Vicco Vajradanti Ayurvedic Toothpaste Review

Vicco Vajradanti Ayurvedic Vegan Toothpaste Review

This is a review of Vicco Vajradanti Ayurvedic Toothpaste. I used to think Vicco Vajradanti means a toothpaste that makes your teeth strong as stone because 'Vajra' means 'Stone' and 'Danti' means 'Dant' or 'Teeth'. But I just discovered Vajradanti is the name of a herb :)

I used to use their Vicco Turmeric Cream some 16 years ago, but never tried their toothpaste. Recently when I saw it at a local grocery store, I checked the ingredients list and immediately bought it.

Vicco Vajradanti Ayurvedic Toothpaste is available in these packings:

200 gms for INR 122 (I got 10% discount)

150 gms for INR 90

50 gms for INR 35

The price is quite decent for the quantity they are providing, when other toothpaste brands sell 80-90 gms for INR 100+. This is NOT a cosmetic toothpaste. Due to proven medicinal properties of its active ingredients, the Government has permitted manufacturing of Vicco products under Ayurvedic Drug License. See more details here.

Vicco Vajradanti has been certified by 'Beauty without Cruelty India' and has also been awarded by PETA for creating a truly vegan product.

Shelf Life: 2 years from Mfg date

Availability: Easily available in India in local pharmacies and grocery stores. Saw it on a few rare India online stores. Vicco Vajradanti is also available online for purchase in other countries but the price in $ is quite different.

Package Description and Brand Claims:

Patanjali Drishti Eye Drops Review

This is a review of Patanjali Drishti Eye Drops. It is an ayurvedic proprietary medicine. A couple of weeks ago, I visited the local Patanjali Chikitsalaya/Aushdhalaya to restock my Henna. As most of your know, Patanjali is Yog Guru Baba Ramdev's brand. I got interested in a variety of products available there and ended up buying quite a few.

drishti= vision

aushdhalaya= clinic

Biotique Nyctanthes Hand Cream Review

This is a review of Biotique Bio Nyctanthes Hand Cream.

BIOTIQUE'S CLAIMS ABOUT THIS PRODUCT: Its deep penetrating action provides nourishment and protection. Cures skin infection. Leaves dry dehydrated cracked and brittle skin smooth and soft.  Ayurvedic Medicine (for external use only)

Method to Use:

Gently massage appropriate amount of cream on hands.

INGREDIENTS: 

Parijat Patra Kwath 2%: Parijat = Night-flowering Jasmine or Nyctanthes, known in India as Harsingar. Patra = Leaves. Kwath = Decoction. Now I am not sure if this contains the extracts from the leaves of the plants or the petals of the fragrant flower because the cream smells of the flower.

Manjishta Kwath 3.2%: Manjistha consists of dried stem of Rubia cordifolia.

Rakt Chandan Kwath 1.8%: Decoction of Red Sandalwood

Mahuva Mool Kwath 1%: Decoction of Madhuca longifolia extracts

Neem Chhal Kwath 1% : Decoction of Azadirachta indica bark

Surajmukhi Tail 3%: Sunflower Oil

Cream Base Q.S.

Quantity: Comes in 50 gms and 250 Gms packing

MRP: INR 180 for 50 gms and INR 540 for 250 gms 

Highest discount on medplusbeauty.com: INR 153 and INR 459 respectively) The price and quantity is exactly the same as the Biotique Costus Foot Cream tubs.

Best Before: 3 Yrs from Mfg.

After getting great medicinal results from the Biotique Costus foot cream, I thought of giving this hand cream a try. I started using this in September end and even though it was quite hot and humid then, I needed a hand cream because 1. I have extremely dry skin 2. Having a toddler and pets makes it unavoidable to wash my hands with soap every few minutes. So my hands need good moisturization even in summers.

The actual quantity is just 65% of the tub you see above.

The first thing I loved on opening the pack was the fragrance and the color. The cream is a lovely peachy pink and the fragrance is just out of the world. I have never in my life smelt such a soothing floral scent. I just can't resist sniffing my hands on and on continuously, when I have applied this cream. I especially enjoy sniffing this to sleep at night. But apart from pleasing my senses of smell and sight, did it actually work on my hands?

This hand cream penetrates better when applied soon after bath. Initially, I applied it religiously everyday after bath and at night. It made my hands soft and beautiful. I rub it thoroughly in the gaps between my fingers and also into my nails and cuticles. Just like the Biotique foot cream, this hand cream has also strengthened my nails. For the first time in 4 years, I have been able to keep long nails without them splitting into layers. My cuticles are healthier than before.

It kept my hands well moisturized, soft and glowing during summers. By Oct end, it gets colder here and my hands and palms start developing painful cuts from over washing and dryness. My knuckles go dry and purple in winters.

It is Nov end and real winter is yet to hit. But already this cream is not able to keep up to its claims. Nyctanthes hand cream has not been able to treat these cuts even after applying lavishly, several times in the day and at night. I woke up a few days ago with a bad dry rash between my ring finger and tall finger, but this cream could not heal the rash too.

So I feel the claims to cure skin infections and dry, dehydrated, cracked brittle skin have failed completely. Such skin needs both oiliness and moisturization and this cream does not have even a trace of oiliness.

It does beautify my very dry hands instantly and makes my skin look nourished. 

The dryness on my skin is quite visible here.

After spreading

After blending. See the glow?

If I run my nail on this, I don't get a white streak. My hands look pink and healthy. But it does not provide long time results in cold weather, because it lacks essential oils. The moment I wash my hands with soap, my skin returns to it's dry and brittle condition. 

I had bought this hand cream because of the claims and the absence of chemicals and preservatives. But with such results, it is definitely over-priced. I can apply hot ghee at night and get my wounds treated much faster and even body lotion provides deep nourishment to hands. For Summers and for my nails, this will still be my favorite product, but for winters, I definitely need another hand cream now.

If you know of a great hand cream for winters, please do share the details in the comments below.

Biotique Bio Costus Foot Cream Review

This is a review for Biotique Bio Costus Foot Cream.

DESCRIPTION AS FOUND ON AN ONLINE STORE:

Biotique Bio Costus Stress Relief Foot Massage Cream is made out of extracts of costus root, dandelion and cobra saffron. Costus Root is a wild herb growing in the Himalayas and is known for medicinal properties. Its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory nature keeps skin cool, calm and conditioned. The cream also contains lanolin. Cobra saffron and lanolin extract helps in softening the hard skin and prevents the heal from cracking. It also cures foot infection and stop feet itching. It gives a soothing and cooling effect to your tired feet.

Biotique Costus Foot Cream 50 gms Tub Pack

Product	Ayurvedic Foot Cream
Quantity	50 gms and 250 gms packing
Color	Thick White cream
Smell	Menthol
Price	50 gm pack = INR 180 (INR 153 on medplusbeauty.com) 250 gms pack = INR Rs 540 (INR 459 on medplusbeauty.com: Highest discount)  Also available at Flipkart.com and many online stores.
Shelf Life	3 years from mfg date
Packaging	Comes in regular Biotique Green tub packing.
Package Description	Help soften hard skin and soothe tired feet, cures foot infection and stops foot itch. This is not a cosmetic product. It has therapeutic properties. Carefully manufactured and Marketed by BIO VEDA ACTION RESEARCH COMPANY.
Ingredients	2% Doodhal Mool (Dandelion extracts), 1% NagKesar (cobra saffron.), 2% Kooth Mool (Costus Root), 1% Menthol, Sunflower Oil, Cream Base (Lanolin)

My previous foot cream was used up and I was looking for another option when I saw this one. I researched and didn't find a single review for this product. I didn't know this is a medicated cream and bought it under the impression of a regular foot cream. But I am still finding it very useful.

What makes this cream different from regular foot creams is that this is not at all greasy. Regular foot creams mostly form a layer of fat on your feet to lock in the moisture and take a very long time to absorb into the skin. So they are best applied at bed time when you won’t walk around anymore. Also, if you happen to wet your feet even a bit, regular foot creams give a very uneasy greasy slippery feeling. 

Biotique Costus cream gets absorbed immediately without leaving any hint of oiliness. So it can be applied anytime during the day. It conditions the skin without making it oily. It’s a great cream for active men and women who keep their feet tied in closed shoes most part of the day, for sports-persons, for housewives who spend long hours standing in the kitchen, diabetics who usually feel pain in feet due to poor circulation, and for anyone who is prone to cracked heels and foot infections, or have hard foot skin.

Update on 4 Oct 2012: The 50 gms tub is just 65% of the total tub you see above. It lasted me almost 2 months with 1-2 applications per day. My feet did not have sensation in some areas and I couldn't feel tickling earlier. Within 2 weeks of applying this cream daily, my sense of 'Feel' returned in the numb areas. Also, it cured the burning sensation I used to have in my feet all the time. Another benefit: My left foot's thumb nail had a big crack in the nail bed area for many years. The nail used to break off  every few weeks leaving half of the nail bed exposed. This cream healed that cracked nail when everything else failed. However, this is a personal observation and experience with the product and the results may vary from person to person. I have repurchased the bigger 250 gms tub as that is more economical.

Biotique Costus Foot Cream 250 Gms Tub

Biotique Costus Foot Cream 250 Gms Tub

The 250 Gms Tub comes sealed with Aluminium Foil

THE PLUSES:

1. Foot infections are very common in the present humid Indian weather. This foot cream has medicinal properties for curing such infections.
2. Menthol increases blood circulation where cream is applied, and provides quick relief to tired feet. Feet turn rosy red and beautiful due to improved circulation.
3. You get soft feet without any stickiness or sweat.
4. All Biotique products (including this cream) are completely organic, preservative (paraben) free and do not have any strong chemicals.
5. If you have very dry skin prone to cracked heels, you can use a small quantity daily as a regular cream. Especially good for diabetics and people with poor blood circulation.

THE MINUSES:

1. Some people may not like the smell of Menthol like I did in the beginning, because it feels like you are applying Vicks to your feet. But the smell fades away in a few minutes and anyways your nose and feet are very far from each other :-)
2. 50 gms packing is costlier. If it suits you, it is economical to buy the 250 gms tub.
3. If you apply lavishly on healthy feet, you will feel slight burning due to menthol. But this is only initially and once you get used to it, you don't feel it at all. So take small amounts and spread thoroughly on the skin each time.
4. This cream is not very rich/oily. Winters are round the corner so I will update if it provides good moisturization in winters.
5. People don't like tub packing for hygiene reason. The packing is not an issue for me personally. If you have more than one biotique products, it becomes difficult to differentiate as they all look same. Need to mark with a nailpolish or something to avoid confusion.

Tips: Always insert clean and dry fingers in any jar/tub packing. For best results use it after bath as skin is highly moisturized at that time. Make sure to wipe dry the gaps between your toes after bath/wash to prevent foot infections. I am using this cream along with the Vaadi Herbals Foot Scrub Soap reviewed here.

Also check out:
Biotique Nyctanthes Hand Cream Review
Biotique Bio Almond Oil Soothing Face and Eye Makeup Cleanser Review
Souflower Happy Feet Soap Review
Vaadi Herbals Elbow-Foot-Knee Scrub Pedicure Soap Review
VLCC Groome Instant Nail Shiner Review
How to Extract Aloe Vera Gel at Home?
DIY Natural Skin Serum for Oily Combination Skin
How to Make Your Own Natural Loofah Sponge
Patanjali Drishti Eye Drops Review