Introduction
I hadn’t appreciated I had reviewed so many Juicy Chemistry products already. While this is not my favourite brand, it may be growing on me. My favourite product so far, has been the face scrub (see below/this link), which is simply sugar and salt but is ingenious in its simplicity.
What am I testing?
In deciding whether or not to use a facewash, I apply this quite rudimentary and basic test of my own design. I have used this face wash at least once a day for the past three weeks.
1) What are the cleansing agents present in the product?
This is the ingredient list
As far as I understand, it uses only one cleaning agent – Potassium Hydroxide – which is what you would use in bar soaps.
Bar soaps are terrible to use on your skin because they change the pH of your skin.
Its essential that the pH of your skin remains slightly acidic because that’s the pH at which the skin barrier works optimally. Therefore, the pH of most skincare products is between 4.5 and 6. The product also has olive oil and castor oil, which are good at mopping up impurities and dirt. But called me old-fashioned, I still prefer a decent surfactant blend
2) Does this have a good preservative system?
The product prides itself on being preservative-free. Preservatives are not the enemy of skin or products.
They prolong the shelf-life of products and prevent microbial contamination.
The pump on this bottle to a large extent will provide air from affecting the product. BUT I am sorry, I am a strong believer in preservatives being necessary to preserve products and not cause harm to the skin.
3) Deposits hydrating ingredients on the skin?
I usually look for glycerin (see this blog: The Critical Importance of Glycerin on the skin).
There is some sugar but nothing in this product that deposits hydrating ingredients
4) Does not impair the skin barrier?
I have written endlessly about a mild face wash is critical to not irritating or drying the skin barrier. This face wash (even at once a day) does leave my skin slightly dry and tight. I can’t even think of using this twice a day because it would irritate my skin too much. (Not something I am willing to test).
The “squeaky clean” feeling I get after using this face wash is a dead give away that the product is a bit too harsh.
Would I buy this product again?
No.
So few face washes fail each component of my very basic test.
It is a pity because the face wash smells really pleasant – you get a small hit of frankincense but this is quickly replaced by a refreshing smell.
Available for sale at Juicy Chemistry (INR 750 for 100ml)
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Never heard of this brand…
Juicy Chemistry is an ECOCERT brand that uses certified organic ingredients. This certification allows me to have confidence that the quality of their ingredients is second to none. As the skin is our largest organ, using products that are of very high quality is common sense. Juicy Chemistry’s products appear to be cheap as chips and one reason maybe they come in small sizes. Think Rs 1 shampoo satchets – while you believe the product is cheap, the quantity is so small that they offer manufacturers huge profit margins.
I love the packaging of Juicy Chemistry: their non-plastic laminated paper packaging, and their containers are excellent. Kama Ayurveda and Forest Essential’s would do better if they took a leaf out of Juicy Chemistry’s book. The husband-wife founder story is quite famous, and this is a link to their website.
Other products from Juicy Chemistry I have reviewed