In the desperate need to find something that can soothe my break out skin condition and to lighten some of the acne marks, I stumbled upon Gamila Secret Cleansing Bar which is also known as “magic bar”. I think most of you had read before that I’m not confident without my powder on. Whenever I was invited to a makeover session I cringe a bit thinking how ugly my face would be to the makeup artist. You see… I have acne marks from teenager time. No one in my family know or taught me anything about not picking your pimples, don’t touch your face, don’t do this and don’t do that. Those days there were no internet to google. Wow. I sounded old lol. What I meant by “those day” is the 90s.
What do I know about Gamila Secret from Mr. Google is that many international celebrities all over the world like Madonna, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Lynn Harless, Japanese Top Model; Lena and Taiwan Skin Care Expert; Niu Er love it and adores it.
Gamila Secret is made with a unique mixture of herb extracts natural oils and extra-virgin Syrian olive oil, which has excellent anti-oxidant potency and contains a combination of fifteen different plants. A combination that I have developed through hard work. One day, an Israeli reporter heard about the excellent feedback and wrote an article about my first skin care product; soap. The article was titled “Grandma’s Magical Soap”. It sparked an awareness of my soap around the world. I am very blessed to continue my work with my children and grandchildren, sharing my heritage of knowledge of and passion for nature with Gamila Secret. – Gamila Hiar; Founder of Gamila Secret
What it claimed
Gamila Secret Cleansing Bar is a handmade soap which takes 40 hours cooking process, period of 4 to 6 months for drying, stamping and curving the edges. It is not only to clean and nourish our skin but also for softening and healing purpose.
Sensitive skin users would be glad to know that this cleansing bar is also suitable for them and it contains no artificial fragrance, preservatives or colouring. Man can also use this as shaving cream as the soap lathers up quite well and creamy.
The ingredients
When I was given this cleansing bar, I was told to stop using other cleanser and undergo a 28-days journey with Gamila Secret Cleansing Bar and to keep everything else minimal such as just toner and moisturizer only. Well you know me. I can only stop other cleanser but not the rest of my skin care 🙂
The cleansing bar that was given to me is a mini bar of 30g worth RM66. Gamila Secret Cleansing Bar comes in 10 different flavor. Mine is Original which is good for a start. As mentioned earlier…the bar is handmade even the edges are carved by hand and the logo are stamped by hand as well. Don’t overlook on this mini bar. It could last you for months depending how you use it. I’m only using it for my face so I guess it’ll last longer.
Let’s talk about the scent. We always think natural product smells yucky but I kinda like how this cleansing bar’s smell. It’s just like any other soap minus the fragrance.
Once the bar hits the water it lathers up very well. The foam forms up rich and creamy which is why it’s also suitable as shaving cream! I like to rub on my damp face with small circular motion until it dries up a bit and rinse. So far I’ve experience NO dryness, NO tightening on the face but I do experience squeaky clean face. Some user will experience peeling of the old skin but I had none of that. It feels like nothing on my face but the result is there.
Here’s some info from Gamila Malaysia Facebook page:
The cream bar is a process to regenerate your skin system; the first couple of days and weeks, you may experience reaction like peeling, dryness, roughness and break out. It is a deep clean-up for your skin system. (The stage of detoxification – also it is a reaction of the product you have used before. The breakout will become more apparent if all the while you were using product that is non-natural)
However if you persistently continue to use it for 28days, you will notice the change. Your skin will even better than before you start using this cream bar.Just a reminder: please do not mix with other cleanser product while using Gamila. And follow by the simple step of toner and moisturizer, ideally is better to use it with Gamila Face oil.
Gross picture ahead! WARNING!
I started off with this face. It’s an aftermath of another breakout and the redness is still there. On my forehead there’s eczema still. Funny thing is I don’t have eczema up until 2 years ago when I was under Hyperthyroidism medication. I had all the side effect from the 3 years medication and eczema is one of it.
On the second day of using, my mum kept staring at my face. Then she asked me if I put on some powder. I asked her why she said that and she replied saying my face looked more even and bright as if I put on some powder. Boy was I happy hearing that. I was more motivated and became more diligent with using cleansing bar as my cleanser day and night.
28-days had passed and here’s the result. My skin is obviously brighter and the redness toned down quite a bit. Eczema had also ease up. I had a small wave of breakout on my 3rd week due to hormone changes before menstrual cycle which is quite normal as most user had a small breakout at the beginning. These breakout is necessary as it eliminates the bad toxin out of the skin. To be frank I actually panicked on my 1st week because I had no breakout. But that also means my skin care is not harmless and not feeding toxin into my skin. If you are using unsuitable skin care previously you’d get the breakout almost immediately on the 1st week.
Gamila Secret Cleansing Bar comes in 10 different flavor and type that suits your skin and needs.
I definitely would want to get the full size bar from Gamila as I’ve already benefited from the cleansing bar even for just 28-days. The good news for new user is that the mini bar is for sale so you can get the mini bar to try out first before getting the full size bar.
Gamila Secret Cleansing Bar is available at Parkson Sunway Pyramid, Myoga The Gardens Mid Valley, Online Shop @ www.gamilasecret.my , www.lazada.com.my
Price: RM66 for mini bar 30g / RM119 – RM166 for full size bar (Refer above table)
Visit Gamila Malaysia Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/gamilasecret.my
Disclaimer: Product was sent to me for review consideration. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.
Comments (50)
Wow, the improvement is great! Soap bar usually gives me the impression that it is drying etc, but this one looks like a game changer. Thanks for the review and happy that your skin condition improved with it 🙂
I’m combination so no tightening on the skin for me. I do wonder how nice it is to stop spending on skin care and just use this
Heard about his before but isn’t it a lil too expensive for a soap?
Yea it is. The price is a bit high for a soap but other cleanser or soap out there doesn’t gives you result. Most of them only cleanse. If you’re on a budget or dislike spending / putting skin care…this will works for you 🙂
This soap bar does seem pricey at first, but I think it is more economical in the long run than normal cleansing skincare because with each use, once we wet our hands, we require just a little and it goes a long way for cleaning. Only thing is for traveling, the soap bar is not that practical. Haha skincare will still be required to complete the regime 🙂
They have travel pouch. It’s for you to put your soap (wet or dry) in when you travel. Hope Malaysia have it too.
Are you still traveling lot?
Oh that’s very well thought – travel pouch. Hehe. I don’t travel too much lately but putting intensive long hours daily instead, burning midnight oil and my face is now acne land. The acnes that pop up are very aggressive and takes forever to go, and when they leave, they leave stubborn scars 🙁 That explains why I have not been leaving comments. Usually I read your post on my phone during lunch break and I must say that small screen on the phone kills my joyh a little lol. But still good stuffs in terms of writing and wonderful photos you have! Super love!!! The RMK mascara with 2 flowers, that one I really adore it. Hoping for a beach holiday to press the pause button. Hope things are fabulous at your end and I’m sure they are 😀
Awwww thanks dear. Even with your busy schedule you still check the lil blog out. I like the RMK picture with 2 flower too! It’s too shiny so the flowers tone it down a bit.
Beach holiday hmmm. Go Banjaran! It’s heaven in Malaysia.
Amazing improvement… sigh why must good products be so expensive. 🙁
Yea agree but if it works I’m on!
My friend has been persuading me to buy this “magic cream”. A 20 cent pot/jar cost RM200+. Now…that I still can’t see myself buying lolol
(Again) I read at some blog (it’s random) that we are not supposed to mix other skincare products if we were to use this cleansing bar. The blogger did that and she suffered a breakout. So she stopped mixing it with other skincare products, and according to her, the cleansing bar is effective. The price is steep – it’s only a cleansing bar. Unless it has other properties that I am not aware of..
Yes you can. Just minimal everything. I’ve updated some info extracted from Gamila FB page.
All I can say is everyone’s skin is different. I used quite a few of skin care WITH the cleansing bar and it work still. You need to really know your own skin to do what I do.
Might drop by their counter next weekend. I didn’t collect the complimentary cleansing bar from them previously because I was busy. My loss. Oh well. What’s the magic cream you’re referring to?
I can’t recall the name of the cream already
La Mer? Or something else?
Nope. It’s like a home-made remedy thingy LOL
Wow and it costs so much. Does it work?
I heard from my friend it works. But I didn’t buy any so I don’t know hehe.
I hope that when I start to use the cleansing bar, there won’t be any breakout. I don’t have the best skin 🙁
Think of it in a good way…breakout is to detox out all the bad skin care that you’ve put on last time. After the breakout you’d get a better skin.
I’ve started to use the cleansing bar. Hopefully, no crazy breakouts. Pray hard!
Praying for you! 🙂
Some pimples but no crazy breakouts (touch wood!). So far so good. Today I applied face serum. Hopefully, no breakouts. Lol. My skin looks brighter. Even tone, I think it would need some time but brightening effect is visible now. Will continue to use. After 28 days, if it is really that good, I will switch my bf’s current cleanser to this cleansing bar.
Just keep your serum / moisturizer minimize and simple. The simpler the better.
I am using a new bar now. The result of using Gamila soap – it brightens up my skin, and lightens (slightly) some scars on my face. My bf is using it as well. I convinced my sister to give it a try, and she is loving it. No breakouts for her, thank goodness. She finds it a tad expensive though.
Oh ya. You bought the mini 3 bar set. Get the big one. It’s more worth it.
Yeah, going to get the big one soon. Thinking to get the original flavor.
Okay. Or get the dual pack one hehe
Came across your blog while searching for reviews on Gamila soap. Glad I found yours. very well written. Thanks for the info. =)
Thank you xeraphina :). You’ve made my day.
I’d suggest you to get Original if you are thinking to try Gamila for the first time.
So far, I find that Original flavor works best for me and bf. Repurchasing it soon because I still have 2 bars left.
2 bars will last you long. Not so soon.
I use it quite fast. Most probably because my bf is using it too? My sister loves Gamila cleansing bar.
Maybe. Another Gamila review coming up next week.
Which product? Face oil? I look forward to your review 🙂
Nope. Another cleansing bar. This time it’s Creamy Vanilla.
Oh I see. Lavendar is not working well for me and bf. Somehow, it made our skin dull. I thought we didn’t scrub enough, but nope. After changing back to Original, everything is in order again.
Me too. But mine is not as simple as “dull skin”. Now I’m back to Original and it’s good again.
The other flavors work well for body. But for face, Original works the best for me. Oh btw, using other flavors, I got some breakouts too.
Mine is more serious than breakout 🙁
Wow, to think that I have it but haven’t started using it yet -.- using Avene cleanser (the green one!) at the moment which is not too bad, but no whitening effects etc la haha. (avene is expensive too, rm50++ for a 200ml bottle). glad that your skin is (nearly) back to normal! 🙂 that why i usually don’t dare to simply try new products, esp i have sensitive skin… oh by the way, silent reader speaking up! 🙂 hello~ *waves*
Hi jojobear. RM50 for 200ml is not expensive. It’s actually okay. The green one is awesome!
You better finish Avene first because if you start Gamila you won’t be able to use other cleanser anymore.
Hello silent reader *waves back!!*. Glad to see someone new in the comment box LOL
heyy the results are soooo great!! i wanna buy it too..i have an oily skin you think the original would be the best for me? what skin type do you have? (:
I do recommend you to start with Original first as Original is more accepted by the skin. Once you are done with that perhaps you can consider to move onto other flavor.
My skin type is oily.
I haven’t heard of this brand till I read about it here. The bar of soap is kinda pricey BUT since it speaks volumes, I might as well give it a shot.
Actually Gamila pulled out from Malaysia already. Sigh.
hi hi!
After reading this post, I regret not being diligent in using my Gamila bar…
huhuhu….
maybe I should start again after using up my current cleanser.
You still have Gamila bar? That’s like super precious already because we can no longer get Gamila now ever since they are removed from Malaysia
No, i don’t…
We could still get it fr Lazada, right?
It’s been more than 2 years.
When it became squishy squashy and lembik, and I discarded it.
I tried to cut off the lembik parts and used for a few more months, but didn’t really work out as I wasn’t diligent in using it… regret lor…
Oh Lazada. I haven’t thought of checking Lazada for Gamila 🙂 . The thing about Gamila is that when you are using it, you can’t use other skin care products. I have a lot to go through so I’d prefer not to use Gamila soap now. Maybe when I ran out of everything hehe