Insight – Mahogany Naturals

Many of you may have noticed on my Instagram account my new found love for Mahogany Naturals products. Mahogany Naturals is created by hair stylist Tope Beesley in 2012 to specifically address the needs of curly, textured and afro hair. Tope is also a certified Aromatherapist & Beauty Therapist so she understands how ingredients and essential oils affect different skins, hair and scalp conditions.

Tope believes everything has a purpose but most importantly, the products are meant to de-stress and relieve anxiety. As with any artisanal skincare, Mahogany Naturals is also hand made in small batches to retain its freshness in the historical town of Bletchley Milton Keynes, UK. They are PETA CERTIFIED as a cruelty free company and all  ingredients are 100% natural, organic, not tested on animals and are vegetarian friendly.

SNEAK PEEK: Keep an eye out on my Instagram, a giveaway of products will be announced to win some of the products mentioned below.

Meet Tope, below is my lil chat with this gorgeous talented woman

1. Why Mahogany Naturals (why the name and why create this brand)?

The name Mahogany has always been a part of me. I remember using it since I was a teenager. It means strength, luxury and the best from mother nature.

2. The new trend of ‘Green Beauty’ is falsely misleading some customers as they’re not all completely natural or green….your thoughts? How is Mahogany Naturals truly natural? 

Everything we use is completely natural. I started out mixing formulations in my kitchen from my fridge to my food cabinet.  Even our preservative is naturally derived. I do roll my eyes when I see well known brands slap “natural” on the front label but then you look at the ingredients list and silicons and harsh chemicals are in the first 5 ingredients. I urge everyone to go straight to the ingredients list and familiarize themselves with it.

(You see why I love Tope so much, she insists on same thing, check the ingredient listing, get the past the claims of the product)

3. What motivates you to create new products? How are you inspired with different ingredients?

First of all my family is number one, my children and husband inspire me to start formulation my own recipes. I am also a qualified Hairstylist and Aromatherapist so I have the knowledge of the effects of essential oils and how to blend them. I also see a problem when a client comes to me and if I don’t have a product that solves their issue I work on formulating something.

4. Skincare market is saturated and everyday new brands are coming up. How does Mahogany Naturals distinguish itself from other brands in market?

I stay true to the essentials. I keep it simple with my ingredients and use only the best and highest quality ingredients. I don’t make any wild claims. I let the products speak for themselves and work their magic.

5. What skincare advise did you receive as a little girl and what advise do you give your children?

I don’t think I specifically got any skincare advice as a kid. I just grew a passion for it as I got older. My kids use everything I use from head to toe. My girls are always very moisturised. I explain to them that if you look after yourself from a young age you grow old gracefully and stay looking youthful for longer.

You can follow Tope and the brand on Instagram (click here)

EXPRESS REVIEWS

This is where my love affair with Mahogany Naturals began. Hair Mask with Rhassoul Cocoa, Honey Deep Hair Treatment. Its rich, delicious, intoxicating, intriguing texture had me all over it. Admittedly slightly heavy for my hair type (fine, thin and flat), but I can see this would be deeply adored with very dry and brittle hair. I carefully glanced at ingredient listing and decided to use as face mask! Fabulous deeply moisturizing for skin. Have a closer look at this decadent pot of lushness.

Rhassoul, Raw honey, (Theobroma Cacao) Organic cocoa powder, Theobroma cacao Unrefined cocoa butter, (Aloe Barbadensis) Organic aloe vera, (Olea Europa) Extra virgin olive oil, (ulmus rub) Slippery elm, Guar, emulsifier, essential oils.

Next hair treatment I tried was the Coconut Water Restorative Hair Mask, this suited my hair perfectly. I’ve used it as pre shampoo and post shampoo and my hair loves this mask. Also it smells beautiful (as with all Mahogany Naturals product). Scent wise I’ve yet to come across any product from this brand that I don’t like. This hair mask is not as dense as Rhassoul Clay and glides effortlessly through the hair strands.

Packaging wise all products come in plastic containers (not flimsy at all) with all information on labels. They are environmentally friendly and recognize the fact that we throw boxes!!!

(Aloe Barbadensis) Aloe vera, Coconut water, Organic castor oil, (Ricinus communis) Shea butter, Organic coconut oil (Cocos nucifera). Organic honey (Prunus Dulcis), Sweet almond oil, (Tocopherol) vitamin E, Vegatable glycerine, (Olea Europaea) Extra Virgin olive oil, silk amino acids, cetearyl alcohol, optiphen

My personal favorite skincare range from this brand is truly de-stressing component of my skincare regime. It really uplifts my mood from the shittiest day in the history of my existence. If asked to choose one product from this line up, I would walk away from all three because I cannot choose. Its all or nothing.

Cleansing Oil – perfect as morning or second cleanse, I dont prefer using this lush oil for makeup removal because I want direct contact to feed and nourish my skin and not deal with my war paint issues. Doesn’t emulsify with water but comes off effortlessly with hot cloth. I don’t need to specifically talk about the scent, just glance at inci list below.

(vitis vinifera) Grape Seed Oil, (olea europaea) olive oil, (citus sinensis) sweet Orange Oil, (melaleuca alternifolia) tea tree oil , Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Oil, lavender, camomile,  Eucalyptus radiata oil.

Next up, Face Hydrating Repair Oil. Yes we all know I have a major weakness for oils. But oils like this, where the Man of house calls it his own, means we have a clear winner. We need a moment here, to appreciate my Man uses face oil, this in the past has always been a forced measure. Now he is willingly doing it himself. Reasons behind this you may ask: well the uplifting scent, with instantly absorbing formulation, leaving the skin with a hydrated plump feel. What more could I ask for?!

(Oenothera fiennis) Evening primrose, (Sclerocarya birrea) macula, (Adansonia Digitata) baobab, (tocopherol) vitamin e, camellia, (Rosa canina) rosehip, (Persea americana) avocado, teatree, (Anthemis Nobilis) camomile, (Rosmarinus officinalis) rosemary.

Now the one that took me by surprise, Manuka Face Cream. I’ll be honest I don’t like or appreciate creams as much as face oils (in case you didn’t already know that!). However if you ask why that is the case, please click here as I have detailed post on this.

The first point of difference with this cream, the first ingredient is Aloe Vera. Second the addition of Manuka Honey 20+ factor as third ingredient. Tope is not mucking about with rubbish ingredients, she knows the true value of good quality ingredients. Much to my surprise the addition of Shea Butter did not congest or break me out. The preservative and emulsifier is also from natural source. Another reason why this won my heart, it’s in a bottle with a pump, no filthy fingering business.

Instantly absorbs, in same scent profile as other skincare products, immediate softness and plumpness in skin. Fabulous as makeup base or for basic Cleanse-Tone-Moisturize routine.

Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Leaf extract, Light Coconut Oil, Manuka Honey 20+, Avocado oil, Butyrosperum Parkii (Organic Shea Butter), Rosemary oil, Glyceryl stearate, Stearic acid, Glycerin, Collagen (Marine), Cetyl Alcohol, Hippohae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn seed oil), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)

Lastly the body care category, my favourite from this range is the body oil. The best combination is soak in bath salts and then slap on the body oil. I smell and feel bloody amazing.

Body Oil: (Vitis vinifera) Grapeseed oil, (Olea europaea) Virgin Olive Oil, Eucalyptus radiate, Lavandula officinalis oil, (Citrus Grandis) Grapefruit oil.

Bath Salts: Sodium Chloride Rock Crystal, Geranium Oil, Vegetable Glycerine, rose oil, eucalyptus oil, Allura Red

The deodorant is used more as body mist for me, I’m a woman who needs clinical protection deodorant for my kinda activities.

Have you tried anything from this brand? Alsooooo keep your eyes peeled for the giveaway on my Instagram.

HHW.com

xx

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Bath Salts Edition

During the cooler/freezing months, I will be soaking/pruning away to glory in extended bath sessions. Recently, I indulged in a miniature set of all oils from Aromatherapy Associates. One word, they’re Divine. But they come at a price tag. I wanted to create a simple, cost effective option which leaves me with just as divine bath experience.

Yes we all know I’m on a major DIY kick and wanted to create something just as good, which is cost effective, something you can prepare in the comfort of your home and modify the scent depending on your mood.

Here’s my ‘Recipe’ (I say recipe loosely, because as you know from my previous post I’m freestyle kinda person). The beauty of this recipe is you can keep it as simple or fancy as you like – your choice, your decision.

• 2 parts of Epsom Salts (you can get regular or scented ones like Dr. Teals Lavender, Chamomile, Eucalyptus Spearmint, Rosemary & Mint etc). Benefits of epsom salt are well known. Some of which include, stimulating circulation, soothing sore muscles and reduce inflammation, detoxify toxins, improve absorption of nutrients, improve oxygen flow and use.
• 1 part of Sea Salt Crystals (black sea, himalayan, atlantic, hawaiian, dead sea etc) – excellent for softening water. Plus it can stimulate circulation, ease muscle cramps, help relieve stiffness in joints, and soothe aching legs and feet. Also it helps cleanse and detoxify the largest organ in the body—your skin.
• 1tbsp Baking Soda – helps alkalize the body and exfoliate skin
• Essentials Oils – I used (2-3 drops) – Bergamot, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Tuberose
• Spices – Pinch of Cinnamon and Clove powder to help relieve tired sore muscles

The final potion smells bloody amazing, not only in my bath but also the whole bathroom smelled like a spa.

Your Personalized Twist

As mentioned in the previous post, you can mix absolutely anything and make DIY projects spectacular.

Moisturizing Agents – You can add slivers of shea butter, cocoa butter, moisturizing oils (jojoba, sweet almond, rosehip, argan, wheatgerm, coconut, olive, avocado, grapeseed, etc). You can even add Glycerin to the mixture but ensure you mix really well.

You can also add dried herbs (mint, rosemary, etc) or dried fruit peels (like lemon, lime, grapefruit or any citrus fruit) or dried flower petals (rose, lavender, calendula, chamomile, jasmine) or powdered tea (black, red, green, white) or pinch of ground powdered spices (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, black pepper, saffron). These ingredients can either be added as a whole or powdered so it goes down easier in the tub drain.

The Essential oils list is endless but here are some to get you inspired: patchouli, sandalwood, cedar wood, rosewood, geranium, rose, lavender, rosemary, ylang ylang, tuberose, gardenia……etc.

Many add food coloring to give it colour, personally I don’t care for any colour. However if you’d like some please go ahead.

The tag line for any DIY project is: Whatever your mind fancies and heart desires.! Of course these make lovely xmas pressies too, package them in cute jars with lovely labels and voilaaa you have hand made, hand poured, personalized gift with a touch of care and love.

HHW.com

xx