Cleansing Must-Have: The Clarisonic

Do you need a Clarisonic? Yes. Every girl must own a Clarisonic. Period.

I have had mine for about 4 years now. Still as shiny as I first bought it, the robust machine still gently whirs into action, ‘300 movements per second’ cleaning the dirt and grime from my face, one pore at a time. Yes, I admit, it broke my bank at that time but it was madness! Everyone was raving about it and I had to have it. So, a few skipped meals, some heart-breaking window shopping and I made my peace with it in a few months.

Now ladies, it wasn’t a whim. I spend hours researching any and every product that I purchase. This was no different. Almost all reviews were positive, if not profusely glowing. There were a few negative comments but they didn’t faze me. These mostly dangled $10 brushes and claimed they did the exact same thing as the Clarisonic. Blashpemy!

I had to test it out. I bought one of those. Just to put that one nagging suspicion at the corner of my mind to rest. Rest assured, my purchase withstood those claims. My bank heaved a sigh of relief and I stuck my tongue out at those nasty comments.

Anyways, let me list out some of the wonderful things about Clare (Is it so bad that I named mine?)

• It is water-proof, so I don’t need an extra step in the cleansing routine. Just pop it in with me while I shower.
• It comes with the option of different brush heads to suit your skin type. I use the sensitive brush head. Guess what, its mild enough for daily use!
• The beeps tell you when to move to a different part of the face. (That really helps when you’re in the shower and out of the blue! George Clooney pops into your head)
• The black heads are gone. Poof!
• A much more even skin tone, not an airbrushed effect per se, but definitely a marked improvement from the previously bumpy skin.
• The Clarisonic goes deep into the pores and pulls out hidden debris. This means, lesser breakouts.
• The pores around my nose are like craters. Ok, slight exaggeration but you get the idea. Regular use of the Clarisonic has greatly diminished the size of the pores.
• It sloughs off the dead skin. Those expensive night creams finally get a chance to absorb into the skin & work their magic.

I use mine with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. It is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free. I have found the combination of the two almost like Thelma & Louise.

And if the going is good ladies, then, as Thelma said “Let’s keep going”.

Love!

The Beauty Elixir

Hello sweethearts!

So, I racked my brains hard, in between re-runs of Will & Grace, and then some music (Yes! I am one of those who looks for meanings in Hip Hop songs) and wondered what my first entry should be. And voila! There it was, as I made a mental note of my groceries.

Lemons!

Yes. The holiest of my grails.

A glass of warm lemon water to kick-start my day. In fact, there have been very few instances in my life when I may have missed this superlative morning drink. Cheap, quick and easy peasy. As much as I’d love to take credit for this life-forming habit, it is my mother who gently coaxed me into it during my pre-pubescent years, at a time when I was willing to try anything for the mega zits exploding on my face. School, college, boyfriends, clothes, they’ve all come and gone but this elixir has stayed. That’s the power of it.

Now let me break down the science of it all. Or whatever I know of it. Lemon is one of the most easily available and most popular citrus fruit worldwide and not without merit. It is 5-6% citric acid, which gives it that yum! sour taste I adore. It is packed with nutrients like Vitamin C (strengthens the immune system), flavonoids (composites that contain anti-oxidants and cancer fighting properties), magnesium, potassium, Vitamin B6, calcium, pectin fibre and iron.

Whoa! That’s a powerhouse of goodness in a cute bright yellow packaging. Who would have thought?!

So here is what Lemons bring to the table for me every morning.

Warm filtered water, the juice of two lemons, a spoonful of honey and a dash of cinnamon powder. That’s the elixir, this post is all about. I have two glasses of this every morning without fail. I may have gone without breakfast in a rush (guilty of hitting the snooze button a few times and hence late for work) but never without this.

This drink helps maintain the natural pH balance in the body, aids digestion and flushes out the toxins and purifies the blood.

Cinnamon powder is a recent addition actually. In my research I’ve found that’s its antibiotic properties are a formidable remedy against cold and cough, helps beat acne, aids weight loss, promotes digestion and prevents tooth decay among an impressive array of other benefits. Hit up Google to read about all the health benefits of cinnamon.

A word of caution though. Most experts agree that you should not consume more than between two and five grams of cinnamon each day. This is due to its content of Coumarin, a substance that may be toxic when consumed in high dosages. 

Bonus:

These suckers are tough little acne and blackhead fighters. Lemon’s anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties are a natural alternative to treat acne. Just slice one open and rub it gently on those zits. Don’t get over zealous with the rubbing; it may cause irritation and redness.  Trust me, I know. Now years later, I am zit free but I still use them to lighten acne marks. Remember the 5-6% citric acid? That’s what works its magic on fading those tough spots. I’ve never gone out of my way to do this. Every once in a while, after I’ve squeezed the life out of them , I rub the peel on my face and let it dry. Then shower. It’s just that simple.

And ever so often, at the right time with the right company, I bring out the salt and tequila and put these bad boys to test after a bloody good shot. Hear, hear!

Love!