Green Beauty Review: Juara Brings Bali Tradition to Your Bathroom

Was it really so long ago that I spent a magical week in Bali and Yogyakarta, Indonesia?

The food – traditional and vegan – the stunning natural landscapes, the temples, and the people were all seductive.But I especially remember the hours I spent in a peaceful spa hidden behind a small street in Ubud, Bali. For next to nothing, I spent two hours being massaged with coffee grounds and getting a facial, then sipping healthfully spiced tea while listening to the sound of a waterfall nearby and breathing in the fresh air perfumed with flowers and the humid, green smell of lush tropical plants. It was one of my favorite experiences. Clearly.

I don’t know when I’ll make it back to Bali, but in the meantime, I’m treating myself to the next best thing: the skincare line Juara, which is founded by four culturally-diverse, Asian women, and based on traditional Indonesian beauty and medicinal routines made relevant to a modern, Western lifestyle. It integrates Indonesian ingredients such as rice, tamarind, turmeric, candlenut oil, healing teas, and red sandalwood. It is 100% vegetarian, paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, gluten-free, free of artificial Colorants, and certified by PETA to be cruelty free.

I discovered Juara a year ago at ABC Home (did you know ABC Home has an amazing non-toxic beauty section?), and tried out their anti-aging serum, which felt and smelled light and pleasant. But now that Juara has revamped the look of their recyclable plastic packaging, they sent me two products to try: the Radiance Enzyme Scrub, and the Candlenut Body Cream.

I’ve been combining the scrub with my Michael Todd Soniclear cleansing brush for a deep and effective scrub, twice a week. It claims to minimize pores, brighten, and exfoliate skin, with bamboo beads (no plastic microbeads here!), jojoba, and apple enzyme. It smells tart, and the “beads” are more like fine grains of sand in texture. After using it for a few weeks, my face feels healthy, soft and smooth. The body creme is luxuriously scented, and I’ve been scooping out the creamy white stuff to put on my winter skin with pleasure.

Hey, we all know by now that Bali is a “thing,” and for good reason. Whether you’ve been and pine to go back, or you have it on your to-visit list, Juara can bring a little bit of that spa experience to your bathroom.