Every single one of us ought to be dedicated to saving the planet right now, especially when it comes to our oceans. One thing you can do is invest in environmentally-conscious products, such as Detox Blue Drops which uses ocean-derived ingredients to treat the skin while also donating 3% of their sales to ocean rescue organisations. The brand can currently only be purchased from Skinspace, which only sells products scientifically proven to work. I tested three Detox Blue Drops products to see if they did...
Detox Blue Drops Bifasic Make-Up Remover
The first product I tried was the Deep Fresh Facial Moisturizer with spirulina, rice oil, algae complex and wakame (Don't worry, I'm about to explain all of that in a minute). I'm always on the hunt for a moisturiser I can fall in love with and this one isn't half bad. It absorbs quickly and easily, and leaves my skin feeling hydrated for the most part of the day. I would say that it's perfect for all skin types; the ingredients are especially helpful for the driest skin, while the seawater prevents it from being too greasy on oily skin. Like all the products I tested, it has a lovely fresh scent to it. It's not perfumed as such but it does genuinely remind me of being on holiday. I know that's not a very technical olfactory description but you'll absolutely know what I mean if you smell it.
As for the active ingredients, spirulina is made from cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and is frequently used as a food supplement in aquariums. It's valued for being extremely high in nutrients and for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Rice oil is also rich in antioxidants and is very easily absorbed by skin compared to other oils making it particularly hydrating. Algae complex is another source of seaweed-related antioxidant and wakame is an edible seaweed that is rich in vitamins, minerals and (Altogether now!) antioxidants.
On to the Deep Face Wash with lithothamnium, algae complex and sea water. First of all, I love that it's blue because it fits in rather nicely with my blue shampoo, blue conditioner and blue shower gel. Again, the fresh smell is refreshing and it does the job of washing my face. I don't really know what else I was expecting, but I haven't noticed anything with regards to the effects on my skin that would make me buy this face wash over any other. I mean, £11.50 is not the most unreasonable price in the world but my usual face wash is a fraction of the price and I haven't noticed a difference in my skin when I've switched.
In case you were wondering, lithothamnium (Don't worry, I can't pronounce it either), is a purportedly hydrating type of calcium derived from red algae. The jury's still out on its effectiveness in this particular product, though.
Next we have the Bifasic Make-Up Remover made with rice oil, kelp oil and sea water. Being an oil-based make-up remover, it did a gentle job of removing eye make-up and difficult-to-budge liquid lipstick with no need for excessive rubbing. I've been on the look out for a decent make-up remover, being too environmentally conscious now to continue using baby wipes and perpetually unimpressed with Micellar water, and this one is certainly a good contender.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about it is how oily it is yet it doesn't leave a disgusting oily film on your face. The only thing that concerns me is that it's hard to avoid getting a little of the product in your eye if you're removing something like mascara. It's bound to happen no matter what make-up remover you use, and while it wasn't an extreme pain situation, it did make my eyes feel uncomfortably dry for a while afterwards. It's not a serious issue, but I am generally much more attracted to products that are designed to be kind to eyes.
Now on to the packaging. All three products I tested came in glass bottles which I was initially rather impressed with. It adds an air of luxury to the products and glass is, after all, completely recyclable. On the other hand, plastic is still probably more eco-friendly for packaging given its versatility in the recycling process, and the fact that it uses less energy to recycle than glass. I mention this only because I'm unsure if the brand's position on glass packaging is eco-related, given their ocean rescue ethos.
Green (or blue) ethics aside, the bottles also proved to be impractical. For example, none are entirely suitable for travel given the possibility of breakage, and the fact that the make-up remover and face wash must be upright at all times anyway because they leak like hell. The moisturizer was less of a problem because it had a lid, but there's still a weight issue there.
On the other hand, Detox Blue Drops' dedication to ocean rescue is commendable and their products are, on the whole, a joy to use. The Deep Fresh Facial Moisturizer in particular, I have a feeling, will stay a favourite for a long time to come.
Tagged in skincare