Scurl® Fine Grooming: Beard Wash, Oil & Balm

As always those resourceful girls at The Amazing Blog have been on the hunt to find me some beard grooming products (this lockdown has played havoc with my whiskers!) And lo and behold they’ve found me yet another new grooming brand to add to my repertoire. This time it’s a brand that’s a resounding success across the pond. Meet the rather sleek looking Fine Grooming range from Scurl®.

Scurl® is the newest addition to the product line from the Luster Products family. Luster was established in 1957 by the late Fred Luster, Sr a successful barber in Chicago, Illinois, and has grown from a modest shopfront into a multi-million-dollar global enterprise. It all began with Fred Lustre Sr saw a gap in the market to develop a line of hair care products specifically catering for the African American market. Today Luster is available worldwide and has an extensive stable of over fifteen hair and grooming product ranges for both salon professionals and consumer use. We love that they also have a philanthropic arm and non-profit charitable foundation My Neighbor's Keeper (MNK) which is an employee outreach programme, under the umbrella of the Luster Product Black Heritage Foundation. Which to date has contributed more than $1million to other non-profit organisations such as the American Cancer Society, Habilitative Systems, Lawndale Community School and The Rising Star. This Scurl ® range has a diversified range of men’s hair care products which includes sprays, relaxers, texturisers and beard grooming.

Although this Scurl ® range has been primarily created for men of colour, these Fine Grooming of products are suitable for all hair types. We were sent a trio of products and I’m going to start with their gentle Beard Wash, it’s a 4-in-1 instant cleanse and condition. Easy to use morning and evening but I liked using this at the end of the day, ridding myself of the hideous London grime and pollution. It lathers up nicely and leaves a lingering fragrance that is fresh and almost cologne-like, and of course, it’s always good to know that there are no nasties as it’s sulphate-free. Extra goodies here include shea butter (moisturising) aloe vera (soothing) and olive oil (nourishing). Next, we turn to conditioning; I used the Beard Balm, it’s 100% natural and left a delicious smelling cocoa butter residue on my beard. Key ingredients are olive oil, cocoa butter and shea butter; and it comes with a plethora of coconut, argan jojoba, soya bean oils – all beautifully blended into a waxy finish. I found this better to use in the morning working into my beard for styling and smoothing effect. Then last (but not least) I used the Beard Oil, which is not only good for encouraging beard growth but also ideal for hydrating the hidden skin under my whiskers! I loved the subtle scent which is a hybrid combo of coconut + shea butter. Again, this too is brimming with natural ingredients from grape seed, soya bean, jojoba, coconut, shea butter to marula. I loved how this mix of oils softened and detangled – oh, and did I mention how long my lockdown beard is getting? To purchase these any of these products, go to their website for international sellers here or for the UK here; all three products retail at £4.99 each.

Friday Favourites - New Haircare

Gorgeous, healthy hair will never go out of style and here at The Amazing Blog we're always on the hunt for the latest haircare products to suit each of our specific needs. If like us, you have anything from the frizzy and unruly to the sensitive scalps or have hair loss issues, then we’ve got you covered. Please read on, as we’ve got some new and exciting brands to share with you.

There is nothing worse than unruly and frizzy hair. Those of us on this boat understand the struggle of styling this type of hair and the frustration of having it frizz-up within moments of styling.  However, the smoothing system from the new Australian brand evo got our tresses on a sleek lock-down. The creators at evo are a no frills, professional hair and beauty brand that tells it like it is. They are 'saving ordinary humans from themselves' and we like their straightforward attitude and cheeky personality that bursts from their luxurious products.

Does your hair eat combs for breakfast? Then this Lockdown Smoothing Treatment will become your newest ally in this crazy world of the hair battle. This 150ml bottle of 'liquid tamer' is formulated specifically with colour-treated, medium to course texture haired individuals. What makes this one stand out amongst the crowd for us is that it gives you the shine and smoothness you desire, without any of the weight or grease. We’ve said goodbye to those pesky strays and hello to sleek hair simplicity. This leave-in treatment is the hero of the line-up, which also has the mane tamer shampoo and conditioner. We adore the light, refreshing and subtly sweet scent of the lime and the way our hair seems to get softer with each use. You can purchase the Lockdown Smoothing Treatment here for £29.95

Next up is a new discovery for us, so we’d like to formally introduce you to Halier, a new Polish brand that specialises in creating haircare products that promote growth and prevent hair loss. They use the latest scientific technologies to provide effective products. We asked to try out their Fortesse Shampoo and Conditioner and one of us in particularly has been enjoying using them to help build up the quality of her hair.

Fortesse Shampoo works to prevent excessive hair loss and promote healthy hair growth while cleansing and preventing split ends. The shampoo is able to do so because it contains the Advanced Hair Booster ™ Formula. This formula specifically works to condition hair follicles, improve hair elasticity and regenerate the scalp. The product also contains horsetail leaf extract, fatty acids esters from olive oil, saw palmetto extract, biotin, and vitamin B3. These unique ingredients help to create moisture-rich hair that is healthy and full of vitality. We found that our hair has been noticeably shinier and much easier to style. Fortesse Conditioner contains the Hair Vitality Complex ™ Formula which works to prevent excessive hair loss and boost hair growth. It also contains horsetail leaf extract, fatty acids esters from olive oil, saw palmetto extract, biotin, vitamin B3 and ricin oil. The combination of ingredients in this conditioner work to reduce hair loss, promote hair growth, balance oil production, and promote hydration.

After using the combination of these two products we noticed that not only did our hair smell great, but after a few washes we noticed our hair was healthier with less hair loss and giving us a fuller head of hair. The only caution we have to flag-up with this haircare system is that it is not a colour-safe, so if you colour your hair, please do a patch test first. You can purchase a 250ml bottle of Halier Fortesse Shampoo here for £29 and you can purchase a 150ml bottle of Halier Fortesse Conditioner here for £32.

Finally, we're featuring an organic and natural haircare which almost feels like it came from 'mother nature' herself. These products are particularly for those of you with super-sensitive scalps, and/or chemically coloured or treated hair too. Both these products are from the very special myrto naturalcosmetics where we tried the Bio Shampoo Sea Buckthorn Chia and Bio Antistatic Hair Oil which are sourced straight from plants to give the hair the best natural shine, volume and vibrancy.  myrto naturalcosmetics is a German skin and haircare brand by Eva Silvana Kruck, founded in 2012 myrto strives to produce products sourcing only the freshest and most natural ingredients wherever possible; which means small batches with no preservatives or chemicals. Eva was initially motivated to create her own product line due to the needs of her own children's skin disorders. She paired up with Prof. Dr. Peter Kruck to create a range of organic effective, nourishing and natural beauty products for everyone. 

This shampoo is perfect for dry, dull, damaged and chemically treated hair. The combination of sea buckthorn fruit oil and organic chia seed extract work to strengthen every hair fibre, add luminous shine and help to prevent hair breakage. Derived from plant amino acids, the gentle wash-active cleansers in this shampoo leave your hair clean but never stripped of the essential oils naturally produced on the scalp. We loved this shampoo with its invigorating sea buckthorn fruity fragrance. A little goes a long way with this one and you can even dilute it with a bit of water for extra sensitive scalps that still need a good cleanse. The Bio Shampoo Sea Buckthorn Chia is available to purchase here for €9.50. 

The Bio Antistatic Hair Oil has already found its way into our Executive Editor's bathroom! This magical hair oil is an intensive repair for fine and chemically treated hair, and extremely effective if you also happen to have fly-away/statically charged tresses. Containing organic cold-pressed seed oils from macadamia, jojoba and basbass it is a superb hair repair complex that smoothes the surface of the damaged hair fibres giving deep regeneration for split-ends.  You can purchase Bio Antistatic Hair Oil here for €16.50. What we love about all the myrto naturalcosmetics products is that they have no preservatives, alcohol, silicones, petroleum derivatives, synthetic colouring or artificial fragrances. These products are also without the genetic modification or nanoparticles and... are vegan!

Hawkins & Brimble Limited Edition Gift Set

Grooming is just as important for men, as it is for women and here at The Amazing Blog, we are always thrilled to share our brilliant new finds, as more and more male grooming products pop up. That’s why we wanted to share the Hawkins & Brimble Limited Edition Gift Set with all of you. Every man has their regular grooming routine with shaving or just to keep their facial hair in check.  Hawkins & Brimble makes it so easy with this go-to Gift Set, whether you're just getting into serious grooming or are a seasoned professional - it has something for everyone. This UK based brand was founded in 2016 and specialises in breathing new life into long-lost traditional grooming routines. It's all about inspiring men to embrace their 'grooming game' so that they can look and feel more confident and sophisticated; all with a delicious touch of edgy playfulness. They rather aptly say: 'After all, an investment in your appearance will always pay off'. 

The first essential in the kit is the Pre-Shave Scrub, which buffs away dead skin cells and soothes the skin in preparation for a close shave. As the brand takes a natural approach to grooming, this product thankfully uses walnut shells instead of microbeads (which are now banned in the UK). Combined with sweet almond oil the Pre-Shave Scrub isn't too harsh on the skin and helps to maintain your skin's moisture.

The Gift Set also comes with Hawkins & Brimble's Shaving Cream, which is crucial to getting the smoothest and closest shave possible. We enjoyed the delicate fragrance of Elemi and Ginseng because it rejuvenated our senses and left us feeling refreshed. We felt quite professional applying it with the Shaving Brush that is also included. We found that damping the Shaving Brush with warm water and then lathering on the Shaving Cream with it worked wonders. This way, every facial hair got coated and our skin was perfectly prepared for a close shave.

The Post-Shave Balm is up next with a blend of olive and almond oil and cocoa that ensures the skin is well nourished without any irritation or redness. We've been using it as our daily moisturiser, even if we didn't shave, as it is gentle on the skin and also helps to hydrate it throughout the day.

The Beard Oil is perfect for men sporting the full beard who need to maintain soft and strong facial hair. Formulated with argan oil, olive oil and shea butter it benefits the skin as well as facial hair. The oils work to keep your beloved beard soft, thick and strong while shea butter pampers the skin underneath.

Every product is free from parabens, mineral oils, colourants, and is cruelty-free, so there is no compromise on looking your best! The Hawkins & Brimble Limited Edtion Gift Set is available to purchase here for £49.95.

Face Oils by Essentialle

At The Amazing Blog, we particularly love and support brands that give great importance to the quality of ingredients incorporated into their products. Our face is one of the most delicate and fragile parts of our body. Therefore we like to know exactly what we're applying on it! Essentialle, is a British natural skincare brand that has everything we prize and respect with their ethos, philosophy and expertise. We particularly like the high-quality plant oils and active botanical ingredients used in these three face oils, each formulated to target specific skin type needs. The founder Karina Krishtaleva's inspiration stems from her childhood in Russia, where her Grandmother used region therapeutic botanicals and herbs. This sparked a voyage of discovery as Karina travelled the world learning about other native botanicals which led her to create her own skincare brand. 

The Remedy Multi-Active Re-Balancing Face Oil is created to purify, detoxify and improve the appearance of oily or problem skin. The product is enriched with plantago leaf, manuka and lavender oils, rose absolute and calendula extracts, chamomile, apricot and coconut oils. It's the blend of all these natural ingredients that give the product its multi-action benefits. Indeed not only is the face oil deeply nourishing but it also boosts collagen production, regulates sebum secretion, calms skin and promotes a suppler, more refined and brighter complexion. Everything that you need in a bottle, as the skin is left nourished, smoother and more revitalised.

The Revival Nectar Nourishing Face Oil is specially designed for dry or lack-lustre skin. Infused with a cocktail of oils including pomegranate, rose geranium, rosehip, avocado, patchouli and mandarin as well as Siberian ginseng and Gingko biloba extracts this oil rejuvenates, plumps and hydrates dry skin. Pomegranate, rose geranium and rosehip oil work for a smoother and younger looking complexion while avocado oil provides deep nourishment. This rich elixir is the ultimate skincare treatment that fortifies, replenishes, firms, protects and softens skin.

For those with dehydrated complexions, looking for that little extra boost in their face oil, the brand’s Elasticity Boost Toning Face Oil is just what is needed. Like the others face oils the product is packed with a blend of precious and conditioning oils and extracts. Abyssinian, radish seed and shea butter provide deep hydration to all layers of skin while meadowfoam seed, may chang, safflower, sweet orange oil and camelina seed oils restructure skin suppleness, stimulate collagen production and improve skin elasticity and firmness. Olive oil is added to the formula to protect and repair skin from external damages. This was our favourite face oil as it left our skin  hydrated, velvety soft, and healthy-looking.

What’s more all the face oils are free from parabens, mineral oils, microbeads, silicones, sulphates, artificial colours, fragrances and are vegan friendly. To purchase the Remedy Multi-Active face oil here for £62, the Revival Nectar face oil  here for £70 and the Elasticity Boost face oil here for £65.  

Fusion range by Repechage

At The The Amazing Blog, Repechage is one of our professional skincare discoveries. We particularly like their brand ethos and values of creating natural, organic and high-quality products. Launched in USA during 1980, the founder Lydia Sarfati's commitment has been to provide innovative and effective skincare products and treatments that actually work. The brand's latest range is the Fusion collection. These are formulated with freshly-harvested seaweed combined with matcha green tea, chocolate, pumpkin/vanilla, mixed berry, aloe and coconut oil. We were excited to receive the trio set from this range with their Chocofina Moisturizing Mask, the All Natural Face and Body Wash and the All Natural Face Moisturiser.

The Chocofina Moisturizing Mask has a delicious chocolatey fragrance which smells almost good enough to eat! This creamy chocolate mask helps to give the skin silky soft feel. Enriched with cocoa oil, coconut oil, seaweed, kaolin clay, aloe vera and hyaluronic acid this mask works to promote moisturise. The cocoa and coconut oil are well-known for their nourishing properties while hyaluronic acid and seaweed boost collagen production and enhance the skin with essential vitamins and minerals. Together these  ingredients make a highly nutritious mask that leaves the skin looking luminous.

The Fusion All Natural Face and Body Wash is a gentle foaming wash which helps to create a relaxing spa at home experience. The face and body wash is infused with olive, coconut and palm oils and has highly hydrating ingredients which are infused with the brands exclusive Laminaria complex. This cleanses the skin and body from all impurities and leaves it beautifully scented. The face and body wash is suitable for all skin types and is available in two different sizes.

As our readers will know, we at The Amazing Blog are firm believers in the benefits of natural and organic ingredients in beauty products. We were therefore only too happy to experience the Repechage Fusion All Natural Face Moisturiser. This moisturiser is formulated with only natural ingredients, including coconut oil, aloe vera, chamomile, vanilla and rooibos tea extract. The rich soufflé formula delivers velvety soft skin, while coconut oil and aloe vera feed and repair skin, while the chamomile acts as an anti-inflammatory and protects skin from irritation. All Repechage products are paraben free and not tested on animals.

You can purchase the mask here for £24, the full size face and body wash is available here for £24.50, the travel size here for £8.25   and the moisturiser can be purchased here for £22.25.