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
This month’s theme is ‘All About Holiday Love,’ and I’m curious to see what this month’s curation will hold.
The contents of the box arrived protected by bubble wrap.
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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!
AUNT JACKIE’S Don’t Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel, 426 g - Retail Value $10.95
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Despite having many flyaways, I’m not the biggest fan of hair gel. I’ve used other hair gel products in the past, and most often, they tend to harden and flake off, which I do not appreciate. Much to my surprise, this Don’t Shrink Elongating Curling Gel from Aunt Jackie’s worked wonderfully for me. Even after the gel dried down, it left my hair flexible to the touch, without any weird, crunchy texture or flaky residue. I also really love the price point. Lately I’ve been using this gel on my braids after just braiding them, and it’s been helping to prevent shrinkage and reduce frizz. Plus, it has a delightfully fruity scent that I really enjoy.
AUNT JACKIE’S Frizz Patrol Anti-Poof Setting Mousse, 244 ml - Retail Value $10.95
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This is another solid hair product, I’m happy to report. I’ve been using this Frizz Patrol Setting Mousse from Aunt Jackie’s on my braids also, and it offers such a flexible hold without any crunchy texture or flaky residue. It’s a bit more lightweight than most of the other products I use in my hair, but it still manages to provide a good hold for my baby hairs and frizz. This product also has a bit of a sweet, fruity scent that I enjoy; it’s not at all overly strong or unpleasant.
AUNT JACKIE’S Elixir Essentials Biotin, Rosemary, and Mint Hair and Scalp Oil, 58 ml - Retail Value $8.99
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I love everything with biotin in it… I’m constantly trying to grow my hair to mermaid length, and I have to say, things have been going well so far. I’m looking forward to adding this oil to my 2023 routine. I enjoy the light mint scent of Aunt Jackie’s Elixir Essentials Hair and Scalp Oil; it’s not too harsh on my scalp, which I appreciate. I’ve tried a few products in the past with mint extract in its formula, and I usually found it to tingle and burn my scalp a bit. But thankfully, this hair oil is incredibly gentle on my scalp and doesn’t cause any irritation whatsoever. This product does a lovely job of hydrating my hair and scalp, absorbing pretty quickly. Overall, I think this is a solid oil that leaves my hair feeling and looking shiny, hydrated, and healthy.
AVON Anew Vitamin C Brightening Serum, 30 ml - Retail Value $44.00
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AVON?! It’s been quite some time since I’ve thought about this brand. I remember it from back in the day, when everyone’s grandmas were selling it. Looks like they’re trying to make a comeback with their Anew line. I have received this product once before in another box, and I have to admit, I was slightly intrigued. I do love the gel-like texture of the product; although, it’s a bit more watery than I would expect. The serum delivers a powerful dose of vitamin C, which helps to brighten skin over time. When I applied this for the first time, it absorbed rather quickly into my skin and left behind a more radiant glow. My skin is a bit sensitive to vitamin C, especially at high doses, so this serum isn’t something I’d be able to use every day. But even if I could, it has a potent scent that reminds me of citronella candles; a bit too potent for me. So, I will be passing this along to a friend whose sensibilities are more flexible than my own.
PALMER’S Raw Shea Hand Cream, 60 g - Retail Value $3.95
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My elbows tend to get really dry in the winter, no matter how much I moisturize them, so I am always in need of some extra hydration. This Palmer’s Raw Shea Hand Cream is a very thick cream indeed, but it moisturizes incredibly well and is not at all irritating. It does take a bit of time to fully work it into the skin, but it does absorb nicely after a while. My favorite thing, though, is how non-greasy the formula is. In fact, I was able to apply this hand cream to my hands and quickly begin typing on my laptop without leaving any keys feeling like I’d just stuck my hand into a bag of greasy potato chips. The scent is mild; so mild that I didn’t smell anything distinctive until I stuck my nose right into it. The lack of scent is something I very much appreciate, and I love how nicely it works to hydrate even my most dry patches.
PALMER’S Glow Purifying Sheet Mask, 1-pc - Retail Value $5.55
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I’m a huge fan of sheet masks, and I haven’t had the opportunity to try one from Palmer’s until very recently, so I’m more than thrilled to have another variation. This Glow Purifying Sheet Mask is indeed a purifying mask as the name suggests, so one of the main ingredients is natural charcoal, which helps to draw out any impurities from deep within the pores. With other ingredients that soothe the skin like chamomile, aloe, and marshmallow root, I was very pleased to find that this wasn’t too harsh on my skin. Some other charcoal masks I’ve tried in the past have stripped my skin a bit, resulting in some irritation. But after letting this mask sit for ten minutes, it left my skin feeling both thoroughly clean and calm, not at all irritated. Perhaps my favorite thing about that mask is how well it adhered itself to my face during application. There’s nothing more annoying than when a sheet mask begins to slide off, and I’m thrilled that wasn’t an issue with this one.
Verdict
This was a really solid month for Cocotique! The highlight for me was Aunt Jackie’s curling gel, I have to say. I’ve been let down by quite a few gels in the past, but this is one of the few that leave me flake-free. Also included in this month’s haircare, courtesy of the brand Aunt Jackie’s, was a setting mousse, which works very well to tame my baby hairs and frizz, and a hair oil, which is an essential step for me when it comes to hair care and general upkeep and feels great on my scalp. Palmer’s hand cream was a nice touch, especially during the winter for when my elbows get extra ashy. I’ve never seen a sheet mask from Palmer’s, and I love a good sheet mask, so I was more than thrilled to see this included in this month’s box. Lastly, the vitamin C serum from AVON… Due to the potency of its scent and inclusion of vitamin C, I’ll be passing this along to a friend of mine whose skin is not so sensitive. Overall, I thought this was a pretty great month. The products were quite varied, and the value was there.
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Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $25.00
Value Breakdown:
- Curling Gel: $10.95
- Setting Mousse: $10.95
- Hair and Scalp Oil: $8.99
- Vitamin C Serum: $44.00
- Hand Cream: $3.95
- Sheet Mask: $5.55
The total value of my box was $84.39, which is a good value for a $25.00 box.
Other Things You Should Know
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