A few weeks ago, I attended the Skin Awareness Month get-together by Galderma (the pharmaceutical company behind Cetaphil & Biluma). There was a panel consisting of dermatologists & creators, where we were educated about skin circadian rhythm, reformulated cetaphil products & more.

Let’s talk about Cetaphil

Cetaphil is a globally renowned brand that’s been around for 75 years! They’re also the the number 1 Dermatologist prescribed brand in many countries. Their first product, the Gentle Skin Cleanser was formulated by a pharmacist in 1947 & today their range has expanded to include face & body products., baby care as well as sun protection. Their goal remains the same – to formulate gentle & effective products that strengthen & protect even the most sensitive skin. Cetaphil products now have a new look & an even better formula, they have upgraded their formulation by adding the goodness of Glycerin to  improve Hydration, Niacinamide for Brightening and Panthenol for moisturizing effect.

My Cetaphil Day + Night Routine

I have sensitive skin with acne issues that leans oily most of the year (but is dryer in winter). I have been on a very simple CTM + sun protection routine.

I cleanse with the Oily Skin Cleanser (for Combination to Oily Sensitive skin) which true to it’s name is gentle & non-stripping; a great product if you have a weakened skin moisture barrier.

Next, I tone with the Brightness Refresh toner, which is Non-Sticky, refreshing after feel & fragrance-free.

For the daytime, I follow up with their Moisturising Lotion (for normal to combination sensitive skin) & of course Cetaphil Sun SFP 50+, a lightweight gel sunscreen with broad-spectrum UV protection.

For the nighttime, it’s the same cleanser and toner, but I follow it up with the Bright Healthy Radiance night cream which reveals radiant glowing skin, every morning.

It’s been working very well for my skin & I intend to stick to this for a while.

All about Skin Circadian Rhythm & Biluma

Biluma is a brand from Galderma for anyone that wants to maintain healthy & bright skin throughout their lives. It is a premium, science based range & all products are formulated to be used based on our skin circadian rhythm.

Most of us have heard of our circadian rhythm with regards to our sleep patterns but did you know that it also makes a big difference to our skin?

Skin functions such as temperature & pH balance vary a lot depending on the time of day, and Biluma harnesses that knowledge to create products that will work well with your skin’s natural functions to nourish, brighten, rejuvenate & protect.

The range includes Biluma Advanced Face Wash, Biluma Advanced Day Cream, Biluma Advanced Lotion (to be used on hands and legs) & Biluma Advanced Night Cream.

Another interesting product is the Biluma Advanced Cream for sensitive areas, which is specially formulated to brighten sensitive areas that might have a darker / uneven skin tone such as Underarms, Inner Thighs & Neck. The whole range promises visible results within 21 days.

I’m quite impressed with the products I’ve used & I’ll definitely be exploring more of the range over time.

This post was written in collaboration with Galderma.

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Make an Effort

Putting in the effort can mean anything from spraying on some pheromones for men and making the first move on your crush to consciously socialising more.

When it comes to dating, making an effort is important. Romcoms have us convinced that we’ll meet the man of our dreams while getting coffee or bump into him while in a hurry & spill the contents of our bag (which he will then help us pick up, of course). It may be fun to watch, but it’s not how the world works. We’re taught to put in efforts into our careers, our friendships, so why not apply some of that to dating? Putting in the effort can mean anything from making the first move on your crush to consciously socialising more.

Make Dating Apps Work for You

Online dating isn’t new but for our generation, it can be the norm. If you are shy to approach your crush (like me!), it can be a nice alternative. But with so many apps on the market, how do you know which one will work for you? The other day, I was at a cafe when I couldn’t help but overhear a guy talk about life in general with his friend. At that instance, I felt like I was listening to a male version of myself. I did not know how to get his attention and that’s when I heard about this app. happn is different from other dating apps because it helps you connect with people you have already crossed paths with in real life. It lets you see all their basic information as well as how many times you’ve crossed paths with them. If you like someone, you can just send them a “Like” (using the heart-shaped icon) or say “Hello”! 

Using happn is a great way to connect with that cute guy you spotted at the cafe but were too shy to talk to or to overcome that one “missed connection” with the ONE. happn encourages forming real-life connections and interactions while still keeping your EXACT location hidden. Say “bye” to unwanted messages from guys, since all communication takes place only on the principle of “mutual interest”. At the same time, it has in-built security features, such as blocking any user portraying unwanted behaviour. To make everyone’s life better, happn is available on both iOS & Android.

Find Common Ground

In an ideal world, we’d all date people we were already friends with. But when you’re going out and meeting someone new, finding common likes or experiences can be a great way to cut through that initial awkwardness and find a connection. Common ground can take the form of a similar taste in movies, music, books, a game you both enjoy or just a shared common experience or destination.

Be Clear & Assertive

One of the better qualities of the 20-somethings is our straightforwardness – we tend to say what we mean. It can be good to apply this same logic to our dating lives too! Be clear in your head about what you’re looking for. If you like someone, show them! And if you don’t, it’s best to be honest rather than ghosting the person.

Don’t Give Up

You might meet that special someone right away, or it might take a little while. It can be easy to lose heart after a dull date, but it’s important to not lose hope! Even boring dates turn into fun stories later. Shake it off, and get back on that (proverbial) horse.

That’s all the tips I have for you today, but I’d love to hear from you guys! Feel free to share your experiences with dating & stuff that helped you navigate these often confusing waters. x

And for now, go and make your destiny happen with happn app! 

Download it on the Appstore and Playstore.

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I was travelling for a bit at the start of the month, which was pretty exciting. But it also meant 10+ hours in flights, & a lot more time spent indoors in temperature controlled (read very cold + very dry) environs, leading to me feeling very dehydrated after.

So this last week has been spent focussing on staying home & getting my hydrations levels back on track, which means a lot of water & good hydrating skincare.

Dot & Key is one of my favorite brands right now – they’re homegrown, have a wide range of products for different face + body concerns, good formulations & great prices! I wrote about their serum lineup a few months ago, & today’s post is going to be about their hydration range.

Dot & Key Water Drench Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum Concentrate

Hyaluronic acid has been everywhere recently & with good reason. It’s something that’s naturally present in skin – it’s well known for it’s ability to hold on to a thousand times it’s weight in water. Using products formulated with it will ensure that your skin stays plump & well hydrated. The entire water drench range has been formulated with Hyaluronic acid, including this serum which I’ve been using for a while now. If serums aren’t part of your daily routine, I wrote about why serums are important already.

Dot & Key Skin Plumping Moisture Infusion Water Sleeping Mask

Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid for hydration, Chamomile for soothing properties & Bulgarian Rose for it’s refreshing properties, this is a great night cream that’ll ensure you’ll wake up with well hydrated skin that isn’t overtly shiny or greasy.

Dot & Key Shadow Minimizing Eye Sleeping Mask

As I approach my late twenties, I’ve started noticing the first signs of fine lines in my undereye area. This luxurious gel formulation, this is meant to be an overnight product but I enjoy using it during the day too. It promises to hydrate, as well as tackle puffiness and fade dark circles.

Dot & Key Depuffing Eye Cream Concentrate

A rich eye cream formulated with caffeine and anti oxidants, this is suitable for use during the day or night. This is great for drier skin types & even though I have oilier skin, I go for creams rather than gel for my under eye area. I guess it all boils down to personal preference – gel or cream, whichever works for you as long as you’re taking care of your skin!

While maintaining proper hydration is important all year round, it’s even more imperative during winter months, because even milder winters mean cooler, dry weather which do rob your skin of moisture. Whatever skin type you have, this range will make sure your skin is healthy & happy this winter. x

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Today’s post is going to focus on serums. What they are, why you should be using them & when you should be using them. I’m also partnering with skincare brand Dot & Key to introduce their newest range of serums to you.

What is a Serum? Lets Talk Basics

A serum is a lightweight skincare product that you use after cleansing, but before moisturising your skin.

Serums are in some ways quite similar to moisturisers but are definitely not designed to take their place. They are usually formulated without the emollient ingredients in moisturiser, but with a higher concentration of active ingredients.

Traditional moisturisers, whether cream or gel based, are primarily designed to keep your skin hydrated. They usually also have active ingredients meant to target your skincare concerns, but may not penetrate your skin as well due to the presence of the emollient ingredients. These are usually thicker / heavier as they are meant to provide & lock in moisture, but can sometimes block the more active ingredients from working effectively.

Serums are lightweight & there’s one for every concern you might face. Their exact function varies based on the ingredients used (we’ll get into that soon) but the mainly serums work to delivered super powered doses of active ingredients deep into your skin without being heavy, so the ingredients have a better chance of showing results.

It’s part the reasons serums can be a pricier product as well. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t affordable options too that are very effective.

Have you heard of Dot & Key?

Dot & Key is a young Indian brand that promises a fresh take on skincare. Based out of Kolkata, they have products for your face and body, often for things that are otherwise overlooked.

Their formulations are a blend of the best that nature & science have to offer, their products are dermatologically tested & cruelty free to boot.

New Serums from Dot & Key

Dot & Key recently expanded their serum lineup with four new additions. When they reached out about a potential partnership, I really wanted to thoroughly test their serums before talking about them.

I’ve had these for over two months now & have been incorporating them into my daily skincare routine. Here’s a closer look at my three favorites!

Dot & Key Water Drench Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum Concentrate

Enriched with Açai Berry & Bulgarian Rose, this serum promises to boost moisture & fight free radicals. Hyaluronic Acid is well known for it’s ability to retain moisture, which will prevent dehydration & keep your skin supple & bouncy.

Dot & Key Zit Zapping Skin Clarifying Face Serum

Formulated with Tea Tree & Clary Sage Oil, this serum contains Salicylic Acid actives that help fight acne causing bacteria to prevent breakouts & pimples as well as speed up the post breakout healing process.

Dot & Key Glow Revealing Vitamin C Serum Concentrate

The finally serum I tried, this contains extracts of Kakadu Plum & Acerola Cherry. Vitamin C is a powerful ingredient that can deliver a whole bouquet of benefits to your skin like correcting dullness, dark spots & premature ageing. One noticeable difference I experienced was that it really sped up the fading of my acne scars.

They also have a fourth new serum, the Dot & Key Collagen Restorative Time Reverse Retinol Serum. Retinol as an ingredient has been getting a lot of buzz for it’s delaying the traditional signs of ageing, this is definitely something you can look into if you’re in your late twenties or older.

All of the serums are to be used twice a day, they’re super lightweight and absorb into the skin easily without leaving an residue / texture or pilling & they are also great under makeup. And now to address one of the more important questions about serums.

Do You Need a Serum In Your Life?

No you don’t. If you are someone who like to keep your skincare routine extremely functional, a face wash & moisturiser should suffice. But if you want to take better care of your skin & really target any issues you might be facing, I’d definitely recommend incorporating a serum into your routine right away. x

The post The Importance of Using Serums in your Skincare Routine 💦 (ft. Dot & Key) appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

Earlier this year, I wrote about the launch of the Orient Aerostorm fan. Having a ceiling fan based on aerodynamics seemed like something out of a sci-fi film, but we switched to them earlier this year & I could never go back to regular fans.

A few days ago, Orient also launched their newest range of lifestyle fans in India. These aren’t ceiling fans but rather lightweight & stylish desk / tower fans that can easily be placed anywhere at home.

While pedestal fans have been known to be an eyesore, these have been designed keeping in mind both form & function. They won’t just look good at home, they’ll actually add to the elegance of any interior setting.

New Orient Lifestyle Fans

Orient Bladeless

Orient Bladeless uses a combination of physics & aerodynamics to multiply air without the use of traditional fan blades.

Not only does this fan look unique, bladeless operation also makes it that much safer to use, especially with children at home. It operates quite silently, has a swing function to distribute air across a room & even has a mood light built in with four colour options (off white, green, purple & blue). It consumes less power, is extremely easy to clean, has a timer function & even a remote control for convenience.

Orient Monroe

Another stylish new launch, the Orient Monroe tower fan is not just contemporary & stylish, it’s smaller footprint makes it perfect for tight spaces. It comes with three speed settings, a timer as well as remote control.

The Monroe has three different modes – natural, normal & sleep. When used with an air conditioner especially, the fan will keep your comfortable & cool for longer, without the huge energy consumption.

Orient Auctor

Another first of it’s kind, the Orient Auctor is small fan with 3D oscillation. You can put this rotating fan anywhere in a room & it will cool all corners. Like the others, it comes with a strong & reliable motor that also operates silently.

This even has a remote control, touch panel & built in timer. It’s small & light so as to make it easy to move with you, to any room at your home / office.

Orient Proteus

The Proteus is a box fan featuring a clean & premium look with a strong, silent motor. It features round edges & a three speed control panel along with a timer. With a 30° vertical adjustment, you can direct the airflow to suit your requirements.

Orient has been releasing a lot of innovations in the consumer electronics / home appliances space & this new range of lifestyle fans just add to that.

They are well designed & have a lot of smart features built in, at price points that won’t break the bank.

Summer’s coming soon enough & I think these fans are a perfect fit for anyone who wants better cooling at home without skyrocketing electricity bills.

The new range of fans are available in all major electric shops as well as online on Amazon India. The Orient Bladeless & Orient Monroe are already at the top of my wishlist!

Know more about these lifestyle fans on the website. x

The post Orient Electric Elevates Fan Decor to New Heights 🌀 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

We all have a friend or a family member who takes fitness quite seriously. Then there are those who make their fitness wish-list every year, but never seem to follow it. So, irrespective of which side of fitness they are on, here are five gift ideas that they will thank you for, especially after a week of indulgence and binge.

Buy/Renew Gym Membership

Being fit and remaining that way is important for everyone. But someone who is a fitness enthusiast, the need is even more serious.  However, with cold winter months closing in, the motivation to work out can hit the wall. To evade this possibility, why not gift your friends or loved ones a year-long membership at a gym. Working out at a gym as opposed to home has many perks. One has access to the right equipment, guidance and motivation. So, just in case your friend or family member does not have a gym membership, or his or her membership is up for renewal, surprise them which this thoughtful and stupendous gift.

Buy Them a Juicer

Fitness isn’t just about staying active—it’s also about making sure that your body is getting the right nutrients. So, presenting a fine juicer to your fitness freak amigo makes absolute sense. Consuming both vegetable and fruit juice daily can do wonders for one’s diet. For busy people who are calorie conscious, a juicer is a perfect Christmas gift.  They no longer have to worry about their meals and can simply consume juice on the go.  Buy a juicer from a popular brand like Kent.Cold compressed juicers and slow juicers use groundbreaking juicing technology that preserves the nutrients and fiber of the juice.

Get A Water Purifier

We all know that water is a necessity for life. While most of us are aware of this obvious reality, we often take it for granted.  In fact, most of us tend to drink less water during the winter, however in actuality there’s a need to increase water consumption in winter to combat the dryness of the skin, dehydration, and flu.  However, the quality and cleanliness of the water matters a lot. Unclean or contaminated water can lead to several health complications and gastrointestinal problems.

So, why not gift your friends or loved one a water purifier this holiday season as a token to showcase your love. Before buying one, do a thorough research about the water purifier and its reviews.  When reading up on water purifier reviews, look for one which dispenses harmful impurities from the water while retaining natural nutrients.  Working out is essential for a fit body, but supplementing it with fresh, clean filtered water is also vital for lubricating the joints and transporting the nutrients through the body. One feels more energized and can work out better if they consume an adequate amount of clean and pure water daily.

Gift a Spa Coupon

If your friend or family member is a fitness freak, chances are they are working out strenuously for the most part of the year. While working out can make you feel incredible, the body can be sore with all the tightness and endurance training. A relaxing steam or massage at a Spa can do wonders to the body. Therefore, book a session at a Spa for your beloved friend as a Christmas gift. Your friend will surely appreciate this thoughtful gift.   

Trekking Holiday

What better start to a new year than a trekking holiday to the mountains. Buy an all-expense paid trip for your fitness buff friend over the New Year weekend. People who like to stay fit and healthy love to participate in the outdoor activities. A trekking trip will indeed be a delightful gift if your friend likes adventure activities like camping, rock-climbing, mountain biking, etc. x

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All of us have ceiling fans at home. Probably a minimum of one in every room. But we’ve never given them much thought. They look the same (with very minor variations), they perform the same. I feel like other than very minor aesthetic changes (usually just the color / print & not shape) fans haven’t changed much my entire life. And I appreciate how Orient’s trying to change that & innovate a lot with their newest fan, the Orient AeroStorm.

Something we heard about a lot at the event was silence. Our outdoors are noisy – our homes don’t have to be. Most ceiling fans actually generate a lot of noise that we’ve just learnt to live with & we hardly notice until the fan’s switched off.

To demonstrate, Orient set up a booth where we could experience a normal fan alongside the new AeroStorm. The difference in noise level was astounding. At lower number, there’s virtually no sound. When you set the fan at maximum speed, there is some sound but it’s still so much quieter than ordinary fans. But of course, lack of noise isn’t the only thing they’re innovating with. In fact, the AeroStorm is designed from the ground up to look like no other fan out there. It’s eye catching & attractive, with the blades actually inspired from aircraft wings! The end even has a tipped winglet design, something that helps to minimize vortex & noise. The fans aren’t metal, but made of high quality ABS with PU paint – the biggest benefit being, they won’t rust (something we experienced with our current fans already!) & the paint will stay glossy and be very easy to clean. There’s also this stylish metallic UV ring in the middle that just adds a bit of pizzaz to the design.

Although the new AeroStorm was undoubtedly the star of the show, Orient Electric has also expanded the existing AeroSeries fans – the AeroQuiet, which was originally available in white has a range of attractive colours, including caramel.

There’s also the AeroLite that adds a light fixture to the fan & AeroBLDC which even has a remote control function.

The new Orient AeroStorm is currently available online on Amazon India at an attractive launch price, it’ll also be in stores really soon.

I blog about lifestyles, electronics, décor & homes pretty often, but I’ll be the first to admit, I never thought I’d get this excited about a ceiling fan. I always love when brands innovate to bring us better, more efficient products. I was quite awed by the fans at the demo, & I’ll be switching to AeroStorm fans in the living room later this week & I’ll be documenting the switch on YouTube! x

The post Unveiling the #SilentStorm with Orient Electric! 🌬 appeared first on Magali Vaz | Fashion, Lifestyle & Travel Blog.

Not everything I’ve pursued over the years has always worked out amazingly well. You take a shot. Sometimes it’s gold, sometimes it’s not. But I know that if I just took the conventional route, life would be a lot less interesting.

Being curious is great. It can enhance your professional & personal life no matter what stage of life or field you’re in. But did you know that Curiosity is Learnable?

Merck kicked off their curiosity initiative last year by releasing the State of Curiosity Report; they then started the the Curiosity Lab Partnership, a six month experiment to prove that Anyone Can Be More Curious! The aim was to find how one can increase curiosity so as to ultimately lead to more or better science-driven behaviour.

I thought Thelma being his curious, playful self would be the perfect visuals to accompany this post!

The Four Dimensions of Curiosity

The first step to understanding what can encourage curiosity is to break it down which is where these come in.

Inquisitiveness refers to how a person reacts in response to feeling curious and includes exploratory behavior like freely asking questions and thinking and acting beyond one’s own job requirements. For me, that’s reading, staying updated with different trends & developments on blogs, podcasts & YouTube. Even watching a movie or TV show that’s relevant to what you do can help you increase your knowledge & motivate you to maybe try something different.

Creativity in problem solving can be thought of as a desire or willingness to challenge the status quo and an ability to identify new approaches to problem solving. We Indians have a word for this – jugaad! Unplanned hiccups always arise in every field & creativity includes brainstorming for effective solutions while still keeping your cool. It’s the ability to think on your feet!

Openness to other ideas can be defined as preferring a variety of experiences, being attentive to the world, and open to new ideas, whether they come from oneself or from others. It’s good to be confident in yourself or your skills, but it’s also important to know how to be a part of a team. Listen, consider & value other people’s experiences & suggestions. Don’t be so stubborn, you see your perspective as the only right way. I think this is one of the harder things to do because being stubborn is an easy trap to fall into. Over the years, I’ve trained myself to be better at this, following & engaging with intelligent people from all disciplines on social media like facebook & twitter really helps me learn new things.

Distress tolerance allows a person to take risks, to persevere and to approach the new and unfamiliar without fear. No matter how inquisitive, creative, and open a person might be, they may find it difficult-to-impossible to ever express their curiosity without a significant tolerance for distress. Its importance in the role of curiosity cannot be understated. I personally see the ability to manage stress & new situations without letting them overwhelm you. When I’m travelling alone, I know that everyday is an adventure. It isn’t always glamorous, & sometimes things can have negative outcomes, so I try to see everything as a learning experience, & not feel too down about it. At the end of the day, I just see everything as a learning experience, so instead of a regret, I’ll have learnt something that I can use in the future, or at least I’ll have an entertaining story, you know?

Like many skills in life, curiosity is something you can work at, nurture & get better at! You can visit curiosity.merckgroup.com for a lot of relevant & useful resources such as this fun Curiosity Selftest (I got Enthusiastic Innovator, in case you’re wondering).

I hope that this article inspired you to be more inquisitive, experiment & even try something you’ve been afraid of doing! If you have any tips on how to stay curious, do share them in the comments below & start a discussion.

This post was written in collaboration with Merck Group. You can read more about the Curiosity Report & the #CatchCurious Initiative here.

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A few days ago, this blog turned nine. That’s a big milestone, just one short of a decade. Now that blogging is a very well known & a viable profession, I often get asked more about how and why I started doing this back in 2009? If I would sum it up with one word, it’d have to be curiosity.

What is Curiosity?

Curiosity, defined in the most simple way is the desire to know more about something.

More broadly, curiosity entails wanting to gain new knowledge & stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Without it, there would be no discovery of fire, or man wouldn’t have forged the wheel. I don’t think civilisation would have existed without it. And to apply it to my life, if I wasn’t curious, I probably would have thought blogging would be a gigantic waste of time – a ‘journal’ on the internet that nobody’s ever going to read? What’s the point? But it seemed interesting, fresh & new; I wanted to know more. I wanted to try my own hand at it. That decision to start then & stick with it definitely changed my life in many ways & I never would have done it without a healthy dose of curiosity.

The Curiosity Report

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