Himalaya Baby Care

January 23, 2017

Winter Skin care products I love right now

Winter time calls for proper skin care. I am guilty for not being an avid moisturizer, but the pregnancy and the winters in Hyderabad this time around are screaming for skin hydration. Here’s a rundown of the products that I have been using, and almost done with! Sharing the love this winter….
1. 1. Himalaya for Moms Toning massage oil– I have already reviewed the product on my blog, you can check that out here. I especially love this oil because a winter pregnancy can be even more difficult on your skin. The non-sticky consistency, and calming lavender scent is divine. It’s easy to apply and definitely will purchase another bottle once I run out of this.

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2. Boro Plus Total results moisturising lotion (Grapes and Olive oil)- This lotion even though I applied on my face completely changed the game for me. My skin was a mess due to dryness, and while I was applying my regular moisturizer, my skin just needed something extra. The husband dropped by a pharmacy and picked this up upon recommendation. I love it!, it smells beautiful and does the job superfast. It says on the label that it’s developed by Ayurvedic and international skin experts to treat 8 signs of dryness ie unhealthy, itchy, tight, rough, papery, flaky, dull and no suppleness, sadly I was facing almost all except dullness. I used it twice a day as instructed and am a sure shot fan. Boro Plus is ayurvedic, strangely I didn’t know that. I am gravitating towards ayurvedic/organic/natural skin care and exploring more and more options not just as a mother for the kids but also for myself.

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3. Himalaya for Moms Body butter– This is my go-to hand cream substitute right now. You can read detailed review on my blog. I have already run out of the Lavender fragrance, and gave the rose one to my mom and am almost done with the jasmine. When you’re finishing off products, you know you loved them.

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4. Biotique Bio Morning Nectar– This lotion has been sitting around for quite some time. The bottle was already half empty when I found it in my stash, and decided to revisit it. I will definitely run out of this within few days. Again Biotique is an ayurvedic brand which has a vast range of products, readily available and at a very nice price point. They also do baby products. I am not a fan of their packaging, but product consistency is runny enough to be able to spread it evenly over your skin. The directions on the bottle talk about the face and neck, however I prefer using this on the body because of its consistency.

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5. Bio-Oil– This is my pregnancy discovery for stretch marks. A little goes a long way for Bio-Oil. Right into second trimester when I started to notice a visible increase in my belly size I decided I didn’t want to purchase the Palmers Body butter I used last time, it didn’t use much, I didn’t like the smell and stickiness of it and hence ended up with stretch marks. But this time I headed the trusty Bio-Oil route and purchased the 125ML size and love how effective it is. A little goes a long way. I only apply it to the stretch marks prone belly and waist area and the Himalaya for Moms toning massage oil for the rest of the body. So far I love it and highly recommend it. Application twice a day is justified and its nonstick nature makes it a very practical product.

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6. Lip care- I am almost out of my favourite ever lip balm i.e. Vichy Aqualia Thermal I have left the last half cm of it in my bag for one the go use. And am now back to basics with Vaseline, the cute tiny tub is handy and frankly I didn’t know it existed. I want to try out herbal lip balms from Kama Ayurveda. Will purchase once I am done with these.
Have you tried any of the Kama Ayurveda products? I am curious about their scent, that’s the only hesitation I have with ayurvedic products- the fragrance of the products.

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So that’s a run down of winter products…What have you been using?

 

November 14, 2016

Himalaya for moms toning massage oil review

Continuing the Himalaya for moms exploration, today I will discuss the amazing Himalaya for Moms Toning Masage Oil, the 500ml toning massage oil by the new range was sent to me by Himalaya. The whole range of Himalaya FOR MOMS is aimed at shifting focus on the mother who needs the care and pampering just as much as her little baby. Since it is Himalaya bringing about these lovely products, it’s a mix of Ayurveda and years of scientific research, among the products launched in this range are nipple care butter, 3 scents of body butters, and anti-rash cream.

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Himalaya describes the Himalaya for Moms Toning Masage Oil as being ‘enriched with the goodness of traditional sesame oil that tones and firms the skin and winter cherry that rejuvenates and nourishes the body. Country mallow soothes the skin while lavender fragrance calms and soothes the mind’ The ethos of the product come from the fact that massages have had a therapeutic value since ages, and there’s no doubt a mom needs a pampering and relaxing massage post pregnancy while she juggles between motherhood and looking after herself. Himalaya has been a pioneer in educating it’s customer on not just the ingredients of the product but how the product itself helps; and they explain in 4 simple points the benefits of daily postpartum massages:
1. Tones and relaxes muscles
2. Relieves muscle aches and joint pains, eases fatigue
3. Reduces anxiety and stress, promotes relaxation and sleep
4. Helps improve skin firmness and smoothness

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The beauty of this product is the pleasant fragrance; it’s not too strong or too light. You don’t get any pungent herbal smell considering there is sesame oil and herbal ingredients in the oil, which makes this not only easy on the body for the mother, but also for the one massaging. You sister, mother, husband, friend anyone would enjoy the experience of massaging you. The consistency of the oil isn’t too thick and sticky, it spreads evenly and is easy to massage into the skin. It absorbs quickly, this is great if you’re the kind who prefers to take a nap post massage. You won’t feel uncomfortable and “oily”. Also, it isn’t hard work to wash off in shower. Packaging wise the bottle comes with a flip lid and oil pours out with ease, it’s not a hassle to deal with, you can control the amount of product you want coming out and the bottle has all the information you require on its label from ingredients, to directions of use.

The bottle I was sent in the hamper along with other products from the Himalaya For moms FOR MOMS range is 200ml and retails for INR200. The calming fragrance of lavender helps in soothing the mind, and promotes good sleep.Overall I will give this product a 4/5

October 3, 2016

Himalaya gentle baby wipes review

There are some products that live beyond the ‘baby’ period, and you may end up making them a staple for yourself too! This has happened to me, I have been a fan of the Himalaya baby wipes since years now, and the brand has changed the packaging along with their other baby care range products, but the product remains the best still.

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I got sent the 12 wipe pack from Himalaya Baby care which retails at Rs.40. Each wipe measures 20cmx21cm, and has multiple uses. Focused on mainly wiping your baby between nappy changes, the packaging comes with picture description of how to use it. The contents of the wet wipes and their effects are also mentioned clearly in pointers on the packaging; it has Aloe which ensures moisture balance in the baby’s skin, Indian Lotus to keep the skin soft and supple, skin friendly pH . The wipes are clinically tested for mildness, so that they do not irritate the baby’s skin, as baby wipes are used multiple times during the course of the day.

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The sea green and purple packaging of all the new Himalaya Baby care products is very welcoming, it’s a unique colour combination and very soothing to the eyes. The Himalaya wipes  aren’t the only baby wipes I have tried, and through experience I have learned that the brands that I tried tend to induce heavy scents in their wipes, I can understand maybe it’s to fight the poo smell!, but it’s just appalling to me. I love the light scent of the Himalaya wipes; I also enjoy wiping my face with them, just to feel fresh.

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Some tips to increase the longevity of wipes, is to keep them upside down, to make sure the moisture doesn’t seep to the bottom, leaving the wipes on top dry. The 12 wipe pack is great for on-the-go, it’s small, and the size of the wipes is big enough. I personally don’t restrict usage of wipes to only diaper changes, I use them to wipe dirty hands, feet, knees or anything, it’s like a quick clean up. Because the wipes are herbal I used to let my daughter explore using them as well, no alcohol or harsh chemicals in them to worry about. I stick the tab over after opening that helps in easy removal of wipes from the package; the flap doesn’t keep annoying you that way. Here’s a pic to show you what I mean:

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I would recommend moms to always read up the content on packages before buying baby products, Himalaya always keeps the consumers informed, and there’s content on every side of the packaging. Even though you may not pay attention especially if it’s a small pack like the 12 wipes one, it’s always good to know how you are treating your childs skin, and what ingredients have what effect. The Himalaya gentle baby wipes are free from alcohol, silicons and lanolin. All three of these have incredible harmful effects on baby

The product is instructed to be used 3 years from date of manufacture, and is readily available online, in larger packs too. I give these wipes a 5 star, what has been your experience with them?

August 4, 2016

Himalaya Diaper rash cream new packaging

I had done the review for the Himalaya Diaper rash cream back in September 2015, and the company has since changed the packaging. The formula and the performance of the product remains the same, I love the mild fragrance of the product, it’s perfect for babies, and absorbs into the skin easily. A little goes a long way with this product. This post is going to focus on the differences in the product then and now, so let’s get into it:

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Let’s start with the packaging, Himalaya now is clearly marketing its baby care products under ‘BabyCare’ this is visible on the box and the tube. Previously it was under the umbrella of ‘herbal healthcare’. The product is herbal no doubt, but there seems to be more emphasis on the baby care aspects, and highlighting through simple marketing techniques via content on packaging.

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New added information on the tube is that the product is; ‘Free from parabens, Mineral oil and synthetic colours’. With the growing awareness among mothers, and consumers in general, more information is always good to compare with other products in the market before venturing out to purchase something for your baby. Previously, the box and tube said that the mildness of the product was tested for baby skin, however now; it has simple points mentioned at the bottom ‘clinically tested. Hypoallergenic’. The company is also trying to reach across to consumers about its product features by simple word tags, like the one mentioned at the bottom highlighted in the signature Himalaya purple ‘Pure.Gentle.Safe’ These are all the three things we look for in a product for our little babies.

Everything else is the same, except the price. In September the product retailed for INR 85 and now it retails for 10 rupees more i.e. INR 95 for the same 50 gm pack.

So how does this make a difference to us? Price is subjective to consumers and affordability; however no other diaper rash cream is available for the price as reasonable box 4as Himalaya. Let’s face it, as long as your child is going to be in diapers, rashes are inevitable, and catering to them shouldn’t be an issue due to price. Coming to the packaging, though crowded with content, it gives all the important information right on top, you need not read the tiny font behind/on the side of the product to get to the important information. Making the decision to purchase a product for yourself is very different from the responsibility of buying for your baby. Information is everything. The box and tube are big enough to encompass all the information, and it’s designed in a tasteful manner. I love the colour combination of the purple shades and the green.

I would recommend trying this product to see if it works on your babies rashes, Himalaya makes products for the Indian consumers, at a price point that is affordable, and the best part is that it’s all herbal. There’s no doubt you will find Himalaya baby care products in general in ‘best seller’ list on websites!

June 29, 2016

Himalaya Refreshing baby soap Review

The essential ingredient for a bath- Soap! Himalaya sent the refreshing baby soap for oily skin to me, and I have been super late on this post as confessed before, so without further delay, we shall acquaint ourselves with the product.

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The soap is meant for oily skin, however I do not understand if babies or even children have a skin type that early. I guess they’re trying to target skin that needs moisture without any oil ingredients. This soap contains watermelon, khus-khus and neem. It has been clinically tested and is hypoallergenic. They describe the soap on the package in three terms ‘pure, mild and safe’. All of these are very important for babies. The soap is also free from parabens, animal fats and synthetic colours.

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Packaging wise it’s the same as any Himalaya baby soap, inside the card box, the soap is safe in a plastic cover. The soap itself is white in colour, but as soon as you unwrap it, you can smell the fragrance. I like this because my daughter isn’t a baby, and for a 6 year old, a soap that smells refreshing, yet not perfumed is great. As babies turn into toddlers and into little children, the soap requires a little more than just cleaning.  On the package the soap is described as follows:‘Mild and soothing soap that helps the baby’s skin cool and fresh while cleansing it gently. Enriched with: Watermelon, helps cool and condition the skin; Khus-Khus, helps keep the skin fresh, and Neem helps provide skin protection.’

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I like how Himalaya educates the parents on what exactly is the effect of each of the ingredient on their baby’s skin. It is very important for educated parents to not just know the contents but also how they help their child. Since they have a variety of soaps, one can make a sound decision on what their baby’s skin needs.

The directions for use are as any soap, this soap lathers well, and it’s not a soapy lather rather a creamy lather. This soap can safely be used on the face as well. Usually baby soaps tend to melt away even when not used, just in the moisture of the air. But this one stays put. It’s creamy when applying but doesn’t melt away as other soaps do. The package that was sent to me was of 125g, and retails for Rs.55. The 75 gm pack is also available, however the prices seem to be higher than the MRP online, so you may want to keep that in check. The product is safe to use within 3 years of manufacturing.

So what is the verdict? The soap is great; it can be used for children as well because the smell is nice and refreshing and yet not overpowering. I would recommend purchasing the 125g pack, as there is no fear of soap melting. The only downside of the product or rather the packaging of the product is that; there are too many important facts on there. One side the content is vertical and on the other it’s horizontal, even then it looks cluttered, as someone who would be out in the supermarket buying; I’d get a little confused. I understand all of these facts are important, but probably the display or design could change. I love the purple and the little baby in the Himalaya Baby Care logo. A simpler, bullet design would maybe serve the purpose of noting the clinical facts, ingredients, the purpose etc. But then again that’s just my opinion; maybe most people don’t even bother with staring at the packaging, just rip and get the product out 🙂 Overall I liked the product and would give it a 5/5 based on its quality and fulfilling all that it’s meant to.

Have you tried this soap? What has been your experience?

June 21, 2016

A little inspiration

Gobble down some coffee after opening your fast and YouTube one of your favourite subscribers to chill. I have a tonne of work to do, I have two teacher training workshops coming up, the madrasa starts on 3rd July, my uni classes start on 2nd July and have a pending post of Himalaya, the product stares me everyday. Story telling sessions lined up for my internship, and while I contemplate the to-do list in my head, I went on to Fleurs YouTube channel after a very long time to just chill.

And after watching a couple of videos I stumbled upon this one. And even though she’s basically just talking about herself, and working as a full time YouTuber, I found some inspiration to focus on the tasks I have at hand (Which as I enlisted are MANY).

I admire people who are freelancers, or their own bosses. There’s something more demanding about a job like that, you have to be super organised and constantly prove to yourself that you are just as inspired as you were in the beginning.

In life we may find inspiration from and in people, places, a simple quote, an image just about anything, but the real challenge is always to maintain that level of passion. Especially if you do multiple things, and have multiple responsibilities, it gets rather difficult. Not because the to-do list is longer, but because you have to constantly prioritise everything on that to-do list.

Here’s where my struggle usually lies. Should I first finish work, or blog? should I cook now and then do laundry? Shall I take a nap or stay up and finish the reading work. Add to that parenting and well you’re set for a busy busy schedule.

I liked from this video that she decided to show the side of life of a YouTuber that isn’t all glam. That isn’t as materialistic, and makes you appreciate the efforts that go into any job. The  most successful and richest, people in the world struggle, it’s just that their struggles are not what are photographed and talked about. We only see the greener grass, or rather are shown the greener part of the grass.

What I have learned from expereince is that it is important for us to take time out and ask ourselves every few months if we really truly want the things that we are working toward?, are we really getting there or getting side-tracked? Because as we evolve we may not want the same things from life, and it’s better to know sooner rather than later. It is important for all of us to maintain a balance in personal and professional life, just what our goals in general are, and stick to our decisions. Being aimless is the most disastrous thing a human can do for himself.

It’s always good to hear, watch success stories. And it makes me genuinely happy that people are open to share about their experiences, and inspire others.

 

May 4, 2016

Himalaya Prickly heat baby powder Review

Another product that will help your baby from Himalaya Baby Care! The heat is at peak and while we wait and pray for the monsoons to shed some rain, Himalaya brings a soothing product for your baby to battle the heat.

 

The Prickly heat baby powder was sent to me by the Himalaya team, a generous 200gm pack at that. Before I give you a review and overall rating let’s acquaint ourselves with what’s on the products packaging; the prickly heat powder is described as ‘ A gentle formulation that relieves prickly heat and keeps the baby’s skin cool and fresh’ There are several herbal contents in the powder that enable it to fulfill the purpose of the powder.

Yashada bhasma is the anti-inflammatory which helps reduce excess sweat and soothes irritated skin. Karanja helps reduce the itching sensation, Khus grass refreshes the skin and finally neem helps in protecting the skin from infection through antimicrobial action. Usage is simple as any powder just sprinkle on the baby’s skin liberally after baby’s bath, or during nappy change or before bedtime. Powder has to be kept away from nose, eyes and mouth of the baby.

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The 200gm container retails at Rs.125, the product is available in 50gm and 100gm sizes too. Manufacturing date is very clearly mentioned at the bottom of the package and the product can be used within 2 years from the date of manufacture.

On to the Review:

The powder finely milled, and makes the skin extremely soft, and has a cooling effect. The good thing is that it can be applied multiple times a day as mentioned, in the ‘directions of use’. Adult prickly heat powders tend to give a tingling effect which can cause irritation if too much product is applied, but this product doesn’t have that problem. This is a plus point for new moms or just in general for caregivers who may tend to reapply a baby product several times a day. Himalaya has tested the product for baby skin; however it’s good to go small steps with any new product on your baby for safety reasons. Apart from the actual performance of the product one stand out factor I must say is the strong Khus smell, now I am not a fan of Khus in general, and was rather taken aback by how strong the smell was, especially considering that its purpose as per packaging is only to ‘refresh the skin’.  I sneezed a couple of times too, and I have dust allergy, if your baby has any dust allergy you may want to try a small quantity on yourself and see how he/she reacts to the powder. In fact purchase a small 50gm pack and see, if this product is for you. While it says to use it liberally, I wouldn’t suggest so because the smell is very strong. I love the fresh smell of their regular baby powder, so for a company that makes fresh, light products with pleasant smell, I was surprised.

I would myself not use it as liberally, but just to serve the purpose, my husband liked it too. So adults could get mild usage out of the product as well. But it does the job, and if you’re a fan of Khus you will thoroughly enjoy this! Overall I would give it a 4/5.

December 16, 2015

Himalaya baby lotion review

Himalaya baby care sent their lotion for review couple weeks ago. This is not a new product to me; I have been using it since Batool was a baby. Now she’s all grown up to use it on her own

So let’s talk about the product shall we?

I was sent the 100ml bottle (MRP 80), it comes in the classic Himalaya baby products packaging, white bottle, green cap.

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I am not a fan of the lid cap. It dispenses product evenly, no doubt, but it’s not the best quality. For a lotion which is going to be used every day sometimes multiple times a day, the lid has to be strong. While this is a small bottle, I have experienced that the snap up lid actually breaks off because of poor quality, or becomes loose and doesn’t close easily.

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The product smells great (more about that later) and has those herbal ingredients that make all Himalaya products special. The bottle mentions the following compositions to the product; Almond oil for restoring the skins moisture, Olive oil which helps in improving skins lustre, Yashtimadhu and Country Mallow for giving the soothing sensation to the skin. The products does do all of the mentioned. And instructions of application are simple, and I must say the product works best post shower. It seems deep into the skin and you can make the most of the product.

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Consistency wise, the product is perfect, I have noticed that baby lotions tend to be runny, which is just not practical when applying to little babies, especially when they’re 6 months or so and turning over. You want a moisturizer that has thick enough to be applied evenly all over the skin, and liquid enough to seep in quickly. Because of its perfect consistency, you can control how much product is dispensed out of the bottle. Also, this fact has made me confident to even give the bottle to my daughter when she got a little older to use on her own, sure there was mess, but not because the product was oozing out of the bottle.

The soothing, refreshing smell, compliments babies and even children, I have used it several times to remove makeup, or as a body moisturizer, the Himalaya products have a unique herbal yet light scent that is exclusive to their brand.

Overall I believe the 100ML packaging is a great start for testing the product yourself if you’re intrigued. The product does the job for the money you pay for it, and a little product goes a long way. The only issue I have with the product is the lid! And hence I give it a 4/5.

What have been your experiences with the baby lotion?

September 12, 2015

Himalaya Diaper Rash cream Review

The Himalaya Baby care team sent this to me in the mail for review, and while I don’t have a kid, I thought let’s share it among my friends with babies to get some input.

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General Overview/Product description (as on the tube):
‘A specially formulated mild cream that treats rashes, inflammation and irritation caused due to rubbing of diapers against baby’s soft skin’
The essential ingredients in the product are described as; ‘Nirgundi extract relieves pain, Yashadha bhasma aids in healing the rashes, Aloe vera and almond oil soothe the skin’
Directions of use: ‘Apply on rashes and around the area where the edges of the diapers rub against the skin’
Review:
The tube I was sent is of Net wt. 50gms and retails at Rs.85. It’s a plastic tube with a screw on cap, nothing exciting about that. You simply have to remove the seal and squeeze out the product. The cream itself smells like their baby lotion, it doesn’t have any pungent herbal smell; it’s refreshing at the same time not very perfumed. The consistency of the cream is thick, so you won’t need a large quantity of application and absorbs into the skin quickly leaving it dry, which is great! last thing you want is your baby to feel wet or get the sensation of something being applied to their sensitive skin.

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My friend’s son was suffering from major diaper rash, and I gave it to her to use, and she was more than happy. The rash started to clear up after first application only, and within 2 days it was all gone. What is great about this particular cream is that it has so many moisturizing properties in it that you can apply it as a moisturizer too, instead of only when there’s a rash.
A little product goes a long way, which makes it very practical and affordable at the price point. It is readily available online, in medical stores and in the Himalaya stores across the country.
I would highly recommend this product to all mums, it’s a must have for every baby in the diaper phase. Diaper rashes can be daunting for the mother too, caring for an irritable child, is very difficult. Why not keep at bay the diaper rash horror with Himalaya!

Have you tried this diaper rash cream?

June 3, 2015

Travel tips with babies by Himalaya Baby Care

One of the most anxiety filled experiences for moms can be traveling with a baby. Himalaya Baby Care shares six steps that can create fuss-free memories with the little one.

Step 1: Getting your place
This is step one of a happy journey. Choose seats that afford you privacy for feeding and also offer space to keep all your baby gear. Inform your airline in advance for special accommodations such as bulk head seat assignments, on board baby bassinets and infant lap belts.

Step 2: Putting things together
Organize all baby items such as clothes, accessories, medicines, toys and snacks separately in sealed pouches or plastic bags to ensure easy, quick access. Keep all of these sealed packets in one large backpack. This way, your hands are free to hold baby, and you can locate things quickly. Keeping all travel-related documents together ensures quick access.

Step 3: Packing it all up
Of course, you know the lighter the better! “How light?” you ask. A stroller, large backpack and small shoulder bag should accommodate your and baby’s belongings for the flight. Ensure that all bags and boxes close completely to prevent any accidental and embarrassing spills and leaks.

Step 4: To wear or not to wear
It is wise to wear baby in a harness or a carrier while travelling. This not only reduces the chances of disturbing baby if he/she is sleeping but also keeps your hands free. Nothing is more frustrating than having to wake a sleeping baby for a security inspection. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows mothers who wear their babies in carriers to go through airport security without removing baby from the harness.

Step 5: Toys and ploys
All the stimulation experienced during travel can stress baby. Therefore, it helps to mix up the new and the old. Carry the chewed up soft toy and the new book. Keep baby relaxed with his/her favorite blanket, book, or toy. Walk around the aisle on-board so that baby is not bored sitting in one place for too long. Anything new will keep baby distracted, and familiar objects will keep him/her relaxed.

Step 6: Tuning in and tuning out
Baby is bound to feel some discomfort while traveling. Try your best to comfort him/her. When someone offers help or suggestions, use your discretion.

Be prepared, but also be flexible. Don’t get hassled about things not going as planned. Expect the unexpected and stay calm. Keep smiling and have a happy journey!

Do you find the above steps helpful? Leave your travel secrets in the comments below and share the love….