Herbivore Emerald

Herbivore Botanicals launched a new facial oil called EMERALD Deep Moisture Glow Oil. Hemp feels pretty trendy lately but honestly hemp has been 'trendy' since the 90s at least. Back then it was more hemp products (who else remembers making hemp necklaces?) now it seems hemp oil is the popular product coming from the cannabis plant. Hemp seed oil is the same as cannabis sativa seed oil. I find it's a light yet nourishing and balancing oil. I actually quite like hemp oil in my facial oils. It's even become one of my favorites this year. Hemp uses the seeds only and not the plant so the oil does not have THC & it's completely legal. Hemp seed oil actually has all 21 amino acids and a balanced ratio of 3:1 Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids. It's also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids like gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), oleic acid and stearidonic acid which all help inflammation and things like atopic dermatitis. This makes hemp a balanced healing oil. Hemp oil also has antioxidants like vitamin E, carotene (precursor to vitamin A), phytosterols & phospholipids. Do you need any more reasons to love hemp oil? Probably not as it's an amazing oil on it's own. Details per Herbivore:

Meet Emerald, the green goddess of facial oils.

Deep moisture meets flash absorption in this skin calming and seriously hydrating blend of Omega-rich and irritation soothing Cannabis Sativa Seed (Hemp) Oil and environmental stress defending Adaptogens including Shiitake Mushroom and Ashwagandha Root.

Emerald Deep Moisture Glow Oil provides skin with rich moisture and a glow that is lit - all in a lightweight, quick-absorbing formula. All hail, Queen Emerald. 

Key Ingredients:

Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed oil, rich in Omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, Gamma Linolenic acids and Vitamin E, is a non-comedogenic oil that moisturizes the complexion, soothes visible redness and irritation while preventing visible signs of aging. Emerald Deep Moisture Glow Oil is non-psychoactive and does not contain THC or CBD.

Cannabis Essential (Hemp Essential) oil is rich in natural Terpenes — the organic chemical compounds that give each strain of Cannabis its unique flavor and aroma — and helps to calm the mind through holistic aromatherapy.

Ashwagandha and Turmeric root both stem from Ayurvedic healing practices and help the skin cope with environmental stressors like pollution, UV rays, lack of sleep, daily stress, and more. Shiitake mushroom is loaded with Vitamin D to support healthy skin and prevent premature signs of aging.

Helichrysum Essential oil is highly effective for soothing signs of irritation, this miraculous essential oil grants your senses peace and tranquility with its light herbal aroma.

Squalane, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Borage Seed Oil are a trio of hydrating beauty oils that ensure the skin is high on glow and all-day moisture.

 

Directions Apply 4-8 drops to clean skin, after applying serum. For added moisture, apply Pink Cloud Creme before oil, allowing 1-2 minutes for the creme to absorb before adding oil. Then, gently press the Emerald Oil into the skin and bask in your own glowing complexion.

Use morning or night, alone or with other hydators. We recommend mixing Emerald Oil directly with Prism Exfoliating Glow Potion for perfect skin alchemy.

Emerald comes packaged in Herbivore's typical clear glass minimal aesthetic packaging. It has a dropper style applicator. Emerald has a minimal green herbal scent from the hemp and essential oil blend. It's pretty minimal compared to others. The texture is medium weight & it's a pretty moisturizing oil. It doesn't have that slip and glide like some oils but it's not a dry oil texture by any means. I think the fractionated coconut oil has a big part to play in that because it always has a certain textural feel to it like this.

Emerald has squalane & meadowfoam oils which are both similar to natural sebum and are great light oils in general. They're fabulous carrier oils. Carrier oils are the base oils that 'carry' the other ingredients. They're the oils that make up the bulk of the facial oil. Hemp seed oil also makes a great carrier oil. Sunflower & borage are the other carrier oils. Sunflower oil is light and rich in vitamin E while borage is rich in GLA (great for inflammation).

I absolutely love the ingredients they extracted into Emerald-Turmeric, Ashwagandha & Shiitake. Turmeric is great for inflammation while shiitake & ashwagandha are adaptogenic plants (another trendy word) that help the skin deal with stress. It's a great trio of ingredients. Emerald does have a listed proprietary essential oil & absolute blend with neem, ivy gourd, eggplant, aloe, holy basil, turmeric & red seaweed.

Overall Emerald has a great ingredients list as far as the adaptogenic plants and carrier oils. It will hydrate the skin well, help balance, heal and soothe. It has a medium weight texture but not as much slip as some oils. My main flaw with Emerald is the fractionated coconut oil. I have never been very impressed with the Herbivore facial oils in the past mainly because of the coconut oil (minus Phoenix). I am just not a big fan of coconut oil in my facial oils even if it's fractionated. It gives a texture to the oil that I don't like and it eventually breaks me out to some degree if I use it daily (and I rarely break out anymore at my age, I only do with coconut or mineral oil). If I use this on occasion I'm fine I'll have no breakout issues from the fractionated coconut oil.

If Emerald came without the fractionated coconut oil it would be something I would be using all the time and repurchasing. As it stands right now I may or may not finish this bottle & I wouldn't repurchase. It's a shame too as the inci list otherwise is fabulous. I do have other green beauty hemp seed facial oils I love a lot more than Emerald. None of them have coconut oil so they work well for me yet sadly none of them have that nice turmeric, borage, shiitake, ashwagandha blend I like in Emerald.

I would really love to see Herbivore ditch the fractionated coconut oil in their facial oils and then I would be able to get more into them. Fractionated coconut oil is by far better than regular coconut oil. Some people may have no issue whatsoever using it daily. I just am one of those people where my skin hates coconut oil on a daily basis even fractionated. It handles fractionated coconut oil in a cream daily but not in a facial oil (who knows why). Maybe it's the concentration. Either way just know your skin and what works for you. I'm sure I'll be the minority on this one as pretty much everyone adores Herbivore oils. I will say Emerald is my favorite Herbivore has made to date as far as facial oils go. I like it, I just can't use it daily.

Ingredients

Squalane, Cannabis Sativa (hemp) Seed Oil, Caprylic /Capric Triglyceride (MCT/Fractionated Coconut Oil), Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) Leaf Extract (and) Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil & Lentinus Edodes (Shiitake) Extract, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Borago Ocinalis, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Proprietary Blend of Pure Essential Oils and Absolutes, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract (and) Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract (and) Amino Esters-1 (ex Mimosa Tenuiflora) (and) Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract (and) Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract (and) Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract (and) Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract (and) Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Flower/Leaf Extract (and) Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract (and) Corallina Ocinalis Extract