Summer Essentials - Himalaya Herbals Aloe and Cucumber Body Lotion

Aloe and Cucumber themselves sound very comforting in the summers, don't they ? Himalaya Herbals' Aloe and Cucumber body lotion brings the combo in your body lotion. 

Himalaya Herbals Aloe and Cucumber Refreshing Body Lotion

Himalaya’s Aloe & Cucumber Refreshing Body Lotion is a light and cool body lotion that hydrates and refreshes your skin without leaving it sticky. The lotion gets absorbed fast and leaves the skin rehydrated. Aloe and Cucumber being the primary ingredients, they provide a cooling effect the moment you apply the lotion.

I have tried applying the lotion after my bath and at night before bedtime. I love applying lotions which have a nice fragrance. This lotion has the fresh smell of cucumbers and it gives me a fesh feeling everytime I apply it. The consistency is slightly runny but thankfully does not contribute to the greasy feel that alreay gets quite bad during the day, thanks to Kolkata summers.

However,the lotion does not last long on my dry skin.It gives me hydration for around 4-5 hours and I need to reapply it once during the day. But it might work fine for those with normal or combination skin. 

The lotion comes in the signature Himalaya packaging and is good for travel. The flip lock cap fits well and there is no leakage. 

Lets look at the pros and cons of the product:

Pros: 

• The combination of Aloe and cucumbers, give a refreshing feel to the skin
• The lotion provides instant hydration and lasts for about 4-5 hours on dry skin
• The fragrance is very refreshing
• Its texture is perfect for the summers

Cons:

• No SPF in the body lotion meant specifically for the summers is a huge miss. This would have made the product an abosulte winner
• I just wish the hydration lasted a few hours more on my skin

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Disclaimer: PR sample, honest review

The Yellow Straw - Kolkata 1st Juice Bar Chain

Ever since I came to Kolkata, I realized there are hardly any options for people on the move looking for a refreshing drink. Barring some specific areas like Camac Street and College Street, you do not find any decent road side juice shop as well :(

The Yellow Straw - Kolkata's 1st Juice Bar

Therefore, when I heard about The Yellow Straw, Kolkata's first juice bar chain, I was excited to try out their offerings. Due to hectic work schedules, I could not find time to visit the place. But thankfully I managed to visit the place recently. It perfectly fits the Summer Essentials series I am currently running on my blog :)

Conceptualized by Piyush and Vikram, The Yellow Straw is a unique concept in Kolkata. Their juices are cold pressed and they keep the pulp intact. Hence, the juices are filling with no use of water in them. They have two outlets in Dalhousie and several smaller stalls/carts in Ecospace, RDB,Tolly Club etc. You can easily spot them in several important fairs and exhibitions of Kolkata as well.

The outlet is peppy and is done up in yellow with fun posters. While you wait for your juice to arrive, you can keep yourself busy with the numerous games they have.

When I was asked to order, I asked Piyush for recommendations. When he heard that I like spicy food, he suggested the perfect thing for me - their Chilli Phataka Straw. Oh, what a delight that is ! A mixture of kiwi, pineapple and green chilly, this gives your taste buds the required punch. One glass of the juice was close to a satisfying meal and so healthy ! 

Chilli Phataka Straw

They have several others including Healthy Straw, Skin Glow Straw, Yummy Tummy Straw to name a few. And the best part is the fact that they don't cost a bomb :)




Next we tasted the Melody Melon Straw, a blend of watermelon and muskmelon. This is one of the new items on their menu, especially for the summers. A perfect drink to rejuvenate and relax, this was just what we needed to beat the heat outside.

Melody Melon Straw

Some of the other new launches on their menu are:

1. Heart Beet Straw (Tomato, Beet, Carrot, Ginger, Lemon)
2. Rejuvenator Straw (Apple, Pineapple, Lemon)
3. Citrus Granate (Sweet Lime/Orange, Pomegranate)
4. TYS Special Straw (Strawberry, Grapes, Watermelon, Pineapple)
5. Melody Melon Straw (Watermelon, Musk Melon)
6. Banana Melody Shake (Banana, Musk Melon)
7. Fruit Salads
8. Fruitzee Sundae
9. Kiwi Granate Straw (Kiwi, Pomegranate)

It is interesting to know how they have turned the most boring vegetables and fruits into refreshing drinks. If you cringe while having your daily dose of veggies, try having it here in your juice at The Yellow Straw.

They also have snacks and yummy desserts to satisfy your hunger pangs and sweet cravings. Their mango sundae is quite popular among their regular visitors. I missed out on the dessert this time as I was already full post the juices and the cheese chilli toast. However, It tops my 'must try' list next time I am there :)

Cheese Chilli Toast at The Yellow Straw

If you have visited the place, please share your thoughts. If you haven't been to this place, do check it out and share your reviews.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Gradation - Review and Swatch

Maybelline ColorSensational Lip Gradation Review & Swatches

Maybelline India has been on a roll. They have added some amazing products to their portfolio - the boldest kajal, the Fit Me range and the best of the lot is the Color Sensation Lip Gradation pencil. 

So what exactly are these Lip Gradation pencils ?
They are lip colour pencils with a cushion blender tool at the other end. Sounds interesting ? With this product, Maybelline introduced Korean ombre lips trend in India. Simply put, ombre lips are gradient lips, wherein you apply colour in the center of your lips and lightly blend it to the outer corners of your lips, giving it a look as if you just sucked a popsicle. :P

Maybelline Lip Gradation - Review and Swatch

I tried out Maybelline's Lip gradation pencil in the shade Red 2 and I am quite impressed with the product. The product comes in a nice lip crayon like plastic packaging with the blender on the other end, both protected by plastic caps. The outer body of the pencils gives away the shade of the lipstick. Hence, it is easy to pick out the shades when placed in a stack of lipsticks.

Red 2 is  beautiful tomato red colour but you can easily adjust the intensity of the colour with the use of blender. The texture is matte, yet it does not have a drying effect on your lips.This is another reason why I liked the product. In one swipe, the pigmentation is good and gives a nice colour. 

Maybelline Lip Gradation - Red 2 review and Swatches

The lip pencils come in 8 bright shades which are not really unique but will work well for your daily makeup routine. Priced at Rs.500, they are a good deal. :)

What I liked about the product ?

• Nice matte texture, which does not dry your lips
• Great pigmentation with just one stroke
• Gives you an easy acess to the international ombre lips trend
• The cushion blender does its work quite well
• I am quite impressed by the staying power of the lip pencils. Though initially the colour gets transferred, it lingers on till for a good 6-7 hours

What could have been better ?

I feel the quantity offered by the product is a little less.

Overall, I loved the product and would be purchasing the pink shade very soon :)
If you plan to buy the product, do share your feedback with me!

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 See you soon !