Unlisted Brand • Chandrika ayurvedic soap • Gels/Soaps

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Nandana on 4/23/2013 8:06:00 AM more reviews by Nandana

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Dark, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Hazel    

I have known this soap for a long time now. It's an amazing soap. The soap is very fragrant. I love how my bathroom smells of it every time I enter. It produces a very good amount of lather. The smell stays on the skin for a really long time. I have used this soap since my childhood. I do alternate this soap with other soaps like Medimix and Lush's soaps (I use Lush very rarely...depending on my mood) but this soap is the most important one for me. My skin is even toned, very soft and healthy. It may be due to my routine of alternate usage of Medimix sandal and chandrika soaps but for whatever reason it is, it has made my skin absolutely wonderful. I love my skin and am proud of it. I am someone who believes in using as minimal products as possible. I dont use any fancy stuff. The only important things in my routine is a body lotion and a moisturising cream for my face. Thanks to this soap :) I dont know what I would do without it.

I try this trick which is also great for getting beautiful skin. I dont do this everyday. I am not sure if I can recommend this to anyone but I want to share this. First I moisturize my skin with almond oil and leave it for at least an hour. It can be left for a longer time, its upto you.. Now I wash myself with chandrika soap using exfoliating gloves (even without the gloves will do just fine :) but I use it because the place I live is dusty and I need to get rid of it accumulated on my skin). Next I wash again with medimix sandal soap without any scrubbing or exfoliating accessory. Chandrika soap gets rid of most oil and the other soap gives it some moisture as it is a light moisturising soap. I know its washing my skin twice but this way you get rid of all the oil and have great moisturised skin without being horribly stripped off of the moisture in the skin.

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pratimapeanut on 3/7/2013 8:20:00 PM more reviews by pratimapeanut

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I'm a repeat customer of this product. I love the piney/herbal smell, it lathers well, lasts a long time and only costs $1.47. I have used this on my face for a few days and it did not break me out but it did really dry my skin out so now I only use it on my body. I have the export version.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Kalya on 10/24/2012 11:25:00 PM more reviews by Kalya

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

My earlier review for this soap had been - I love this soap, just wish it had more herbal oils in it, as the skin is left too dry after using the soap. The scent is divine, what with all those herbs in it.
Wouldn't recommend it for the face and delicate skin areas.

UPDATE - the ingredient list for this soap has changed since 2012. Caustic soda is an ingredient now, that too a high percentage!
I didn't notice this change until I had actually experienced the aftermath :(
I got a severe rash all over my torso and neckline areas. My back too has red patches and this rash is very itchy. I have since, applied calendula balm all over and it is better now.
Absolutely downgrading this soap to a 2/5. The 2 lippies are for the awesome scent and squeaky clean effect. Unfortunately this is now a detergent in my books. Never buying this soap again until the formula is changed.

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geekyn00b on 10/15/2012 2:59:00 AM more reviews by geekyn00b

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Especially reccing this soap for the summer, if you've got a really creamy-rich skincare routine, and if you're very whitehead-prone. But steer clear if you're one of those that like to avoid talc, glycerine or perfumes (they're pretty high up on the ingredient list).

Really, I have to review this lil green bar - I've repurchased 4 times, use it *almost* daily, and will continue as long as the company keeps making it (safe there I think, as they've been in business over 70 years now).

I often use this to take off sunscreen and makeup, before moisturizing or whatever treatment I'm doing that night. As others have mentioned, this soap is VERY drying, but the rest of my skincare routine is so filled with rich oils, creams, and sunscreen - I think that's part of why my skin loves this soap so much year round.

At one $ just round the corner at my local indian grocery, even if this didn't clear my my blemishes, it'd still be worth it (as a side note, visitors LOVE washing their hands, just for the scent!).
..............................
INGS on box purchased Sept 2012, packaged 2010: sodium cocoate, water, sodium palmate, glycerine, talc, paraffin wax, perfume, orange oil, patchouli oil, palmarosa oil, cinnamon leaf oil, wild ginger oil, sandal wood oil, lime peel oil, colour CI 12740, CI 61565.

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*TOP REVIEWER* cherryme on 9/6/2012 1:58:00 AM more reviews by cherryme

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Somebody gave me this soap as a gift. At first I was happy I had something ''ayurvedic'' and I was excited to try it. When I looked on the ingredients list, one of them is CAUSTIC SODA!! I thought this is joke! I wouldn't like to wash my body or face (especially face) with a drain cleaner product but I thought maybe I just got the wrong idea at once so I used it on my hands and it dried them so this soap ended up in the bin!!

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putu on 8/21/2012 7:53:00 PM more reviews by putu

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Black    

I was browsing on vitacost to buy apple cider vinegar and my eyes stumble upon this.It has good review so I purchased one because it's on sale for dirt cheap.Receive it today and take a shower with my 6 yo daughter.It smells heavenly!Reminds me of incense that we always use to pray and reminds me of BALI my home island.Divine!I know it's drying my extremely very dry skin.WTH I just love the smells,it's lathering very well ,definitely will repurchased this.

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*TOP REVIEWER* bigsvig on 6/1/2012 6:07:00 PM more reviews by bigsvig

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

At the end of the day this is just a bar of soap. But I loooove the way it smells. Every time I see one, I have to pick it up and pull as much of the fragrance as I can into my brain where it transports me to a time long ago when I was young and wide-eyed and wondered what I would be when I was all grown up...

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*TOP REVIEWER* MyBeehive on 6/1/2012 5:23:00 PM more reviews by MyBeehive

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Obviously, this soap isn't for everyone. I've used it off and on since forever. It's super cheap at Whole Foods and online and it has a fresh, natural, incensy scent that fragrances up your bathroom. Yeah, it smells a bit hippie. But that's not a bad thing. I use this as my hand soap and sometimes will use it for showers.
It does dry the skin, I guess that's why it's so good for skin conditions...it'd also be great if you have sweaty palms, this would dry them, I bet!
I think it comes down to whether or not you like the scent, because it performs great.

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idash on 11/9/2011 1:59:00 PM more reviews by idash

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

Its a divine smelling soap. Perfect in summers. Good for body only not face.

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russetandvermilion on 8/18/2011 5:38:00 PM more reviews by russetandvermilion

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

I love this soap. It is a stand-by in my bathroom. I get it at a local health food store for .99 cents. I love that is smells strong like patchouli and lime. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean. It has been around since 1940 and it is not tested on animals...so i am sold!

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lollykopop on 11/27/2010 2:00:00 AM more reviews by lollykopop

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I really hate this product! after I had showered myself using this soap, I make my sister felt my skin and she said its rough! no matter how much lotion I used, my skin was still rough. the fragrance smells disgusting too. I threw it right away after using this.

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suntea on 9/6/2010 2:07:00 AM more reviews by suntea

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I also got this soap at Vitacost where it was a mere 67 cents! I'm on the fence on the scent. I find it a overpowering, but it thankfully doesn't last. It reminds me of a hippie or smoke shop (patchouli / incense) so if you're not a fan of either you won't like this soap. I use it on my combination face and find that it cleans without leaving me too dry. It is a hard milled soap like someone else mentioned and I find myself not needing to use a lot, so 1 cheap bar lasts a long time. If you like the scent or can tolerate it, then its a great soap!

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LibrarianStyle on 8/31/2010 1:23:00 AM more reviews by LibrarianStyle

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I just received this soap from Vitacost.com (where it is, I believe, under $1 for the original rectangular export) and so far I like it. I have used it on my hands and face.

It's a bit drying on my combo facial skin, but I think it will be an ideal shower soap (maybe to alternate with another soap) since i moisturize after anyway. This soap is very rich -- you don't need much. I smell a muted, spicy jasmine-y scent (almost powdery in the way that some jasmine is almost powdery) rather than the strong patchouli others have mentioned. It seems like a very nice unisex scent, and although I can still smell it several minutes later, I doubt anyone else would notice once an hour has passed.

This may be an ideal "once-in-a-while" soap for when you need an at-home spa day or when you want an extra-cleansing, relaxing boost. The ayurvedic aspect piques my interest in this wellness tradition.

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*TOP REVIEWER* mdbutee on 12/19/2009 5:38:00 PM more reviews by mdbutee

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Well for starters this soap is dirt cheap. It cost around a dollar. The scent is extremely strong, not a bad smell but very strong patchouli, musk type fragrance. My husband used it at night and he said he would not use this in the morning when he had to be around people!
This gets your skin extremely clean and is not particularly drying. The bar was gone in no time so I guess that is why it is so cheap. The fragrance did diminish significantly once the bar had sat open in the bathroom for a couple of days. This would be a good soap for the summer for people that work out in the elements - not for me!

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shireenns on 6/20/2009 3:40:00 PM more reviews by shireenns

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Dry, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I read about Chandrika soap here and decided to give it a try. Here's the run-down on the good, the bad and the chalky:

The GOOD:
- 99 cents! cant beat that!
- Pure, natural, environmentally friendly ingredients.
- My skin was literally squeaky clean. This soap leaves no residue.
- It is helping with the bumpies on my upper arms AND when I rubbed some onto my microfiber washcloth, it completely dissolved the rough dry deadskin on my heels. This soap is worth it's weight in gold for that alone. I was amazed. I've never seen a product do such a quick smooth easy job on my heels.
- The smell is soooooo good. It lightly lingered on my skin through the day. I kept noticing it and liking it. As well, when I got home, 10 hours after my shower, my bathroom smelled great!

The BAD
- I gathered from the reviews it was good for oily skin but I decided to try it anyway - I figured if coconut oil was the main ingredient it wouldn't be drying. I was wrong. I needed a lot of moisturizer afterwards.
- I looked up the ingredients and one of them was used to cure leprocy! That seems a little harsh for everyday use, though I know many people swear by this soap for everyday use. That ingredient gives the soap it's antiseptic/astringent quality. But that's probably what stripped the moisture out of my skin.

The CHALKY:
- Soapstone is one of the ingredients and it serves as a talc. My hands were chalky after using this soap the first time but since then I've only used it with a washcloth and haven't seen that again.

Overall, I consider this soap amazing. If my skin weren't dry, I'd use it daily everywhere. Presently I am using it to keep my heels smooth and to get rid of the little bumps on my upper arms and it's doing a fantastic job with both. I really really love the smell! I will definitely by this again and again and again!!! I wish I could turn it into a liquid soap - anyone know how to do that?

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*TOP REVIEWER* Ceci2468 on 5/29/2009 9:44:00 PM more reviews by Ceci2468

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I read the reviews on this soap and was intrigued. I found it in Whole Foods and decided to give it a try since it was pretty cheap ($1.19). I just got out of the shower and I've never seen a soap lather up so much. It's incredible. I put some on my loofah and the suds lasted for my whole body. The suds are silky smooth and the fragrance is lovely (not overpowering). Cleans really well and I can tell that the small bar will last a long time. The bar is very hard and a little goes a long way. Even though it's an inexpensive soap, I felt like I was in a spa. Afterwards, as always, I moisturized my body with my whipped shea butter. I'm looking forward to my next shower with this soap. I would definitely buy it again and I highly recommend it (esp since it's so inexpensive, you might as well at least try it). :)

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rebeccacribb on 3/3/2009 2:29:00 PM more reviews by rebeccacribb

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I have finally figured out that I just do not like patchouli, at all! This soap has a very strong fragrance of patchouli. Also, the soap dried my skin out and gave me a bit of a rash. It is all natural, and if you like the fragrance and your skin can tolerate it, it's probably a great soap. Just not for me.

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ratgirldjh on 12/9/2008 10:06:00 PM more reviews by ratgirldjh

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

i love this soap. for years i keep coming back to it even though i would prefer to buy locally made hand-made soap - but this soap rinses so clean and i even use it to wash my hair sometimes and it doesn't leave your hair all gummy like some soap and even shampoo bars can when you have hard water. also it smells wonderful and i love the color.
when i wash my chihuahua with this soap his fur gets really clean and is really soft and fluffy. so yes i will buy this again and again
btw the original chandrika company was bought by wipro but if you buy the soap in the original boxes it is still sold by the original owners (they got the exporting business) - if you buy it in the new boxes (the oval soap) that is the soap made by wipro - and it is available in india only but you can find it in indian stores. both are good but i try and find the soap by the original owner (rectangular) because i would rather not support such a large company as wipro personally.
UPDATE: while i still love this for shampooing and for a hand soap - i have found that it tends to dry out my hair with long term use. i do love it though and think that is is the best soap for not leaving soap scum.

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*TOP REVIEWER* SensualSusanna on 11/25/2008 9:47:00 PM more reviews by SensualSusanna

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

A very nice natural soap that has a really fresh scent. Cleans well without leaving behind a residue. I'm squeaky clean and refreshed when I use this soap.

My daughter gets a red/ezcema rash often and this soothes the itch and irritation. If she uses it regularly -- it seems to vanish after a few days. I highly recommend this -- as a very good soap for daily use and especially for anyone with a skin condition.

Chandrika soap is a beautiful jade green colored soap which is really pretty to put out for guests as well. I am always asked what kind of soap it is... and always keep a few extra bars on hand to give away if someone really raves about it.

A major plus is the fragrance as it has natural patchouli oil and herbs. It's not a high patchouli scent though -- just fresh and clean. I really love it... great natural soap that's super cheap! What more could you ask for?

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*TOP REVIEWER* barnycat on 9/8/2008 10:30:00 PM more reviews by barnycat

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

This is my everyday bar soap. I use on my face and body. Great lather/scent. Cheap as can be for a good product. Will continue to repurchase.

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