The Ritu^l : Green Tea Milk Protein Face Mask

Face masks have been used for centuries and were the favored method of skincare long before there were high-priced designer skin care lines. As we discover more about the skin microbiome, and the ability of the skin to absorb nutrients, these old time skin remedies take on a new allure. 

ABOUT THE BRAND

An honest and bespoke skin lifestyle brand, co-founded by Shivani Prabhakar and Akanksha Sood that makes natural skincare products with pure ingredients sourced from India, Africa, Europe and America. Suited to the urban lifestyle, whether you're 'on-the-go' or looking for some 'time-out', they have something designed just for you!  

KEY INGREDIENTS & THEIR BENEFITS

• Organic Green Tea: The slightly abrasive texture of dry green tea leaves acts as a great exfoliator to banish dead skin cells and purge pollutants (1). The EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) compounds in green are helpful in reducing inflammation and evening skin tone while the antioxidants may also be helpful for reducing acne and increasing skin elasticity (1). Green tea could stimulate activity in old skin cells, indicating its potential use for promoting skin regeneration, wound healing, and for treating skin conditions (2).

• Powdered Milk: An excellent exfoliant, milk contains natural alpha hydroxy acids, which mildly scourges excess dead cells off the skin's surface, revealing soft skin underneath (3). Abundant source of proteins (whey and casein), fat, amino acids, lactic acid and vitamins A and D, all of which calm dry skin and help reduce redness and soothe irritated skin (4). Lactic acid present in milk helps dissolve inactive protein and breaks down dead cells, thereby exfoliating skin cells and hydrates, increasing natural barrier lipids in the outer layer of skin, while lightening and brightening skin for those with age spots or darkened areas (5). The protein and fat lubricates and softens rough skin, solving dryness.

• Almond Meal: Rich in vitamin A, almonds have moisturizing and emollient properties that are a wonderful way to nourish the skin while providing gentle exfoliation and promote the natural turnover of skin cells (6). Almonds can cleanse the skin by eliminating toxins and free radicals from your body. The various antioxidants in almonds possess anti-ageing properties which help in reducing fine lines and wrinkles. The Vitamin E component is considered a skin food as it nourishes the skin, keeping it smooth and glowing, can help to remove fine lines and wrinkles. It can also lighten age spots and other blemishes on the skin. (7,8).

• Garbanzo Bean Flour: Great as a face mask or a scrub because of its slightly gritty texture, it draws out impurities and excess oil and is hence, good for acne prone skin. As an exfoliator, it helps remove dead skin leading to skin rejuvenation and aid with the removal of fine facial hair aka peach fuzz. It is also good to lighten skin tone and blemish marks (9).

The green tea milk protein face mask by The Ritu^l comes in a 50 gm amber glass bottle with a screw on top. There is an inner protective stop that fits securely to prevent spillage. Powdery in consistency, dry and grainy in texture, the mask in yellowish in color with dispersed green tea particulates and is devoid of any added fragrance. The lack of fragrances makes it an ideal choice for those with sensitive olfactories.

To use, scoop the required amount of mask with a dry wooden spatula and bring it to a paste like consistency, let sit for 10 minutes or so before applying it to the face and wait until it dries completely before dampening it with water and gently massaging in circular motions before rinsing it off with tepid water. 

Initially not heeding instructions, I mixed the mask with toner fluid and immediately applied it, but the particulates in the mask felt really abrasive and when I washed it off the skin felt dry and stretchy. So the next time round, paying closer attention to the instructions, I used raw milk and let the paste rest for a couple of minutes before applying it. 

Using raw milk and letting it sit on the counter for a while really did the trick. The resting phase softens the green tea particulates in the mask yielding a mild exfoliant while the raw milk nourishes the skin cells from deep within and hydrates the skin resulting in a cleansed and gleaming complexion. The milk and green tea combination is particularly effective for my skin since I have dry skin that is prone to occasional acne.

In general, suitable for all skin types, utilizing green tea once a week in beauty regimes is a wonderful way for the skin to detoxify.

*Product sent as PR sample*

Juicy Chemistry : Leave In Hair Conditioner

You want a product to lightly style or detangle and condition your hair it all day long. And you want it to be full of healthy nutrients that nourish your hair, making it healthier. But you don’t want it to be filled with artificial chemicals that absorb into your scalp. - See more at: http://www.nicehair.org/best-organic-leave-in-conditioners/#sthash.F8g50IzR.dpuf

 

You want a product to lightly style or detangle and condition your hair  all day long and you want it to be full of healthy nutrients that nourish your hair, making it healthier but you don’t want it to be filled with artificial chemicals that absorb into your scalp.....then you have come to the right place, continue reading :)


ABOUT THE BRAND

To learn more about Juicy Chemistry CLICK HERE!
 

KEY INGREDIENTS & THEIR BENEFITS

• Unrefined Shea Butter: Has the ability to stimulate hair growth, rejuvenate the scalp and the hair follicles, and generate healthy, thick, lustrous, and fast-growing hair (1). Rich in vitamins A & E, shea butter soothes dryness, repairs breakage and mends split ends while providing  moisture to dry, damaged hair from root to tips (2). Non-comedogenic in nature, the butter is quickly absorbed by the skin and eliminates dry skin by replenishing lost and missing moisture from the skin cells and hair follicles promoting cell and follicle repair and regeneration thus stimulating hair growth (1). Its anti-inflammatory properties heal damaged scalp and clear infections (2).

• Organic Apricot Oil: High in oleic and linoleic fatty acids, they act as emollients, making the hair softer by sealing the scales of the hair cuticle, increasing the hydration level of hair by preventing evaporation of water and stimulating hair growth (3). Apricot Oil is also rich in vitamins A & E: vitamin A can help soothe irritated scalp, while vitamin E supports healthy hair growth, and is believed to prevent hair loss (3).

• Argan Oil: Rich stores of essential fatty acids, tocopherols, squalene, carotenes, sterols & phenolic antioxidants, argan oil supports the health and beauty of skin and hair (4). Repairs damaged hair, moisturizes instantly, and prevents split ends while restoring shine, increases hair growth and helps control, cure, and prevent dry and itchy scalp (4). Due to its anti-microbial properties, it keeps scalp healthy, free of dandruff and well nourished (4). It also keeps the roots of the hair hydrated, protected, and well nourished.

• Evening Primrose Oil: Essential omega-6 fatty, GLA, found in evening primrose oil, can be highly effective in the fight against hair loss. Evening primrose oil boasts anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat scalp conditions caused by dandruff, yeast, and fungi. Rich in antioxidants, evening primrose oil also helps heal scalp damage as well as nourish the scalp with essential nutrients (5).

• Amla Oil (Indian Gooseberry): Containing essential fatty acids, amla extracts helps strengthen the hair follicles to condition and improve the hair (6). Known to stimulate the hair follicle to encourage growth, amla oil nourishes the hair shaft, adding strength and sheen. With immense healing properties amla aids in the maintenance of a healthy scalp: it has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and astringent properties that help prevent inflammatory scalp condition and keep dandruff away (7). In addition, the cooling effect of amla helps to relieve redness, irritation, and itchiness, and promote the healing of skin. Being a rich source of antioxidant vitamin C, it has amazing anti-aging properties and helps in preventing premature greying of hair whilst promoting hair growth and improving hair health (8).

• Sweet Almond Oil: Massaging scalp and hair with almond oil prevents premature greying of hair. It nourishes the roots of the hair, improves elasticity and prevents split ends. It treats dandruff and adds a healthy glow to hair (9).

• Organic Orange Essential Oil: Orange oil has a soothing effect on irritated scalp and can be used to treat dryness of the scalp and dandruff. An excellent moisturizer it is often recommended to treat dry, damaged and brittle hair. Due to it’s abundant vitamin C content, orange oil prevents hair loss strengthening the hair roots and stimulating hair growth (10).

• Organic Peppermint Essential Oil: Extremely rich in essential fatty acids and essential ingredients that are going to stimulate the scalp’s health, help getting rid of yeast colonies and also help the scalp remain “clean” from dandruff and inflammations, also an excellent coolant keeping the scalp refreshed (11).

• Cedarwood Essential Oil: Stimulates the hair follicles and increase circulation to the scalp contributing to hair growth and slows hair loss (12). Its antifungal properties, helps reduce dry or flaky scalp and stimulates the scalp and increases circulation (12).

• Organic Lime Essential Oil: Treats dull, oily, lifeless, rough, frizzy and greasy hair. The essential nutrients nourish the scalp and add natural shine to the hair (13). Lime removes excess oil while moisturizing the scalp and preventing dandruff, dry and itchy scalp. It also protects hair from various infections like lice, and strengthens it preventing hair fall (13).

• Petit Grain Essential Oil: Aids relieving hair and scalp from infections, dryness, and oiliness by maintaining balance between oil and moisture (14).

• Beeswax: Carries antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that are essential in fighting bacterial infections (15). Beeswax is also a natural treatment to stimulate hair growth, helps add volume to the hair while keeping it soft, shiny, and more manageable (15). The wax’s coating benefits and antioxidants help protect hair from harm and damage created from everyday styling and environmental factors. Additionally beeswax contains vitamin A which has been proven to re-hydrate and reconstructing damaged skin cells in the scalp (15).

The leave in conditioner comes in a 25 gm plastic container with an inner protective foil which gets discarded once opened. Butter like in consistency, waxy in texture the conditioner has a predominant smell of lime and peppermint due to the essential oils in it. 

To use, after shampoo and conditioning, apply a pea sized amount to damp hair from root to tips and let dry naturally.  

I received this product from Juicy Chemistry in return for my review of the product. Let me start off by saying, initially, I was skeptical of using the product fearing it might make my hair greasy and limp. After some tête-à-tête with Megha at the 360 Wellness Concept, Mumbai, I decided to give the product a go on my off day.

A leave in conditioner performs typically by locking moisture in the hair strands or even attracting back moisture, helping de-tangling them smoothly and also make them fizz-free. 

I have naturally dry curly hair which has been subjected to more than I would like to admit chemical treatments. I oil and wash my hair twice a week and in between washes my hair tends to look and feel dry. So a couple of days ago when I washed my hair, I used a tiny amount of the conditioner on damp hair and my hair was still glossy, hydrated and soft to touch. There was no residual greasiness and the product did not weigh down the hair. The following days, until the next wash my hair was frizz free and bouncy. 

Having used it on myself, I proceeded to use it on my daughter who too has curly hair that does tend to dry between washes. It produced better results on her hair than mine: the curls held their shape, there were no tangles and it was super soft to touch. 

I do prefer to use it on clean damp hair and before bedtime for two main reasons: (1) to facilitate infusion of nutrients into hair follicles and (2) to prevent any greasiness. The key to using this hair conditioner is to know your hair type. Used in the right proportions, your hair could reap benefits from its nutrient dense ingredient list.

  

Finally, a conditioner that won’t leave toxic chemicals to absorb but will leave lots of naturally derived nutrients to nourish the hair.