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Saturday, 4 January 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
paper and in colour-enhanced TV commercials, or the societal acceptance of ‘beauty’ with smooth skin and picture perfection, all of us, however comfortable we are in our own skin, want to feel and look beautiful.
There is a certain sense of power and confidence that comes with looking and feeling good, and many go to various lengths, both artificial and natural, to ensure that they step out with the weapon of ‘looking and feeling great’ when they tackle the world.
At Luscious, a project launched on the social media platform Facebook which has fast gained popularity despite being only a month old, the therapeutic value of seawater and seaweed is used to present products that are sure to revitalise, repair and moisturise the body and skin.
Seaweed is increasingly becoming a popular choice in the spa and beauty care arena around the world as it does not contain pesticides, herbicides and fungicides and is chemical free.
From desserts to body care
Shahzamee Ferozenoon hit the jackpot when she came across the benefits of seaweed for skin and hair while doing some research on seaweed jelly, which she used to create desserts for special occasions. Having stumbled on this accidently, it took her a while to experiment and research more carefully into it before she finally decided to give it a go.
“It’s no big story,” she told the Weekend FT, “It all happened quite suddenly. I love experimenting with cooking and likewise try my hand at desserts as well. We as a tradition consume seaweed jelly for all our special occasions so while doing some research I found out about the benefits of seaweed for skin and hair and thought of trying it out.”
Her extensive research paid off well and soon after launching her products on Facebook, they caught on fast. “The response is amazing. People say our products work wonders on their skin,” Ferozenoon said. “It helps that people want to be more eco-friendly these days as well.”
Product range
Luscious offers a range of seaweed based products, including shower jellies, shower gels, foot soaks, hair spa masks and soaps.
The shower jellies come in the flavours of strawberry, mint, citrus and menthol, providing customers with an all-new shower experience. “Seaweed based ‘shower gel’ in blackcurrant is ideal for those with dry to normal skin and orange for those with oily to normal skin,” she explained.
Fizzy foot soaks help in preventing dry and rough skin, leaving feet soft and smooth after regular use, making it easier for users to have instant pedicures at home. Luscious also offers sea weed based all-purpose soaps.
Their latest addition to the range is the ‘Hair spa seaweed mask’ – a unique hair mask that deeply conditions and nourishes hair, made with a concoction of pure seaweed extract, tea and lemongrass. They also offer custom made spa baskets which are ideal as gifts.
“Most popular by far are the shower jellies, shower gels and the fizzy foot soaks.”
Being innovative
Handmade bath care products are not something that everyone tries their hand at. Asked what sparked her interest, she said: “I just gave it a try, and it worked! Besides I’ve always admired LUSH handmade cosmetics and their jelly range, which is also another reason for me to get interested in this,” she reflected. “Of course there is gelatine, but I thought why not use seaweed since its 100% vegetarian, and sets well in room temperature.”
Benefits of seaweed
She also wanted to do something innovative and create awareness on the goodness of seaweed which most do not know.
The use of seaweed is said to nourish, protect and increase circulation, leading to healthy skin and body. Packed with vitamins such as A1, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E, K, folic acid and niacin along with minerals, trace elements and amino acids, the use of seaweed ensures youthful skin, slowing the ageing skin process while protecting it from the harsh elements of the environment.
Ingredients to make products
The main ingredient used is seaweed. Along with it Ferozenoon also adds organic soaping agent according to the product, and concentrated fruit extract. She uses food colouring for colour and essences and spa essential oils for aroma
“We at Luscious personally handle each and every order and process it after getting the confirmation from the customer. Therefore there’s no need to be afraid of outdated or expired stuff. Our products are also free from harsh chemicals or harmful preservatives.”
