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I admit that right until I wrote my review of the 107 CHAGA Jelly Low pH Cleanser, I had no idea what the “Chaga” did actually stand for. I mean, I looked at the ingredients briefly before I applied it the first time, but as it is a cleanser I did focus much more on texture and effect than on them.

Now that I know what Chaga is, it is possible that I love the cleanser a little less than I did before. But let’s start at the beginning before I explain why.

What the 107 Chaga Jelly Low pH Cleanser claims

CHAGA JELLY is a gentle low pH cleanser that helps leave skin clean and bright without excessively stripping or drying out the skin barrier. With a refreshing, citrusy scent, it’s an ideal cleanser for daily use and is made for all skin types.

Facts about the 107 Chaga Jelly Low pH Cleanser

Prize and size

One tube in this light shade of pink contains 120 ml and is available for 22 $ on the website here. It contains citrus essential oils that might be a problem for some.

Texture and smell

The cleanser has a bouncy gel texture, is light brown with little specks inside and smells absolutely delicious, just like a cup of Earl Grey tea – probably due to the Bergamot essential Oil included. The light brown specks are supposed to be tea bits and while you can feel them on your skin, they don’t have an exfoliating effect.

How to use the 107 Chaga Jelly Low pH Cleanser

It is suitable both as morning cleanse or as second cleanse at night. Using it as only cleanse at night is also possible, but it isn’t the best at removing makeup. You can either lather it up on your hands or on your already wet face, but the foam you get will be minimal either way. It feels very refreshing, but also not stripping, and I enjoy it a lot.

(More info: What is Double Cleansing?)

Ingredients of the 107 Chaga Jelly Low pH Cleanser

Water solv, Glycerin sii|h 0 0, Ethoxydiglycol solv|h|perf 0 0, Cocamidopropyl Betaine surf|vc, Xanthan Gum vc, Glycereth-26 h|emo|vc 0 0, Decyl Glucoside surf, Inonotus Obliquus (Mushroom) Extract, Coceth-7 emu|surf, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether emu|surf, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil emu|surf, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Glyceryl Caprate emo, Polyglyceryl-2 Laurate emu, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil perf, Citric Acid buff, Malt Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate surf|emu, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract so|aox 0 0, Broussonetia Kazinoki Root Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Extract aox, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract aox|so, Centella Asiatica Extract so|aox|h, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Leaf Extract, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Vinegar, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract so|aox|h, Linalool perf, Limonene perf|solv, Sodium Chloride vc, Butylene Glycol h|solv|vc 0 1, 1,2-Hexanediol solv, Ethylhexylglycerin pres

Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
Okay, now the Chaga. Chaga is actually a mushroom, appearing here under the name of Inonotus Obliquus Extract. It grows in the colder parts of Northern Europe, China and Japan, mostly on Birch trees, and looks like a brown blob. Apparently it is rich in minerals and beta-glucan. (More info: The benefits of Colloidal Oatmeal in skincare)

Now the thing that rubs me the wrong way here isn’t the random extract thrown in, or the fact that it is a parasite on one of my favorite trees. No, it is the fact that when you google it, you are bombarded with websites telling you how it is able to cure basically anything, including cancer. Just to be clear, 107 Beauty does not mention this anywhere, they are absolutely not to blame here – it is just that now I think of it every time I read the name and get annoyed at predatory people preying on sickness and fear.

With that off my chest, let’s move on: Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Decyl Glucoside are used as surfactants, Glycerin as a humectant and among the many plant extracts, the ones that stood out to me the most are Chamomile Extract for soothing, Green Tea Extract for antioxidants and catechins and Centella Asiatic Extract for wound healing and to fight inflammation. (More info: Centella Asiatica in skincare – the benefits)

As it also contains essential oils, there are Linalool and Limonene as potential irritants, probably included as part of one of the essential oils.

Does it live up to its claims?

Yes.

It is a gentle cleanser that is refreshing and not stripping.

How does it compare to…

Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser

Well, one is green and one is brown, one has plum and mung bean extract and one has Chamomile and a random parasite mushroom, but both are very similar in terms of texture and cleansing abilities. When compared directly, Beauty of Joseon has the better foam (it really is high quality foam!), but the Chaga Jelly one is a tad less stripping.
Both are great products though, with me preferring this one here mainly because of the scent.

You can read my full review of the Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser here

Geek and Gorgeous Jelly Joker Low pH Cleanser

Despite both being gel cleanser, the 107 one and the one from Geek and Gorgeous are quite different. Geek and Gorgeous doesn’t really foam up, it is the least stripping one out of the cleansers mentioned here and is formulated without any plant extracts or fragrant components, so is suitable for even the most reactive skins.
As I don’t have reactive skin though, the 107 version just is more fun to use – it all depends on your preferences.

You can read my full review of the Geek and Gorgeous Jelly Joker Low pH Cleanser here

Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend the 107 Chaga Jelly Low pH Cleanser to?

This one has quickly made it into my list of favorite cleansers and I can see myself repurchasing it for sure. Yes, despite the Chaga problem! Just as claimed it is suitable for most skin types, with the exception of those that can’t use essential oils or fragrant components.

Shop my current favorite cleansers here

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