Review: Sutla Face and Body Bleaching Cream

I first heard about Sutla Face and Body Bleaching Cream (SFBBC) from a friend who was using the product a month ago. It is one of the most inexpensive bleaching creams available in the market but the big question is how effective is it? Is it harmful or not?

{The original jars of Sutla Face and Body Bleaching Cream; image source: https://www.facebook.com/oozedyardsale}

SFBBC is manufactured by Glowcal Mfg., Corp. just like Flawless Papaya Soap. As of this time, the cream is being sold online and is available in 3 different sizes – 120g, 200g and 250g. Anything in between might be fake or rebottled. Sometime ago, an issue was raised against one of the manufacturer’s distributors. This particular distributor changed the label of each SFBBC jar with their name (incidentally, it is also the name of the soap). This confused majority of resellers and online buyers as some were saying that the jars bearing a different label other than “Sutla Face and Body Bleaching Cream” are not authentic. This distributor, however, said that it’s the same cream and jar from the manufacturer. They just decided to change the label. Turned out, it is against the manufacturer’s policy to rebottle or relabel any of their products. According to the statement released by the manufacturer, these jars may be contaminated because they were exposed outside their laboratory. They penalized the said distributor and warn all online shoppers who will buy the rebottled or relabeled jars.

{My Sutla Face and Body Bleaching Cream; Php200.00, 200g}

I got my own jar of SFBBC 200g from an online seller for only Php200.00. The jar looks like an ordinary cream, nothing special aside from its gold label. It promises to be the most effective and affordable bleaching cream as it can remove fine lines, wrinkles, lighten dark spots, blemishes and minor skin pigmentation with continued use.

{Back label of Sutla Face and Body Bleaching Cream}

The back label shows that it has no hydroquinone, no mercury, no animal fat or harmful ingredients (hmm, more about this “no harmful ingredients” later). It is fragrant (mainly because of Isopropyl Myristate and Ethyl Alcohol, two of it’s key ingredients) and smooth to the touch. After using it for a week, I find it heavy and sticky mainly because it is not easily absorbed by my skin. It is wise not to apply it during the day because aside from its heavy and sticky feeling, most of it’s key ingredients such as Salicylic Acid and parabens react poorly with prolonged sun exposure (just like most whitening and bleaching products). This can lead to advance skin aging, dryness or even skin cancer. 

{The color of the authentic Sutla Face and Body Bleaching Cream}

Speaking of parabens, it is being associated to various cancers and health concerns. Parabens are chemical compound of para-hydroxybenzoic acid. Nearly all types of parabens are man-made and cost little to manufacture so they are widely used as preservatives in personal care products to stop fungus, bacteria and other microbes from growing. However, studies show that over exposure to parabens are dangerous and being linked to breast cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and skin irritation. Researchers found that parabens can mimic the hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in development of breast cancers and other reproductive health issues. Most OBGYNE warn pregnant  and lactating women from using products with any type of parabens. It is also not recommended for small children.

While SFBBC is affordable and smells good, it’s not for me. I find it heavy and sticky. It also contains some potentially harmful ingredients. I have chosen to take the safety route and not use products containing parabens when I can help it. :)

Note:

I am in no way connected to Glowcal Mfg. Corp. They did not ask me to review their product for them. I created this post in good faith to give feedback and share the effect of this product to me. Your view may be different from mine and the effect may be entirely different when you use this product.