Why Nettles?
For generations, nettles have grown quietly across the Irish countryside, valued by those who knew them and overlooked by many who didn't.
Known more for its sting than for what it offers, nettle becomes something entirely different when handled correctly: a plant with a long history of use and, more recently, growing scientific interest.
Nettle naturally contains polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamins such as A and C, and minerals including iron, silica and magnesium. In recent years these compounds have attracted serious attention in cosmetic and botanical research, with peer-reviewed laboratory studies reporting the antioxidant activity of nettle extracts and exploring their ability to help protect skin cells from oxidative stress. That growing body of research is one of the reasons we chose nettle as the foundation of Améa.
There's a certain irony to it. A plant that can irritate the skin in its raw form becomes gentle and supportive when prepared properly.
When developing Améa, we could have chosen countless botanical ingredients from around the world. Instead, we chose the one that had always been growing at home.
We work with nettles grown on our certified organic family farm in the hills of North Leitrim, hand-picked by three generations of one family.
The nettles are slowly cold-infused over several weeks, following a deliberate process that reflects our philosophy: taking time rather than rushing production.
Every batch is prepared in our dedicated production unit in County Leitrim, allowing us to oversee every stage ourselves, from infusion through to bottling, and to maintain the quality, traceability and care that define Améa.
Alongside traditional botanical knowledge, our formulations have undergone independent cosmetic safety assessment and efficacy testing, carried out in partnership with the Centre for Applied Bioscience Research (CABR) through an Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher, using human skin cell models. Very few brands at our stage invest in this kind of testing before launch.
The testing showed activity across inflammatory markers and a wound-healing response in laboratory conditions. It also found both products were gentle and well tolerated by the skin cells tested.
For us, nettle isn't a trend or a fashionable ingredient. It's part of the landscape we grew up in, part of our family story and the heart of every bottle we make.
Simple skincare. Thoughtfully made. Rooted in Irish soil.
