The entire line eliminates petrochemical ingredients, synthetic colors and fragrances, ethoxylated ingredients, parabens, phenoxyethanol, and other synthetic preservatives. Many products are vegan and all products are certified Cruelty Free by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics/Leaping Bunny Logo program. Blissoma is an approved Whole Foods Premium Bodycare line.Blissoma creates intelligent raw and active skincare, herbal therapies, and artisan perfumes. The SOLUTIONS organic skincare line debuted in 2009 and is known for its truly functional, elegant, and nutritive formulas.
Founder and formulator Julie Longyear is educated in art and chemistry, which informs her focus on distilling beauty, creativity, and function in every product. She blogs as From The Bathtub!! Now we are talking!! Just kidding!! anyway….
The Blissoma brand was introduced in 2005 and has evolved over the last 6 years to encompass a range of more than 50 products sold by over 200 retailers nationally and internationally.
The Irie Star studio is housed in a historic, 100 year old brick building in the regenerating neighborhood of Hyde Park. Longyear and family are actively rehabilitating the structure using green and historic construction methods, including rebuilding more than 20 original wooden windows by hand.
The debates over the healthfulness of sunscreen still rage on with some in the “always” camp and some saying “never”. The one proactive sun product that both sides can agree on is Amend, a potent antioxidant-based sprayable lotion to prevent and heal sun damage. Amend boasts a one-of-a-kind formulation using ingredients proven in scientific studies and in the field by customers.
The key ingredient in Amend is a select quality pomegranate extract known as Pomella. Pomella is a whole extract containing all the fruit’s beneficial polyphenolic compounds. It is fundamentally different from other pomegranate extracts. It is standardized for Punicalagins. These newly studied compounds are more bioavailable than Ellagic acid, meaning that the body is more able to utilize them. The extract builds the body’s ability to resist sunburn.
In published, peer-reviewed study by the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Texas A&M University Pomella was able to reverse UV-induced cell death, reactive oxygen species, and collagenases which are the enzymes that destroy collagen. When applied topically it boosts skin’s natural defenses, averts damage and heals it faster. The same study observed a beneficial effect for the SIRT1 gene, the “longevity gene” associated with research on Resveratrol. The unique structure and absorption of Pomella combined with proven research makes it the only Pomegranate extract of its kind available.
Blissoma was the first skincare brand to put Pomella to use in a topical product and remains a trailblazer with this ingredient.
Aloe gels have been the conventional remedy that most apply for after-sun. Amend contains organic aloe but in a cleaner form with no carbomers, TEA, or artificial green color.
Amend also contains lightweight, skin soothing organic oils and herbs. Organic acai oil and organic tamanu oil soothe skin and offer further antioxidants. An organic rooibos tea infusion base with cool brewed extracts of linden flowers, comfrey, and heather flowers take the sting out of stressed skin and encourage new tissue formation. And with the Blissoma trademark whole, unrefined extracts customers get all the beneficial components of the herbs and none of the label claim hype.
Amend Brought to Light
The total product has a delightful scent, non-greasy and non-sticky feel on skin and really works. Gabrielle from Chicago says,“I am using the Amend and can tell you proof positive that the body part it goes on doesn’t get the same sun exposure that the unprotected areas get. It is amazing!”
In a side-by-side field test Stancie of Fig+Sage applied Amend to one burned leg and a competitor sun soother to the other. Amend healed her sunburn days faster and with significantly less discomfort. She calls it a “Must-Have” for summer sun care. It is equally as important for people concerned with photo-aging or individuals who have had skin cancer as a proactive treatment.
Amend is priced at $16.99 per 4 oz bottle. It is packaged in recyclable, eco-friendly aluminum for easy travel.
Blissoma skincare is sold regularly through the IrieStarC.com, Whole Foods Markets Midwest stores, and selected fine independent natural retailers nationwide.
