Review & Demo: Chandrika Moisturizing Facewash

Chandrika Moisturizing Facewash

Chandrika soap is very famous in India as an Ayurvedic soap that cures skin problems. It is a green colored, solid block of soap that contains 7 oils. In fact, it has been around since my Granny's times. My mum would use it to fight pimples as a teenager. I used it similarly too, but it was so very drying! And with the availability of new and cutely packaged (chemical laden) face washes that tackled acne and pimples, I switched over to those without a second thought! Over the years, and with more maturity (ahemmm!), I realized the harm in using chemical cosmetics and turned to look to natural, and Ayurvedic formulations. To my utter delight, the very famous hand made Chandrika soap formula was being made available in a new and improvised face wash!

Chandrika Facewash is claimed as India's first range of Ayurvedic face washes from the house of Wipro Consumer Care. It is a face wash range that is available in 3 varieties meant to suit 3 different skin types, dry, normal, and oily. They are Chandrika Moisturizing Facewash, Chandrika Revitalizing Facewash, and Chandrika Purifying Neem Facewash, respectively. 

Image source: hometester.com

Although I have moody skin which can get either dry or oily completely at its own will and wish, I chose to buy the moisturizing one as I believed the original Chandrika soap was drying in nature by itself and a moisturizing base would avoid the stretchy, taut feeling which I don't enjoy.

Claims:

The Chandrika Facewash range has been developed from a unique combination of rich, natural ingredients, and best international selling formulations. The Chandrika Moisturizing Facewash contains the goodness of coconut and aloe vera that gently removes dead skin and replenishes moisture in the skin. Additionally, the presence of honey, orange peel, almond oil, rose water and licorice evens out skin tone, making it radiant and gives the skin a soft and supple texture.

Ingredients:

As I always say, a product is all about what is inside. What happens outside is a reflection of what the ingredients are inside! It can only deliver what its got, right?

So, the list of ingredients as mentioned on the pack, as well as their use in the product as per my research are as below. Those highlighted in red mean they pose irritation to sensitive skin.

Water

Sodium laureth sulfate - Surfactant. May cause irritation to the eyes or skin.

Glycerin - Skin conditioner, moisturizer, solvent.

Cocamidopropyl betaine - Foam booster

Sodium cocoamphoacetate - Foam booster

Acrylates copolymer - Binding agent

Cocamide methyl MEA - Surfactant

Sodium chloride - Aqueous agent

Perfume - Fragrance

Cocamide MEA - Foam booster.

Laureth 10 - Surfactant

Glycol distearate - Skin conditioner

Citric acid - pH adjuster

Disodium EDTA - Binds the ingredients together

Phenoxyethanol - Preservative. May cause irritation to the eyes or skin.

Methylisothiazolinone - Preservative

Aloe vera extract - Suits all skin types and issues. More information in Cleopatra's beauty secrets.

Coconut milk extract - Cleanses the skin and keeps it hydrated.

Orange peel extract - Skin brightening and tightening

Rose water - Fades discoloration

Licorice extract - Skin lightening and conditioning

Honey - Anti-bacterial and skin softener

Almond oil - Erases fine lines and scars

Sodium hydroxide - pH adjuster

CI 19140 - Colorant

CI 42053 - Colorant

So, as you can see, it has a lot of chemicals, but it seems that they are necessary for forming the foam and cleansing agent. It has few ingredients that may irritate sensitive skin. But it makes up for all the chemicals with the presence of natural ingredients in it which offer a lot of benefits for the skin as mentioned. Seeing the list of natural ingredients, it looks promising for dry skin types which needs gentle cleansing and a lot of moisturizing. The only ingredient that may help with acne is aloe vera, while honey will prevent break outs. However, pimples and breakouts are not a common issue for dry skin people. Almond oil and coconut milk will keep the skin soft and supple, while the rest like orange peel, rose water, and licorice will help to lighten, brighten and erase discoloration on the skin. So, it looks good for dry skin glorifying!

Review:

As you can see, the packaging is a sturdy plastic tube in white with maroon accents and flip open cap. The name Chandrika is in the trademark green color. The packaging, honestly, looks a tad too serious, to be attractive to a consumer who is drawn to colorful and light packaging.

The product is sort of light greenish but is mostly transparent (if that makes sense) and it has a sheen to it. It is creamy textured but it is quite runny at the same time like a gel. With a very slight squeeze, a lot of product will be dispensed as it is runny and flows easily. Its fragrance will remind you of the ol' Camay soaps. The fragrance is quite strong and lasts long. If you have a very sensitive nose, you may not enjoy it as much.

The product does not lather a lot, so don't be compelled to use a lot of product just to get some more lather.  It won't make it lather more. It lathers up as a film. But even so a little product will cleanse the face just as well as using a lot of it. It is good in a way because a lather can dry out the skin and as it is meant for dry skin, the creamy film is more apt.

After washing the face with this product, skin will feel squeaky clean! I have never experienced a squeaky feeling before with any other cleanser. You can actually hear your skin squeak against your fingers movement! Brilliant cleanser. About the moisturizing properties, they don't go overboard and make the skin oily after a while. Skin stays moisture balanced for quite a while without getting either dry or oily. As for the skin brightening and radiant glow, they come with regular use over a period of time. Not immediately visible results in terms of glow and brightening. However, this I have noticed with all natural and Ayurvedic results. They do not act as fast as compared to their chemical based competitors, but once they do, their results outshine their competitors.

Here are some demo pictures to show you how even a little product will lather. As previously mentioned, it is a filmy lather, rather creamy feeling.

Hope you enjoyed the post!