Wardah skincare is such a popular brand in Malaysia that chances are, you’ve walked past the products countless times in your local Watsons store.

The brand is so popular that sometimes certain products are sold out. But what’s the background behind Wardah skincare? What are their bestsellers, and what do people say about them?

We’ve done our thorough research and gathered the answers to all these questions and more about Wardah skincare – a brand that we’re now eager to incorporate into our skincare routines.

Wardah skincare brand introduction

Wardah skincare founder

For a brand that has gained so much popularity in Malaysia, Wardah skincare actually originated in Indonesia.

Nurhayati Subakat founded the company Paragon Technology and Innovation in 1985 and launched the brand Wardah in 1995.

The brand was not popular when it first released, being a halal cosmetics and skincare brand, people thought Nurhayati was peddling religion whenever she tried to sell her products. It was also difficult to find halal raw materials at the time.

Wardah was relaunched in 2009 with substantial quality and packaging improvements. It only entered Malaysia years later in 2012, with expanded distribution in Watsons and Guardian in 2017.

The brand aspires to fulfil the need for halal beauty products, which are cosmetics or skincare products that only contain permissible ingredients according to Islamic law.

Halal beauty products are slowly gaining traction in the region, as more people become aware that these products are not strictly limited to Muslims or Hijab-wearing women – anyone can use halal beauty products.

Since Wardah’s success, we’ve also seen more halal beauty entering the market such as teen skincare brand Emina, which is also owned by Paragon Technology and Innovation.

Wardah skincare bestsellers and what people say about them

1. Wardah Lightening Face Toner

Wardah skincare Lightening Face Toner

With over 81.3 thousand sold on Wardah’s official Shopee store, Wardah’s Lightening Face Toner is by far their most popular product.

It claims to have a pH-balanced formula that maintains the skin’s natural pH which will allow for better product absorbability. The toner also contains advanced niacinamide to help the skin look brighter and more radiant.

Many people on Shopee rave about the product due to its affordability and suitability for most skin types. User @Nisa_12389 on Twitter also mentions that the product did wonders to her oily face and can be difficult to find in Watsons stores as it is always sold out.

But those with acne-prone and sensitive skin should keep their distance as Deasy W on her Beauty Talks blog experienced redness every time after using the toner – so much that she stopped after only four uses.

Several users on the website SkinCarisma also noted breakouts and increased sensitivity after using the toner, especially due to its strong fragrance.

It retails for RM8.90 on Shopee.

2. Wardah UV Shield Essential Sunscreen Gel

Wardah skincare UV Shield Essential Sunscreen Gel

If you want an affordable sunblock, look no further than Wardah skincare’s. Suitable for all skin types, this product is SPF 30 PA+++, which means it can protect the skin against UV-A and UV-B.

Formulated with 0% alcohol, this daily sunscreen is lightweight and dries quickly. It also nourishes the skin with its Vitamin E and Pro Vitamin B5 formula.

User Aliaamalinaabdulmalik on Shopee loves the texture and quick absorption of the product as well as how this sunscreen is cheaper than other brands she has tried. Aulia from the blog Bekikaroom described the sunscreen as so lightweight that she hardly noticed it was there at all.

Those with light skin should enjoy no white cast, as Ratu Adellya on Youtube reviewed the product and experienced no white cast. But some Shopee buyers mention that the product may give white cast to those with darker skin.

Acne-prone users can also breathe a sigh of relief as user Rubyanna._ on Shopee says the sunscreen is suitable for her acne-prone skin.

We’d still urge you to try the product out for yourself though, as everyone’s skin reacts differently to different irritants. Do a patch test before slathering on the product.

It retails for RM13 on Shopee.

3. Wardah Lightening Serum Ampoule Niacinamide

Wardah skincare Lightening Serum Ampoule Niacinamide

High in Niacinamide, this lightweight serum absorbs quickly into the epidermal layer of the skin. It also claims to diminish acne marks, maintain skin moisture, protect from blue light exposure, even out skin tone, and brighten dark spots.

But does this product live to all the hype it promises? Does it really darken scars?

An anonymous user on Shopee mentions that after finishing her first bottle, her acne scars diminished quite a bit even though they weren’t fully gone. Other Shopee buyers rave about having their scars faded.

Aisha Ria Ginanti from Buka Review talks about how the product has a water-based texture and is easily spread and absorbed for a fresh and moist feeling. While she experienced lightened acne scars, she noted no difference in brightening her skin tone overall after two weeks of us.

Dry skin users might need a little more moisture in their skincare routine if they want to incorporate this product though.

Gagatp on the site Female Daily tried using generous amounts of the product but found that the moisturising factor was not enough for his hydration needs.

Sensitive skin users might also need to be careful as many users on Female Daily described breaking out after using this product for a short amount of time.

It retails for RM24.50 on Shopee.

4. Wardah Acnederm Acne Spot Treatment Gel

Wardah skincare Acnederm Acne Spot Treatment Gel

This may be the cheapest spot treatment gel we’ve ever seen! It’s crazy how affordable this small tube of acne spot treatment is.

The gel contains willowherb, which is a plant extract with skin-calming, anti-acne, and antioxidant benefits. Further enriched with BHA, the gel also helps to fade acne scars.

It also has salicylic acid and centella asiatica extract, all good things that are known to help treat acne.

Atifa Adlina from Buka Review enjoys the soothing and cooling sensation the product brings when the gel first touches her skin. She does note that it does sting a little if there’s a wound. In other words, you may want to avoid applying it if the skin from the pimple is broken.

The gel was effective in reducing her pimples and redness, and she also especially recommends it for dry skin users as the product isn’t super-drying.

Emerald from Skincarisma says it is the best product to treat her fungal acne so far, and loves how it is great for her sensitive skin.

However, many users on Female Daily did not like the product as it unfortunately doesn’t seem to work for everyone. User meloveyou even says that her oily skin causes the gel to slip off her face after a while!

It retails for RM8.70 on Shopee.

5. Wardah Lightening Night Cream Moisturiser

Wardah skincare Lightening Night Cream Moisturiser-n

Formulated with advanced Niacinamide, this product helps brighten the skin while protecting against blue light effects.

Suitable for normal to dry skin, licorice extract is also present for a radiant, glowing complexion as the ingredient contains brightening and antioxidant properties.

But as Yulia from the Yulistination blog pointed out, the licorice extract is the last one on the product’s ingredient list, meaning that there isn’t much used.

Yulia also goes onto describing how lightweight and non-sticky the formula is. She only used it for two weeks before reviewing the product, and in that time, the product did not lighten her scars.

Enjeliaaaaa on Female Daily also enjoyed how moisturising the product is but highlighted that it didn’t lighten her scars even after six months plus of usage. Many other users on Female Daily also recommend the product due to its hydration rather than its brightening effects.

So, if you’re looking for an affordable night cream that might or might not lighten your scars, consider Wardah’s Lightening Night Cream Moisturiser.

It retails for RM16.40 on Shopee.

6. Wardah Lightening Micellar Gentle Face Wash

https://shp.ee/8dwa4yr

It doesn’t really surprise us as yet again one of Wardah’s lightening products is a bestseller. This Lightening Micellar Gentle Face Wash has over 18.2 thousand sold on Wardah’s official Shopee store.

Recommended for normal to dry skin, this facial cleanser uses a non-soap formula using Micellar Technology that gently cleanses the face while not stripping the skin of its moisture. It also has a pH balance formula to maintain the skin’s natural pH.

According to the website Fenni Bungsu, the face wash really does not strip the skin of moisture, but also does not leave the skin oily as well, instead leaving a cleansed feeling.

Farah Salsabila also notes on her blog FarahSab that since it does not strip the skin as much, it may not be suitable for oily skin as advertised. She herself has repurchased the product either three or four times at the time of the review.

Many users on the site SOCO and Female Daily recommend the product due to its gentleness and suitability for dry skin users. Some users who enjoy more foamy soaps did not recommend the product as it doesn’t lather up as much.

It retails for RM9.60 on Shopee.

7. Wardah C-Defense Serum

Wardah skincare C-Defense Serum

This serum is infused with ethyl ascorbic acid, which is the third listed in the ingredient list. Glycerin is the second ingredient, known for its moisture-retaining properties.

This quick absorbing product promises to help skin look brighter and younger, provide antioxidant benefits, promote skin elasticity, and act as an anti-inflammatory.

Blogger Eintan Nurfuzie wrote about the product, noting how absorbable it is and how pleasant it smells. Aliah from the blog Silver Pink Hijab also enjoyed the product but does not recommend it for oily skin users unless they’re planning to use it at night, as the serum can be a bit heavy.

If you want to brighten your acne scars, Aliah also mentions that her scars quickly disappear. Izyan Liyana from her blog also mentioned that new acne scars will fade quickly with this serum, while older acne scars will need a longer time.

Some users on the site SOCO and Female Daily notes that the product is moisturising but can be a little sticky, so you must wait till it completely dries.

So, if you’ve been wanting to incorporate Vitamin C into your routine, perhaps this affordable Vitamin C serum from Wardah skincare would be a good option.

It retails for RM31.90 on Shopee.

8. Wardah C-Defense Face Mist

Wardah skincare C-Defense Face Mist

If you’ve read our article on best face mists for our humid weather, you’d know this face mist was circling around Tiktok for a while due to its affordability and effectiveness.

Infused with Vitamin C, this face mist not only promises to help the skin feel more refreshed, supple, and moisturised, but also help to brighten it.

Instead of relying on online reviews for this, we went out and tried this for ourselves.

One thing that impressed us that it has no alcohol in it, meaning that it won’t dry out the skin especially since that’s the opposite of what we want. It does have fragrance though which might irritate those with sensitive skin.

There’s also the presence of PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, which could potentially clog up the skin, meaning to say it might not be the best for acne-prone skin.

Just opening the cap and smelling the nozzle revealed a tangy, citrusy scent. When we spritzed it on our face for the first time, it was this refreshing burst of hydration. The mild citrusy smell gave us Ratatouille-type flashbacks of eating vitamin c gummies as a kid.

It was a pleasure to use this product over the last few weeks, as the citrusy scent really boosted our mood whenever we sprayed it.

However, we’re not convinced that it did anything to brighten our skin. Still, we’d recommend this product as a nice, refreshing face mist to try.

It retails for RM13 on Shopee.

Featured image credit: Carousell