After nearly 16 weeks, 300+ face washes, a wallet that’s US$ 550 lighter and a steep learning curve, I can definitively say I’ve learnt something about skincare. Even if you were Rahul Gandhi road-testing FE products, you would acquire useful insights into skincare.
While I cannot promise a “5 step guide in how to cheat your destiny and not become Prime Minister”, I can do the next best thing, which is share my personal insights from using 10+ FE products.
1. Stay away from harsh physical exfoliators
You can rely on age and the sun to diminish your skin barrier. Trust me, as someone who is ageing at the inverse rate at which Madhuri Dixit Nene is getting younger, you do not need a harsh physical exfoliator to remove dead cells. All that will happen is you will damage your skin barrier, leading to irritation, burning and poor reaction to other products.
Try and remember it’s the dead cells on your face that you want removed and not the callouses on a mountaineer’s foot just returning from Everest.
No one needs to use the Kashmiri Walnut Scrub or the Soundarya Ubtan.
2. Explore the FE range in their stores and ask for samples
Did I really need all these products? I was oversold products and I do feel a fool for it. I can completely empathise with Hilary – even after getting the popular vote, a man named after a duck is president.
Frankly, I could have easily just used these products:
You need to take what the Forest Essential’s staff are taking with a pinch of salt. The FE staff are less knowledgeable about products and skincare, than we give them credit for. Also, they give inconsistent advice.
If I redid this exercise today, I’d shamelessly ask for a ton of samples lasting at least a week. I’d test them at home asking myself:
- Do these product(s) suit me?
- Is my skin more hydrated?
- Has my skin’s texture and appearance improved?
- Have my pores enlarged?
- Did the products cause me to break-out?
- If the product has a function (e.g., lightening) then did it work?
ONLY after becoming Ms. Informed Buyer, would I go back and purchase entire day and night routines. This way, I wouldn’t just buy everything recommended to me.
I admit if you are living outside India, this is not what you want to hear. I don’t profess to having a solution, except wait till you visit India.
If India, is not on your travel-list, perhaps it needs to be?
If you need more incentive, then India’s best kept secret is its Chinese food. Once you have had Indian-Chinese or Punjabi-Chinese, then I am afraid there is no going back to Peking Duck.
3. Be mindful of the amount of product you use.
Do you really need one entire pumpful of facial cleanser? Or is your face fine with half or a quarter of this amount?
Cleaning your face is essential, but it goes hand in hand with drying out your face. Repeatedly drying your face is no friend of aging skin.
I am very careful about the amount of cleanser that I use – its the least amount you can imagine and then I dilute it with water before I apply it.
Similarly, I have a gigantic sized face. If I use the amount of night cream prescribed by FE staff I would only cover 70% of my face. Use your intutition and the years of your own experience of taking care of your face. Use more product if you need to.
Good night and good luck
This completes the second part of my FE finale.
I would love to hear what your experience of FE products has been. Click on “EMAIL ME” for my address. I look forward to hearing from you!