I may no longer have pink hair and my square-toe docs are 3,000 miles away, but I like to think that being punk requires more than such outward signals. I’m nowhere near as in to anarchy as I once was, but I still totally love the idea of DIY everything. In honor of that hallowed part of punk ideology, I present to you the following blurb which features advice from some desi beauty expert whom I’ve never heard of…I ganked it from the May 2006 issue of Jane, which I’m trying desperately to stay fond of, even though it is suddenly for 20-something women. WTF?
Oh, Sassy…how you are missed. You are the only reason I still subscribe to the monthly which is supposedly your phoenix.
DIY pore shrinkage
Here’s an easy way to minimize the appearance of enlarged pores courtesy of Anjali, who was formerly the Martha Stew of Indian daytime TV and now is head of product development at Shobha salon in NY.
Using a blender, puree one medium unripe tomato (the greener the better…) with one teaspoon of honey– this will mix the astringent power of the fruit w/the natural moisturizers in the honey. Apply the pulp to a freshly washed face, leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse.
And if your problems go beyond skin issues, toss the remaining puree into a shaker, add some salt, a little vodka and a lot of ice. Shake, pour, drink. – Celia
Um, no, I haven’t tried it. But I was the guinea piglet for L’oreal’s latest mascara so I think I should get a pass on this little experiment. If YOU are brave enough to smear extra sweet salsa on your punim, do let us know if this results in less holes in your face, thanks .
I was just thinking, at times I felt like I was on the Beauty forum on craigslist.
Neha no $$ needs to find it’s way to my pockets and I’d grace you with some full size stuff not samples. Email me rupa@rupagawle.com and I’ll hook you up.
Lash stylist is great, because it’s a skinny comb and it extends and combs your lashes as it coats. Don’t keep it more then 2 months though. Also if you wet your lashes slightly before you put on mascara, just wet your finger and run it on the inside of the lash, it will make your mascara glide on best. Especially if you wear shadow. This mascara is so fantastic no liner is needed. Liners are so harsh.
If you want to go a little more high end try Definicils or L’Extreme by Lancome. They are both fantastic.
I am loving this post. Now i have great tips on Mascara and i will be waiting to try the Garnier Skin Car Line. I think we need SM Beauty TAB.
blueblood, I haven’t been. Is this a bad thing?
No, not at all! I go there every now and then to talk about stuff like this. You haven’t been on craigslist?
Oh, blueblood, like thataway. Perhaps I’ll check out the List, thanks!
JoaT, thanks for the offer and the excellent tips!
I am all for the beauty tab- this post has been really helpful!
Desidancer, thank you for the tip. Do you happen to know of any good dermatologists in san fran?
I’m so glad it’s changed, then. I was on it a few years ago and it was obnoxious, catty and rude. I think I left after some idiot declared that anyone who drove a Honda AND carried an LV bag was obviously rocking a fake, because if you had such a lowly car, you couldn’t afford anything real. Because that pathetic makeup-bag on a small shoulder strap that every logo-whore had glued to her inner armpit was SO out of reach. Right. The flame war which followed…? Ooooh, chile…I ain’t seen the like since. Drama? Check. Legitimate and credible beauty advice? None.
I like this thread b/c it’s kinda fubu. Saheli’s point about wearing sunscreen is well-taken since so many of the desi vomen I know insist that they don’t need it. Beyond that, I’ve had the extreme privilege of meeting some of you, so if you say you wear X, I feel far more comfortable with buying it since you quite possibly look more like me than Adriana Lima or Laetitia Casta.
As for an entire “tab” for beauty, there’s honestly no need. You can just go to the front page, to “Previous Posts” and select the “By Category” option. Choosing “Beauty” will show you this post…and nothing more, because I created that category for SM the day I wrote this. 😀 The point is, you can do that for “Fashion”, “Meetups” etc.
Well, yes, it is all those things, too. But those people are usually considered trolls and there are plenty of others who are really helpful. It’s just a matter of sifting through and ignoring the baiters.
Okay seriously, how awesome is this post???? Thanks all for the fabulous mascara advice — it is taking everything in me to not run out and find me some Lash Stylist right now!
Makeupalley does have some amazing product reviews, but as you say Anna, so nice to get advice from those who share my skintone issues!
Anyway, I do have to second the sunscreen advice, I spent four weeks developing this horrible sunburn on my lips, because this poor little brown girl had no idea what it was. So it is always lip stuff with broad spectrum SPF in it for me these days. MAC has a tinted lip conditioner stick with SPF that’s pretty wonderful though limited edition for summer. Otherwise there’s also the tinted lip balm from Neutrogena (also SPF 15, broad spectrum).
Yes, I understand that, I am familiar with the concept of trolls. My point is, I don’t remember it being as uber-helpful and positive as this. I haven’t needed to sift anything on this thread and there’s a very logical reason for that. We work really hard to keep SM asshole-free and we are constantly banning and deleting to make sure this space stays just the way we all like it. If people have to sift, they eventually leave when that becomes onerous. I did. YMMV. It obviously does. 🙂
This site does get its share of catty comments, even this thread,
and the Cadbury/CAD back-and-forth.
I have gotten plenty of really good, helpful advice on craigslist, on various forums, not just the Beauty forums. Even found my job there. So it is a really useful site. I’ve also had my share of arguments when I’ve felt ornery. It’s a huge, public message-board so you’re going to find all types.
Sorry, I don’t know what “YMMV” means.
blueblood:
Just for the record, it wasn’t me being catty; I was defending myself against Cadbury who was being catty as hell.
I have heard that SPF product is very harmful to the skin because it contains battery acid and other harmful chemical ingredients. I don’t know if it’s true or not. Any insights??
Ha, sorry, I didn’t mean to imply you were. 🙂
Sigh. I thought you might have noticed that we deleted and banned that comment. That’s my point, again. We work hard to keep this a high-quality experience. Are we now going to be liable for things which no longer exist? Actually, I’m glad you didn’t notice that we did got rid of it. It means we’re effective and quick enough that most of you don’t even need to be annoyed by flung monkey poo.
LOOK. I have no beef with you, nor any desire to keep explaining myself, especially when just like you, I love CL. I’ve found apartments and jobs on it and I think it’s a fantastic resource. I just don’t think the forums for things like beauty are AS useful as a thread like this because of the high troll to cool ratio. YMMV means “your mileage may vary”. You’re allowed to have your opinion based on your experiences and so am I. Peace.
ANNA being wegetarian has beef with nobody 😉
Yes, of course I noticed. It wasn’t there when I went to quote it.
Dear God. I have no beef with you, either. If you think about how this discussion started, it’s because I made a comment comparing parts of this thread to craigslist, and you seemed to take issue with that. I stand by what I said.
This is the femmest thread ever. I felt myself developing sensitivity and aesthetic abilities as I read. Had to dash off to Digg and read about Linux distros to stop it turning into testrogen 😉
blueblood:
OK 🙂
XY – Testrogen? Could you please bottle some of that? I’d like to add it to my daily olive oil exercise 🙂
Dear Beautilicious friends,
Does anyone have any take on Shahnaz Hussain products? I’ve been using those faithfully for many years now, and think they’ve worked well for me. However, every now and then I hear scary rumours about how a lot of her things have (bad) chemicals and heavy metals…and that this is the reason she isn’t big in the US. Any info on this?
A Gleaming Olive Oil Anoninted Fink Nottle
Soap input: in my quest for a chemical-free, non-animal testing soap, I stumbled upon Chagrin Valley soaps — they are very good with all manner of veggie/fruit/oil combinations, and you can order them on the internet.
Ms. Fink:
Shahnaz Hussain is big, isn’t she? I see her name plastered everywhere. I haven’t used any of her products but her home recipes are too time consuming, complicated, and require ingredients for which I would have to fork over 6 of my paychecks. Where have you heard that she’s been using dangerous ingredients?
How does it leave your skin? Scaly like an alligator, smooth as silk, or neutral like bread?
CAD,
I first remember hearing about the chemicals in Shahnaz Husain products from a friend who worked for a company called Surfactants in Bombay (who apparently test beauty products, among other things…don’t know why, though) and then later from a friend who claimed that this is why Shahnaz is not big in the US.
Anyone know WHY the Shahnaz line has not really made it to the US? I hear its widely available in the UK…is this true? (Cue for anti Indian/muslim conspiracy theories 🙂 )
It’s likely that the ‘chemicals’ in Shahnaz formulations are no worse than those in a lot of other products (the line between what is ‘chemical’ and what is ‘natural’ sometimes being pretty blurry anyway)…including the heavy metals bit, particularly for products mfg in India. There has been controversy about the heavy metals in some ayurvedic preparations but the ayurveda proponents in the US dismiss this by saying (1)certain heavy metals in miniscule quantities are actually good for you and/or (2) any heavy metals present in products were part of faulty manufacturing process and are not part of the original ayurvedic formulation.
About Chagrin Valley soaps: I was mainly looking for a soap for my very dry, highly hives-prone skin. I guess the answer to your question would be “neutral like bread” :). I like the fact that they are really all natural with no chemically things (compare the ingredients with other soaps) and produced by a small local family type business. I haven’t yet decided whether they are better for my skin than the ‘super-fatted’ soaps that are usually recommended for dry skin, though (Dove etc).
OMG no not at all. SPF is the sun protection factor value which can go up and down in numbers based on how many times more then normal conditions it protects you from UVB rays. So essentially if you can normally stay in the sun 10 minutes before getting tanned a SPF of 15 allows you to stay in the sun 15 times longer. Frankly SPF 15 is enough for day to day protection. Almost all makeup now has SPF. However if you spend the day at the beach barely clothed a 30 SPF is ideal. Anything more then SPF 45 is doing absolutley nothing more then SPF 30.
However most average SPFs only protect you against UVB not UVA. Neutrogena makes moisturizers with SPF 30 and 45 that have both UVA and UVB protectors. Anytime you have UVA fighters you will have ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and those are what people say are in “battery acid”.
Frankly have you ever put battery acid on your face and known it to do damage? Chances are no 🙂 So if you don’t know it’s harmful to you how do you know it’s harmless either?? Also regular face powder contains titanium dioxide as well and zinc is in almost all powders in different forms. What do you think the shimmer in different body powder is?
Some of the stronger ingredients that protect you from UVA’s aren’t allowed by the FDA in the United States so there isn’t anything to worry about.
If you use multiple products on your face like I do you have several layers of SPF that add up. Frankly the harm from todays sun is far more and since there are no other practical options to protect yourself SPF is the only way to do it. Not using it is worse then using it.
And yes, Shahnaz Husain is really big. And, for all the vile rumours I seem to be spreading (see above) about possible Evil Chemicals in her products, I remain a devoted Shahnaz user…and actually have a very good gilowing skin (so say assorted Auntyjis) that I am pretty happy with :)!
Re SPF Jane of all Trades is absolutely correct.
Also, I remember reading in a Consumer Reports article that apparently the SPF rating can be somewhat deceptive i.e. even if a product says “SPF 30” it does not necessarily keep out all types of UV rays. The Consumer Reports article had recommendations and avoid-ations, but (she went on helpfully) I forget :)…if you’re a member, you can check it out. I do remember that they liked Aloe Gator, which is what I use. You can find it at REI, Sports Chalet type places.
That is, even if a product says “SPF 30,” the full “30” does not necessarily apply to all UVA, UVB and UVC.
Yup SPF 30 protects you from 97% of UVB rays. Also for women hormone fluctuations can lead to different absorbtion levels of the actual SPF product. This means some days you absorb more then other days.
In the grand scheme of things we should just use products that protect us especially our faces because UVA/UVB rays speed up the aging process. Life is too long to age gracefully 🙂 I prefer to fight every step of the way.
Hmmm, just checked out the different UVs on google and apparently UVC has the shortest wavelength and cannot really reach us. So we’re just contending with Messers A and B…
Ms. Fink:
I knew it. No wonder my skin was so irritated and prone to rashes whenever I used the so-called “Ayurvedic” soaps. Lux, Shikakai, the Mysore Sandalwood soap, and Chandrika sear your skin off. I could even smell something medicinal and metallic. The only Ayurvedic soap that is gentle is Medimix.
You should really try that Soap of Aleppo that I’ve been pedalling here. It truly is remarkable. I’ve recommended it to my friends who have painfully sensitive and dry skin, and this soap works wonders. Sometimes, there’s a reason why certain methods and articles survive the test of time.
Shhh! Don’t want to bring SpoorLam in here!
JOAT and Ms. Fink:
Re: the Sunblock and Sunscreen protection discussion going on here, wow. Ph.D dissertation style. Hard core stuff. I personally don’t ever wear it, even though I spend a lot of time under the sun. Never have and never will.
CAD Now if only I really was working on my diss (as indeed I otter) ‘stead of hangin’ around Seepin’ in the Mutiny…:)
But seriously, you should use s.block if you hang around in the sun. I hate the stuff and its gooeyness and smelliness and general fouliness but I force myself to.
And c’mon, ayurvedic products fall under the “Sometimes, there’s a reason why certain methods and articles survive the test of time” rubric too! Lux-smucks and co are not ayurvedic, much as they like to jump on to that bandwagon.
Ms. Fink:
No, I really, really, really detest sunblock. I used to be a swimmer and water polo player for 6 years, and even then, I never slathered on sunblock. I love the sun and try to spend as much time under it as possible, but I will never apply sunblock.
Yeah, as long as it doesn’t smell and feel like I’m putting acid on myself. I’m not dismissing Ayurvedic soaps per se, I’m criticizing the way they are manufactured. I’m always on the look-out for good Ayurvedic soaps. Take Medimix, for instance. Now that is one bhery bhery nice soap.
CAD Swamiye Aleppo, Aleppo Swamiye!!!
Now I just have to give The Aleppo a try. I tried googling it and found so many Soaps of Aleppo that I wouldn’t be able to tell real from fake…do you have a recommendation for a website to buy ze original from? Or maybe I should just go find a Wild Oats.
finkie – i saw aleppo at the wild oats in overland park, KS if you’re REEALLY keen on it 🙂
seriously, i’m something of a soap snob myself because i dont like perfumey girly stuff, and not all soaps work well after a swim – i’ve gravitated to glycerine soaps like pears – goat’s milk were a distant second – and no clinical tests – just experience – even the bed sheets used to hurt at one point and i couldnt sleep in shorts until i found the right combination of soap and moisturizer (olay)
i agree with you on using sun screen – there seems to be a common misconception that darker people dont get sunburn – it may be that the effects take longer to appear – but the sun doth burn and how – and especially those who spend time on the water sailing or canoeing can attest – the effects are pretty bad – reddening, painful swellings, peeling skin etc… and we do tan, quite deliciously so actually… ok… i think i was channelling my X side… but it’s good to have schisms, no – keeps life interesting 🙂
dhaavak:
Post swim, I used to use the Dove bar soap, and everything was fine until practices were stepped up to twice a day, in which case I got eczema on my shins. Which one are you currently using?
Re: Pears, everybody roots for Pears, but I didn’t quite like it. Re: Goat Milk soaps– those are nice, aren’t they? I have the ZumZum bar, and it’s lavendar and anice scented. To be honest, the smell of the lavendar in the steamy shower made me dizzy, almost to the point of fainting. Also, some of the lather accidentally entered into my mouth, and afterwards I felt like vomiting the whole night.
Yes, we do. Yum.
Fink:
?
Can I get back to you on that? I’m currently studying for a major exam. Don’t worry, I won’t flake. I’m too much of a Soap of Aleppo proponent that I’m more than happy to spread the word 🙂
dhaavak:
dude, ur a dudette???!!!!
Speaking of, did y’ll catch the article on French women and the natural look in today’s NYT?http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/25/fashion/thursdaystyles/25skin.html It describes American women as overmade up. Another not unrelated thought: I’ve been trying to figure out if SM is a forum entirely by the young, for the young. It was heartening to learn that Anna is in her 30’s though that’s still not old enough for my comfort level! I was tickled to read the consoling ‘thirty is the new forty’ comments– I’ve been feeling happy about the forty is the new thirty articles in the media recently–even in the Indian press!! I hope this is an age no bar, let’s talk soap bar forum! And don’t anyone dare say ‘auntyji’.
cheap ass – these days i’m doing some more intense cycling, running – fat calluses on my heel and balls (of the feet) – so have gravitated to coarse artisan soaps – nothing else cuts it – i got a big 4″ by 4″ slab hand-cut at whole foods austin that i’m still working through 🙂
ar – you arent trying to goad me now are you… do you need a spanking with my feather boa, now … do you?
Dhaavak:
Are you a triatholon athlete, yaar?
If you’re currently going through some grimy moments in your life, why don’t you use Lava Soap and Pine Tar soap*?
*NOTE: DO NOT use these soaps, unless you would like to look and feel as if you’ve gotten a 3rd degree burn. This suggestion is just a joke.
JaneofAllTrades, Thanks for your insight, Thank You So Much. I do want to age gracefully.
Kinda 😉 Kinda not, though. Idle curiousity, post-exam (I had the impression u were a dude from reading a couple of ur previous comments).
dhaavak, what wld ur mummy think?!!
http://lifestyle.indiainfo.com/beauty-style/skin/magic-honey.html
Honey fights against any kind of skin damage and ageing as it has antioxidant properties.
cheap ass – was one – did an ironman – moved on – evolve or ossify?- am trying out mtb racing now – but candidly not goign very well – last weekend had me holding on for dear life to side of a gonzo downhill ramp with the feet still clipped in to the pedals of a bike fast following gravity – we’ll see
ar – i’m a guy bud – and no – i wont talk soap in public – but i dont expect to meet any of you – so there 🙂
Dhaavak:
So which soap are you using right now?
cheap ass… like i said, some soap i picked up at whole foods austin – it may even have been something called austin soaps – she cut a big 4x4x4 block for me – has oats or tea in it – ok… got to jump off to a call now… take care and good luck with your exam.
Naomi Wolf’s research has illustrated that both the cosmetics and fashion industries are largely owned by men.
Re: sunblock and sunscreen, my whole take on this is that it makes me resentful that we should have to buy one more item just because a bunch of the corporations out there are liberally and carelessly polluting our environment and depleting our ozone layer. So while they continue to increasingly harm and exacerbate our planet’s climate and ozone layer– removing the veil that blocks the UV ray– we are forced to spend money on protecting ourselves. There should be a mass movement to counteract this. This is why I do not use sunblock, unless I am on a beach with white sand (which does make me burn).
I know, some may say, “That’s a stupid way to take risks with your health”, but oh well. There are also those who get annoyed with cigarette smoke, but never complain as much about all the air pollution we breathe in everyday (places with pristine, clean, and breatheable air exempted). There are some cities where the air pollution is so bad, that breathing in that air is equivalent to smoking anywhere from 5-30 cigarettes a day, depending on the city and the day’s temperature. For Delhi, it’s 30; for Bologna it’s about 5-10 (10 on hot summer days). So a person could be a non-smoker and still suffer from the same side effects of smokers. Furthermore, a non-smoker could move or ask a smoker to put out the cigarette if the smoke is bothersome. With air pollution, there is no escape- it’s not like you can stop breathing once you get out of the house and prohibit yourself to breathe the whole time you’re out.
This thread is amazing. Thanks, ladies 😉 (and A N N A– I fell into the Aish mascara trap as well- wow, that so did not work out well for me! I’ll def. check out the new one. Right now I’m actually partial to Almay, it’s not as dramatic but has this amazing and consistent thickening power that is never clumpy).
While we’re on the topic, I’m dying to ask:
JoAT, I couldn’t tell from your comments whether you were very into eyeliner or not, but do you have any recommendations on that end? Right now the one I use is this waterproof drugstore brand called Prestige, which is the only thing that actually stays on and is dark enough to give me the look I want. I’d love something a bit more smudged, and kajol-like, but it’s gotta stay on through my 12-hour days. Everytime I try switching to another eyeliner, I’m massively disappointed with its staying power. Anyone?
Quite an enlightening and smile-raising discussion 😉
Okay ladies, admit it: How many of you listen to your mothers and secretly put coconut oil in your hair to “condition” it during the weekend when no-one else is around* ?
*Yes, you too Dhaavak.