Okoko Cosmetiques - Secret du Dragon Review

If you love natural beauty and artisan skincare, then Okoko Cosmetiques luxury collection of vegan friendly products is a must try!  Based in Vancouver, this Canadian brand was founded by Oyéta Kokoroko in 2016, and they offer cruelty free creations that utilize precious ingredients to help get your skin glowing.  Okoko prides themselves on their innovation and their ability to incorporate synergy, efficacy, quality, and effectiveness into each of their avant-garde formulations.

I have been drawn to Okoko Cosmetiques for so long, as their range looks stunning and the descriptions sound out of this world.  I love how transparent they are as a business, and know their skincare line is well-researched and packed full of nontoxic plants and botanicals that are not based on gimmicks or trends.  Bakuchiol, blue tansy, dragon's blood, and white lupin are just a few of the rare ingredients used in the collection, all of which are sustainably gathered through organic farming and wild-harvesting.  So of course Okoko was at the top of my wishlist, and I patiently waited for a chance to finally get to try this artisan natural beauty brand for myself.

"Okoko is known for creating uniquely enticing and stand-out products that reveal a radiant and glowing complexion. Our high-performance, multi-functional, luxury skincare products not only reveal beautiful skin but also perform to the highest standards. Each creation is unique and stylish, with a soothing aroma and is a joy to use. Every Okoko product is handcrafted by our team of artisans so that each one is truly a work of art. Please take your time and explore our world..."


And if you have been following me on Instagram for a while, you know I was incredibly lucky to win one of Okoko Cosmetique's all natural products in a competition co-hosted with Aurora Beauty -- I was ecstatic to finally have a chance to explore the world of Okoko for myself!  I was also so thankful when Oyéta offered to also send me a second product to review on The ecoLogical -- I was incredibly grateful and beyond excited knowing I would soon be trying out two natural beauty products I had been lusting over for so long!

My original prize I picked to receive from the giveaway was from the Secret du Dragon collection: Secret du Dragon - Gel-to-Milk Mask.  This organic skincare masterpiece is both a face mask and a cleansing oil, and it contains one of Okoko Cosmetiques' most precious and notable ingredients - sang du dragon, or dragons blood.  Dragons blood (croton lechleri) is red resin sap that is rich in antioxidant phenols, taspine (a natural tissue healing agent), and anti-inflammatories that help fight redness, external irritants, and inflammation.  I honestly was so impressed by all the benefits offered by a single extract, all of which you can read about on Okoko's blog

The Secret du Dragon Mask is unlike any skincare product I have tried before.  Yes, it is an oil based face treatment, but it does not look, feel, or smell like anything I have encountered.  Somewhere between a gel and a traditional oil, the formula is truly unique and surpassed all my expectations. 

The first pump reveals a deep orange product with a jelly-like texture.  It is very fragrant (but only from natural botanicals -- no added nasties will be found here!) and on first smell is like a sweet vanilla.  There are fruity notes lingering at the end, and once you begin to spread gel it becomes even more complex, with fresh florals coming in.  The formula applies fairly thick but very smoothly, so you only need a small amount of product as it really does spread well and quickly coats the entire face.  Depending on how you decide to use it, you can choose to rinse off with warm water immediately after massaging the gel until it is fully transformed into a silky soft oil, or you can leave the mask on for five to forty-five minutes before then washing it off.  Either way, once the gel-turned-oil comes into contact with water, it starts to emulsify and just melts away like magic.

Okoko Cosmetiques'  luxury mask/oil cleanser is definitely rich, and leaves an oily film behind on your face even after rinsing, but surprisingly this did not lead to any breakouts after use.  I think this is again thanks to the wonder ingredient, dragon's blood!  I really like that I can finally use an ultra-nourishing oil based treatment without having to worry about unseemly spots erupting the next day.  Instead, I can just look forward to the hydrating properties and enjoy how radiant my skin looks afterwards!  However, I would suggest skipping any additional oils/moisturizers/serums after using this unless you double cleanse or have incredibly dry skin.  I do think further products could end up overwhelming your face and lead to some problems, so if you want to use this as your morning/evening cleanser I would plan on skipping the next steps OR wiping away the excess mask.

I honestly think this will be my ultimate skin savior for the winter, and I think I will follow Yasmine from Mienelien's advice and treat myself to a 'flash mask' in the morning once a week during the colder months.  No flaky cheeks or dull skin for me this year!  Plus, I can finally create a hydrating clay mask that will detox without drying -- just a few drops of Secret du Dragon's Gel-to Milk Radiance Mask and the ultimate face mask is ready to be applied!

Ingredients: *Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, *Glycerin, *Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed oil, *Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, *Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Squalane, *Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, *Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, Sucrose Laurate, Sucrose Stearate, Lactobacillus/Papaya Fruit Ferment Extract, **Croton Lechleri Resin Extract, *Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water, *Cocos Nucifera Oil, *Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed, *Beta Vulgaris Root Powder, Tocopherol, *Salix Alba Bark Extract, *Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil, *Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Seed Oil, **Pycnanthus Angolensis Nut Butter, *Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, *Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Bisabolol, Sucrose Palmitate, *Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, *Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Astaxanthin, *Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
* Certified Organic     ** Wild Harvested


Like I mentioned before, I was also lucky enough to be sent a second product, one that had caught my eye a long while back and I just knew I had to try -- another member of the Secret du Dragon club, the Secret du Dragon Lip Serum.  Never have I seen a lip product even remotely like this, and I have to say this is a real gem and brilliant addition to my skincare routine.  Okoko Cosmetiques' lip serum is a stunning shade of sapphire blue, like a perfect blend of cerulean and azure, and it reminds me of a stormy sea.  And there is nothing artificial about this colour, it is purely the result of the plant bases -- blue tansy and blue spirulina extracts.  How amazing is that??


As you might have already guessed, the Secret du Dragon Lip Serum is not your average lip balm, nor is it a typical lip mask.  This serum treatment contains the incredible dragon's blood extract along with nourishing and healing oils like spirulina, moringa, broccoli, tomato, coconut, and prickly pear.  Each ingredient works together to soothe, hydrate, regenerate, and protect the lips, and the serum is gentle enough to use on the daily.

Okoko Cosmetiques has managed to create the perfect multi-tasker here, as it can be used as a traditional balm where you apply and let the serum absorb (don't worry -- your lips won't be blue!), or you can prime your lips prior to adding lipstick so you are left with moisturized and smooth lips with long lasting colour!  This has been especially handy for my less 'wet' formula lipsticks as the weather gets cooler.  Usually I would just stop using them until less windy and cold seasons came back around, but now I can continue to use them year round!

The serum is not sticky or oily, and it sinks in so quickly that you don't have to wait around for it to dry down.  Plus, it smells so lovely -- almost like papaya!  No idea where that delicate fruity smell comes from, but I adore it so much.   While this isn't the most moisturizing lip treatment on its own that I have ever tried, I think it is perfect as a base product pre-makeup and it works great to keep the skin healthy when used wisely.  I've actually found it works best if you use it as you would a skin serum -- apply it first and let the actives penetrate into the deeper layers of your lip tissue, then lock it all in with a heavier product.  This is when the real and noticeable results will occur!

Ingredients: *Cocos Nucifera Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera Cera, *Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, *Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract, *Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Oleic/Linoleic/Linolenic Polygycerides, *Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, **Croton Lechleri Resin Extract, Squalane, *Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil, *Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Tocopherol, *Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil, *Spirulina Platensis Extract, Ceramide NP, Bisabolol, *Pelargonium Roseum Leaf Oil, *Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil, *Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed, *Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil, *Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, *Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
* Certified Organic    ** Wild Harvested


I was also happily surprised to see a sample bottle of Okoko Cosmetiques' Anti Aging Serum, Les 16 Precieux included in my parcel -- such a perfect bonus to an already perfect package!  This "ultimate oil serum" includes -- you guessed it -- sixteen precious oils and extracts and is suitable for all skin types as everything is non-comedogenic and full of gentle actives.  It contains a naturally occurring substitute for retinol, making this great as an anti-aging and firming treatment, along with willow bark ferment, white lupin extract, prickly pear oil, carrot resin, and more.  And miraculously, Les 16 Precieux has been crafted to address free radicals, dehydrated skin, environmental damage, scars and spots, and dull complexions.


The oil is a firey orange, similar in colour to the Gel-to-Milk Radiance Mask, and while the product's description offers top notes of sweet orange, lavender, and geranium, I think it actually smells of heady spices at first.  There is definitely a tart freshness to the aroma, and I find it incredibly different (in a good way!) and perfect for uplifting the senses and re-centering the mind.

A few drops is all you need no matter how you are using it -- whether you apply as a hand serum, face oil, serum, or lip treatment, it applies easily, sinks in quickly, and leaves no slick residue behind.  One thing I have noticed is your really need to massage it in, as the orange hue is noticeable until you fully rub the product in.  Just take that extra 15 seconds or so to apply, breathe in the oils, and really take a moment for yourself.

I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting to be as blown away by Okoko Cosmetiques' face oil as I was by the other two products.  But I was.  It is so special, and again, so unique, I could hardly believe it.  When they claim stand out luxury "avant-garde" products, they really mean it and deliver.  Les 16 Precieux was an amazing discovery to make, and I will definitely need to grab a larger size of this in the future.

Ingredients: *Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, **Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil, *Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primerose) Oil, *Macadamia (Macadamia) Integrifolia Seed Oil, Lecithin, *Persea Gratissima ( Avocado) Oil, *Rosa Rubiginosa (Rosehip) Seed Oil, *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Fruit Oil, *Daucus Carota Sativa(Carrot) Seed Oil, **Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, *Opuntia (Prickly Pear) Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, *Punica (Pomegranate)Granatum Seed Extract, Bakuchiol, Ubiquinone, *Rosa Rubiginosa (Rosehip)Fruit Extract, *Hippophae (Seabuckthorn) Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, *Citrus Sinensis (Orange) Peel Oil Expressed, Lactobacillus Bulgaricus/Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Ferment Filtrate, *Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium Rose) Flower Oil, *Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot)Root Extract, *Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, *Cinnamomum Camphora (Ho Wood) Bark Oil, Lupinus Albus Seed (White Lupin) Extract, *Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, D-Limonene, Linalol, Citral, Geraniol
* Certified Organic     ** Wild Harvested



Is Okoko Cosmetiques outside my usual price range?  Most definitely yes.  But I believe their collection of all natural, vegan friendly, and organic skincare products is well worth the cost and I will be making the occasional (and well-planned out) splurge so I can continue to experience their incredibly unique formulas.  I mean, there is just nothing else like Okoko's range that I have come across, and I have to completely agree that their work is truly a piece of art just like they promise.

Sending a huge thank you to both Aurora Beauty and to Okoko Cosmetiques for giving me the opportunity to test these gorgeous natural beauty products for myself -- I am beyond grateful, and stunned at the quality and results from all three items.  I really fell for both Secret du Dragon formulas, and was surprised by how exceptional the face oil was, and I would not have had this chance to try all these amazing organic goodies without Aurora Beauty and Okoko Cosmetiques.  So thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I would love to know if you have tried Okoko Cosmetiques -- did you fall as hard for their luxury skincare goodies as I did??  And I would really like to hear what your favourite item you have tried so far was!  If you have not had the chance to try this wonderful Canadian brand yet, what catches your eye?  Let me know in the comments below xx

12 comments

  1. I've never heard of Secret du Dragon, the range looks awsome.

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  2. Oh my gosh, I've also never seen a lip product like that. I was completely drawn to it, as soon as I saw it in the first picture. Looks like an amazing lip balm, and so much more than your average one :D

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    1. I know it is so stunning right?? totally unique :) x

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  3. The lip serum is such an unusual colour! Glad you got good result with all the products.

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  4. Wow at first I thought it was an amazing lipstick (I've noticed lots of bloggers showing off blues and purples for winter!) What an amazing looking lip serum. Sounds like it'll be good for winter :)

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  5. That lip serum looks really unusual and it's strange that it comes out that colour before you apply it x

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  6. These products sound amazing, I'm gonna have to check them out - thanks for sharing! 🌸✨

    With love, Alisha Valerie x

    | BLOG | TWITTER |

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  7. I hadn't heard of the brand but they seem great and definitely worth the price tag. The packaging is really pretty too!

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  8. Mellissa Williams23 October 2018 at 04:44

    That lip serum certainly has me intrigued! This looks like a fab range of natural products

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  9. Oh these sound great and I absolutely love that they are vegan friendly. Love the packaging too.

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  10. Never seen this brand before. But your in-depth review makes be want to look into it a lot further.

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  11. These sound gorgeous. I'd love to try the lip serum, in particular.

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