Product Review: Aloe Veda Turmeric Clarifying Face Wash

I am not a regular product reviewer, but it was the goodness of Aloe Veda Turmeric Clarifying Face Wash that prompted me to write about it. I reckon we all use face washes - many that promise a fairer skin, many promising cleaner pores, while quite a few assuring us of reducing fine lines and wrinkles. But at first glance, Aloe Veda Turmeric Clarifying Face Wash offered nothing. An unpretentious bottle that talked about the ingredients inside.

First detail to catch my attention was Sulphate Free, for there are not many face cleansing products in India that cut out sulphate from their ingredient list. So what is so special about a product being sulphate free? Here are a few pointers-

• Sulphate is a chemical added to produce more foam/lather in the hair and skin cleansing products. Most common sulphate is Sodium Lauryl sulphate, used in shampoos, toothpastes, and other cleansers.
• Sulphate strips the skin and scalp of natural oils, which are essential for skin's health.
• They can cause skin irritation and in the long run, do more harm to skin and scalp.

Second detail on the pack was Paraben free. This term too has been in vogue of late. Here's why the tag paraben-free matters-

• Parabens are chemical preservatives used to increase the shelf life of cosmetic products.
• Lately there have been studies and reports that say parabens may be linked to breast cancer and fertility issues.
• In some studies, skin problems such as dermatitis, and skin allergic reactions have been linked to parabens.

These and some more details on the pack and I was sure that I wanted to let go off the the excessively foamy and fragrant face washes I have been using, and try something organic and frill-free for a while. And having learnt about the ill-effects of parabens and sulphates, I was keen to try this product.

Key Ingredients: Turmeric Paste, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Aqua, Cocamidopropylbetaine, PEG 7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerine, Polyquaternium 7, Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate

Product Description on Bottle: This clarifying sulphate-free formula contains turmeric paste and turmeric oil that controls acne blemishes, blackheads, dark spots and hyper pigmentation. The Aloe Vera nourishes the pores, removes toxins, and cleans make-up without stripping the skin's natural oils and moisture content.

My Take:  I have used this face wash for a month now, and it has really helped clear out blemishes and has evened out my skin tone, thanks to the abundant turmeric extract in it. I have a combination skin, and it cleanses the skin really well, neither drying it nor leaving it oily. Moreover since it's chemical free, I feel reassured that there's no side effect on the sly happening. Again, because of absence of sulphate, it's not very foamy but lathers well.

Pros of the product:
- Chemical free formula

- Non-foaming, so washes off easily
- Spill-free packaging
- Easy on the wallet - 100ml bottle for Rs. 160
- Shelf life of 2 years

Cons of the product:

No con really, but it has no artificially added fragrance and smells strongly of turmeric.

Note: Some skin types may be allergic to certain natural ingredients. So it's always advisable to do a patch test before using the product.