Unlisted Brand • Likas Papaya Soap • Cleansers

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AngTanseco on 5/30/2013 12:16:00 PM more reviews by AngTanseco

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Likas Papaya Soap is a great product for those who have acnes, wants to lighten your skin.
Likas Papaya Soap is not great product who have sensitive skin, dry skin, and or wants a fast results within a couple of days. If you have a Filipino skin-tone (for me) it took about 4 weeks to see results with my skin tone and my acne was reduced by 60%. I suggest this product to those who are not in a hurry to see results. It will take time. On the first 2 weeks, I've used it twice a day one in the morning and one at night, after that I started to use it once a day because Ive been so busy and I don't want to overdo it and ruin my skin. Now I've been using this on and off with Belo lotion. This product does makes your skin dry and you need a moisturizer if you feel very dry. When i'm at home I only put it on sometimes. I can tolerate it. But def when i go out, I put that and sunscreen to protect my skin for getting dark. That's if you want it to lighten a tad bit. i really suggest this with anyone:) do research first, and see if you want to. Overall, I find this product worth my money. it's not cheap in Canada unless you buy it online or from asian countries. :)

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nisazmn on 3/27/2013 2:26:00 PM more reviews by nisazmn

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this soap based on the reviews here but i was very disappointed with the results on me. :( Technically, there was no obvious changes on my skin. It did not whiten my skin. What it does is it dries up my skin! I'd always feel itchy every time after i use it. So yeah, maybe its not for me. Bummer. I really wanted to be snow white :C lol!

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EthanJ on 3/17/2013 11:21:00 PM more reviews by EthanJ

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Going by some of the reviews I expected a miracle worker, so I happily purchased 3 papaya bars. On the first use of Likas Papaya soap I noticed my skin was whiter; this was not true whitening but rather a ghostly tint above my skin but I let it go thinking in time I will see change.
I had heard a user claim that they leave the soap on their face overnight, although this was something I was not about to try. For the second attempt, I left the soap on my face for slightly longer, let's say 15 minutes. Areas around my face started tingling and I assumed the soap was in action and doing it's job. It only took moments before the tingling sensation turned into a strong persisting burning sensation, I had to wash it off immediately!


My face was burnt, hives appeared and my forehead looked much darker. I was burnt so badly that small blots of blood appeared from under my eyes. I did use the soap on other parts of my body and did not get this reaction so maybe I have sensitive skin on my face. However natural soaps should NOT bring out this sort of experience, there are much safer ways of improving skin tone. The rest of the bars have been thrown straight in the bin, they are garbage.



Never again!

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LovesBeautyy on 3/10/2013 3:15:00 PM more reviews by LovesBeautyy

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I have been using this product since may 2012, so i have been using this soap for 11 months. POSITIVES - This soap has definately helped my face become clearer and fairer! I am of Pakistani heritage, my skintone is beige, however, my Tzone is darker, but since ive been using this soap my skin around my chin has signifcantly changed, it has become lighter. But when i started using this soap i stopped wearing foundation which i wore atleast twice a week. BIG POSITIVE - I dont wear foundation anymore because this soap has helped my skin look so much fairer and my complexion is so much nicer!! NEGATIVE - The soap is quite expensive, and vary compare to each seller, as i live in London i have to order it online. Also it is very drying, so dont leave the soap on for over 30 seconds on your face, and always apply cream after.
However, the process is gradual and your skin wont be fair over night, it will take time, and your skin wont dramatically become white, it will only reach the level of fairness your skin holds. I have never had spots, so i am not sure if it clears spots, but it definately makes the skin look fresh. TIPS = Apply the soap on your lips to make them lighter and always apply it on your neck, as you want your neck and face to both be fair.

If you feel unsure about the ingredients of the soap, i watched reviews of the product on youtube.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Sweryn on 1/4/2013 7:11:00 AM more reviews by Sweryn

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Curly   Eyes: Brown    

Ok, so now I understand how this soap is cheating everyone. It makes you think it is whitening your skin thanks to the "amazing" papaya properties. Even myself got to think that, and I was very excited to see something worked for my dark underarms!


Truth is, there is no way papaya in this soap can do anything for lightening skin. I'll explain why.


After looking at the ingredients, I noticed something very strange. This has sunscreen, in the form of titanium dioxide. And guess what titanium dioxide does after you apply it to your face? Yes, it leaves you an annoying white cast that makes you look pale like a ghost. Titanium dioxide is used both as a sunscreen and as a pigment to color cosmetics. And surprisingly, it is used in Likas Papaya Soap to make you think it is "whitening" your skin, when in fact it is only leaving you some white pigment that fades away when you wash your skin again. Simply as that.


And what about the famous papaya ingredient that is supposed to lighten your skin? Let's see. Papaya enzyme has indeed some mild (very mild) exfoliation properties, and this soap contains indeed some papaya... as the last ingredient. So it probably has a tiny amount just so the makers can say they're using that ingredient. And I guess a "Papaya soap" sounds more attractive to customers than a "Titanium dioxide soap" that can only whiten your skin in the same way makeup and sunscreens do.


You could at least say that this works well as a soap. But no. This has sodium laureth sulfate, a known skin drying ingredient that irritates your skin with constant use. You know you are using cleansers with SLS it they leave your skin dry and tight after rinsing. Doesn't matter how much you moisturize afterwards, the harm is already done. SLS works by stripping the natural oils of your face, and therefore it can trigger acne. I got really painful breakouts on my cheek after using Likas as a face cleanser. So you don't want this soap or any soap in bar form near your face, if you don't wanna ruin your skin.
.

So I hope I helped people understand how the "magic" in this soap works. I was very disappointed myself when I figured out everything. But I guess it was too good to be true :/

16 out of 16 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

o0lilazndemon0o on 12/11/2012 12:32:00 AM more reviews by o0lilazndemon0o

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Hazel    

I dislike everything about this soap!
Stinks, broke me out, left me with a residue to feel sticky, drying, and tight.

I was looking on youtube and I was watching this girl mention this filipino papaya whitening soap, so I decided to Google it, and this Likas Papaya soap popped up as one of the popular, original one.

What sold me was it claimed to be 100% natural and the before and after pictures as well as the ratings and reviews on Makeup Alley.

When I first received it, I checked for authenticity of the soap because I know there are a lot of duplicates, and it was verified to be original - I also bought it from a reputable seller.

The first thing I noticed was the smell. It smelled like styrofoam or some kind of plastic smell. I ignored it, optimistic because if it smells this way, it reinforces the claim that it is 100% natural, and it definitely is because it doesn't seem to be enhance with fragrance.

From reading the reviews, I already expected the soap to be drying and hard to foam up, which is fine because natural and organic products usually do not have ingredients such as sulfates that help them bubble up quickly. However, the drying part is not a good thing.

I have felt this sort of "drying" before and it comes from cheap soap. What you feel that you believe is drying is not what it seems. It feels tight and sticky, which feels drying and this is because of the residue of the soap that is leftover on your skin. Again, optimistic about this product's benefit of whitening and help with acne, I ignored that glaring error and moisturized as recommended by the reviews.

However, what upset me was I had used almost all of the bar of soap, and I have yet to see a difference in the brightness of my skin. I used the soap all over my body and in almost every crevice, as well as my face - no difference whatsoever!

I was mad because deep down, I knew it was too good to be true! Dirt cheap, one bar of soap for your entire body from head to toe, whitening and helps with acne? Miracle product! Unfortunately, untrue for me. I was left with a stinky soap and tight, dry, and sticky skin. What's worse is I think it actually broke me out! Nothing in my regime had changed, not even that time of the month, except for the soap, and I started to experience painful, cystic acne around my chin and on my chest.

Horrible product. I knew it had to be too good to be true.
My first review on here, and I just had to vent my anger.

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harmony888 on 11/25/2012 6:07:00 PM more reviews by harmony888

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

CHEAP ($3) AND DRIES ACNE AND FADES OLD SCARS. JUST MOISTURIZE AFTERWARDS LIKE NORMAL DUHH- wth is everyone complaining for about it being dry! You're supposed to already have a good moisturizer with SPF ANYWAY, RIGHT?!

I don't want to try "SILKA" cause it has a color additive that isn't approved by the FDA here in the US, other than that, I'm sure Silka works just as well.

"BLOCK & WHITE" is also pretty good and I have cousins that have used that for over 20 years as a daily body and face soap-They seem lighter toned than parents!

**UPDATE 5/9/13
This stuff works for sure..I'm no longer an NC30 and my husband is so much lighter and brighter. I have had to switch all my foundations and powders to a shade or two lighter now and that's awesome :)

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leeooniee on 10/6/2012 2:33:00 AM more reviews by leeooniee

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium Brown, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

Used this on both my dark underarms and face to fade dark post acne marks. Made my face feel overly dry, tight and squeaky and broke me out even worse causing more acne marks. For my dark underarms, I've used the product daily for 3.5 weeks with no visible change - I understand that this may not be long enough for the product to work to see visible results. However, the soap dissolves very quickly, it has only been about 3 weeks and half the soap is gone. Bottom line - I wouldn't recommend this product if you have sensitive skin.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

iheartmakeup01 on 9/2/2012 11:55:00 AM more reviews by iheartmakeup01

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

OHHHH GOSH !! This is by far the BEST soap ever !! I don't know if it's this papaya soap or my sulfur soap I used before, but THIS is a MIRACLE as it cleared my cystic acne! I've used this for like 5 days, and now my skin is clear (I've got some acne scars that are noticeable, but I think they slowly fade away!), my skin is sooooooo smooth that I couldn't believe it when I touched it and looked in the mirror! Seriously, THANK YOU Likas for making such a miracle on earth (: I would repurchase anytime, and I hope it will never be discontinued.

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mariannebtriz on 7/31/2012 3:38:00 AM more reviews by mariannebtriz

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I like using Likas because it dries out my blemishes and pimples whenever I do get pimples. I've heard of this back in the Philippines when I used I live there and it's one of those Asian whitening soaps. I use this on my face and back when I get blemishes here and there and it would lighten my face tremendously but it wouldn't make that much colour difference on my body colour. It would dry up my face though and have that tight face feeling. I used this for my tanlines so I can atleast even out my skin tone and it helps!! Been using this for 2 months now and it's been great! I usually use this during finals when I break out on my forehead and chin and this would help dry my pimples out! This is the only soap, well, cheap soap that does that.
Pros:
- if you have acne, this will dry it out
- if you want to get "slightly" pale (I emphasize "slightly")
- perfect for oily/combination skin
Cons:
- dries skin
- doesnt whiten your skin A WHOLE LOT
- gives the "tight" feeling on your face so put moisturizer on your face after using this

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*TOP REVIEWER* ubaydah on 7/6/2012 3:02:00 PM more reviews by ubaydah

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Medium Brown, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Black    

Overall, this is a great product. I am always on a mission to find products that will brighten/even out my skin tone. I ordered this initially from a website called Yollies Oriental market. Fast shipping, price was alright. The second bar I bought from a Phillipino store for much cheaper (because there was no shipping involved, obviously hehe)

Pros:
-lightened my skin tone overall
-CHEAP
-lasts long, because it doesn't melt quickly and lathers fairly well
-I noticed it help keep the monthly/stress related pimples at bay
-the exfoliating effect translates to a glow which is increased by leaving it on for a few minutes
-works well on freckles/new pimple marks left behind
-minimal fragrance, can't stand overly fragrant products
-kills the need for a seperate AHA/BHA, or physical exfoliater because using the Likas plus a seperate exfoliating product caused irritation. This may be a pro or con for you. A con if you have a fave scrub/AHA/BHA you already really like. If this is the case (like me) you may not be able to use this everyday.

-Cons:
-YES, it dries out skin. I know a fellow reviewer below mentioned that we should not leave it on for long as that is what causes dryness however I used it for about a month as a regular cleanser and saw no improvements whatsoever. (even after using 2x a day) it was only after I started leaving it on for a few minutes while I sat on the bathtub ledge and hummed to myself, that I started noticing a change. after one use of leaving it on, in fact.
-due to my sensitive/dry skin, I had to decrease use from twice a day, to a few times a week. I noticed my lips were getting very flaky and as soon as I decreased usage, it went away.
-lightened small, freckles/acne marks yes, but the hyperpigmentation I have left over from a childhood rash, no. in fact it looked a little awkward after my overall skin tone became lighter but the HP did not.


Overall, I would recommened this especially to normal/oilier skin types. You get a great bang for your buck. And I know it sounds obvious, but realllyyyyyyy don't get this in you eye!!

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kailynnsmom on 6/25/2012 2:37:00 AM more reviews by kailynnsmom

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium Brown, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Wreak havoc on my skin. Too drying on this oily skin.

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*TOP REVIEWER* DecoDolly on 6/16/2012 11:15:00 PM more reviews by DecoDolly

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I like this soap. It smells lovely and feels nice, doesn't dry out my skin anymore than anything else (always moisturize after) and does seem to fade old acne spots (slowly). Unfortunately, it just doesn't do anything for active acne. I used it for about 3 months and ended up getting a horrible breakout (thanks to hormones and a salicylic acid treatment that I stupidly used), the likes of which I had never seen. The same spots that just sat on my skin and wouldn't go away. Sooooo I decided to put this soap aside for something that would fight pimples a little harder. I don't think it makes acne worse, but it doesn't do much to fight it either, at least not for me.

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nataliecloud9 on 6/16/2012 11:04:00 PM more reviews by nataliecloud9

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Other    

I originally purchased this soap to fade an ugly suntan line. It also removed all of my freckles from my skin too! And now it's been a year of using it daily. My skin doesn't get lighter because it has reached it's maximum lightness. (Basically the pale shade I was as a kid.) The stinging sensation doesn't happen anymore either. I think because my skin is used to it now. However I continue to use this soap daily, because my skin breaks out if I don't I get worse acne now then I did in my teens. And this is the ONLY soap that keeps my acne 99% away.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

KB333 on 6/1/2012 4:44:00 PM more reviews by KB333

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

For what it can do, I love this soap! I am half black and Japanese and was complaining in the summer about my un-even skin tones and scars on my legs so I was advised to use this stuff from a filipino friend. So far I've been using it for a little less than a year and it does what it says it'll do. It evens your skin tone out and lightens your skin a little to give it a nice appearance. I can even use it on my face! I wasn't necessarily trying to get "too light" I wanted it to remove my blemishes but when I left for school and came back over break, my friends were telling me that I got so much lighter as they compared their skin tone with mine. And as far as it drying out your skin, it's never dried mine out and sometimes I don't even moisturize afterwards. I guess everyone has something bad to say about anything! Anyways, I love how affordable it is. I assumed something this well known and talked about would be pricey. The packaging is kind of tacky, if I cared.

A liftetime product!

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lovelylippie on 4/29/2012 10:44:00 PM more reviews by lovelylippie

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

A lot of girls here at MUA complain that this soap is drying then proceed to describe how they use this soap and I just can't help but think,"no wonder it's been drying you out,dear!"
As a Filipina, I am no stranger to this brand and it really is effective. It does what it says/;brightens, evens out skin tone, removes blemishes. But you have to use it properly as with any other cleansing product, you HAVE TO MOISTURIZE after using it and please don't leave it for more than 3 minutes on your skin. Leaving it on longer will not give you nice skin faster but give you painfully dry skin instead. The effect of all natural products such as these is GRADUAL NOT INSTANT. I've used this throughout both my pregnancies and after and whenever I want to get rid of uneven colored skin on my body. Over the years I've learned to exclusively use it with Extra Virgin Coconut Oil as moisturizer for my body and its the best combination yet! Made my skin super soft, smooth and glowing because of the papaya yet not sensitive, feels/looks healthy and supple because of the coconut oil's restorative and protective properties. Great local products here in the Philippines..and I might add, Filipinas here in the Philippines are blessed with gorgeous skin and its no coincidence papaya products have legendary status here. :)

8 out of 13 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* deliberateangel on 4/29/2012 9:54:00 PM more reviews by deliberateangel

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

I was given this by a Filipino woman. She said it worked well to clear up acne and even skin tones. I have dry, very sensitive, fair skin and this soap dried and irritated it. It smells nice and it a pretty orange color. But not for me.

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yyip on 4/29/2012 8:54:00 PM more reviews by yyip

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

I've used this soap for 3 months now, which I feel is sufficient time to provide a balanced review.  

I had been looking for products to fade some very minor pigment marks from the odd pimple that I seemed to get monthly (just 1 or 2 each time) on my face.   The marks would remain for a few months before eventually fading.  Though nothing I couldn't cover with foundation, the effect was cumulative and I didn't like it. I stumbled across the soap at a local Asian supermarket and had a quick look at reviews before purchasing.  It was very cheap - only a few dollars.

I started to use the soap once a day to start with and noticed an almost immediate brightening so that was a good sign.  I had just started using an aha exfoliant only a couple of weeks before and decided to drop the aha as use of both products was causing a bit of irritation.  Once my skin got used to the soap (after a week or so) I started using it morning and night every day.  

I use an old small powder brush to generate foam before applying to my face.  I leave the soap on until the bubbles dry, which only takes a few minutes. I wash off using a microfibre cloth. 


The product contains an enzyme called papain.  Papain breaks down the protein bonds that hold the dead skin cells to the live layers of your skin - a chemical exfoliant.  Through prolonged use it increases cell turnover, brings pigment to the surface more quickly  and exposes new skin.  What this means is that your natural skin colour (minus sun damage and pigmentation) is restored. 


My verdict? You need this!
Here are my reasons:
1. the lightening and brightening effect is noticeable and its effects are cumalative, so I have noticed progressive clearing of pigment across my entire face.  In another 2-3 months, I am hoping that my skin will be clear of any marks and pigmentation (yuss!) and foundation will be purely optional :).

2. I will no longer need to use aha's or scrubs to daily exfoliate as this already does that - without causing redness or irritation.  I used to get annoyed at the redness that other exfoliants left (chemical or manual), especially noticeable before putting foundation on in the morning.  That doesn't happen now.

3. The texture of my skin has improved - more refined.

4. I rarely get my monthly pimple now but if I do, it's very small, goes within a day and leaves no pigmented mark.

5. Easy, cheap and quick to add to my daily routine, and doesn't interfere with the efficacy of my other skincare products - if anything, it enhances them.


Some notes:

 It will not make you lighter than you natural colour - you need bleaches to achieve that, which this is not.


Although some have said that it can be drying - I ALWAYS follow my face washing with moisturiser so don't  leave my skin exposed long enough to allow it to dry out.  


You need to wear a good sunscreen (I use an SPF 50).  If you expose new (exfoliated) skin to the sun, it is more vulnerable to pigmentation than skin that has not been exfoliated as you don't have the layer of dead skin to further protect you from the uv's. Those who got darker after using this soap without a decent sunscreen will no doubt, have experienced this.


If you want to maintain your skin pigment free, continue to use this soap and combine it with products that inhibit melanin production such as vitamin c, licorice extract, arbutin, niacin, etc.  I use powdered vitamin c (l-ascorbic acid) and licorice extract added to my hyaluronic acid serum - very cost effective products available from health product suppliers.


Use the soap on you neck to avoid colour transition between face and neck.

10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Carybear on 4/22/2012 9:04:00 AM more reviews by Carybear

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Olive, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I ordered this deceptively plain bar of soap from an Asian skincare store online. I have become more and more interested in whitening products as I am a pale olive color that tends to look sallow, and I scar badly when I get a breakout.
I am on a mission to replace Dermalogica's special cleaning gel because it's too high priced in it simplicity.In fact I think I might try and get away from Dermalogica because it is so expensive, and Special Cleansing gel is even more drying than Lika's!
I've been using Lika's for about a week, both face and body. It is drying so use a moisturizer, post haste. The lightening effects on my skin tone is quite noticeable, but I am worried I will find myself unnaturally pale. I will start using Lika's one every other day, & I'll update here in 2mo intervals

***UPDATE***
I don't know when I wrote this review but it was only last week.
Yes. yes Likas. Yes, I love you. I can't deny it-it should be all wrong, the pH is way too high, but the proof is on my face...or lack thereof. I've lightened quickly to a shade of olive I can actually work with, it has rid me of most of the melasma I've acquired from the last five years of over tanning ( I had never spent time in the sun to get a tan before that, i just wasn't that type) and I am not going to tan anymore. I like the Real Me.
***UPDATE***
Likas was just making me too pale. I'm going to dial it back to once a day. Also, because I've experienced several fakes, I am not convinced I would get the same product.
Do not buy from Yollieoriental.

5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

MrsBubobear on 4/5/2012 7:16:00 AM more reviews by MrsBubobear

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Very Oily, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

this soap is AMAZING!!! I have been trying to fight acne for soo long now! and this soap cured it all. It dries out pimples and the best part is, it is super goood at getting rid of acne scar. I've used clinique's even better spot remover for a year or so and it did nothing. And its costs $50 just one bottle! while on the other hand this soap is dirt cheap and got rid of my acne scars in just 3 months. I use this everyday.
One thing to be careful about when buying is. This has a lot of replicas, and believe me they look almost the same. But the main things to notice is.
1. The rainbow logo on the soap box it reflects under light
2. the soap smells slight(i mean VERY slightly) of oranges.
3. and it won't burn ur face.

I actually bought a fake one that burned my face like really bad!:(

11 out of 12 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No