Beauty and Personal Grooming

If you've seen ads claiming pinhole glasses can cure myopia naturally, you're probably wondering if they actually work. After weeks of skeptical research and personal testing, here's my honest experience with these controversial eyewear alternatives. My Journey to Discovering Pinhole Glasses Many years ago, I used to read the blogs of a conspiracy theorist who churned out batshit-crazy essays fueled by his wild imagination. I didn't believe everything he wrote, but his bizarre, hallucinatory takes on just about anything under the sun made for entertaining reading. In one of his posts, he praised pinhole glasses, claiming they could cure myopia, presbyopia, hyperopia, and just about every other vision problem. At the time, I was intrigued but didn't take it seriously—until years later, when I saw multiple infomercials and YouTube videos making the same grand claims about these "miracle" glasses. As someone who wears glasses for myopia, I decided to try pin...

After a severe bout of neck pain hit me hard, I began my search for the perfect neck pillow to improve my sleep. As someone who has struggled with cervical discomfort, I knew that proper neck alignment was key to recovery. Having previously shared my recovery journey—including stretches, posture fixes, and lifestyle changes—in How I Recovered from Sudden, Agonizing Neck Pain , I hoped a specialized pillow would be the final step toward lasting relief. The Temporary Fix: A Folded Bedsheet Initially, I swapped my regular pillow for a folded thick bedsheet. While not a long-term solution, this DIY hack brought gradual improvement and underscored the importance of proper neck alignment. However, lingering discomfort pushed me to invest in an ergonomic neck pillow—a decision I now regret. Buying a Neck Pillow? Here’s Why You Should Think Twice The ₹649 neck pillow I purchased on Amazon (now discontinued, but similar models exist) failed miserably. Marketed as a memory foam solution with a...

So I had already used the earlier version of Patanjali Saundarya Face Wash . I meant this one . It was so-so, nothing exceptional! But the one I’m reviewing is a new one, Patanjali Saundarya Face Wash with the goodness of Pearl and Vitamin B3 . It’s supposed to be used for normal to oily skin and not suitable for dry skin. At least, that’s what is written on the tube.

I had totally forgotten about this once famous brand of soap “ Moti Luxury Bath Soap ”. Yes, it’s the same Moti soap,  commonly known as Diwali soap! A commercial that appeared in the 90s decade had popularized it. See here . This long forgotten soap, also associated with ubtan came to my notice once again when I had attended a Goan Hindu Saraswat wedding! Yes, you heard it right!

Before I proceed to do a review of Pankajakasthuri Kasthuri herbal soap , let me tell you how I came to purchase this soap. 

The summer heat, this time took a toll on my skin in the form of prickly heat. So I had to turn to one of the oldest, trusted & well-known prickly heat powders around for a long time - Nycil. Yes, today I'm going to review Nycil Prickly Heat Powder , its herbal variant, in fact known by the name Nycil Cool Herbal  Powder !

I had purchased this Dressing Accessories Organizer way back in May 2016 as I was in dire need of organizing my things which used to lay scattered on my dressing table. After browsing Amazon for several such organizers, I zeroed in on this particular one as I liked its bright red color and also the cute cartoon patchwork at the top.

2 months ago, I happened to notice Gandhaali Foot Scrub Soap at a departmental store and after reading from its cover that it's a soap meant exclusively for the feet, I immediately purchased it. I especially needed a foot scrub soap to keep my feet clean in the rainy season. In the monsoons, as you all know it is a herculean task wading through muddy waters and puddles, especially in India. Also there's a high risk of contracting a fungal infection as well as other skin infections if you neglect foot hygiene. So it's highly necessary to wash, clean and scrub your feet thoroughly after you come home from outdoors. (Read Pamper your feet & Pedicure at home - easy steps )

Over time, your teeth are going to stain. It is inevitable and natural, although certain things contribute more to staining that others. Fortunately, there are effective toothpastes available to whiten your teeth, and they are not just gimmicks. The five toothpastes below have similarities and stark differences, and they are pretty much guaranteed to whiten your teeth.

Most married Hindu women follow this custom of wearing the sindoor in their hair parting. (Do read the article " Hair Parting in beauty culture ".) In the South Indian community that I belong to, this isn't really a compulsory ritual. And as such I do not wear sindoor on a daily basis, nor have I tried different brands of sindoor, either in powder form or in liquid form. I just happened to visit a Patanjali store to buy some of their products like their aloe vera juice and aloe gel which are really good and chanced upon this Patanjali Herbal Suhag Teeka and bought it on an impulse.

Aloevera - the list of health and beauty benefits of this herb are endless. Instead of mentioning  it all over again, I would like to point you out to the post Aloevera- The wonder herb which  has an extensive list of its multifarious uses. Long time back, I purchased Patanjali Aloevera Gel / Baba Ramdev Aloevera Gel from a Patanjali outlet and this review was long overdue. I've been using this gel since last one year. Yes it lasted me that long! As you can see, it comes in a sturdy tube with a flip cap. When you squeeze out the gel from the tube, you can see that it's greenish in color. When you apply it to your skin, it feels sticky at first but gets absorbed into it easily when you gently rub it in.

Today I'm going to review Shahnaz Husain Hair Touch Up . In fact, it's a review from my mom.  Hair root touch up products are a boon as they help cover those pesky greys that start sprouting in almost a week's time after you have colored or dyed your hair.

I haven't come across rave reviews of Shahnaz Husain's products , but nevertheless I purchased this Apricot face wash scrub . I'd say that the name 'face wash scrub', rather spurred me to give it a try. After all, if a face wash costing just 45 bucks can work as a scrub too, it's good value for money, the cheapskate in me thought. Now whether my assessment was right or wrong, you can only find out by reading further ...

I've used both Pears Original Transparent soap and Pears Oil Control Soaps . While Pears Original Transparent soap with glycerine is specially for those with dry to normal skin, I have found it great for winters. On the other hand, Pears Oil control Soap is specially formulated for oily skins and does its job exceedingly well, not to mention the sweet lingering fragrance that it leaves behind. So when I happened to spot Pears Oil Clear Cleansing Face Wash with lemon flower extracts at a shopping mall, I knew I had to buy it.

Sometime back, on an impulse, I had picked up Sunsilk thick & long shampoo as well as conditioner. It was the older variant, not the new Sunsilk lusciously thick & long, specially formulated for Sunsilk by seven internationally renowned hair experts Rita Hazan, Yuko Yamashita, Jamal Hammadi, Dr. Francesca Fusco, Tom Taw, Ouidad, and Teddy Charles.

I don't have puffy eyes , but of late, I noticed that there is a significant discoloration of  skin under my eyes --   I would hate to use the word dark circles , but I have to admit that the discoloration is quite prominent. So while on the quest for a suitable under eye cream, I came across  Biotique's Bio-Almond -- an almond undereye cream that is supposed to brighten under eye area and eliminate puffiness. Biotique Almond Under Eye Cream For Dark Circles & Puffiness 16 g

I’ve never had an obsession for fair complexion but as my skin tends to become dull and lifeless at the end of the day, I went ahead and purchased Garnier Skin Naturals Light Fairness Face Wash . How it works? Enriched with exfoliating pure lemon essence, its formula cleanses and clarifies the skin thoroughly and removes impurities that make skin dull. How to use? With moist hands, work a small amount of product into a lather and apply to face. Gently massage onto moist skin with fingertips. Rinse thoroughly. My review: It’s creamy and has a nice fragrance. Just a little of it goes a long way. It doesn’t work up too much lather. After washing, the face feels radiant and bright and it doesn’t dry the skin. For Rs 65, it’s good value for money. I would love to buy it again and again.

I have used quite a few Dove products ( Dove Beauty Bar Pink/Rosa & Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash ) before and really liked them. Currently I am using their Hair Fall Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner. Will post a review on that soon. So when 3 bottles of Dove Body Wash with NutriumMoisture™ – Deep Moisture, Sensitive Skin, and Gentle Exfoliating arrived at my doorstep all the way from US, I was thrilled.(The folks from Dove sent it.) It was all the more exciting for me as I was getting a chance to try a product that has won one of Allure magazine’s 2009 Best of Beauty Breakthrough awards . How it works: All regular body washes cause skin damage as they actually damage proteins and lipids in the skin’s outer layer (called the stratum corneum) during the cleansing process, which leads to critical moisture loss. Even the heavy moisturizers that are often added to compensate for this loss just tend to sit on the surface of the skin without getting fully a...

Sometime back, Maybelline , New York introduced a new Whitestay UV compact with SPF 18 in India . It comes in five amazing shades – White Ivory, Light Ivory, Natural, Nude and fawn – to suit the variety of Indian skin tones. The compact also has vitamin C which supposedly brightens the skin tone instantly to give visible fairness all day long. The composition is also supposed to keep the oil away from your face leaving it fresh for the day.

I recently purchased Nature’s Essence Purifying Neem & Aloevera Face Wash and have been using it since last week. The Details: Ingredients: A soap free formulation, the chief ingredients in it are, Aloevera, Neem and turmeric . Neem is a known source for eliminating problem-inducing bacteria, Aloevera is an excellent moisture balance maintainer and Turmeric with its anti-bacterial properties keeps pimples at bay. What it claims: Prevents acne and pimples and deep cleanses all impurities from the pores. Everyday use advised for clear acne/pimple free skin with dew like freshness and softness. Suitable for all skin types. Usage: Moisten face, apply few drops of the face wash and work up lather with a circular motion. Wash off and pat dry. Use twice a day and follow it up with a lotion. My experience: It’s a nice one, not at all harsh but very gentle on my skin. I felt that it’s almost similar to Himalaya Neem Face Wash , but this one is more hydrating. It doe...