Cocotique is a monthly subscription box delivering beauty and lifestyle products for women of color. For $25 per month, you receive a curated box of 5-8 full-size or deluxe sample-sized products ranging from hair care, skincare, nails, fragrance, makeup, lifestyle products, and more.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
The first thing I noticed is that this month’s theme is ‘Embrace Your Magic', and I’m excited to see if the product curation will be just as magical as I envision.
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The back of the Cocotique info card describes all the products included in this month’s box. It also provides information on where to purchase the products online and exclusive discount codes where available.
Now, on to the items!
AVON Anew Vitamin C Brightening Serum, 30 ml - Retail Value $44.00
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Wow, I remember Avon from back in the day, when everyone’s grandmas were selling it. I honestly didn’t even realize the company still existed. That said, I have been seeing their products included in subscription boxes more often, so now I’m slightly intrigued. This Avon Anew Vitamin C Brightening Serum packs a punch of vitamin C (as much as in 30 oranges), making it clinically proven to brighten skin instantly. Yes, ‘instantly.’ I applied this serum to my skin, and it did leave behind more radiant, glowy skin. I’m a tad bit sensitive to vitamin C, so this likely isn’t something I would use every day. One thing I will say, even if this product had worked perfectly for me, it has a potent citrus scent that reminds me of those citronella candles you put outside on summer nights. That scent is enough of a turn-off for me to know I wouldn’t regularly use this product. I will likely pass along this serum to a friend of mine whose skin doesn’t despise vitamin C as much as mine does.
ÉN LOVE Forever for Always Edge Control, 100 ml - Retail Value $9.99
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I have wildly untamed baby hairs, so edge gel is a must-have, and if I do say so myself, I’m quite picky; but I found this product quite enjoyable to use. It has an amazing, light vanilla cake scent, and it’s very easy to apply. It doesn’t get stuck in the bristles of my edge styler brush, which is a huge plus, and after all-day wear, I didn’t experience any annoying flakes or residue. I found the gel to have a strong hold, and it worked well to smooth down my edges and keep them in place. The formula is pretty great too; it contains coconut milk, aloe, and marula oil.
NATURE BY CANUS Silky Body Wash - Real Shea Butter, 500 ml - Retail Value $15.99
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Oh, hooray, I love it when a subscription box includes a body wash. This is exactly the kind of product I wish more subscription boxes included because it’s one of those things you will always need, and it’s fun to try a variety. This Nature by Canus Silky Body Wash comes in a nice large bottle (another plus), and it has a nice, creamy, luxurious texture that I really appreciate. I do have to say, though, the fact that it’s made from actual goat milk is a little gross to me, but I do appreciate that the product is cruelty free. Goat milk does contain natural properties for moisturizing, plus vitamins A (retinol) and B3 (niacin), among other things. This body wash lathers up nicely and also washes off smoothly, leaving my skin feeling moisturized, and soft. I really don’t like it when body wash leaves behind an invisible film. It makes me feel like I have to wash off again just to get rid of the residue. Thankfully I didn’t experience that with this body wash. This product has a floral scent that I’m not wild about, but it’s very mild, which I do appreciate.
Z SKIN COSMETICS Winter Skin Hydrating Spray, 60 ml - Retail Value $22.00
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I’m always intrigued by the products Z Skin Cosmetics comes out with. They are always just a bit unique, but wow, this Winter Skin Hydrating Spray is truly an innovative product. Despite being on the oily side, my skin tends to get extra dry during the cooler weather, and I expect that this will be the perfect thing for keeping any peeling, dry skin at bay. I do make quite a few work trips to the cooler states, so I’m happy to have this on hand. Also, I love face mists, so either way, this is a win for me. This product says that it will leave your skin glowing and not oily, helping to moisturize and even erase dark spots over time. I spritzed this onto my face, and it definitely felt hydrating to my thirsty skin and not at all greasy or oily. The scent is natural, but not overpowering. I’m interested in seeing if it indeed delivers on erasing dark spots, and I’m happy to have this hydrating spray in my skincare arsenal.
BIOREPUBLIC Bright and Glowing Organic Facial Sheet Mask, 25 ml - Retail Value $8.00
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I like to consider myself a sheet mask connoisseur of sorts, and the ones from K-beauty skincare lines are my absolute fave. Naturally, I was happy to see this Bright and Glowing Organic Facial Sheet Mask from BioRepublic. I’ve had the pleasure of trying masks from this brand in the past, and I have always seen great results from them. This sheet mask contains some very interesting ingredients, including orange juice and pomegranate extract, to gently resurface and brighten skin, and snow mushroom extract, to deliver lasting moisture to the skin. After I applied this mask, I let it sit for about fifteen minutes, and upon removal, my skin was hydrated and definitely a bit more radiant than I remember it being before the mask. I love how well this sheet mask stayed on my face, and it was very soothing to my skin after a long day.
OKAY Black Jamaican Castor Oil Leave-in Deep Conditioner, 37 ml - Retail Value $2.99
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This was a great leave-in conditioner. I applied after washing and conditioning, of course, and it left my curls feeling truly moisturized and feeling healthy. It also detangled and made my hair much more manageable. I have a lot of thick curls, and this packet was more than enough to coat my whole head in this luxurious deep conditioner. The texture is thick and creamy, but what I’m really most impressed with is the scent. This product has castor oil in it, which in most of my experiences, smells truly horrific, but this leave-in conditioner didn’t smell awful. I wish they had sent this in a tub because this is a product I would definitely use on a regular basis.
PURIFECT BY SYMPHONY BEAUTY Hair Growth Serum, 10 ml - Estimated Retail Value $3.33
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I have a dream of having long, luscious mermaid hair down to my waist. It’s absolutely ridiculous, but I want it. So, I love anything that says ‘hair growth’ or ‘length retention.’ Now, I haven’t used this product long enough to attest to its success in the hair growth department, but I found it easy to apply. It had a nice, slightly oil-like texture that absorbed quickly into my scalp, and I didn’t experience any sensitivity or irritation after. I found the scent to be light and nonintrusive, and I love that this product is 100% natural and cruelty free. It also has a very affordable retail price, so if it’s effective, it’ll be a good budget alternative to some of the pricier growth serums out there.
Verdict
I really enjoyed the variety of products in this month’s Cocotique box. From discovering Avon is still a thing, with their brightening serum, to the luxurious Nature by Canus body wash, everything was delightful. I really liked the sheet mask from BioRepublic. I found it to be incredibly hydrating, and it also was easy to apply and stayed put even as I was doing other things. The OKAY deep conditioner was ultra-hydrating on my hair, and it was amazing at masking that pesky castor oil scent. I’m always down for a face mist, and I really enjoyed trying one from Z Skin. The vanilla cake scent of the Eń Love edge control was enough to get me onboard, but the superior hold and easy application will make this a go-to product for me. Lastly, I’m excited to see the long-term effects of the Purifect By Symphony Beauty hair growth serum. If it works, it’ll definitely be a budget-friendly option. Overall, I really enjoyed the product diversity in this box, and the value is definitely there.
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Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $25.00
Value Breakdown:
- Brightening Serum: $44.00
- Edge Control: $9.99
- Body Wash: $15.99
- Face Mist: $22.00
- Sheet Mask: $8.00
- Deep Conditioner: $2.99
- Hair Growth Serum: $3.33
The total value of my box was $106.30, which is a good value for a $25.00 box.
Other Things You Should Know
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, but order by the end of the month to receive the May box.
Do you have a favorite item from this month's Cocotique?
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