Skin Laundry's Gentle Foaming Wash and Restoring Night Serum

The Amazing Blog is continuously updating our skincare regimen. Whether it’s with products, facial treatments, or newfound application tricks, we are always searching for ways to combat both oily and dry skin. We have found it to be quite tricky choosing products that fight oily skin, without over-drying the face. During our quest, we discovered Skin Laundry’s products, that leave our skin feeling smooth and clean. The company was founded by Yen Reis, who originally created this range of skincare to be used in conjunction with her laser and light therapy treatment. She established her first flagship in 2013 and has since expanded across the U.S., Hong Kong and London. Reis’ goal is to improve skin health and provide affordable and convenient treatments. The treatment that Skin Laundry offers, is with a combination of Yago laser and IPL which target and reduce redness, brown spots, inflammation and bacteria. Each treatment leaves the skin glowing and clean. Over time, and together with the Skin Laundry products, it improves clarity, tone and texture. If you would like to experience the laser and light therapy, combined with Skin Laundry products, then book here. Currently, these treatments are available in London, Leeds and Bristol.

The first product that we tried was Skin Laundry's Gentle Foaming Wash, which serves all skin types, especially sensitive skin. The mild foaming wash, free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates, is an everyday cleanser with a fresh scent of botanical extracts. The product contains shea butter and cucumber and chamomile extract. The shea butter fights dehydration, while the cucumber extract soothes and regulates moisture. Chamomile extract is also a soothing agent and anti-inflammatory. After massaging the wash onto damp skin for 30-60 seconds, rinse with water and pat dry. Skin Laundry recommends following the application with a toner to help seal the pores. The product works best if used mornings and evenings. The wash rids away dirt, and excess oils and impurities, without drying out or irritating the skin. You can purchase the 200ml bottle here for £20.

In addition to the  Gentle Foaming wash, we used the Restoring Night Serum and were pleased with the results. With its key ingredients, we have noticed a brighter, even complexion and overall rejuvenated skin. The primary focus of the product is on anti-ageing, with benefits that include brightening and tightening. The power of Glycolic Acid exfoliates and clears your pores of dead skin cells, reducing fine lines. Niacinamide has Vitamin B3 properties that remove blemishes and signs of ageing. A derivative of Vitamin C produces an even skin tone, battles photoaging and increases collagen synthesis. Finally, an algae extract, composed of vitamins and amino acids, stimulates the skins cell renewal. In the evening, massage 3-4 drops of the night serum onto your face and neck. Skin Laundry recommends applying the serum after your nightly cleansing and toning, and before moisturising. You can purchase the 30mL bottle here for £46.

Ancienne Ambiance Colonia VIII

Everyone needs a signature scent— period. Finding a personal fragrance that can transition from day to night or season to season can be quite a mission, but we at The Amazing Blog think we have got you covered. And as much as we love discovering new brands to fall in love with, there are some things, like a signature scent, that have us reaching back to brands we already know and trust. We keep returning to Ancienne Ambiance because we adore how luxurious their products are, like the Goddess Argan Hand and Body Wash and Beauty Oil. They are an artisan brand inspired by the ancient world and winner of the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2017, and we know that the unisex sweet fig blend of the Colonia VIII Perfume EDP will hit every note on your must-have list. 

The fig tree has a long, sacred past. With roots in Greek and Roman mythology to a symbol of enlightenment in Buddhism, this little fruit has made its mark on history. Ancienne Ambiance specialises in crafting niche fragrances inspired by the ancient cultures that started it all. The Colonia VIII scent honours the art of perfumery, as each perfume is bottled with the finest ingredients in limited quantities in France, all in a stunning 100ml glass column bottle that is sure to make you feel as lavish as Cleopatra. The fragrance has its base notes rooted in the warmth of sandalwood, its heart notes rounded in coconut, and the top notes have light, natural green notes that will follow you around throughout your busy day. Everyone will stop you just to ask what you're wearing: trust us, we know from experience. 

Want to make sure your scent lasts all day? Apply it to your pulse points or the inner wrist and elbow, behind your ears and knees, and at the base of the neck. Mist it on your clothes and hair as well and avoid rubbing the scent into your skin, as it makes the fragrance fade faster.
You can purchase the Colonia VIII Perfume here for £60.

AQ Skin Solutions

Here at The Amazing Blog, we know how over time our skin can suffer, so we are always looking for new products that help bring back that youthful glow. So when we received the  Eye Serum and Active Serum from the award-winning Californian skincare brand AQ Skin Solutions, we couldn’t wait to try them out. AQ Skin Solutions was created by Dr Ahmed Al-Qahtani who formulated this range by using cutting-edge technology (detailed here). He was inspired to start AQ Skin Solutions from conducting extensive work in medical applications of Growth Factors (GF) for healing wounded tissue and creating artificial skin grafts.

We first tried out the Eye Serum, the benefits of this product include smoothing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, brighten the appearance of dark circles and reduce signs of puffiness around the eye area. What we particularly like about this moisturising formula, is that it feels gentle on the skin, they say that it also won't irritate even the most sensitive eyes. The concentrated GF technology blend stimulates collagen production for increased firmness, while several smoothing peptides help tighten and lift the skin. Through activation of the skin’s own damage repair processes, fine lines and wrinkles are smoothed. It increases micro-circulation and lightens the under-eye area and helps to clear up eye bags and dark circles. The product is non-greasy, which means it won't clog the pores. We also like the handy 15ml bottle and the sleek packaging.

We were also lucky enough to receive the Active Serum. The serum also contains stem-cell derived growth factors to renew and accelerate skin cell regeneration. This helps erase the signs of ageing and environmental damage for a firmer, smoother complexion. Daily use of the serum helps minimise the look of fine lines and wrinkles. We used it not only on our face but also on the neck and decolletage areas too. The GF technology contained in both of these products is also being used successfully for encouraging healthy hair growth, reducing the appearance of scars and shortening the healing time of burn wounds. They say about using this serum: "Optimal improvement to your skin is generally not reached until six weeks of daily use." We only managed three weeks, but were pleased with the results.

We're happy to say, that by using both these products our skin felt softer, eyes looked brighter and it helped to give us back a more glowing complexion. All AQ Skin Solutions products are paraben, sulfate and phthalate free as well as cruelty free. You can purchase the Eye Serum here for £99 and the Active Serum here for £157.

All That Jazz: Cuticle Oil, Cuticle Balm & Bee Bar Lotion

This past January we raved about All That Jazz’s hand and foot care products in one of our blog posts. We know that their products are amazing, and now we are excited to announce that the brand has finally received the recognition that we think it deserves. At the prestigious 2018 Beauty Shortlist Awards, All That Jazz was awarded the Winner of the Best Nail Brand category, meaning that out of all the brands entered in the competition, they have the best nail care products. In addition, All That Jazz was ranked as a Finalist in the Best Nail Product category for their Cuticle Balm. They also won Editor’s Choice Awards for their Bee Bar Lotion, Baseline Base Coat and Top Note Top Coat. Talk about sweeping the board and taking home the gold!

We at The Amazing Blog know how day-to-day tasks can take their toll on our hands, especially in this wintery weather. So we wanted to feature some of our favourite hand care products from the brand with their Cuticle Oil and Cuticle Balm, and the incredible Bee Bar Lotion! 

All That Jazz’s Cuticle Oil has a coconut oil base which helps to deeply moisturise the dead skin on nails. By using this product twice daily, you reap the benefits of vitamins A, C and D and carotenoids that are in this oil and create a protective barrier on the skin. We used the oil in the Apple Cucumber scent, a fresh, crisp and invigorating fragrance which left our fingertips feeling revitalised. This oil also comes in the other fragrances, Captivate, Chocolate Orange and Maple Spice. We hear X Factor Judges Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger are also big fans of Maple Spice!

All That Jazz’s Cuticle Balm also comes in the same 4 scents; we used the balm in Captivate. Captivate has a soothing aroma of lightly perfumed musk and coconut oil, a refreshing and relaxing fragrance. The special ingredients in the balm include beeswax and cocoa butter that naturally lock in moisture as they are natural emollients and humectant. We found that the balm works amazingly alongside the cuticle oil, our nails have never looked better!

The Bee Bar Lotion is one of our favourite multi-taskers. It is our go-to product as it's incredibly moisturising and nourishing with a little going a long way. It is filled with shea butter, golden jojoba and natural antioxidants; it is ideal for any dry or damaged hands offering fast hydration and protection. The lotion comes in 7 different scents, we received ‘Hawaiian’ which has a deliciously fresh and tropical aroma. Used sparingly this lotion can last up to 6 months and doesn’t dry up or lose its fragrance. However, if you like it as much as we do then we doubt you’ll manage to keep yours that long!

All That Jazz is an award-winning nail care brand with high-quality products that have fast become our special must-have products. You too can purchase the All That Jazz Cuticle Oil here for £7.99, Cuticle Balm here for £8.99 and Bee Bar Lotion here for £7.99

AG Skin Repair: Regenerative Serum & Anti-Ageing Collagen Serum

As our readers will know, we at The Amazing Blog are always on the lookout for new skincare brands. Having recently gone from freezing snow to milder conditions, in a matter of a few days, we need skincare products that offer both protection and healing for our delicate complexions. So when we found AG Skin Repair from California, whose products contain patented Silver chitosan and moisturising formulations, we knew we were in safe hands. AG Skin Repair currently produces five targeted skincare products: After Sun Lotion, Anti-Fatigue Serum, Tattoo Serum, Regenerative Serum and Anti-Ageing Collagen Serum; the latter two we have reviewed for you here today.

The Regenerative Serum is a moisturising formulation to help firm, heal and soothe skin. The product creates a protective barrier on the skin and promotes healing for UV damage. This serum helps to reverse environmental damage to skin and soften the appearance of scars old and new. The product contains EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) Chitosan (Poly-D-Glucosamine) which promotes rehydration of the skin and helps achieve a more youthful appearance. The patented technology incorporated in all the AG Skin Repair products is a technique whereby silver in the atomic form is bonded directly to a chitosan polymer chain. This produces a chitosan polymer film with a layer of silver literally a single atom thick, which helps prevent bacterial skin infections and creates a protective barrier on the skin. It’s safe to say that were obsessed with this product and can’t wait for the results progress!

We were also lucky enough to receive the Anti-Ageing Collagen Serum. The benefits of this product echo the Regenerative Serum, but with added collagen for a beautiful anti-ageing effect. The serum regenerates surface skin cells to create a smoother, firmer and more youthful skin. What we particularly liked about this serum as primer for our foundation, it gave our skin texture as smooth as silk. Our Executive Editor took this product with her on her travels to hot and dusty climes. She was impressed with how it performed not only protecting her skin from the harsh environment but also rapidly rehydrated her skin at the end of the day.

Both serums are designed and formulated to naturally accelerate the skin renewal process. They provide the damaged skin cells with a structure upon which new skin cells can grow onto and form healthy, regenerated skin. Tempted? You can purchase the Regenerative Serum here for £25 and the Anti-Ageing Collagen Serum here for £40.