Six weeks ago, I started a 30 day experiment exclusively using all the products from The Detox Market Best Of Green Beauty Box 2018.
The Best Of Green Beauty Box is a limited edition box that The Detox Market curates at the end of every year containing their most popular green beauty products. The box contains natural skincare, hair care, body care and makeup products.
Every year I want to buy the box, but for one reason or another, I talk myself out buying it and then once it’s sold out, I regret not purchasing it. I go through this every single year.
At the end of 2018, I saw a comment on Instagram of someone saying this Best Of Green Beauty Box is the best box yet. Something about that comment, whether truthful or not, made me want to buy the box even more. So I did!
I thought it would be fun to do a 30 day experiment exclusively using all 11 products in the box to see if all the products really were “out of this world amazing,” and if the box is really worth it.
Kicking off the 30 day experiment, I did a first impressions + demo video where I tried all the products for the first time, and now I’m back with my final review. I’ve done both a Detox Market Best Of Green Beauty Box review video, plus written reviews of each product.
I’ll tell you now, there’s some winning products, and a few losers. The Detox Market Best Of Green Beauty Box is great value, but I wouldn’t consider all of the products to be the absolute best clean beauty products. Quite a few were really disappointing. But on the other end of the spectrum, I did find a few products that I absolutely love and will re-purchase.
In this review
Review videos:
Product reviews:
- Osea – Ocean Cleanser
- Maya Chia – The Optimist Hydrating Essence
- Josh Rosebrook – Vital Balm Cream
- Odacite – Aventurine Kiss Lip Serum
- Detox Mode – Altogether Oil
- Agent Nateur – Holi (Stick) No.3 Deodorant
- Innersense – Hydrating Cream Hairbath
- Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner
- Goop – G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo
- W3ll People – Optimist Lipstick (shade: Choose Love)
- W3ll People – Expressionist Mascara
Best Of Green Beauty Box 2018 Review Videos
First Impression + Video Demo
30 Day Experiment Final Review Video
The Detox Market Best Of Green Beauty Box 2018 Reviews:
Osea – Ocean Cleanser
What is it?
Osea Ocean Cleanser is a gel cleanser formulated for dry, combination and normal skin types to be used twice a day to cleanse the skin and remove makeup.
The cleanser contains red algae to hydrate the skin, vegan lactic acid to gently exfoliate, and lime, cypress, juniper and jasmine essential oils that are chosen for their astringent qualities.
How long have I been using it?
I used it 4 times over the course of 7 days. I had a terrible reaction to the cleanser every time I used it.
How did I use it?
The first time I used it to wash my face, I had a bad reaction where my skin turned bright red, blotchy, and burned. I wasn’t sure if it was the Ocean Cleanser or the other skincare products in The Best Of Green Beauty Box 2018 that was causing the bad reaction (at first I thought it was the Josh Rosebrook Vital Balm Cream that I was also trying out).
(To see the bad reaction I had, check out Part 1: My First Impressions video).
When I posted my first impressions video with the bad reaction, a few of my YouTube subscribers commented that they had similar bad reactions to the Ocean Cleanser, so I made sure to keep an eye on it.
That night, I used the Ocean Cleanser again on it’s own without the other new products, and a half hour later my face was bright red again. The following day my skin ached.
The day after, I made the biggest mistake of using the cleanser after exercising, and my skin burned badly (it felt like it was on fire!). This is the first time I’ve ever used a cleanser that caused such a strong burning sensation on my skin.
At that point I was starting to strongly suspect it was the Ocean Cleanser irritating my skin, and not the other products in the Best Of Green Beauty Box.
I stopped using it completely for one week to allow my skin to heal (check out my skincare routine to sooth irritated skin).
Once my skin was back to normal, I wanted to do one final experiment to make sure it really was the Osea Ocean Cleanser causing the problem. So I used it one more time, on its own with my regular skincare routine. And again, my skin became red, blotchy, stinging, and irritated after using it. For a few days after, my skin just ached. It took me another week to heal my skin from all the irritation it caused.
I’ve stopped using it on my face, and have now moved it into my shower to use as a body cleanser. I’m not even sure I like using it on my body! I think it’s too strong and irritating to use regularly on my chest and back.
What were my expectations?
I was hoping to use this as a daily cleanser to cleanse my face and remove makeup.
What did I like about the product?
I liked the idea of the cleanser. I really like lactic acid, it’s a very gentle exfoliating ingredient, and can be hydrating as well. So I was excited to use this cleanser because it contains it. Unfortunately the cleanser was so irritating, nothing about the cleanser benefited my skin.
What I didn’t like about the product?
Besides the cleanser irritating and burning my skin, there’s other things about the cleanser that put me off and I didn’t like.
I find this cleanser’s description to be extremely misleading.
On the package it says it’s for dry, combination and normal skin types. The first time I used this cleanser my skin felt so tight after cleansing with it. I felt like I immediately needed to apply a moisturizer after cleansing to counter the dryness. My skin isn’t even dry, so I could imaging what this cleanser would do to someone with dry skin. I think this cleanser would be best suited for oily skin types, not dry skin types.
Also, there’s no mention in the product’s description that the cleanser has a texture, making it a physical exfoliant/scrub. It’s a gel cleanser with exfoliating grains that are quite sharp. On the product description it says it’s a daily cleanser to be used twice a day. I personally would never use a textured cleanser like this twice a day. Unless you have really durable skin, most skin types couldn’t tolerate using a textured physical exfoliant twice a day (especially not dry skin types that they are recommending this cleanser to!). Eventually it would be too irritating. Plus, there’s the lactic acid in the cleanser which works as a chemical exfoliant. Doubling up the exfoliation with a chemical exfoliant and a physical scrub, and following the instructions of using it twice a day – that’s just too much and too strong!
I really don’t understand why they didn’t mention the grainy scrub-like texture in the product’s description? There’s a part of me that wonders if I just got a bad product because that’s an important detail that should have been included in the product’s description. I was planning on using the Ocean Cleanser as a daily cleanser, but once I realized it has sharp scrub-like grains, there’s no way I could use it every day (and definitely not twice a day like they recommend).
Also, in the product description, it says it can be used to remove makeup. Because of the scrub-like texture, the lactic acid, and also strong essential oils, there’s no way I would use that anywhere near my eyes to remove eye makeup or sunscreen near the eye area. I don’t think this is gentle enough to use as a makeup remover.
And lastly, chemical exfoliants like AHAs make the skin more susceptible to damage from the sun (photosensitivity). If you are going to use a product containing AHAs, you need to be extra careful with sun exposure (you must wear sunscreen, no sunbathing, and stay out of direct sunlight). Nowadays, skincare companies put warnings on products containing AHAs to remind their customers to be extra cautious with sun exposure and to use sunscreen and protective clothing. The Ocean Cleanser contains Lactic Acid (AHA). Currently there’s no caution or warning on the product or the product’s description about increased photosensitivity. I don’t mean to be picky, but this type of warning on product packaging is becoming an industry standard.
Who would I recommend this to?
Based on my experience using this product, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. The only skin types that this could work for is someone who has non-sensitive, oily skin, but even so, there’s so many better, less harsh cleansers you can use.
Who shouldn’t use this?
Avoid this cleanser if you have: sensitive, dry, dehydrated, acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, or any other inflammatory/sensitizing skin condition – this cleanser is too harsh.
Would I re-purchase it?
No.
Maya Chia – The Optimist Hydrating Essence
What is it?
Maya Chia The Optimist Hydrating Essence is a hydrating mist.
The product contains antioxidants, amino acids, polysaccharides, phytonutrients, and fatty acids, such as Sake, White Tea, Chia Seed, Astaxanthin, and Licorice Extracts to hydrate, nourish, and brighten the skin.
How long have I been using it?
I’ve been using it almost daily over the last 4-6 weeks.
How did I use it?
I used it as a hydrating spray after cleansing my face, before applying serum and/or moisturizer.
I also used it as a setting spray after applying makeup and powder.
What were my expectations?
I don’t regularly use toners, toning mists, or essences in my skincare routine. I find a lot of them dry out my skin, make my skin feel sticky and tacky, and some irritated my skin causing redness. The more products and ingredients I put on my skin, the more it can potentially cause irritation. So in general, I tend to avoid toners and mists.
But one thing I do like about using a non-alcohol mist, is at the end of my makeup routine to soften the look of powder makeup (like setting powders). I find spraying my face with a fine mist takes away the dry/powdery look of powder and brings life and a natural glow back into my complexion. It’s not always easy to find a good setting spray or complexion mist to spray over makeup because the mist has to be fine, the product needs to be clear, and it can’t contain oils or ingredients that might disrupt your makeup. I was hoping I could use this as a setting spray.
What did I like about the product?
Everything!
The Optimist Hydrating Essence is a very gentle, hydrating essence. It absorbs beautifully. It didn’t leave any sticky or heavy residue, didn’t make my skin feel tight or dry, and the mist itself is super fine, so it can be safely over makeup.
I ended up using it in my skincare routine after cleansing for extra hydration, plus on top of makeup when I wore makeup (I don’t wear makeup every day).
I was quite surprised how much I enjoyed using the essence and I notice an improvement in the hydration of my skin.
What I didn’t like about the product?
There really wasn’t anything I didn’t like. It’s a beautiful product and if you like hydrating mists and essences, I would strongly recommend it.
I will mention the little cap that goes over the sprayer nozzle doesn’t fit tightly, it easily falls off. I don’t know if it’s just my bottle, but I wouldn’t travel with this due to fear it would leak all over the place.
Who would I recommend this to?
If you find your skin is dull or dehydrated and want to try a hydrating essence or mist, I would highly recommend The Optimist.
Also, if you want an all natural makeup setting spray without drying alcohol, heavy oils, or synthetic fragrance – this is great. The mist is so fine, it won’t ever mess up your makeup. It’s especially good at getting rid of a powdery finish, and transforming your skin and makeup look into a more dewy, natural skin-like finish.
Who should not use this?
This is a very gentle product, suitable for all skin types. But, if your skin is currently irritated or sensitized, I wouldn’t use this in case it irritates your skin more. When you have a flare-up, or your skin is in an inflammatory state, you’re much better off minimizing the products and ingredients you are using, so your skin can heal.
Would I re-purchase it?
Yes, definitely!
Josh Rosebrook – Vital Balm Cream
What is it?
Josh Rosebrook Vital Balm Cream is a rich moisturizing balm cream that hydrates, nourishes, and seals in moisture.
This balm cream is especially good for dry and dehydrated skin types. The product absorbs into the skin like a traditional moisturizer, but at the same time it has a balm-like quality that creates a protective moisture barrier on the surface of the skin.
The product contains an array of nourishing plant butters, oils, aloe vera and Indian Sienna Seed extract which is known as a botanical hyaluronic acid that helps the skin hold onto moisture.
How long have I been using it?
I’ve been using it for about 4 weeks.
How did I use it?
Mostly at night, with a very simple and minimal skincare routine. Pretty much I would wash my face and then apply the Vital Cream Balm.
If my skin was really feeling dehydrated and dry, I also used it during the day under my sunscreen.
What were my expectations?
Out of all the products in The Detox Market’s Best Of Green Beauty Box 2018, this was the product I was most excited to try. To me, it was the star product that made me want to buy the Best Of Green Beauty Box.
My main expectation was that the Vital Balm Cream would be super nourishing, help balance my dehydrated skin, and help protect it at night from the dehydrating air conditioning.
I will say, sometimes I find balms just sit on my skin, not really penetrating or moisturizing it. I was curious to see if this really hydrated and absorbed like a moisturizer, but also had the barrier qualities of a balm.
What did I like about the product?
The Vital Balm Cream really worked at hydrating and moisturizing my skin.
First of all, it’s rich. And I like rich creams and moisturizers. And I especially like that this does absorb into my skin and I see a noticeable difference the next day (added hydration, suppleness and plumpness to my skin).
It absorbs into my skin and acts as protective barrier on the surface of my skin (as promised). If you sleep with indoor heating or air-conditioning, you know how drying and dehydrating it can be for your skin. The Vital Balm Cream will protect your skin from those dehydrating elements by delivering and sealing in moisture.
I’ve read a lot of reviews of this product, and it seems like most people like to use it at night. As I said it’s rich. All the oils and butters make your skin moist and super shiny (and not necessarily the look people are going for during the daytime).
The scent from the extracts, botanicals, and essential oils is calming, making it even nicer to use at night.
I’ve also used this during the day. Right now the climate where I live is hot, and I wear mineral sunscreen every day. Over time, I find the heat here dehydrates my skin. As rich as the Vital Balm Cream is, I do like to use a small amount during the day under my sunscreen a few days a week to help balance and restore my skin. I have breakout prone skin, but didn’t get any breakouts or clogged pores from this product. I had absolutely no problem using it as a daytime moisturizer, as long as I just used a little. I really like it and it softens and smooths my skin.
What I didn’t like about the product?
There’s nothing about the product I didn’t like.
The Vital Balm Cream is REALLY nice.
But, I will give a warning to anyone with very sensitive or irritated skin. And that is the ingredient list is super long, the product contains a lot of occlusive butters, plant-based extracts, botanicals, and essential oils. It’s great for dry and dehydrated skin, but if you also have irritated or inflamed skin, go with the new unscented version. The Unscented Vital Balm Cream doesn’t have any of the essential oils that are in the original version, which would cut any chance of having a bad reaction or sensitivity.
I know for myself, when I first tried the Vital Balm Cream in my First Impressions Video, my face got all red, blotchy and irritated after I applied it. I wasn’t getting the irritation from the Vital Balm Cream, it was the Osea Ocean Cleanser that I used right before that had irritated my face, but applying the Vital Balm Cream on top of my already irritated skin made it 100 times worse. It just added fuel to the fire, but not the cause of the fire.
Once I stopped using the irritating Ocean Cleanser and my skin was back to normal and no longer red and irritated, the Vital Balm Cream was fine to use.
So with that being said, if you have dry or dehydrated skin, this is an excellent product. But if your skin is also irritated, sensitive, red or inflamed, I would first work on balancing it with a mild skincare routine, or try the Unscented version instead. Once your skin is no longer irritated, you can use the regular Vital Balm Cream to treat dryness or dehydration.
Who would I recommend this to?
I recommend this to treat dry and/or dehydrated skin.
If you sleep with indoor heating or air conditioning and you find it’s adversely affecting your skin, this would be a great protective product to wear at night.
Who should not use this?
Be careful if you have active acne or acne prone skin. This is a rich product containing a lot of plant butters and oils which can cause breakouts for some people.
If your skin is currently irritated or inflamed, I recommend using the Unscented Vital Balm Cream instead which is the same product but without essential oils. This will balance, nourish and reset your skin minus anything that can aggravate sensitive skin.
Would I re-purchase it?
Yes!
Odacite – Aventurine Kiss Lip Serum
What is it?
Odacite Aventurine Kiss Lip Serum is an oil-based lip serum formulated to smooth and soften the vertical lines in the lip area, prevent dryness, and plump the lips.
How long have I been using it?
Day and night for about 6 weeks.
How did I use it?
I applied it on my lips at the last step of my skin care routine.
What were my expectations?
I was expecting it to be a moisturizing and plumping lip serum.
What did I like about the product?
I really enjoyed using it. I like the ease of use of the product and the aventurine stone roller ball that dispenses the serum on your lips. It’s cooling and mess free.
I noticed a difference in my lips within a few days of using the product. My lips were a little more fuller and the natural colour of my lips was a little deeper.
The difference is subtle, but nice.
I also liked that it wasn’t an irritating formula like a lot of lip plumping products are. It won’t make your lips burn or tingle.
What I didn’t like about the product?
I didn’t notice much of a difference in the appearance of the lines on my lips, and I didn’t find it to be very moisturizing.
It is a lip oil, and not a balm, so it won’t seal in moisture like a wax-based or butter-based formula would. It softened my lips upon application, and my lips would feel soft and moisturized for an hour or two after applying, but then feel dry again.
Who would I recommend this to?
This is a perfect product for someone that likes trying out different lip products.
If you’re looking for an all natural product to add a little volume to your lips – this would be worth trying.
Who should not use this?
If you’re looking for dramatic lip pumping and line smoothing, this product isn’t for you. As I said, the results are very subtle, I did notice a difference, but not a major difference.
If you’re looking for a product to treat dry lips, I wouldn’t recommend this.
There’s mint essential oil in this product, and for some people, this ingredient can dry out your skin.
Would I re-purchase it?
Probably not. I really enjoyed using Odacite Aventurine Kiss Lip Serum, but I prefer using something a little heavier and more moisturizing for my lips.
Detox Mode – Altogether Oil
What is it?
Detox Mode Altogether Oil is a universal body, face, and hair oil.
The nourishing oil is made with jojoba oil, macadamia oil, grapeseed oil, and array of fresh citrusy essential oils.
How long have I been using it?
Every day, twice a day, for 6 weeks.
How did I use it?
I used it on my body as a moisturizing body oil after showering.
What were my expectations?
I was expecting the Detox Mode Altogether Oil to be moisturizing and a versatile oil that I could use on my body, face, and hair.
What did I like about the product?
The Detox Mode Altogether Oil is very moisturizing and absorbs beautifully. It’s not heavy at all, and doesn’t leave a greasy residue on your skin.
I was fully impressed.
Normally body oils are either not moisturizing enough, or too greasy to use. This product was beautifully formulated to soften and moisturize the skin and it feels good to use.
I also really liked the packaging. It has a spray applicator which makes it easy to use, and not messy.
What I didn’t like about the product?
I didn’t like the scent.
When I first applied it, it smells fresh and citrusy, but then it starts smelling like insect repellant on me. Every time I used it, I felt like I smelled like bug spray. It kind of made me feel self conscious. But as a moisturizing body oil, it’s fantastic, so I continued using it every day despite what I smelled like.
Who would I recommend this to?
Anyone that likes using body oils, this product is a treat to use.
It’s suitable for all skin types, but especially good if you have dry skin. The macadamia oil in the product is very nourishing, and the product has a lightweight texture.
If you like using one product for your entire body – body, face, and hair – this is great (and I’ve used it once to wash my face and on my hair as well, and it worked great). I prefer just using it only on my body, but it’s been formulated to be used all over.
Who should not use this?
I think this product is great for everyone.
But, the scent might not be for everyone. We all smell things differently, and skincare products and perfume smells differently on different people’s skin. Even though it smelled like bug spray on me, it might not be the same for you. If possible, I recommend trying it in person to see if you like the scent, especially if you are picky or sensitive to certain scents (which I am).
Would I re-purchase it?
If the Detox Mode came out with another Altogether Oil with a different scent, I definitely would purchase it. I LOVED this oil, my skin loved the oil, but unfortunately I didn’t like the scent. So for now, no, I wouldn’t repurchase it. But who knows, maybe one day Detox Mode adds more to their line.
Agent Nateur – Holi (Stick) No. 3 Deodorant
What is it?
Agent Nateur Holi (Stick) No. 3 Deodorant is an all natural deodorant stick that has a light scent of honey, lavender, and eucalyptus.
How long have I been using it?
Daily for 6 weeks.
How did I use it?
I apply it to my under arms in the morning after my morning shower.
What were my expectations?
I expected the Agent Nateur Holi (Stick) No. 3 Deodorant would prevent body odour and have a fresh pleasant scent.
What did I like about the product?
I love the Agent Nateur Holi (Stick) No. 3 Deodorant.
This has become my new holy grail deodorant.
As many of you know following this blog, I’ve been using the Meow Meow Tweet Baking Soda-Free Grapefruit Deodorant for years. I love that deodorant as well, it works amazing for me, but I hate having to stick my fingers in the jar to get the product out and having to apply the deodorant with my fingers.
I love that the Agent Nateur Holi (Stick) Deodorant is in a roll-up stick form like a traditional deodorant. I don’t have to touch the product to apply it, there’s no mess.
The Agent Nateur Holi (Stick) No. 3 Deodorant works great. As long as I make sure to apply it all over my arm pits, I don’t get any body odour.
The product also does not transfer, discolour, or stain my clothing.
I’ve used it after shaving my under arms and it never burned or irritated my skin.
I also really like the fresh eucalyptus scent.
What I didn’t like about the product?
There’s nothing I didn’t like. I LOVE this deodorant.
Who would I recommend this to?
Everyone! It’s a great deodorant that works, and it’s made with all natural ingredients.
Who should not use this?
If you are looking for an anti-perspirant (a product that stops you from sweating) this product isn’t for you. Natural deodorants are formulated to prevent body odour, but don’t control perspiration.
The Agent-Nateur Holi (Stick) No. 3 Deodorant contains baking soda which can be irritating for some people. If you have sensitive skin, you can use Agent Nateur Holi (Stick) Sensitive Deodorant which is baking soda-free.
Would I re-purchase it?
Yes, absolutely. I still have a back-up of my Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant to finish, so it will be a while, but once it’s done, I’ll switch over to Agent Nateur Holi (Stick) No.3 Deodorant.
Innersense – Hydrating Cream Hairbath
What is it?
Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath is a gentle hydrating shampoo for dry, thirsty hair.
How long have I been using it?
2-3 times a week, for 6 weeks.
How did I use it?
I used the Innersense Hydrating Hairbath as my regular shampoo to wash my hair.
For regular use, I only needed to do a single cleanse with this shampoo to fully cleanse my hair.
I found after a week or two, I would need to use a clarifying shampoo. Either I used the Goop G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo or I double cleansed using the Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath, which was sufficient. It gave my scalp and hair a deeper cleanse without drying out my hair.
What were my expectations?
Over the years I’ve tried a lot of natural hair care products, and most of them dry out my hair and irritate my scalp. I find natural shampoos can be quite stripping and drying. In all honesty, I didn’t have the highest expectations, but I was hoping this would be different from most of the products I have tried.
What did I like about the product?
This was another product I LOVED.
Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath is so mild and gentle – perfect for dry and thirsty hair.
The shampoo did not strip my hair, and in fact I found it to strengthen my hair and hydrated it.
My hair is naturally a little coarse and dry, and I highlight it, so I need good nourishment from my haircare products. I found the shampoo to be perfect, it’s easy to rinse out, it smells nice, and I never had a flaking or dry scalp using it.
When I use the Innersense Hydrating Hairbath and Conditioner together, I don’t need to use any styling products. This shampoo and conditioner smoothes out frizz, and makes my hair very manageable. I love not having to rely on styling products which can weigh my hair down and make my hair dirtier faster.
What I didn’t like about the product?
There wasn’t much I didn’t like.
But I will say, this shampoo is very mild (which is why it’s so great for dry, damaged, brittle, and processed hair).
Since it’s not as strong or harsh as regular shampoos, I found I had to wash my hair more often (instead of every 3-4 days, I would have to wash my hair every 2-3 days). Luckily because it’s so mild and hydrating, the more frequent washing never dried out my hair.
I also had to incorporate some sort of clarifying shampoo once every week or two to really give my scalp and hair a good wash.
The extra step of using a clarifying shampoo once in a while, and possibly more frequent washing of the hair might not be for everyone.
In general, I found there was a little bit of a learning curve using the Innersense Hydrating Hairbath and Conditioner. You’ve got to play around with the products a bit to figure out how it can best work for you.
Who would I recommend this to?
This Innersense Hydrating Hairbath is best suited for dry, thick, damaged, bleached or dyed hair, processed hair, brittle hair, or hair that needs extra hydration and strength.
Who should not use this?
I don’t recommend this product for very fine or thin hair. If you struggle with a perpetually oily scalp/crown, this product might not be for you.
Would I re-purchase it?
Yes, absolutely.
Innersense – Hydrating Cream Conditioner
What is it?
Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner is a rich, moisturizing and strengthening conditioner for thick, dry, coarse, and thirsty hair.
The product is formulated with manoi oil and aloe to strengthen the follicle, smooth cuticles and control frizz. It also has orange flower oil to create shine.
How long have I been using it?
2-3 times a week, for 6 weeks.
How did I use it?
I used it after shampooing my hair.
I found a little goes a long way and for best results, you must completely rinse it out. Normally, because my hair is quite coarse, I leave a little conditioner in my hair, but the Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner is so rich, if I don’t rinse it out completely, my hair will look stringy. With this conditioner, it’s so nourishing, you don’t need to leave a little extra on your hair. It actually works the best if you rinse it all out.
I also found it’s better to rinse the product out with warm water, not cold. I normally condition my hair with cold water, but I found the product wouldn’t rinse out properly with cold water. I got better results rinsing the Hydrating Cream Conditioner out with warm water and then once it’s completely rinsed out of my hair, then I do a final rinse with cold water to make my hair more soft and smooth.
What were my expectations?
As I said about the Innersense Hydrating Hairbath, I didn’t have very high expectation for these products. I find most natural haircare products can be ok for normal hair, but not nourishing enough for dry, coarse, or colour treated hair. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
What did I like about the product?
I was really impressed with how moisturizing this product is.
A little goes a long way.
The biggest stand out benefit is after using the Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath and Conditioner together, I don’t need to use any styling products to add shine or tame my frizz – my hair air-drys beautifully.
I’ve been using the Innersense Shampoo and Conditioner for 6 weeks and my hair is much more manageable, soft, smooth, healthy and shiny.
What I didn’t like about the product?
There’s a little bit of a learning curve with this product (at least for me).
You don’t need to use much product, and if you use too much, it can weigh your hair down and make your hair look stringy. I actually use half the amount I would normally use of a conditioner, and that’s plenty.
You also have to spend some time thoroughly rinsing it out. I don’t find it rinses out as easily as most conditioners, and that’s because it’s rich (which is a good thing). I find I have to spend an extra 2 minutes really rinsing my hair out, and best to use warm water to rinse out the conditioner and not cold water. When I’ve rinsed it out with cold water, it wouldn’t rinse out completely. The warm water will break it down and rinse it away a lot better. For extra shine, you can always do a final cold water rinse after you’ve rinsed out the conditioner.
Who would I recommend this to?
Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner is best suited for thick, coarse, porous, dry, brittle, or chemically treated hair.
Who should not use this?
It’s too rich for thin or fine hair.
Would I re-purchase it?
Absolutely.
I got the best results using both the Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath and Hydrating Cream Conditioner together. I used the Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner a few times with the GOOP G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo, and my hair didn’t look as good as it did when I used it with the Innersense Hydrating Hairbath.
GOOP – G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo
What is it?
Goop G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo is a whipped salt scrub shampoo that cleanses the hair and scalp of product buildup, dirt, debris, and oil.
The shampoo contains himalayan salt that exfoliates the scalp, and moringa oil and rose hip oil to nourish the scalp and hair.
How long have I been using it?
I used it once a week for 3 weeks.
How did I use it?
I used the Goop G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo as a weekly clarifying shampoo and exfoliating treatment for my scalp.
What were my expectations?
I was expecting this product to exfoliate my scalp, and remove any build up on my scalp and hair.
What did I like about the product?
I liked the whipped texture and how I didn’t need much product to cleanse my hair. For a natural shampoo, it lathers really well, which makes it easier to work into your scalp and hair. Overall I like the ease of use of the product.
As a shampoo, it does a good job of cleansing my hair and scalp without drying out my hair. My hair always had nice volume, lightness, and shine after using this product.
What I didn’t like about the product?
The Himalayan salt in the product is suppose to exfoliate your scalp, but I didn’t find there was enough in the product to do much. The exfoliating grains were large and sparse, there wasn’t much of a gritty, exfoliating texture.
Upon close inspection of my hair right after shampooing with the G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo, my scalp was really flakey. This was while my hair was still wet, right after shampooing. I don’t normally have a flakey scalp, and to have so much flakes after cleansing, it made me want to wash my hair all over again (which would have been too much).
When my hair dried after cleansing, I had a huge halo of frizz over my head (watch the review video to see a photo of what my hair and the frizz looked like after using this shampoo). I don’t get this much frizz from any other shampoo I’ve used, and I needed to apply an oil or smoothing product to eliminate the frizz.
Who would I recommend this to?
This would be best suited for someone looking for a clarifying shampoo treatment, and has straight or fine hair (no frizz).
Who should not use this?
If you are prone to getting frizzy hair, I wouldn’t use this (see how it accentuated my frizz in today’s video).
If you are looking for a scalp scrub, there’s much better ones available. I much prefer Innersense True Enlightenment Scalp Scrub with has a much finer texture to thoroughly cleanse and remove buildup from your scalp. You get a real scalp treatment, and the scent and sensation from the peppermint scrub is invigorating.
Would I re-purchase it?
No. I didn’t like how frizzy my hair was every time I used it, and it made my scalp super flaky.
W3LL People – Optimist Lipstick in Choose Love
What is it?
W3LL People Optimist Lipstick in the shade Choose Love is a long wear, creamy satin semi-matte lipstick.
How long have I been using it?
Only a few times.
How did I use it?
Applied on my lips, on its own.
What were my expectations?
I expected the Optimist Lipstick to be long wearing and moisturizing, and Choose Love would be a universally flattering colour.
What did I like about the product?
The formulation is really nice.
The lipstick felt good on my lips. It’s lightweight, nourishing, and never drying. The colour too is long wearing.
I liked the semi-matte finish.
What I didn’t like about the product?
The Optimist Lipstick would be a perfect lipstick, but I didn’t like the colour.
The shade Choose Love was too light and cool toned pink for my liking. It also made my teeth look yellow.
The colour on my lips looked a lot different than the bullet and online swatches (see today’s video for my swatch of Choose Love)
Who would I recommend this to?
The formula of this lipstick is great. I would recommend this range to anyone who likes a semi-matte lipstick. There’s a few other shades to choose from.
Who should not use this?
As long as you find a shade you like, I think this lipstick range would be suitable for anyone.
On the W3ll People website they describe this lipstick as being “plant based” but there is beeswax, silk powder, and depending on the shade, carmine, in the formula. If you want a lipstick that is vegan, this product isn’t for you.
Would I re-purchase it?
I wouldn’t buy the shade Choose Love again, but another shade yes (I prefer darker nudes or reds).
W3ll People – Expressionist Mascara
What is it?
W3ll People Expressionist Mascara is formulated with pure mineral pigments to add volume, length, and definition to your lashes.
The mascara is deep black in colour.
The mascara brush is designed to precisely separate the thinnest, shortest, hard-to-reach lashes, while at the same time delivering just the right amount of product.
How long have I been using it?
A few times a week over the past 6 weeks.
How did I use it?
During the day I apply one layer of the mascara on my lashes.
At night when I’m going out, I apply 2-3 layers of the mascara on my lashes.
What were my expectations?
I was hoping this mascara would add definition to my lashes, and be long wearing without smudging, transferring or flaking.
What did I like about the product?
The W3ll People Expressionist Mascara was absolutely perfect!
The mascara defined and lengthened my lashes, and was very buildable. I layered the mascara and it never got clumpy or heavy.
What I liked most about the mascara was that it didn’t move – it never smudged, melted, flaked, or transferred. I wore this mascara to a late night party, and normally I would come home with “raccoon eyes,” but this mascara didn’t budge, which is awesome.
What I didn’t like about the product?
I loved this mascara! No complaints.
Who would I recommend this to?
If you are looking for a mascara that is buildable and defines your lashes, this is a great one.
With one coat you will have a more natural look with defined and lengthened lashes, and with a few extra coats it will add more volume.
This mascara is even good in hot climates or summer weather because it doesn’t smudge, melt, flake or move.
Who should not use this?
If you are looking for a super dramatic mascara that adds a lot of volume and thickness to your lashes, this might not be best suited for you. This mascara enhances your lashes. It can be built up for an evening look, but if you like a heavy, thick mascara – this might not be the best choice.
The Expressionist Mascara isn’t the easiest to remove (all mascaras are hard to remove, and this one isn’t any easier). You will need to use an oil or eye makeup remover to remove it. If you prefer mascaras that wash or rinse off super easy, then this might not be for you.
Would I re-purchase it?
Yes, absolutely.
