Drugstore Delight: Not Your Mother's Naturals Scalp Scrub

Are you a fan of scalp scrubs or do you think they're a gimmicky and unnecessary product? I was in the latter camp until just recently when I noticed that no matter how thoroughly I shampooed my hair, my roots were limp and my scalp didn't feel clean. The feeling persisted even when I switched shampoos and conditioners. That's why I picked up Not Your Mother's Naturals Activated Bamboo Charcoal & Purple Moonstone Restore & Reclaim Scalp Scrub ($8.99) during my last cross-border Ulta pilgrimage. I was already a big fan of NYM's hair masks (they smell amazing, the formulas are mostly natural, they're affordable and get the job done) so I figured their scalp scrub was worth a try.

Formula-wise, this 98% naturally derived scalp scrub boasts a bevy of fatty alcohols that act as emollients on hair and scalp. Naturally derived jojoba wax beads gently exfoliate without contributing to the world's microbead plastics pollution problem. Activated bamboo charcoal cleanses and absorbs excess oil. There's also a touch of menthol—not a lot, just enough to refresh without feeling too tingly. It contains no sulfate surfactants, silicones, parabens, dyes, gluten, or phthalates, and it's cruelty-free. Whew. The only ingredient I'd raise my eyebrows at is the purple moonstone extract, which has no tangible benefits for hair whatsoever. Purple moonstone is supposed to be a healing, spiritual stone that promotes renewal, revitalizes the mind, and washes away negativity.

The purple moonstone may be too woo-woo for me, but at the end of the day this NYM scalp scrub works. Once every 2 weeks, I massage a generous dollop of it into my roots for a couple of minutes, then follow up with shampoo and conditioner. It doesn't lather at all. Instead, it gently absorbs excess oil and dirt and clarifies scalp and product build-up. The jojoba wax beads are sparse, not super concentrated, spreading out and creating a mild scrubby sensation. Despite its dark hue, the scrub rinses away cleanly and doesn't stain my white shower curtain or towels (always a plus!). Oh, and it smells just as amazing as NYM's hair masks.

Whenever I use it, my shampoo lathers better right away. My scalp feels noticeably cleaner and my roots more lifted. The improvement is so marked that I can't stop running my fingers through my hair afterward and marvelling at its clean, fluffy texture. All those benefits from a giant 10 oz tub of scalp scrub that retails for less than $10? A true Drugstore Delight if I ever saw one.

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