Sayantini, Author at Cherry on Top | Beauty & Lifestyle

#UseYourAnd January 25, 2015

Finding the ‘And’

Society loves to label a woman- beautiful, ugly or smart, slut, mother, sister or daughter! Society loves when women are inside their shells. They don’t like when they step out. A woman is expected to be what others think they should be, not what they actually are. They are expected to be a lot of things but that lot of things does not include ‘being themselves’. The box that confines them isn’t expected to be broken, it might be an explosion that would lead the Patriarchy to an end or shatter it completely. They can’t take that risk!

A woman is not judged by what they can or what they want to become, they can only pass the acid test if they are considered a good listener, they should obey the norms. That is what they are supposed to do! But, what if they refuse to be enchained or inveigh against the society? What if they rebuff and say ‘NO’ to all the labels they are given? What if they choose ‘ANDs’ instead of ‘Ors’ and ‘Ifs’?

The society has detained the womankind with the ‘ORs’. A woman can be a mother OR a businesswoman, a decent girl OR an adventure-lover, a teacher OR a fun-lover, beautiful OR smart and so on. What if the women replace all the ORs with ANDs? It’s the time we start doing that. We are not meant to be controlled, nobody can draw a limit for us. We are beyond it, beyond the so called notion of ‘decent lady’ or ‘marriage material’. We are not born to make ourselves perfect and practice the ‘good girl’ image for our future husbands and in-laws. We are born to be ‘us’, a unique individual, distinct from others. We are not meant to carry the tags ‘society’ has put on us, unlike the breads and vegetables in the market. We are alive, we are beings, and we are the origin of anything beautiful. We are mothers, we have the power to nurture a baby within us for months, and thus we have everything that can prove our strength and determination. Then why live within the boundaries of ORs? Not everyone has it but us. So, use your ANDs and stand apart from the conventions.

This post is a part of #UseYourAnd activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette Venus.

Drops of Youth January 16, 2015

The Body Shop Nutriganics Drops of Youth Duo| Review

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. The New Year has started off pretty well. If you’re new to my blog then please note that Cherry On Tophas turned 2 on the 13^th. It’s still unbelievable that I’ve walked that long and reached the second year. I have also a giveaway running on my blog’s FB page where I am giving away one 12pc Soulflower bathset. It will end on 14^th February. So, join in soon J

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Today I’ve brought to you a review of the TBS Drops of Youth skin serum and eye-concentrate duo from their Nutriganics range. Long back, I was invited to the launch event of these two miraculous products at The Body Shop store, City Center, Kolkata. If you don’t have any idea what it was all about then read the full post here. At that event, we were presented with the products by the brand.

As you can tell by the name the Drops of Youth duo works as anti-ageing treatments. I use the skin serum twice a day after cleaning my face but I use the eye concentrate only in the nights. I have seen that applying the eye concentrate in night gives it more time to sink into the skin and also it helps relaxing the eye area which is very refreshing for the entire body and soul.

Drops of Youth Skin Serum

The Body Shop Nutriganics Drops of Youth Duo| Review

Packaging: The skin serum comes in a glass bottle packaging with a screw lid that actually is a dropper. When you push the top of the lid the fluid gets collected into the dropper and then when you push again it gets dispensed. The dropper is also made of glass which makes the whole thing inappropriate for travelling.

How to use: I use it twice a day after cleaning up my face and neck. I take about 2 drops of it (a little goes a long way) and gently apply it on all over the face. Then I follow it by applying my moisturizer. This product is supposed to be applyed on bare-face after cleansing and toning and before moisturizing.

Consistency: The product is quite dense in consistency but then it is not sticky too. It spreads easily and uniformly on the skin without giving that sticky feeling. It blends effortlessly and sinks into the skin within no time. As it isn’t very thick and viscid it could be used throughout the year without any hassle.

My Experience & Review: I think this is the first time I have been so impressed with a skincare product. When I started using, it seemed to be an average product to me- a serum that works as an anti-ageing agent, but soon I was proved wrong. I have been using it for almost two months (or more) and over the time I have found out that my skin has improved magically. I am blessed with a good skin, I don’t have acne and blemishes but I do have some other minor problems like uneven skin and occasional breakouts. This serum has worked as a magic potion for me as it has eliminated the unevenness making it visibly smooth and soft. The occasional breakouts I used to get during ‘that time of the month’ or after threading my eyebrows no longer appear. I have not brought any changes to my lifestyle or diet so I believe it’s the serum that has prohibited the furtive breakouts from appearing.

The price is slightly on the higher side but believe you me people, it’s worth every penny!

Price: Rs 2895/- for 30ml
Available at: TBSwebsite, Flipkart

Drops of Youth Eye Concentrate

The Body Shop Nutriganics Drops of Youth Duo| Review

Packaging: This product comes in a plastic bottle-type packaging with a pump which has a metallic roller-ball end. It also comes with a semi-transparent plastic cap. The packaging is very sleek and travel-friendly. It can easily fit into a purse or wallet while travelling.

How to use: I use this concentrate only at the night because I have found that it works best when you rest your eyes after the application. In this way, you give some time to the serum to sink into the eye area which results in fresh and awakened eyes the next morning. You have to pump a small amount of product (that you can see dispensing from the roller-ball area) and apply directly underneath he eyes with the help of the roller ball. Don’t tug and pull as you might reverse the operation that the product is supposed to do. After you spread the serum evenly, now you have to use your ring finger and gently pat it until it sinks in entirely.

Consistency: It’s a concentrate so it has to be a little denser in consistency. Again, this product is not sticky and spreads effortlessly. It doesn’t leave the eye area dehydrated post application.

My Experience & Review: I have been noticing some fine lines under my eyes and you know that it is not a delightful sight for a woman. I started using this hoping that it’d fade away the nefarious lines beneath my eyes, but it did nothing like that. The fluid is very cooling and it instantly removes any sort of tiredness from the eyes making them fresh and awakened. The metallic roller-ball applicator works best as the metal soothes the eye area and provides the cooling sensation that is most required after a hectic day. For me, it works as a potion that soothes my eyes, makes them look awakened, eliminates the puffiness and takes the fatigue away. It doesn’t fade dark circles, doesn’t work on fine lines and unlike the company claims it doesn’t make the eye area look firm instantly but with continue use, it makes the eye-area look firmer over some time. The key ingredient is the stem cells of the Edelweiss flower that grows in the Alpine region in the adverse conditions and considered as natural anti-ageing agent.

My overall experience with this eye concentrate is pretty good. It’s a product by the liaison of nature and science which leaves me in no distrust that it will work best for me. If you want an eye-concentrate that is supposed to eliminate dark circles and fine lines then you should stay away from it.

Price: Rs. 1995/- for 10ml
Available at: TBSwebsite

The Body Shop Nutriganics Drops of Youth Duo| Review

Overall, I have been loving both the products a lot, especially the skin serum. 30ml of products goes for a really long time. I have been using it for two months and a few days and I guess it would last me for another two months at least. The eye-concentrate is also a decent product for soothing your fatigued eyes. If I ever plan to repurchase any of them, it would surely be the skin serum. I highly recommend the serum. If you buy it, it would be a smart and fruitful investment. I hope you liked the post. I would be more than just happy if you find this post helpful. See you again soon. Till then stay safe and keep smiling!

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Bioderma January 8, 2015

What’s In My January ’15 Fab Bag?| Beauty Unmasked

Hello all, hope you’re doing great. As you all know (only you have been following my blog), I have renewed my subscription with Fab Bag for three months. January is the last month of the subscription. So, this is my last Fab Bag as of now. Let’s see what I got inside my January Fab Bag and how did I like my Fab Bag- January ’15 contents.

Here’s how the January edition Fab Bag looks like. It’s a shiny pink bag- the material is of a faux leather kind of finish. I like it but I can’t say I love it as compared to the last two Fab Bags I received. Not so much of my liking.

What’s In My January ’15 Fab Bag?| Beauty Unmasked

Now, the contents-

The first thing I noticed right after I opened the cardboard box was a lovely mask- purple and glitters- my heart was stolen. I think this is a symbol that endorses the theme of this month i.e. Beauty Unmasked. I liked the idea. Now, let’s see what came inside the bag-

What’s In My January ’15 Fab Bag?| Beauty Unmasked

1. LAQA & Co. Fat Lip Pencil: As you can guess, it’s a lip crayon from LAQA & Co. which is a New York based cosmetic company. I got the shade Jammy Bastard which is a beautiful peach-y shade. The most amazing part is this lip crayon gives a great coverage in a single swipe and the colour pay-off is commendable. Sadly, this shade washes me out. But, I think I would use it as a balm or stain instead of applying it like a lipstick. The full size is priced 800 bucks for 3ml and I believe I’ve got a full size of this product in my bag. Cheers for that!

What’s In My January ’15 Fab Bag?| Beauty Unmasked

2. Bioderma Sebium Gel Moussant Face Wash: I didn’t know the meaning of Moussant, so I googled it and found that it’s a French word that means ‘Foaming‘. Now I get it, it’s a foaming gel cleanser! Bioderma is one of the best known and most reputed skincare brands of the world. I’ve always wanted to try their Sensible H2O toner and now I have another of their specialties- the moussant face wash. I will try it really soon and will let you guys know my thoughts about it. So, keep an eye at my Facebook page and Instagram.

What’s In My January ’15 Fab Bag?| Beauty Unmasked

3. Splurge Daily Moisturizer with Sun Protection: You all might know that I had been using my Cetaphil moisturizer but it’s too thick for my skin, so I skipped it in the mornings. Then came this Splurge Daily moisturizer which is my current favourite moisturizer. It’s not too thick, not too light. The consistency is just perfect for me. Most amazing fact is that it’s handmade and does not contain any harsh chemicals. I have been using this for three days now and I have already become a big fan of this product. I think I should write a full review on this product soon.

What’s In My January ’15 Fab Bag?| Beauty Unmasked

4. Seasoul Dead Sea Facial Mud Mask: It’s a coincidence that I was looking for a mud mask for quite sometime and couldn’t decide what to get. Then came my January Fab Bag and what I get to see is this! I have not tried anything from this brand before, it’s totally new for me. Dead sea mud is rich in minerals which provides the skin the essential minerals that it needs. Apart from the Dead Sea mud, this mask also contains some other ingredients, one of which is Moroccan Argan. How cool is that! This mask is for dull, dry and acne-prone skin. I will use it soon and write a review for you guys.

What’s In My January ’15 Fab Bag?| Beauty Unmasked

That’s all for my January’15 Fab Bag. Hope you liked the products that I got in this month’s bag. I liked all of them. This bag focuses on the inner beauty and the needs of the skin which is a great thing to follow this new year. Here my 3-months subscription with Fab Bag comes to the end. I am not sure if I would renew my subscription at this moment or not, but if I do I will surely let you guys know. Before I conclude, I want to remind you guys that Cherry On Top is completing it’s 2nd year on 13th of January and I am hosting a giveaway on my Facebook page on that particular day to celebrate the 2nd blogversary of my blog. Make sure you check out the giveaway on the 13th.

Thanks for reading. See you next time. Till then stay safe and keep smiling!

You can subscribe to Fab Bag here.

In case if you’ve missed reading them-

What’s In My November Fab Bag?

What’s In My December Fab Bag?

100th post January 2, 2015

New Year, 100th Post and an Announcement!

First of all, let me wish all of you a very happy new year. 2015 is finally here guys! I can’t believe it’s been a year since we welcomed 2014 to take away all our past sorrows and negativity. My new year has started with quite a good note. I hope you have started enjoying this year too.

This post is very special to me as it is officially the 100th post of Cherry On Top. I never imagined it would even be possible for me as I am a super lazy girl. But, I have done it and I am very proud of myself (excuse the narcissism :P). Also, this post is super-special as it’s my first post of this year and also it’s the first post of the month of January. If you guys don’t know then January is the month when the first post of Cherry On Top was published. That means, the blogversary is on its way! Cherry On Top is about to complete 2 years of its journey in this month. Unbelievable!

Now, let’s get into the announcement- on the special occasion of the 2nd birthday of my blog, I am willing to do a giveaway for you guys. You guys tell me where you want the giveaway to be held- Blog, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. I will take a week’s time to review your opinions and then announce the giveaway where you like. So, flood the comments section with your views. I will talk to you soon! Ciao.

Atomic Red December 24, 2014

What’s in My December Fab Bag?

Hello all, here I am with a new post and as I promised in my previous blog post, this is going to be a review/unboxing/unbagging of my Fab Bag for December. If you have read my previous post then you would know that I have resubscribed with Fab Bag and I got some lovely products in my November Bag. The same happens with this month’s bag- I have got quite nice products this month too. Let me show what came inside the December bag.

First thing first, the look of the bag for this month is beyond pretty. The bag is made of a faux leather type material with a studded texture. The bag is in red colour that goes very well with the Christmas theme. Now the products-

Fab Bag December 2014

Deborah Milano Rossetto Atomic Red Lipstick- 07

1. Deborah Milano Rossetto Atomic Red Lipstick- 07: I am thankful to Fab Bag for including a full size lipstick in this month’s bag and that too of a brand like Deborah Milano. I really liked the shade as this shade complements my skin tone a lot. Don’t you think it’s very close to the Pantone’s colour of the year, Marsala?

Tattva Body Butter & Lip Scrub Vanilla Cinnamon

2. Tattva Body Butter & Lip Scrub Vanilla Cinnamon: Every month, Fab Bag introduces a new brand and send some samples out to try. This time it’s a brand called Tattva. I have received a sample size body butter filled with a delicious smell and a sugar-based lip scrub. I am really forward to use the products very soon.

Kronokare Itsy Bitsy Massage Oil Kit

3. Kronokare Itsy Bitsy Massage Oil Kit: I am receiving Kronokare products for the second time and all thanks to Fab Bag. I have got the oils in Cooling and Detoxifying. I have not used these two yet but will start using them soon.

Gift: Chocolato Chocolatey Christmas Gift

4. Gift: Chocolato Chocolatey Christmas Gift: Fab Bag is generous to send these delicious handmade chocolates as an early Christmas present.

IndiEco Luxury Handcrafted Candle

5. IndiEco Luxury Handcrafted Candle: I am into scented candles these days and it seems Fab Bag knows me too well. This particular candle has a lemon-grass scent which is really soothing after a tiresome day. This brand is run by a lady named Payal Tyagi and the wonderful fact about this brand is it is a result of the labour of the women of lesser means. I am glad to receive this candle in my December Fab Bag.

What’s in My December Fab Bag?

So, that’s all for my December Fab Bag. Hope you liked the products. From this lot, my favourites are the lip scrub, the lipstick and the candle. Don’t forget to tell me which one did you like. Also, Merry Christmas to all of you. Hope all your wishes come true. Will talk to you in my next post. Till then stay safe and keep smiling!

What’s in My December Fab Bag?

You can subscribe for your Fab Bag here.

All Good Scents December 19, 2014

What’s In My November Fab Bag?

Hi guys, I hope all of you are doing great. I am sorry for the delay in posting. I was in an emotional state for a few days as my boyfriend’s aunt was admitted to hospital and later she was in Coma and finally passed away last Sunday. It was a nervous and emotional instability that we had to go through for almost a week and I constantly had to comfort him as he is a very inhibited person. That was not easy, to see a person die and then be strong to make someone else strong.

Anyways, let’s get into the post now. If you are reading my blog from yesteryear then you would know that I had subscribed for a monthly subscription service named ‘Fab Bag’. My subscription was for 6 months and when it ended, I did not resubscribe. But recently when they revealed their November Bag, I had got enough reason to resubscribe (Stick to the post and you will get to know why). So, I resubscribed for 3 months. Fab Bag has impressed me this time because I loved the products that came in my November Bag. I know it’s little too late for the ‘November Bag’ as it’s already December, but it’s because of me as I subscribed at the end of November. Normally they ship the bags on 15th of every month so you can receive the bag for that particular month within 18th. (Dates mentioned are for my pin code, you might get them earlier). So, without further ado, let me show you what I got inside my November Fab Bag–

First of all, see how the bag looks! Isn’t it gorgeous? It’s gold, it’s medium sized and the chain has got a gorgeous key at the end. Remember what I said? ‘Enough reason to subscribe’!