This is my one month update on using the Forest Essentials skincare routine. Click on this post for more background.
Briefly, I was recently recommended (so many) products by Dr Ayurveda at the GK store.
I asked the good doctor specifically about the Soundarya range and how long it would take for it to impact my hyper-pigmentation / age spots. This is what they said,
“you can use it continuously all the time.”
and their answer remained unchanged after further prodding.
Everyone can agree that I take what Dr Ayurveda said at face value.
Skin regime
I have a separate morning and evening regime and I use my own sun-protection.
My skin type is normal/combination. But with the onslaught of 50 C summer its more dry, requiring more hydration.
Morning routine
Tejal Balancing Water and finished with
Soundarya Radiance Cream
The RASA serum makes the skin barrier more receptive to the balancing water, which is stuffed with Hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid retains moisture in your skin. It makes your skin look more supple and hydrated. It should be an essential component of all skincare routines and it suits all skin types.
If you are seeing fine lines/wrinkles forming, reach for the Hylauronic acid and not botox.
Evening routine
My evening routine is the cleanser, followed by the Rasa serum, then the Balancing Water, then the Soundarya serum ending with the Date & Litchi night cream.
Is this a lot of product to use? Yes, but a few drops of the Soundarya serum goes a long way.
Do I notice a marked improvement in my skin quality or texture or appearance?
No. This explains the absence of “before” and “after” photos.
Also, I (gratuitously) got soul-crushing feedback from my family – that these photos were as informative as Trump tweets on gender equality. Ya, so no skin photos today.
Do I still look this cute munchkin with a skin rash?
No. My skin has made a complete recovery from the self-inflicted face burning incident. I have minor scarring – the FE products have not repaired this, but it is ludicrous to expect such a miracle. After all, they are face products not Jesus of Nazareth.
I sound deeply ambivalent about the brand? Do I have an opinion – negative or positive – about the products so far?
So, Dr Ayurveda recommended I use the Soundarya cleanser EVERY night to remove age spots/hyper-pigmentation.
After using the product as directed for 2 days in a row, I felt my skin was so squeaky clean, sore and red that I thought, the product was an industrial grade detergent.
It would find more use cleaning the coal tar residue in a crude oil refinery…
Soreness, sensitivity and redness are BAD signs – they indicate damage to my skin barrier.
(click on this link for the need to preserve skin barriers)
No beauty expert – let alone a doctor – should have been recommending I use this harsh exfoliant on a daily basis. Clearly this level of over-exfoliation was unnecessary given my age and skin type.
Tut, tut…Dr Ayurveda should have known better.
Prognosis so far is not good
- I have been recommended products that are causing excessive dryness. If I hadn’t discontinued use, I’d do serious damage to my skin barrier.
- The intensity and colour of my brown spots under my eye – remain unaltered.
- Products are not adding extra hydration that I need for the summer and this despite using the Hyaluronic Acid packed balancing water.
I leave you with the following thought: buying products that don’t suit you is a negative NPV decision. Click on this link for an NPV refresher, because who doesn’t need one.
FE has one month to redeem itself. May they adopt an imaginary leprechaun for luck.
P.S. Am I being too harsh on Forest Essentials?
NO. India’s monthly income is US$ 149 or c ₹10,000. I have spent at least 3 times as much…
Also, Forest Essentials brands itself on being a premium luxury skincare brand and this invites scrutiny.
Finally, I have a legitimate expectation that when actual doctors recommend products, they know what they are talking about.
Please let me know if you have any queries or I’d love to hear your suggestions so please write to me. Click on “EMAIL ME” for my address. I look forward to hearing from you!