Hello!
During one of my trips to Watsons, I picked up this cleansing pair from the Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem range.
Established in 1930, Himalaya Herbals aims to unravel the mysteries of Ayurveda and present it in an easily accessible form to the international society. Manufactured under strict quality controls in Bangalore, India, Himalaya Herbals has come to be one of the more popular brands of Ayurvedic health and beauty products – the brand indicates that it Himalaya Herbals products have been endorsed by over 250,000 doctors worldwide and is available in over 82 countries. For adhering and maintaining the highest quality and consistency in manufacturing safe and natural herbal remedies, Himalaya Herbals has also been awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification in 2003.
I was introduced to Himalaya Herbals a while back – at that time, it was almost exclusively retailing at South Asian stores in Little India but soon, Watsons started retailing Himalaya Herbals products as well which makes purchasing a little more convenient. I have long been a fan of herb-based skincare, Ayurvedic, in particular. I’ve mentioned the same in my article that appeared in the April 2013 issue of the Watsons Glow magazine.
Like I mentioned in my Watsons Glow Magazine article, Neem is one of the best natural anti-bacterial ingredients and can often be found in many Ayurvedic preparations. Neem is well-known for being a miracle plant and has been used in India for over 2 millennia and now the world over. It is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and is sought after for many skin concerns. Taken orally, Neem is also known to improve liver function, detoxify the blood and even balance blood sugar levels.
It is only fitting that a skincare range that targets problems caused by oily skin such as excess sebum and acne uses Neem (my mean, green fighting machine!) as its main ingredient. Let’s take a closer look at each product a little more closely.
The Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Face Wash is a soap-free cleansing gel suitable for daily use.
Together with Neem, it contains another ingredient very popular in Ayurvedic preparations – Turmeric. Turmeric is native to the ginger family and is sometimes referred to by its more scientific name, Curcumin. It is often used in South Asian cooking and imparts a rich yellow tinge to food preparations and has a slightly peppery scent to it. More than its vibrant colour, it is added to food given that Turmeric is known to to alleviate pulmonary and gastro-intestinal ailments. Applied topically, Turmeric is also known to alleviate skin ailments such as rashes and eczema and is lauded for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumour, antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Together, the Neem and Turmeric help kill acne-causing bacteria on the skin and protects skin, keeping both the oilies and pimples at bay. If you notice, the ingredients list shows that Neem and Turmeric are the main, key ingredients and not used in some insignificant proportion.
The face wash itself has a gel texture. The clear green gel lathers up well with a little water and removes grime and grease from the skin effectively. Once rinsed off, it leaves skin feeling cool and refreshed. I like using this on hot afternoons at home – the subtle but fresh herbal scent is such a lovely pick-me-up.
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After washing my face, I always use a toner. My regular choice of toner is the Kiehls Blue Herbal Astringent Toner which I’ve repurchased several times. The Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Cleansing Astringent Toner (SGD$7.95) is another toner I’ve come to like.
This toner contains a great combination of Neem and Lemon – Neem purifies the skin while Lemon and Lodh (a herb known for its cooling astringent properties) tighten pores and firm skin.
The toner is a clear liquid and leaves skin feeling very cool and refreshed. I like using this particularly after I’ve gone for threading – it will sting a little but I notice I don’t tend to breakout as much or get pesky little bumps on the skin after using this toner. If you’re looking for a real deep cleanse, you can try applying this toner with a textured cotton pad like I’ve done in the photo below – I’m using the Watsons Stitched Round Facial Cotton Pads (which are dual sided; one side is plain while the other is textured).
Again, this is available in a convenient 100ml size – great for travellers or first-time users who would like to try the product. It is packaged in a sturdy, opaque bottle with a flip-top cap. The only thing I would prefer is a smaller opening to better control the flow of the toner – I have a tendency to tip it too much and over-soak my cotton pad sometimes.
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I like these 2 products immensely – they are very affordably priced and I feel the formulation is honest to a large extent. The brand’s long history, ISO certification and international recognition inspires confidence in me and I’m inclined to try other products from the brand too – in particular, I remember seeing an anti-hairfall tonic a while ago. If you’ve been wanting to try something from the rich offerings of Ayurveda and are not sure where to start, Himalaya Herbals is a great option – even though the traditional names of the ingredients might be used, everything (such as function, usage) is clearly explained on the packaging itself. Watsons stocks a very large variety (head to the larger outlets like Takashimaya) and there is a whole lot to choose from.
Hope you found this useful and have a lovely week ahead!
Disclaimer: Products featured were purchased with credit furnished by Watsons Singapore. Choice of product is mine; all opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
