AiiA Care: Body Care Serum

With summer not far away (we all live in hope!), there’s a great need to prepare, hydrate and protect our soon to be exposed arms and legs. Which is why we’re featuring this very skin-caring and environmentally friendly brand AiiA Care and their regenerating Body Care Serum, today on The Amazing Blog.

AiiA Care was conceived on the Danish isle of Funen, thanks to Trine Øveraas, a journalist back then, and her two associates: A medical pharmacist and a chemical engineer. Both men were developing a new concept in natural skincare based on skin science, with the creation of two initial water-based serums. Trine Øveraas was ask to promote these two innovative and high-end serums on their behalf. However, she went on one step further, loving the serums’ benefits, she went on to partner with them and create the AiiA Care brand. If you wondering what the word ‘AiiA’ means, there is no meaning, it is simply the arrangement of the letters - as symbols of balance, plus the brand wanted to pay a small homage to Mother Earth ‘Gaia’. Trine explained about the brand, “Our vision with AiiA's products is to support the skin's own natural process, by contributing moisture and certified, natural ingredients for the care and protection of the outer layer of skin.” Today, AiiA Care has six serums, all natural, water-based and allergy-friendly. The brand is committed to reducing the use of packaging, where Trine went on to say, “That's why we do not have double wrappers such as cardboard boxes or cellophane. In addition, we work with what are called air pumps. This means that all serum is pumped out of the bottle, so you as a consumer get all the product as it completely empty’s and leaves the bottle ready to be recycled.” They use PP-plastic (polypropylene), which can be recycled up to 35 times and avoid the use of preservatives thanks to its air-pump system. AiiA Care has already obtained three certifications: The Nordic Swan Label, the official Nordic Ecolabel , to ensure the sustainability of the skincare, the Ecocert COSMOS to prove the natural provenance of the ingredients, and is AllergyCertified which assures that the products are hypoallergenic. Finally, we have to congratulate AiiA for their four award wins at the Scandinavian Global Makeup Awards in 2020 which includes the Body Care Serum which we are reviewing below. The AiiA Care’s ethos is to keep it simple, clean and natural to help the skin healing itself, as they believe that healthy skin is beautiful skin.

This Body Care Serum is full of active ingredients which strengthen the skin’s protective barrier against external pollutants. One of the key ingredients is crambe abyssinica seed oil, a natural oil extracted from the mustard plant and unlike other plant oils, it has a high percentage of C22 fatty acids, which provides antioxidants. The serum also contains theobroma cacao seed butter, extracted from cocoa beans, it’s a rich source of antioxidant polyphenols with emollient properties. You can also find sunflower seed oil which conditions and moisturises thanks to the linoleic acid and vitamin E.; and arginine an amino acid used to protect and hydrate the skin. The combination of all these ingredients balances and reinforce the skin’s immune system. The serum is suitable for all skin type, including sensitive ones. As an all-in-one serum/lotion it can be used night and day. This water-based serum is a butter-coloured lotion with a soft and unintrusive natural fragrance. We found it had a lightweight and non-greasy texture, and absorbed quickly, leaving the skin feeling nourished, silky and conditioned – and most importantly, summer ready!  You can purchase the 200ml AiiA Care Body Care Serum here, for 395,00kr, approximately £46.18. 

Verolive: Firming Cellulite Cream

Here we are in mid-May with more grey days and rain… Of course, it’s great for the plants but not for our spirits!  At The Amazing Blog,  we’re still living in hope for the appearance of a gloriously hot June. Which is why this week, we’re reviewing a couple of new and natural body care products to help you get body-ready for the sunshine. Today it’s with Verolive’s award-winning Firming Cellulite Cream, and readers may remember that we recently reviewed their outstanding Revitalizing Shampoo here.

The Tzortzakakis family founded Verolive in 1975, where they’ve created this multi award-winning brand, in the heart of the Messara Valley, Crete. It is a well-known area for its endless olive groves, producing organic extra virgin olive oil, a key ingredient that can be found in each of the Verolive products. The brand has developed a unique core range of ten products, where ingredients are meticulously selected from natural and locally sourced ingredients. Their ethos is to focus on high-standard eco care and packaging, with ingredients, dermatologically tested, vegan, clean in composition and above all, high in quality. The plastics in all their containers are BioPET, which means the plastic is based on 30% renewable raw material such as starch, glucose, vegetable oils and cellulose and 70% oil-based raw material. Every product has been designed to protect both the environment and its customers’ wellbeing. To maintain their continuity and brand excellence, they only produce each item in a limited amount to ensure superior quality control. The brand also caters to spa professionals and built long term successful partnerships with some of the best-known wellness centres. 

What piqued our interest about this Firming Cellulite Cream, is that it won Best Cellulite Treatment in the 2020 Mama & Baby Awards, and we’ve wanted to try this ever since. The purpose of this formula is to reduce cellulite, which is from an accumulation of fat under the dermis that weakens the connective tissue, and generates a series of orange-peel ripples over the skin. Although it is a harmless and natural condition, for the body-conscious, trying to get rid of this dimply cellulite can sometimes be an issue. This formula has nine actives , and is 94% natural including many ingredients native to Crete. Let’s start with some of these local ingredients which include, organic shea butter, olive and sunflower oil, sweet almond oil, aloe vera, natural beeswax, which all work together to moisturise the skin, thanks to their various nutrients and fatty acids. With a more in depth look at their function we find that the organic extra virgin olive oil is for skin barrier function, making it stronger, thanks to its numerous vitamins such as vitamins D, E, K and A. The organic avocado oil is here to make skin smoother, firmer and more elastic due to its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. There’s organic bio-active aloe vera, which has skin-restorative properties, and the rosemary essential oil acts as a skin tonic and rejuvenates the skin; which is why it’s used here to fight cellulite. The natural vitamin E is here to boost your skin by moisturising it, softening it, and encouraging cell regeneration. However, it’s the active caffeine in phospholipids, in this formula that make a real difference, as they are ‘vectorised’ for quicker skin penetrate. They improve its cutaneous absorption, in order to reach lipocytes and fat cells in the adipose tissue, which specialise in storing energy as fat. The caffeine here enhances the microcirculation to actively reduce the orange-peel look. Cellulite only really becomes a concern for us as every summer approaches. Yes, it’s a vanity issue and we’re happy to admit it!  After all, who doesn’t want to look and feel their best when wearing skimpy swimwear? Verolive suggest targeting any problem areas, by applying this Firming Cellulite Cream twice a day. Rich in consistency it left our skin super-hydrated with a delicious hint of a rosemary scent. It was quick to absorb, as we massaged it into our legs, tums and bums both morning and evening. As Yannis said to us, “to maximise the results of our natural Firming Cellulite Cream, you also need to exercise and follow a specific daily diet. As it’s well-known that all these three factors are necessary, to see results when using a cellulite treatment.” This is something worth remembering, as no cream will ever work to remove cellulite on its own. We noticed that with regular use, our skin became smoother and softer, although we do need to be more disciplined on the diet and exercise front to see more dramatic results! This Cream has been dermatologically tested, is a natural body care, and is suited to all skin types. You can purchase your own 250ml Firming Cellulite Cream from Verolive for €59.90 here .

HÆR: SUSINUM Luxuriant Hair Oil

It’s been a while since The Amazing Blog has featured a hair oil, and as our regular readers will know, ones that don’t leave an oily residue on the hair are few and far between! That’s why we want to share another of our #amazingfinds with the non-greasy SUSINUM Luxuriant Hair Oil,  by HÆR which is good for even damaged or coloured hair.

HÆR is a British brand and newly launched by Rámon Taitz. It’s a new luxury haircare brand that offers this their award-winning SUSINUM Luxuriant Hair Oil. And what a product! Rámon worked in the hairdressing sector for over 20 years before deciding to take a leap of faith and create his own brand. His inspiration came from wanting to find products that didn’t contain artificial silicones or petroleum-based ingredients. The natural and organic hair products that he did find, were generally too oily for styling. Hence, he devoted five years to studying the origins of Egyptian and other ancient hair care ingredients to find his formula. Rámon said: “It became my wish to fuse these two life-paths and create hair care that combines the natural botanical medical wisdom of our ancestors with sustainable modern scientific practice, to create 100% naturally-derived, ethical haircare for today.” HÆR hair care is cruelty-free, vegan (registered with the Vegan Society), GMO-free and certified organic. It is also made with natural and sustainable ingredients which are biodegradable, renewable and kind to the environment.

HÆR’s firstborn (as they call it) and hero product is the SUSINUM Luxuriant Hair Oil which has recently been awarded with an Editor’s Choice in the 2021 Beauty Shortlist Awards. This has been created by adapting, modernising, and naturally enhancing a formula, documented nearly 2000 years ago, which had ingredients like: One thousand blue Egyptian water lilies (aka blue lotus), steeped in antique balanos oil and perfumed with several aromatic botanicals such as cinnamon, myrrh, saffron and cardamom. However, this has now been modified by HÆR to make it light in texture, non-greasy and has the addition of 18 botanical ingredients. These key ingredients include: Egyptian blue lotus extract to help increase the volume, body and elasticity of brittle hair. Rich in palmitic acid, an emollient fatty acid, it prevents moisture loss and increases natural shine. Black seed oil, for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Moringa seed oil, also full of antioxidants, with the addition of bio-actives with vitamin B, C, and minerals to revive the hair. There is watermelon seed oil, an ultra-light oil with an abundance of antioxidants to help boost scalp circulation, and pomegranate seed oil, rich in nutrients to revitalise dry and damaged hair. There’s also squalene, frankincense, myrrh, cardamon, cinnamon, black cumin, cedarwood, vetiver, geranium, linden blossom, ylang-ylang and hazelnut - what a list! This formula is completely without synthetics or chemicals and designed to leave hair nourished, glossy and easy to style. We initially used this on clean damp hair, rubbing a few drops in the palm of our hands then gently massaging it into the scalp before running it through from the hair shaft to the ends. It felt more like a hair tonic than an oil as, there’s no greasy residue left on hands or hair. The scent is divine and exotic, where we detected a very subtle and fragrant fusion of ylang-ylang, cardamom and vetiver.  The scent and performance were outstanding; we also used it on dry hair for styling, and loved how it instantly smoothed down any annoying flyaway strands. This is now one of our ‘empties’, and we’ll certainly be buying more. You too can purchase HÆR: SUSINUM Luxuriant Hair Oil here for £39 - deliver within the UK only. 

Spruce: Multi-Purpose Starter Kit

The world of cleaning products is at last changing, and thankfully there is now a choice of natural cleaners with plant-based ingredients to make our homes sparkle.  For too long, products with harsh chemicals, leaving toxic residue on our counters, floors and even on our hands, has dominated. Although these natural products aren’t cheap, at The Amazing Blog we think that when it comes to buying safe, eco-friendly and non-toxic household cleaning items, these are a wise investment. Today we take a look at a Multi-Purpose Start Kit from Spruce.

Spruce, is a British cleaning brand recently founded by Mahira Kalim. They have launched with two products made from non-toxic ingredients and without any single-use plastics. After suffering from health issues, possibly due of the toxins in household products, Mahira realised that the market was filled with cleaning products that use single-use plastic bottles with 90% water, toxic chemicals, artificial dyes and fragrances. So, she decided to create a brand that offered safe, natural, and eco-friendly choices for consumers; “without compromising on convenience, effectiveness or aesthetics”. Having launched Spruce in the midst of the pandemic, Mahira has “put people and the planet over profit”. Therefore, she has developed her products to be entirely cruelty-free, vegan, and safe for pregnant women, children, and pets. Their product packaging, including the reusable aluminium bottles and the refill sachets, are all plastic-free, recyclable, FSC-certified, and printed with biodegradable ink.  Sustainability is at the heart of the brand. With the one-time buy of the aluminium bottle, it’s the world's most recycled material with 80% of the aluminium in use today which is recycled.  Their lightweight refill sachets have a concentrated powder and only weighs 4 grams, which is 140 times less than a typical cleaning bottle that weighs 560 grams, plus these are completely biodegradable!  Refills fit through a letterbox and get delivered with a significantly low carbon footprint. They also offer a flexible subscription which can be changed or cancel anytime.

The Multi-Purpose Starter Kit  is one of Spruce’s best-seller. The brand has already gained consumer recognition having been shortlisted by Dezeen Awards for their Sustainable Design and an Eco Lifestyle Winner at 2021 Beauty Shortlist Awards. We initially found Spruce at its inception on Instagram and have been itching to try their cleaners ever since. The Kit comes with a lightweight aluminium Spruce bottle and a plastic-free Multi-Purpose cleaner refill sachet. The refill sachet is made of plant-based or food-grade powder ingredients highly rated for their environmental and human safety on Environmental Working Group (EWG) and by the  European Chemical Agency (ECHA). The plant-based ingredients include sodium coco-sulfate (a surfactant derived from coconut) and alkyl polyglycosides (sugars). Whereas the food-grade ingredients include citric acid, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate and sodium bicarbonate. Plus, there are locally sourced essential oils which contain antimicrobial properties. They are quick to point out that their surfactants work differently from toxic antibacterial agents (pesticides) that kill the bacteria. Also, a point to remember is that antibacterials are effective against bacteria, not viruses. Anyway, we couldn’t find any nasties here! We found it is gentle on the nose, where it left only the slightest residue of a mild spa-like geranium fragrance. Happily it also made swift work of removing lingering food stains and greasy marks from kitchen and bathroom worktops. To turn this Kit into a cleaning solution, you simply add the refill sachet into the bottle and fill it slowly with tap water- easy! This Multi-Purpose Kit has won us over as being not only good for the planet, but also great for our pocket; it lasted over a month, with regular use, which for us makes economic sense when this one product can replace at least three of our current others. You can purchase the multi-purpose starter kit here for £12.00 and refills at £9.99 each.

MamaSia: Desert Date Oil

Let’s keep it simple – at The Amazing Blog we want to take about the versatility and purity of oils. They’ve been tried and tested for centuries, and we find more and more people are returning to using only minimally-processed oils as part of their skincare routine. Today, we are trying out a Desert Date Oil from MamaSia . 

MamaSia is an established natural skincare brand, launched in 2012; it has traditional African beauty and wellbeing products, all with a modern twist. They are based in the UK and co-founded by Maame Opoku.  With her dual heritage, Maamie is of Ghanaian descent, and born in England.  She spent time in Laraganga, Ghana, where she learnt about local ingredients and production methods from women in the community. After years of experience in the beauty industry, she realised the uniqueness and value of the traditional African beauty practices she’d gleaned and decided to create her own brand MamaSia, now a business made up of more than forty Ghanian women. All products are formulated by Maame and Sam, the company’s co-founders. Where their collective objective is to help the local communities, especially women, by acting in a socially responsible way to ‘Share, Inspire and Assist’ (this acronym ‘SIA’ is found in the brand name). All of its product ingredients are sourced from its family lands in Senegal and Ghana. As Maame said, “MamaSia is an experience rather than a brand, many people have never heard of some of the natural botanicals found in our products range. So, it is an experience from that standpoint, not forgetting our customers get to experience how our ingredients are grown on our communal lands to how it is re-purposed by us. That is why we say ‘From our Lands to your Hands’, it is direct from soil to hands.”  MamaSia produces a range of hair and skincare products and superfoods such as raw purple sea moss. However, what interests us are the superfood oils in her collection, which are pure, unadulterated and good enough to eat! They are now getting the brand recognition that they deserve and recently won The Afro Hair & Beauty Association AHBA Award for Brand Excellence. 

We couldn’t wait to try the Desert Date Oil , an all-rounder that is beneficial and suitable for all skin and hair types. It can automatically adjust and balance your skin or hair’s pH level, leaving your skin and hair smoothing and glowing without being greasy and won’t clog the pores. It is derived from Desert Date’s seed kernel, a fruit that thrives in dry conditions and is high in natural non-volatile fatty acids (46%), helping rejuvenate skin cells and reduce fine lines. As an ideal food ingredient and a cosmetics component, it contains naturally occurring, highly concentrated vitamin E and omega 3 &6 fatty acids. Vitamin E provides an excellent healing and nourishing effect that strengthens and moisturises the skin. At the same time, omega 3 &6 serves to regulate the skin's oil production and calm inflammatory reactions and skin breakouts. This is the first time we’ve used 100% cold-pressed Dessert Date Oil (balanites aegyptiaca) where we tested it out night and day, and as directed by the brand to ‘dab or pat not glide’ a little goes a long way. We loved how hydrating and protective this felt on the skin (used in chilly February). This is good for the hair tips to seal split ends, and with a drop rubbed into the palm of our hands, then smoothed over the crown, it also keeps frizz at bay. This is simplicity at its best, suitable for all skin types and one oil we’d certainly buy more of. The humble date is probably one of the most sustainable botanicals around, with its fruits and leaves which can be eaten, the kernels used for oil, and the vines and twigs crushed to help build local structures! To purchase this 30ml Desert Date Oil for £10, you can buy it here.