Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil - Review
August 04, 2015
Kumkumadi has been a rage in recent times - over the blogging world, to be specific. I remember when I was in college, my mother got me a few horrible-looking bottles of Kottakkal Kumkumadi Thailam from Kerala (for those interested: Kerala-native, Bombay-born and brought up, Bangalore-currently settled). She mentioned that it was expensive which actually meant that I was supposed to use it.
And I did use it... for a few days! And then I stopped! Obviously, I never told my mother! At that age, I guess I was not interested so much in skin care as I was in makeup. Cut to the present - I myself went and got the same old horrible-looking Kotakkal Kumkumadi Thailam. I had actually been using it too and it was almost over when I got this pretty Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil...
Product Description
Kumkumadi Taila in its purest form. Ideal for facial massage.
Prescribed in Ayurveda as a ‘Miraculous Elixir’ for the skin, Kumkumadi is an absolute classic! This revered formulation contains pure Saffron and 25 precious Ayurvedic herbs that have been relied upon through the ages to lighten and brighten the complexion. It evens skin tone, clears blemishes, minimises fine lines and surface imperfections and also helps improve skin’s texture.
From the pristine meadows of the Kashmir valley, the best saffron in the world makes its way into our bespoke glass bottles, to bring you a lifestyle product – Extracted the same way as prescribed in ayurveda & is a complexion builder. It regulates the production of melanin and has miraculous healing and hydrating properties. 100% vegan.
Prescribed in Ayurveda as a ‘Miraculous Elixir’ for the skin, Kumkumadi is an absolute classic! This revered formulation contains pure Saffron and 25 precious Ayurvedic herbs that have been relied upon through the ages to lighten and brighten the complexion. It evens skin tone, clears blemishes, minimises fine lines and surface imperfections and also helps improve skin’s texture.
From the pristine meadows of the Kashmir valley, the best saffron in the world makes its way into our bespoke glass bottles, to bring you a lifestyle product – Extracted the same way as prescribed in ayurveda & is a complexion builder. It regulates the production of melanin and has miraculous healing and hydrating properties. 100% vegan.
Ingredients
100% Natural Ingredients. Have a look:
Cow's Milk, Sesame Oil (Sesamum Indicum), Rice Bran Oil(Oryza Sativa), Rose Water (Rosa Centifolia), Saffron (Crocus Sativus), Sandalwood (Santalum Album), Lodh Tree Bark (Symplocos Racemosa), Red Sanders Wood (Pterocarpus Santalinus), Coomb Teak (Adina Cordifolia), Vetiver (Vetiveria Zizanoides), Manjishta (Rubia Cordifolia), Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra), Lotus seed (Nelumbo Nucifera), Turmeric(Curcuma Longa), Indian Barberry (Berberis Aristata), Cobra Saffron (Mesua Ferrea), Flame Of The Forest (Butea Menosperma), Priyangu (Callicarpa Macrophylla), Banyan (Ficus Bengalensis), Mustard (Brassica Campestris), Ginger (Zingiber Zerumbet), Essential Oils of Bergamot and Lavender
Cow's Milk, Sesame Oil (Sesamum Indicum), Rice Bran Oil(Oryza Sativa), Rose Water (Rosa Centifolia), Saffron (Crocus Sativus), Sandalwood (Santalum Album), Lodh Tree Bark (Symplocos Racemosa), Red Sanders Wood (Pterocarpus Santalinus), Coomb Teak (Adina Cordifolia), Vetiver (Vetiveria Zizanoides), Manjishta (Rubia Cordifolia), Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra), Lotus seed (Nelumbo Nucifera), Turmeric(Curcuma Longa), Indian Barberry (Berberis Aristata), Cobra Saffron (Mesua Ferrea), Flame Of The Forest (Butea Menosperma), Priyangu (Callicarpa Macrophylla), Banyan (Ficus Bengalensis), Mustard (Brassica Campestris), Ginger (Zingiber Zerumbet), Essential Oils of Bergamot and Lavender
Packaging
Comes in an ink-blue color glass bottle. It has a dropper-type dispenser with a rubber head, similar to the one we find in eye-drops, also made of glass.
Price
or from the official Quantity
10 ML/0.33 fl. oz
Shelf Life
2 years from date of manufacture
How To Use
Take a few drops on your fingertips, massage gently into skin using upward, outward movements. Best to use after cleansing and toning. Regular application gives a luminous complexion. Massage is recommended once or twice a week.
My Experience
First, a little about my skin - I have dry-to-combination skin. I have been using this from June-end (more than a month) at night, almost regularly (skipped using maybe 4-5 nights due to laziness).
As already mentioned in a previous post, I prefer and try my best to include and repurchase natural products for my skin care regime. I have been eyeing this for a while now and it came to me at the right time too - when my Kotakkal one was almost over!
The packaging is functional - oils, especially those containing essential oils need to be stored in dark-colored glass bottles to preserve their natural healing powers. The dropper is perfect in dispensing the oil, ensuring hygiene and optimal usage. However, while travelling, you may want to take extra care since it is made of glass.
Fragrance - exotic, lovely! It is predominantly citrusy and so very refreshing that it is a pleasure applying it. It has bergamot and lavender essential oils in it as per the ingredient list. Since I had no clue what bergamot smells like, I searched and found out that it was indeed a fragrant citrus fruit. So the smell is like citrusy-lavender, more bergamot than lavender, but really nice. If you like lemongrass, you will like this too as they have a similar sharpness to them. It goes away after a while, so it should not matter to sensitive noses. All Iraya products have a distinct fragrance to them, very spa-like, which I quite love.
Please note that some citrus oils including bergamot, can make you more vulnerable to sun damage. So avoid using such products during the daytime.
It has the consistency of a light oil. Golden-yellow in colour, it spreads and gets absorbed easily into the skin. I use 3 drops for face, and 1 drop for neck. I spread the drops on my palm and fingers to warm it up, and then pat it all over face and neck. After this, you should ideally gently massage your skin to get maximum benefits. But I sometimes skip this. You can use more on problematic areas or for extra nourishment, if you so wish. Immediately on application, there is a nice, healthy glow. My skin looks well-fed, I mean, well-hydrated.
I recommend using this oil after you are done with the day's activities as it can feel a bit oily otherwise, as the hours go by. That way, it would suit all skin types. Now if you have oily skin or if it is summer and you do feel a bit heavy with this on; then apply this as you would normally; and after a few hours or just before sleeping, rinse your face with plain water and pat dry. This would make you feel better. The oil would have anyway absorbed into the skin by that time and would be working its magic.
Coming to the effects, there was no immediate miracle. However, after a month of using this, my skin texture has definitely improved. The few open pores on the area near my nose appears to have reduced in size. My face looks clearer and more healthy although the stubborn pigmentation around my mouth still exists. A few dry spots on the face have also gone for good.
I truly believe and have experienced the healing power of oils. I firmly believe that a simple, natural oil can do wonders that no cream/lotion can do, however expensive they might be. I am halfway through this bottle with a month's daily night use. So this bottle will last approximately 2 months. The most improvement I have noticed is definitely in the texture of my skin which looks more refined, more fresh. Because my skin appears clearer now, it looks brighter too. It has not worked on stubborn pigmentation though but nothing has worked on it so far, anyway.
Pros
- Improves skin texture
- Skin looks clearer and brighter overall
- Light consistency
- Spreads and gets absorbed easily
- Lovely fragrance of citrusy bergamot mixed with lavender
- 100% natural ingredients. 100% vegetarian
- Not tested on animals
Cons
- Did not even skin tone or work on fine lines
Overall Impression
The Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil is a great lightweight oil that nourishes and improves skin texture. Skin looks clearer and therefore brighter. It is made up of all natural ingredients and smells heavenly too. It is a pleasure using this. Do give it a try!
Cafe-o-Meter Rating: 4.5/5
*Product sent by company. Review based on my personal experience.
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