Ayurvedic Skincare Brands Reviewed – Glow or Gimmick?

by reviewzinsight.com · 6 April 2025

I took a deep dive into Ayurvedic skincare over the last 30 days. I cleared my shelf of chemical-heavy serums, lab-formulated exfoliators, and trendy Korean beauty masks. Instead, I committed to a routine built around three popular Ayurvedic skincare brands: Forest Essentials, Kama Ayurveda, and Just Herbs. The promise? Natural glow, balanced skin, and deep-rooted healing based on 5,000 years of Indian tradition.

So did my skin find its long-lost glow, or did I just fall for an expensive gimmick wrapped in Sanskrit-sounding ingredients?

Let’s break it down, product by product, brand by brand—with real results, honest impressions, and everything the pretty Instagram ads don’t show you.

Week 1–2: Forest Essentials – Luxurious, but Worth It?

Products I Tried:

Forest Essentials Facial Ubtan Narangi & Nagkesar
Soundarya Radiance Cream with 24K Gold
Delicate Facial Cleanser Kashmiri Saffron & Neem

I started my journey with Forest Essentials, arguably the most luxurious Ayurvedic skincare brand in India. The packaging impressed me instantly—gold accents, glass jars, and a minimal yet opulent look. I almost felt like royalty just holding the products.

The Narangi & Nagkesar Ubtan required mixing with rosewater to form a paste. I applied it every morning and used it like a cleanser and mild exfoliator. After a week, my skin definitely felt cleaner and looked visibly brighter. But I also noticed some dryness around my cheeks—likely due to the powdery texture pulling out excess oils.

The Soundarya Radiance Cream surprised me with its thick consistency and a strong herbal scent. It left a slight sheen on my face—thanks to the 24K gold—but also made my T-zone greasy by mid-day. However, it worked great as a night cream. I woke up with plumper, more hydrated skin. It felt indulgent, and honestly, my skin did look radiant in the morning light.

The Facial Cleanser offered a gentle cleanse. It didn’t strip the skin, which I appreciated, especially after years of harsh face washes. I also noticed a subtle reduction in redness near my nose.

Verdict on Forest Essentials:
Glow? Yes. Especially if you have dry to normal skin.
Gimmick? Not really—but the pricing feels steep for long-term use.

Week 3: Kama Ayurveda – Understated but Potent

Products I Tried:

Kama Ayurveda Kumkumadi Brightening Face Scrub
Kumkumadi Miraculous Beauty Fluid
Rose Jasmine Face Cleanser

By week three, I shifted to Kama Ayurveda, a brand known for keeping things traditional and effective. Their product descriptions didn’t scream luxury, but the formulations spoke for themselves.

I started using the Kumkumadi Scrub twice a week. The texture felt creamy with soft exfoliating granules. My skin didn’t feel scratched like it does after typical scrubs. Instead, it felt nourished and smooth. I saw actual improvement in my skin tone by the end of the second use—more even, less dull.

Now let’s talk about the hero product: Kumkumadi Beauty Fluid. It’s an oil-based serum, and I won’t lie—I hesitated at first. Oils usually make me break out. But I used it at night religiously. By morning, my skin felt softer and looked calmer. A light glow began to show up around my cheeks and forehead. Even some of my post-acne spots lightened.

The Rose Jasmine Cleanser smelled divine and felt refreshing after a long day. However, it didn’t do much in terms of deep cleansing if I wore sunscreen or makeup, so I kept it for morning use.

Verdict on Kama Ayurveda:
Glow? Yes, and it felt more long-lasting than Forest Essentials.
Gimmick? Not at all. It delivers results, especially for pigmentation and dullness.

Week 4: Just Herbs – Honest, Affordable, and a Bit Hit-or-Miss

Products I Tried:

Just Herbs Silksplash Face Wash
Ayurvedic Micellar Water
Insta Glow Almond Complexion Pack
Herbal Nourishing Lip Balm

I saved Just Herbs for the final leg. Their price point made me skeptical—could something that costs half as much work just as well?

The Silksplash Face Wash proved me wrong. It felt gentle yet effective. My face felt clean without dryness, and I noticed less oil build-up through the day. It suited my combination skin very well.

The Ayurvedic Micellar Water failed to impress. It didn’t fully remove sunscreen or stubborn eyeliner. I had to follow up with the Silksplash anyway.

The real star? The Insta Glow Almond Pack. I applied it every third night. It had a rich nutty scent and dried comfortably. I felt an instant brightness each time I washed it off. My skin looked healthier and more even-toned.

The Lip Balm kept my lips soft, but nothing extraordinary there.

Verdict on Just Herbs:
Glow? In patches—great cleanser and mask, average other products.
Gimmick? Not really. It’s value for money with a few gems.

Final Results and Thoughts

After four weeks of Ayurvedic skincare, here’s what changed:

My skin tone evened out noticeably.
Texture improved, especially with regular ubtan and scrubs.
Redness reduced, and glow became visible by week 3.
I experienced no major breakouts during the trial.
My skin felt less reactive, more balanced.

But it wasn’t all sunshine. I had to adapt to strong herbal scents and a few oily formulations. Some products left residue, which didn’t pair well with daytime routines. And honestly, I missed the simplicity of modern pump bottles and single-step cleansers.

Glow or Gimmick?

Glow. That’s my honest verdict. But not every product deserves a place on your shelf. The trick lies in choosing wisely based on your skin type and being consistent. Ayurvedic skincare works more subtly than instant-acting chemical peels or serums. But once it starts showing results, the skin feels healthier, not just prettier.

If you want a luxurious self-care experience, start with Forest Essentials. If you want real long-term skin benefits, go with Kama Ayurveda. And if you’re on a budget but still want clean Ayurvedic formulations, try Just Herbs.

My shelves now carry a mix of the three. I kept the Kumkumadi oil from Kama, the Ubtan from Forest Essentials, and the face wash from Just Herbs. Together, they form a routine I actually look forward to—rooted in tradition, backed by results.

And that, in a world flooded with gimmicks, feels like a real glow.