I stumbled upon this brand Murshmallow while (obviously) geeking out on (researching/trying to find) rose waters because I had not found one which I loved, yet! But then I did and here I am writing about it so you get one too!
By far it is the best, quote me in capslock, "THE BEST" rose water I have used! The formulation is so mindful, it impressed me waaaaaay before I started using it. I wrote to the brand after reading the description of this product and they happily agreed, rather swiftly sent the product to me!
I have to confess, from the day I received the product till today, I religiously use it in my AM and PM routine, sometimes even during the day just to refresh my senses! What can I say, you have to use it to believe the subtlety of its magic.
The ingredients really wooed me! Consciously formulated with a coconut water base, topped with super-healers like lavender and damask rose. But Murshmallow didn't stop at that, they took it up a notch by adding the ultimate hydrator - hyaluronic acid. Their decision to add niacin amide(brightening and pore minimising), witch hazel(astringent) and willow bark (excellent alternative for salicylic acid) makes this nothing short of an award winning formulation for me! It is soothing, clarifying, brightening and above all refreshing!
The second most impressive thing is, and imma copy this line from their website, read on..
NO GMO’S, NO Parabens, NO Propylene Glycol, NO Synthetic Fragrances, NO Artificial Dyes, NO Aluminium, NO Phenoxyethanol, NO PEGS, NO Animal Derivatives, NO SLS/SLES, NO PEGs, NO Palm Oil, NO Mineral oil, NO Alcohols, NO Formaldehyde, NO BHT. *
Yes, all the ingredients are ethically and sustainably sourced. They are natural, organic and cruelty free. Imagine the thoughtfulness in producing something as simple as rose water. Simply the best!
I would politely request you to drop all the other rose waters and give this one a shot! You will go back for more and will tell more people about it!
I spray it all over my face after a mild cleanser and then layer my serum, moisturizer and sunscreen on that.
P.S. - I am writing this review after diligently using the product for over a month. This is not a paid review.
*If you want to know more about harmful or toxic ingredients, please read the toxin list.
In
Conscious Closet,
Conscious Fashion
Decluttering your wardrobe & utilising clothes you do not wear - A Simple Guide to a Conscious Closet
The path to sustainable, rather mindful living is never an easy one. One such obstacle for me was, decluttering my wardrobe.
Decluttering your wardrobe does not mean throwing old clothes out. It is more of an opportunity to connect with the clothes that “spark joy” and letting go of the rest mindfully. And sustainable fashion does not mean you need to buy new sustainable clothes from kindred brands. It also means, repurposing your pre-owned garments efficiently and disposing them mindfully.
Do you know, we barely use 21% (approx.) of the entire 100% of our wardrobe?
It is estimated that more than 1 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year, with most of this coming from household sources.
Even though nearly 100 per cent of clothing is recyclable, about 75 to 85 per cent of textile waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated instead of being reused, thereby polluting the environment, according to the ITJ. - indiantextilejournal.com
The future of India, can lie in one of world's biggest landfill if we continue to consume at the current rate. The rich Indian culture of using a garment from 'riches to rags' (literally) is somehow diminishing. I am sure you all will have memories of waiting for a sibling to hand-down their fave t-shirt to you once they have outgrown it, of your fave dress being used as a wash cloth, or simply giving away old clothes in exchange of steel utensils. We did it all, recycled, reused and repurposed.
WHAT HAS CHANGED?
- Fast fashion brands entering the Indian textile market, making garments cheaper than buying dinner.
- Convenience of shopping online and easy returns.
- Faster developing trends
- The need to follow those trends emerging from developed countries.
'A conscious closet journey begins with a clean-out. There is just no way around it. Our closets are meant to hold all the beautiful things that we are excited to wear. But they have been hijacked! And turned into dark recesses for impulse buys and fashion regrets, and clothes that we don’t like and don’t work and don’t fit. supposed to hold all pretty things you need
My overstuffed wardrobe contained hundreds of items and yet I wore only a sliver of what owned. Each morning I opened the door and reached far enough to grab the same tops and bottoms again and again. I am not alone!' -
Could not relate more to this excerpt from 'The Conscious Closet'.
If you feel the same, read on…
I never empty my wardrobe at once. That can feel overwhelming, specifically if you are not the type who shops every month. I decided to do it in a certain way - I have one bag of a certain size and I would only give away the volumes that fit in that bag. That way, it did not feel like I was emptying my cupboard all at once.
Important tip : Keep the clothes you love! (be realistic)
You may have some clothes with sentimental values, like your teenage t-shirt, or something that is ancestral. There is no way, someone else is going to understand and value that item as much as you will. So keep it!
Closet cleansing should be about mindfully handing down or re-using the clothes your already own, instead of buying new. Limiting your purchases to a few sustainable outfits and maximising the use ability of each outfit.
So, take sometime out…play your fave record…and start the task with a calm mind.
Segregating is a mammoth of a task. If you need help on segregating or think all your items “spark joy” and it is hard for you to part ways with your garments, I suggest you buy The Conscious Closet. It is a “the Michael Pollan of fashion,” as defined by Newsweek .
It is not just a fashion guide but a revolutionary book to better understand the art of dressing well without harming the environment.
Once you are done segregating, celebrate with the glass of wine ;P . You did well!
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ASK FRIENDS - The first thing I do is ask my friends if they would like to own some of the clothes I do not need and we seldom swap.
That is a great way of revamping your closet without having to buy. You can swap clothes with your sisters, brothers, besties, etc. for a brand new look.
REPURPOSE OLD CLOTHES : Go to your tailor and discuss the possible ways to either revive or repair or renew an old outfit.
DONATE to house-help or people you know, in need - We have a culture of donating old clothes to our house-help, here in India. Similarly, if you know anyone who may need the clothes, please do the honours
DONATE TO CHRISTIAN CHARITIES - It is an easy task to find any church or foundation accepting donations of clothes for the needy as they do a lot of social work and are networked well.
I also suggest you look at these institutes which make donating easier, where you don't have to go and find people or foundations. They do the work for you.
SHARE AT DOOR STEP -
Not only do they make sure your donations reach the right place, they even reward you! The actual reward is however, the fact tat they keep your clothes out of landfills and in the hands of someone who really requires them. The best part, you don’t move a muscle! You schedule a pick up according to the volumes of clothes. You pay a basic transportation fee and donate items of your choice.
Another such is Clothes Box Foundation. They both follow pretty much the same working model.
Another thing I used to do personally, is exchange a bag of clothes for 15% discount at H&M, but again, they are a fast fashion brand. I am not fully supportive of their conscious strategies yet.
You can find your own places to donate. I am posting this because there are people who do not know where to donate clothes or how to reach out to the needy. If you personally know people or places who ethically do this then donate there.
Remember you can also repurpose your old clothes with some DIY. But I do not prefer that because if it does not turn out good, it is a wasted garment.
Anyway…if you know more organisations or textile collectors, please do comment!
Hope this helps and sending more love to you for making the right decision of creating a conscious closet. May all your donated clothes find a happy new home!
XO
Kimaya
In
Sustainable Living,
Wellness
7 ways, Bo and Ruth from the movie - The Star , are giving us some serious friendship goals
A friend in need is a friend in deed - I am sure most of us saw this on the school boards and many other places. But what do we really know about friendship? I am being honest in saying that I have, in recent years, understood the true meaning of a good friendship. I am not going to hide the fact that I have faultered, in many ways, in maintaining some beautiful relations by being ignorant about the fundamentals of the same. But time and again I have been reminded about the purity and the unconditonality of loving as a friend and not just being loved. Almost like divine grace. There have been and are people who have led by example and continue to lead with love and strengthen my ideology about being a good friend
I would like to talk about a movie, that does exactly what I said! The Star, is a beautiful animated Christmas movie, with a different perspective, that of Boaz - a donkey, who is irresistibly compelled to follow the North Star and how he sets out on a mission with a friend but ends up being a witness to the most magical event on the planet. I would recommend you watch the movie
Bo has a vision and shares that vision with a friend , sets out fearlessly - You find people with a similar vision and fearlessly follow it in partnership. This teaches you to BELIEVE in your vision and the partnership ie your friend who shares it with you
Bo befriends a sheep - Ruth who is has left her flock with a vision - Even if your friends don’t believe in your vision, you courageously set out on your own for you will make friends on your way, you will find your tribe
Bo treats Mary special even with her simplicity as against the riches of the royal caravan , merely in the basis in how much he is loved and how much he loves her. Goes back to help her even when his dream was in front of her eyes, speak about a friend in need and in deed - NO greater Love than that of friendship . What makes your friends special is not their royalties but their qualities and their love for you and yours for them
Being available for a friend in need and in deed is the true essence of a friend
Bo says mean things to the sheep and comes back and apologises to which the sheep accepts him gracefully and non judgementally with the same excitement - Even when you fight , have the courage to apologise and as a friend have the grace to forgive without judgement
The sheep trains Bo to wedge on the hills to maintain balance , talk about sharing knowledge - Share your knowledge
They always stayed together despite of their differences on the basis of their vision and were compassionate and helpful through the struggles - Being together through the glory and the struggles, being compassionate and celebrate the difference and the similarities.
So what is your take on friendship? Comment on this article to tell me your perspective or views! Hope you enjoyed this post.
Thank you for reading!
XO
Kimaya
I would like to talk about a movie, that does exactly what I said! The Star, is a beautiful animated Christmas movie, with a different perspective, that of Boaz - a donkey, who is irresistibly compelled to follow the North Star and how he sets out on a mission with a friend but ends up being a witness to the most magical event on the planet. I would recommend you watch the movie
Bo has a vision and shares that vision with a friend , sets out fearlessly - You find people with a similar vision and fearlessly follow it in partnership. This teaches you to BELIEVE in your vision and the partnership ie your friend who shares it with you
Bo befriends a sheep - Ruth who is has left her flock with a vision - Even if your friends don’t believe in your vision, you courageously set out on your own for you will make friends on your way, you will find your tribe
Bo treats Mary special even with her simplicity as against the riches of the royal caravan , merely in the basis in how much he is loved and how much he loves her. Goes back to help her even when his dream was in front of her eyes, speak about a friend in need and in deed - NO greater Love than that of friendship . What makes your friends special is not their royalties but their qualities and their love for you and yours for them
Being available for a friend in need and in deed is the true essence of a friend
Bo says mean things to the sheep and comes back and apologises to which the sheep accepts him gracefully and non judgementally with the same excitement - Even when you fight , have the courage to apologise and as a friend have the grace to forgive without judgement
The sheep trains Bo to wedge on the hills to maintain balance , talk about sharing knowledge - Share your knowledge
They always stayed together despite of their differences on the basis of their vision and were compassionate and helpful through the struggles - Being together through the glory and the struggles, being compassionate and celebrate the difference and the similarities.
So what is your take on friendship? Comment on this article to tell me your perspective or views! Hope you enjoyed this post.
Thank you for reading!
XO
Kimaya
In
Climate Change,
Climate Crisis
" I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees!" - Amidst the quarantine, there is hope for climate action
Hope you are reading this in the best of your health. Staying home is staying safe!
I will be honest, and tell you that the first two weeks were, kind of, rough. I felt anxious and I could not find the motivation to write or do any creative work. But I used that time to slow down and relax, with my family, enjoy some books and movies.
As I sat by the window, on the 7th day of quarantine, I looked at the same view - that of hills and a famous temple atop the same. Usually, it was only the top of the hill that was clearly visible. To my surprise, this time, I could see the foot of the hill too. The air was so clear, it was like experiencing it in Ultra HD. I looked around and saw some more houses, which were never seen from that distance. The infamous virus may have contracted CO2 emissions from the usual pollutants, but temporarily. This is only a result of suspending travel and other human activities that lead to emissions of greenhouse gases and CO2.
I, almost immediately, wanted to post about it, like the rest of the world. But I took a step back and thought to myself, whether it would seem insenstive to draw attention to or touch upon this issue, while being empathetic towards the pandemic.
So, NO, I am not being inconsiderate while writing this post about the environmental changes, and neither am I rejoicing the fact. I am only trying to show you, rather reiterate the fact that each one of us can make so much difference if we act in a union. The reason I chose this name 'MELIORIST' for my blog is because I believe, mankind, in togetherness, can make this world a better place, but only if we CHOOSE to!
I, almost immediately, wanted to post about it, like the rest of the world. But I took a step back and thought to myself, whether it would seem insenstive to draw attention to or touch upon this issue, while being empathetic towards the pandemic.
So, NO, I am not being inconsiderate while writing this post about the environmental changes, and neither am I rejoicing the fact. I am only trying to show you, rather reiterate the fact that each one of us can make so much difference if we act in a union. The reason I chose this name 'MELIORIST' for my blog is because I believe, mankind, in togetherness, can make this world a better place, but only if we CHOOSE to!
We all need to be like Lorax but are choosing the Once-ler way of life. It is NOW, that we speak for the trees! We need to be the living Loraxes!
Afforestation not only sucks-in the greenhouse gases but is also responsible for balancing the biodiversity. It contains and preserves our wildlife and invariably supports human life. According to a report from National Geographic, between 1990 - 2016, we lost around 502,000 square miles of forest. That is, according to the World Bank, an area larger than South Africa. We are loosing 3.5 to 7 billion trees every year ever since.
The greenhouse gases, as compared to our typical pollutants, pose an enduring threat, as they tend to stay in the environment indefinitely, while pollution affects momentarily. The presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere dictates climate change. Subsequently, deforestation can be a horrendous lead to a pandemic caused by infectious viruses like the current virus.
Afforestation not only sucks-in the greenhouse gases but is also responsible for balancing the biodiversity. It contains and preserves our wildlife and invariably supports human life. According to a report from National Geographic, between 1990 - 2016, we lost around 502,000 square miles of forest. That is, according to the World Bank, an area larger than South Africa. We are loosing 3.5 to 7 billion trees every year ever since.
The greenhouse gases, as compared to our typical pollutants, pose an enduring threat, as they tend to stay in the environment indefinitely, while pollution affects momentarily. The presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere dictates climate change. Subsequently, deforestation can be a horrendous lead to a pandemic caused by infectious viruses like the current virus.
Detaining fossil-fuel burners like cars and flights have caused the precipitous decline in the CO2 emission rate, over the past few days. Now imagine, if we could work on controlling it hereon? Scientists have given us a solution. We already know the answer - Afforestation! It is like, when you can't solve a problem, your mother gives you a hint or the first line to the answer and you are expected to complete the rest. Same. We have been given a cue, now we need to do the needful. And what better time than now to work your way to a sustainable and environment friendly lifetsyle. I am not saying, ditch your car or your favourite food, switch your lifestyle overnight, I am only requesting you to reflect upon your actions, now that you have the time to. Start small. Take baby steps. One change at a time.
What to do?
We need to do things that avoid the downward spiral on the social and economic front. The bigger solutions to balance both the economy and the nature could take up a couple of years, maybe a decade. Finding and investing heavily in a cleaner source of energy, working on electric transport options, etc. will require all of us ( the government and people ) to work together. We need visionary leaders who understand climate action and are ready to act on it. But pay heed to the warnings from our scientists. While the government plays a huge role in reducing the impact of hazardous outcomes/pandemics, they should be prepared to tackle, it is not futile to make individual or community efforts in the same direction. This time has taught us a great deal about minimalism, about being happy with less and the very fact that we can, indeed, manage with less, especially if it fuels a bigger purpose.
What to do?
We need to do things that avoid the downward spiral on the social and economic front. The bigger solutions to balance both the economy and the nature could take up a couple of years, maybe a decade. Finding and investing heavily in a cleaner source of energy, working on electric transport options, etc. will require all of us ( the government and people ) to work together. We need visionary leaders who understand climate action and are ready to act on it. But pay heed to the warnings from our scientists. While the government plays a huge role in reducing the impact of hazardous outcomes/pandemics, they should be prepared to tackle, it is not futile to make individual or community efforts in the same direction. This time has taught us a great deal about minimalism, about being happy with less and the very fact that we can, indeed, manage with less, especially if it fuels a bigger purpose.
Support afforestation groups
If you have the resources/land, plant it yourself.
Use ECOSIA - a search engine, that plants a tree for every search.
Choose sustainable products.
Plant a tree.
Choose vegetables over meat and dairy only for the mere fact that it consumes less energy resources.
Plant a tree.
Buy cruelty-free products.
Plant a tree.
Walk short distances or carpool with friends whenever possible.
Plant a tree.
Ditch plastic products.
Plant more trees.
If you have the resources/land, plant it yourself.
Use ECOSIA - a search engine, that plants a tree for every search.
Choose sustainable products.
Plant a tree.
Choose vegetables over meat and dairy only for the mere fact that it consumes less energy resources.
Plant a tree.
Buy cruelty-free products.
Plant a tree.
Walk short distances or carpool with friends whenever possible.
Plant a tree.
Ditch plastic products.
Plant more trees.
Phew!
I think I feel okay now, wrote my heart out!
I hope you have some take-away from this write-up! Remember, you just have to start!
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr.Seuss
Stay home and stay safe.
Thank you for reading!
XO
Kimaya
Kimaya
