Hi everyone, so I thought this could be an interesting sort of series on my blog here, where I do an ingredient by ingredient product breakdown on some of the skin care that maybe has a lot of buzz, or just ones that I really like and work for me.
Erda Daily Glow Toning Cleanser
Just for an overview, I really like this product. I noticed some immediate changes in my skin after using this. My skin is naturally quite sensitive and I remember for a while in my teens when almost every product would burn when I applied it and I had acne and yet the entirety of both my cheeks were flaking so badly it looked like I had a white beard. This cleanser was very intriguing to me, it was sold to me with the idea that is was an "all natural" and "organic" product, but this would require more investigation to prove. Initially I was a little sceptical because the man who was running the little boutique type store was way over selling everything and was very blunt about what he thought about my skin (very french of him, I have to say!). I mean doesn't every skin care obsessed young person want to hear: so, do you use any skincare?
To be honest I'm not always sold by the "organic" argument, because surely there are some amazing things that can be created in a lab? However when I started using this cleanser, my major break outs have significantly decreased and my skin never feels stripped. Also my skin doesn't get extremely red, as it does with other cleansers. I also don't feel that tight sensation that makes me want to immediately slather moisturiser on my face.
Overall after writing the ingredient break down I am pleasantly surprised by how many of these ingredients are not harmful and not irritants, perhaps that's why my skin reacts so positively to it.
I would recomend this product to anyone looking for a soothing, gentle cleanser. However will point out that this product is not vegan (contains honey and lactic acid) so that might be a hard pass for some.
I will also point out that this is an AUD $65 cleanser and that may be a bit pricey for the average consumer. However if you talk to the people at the Origani stand I'm sure they would offer you a deal with some of their other products. Which I have to say I am also enjoying immensely.
Anyway let's get down to the Product Break down.
(just a quick note, I'm paying more attention to the first five ingredients because these are the most concentrated and will have the biggest impact on your skin)
Aqua (Water)
a pretty standard first ingredient. I mean Do I really need to go into water?
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (certified organic)
This is Aloe Vera leaf extract, and is a very soothing ingredient. Very good for easily irritated and sensitive skin. Also if you are trying help heal the skin, this is a great product and often used to help heal the skin after sun burns or burns in general.
Hydroxyethylcellulose
This is a plant derived thickening agent, often used to make gels (consistent with the consistency of this product). It is not a bad ingredient, in fact as far as thickening agents go, it is quite a good one and shouldn't cause reactions.
Carbomer
Another thickening agent, often used in gel formulas. On the whole it is not a bad ingredient, very low risk and is generally accepted in the skin care community.
Glycerin
This is a great ingredient used widely in skin care products, known for it's moisturising properties, it is a humectant and so it helps to preserve moisture on and in your skin, and will also help to strengthen the vital moisture barrier on your skin. It also probably adds to the "toning" aspects of this cleanser as it leads to better absorption by other products and allows them to penetrate deeper into the skin.
Polysorbate 20
Is quite a good cleansing agent and a surfactant, which makes it a good emulsifier but shouldn't create too much foaming.
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Another surfactant for providing a slight emulsification and foaming (important to note that this is not a foaming cleanser) and this is not to be confused with sodium lauroyl sulfate which I would never recommend using.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Yet another surfactant, one of the more gentler ones but.
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract (Certified organic)
This is a great product, basically red grape seed extract, it is a natural product full of antioxidants.
Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract
Another great antioxidant rich ingredient, and is also an emollient (softening or soothing to the skin).
Honey
Great ingredient for skin care, does make this item not vegan though. However it is great for it's skin soothing qualities, as well as being antibacterial, antioxident and peptide qualities.
Tocopheryl Acetate
Basically vitamin E is great in your skincare and it's always nice to see it included, because for those out there not using sunscreen it is very easy to become depleted.
Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil
This was the first ingredient to not have very favourable search results, cinnamon by itself can be very aggravating despite it's antioxidant properties. I'm unsure of how the leaf oil could change this, it could reduce any irritating effects.
Phenoxyethanol
At last, we reach the preservatives. I was interested to see how far down we would have to go. This one is actually a fairly good one and has been shown to be less irritating than others.
Potassium Sorbate
Another preservative, and one often used with others (a good un-harmful one though).
CI 14700
This is a yellow pigment. Now, this ingredient could be a worry, there are regulations on how much of this you can put into a cosmetic product. Since this is amongst the bottom two ingredient I seriously doubt this would be a cause for concern.
Ci 19140
AKA: Tartrazine and is a yellow food colouring, not a great ingredient like the last one, however there is so little of this I doubt it would be enough to cause concern and likely used to mask colour.
Erda Daily Glow Toning Cleanser
Just for an overview, I really like this product. I noticed some immediate changes in my skin after using this. My skin is naturally quite sensitive and I remember for a while in my teens when almost every product would burn when I applied it and I had acne and yet the entirety of both my cheeks were flaking so badly it looked like I had a white beard. This cleanser was very intriguing to me, it was sold to me with the idea that is was an "all natural" and "organic" product, but this would require more investigation to prove. Initially I was a little sceptical because the man who was running the little boutique type store was way over selling everything and was very blunt about what he thought about my skin (very french of him, I have to say!). I mean doesn't every skin care obsessed young person want to hear: so, do you use any skincare? To be honest I'm not always sold by the "organic" argument, because surely there are some amazing things that can be created in a lab? However when I started using this cleanser, my major break outs have significantly decreased and my skin never feels stripped. Also my skin doesn't get extremely red, as it does with other cleansers. I also don't feel that tight sensation that makes me want to immediately slather moisturiser on my face.
Overall after writing the ingredient break down I am pleasantly surprised by how many of these ingredients are not harmful and not irritants, perhaps that's why my skin reacts so positively to it.
I would recomend this product to anyone looking for a soothing, gentle cleanser. However will point out that this product is not vegan (contains honey and lactic acid) so that might be a hard pass for some.
I will also point out that this is an AUD $65 cleanser and that may be a bit pricey for the average consumer. However if you talk to the people at the Origani stand I'm sure they would offer you a deal with some of their other products. Which I have to say I am also enjoying immensely.
Anyway let's get down to the Product Break down.
(just a quick note, I'm paying more attention to the first five ingredients because these are the most concentrated and will have the biggest impact on your skin)
Aqua (Water)
a pretty standard first ingredient. I mean Do I really need to go into water?
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (certified organic)
This is Aloe Vera leaf extract, and is a very soothing ingredient. Very good for easily irritated and sensitive skin. Also if you are trying help heal the skin, this is a great product and often used to help heal the skin after sun burns or burns in general.
Hydroxyethylcellulose
This is a plant derived thickening agent, often used to make gels (consistent with the consistency of this product). It is not a bad ingredient, in fact as far as thickening agents go, it is quite a good one and shouldn't cause reactions.
Carbomer
Another thickening agent, often used in gel formulas. On the whole it is not a bad ingredient, very low risk and is generally accepted in the skin care community.
Glycerin
This is a great ingredient used widely in skin care products, known for it's moisturising properties, it is a humectant and so it helps to preserve moisture on and in your skin, and will also help to strengthen the vital moisture barrier on your skin. It also probably adds to the "toning" aspects of this cleanser as it leads to better absorption by other products and allows them to penetrate deeper into the skin.
Polysorbate 20
Is quite a good cleansing agent and a surfactant, which makes it a good emulsifier but shouldn't create too much foaming.
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Another surfactant for providing a slight emulsification and foaming (important to note that this is not a foaming cleanser) and this is not to be confused with sodium lauroyl sulfate which I would never recommend using.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Yet another surfactant, one of the more gentler ones but.
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract (Certified organic)
This is a great product, basically red grape seed extract, it is a natural product full of antioxidants.
Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract
Another great antioxidant rich ingredient, and is also an emollient (softening or soothing to the skin).
Honey
Great ingredient for skin care, does make this item not vegan though. However it is great for it's skin soothing qualities, as well as being antibacterial, antioxident and peptide qualities.
Tocopheryl Acetate
Basically vitamin E is great in your skincare and it's always nice to see it included, because for those out there not using sunscreen it is very easy to become depleted.
Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil
This was the first ingredient to not have very favourable search results, cinnamon by itself can be very aggravating despite it's antioxidant properties. I'm unsure of how the leaf oil could change this, it could reduce any irritating effects.
Lactic Acid
This is a great and quite gentle AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) and has great exfoliating and hydrating properties, however I am unsure if the amount in this product would be enough to be effective as an AHA.
This is a great and quite gentle AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) and has great exfoliating and hydrating properties, however I am unsure if the amount in this product would be enough to be effective as an AHA.
Phenoxyethanol
At last, we reach the preservatives. I was interested to see how far down we would have to go. This one is actually a fairly good one and has been shown to be less irritating than others.
Potassium Sorbate
Another preservative, and one often used with others (a good un-harmful one though).
CI 14700
This is a yellow pigment. Now, this ingredient could be a worry, there are regulations on how much of this you can put into a cosmetic product. Since this is amongst the bottom two ingredient I seriously doubt this would be a cause for concern.
Ci 19140
AKA: Tartrazine and is a yellow food colouring, not a great ingredient like the last one, however there is so little of this I doubt it would be enough to cause concern and likely used to mask colour.