I recently became a Shea Moisture Ambassador, which means I get several boxes of products in exchange for posting about them on social media. I have been a huge fan of Shea Moisture for a while now, so I was beyond ecstatic to be chosen for the ambassador program! Although they do not require us to write blog posts about the products, I wanted to give y'all a more thorough review than I could fit into an Instagram caption.
I was super excited to receive my first box after weeks of waiting, and felt like a little kid bringing it inside and opening it up! If I'm keeping it real, I was a bit disappointed that it was skincare products instead of haircare products. At this point, I have my skincare faves and my routine down to a science, whereas my hair journey is very much in its experimental phase still. Since Shea Moisture is one of the leaders in the natural haircare world, I was eager to get some new hair products to try! Alas, I am sure the next box will come through.
Anyway, I immediately noticed the main ingredient of the products was activated charcoal, which I use in my deodorant and toothpaste and know is touted for its detoxifying powers. The products are designed for oily and acne prone skin, which I don't have, but I tend to lean toward in the summer. Although I probably won't start using these regularly until then, read on for more information about the new skincare line and my thoughts on them!
African Black Soap: Cleanses and hydrates problem skin
Bamboo Charcoal: Absorbs oil and impurities to help detoxify and purify skin
Aloe: Soothes and nourishes skin
Tea Tree Oil: Helps soothe and calm troubled skin
African black soap and bamboo charcoal are two of the main ingredients in all three products. Both the face wash and gel moisturizer also contain aloe, while the body scrub contains tea tree oil. I found all three products to smell vaguely like coca cola...not the worst smell but definitely a little weird in my opinion! I am very picky and sensitive about smells, so I will admit that was a bit of a turn off for me.
As far as how well they work, again I do not have oily skin so I may not be the best judge of this, but my skin did not feel stripped or overly dry after using them!
Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Foaming Facial Wash: This comes in a pump bottle and is a foamy texture, which I really like in the warmer months. It left my skin feeling cleansed but still moisturized. $9.99 for 7.8oz
Bamboo Charcoal Hydrating Gelee Moisturizer: This comes in a small tub with a twist off lid. It was SUPER refreshing, but not super hydrating. I think in the summer it will be the perfect weight for a daily moisturizer, but right now my skin still needs a bit of a thicker moisturizer. The nice thing about this though is that a little goes a long way! $11.99 for 2oz
Bamboo Charcoal Body Scrub: This comes in a squeeze tube, and has a surprisingly creamy texture. There are little black beads in it, which kinda worried me because I know they are not usually eco-friendly, but I wasn't able to find out online if they are actually plastic beads or made of natural materials. Anyway, this seems like more of a creamy body wash to me than a scrub. It didn't have a scrubby texture at all and definitely wasn't exfoliating anything. I would recommend this if you have problem skin on your body that you want to treat daily, as the ingredients in this body scrub/wash are on point. $10.99 for 6oz
I'd love to hear your comments if you have used these products or plan on trying them! All prices listed are from Target's website. This line of products is also available at Ulta Beauty, Walmart, and on Shea Moisture's website.
