Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Cream Ex Review

As new research tells us that our skin needs moisture and hydration even if it is oily.Dehydrated skin is more prone to damage.When the skin gets dehydrated or distressed , it produces more sebum/oil and that can lead to clogged pores, skin irritation and acne.

So I have been on the lookout for products that provide moisture to my oily skin without making it greasy or causing break outs.

I seem to have found one in this highly acclaimed product - The Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Cream Extract .

About The Brand

Innisfree is a Korean Skin care brand , famous for using natural products in their skin care range.Their Super Volcanic Pore Clay mask and Green tea seed serum are world wide best sellers.

Price : Rs 1300/- for 50 ml .It comes in a lightweight but sturdy green plastic jar with a plastic twist around lid which is pretty air tight .

How to Use 

Use clean hands to take out a small amount of cream and apply on face and neck and massage gently in circular motions.In case you wish to layer it , better to use it after using the serum to seal in the moisture.

PROS of  Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Cream

1. Spreads easily and thinly 

2. No shine or greasiness ,even after 2 hours of application

3. Little product is enough to give good moisturization

4.Cruelty free 

5.Contains Green Tea extracts that help in toning and moisturising both 

6. Did not give me any acne or irritation
7. Suitable for oily skin and combination skin 

Cons of  of  Innisfree Green Tea Balancing Cream

1.Expensive 

2.It is not a drugstore brand , so you can get it only at the Innisfree outlets or online

3.It is just a moisturising cream, no added vitamins or sunscreen etc , not a multitasking product

FINAL VERDICT 

I have been using it for about a month now and it provides non sticky hydration to my oily skin, the effect lasts for 4-6 hours easily.I do not see any other major changes in my skin but my skin feels calmer and less irritated (I always get breakouts around this time of the year but this year so far so good ).

I rate it a 4/5 .

A good hydrating product for oily and combination skins ,though I do wish it could multitask as I hate layering on more products.

Restaurant Review - Plum by Bent Chair

Location - The Walk, Worldmark 2, Aerocity, New Delhi

This is hyped as the most instagrammable place in town,and I dare say it is true to some extent.
This fine dining place has a lush and vibrantly colourful feel to it like having arrived in  the Garden of Eden .

India's first true Retail Restaurant - Plum by Bent Chair

Plum by Bent Chair has a unique concept of being India's first true retail restaurant which means that everything on display is for sale from the plates and cutlery to the ornate chairs and chandeliers .You can experience them first hand as you dine and later if you want , you can shop the article that catches your eye.
As they say here - Eat,Indulge,Buy !

If you love the plush chair you are sitting on,
you could place an order and get it for your home

                                                   
The seating is luxurious !

Service is great.The servers are very helpful and have a fine knowledge of the dishes and ingredients and help you make good choices.

Food is one of the best , mostly South East Asian food is served with the exception of pizza and desserts.

Here is what we had :
                                 
                                                  

1.Elder flower and Blueberries Spritzer which is a gin based cocktail , it was fresh ,balanced and colourful just like the interiors.It was delicious as well as beautifully presented.
Full marks for that!

                                                  
                                                  

2. Cream cheese and truffle dumplings, the dumplings had cream cheese pate with truffle scented corn and celery . I could not taste much of truffle and celery but the pate was flawless.
                                               
3. Edamame and cream cheese pate - truffle infused potato flakes skin - crunchy carrot and corn , this was very creamy The creamy dim-sums ,left me wanting for something fresh and spicy and so I went for the small plates.

                                                   
4. Spiced Turnip cakes - The turnip cake had Cantonese spices, pepper, scallions and golden garlic that gave them a great flavour.

                                                  
5.Tofu Spicy Basil - This dish had crisp tofu with fried basil in a hot bird eye chili sauce. Quite Yumm !

                                                    
6. Nutella sushi , Sushi rice with a nutella filling and topping.It was nice but not my cup of tea, with the sticky creamy sweetness , I am all for desserts that have multiple dimensions to them in texture and taste .

                                                           

To sum it - Do visit once for the great food and unforgettable ambience and specially if you are looking for renovating your home or office with some quality and eye catchy pieces.Valet parking and separate smoking area are other pluses. 

Wine Review - Lindeman's Cawarra Chardonnay 2016

                                                  

I am back with another wine review and the object of my attention this time is an  Australian White Wine - The  Lindeman's Cawarra Chardonnay 2016.

                                                 

About the Brand 

Lindeman's Wines were established by another doctor and wine aficionado like me ( Ahem...)  Dr. Henry Lindeman of  England.He discovered wine making during his travels through Europe in 1830s. He later migrated to Australia and  started vine planting in the rich soils of Cawarra , Hunter Valley in 1843.  By the way Cawarra  means besides running water in the aboriginal tongue. Lindeman's wines earned a name for themselves when they received international acclaim for  their Linderman's Hunter River Burgundy Bin 3100 and  Linderman's Hunter River Burgundy Bin 3110 Chardonnay.

An Aerial View of the Linderman's Vineyards ( source- Lindemans.com)

Tasting Notes

Vintage - 2016
Alcohol - 13%
Style - Dry
Colour - A glorious golden yellow that was so captivating on first sight that I almost forgot to take down the notes and just wanted to keep sipping on !


                                                        


Nose - The nose opened with quite a bit of the rock melon, it also had strong tropical fruits dominated by yellow stone fruits, lot of peach and pineapple.

Palate - This wine had a medium body that made its presence felt like a dainty dancer,light on her feet and yet captivates you with her performance .Bold peach and golden apples in every sip with might be a hint of pineapple.

Medium acidity and a rather long rounded finish with negligible oaky notes.

Final Verdict 

The #Lindeman’s #Cawarra #Chardonnay is an easy going fruity, dry,white wine and would be just perfect for picnics !

Food Pairing - I found it a very versatile wine that as per the book goes well with  seafood, chicken, veal and pasta but I feel this would also go very well with most Indian dishes specially chicken and fish as long as they are not very sour or very spicy.

How Plastic Straws are killing marine animals and what are the alternatives

According to a study conducted by the  Plymouth University of  England, plastic pollution affects at least 700 marine species, while some estimates suggest that at least 100 million marine mammals  like Whales, Dolphins,Seals and Sea Lions are killed each year from plastic pollution.
Sea Turtles and Sea Birds are other species that are majorly affected by the plastic waste left on the beaches or disposed into our oceans.

Sea Turtles are the worst affected by Plastic Pollution of the Oceans

                                     

One might wonder how something as small as a plastic straw could end up causing so much havoc to the marine ecosystem.

HOW CAN A SMALL STRAW REALLY BE SUCH A VILLAIN ?

Plastic straws are single-use, lightweight, and made from Polypropylene, a material which cannot be easily recycled and is also degraded slowly.Plastic straws are preferred to be used only once before being discarded.
Plus, these plastic straws really are non-essential (we can drink soda without a straw -straight from the glass - right?). As a result, the negative environmental impact of plastic straws is much more disproportionate to its size given the sheer number of straws and the fact that they are difficult to get rid off .

WHAT ABOUT RECYCLING ?

Most plastic straws are too lightweight to make it through the mechanical recycling sorter. They drop through sorting screens and mix with other materials and are too small to separate, contaminating recycling loads or getting disposed as garbage.

EFFECT OF PLASTIC ON HUMANS AND MARINE FAUNA

                                                       

                                                    The carcass of a dead Albatross (Courtesy - Chris Jordan )

When plastic  makes its way into the ocean, instead of biodegrading or dissolving, it breaks down into tiny pieces known as 'micro-plastic' which poses great threats to marine life including fish.
                                                       
It is projected that by 2050, 99% of all sea bird species will have ingested plastic. Almost 50% of the these Sea Birds are likely to die once they ingest plastic. Unfortunately and alarmingly ,there already is evidence of micro-plastics in Shellfish, Sea salt and even  94% of U.S. tap water.

Scientists at the New Materials Institute ,University of Georgia  conducted a new study which discovered micro-plastics (particles that are smaller than dust or powdered sugar ) inside baby sea turtles. Of the turtles studies in this research, 100% were found to have eaten plastic.These baby sea turtles were likely to die due to ingested plastic.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES ?

Reusable Steel Straws can be a good alternative to plastic straws

 

SAY NO - Till the time we come up with the technology that can create a completely degradable plastic straw ,say  “No to PLASTIC straws"!
Every time you sit down in a restaurant , ask your server not to give you any plastic straws and also ask your kids to do the same.After all ,education about saving our planet has to start early and from with in our homes .

SWITCH - Make the switch to more Eco-friendly options like biodegradable bamboo straws and paper straws.This applies more to restaurants that serve drinks and beverages .

CARRY  - You can carry your own steel straw , a single person can use hundreds of plastic or paper straws in his lifetime.Why not switch to a steel straw that is easy to carry and clean and lasts a lifetime !

If you are convinced to get some steel straws for your family or your organisation then
Steel My Straws produces reusable straws made of high-grade, rounded stainless steel that last you a lifetime and help you commit to a #zerowaste lifestyle and a percentage of the proceeds from every SALE  will go for ocean conservation activities.

You can do your bit by visiting this link - Say No to Plastic Straws and Save the Oceans and ordering some reusable straws .

I am doing my bit by offering my readers a 10% discount on their order of reusable straws by using the coupon code ' PREETICHAUHAN ' when they visit the link and make a purchase.

The Ordinary -Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%

ABOUT THE BRAND - The Ordinary is a brand from DECIEM. DECIEM is an umbrella of brands focused on advanced functional beauty. The Ordinary is an evolving collection of treatments offering familiar, effective clinical technologies positioned to raise pricing and communication integrity in skincare.(taken from https://theordinary.com )

If you have dark spots, you should not ignore using Vitamin C 

                                    

IMPORTANCE OF VITAMIN C 

We all know the Vitamin C also known as Ascorbic Acid helps in repair and regeneration of tissues,it is necessary for a healthy immune response and also plays an  important part in the production of Neurotransmitters.
                                   

Image courtesy -Pexels.com

                                           

A deficiency of Vitamin C can cause Infections ,Scurvy (bleeding gum disease), dry brittle hair and unhealthy skin , general lethargy etc.

Vitamin C has shown great results on the skin when applied directly to the skin , improving brightness , fading marks , helping healing and improving wrinkles .

SOURCES OF VITAMIN C 

The best source of Vitamin C are Amla (Indian Gooseberry ),Guava, Kale,Coloured Peppers,Kiwi, Seabuck thorn, Kakadu plum and citrus fruits.

     

Image courtesy -Pexels.com

                                       

Image courtesy - Pexels.com

VITAMIN C IN SKINCARE PRODUCTS                                              

Because Vitamin C applied to the skin has shown a significant improvement in the appearance of dark spots, fading of dark spots , skin lightening , brightening and preventing wrinkles , it is widely being used in cosmetics and skin care  products .

Vitamin C for application is commercially available in the following preparations and since Vitamin C can cause skin irritation and is also not a very stable compound , you can choose according to your need and suitability.

This may sound very technical and even boring or useless but let me tell you that this information is going to be very handy if you wish to get the best results out of your Vitamin C serum and avoid any unpleasant sensation.

Vitamin C helps in fighting dark spots and preventing
wrinkles and regenerating tissues giving a youthful glow 

                                       

1. Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%

This format is a suspension of very fine L-Ascorbic Acid powder and, as such, provides the most direct exposure of extremely high concentrations of Vitamin C topically. With such format, there are 2 important things to consider: 1) A very strong tingling but non-irritating sensation is expected during the first 1-2 weeks of use until the skin's tolerance to such high exposure is elevated; 2) The powder exposure to the skin disallows the formula to feel like a serum, lotion or cream and each application requires a few seconds to feel absorbed by the skin. If desired, this formula can be diluted in a cream base per application to allow the skin to build tolerance over time.

This formula feels gritty on the skin for a few seconds.

2.Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone

This formulation comes in a suspension form but in light silicones base for a smooth, non-gritty skin finish. Despite the very light forms of silicone used, silicones do impair dermal exposure to Vitamin C slightly but the additional (30%) added helps in overcoming this drawback.

3. 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder

The format of this formula is a very fine, anhydrous, L-Ascorbic Acid powder and, as such, provides the most direct exposure of extremely high concentrations of Vitamin C topically. With such format, a very strong tingling but non-irritating sensation,

4. Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%

The Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% formula combines two of the most powerful brightening agents ,it can  feel slightly "oily" for a few seconds after application .

5. Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%

more stable in water but it is less potent than direct L-Ascorbic Acid. Being more compatible with water allows for a very pleasant serum texture. It is considered a gold standard of Vitamin C derivatives due to its high stability and comfortable use, but it's impossible to achieve extremely high L-Ascorbic Acid potency with this solution

6. Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%

This is a water-soluble derivative of Vitamin C, less potent than pure L-Ascorbic acid and it comes in a  light cream form that offers 10% pure MAP , it's brightening effect is more powerful than other Vitamin C derivatives. 

7. Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F

It is one of the most physically stable derivatives of Vitamin C but, being a derivative, it is not as potent as pure L-Ascorbic Acid. It comes in combination with Vitamin F a.k.a. essential fatty acids

8. Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution

This is a water free formulation that might feel slightly "oily" for a few seconds after application,so if you have dry skin or live in a dry climate , this might be a good choice.

                                           

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE ORDINARY VITAMIN C SUSPENSION 23% +HA SPHERES 2%

1.The Ordinary products are free of parabens ,sulphates, mineral oil, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, animal oils, coal tar dyes, formaldehyde, mercury, oxybenzone and cruelty free.

2. The product is much more cheaper  than what luxury brands charge for the same product.

3. I like how they educate the consumer about the composition of their products and help in making     an informed choice.

4.I could see a visible difference in my skin tone after two days itself ( nights actually since I only applied at bedtime ) and after about 15 days my friends  complimented me on my skin they noticed that the dark spots on my face were less visible and my skin looked more even toned.Tanning was much less visible and my skin looked bouncy and healthy.

5.My skin looked slightly less dry and dehydrated, less tired.

6. Plastic Tube packaging which is easy to squeeze out the product and sturdy and spill proof enough to carry in the bag.

This Vitamin C Suspension has tiny spheres

                                                            

WHAT I DISLIKED ABOUT THE ORDINARY VITAMIN C SUSPENSION 23% +HA SPHERES 2%

1. I wish it was cheaper 

2. It has small particles that feel slightly rough and also sting my skin for about 10 seconds , the stinging is mild though and I have sensitive skin so hopefully others may not even feel the irritation.

3. It is essential to use a high SPF ( about 30+)  sunscreen or sunblock when using this cream.

FINAL VERDICT 

I rate it a 5/5 💖

I am loving my skin😇 and loving this product !

Will I buy it again ? 

With the amount of compliments I have been getting lately Definitely !!

I am eager to know if you  have tried using Vitamin C serums or any such HG skin care products and if yes then share your experience here and let others know too!