YellowBerry Patchouli, Vanilla and Oatmeal Soap and Anise Star and Jasmine Soap

Hello, peeps! Have you ever thought what would life be like if monsoons brought lots of pakoras and few calories our way?! Utopian, I'd say! I've been using handmade soaps since a year now and over the course of time, I've made a promise to myself - the promise of never going back to the chemical laden commercial so-called "beauty soaps" or "medicated soap bars" again as do more harm to one's skin than good. Soap making is an art. Every time I come across a unique combination of ingredients in a soap and a new design, I am hooked even more than before. Today, I am going to review the Pachouli, Vanilla and Oatmeal Soap and Anise Star & Jasmine Soap and Anise Star & Jasmine Swirl Soap that I was sent by the sweet owner, Zara Tahir of YellowBerry. 

About the Brand:

Founded in 2014 by the immensely talented young lady, Zara Tahir, YellowBerry is a natural and handmade skin and hair care brand based in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

“YellowBerry is a brand wholly dedicated towards the production of natural handmade soaps and cosmetics for various skin types, using only the finest ingredients and no or minimal preservatives. We pride in our recipes being 100% vegetarian, with no animal fat utilised in our processes and no subsequent testing on animals.”

PATCHOULI, VANILLA & OATMEAL SOAP:

Ingredients:

Olive oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Sunflower Oil, Patchouli Essential Oil, Vanilla Fragrance, Vanilla Seeds, Oatmeal (Décor).

Patchouli, Vanilla and Jasmine Soap - YellowBerry

My Thoughts:

I received a full sized bar of the Patchouli, Vanilla & Oatmeal Soap by YellowBerry. This two-toned soap in off-white and light brown colour is decorated with oatmeal, which is giving it a luxuriously natural feel. It has a mild vanilla fragrance which pleases me beyond words can tell. The fragrance has a truly a therapeutic effect on me every time I use it. I like to use a loofah with the soap to rub the skin gently and ensure effective cleaning. However, using a loofah is just a matter of personal preference as the soap does its job quite well otherwise too.  The Patchouli, Vanilla & Oatmeal Soap lathers decently and leaves my skin squeaky clean upon washing after a long, hot summer day. Vanilla is known for its powerful antioxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and is also a rich source of Vitamin B and minerals. No wonder that the soap actually reduces the bacteria that causes acne. I was experiencing an outbreak of bacne (back acne) on dry skin when I started using this soap, and after its regular use, it disappeared completely. Therefore, I'd not hesitate to add that the soap does not only improve the skin tone but also soothes inflammations and prevents skin infections.

Patchouli, Vanilla and Jasmine Soap - YellowBerry

The soap is moderately moisturising. Since I have extremely dry skin, so I ensure the application of a lightweight moisturiser post washing. The soap bar does not melt quickly, especially if preserved in a water-draining soap dish with holes or big slots. Patchouli Essential Oil is quite expensive, and is the star ingredient of this soap, hence the hefty price tag. However, the benefits of Patchouli EO make it worth every penny. Patchouli Oil reduces the appearance of wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks and due to its antiseptic properties, it soothes inflammation and skin irritations, such as eczema and fungal infections effectively, and imparts a healthy glow to the skin. Extensively used in aromatherapy as an anti-depressant, the Patchouli EO also stimulates skin contractions and prevents sagging of the skin. People with oily and combination skin types, or dry skin with clogged pores, here’s something for y’all.  

ANISE STAR & JASMINE SWIRL SOAP

Key Ingredients:

Olive oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Sunflower Oil, Ground Anise Star, dried Jasmine flower.

Anise Star & Jasmine Swirl Soap - Yellow Berry

My Thoughts:

I was also sent a sample-sized half-square block bar of the Anise Star and Jasmine Swirl Soap. It came with a printed label consisting of the list of the ingredients of the soap. It also states that it is suitable for people with dry skin type. The swirl design of this soap bar with an Anise Star on top gives this handcrafted soap bar an edge over the conventional soap bars. I found the ingredients of the Anise Star and Jasmine Swirl Soap to be particularly interesting.

Anise Star & Jasmine Swirl Soap - Yellow Berry

The soap lathers fairly well and leaves the skin moderately moisturised upon washing. It cleans the skin thoroughly, without stripping off its natural moisture. Since I have a dry skin type, post washing, I feel the need for the application of a light moisturiser on damp skin (which aids in the absorption of moisture) to hydrate my skin. The Anise Star and Jasmine Swirl Soap consists of finely milled grains of anise star, which provide a mild exfoliating effect on the skin. Therefore, it doubles up as a mild body scrub. How cool is that! Anise Star is a rich source of Vitamin A and C and bears antiseptic properties, which prevent skin infections caused by bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Acne be gone, guys! Dried Jasmine flowers also tone and sooth the dry skin, thereby retaining the skin’s elasticity. In addition, the Anise Star and Jasmine Soap consists of dried jasmine flowers and Jasmine Essential Oil, which are packed with anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties. When used along with Coconut Oil, as in the case of this soap, crushed Jasmine flowers help in the reduction of stretch marks and scars. I discovered that the soap bar lasts for a fairly long time and does not melt, if it is kept in a water-draining soap dish, which would not only drain excess water, but also keep it dry between uses.

Something about Both:

Both the soaps consist of some common skin-loving oils namely olive oil, palm oil, coconut oil and sunflower oil. The soaps comprising of pure Olive Oil are known for their moisturising, acne-fighting and anti-aging properties and their regular use reduces the appearance of stretch marks. Coconut Oil in cold processed soap like this one delivers antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties and also prevents skin irritations and eczema. Palm Oil is a rich source of Vitamin A, that is known for its ability to prevent sun damage caused due to UV exposure as well as premature skin ageing. Sunflower oil is another common ingredient in both the soaps, a rich source of Vitamin E which has anti-oxidant properties, such as neutralising free radicals and preventing them from damaging healthy skin cells, as well as reducing the appearance of scars and imparting a healthy glow to the skin.

General Tips for Storage & Use:

Yays:

Nays:

Price & Availability: 

The Patchouli, Vanilla & Oatmeal Soap by YellowBerry comes with a price tag of PKR 750/- while the Anise Star & Jasmine Swirl Soap comes in two sizes, the sample-sized half-square block (pictured above) is priced at PKR 400/- while the full rectangular bar costs PKR 730/-

The soap bars can be purchased online either directly through the brand’s online facebook page HERE or daraz.pk.

Final Verdict:

Enriched with the goodness of natural ingredients and skin loving oils, these aesthetically pleasing and effectively cleaning, handmade, and SLS free soaps, if used on a regular basis, promise to have almost all your skin-related issues sorted.     

Has any of you used any product by YellowBerry or is eyeing any product(s) in particular?

Until next time,
Samra.

Disclosure: The products featured in this post were sent to me as PR samples for review purposes, however, the opinions expressed hereby are strictly unbiased, based on my personal experience with the products.