scale and then changed again around 1858.

Chatsworth House Gardens

Highlights of the Garden include beautiful green houses to grow exotic plants, Fountains, a Cascade, a Vinery, a Maze, a Kitchen Garden, Summer House, Golden Grove etc. I went at a time when everything was grey and dull and I can only imagine how spectacular the garden will look in full bloom.

The garden is huge and if you want to see everything, it will take you approx 2 hours to walk around. If you are lazy like I am, you can also book a buggy ride for about 5 pounds to take you around. The person who was driving my buggy gave me a valuable piece of information – Bollywood has also explored Chatsworth House. Some parts of the horrible film Humshakals was also shot there!

Chatsworth Gardens

Trivia – Around 1834, William, 6th Duke of Devonshire received a shipment of bananas from Mauritius. He liked them so much, he ordered his gardener to cultivate them in the greenhouses of Chatsworth House. And those bananas were names as Cavendish Bananas.

The House

At first glance, the House reminds you of The Palace of Versailles and I got to know that the French Palace was actually an inspiration to the Dukes when they were building and remodeling the house. Inside, the opulence and grandeur is breath taking. Have you seen the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice? Remember the scene when Elizabeth Bennet goes exploring in the sculpture gallery of Mr. Darcy’s house? Well that house in the film is Chatsworth House and that sculpture gallery very much exists.

Chatsworth House Sculpture Gallery

As soon as you enter the House, you realize that you are in the midst of some remarkable and precious works of art collected by the Cavendish family over generations. You get to see centuries-old sketches by the Great masters, ancient Egyptian statues, and luxurious interior decorations interspersed with contemporary art pieces especially that of ceramic, something that the current Duke of Devonshire is very interested in.

The Painted Hall is one of the most stunning rooms with a grand staircase leading to the first floor and balconies on both sides. The Painted hall is striking because of the murals painted on the ceilings.

Chatsworth House Painted Hall

Ascend the stairs and you come to the State Apartments. The first Duke hoped that King William II and Queen Mary would visit him in Chatsworth and the rooms as they were prepared for the royal couple are there for us to see. The King and Queen never came down but if they did, they would have definitely liked those rooms!

Rooms prepared for royalty

The House is full of Sketch Galleries and one of the rooms is full of art from Da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt and Guercino. One of the most striking pieces of art in the House for me was the Veiled Statue of the Vestal Virgin by Raffaele Monti.

A Veiled Vestal Virgin by Raffaelle Monti

In the South Sketch Gallery is a stunning portrait of Duchess Georgina made to look like Goddess Diana. Georgina was said to be very interested in collecting crystals, fossils and minerals and we can still see some of the pieces that she brought into the house.

Chatsworth House is not just a mecca for art enthusiasts but also for bibliophiles. There are nearly 30,000 books in the Library including some original manuscripts and works.

Inside Chatsworth House

There’s so much to see in Chatsworth that it is very difficult to condense everything in a blog post and I realize that I’ve already written a lot. It is a beautiful and fascinating place with a riveting history. If you are ever in the Derbyshire area, definitely make it a point to visit the estate. I am sure you will be as marveled by it as I was.

Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon : Walking in the Bard’s footsteps

June 21, 2018

“And now my dear, you will literally be walking in William Shakespeare’s footsteps”. That’s when it sunk in. I was in Stratford-upon-Avon and I was about to enter the house where the greatest English playwright was born in 1564 and spent his childhood years.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Visiting Stratford-upon-Avon

When I got to know that I’d be in Sheffield for two weeks in April, the first thing that I did was find out where I could go on the weekends. Everyone I knew said that there was nothing to see in Sheffield so I should make plans to visit some of the nearby places and one of the suggestions was Stratford-upon-Avon. I’ll write about the other two soon 🙂

William Shakespeare

Me and my colleague looked up Google, checked all information available, booked train tickets and tickets to see Shakespeare’s family homes and on a very cold, snowy Easter Monday morning, set out to discover the Bard’s birthplace.

How to Get To Stratford-Upon-Avon

Since we did not have a car, we took a train from Sheffield to Birmingham New Street railway station. Got down at the station and walked for about ten minutes to the Birmingham Moor Street railway station from where we took a London Midland train to Stratford-upon-Avon. There are a number of websites from where you can book train tickets for travelling within UK. We used the website Go Euro and paid around 35 pounds for the return tickets from Sheffield.

If you are travelling from London, the train ride is around 2 hours long and you will need to get down at Stratford railway station. If you want to fly down, the nearest airport is Birmingham and from there you can either take a train to Stratford or rent a car to drive down.

Travel tip – Don’t wait to buy train tickets two days before your travel because prices can be really high. It is always a good idea to book them atleast a couple of weeks before your trip. Make sure to compare prices between a few websites to get the best rates. Go Euro, The Train Line, My Train Ticket are some of the websites that you can check for tickets at reasonable rates.

Tour or no Tour?

If you are staying in Stratford-upon-Avon, it does not make sense to book a tour because the town is quite small and on a grid, so it is easy to walk around. If you are visiting for a day and have only a few hours to explore, it makes sense to book a hop on-hop-off bus tour from Viator for about 14 pounds (peak season will be more). We reached Stratford-upon-Avon around 11.30 in the morning and had about 6 hours till we boarded our train back to Sheffield in the evening. The bus tour therefore came in really handy because we saved time in getting from one place to another.

We booked the bus tickets online and once we reached the town, from the railway station we took a cab to go to the tourist office to board the bus. Like all hop on-hop off buses, this one was also an open top bus so the ride was a very enjoyable one. The bus drops you off at the major tourist spots and picks up at a designated time.

What to see?

Shakespeare’s Birthplace – No visit to Stratford-upon-Avon is complete without visiting the birth house of William Shakespeare. This is the house where Shakespeare was born, grew up and spent his childhood years. The house is located in the center of the town and is surrounded by shops, cafes and restaurants making it the most popular tourist spot. I went when the weather was really cold and there were hardly any tourists around but if you go during the peak season, make sure to reach early to avoid the queues.

Outside Shakespeare’s Birthplace

The visit starts at the Shakespeare Centre which houses an array of artifacts that date back to Shakespeare’s time including one of the three First Folios owned by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. There are only 230 First Folios that have survived to this day thus making the artifact extremely rare.

Shakespeare Centre

From the exhibition, you go into the main house. Inside, you’ll find guides in medieval costume either performing or talking about the history of the house. It is remarkable how well the house has been maintained and credit for that goes to The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. There are various pieces of furniture that belonged to Shakespeare’s time. You can see the room where he was born, the crib where he slept, the kitchens, the bedrooms, desks, chairs etc.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Inside Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Travel tip – If you are a Harry Potter fan or intrigued by the world of witches and wizards, definitely go to Magic Alley and The Creaky Cauldron, a shop selling magic wands, wizardry games, spells and butterbeer made from an old Tudor recipe. The shop is located next to Shakespeare’s Birthplace and is quite easy to find.

Butterbeer

Shakespeare’s New Place – New Place is said to be the site of Shakespeare’s last home and the place where he died in 1616. The house no longer exists as it was demolished by Francis Gastrell in 1759. The story goes that Gastrell who bought the house after the death of Shakespeare’s granddaughter, Elizabeth Hall got irritated by the influx of visitors and destroyed a mulberry tree in the garden said to have been planted by Shakespeare. In retaliation, the townsfolk destroyed New Place’s windows. Gastrell applied for local permission to extend the garden. His application was rejected and his tax was increased so Gastrell retaliated by demolishing the house in 1759. This greatly outraged the inhabitants and Gastrell was eventually forced to leave town. In fact even till this day, anyone with the surname Gastrell is not given permission to live in Stratford-upon-Avon!

Shakespeare’s New Place

New Place reopened in 2016 and features an exhibition center with rare artefacts relating to Shakespeare’s life, as well as a beautiful garden with commissioned artworks.

Shakespeare’s New Place

Guild Chapel – Standing across from New Place, Guild Chapel was built when in 1269 the Guild of the Holy Cross was given permission to build a hospital and chapel in Stratford-upon-Avon. In 1500, Hugh Clopton, Lord Mayor of London paid for the Chapel’s wall paintings. Conservators now believe that the Guild Chapel’s walls display one of the few surviving pre-Reformation medieval schemes painted at the same time, and painted as one piece.

Guild Chapel

Guild Chapel Wall Painting

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage – Located slightly outside the town, this 600 year old thatched roof cottage was the childhood home of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway. Inside, there are guides narrating the story of the Hathaway family, how Shakespeare met Anne, how he came to the house to ask for her hand from Anne’s father, the scandal their marriage caused etc. You can see many rare family items of furniture that date back to Anne’s time, including the finely carved, oak “Second Best Bed” that William left in his will for Anne.

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage Garden

Inside Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Why Second Best Bed? Because in those days, having a bed at home was a rarity and a symbol of wealth. People rarely slept on the Best Bed and it was more of a showpiece. The Second Best Bed was used by a couple and therefore to give that to Anne was an expression of William’s love and affection for her.

Mary Arden’s farm – Want to experience life in a Tudor farm? Then you’ll perhaps also like to visit Mary Arden’s Farm, which is the childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother and is also a working Tudor farm. I did not have the time to go in and only saw the farm from outside and it looked fascinating. If you are going with kids it will be a great experience for them because there are lots of farm animals inside and interesting activities.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre – If you are planning on staying overnight then you must definitely complete your Shakespeare experience with a show at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre. I missed out on the experience because I was there for only a few hours but if I ever go back, I’m definitely booking a ticket for myself.

River Avon – A walk along the river Avon or even a river cruise is a must do here. Before going back we spent some time walking along the riverside, gazing at the beautiful swans, clicking pictures and also enjoying a snack of crepes and strawberries. The peaceful atmosphere and the beauty of the place is soul soothing!

River Avon, Stratford-upon-Avon

Bank of River Avon

Useful Resources

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Viator Sightseeing Stratford-upon-Avon Hop=on Hop-off Tour

Royal Shakespeare Company

I hope this guide was useful and you enjoyed reading about my travel story. If you have been to Stratford-upon-Avon, I would love to know your experience and your stories. Do share in the comments below.

The Tempest

Pics – Niladri Chakraborty