Herbivore Botanicals-Blue Tansy AHA + BHA Resurfacing Clarity Mask : Product review

After a long break from my blog,  I am back, well only to go missing for days again;-)

Thanks to everyone who checked on me via email or instagram. It means a lot.

In the last few months, I was pushing too hard to finish my PhD submission and on top of that was struggling with some health issues. Being predominantly a skincare blogger, I could not justify reviewing products when my skin was in utmost intolerant condition. In fact I had stopped using my skincare products because I know I was simply flushing them down the sink.  Lesson learnt: No amount of good products can fight bad skin if the liver is not functioning well.

I sincerely value my integrity and honesty as a blogger, and although I purchased some amazingly reviewed products in the last few months, I could not see any results on me. My endoscopy results made me understand why. So to avoid any bias whatsoever, I will review them once the skin goes back to normal.

But today, an almost empty jar of mask caught my eye and I realized that I had used this one product in April or May and I could already see the results. I just could not review it then, so it is worth sharing on the blog now.

I am sure many of you must have heard of this blue tansy mask from Herbivore Botanicals.

 The product website claims that – “Blue Tansy AHA + BHA Resurfacing Clarity Mask is a truly natural clarifying and cooling gel mask that gently exfoliates, smooths, and resurfaces skin “

What I absolutely love about the Herbivore Botanicals is that they are one of the ethical and natural brands. The website claims that “Everything we create contains the finest all-natural ingredients, with an emphasis on ingredients that are plant-based, organic, and food-grade. Each ingredient is included for a therapeutic reason. No animal testing is conducted on our products or ingredients. All of our oils are cold-pressed or steam distilled. These are the best extraction methods available and lead to premium quality oils. All products are made in small batches in the USA.”

Below is the list of key ingredients from the website:

White Willow Bark: A natural beta hydroxy (BHA), it is high in salicylic acid which works by gently shedding the top layer of skin in order to decongest and unclog pores.

Fruit Enzymes: Natural alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), including papaya and pineapple, work to gently exfoliate and rid skin of dead cells to leave the complexion smoother, softer, and fresher.

Blue Tansy Oil: Naturally high in Azulene, which in addition to giving the oil its beautiful blue color works as a powerful anti-inflammatory to reduce redness and soothe irritated skin.

Aloe Leaf: Naturally contains salicylic acid and works to gently unclog pores and soothe the complexion.

Full list of ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Leaf Juice, Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose (Plant Derived), Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Tanacetum Annuum (Blue Tansy) Flower Oil, Ananas Sativus (Organic Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya (Organic Papaya) Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya (Organic Papaya) Leaf Extract, Jasminum Sambac (Jasmine) Flower Oil, Leucidal (Radish Root ferment)

My experience with it: (The image below is taken from the website of Herbivore Botanicals)

I purchased mine from Niche-Beauty. Its a luxury beauty online shop here in Germany. I usually love their service. This time however, I found that the cap of the jar was cracked and the jar was not sealed. Thankfully, the mask was not all over the place.

It is a blue-green colored mask as seen in the jar, but once applied on the face, it is clear.

I followed the instruction to use this mask, which is to apply a thin layer on to your clean skin for the first five days, and then 2-3 times in a week.

Everytime I did feel the mild tingling, which is normal as it works to gently exfoliate and resurface the skin. I always left it for 20-30 minutes and washed- off with warm water. If you have sensitive skin, they say leave  it on for 5 minutes and rinse with warm water.

My verdict: 4/5

What I liked: It does clean the face like nobody’s business. My skin definitely became visibly clear, especially with over the time use. It also has a cooling effect.  So I would say it does what it claims. It comes with a nice sturdy spatula, and one must stir the mask in the jar as some of the ingredients bring its tendency to settle down at the bottom.

The Mask is 48 Euro for 2.3 o.z or 70 ml; considering the green label on the brand and price per ml of the mask, I did not mind the price on this cult product. But I must mention that I do not spend money in spa services and facials in salon. So for me personally, it is worth it.

What I don’t like: The fragrance. People say it does smell exactly like Blue tansy flowers. I have never sniffed on the flowers but for me this fragrance is not a pleasant one. It is  like the-clothes-in-your-laundry-bag-that-have-gone-damp, but worse.  I felt that the fragrance lingers on till the time mask is on the face. It does go away after the wash. Well coming to that, what I absolutely dislike about this mask is that it feels very slimy when you are trying to wash it off. And it doesn’t wash off as easily as you would like. I know that once you are finally able to rinse it off, your face feels clean and looks clear. But the effort is a bit too much for my liking.

Will I repurchase it? I may repurchase it. But I am not hoarding another jar just in case the world comes to an end or simply runs out of this mask.

In short I like the effects of the mask, I am just not a fan of the experience of putting it on my face.  This can very well be a personal thing , so I would still suggest if you are looking for a resurfacing mask which is mild and effective, go for it. No matter how much you may dislike the fragrance and slimy feel while rinsing it off, you will get a clear skin 🙂

Once my skin is back to normal, I will be reviewing other “cult” masks, which are just sitting on my bathroom cabinet. Fingers crossed 🙂

Stay happy and healthy.

xoxo

Saabri

“Designing for the future: trends we need to consider now” – Annual Blogging Contest

This blog post is a part of Design Blogger Competition organized by CGTrader

Fashion is an art and we- people of the society, are its canvas. Like any art form, fashion has its connoisseur but the beauty of fashion lies in its appeal to the masses. Fashion knows no borders, and defines every generation in a unique sense.

Fashion has its own soul and it evolves with the changing need of the society. As a race, humankind is sitting on the pinnacle of globalization, technological breakthroughs, consumerism, wanting for more.  Fashion, in particular has always been linked with hedonism, the school of thought that allows for creating unprecedented need to derive pleasure in life , but sadly, this pleasure may come at a certain cost. We have now started to recognize that  the resources our nature provides us, do not replenish themselves at the same pace as we are depleting them. Every now and then we read about the ugly business of fashion which involves polluting the rivers, salvery, and many other ethical issues.

The impact of fashion industry on our environment and society is huge and it is absolutely necessary that the trends for the future design should be dictated by ethical and eco-hedonism. The concept of  “sustainability” is seemingly well placed in many industries. However, Fashion industry really needs to catch up. The good news is that approaching fashion from a sustainable point of view is no longer an alien concept. There are many small brands that have taken the path of ethical and conscious designs. The bad news is “fast fashion” still rules the majority of masses.

I personally believe, the trend  we need to consider in terms of designing the future, are  minimalism and sustainability . I also believe that minimalism is a life philosophy and not an easy trend to catch on, and that is why we need even more fashion brands to produce clothings and accessories that have lower impact on the environment.

Currently, sustainable fashion is only for the few intellectual elites. They are good people who care for the world but they can also afford such fashion. The future trend should be making sustainable fashion accessible to the masses. This can only be done if prices are affordable and this will only happen when more and more fashion brands adopt the eco-hedonistic school of thought.  It is all about recognizing the need and filling the gap.

As a fashion enthusiast and consumer, I promise shopping feels so much worthwhile if I know my money is not turning into blood money and that through my humble purchase I am contributing to making the environment better. Fashion businesses must make use of this feel-good emotion of the consumer by allowing them with more ethical fashion choices which are also affordable to buy.

Facial Mists: How I use them

Facial mists are relatively new in my life, and I can tell you that they are here to stay.

Just like cleansing oils, I feel facial mists have become popular only very recently in the beauty world. There are so many kinds of mists available in the market and up until recently, I did not see a point spending a lot of money on face mist. I was happy with my regular toners but soon enough time came when I could not resist anymore and jumped on the facial mist obsession bandwagon.

Lip care in Summer: My routine and products

The only lipcare I knew for almost all my adult life was using petroleum jelly during the wintertime. But as I got more interested in wearing lipsticks, I realized that my lips do need some TLC afterall. So, today I want to share with you my lip care routine or generally speaking, what I do for keeeing my lips hydrated  and smooth not just in wintertime but all through the summer and transition season.

1. Exfoliate: Just like other parts of the skin, lips also accumulate dead cells and exfoliation is the best way to get rid of them for smoother lips. I use the “Mint Julips”  scrub from Lush cosmetics, which is simply a mix of mint and sugar granules but works wonders. It is a staple for me throughout the year. Mixing olive oil into sugar can also provide some very good exfoliation.

First-aid Beauty (FAB) Facial Radiance Overnight Mask: Product review

Hey all,

I am sure you all will agree,  night time skincare routine is so much fun and effective. Good night sleep, itself is a great booster but combined with overnight skincare really helps our skin to rejuvenate and prep for fighting against the environmental factors that constantly work against our skin.

Overnight masks are for sure fun to add in the skincare routine but it is really essential to seal it or any night serum with a good sleeping moisturizer /cream.  Talking about which, do visit my dear blogger friends from Chai and Lipstick as they are reviewing a great overnight cream option on their blog today. I always find their reviews super helpful.

What it is to live with Hashimoto’s disease?

Today’s post has nothing to do with skincare or make-up or fashion. It’s all about sharing my story living with Hashimoto’s disease. It is one of the most misdiagnosed diseases and like many other people I also spent several emergeny  and regular visits to the hospital and after months and months of suffering, I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

My favorite “under-eye highlighting” products : Mini reviews on products from NARS, Benefit Cosmetics, Bourjois and YSL

It’s so good to be posting on the blog today after a short break. Blogging is my hobby and sad truth is sometimes hobbies have to take back seat. Anyway, today I want to share my love for under-eye highlighters. Who knew making those triangles under your eyes will become the key step in getting that perfect, flawless make-up look ! huh!

Lush Herbalism Face and Body Cleanser : Product review

It is only very recently, I started counting facial cleansers as skincare products. Call it a boom in skincare consumerism or power of marketing gimmicks, cleansers have now become the starting point from where skincare really starts.  It seems, almost  every week, there is a new kind and category of cleanser introduced by plethora of brands.

I remember the very first cleanser that earned respect from me was from Cetaphil. I loved it, and could see what difference it made to my acne-prone skin. But I always thought it is a medicinal kind of product, no glamour attached to it whatsoever.

L’occitane Immortelle Brightening Essence Review

Hey all! If you have been reading my blogposts, you know how strongly I feel about investing in good face serums. They really go beyond any creams , oils, and moisturizers.

Today I am sharing with you my story and experience with a  L’occitane product that is called an essence but has serum-like consistency. It’s from their Immortelle range -the brightening essence.

Two Blog Awards and random facts about me: Let’s chat

Hey friends,

I am so excited to write this post on two awards that I have been nominated for , by two most amazing bloggers Himanshi and Laura.

Everytime I receive these heartwarming nominations, I get super excited. This time these awards are very special because they are giving me a chance to open up with you all for the first time. Usually, I keep my posts specific to the reviews etc but it’s very rare for me to share a very personal side of me. So let’s get started:

The first award is ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD  and I am nominated by Himanshi. It is only a few months ago I came across her amazing blog. She has impressed me big time. I find her a very perceptive and intelligent person, who knows her way with words. She is an amazing writer, I love reading poems from her. I would love for anyone and everyone reading this blogpost to go visit her blog, you will be as impressed as I am with her blog.

Rules:

1. Thank the one who nominated you.
2. Post about the award.
3. Share 7-15 facts about yourself.
4. Nominate others and let them know. 

OK so now that I have ticked on the first two rules, its time to fill you in with a few facts about me.