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. 

Comme Ça Skincare - Le Youth Sérum

From living in a city, we get prolonged exposure to general environmental pollutants and solar radiation. This is why at The Amazing Blog we find our skin sometimes becomes dry and sensitive and in need of a vitamin-enriched serum to both protect and repair. Having heard so much about Comme Ca Skincare we wanted to try Le Youth Sérum for ourselves.

Comme Ça Skincare  is a Dutch company with French roots - just like its founder, Charlotte Seijerlin. Disappointed by the fact that many of the skincare products she used were made with synthetic ingredients, Seijerlin decided to pursue a degree in Natural Skincare Formulation and bring her own natural products to market. After two years of hard work, she founded Comme Ça Skincare in 2019, dedicated to: “Offering the most gentle, natural and high-performance skincare products that bring visible results, and that leaves the skin with that ultimate youthful glow.” To ensure high quality and effectiveness, Seijerlin has created a skincare range of three products concentrated with anti-ageing and nourishing ingredients such as vitamins, antioxidants, fatty acids, plant extracts, and minerals. Their products are also entirely  plant-based and free from parabens, SLS, artificial colours, fragrances, and any other synthetic ingredients. Instead, all of the ingredients are either organic or wild-harvested and sustainably procured. The products are made in small batches in the laboratory at Rebel-Nature in Amsterdam.

This Le Youth Sérum  was the product that we wanted to try. Suitable for all skin types, it contains many active ingredients, including multiple plant extracts and oils such as: Camellia seed oil, acmella oleracea extract, sunflower seed oil and algae extract. Combined together these can help protect the skin from the damage of free radicals, reduce the visibility of fine lines, and restore skin elasticity. The algae extract here, is packed with vitamins, minerals and fatty acids; and together with the addition of coconut oil derivative and vitamin E help to keep skin nourished and moisturised. At the same time, the kukui oil is here to soothing and softening the skin without leaving a greasy film and is particularly beneficial for eczema and psoriasis. Finally, the vanilla fruit extract in the formula has a superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, making it perfect for sensitive or mature skin. This serum is designed to have a skin-firming effect and also leaves skin looking healthier and more youthful. Although this serum is designed for the skin, a few drops can also be added to the length and ends of the hair, making this a hair serum as well as a primer for the face. We like how this is a brilliant two-in-one product, and with its delicious blend of fragrances from the exotic kukui nut and vanilla extract make it exceptionally moreish. Applied either by itself or a few drops mixed in with a moisturiser, we found with the fusion of these luxurious oils, only a few drops were needed to help get, as they say, a ‘luminous glow’. You can buy the 30ml Le Youth Sérum here for €74.95. 

EasterMia: Crisp Apple Nail Polish & Nail Kit

Nail polish is the quickest (and chicest) way to change up your look from day to night, or from season to season. With spring here, at The Amazing Blog  we’ve selected a beautiful true-red nail polish and a Nail Kit to share with you from the Canadian nail brand EasterMia, for a quality at-home manicure. With over 40+ shades to choose from, these nail polishes are vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic and deliver a great professional looking manicure. 

Mia Phan, the creator and founder of EasterMia, owns a local nail salon in Burlington, Ontario. Inspired by her clients and her mother, Helen, who has more than 30 years of experience in the nail industry, she wanted to create a relaxing and fun experience for all the  hardworking women who are time-poor and deserve a little pampering at home. Phan established EasterMia in 2019, and  understands the importance of self-care and nail health. EasterMia was created in collaboration with a chemist, where the range of nail polishes and nail care are free of all the most common toxic chemicals and fragrances used in other mainstream brands. They are also a Leaping Bunny approved brand. So, whether you are a soon-to-be mother or prone to allergies, this nail brand should be safe for you.

The first product to introduce is the Crisp Apple Nail Polish. With so many reds to choose from (think blue-based, neutral or orange-toned), we decided upon this stunning and versatile true apple-red shade; which adds a classic pop of colour. The shiny and vibrant finish of this trans-seasonal red adds a opulent shade to complement any spring, going into summer wardrobe. We also think that this sophisticated hue looks just as chic for sporting on office hands, as it would on the red carpet. It is a 10-free nail polish, meaning that it does not contain the ten common harsh chemicals found in nail polishes, like formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, toluene, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, triphenyl phosphate and fragrance. We like how the formula allows you to apply it thinly onto the nails, and delivers an opaque coverage with just one coat. They suggest for a longer lasting colour, to top-up with their high gloss Top Coat finish, all of which we’re happy to report, are entirely gloop free. 

We also received the Nail Kit. This essentials kit has everything you need to start an at-home manicure, including a clear Base Coat, Top Coat, Organic Cuticle Oil, a small buffer and file. The Base and Top coat serve as foundation and protection for their nail polish. The Base Coat’s unique ingredients help smooth the nail surface and evens out the nail plate, as well as offering no stain residue on the natural nail. The Top Coat is slightly tinted to make it even more light reflective and keeps the nail polish from yellowing. EasterMia purposefully adds aloe vera and vitamin E to its Organic Cuticle Oil to nourish your cuticles. With the pineapple scent here, it makes the experience even more pleasant and relaxing.  To get your nails polished to perfection in a matter of minutes, see here to purchase EasterMia’s Crisp Apple nail polish for £8, and the Nail Kit is here for £15.

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. 

Pura Vida Organic: CBD Deodorant (Stick)

Whether you’re back working out in the gym, taking a jog around town, or having fun at home with friends and loved ones, it’s true to say that sometimes we struggle to keep our body odour in check. As the weather is warming up, at The Amazing Blog we’d like to recommend a natural and effective deodorant that kept us dry and fresh all day long. We’ve already introduced Pura Vida Organic with some of their CBD hair and skincare products here, and today we’re back featuring their CBD Deodorant (stick).

Based in Croatia, Pura Vida Organic is an organic certified CBD skincare and cosmetic brand founded by Jennifer Deegan are in 2015. This brand only uses the purest organic ingredients and has a wide range of product, especially for problematic and sensitive skins. A graduate from Formula Botanica, Deegan suffered from skin problems herself, and is a firm believer of the brand philosophy ‘pure life’: "I couldn’t find 100% natural and organic products that met my standards – so I made them myself. Once I discovered what really worked for my skin, I wanted to share it with everyone else.” During this process, she discovered the amazing benefit of CBD, which is why Pura Vida Organics have developed a wide range of CBD infused products, including: Anti-ageing serums, balms, elixirs, massage oils, shaving gels and many more; all of which use broad-spectrum or isolate CBD (THC-free) as the primary ingredient. In 2018, Pura Vida Organic passed the Current Good Manufacturing Practice  regulations enforced by the FDA (CGMP) and the international standard for quality management systems (ISO9001). In 2019, they were the first CBD skincare production facility to obtain the COSMOS Organic and Natural Certification . Recent winners of Best Face CBD Product and Best Body Butter at The Organic Clean Awards, they are also Bronze winners for their entire body care range in Cosmetique Magazine. In addition to their high-quality CBD products, Pura Vida Organic cares deeply about sustainability. All plastics are recyclable, and boxes are made of 25% grass pulp, recycled paper and cardboard. All labels use vegetable dyes and vegan-friendly glue, and all products are 90% handmade, which decreases energy consumption from mechanical production. 

This time, we want to try their CBD Deodorant (Stick), which comes in a compact twist-up tube. Like other products in their range, this CBD Deodorant is infused with 300mg of CBD. Here the cannabidiol is effective at killing odour-causing bacteria on the skin. It also balances, soothes and moisturises the armpit – ideal if you have just epilated or shaved. Plus, being used near the sweat glands helps to regulate both the sweat/sebum production. What we love about Pura Vida Organic's CBD Deodorant, is that it also uses zinc oxide and coconut oil, two other super-effective anti-bacterial and anti-fungal ingredients, to maximise the control of bad-smelling odours. Along with the lavender and sage extracts here, it leaves a fresh, not over-powering, floral scent. With the addition of arrowroot powder, shea butter, and myrica fruit wax (AKA bayberry wax, it’s a vegan emollient), these leave the underarm skin soft and silky smooth. To our joy, we found absolutely no stinging when we applied this direct after epilation. In fact, this actually soothed the armpit. It’s long-lasting and kind to the skin and one of our #amazingfinds for this week. As it’s 100% natural, organic, vegan and cruelty-free, if you’re looking for an effective and natural deodorant with no paraben, preservatives and zero irritation, then this is the one for you! You can buy this 30ml CBD Deodorant (stick) here for €9.50.