innisfree My Hair Refreshing Exfoliating Oil
Haircare seems to finally be making its rounds in the beauty trends this year. In Korea specifically, all the rage was for scalp care in particular. I will be the first to admit my lack of experience when it comes to my locks...let alone the roots and surface it sprouts from. The timing couldn't have been more perfect as I have finally come to the conclusion that my eternally oily head deserves some attention as well. innisfree's My Hair Refreshing Exfoliating Oil promises to tackle just that by clearing gunk which may lead to the overproduction of oils on the head.
innisfree's description:
Cleansing oil with a clean and refreshing scent helps remove excess oil from the scalp while it deeply conditions hair.
Cleanse your sebum-prone scalp with this unique oil complete with Salicylic Acid to help exfoliate the dead skin cells that trap excess oil.
A complex of Peppermint Leaves, Nutmeg and Caraway Oils help soothe the scalp so it feels refreshed and healthy.
Free of silicone. Formulated With Jeju Pine, Cedar and Cypress Tree Extracts, Peppermint Leaves, Nutmeg and Caraway Oils.
Directions
1. Shake well before use. Apply the oil over the entire scalp, using the hair parts as a guide.
2. Depending on the scalp, leave oil to absorb for 3-5 minutes, then gently massage with fingertips to fully absorb.
3. Rinse off with warm water, then use 1.5 times the usual amount of shampoo to thoroughly lather and rinse scalp and hair.
Ingredients
WATER, ALCOHOL, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, HYDROGENATED POLY(C6-14 OLEFIN), FRAGRANCE, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, MENTHOL, SALICYLIC ACID, SODIUM CHLORIDE, POLYSORBATE 20, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, MENTHOXYPROPANEDIOL, TOCOPHEROL, DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE, SODIUM CITRATE, GLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, THUJA ORIENTALIS SEED EXTRACT, PHENOXYETHANOL, ARTEMISIA VULGARIS EXTRACT, OLEIC ACID, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, CAMELLIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, OPUNTIA COCCINELLIFERA FRUIT EXTRACT, ORCHID EXTRACT, ACORUS CALAMUS ROOT EXTRACT, CHAMAECYPARIS OBTUSA WATER, CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA (CAMPHOR) LEAF EXTRACT, CRYPTOMERIA JAPONICA LEAF EXTRACT, PINUS PINASTER BARK/BUD EXTRACT
innisfree (Korean retail): ₩12,000
innisfree (American retail): USD $15.00
Packaging
Squeezable plastic bottles with a screw-on cap and a pointed tip applicator. Each box comes with 3 tubes, each tube has enough product for 4 uses. The suggested usage amount is conveniently marked on all the bottles.Color, Texture, & Scent
In it's resting state, the exfoliating oil consists of a clear watery layer and a greenish yellow oil layer. After it's been mixed and shaken up, the liquid is a cloudier emulsion of sorts. It is a very runny product. It is not overly oily or sticky. It has an herby, woodsy, and extremely strong mint scent that tends to linger until washed away with shampoo.How I Apply
Shake the bottle well to incorporate the oil and water layer together. Part my hair, picking either the left or right side, and lightly shake the bottle so droplets of the concoction directly fall onto my scalp along the part whilst ruffling and massaging my roots to spread the liquid around. Continue sectioning my hairline and applying until I reach the opposite side of my head. If there is any remaining product left, I flip my hair over and apply it along the backside of my scalp. I wait the recommended 5 minutes and proceed to thoroughly wash my hair with, also as suggested, double amount of shampoo.Use once a week, twice max.
Thoughts & Recommendations
I can't say that the innisfree My Hair Refreshing Exfoliating Oil did not work. It did what their description said, refresh and lift dead skin cells. The scalp treatment just didn't do what I imagined it would do, banish my oily roots for good. My fault really for wishing something that the brand doesn't promise to begin with. (This isn't to say it can't help people with their oily hair. If anything, the results would be consequential from regular exfoliation and not directly due to the product itself.)There is a noticeable difference in how less gunky, heavy, and itchy my hair feels the immediate days following usage versus the days later into the week before my next exfoliation wash. My scalp and hair feel much lighter if that makes sense. I don't think it helps remove all dandruff and dead skin because I do see some flakes after use, there is just a lot less than if I had relied solely on non-dandruff targeting shampoo.
I like that my hair and roots don't feel stripped of oils and moisture as one would expect something targeted for oily hair to do. I love the fact that the exfoliation only has a short waiting time before I could wash it away. I appreciate that it washes out easily and there is no residue nor heaviness left behind.
The runny, watery texture has a learning curve. It cannot be applied in large amounts and not worked into the roots and scalp—gravity will bring it running down the face and neck, not allowing it to do its job on the scalp. While I found a workaround for the fluidity of the product, I disliked and continue to not prefer the overwhelming minty scent. I bear with it since I only have to keep the liquids on my head for 5 minutes at a time.
Something that is also concerning but not an issue I can really tackle is SPF protection for the scalp after using the exfoliating oil. Since there is salicylic acid (BHA) in its formulation, skin can theoretically become more sensitive to UV rays.
I would say this is not a bad beginning towards my first foray into scalp exfoliation. Not overly expensive and does what it claims moderately well. I would recommend it to those with itchy scalps and/or heavy hair from hair styling product or skin buildup. I think I may revisit these in the future. But in the meantime, I will keep an eye out for similar items with hopefully a less minty aroma.
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