The Ritu^l : Adzuki Face Polish

Used in Japanese skin care regimens for centuries, adzuki bean powder has been used to cleanse and exfoliate the skin and to rejuvenate and brighten the complexion. Since the 18^th century, Japanese noblewomen used stone ground adzuki beans for beauty: adzuki powder was placed inside a small silk bag and moistened with water to create a creamy cleanser to gently scrub the face and body (1).

ABOUT THE BRAND

An honest and bespoke skin lifestyle brand, co-founded by Shivani Prabhakar and Akanksha Sood that makes natural skincare products with pure ingredients sourced from India, Africa, Europe and America. Suited to the urban lifestyle, whether you're 'on-the-go' or looking for some 'time-out', they have something designed just for you! 

KEY INGREDIENTS & THEIR BENEFITS

• Himalayan Red Rice: Besides offering UV protection, rice powder has exfoliating properties that can help to keep the skin looking brighter (2). Rice powder has a chemical structure similar to ceramide, and ceramide increases collagen production to make skin supple (3). It’s skin lightening properties helps fade acne marks and blemishes while it’s natural anti ageing and oil-absorbing properties, makes it ideal for oily or acne-prone and dull mature skin. It’s also a good anti-inflammatory and soothes sunburned skin (4).

• Organic Japanese Beans: Adzuki beans have been used in Japanese skin care regimens for centuries. Powdered azduki beans are the perfect exfoliator for gently buffing away dull, dry skin and giving your face a fresh, healthy glow (5). The beans contain a natural foaming agent called saponin, which gives it a natural foaming action to  help remove dead skin cells and cleanse pores by drawing out pore clogging sebum, dirt and bacteria that can cause blemishes (1).  It also tightens and softens the skin, and promotes circulation, giving it a healthy, natural glow (1).

The organic adzuki face polish, comes in a 50 ml tinted glass bottle with an inner plug and a screw on top. White in color speckled with green dried holy basil leaves (not listed in the ingredient list), the product is powdery in consistency, fine in texture, and devoid of any added fragrance.

To use, scoop the required amount of mask with a dry wooden spatula and bring it to a paste like consistency with either raw milk, rose water or any other liquid of choice before applying. Wait until it dries completely before dampening it with water and gently massaging in circular motions before rinsing it off with tepid water. 

I purchased this product solely for the ingredient: adzuki beans. I had read the exalted benefits adzuki beans imparted to skin and was definitely excited to try it. 

My skin is dry and flaky in the winters but come summer it seems to have a mind of its own. Its a combination of oily and dry with visible pores and bouts of acne here and there. Since rice flour works well for oily skin and the beans counteract excessive drying, I decided to use it in hot, humid summer months. 

INITIAL TAKE: The first time I blended it with rose water but found the polish to be too abrasive, so the next time round I used raw milk with no particular success. The mixture still felt abrasive on the skin which one commonly experiences with rice flour but even with all the humidity, my skin felt tight and dry once I rinsed off the mask!!

So I decided to tweak the product by adding about a tablespoon of powdered oats to (1) make it gentler on the skin (2) the lipids and protein content in oats have humectant, occlusive and emollient properties which help withhold moisture in the skin.  Since adding oats, the face polish does a spectacular job at gently cleansing the skin whilst nourishing it.

TAKE 2: As a face polish, the product has been disappointing so I use it as a body polish now mixing it with Ida Naturals, skin glow pack and am quite liking it. It helps lighten the tan and adds a radiance. 

In my opinion, the product definitely requires some reformulation. Adding some skin loving oils or essential oils to the formula and complete disclosure of ingredients would definitely perk up the product's value.

Purchase The Ritu^l products  HERE & HERE. 

The Ritu^l : Green Tea Milk Protein Face Mask

Face masks have been used for centuries and were the favored method of skincare long before there were high-priced designer skin care lines. As we discover more about the skin microbiome, and the ability of the skin to absorb nutrients, these old time skin remedies take on a new allure. 

ABOUT THE BRAND

An honest and bespoke skin lifestyle brand, co-founded by Shivani Prabhakar and Akanksha Sood that makes natural skincare products with pure ingredients sourced from India, Africa, Europe and America. Suited to the urban lifestyle, whether you're 'on-the-go' or looking for some 'time-out', they have something designed just for you!  

KEY INGREDIENTS & THEIR BENEFITS

• Organic Green Tea: The slightly abrasive texture of dry green tea leaves acts as a great exfoliator to banish dead skin cells and purge pollutants (1). The EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) compounds in green are helpful in reducing inflammation and evening skin tone while the antioxidants may also be helpful for reducing acne and increasing skin elasticity (1). Green tea could stimulate activity in old skin cells, indicating its potential use for promoting skin regeneration, wound healing, and for treating skin conditions (2).

• Powdered Milk: An excellent exfoliant, milk contains natural alpha hydroxy acids, which mildly scourges excess dead cells off the skin's surface, revealing soft skin underneath (3). Abundant source of proteins (whey and casein), fat, amino acids, lactic acid and vitamins A and D, all of which calm dry skin and help reduce redness and soothe irritated skin (4). Lactic acid present in milk helps dissolve inactive protein and breaks down dead cells, thereby exfoliating skin cells and hydrates, increasing natural barrier lipids in the outer layer of skin, while lightening and brightening skin for those with age spots or darkened areas (5). The protein and fat lubricates and softens rough skin, solving dryness.

• Almond Meal: Rich in vitamin A, almonds have moisturizing and emollient properties that are a wonderful way to nourish the skin while providing gentle exfoliation and promote the natural turnover of skin cells (6). Almonds can cleanse the skin by eliminating toxins and free radicals from your body. The various antioxidants in almonds possess anti-ageing properties which help in reducing fine lines and wrinkles. The Vitamin E component is considered a skin food as it nourishes the skin, keeping it smooth and glowing, can help to remove fine lines and wrinkles. It can also lighten age spots and other blemishes on the skin. (7,8).

• Garbanzo Bean Flour: Great as a face mask or a scrub because of its slightly gritty texture, it draws out impurities and excess oil and is hence, good for acne prone skin. As an exfoliator, it helps remove dead skin leading to skin rejuvenation and aid with the removal of fine facial hair aka peach fuzz. It is also good to lighten skin tone and blemish marks (9).

The green tea milk protein face mask by The Ritu^l comes in a 50 gm amber glass bottle with a screw on top. There is an inner protective stop that fits securely to prevent spillage. Powdery in consistency, dry and grainy in texture, the mask in yellowish in color with dispersed green tea particulates and is devoid of any added fragrance. The lack of fragrances makes it an ideal choice for those with sensitive olfactories.

To use, scoop the required amount of mask with a dry wooden spatula and bring it to a paste like consistency, let sit for 10 minutes or so before applying it to the face and wait until it dries completely before dampening it with water and gently massaging in circular motions before rinsing it off with tepid water. 

Initially not heeding instructions, I mixed the mask with toner fluid and immediately applied it, but the particulates in the mask felt really abrasive and when I washed it off the skin felt dry and stretchy. So the next time round, paying closer attention to the instructions, I used raw milk and let the paste rest for a couple of minutes before applying it. 

Using raw milk and letting it sit on the counter for a while really did the trick. The resting phase softens the green tea particulates in the mask yielding a mild exfoliant while the raw milk nourishes the skin cells from deep within and hydrates the skin resulting in a cleansed and gleaming complexion. The milk and green tea combination is particularly effective for my skin since I have dry skin that is prone to occasional acne.

In general, suitable for all skin types, utilizing green tea once a week in beauty regimes is a wonderful way for the skin to detoxify.

*Product sent as PR sample*