I bet you girls still remember my Gamila Secret Cleansing Bar review as quite a number of you including my friends bought the soap after seeing my Before and After picture. Hope you girls benefited from the soap as I did. Well, I finished my mini bar quite some time ago. I love it so much and Gamila Secret Malaysia could have sense it that I was sent a full size soap bar of Gamila Secret Creamy Vanilla to try.

I started using the soap beginning of January and after more than a month of using I thought I might update you on the progress and difference of both Original and Creamy Vanilla on my face. But before that let me walk you through the unique packaging of Gamila Secret. I refuse to open it before photographing the whole “unboxing” so yes I only saw the soap for the first time as I unbox and photograph. Typical blogger I know

Let me just start by saying THE BOX IS HUGE! It’s packaged as a resemble to mini gift box which is quite nice. There’s no peeking as the lid is sticker-ed heavily from one side to the other. So much so for taking a peek at the soap eh?

I find that the flavour of the soap is on the side of the box. It wasn’t stated on the lid or whatsoever. Just on one side of the box. As you can see the lid is stickered all the way down to the side. And all the way down to the bottom and up again to the opposite side and lid. That’s why I said there’s no way I can open the lid and take a peep inside.

On the opposite side of the box there’s a pointers description on where to use the soap and how to use it. In this case it’s a lot. Gamila Secret Cleansing Bars are suitable to be used on face, body, feet and what do you know…intimate part as well. It can also double up as a mask. Just leave the soap on the face for a few minutes before rinsing. Guys can even use the soap as shaving cream if not as facial soap. With so much of benefit no wonder it’s easy to fall in love with Gamila Secret.

At the very bottom of the box is where the ingredients are listed. There’s also a direction on how to keep the soap. It should always be left dry on a soap dish and preferably a Gamila Secret Stone Dish. If not any soap dish will do.

Something unique. There’s a small hole on the lid. At first glance I have no idea what this hole is for. Then when I look carefully at the fine print at the bottom only I realize this is to sample the scent. It works you know. As you press on the cover and release it I can feel the air from the inside are pumped out. Do that fast and it feels kinda funny on the nose haha. Nonetheless it smells absolutely divine. Great idea since you can take a peep inside and smell the soap LOL.

Some wonderful Gamila Secret’s secret terms. You can read more about Gamila Secret at http://gamilasecret.my/me/about-us or watch the brand documentary at http://gamila.com/#/the_documentary/ and be inspired. From the documentary video only I found out that the pronunciation of Gamila is actually not direct reading of the word but it’s pronounce at Ja-Mi-La. Just pronounce the G as a J.

In the box along with the soap also included is a mini booklet on all you want to know about Gamila Secret from the history, how it all started, formula and ingredients, the process, benefits, how to use and types of soap catering to different skin type. I will include the chart at the bottom of this post.

Love the inner box. At once glance I thought it’s a soap dish but nah. It’s just a mock-up of the soap dish haha. The soap is sitting in the special die-cut compartment nicely and comfortably. Although Gamila is now mass producing their soap but it is still handmade. Just as it is when Gamila started soap making. As it’s handmade you won’t see the same soap as they shape the side of the soap with knife by hand and stamp on the branding on the soap by hand as well.

When I first got the soap I was having a severe skin allergy at that time so there’s no way I can use the soap immediately. The box was so securely tape that I can’t even peep inside the box. I was just curious on how the soap look like in real and the size of it. I tried googling but couldn’t find a picture (at that time) of the soap on a palm. It’s much more easier for me to imagine the size of it when I see a picture of a product on the palm lol! So I told myself die die also I must take a picture of the soap on my palm and here it is!

One full size bar are measuring at approximately 6.2cm width and 6.2cm height with approximately 3.5cm diameter. Look at the beautiful soap and it’s color!

How is Gamila Secret Creamy Vanilla Cleansing Bar on my skin?
I had continuous series of break out since I started the soap. It was pretty frustrating for me as my skin never get the chance to breath from break out. Each series happened one after another. At first I thought my skin could have been in the detoxifying mode so I continued the soap and hope for the break out to stop patiently. Then one day I took a good close look at the mirror and I saw lots of blackheads on the jawline especially on my left jaw. Not only that there’s also lots of small bumps and whiteheads. Immediately it was a nightmare for me as I never had all that at once! I couldn’t stop myself from popping those blackheads out and a week later it came back and again and again. Pimples on the other hand never heal. Even if the pimple subsided the scar / marks is there. I started implementing whitening serum at night to help lighten the marks but nothing works. So you can imagine how frustrated I am. I was more annoyed with the small bumps. I have no idea how to get rid of it since I have too many problem on the face to take care of and when using Gamila Cleansing Bar I couldn’t use too many products on the face. But I believe in the soap and the benefit from using it so I continued using and continue getting more and more break outs for more than a month.

Saving the face with Gamila Secret Original Mini Cleansing Bar
One day (which was a few days ago) I looked in the mirror and felt really devastated with all the post break out marks that I decided to stop using Creamy Vanilla and I took out a mini Original cleansing bar which I’ve gotten from Wonderbox December 2012 edition. I was somewhat relieved that I had the mini bar on hand as the Original mini bar gave me a better skin previously. To be frank this mini bar is my last resort in saving my face. Yes it was that bad that I have thought of taking a photo of it to show you but it’s just too ugly to be put up so I’ve decided to carry on this review without any face shot.

I’m glad to report that after a few days of using the Original bar my face has gotten better. Break out stopped. The small bumps also lessen partly because I also implement b.liv Off With Those Heads Blackheads Sebum Gel sample which I’ve gotten from Vanity Trove February 2013 edition. I don’t see new blackheads and whiteheads popping out as well. The most happiest thing is that the post break out marks is beginning to lighten. Not very much but at least every bad thing that happened stopped. Now I’m in the recovering state to get rid of all the post break out marks.

I think Creamy Vanilla doesn’t suits my skin. Perhaps it’s more suitable for Normal/Dry Skin and I have Combination/Oily Skin which could explain the non-stop breakouts. I will still continue to use Gamila Secret but it’s better for me to stick to Original at the moment. Overall it’s still a great product in my opinion. I just need to becareful with straying over to other flavour soap in the future.

As promised, here’s the types of soap flavour available and the skin type description on each of them.

Disclaimer: Product was sent to me for review consideration. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.

The post Review: Gamila Secret Creamy Vanilla Cleansing Bar – Is The Reason Why I Still Prefer Original Version appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona

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.

Disclaimer: Product was sent to me for review consideration. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.

The post Review: Gamila Secret Original Cleansing Bar appeared first on Street Love. by Fiona