INCLUSEV : Powdered Handwash Lemon, Lime & Thyme Oil

As regular readers of The Amazing Blog will know, new beauty and wellbeing discoveries are very much our thing…. And today, we take a look at the British indie and sustainable brand INCLUSEV with their ‘ADD AQUA COLLECTION’ Powder Handwash. It’s a waterless beauty brand that offers natural products with a high concentration of actives and longer shelf life. It also means smaller amounts are used, so you get ‘more bang for your buck’.

Monica Chandak started INCLUSEV after a 13-year career in the cosmetic industry. She has copious experience within the beauty industry, working as a cosmetic chemist in full R&D, manufacturing and quality control, and has created over 600 different cosmetic formulations. Monica wanted to develop her own anhydrous formulations (waterless) cosmetic brand; this took three years to achieve, with over 150 trials before INCLUSEV was launched. She has produced a range called ‘ADD AQUA’, which provides a complete waterless cleansing routine with four key products: Handwash, Facewash, Bodywash, and Shampoo. As Monica says, “We’re changing the beauty industry one product at a time, with concentrated powder formulas that eliminate waste. Our high-performance products are backed by science, with water-activated formulas that offer powder-to-foam power for a new look of beauty for you and the planet.” The brand focuses on sustainability and transparency with this vegan waterless powder-to-foam collection. All products have 100% active ingredients, making them less wasteful, and more cost-effective than other liquid products, usually made using around 80% water and only 20% actives. INCLUSEV doesn’t use fillers, sulphates, phthalates, synthetic colours, fragrances, or parabens. Plus, they’re cruelty-free and not tested on animals. Their packaging is sustainable using biopolymer, made from sugarcane fibre and is 100% recyclable. It’s also a gender-neutral skincare formulated and produced in small batches here in the UK.

This natural condensed Powdered Handwash, which we tried has a science-based formula and only uses clean, plant-based, and organic ingredients. It comes in two different scents: ‘Lemon, Lime & Thyme Oil’ or ‘Coriander, Lemongrass & Tea Tree Oil’.

We received the ‘Lemon, Lime & Thyme Oil’. The active ingredients are: Sodium cocoyl isethionate and sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, both derived from coconut, giving the Handwash its foaming capabilities. The coconut milk powder helps to lock in hydration and nourish the skin. Kaolin is a clay and offers a silkiness and creaminess to the soap, and lactic acid is here to balance the skin's pH level. Thyme oil is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, offering protection, and tetrasodium pyrophosphate is added during saponification to prevent the powder from producing scum.

Whereas the eight organic ingredients are: Zea mays starch which acts as an absorbent. Oryza sativa (Asian rice) starch and distarch phosphate (derived from vegetable starch) are both texturising agents. Tapioca starch is a natural deodoriser and helps to soften the skin. Inulin is a type of prebiotic and natural humectant that draws moisture into the skin. Pyrus malus fruit extract (from apples) is high in antioxidants to protect skin from free radicals, and its AHAs - malic acid has the added benefit of mildly exfoliating the skin. Aloe conditions the skin and is excellent for soothing any dryness or irritation. The citrus limon juice powder is another ingredient that also banishes soap scum, and prevents oxidation in oils to help extend shelf life. The lemon peel oil is part of the relaxing and refreshing scent.

This concentrated powder gives the Powdered Handwash 4 x times the number of washes as its liquid counterpart. So, a 50g product should provide up to an astonishing 125 washes! What we like is that it doesn’t contain water or any questionable additives and is simple to use. All you do is add water to a couple of powder sprinkles which activates the handwash into a slightly foamy lather. The smell? A hint of herby thyme with undertones of vanilla, then top citrus notes, give it an overall garden freshness. Our hands were left naturally scented, hydrated and squeaky clean. There are two different size options, 25g and 50g, which can be packed away neatly for travel, and are very convenient for those on the go. With festival season in full swing, this Powdered Handwash is a must-have for hassle-free hygiene, i.e. when the portaloos run out of soap!

We applaud the brand for being so forward-thinking and planet-friendly with their waterless products, which we predict are the way of the future. To purchase the 25g Powdered Handwash for £13.00 or the 50g Handwash for £24.00, see here 

Floragy : No 1 Strengthening Hair Oil

More so than any other time of year, the balmy British summer days bring humidity, giving our hair the dreaded frizz… Every summer at The Amazing Blog, it becomes a bit of a mission to find a nourishing and hydrating haircare to tame our flyaway locks, which is why we want to talk about Floragy's No 1 Strengthening Hair Oil, which Edwina judged at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, where it was awarded an Editor's Choice.

Floragy is a natural skincare brand, founded in 2019 by Louisa Tidy, She started the company after stepping down from her fast-paced city world and moving to the countryside to embrace a slower pace of life. "I was exhausted after a full-on career travelling and working too many hours and wanted to take some time to rebalance my life. I’d always suffered from dry skin but as I’ve got older, I’ve found I need extra protection during the colder months. After some extensive research and experimenting, I created a few recipes for skincare products which my skin reacted well to, and I preferred over my usual products.” Louisa also became involved with various holistic practices such as acupuncture, homoeopathy and mediation, together with natural ingredients and studying how they could improve one's wellbeing. After a few years of testing and developing formulas, she launched Floragy with the ethos that ‘less is more’ keeping their ingredients to a minimum and using only key botanicals. In an interview with Faversham Life, Louisa revealed how they came up with the brand name, "We dreamt up the name Floragy by combining 'flora' and 'foraging." Floragy, as the name suggests, is made up of only natural botanicals; it’s clean and transparent with easy-to-understand labelling and focuses on using the healing powers of plant-based ingredients. Since its inception, Floragy’s focus is on its eco credentials and sustainability. Ingredients are sourced from local farmers and ethical producers, and the packaging is recyclable and has glass bottles and jars with aluminium lids. They also offer a refill option for the haircare range, so there’s less waste is generated from the pipette applicators. It’s a vegan and 100% cruelty-free brand and lists all the product ingredients and their benefits on its website here.. Floragy gives back by planting a minimum of 10 trees a month through One Tree Planted, they donaten10% of all sales of their Restore Body Oil to the Ocean Generation, and has pledged to be net zero carbon by 2040 as part of the SME Climate Hub.

The No 1 Strengthening Hair Oil is one of Floragy's most popular and well-loved products and with good reason. This product is designed to soften and strengthen dry hair as well as soothing and moisturising the scalp. When used for styling, it offers more defined curls and worked brilliantly on our unruly hair.

There are only five ingredients, coconut oil which hydrates and enhances the hair's lubrication, making it easier to style and manage. It also increases shine and helps prevent frizz. Argan oil is probably the key ingredient with its many benefits. It’s rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, and helps improve dryness, smooths and detangles the hair, and protects it from damage. Olive squalane is an excellent conditioner and helps restore hydration to the hair and scalp. It also softens the hair texture and adds shine without adding any greasiness. The two essential oils are sweet orange and bergamot; apart from their zesty fragrance they also provide other hair and scalp benefits. The sweet orange is full of vitamin C to purify the scalp and aid healthy hair growth; bergamot is full of antioxidants which shield the hair and scalp against the damaging effects of oxidative stress, and antimicrobials which stop bacteria.

Hair oils can be applied in many ways, post-wash, added to shampoo as a boost, or even as an overnight hair and scalp treatment. We do post-wash for condition and styling, and use oils overnight as a treatment. But adding to shampoo as a boost? Well, that was a first for us. When we tried combining it with shampoo, it stopped any stripping or straw-like effects, that we sometimes get from testing out various haircare. We highly recommend trying this method if you have any of these issues. We’d also like to add that this No 1 Strengthening Hair Oil was particularly suitable for our dry ends and for smoothing long, fine and textured hair. Hair oils are an essential part of our haircare, mainly used as a detangler and to help deter further split ends. Floragy offers three different hair oils, all of which have specific benefits. The No 2 Conditioning Hair Oil is lighter and probably best for bleached or damaged chemically treated hair, it helps to bring back condition and shine. And the No 3 Smoothing Hair Oil is another award-winning hair oil, that’s excellent for sealing in moisture and adding extra shine.

Apart from leaving hair smelling deliciously fresh and citrusy, this No 1 Strengthening Hair Oil made it shiner, softer and curls more defined. This is why Floragy is another of our #amazingfinds and a go-to for its simple, natural and effective haircare ingredients. To purchase the 15ml No 1 Strengthening Hair Oil at £14 see here, or £25 for 30ml, both have refill options.

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.

White Lotus : Activated Jade and Tourmaline Crystal Face Serum

We all know the power of crystals and their many benefits for mental well-being, but did you know that they can enhance your skincare too? As readers of The Amazing Blog will know, we love to try out effective, new and unique skincare, and yet again, we’ve made an exciting discovery via The Beauty Shortlist Awards. This time, it’s a serum with a difference, meet Activated Jade and Tourmaline Crystal Face Serum from award-winning Australian holistic skincare company White Lotus.  

Husband and wife duo Anthony and Kamila Kingston, founder of White Lotus, met while studying Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese herbal medicine at university. They spent two years in Asia, studying traditional holistic beauty and treatments passed down through generations. On returning to their native Australia in 2004, they opened their first clinic White Lotus Cosmetic Acupuncture. This was Australia’s first specialist cosmetic skin and microneedling clinic. "Due to the unique nature of the clinic, which offered brand new treatments for the time including microneedling, jade rollers, facial Gua Sha and cosmetic cupping, word of mouth quickly spread." In 2007, White Lotus, with Anthony’s knowledge of herbal pharmacology, officially launched its first range of skincare products and tools, together with online courses for techniques such as acupuncture, microneedling, and traditional face reading. They’ve even co-written and published books, like "Jade Roller, Gua Sha & Cosmetic Cupping for the Face and Body". White Lotus is also committed to avoiding greenwashing and has partnered with Clean Hub, an organisation that checks and verifies the amount of plastic they remove from the ocean each month. The brand is also working to become a carbon-neutral company, the majority of products are organic, PETA approved, vegan and cruelty-free. They are also free from harmful ingredients such as parabens, sulphates, mineral oil, petroleum, phthalates, ethanolamines, silicone, GMO, or synthetics. They're no strangers to awards, as they have won over 20 awards. Most notably, they've won an Editor's Choice Award at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards and were a finalist at the 2021 Mama & Baby Awards.

The Activated Jade and Tourmaline Crystal Face Serum is made using genuine crystals rather than the fashionable but less effective method of crystal infusion. For those not in the know, crystal-infused skincare simply means real crystals are dipped in the mixture and then removed during the manufacturing process - leaving no trace of the crystal or its beneficial effects. This Crystal Face Serum contains genuine ground jade and tourmaline crystals combined with organic and natural botanical oils and herbs.

It is believed that jade was used to withdraw negative energy and balance 'chi', a 'life force or energy in traditional Chinese methods. Using jade can help brighten skin complexion, reduce puffiness, and aid blood circulation. Although tourmaline crystals are excellent for balancing chakras and meridians, this gem also has some skin benefits. This energising crystal can be used to vitalise skin, making it more luminous and youthful. When these genuine finely ground ‘activated’ jade and tourmaline crystals are applied to the skin, it has attracted natural wave energy AKA ‘far-infrared rays’. (By the way, to activate any crystals they have to be placed in the light of the full moon for a minimum of four hours). These crystals help skin cells called fibroblasts to synthesise new collagen and elastin. The brand also tells us one of the main benefits of these far-infrared rays is that they, “Advance wound healing by promoting collagen synthesis, cell proliferation and keratinocyte motility”.

Apart from the jade and tourmaline crystals, other key ingredients are botanicals: Rose flower water, camelia seed, jojoba, frankincense, bergamot and lemon oils; plus panax ginseng root and benzyl alcohol. Rose flower water has antibacterial properties that help reduce skin redness and improve complexion. Camelia seed minimises the appearance of premature ageing and promotes healthy skin. Jojoba has vitamins E and B-complex, and it’s key to damage control and skin repair. Frankincense soothes and nourishes and aids with sunburn, rosacea or breakouts. Bergamot contains limonene, a potent antioxidant and has many anti-inflammatory properties. Lemon oil evens skin tone and lightens dark spots, rejuvenating and detoxifying tired-looking skin. Benzyl alcohol is a natural preservative; this type used is not ethanol. The herbs are either added raw or extracted using an oil-based method rather than ethanol. Finally, ginseng is full of vitamins D and B12 and can help slow the loss of collagen, helping the skin retain elasticity.

What we liked about this serum is that It is light and cooling, making it perfect for the warmer summer months. With its very slight bergamot/citrus scent, it absorbs almost instantly when applied. Using 4 or 5 pumps of the serum we gently massaged it onto the face and neck morning and night. Skin felt soft and hydrated - with no evidence of any powdery crystals, just a silky smooth and opaque liquid. It’s hydrating enough by itself and we felt no need for a moisturiser, only our regular SPF. White Lotus say that with regular use, it will increase the skin's microcirculation, detoxification, and nourishment; as this serum allows for deeper penetration for the hydration of the skin cells. It’s a game-changer for holistic skincare and has become an instant favourite with us; and also has excellent sustainability credentials, as it comes in a 30ml glass bottle and BPA/BPS & phthalate-free and recyclable plastic cap and pump. it’s PETA certified, vegan and cruelty-free and is made with 90% certified organic ingredients.

The Activated Jade and Tourmaline Crystal Serum is also a vital part of the White Lotus Crystal Facial and can be used alone or works wonderfully with their jade roller or rose quartz roller. We have written about their Jade Roller here. They also recommend combining it with their Organic Green Tea Face Oil and jade gua sha to complete the full crystal facial. To purchase the 30ml Activated Jade and Tourmaline Crystal Serum for £29 see here. We hope to see more innovative products from White Lotus in the future and will be keeping an eye out for the next product launch.