ASK ME ANYTHING - VOL. 2

HOW MANY COUNTRIES ARE THERE IN THE WORLD?

                The United Nations (UN) recognizes 193 countries. They all have international land borders ( though these are sometimes disputed) and an independent government. Countries usually have their own flag., official emblem, and national anthem. Size doesn't matter; the Vatican City , in Italy, the world's smallest country , is no bigger than a city block, and has a tiny population , too - about 1000.

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LOTUS ALPHAMOIST MOISTURISER REVIEW- A MOISTURISER THAT SUITS EVERYONE?

Moisturising is the first main step in skincare. Don’t you agree girls? Today I will review an excellent moisturiser that suits all skin types.it is the LOTUS herbals- ALPHAMOIST Alpha Hydroxy Skin Renewal moisturiser.

WHAT DOES IT SAYS:

 Plant derived Alpha Hydroxy extracts present in this light oil-free moisturiser replenish moisture,provide a vibrant smooth complexion and reveal fresh newer skin.The complexion is rejuvenated into looking and feeling younger.

PRICE AND QUANTITY:

Rs. 195 for 80ml

INGREDIENTS:

 Water, Almond oil, Glyceryl Mono Hydroxy Stearate,Triticum Vulgare(Wheat Germ) oil, Light Liquid Paraffin, Vltis Vinifera (Grapes) Extract, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Extract, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Milk Enzymes, Sodium Lactate, Propylene Glycol, Ceto Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, Fragrance.

MY TAKE ON THE PRODUCT:

It comes in a simple, plastic pump PACAKGING that makes it more easy to use and not to forget hygienic too.

The TEXTURE is so smooth to apply. It is neither too thick nor liquidy. Just perfect for mild moisturisation. Gives instant moisturising effect and makes skin look healthy.

It is an oil free moisturiser, so perfect for my combination skin. It does not make skin look oily or greasy, gives enough moisture needed for summers. But definitely not during winters.

It has some strong frangrance which I dislike in skincare items.

THUMBS UP:

• Afforbable and easily available
• Fuss free, pump packaging
• Oil free moisturiser, so perfect during summers
• Did not break out
• Gives enough moisture, nothing extra

THUMBS DOWN:

• Parabens and fragrance in herbal product!!!!???
• Might not suit very dry skin

MY RATING: 3.5/5

Overall a decent moisturiser that it suited for all skin types which gives enough moisture ,nothing too extraordinary. Hass pump packaging, so hygienic to use.

Perfect for oily skin.

ASK ME ANYTHING - VOL. 1

HOW OLD IS THE UNIVERSE? 

 
               The universe is about 13.7 billion years old. At its beginning it looked nothing like it does today. Yet, everything in today's Universe did exist in some form back then. It all started with the BIG BANG, a kind of explosion that would not only go on to produce all the matter in the Universe but also marked the start of time.

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PONDS WHITE BEAUTY BB+ CREAM REVIEW,SWATCH - FINALLY

Oh yes, it is finally in my blog. I think I must be the last person in this whole planet to review this J. That’s okay, good things always happens late right?! Ponds white beauty BB+ cream is a product that had been raved by the whole blogosphere.

WHAT DOES IT SAYS:

The first of its kind innovative beauty solutions from the Pond’s white beauty portfolio combines the dual benefit of instant coverage of spots as well as lightening skin within to help reveal perfect natural look. Pond’s white beauty™ BB+ fairness cream with pot instantly while working from deep within epidermis to lighten stubborn spots for all day instant spot-less radiant skin.
With the Pond’s Institute’s dual-acting sophisticated skin lightening GenWhite™ Cover Formula and SPF 30 PA++ advanced sunscreen protection, Pond’s white beauty™ BB+ fairness cream not only improves skin texture and effectively lightens skin from within but also provides Natural looking instant glow for Indian skin.
Clinically proven to lighten skin tone and reduce dark spots, GenWhite™ Formula is enriched with a powerful mix of Vitamin B3, Vitamin E, Allantoin and advanced superior sunscreen protection.
 PRICE AND QUANTITY:
Rs.125 for 18g and Rs.69 for 9g(yaaaayy..)

MY TAKE ON THE PRODUCT:

PONDS WHITE BEAUTY BB+ CREAM comes in a simple squeeze,fuss free tube . the packaging is so girly, I mean with pinks,whites,silvers:P. It doesn’t look cheap. It is easy to use and travel friendly.

The TEXTURE is quite thick when compared to the other TM’s in the market. But there is no issue in blending. It blends perfectly but you definitely to give it a good massage to ensure that there are no white cast. It gives skin an even tone and brightened look. There is only one shade NATURAL COVER available which is the most annoying thing. A moisturiser is definitely needed before this as it emphasizes dry patches.

Talking about the COVERAGE, it scores more here. Yup, it gives medium coverage like a foundation and less of a tinted moisturiser. Okay for daily use. Coming to the STAYING POWER it stays about 3-4hrs on my combination skin, after which skin starts feeling oily. Perfect to use with compact.

THUMBS UP:

• Easily available and affordable
• Fuss free packaging
• Good coverage for daily use
• Easy to blend
• SPF 30 and PA++ sun protection
• Immediate brightening effect

THUMBS DOWN:

• Only one shade available
• Makes skin oily within some time
• Dry patches if not well moisturised or blended

MY RATING: 4/5

Overall a good product for the price, that gives medium coverage available in only one shade. Perfect for daily use and when used with compact powder. A decent product by our desi brand PONDS.

LIVE AND LET LIVE- PART 2

Hey sweets,Today I will discuss about one of my awesome experience during my 9th standard. It was about an unheard topic INTOLERANCE. Seriously I never knew intolerance was connected with environment or even value education.

In short also sweet, INTOLERANCE CAUSES MISERY AND DESTRUCTION.

I almost sinked into the topic, that I do remember every bit of the lecture even after 3 years. Actually speaking I almost fell in love the way my teacher explained it.It starts something like this,

THE FACES OF INTOLERANCE

Intolerance is a mask that is worn over many faces. Here are some of the feelings that hide behind the mask of intolerance.

•  FEAR - What we do not understand we want to keep far away from us

•  PREJUDICE - We inherit some of our attitudes from our upbringing and background.

•  LACK OF KNOWLEDGE- Our judgement of people is based on hearsay or half truths.

• GREED- The more people we keep out the larger our share. 
  

THE HURTFUL VOICE OF INTOLERANCE

        Intolerance gives people a message of rejection- it says , ' You are not wanted here' . When people are rejected it makes them feel sad. With the passage of time this sadness grows into resentmet, which swells into anger. When the anger cannot be contained it bursts out in violence.

        Intolerance sometimes takes simpler forms- a parent or teacher who will not tolerate mitakes or who has no patience with slowness. This is a more personal form of intolerance but it creates the same type of rejection, sadness, resentment and anger. All these negative feelings trap the victim into making more misakes and becoming slower than ever.

        Intolerance among young people follows the same pattern .

HOW INTOLERANCE CAN GROW

            We all know that people are the same wherever we go.

     Our differences are usually only surface differences- the way we speak, the way we dress and the colour of our skins. Underneath we all have the same feelings , the same fears and the same difficulties. Once we accept this we are able to tolerate people and even accept their ways.

     ACCEPTANCE says, ' I take you as you are. You don't have to change to please me' . If we give this message to people through our behaviour we make them happy. When we make others happy we feel happy too.

     We are similar and we are all good.

Hope it was not boring :)
It is actually good to learn few values.


Take care
Swati Reddy

Image source:  1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ,  5 , 6

LIVE AND LET LIVE - PART 1

What is meant by APARTHEID ?
What provokes violence between people?

This is my attempt to share what I feel for my mother India..


Ebony and Ivory live together in perfect hormony
Side by side on my piano keyboard, Oh Lord,why can't we?
We all know that people are the same wherever you go.
There is good and bad in everyone.
We learn to live , we learn to give each other
What we need to survive , together alive
                                          -  Paul McCartney

 If you don't understand then, this was a song written when apartheid was at its height , when the blacks in South Africa could take no more oppression from the whites and the whole country was suffering from violence and civil war.

INDIA - COUNTRY OF DIVERSITY OR DIVISION?
                         
                     INDIA is among the largest countries of the world and is justifiably proud of her diversity. In every corner we find northeners living alongside southeners and soft HINDI syllables intermingling with the more pronounced TAMIL or MALAYALAM. Doe- eyed BENGALI belles inhabit the same towns as slant-eyed hill people. Business-minded MARWARIS from RAJASTHAN are at home here as are the simple people of NAGALAND. Mouth-watering goodies of every type fill the markets. This is a country where for centuries , people have followed the policy of ' live and let live' - the beautiful virtue of TOLERANCE.

                     
                    Yet our country has seen countless incidents of mindless VIOLENCE, when people are punished just for being what they are. The biggest DIVERSION is caused by religion but we are also divided by state, community, color, caste, sex, economic status, political affiliation and someyimes even by where we live !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                      Who engineers these incidents of violence? Is it the coomon man on the street? Surely not. You just have to look around - in  any street or lane, city or village , in a posh locality or bustee - and you will find people living amicably - happy , helpful and caring. 

P.S : The second part will have the continuation related to intolerance. 
STAY TUNED 
SWATI REDDY 
  


Image source : 1, 2 , 3 , 4 , 5
     

THE LITTLE EXTRA THAT SPELLS SUCCESS

THE HERO


Who's the hero? Who's the hero? - The hero of today is sir JOHN AKHWARI.

      The Mexico Olympics, 1968. It is late.The crowd has thinned.Suddenly there is a stir. JOHN AKHWARI of TANZANIA, the last contestant in the Marathon, is entering the stadium,five hours after the second-last contestant did.

       The crowd cheers as Akhwari stumbles in. A car of officials is behind him.He is injured,exhausted and barely able to complete the last nap around the stadium. The cheering spurs him on. He passes the finishing line with tired arms raised in agesture of triumph. Then with a weak smile Akhwari collapses.
       Though he did not win anything, Akhwari's name made Olympic history, with the immortal quote " MY COUNTRY DID NOT SEND ME 5,000 MILES AWAY TO START THE RACE. THEY SENT ME 5,000 MILES TO FINISH IT"

BEING A WINNER

         Everyone is not cut out to be a winner; everyone doesn't find a place at the top. But everyone does have the  CAPACITY  to reach himself or herself and  ACHIEVE. The crowd in the story above paid homage to the TENACITY and PRESEVERANCE of the hero. Success neds effort and preserverance . With a little extra effort , almost everyone can succeed.
                 Some people are quick to say,' I CANNOT' - They will not even try. Have you ever said, ' I cannot sing ', ' I cannot draw ','I cannot ....?'

                  ' I CANNOT ' often translates into ' I WILL NOT ' or ' I'M NOT PREPARED TO TRY ' .
The thought that took Akhwari to the finish line, five hours late but there nevertheless, was ' I CAN, I WILL, I MUST '. This attitude guarantees achievement and achievement builds POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE. A person with a good self-image is an asset to this world.

WHAT LESSON I LEARNT FROM THIS HERO?
            ACHIEVING is more important than winning.
                COMPLETE when you begin,whatever it takes to do so.
                When you take on a task,you are responsible for completing it. 

TAKE CARE
SWATI REDDY

Image source:  1 , 2 ,  3 , 4, 5, 6