NATRUE

Quarnero - Scent of the Mediterranean Face & Body Oils: Refresh, Relax, Sensual & Spirit

Remember those relaxing and soothing Quarnero’s Fleur de Sel Relax Bath Salts? Well, today, at The Amazing Blog we’re back with more of Quarnero’s nature-inspired skincare; but this time, it’s with their set of four Mediterranean Face & Body Oils. These are ideal for uplifting mind and body; so we thought, what could be a more appropriate time to use these now we’re still in #lockdown.

As previously mentioned, Quarnero is a family based business with mother and son team, Zorica and Rešid Seferović, in the Kvarner region of Croatia. This is where they produce natural and organic face and body care. Ingredients are mainly derived from the local region where wild plants flourish in the clean air, unpolluted Adriatic shoreline and the historical landscape. Other key organic ingredients are sourced from carefully selected organic locations – such as organic cold pressed sesame oil and some of the essentials oils. They use organic and natural biodynamic plant actives combined with their time-honoured knowledge of ancient medicinal remedies to bring these unique products to life – for them it’s taking ingredients back to basics with a ‘less is more’ philosophy. All products have the prized certification from NATRUE, International Natural and Organic Cosmetics Association , an organisation committed to promoting and protecting global natural and organic cosmetics. All Quarnero products are handmade, vegan and delivered in solid, simple apothecary-style jars with Miron violet glass. Interestingly, this violet glass is scientifically proven to maintain fresh ingredients longer than clear glass. It also acts as a barrier preventing the loss of bioenergy, enzymes, smell or colour from the product stored within, making preservatives less necessary. The brand is now available in 39 countries, with six products in total, which are within the two ranges of Face & Body Oils and Bath Salts.

Quarnero’s luxury vegan and organic unisex oils featured here today are suitable for both the face and body, making them incredible multitasking oils. We were sent the full set of Scent of Mediterranean Face & Body Oils, which are: Sensual, Relax, Spirit and Refresh. They offer all-year-round skin nourishment as each one contains a combination of pure bio-organic plant actives in the oils with a base of organic cold-pressed sesame oil. These ingredients are non-greasy, quick to absorb and designed to primarily help regenerate, soothe and protect the skin, emitting their unique Quarnero ‘Scent of the Mediterranean’ fragrance. The carrier oil in each is the cold-pressed sesame oil which is an excellent choice, as it doesn’t interfere with the essential oil’s therapeutic properties and is also full of antioxidants, vitamin E and omega fatty acids. It has a natural SPF 4 for protection and best of all, it keeps the skin gently nourished. The other ingredient common in three of the oils is lavender augustifolia (lavender oil) – see our photo above. This is one of the most versatile and popular distilled essential oils and best known to promote relaxation, treat anxiety, depression and insomnia. 

Each oil in this Scent of Mediterranean Face & Body Oil range offers specific mood enhancing property. The  Sensual emits softness and warmth with the cananga odorata (ylang-ylang) blended with delicate camellia oil, citrus essential oil; this will relax tense muscles, eliminate stress and anxiety, uplift and stimulate awakening sensuality. The Relax has an impressive combination of rosemary, lavender, geranium leaf and bergamot to relieve tired and irritated skin from negative environmental factors.It is also recommended for massaging into the body as an anti-cellulite treatment to aid with lymphatic drainage and make skin smoother. Spirit has a blend of excellent regenerative properties; these include rosemary, lavender, lemon and bergamot, which refresh the skin with a slightly zesty fragrance. This also has a stimulating effect on mood and we found it inspired in us a more optimistic outlook. Finally, the Refresh is a fusion of tangerine, lavender and mentha piperita leaf (peppermint). This mix has cooling and soothing characteristics, and when inhaled gave a feeling of elevated calm.

So, where to begin? We started by opening each of the four bottles in turn. Whichever one we instinctively felt most drawn to, we then applied. This was directly onto damp skin after an evening shower or bath. We recommend decanting the oils into a 20ml glass bottle; they work best warmed up bain-marie style, and then massaged to the skin. Left overnight the ingredients can fully absorb and work their magic. Quarnero also recommends using these oils to heal the skin after exposure to extreme cold or heat and as an added bonus, these oils are gentle enough to even be massaged into beards or the scalp. Once again, we’ve been won over by Quarnero’s skincare, where they offer their unique gifts from the earth, sun and sea and we cannot wait for to try more. To purchase Quarnero Scent of Mediterranean Face and Body oils, 100ml at €33 eachplease email info@quarnero.hr for enquiries due to the online shop currently being unavailable.

Quarnero: Fleur de Sel Relax Bath Salts

With winter still upon us here, at The Amazing Blog we love taking a hot bath at the end of the day, to warm up before bed and soak away the day. We've recently featured a few different bath products, but today we have an exceptional and award-winning brand Quarnero, with their delicate and unique Fleur de Sel Relax bath salts. 

Quarnero was founded by mother and son Zorica and Rešid Seferović, and is based in the Kvarner region in Croatia. They produce natural and organic face & body oils and bath salts, which have up until recently, been primarily created for the spa and salon sector. Their ingredients are mainly derived from the local region where the wild plants flourish in the clean air, and the unpolluted Dalmatian shoreline gives life to their fleur de sel. Otherwise, other key organic ingredients such as organic cold-pressed sesame oil and a few of the essentials oils are carefully sourced from selected organic locations. They use organic biodynamic plant actives combined with their time-honoured knowledge of ancient medicinal remedies to bring these select products to life – for Quarnero their brand ethos is to get’ back to basics’ and ‘less is more’. All products have the prized certification from NATRUE, International Natural and Organic Cosmetics Association https://www.natrue.org, who are committed to promoting and protecting global natural and organic cosmetics. All Quarnero products are handmade, vegan and delivered in solid, simple apothecary-style jars with Miron violet glass. Interestingly, this violet glass is scientifically proven to maintain fresh ingredients longer than clear glass. It also acts as a barrier preventing the loss of bioenergy, enzymes, smell or colour from the product stored within, making preservatives less necessary. The brand is now available in 39 countries, with six products in total, which are within the two ranges of Face & Body Oils and Bath Salts.

These Fleur de Sel Relax bath salts were a recent Wellbeing Winner, named as the Best Bath Soak at the global 2020 Beauty Shortlist Awards. As the name suggests, these contain the beautiful fleur de sel crystals, together with Quarnero organic botanical oils. When poured into the bath, this heady mix is slow to dissolve, fragrancing the water which in turn, absorbs into the pores relaxing the body. Any undissolved fleur de sea crystals can also be used to gently exfoliate and stimulate the lymph,as well as improving the skin's texture by making it soft and smooth. Fleur de sel is a salt enriched with natural minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iodine from the Adriatic Sea. It forms in oceanic conditions in seawater; it’s flaky, fragile and forms either as flat mass or as hollow pyramids, which look like angular delicate flowers (hence the name ‘flower of salt’). These bloom and float on the surface and are carefully harvested by hand. Fleur de sel is known as the purest form of salt on earth, as it contains no impurities or bitterness from the sea. Its been a tried and tested formula for therapeutic bathing since the Roman Empire and some even say that these salts have the aroma of violets.  Apart from the salts, other ingredients include oils from lavender, bergamot orange peel and geranium leafLavender, as we know, relieves stress and aids sleep. Bergamot has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and soothes the skin. The geranium leaf has been used as far back as the Egyptians in tea to alleviate anxiety and fatigue. When I opened the jar of Relax Bath Salt, it immediately filled the room with its notes of lavender, bergamot, geranium leaf; and the potent fleur de sel. Another one of our #amazingfinds, it was deliciously intoxicating and from just opening the lid, I could slightly ‘taste’ the saltiness in the air. I can honestly say, that I could not get enough of these Relax bath salts. They made me feel uplifted, and yet tranquil, relaxed and at peace. With all the lockdown, stress and anxiety – what better way to soak away the worries of the day and get a good night’s sleep? To purchase the Relax Bath Salt in 450g at €94,49 please email info@quarnero.hr for enquiries due to the online shop currently being unavailable.