Silicone Free

KinKind : Give me MORE! Shampoo & Deep Conditioner Bars

For our lovely readers with dry, curly or textured hair, this one's for you. At The Amazing Blog, we understand how difficult, or maybe even unheard of, it is to find haircare bars that detangle and hydrate our kind of hair. KinKind's Give me MORE! Shampoo and Deep Conditioner Bar for Damaged, Frizzy and Curly Hair are two one-of-a-kind haircare bars that set a new bar (pun intended!) for haircare products. Yet another one of our #amazingfinds, each bar saves two (250ml) plastic bottles and is 100% plastic-free while being proudly handcrafted in the UK, vegan, paraben-free, cruelty-free and delivered directly through the letterbox. The gently cleansing, fabulously foaming, and freshly fragranced duo has won two awards recently, earning them the Bronze Award at the 2022 Global Beauty Awards.

Even after changing her shopping habits from single-use plastic to reusable bags, significantly reducing disposable coffee cup usage, and rediscovering milk delivery in glass bottles, Victoria Coe and her family knew they could do more to reduce the massive environmental issues caused by plastic pollution. They realised that most plastic consumption occurred at home, where the average UK household uses 480 plastic bottles per year. This plastic bottle usage mainly happens in the bathroom, as none of the big personal care brands can tackle the plastic pollution problem head-on due to a primary focus on recycling plastic instead of changing production lines. This was Victoria Coes' aha moment, inspiring her to develop plastic-free products that are easy swaps with solid shampoo bars and body wash soap bars. It was at this time in 2019 that KinKind was born. As if it couldn't get even more eco-friendly, the products sell directly to families online with a subscription model, minimising carbon impact. While KinKind strongly hopes to create a positive environmental change by creating eco-friendly bars, customers are always of equal importance: ensuring the same high quality and user experience - despite using a different type of shampoo and conditioner. As they say at KinKind, "Bye Bye Bottles…Hello KinKind!" KinKind has saved over 289,091 bottles since its launch, helping oceans and sea creatures alike, one bar at a time. In an interview with Natural Product News, Victoria commented, “At KinKind, we believe that families can create positive change against plastic pollution and climate change, and our products are an easy, effective and enjoyable way to radically reduce the use of plastics in our bathrooms.”

Launched in February 2022, KinKind's Give me MORE! Shampoo and Conditioner Bars are unlike any shampoo or conditioner bar you've seen. KinKind's Give me MORE! is here for those who need more care and protection for their hair. One of the best shampoo and conditioner bars out there for curly, frizzy, damaged, long and thick hair, its silicone-free, wheat bran based and protects hair fibres for extra smoothness, softness, hydration, moisture, shine, strength, resistance, and ease of combing – the whole package. The Shampoo Bar is rich, foaming yet gentle, and cleansing with a fresh geranium and ylang-ylang fragrance. They use a gentler cleanser than bottle shampoos, and it’s suitable for coloured or highlighted hair. On the other hand, their Deep Conditioner Bar is enriched with cocoa seed butter and coconut oil, and packed with concentrated conditioning ingredients. Each palm-sized conditioner bar lasts up to a generous 50 washes, allowing an easy switch from bottles. You'd be surprised at how much rich lather and conditioning comes from each bar, leaving hair feeling silky soft.

The Shampoo Bar is pink in colour and starts with sodium coco-sulfate, a mix of all fatty acids from coconut oil that creates foam, cleanses the hair and is much gentler than SLS, followed by polyglyceryl-4-caprate, a water-loving emollient and solubiliser, and then pentylene glycol, a glycol with conditioning and preservative abilities. Then, there's glycerin, the much-loved humectant with excellent moisturising properties, wheat extract, skin softening and hair conditioning agent, caprylyl glycol, a skin conditioning agent with antimicrobial activity, 1,2-Hexanediol, a synthetic preservative and moisture-binding humectant, and lastly, benzyl benzoate, a solvent and preservative. Citronellol, a fragrance chemical from geranium, rose, and other plants that give the bar a citrus-like scent, and geraniol, a naturally derived fragrance from rose, geranium and citronella for a fresh, natural scent, make it in the mix too. You can also find limonene, a chemical with potent antioxidant benefits, linalool, floral and spicy terpene alcohol that gives off citrusy and lavender scents—lastly, CI 17200, a pink colourant.

The Deep Conditioner Bar's recurring ingredients include wheat extract, caprylyl glycol, pentylene glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, benzyl benzoate, citronellol, limonene, geraniol and linalool. New elements comprise Cetearyl alcohol, a chemical to soften hair and stabilises products; cocoa seed butter, a deeply nourishing, soothing and scalp-supporting fat. There’s coconut oil, a dandruff-relieving, lustre-restoring and frizz-taming protectant, and behentrimonium methosulfate, a non-irritating and mild conditioner that reduces static and frizz. While also encouraging moisture retention, voluminous hair and easy detangling without causing build-up. Besides that, the conditioner bar houses caprylic triglyceride, an excellent emollient and skin-replenishing ingredient.

We used the Shampoo Bar, rubbing it into a lather in our hands, and then putting it directly into our hair, to lather gently and rinse accordingly. For the Deep Conditioner Bar, we smoothed the bar between our palms, then down the length of our hair, from root to tip. Easy to use, the Deep Conditioner Bar, after leaving for a minute, provided instant conditioning when rinsed away. It also lends itself as a hair treatment when left on longer. For both bars, pop them on a rack after use to allow them to air dry. If you're using their Curly Girl Method, (kindly put together by the KinKind team), it's recommended to use both the Give me MORE! Shampoo Bar & Deep Conditioner Bar every few weeks. This is to be part of your curly hair routine to properly cleanse any dirt or bacteria from your hair. For our hair, we found this Give Me MORE! duo ingenious, our hair was left with a softer texture, hydrated, tangle-free and super-shiny. The mild Shampoo Bar lathered well, and delicately moisturised our hair, and the Deep Conditioner Bar tamed our wild locks. A one-of-a-kind shampoo and conditioner, it's another of our #amazingfinds, we highly recommend this for dry, damaged or other curly-haired people out there.

To purchase a 50g bar of the Give me MORE! Shampoo Bar at £6.50, click here. For a 40g bar of the Give me MORE! Deep Conditioner Bar at £7.00, click here.

SEA MAGIK - Pink Salt Shampoo and 3-Seaweed Scalp Mud

Raise your hand up if you have an itchy scalp, product build up, dehydrated or thinning hair. For these reasons, we at The Amazing Blog have given both these two hair treatments from Sea Magik a try, and we can happily say that you’re in for a lovely surprise.

The Sea Magik is a new discovery brand for us. It’s a family enterprise and is one of four award-winning brands under their umbrella company Finders Brands It also has a very unique story to the products. As it all started when the founder Kate Bunyan’s grandmother who took her father, Robert Czik, to visit the therapeutic natural salt lakes and caves in Hungary. These trips are what inspired Robert to create a professional spa brand. Nothing came easy as salty water has a unique chemistry which he eventually tapped into and creating the world’s first line of mineral-infused spa skincare.

Let’s talk about their Pink Salt Shampoo which is blended with three organic seaweed extracts and composed of Himalayan salt granules with lime, rosemary and cypress essential oils. This treatment shampoo exfoliates the scalp and remove product build-up. It is easy to use and just requires you to massage the salt shampoo into wet hair and scalp as a weekly treatment. Take your time to lather the product as you inhale the spa essential oils. Rinse and follow with your regular conditioner. The shampoo is SLS/SLES free, and even though the shampoo is granulated in texture, it is not at all abrasive and smells refreshingly of lime and left our hair squeaky clean pre conditioner.

Next is the 3-Seaweed Scalp Mud which is made up of three organic seaweeds, dead-sea mud and pure coconut oil. The mud is creamy and with a moreish coconut scent. It can be used as a daily basis as a conditioning treatment to soothe the scalp, (especially an itchy scalp) and the coconut oil helps to hydrate the hair. Replace your regular conditioner with the scalp mud and apply after shampooing and let sit for 1-5 minutes. Rinse with fresh warm water. It really did leave our scalps feeling deeply nourished and hair silky soft. A big thumbs up on this from us.

Both products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and free from harsh ingredients and silicones. Best of all they are kind to all skin and hair types. There are no sulphates, synthetic fragrances, parabens, petrochemicals, PEG’s, GMO’s gluten and dairy. The plastic tubes are made from sugarcane and is recyclable. So what’s not to like? Purchase Pink Salt Shampoo here 200ml for £11.99 and 3-Seaweed Scalp Mud here 150ml for £11.95. Get on board with healthy scalp and hair with these two products and begin your journey to beautiful hair.

 

 

 

Friday Favourites- Lip Products

While skin care is very important, a lot of people forget to give their lips the TLC that they deserve. Although a good lip balm is a must, sometimes we need a little extra help to keep them moisturised, protected and plumped. For this week’s Friday Favourites at The Amazing Blog, we rounded up four NEW lip must-haves to use in your weekly lip care routine.

 

MYJ  - Knightsbridge Lip Mask

The first step to any successful lip care routine is to make sure you have even foundation before applying your favourite gloss or lipstick. MYJ’s Knightsbridge lip mask does just this! It rejuvenates and moisturises lips for a plump and naturally-pink pout. Infused with hibiscus extract and other natural minerals, the Knightsbridge Lip Mask created to help improve the natural lip colour by regenerating skin cells. 

For this exfoliation, apply a layer of the lip mask to clean lips. Wait 5-10 minutes before wiping away and you will see a difference in your lips’ texture. After a few weeks of using the mask for MYJ’s recommended twice-a-week usage, we found lips were suitably moisturised and more kissable than ever before! For only £10, you can purchase a 15ml container of the lip mask here. We think that this is a must-have for having smoother and hydrated lips.

 

Jane Apothecary -  Restoring  Eye and Lip Serum

We all know how important it is to incorporate a serum to your skincare routine but have you ever tried a serum that targets your lips?  This was a new on for us too!  Jane Apothecary’s Restoring Eye and Lip Serum provide that extra step to aid your lip care routine. Made in Spain, the serum is infused with only natural oils and extracts such as raspberry seed, sesame, grape seed, rose hip, chamomile and calendula that work beautifully together to tighten and minimise damage to your lip contour especially from the dreaded free radicals. The added infusion of the calming lavender, bergamot and geranium oils also adds a hint of aromatherapy healing  when you apply this serum to your lips.

For optimal results, we suggest applying a small amount of the Jane Apothecary’s Restoring Eye and Lip Serum to the lips after the removal of the lip mask (above). After patting the excess, continue the next steps in your routine. Even though the serum bottle is 10m, a little goes a long way with this deliciously rich serum. To purchase the Restoring Eye and Lip Serum for £32.67 click here.

 

Lavera -  SOS HELP Lip Balm

Lavera’s SOS HELP Lip Balm is the perfect lip balm to protect and moisturise chapped lips for all year round. Since 1987, Lavera has developed and produced all its products in Germany using only  100 % natural formulas. With over 300 natural ingredients and actives, each product is made to the highest specification ensuring the quality of their products. The SOS HELP Lip Balm itself is made with their production of ground liquorice root to provide a calming and anti-inflammatory relief to even the most irritated lips.

In addition to being vegan and gluten-free, the lip balm contains no mineral oils or silicone to keep the skin’s natural skin barrier intact and nourished. Other extracts infused into the balm made from plants like the Echinacea strengthen and protect lips from getting dry and chapped. After applying the Jane Apothecary Restoring Eye and Lip Serum, we recommend applying a small amount of SOS HELP Lip Balm to help retain the moisturising effects. Purchase a 100 mL tube of the balm on here for £5.36

A.T Antao  -The Luna Trio

Finally, while we’re all for a natural pout, sometimes we want a little pop of colour to enhance an outfit. The latest Chinese brand to hit the UK is AT Antao with one of their hero set of products which are their The Luna Trio. This pack of three mini lipsticks that come in three different highly-pigmented shades of red, all presented in a rather glamorous gold box. When A.T. founder Teniya Tao launched the brand in 2014, she aimed to market the brand on a global level by developing products that were highly effective yet non-toxic. The Luna Trio, like other A.T. products, are strategically developed with partnership with European laboratories to ensure these standards. Although the lipsticks when applied are matte on lips, the Vitamin E and jojoba and avocado oils which are infused into the formula, gives the lipsticks a creamy, effortless application.

A.T. also claims that their lipsticks contain lower levels of lead compared to other lipsticks in the market. So you can still have a bold lip without it having to be toxic to your body. These nourishing ingredients hydrate lips while still giving you a bold, matte look. The first lipstick in the trio, 519 Chili, is a coppery red that is great for a more subtle pop of colour. The next lipstick in the trio in the shade 520 Corail leaves lips covered with a gorgeous coral sheen. If you want a ‘true red’ colour, 521 Antao Red is a dialed-down version of the tone to great for putting together a more casual look.  After completing our suggested lip care routine, apply your favourite shade on moisturised lips for a finished lip routine. The Luna Trio is available for purchase for £33.90 on the AT Antao website here

Follow our suggested lipcare routine here with our #amazingfinds and it’s sure to leave your lip truly kissable!

Moroccan Natural - Pearl Powder

When people think of pearls, they merely think of luminescent and glistening orbs used in jewellery. However, we want to introduce you to finely grounded down pearls, which have a surprising variety of uses, primarily to aid aesthetic and health benefits which in turn help to boost a glowing complexion. When The Amazing Blog heard that this 100% pure Pearl Powder had been used for thousands of years by Chinese and Egyptians (including Cleopatra), we knew we had to experiment with this micronised Moroccan Natural’s Pearl Powder!

Moroccan Natural founder Carole Fraser launched this UK based natural beauty brand in 2010. It all began when she was recommended to use Moroccan Argan oil to treat both her frizzy and dry hair and a 14-year-old skin condition. After seeing the power of the fantastic properties of organic, natural products can have, Carole was inspired to start the brand. All with the premise of cultivating a line of products that are made up of entirely organic ingredients, in order to heal and rejuvenate the hair and skin naturally. Made with 100% pharmaceutical grade natural freshwater pearl powder, Moroccan Natural’s Pearl Powder takes on the ancient beauty secret which is infused with 30 different minerals. With its calcium, proteins and vitamins and a high source of amino acid, Pearl Powder will help speed healing, enhance elasticity and help maintain a perfect skin luminosity. These are all shown to stimulate skin and collagen production, smooth wrinkles, help improve skin texture and help with sun damage. Like all Moroccan Natural products, the Pearl Powder is completely natural and is free from silicones, parabens or preservatives all of which can irritate the skin.

After a few weeks of incorporating the Pearl Powder into our beauty regimen, we loved the radiance it gave our complexion. The less visible sun spots, fewer large pores and a more luminous and even skin tone. To start seeing radiant results for yourself, mix a pearl-sized scoop (using the spatula included) into your daily moisturiser or try one of Moroccan Natural’s five different ways to use the powder depending on your skin care goals. Our Exec Editor’s favourite way was to have this Pearl Powder as a finishing powder, it is so finely ground that it absorbs the shine and leaves the skin supple. We really love the versatility of this 100% natural product. While a 15g container of the Pearl Powder retails at £25 on the Moroccan Natural website here. You only need use a tiny bit in each application and found that this pot lasted for quite some months.

Foamie Men

We offer up to you, our Amazing Blog readers, the incredible Foamie - the latest accessory that simply HAS to be tried. This brand ensures that you are getting absolutely every last drop of indulgence from your daily shower routine. Like the best of us, it has hidden qualities which may not be immediately apparent on first glance - certainly us boys may simply look at this as just another sponge - and that would be a huge mistake, for it is what is on the inside that counts … and how many times have we heard that?

The genius of Foamie lies in the fact that the cleansing cream foam is contained within the sponge itself, and as you apply the water liberally, the deliciously scented magic is released. So no need to take any other paraphernalia under that showerhead - all the prep is done for you. The only necessity is to liberally apply water, and then the Foamie Men begins it’s 4 in 1 lathersome repartee: the sponge exfoliates and massages, whilst the soap nourishes and cleanses. We can also expect an extra dose of manliness into the mix, which can’t be a bad way to start the day … or evening!

Now, here’s the science bit, and yes they have covered every aspect of user-friendliness too … the Foamie chaps are nothing if not consistent - there are no parabens, silicones, sulphates, mineral oils or lily aldehydes to spoil the party. Of course, going the extra mile, this amazing product is 100% vegan and has not been tested on animals. It is suitable for all skin types and pH adjusted to maintain the skin’s protective layer.

And yes of course, the whole caboodle is patented, so let’s just celebrate this German ingenuity and their generosity in sharing it with us, whilst we joyously ablute. So ‘where’s the catch?’ we can hear you cry - well even the price is modestly placed at £7.99, and Foamie is widely available through supermarkets, chemists and of course on the Foamie website.