anti-pollution

Berrichi - Day Age Defence & Night Power Defence

We think it’s important to use different types of skincare for day and night and at The Amazing Blog, we’ve discovered a great natural skincare brand Berrichi with their Day Age Defence and Night Power Age Defence, both of which contain very special extracts from green and red microalgae. Berrichi firmly believes in the philosophy that clean and natural is best for the skin, which is a philosophy that we can certainly get behind!

Berrichi is a brand that hails all the way from Estonia, it was founded by Berit Joosep, whose struggle with dry skin and inflammation prompted her to look for natural alternatives. Thus Berrichi was born where it started life made small batches in Joosep’s kitchen, where she drew inspiration from books on herbal culture and ancient beauty techniques. Today Berrichi is a multi-award-winning skincare brand, exporting globally and recognised for leading the way with ‘clean beauty’ and its unique botanicals.

The two products that we reviewed were their Day Age and Night Power Defence creams, both which are recommended to be used together. They feature some of nature’s strongest antioxidants, with their unique microalgae-based astaxanthine an extract derived from the green algae haematococcus pluvialis, the carotenoids contained in the astaxanthin protects the cells from free radicals (a natural antioxidant 500 x more powerful than vitamin E. and 800 x more effective than CoQ10). The red algae furcellaria which is found in the Baltic sea is a strong neutraliser of free radicals, anti-pollution and removes toxins. These are blended with other ingredients of cacay, avocado, apricot, jojoba and kukui oils, all of which help the skin to bloom. You may be questioning the ingredient of algae; well we learned that it has long been a hero ingredient for centuries in Asian beauty with its moisturising, calming and anti-ageing properties. This powerful combination of botanical ingredients penetrates the dermis to give the skin an even texture, aiding skin tone and supporting elasticity and immunity.

Let’s begin with The Day Age Difference, which won Editor’s Choice at The Beauty Shortlist Awards in 2018. It offers 24-hour hydration for a soft, youthful glow while calming irritated, inflamed or hypoallergic skin. The Day Cream is light and absorbs quickly, making it ideal to use alone or as a makeup base. It retails for 36€ for 50 ml hereThen there is The Night Power Defence, which has a thicker formulation for slower, deeper overnight absorption. The Night Power Defence cream provides deep nourishment, hydration and regeneration, leaving the skin firm and balanced. It helps to slow down the signs of ageing while improving collagen production and the removal of toxins. It can be purchased for 39€ for 50ml here.  

Both products are free from parabens, sulphates and vegan, organic and cruelty-free. We think that they make a perfect combination for city living protecting us from pollution, whilst also delivering long-lasting hydration. Keep an eye out for Simon’s review of their Smoothing Age Defence which will appear shortly. We can’t wait to try more from Berrichi and they certainly get the thumbs up from us!

Facialderm Advanced Neurocosmetics – 05 Anti-Pollution & Anti-Stress Serum and C1 Anti-Ageing & Anti-Stress Moisturiser

We all experience different skincare issues from time-to-time either with redness or dehydration, which can be triggered by environmental issues or stress. Today at The Amazing Blog we’re excited to introduce to you Facialderm, who have begun a skincare evolution with their innovative neurocosmetic range and patented technologies.

Founded in 2004, Facialderm’s parent company Sensalia Labs prides itself on bringing the future to cosmetics. Recent winners in The Beauty Shortlist Awards 2020 for Best Beauty Breakthrough Brand (innovation), they offer unique formulas based on new technologies in neuroscience which are then applied to their skincare. After all, the skin and the brain are connected. In simple terms, they explain: “Stimuli perceived from the outside through nerve receptors in the skin, are transmitted to the brain and processed by it for interpretation.” These are related to wellness and energy, which in turn focus on the reduction of facial stress.  Facialderm has a range of five customisable serum boosters and two creams all of which are formulated with Neurophroline™. This is an inhibitor for the production of cortisol, the stress hormone and acts on its consequences such as accelerated ageing, flaccidity of the skin and decreased luminosity. Neurophroline™ is an extract based on tephrosia purpurea, a plant native to India and also a key ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine. Let’s talk about the technical stuff: The Neurophroline™ in Facialderm’s products claim to reduce up to 70% of cortisol production in just two hours. Neurophroline™ also increases up to 163% the amount of beta-endorphin released by the cells, a natural and pain-relieving peptide. All products have natural ingredients, where they refer to them as ‘earthceuticals’ (concentrated plants) and ‘seaceuticals’ (concentrated sea plant) power.

We tried the 05 Anti-Pollution and Anti-Stress Serum which is detoxifying and moisturising with antioxidants and vitamins to protect the skin from dehydration, solar radiation, pollution and REM/blue light. Apart from the Neurophroline™, there are antioxidant plant extracts ginseng, apple, peach, wheat and barley;  as well as marine glycogen (protections against blue light) and vitamin B5 which activates cell regeneration to soothe itching, redness and irritation. Suitable for all skin types, we applied 3 - 4 drops alone (or you can mix with another product in the line), it absorbed quickly leaving skin feeling soft, we also liked the slightly fruity/ginseng fragrance.

We then combined this with the C1 Anti-Ageing & Anti-Stress Moisturiser which is best suited for normal to dry skin. Its ingredients include hyaluronic acid, chrondrus crispus (an extract of red algae), providing cells with the energy necessary for their metabolism to aid the process of regeneration and tissue repair. Caviar extract also helps to slow down the ageing process, and rice extract to help with cell longevity slowing down the process of cell senescence. The cream feels luxurious, almost whipped in texture; regenerating and soothing on the skin it left skin our supple and hydrated. We applied day or night after using the Serum and massaged into the skin to promote absorption.  We like that this can be customised with any of the Facialderm Serums as a ‘booster’ in the cream too. The 05 Anti-Pollution & Anti-Stress Serum 30ml, can be purchased here for £34.95, and the C1 Anti-Ageing & Anti-Stress Moisturiser 50ml for £34.95 can be purchased here.

These dermatologically tested, and cruelty-free products are packaged in bright colour-coded glass bottles and jars. As mentioned previously, this intelligent skincare range can be personalised to target specific skincare issues, while the advanced neurocosmetic technology uses their Neurophroline™ to limit the production of stress hormones. Best of all, it’s available at a very competitive price point!

Hydro Effect Serum and Re-Energising Sleeping Cream from Lavera Naturkosmetik

Pollution is almost inescapable in 2017, and at The Amazing Blog, we know that pollution affects us not only on the inside but also causes problems for our skin. Lavera, an all natural beauty brand understands that pollution is becoming an ever increasing problem, and they want to fight against this. Their new Hydro Effect Serum and Re-Energising Sleeping Cream both contain anti-pollution technology, aiming to protect the skin from the environment as well as providing hydrating and anti-ageing benefits.

Lavera's new Hydro Effect Serum battles against daily pollution exposure using highly effective antioxidants, organic algae and white horehound extract from the mint family. These ingredients not only help with anti-pollution but also hydrate the skin to prevent signs of premature ageing. Apply a few drops of the light weight formula to the skin, let it absorb and then apply moisturiser. Natural hyaluronic acid, organic aloe vera and biosaccharides provide a hydrating, cooling and soothing effect throughout the day.

We also tried the Re-Energising Sleeping Cream which aids the natural skin repairing qualities overnight by targeting damage from pollution during the day. The cream also nourishes tired skin and helps produce a fresh feeling in the morning. The Re-Energising Sleeping Cream contains almond and olive oil to smooth and increase radiance, while organic grape and vitamin E provide anti-ageing properties. Massage gently into the skin after cleansing and toning before bed.

Both the Hydro Effect Serum and the Re-Energising Sleeping Cream and vegan friendly and cruelty free. Purchase the Hydro Effect Serum (30ml) here for £19.90 and the Re-Energising Sleeping Cream (50ml) here for £16.90.

Smoothing Toning Mist By Novexpert

Our favourite products, here at The Amazing Blog, are multi-use products, where one product can perform a multitude of functions. The Smoothing and Toning Mist does just this.

The Smoothing Toning Mist by Novexpert is a marvellous multi-use spray, as it tackles a range of problems. It has an anti-ageing effect, a moisturising effect and an anti-pollution effect. Novexpert recommend it for all skin types, but especially for those with dehydrated ‘tired’ skin who need a rejuvenating boost and for showing signs of ageing. It is a lovely little product to provide a pick-me-up for the skin, especially in temperamental weather conditions, whether that be extremely dry, hot, or cold climates. It is also great to provide some much-needed moisture and protection in air conditioning.

For the moisturising properties, Novexpert have included hyaluronic acid, moisturising probiotic and aloe vera gel. Amino acids, phytic acid, anti-free radicals and monosaccharide biotech sugar give the mist its wonderful anti-ageing properties. A few special ingredients, including oxygenating phytic acid and metals catcher, aid in anti-pollution.

It is a delightfully convenient product, as all you need to do is spray a few times on the face, leave for 10 seconds to dry and be on your way! You can use the spray as many times during the day as you like, but we love it before applying our skincare for hydration and after applying our makeup to set it beautifully. Our favourite aspect is that it is 100ml which means we can take in on the plane with us, to keep our skin supple and happy during those dehydrating flights.  

Purchase the Smoothing Toning Mist here for around £20

Anti-Pollution Skin Supplement Essence - FoM London

We here at The Amazing Blog love new and cutting edge skincare. Which is why we haven’t been able to get enough of FoM London’s new, and beauty awards shortlisted. This miracle product left our skin feeling both softer and cleaner throughout the whole day, while protecting it from the ageing and damaging effects of pollution.

The Anti-Pollution Skin Supplement Essence radical skin care at it's best. The unique ingredients in the essence help  the product act as a second skin, almost like a physical barrier between you and the unavoidable pollution in the air. At the base of the treatment a silk a floral bouquet bathes the face in moisture, while juniper and sage help to protect the skin from free radicals and pollution. The red raspberry leaves in the essence contain tannins and flavonoids which reduces discoloration and dark spots on the face. All the ingredients help give the product a naturally fruity and delightful scent, which will certainly keep you coming back for more! Incorporating this product into your routine is not only easy but is worth it as the essence deeply hydrates your skin, protects the antioxidants in it, supports collagen growth and leaves skin looking much brighter.

With a watery texture, the product is very easy to use. To apply, you simply need to put two pumps of the essence onto a cotton pad, and gently brush it over your face and neck, before using your favourite moisturiser. It is recommended that you use the product twice a day, in the mornings and evening.

If you’re worried about the effects of pollution on the skin, and even if you're not, we could not recommend this product enough. You can purchase it here for £32.00.