Jul 08, 2017 10:49 AM
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“Persona” soap incidentally happens to be one of many Amway products and I’ve been using this off late. It did feel pretty good overall, so it occurred to me to do a short analysis of its merits.
On paper, not much is known about it except that it has:
1) Sweet almond oil,
2) Vitamin E and;
3) Glycerin.
which may sound like it is some exceptional feature of this soap. Whereas some of it may be, some others may not actually be so.
SOAP TECHNICALITIES
If we correlate it with the normal soap making process, soaps are generally formed by treating animal or vegetable oils with some strong base like Sodium or Potassium in an aqueous solution. Oils generally contain triglycerides with 3 molecules of fatty acids and a molecule of glycerol. When this is treated with an alkaline solution of Sodium or Potassium, it results in corresponding salts of the fatty acids(soap) and glycerol(glycerine). The oil in question here is obviously “Sweet almond oil” and “Sweet almond oil” inherently contains “Vitamin E” as an ingredient.
Having ascertained this, does it sound all that unique? Probably not, since the 3 special contents mentioned do fall under the broader classifications of normal soap ingredients. Although maybe not this particular combination of ingredients. But it made a good enough impression on me to write about it. So, I’ll give in to the flow and write a bit more about its potential benefits and my experience.
FEATURES OF THE SOAP
1) CLEANSING ACTION: Sweet almond oil is known to be an enabler in terms of “knocking off dirt from even deep within the skin” owing to its quality of getting easily absorbed in skin. This should facilitate easier dirt removal from hair follicles and skin pores too. This is then subject to the emulsifying action of soap. Difficult to quantify something like this. Maybe it does so, but what is certain is that the overall cleansing action is quite satisfactory. It does a good job.
2) MOISTURIZING EFFECT: Sweet almond oil and the glycerin inherently present in the soap is also supposed to have a “moisturizing effect” on the skin. Glycerin is probably present in most soaps in some form and quantity or the other and is well known for this aspect, but I being a person with normally dry skin do testify to this “moisturizing effect” of the soap to be quite true.
3) ANTIOXIDANT: One of the soap’s most touted aspects is the “Vitamin E” presence as a powerful antioxidant. Our body is typically subject to oxidative stress by means of metabolism, injuries, several natural processes etc from time to time which leads to free electrons looking to react and thus creating a chain reaction of instability. This can cause injuries not to heal well, inflammation, acne etc and skin not to be in utmost healthy condition, in general. So, the presence of “Vitamin E” is surely welcome and useful, although I’m not sure it’s necessarily unique in soaps. “Sweet almond oil” being easily absorbed by skin to complement this content should also support the qualities of “Vitamin E” to be more effective for more supple, dark circle free and acne free skin. But not all forms of “Vitamin E” are as useful for the skin. Perhaps this soap sports a “Vitamin E” variant which causes it to be effective. Can’t honestly rate this aspect. But I’ve noticed no ill effects.
4) EFFECTIVENESS OF SOAP SURFACTANT: Although I did term the “cleansing action” to be quite satisfactory, I’m not sure I’d call it special. The surfactant action of the soap which reduces surface tension between water and the dirt on our bodies in question, to be carried away by soap emulsification, definitely doesn’t seem faster than other soaps. There is that typical delay with which the dirt comes off. But the effectiveness seems to be there, nevertheless.
5) HARDNESS & DURABILITY: This is where it clearly scores higher than most soaps. It is a tad lesser in volume than most soaps, but yet it doesn’t wear away fast like most soaps. This is typically attributed to soaps which are fatty acid salts of Sodium which crystallize to be harder and more durable than similar salts of Potassium which generally don’t crystallize to be as hard or opaque. But then, there are other soaps based on Sodium salts. I’m not sure why this one is so durable. Maybe Palmitic acid present in “Sweet almond oil” contributes further to this aspect. Nevertheless, something good which lasts is always welcome.:D
6) LOOK & FEEL: Shape wise, it reminds me a bit of “Dove” soap with a gentle curve and a an overall oval shape, although “Persona” is a bit thinner and has a light yellow tinge rather than the clear white color “Dove” usually sports. Nice and neat, would probably be the best way to describe the soap bar.
7) FRAGRANCE: Unlike some other soaps with an excessive fragrance, it has a simple and mildly pleasant one, which doesn’t feel too unfamiliar. If you are looking for a soap with some revolutionary fragrance, this is probably not it. It doesn’t need to be, in my opinion. It's not my deodorant.
8) PACKAGING: The packaging is neat with a depiction of a mix of white and a shade of greenish-blue splash of colours, the soap(fair maiden) swimming around in a sea of milk with some stray almonds flying around. Looks quite interesting, actually.;)
9) COST: Cost comes to around Rs. 51 /- per bar of soap.
To conclude: I found it to be quite a decent product, different in some ways and common in some of its other features too. But good to use.
