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. 

Venustas Essentials : Royal Ubtan

 

Based on an Ayurvedic beauty recipe called an UBTAN , this skin food/scrub/mask is a brilliant base for cleansing, refining, invigorating and rejuvenating the skin. 

ABOUT THE BRAND

Learn more about Venustas Essentials HERE!

KEY INGREDIENTS & THEIR BENEFITS

• Almond Powder: 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 (1). 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. (2,3).

• Saffron: Saffron has anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties which make it an ideal ingredient for treating acne (4). Rich in exfoliating properties, saffron helps lighten scars and spots left behind from old wounds, cuts or acne eruptions (4). It also improves the quality of your skin by removing the dirt and impurities and tones the skin (4).

• Dried Rose Petals: Has antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties that can help treat acne and acne prone skin, reduce swollen spots, redness and has skin calming properties (5). Rose is especially beneficial for sensitive skin because the sugars in its petals create a soothing feeling (5).

• Red Sandalwood Extracts: A virtual ware house of goodness and has antiseptic, astringent, anti inflammatory and disinfectant properties (6). It’s powerful antimicrobial property, which means it can help kill the bacteria that cause acne. The antiseptic quality of sandalwood benefits to treat rashes, acne, blackheads and other skin eruptions, its germicidal quality inhibits the growth of bacteria (6). It is also a natural astringent, helping tone up the skin (6). An emollient, sandalwood soothes and softens skin, helping it hold onto water to stays hydrated longer (7).

• 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 (8). 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 (9). 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 (10). The protein and fat lubricates and softens rough skin, solving dryness.

• Clay Mix (Bentonite & Fullers Earth): Clay makes a fabulous facial mask, for shrinking pores, tightening and toning skin, removing impurities and sloughing off dead skin cells. It can also be used directly on pimples to reduce their size and inflammation and get rid of them faster (11).

• Wild Turmeric (Kasturi Manjal): It has anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-septic and anti-bacterial properties due to which it is used to as a cure for acne and acne marks, as a scrub in conjunction with other exfoliating agents, as an anti-ageing agent, to help removing facial peach fuzz and as a remedy for removing sun tan (12). 

• Essential Oil of Rose: Perfectly balanced between the omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids (EFAs) – essential in keeping skin hydrated and firm. EFAs help to eliminate damaging and aging inflammation redness associated with scarring and broken capillaries while also renewing cell membranes and regenerating the skin (an anti-aging key) (13,14). It also contains transretinoic acid (a form of Vitamin A) responsible for skin smoothing wrinkles, rejuvenating skin, as well as lightening age spots and stretch marks. It can also help with itching skin, it’s antiseptic properties help treat acne and other skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and wound healing (13).

• Essential Oil of Sandalwood: A cicatrisant, the essential oil of sandalwood soothes the skin and has the ability to promote cell regeneration, helping to eliminate scars and other dark marks on the skin. Its antimicrobial property helps prevent acne, soothe redness and inflammation, hydrates without clogging pores, tighten, and regenerate skin cells to produce a softer, smoother, and firmer look (7).

The product come sin a 50 gm tub packaging with a screw on top and an inner protective lid that prevents any spillage making it a sound travel partner. 

Powdery and dry in consistency, the face pack is gritty in texture, reddish yellow in color and has a delicate fragrance of roses. Upon closer observation, one can notice almonds bits and rose petals. 

To use: Mix 1/2-1 tsp of ubtan with 1/4-1/2 tsp of raw milk, yogurt, or floral hydrosols.  I prefer to use either yoghurt or raw milk due to them being rich in good fats and skin refining acids. Massage onto damp skin, rinse off or leave on for ten minutes and rinse with tepid water.the face pack can safely be used 1-2 times a week. 

Upon my request, a couple of weeks ago, Seema had sent me a sample of the royal ubtan. That batch was finer in texture and did not have any distinguishable fragrance. Though similar in formulation & efficacy, I have to say I prefer the current batch of face pack that I have received. Its grittier in texture due to the coarsely ground almonds and has a gorgeous aroma of roses. The product can most certainly fulfill the role as a facial cleanser, scrub  & a mask. 

Abundant in vitamin E, silica, anti-oxidants, phyto-nutrients, amino acid peptides, ceramides, essential fatty acids and probiotics, the ubtan is very effective for all skin types but specifically for acne prone ones. The ingredients work in tandem to clarify the skin, draw heat from the blood and stimulate lymph flow, exfoliate, firm & tone the skin, give radiance to the skin, helps prevent acne & leaves skin baby soft, smooth and supple.  Upon application, the face pack does have a yellowish tinge due to the wild turmeric but does not stain the skin in any way. 

Prepared from a traditional formulation of natural herbs, the ubtan aptly named, nourishes the skin while providing it a royal glow.

*Product sent as PR sample*