Design Essentials recently rolled out with four new lines under their unifying Platinum Collection line: Volume, Finishing, Styling, and Moisture. Each collection caters to specific hair needs and concerns. My main hair concern is dryness. I struggle a lot with maintaining moisture, so it's important that I use products that not only adds moisture but locks in it in for more than a day. If not, my hair can get very brittle and cause unnecessary shedding. Based on my hair needs, I tried their Design Essentials Platinum Moisture line, and this is what I thought.
What's in the Design Essentials Platinum Collection?
Photo by Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
The collection features three products: a Deep Moisturizing Shampoo, an Ultra Moisturizing Hair Mask, and Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner, to be used in that order.
As naturals, I think it's important to check out the ingredients in whatever product we use to make sure we stay away from what may not work the best for our hair. The main ingredient in the collection is coconut oil along with other ingredients like mineral oil, water, seed oil, and much more. For me, coconut oil isn't one of my go-to's. I've tried it many times but have yet to get the same benefits as everyone else with natural hair seems to rave about. Nevertheless, I was optimistic because I've tried other form of coconut products like coconut milk and it has worked for me, specifically with detangling.
Now let's breakdown each product...
Design Essentials Platinum The Deep Moisturizing Shampoo: Review
The first step in the system is the shampoo. The Deep Moisturizing Shampoo has a lot of slip which I loved! A little goes a long way and you don't have to worry about it drying out your hair. It adds enough moisture and slip to reduce tangles and knotting.
Design Essentials Platinum The Ultra-Moisturizing Mask: Review
Design Essentials/Design Essentials Blog
The Design Essentials Platinum Ultra-Moisturizing Mask is somewhat like a deep conditioner. After you apply the shampoo, it is recommended to apply the mask and leave it in for 15 minutes. It's optional to go under the dryer, but I put on my hot head cap and allowed the heat to increase the benefits of the mask. When it came time to rinse the mask off, my hair felt different than when I applied the shampoo. It was a bit harder to detangle and it wasn't as soft as I hoped. However, I truly feel like it was because of my hair's love/hate relationship with coconut oil rather than the product itself.
In my opinion though, I think a regular conditioner rather than a mask would possibly be better.
Design Essentials Platinum The Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner: Review
The Design Essentials Platinum Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner has a runny consistency which allows it to get into your hair strands better. I actually prefer liquid-based leave-in opposed to cream-based. Sometimes with cream-based leave-ins, it sits on top of your hair instead of allowing the hair strands to soak up all the moisture. The leave-in is also very lightweight and it doesn't make the hair too oily nor does it weigh it down.
However, one con for the leave-in conditioner is it had the same effect as the hair mask as far as the way it made my hair feel. It was harder to detangle and it changed the texture of my hair a bit. I felt my hair getting drier. So, if I was adding moisture, it didn't feel like it.
My Overall Thoughts?
Krissy rocking her first day hair after giving Design Essentials Platinum Moisture line a spin.
Courtesy of Krissy Lewis/Instagram
Keep in mind that this is my experience using the collection and every natural girl isn't the same so it may work differently for you.
As I mentioned before, coconut oil isn't compatible with my hair. I have type 4 hair, and it seems to cause more dryness rather than add moisture. If you struggle with coconut oil and have a love/hate relationship like I do, then this may not be the line for you. However, if your hair thrives off of coconut oil, then this line is right up your alley. I would definitely recommend giving it a try.
My favorite product from the line (and the one I'd recommend the most) is the shampoo. The slip made cleansing so easy and still left my hair feeling soft. Good shampoos are hard to come by, so if you're looking for a new moisturizing shampoo, I would recommend this one.
Lastly, keep in mind that there are four different lines within the Design Essentials Platinum umbrella and you should use the collection that best caters to your hair needs.
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
I Tried A $14 Hair Gel On My 4C Natural Hair
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Featured image by Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
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Here are some of my favorite takeaways from three standout panels featuring Jordan Chiles, Marsai Martin, and Kandi Burruss.
Leveling Up Your A-Game with Jordan Chiles, Morgan Shaw Parker, Chelsea Fishman, Laura Correnti, and Tabitha Turner-Wilkins
Jordan Chiles
Paras Griffin/ Getty Images for Power Play
Olympic gymnast Jordan may have medals and magazine covers to her name, but her mindset is refreshingly grounded. “The day I finally feel pressure,” she said, “will be the day I know there’s still more for me to learn.” For her, joy—not pressure—is the fuel. Her confidence isn’t performative; it’s rooted in family, self-worth, and authenticity.
“Everything I’ve done in my career—tattoos, long nails, rocking my crew at the Olympics—that’s all me. It’s not because someone told me to do it. It’s because I felt confident doing it. And that’s where my ambition comes from: being my authentic self.”
For Morgan Shaw Parker, President & COO of the Atlanta Dream, the conversation around pressure went even deeper. “Legacy work” is how she described her mission—navigating male-dominated spaces, sometimes pregnant and pumping on NFL team planes. “After COVID and George Floyd,” she shared, “it became clear to me: vulnerability is power. You don’t have to show up perfect to lead.”
Chelsea Fishman, founder of Atlanta's first bar dedicated to women’s sports, Jolene Jolene, shared how the haters (especially the Reddit kind) were her confirmation: “All those comments saying it would fail—those were the signs that I was doing something right.” She’s hosted 25+ watch parties already and is building the very community they said would never come.
This panel also touched on ambition, authenticity, and owning your power—both in sneakers and in suits. One of the best mic-drop moments came when the moderator flipped the question: “What if we stopped making ‘power’ a bad word for women?” A nod-worthy reminder that we’re not here to play small.
Making Your Voice Heard with Marsai Martin, Carol Martin, Miss Milan, and Heather McMahan
Marsai Martin
Paras Griffin/ Getty Images for Power Play
This panel was a masterclass in staying grounded while growing up—or glamming up—on the global stage. Actress and producer Marsai talked about what it’s like to show up in high-pressure moments when your confidence is low but the world is still watching. From red carpets to long shoot days, she reminded us that even when you’re not at 100%, you still find a way to push through.
“There have been days where I wasn’t feeling the best, but I still had to show up on this carpet. Or it was that time of the month, but I still had to go on set. I just didn’t feel as confident—but it’s about how you take care of yourself in those moments and still keep pushing.”
Her mom and business partner Carol Martin dropped gems about motherhood and mentorship: “It’s like teaching your kid to ride a bike over and over again. Now the bike is a movie or a brand.” That balance between guiding and letting go? Not easy—but essential when you’re raising a mogul and running a company.
“There have been days where I wasn’t feeling the best, but I still had to show up on this carpet. Or it was that time of the month, but I still had to go on set. I just didn’t feel as confident—but it’s about how you take care of yourself in those moments and still keep pushing.”
Miss Milan, Grammy Award-winning DJ and Doechii’s right-hand woman, lit the crowd up with her no-nonsense energy. “I built my own table,” she said. “When you build it, they can’t tell you you can’t sit.” From journaling her dreams to manifesting Grammys, her story is one of resilience and intention—and a whole lot of faith in her own vision.
This panel didn’t shy away from hard truths either: the sadness that can come with success, the fear of fading relevance, the criticism that hits differently when it’s personal. But Marsai said it best: know your why. And let it evolve with you.
The Cost of Starting Your Own Business with Kandi Burruss and Nikki Ogunnaike
Kandi Burruss
Carol Lee Rose/ Getty Images for Marie ClaireKandi doesn’t sugarcoat the grind. From chart-topping songwriter to multi-business entrepreneur, she’s built her empire one risk—and one reinvention—at a time.
“Fear equals failure. If you don’t even try, you’ve failed automatically —and you did it to yourself. I’d rather take a risk and lose money than play it safe and never know what could’ve happened.”
She broke down the real costs of entrepreneurship: money, time, and emotional bandwidth. “You think you’re going to work less when you work for yourself?” she laughed. “You’re going to work more.” For Kandi, mommy guilt and financial setbacks are part of the package—but so is the satisfaction of seeing an idea through.
She opened up about scaling back on her clothing store and temporarily closing the original Old Lady Gang location. “It felt like failure,” she admitted, “but sometimes you have to step back to make things better.” Still, she’s not one to quit. She just pivots—with precision.
One of her most memorable reflections? How her music career hiccup led her to songwriting—ultimately writing the mega-hit “No Scrubs.” That song became the key to a new lane and legacy. “You may think you’re working on one dream,” she said, “but it could open the door to another.”
Also? Kandi wants you to stop emailing her from a Gmail. “You’re doing million-dollar business on a bootleg budget,” she joked. “Invest in yourself. Start with a domain name!”
The Marie Claire Power Play Summit was a powerful reminder that ambition, authenticity, and vulnerability aren’t separate traits—they work in tandem. Whether you’re building a bar, a brand, or a business from scratch, the key is to stay rooted in your voice, your story, and your why.
And if you need a sign to go for it? Consider this your green light.
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Feature image by Paras Griffin/ Getty Images for Power Play