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. 

Chic & Raw: Rose Quartz Heart Chakra Crystal Candle

Who doesn’t love to burn a beautifully fragranced candle in the evening? At The Amazing Blog, we love how with its flickering ambient light it helps make a house feel like a home. This is another of our #amazingfinds, more than just a candle; this  Rose Quartz Heart Chakra Crystal Candle from Chic & Raw  combines the positive energies of crystal healing, natural soy wax and a relaxing spa-like fragrance.

Binanti Cuzner and her husband Darren created Chic & Raw in 2019. The brand started as a creative outlet to help them get away from their busy and stressful work lives. With Binanti’s love of yoga, meditation and chakra healing (focal points in ancient meditative practices), she wanted to share her knowledge and beliefs to help others through her brand. Chic & Raw dedicates itself to providing holistic and luxury products beneficial for the mind, body and soul. These are mainly candles, "I wanted to create a sense of joy and harmony with these candles," said Binanti. She studied chakras and crystal healing, matching them for an optimum release in her candles for healing crystal vibration.  She wants to combine beauty with harmony to make every home beautiful by releasing uplifting scents and integrating this with the unique crystals. Binanti believes that a harmonised home, relates to peace of mind. Chic & Raw is committed to working with a few trusted suppliers, and wherever possible, sources local ingredients from UK businesses. The cotton wicks are organic, the soy wax is natural and the fragrances are a mix of essential oils or luxury fragrances from the French perfume house, Drom. We applaud the brand their giving-back policy where they recently partnered with Ecologi to plant a tree for every product sold on Earth Day. Their current candles are themed as Crystal, Tinned and Colour Therapy. Plus, they have other lifestyle products and a new skincare Honeyzen, which for now, has only one face oil. 

As mentioned, we tried was the Rose Quartz Heart Chakra Crystal Candle, presented in a solid luxury cardboard rose gold foiled box. The candle itself comes in an elegant electroplated rose gold and etched glass container (which we later repurposed for storage). Incorporated in this candle are two rose quartz crystals positioned at opposite edges; these are ethically sourced from Madagascar. Rose quartz is known to enhance the heart chakra, boosting feelings of peace, calm and love. It is often used during meditation to help open the mind and heal the heart. It’s also possible to remove these crystals as the wax melts, placing them in your hands, or on the heart chakra to activate the rose quartz while meditating. The candle is made with natural soy wax, a non-toxic alternative to paraffin. Indeed, soy wax is biodegradable, releases less soot while burning, more sustainable and burns 50% longer than paraffin. The organic cotton wick makes it easier to continuously relight the candle, where it can last up to approximately 40 hours. The soy wax contains white tea essential oil, which is known to promote a general sense of wellbeing and helps to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, insomnia and depression. This is a light and clean scent with subtle notes of citrus, basil, peony and amber. This mingles sensuously with the warm and spicy ginger oil, known for its stimulating and warming qualities. We lit this candle during those bleak February #lockdown days, using it to enhance our affirmations and offer thanks for keeping our loved ones safe. It's a candle we'd recommend lighting during meditation to uplift spirits and to help deal with any emotional pain. There are three other Crystal Candles in the range with Ruby, Amethyst and Aventurine, each one offering a different purpose. They also provide a fascinating insight on how to ‘active’ or ‘recharge’ your crystals here. As Binanti says: “Burning Chic & Raw Crystal Chakra Candles releases both the energy of the crystal and the soothing fragrances that relieves stress and helps to balance your mind and body.” Something we could all benefit from at this time. This luxurious Rose Quartz Heart Chakra Candle is available for £36 here.

516 Polish: Serene Nail Polish

Regular readers of The Amazing Blog will know that we love to support new and indie brands, and today we are featuring 516 Polish a British, inclusive and vegan nail brand as one of our #amazingfinds. As it’s almost time for us start wearing open toes, we couldn’t resist this Serene pink to wear - with pink being one of the designated and hottest colour for this S/S 21 season.

516 Polish was founded in July 2019 by Wunmi Ladele. With her passion for wearing nail polish, she became very aware of the lack of diversity within the spectrum of nail colours offered for people of colour. This was the inspiration behind her creating a range of colours in the 516 Polish collection to suit all. Wunmi wants to be “A brand that formulates beautiful colours that have the potential to be complementary for everyone, particularly people of colour.” She also went on to say, “I am committed to making 516 a people-focused brand that you can actually relate to.” They are the first UK indie nail polish brand to support swatch diversity, offering various products such as nail polish, one-step gel polish, nail care and tools. They currently have over fifty nail polish colours which are PETA certified, vegan, cruelty-free and non-toxic; with sixteen coordinating gel polishes to try out too. 

To quote the late fashion icon, Diana Vreeland: “Pink is the new black,” and with this in mind, we decided to feature 516 Polish’s soft and versatile Serene pink which you can also see on different skin tones when you click here . This on trend and statement shade of bubble gum pink, has appeared on all the S/S 2021 fashion runways and doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon.  What we like about this Serene pink is that it’s fresh, feminine and brightens our mood. It also adds some wonderful drama when paired with analogous reds or red-oranges, which you’ll also see appearing on the high street. The ingredients in Serene are all ’10 free’, which means it is free from 10 toxic ingredients commonly used: Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Xylene, Triphenyl Phosphate, Ethyl tosylamide, Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Acetone and Parabens. For those that don’t know, here are some of the reasons why these toxic ingredients are not included in the formula: Toluene is a neurotoxin that can cause neurological damage when inhaled. Formaldehyde and its by-product Formaldehyde Resin can be responsible for allergic reactions, asthma, nausea, and dermatitis. Low doses of Xylene can provoke headaches, and high doses can affect the respiratory system. Ethyl Tosylamide is banned in Europe due to it causing mild to severe allergic reactions; it also can disrupt hormones. What we also like about this Serene nail polish, is that it can even be matched with a Gel. A handy option if we’re away on holiday and in need of a quick touch up. The brand also has a nail care guide with a few tips and tricks for a better home manicure; we found their 3-Stroke method very helpful (see here). When applied correctly, the 516 nail polishes (with recommended base and topcoat), should last between seven to ten days. We found on toes (see photo) it was over ten days but on hands (too much typing and hand washing!) it was more like five or seven. Best of all the nail polishes are available in two sizes; which means you can experiment with more colours, with the 5ml bottles, at only £4.75 ea. Or if you fall in love with Serene (as we did), you too can invest in a 10ml bottle at £8.

HokmahWise Haircare

Haircare is important to each of us at The Amazing Blog, and as we all have different hair types, we welcome trying out all kinds, whether it’s for curly, textured or straight hair. Today, we are introducing three haircare products which we tested out which are from a new indie and inclusive brand, HokmahWise.

HokmahWise is a relatively new and in-development haircare brand, designed for all hair types, and in particular, for those who have experienced hair follicle damage from extensions. The brand name ‘Hokmah’ is the Hebrew word for wisdom, and ‘Wise’ is self-explanatory. Founded by Christine Aboagye and her sister, it was born from a need to find gentle haircare that would be kind to the scalp, encourage growth and work with textured hair. Christine said, “One of us was diagnosed with an overactive thyroid, which subsequently affected hair growth and where there was almost complete loss of hair. In a bid to cover up the near-baldness, there were lots of wigs, indulging in hair extensions, weaves and braids. Large sums of money were spent on these, yet this availed to nothing.” The two women then questioned their haircare routine, addressing scalp health, and a way to nurture hair regrowth and recover their lost self-esteem. They went on to say: “We discovered that our hair needed more moisture, rich protein treatments and more products with natural oils, butters and less harmful chemicals.” That’s why they created these products; to provide and inclusive, efficient, affordable and gentle haircare which could help others too. 

We tried the Hair Stimulant Shampoo Watermelon Seed & Rosemary Oil first. It is free from sulphates and parabens and is also cruelty-free and vegan. This shampoo is for all hair types, although it’s particularly efficient for curly, textured and damaged hair. We must stress that this is NOT a natural shampoo, as we discovered that this and the other products in the range have a few haircare industry preservatives and additives. We were a little disappointed to find ingredient such as cocammide, DEA ccocamidopropyl betaine and acrylates crosspolymer-4 here. However, it does have natural ingredients such as rosemary oil, with anti-inflammatory properties to encourage scalp stimulation and improve nerve growth. Together with peppermint oil with nutrients and antioxidants to increase blood circulation in the scalp. Castor oil has antimicrobial properties which help fight off bacterial or fungal scalp infections and dandruff. The key natural ingredient here seems to be the watermelon seed oil, as it’s moisturising and strengthening.  Finally, there’s geranium oil which acts on the sebaceous gland to regulate the sebum produced, making the hair healthier. We found it easy to use; it was efficient at cleaning and hydrating the hair and didn’t leave it dry or ‘stringy’ (like some do…) This Hair Stimulant Shampoo works (as it states) like a stimulant, while also repairing split ends and moisturising the scalp. Massage onto the scalp and let it sit for 10- 20 seconds, then rinse away, followed by the Ultra Nourishing Conditioner. You can purchase The 300ml Hair Stimulant Shampoo Watermelon Seed & Rosemary Oil for £11.50 here.

The Ultra Nourishing Conditioner with Avocado and Ylang-Ylang Oil is also all about promoting hair growth, as well as  hydrating and repairing damaged hair. Again, this is not natural product; we found ingredients like phenoxyethanol which is a synthetic preservative, that we’re not very keen on. It has a moisturising effect thanks to rosehip oil, jojoba seed oil and ylang-ylang. Ylang-ylang helps combat hair and scalp dryness, broccoli seed oil and coconut milk protein contain vitamins C, E, B1, B3 and B5 to prevent dehydration. Together with the coconut and avocado oil, the rosehip oil seals the hair cuticles and prevents breakage. The sweet almond oil is rich in protein, omega-9 fatty acids, vitamins, and coconut oil improves the condition and shine. Our old friend lavender oil is also here, this time for helping to fight dandruff thanks to its antimicrobial properties. This was our favourite out of the three products. We noticed how it hydrated the hair and left it soft and manageable – it certainly passed the ‘wet hair and comb’ test. They recommend a deep massage, and leave for a few minutes to allow it to moisturise the hair,  then rinse. The 350ml Ultra Nourishing Conditioner with Avocado and Ylang-Ylang Oil you can purchase here for £12.50.

The third product is the Effortless Shiny Detangler Spray Marshmallow Root and Grape Seed . This detangler spray is for knots and frizz. Checking the ingredients, again, we noticed that this too has some additives like DMDM hydantoin, an antimicrobial formaldehyde releaser preservative. We prefer the natural ones here, such as marshmallow root, full of rich vitamins and proteins to help hair growth and soothe itchy scalps. The grape seed oil, is full of vitamin E, minerals, proteins and linoleic acid, which nourishes the scalp. With chamomile and sage oil, make the hair is shinier and softener. The apple extract reduces dandruff and acts as an antioxidant. Finally, the hydrolysed soy protein improves porous hair. We think this is a faithful ally for protection against hot styling tools; and it left no oily residue. Although the three products work well together, we would like to suggest to the brand, that they consider replacing some of the questionable ingredients that we’ve mentioned to then make these, for us, a great haircare trio. You can purchase the Effortless Shiny Detangler Spray Marshmallow Root and Grape Seed for £8.99 here.