Maiiro - Organic Lip Salve & Organic Soap

It’s now a known fact that seaweed has many wonderful benefits for both the skin and body with its vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. As regular readers of The Amazing Blog will remember we’ ve reviewed beauty brands like Seavite, Voya and Repechage all of which contain this magical ingredient from the sea. Today we’d like to introduce you to our latest discovery from the sea, a new British brand called Maiiro.

Created in Guernsey, Maiiro was inspired by the sea and shoreline, which is an ever-present part of life on this beautiful island. With one of the largest tidal ranges in the world, Guernsey’s pristine clean waters are home to an abundant and rich marine life. The brand was born from a deep desire to help skin look and feel better, naturally. Maiiro’s aim is to become an industry leader in terms of sustainability and recyclability, supporting the environment. They have reduced the use of plastics wherever possible, and are only using natural, organic and ethically sourced ingredients in their products. They’re entirely transparent and their packaging is 100% recyclable where some of the cardboard used is actually made from seaweed!

Maiiro’s key ingredient of seaweed, thus making the brand stand apart from others. Seaweed has long been foraged from their Guernsey shores and is a natural source for a powerful skincare ingredient containing antioxidants like CoQ10 or Vitamin C. Whilst on the journey to create Maiiro, they formulated their signature ingredient, Kelpogen5™ to harness the full power of seaweed. This is a skincare superfood that gives the complexion all the nourishment and protection it needs to look its best and is suitable for all ages and skin types. We at The Amazing Blog had the privilege to try out their Organic Lip Salve and the Organic Soap.

The Organic Lip Salve provides a lot more than just temporary relief to dry, sore and chapped lips. Apart from the Kelpogen5™ it also contains organic tamanu oil for healing and palm fruit extract to help prevent sun damage; all in a base of antioxidant-rich organic cocoa butter and shea butter. This veil of hydration helps the delicate skin on your lips to restore itself from within. We found that it was effective both in this current chilly weather, as well as the scorching heat (it got taken off to sunnier climes too!) We’re sadly only too aware of the temporary relief and increased long term dryness that some other lip balms offer. Which is why we like the Maiiro’s Organic Lip Salve as it doesn’t have this countereffect, priced at an affordable £21.95 here.

We also tried out their Organic Soap it’s a seaweed soap that suits all skin types and ages. With a gentle, low lather, this back-to-nature skin cleanser is rich in essential oils, botanical extracts and Maiiro’s signature five-seaweed formula, Kelpogen5™. With organic ingredients of essential oils tea tree and lemon as well as jojoba and tamanu oils combined with goji berry and fenugreek extracts, this seaweed soap leaves the skin feeling fresh, calm and comfortable - never taut or dry. It’s got a beautiful bright orange colour, which you certainly can’t miss on bleary-eyed morning. What makes this soap extra special is its packaging. We love the charming little blue wooden boxes it comes in. Let’s not forget to mention that it has no SLS, parabens, phthalates or added fragrance and is 100% organic and vegan. For those of you looking for a refreshing boost then look no further, you can purchase the Organic Soap here for an absolute steal at £11.95.

Codex Beauty – Bia Skin Superfood

Here at The Amazing Blog we’re always on the search for new and innovative products, particularly ones that will hopefully live up to our high expectations! One of our recent #amazingfinds is the Irish brand Codex Beauty, which has a collection of organic skincare that combines both science and nature.

Created by Irish herbal scientist, Tracey Ryan, who has combined Irish botanicals free from harmful chemicals with her latest cutting edge scientific technology. With Ireland’s small population and low level of pollution, a little known fact is that it has the highest proportion of natural vegetation in Europe, where plants grow rich and robust ready to use in Codex’s ingredients. What impressed us is that Codex are mindful of sustainability as well as what materials they use with their COSMOS-certified formulas.  So it’s good to know that their tubes made from plant-based polyethylene  (PE) materials; paper is sourced from sustainably managed forests for their cartons, which have renewable fibre certified by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

Knowing all this, we were excited to try their hero product Bia Skin Superfood. This organic plant-based product that has undergone pharmaceutical grade processing made with their BiaComplex™ and has already been through lots of efficiency trials too. Bia Skin Superfood is recommended for face, hands and body cream targets dry, flakey or any area which has irritation. Key ingredients are calendula and immortelle botanicals which both have incredible anti-inflammatory properties to help firm, soothe and protect the gentle layer of skin. The other ingredients are marshmallow, heart’s ease and comfrey which moisturise, offer protection and help to rejuvenate the dermis.

Unusually fragranced with the herbaceous immortelle (a subtly sweet and honey-like fragrance) what we particularly like is that this cream is gentle enough to be used on skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema psoriasis or sunburn. So, if you’re travelling and only have room for one cream – make it this one,  at 75ml it will fit snuggly into your clear plastic bag for carry-on.  It’s also vegan and cruelty-free cream comes in an elegant green tube at the retail price of £48 here.

Pura Vida Organic - CBD After Shave Moisturiser and the Shaving Gel & Wash

At The Amazing Blog we learned that Pura Vida is a phrase that originates from Costa Rica, and translates as ‘pure life’ or ‘simple life’. Today we’re talking about CBD infused grooming products from the Croatian skincare company Pure Vida Organic. As regular readers will know we are big fans of all things CBD (see here).

According to Pura Vida Organic founder Jennifer Deegan, ‘pure life’ is a philosophy that she encourages us to apply to our own lives, just as she applies it to the products that her company creates.  In a world where we have to address the issues of sustainability alongside those of our own consumption, here is a manufacturer proudly bringing us the purest natural alternatives to mainstream cosmetics, whilst also keeping the environmental impact as low as possible. Now of course as soon as one mentions CBD or Cannabidiol, there are going to be those who inevitably will flinch at the association with anything remotely cannabis-related (which we explain in our CBD feature here). However, it is worth noting that there’s some research now available on the benefits of CBD oil. With reports of good acne management, as well as relief from anxiety, neuroprotection and pain relief it opens up endless healing possibilities for the future.

The two products that we tried from Pura Vida Organics were the Shaving Gel & Wash, and the CBD After Shave Moisturiser. Apart from the obvious convenience of having a Shaving Gel & Wash in one handy bottle, the Budrovic Lavender from Hvar (Croatia) and peppermint water base gives a welcome refreshing boost to the morning ritual. It helps to set the skin up perfectly for an onslaught of a steel blade and includes aloe vera into the mix, which gives a gentle and soothing effect during cleansing. This continues unabated through to the completion of the shave, keeping irritation to a minimum.

However, should there be any stress or redness to the skin, then this is where the Pura Vida Organic’s CBD After Shave Moisturiser steps in with a defined calming sensation that comes through from the essential oils again of peppermint and lavender. These ingredients are also aligned with that of pine needles and the moisturising butter both providing immediate relief from irritation, with the 30ml – 620mg organic cannabis sativa seed extract (CBD) full-spectrum with 0.001% THC. Sustainability is also a priority for this brand, with all its packaging uniquely made from 25% grass. All products are vegan, Cosmos Organic approved, cruelty-free and handmade in Croatia. Pura Vida Organic’s Shaving Gel & Cleanser is 50ml, priced at €15.98 here, and the CBD After Shave Moisturiser is 30ml priced at €17.90 here. This is most certainly a brand to watch, and we can’t wait to try more from their skincare and body butters.

Sweet Mary Jane – CBD Infused Luxury Body Lotion

All types of cannabis-infused beauty products are hitting the market here in the UK, ranging from cosmetics to ingestible. Today at The Amazing Blog we’re excited to share with you a budding (yes, pun intended) CBD skincare range.  Sweet Mary Jane is a luxury CBD infused skincare brand based in the U.S. Aside from the hydrating benefits of Sweet Mary Jane’s CBD Infused Luxury Body Lotion, the benefits of the CBD are numerous providing relaxation, help ease anxiety, and reduce inflammation. For those of you less familiar with CBD see our recent couple of features here.

Sweet Mary Jane was founded in 2018 by Dr. Sam Musallam who saw the benefits of CBD as a natural aid to help his patients. Musallam teamed up with his ex-wife Dee Morales to search for locally sourced small-batch products, before eventually creating their own line. Dr. Musallam sadly passed away before the launch of Sweet Mary Jane’s first product, but Dee and her daughter, Mallory are committed to providing their customers with quality, luxury CBD products. Dee has a background in sports broadcasting and Mallory is a gym obsessed sports fan, saw how there was a gap in the market for a unisex CBD skincare, and so part of their mission was to create gender-neutral products. We discovered Sweet Mary Jane at a trade show, and recently learnt that it has already received some beauty industry recognition.  They were named by Beauty Independent as one of the “10 Cannabis Beauty Brands You Should Know” from Indie Beauty Expo - New York in 2019.

Sweet Mary Jane uses a full-spectrum CBD that is processed in small batches in a US health department compliant facility, where all stems and seeds are removed by hand.  As many of you will already know CBD, is short for cannabidiol and as this range is full-spectrum CBD it contains THC.  However, Sweet Mary Jane’s products are legally compliant for the UK and contain less than .02 per cent THC. We’re fans of CBD as we believe that it can help aid ailments such as pain, anxiety, inflammation, acne and insomnia. The other key ingredients included in the Body Lotion are citrus peel, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, squalene, frankincense and extract white tea leaf.

Sweet Mary Jane’s Body Lotion is for all skin types. They suggest liberally applying the lotion for hydrated skin and the many benefits of CBD. The product can be used in the morning or night, but we think that it would be perfect post-bath and before bed to get the benefits of it being as a relaxant. It has a citrus and bergamot scent and contains 150 mg of CBD. If you’re interested in a great body care that will take you from winter to spring, whilst reaping in the many benefits of CBD, then this Sweet Mary Jane’s CBD Infused Luxury Body Lotion is for you. At 14oz (approx 400ml) it can be purchased for $38 here.

Flow Cosmetics - True Expression Chakra Soap & Body Butter Bar

While make-up has the magical ability to brighten your eyes, contour your face and plump your lips. Enhancing your outer beauty, but feeling good on the inside can often be challenging. When you don’t feel at peace, refreshed and energised, it often reflects on your external appearance. Here at The Amazing Blog, we’d like to introduce you to Flow Cosmetics, a brand we recently discovered at a trade beauty show. They are made for your skin but with properties that impact your inner strength, peace and more specifically, your chakras.

Born in Finland, Flow uses active ingredients in its products which are native Finnish wild berries and herbs that are full of vitamins, antioxidants and northern robust energy. Nature has always been a strong and important part of Finnish identity. Finland has the world’s cleanest nature with blue lakes, free-flowing rivers, pristine forests and untouched wilderness. This unique northern energy is conveyed and Flow Cosmetics focuses on giving their customers bright and clear skin, a healthy body and a serene mind. All their products are activated with positive energy because the brand wants to help you empower and strengthen your own energy. Flow products contain therapeutic quality essential oils and the healing energy from crystals, hence making their products to be even more than just high-quality skincare. You can feel and sense the therapeutic effect throughout your body and being, providing care at all levels – body, mind and spirit – just like nature.

We tried out Flow’s new natural salt soaps and body butter bars that are inspired by the seven energy centres of the body. Each salt soap and butter bar represent one chakra with its aromatherapeutic fragrance and colour. Chakras are spinning wheels of energy/light and have the loving responsibility of taking in, incorporating and emanating energy to keep us functioning at optimal levels.

Let’s talk about the products we tried, the True Expression ‘I speak the truth’ Throat Chakra Aromatherapy Salt Soap which is twinned with the Body Butter Bar with clarifying Sage & Peppermint. When the throat chakra is in balance, it is easy to speak the truth and express your feelings clearly. This Chakra’s colour is azure blue and both products smell and feel amazing!

The gentle Salt Soap is suitable for daily use and for hair washing and is made from top-quality organic ingredients. It’s suitable for all skin types, especially for itchy and flaky skin. In addition to skin moisturising organic plant oils, the mineral-rich Himalayan rock salt and arctic wild blueberry seed oil to nurture the skin. Himalayan salt has skin cleansing, detoxing and moisturising properties whereas the blueberry seed oil offers antioxidant protection. The Butter Bar includes specific essential oils with peppermint, sage, roman chamomile and frankincense and is made with organic cocoa butter and organic coconut oil to nourish and soften dry skin.

Priced at €15 and €26 respectively, both the products will be sure to prove to be a worthwhile purchase. It’s a fun way to select from a range of Aromatherapy Soaps and Body Butter Bars is to choose the colour of the chakras that you’re drawn to,  see their official website here.