Health obsessed, product junkie, cosmetic hoarder, beauty expert: As the former-Beauty Director of leading women’s magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan and Women's Health in India, I’ve been all these things at once. And even after writing on health and beauty for over 15 years, my appetite for delicious skincare and sumptuous makeup hasn’t dimmed...

 
 
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@vasudha.raI

#30daysofbeautifulskin So a few weeks back I was talking to a freind about my favourite serums (pictured above). So she said ‘why don’t you do a comparison between both - after all both seem to be equally popular’. So here goes: ........... The @loccitane Reset Nuit Serum is by far thier best selling Skincare product. I discovered it when I was invited to do a talk about the immortelle oil in this product, when they launched it in Mumbai. However this post isn’t sponsored obviously. I love this serum because not only is it moisturising, it leaves my skin feeling smoother and more radiant. It’s supposed to be for night use but I wear it in the day too over my vitamin C serum. This product would be better for younger women as it provides toning and hydration. The immortelle oil in this serum also helps calm inflammation and prevent breakouts. I always knew L’Occitane had great products for the body but it’s quite a lovely surprise to see they have great Skincare too. .................. @esteelauder Advanced Night Repair is probably the serum that I’ve been using for more than a decade. I always tell people if you want to choose just one product for your skin make it this one. I like to also use this during the day as well. This one has potent anti ageing components so I wouldn’t recommend it for someone in their 20s. This also contains retinyl palmitate (a mild form of retinol) because of which it is not suitable for pregnant women. I use this also to heal any rash or scratch on my skin - ANR helps everything heal without leaving a mark. ............ The biggest difference between these two is that Estee Lauder’s ANR is double the price of the L’Occitane serum. Still, you get what you pay for. The Reset Nuit will give you hydration and glow, while ANR will improve your skins tone, texture and elasticity year after year. Choose what you like.
Such a beautiful evening yesterday at the #paroglow workshop. We will do another one around the end of March - who will join us? #Repost @parogoodearth with @get_repost ・・・ To glow is to radiate from within and without; it is to have the body, mind and soul in harmony with each other. And this begins with self-care. @vasudha.rai began the ‘Paro Glow’ workshop by stressing the importance of energising our actions and creations. Even our skincare rituals must be mindfully begun, with love for ourselves. And that is when they will truly heal our skin and body. ⠀ ⠀ #ParoBotanica #Botanical #Dailyrituals #Skincare #Urbansanctuary #Ancientwisdom #Personalluxury #ParoGlow #Selfcare #vbeauty #lookluxeliveclean
#30daysofbeautifulskin When I look for a beauty product I don’t go for what’s convenient. Actually I don’t look for convenience in most things. If I invest in anything - be it friendship or skincare - it has to be worth it. In beauty I look for results, which is why a lot of the products I choose may not be available easily. However I can say that my choices are always (more or less) foolproof. But I digress, I wanted to talk about essence. ................. I bought this @pyunkangyul Essence Toner a few months back along with the Hada Labo Premium Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Solution from @yesstyle. I got both products in about two weeks without paying any duty. Unfortunately the Hada Labo Lotion broke me out terribly, but the Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner is another story. .............. Those who know me well will remember that I don’t really enjoy Korean Skincare - too cutesy and gimmicky for my taste. I didn’t believe in essences either, but decided to try one after I heard someone at yoga raving about them. I chose Pyunkang Yul because it’s based on traditional Korean medicine, like sort of the Ayurveda of Korea. The range is very clean, no-nonsense and at least this one product is beyond impressive. ............ Essences are supposed to work like fertilisers in skincare, helping other products work better. I pat it on after my Lotion P50 in the evening and as the first step in the morning. I find that I need to use much lesser serum after I use this essence and even on its own this product works very well. The main ingredient in this product is astralagus, a herb that is also commonly used in Ayurveda. It calms down the skin and reduces redness, meaning that it is especially good for those with rosacea. I find that this product hydrates the skin, yet absorbs very quickly without a trace. Over the last few months it’s made my skin softer and eliminated the redness up to 95%. It’s fragrance free, which is always a plus in my book. I love it so much that I’ve already ordered another bottle. What do you guys think about essences? Which ones are your favourites? I’d love to know.
#30daysofbeautifulskin Even though I’ve been using a lot of amazing skincare and eating a ton of nourishing food, I’ve barely had any time to write a decent review. So for the next 30 days I’ll share what makes skin look and feel amazing. First up is this dope retinol serum. ........... I love @zelensskincare. I’ve tried all three of their Treatment Drops and enjoyed all of them for different reasons. The Power C is an oil-based serum with 20% vitamin C, which significantly reduced my mothers melasma. Their Power D contains provitamin D with lipids that are are structurally similar to those found in the skin. Power D is amazing for those with damaged skin. I tried it on someone who’s skin was burnt and pigmented from the sun and it made his skin smooth and clear within a month. And now I’m using Power A, which contains two different types of retinoids that are released slowly into the skin to prevent irritation. Now I’ve used retinol before but it makes my skin so sensitive that it burns - I always stop using it within a month or two. But I faced ZERO irritation with this serum. When I apply this every alternate night (on other nights I use Lotion P50) I wake up with skin that looks and feels like butter. This is also an oil based serum but it did not make my skin oily at all. However I’m not sure how it would work on those who have very oily skin. Also the percentage of retinol is not mentioned anywhere on the product or the website, which I always find annoying. Still, this is the best retinol serum I have ever tried. And that’s saying a LOT. .............. Available at @theofficialselfridges or you can order it to India from @cultbeauty, but you have to pay duty when you order online.
ENDOMETRIOSIS UPDATE: So the last two years have been tough, as far as health is concerned. On one hand there was the success of my book, and on the other I was being rushed in and out of hospitals for surgeries. One of these surgeries was a full hysterectomy, after which I was sure that the endometriosis would go away. Six months were wonderful, my body and mind were doing so well without synthetic hormones, but about a month back I was in pain again - the same sort of pain for which I needed surgeries. After a thorough check up I found that the endo is back and this time it was sitting on my colon. ‘It will be very complicated if I do another surgery for you,’ said my doctor who I respect and love. So I started looking for alternative treatments. ......... I began visiting @acupuncturistaadilkhan for acupuncture sessions. I drive all the way from Gurgaon to visit him at least 3-4 times a week. After the first session the heaviness from my pelvis was gone. In three sessions the pain reduced by 90%. In a month I feel normal again. Why didn’t I find you earlier Dr Khan? Even my surgeon Dr Debasis Dutta recommends acupuncture. For me it has been a boon. Yes I am on a mild steroid and vitamins but it’s this treatment that has shown the quickest results. Every time I feel uncomfortable or even stressed I visit Dr Khan. During my treatment I feel asleep and wake up feeling calmer and lighter. Dr Khan charges Rs 3,500 for the first session where you buy your own needles, which you have to carry every time for the treatment. Each session after that is only Rs 500. I will keep doing acupuncture for the rest of my life. I felt I had to post this for all of you who are suffering with hormonal imbalances just like me. I’m also on an ayurvedic protocol given to me by Dr Subhash Ranade who practices in Pune but that is just in the initial stages. Will update you on that later. Until then, let me know if you’ve have life changing experiences with alternative medicine.
#Repost @parogoodearth with @get_repost ・・・ The four pillars of true beauty that Vasudha Rai identifies in her book, “Glow”, are Vitality, Clarity, Radiance and Peace. What we eat and what we think are reflected on our skin. What we put on it is equally important. But the key to radiant skin lies in harnessing the power of natural ingredients, in going to back to our traditional recipes and in taking the time to create our own skincare rituals. ⠀ ⠀ “Paro Glow”, is a skincare workshop by @vasudha.rai that will reintroduce us to the art of creating our own skincare rituals.⠀ ⠀ Date: Monday 18 February. Time: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Venue: Paro, The Chanakya Chanakyapuri New Delhi ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Participation fee: INR 3000/- ⠀⠀ We only have 12 seats available for this workshop. WhatsApp on 8588886175. Please do not make payment without sending a whatsapp msg on the number provided. Last date for payment & registration is 16 February. ⠀ ⠀ #ParoBotanica #Botanical #Dailyrituals #Skincare #Urbansanctuary #Ancientwisdom #Personalluxury #ParoGlow #Selfcare
Book your slot for my workshop with @parogoodearth #Repost @parogoodearth with @get_repost ・・・ Clays, fine textured earth that is rich in mineral properties, have been used since time immemorial as key ingredients in skincare and haircare rituals. Kaolin, Rhassoul, French Green… nature offers us different types of clay to address a wide variety of skin and hair care concerns. But we have forgotten the art of nurturing our skin with the richness of the earth. ⠀ ⠀ “Paro Glow”, a skincare workshop by @vasudha.rai, helps us rediscover the joy of creating our own beauty recipes and rituals. ⠀ ⠀ Date: Monday 18 February. Time: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Venue: Paro, The Chanakya Chanakyapuri New Delhi ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Participation fee: INR 3000/- ⠀ ⠀ We only have 12 seats available for this workshop. WhatsApp on 8588886175. Please do not make payment without sending a whatsapp msg on the number provided. Last date for payment & registration is 16 February. ⠀ ⠀ #ParoBotanica #Botanical #Dailyrituals #Skincare #Urbansanctuary #Ancientwisdom #Personalluxury #ParoGlow #Selfcare
My lucky charm ❤️ #loveislove
One of the best things about working on Glow was the sheer generosity I received from people. Experts such as @nutrition.by.lovneet @piuchatterjee and @nareshperumbuduri didn’t hold back when it came to sharing thier immense knowledge. Then there were those who contributed to my book. One of them is @dugardd, who’s Coconut and Clay Toothpaste recipe is the highlight of Glow. She’s an expert of sustainability and zero-waste living and is supremely knowledgeable about all things wellness. She also makes her own Lakdong turmeric soaps. Thank you Divya @dugardd for your generosity, you’re a true beauty inside and out 💝. ................... For more recipes get your own copy of Glow, hit the link in my bio.
Love my new jacket from @karantorani ❤️