Soya Garden : Soy Mask

There's something rather magical about the way skincare can lift our spirits and motivate us to be our best! At The Amazing Blog, we're big fans of face masks, as they enhance one of our most cherished pastimes of slipping into our pajamas and chatting for hours with our friends. Today we are featuring Soya Garden, a natural skincare from New Zealand, with their Soy Mask, perfect for using on these dark autumn nights-in.

Soya Garden launched in 2020, inspired by nature's adaptability and endurance. They spent 18 months sourcing potent soy extracts and natural ingredients, harnessing their properties to develop a clean and balanced skincare line. Soya Garden's goal is to create formulas that don't change how you look but change the way you feel, helping you feel more healthy, vibrant, and comfortable in your skin. Their philosophy is about making you feel confident through their products because when we feel more confident, we have the power and motivation to lift up the world! Their formulations contain bioactive soy extracts, as well as naturally occurring vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients. One of these natural ingredients is γ-pga®. Also known as Natto Gum, γ-pga® is an extract first discovered in Natto, a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans. It promotes the natural moisturising factor's growth inside the cuticle cells, making skin softer and more moisturised. Another ingredient is Mang'in tense®, an organic active ingredient extracted from mango that promotes hyaluronic acid synthesis, replenishing water and locking in moisture. It also is high in antioxidants and phytochemicals that protect the skin from the free radicals that induce ageing. Soya Garden also has the Fernmark License, a trademark issued and endorsed by the New Zealand Government. When a New Zealand brand has the Fernmark License, it means that the brand is confirmed to be produced within New Zealand, compliant with all New Zealand laws and regulations. Also, with this Fernmark License, you can trust that the products are certified to be safe and reliable. 

Soya Garden sent us their award-winning Soy Mask, a multi-functional mask that dissolves away dryness and improves firmness and lustre. It has a light and creamy consistency, and we were pleasantly surprised by its slight floral fragrance - no smell of soy here! The mask offers many key benefits. It swiftly delivers potent nutrition into the skin, protects the skin from the damaging effects of dryness, reduces pigmentation, increases collagen production, and reduces roughness and fine lines. The mask contains three key ingredients, the first of which is lysofix. Lysofix is a natural lysophospholipid extracted from a non-GMO soybean source that reduces water loss, maintaining the skin's moisture and protecting the integrity of the skin's barrier. It's a mild, non-allergenic, and non-irritating ingredient that's suitable for delicate and sensitive skin. It also contains manuka honey, extracted from the nectar of the native New Zealand manuka flowers. It's rich in nutrients, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals that feed, protect, and renew the skin while offering antimicrobial and healing properties. Manuka honey is also a humectant, meaning that it draws in and retains moisture. The last key ingredient is tocopheryl, (most commonly known as vitamin E). It's a potent antioxidant that captures free oxygen radicals generated by exposure to light or pollution, helping to prevent further skin damage. It also can boost the protection against damaging UV rays, helping to prevent premature skin ageing too. To use the mask, apply it on cleansed skin, with an even layer, just thick enough to cover the skin’s surface, avoiding the eye and lips. Leave it on for about 10-15 minutes, and then rinse with water. They recommend following it up with a moisturiser (such as their Soya Garden Lotion). It is so light and fluffy; we almost forgot that we had it on! It left skin soft and hydrated and this 100ml pot gave us about five applications. To purchase the Soya Garden Soy Mask, visit here, where you can buy 100ml for $79.95NZD. 

2022 Beauty Shortlist & Wellbeing Awards - Are Now Open for Entry!

Good to grow: 2022 Beauty Shortlist & Wellbeing Awards open for entries with new blue beauty and plantable beauty categories and fresh faces on the judging panel.

Entries have opened for the upcoming Beauty Shortlist Awards which will celebrate the highest-scoring brands and products that celebrate NATURE on Wednesday 2 March 2022.

Honouring the most-loved earth-safe and ocean-safe beauty and wellness products – all tested by experts – the ethical, natural and organic showcase returns with over 40 new categories embracing blue and green beauty, more age-specific skincare and self-care categories, eco-packaging, holistic health, eco innovation, nutrition, aromatherapy, CBD and more.

2022 BEAUTY SHORTLIST & WELLBEING AWARDS ENTRY FORM (ENTRIES CLOSE 29 OCTOBER)

ENTRY FORM

If you had to pick the most stellar month of the year for beauty and the planet, September would be up there: Organic September, a new season with lots of new launches, the Great British Beach Clean, World Car Free Day - and it’s FSC week soon, celebrating & raising awareness of responsible forestry 🌳

Never have we lived through a time when comforts and joys have been more important to our wellbeing - and it’s exactly those that are celebrated every year at the Beauty Shortlist Awards:

You are warmly invited to celebrate the top-scoring beauty, grooming and wellness of the year with the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards on Wednesday 2 March.

These independent and 100% sponsor-free global Awards celebrate the highest-scoring ethical brands and products of the year, evaluated by beauty and wellness industry experts:

• natural + organic beauty, personal care

• nutrition, wellness, health supplements, CBD & eco cleaning

• men’s hair, skincare, self-care, body & shower products

Happy September!

Grevinnans Rum: Ansiktsmask/Peel, and Saltvattentvalen No:1

When it comes to skincare, sometimes simplicity is key, and at The Amazing Blog  we love it when natural products offer multiple benefits and uses. Today, we’re introducing two more versatile and handy products from one of our favourite Nordic natural skincare discoveries Grevinnans Rum, who we recently wrote about here. See below with their Ansiktsmask/Peel  and the Saltvattentvalen No:1.

As regular readers will remember, Grevinnans Rum is a family-owned organic skincare brand founded in Gränna, Sweden, by Karen Egertz. With a background in the skincare business and a degree in marketing, she decided to open a skincare shop where she would sell unique, organic skincare. However, she quickly realised that the products she hoped to stock did not exist, and with the help of her family, she closed her physical shop to focus on producing her own organic and vegan skincare products. With the motto “Only the best is enough,” Grevinnans Rum pride themselves on the quality of their products, carefully selecting their ingredients. Karin and her team manufacture everything by hand in their small skincare factory, from organic raw materials and natural raw materials such as water and salt.  Their attention to detail results in skincare that is natural, cruelty-free, palm oil-free, and suitable for all skin types. It’s no wonder that Grevinnans Rum won two Nordic Natural Beauty Awards in 2020 from and were nominees at STHLM Beauty Week Awards 2021.

As a two-in-one, this Ansiktsmask/Peel face mask and peel is a brilliant multitasker that works as both a deep cleanser and moisturiser. Suitable for all skin types, It contains many natural active ingredients. The first of these are two types of clay: Moroccan lava clay and white kaolin, these work together to cleanse the skin, dissolve blackheads, and control sebum production. It also contains oat silk, a protein-rich oat flour extract that improves skin texture and leaves skin feeling smooth. In addition, the Ansiktsmask/Peel includes moisturising ingredients such as jojoba oil and frankincense, the oldest essential oil still in use that was said to have healing properties by Queen Cleopatra herself. When applying the Ansiktsmask/Peel onto your face and neck, leave it on for about three to ten minutes, depending on how much time you have. We followed Grevinnans Rum’s recommendation and used this mask twice a week and found that it helped cleanse the skin by drawing out the impurities, and when rinsed off, it left our complexions feeling hydrated and soft. Another big plus, is that they say with regular use it helps reduce any pigmentation spots or sun damage. The 100ml jar of Ansiktsmask/Peel can be purchased here for 499 KR (£41.53).

Next, we tried Saltvattentvalen No:1 (AKA the Saltwater Soap No:1), this is a handmade and organic saltwater soap that can be used as a hand and body soap, and is also gentle enough to be used on the face. It contains saponified coconut oil, natural glycerin, Dead Sea salt, peppermint and citrus (litsea cubeba). Using a saltwater soap was a first for us; it means that it contains potassium salts rather than sodium salts, making it gentle, not abrasive. Interestingly, the brand suggests using it also when bathing in the sea or freshwater lakes to get most out of the soap, and to feel more at one with nature. Saltwater soaps provide many benefits to your skin: They moisturise without leaving a greasy feel, exfoliate dead skin cells, draw out skin impurities and fight acne, and absorb excess oil. The use of saltwater in soap also increases circulation; the principle of using saltwater has been around since the Ancient Greeks and Romans who used saltwater-based baths and products to help them reduce stress and improve sleep quality. Packaged in a branded paper surround and carried by a loop of handmade rope strung through the middle, the packaging for the Saltvattentvalen No:1 is very eco-friendly and recyclable. As mentioned above, you can use the soap in all types of water, and if you find yourself using the soap in cold water, they suggest that it be heated in the hands, rather than in the water, to help produce extra foam. We found it to be an excellent multitasker – cleansing, exfoliating and very gentle. We only used it in the shower and bath and are still super-curious to try it in the sea! We loved how easy it was to use, and how it made our skin feel clean and soft, leaving a subtle zesty scent which was a welcome bonus! Out of the two products this was our favourite and one we’d rate as another our #amazingfinds. We’ve fallen in love this brand, and can’t wait for Grevinnans Rum to be stocked in the UK. To purchase this 250g Saltvattentvalen No:1, see here, for 159  KR (£13.23).

BeMoral: Facial Masks - Narcissus, Angel Silver Wing and Goddess of Victory

It’s not a secret that at The Amazing Blog, we love beauty facial masks! And we were recently sent the award-winning facial mask collection from BeMoral to try. These come all the way from Taiwan; it’s an intriguing and esoteric brand with both it’s concept and messaging - we couldn’t wait to try them!

BeMoral, is a Taiwanese gender-neutral lifestyle skincare brand, was founded in 2019 by Mr Dang when he couldn’t find any products in this sector that he liked or ‘lived up to his standards’.  The company strives for equality and diversity. The words ‘be moral’ mean being moral, ethical, virtuous and, of course, having good behaviour; the brand focuses on this concept and “being genuine” hence their name. They currently only sell facial masks and home fragrances, but they plan to expand the range with additional lines in the future. BeMoral is a multi-award-winning brand and has won Champion of Les Victoires de la beauté 2020-2021 in Mask Category for all three of their facial masks. A Bronze at 2021 Belgium Monde Selection, Plus, at the Pure Beauty Award, 2020  in the Best New Mask, Highly Commended for their Narcissus Nude Mask. BeMoral believes that humanity and nature can work together in harmony. Mr Dang recently commented, “I respect the power of nature and the core desire of humankind. Every course just makes sense; the cycle of dependency and survival between human and nature makes everything more equal, forgiving, diverse, and harmonious.” They believe that they are a brand, “symbiotic with the next generation of skincare.” All facial masks are made by a leading textile technology company in Japan, and the raw ingredient are sourced Germany which comply with EU regulations.

BeMoral sent us their collection of Narcissus Nude Mask, Angel of Silver Wing Setting Mask, and Goddess of Victory Setting Mask. The Narcissus Nude Mask and Angel of Silver Wing Setting Mask contain silver pearl essence. The Goddess of Victory Setting Mask has gold pearl essence — this glitter essence is from the natural mica mineral that brightens the skin. The copper ammonia fibre continuous long fibre non-woven fabric in all three facial masks and is made of cotton lint by Japan Transnational Chemical, which retains moisture and adheres tightly to the skin. BeMoral’s facial masks are different from most other masks because they are pre-makeup masks, so you can apply them before putting on makeup to give the skin a luminous glow. 

The Angel of Silver Wing Setting Mask is hydrating, oil-balancing and they describe it as having a hint of a sweet strawberry scent. The silver pearl essence in this mask helps the skin achieve a concealing effect. The following ingredient here they share in Goddess of Victory Setting Mask and Narcissus Nude Mask. These are provitamin B5, and witch hazel extract, Ruscus aculeatus (AKA butcher's broom) that is believed to improve blood circulation, it is added to skin care formulations that are intended for dark under eye circles. Arnica montana is also here to decreases puffiness and the horse chestnut is made up from the glycosides of saponins., which are potent anti-inflammatory compounds. The Malvaceae (AKA hibiscus abelmoschus) has anthocyanins, and flavenoids which offer high antioxidant properties which deflect the effects of free radical damage and photo-ageing. There are the vitamin B3 (niacin) and provitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) both known for their complexion enhancing qualities. This facial mask gives a translucent quality to the skin, and when makeup or foundation are applied afterwards, it helps to enhance and prolong the original colours and pigments. The fragrance in this mask is sourced from Grasse in France, using ODOURCO ® technology to create a hypoallergenic scent - making this mask suitable for even the most sensitive of skins. When all of these are combined they capture and retain water molecules, which in turn plumps up the skin. The Goddess of Victory Setting Mask is both moisturising and nourishing, and is suitable for all skin types. The gold pearl essence in this mask smooths fine lines and locks in makeup. The ingredients are the same at Angel Silver Wing and also include a bumper amount of 4.0 upgraded hyaluronic acid. The Narcissus Nude Mask is hydrating, polishing, and brightening, and is for semi-dry and combination skin. The moonlight essence in this mask helps the skin achieve a nude glossy effect and has micro particles that help to control excess sebum. Some other ingredients here include extracts from Japan’s Hayashibara bio-carbohydrates, aloe extract, and hyaluronic acid — which help water enter skin cells and maintain osmotic balance. 

We enjoyed using all three of these award-winning facial masks, with their cutting-edge ingredients and stylish design. Our favourite of the three was the Goddess of Victory Setting Mask; we liked how it hydrated the skin and left it looking and feeling dewy with the minuscule flecks of gold mica. it made the perfect base for applying our SPF or CC cream in this current heatwave. To apply any of these facial masks, clean the face, putting the mask directly to the skin, and then pat it lightly to keep it in place. Remove the mask after 10 minutes, and massage the remaining essence into the face and neck — they suggested not to wash the face after applying, as you’ll lose all the skin enhancing benefits. What we like is that no serum or moisturiser is needed afterwards as these make the perfect base with or without makeup. You can find the Narcissus Nude Mask here,  Angel of Silver Wing Setting Mask here, and Goddess of Victory Setting Mask here all packs of 5 facial masks are €36.24.

Käsämä Cosmetics: Sea Buckthorn Exfoliating Clay Mask

Self-care is important, especially during these stressful times, and we think the best way to start a relaxing self-care routine is with a face mask. As always, we’ve been on a quest to find a new face mask that work with the skin’s natural balance. Today we’re introducing a waterless face mask from Käsämä Cosmetics with their Sea Buckthorn Exfoliating Clay Mask made of 100% natural ingredients.

Käsämä Cosmetics, is a natural skincare brand from Finland, and founded by Pauli Wigelius. Wigelius has a background in commerce but was inspired by Finnish wilderness and nature to get into the business of cosmetics — Käsämä is named after an area in North Karelia, Finland, where the clay is sourced and first used by the indigenous people for making pottery nearly 6500 years ago. The brand currently sells three different clay masks, each for different types of skin — the classic mask is for all skin types, the cranberry mask is for sensitive and normal skin, and the sea buckthorn is for oily and combination skin. All face masks are sustainable, vegan, cruelty-free and waterless, and the latter allows for the products to be stored safely for several years, even without preservatives. The brand said, “Käsämä clay deeply cleanses and purifies our skin and helps us see and appreciate our pure, innate beauty, our truest self and brings a touch of the purest natural healing power within reach of modern-day city dwellers in the world’s busy metropolises.” Although the company is based in Finland, they have distributors in multiple countries and deliver worldwide. 

The face mask that we tried was nominated in the Nordic Beauty Awards 2020, the Käsämä’s Sea Buckthorn Exfoliating Clay Mask is formulated primarily for oily and combination skin; this mask exfoliates and purifies skin by absorbing impurities, removing dead skin cells, and cleansing clogged pores — pretty much everything we look for in a mask. The only ingredients this mask contains are clay, sea buckthorn extract, and zea mays (corn) starch. 75% of the powder in the mask is clay, which is the key ingredient here to absorb impurities and excess oils. Sea Buckthorn is one of nature’s wonder-berries, full of antioxidants it has a healing and rejuvenating effect on the skin and is also a natural cleanser and exfoliator. It also contains vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, and C that hydrate and regenerate skin. Whereas the zea mays starch reduces oil and has anti-inflammatory properties. To apply, measure 1-2 teaspoons of the powder and add lukewarm water by drop until a smooth paste is created. Then, massage onto your face, neck, and shoulders and wait 5-10 minutes before rinsing away with lukewarm water. They recommend using it 1-3 times per week and avoiding contact with the eyes. Each package contains 35g, which is enough for about 10 full facial applications. The strength of the mask can be adjusted by adding different measures of water, making this a versatile mask for every skin type. We love the brand’s eco-credentials as it’s contained in a simple recyclable paper packet, and of course, being in powder form it cuts the weight of the product in half. What is fantastic about this powder mask is its purity, how refreshing it is to have no additives or chemicals - you really feel like you are at one with nature. If you want to feel the healing benefits of this mask, you can find it here for €17.90.