Last year one brand that I saw over and over again on my Instagram feed was Forest Essentials. Everyone was talking about it, raving about how good the Forest Essentials face products were, how effective they were, and so on. I am a big believer in the power of natural ingredients, read herbs, and often whip up face masks and cleansers by raiding my pantry. Forest Essentials products are based on Ayurveda and that also increased my interest in trying their products and on my recent trip to India, I finally did! Based on my skin concerns and health, I ordered 5 different facial products from them and this post is my honest review of each of these products.
As someone with sensitive, combination skin, the two things I always struggle with are uneven skin tone and acne marks. And we were in Delhi during December and the winter there isn’t forgiving so I needed to make sure whatever I got was also hydrating enough to combat winter dryness. I picked up these 5 Forest Essentials face products based on the ingredients to deal with these issues primarily.
A little bit about Forest Essentials
Forest Essentials is an Indian luxury skincare brand based on the science and the principal of Ayurveda. Their philosophy is simple: “If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin.” They make clean, pure, organic products using natural ingredients. What I also love about them is that they are cruelty-free and 100% made in India.
Review of 5 Forest Essentials face products I recently tried –
Delicate Facial Cleanser Kashmiri Saffron & Neem
What does the cleanser do?
According to the website, this cleanser helps clean clogged pores, replenishes skin’s natural moisture, adds a natural glow to the complexion, and leaves the skin feeling clean and soft.
How did I use it?
I used this cleanser morning (when I had nothing on the face) and evening (when I had light makeup.) Sometimes I would remove my makeup with a makeup remover first, before washing the face with the .
Does it work?
I have been religiously using it for the last one month and I can say it works. It leaves my skin feeling very fresh, clean, and soft. It got the last bits of makeup out in one wash. Just a coin-sized amount is good for a full face cleanse. Also, it has a very delicate, beautiful fragrance… not too overpowering, just right to tingle your senses.
My verdict?
For $20, this is definitely worth the price. A 5/5 in my eyes and it’s my favorite of the 5 Forest Essentials face products that I tried.
Facial Treatment Masque Nourishing Mysore Sandalwood & Nagkesar
What does the masque do?
It is supposed to nourish and rejuvenate the skin by minimizing pores and removing the excess sebum from the skin to make it appear and feel less oily. It helps give the skin a clean glow.
How did I use it?
I used it twice a week for almost a month. Used a steamer to open my pores (as suggested by the directions on the packaging,) and applied a thin layer of this masque on my neck and face. I let it dry and then washed my face with cold water.
Does it work?
The first few times I used it, I felt that the small bumps on my face became more pronounced but later I realized that it’s because my face was cleaning up! I would say it definitely works and you can notice a visible glow after using this masque. I am not a big fan of the smell. Both sandalwood and nagkesar have a pleasant smell but I found the smell of this masque a little overbearing. That’s a personal choice though.
My Verdict?
I would give this a 4/5 just because of the fragrance and for $26 I find it slightly pricey.
Aloe Vera Juice
What does the juice do?
This is a leave-in toner which means you don’t have to apply it with a cotton ball. You can simply apply it all over your face and leave it at that. It’s supposed to soothe and calm your skin, provide hydration, etc. You can also mix it with your face packs, etc.
How did I use it?
I apply it morning and evening after washing my face and using my Estee Lauder Nutritious Micro-Algae Pore Minimizing Shake Tonic as a toner. I just take a couple of drops and apply them all over my face and neck. Sometimes, I massage it into my skin with my jade roller.
Does it work?
My skin definitely feels very well hydrated after applying it. Sometimes when the weather is not so dry, I am able to skip the moisturizer and just go with this aloe vera juice. Of course, I make sure to top it up with my sunscreen. However, on drier days, my skin feels hydrated for some time but then I have to apply a moisturizer.
My verdict?
I’d give it a 4/5 just because I haven’t seen a lot of visible difference in my skin and I am not even sure if it is supposed to combat any skin issues or just help with hydration. However, for $10, it’s definitely worth the price.
Light Hydrating Moisturising Facial Gel Pure Aloe Vera
What does this facial gel do?
This gel is a moisturizing gel that’s supposed to help in cell renewing. This simply means it’s supposed to leave skin feeling soft and supple as well as remove any dryness caused by dead skin cells.
How did I use it?
I applied it over my face and neck after applying the aloe vera juice. It’s gel-based so it doesn’t clog my pores or make my face feel oily. Sometimes even after applying this gel, my skin felt dry so I had to apply a layer of moisturizer on top.
Does it work?
My face definitely felt smoother immediately after applying it. However, it is not as moisturizing as I’d have liked. Like I mentioned, sometimes I had to top this with a layer of moisturizer otherwise my skin felt a little dry. It’s gel-based which is what I prefer since oil-based creams and moisturizers can clog my pores, forcing my skin to break out.
My verdict?
For $26 price, there are other drugstore brands with more effective aloe vera creams. Hence, this gets a 3.5/5 in my book.
Floral Make-Up Remover Oil
What does it do?
The last of the 5 Forest Essentials Face Products that I tried is this floral makeup remover oil. It’s supposed to remove even smudge-free makeup and also nourish eyelashes.
How did I use it?
I tried it with natural-looking makeup, i.e. when I wasn’t wearing any eye makeup or full base. I also tried it with a full face of makeup – with foundation, mascara, etc. I took some on a cotton ball and wiped my makeup with it. Sometimes, I had to take more depending upon how much makeup I had to remove, lol.
Does it work?
Let me start by saying that it does get rid of all your makeup. Now, what else? It’s an oil and it gets really oily. The package says you take this on a cotton ball, remove your makeup and just rinse with warm water. I tried that and my face felt soooo oily. I washed my face with a cleanser to remove all the oil!
The best way to use this, I felt, was when I took a little on my palm and rubbed it all over my face to let my makeup melt and then proceeded to use a cleanser to wash everything off. With acne-prone skin like mine, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take the risk of breaking out due to oil.
My verdict?
I’d give it a 3.5/5 just because of how oily my skin got after using it. And for $15, there are other good makeup removers you could get.
Should you buy Forest Essentials face products?
One, despite being an Indian brand, Forest Essentials delivers to the US directly so you can indulge in some self-care. But that’s not the only reason you should try them. All Forest Essentials products are natural, chemical-free, contain no petrochemicals or parabens. Plus, they are made on the principles of Ayurveda so they definitely work.
Where to buy Forest Essentials face products? You can buy them directly from their . You could also but the price mark-ups are pretty high on Amazon for some reason.
Pin It – My honest review about Forest Essentials face products
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