Leaves & Flowers : Skin Sleep Cream

A reoccurring favourite skincare theme here at The Amazing Blog is CBD. Why? Because it provides the gift of anti-inflammation and antioxidants, leading to cell repair, and in this case during sleep activating the skin’s serotonin receptors helping to give a younger, more relaxed-looking complexion. Packed full of all these benefits, together with Bulgarian rose extract, Skin Sleep Cream is a one-of-a-kind overnight treatment, and the brand Leaves & Flowers is a new discovery.

Founder Sadie Leibo’s bathroom has never been short of the newest beauty launches for as long as she can remember, where her 16 years at one of the world’s leading global beauty giants didn’t hurt either. After all these experiences, she believed there was still room for a new ‘Moment’. A couple of years earlier, Sadie consumed CBD oil topically to aid her exercise and performance. She felt entirely different, and her aches and pains were no more. Instead, she was invigorated and relaxed like never before. This sparked the beginning of her ‘Moment’ as she thought, “What if we incorporated CBD oil and its wondrous benefits into a luxury, high-end, natural skincare line?” Sadie began by envisioning a luxury skincare line and the power of nature as the primary philosophies of what would be Leaves & Flowers. “I want everyone to experience CBD in skincare but in the right way – at efficacious levels and smelling wonderful. Yes, there is no hemp aroma here. Rather, it’s Bulgarian roses all the way. Now it’s time for other people to experience just how potent a brilliant blend of natural ingredients, including CBD, can be.” It wasn’t long until Leaves & Flowers came into fruition – what she refers to as the proudest achievement of her life, next to being a mother. Equally important, recycled materials are used wherever possible for products and shipping materials. The brand actively engages more resources that would’ve gone to waste, from ocean-bound plastic to refillable packaging, into production while partnering with industry leaders for better, cleaner and more ethical standards. They currently have a small selection of products which include two candles and their hero skincare Skin Sleep Cream. You’ll be happy to know that all their products are proudly vegan, absent of animal-derived ingredients, cruelty-free, committed to never testing on animals, and made in the UK with the highest quality ingredients. 

After two years, Leaves & Flowers’ Skin Sleep Cream was born. It’s a natural and multifunctional overnight treatment with a nourishing balm texture and a water-soluble hydrating base, the Cream contains a unique blend of 200mg CBD, the brand’s bespoke Bulgarian rose, plankton extract, glycogen and a combination of active botanical extracts.

Firstly, let’s talk about the 200g of CBD isolate here. With CBD's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, the Cream moisturises, replenishes, soothes, plumps and balances ultra-thirsty complexions. CBD calms neurotransmitters and receptors within the system by binding to the internal receptors of the body’s endocannabinoid system, restoring them to a healthy state and ultimately regulating bodily and cognitive functions, including sleep and cell repair. With CBD expect reduced irritation, less sebum production, decreased redness and diminished breakouts. For those with mature skin, it restores brightness and elasticity while supplying anti-ageing benefits. As if it couldn’t get any better, Sleep Cream’s CBD comes in the form of CBD isolate, which is tasteless, scentless and devoid of THC. The purest form of CBD, where cannabidiol (CBD) is derived from the extract, tincture or resin of cannabis isolate. Here it’s extracted with high-proof alcohol as a solvent, and distilled into a crystalline or powder known as CBD isolate. This process removes all other compounds found in the plant, including other cannabinoids isolating the CBD. CBD isolate is the ideal form of CBD for skincare, as it doesn’t clog pores and helps to alleviate any dryness or irritation.

Other key ingredients are equally as dynamic as the CBD, there’s Bulgarian rose extract too. Through an elegant blend of rose bud and petal scents, the extract concocts a unique and pure fragrance while delivering high antioxidants, as well as anti-ageing and antibacterial properties. Antioxidants in rose water protect skin cells against environmental damage from pollutants, UV rays and other free radicals. In doing so, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. On the other hand, its anti-inflammatory properties naturally soothe irritated skin, lessening redness and itchiness. It may even help treat severe skin conditions like rosacea and eczema. Not falling far behind in advantages, plankton extract is an extract of biomass, including green micro-algae, greenish-blue algae and nitrogen-fixing seaweed. It’s intensely moisturising and soothing, with pro-ageing and anti-wrinkle properties through its richness in natural minerals, silicon and vitamins ­– again, making it perfect for sensitive and irritated skin. The Sleep Cream also utilises the strengths of passionflower, marine plankton, sunflower seed oil, mimosa flower wax, safflower extract and cannabis Sativa seed oil. When combined, this robust blend targets signs of ageing, leaving your skin plumped and nourished, all in time for you to start the day. Finally, plant-derived glycogen boosts hyaluronic acid in the skin, adding even more hydration and plumpness as cells are energized to work at their optimum potential. 

We recommend applying a pea-sized amount of the Sleep Cream in the evenings after cleansing, toning and applying serum (the balmy cream will help to seal in all the goodness). They suggest warming the Skin Sleep Cream between the palms before applying it to the face and neck. Massage thoroughly into the skin to maximise the absorption of this rich balm-like cream.  For those concerned about a dominant scent, worry not as the Cream’s very subtle rose scent is barely traceable and adds a feel of luxury as does its thick glass packaging.

By the way, don’t think this is just a night cream, it’s also designed to be used as a cleanser! This is where Leaves & Flowers offer a Deluxe Double Cleanse set and encourages using this Cream as multipurpose skincare. They suggest using it with the cloths they provide to give a gentle and exfoliating action. First, apply the Skin Sleep Cream, soak the Deluxe Double Cleanse Cloth in warm water, place it over the face/neck, and breathe in the calming scent. Then wet hands and massage the Cream creating a milky texture and finally remove with the cleansing cloth.

We first learned of Skin Sleep Cream when they entered the 2022 CEW Awards. It has impressed us with both its versatility and skin-nurturing, harnessing the powers of all-natural ingredients like CBD, for calmer skin accompanied by a more refreshing sleep-filled night. To purchase a 50ml jar of Leaves & Flowers’ Skin Sleep Cream for £45, see here.

Founder’s Formula : Wild-Harvested Kakadu Plum Vitamin C Serum

Even with the heat of summer, it’s still important to remember to keep skin moisturised and protected. As always, at The Amazing Blog, our mission is to find the more unusual and innovative serums that have ideally organic and vegan formulas. Founder's Formula is one of those brands that ticks those boxes. Regular readers will be familiar with this brand (which we’ve previously reviewed here), this time it’s with their Wild-Harvested Kakadu Plum Vitamin C Serum, that’s full of potent vitamin C and waratah extract that enhances its antioxidant activity.

In February 2021, Founder’s Formula was officially launched by anthropologist Dr. Annie Holden; however, the story begins much earlier. Three years before the launch, Annie took a trip to Bologna, Italy, to attend the world’s biggest international beauty fair, Cosmoprof. There, she made an astonishing realisation. There were no beauty products containing Australian botanicals. With this in mind, she went back home to Australia with a burst of inspiration and an idea in mind. Annie began her research on Australian botanicals to find a way to incorporate them into daily skincare. As an anthropologist, Dr. Holden spent 35 years working with indigenous peoples in the most remote places of Australia. Having sensitive skin herself, she built a lab where she tested gentle formulas with wild-harvested and organic ingredients. Australia has a very extreme and harsh climate. This has made for unique and exotic plants, with Australia hosting 70% of the world’s most unique plant species. Australian plants have evolved, powerful adaptation mechanisms to store vast quantities of Phyto-compounds needed to survive the Australian climate. There are about 23,000 known species in Australia, but only 1,000 are studied. Dr. Holden was more than excited to have these unique plant-based ingredients to create a new and innovative range of products for her skincare line. Annie explains how she creates her products "I start with an Australian Botanical with proven benefits, then I consider the most suitable application for that ingredient and with Toni, my chemist, we build a formula around it." By working with leading chemists and research from Australia’s leading 5-Star Plant Sciences universities, the company created a range of skincare products that target four things in the formulation: hydration, anti-inflammation, depigmentation, and pro ageing. Dr. Holden mentions that even though she’d love to include fragrances and essential oils in her products, she’d rather keep the formulas as natural and straightforward as possible adding that “kind skincare has little or no smell.” The brand is certified by Certclean and meets the Australian Certified Organic Standard. The brand is proud to be manufactured in Australia and is cruelty-free, toxin-free, and vegan. It has won 14 international beauty awards since its launch.

Wild-Harvested Kakadu Plum Vitamin C Serum hydrates and promotes dewy skin. This product is a recent Winner at The Global Makeup Awards 2022 for both Best 50+ anti-ageing product’ and ‘Best Innovative Beauty Product’. With the blend of Australian botanical extracts, it’s clear why this is an award winner. The ingredients are organic and natural and help to reduce uneven skin tone, promote collagen production and create a more dewy skin. There is organic aloe, propanediol, wild-harvested kakadu plum, finger lime caviar, waratah, organic natural glycerin, water, sodium levulinate, sodium anisate, and sodium hyaluronate.

Let’s look at the three hero native Australian ingredients starting with the kakadu plum. It’s a fruit known for its source of vitamin C and is thought to be the richest source of vitamin C of any known plant! It contains high levels of phytonutrients and bioflavonoids that enhance the formula's efficiency and may assist in transporting vitamin C. Plus, its insoluble fibre helps stabilise vitamin C and makes it easier for the skin to tolerate ascorbic acid. Vitamin C improves skin luminosity and pigmentation by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, which helps prevent melanin production and reduce skin issues caused by UV exposure, such as redness and sun damage.

The waratah extract found in the serum intensifies the antioxidant activity. The extract itself has powerful antioxidants that reduce cell death and injury, which are a significant cause of ageing and helps build collagen and elastin, which keeps skin firm and plump.

The third ingredient is the finger lime caviar extract which is high in ferulic acid, which helps stabilise the vitamin C in the serum, which is why this product is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Not only that, but the plant is said to help fight fine lines, hyperpigmentation, acne, and dry skin.

Other ingredients here are organic aloe vera made up of 80% water, together with vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and more unusually, vitamin B12. It soothes and moisturises, and also fights skin ageing and pigmentation. Propanediol is derived from corn acts as a humectant and emollient and helps reduce moisture loss. Organic natural glycerin is extracted from vegetable oils and has anti-bacterial qualities, adds a silky smooth texture, is suitable for skin sensitivity and improves the barrier function. Sodium levulinate is a natural preservative obtained from starch and vegetal inulin. Sodium anisate is from fennel, it’s antimicrobial and when paired with sodium levulinate, the two ingredients work in tandem to make a very efficient preservative controlling microorganism colonies, without altering the integrity of the formula. Finally, sodium hyaluronate attracts moisture in skin cells and due to its low molecular weight can provide a more significant hydrating effect than hyaluronic acid.

Like the other serums in the range, this has a stylish, clear glass bottle and dropper for application. It is fragrance-free, vegan and not tested on animals. It’s also certified organic, spray-free and has wild-harvested ingredients. It’s a serum that can be ‘layered’ or paired with others like the Phyto-A+ Australian Native Tobacco Serum particularly if you have sun-damaged and pigmented skin like us. Did you know that approximately 1 in 50 people are sensitive to vitamin C in skincare? What we like about this Wild-Harvested Kakadu Plum Vitamin C Serum, is that it’s packed full of natural vitamin C, which is less irritating than the synthetic forms of vitamin C found in other serums. We’re always nervous when using skincare high in vitamin C due to having had adverse reactions and redness. However, we found this extremely gentle and hydrating on our sensitive skin. As Annie states, “The skin will only absorb as much vitamin C as it needs.,” and went on to say, “if your skin is dull and dry, or your nutrition is poor, and you are concerned that your skin needs higher amounts of vitamin C. We recommend you use your vitamin C serum on clean skin twice a day. A little applied more often is better than a high % applied only once.” They also have clinical studies on this Wild Harvested Kakadu Plum Vitamin C Serum, where they measured the skin luminosity with its 'Gloss value'. The average improvement in gloss value with 20 volunteers, the average age of 37, was 17%. On the best volunteer, Kakadu Plum Extract was shown to induce skin luminosity up to 21% after 15 days and up to 30% after 30 days.

In the heat, we’ve been using this serum and an SPF and found that no extra moisturiser is needed. As you can probably tell, we’re smitten with Founder’s Formula. They’re extremely innovative with their use of these extraordinary native botanicals. Not only that, we love that they’re all natural formulations and have clinical trials and science to back them up. Curious to try? Then see here for the 30ml Wild-Harvested Kakadu Plum Vitamin C Serum at $120 AUD. 

Little Butterfly London : Fresh Meadows Cooling Leg Gel

Even in this unprecedented heat,  at The Amazing Blog, we’ve been running around on our feet all day. It’s easy to forget self-care for tired legs, which is why we’re thrilled to have found a cooling and energising gel that helps lift and nurture swollen, heavy-feeling legs and feet. Meet Little Butterfly London’s organic-certified, vegan and cruelty-free Fresh Meadows Cooling Leg Gel, which leaves legs and feet feeling rejuvenated. Although aimed at mothers, we think it’s ideal for anyone with achy limbs and feet. Yet another one of our #Amazingfinds, this hero gel was also recently awarded Winner of ‘Best Therapy for Tired Feet and/or Legs’ at the 2022 Mama & Baby Awards.

Growing up in a family of hoteliers in Austria, founder Gudrun Wurm always had the entrepreneurship bug. Combine that with her love for cosmetics, skincare and luxury design from a young age, and her frustration and inability to find a baby skincare range with organic purity, natural formulations and elegant packaging, she launched Little Butterfly London. “I could not find a range which ticked all my boxes,” said Gudrun, “I was looking for an organic luxury range which would be absolutely safe and gentle, yet highly effective to care for even newborns and susceptible, irritation-prone skin, made of generous formulas using precious ingredients. Essentially products I would love to pamper my own son with. This is how it started. Eventually, the idea took shape, and the brand was born.“ Little Butterfly London has authentic, natural and organic ingredients, and is free from any harmful irritants – making it perfect for fostering delicate, sensitive, reactive or eczema-prone skin. Ingredients like mineral oil, paraffin, parabens, SLS, silicones, DEA, TEA, PEGs and MIs (methylisothiazolinone) never make the cut, nor do synthetics and strong essential oils. Instead, gentle organic actives at a low level are utilised. The brand is eco-friendly, treading lightly with the planet in mind and in everything they do. All products are packaged with recyclable materials, and only trusted suppliers with sustainable and responsible production methods, and environmental accreditations are used, like FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). As if it couldn’t get any better, the range is pregnancy safe during breastfeeding, dermatologist-approved for sensitive newborn and eczema-prone skin, and vegetarian society-approved. Last but not least, Little Butterfly London is made in the UK and approved by Vegan Society, Ecocert and Cruelty-Free International. The brand is also committed to carefully crafting its mother and baby skincare range with five values: purity, excellence, pleasure, beauty and grace.

Fresh Meadows Cooling Leg Gel comprises of 98.7% of the ingredients of natural origin, and 95% of the total plant ingredients that originate from organic farming.

You can find anti-inflammatory properties like ginger root, arnica flower and horse chestnut, boosting circulation and reducing puffiness. Next to these are nourishing oils of sweet almond, peach, passionflower and cucumber packed with an abundance of vitamins and fatty acids – locking in moisture and strengthening the skin’s resilience and elasticity. On the other hand, antioxidant-rich green tea, grape juice and aloe vera neutralize free radicals and protect the skin at a cellular level.

The sweet almond oil keeps skin looking healthy and protects from UV radiation through its richness in vitamin E for smooth, soft, youthful-looking skin. Additionally, peach kernel oil is filled with omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, carrying moisture deep into the skin for plump, hydrated skin. At the same time, Irish moss powder is lavishly hydrating and non-comedogenic, and peppermint oil soothes inflammation, itchiness and irritation. Among the ingredients listed above, aloe vera, peach kernel oil, peppermint oil, grapeseed oil and green tea are farmed entirely organically. 

Several other ingredients that you might not be too familiar with and ones to mention are sodium phytate, which stabilises cosmetic products, and potassium sorbate, which acts as a preservative. Denat (denatured alcohol) makes products spread and absorb easily while also acting as a preservative. Dicaprylyl carbonate is a skin-conditioning agent to enhance the absorption of other ingredients. Cetearyl glucoside, a blend of cetearyl alcohol and glucose to emulsify ingredients, and glyceryl stearate, an emollient responsible for keeping products blended.

As cooling leg gels go, this one for us is unmatched. Easy to apply, using gentle upward sweeping movements from toes to above the knees, it absorbs quickly. Our top tip is to keep it in the fridge to use on those blisteringly hot days - it’s heaven! As mentioned, the opaque gel is full of skin hydrating goodies as well as a subtle minty-fresh scent. It’s a lifesaver during the heat and works brilliantly on swollen legs after a flight (AKA ‘gravitational oedema’ from sitting down too long). It doesn’t dry out the skin; instead, you get hydrated and smooth legs. Hence, we recommend using the Cooling Leg Gel liberally, even in the colder months, if you need some leg pampering. See here to purchase a 100ml tube of Little Butterfly London’s Fresh Meadows Cooling Leg Gel at £22.

MOIA ELIXIRS : CBDerma-Repair Finishing Silk Serum

Having hydrated and healthy skin is essential to us at The Amazing Blog, particularly during the summer heat, when we’re in and out of chilling air-con. The fluctuating temperatures play havoc with our skin, and it’s when we look for a protecting, nourishing and balancing serum. We’re back with MOIA ELIXIRS (see review of their Nano-Fiber Mask here ) and their CBD-infused skincare with the CBDerma-Repair Finishing Silk Serum; it ticks our boxes and also won ‘Best CBD Skincare Product’ at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

MOIA ELIXIRS® was founded in the Czech Republic by Jakub Mohl Moia Elixirs in 2019. The Czech well-being brand ‘believes in the wisdom of nature and its gifts in the form of medicinal substances supporting the proper function of our cells and our body’. Founder Jakub Mohl firmly believes in the positive effects of CBD, which helped heal his injured hand. Following his recovery, he became increasingly interested in the healing powers of CBD. This led on to creating his own CBD brand and building an extraction and purification laboratory for the production of CBD and botanical extracts. They only use 100% crystalline pure (isolate) cannabidiol extract in their skincare and full-spectrum in their CBD oils and edibles. Together with our farmers, they follow the whole process, from growing plants from seeds (EU-certified cultivars) to the final CBD extract. The MOIA ELIXIRS® products also include their own patented actives from natural origin, primarily made with the highest concentration of organic botanicals with ECOCERT COSMOS certification, and Karlovy Vary minerals (from their hometown). All products have the certification of the Czech Institute of Accreditations (ČIA), with a range of six CBD-infused collections with Beauty Age, BioActive, Nano Fiber, CBE Wellness, CBD Oils and Animalixir. The brand is proud of its sustainability credentials including zero-waste packaging with aluminium tubes and brown pharmaceutical glass bottles, all with minimal use of plastic except for the screw and bottle tops. They have a giving-back policy, donating part of their earnings to the world-famous organisation The Ocean Cleanup in order to fight ocean pollution by plastics. Finally, all MOIA ELIXIRS® skincare products are dermatologically tested, vegan-friendly, not tested on animals, free from GMO ingredients, fragrance and THC. They are also quick to point out that all of their products are ‘chemical-free’ with no PEG, dimethicone, parabens, paraffin, petrolatum and phenoxyethanol.

With all that being said, let’s further assess this award-winning Finishing Silk Serum, which is part of the ‘Beauty Age’ collection. It’s designed to improve the quality of the skin by increasing strength, reducing fine lines, hydrating and restoring elasticity. More importantly, it claims to nourish skin receptors and also work as a protective shield against excessive cell ageing.

What sets this Finishing SIlk Serum apart is the use of their 300g CBD isolate, together with other natural actives. The CBD activates skin receptors and offers a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, helping balance and slow skin ageing. The CBD isolate (the purest form of crystalised CBD) is produced by removing all other compounds found in the hemp plant, including other cannabinoids isolating only the CBD. This isolate is thought to be the best type of CBD for skincare, as it’s odourless, doesn't clog pores and is packed with skin-rejuvenating antioxidant properties. The Finishing Silk Serum also has other active ingredients, which include: Squalane, hydrogenated polyisobutene, marula oil, oleyl erucate, almond oil, argan oil, vitamin E and soybean oil, caprylic capric triglyceride, laminaria ochroleuca extract and sucrose stearate.

The vegetable-based squalane locks in moisture, increasing the skin's elasticity and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. There is hydrogenated polyisobutene, which replaces mineral or silicone oils in formulas with its primary function as an emollient. The marula oil prevents wrinkles, hydrating the skin by strengthening cell membranes and allowing them to hold larger supplies of water. Oleyl erucate is another vegetable-based emollient very similar to jojoba oil (also included here). Almond oil improves skin tone, helps reverse sun damage and treats dry skin. Argan Oil has antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamins A, C, and E.It restores skin cells, balances pH, helps with acne, and prevents pigment spots. Vitamin E and soybean oil are rich and moisturising and ideal for mature skin. Caprylic capric triglyceride is derived from coconut oil and glycerine; its mix of fatty acids replenishes the skin’s surface, plus it works as a natural preservative. Laminaria ochroleuca extract is a species of kelp rich in alginates, mannitol and amino acids; it’s key in protecting against solar aggressions and preserving the skin's DNA. Finally, the sucrose stearate is plant-based and works as an emollient and emulsifier.

One of the reasons we love the serum is that it has lots of antioxidants and moisturising properties that nourish and leave skin feeling super-smooth. In these warm summer months, we used it as a stand-alone serum under our regular SPF to seal in goodness and to help save us from further sun damage. However, as we have dry skin, we'd probably layer it under a day cream (such as their CBDerma-Repair® Day Cream) during the winter months for extra protection. Although we see MOIA ELIXIRS® suggest using it as the sixth final skincare step over their day cream! Very little is needed as it’s oil-based; we only used a couple of drops for full face, neck and décolleté, applying morning and evening with gentle upward movements and finally tapping it around the eye area.

If you are looking for an age-defying serum, then this is for you. It’s also another of our #amazingfinds and a must-try with its DNA protection, and hydrating and anti-ageing properties. MOIA ELIXIRS® CBDerma-Repair 30ml Finishing Silk Serum can be purchased for €45, here.

Hairy Jayne : Floral Shampoo Bar

Hate having to pack heavy bottles of shampoo and conditioner for your trips away? They always take up far too much space, and if decanted for hand luggage, they’re too small to last the holiday! At The Amazing Blog, we’ve abandoned our regular liquid shampoos to try out the solid bars for a while. Today we’d like to share another of our latest #amazingfinds with a very travel-friendly sulphate-free Floral Shampoo Bar by Hairy Jayne; it’s gentle on hair and, best of all, won’t leak all over your clothes!

Hairy Jayne all began when hairdresser Jayne Rutland started getting raw hands from washing clients’ hair with mainstream and professional shampoos. This was when she decided it was time to investigate making her own natural hair care and went on to train at the cosmetics workshops Plush Folly. It inspired her to start experimenting and creating shampoos and conditioners using only natural plant oils. Jayne wanted a vintage-style name that everyone would remember, and ‘Hairy Jayne’ was born; it also rhymes with Mary Jane (shoes), which she says makes people laugh. She formulates and oversees the making of all her refillable and zero-waste hair care products, which are Vegan Society certified and cruelty-free. All ingredients are naturally derived and sustainably sourced. Jayne explained, “Unlike a lot of other zero waste beauty brands in the UK, we live, breathe and specialise in hair care. We only make hair care. We believe that living a sustainable lifestyle shouldn’t mean compromising how lovely your zero-waste shampoo and conditioner makes your hair feel.” Sustainability is also of paramount importance to Hairy Jayne; therefore, the packaging is either plastic-free, biodegradable or comes in refillable bottles. They also reuse packing materials wherever possible and plant a tree for every product sold with Ecologi to help reduce carbon emissions. The brand is probably best known for its sulphate-free Shampoo Bars, which have certainly made their mark as a Gold winner at the Free From Skin Awards 2020 and, more recently, as a Commended Winner in 2022, the Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Let’s talk more about The Shampoo Bars; these are ‘sydnet bars’, a made-up word that combines ‘synthetic’ and ‘detergent’. The detergent they use (sodium cocoyl isethionate) is derived from coconut oil. Jayne tells us, “The sulphate-free detergents we use in our solid shampoos are very mild and hair softening and won’t damage the hair like a traditional soap would. Syndet bars work better in hard water than soap does, too.” The brand offers a chart under ‘Is This The Right Product For You?’  showing the type of shampoo bar and the best option for each hair type. Jayne explained her reasoning for creating the Shampoo Bar, comparing herself to soap bars, “Unfortunately, there are a lot of products on the market that say ‘shampoo bar’ on the label, but they are actually bars of natural soap with added hair-friendly ingredients. These soap bars give solid shampoo bars a bit of a bad name when the user is left with hair that feels waxy and dull.” It’s because a simple natural soap isn’t the right pH level to use in the hair. Something to note is that shampoos need to be acidic (compared to soaps which are very alkaline) because the pH level of hair is between 4.5 and 5.5, which is acidic on the pH scale. pH-balanced shampoos don’t strip your hair and scalp of natural oils and protect it from dryness, frizz and damage. A slightly acidic shampoo also seals the hair cuticles keeping it strong and shining.

The Shampoo Bars come in four different fragrances:  Floral, Citrus, Musk and Herbal. Colour coded for hair types (see about ‘chart’ above), these are sulphate-free Shampoo Bars contain many ingredients as the liquid sulphate-free shampoos. We tried the ‘Floral Shampoo Bar’, which has three key essential oils, geranium, bergamot and vanilla, to give it its fragrance and restorative properties. The geranium also targets the scalp; and controls dryness, excess oil, and sebum production. Bergamot is rich in fatty acids and conditions and tames frizz. Lastly, vanilla strengthens hair and induces blood flow to the scalp.

The core ingredients in each Shampoo Bars are sulphate-free cleansers, mango seed butter, olive oil, aloe vera, green clay, palm-free stearic acid, detangling agent, and essential oils. The sulphate-free cleansers are sodium cocoyl isethionate, derived from the fatty acids in coconut oil that attract oil and water in the formula making it blend together; and disodium cocoamphodiacetate is a foam booster, that also conditions and improves dry, or damaged hair by replenishing moisture. The mango seed butter seals moisture and reduces breakage giving hair its elasticity. Olive oil provides softness and shine, and aloe vera controls greasy and helps an itchy scalp. Green clay anchors the essential oils allowing the scent to remain strong within the shampoo bar; it’s also effective at eliminating dirt and toxins while balancing oil production. Finally, the stearic acid is vegetable-derived and here as an emulsifier, stabiliser and thickener. 

What we like about this Shampoo Bar is the absence of water, and the concentration of ingredients, which means that it lasts longer than its liquid counterpart. Hairy Jayne gives three eco-friendly packaging options: recyclable cardboard box, reusable aluminium tin or no outer package (naked). To use the Shampoo Bar, they recommend saturating hair and massaging the Shampoo Bar directly onto the scalp, then rinsing away. Edwina, who tested this Shampoo Bar for the Awards, has very long, fine curly hair and gave it the big thumbs up. It lasted over a month, smelt amazing and was very gentle on her scalp and hair. In fact, it left her scalp nourished and with no irritation, unlike some other liquid sulphate-free shampoos. She also used Hairy Jayne’s multi-award-winning liquid Treatment Conditioner in tandem with the Shampoo Bar, and recommends it as a conditioner for optimum results - i.e. tangle-free hair!

Why not invest in this for gentle hair care for home use, or for your next trip away? To purchase the 50g Floral Shampoo Bar (which can last up to 2-3 months) for only £9, see here. Or, if you’re looking for a hair care bundle, they start at £15 here.