Verolive Natural Products: Innovative Sulfate-free Revitalizing Shampoo

It’s an exciting day for us in England, as after four months hairdressers are FINALLY open! So today, at The Amazing Blog we thought it appropriate to talk about a unique haircare.  We’re excited to share another of our #amazingfinds with a natural Innovative Sulfate-free Revitalizing Shampoo, all the way from Crete. Meet the brand Verolive, and their products made with locally sourced organic olive oil and prickly pear seed oil.

Verolive Natural Products was founded in 1975, by Yannis Tzortzakakis in the heart of the Messara Valley, Crete. This area is well known for its endless olive groves, producing top quality extra virgin olive oil, which can be found in each of Verolive's products. The brand has developed a unique core range of ten products, using meticulously selected natural and locally sourced ingredients. Their ethos is focused on high-standard eco care and packaging, with ingredients dermatologically tested, vegan, clean in composition and above all, high in quality. Every product has been designed to protect both the environment and its customers' wellbeing. Apart from the consumer, they also cater to spa professionals and built long term successful partnerships with some of the best-known wellness centres. All plastics 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. To maintain their continuity and brand excellence, they only produce each item in a limited batch to ensure superior quality control. Their philosophy and strategies have certainly paid off with their multiple award wins in the 2020 Mama & Baby and a Gold for Best International Breakthrough Brand in The Pure Beauty Awards London 2020.

After two years of research, their shampoo has become of one the top bestsellers; so, as you can imagine, we were eager to try this Innovative Sulfate-free Revitalizing Shampoo. It was developed to ‘respect hair, sensitive scalps and the environment’. This sulphate-free shampoo is formulated with 98% of natural ingredients without any PEGS, silicones, parabens, propylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, cocamidopropyl betaine or phosphates. Among the seven active ingredients, there are two key oils:  Firstly, the organic extra virgin olive oil, which contains omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, and a large number of vitamins, such as vitamins E, A and K. Secondly, the organic prickly pear seed oil and bio-active extract, which certainly piqued our interest, as it’s one of the world’s rarest and most expensive oils rich in fatty and amino acids, it’s known to promote hair growth, treat the scalp and give hair a magnificent lustre. This shampoo is aimed at those with dry, damaged and/or coloured hair. And this could not have been more appropriate for us! We’d like to say that it is almost a co-wash (conditioner wash) rather than a shampoo per se.  With my long (remember no hair cut in four months) fine and curly hair which breaks easily, I found it kind to the hair, as it left it completely tangle-free! Which, to be frank is unheard of. I’m always leary of using shampoo by itself as my hair mats up quickly, making it almost impossible to comb through. By using the Revitalising Shampoo, this was not the case, the comb slide through the hair like a hot knife through butter. It’s impressive, and as mentioned above, it’s rated as one of our #amazingfinds. All we did was to apply it onto wet hair, gently massage and rinse; it left hair clean, soft and shiny, easy to comb and hydrated. Best of all, you don’t need any conditioner; and who doesn’t want to save time and money? You can purchase Verolive Innovative Sulfate-free Revitalizing shampoo (300 ml) here for €27.90.

SKIRR: Anti-chafing Stick Sport Body Balm

In this new world of lunchtime walks, jogging or running for our daily 10k steps - we’ve heard lots of moans and groans of newfound soreness from skin rubbing or blisters. So, when we at The Amazing Blog  heard about Skirr Skin with their Anti-Chafing Stick Sports Body Balm – we had to give it a try – after all, prevention is better than cure!

Skirr Skin is a sustainable sports skincare brand based in Argyll, Scotland, for eco-conscious adventure and endurance athletes looking for body care to address sport-specific problems and protect their skin from chafing and blistering. Chafing and blisters are caused by friction from clothing or two areas of skin rubbing together. It can worsen during very sweaty and wet conditions causing extreme discomfort. We don’t want that! Skirr, an old Scottish word for glide or move faster, and is founded by registered nutritional therapist and entrepreneur Moira Newiss. Having graduated from Formula Botanica, Moira always dreamed of being an entrepreneur with an eco-focused company. When she couldn’t find a brand that sold natural and sustainable products for sports skincare, she was eager to start her own to combine her passion for sport and the environment. Soon, Skirr Skin was launched in February 2020 with her first product, the Anti-Chafing Stick Sport Body Balm. This was formulated and tested out at the Tyndrum24 Ultra race in January 2020 at the Scottish Highlands and proved itself to have effective protection for runners over 70 miles! Moira believes she has created not only an eco-friendly product but a product that protects athletes (and novices) who have struggled with chafing. One of these athletes is Kyle Gordon, who is the brand’s first ambassador, a full-time Scottish elite cyclist who is training for the Commonwealth Games 2022 and spends between 15 – 25 hours a week in the saddle. We couldn’t wait for our tester to try this Body Balm. 

The Anti-chafing Stick Sport Body Balm  contains eco-friendly, natural and organic ingredients that help to prevent blisters, chafing and maintain healthy skin. It also acts as a nourishing moisturiser to keep the skin supple and in good condition. It is suited for multi-sport use, including running, cycling, swimming, skiing, and surfing. We think that you’ll never go wrong with this Sport Body Balm! It even contains 30% more product than its main competitor. It is packaged in fully recyclable cardboard so you can enjoy sport as well as preserve the outdoors. Skirr suggests using the Sport Body Balm by pushing up the tube’s bottom and applying it directly to areas where you may experience chafing, such as the feet, groin, neck, or chest. The ingredients are unique and critical here. Coconut oil contains nourishing fatty acids that help hydrate and protect the skin. Jojoba seed oil is a crucial ingredient proven to combat acne, dry skin, and other skin conditions such as chafing. Beeswax creates a protective layer on the skin. It also removes dead skin and keeps the skin soft and hydrated. Sunflower oil is a highly absorbent non-irritant that helps combat dry chafing skin. Finally, vitamin E will help make the skin look its best, and rosemary will relieve any pain and inflammation. Our tester is new to exercise, with both running and cycling, and complained bitterly about the soreness on the inside of his thighs. He even purchased lycra shorts to wear under his tracksuit bottoms – but alas these didn’t offer a solution. After we handed him the Skirr Sports Balm to try, he eulogised how even after a whole weekend of full-on activities, there was no more soreness. He was also impressed with how this Sport Body Balm both protected and soothed. He has subsequently abandoned his undergarment of lycra shorts! You can purchase the Anti-chafing Stick Sport Body Balm directly on Skirr Skin’s website for £19.99 here. 

Suneeta London: Cleansing Pack (Combination Skin)

We believe that to find some the best skincare, it doesn’t always have to be expensive. Today at The Amazing Blog, we’d like to introduce you to an artisan skincare and zero-waste brand Suneeta London with their Cleansing Pack, which has everything you would ever need to cleanse your skin - without having to spend too much.  

Suneeta London is a family run business launched by Suneeta Dinraz in 2019. They sell hand-made, natural and fresh skincare, deodorants, hair and body care products for all skin types and ages. Their formulas are based on the Ayurvedic principles, which are known for enhancing well-being, combined with an original twist to make skincare products fun and easy to use. Suneeta believes that families should use products that they trust are safe to use. Don’t we all?  To increase this trust, Suneeta is working to raise awareness for natural ingredients and inspire future generations to take care of what they put on their skin. By purchasing their products, you’re helping their campaign against the use of unnecessary chemicals and animal testing. They recently won an award for Best Inclusive Beauty Product in the 2020 London Pure Beauty Awards; and Suneeta holds an incredible passion for keeping high ethical beauty standards: “There is definitely a double standard in what we as consumers in the west deem to be ethical. Frustratingly, we know more about animals being harmed for our cosmetics than we do about black and brown workers supplying ingredients. Luckily more and more businesses are making it easier to make the right choice.”  The brand also focus on creating zero waste skincare and accessories - which we love!  

Suneeta’s three-step Cleansing Pack (Combination Skin)  contains the Mandarin & Calendula Cleansing Balm, a toner specifically chosen for your skin type and a sample size of the Aloe & Jojoba Facial Scrub with Sandalwood. Also included here’s are a small hand tooled wooden spoon, an organic cotton cloth and cotton bag.  We started by opening the Mandarin & Calendula Cleansing Balm   it is a light anti-ageing balm suitable for removing even the most stubborn mascara, make-up or daily impurities from the skin. The unrefined virgin cocoa butter softens the skin and works as an antioxidant to prevent ageing signs and reduce scarring. The calendula stimulates collagen production to promote skin healing, and the mandarin essential oil maintains moisture balance in the skin to boost cell production and immunity. It smelled incredible and was super easy to use. We gently massaged a small amount onto dry skin, and then used their cotton cloth (provided) damped with warm water to gently wipe away the daily grime. Next, we tried the sample size Aloe & Jojoba Clay Facial Scrub with Sandalwood which is a gentle grainy scrub made with natural jojoba beads and Fuller’s earth which mildly exfoliates away dry skin. They recommend using this scrub once or twice a week but it can be used as often as you like. We found that it stimulated the skin and made a good pore-cleansing facial scrub and left skin soft and fragrant from the sandalwood oil here. Finally, there’s the toner. This varies in the Cleansing Pack according to skin type, we were sent Orange Blossom & Aloe Vera Skin Toner which, as they say, is an excellent cooling and hydrating toner for combination skin. It contains cooling aloe vera, healing orange blossom water and a refreshing peppermint essential oil to help reduce oiliness while also soothing and healing the skin. After cleansing, we sprayed the toner onto a cotton pad and gently sweep across the face and neck to ensure removal of any further impurities. We also liked to spritz this during the day to boost skin hydration - from living with too much central heating! The other toners available are Organic Rose Water  designed for normal skin, or the Frankincense & Lavender Toner  which is for dry or sensitive skin and made with natural flower hydrosols. We were impressed with both the performance and affordability of this Cleansing Pack, and to purchase Suneeta’s Cleansing Pack for your skin type at £20.00, see here.  

Karma Coast: Karma Organic CDB Hemp Tea

Back at our desks after the Easter break, we thought today we’d share about one of our #amazingfinds from The Amazing Blog, particularly if you’re looking for natural products to help steady nerves, reduce stress, and give you some much longed for, uninterrupted sleep. As regular readers will know, we’re big fans of CBD products (see here) because of the numerous benefits it provides, especially the calming effect. Which is why we’d like to introduce Karma Coast  and their Organic CDB Tea.

Karma Coast was founded in 2018 and is based in Tynemouth. Their aim is to produce high-quality, organic and vegan CBD products to help improve overall wellbeing. The co-owners, Dylan Mortimer and Magdalena Dopierala, have a wealth of knowledge in cannabis sector and have over 20 years of combined experience in professional healthcare. They offer complimentary wellness consultations in their Tynemouth dispensary, either over the phone or via video link, with a mission to improve the quality of life for the local community or for further afield. Karma Coast believes that CBD products can help to supplement our endocannabinoid system and are an alternative way to create and maintain wellness. They source their hemp from a Polish organic farm in the Bieszczady Mountains, where the plants are gently harvested, dried and finely sorted by hand and their organic hemp tea is farmed without any herbicides or pesticides. They’ve developed a wide range of high-quality products, including CBD tea, coffee, oils, tinctures, vapes, topicals and hemp clothing and merchandise. Their key focus on quality has made Karma Coast the winner of five independent awards, such as ‘Best Organic CBD Products 2020’ at the UK Enterprise Awards  and ‘Best Organic CBD Products 2020’ at the Northern Prestige Awards.  All of their products are packaged in recyclable, compostable, biodegradable and reusable materials. 

They very kindly sent us their Karma Organic CDB Hemp Tea which is made from 100% organic hemp with full-spectrum CBD, meaning that it has all the cannabinoids, terpenes, flavanols, lipids, waxes, and chlorophylls with the regulated amount of 0.2% THC – which as regular readers will know, this amount will not get you high! However, these compounds will give you an ‘entourage effect’, which increases the benefit you get when multiple components of the plant work synergistically. These compounds also help to improve clarity and aid conditions such as anxiety, stress and sleep disorders. The potent terpenes like linalool, are known to help sleep and inflammation and studies have also shown terpenes can produce an antidepressant-like effect. This Hemp Tea is made with 100% organic, natural, allergen-free, and vegan hemp leaves with no herbicides or pesticides. The hand-picked, dried, and finely sorted leaves reserve the maximum amount of nutrients. To prepare this loose tea, use one teaspoon of hemp tea, per cup, infused with boiled water. We found that if you want a mild and deliciously fruity tasting tea, it needs to be left to brew for 3 to 5 minutes max, or if you let it steep for longer, i.e. 10+ minutes, you’ll reap more of the benefits; but it also has a deeper and slightly bitter taste – where we’d recommend adding in some honey. They suggest drinking it at breakfast time to help set you up for the day, but we preferred drinking at night, as we found it gave us a much better quality of wonderful and unbroken sleep! You can buy the Karma Coast’s Organic CDB Hemp Tea here starting from £10.00 for 30g/20 servings to £50.00 for 200g/133 servings.

Organic Works: Bergamot Hand Wash

Washing your hands is the best way to kill germs and prevent infectious diseases from spreading. Especially during this pandemic, we find ourselves in a constant cycle of washing our hands just to avoid getting sick, and then applying hand cream when the hard London water dries them out. We’ve been looking for the a natural and moisturising hand wash to use at The Amazing Blog  to keep our hands clean, healthy and soft. This is when we found heard about an award-winning Bergamot Hand Wash from Organic Works. 

Initially known as Organic Surge, Organic Works decided to rebrand itself as Organic Works after a fire started at a neighbouring warehouse in the winter of 2019, which destroyed all of its products and stock. Organic Works have more than 50 years experience in the world of natural, organic and clean beauty; making them trailblazer with their much-loved formulas and philosophy: ‘Organics that truly Work’. This family-run business manufactures focusing on fresh and natural ingredients with no preservatives. Everything is made in small batches, which means that rather than mass production, the products are handcrafted and made in small amounts to ensure the best quality. As a privately owned, vegan, cruelty-free, organic brand, it also values transparency and sustainability. Its products use not only sustainably sourced and traceable ingredients, but also have minimal and recyclable packaging. All of which we applaud.

Because of its clean yet effective formula, Organic Works Bergamot Hand Wash  won the Best New Natural Product in the Pure Beauty Awards London 2020. It is 100% cruelty-free and great for all skin types, especially for sensitive skin. As a clean beauty product, 98.89% of its total ingredients come from natural sources, and 96.34% of the total plant-based ingredients are from organic farming. It’s formulated with aloe extract and several coconut-derived cleansing agents, which gently wash away impurities and keeps our skin silky smooth. Enriched with sweet orange and bergamot oils, it has a distinctive soft citrus fragrance combining the tropical orange and bergamot scent. Plus, the essential oils contained in the formula provide long-lasting protection against bacteria and dryness, and the therapeutic properties here can boost mood and awaken the senses. Best of all it leaves hands fragrant and soft – we can’t wait to try more from this brand. To purchase the 300ml Organic Works Bergamot Hand Wash at £10 for 300ml, see here. And when you’ve reached the end of the bottle, they offer a BIG 1000ml refill for this too at £27!