little white truths

I bought this oil last year when I was going through a Darphin phase, and it's been open for around six months now so I'm back to give you my thoughts.

As you may know, I discovered a Darphin serum via one of Mecca's Beauty Loop boxes and loved it so much that I've been slowly acquiring products from the brand since then. Some Darphin products are out of my budget but many are reasonably priced, this oil being one of the more attainable ones.

While I did test it in-store and thought it was decent, I've since realised that I don't like it much so I wouldn't buy it again - making it the only Darphin product I've tried so far that I don't enjoy. More on that below.

Darphin claims/product details:

• A multitasking elixir for use on skin and hair that aims to repair and protect against harmful aggressors
• Four essential oils (ylang-ylang, jasmine, rosewood and lavender) and nine precious plant oils combine to restore moisture and improve the natural protective barrier of skin
• Can be used on both the hair and face
• For the face, the formula aims to maintain optimal levels of hydration and restore skin's natural protective abilities
• For the body, the oil works to restore the skin's hydrolipidic balance 
• For the hair, the oil helps reduce breakage and promotes silkier, healthier and shinier hair
• RRP $46 AUD for 50ml

Verdict

This oil has had great reviews on Mecca's website but it just doesn't grab me and unfortunately I don't love it on my face, body or hair.

It's quite a thick oil with an odd scent that reminds me of cough lollies. Most of Darphin's products smell natural and lovely, but this one smells a bit weird to me and that's part of the reason why I don't enjoy using it. It's not a terrible smell but I'm definitely aware of it and it does turn me off a little.

The product applies well enough and although it does absorb, it also leaves a residue that won't be for everyone. For this reason I prefer applying it overnight, because it's not the kind of oil that vanishes into your skin without leaving a trace - or at least it doesn't for me.

I used it for a couple of months as the last step in my skincare routine, just before bed. It did a reasonable job of keeping my dry skin hydrated until morning, but it's certainly not the most nourishing product I've used and I've since switched it out for something that does more for me.

After that I tried it on my hair, but it doesn't work well for me because it's one of those oils that weighs my hair down and makes it look and feel greasy. My hair is wavy, frizzy and dry (and very temperamental), so I tried it on my daughter's normal, curly hair too just to see if it worked better on her. It didn't (it did the same thing), so I haven't bothered using it again on either of us because all it does is reduce the time between washes.

That leaves my body. While I don't like the idea of using an oil that cost me almost $50 AUD on my body, I also didn't want to use it on my face or hair anymore so I justified that by opting to use it once a week only (so it's lasting a while) and I've delayed purchasing another body oil until I've finished this one. So in theory I've saved myself outlaying another amount for a body oil until much later than I'd planned. It's not ideal, but that's what I've done.

On the body, it's ok. Yes it hydrates but it's still not the most hydrating oil I've used so my body doesn't feel particularly moisturised after use and I've used cheaper oils that do more for me. Also, sometimes it feels a little grainy when I apply it, so I'm not sure if that's just the product or if I got one from a dodgy batch.

Overall, I don't think this is a terrible product but I also don't love it. If you're after a good face oil that doesn't cost the earth, I recommend the rosehip oil from Natural Instinct (reviewed here). This one's not worth the price-tag in my opinion.

Ok.