Let me take you way back in time, when we had only one continent, mammoths would roam the fields of grass and I was a little girl just turned 13.
It was the night after a long and exhausting week at school (ha, little did I know!) and I had decided, all mature and grown up, that I would run a bath for relaxation. And because I was lacking the fancy salts and scented candles I had glimpsed on tv (I told you it was long ago), I grabbed the next best thing I had on hand. A tiny bottle of essential oil I used to diffuse in my oil burner.
If you have ever done anything similar, you know what is coming: Getting into the bath was the most horrible experience ever, because little me did not know that you can´t just use these oils in your bath and on your skin. You will have to treat them properly, or they will burn.
I have learned a lot since then (and not seen a mammoth in a while), and I have gone back to using essential oils in my skincare. But I will never forget how strong and irritant they can be.
Now here am I going with that little anecdote of mine? Well, the Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser I am going to review today contains quite a few essential oils, listed among “Favorite” or “Other” ingredients depending whether they do have an effect or simply smell nice. I did, however, also include them into the “Unfavorable” ingredients list, to warn people with sensitive skin. They can be powerful irritants!
What Tata Harper claims:
This cleanser combats the daily wear and tear caused by environmental stressors, like pollution and smog, on the skin’s appearance by effectively purging surface buildup and impurities, while maintaining skin’s moisture.
- Cleanses away surface impurities resulting from environmental stressors.
- Cleanses the skin while maintaining hydration.
- Leaves skin feeling cool and refreshed.
Facts
Prize and size
One pump contains 125 ml and retails for 66 $ on the website here. I had a small size containing 15 ml which lasted me a little over two months.
Texture and smell
Despite being described as a gel that cleanser feels like a cream to me and melts into a more oily texture when massaged to the skin. Once you add water (I always apply my cleanser to dry skin) it emulsifies and rinses without residue. The scent is herbal, almost spicy, and very pleasant.
Application and effects
It is easy to distribute, rinses without leaving a film and makes my skin feel clean and refreshed. Despite the two different kinds of clay it is not drying at all, instead it leaves my skin hydrated and supple. Using it daily though can be too much though, so I reach for it maybe four times a week, usually in the mornings.
Favorable ingredients
- Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride:Moisturizing
- Sunflower Seed Oil:Rich in Vitamin E and linoleic acid, anti-inflammatory
- Glycerin: Humectant, draws moisture to the skin
- Propanediol: Increases penetration of acids, Humectant
- Sucrose Palmitate: Emollient
- Decyl Glucoside: Gentle surfactant
- Oryza Sativa Extract: Rich in antioxidants, brightening
- Glyceryl Caprylate: Emollient
- Lactobacillus/Punica Granatum fruit ferment extract: Enzymatic exfoliant
- Papain: Enzymatic exfoliant
- Curcuma Zedoaria Root Oil: Rich in antioxidants, brightening
- Cymbopogon Citratus (Lemongrass) Oil: Essential Oil, adstringent
- Salix Alba (Willow) Bark extract: Natural source of salicylic acid and tannins
- Eugenia Caryophyluss Flower Oil: Essential Oil, antiseptic
- Foeniculum Vulgare Oil: Essential Oil, antioxidant
- Aloe Barbadensis Juice: Antiinflammatory, soothing
- Kaolin: Clay, oil absorbing, pore refining, clears congestion
- Bioflavenoids: Boosting antioxidant effects
- Montmorillonite: Clay, oil absorbing
- Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract: Rich in Vitamin A and C, Omega 9 fatty acids and arachidonic acid (part of skin natural barrier)
Other ingredients
- Sucrose Laurate: Preservative
- Glyceryl undecylenate: Surfactant/emulsifier
- Sucrose Stearate: Thickening
- Magnesium Aluminium Silicate: Thickener
- Zingiber Officinale Root Oil: Essential Oil, fragrance
- Abies Pectinata Leaf Oil: Essential Oil, conditioning
- Leucostonoc ferment filtrate: Preservative (natural alternative to parabens)
- Mica: Lubricant
- 5
Unfavorable Ingredients
- Citral/Citronellol/Eugeniol/Geraniol/Limonene/Linalool: naturally occurring in essential oils, potentially irritant to the skin
Does it live up to its claims?
Yes.
It cleanses while maintaining hydration, leaves my skin feeling refreshed and contains a nice blend of antioxidants to combat free radicals as well as clay to control oil production.
Would I repurchase?
Yes.
But it depends on my skins needs. I think it is a cleanser for times when my skin is stressed. Imagine, the sun, the sweat, the SPF all clogging up on your face, so you crave a deep cleanse, but still need hydration.
Who do I recommend it to?
People with dehydrated skin looking for a deep cleanse.
People that want an all natural approach to their skincare. Tata is organic, cruelty free, vegetarian and this product is also vegan.
If you have sensitive skin though, make sure to patch test first.
I personally am excited to try more Tata in the future, now that I know how to handle the essential oils. In fact, that is already my second product reviewed (read about the first one here).
Oh, and have you seen my latest vlog yet? I uploaded just yesterday!
https://youtu.be/dReZHms7JHU
All products were purchased with my own money and all opinions are honest and my own. Some links used above may be affiliate links.
This is not a sponsored blogpost.