MOIA ELIXIRS® : CBDerma-Repair® nano-fiber mask

We always try to bring something new and unique to you, our readers. So, today at The Amazing Blog it's time for another one of our #amazingfinds. This time it's with a face mask but not just ANY face mask.  This is the CBDerma-Repair® Nano-Fibers Mask from MOIA ELIXIRS® - the only CBD nano-fiber dry face mask in the world!

MOIA ELIXIRS® was founded in 2019 by Jakub Mohl. This is Czech CBD brand and manufacturer that has created a unique selection of natural skincare and oils, some of which also combine minerals from local springs at Karlovy Vary. They only use 100% crystalline pure (isolate) cannabidiol extract in their skincare and full-spectrum in their CBD oils and edibles. The brand does its own biomass processing to make the CBD extract with cannabis sativa plants obtained from local farms.  MOIA ELIXIRS® carefully monitors the whole process from beginning to end. This is with growing the plants from seeds to producing the extract in their licensed extraction and purification laboratory, approved by the Czech Ministry of Health. As a clean beauty brand, they believe in nature's wisdom combined with the latest science and technologies. They have created their own patented actives in their ingredients together with the highest concentration of organic botanicals and oils with ECOCERT COSMOS certification.  The brand positions itself mainly as premium skincare with a particular interest in addressing problematic skin issues such as acne or eczema. All products have the certification of the Czech Institute of Accreditations (ČIA), which guarantees the quality of the products and their origin. They currently have six ranges of CBD infused products with Beauty Age, BioActive, Nano Fiber, CBE Wellness, CBD Oils and Animalixir. With sustainability at the core of the brand’s values, they also have excellent eco-credentials with their packaging. These are zero-waste aluminium tubes and brown pharmaceutical glass bottles with minimal use of plastic except for screw and bottle tops. The Nano-Fiber Mask is 100% biodegradable and comes in recyclable plastic pouch. They also have a great giving-back policy where they donate part of their earnings to The Ocean Cleanup. 

As we consider ourselves face mask aficionados (see others that we’ve reviewed here), we couldn’t resist trying this MOIA ELIXIRS® CBDerma-Repair® Nano-Fiber Mask. This mask has taken up to seven years of research before being put into production. The hero ingredient here is the CBD isolate, which is accompanied by vitamin E, C, hyaluronic acid and PHA (gluconolactone);  all of which are infused into the nano-fibers. These only activate when the face mask is placed onto a wet or damp face; where the formula becomes fast and deep penetrating… Mohl commented, “A regular face mask is thought to have a 15 to 20% absorption rate, taking up to half an hour for application, compared to the supposed seven minutes for Moia Elixir’s.” Now, that’s impressive! As we’re all big CBD fans (see here ), this was one product that we were not about to miss out on. The mask is free from parabens, silicone, dimethicone, phenoxyethanol, paraffin and petrolatum. So, let’s do a quick run-down on the infused ingredients:  CBD isolate supports cell regeneration with its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects helping slow down skin ageing. Hyaluronic acid is another one of our favourite ingredients, as it hydrates and plumps up fine lines and wrinkles, albeit temporarily. Gluconolactone (PHA) removes the dead cells giving a smoother, brighter complexion whilst also helping to repair the skin barrier. Vitamin C and E are potent antioxidants that neutralise any free radicals.

Onto using the face mask; we followed the instructions to a T – first dampening our cleansed skin with water (or they suggest toner), then removed the green protective paper layer and placed the white Nano-Fiber Mask on the face.  We smoothed it out following the facial contours, wetting it again to stick it down further, and left it in place for up to 15 minutes. It clung to the face and gradually dried as the ingredients absorbed. This was when we peeled it back to reveal a glowing and more hydrated skin. Unlike other face masks, this is fragrance-free, and requires no further massaging in from excess liquid. The Nano-Fiber technology enables 97%  absorption from the active ingredients, which then go directly into the dermis. Our verdict? Skin looked fresher, softer and more plumped up. We couldn’t resist using up the whole 5 in a pack, on 5 consecutive days (although I think they’d be fine as a weekly treat); and as an extra bonus, we found these soothed and helped to calm our #lockdown eczema. However, be warned, once tried, these could become very addictive!  We think MOIA ELIXIRS® are a brand to watch - and we can’t wait to try more from them. To purchase the CBDerma-Repair® Nano-Fiber Mask pack of 5 at €51,90 or individually at €12,90 here.

AiiA Care: Body Care Serum

With summer not far away (we all live in hope!), there’s a great need to prepare, hydrate and protect our soon to be exposed arms and legs. Which is why we’re featuring this very skin-caring and environmentally friendly brand AiiA Care and their regenerating Body Care Serum, today on The Amazing Blog.

AiiA Care was conceived on the Danish isle of Funen, thanks to Trine Øveraas, a journalist back then, and her two associates: A medical pharmacist and a chemical engineer. Both men were developing a new concept in natural skincare based on skin science, with the creation of two initial water-based serums. Trine Øveraas was ask to promote these two innovative and high-end serums on their behalf. However, she went on one step further, loving the serums’ benefits, she went on to partner with them and create the AiiA Care brand. If you wondering what the word ‘AiiA’ means, there is no meaning, it is simply the arrangement of the letters - as symbols of balance, plus the brand wanted to pay a small homage to Mother Earth ‘Gaia’. Trine explained about the brand, “Our vision with AiiA's products is to support the skin's own natural process, by contributing moisture and certified, natural ingredients for the care and protection of the outer layer of skin.” Today, AiiA Care has six serums, all natural, water-based and allergy-friendly. The brand is committed to reducing the use of packaging, where Trine went on to say, “That's why we do not have double wrappers such as cardboard boxes or cellophane. In addition, we work with what are called air pumps. This means that all serum is pumped out of the bottle, so you as a consumer get all the product as it completely empty’s and leaves the bottle ready to be recycled.” They use PP-plastic (polypropylene), which can be recycled up to 35 times and avoid the use of preservatives thanks to its air-pump system. AiiA Care has already obtained three certifications: The Nordic Swan Label, the official Nordic Ecolabel , to ensure the sustainability of the skincare, the Ecocert COSMOS to prove the natural provenance of the ingredients, and is AllergyCertified which assures that the products are hypoallergenic. Finally, we have to congratulate AiiA for their four award wins at the Scandinavian Global Makeup Awards in 2020 which includes the Body Care Serum which we are reviewing below. The AiiA Care’s ethos is to keep it simple, clean and natural to help the skin healing itself, as they believe that healthy skin is beautiful skin.

This Body Care Serum is full of active ingredients which strengthen the skin’s protective barrier against external pollutants. One of the key ingredients is crambe abyssinica seed oil, a natural oil extracted from the mustard plant and unlike other plant oils, it has a high percentage of C22 fatty acids, which provides antioxidants. The serum also contains theobroma cacao seed butter, extracted from cocoa beans, it’s a rich source of antioxidant polyphenols with emollient properties. You can also find sunflower seed oil which conditions and moisturises thanks to the linoleic acid and vitamin E.; and arginine an amino acid used to protect and hydrate the skin. The combination of all these ingredients balances and reinforce the skin’s immune system. The serum is suitable for all skin type, including sensitive ones. As an all-in-one serum/lotion it can be used night and day. This water-based serum is a butter-coloured lotion with a soft and unintrusive natural fragrance. We found it had a lightweight and non-greasy texture, and absorbed quickly, leaving the skin feeling nourished, silky and conditioned – and most importantly, summer ready!  You can purchase the 200ml AiiA Care Body Care Serum here, for 395,00kr, approximately £46.18. 

Verolive: Firming Cellulite Cream

Here we are in mid-May with more grey days and rain… Of course, it’s great for the plants but not for our spirits!  At The Amazing Blog,  we’re still living in hope for the appearance of a gloriously hot June. Which is why this week, we’re reviewing a couple of new and natural body care products to help you get body-ready for the sunshine. Today it’s with Verolive’s award-winning Firming Cellulite Cream, and readers may remember that we recently reviewed their outstanding Revitalizing Shampoo here.

The Tzortzakakis family founded Verolive in 1975, where they’ve created this multi award-winning brand, in the heart of the Messara Valley, Crete. It is a well-known area for its endless olive groves, producing organic extra virgin olive oil, a key ingredient that can be found in each of the Verolive products. The brand has developed a unique core range of ten products, where ingredients are meticulously selected from natural and locally sourced ingredients. Their ethos is to focus on high-standard eco care and packaging, with ingredients, dermatologically tested, vegan, clean in composition and above all, high in quality. The plastics in all their containers 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. Every product has been designed to protect both the environment and its customers’ wellbeing. To maintain their continuity and brand excellence, they only produce each item in a limited amount to ensure superior quality control. The brand also caters to spa professionals and built long term successful partnerships with some of the best-known wellness centres. 

What piqued our interest about this Firming Cellulite Cream, is that it won Best Cellulite Treatment in the 2020 Mama & Baby Awards, and we’ve wanted to try this ever since. The purpose of this formula is to reduce cellulite, which is from an accumulation of fat under the dermis that weakens the connective tissue, and generates a series of orange-peel ripples over the skin. Although it is a harmless and natural condition, for the body-conscious, trying to get rid of this dimply cellulite can sometimes be an issue. This formula has nine actives , and is 94% natural including many ingredients native to Crete. Let’s start with some of these local ingredients which include, organic shea butter, olive and sunflower oil, sweet almond oil, aloe vera, natural beeswax, which all work together to moisturise the skin, thanks to their various nutrients and fatty acids. With a more in depth look at their function we find that the organic extra virgin olive oil is for skin barrier function, making it stronger, thanks to its numerous vitamins such as vitamins D, E, K and A. The organic avocado oil is here to make skin smoother, firmer and more elastic due to its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. There’s organic bio-active aloe vera, which has skin-restorative properties, and the rosemary essential oil acts as a skin tonic and rejuvenates the skin; which is why it’s used here to fight cellulite. The natural vitamin E is here to boost your skin by moisturising it, softening it, and encouraging cell regeneration. However, it’s the active caffeine in phospholipids, in this formula that make a real difference, as they are ‘vectorised’ for quicker skin penetrate. They improve its cutaneous absorption, in order to reach lipocytes and fat cells in the adipose tissue, which specialise in storing energy as fat. The caffeine here enhances the microcirculation to actively reduce the orange-peel look. Cellulite only really becomes a concern for us as every summer approaches. Yes, it’s a vanity issue and we’re happy to admit it!  After all, who doesn’t want to look and feel their best when wearing skimpy swimwear? Verolive suggest targeting any problem areas, by applying this Firming Cellulite Cream twice a day. Rich in consistency it left our skin super-hydrated with a delicious hint of a rosemary scent. It was quick to absorb, as we massaged it into our legs, tums and bums both morning and evening. As Yannis said to us, “to maximise the results of our natural Firming Cellulite Cream, you also need to exercise and follow a specific daily diet. As it’s well-known that all these three factors are necessary, to see results when using a cellulite treatment.” This is something worth remembering, as no cream will ever work to remove cellulite on its own. We noticed that with regular use, our skin became smoother and softer, although we do need to be more disciplined on the diet and exercise front to see more dramatic results! This Cream has been dermatologically tested, is a natural body care, and is suited to all skin types. You can purchase your own 250ml Firming Cellulite Cream from Verolive for €59.90 here .

Cannabina: CBD Beard Oils Honey Oak & Cedarwood

If you’ve been reading The Amazing Blog  for a while, then you’ll know that we like to try lots of different topical and skincare products that contain CBD. Today we are looking at two grooming products, the CBD Beard Oils by Cannabina  from The Legal Hempire a brand we have previously featured here.

Cannabina is founded by Gemma McKay, and is a brand that specialises in all kinds of healing products infused with hemp-based broad-spectrum and THC-free CBD ingredients. These products have been created foreveryone to enjoy the healing and soothing benefits of CBD. Cannabina offers a variety of CBD infused items from skincare, tinctures and edibles. McKay’s passion and interest in cannabis are the motivating factors behind the brand’s mission to improve the quality of life for their consumer, through this incredible plant's relieving and healing properties. McKay commented, “It’s only relatively recently that CBD and cannabinoids have caught the public imagination, but the positive health properties of non-THC hemp have been a part of my upbringing. For me, being able to be involved in this feels totally logical and instinctive.” Cannabina is an all-natural CBD brand where the products are free from harmful chemicals, pesticides, solvent residues, chlorophyll, fats and lipids. There are no preservatives, sulphates, mineral oils, parabens, artificial colouring, flavours or perfumes. The brand’s products are also cruelty-free and are tested and certified by both US and UK laboratories. The brand’s products are also cruelty-free and are tested and certified by both US and UK laboratories. Cannabina also has a strong sustainability ethos with its recycling and asks customers to return their product empties, for which they’re rewarding with a 5% discount on further purchases. McKay also recently launched her own shop, The Legal Hempire, a specialist hemp and wellness store, which currently includes over 10 of her tried and trusted CBD brands. “I know that things can get tough, mentally, and also what it takes to find ways to heal yourself. Healing should be built into how we live much more naturally, and CBD and other plant medicines have so much to offer when it comes to both physical and psychological healing properties.” This is where Gemma wants her customers to benefit from the knowledge and insight she has gained and used in her own life.

These CBD Beard Oils are available in either 10ml Honey Oak or 30ml Cedarwood  fragrances, both are designed to help soften and men’s facial hair and beards. These Beard Oils are infused with 50mg of active CBD, which helps to soften, strengthen and promote hair growth. They are lightweight CBD Beard Oils, which contain are vegan and cruelty-free ingredients which include jojoba and argan oils, fragrance oil and cannabis sativa (CBD) extract. When combined, these offer a hydrating yet non-greasy formula, that takes care of anything from a day’s stubble to unruly wizard whiskers. We have it on good authority from our tester that when used regularly he found that his follicles grew slightly thicker and less brittle. Plus, these oils reduced his ‘bristle beard’ making it soft to the touch, and even added moisturise to his skin. The favourite here was the Honey Oak oil for its mellow and sweet fragrance. These are both available in 10ml for the price of £13.00 in Honey Oak here and 30ml Cedarwood here.

ESPÉRER Skin Care : Anti-Aging Night Repair Serum & Anti-Pollution Night Repair Serum

Here at The Amazing Blog, you may have noticed that we’ve been featuring a few different serums this month, as for us, there’s nothing better than using the clean, natural and botanically based ones. We believe that simplicity is best, which is why we were very happy to discover two night serums from the new luxury botanical brand ESPÉRER Skin Care,  who offer just that. 

ESPÉRER Skin Care was launched in December 2019 by Dina El Adlani. As is a psychologist with an MSc in psychoanalytical psychology, she also studied and researched the anatomy and physiology of the skin. This was when she became aware that many skin issues are often related to overall lack of self-esteem, confidence and even mental well-being. Dina commented, “My background in psychology and dermatology helped me create ESPÉRER Skin Care, and the ingredients that I have chosen are not only beneficial to the skin but have been proven to improve overall well-being, reducing anxiety, bringing forth a feeling of calmness and positivity.” She discovered various natural ingredients when travelling to her country of origin, Morocco, and from there also got her inspiration for the brand name of ESPÉRER which means ‘hope’ in French. For Dina, this means hope for better skin, hope for better well-being, and hope for a better future.  After discovering, from personal experience, the devastating damage that chemical-based skincare can cause, she only wanted to use entirely natural ingredients in her skincare. Therefore, the ingredients ESPÉRER uses are 100% natural, cruelty-free, vegan and free from any preservatives, synthetic fragrances, alcohols and chemical toxins.

We were also interested to learn that Dina together with some of her associates, have created the Dahlia Mental Health Foundation. It is a charitable foundation in the process of being registered here in the UK. She told us that a large part of this Foundation is built around mental health, as well as skin health, as they believe the two go hand in hand. Once the charity has been set up, they will be open to the public to take donations. In the meantime, for every ESPÉRER product sold, £1 goes towards this Foundation. They aim to build psychological/mental health and well-being centres in developing countries. Places that have experienced war and famine receive food and water supplies, but they do not have access to mental health support, which they believe is just as important. What an amazing charity!

The first product we tried was the Anti-Aging Night Repair Serum  which is part of the collection ‘Beauté de la Nuit’. This oil serum is made with ONLY two natural ingredients: The argan oil and rose absolute, both of which are sourced from the southern region of Morocco. Argan oil contains vitamin E with the fatty acids omega 3 and 6, which provide the main moisturising properties. This is where the oil molecules are so tiny that they can penetrate the deeper layers of the epidermis, improving moisture levels and reducing signs of ageing. Argan also has numerous benefits for acne and damaged skin, and reduces fine lines, irritated skin, and lessens age spots. The rose absolute is extracted from rosa damascene blossoms, a rose only native to Morocco, and has anti-ageing and rejuvenating qualities as well as being anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, and hydrating. We loved using this rich amber coloured oil serum. The fragrance is intense with the soft, sweet floral rose absolute which is so uplifting, and with thicker viscoscity of the argan oil, it only needs two or three drops to massage into the face and the neck. When applying ESPÉRER Skin Care very sensibly advises waiting 30 minutes prior to bed, for this Serum to absorb into the skin (rather than the pillow!) We found that it left our skin looking plumped up and glowy by the morning. You can purchase the 30ml Anti-Aging Night Repair Serum here for £33.

Also part of the ‘Beauté de la Nuit’ collection, but offering different benefits, is the Anti-Pollution Night Repair Serum. Again, this too has only two ingredients: French lavender and almond oil. This oil Serum has detoxifying and calming properties. Lavender is known for its antimicrobial properties, preventing bacteria from growing on the skin as well as for its detoxifying and anti-pollution effects. Not only that, lavender offers a calming effect on the nervous system. The almond oil, is rich in vitamin A and works as a powerful antioxidant, protecting and repairing skin cells. When these two ingredients are combined, they moisturise, repair and protect with the added benefit of an antibacterial effects from the lavender oil. This Night Serum is designed to calm and repair, offering skin protection from daily pollution. We found that with the almond oil as a base, it was lighter in texture than the Anti-Ageing Repair.  The lavender fragrance was also less intense than that of the rose absolute, and this time, we found that we needed more like four of five drops to massage into the face and neck. With lavender oil often hailed as a hero botanical, we understand its presence here in this Serum, where it works as a healer and antioxidant fighting free radical damage and pollution. When using this Anti-Pollution Night Repair Serum, it certainly did help to calm and balanced skin as well reducing any redness and blotchy patches. You can purchase the Anti-Pollution Night Repair Serum here for £27.

It was hard to chose a favourite between these two ESPÉRER Skin Care Serums. However, if pushed, we’d have to say the Anti-Ageing Night Repair, but only because rose absolute is, one of our very favourite essential oils to use.