Esse Organic Skincare: Cocoa Exfoliator Review



First impression: Hmmm, it doesn't look very enticing.

Second impression: Hey, it really smells like dessert!

Okay, let me describe the Cocoa Exfoliator this way: It looks almost as dark as Marmite (or Vegemite). The texture is grainy and the consistency is like something between a jam and a paste. The scent has got to be the icing on the cake. It smells like refrigerated dessert. It reminds me of sweet cocoa jelly with strong vanilla accents and this is why:

Ingredients
Glycerin, Sucrose, Cocoa Powder, Sesame Seed Oil*, Coconut Oil*, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Marula Seed Oil*, Manketti Seed Oil, Vanilla Seed Extract, Geranium Leaf Oil*, Tocopherol, Vanilla Seed Oil, Ylang Ylang Flower Oil*.

* ingredients from organic farming

It's funny I can't detect the unmistakable smell of sesame seed oil.


This 50ml jar of Esse Organic Skincare Cocoa Exfoliator was one of the items kindly sent to me by Esse Netherlands to try a few months back. I've been using this delectable dessert facial exfoliator for three months, sometimes once a week, sometimes twice. As with other Esse products, this is housed in a recyclable amber glass jar. Retail price: €21.80. Esse products are made in South Africa, the home country of Esse Organic Skincare.

According to Esse
A delectable exfoliation experience for all skin types.

Fine cocoa particles polish and refine the skin’s surface and flavanoids help protect against future sun damage. Wild sourced African oils provide slip and nourishment.

Additonal Information: Treat hands and feet to a gentle exfoliation.

• 100% of the total ingredients are from Natural Origin
• 56.5% of the total ingredients are from Organic Farming


My Experience
It's best to keep water out of the paste to preserve its integrity, hence the accompanying spatula. I use it after cleansing the face. The instruction is to soften a generous scoop of the exfoliator with a few drops of water and exfoliate in gentle circular motions. The grains are quite fine but offering just the right 'scrub' factor. They feel like fine grains of sugar but as you would have read above, they're fine cocoa particles.


It took me a couple of uses to figure out just the right amount of water to add to the right amount of paste. If it's too dry, it gets very difficult to spread the paste on the face and the cocoa particles feel too harsh on the skin. If it's too wet, the exfoliator becomes runny and the cocoa particles dissolve too soon before I can do any proper scrubbing. Once the right balance is struck, it's scrub heaven! And I'm not saying that just because I was sent this.

What is so nice about it?

• The dessert scent - seriously sweet and fragrant from the cocoa and vanilla (and probably ylang ylang too). For the record, this cocoa scent does not smell like the cocoa butter of say, Palmer's products (which I don't fancy). It's a lot more 'prettier' and dessert-like. In between exfoliating, I would cup my hands over my nose to take in the whole scent. Life's short. It's good to stop and smell the cocoa/vanilla.


• It exfoliates very well. Once you get the right paste:water ratio, you can keep exfoliating for a good few minutes before the cocoa particles finally dissolve or melt from the heat of the hands. I don't wash it off as soon as the grains are gone. Instead, I use this opportunity to give my face a good leisurely massage (upward and circular motions) with whatever that remains of the paste.

• It's a very moisturising exfoliator. I mean, have you seen the oils on the list of ingredients? It's very nourishing, so I can imagine those with very oily skin may find it too rich. That would have been the case for me too a few years ago. Still, Esse claims it's suitable for all skin types. For the state of my skin now, it's just perfect. After rinsing the exfoliator off with warm water, my face feels quite oily, which I didn't like initially. However, the real effect is felt after dabbing the face dry - the skin feels clean, polished, very soft and plumped. It certainly helps to perk up dry, dull skin.

I love concluding the whole experience with a moisturiser that I think goes perfectly with this Cocoa Exfoliator - MuLondon Organic White Chocolate Truffle Moisturiser. They make the perfect combination. Although they both smell of cocoa-vanilla, the exfoliator from Esse comes across as much, much sweeter. I just need a thin layer of this particular MuLondon moisturiser and my skin is good till morning.

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't tempted to taste this Esse Cocoa Exfoliator. I shan't lie. I did lick it once.

Okay, okay, twice.

Sugar, cocoa and vanilla. A sweet dessert it certainly is. Just remember to use it on the skin.


More information
My posts on Esse: Brand: Esse Organic Skincare
Esse websites
- South Africa
- Netherlands

Esse Netherlands provides international shipping.

12 comments:

Adis said...

I'd love to try this D:!!! Unfortunately, I seem to be afflicted by the 'microwave hands syndrome' so this would probably be a waste for me :(.
Which is rather unfortunate as it sounds absolutely delectable :x. I'll just comfort myself with my jar of MuLondon white chocolate truffle stuff, with the knowledge it will never meet it's soulmate scrubby buddy *sniffles* (T^T)\...

Witoxicity said...

@Adis
Oooh, if that's the case, then this one won't work for you. That's such a pity! [offers tissue] I think you would love the scent. Well, at least you can still get your chocolate fix from the MuLondon moisturiser. Yum! :)

Anonymous said...

Great review, I enjoyed reading it.

I love the way you write your reviews. And you are really using it for a while before giving your honest opinion. Some people buy products and the same day or the next one they come with a review and rave about their purchase. I see that too often.

Very stylish packaging and logo too. Take care, Nicole xx

Witoxicity said...

@Nicole
Thank you so much, Nicole. I really appreciate your supportive words. :) Yes! I totally get what you mean! Let's face it. It's just not possible to really get to know a (skincare) product within a day or two. :P

Shop N' Chomp said...

I don't like scented anything for skincare EXCEPT when it comes to scrubs. Hmmm...I can just imagine how yummy this smells... =D Can't believe you licked it twice!

Witoxicity said...

@Shop N' Chomp
Haha, well, I did and it simply tasted very sweet. :)

lavender said...

looks good enough to eat!

Witoxicity said...

@lavender
I totally agree, Lavender! :D

Anonymous said...

It really looks like jam in a stylish jar...yummy cocoa and vanilla! LOL

I am glad this Exfoliator is to your likng my dear. Great review.

"KTee"xx

Witoxicity said...

@KTee
LOL @ "jam in a stylish jar"! You're absolutely right! :D Thanks so much, KTee. :)

Cynthia Z said...

Hehe...I'd lick it too..who can resist dessert?! :D. Gosh, it looks so yummy!

♥xx♥

Witoxicity said...

@Cynthia
Haha, it is really yummy. :D