beauty

Deardot Cosmetics: Yuja Cleansing Seal

We keep hearing so much about K beauty and reviewed a few brands in the past, so today at The Amazing Blog we thought we’d take a look at more Korean skincare brands, starting with the awards winning Deardot Cosmetics and their Yuja Cleansing Seal.

Deardot has a strong threefold philosophy which is to keep its ingredients minimal, vegan and eco-friendly. Launching in March 2020, it’s founded by Woorikidsplus, a Korean beauty tech start-up whose aim is to educate the next generation with their Deardot philosophies. The Deardot’s fundamental goal is to provide natural skincare using only minimal ingredients. The brand also focuses very design-led packaging with the rather unusual concept of writing letters to your loved one (or in this case, your precious skin!) That said, Deardot is best known for their commitment to preserving the dangyuja fruit and its seeds (part of the citrus family and a genealogically a variety of pomelo fruit) which is only grown on Jeju Island, a province of South Korea. It is a plant mainly used for tea and was historically used to treat the common cold. What makes Deardot unique is that it exclusively uses an extract from the dangyuja in its products (see above photo). This fruit contains three times more vitamin C than lemon and helps to revitalise and brightening dull skin. All ingredients in their products are natural and are recognised and certified by EWG Green and FDA. They have 11-products in the range from cleansers, lotions and creams, to serums, toners and masks; which are suitable for all skin types.  

The Deardot Yuja Cleansing Seal contains 30 ‘seals’ moulded into small, flat, water-soluble pressed powder rectangles. The reusable cardboard packaging includes many surprises: letters and stickers, along with the paper sachets containing the cleansing seals themselves.  We discovered these recently when they won the gold in the 2020 Global Green Beauty Awards  for Best Ethical Beauty Product & Most Innovative Green Product. They are paraben-free, and has a very slight yuja citrus fruit fragrance. The cleansing seal is used in three easy steps: To activate the pressed powder ‘seal’ in your hand, add a little warm water (no running water) mixing until it forms a white paste. Next, rub the paste gently on the face to remove makeup or daily residue, and finally, rinse the face with clean water.  We used this Yuja Cleansing Seal as part of our night-time routine, which left our skin feeling cleansed and hydrated. The two key ingredients here are shea butter and yuja extract. Shea butter has anti-inflammatory and healing properties where it conditions, tones and soothes the skin. Yuja extract, has many health benefits such as boosting the body’s immune system, reducing inflammation and moisturising the skin. We think the Yuja Cleansing Seals are ideal for on the go or for slipping into your hand luggage, as they take up absolutely no space!  Although they say these seals are suitable for all skin types, we think these will appeal more to the teen generation with their added novelty stickers and design paraphernalia. You can purchase the Yuja Cleansing Seal here which come in either a pack of 14 for $10 or 30 for $18.

The Facial Box by Michaella Bolder

With Christmas just around the corner, the pressure of getting your loved ones the perfect gift is burning up and we can all surely feel it! A knitted sweater that might not fit or a bag that they may just have to pretend to like, but later return? Here at The Amazing Blog, we can do you one better and introduce you to the Michaella Bolder’s Facial Box that will surely put a smile on the recipients’ face!

Michaella Bolder has created The Facial Box by putting together a brilliant selection of products that take on a number of skincare challenges leaving you with beautiful, radiant and glowing skin. With over 10 years of experience in the beauty industry, Michaella has gained a reputation as a truly iconic facialist and tanning expert. Appearing regularly in leading international publications, she is now the go-to person for many celebrities including Dame Helen Mirren, Naomie Harris, Olivia Munn, Noomie Repace, Nick Grimshaw and Frankie Bridge to name but a few. Further, she is also known as a ‘facial expert’ for global skincare brands L’Oréal Paris, Time Bomb, Romilly Wilde, Rodial & Fusion Mesotherapy, alongside her tanning and skin finishing skills for St.Tropez and Vita Liberata. Thus it isn’t farfetched to say that the items included in The Facial Box will surely be effective and worthy.

The Facial Box by Michaella Bolder includes eight magnificent products. It includes two items by the brand Rodial from their Pink Diamond range. The first is a Cleansing Balm with vitamin E and diamond powder that works towards removing make-up and dirt helping to transform the skin. The second product is the Magic Gel Day which is a lightweight cream-gel targeting dehydration and fine lines for an instant glow. Thereon, the box also includes two items the organic skincare brand, Weleda which is a cream called Skin Food for dry and rough skin. This is formulated with plant extracts traditionally used to sooth the skin. There is also a Skin Food Light sample sachet which is an intensive instant moisturising skin cream for the face. Furthermore, the box includes the reputed Lactic Acid 10% by The Ordinary which visibly targets uneven tones, textural irregularities and fine lines. It is a high strength lactic acid superficial peeling formula that truly does wonders. Then there is the Self Tan Purity by St. Tropez which is a bronzing water face mist that results in natural glowing skin. Up next is the multipurpose soothing balm by PawPaw for lips, skin, cuticles and beauty finishing. Last but most certainly not the least, is the SPF 30 High Protection Face Moisturising Anti-Ageing Sun Protection by Ultrasun specifically for sensitive skin with antioxidants and ectoin®.

These eight products will certainly help your recipient’s skin for the better considering they were all put together by the knowledgeable and esteemed Michaella Bolder. Michaella’s expertise and knowledge of the beauty industry is endless and ever-growing. You can find her treating clients in some of London’s leading hotels, including The Mandarin Oriental, The Corinthia, The Ned and currently even Harrods and John Frieda Salon Mayfair.

Another perfect gift for a loved one, as well as the perfect treat for yourself, hop on over to the official website to purchase The Facial Box for £49.99 here to make your Christmas a little easier, happier and brighter. Hurray now, as for a limited time only there is a special offer of 30% off!

Nathalie Bond - Bloom Body Oil

London is starting to be a crimson and fiery orange dream, thanks to the autumn leaves. However, the crisp air can start to affect our skin’s moisture levels, especially when you have sensitive skin. As our regular readers will know, we’re more than just a tad fussy about what we use on our bodies, and are always eager to know what the ingredients are. Today The Amazing Blog is reviewing a product by the certified COSMOS Organic & Natural and cruelty-free skincare brand, Nathalie Bond. Their products are made in small batches, so we know we’re getting the quality that we deserve. We’re fans of this organic skincare brand and have recently reviewed their Bloom Lip Balm, here.

Nathalie Bond uses cold pressed and sustainably sourced oils. This family-run business has a range of products with handmade soap, lip salves, balms, body/face oils, scrubs, bath salts candles, and mists.

We gave their Bloom Body Oil a whirl. This oil is certified organic and 100% natural, 99% of the natural ingredients are organic. The Bloom Body Oil contains safflower seed oil, jojoba seed oil, rose geranium flower oil, palmarosa oil, patchouli oil, and vitamin E. Safflower oil is known to rejuvenate and moisturise damaged skin. Jojoba oil is found in most natural skincare products, due to its quick absorbing properties. We found the Bloom Body Oil wasn’t greasy, it absorbed well and did wonders to hydrate our skin. Nathalie Bond recommends this oil for all skin types and we couldn’t get enough of the beautiful rose geranium and patchouli fragrance, it left our skin gently scented. You can purchase Nathalie Bond’s  Bloom Body Oil 30ml for £10.00 or the 100ml bottle for £24.00 here. There is free shipping on orders over £40 in the UK.

True Skincare - Rosehip and Rosemary Facial Oil

In a society driven by Instagram likes and online presences, transparency is becoming a rarity. The Amazing Blog admires the mission of True Skincare, to create a line of products that are inclusive to all. Founded on the moral principles of being honest and genuine, True Skincare fights industry exclusion with ethical, effective and purse friendly products.

With the use of 100% natural and ethically sourced ingredients, and the avoidance of chemicals, artificial fragrances and parabens, it is no surprise that True Skincare is also certified by the Soil Association. Founder, Emma Thornton wanted to focus on creating truly natural and organic products, extending from the ingredients sourced, to the use of cruelty-free, vegan and recycled packaging. True Skincare strives to be accessible to all women, something Emma recognised as lacking in the premium beauty sector. She values the need to steer away from clever marketing techniques that mask deceptive messaging, instead, provides a range of products that are ethical and affordable, without compromising on quality. That is certainly a philosophy we admire.

We tried the Organic Rehydrating Facial Oil, which, thanks to the scent of rosehip and rosemary, suitably woke us up each morning. This botanical oil contains sesame, sunflower and apricot kernel, carrier oils which are perfect for dehydrated skin. Additionally, the use of rosehip captures moisture and reduces the appearance of scars, dark spots and fine lines, while rosemary is both an antioxidant and antiseptic. Together, these ingredients remove impurities and maintain clear skin, something I am thankful for, as the weather continues to wreak havoc with my skin. The oil is light, and a little goes a long way. Although designed for dehydrated skin, members of The Amazing Blog team with oilier skin found this oil equally nourishing at nighttime. For maximum results, use this oil both morning and evening - simply massage 2-3 drops in upward and circular motions across the face (we also applied it to our necks). In line with Emma’s desire for inclusivity, this oil is reasonably priced at £13.50. To try a 30ml bottle for yourself, click here.

Balm Micro from DELAB CARE Laboratories

It’s time to throw out the cosmetic products and welcome micropigmentation – also known as semi permanent make-up. Although it’s not for everyone, it’s a great way to save you precious time in the mornings; in my case no eyeliner, brow pencil or lipliner. I’m a big fan having had my brows, lips and eyeliner all expertly tattooed over the past 10 years years. Recently I had a top-up with the UK’s leading micropigmentation practitioner and trainer with Tarryn Vice at Finishing Touches Group. Tarryn recommended using Balm Micro to help speed up the healing. Balm Micro although a professional product, it is also great for the consumer too because these products specifically target and protect the lips, brows and skin. I initially used several of these products as an after treatment and loved their regenerative and protective properties. I’ve been recommending this brand to everyone on the team at The Amazing Blog. I am still eulogising over the Sun SPF 50+ for lips which is a lifesaver (especially for holidays) and the Cleansing Foam which is one of the best soap-free cleansers I’ve ever used!

Balm Micro’s parent company, Delab Care, has served a niche community for over 80 years, with its skincare products dedicated to healing tattooed body art. Balm Micro carries range of skincare products for the face, which are specifically aimed at healing post-micropigmentation procedures. This is why they hold a unique position in the professional beauty sector. Their goal for expansion was not to distribute more micropigmentation products but to help educate and spread knowledge. The company is committed to formulating reliable products, by building relationships with reputable professionals such as dermatologists, pharmacists and micropigmentation professionals. This ethos carries through to all their products, providing protection and care to the lips, eyebrows and skin.

As we embrace our effortlessly full and prominent brows, it’s imperative to keep them looking fresh and fierce. Reap the benefits of your micropigmentation with the Balm Micro Eyebrow. Preserve your treatment by applying a thin layer every day, or as much as needed. It has a high concentration of dexpanthenol 5% which when absorbed, converts into vitamin B5 this in turn helps to ensure skin is kept supple. This product promotes skin regeneration, and moisturises and maintains vivid colours. Please note to properly wash the area before application, then apply half an hour before sun exposure. This multi-purpose balm is suitable for everyone who has very dry and peeling skin that has been sensitised by cold weather. Purchase 10ml tube here for £16.00.

This Balm Micro Cleansing Foam is soap-free (Syndet), pH 5.5 designed for washing sensitive skin after a micropigmentation procedure or laser treatments, particularly where the use of soap is not permitted. However, we have been using this as part of a daily cleansing routine and were impressed with its healing and calming properties that include aloe vera, glycerin, calendula and panthenol. We used it around the eye area with no stinging and best of all it leaves the skin squeaky clean and hydrated. Purchase here 50ml for £7

Balm Micro Lips is perfect for the imminent frosty weather, it will help to protect against chapping. It promotes skin regeneration and moisturises flaky or chapped lips. It contains shea butter and pure extracts of aloe vera, rosehip oil. The magic behind this product is dragon’s blood – yes, dragon’s blood. The organic-derived ingredient stimulates collagen production and is a disinfectant, antioxidant and skin regenerator. Purchase the 10ml tube here for £16.00.

Whether we are in the sweltering heat of summer or bearing the blizzards of winter, your skincare regimen should incorporate SPF. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, it keeps your skin healthy and vibrant! The Balm Micro SPF Sun 50+ protects from the harmful sun’s rays and keeps skin glowing after your procedure. It contains high levels of Panthenol and Sepitonic M3 (copper/zinc/magnesium complex) these three active minerals are known for aiding epidermal recovery and this cocktail of minerals has a restorative action on the skin fighting against free radicals. The product is designed to moisturise and maintain colour by preventing them from ‘rusting’ under UVA and UVB rays. Purchase the 10 ml tube here for £18.00.

All of Balm Micro’s products have natural ingredients, they’re tested and developed under the supervision of dermatologists and specialists in micropigmentation, 100% vegan and are not tested on animals. What’s not to like?