Current Favourite Skincare Products | The Dancebee Guide | Beauty
Here’s presenting ‘The Dancebee Guide’ - a list of my favourite, tried and tested items and products, ranging from Skincare to Books, Make up and more. A new guide coming up every week on the blog. Starting off the first guide with a bunch of my current favourite skincare products - most of which I have used for more than 6-8 months. It includes a mix of purchased products as well as some that were received in PR - but, the experience and feedback is 100% genuine and honest. So, here we go with the current most loved skincare items - Tried, tested and loved by Dancebee!
Pixi Beauty pHenomenal Gel
Price: Rs 2250
A soothing gel based moisturiser, which nourishes your skin. Very gentle and hydrating. This is my fourth tube (only the first one was gifted), and I absolutely love the gentle ingredients (Hello, aloe). A bit on the pricier side, but absolutely worth every penny!
Clinique Moisture Surge Intense
Price: Rs 1800 onwards (for 30ml)
This texture of this moisturiser is so nice and rich, yet it does not feel too heavy - a major win for summer. Plus, it keeps my skin supple and hydrated for a good number of hours.
Bioderma Atoderm Creme
Price: Rs 599
Bioderma Atoderm Crème is a real boon for someone like me - with sensitive skin, that turns way too dry during winter. In fact, it’s great for summer too, as the texture is not too heavy.
Innisfree Aloe Vera Revital Soothing Gel
Price: Rs 550
I carry this soothing aloe gel with me, everywhere (smaller tube for travel)! I use this as a moisturiser first thing in the morning, and quite handy for a host of skin problems (especially sun burn during the summer season)
Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion For Sensitive Skin
Price: Rs 1170
If there is any body lotion I trust (apart from the Sebamed hydrating body lotion), it's this one! A little product goes a long way. Love this for sensitive areas that get super dry and flaky (plus, my skin turns red during seasonal changes). A little on the pricier side, but the 350ml pump bottle definitely lasts quite long.
Is your favourite on this list? Let me know! And, I look forward to sharing many more favourites.
*Feedback and thoughts are based on author's personal experience. The results may vary from person to person, depending on skin type, concerns and others.
Love,
The Dancebee
Dancebee Beauty | Skincare Talk - Mitchell USA (Review)
*Note: None of us at Team Dancebee are huge fans of any product that endorses fairness or skin brightening. For us, beauty comes from within and has nothing to do with colour, shape or size. It helps that our volunteer too was on the same page as us. So, although the range also highlights skin brightening, we will not be focusing on that aspect, because we don't endorse 'fairness' in anyway.
Price: Rs 550 onwards
What do they promise? - Mitchell's age-less range is your non-invasive solution for tightening, lifting skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin tone.
Ingredients: The age-less product range contains Lotus BioRepair MT Complex, which combines extracts from Sacred Lotus Seed (which the brand claims is approximately 1288 years old), with peptides, antioxidants, amino acids, anti-inflammatory botanicals and algae extracts
Tested on: Female, 35-year-old (name with held on request)
Skin Type: Combination
Test period: 7 days (One week)
Product Trial & Review (as stated by our volunteer): Before starting off with this trial, I went through the product details of each item to understand the concern it targets. According to the brand, the range is curated and crafted specially for Indian skin type and tone. After understanding all the products, I created two regimes, one each for day and night.

Day Regime: I start off by using the Papaya Brightening Cleanser. It promises to refine pores and leave the skin feeling smooth. The texture is creamy, and naturally, it has a fruity fragrance. I like massaging this cleanser on my face for sometime, before rinsing it off. The product did not dry out my skin, which helps. The fragrance was a bit too fruity for me, but the cleanser did a decent job. This was followed by the Lift & Firm Tightening Serum. A little bit of this product goes a long way. Lastly, I used the Skin Energiser Peptide Cream. Although the texture was smooth and creamy, it absorbed very well. The fragrance is subtle, which I like. It hydrates pretty well and creates a good canvas for make up as well.
Night Regime: After removing my make up, I cleanse my face with the Papaya Brightening Cleanser. This is followed by the Lift & Firm serum. I used the Night Therapy Anti-Wrinkle cream, which has some good repair and nourishment properties, which works well on your skin overnight. I like to massage this product all over my face, leaving the eye & neck area. Then, I used the Lineless Eye complex, which is an excellent under eye serum and one of my favourite products from the range. It helps reduce puffiness and minimises fine lines. Finally, I massaged the neck area with Neck Therapy Refining Cream. Neck is usually the most neglected area, and it helps that they have a product dedicated to it, which helps in improving the skin texture and firmness. Twice a week, I used the Skin Polish Exfoliating Cream (I skip cleansing, as this one does a fine job anyway). It's a creamy, grainy exfoliator. The product is wonderful, as it helped remove all the excess dirt, sebum quite efficiently. All the creams, including the exfoliator, have a standard fragrance, which is subtle.
Post Trial Experience: A week is not enough to understand the way a product works on your skin. It takes a good amount of time for them to work their magic. However, while sticking to our deadline, there are few things that I did notice. Firstly, the eye serum was fabulous! It helped reduce the puffiness to a good extent. Also, it hydrated the eye area really well. Secondly, I loved the neck therapy cream. It hydrates the neck area and works well to improve the skin texture. I am sure there will be a visible difference with continuous use. Definitely a favourite, and I will be re-purchasing it for sure. Lastly, Peptide hydration cream is a good addition to your daily regime for winter. It moisturises the skin really well and keeps it supple for a good number of hours. Another product that I wouldn't mind repurchasing. The cleanser was just like any other, and the fragrance kind of put me off. So, that's not on my favourites list. The night therapy cream was also pretty good.

Pros: Elegant, easy to carry packaging
Subtle fragrance (except the face wash)
Fine texture
Absorbs very well and leaves the skin feeling smooth
Does a fine job of living up to some of the promises
Hydrates and nourishes the skin very well
Cons: Promotes skin brightening
Not cruelty free (or at least, that's what we think)
Final Verdict: Overall, it was a decent experience. The range scores full marks in the hydration, packaging and quality space. Wish they go a little easy on skin brightening.
Big thank you to our volunteer for taking time out and testing these products for our readers!
Lakme Argan Oil Lip Color | Swatches & Review
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Innisfree Cushion Foundation Review + Beauty Talk with Namrata Soni
The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream | Review
What? - The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream
Quantity - 80ml Price: Rs 2495
What does it promise? - A night cream that moisturises, revitalises and nourishes your skin while you sleep. Reducing the signs of ageing, you'll look visibly more rested with a supple and rejuvenated complexion. Combining 3 precious cold-pressed seed oils known for their healing properties and 7 powerful essential oils, this cushiony cream is a potent source of nutrients for your skin while you slumber. Your skin will have new vitality and life with this nourishing lotion.
Main Ingredients: Black Cumin seed oil from Egypt, Camellia seed oil from China and Rosehip seed oil from Chile – with a powerful blend of essential oils.
How to use? - Apply every evening after your facial oil or serum to revitalise your skin night after night. Massage gently onto your face, then neck and décolleté in an upward motion. Leave overnight.
The Body Shop Drops of Light Serum | Review
Blended with Love | Garnier Ultra Blends Review
The Fruit Crush | Lakmé Lip Love Review
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| In the image: Lakmé Lip Love in Raspberry |
Nivea Protect and Care Range | Review
Nivea Beauty Range Review | Winter 2015
Price: Rs 200
Quantity: 4.8g
What does it promise? Intensively cares and provides subtle rose / red colour. The pro-vitamin B5 provides long lasting moisture intensive.
Packaging: Chapstick tube with a tight fitting cap. The packaging is perfect and easy to carry.
Texture: Creamy. It glides on smoothly and is not sticky.
Fragrance: While rose stays true to its name, the fragrance of red is like a blend of raspberry and strawberry. What's amazing is that none of the fragrances are strong or over-powering. I was more skeptical about the rose variety, as a lot of products in the market use strong rosy notes, which is a huge turn off. The rose fragrance is subtle and fresh, while the red variety is pleasant and not very fruity, clearly making these two lip care products a class apart and notch above from the typical flavours available in the market.
Experience: Nivea's Care & Colour is a yummy, smooth and fragrant lip care in a tube. Every lip care in this range has two layers. The inner formula (in white), with panthenol, works on the core edges, while the outer colour coat keeps your lips hydrated and leaves a subtle rosy / red (depending on the chosen flavour) tint on your lips. The product is dermatologically tested and works well in all seasons. Since we have already started experiencing dry skin issues (dehydrated lips are the first signs), this came as a big boon. The ongoing season is such, where everybody needs that one hero product, that can take good care of their lips and save it from drying out. Nivea's care & colour range of chapsticks do just that! Its a no-nonsense, simple formula that hydrates, nourishes and as a bonus, leaves a subtle tint that looks great.
What? Nivea Fresh Flower Deodorant
Price - Rs 190
Quantity - 150ml
What does it promise? Nivea Fresh Flower Deodorant cares for your underarms. It leaves you feeling fresh all day long. Provides 48 hour odour protection and gentle Nivea care. The product is dermatologically tested and sensitive skin tolerant, with a fresh floral scent.
Fragrance: Very pleasant and fresh. In fact, this is fast becoming one of our favourite deodorant based fragrances. Despite the name (fresh flower), this is a far cry from the usual flowery fragrances available in the market. For us, it was like a refreshing blend of flowers and ocean based tones, that are both subtle and fresh.
Experience: This product can be best explained in five words - A breath of fresh air. Although we would also like to carry this around during the more hot and humid days (read: Spring / Summer 2016), we feel its perfect for the cold days too. The soft, caring texture will ensure that your underarms stay hydrated, and absorb, do away with whatever little perspiration that you encounter. While the deodorant promises 48 hours of gentle care and protection, we felt it did a decent job during our 12 hour long, gruelling work schedule. Post application, you will almost feel like your underarms have got some moisturiser slathered on them. And as mentioned above, we absolutely love the fragrance.

What? Nivea Anti-Perspirant Fresh Natural Roll On
Price: Rs 175
Quantity: 50ml
Packaging: Housed in a glass bottle (just like most other Nivea roll ons), the Nivea Anti-Perspirant may not be your ideal travel friendly option. While the product is well packed, its too heavy and fragile (read: glass) to carry around. The application process is simple, and I personally prefer roll-ons, as they slightly better for the environment (and for personal hygiene reasons, you don't have to share it either *wink*).
Texture and Fragrance: The texture is mostly a mix of gel and water, which feels cool and light post application. Nivea's Fresh Natural has ocean extracts, which lends this roll on its ocean inspired fresh fragrance. So much, that it will almost transport you to a land of cool, breezy virgin beaches. Again, the fragrance is perfect for all seasons and has a long lasting effect.
Experience: If you are looking for a product that really lasts long, and if you are someone with a serious issue of perspiration, then Nivea's Anti-Perspirant Fresh Natural Roll-On is your best bet. One of our team members, who travels by train and faces major perspiration issues, tried this roll-on everyday for a week and noticed that while the fragrance lingered on for a good 6 hours, the anti-perspirant properties actually helped keep all the sweat away. We also used tried this roll-on before a workout and felt super good about the way this formula works. Plus, those ocean notes are just perfect (and so soothing).
Pros: Amazing quality of products at a reasonable rate
The lip care range doubles up as a tinted lip conditioner (multiple swipes will make the tint look darker)
The deodorant moistures and hydrates the underarm skin
All the products have a great fragrances, which is not strong.
Cons: Deodorant contains Alcohol
Roll on comes in a glass bottle, which makes it tough / heavy to carry
Verdict: The new range has something for everyone. While it is tough to choose a favourite, the lip care range definitely gets a double thumbs up. Our daily essential kits feel incomplete without it already.
And as part of our ongoing - The Great Festive Giveaway Month - we have now collaborated with Nivea. One lucky winner can walk away with a Nivea gift hamper! Answer a simple question, follow the rules and get set to win.
Question: Which Nivea product would you like to try this Winter?
Rules and Regulations
- Follow and Like us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
- Follow and Like Nivea on Facebook Twitter and Instagram
- Tag minimum 5 friends while sharing our post on social media platforms
- Participants are allowed to leave their responses by commenting in the response box below or sending their tweets tagging our account or commenting under the post on Facebook
- Multiple responses are allowed. However, spammers will be immediately disqualified
- Contest open for Indian residents only
Deadline: December 2, 2015 23:59 pm IST
PS: This is the final giveaway as part of our Great Indian Giveaway Month. So, those of you who haven't been successful in the previous contests, this is your chance! Get, set and participate.
Love,
The Dancebee










































