Our Expert Your Queries

Questions by Trupti

1.  How long a lipstick should be preserved and used or what is the validity of a lipstick?

Throw the lipstick the moment it tastes, smells or looks weird. Smell wise you can get that horrible smell of the rancid oils. Taste-wise it would be bitter than your usual lipstick. If you look at the lipstick and if you see oils separating or fungus on the sides, chuck it! Otherwise you can use a lipstick for over 2 yrs or till it gets over (which rarely happens if you are just stuck to one lipstick everyday)

2.  Many times I have noticed that skin toning gives me problem of open pores, is toning really useful?

Pores open and close according to skin’s reaction to the atmosphere and not our brains. I would suggest open pores that are unclogged instead of clogged. Tightened pore would open up if you are oily and the oil is glue that catches dust and dead skin cells and clogs the pore. Also if inadequate sun protection is taken then there are chances that the pore walls get scarred (also happens during extractions and other reasons of physical trauma to the skin) or the support structure under the pore get collapsed. At such times an anti-ageing skin care regimen works. Using an exfoliating serum like Estee Lauder’s Idealist or Clinique’s Pore Minimizer Refining Serum would tackle your concern.

3.  How much do you believe in natural products compared to high end cosmetic brands?

The word “natural” is actually wrongly used. What you mean to actually say is herbal. “Natural” word comes from extracts of plants and actives from the extracts of plants that used in a cream and are not synthetic (aka not synthesized or manufactured in laboratories). ALL HIGH END BRANDS HAVE NATURAL INGREDIENTS TO SOME EXTENT and other names you read are emulsifiers, fillers etc. I prefer the higher brands as they know what they are doing and use high quality raw materials.

I have a question to ask you, the home remedies that you use. Are the vegetables purely organic? Or purchased from the market? If the latter is your answer then let me highlight a “fact”. The veggies that we use on our face are hybrids which means low on quality but high on quantity and treated with horrible chemical insecticides and pesticides. Even the turmeric from the market is adulterated and modified by adding synthetic colors. If this solves the answer on its own then you have a bit food for thought.

4.  Does mineral makeup is better than regular products?

I love minerals because they are non pore clogging. But please remember minerals have their draw backs too. Funny thing is “talc free” is called mineral product. But “talc” itself is a mineral. Also minerals like Bismuth oxychloride widely used in cosmetics to give a pearlescent effect if present in your favorite mineral based foundation can incite an allergic response and I am an example of that as I had got allergies. Not all minerals could be good. The good part is use a mix of mineral and regular products. Use face and eye primers as they are the safest in case a god forbidden allergy happens. Most brands are mineral based these days in the mass and luxury sections but it also depends on how the products are marketed and brand’s USP. Mineral foundation from some well known brands I know contain more harmful substances than a regular brand. Mineral products are generally silicone free so you may find them difficult to blend. I’d suggest good mineral based brands like Bare Minerals etc. but most of them are not available in Indian Retail unfortunately. I would also avoid minerals if I have an oily skin as they do not have products to absorb oil and can give a hideous shine to the face during the day.

You can buy DIY mineral powders from coastal scents or Mahya minerals and create your own stuff if you like. I strongly suggest using a Mineral Face Primer like the Laura Mercier one.

5.  I have read this on many blogs that while going out 1st one have to put moisturizer, then sunscreen and then base makeup and foundations… Does so many things are required on face to expose your skin in sun?

Unfortunately yes. Until specified, your foundation may not have the full power to protect your skin from sun damage. If you don’t moisturize your skin before putting a foundation, the foundation tends to look grey as it sits on your dead and dehydrated skin. It could create a makeup blunder. I believe in a sunscreen under a foundation as the even if the foundation has sunscreens they are not as stable as the ones in a cream or lotion form.

Exposure to sun can cause severe damage to your skin which is collectively known as pigmentation, acne scarring and wrinkles. If prevention was better than cure, then one must follow the steps to avoid future loss. Though I also believe one must age gracefully with a glowing skin and not spots and wrinkles sagging skin.

If you have any questions feel free to mail me at .

27 comments

  1. laksh says:

    I have to agree with Neeraj on the unnaturalness of most so called natural and herbal products. But at the end of the day we’ve to find what works best for us, if home remedies are your thing then good for you!

    I’m a little confused with the mineral makeup answer though, I was under the impression that mineral makeup works well on oily skin (might just be because of the non-pore clogging thing). I’ve read that certain ingredients like Zinc oxide mattify. Do you’ve any suggestions at all for mineral makeup, for those with oily/combination skin?
    laksh recently posted..

  3. Neeraj says:

    Guys, if u find this post a bit rude please forgive me……truth hurts and this is an apt example!! I feel so bad that the country i must be proud of, does all this to me!!
    Neeraj recently posted..Pixie Dust

    • rashmi says:

      Hey Neeraj … thanks for the eyeopener and readers here dont know how to appreciate good work
      guess its not your fault but the ones who believe in commenting on idiotic post and ignore these awesome and valuable information provided here

      what else to say , the reader “Trupti” didnt cared to thank you …
      i believe we need to stop this as nobody cares to give positive feedback and rather sit quite and enjoy …

      • Zara says:

        Nooooooooooooo!!!!! DOnt stop this Guys!! i have so many more queries also..m sure evryone appreciates the initiative since it is helping so many..

          • shilpa says:

            mac guru…i ‘ll kill u if u stop this feature…..its so awsome……dont do this…..
            and dr neeraj i myself having written few posts here know that it hurts if u dont get a positive response….but mac guru got me thru that…..ita a part and parcel of blogging…..

          • rashmi says:

            ahahah i know you can relate to this and that why i feel bad … both of you are Doctor and took time to provide some light and ave your honest opinion …
            i want to see you back 😀 😀

  4. Zara says:

    Wow! this is one hell of a myth buster post! I always felt that NATURAL meant 100% natural and were somehow safer for the skin…Thanks for clarifying Neeraj..

    Btw, how does one use DIY mineral powders? M sorry i seem kinda ignorant but the only way ive ever used mineral powders is for blush and as a finishing powder..

  5. Trupti says:

    First of of all thanks a lot Neeraj for this valuable information..

    And Rashmi I was not able to access internet yesterday hence i saw this post today when i reached office, so it is nothing like sitting quiet and enjoying… If i am asking questions then obviously i am also very curious for reading answers and getting information from a professional like Dr.Neeraj…

    Once again thank you very much Neeraj for this post… specially for my querry of lipsticks.. i was really wanted to know about lipsticks expiry as it is not mentioned.

  6. Trupti says:

    One friendly suggestion for you Rashmi… I know you got bitter experiences over here sometimes
    but pls dont measure everyone in same way….

    Thanks to you also for giving me chance to ask my qurries.

  9. shilpa says:

    dr neeraj…..i can afford to throw away a drug store lippie that costed me few hundred bucks after two years…..but it pains to throw a mac or bobby brown lippie…..that costed me 1000 to 1500 bucks……that means there is no way we can have a nice collection of lipsticks…..??????

  10. Parita says:

    Hey Rashmi…finally i have sent you my set of queries…:) Please do let me know if you’ll post the same..thank you!
    Parita recently posted..

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