If you haven’t heard of Surya Brasil, it might be time to take a look.  Spend some time on the company’s website and you can read about the core values.  The mission statement alone is a conscious consumer’s dream:

“To create and brand the best quality body care products that promote beauty, health and well being. To bring forward action that benefits society and the environment. To maintain the highest level of responsibility towards consumers, suppliers, distributors, store buyers, employees, the community and the environment. To promote Surya Brasil’s vision both nationally and internationally — wherever the company is operating. To offer employees a positive and stimulating work environment with benefits that enhance their health and well being. To create abundance for the owners and their families.”

Surya doesn’t just make hair color products.  The company also makes skin care and bath products, and hair care products for men and women.  Everything is certified vegan, gluten-free, and organic, and the packaging is biodegradable.

Of course, all the nice words in the world mean nothing if you don’t like the products.  So, we tried some of the items in the Sapien line.

Sapien Women Shampoo and Conditioner are free of alcohol, sulfates, parabens and synthetic fragrances.  The texture of the shampoo (oddly similar in appearance to Bain de Soleil) is thick.  It doesn’t lather much, but it does the job.  And yes, it smells good.  The conditioner, which contains a number of exotic-sounding oils, will make your hair super soft and shiny.

If you want to take it up a notch, Sapien Women Leave In and Split End Repair both work to further soften and smooth your hair.  It is recommended that you use the products together.  However, that was simply too much for my fine hair and I found the split end repair was sufficient.

The Sapien Women line also includes cleansers and scrubs and the Sapien Men line includes shampoos, shaving gel and cleansers.  The company also makes lip balms and another line of products, Amazonia Preciosa.

Surya Brasil products can be purchased on their website.  Or, if you prefer, use the store locator to find a retailer near you.

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When I was given the chance to sample select products from Surya Brasil’s Amazônia Preciosa collection, I was intrigued to see how their products would compare. Their Amazônia Preciosa Gift Set seemed like a great place to start, given that it contained a bit of everything: one Cupuaçu shampoo (sulfate-free and rich in fatty acids—perfect for my color-treated hair) and one conditioner, one exfoliating shower gel, and one “intense revitalizing” Action hand and body lotion. The connecting element within these products, as well as the rest of the Amazônia Preciosa line, is that all of them contain essential oil from the bark of the Preciosa tree. Harvested sustainably and having a very unique fragrance incapable of being reproduced artificially, Preciosa essential oil is moisture straight from nature with a very exotic, distinct scent—something that to me smells like a cross between coconut, vanilla, chili spice, and lavender.

Upon application, the plant-based shampoo does not foam, being largely all natural and free of sodium lauryl sulfate (which gives most commercial shampoos their foam). I probably used a tad more than I needed just to make sure it was evenly distributed through my hair, but it smelled amazing so I did not mind. The conditioner had a very similar, slightly spicier smell, and definitely felt more natural (a.k.a less instantly slick and conditioning) than commercial conditioners. I had to comb quite a bit of it through my thick hair, but it did get the knots out. The real magic with my hair happened after I got out of the shower. Normally, I have to blow dry my hair with some leave-in conditioner in order to get it smoothed out, but I decided to air dry after using the Amazônia Preciosa hair products. Not only did my hair dry much straighter and silkier than it typically does, it felt really bouncy and super healthy…like the moisture had actually seeped in and given my hair a big boost. Even my boyfriend commented on it…and he is definitely not one to notice subtle changes in hair! Though it definitely takes a bit longer to massage the shampoo and conditioner into one’s hair (so may not be the best option for people in a rush), the end result is quite impressive. It made me really want to try the Amazônia Preciosa Buriti shampoo—made specifically for damaged and color-treated hair but not included in the gift set—to see how it differs.

My favorite item in the gift set was the lotion, which I enjoyed even more than the bath products. Made with macadamia, aloe vera, and cocoa butter amongst other natural moisturizers, a little really goes a long way with this lotion. I typically have to reapply several times throughout the day, especially during the winter, but this lotion kept my skin super smooth for the whole day, and felt light and fast absorbing.

As Dianne mentioned in her recent review of another Surya Brasil line of products, the company is certified by Ecocert, an internationally-accepted certification that provides consumer transparency in relation to the natural and organic origin of the ingredients used in the products. All of the ingredients are free of GMOs, and many are also organic. This, along with the super ecological packaging of the products and biodegradable inserts, makes the Amazônia Preciosa line not only gentle on your body, but also gentle on the earth. If you are someone who really values buying your cosmetic and body care products from a source that cares about their effects on the environment, this is one of the most conscious companies I’ve come across.

If you’re looking for a great last-minute holiday gift for an eco-conscious gal who appreciates being pampered (or want to treat yourself!), I would definitely recommend checking out the Amazônia Preciosa’s gift set. It’s enough of a sampler to become acquainted with some of their most popular products, and true to the Surya Brasil’s efforts to give back to the earth, it even comes with a tag made of seed paper so that you can grow a little green surprise at home.

Suyra Brasil has graciously given us a Amazônia Preciosa’s gift set for one lucky Chic Vegan reader. Follow the instructions below to enter. US residents only, please. Contest ends at midnight EST on December 22, 2013. Good luck!

The post Product Review: Amazônia Preciosa from Surya Brasil appeared first on Chic Vegan.

I tried a variety of their products–mostly in the Amazônia Preciosa line–like shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, massage oil, and others.  These products each had distinctly earthy, nutty fragrances and felt naturally light.  Here’s a couple of my favorites:

Facial Toner

Acne has never attacked my face too mercilessly, but I have definite problem areas.  Recently–who knows by what; weather, stress?–my forehead has fallen victim to ever-present blemishes and bumps regardless of my facial care routine.  I do not utilize toner too often and figured I had nothing to lose by trying Surya Brasil facial toner before my moisturizer.  It did wonders!  My skin’s impurities retreated and natural radiance restored.  Needless to say, I’m a convert to Surya Brasil facial toner.  It’s now part of my permanent routine.  Plus, it smells faintly of aloe and citrus rather than the alcohol smell of most other toners.

Hand and Body Lotion

This product applies light and is a refreshing addition to my hand and body moisturizers.  The soft hydrating formula made my skin feel silky and is ideal for an all-over daily lotion.  An interesting aspect of this product that I love is that it separates if I don’t use it for a few days (so does the shampoo and conditioner).  I love this because it proves that what I am putting on my skin is natural.  A product whose main ingredient is water ought to separate naturally.  The separation made me even more confident of its organic and vegan certifications.  Just don’t forget to shake it up every once in awhile.

Lip Balm

Truly vegan lip balm?  Finally!  I’m sure that anyone who has tried to search for vegan lip balm can share in my frustrations with the search.  Lip balm is harder than any other body care item for me to find in a vegan variety.  Many labels claim “no animal ingredients”/ “cruelty-free” yet list beeswax as the first ingredient. Surya Brasil lip balms come in 5 flavors and uses candelilla vegetable wax with certified fair trade cocoa butter to nourish lips. I am still deciding on my favorite flavor, but I’m currently loving the chocolate & mint.

Surya Brasil hair and skin care products make it easy to shop vegan.  They are not only explicitly labeled certified organic, vegan, and cruelty-free; but they also feel like vegan products.  They are light in texture and fragrance, making you experience the earthy, natural elements of your product.  These products make you feel healthy and natural and welcome you to “detox your beauty.”

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