Junsui Naturals Neem Whitening Face Wash 100g

Neem has been used on problem skin across the subcontinent for a very long time, and the reason it stuck is that it is genuinely anti-bacterial. On skin that breaks out, bacteria trapped in a pore with oil is most of the story, which is why a neem wash tends to do more for spots than a plain foaming cleanser that only strips oil.

Junsui pairs neem leaf extract with yam bean extract, which the brand includes for brightening and glow. The wash goes after blackheads, whiteheads and excess sebum, and is formulated to leave the skin's own moisture balance intact rather than stripping it dry.

It is a foaming type, so it lathers up properly in wet palms before it goes anywhere near the face. That step matters more than people think, since neat cleanser rubbed straight onto dry skin is harsher than the same product used as lather.

Suits: oily and blemish-prone skin, blackheads across the nose and forehead, and anyone whose skin reacts badly to heavy, fragranced cleansers.

Worth knowing: 100g tube. Neem has a distinct herbal smell, which is the ingredient rather than a fault. Use it twice daily and follow with a moisturiser. Nothing that clears oil should be left to dry the skin out, because dry skin makes more oil.