Have you ever been excited about a product you bought it the day it was released, only to be disappointed by it? Yup, that’s my entire relationship with Herbivore in a nutshell.
I love the idea behind the Herbivore brand. I love that they’re clean, natural, use recycled glass and minimal plastic, and their products! They seem like a dream, don’t they?
I should’ve known it was too good to be true when I tried their Pink Cloud Rosewater Moisture Creme. It was an oily, thick mess, and one day, I opened the jar only to find black mold in it. What a terrible joke Herbivore played on me.
But I refused to give up and persevered onwards. When Herbivore was still a new brand, they only had a few products in their lineup, and I tried every single one of them. Over the years, back before I knew better, and when I was still buying into Herbivore’s hype, I tried all of their facial oils. It’s about damn time I review them, right?
Enter Herbivore’s Emerald Deep Moisture Glow Oil. The first problem I noticed right away but refused to accept: the oil’s colour is nowhere near what the Herbivore’s photos look like. If you go on Herbivore’s website, the photo is a deep, gorgeous green. My oil looked like a watery, pastel green that over the year, changed to a blueish-green. The colour aside, I was still excited to use it.
The oil is supposed to be nourishing and fantastic for dry and dull skin, adding a glow to the skin when used. Plus, hemp oil is good for the skin and known for its calming effects.
What a disappointment this oil was. I should note before I begin the review that Herbivore (like Drunk Elephant) has a cult following. If you buy into their hype, I guarantee you’ll like their products. If you don’t buy into the hype and gimmicks, their products are mediocre or okay, at best. But that’s like every brand and our reviews, right? They’re subjective. I just noticed on Sephora’s site that some reviews were written in a heavily subjective voice by people that love the gimmicks and hype.
I used these products when I loved Herbivore so this review is a balance between my past self that loved Herbivore and my present self that doesn’t care about the brand anymore. Even though I don’t care about Herbivore, I hate to admit this, but I still want to love their products and buy into their hype. I’ve even tried a few of their newer products too! But each time, Herbivore disappoints me. And yet, I’m still tempted by them. Does that make me foolish or a masochist?
The Specifics:
Brand: Herbivore
Claims: “Deep moisture meets flash absorption in this skin calming and seriously moisturizing blend of Omega-fatty-acid-rich and skin-soothing Hemp Seed Oil plus Adaptogens including Shiitake Mushroom and Ashwagandha Root.” (x)
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.
Affordability: I paid $63.00 CDN for 30ml/1oz. Herbivore is not an affordable brand, by any means. I wouldn’t mind paying that price for a facial oil if it was effective. This oil was not worth the price tag (just like a lot of Herbivore products), especially when the third ingredient is Caprylic /Capric Triglycerides (which I consider to be a filler and comedogenic, despite it being emollient). The first ingredient is squalane, while good for the skin, is cheap and yet again, not worth the price tag.
Condition of my skin: Some days my skin is dehydrated, and other days, it’s in good condition. I have combination sensitive skin with dry cheeks and an oily t-zone.
Skin prep: Double cleanse, toner, serums (optional), and eye cream.
How do I use this product?: After double cleansing and using a toner, I would sometimes use a serum. I’ve both used serums under the oil and without them too.
Smell: A light grassy hemp scent.
Texture: A thicker facial oil, similar to the viscosity of Rose Hip Seed Oil.
How does it leave my face?: I’m on the fence about this oil. While it left my skin glowy, I know it was because the oil didn’t fully absorb and just sat on my face. This oil, unlike what Herbivore says (“flash absorption”), doesn’t sink into the skin. It just sits there, and you end up looking like a greasy (glowy) mess.
How does my face feel afterward?: The oil doesn’t sink into the skin, so of course, my skin was greasy and glowy. My skin felt soft, but that was it. The next morning, my skin didn’t appear radiant or glowing and looked normal.
Does it meet its claims/results?: Not really. It didn’t soothe my skin, did nothing for my redness, nor did it absorb into my skin. Regardless of me gently rubbing the oil into my face, it became a thin film on my skin.
Love or hate?: I don’t want to hate this oil, but I certainly don’t like it. It wasn’t fun to use, it did nothing for my skin, and it was overpriced. What I truly hate about this oil (and about brands like Herbivore) is that they have a hefty price tag while using fillers such as Caprylic /Capric Triglycerides. Caprylic /Capric Triglycerides is not good for oily/combination skin (it’s comedogenic) as it can cause blackheads and the fact that this is marketed towards those with combination skin is a no for me.
Repurchase: Heck no.
Recommend: No. I do not recommend this oil. There are better facial oils on the market that address sensitized, red, dry, and combination skin types. Unless you’re dying to try this oil and don’t mind the price tag, I would stay away. I know this review won’t sway those that swear by Herbivore but those on the fence about the brand and this oil, I hope you make an informed decision before purchasing it.
Final thoughts: What a colossal disappointment. The Emerald oil was the last straw for me. I kept trying to love it, but it did nothing for my skin, other than leaving it oily and glowy (from the oil). This is a very basic oil that does not deserve the price tag.
- doesn’t fully absorb into the skin
- leaves a light oily film on the skin
- doesn’t reduce redness
- contains Caprylic /Capric Triglycerides
- fragrance-free
- good for dry skin
- minimal plastic
Honeysuckle Haiku 
Totally agree on this one. I was fooled by the gimmick, with in 2 months my bottles was growing milky mold . No contaminants had been introduced. I went to use it after a makeup test for work involving rigid collodion for a boost of moisture. It’s was rancid already. I really wanted to love this and add it to my kit but it’s a big ole no for me as well.