With the return of finer days and summer around the corner, at The Amazing Blog, we’re featuring one of our latest bathroom #amazingfinds with Optimism Enriching Body Wash from the award-winning indie brand Eloise Hall. We love its summery zestiness, balanced with mellow notes of ylang-ylang and the warm citrus spice of coriander - all guaranteed to “refresh the body and reawaken the senses.”
Eloise Hall started her working life as a successful milliner in London. She went on to follow a childhood dream, moving to rural Somerset, surrounded by sheep, cows and an abundance of green pastures. It’s there, from the quiet sanctuary of her studio, that Eloise now crafts beautiful cards, stationery and artwork. Sustainability is at the heart of the brand, cards and envelopes are recyclable, and it’s a priority to always source materials from papermakers that use wood from responsibly managed UK forests. Due to the success of her stationery and artwork, Eloise has since ventured into producing a range of natural lifestyle and well-being products, which is where Eloise turned to the experienced perfumer Richard Howard of Arcania Apothecary. “I love creating fragrance with our master natural perfumer. He’s inspired by one of my artworks and we work closely until we create something incredible!” Together they have created core three natural fragrances ‘Contentment’ with patchouli and rose, ‘Optimism’ with grapefruit and petitgrain, and ‘Pause’ with geranium and lavender. All products are crafted in small batches, are cruelty-free, vegan and, wherever possible, 100% natural. The plastic bottles used are all made from 100% recycled plastic and are 100% recyclable, helping divert plastic from oceans and landfills. Eloise went on to say, "We have a lot of plastic in our system, so actually, the 100% recycled is using stuff that is already there… and uses less energy to make." They are a multi-award-winning brand and recently joint winners of ‘Best Body Wash’ in 2022 The Beauty Shortlist Awards. The brand continues to go from strength to strength and is now available in over 500 retailers worldwide. They are partnered with the Wild Life Trusts, where £1 is donated from the sale of every bottle, and the Eden Reforestation Project, with every £100 spent on wholesale orders, they plant five trees.
This refreshing and reawakening Optimism Enriching Body Wash won’t disappoint. Described as "The olfactory essence of optimism, hope and joy", it’s free from chemical and artificial ingredients and only contains natural fragrances with pure essential oils.
There are seven essentials oils, starting with grapefruit peel containing alpha-hydroxy acids, which increase the cell renewal rate, helping skin look smoother and younger. Then the ylang-ylang flower, with its sweet, calming scent and regenerative properties and high in antioxidants and sesquiterpenes (soothing properties that support the immune system). The coriander seed has an abundance of antioxidants and vitamin C and is an excellent anti-bacterial and detoxifier. The lavender flower is a mood enhancer and a potent anxiety reliever. The red mandarin peel comes from the fully ripened fruit; its circulatory qualities help to improve blood and lymph. The lemongrass leaf is a natural coolant that soothes and nourishes, relieving skin irritation or discomfort. Finally, the palmarosa leaf, high in concentration of the chemical compound geraniol valued for its scent and is also known for uplifting emotions and clearing muddled thoughts. Apart from these essential oils, there is glycerin and coconut acid to moisturise and natural-based surfactants to cleanse. Most of the surfactants are coconut-derived, and when combined with water, they produce a lather. There’s also sugar alcohol (erythritol) commonly used by soap makers to add light, bubbly suds. All of these are safe and are naturally derived.
The charming label design with its Optimism ‘life & nature’ botanical illustration is just the start of the journey… thanks to all the natural ingredients in this body wash, our skin was left soft, cleansed and uplifted. Unlike a few others we’ve tried, this didn’t leave skin feeling tight or dehydrated. It gently foams, moisturises and leaves a warm and subtle floral scent. Here’s a fun fact, according to Mumsnet, a bottle of 250ml body wash, with daily use, can last up to three months. However, for us, it’s more like a month! To purchase this 250ml Optimism Enriching Body Wash at £16, see here. Or perhaps, as a gift set, which also includes the body lotion and candle, the Optimism Body Gift set is £58, see here. As regular readers will know, we love to support British indie brands, and we can’t wait to see what Eloise Hall launches next.