serc's Full Review: Alba Hawaiian Coconut Milk Facial Wash
When I ran out of the facial cleanser that I had been using (NIVEA Visage), I thought it might be fun to try something new. Browsing at drugstore.com, I ran across Alba Coconut Milk Facial Wash, which wasn't overly expensive and sounded like it might smell really good. And... well, it turned out okay.
The Alba Coconut Milk Facial Wash arrived in an 8 ounce bottle with a pump device. It's an attractive bottle decorated in muted tropical colors (yellow, orange, green), incorporating a few flower and plant designs. The facial wash itself is a creamy white substance, sort of the viscosity of hand lotion that one dispenses from a pump.
According to the label, to use this facial wash, you should rinse your face with warm water, massage some of the facial wash into your skin (gently!) and then rinse. I prefer to use it more like a cleanser, applying some to my face and neck and then rinsing a bit before using a washcloth to make sure I remove the dirt and/or makeup. I have used this product both ways, though, with satisfactory results. The label does not suggest when to wash your face; I only use this product at night, before toning and moisturizing. (In the morning I just use the toner; it's not like I wear makeup to bed or am sleeping in a sandbox or anything.) Also according to the label, you should avoid this product coming in contact with your eyes. That seems sensible for almost anything to me...
The product label offers no claims about performance, so I'll assume that the manufacturers are happy to just let you get your face clean and call it good. I find it sufficient for this purpose, although I wouldn't say it is better than other cleansers. After I run out of the Alba Coconut Milk Facial Wash, I'll likely either go back to the NIVEA Visage line or look for something else. I liked the exfoliating element to the NIVEA Visage cleanser, which this lacks, and I thought it smelled better, too. I was really looking forward to a wonderful coconut scent and this product just falls flat on that account. The smell isn't offensive, it's just sort of coconut with a slight unpleasant undertone.
I should note that this product uses 100% vegetarian ingredients and no animal testing has been performed on it.
As I mentioned at the beginning of my review, I purchased this product through the www.drugstore.com website. I don't know where else one might purchase Alba products; I've never seen them in a brick and mortar store. (Then again, I'm a stay at home mom; I don't get out much...) The label claims that it is "Hawaiian," although it also indicates that it was made in California; make of that what you will. There is an Alba website at www.AlbaOrganics.com. The current drugstore.com price is $11.99 for an 8 ounce bottle.
Ingredients list: Certified organic aloe vera barbadensis juice, certified organic lavandula angustifolia juice, vegetable glycerin, certified organic sunflower (helianthus annuus), kukui nut (aleurites moluccana), and macadamia ternifolia oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, organic coconut milk (cocos nucifera), glyceryl stearate, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), phenoxyethanol, methyl/propylparaben, grapefruit extract (citrus grandis), and botanical fragrance. The label also notes that 80% of the ingredients are "certified organic."
While I like Alba Coconut Milk Facial Wash, I don't love it. It gets my face clean at a reasonable cost... but the smell is underwhelming and for the price I know I can buy a product that works better. 3 stars.
Made in the USA Made with tropical fruits and flower extracts Enriched with nourishing nut oils and certified organic aloe veraMore at Amazon Marketplace
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