Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil Review : Dupe of Kama Ayurveda Kumkumadi Miraculous Beauty Fluid ?

I purchased the Iraya Kumkumadi Facial oil from Jabong when it was on sale. Last year was the year of facial oils and I was very interested to try them out for myself. However, they are freaking expensive. Even then, I was ready to shell out two grand on one of them before I saw this on sale (for Rs.795) at Jabong. Now Jabong doesn’t list many details about any of their products, but this had natural written in the description and also had an all-natural ingredient list. So I took the plunge and decided to buy it, though I haven’t seen any reviews on this product. I have used it for roughly two months.

Price: Rs.995

Qty: 10ml

Claims: Kumkumadi Tailam in it's purest form. Ideal for facial massage. Prescribed in Ayurveda as a ‘Miraculous Elixir’ for the skin, Kumkumadi is an absolute classic! This revered formulation contains pure Saffron and 25 precious Ayurvedic herbs that have been relied upon through the ages to lighten and brighten the complexion. It evens skin tone, clears blemishes, minimises fine lines and surface imperfections and also helps improve skin’s texture.

Usage: Take a few drops on your fingertips, massage gently into skin using upward, outward movements. Best to use after cleansing and toning. Regular application gives a luminous complexion. Massage is recommended once or twice a week.

Ingredients (100% natural):

Cow's Milk, Sesame Oil ( Sesamum Indicum ), Rice Bran Oil(Oryza Sativa), Rose Water ( Rosa Centifolia ), Saffron ( Crocus Sativus), Sandalwood (Santalum Album), Lodh Tree Bark (Symplocos Racemosa), Red Sanders Wood (Pterocarpus Santalinus), Coomb Teak (Adina Cordifolia), Vetiver (Vetiveria Zizanoides), Manjishta (Rubia Cordifolia), Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra), Lotus seed (Nelumbo Nucifera), Turmeric(Curcuma Longa), Indian Barberry (Berberis Aristata), Cobra Saffron (Mesua Ferrea), Flame Of The Forest (Butea Menosperma),Priyangu (Callicarpa Macrophylla), Banyan(Ficus Bengalensis), Mustard (Brassica Campestris),Ginger (Zingiber Zerumbet), Essential Oils of Bergamot and Lavender.

*the ones in bold are those that are present in Kama Ayurveda Kumkumadi Thailam, however, the proportions differ.

It is 100% vegetarian and cruelty free!

My experience with Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil

- Initially when I used the Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil , it gave me 4 tiny bumps on the face. After 2 days, I used a deep cleansing mask on my face post which when I applied this oil, no bumps appeared ever again.

-At first I used to use 2 drops of this twice a day. With this I experienced that it faded blemishes quicker than they would naturally, aka it acted as a pimple buster. It was able to greatly diminish the appearance of the dark spots left by my earlier pimples, but not completely fade them. It was hydrating enough for my skin in the Mumbai weather of January-its cool at night and hot whole day.

- I was not greatly impressed by the results so I started using 3-4 drops. This made my then normal skin feel oily BUT I found that the next day my skin became very very very clear. The clearness gave it a glowy appearance. The Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil  was acting as a deep cleansing product, clearing up the skin from within. Although I increased quantity I was using, the hydration I got was same as before.

-What I’m trying to say is that the Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil made my skin look fairer BUT it did not induce the “fair complexion”. It just cleaned up the skin from within so my natural complexion which was hiding below a layer of daily pollutants could come to the surface. Since the skin was now clear, it was also glowing ^_^

- I got a lot of compliments from my family coz of how amazing my skin was looking. I decided to use 2 drops during day time and 3 drops at night time. I also like to put a little extra on big pimples so that they fade away sooner

-The Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil  did not prevent me from getting pimples, I did and still do get them, but it helps make them disappear quickly without leaving any marks. I cannot comment on whether it reduces wrinkles and fine lines cause I do not have any. Also, it did not even out my skin tone. It has improved my skin’s texture.

-I like that the Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil has an immediate effect on the skin.

-When I started living in Pune, in the beginning of Feb, it was SUPER cold and my skin became dry. This facial oil was not sufficient for moisturizing my dry skin. I had to layer it with my winter night time moisturizer. This combination did not lead to breakouts for me. HOWever, this facial oil +my winter nighttime moisturizer +my pimple remover = break outs :( Which means you have to be careful with what products you layer over it.

-The Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil is a yellow colored thin oil and disappears quite easily into the skin. I take one drop on the tip of my fore finger & 2nd finger, rub it between tips of fingers of both hands and then apply it quickly over some parts of my face. Then I repeat the same procedure on other parts which were previously left out. I massage it all over my face and then pat it in.

- Packaging and fragrance: It comes in a small blue glass bottle with a dropper, I like to keep it in the plastic pouch it came in just to prevent dust from sitting on the cap. It smells herbal, but nothing harsh or strong, it disappears after few minutes of application.

-I started wearing makeup daily to work at the start of Feb, so I started using this less frequently in the morning. I do use it sometimes under makeup when my skin is on its sensitive days, otherwise I use my daytime moisturizer.

-I have not used the Kama Ayurveda Kumkumadi Facial Oil, but the ingredients are similar to this one. I think the KA oil will be thicker, and based on reliable online reviews, it also gives the skin a glowy effect and reduces blemishes.

Overall Verdict: 4/5

...Because the Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil clears up my skin overnight and makes it glowy and makes pimples go away sooner. Minus one point because it does not even out my skin tone, as per its claims! I think this is worth a try if you are into facial oils,  I’m thinking of repurchasing it.

If you are interested in buying the Iraya Kumkumadi Facial Oil I would like to mention a few more things:

-I do not think its hydrating enough for dry skin

-You are supposed to test it for allergy before use.

-You should use a deep cleansing mask prior to applying this