Skin Beautiful Organics: Gold Luxe Clean Oil & Matcha Rose Antioxidant Toner

There is something about all-natural skincare which has all of us at The Amazing Blog coming back for more. That is why we are revisiting Skin Beautiful Organics, which you may remember we have reviewed before here. Today, we had the opportunity to try two more of their luxury skincare products, this time with their cleansing duo the Gold Luxe Clean Oil and the Matcha Rose Antioxidant Toner. 

Skin Beautiful Organics, founded by Ethel Emmons, is a newly launched luxury skincare brand based in the USA. Ethel, a digital strategist and entrepreneur, searched in vain to find skincare products that were gentle, natural, and chemical-free for her sensitive skin. She felt as though she was in an uphill battle with her skin, struggling to ward off swollen, red, and itchy skin that came as a result of using her favourite face creams. This struggle led her to experiment with creating homemade, natural skincare remedies to soothe and protect her skin using various ingredients, such as whole fruits, hydrosols, herbs, and essential oils. With this, she found her passion and decided to pursue formal studies at the UK International School of Natural Skincare, where she received her Certificate of Natural Skincare Formulation. After finishing her studies, Ethel created Skin Beautiful Organics to help others find their perfect skin care match. Skin Beautiful Organics consists of an extensive range of cleansers, serums, creams, scrubs, toners, and masks, all made with the latest and most innovative natural science techniques. All products are manufactured in an FDA-registered and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) compliant facility powered by 100% renewable wind energy. To maintain the freshness of their ingredients, all products are handcrafted in small batches. Organic and locally sourced ingredients are used whenever possible. Skin Beautiful Organics is proud to announce that their formulas have met or exceeded the Whole Foods Premium Standards for Personal Care Products .

The first step for of the cleansing was the Gold Luxe Clean Oil. This deep cleansing facial oil aims to clean the skin and melt away impurities without stripping the skin of its natural oil balance. The oil nourishes the skin and combats inflammation, all whilst removing makeup and leaving the skin feeling soft and supple. The organic facial oil also focuses on restoring skin through its anti-ageing formula with the help of fourteen high-performance ingredients. A few key ingredients include organic rosehip seed oil, raspberry seed oil, and tamanu seed oil. Organic rosehip seed oil is responsible for depleting dark spots and sun damage through its abundance of omegas (3, 6, and 9) and vitamins (A, C, D, and E). The rosehip seed oil actively rejuvenates the skin to create a smooth and flawless look. Another contributor of the antioxidant vitamin E is the raspberry seed oil, which is added to prevent damage leading to premature skin ageing, leaving the skin plump and firm. The vitamin E found in these natural ingredients help to protect the skin from UV damage and other free radicals. The tamanu seed oil, also known as green gold, is a natural non-steroid anti-inflammatory agent that prevents the skin from becoming irritated or red. The multi-faceted facial oil contains many other ingredients that contribute to its nourishing and cleaning properties that leave the skin feeling refreshed, smoothed, and nourished. The application is simple: use your hands, washcloth, sponge, or cotton pad to massage the oil on your face until the makeup or impurities are removed. Finally, rinse off with lukewarm water and enjoy freshly cleansed skin. 

The second step is the Matcha Rose Antioxidant Toner. This toner contains award-winning plant-based antioxidants and the highest possible concentration of botanical actives to deliver remarkable results. The toner aims to remove any last traces of impurities following the cleansing oil and also prepares the thoroughly clean skin for a serum and/or moisturiser. There are twenty-five (yes, twenty-five!) high-performance ingredients found in this toner. A notable few include one of our favourites sea buckthorn oil (which we have written about when found Scandinavian skincare brands), organic green tea, and bayberry. Sea buckthorn oil is well known for its complex lipids and sterols that help keep the skin hydrated, improving skin elasticity and firmness. Organic green tea has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness and irritation, making it a perfect post-cleansing ingredient. Bayberry is an all-natural ingredient that helps to remove excess oil that may stick to the skin after cleansing. There are a remarkable amount of other ingredients that enhance the power of this toner and boost cellular regeneration. The toner can be easily applied with a cotton pad and gives off a light matcha green tea and rose scent. We found that they work perfectly as a set, starting with the gentle cleansing of the facial oil, followed by the toner to ensure that all impurities were removed, and finished with a serum and cream. The oil and toner gently removed all makeup and left our skin with a refreshing and smooth finish. If you are looking to deeply cleanse, protect, and nourish your skin using all-natural ingredients, these products might be the perfect addition to your skincare routine. Apart from the ingredients that we love, we also like the elegant long line frosted glass bottles that are chic enough to complement any dressing table or bathroom shelf. You can purchase the 120ml Gold Luxe Clean Oil here for £74.00 and the 120ml Matcha Rose Antioxidant Toner here  for £65.00.

CBD Leafline: Skin Therapy 1% Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Is there a better combination than skincare and CBD? If you ask us, here at The Amazing Blog, we’d say that the two go together perfectly. You may remember that we have previously reviewed the award-winning brand CBD Leafline's range of Skin Therapy here. And today we'd like to introduce another skincare product from the range with their 1% Hyaluronic Acid Serum. 

CBD Leafline was founded by CBD enthusiasts Paul and Sonia Shrive. It all began after a lifesaving encounter with CBD in Africa when Paul decided he wanted to create quality CBD-derived products to share the benefits with others. The couple decided to launch their brand in 2018, using Paul's experience in manufacturing, distribution, and wholesale; and Sonia's marketing and customer service expertise. The duo took their time crafting and researching to develop their first CBD-infused skincare line, Skin Therapy. Research has shown many benefits to using CBD in skincare, including reducing inflammation and regulating the sebaceous glands (which produce oil in the skin and hair). All products in the CBD Leafline range are natural and combine high-quality whole-plant hemp oil containing broad-spectrum CBD (THC-free) with cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, omega 3/6, and amino acids that interact with other vegan ingredients. Other ingredients are derived from plant and fruit extracts, such as marine collagen (always seaweed, not fish), retinol, hyaluronic acid, and pro-vitamin B5. All CBD Leafline products are independently tested (see here) and the brand is a CannaPro certified business.

The Skin Therapy 1% Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a part of the CBD skincare range and included in the Skin Therapy bundle, but it is also sold separately. This award-winning Serum aims to moisturise, revitalise, clear, and rejuvenate the skin. Its key ingredients include 100mg of CBD, 1% hyaluronic acid serum, vitamin B5, and three different fruit extracts (cranberry, raspberry, and grapefruit). The CBD is an all-natural, powerful plant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that helps to free the skin from environmental stressors that can cause fine lines and wrinkles, allowing the skin to stay youthful and smooth for longer. The CBD also regulates the oil glands, making this product ideal for acne sufferers or people with skin conditions that may cause the skin to become inflamed. Hyaluronic acid, one of our favourite skincare ingredients, is a naturally occurring moisture magnet for the body. This acid is responsible for leaving the skin hydrated, plump, and healthy. Vitamin B5 acts as a barrier around the skin to lock in moisture, improving skin softness and elasticity, and helps to regenerate the skin cells, revitalising the skin's surface and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The triple fruit extracts: cranberry, raspberry, and grapefruit assist in brightening the skin through a broad spectrum of natural antioxidants. When all of the ingredients are combined, the result is a lovely anti-ageing serum with the power to deeply replenish, clear, and moisturise the skin. 

For the best results, CBD Leafline recommends wiping the face gently with a warm damp flannel to ensure it's clean and makeup-free, then apply the Serum and blend until it's fully absorbed. Lightly tap the face with fingertips to encourage this Serum to deeply penetrate the skin. We used this morning and evening, and what we liked, is that it's versatile enough to be used with our other moisturisers and SPFs, as the fragrance doesn't conflict,. Plus, in the recent hot weather we used it solo, as it’s fast absorbing and extremely hydrating, So, if you're looking to clear acne-prone skin or to reduce the appearance of fine lines, dry or temperamental skin, this CBD serum may be your perfect match. To purchase CBD Leafline's 30ml 1% Hyaluronic Acid Serum for £39.99, click here.

Booheads: Soniboo

Today we are talking about brushing teeth, as we all do every day, if not twice a day. At The Amazing Blog we’re big fans of electronic toothbrushes but always have the dilemma regarding the plastic heads - which are not great for the planet. We don’t want to keep littering our beautiful earth with plastic toothbrush heads, and this is where we found these eco-friendly toothbrush heads, made with natural and environmentally friendly bamboo from Booheads, with their Soniboo collection. This is where brushing teeth has now got a little more earth-friendly!

Ben Caspary, the founder of Booheads, realised a gap in the dental market for a sustainable option for electric toothbrush heads. After much time, research and thought, Ben took the opportunity and launched the first electric toothbrush head made from sustainable, biodegradable, and plant-based materials. He told us, “Booheads was created out of lockdown where I was reflecting on my own consumption habits, and started the question of why we cannot make products more sustainable? After a bit of exploration, I noticed that the electric toothbrush market was not as eco-friendly as our manual equivalents, with a solution not existing. I decided to take the plunge and Booheads was born.” The bamboo is FSC certified, with their bioplastic being made from plant-based. The head is compatible with all the Sonicare range from Philips. All packaging is made from recycled kraft paper and is biodegradable too. The bioplastics can start biodegrading as soon as 90 days, depending on the conditions, and bamboo takes around three years to decompose fully; however, it is 100% organic.

Booheads  Soniboo range are a zero-waste replaceable electric toothbrush heads and a brilliant alternative to the plastic ones. This product is compatible with the full range of Sonicare, DailyClean and ProtectiveClean’s base handles – we also see that they are now producing heads for Oral B handles. As mentioned, the heads are made of plant-based materials with bamboo and bioplastics, which are FSC Certified, renewable and easily disposable. Bamboo is a natural plant grown with zero pesticides or fertilisers. It’s a biodegradable botanical, able to regenerate soil and prevent soil erosion. Bioplastic is a material made from corn starch and castor bean oil, causing it to break down into renewable resources. Cornstarch is derived from corn, which means it doesn’t contain any toxins and is easily compostable in most recycling facilities. The bristles are plant-based medium-soft bristles with 62% castor oil and Dupont nylon, whereas the fitment comprises 80% cornstarch and 10% PBAT and 10% talcum powder. If concerned about degrading of the nylon in the bristles, they can be removed with a pair of pliers before disposing of the heads. The structure of this head is designed to get into the crevasses and cavities of the teeth, leaving them sparkly and clean. Even dentists love this product because of it’s efficiency at cleaning while being a great eco alternative (a win-win). We love the array of the four snazzy colours, which not only look pretty and will stop you and your partner won’t get the heads mixed up – eww, after all, who wants to share a toothbrush?! This is another of our #amazingfinds, so If you have an electric toothbrush or thinking about buying one, pair these sustainable toothbrush heads with it, to help the world become a cleaner and greener place. We believe that this is something worth investing in, not to mention how clean your teeth look and feel.  Why not start by buying the Booheads’ Soniboo two-pack here for only £7.99. Hurry, as they are running out, and we’ll be ordering more!

Berrichi: Travel Set

For the first time in over a year, people are finally travelling again! Whether it’s a quick dash for a weekend getaway or a more relaxing fortnight, everyone deserves a holiday after this tough 18 months. At The Amazing Blog we’re excited to be travelling again, and have been looking for travel-sized skincare that fits neatly into our hand luggage. You many remembered the brand Berrichi (see here).  Well, today we’re talking about their Berrichi’s Travel Set.

Berrichi,  is a natural skincare brand from Estonia, and was founded by Berit Joosep. Joosep’s dry, allergic skin and inflammation caused her to look for help from pure nature, and began mixing creams in her kitchen. Her inspiration first came from herbal medicine books and her grandmother’s wisdom, and then she discovered healing properties of algae after a trip to Bali. After two years of research, algae and super-oils became the key ingredients in the creams — these algae-based antioxidants astaxanthin and furcellaria have been studied, tested, and scientifically proven to give results. The astaxanthin is an extract derived from the green algae haematococcus pluvialis and when compared to other antioxidants, it is an astonishing 6000 x stronger than vitamin C, 3000 x stronger than reservatrol, 800 x stronger than CoQ10, 560 x stronger than green tea catechins, and 500 x stronger than vitamin E!  The red algae furcellaria, found in the Baltic Sea, is a potent neutraliser of free radicals, anti-pollution and removes toxins. Combine these super-algae, and they become very potent botanicals in this skincare. Berrichi is based on the idea that our body can heal itself when balanced. The name Berrichi comes from Berit’s nickname “berri” and the word “chi,” which stands for life, energy, and soul. Therefore, “Berrichi awakens your skin’s natural ability to regenerate, activates your skin’s own chi.” The brand has won many awards, two of the most recent being the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2020 Editor’s Choice. They say, “Berrichi’s products are unique and effective. They awaken the body’s natural ability to regenerate and heal.” They export globally and are recognised for leading the way with ‘clean beauty’ and their unique botanicals. The products are free from parabens, sulphates, phthalates, artificial fragrances, vegan and cruelty-free. They are also dermatologically tested and have and Ecocert COSMOS certification.

This useful Berrichi’s Travel Set includes ten small sachets of their Day-Age Defence and ten small sachets of their Night Powder Age Defence; which, as they say, allows you to “travel in comfort with your favourite creams.” Each sachet has 2 ml of cream, which gives you 40 ml total. Both the Day-Age Defence and the Night Powder Age Defence is suitable for all skin types.and apart from the astaxanthin and furcellaran algae, the other main ingredients in both are aloe vera extract and a selection of oils that include cacay nut, avocado and apricot kernel. Berrichi’s Day Age Defence Cream is velvety soft and fast-absorbing; it really nourishes and moisturises the skin. The cream also soothes irritated, allergic, and inflamed skin giving a radiant and fresh looking complexion as well as a more even skin tone. In addition, the cream restores the skin’s natural balance, prevents and reduces wrinkles, protects from environmental stressors, and can be a makeup base or primer. Berrichi’s Night Powder Age Defence restores hydration nourishing the skin while you sleep. The cream improves collagen production and restores the skin’s natural protective barriers, slowing down the signs of ageing. It also improves the skin’s elasticity and firmness, restores the skin’s natural balance, prevents and reduces wrinkles, and protects from environmental stressors. Again, apart from the algae and the other ingredients (mentioned above) there is also retinol/vitamin A. This is a potent fat-soluble vitamin; it accelerates skin renewal by stimulating microcirculation, which speeds up new skin cell production, giving an anti-ageing effect.  If you, like us, you want to take Berrichi’s Travel Set with you for your next trip, you can purchase it here for 28.00€.

Luonkos: Rebirth & Radiant Facial Oil Cleansing Cakes and Celebrate Sparkling Body Cake

Are you feeling guilty about your bathroom shelves being stacked full of plastic bottles? At The Amazing Blog, we are! We’re trying to do our best to have more zero-waste, and this week we’re featuring our second sustainable Scandinavian brand, from the land of the midnight sun. Today it’s with Luonkos and their multitasking ‘Cakes’ that help to minimise our skincare products, and reconnect us back to nature.

Luonkos is a natural skincare brand from Finland, founded in 2018 by an enterprising trio of women; Miia Leino, Jonna Vesterinen, and Piritta Fors. Their primary mission is to help stop plastic bottles flooding bathrooms by giving us more sustainable alternative. The company currently sells Oil Cleansing Cakes, Body Cakes, Forest Cakes, and Hair Products. Luonkos’ facial Oil Cleansing Cakes won the Best Natural Innovation award in the 2020 Nordic Natural Beauty Awards. The company’s Cakes are all oil-based and composed of natural oils that cleanse the skin in a gentle, nurturing and healing way. Luonkos has a product for every skin type, and promise with regular use these will return the skin back to its natural pH balance. Having a zero-waste ethos is important to Luonkos, and all their products are plastic-free, handmade with all-natural ingredients, waterless, vegan and packaged in stylish biodegradable hexagonal cardboard boxes. Co-founder Fors recently said in an interview with Nordic Natural Beauty Podcast, “We really wanted to create a valued-based brand and inspire people to start thinking about the what’s in the products that they use.” She went on to say, “we’ve created multi-use zero-waste natural products that don’t have any preservatives or chemicals. We believe that you’re allowed to have this ‘I love me’ moment while cleansing so that you are taking care of yourself and your skin.” Although the company is based in Finland, their products are sold in multiple countries in Europe and are delivered internationally. Luonkos chose to call their products ‘cakes’ instead of ‘bars’ because cakes have a more joyful connotation!  Last October they were the first consumer products in the world to use a revolutionary Finnish invention, a forest microbe extract that, research shows, supports and strengthens the body's immune system. They were also the first products with EXAKT smart tags to arrive on store shelves. 

Luonkos sent us two facial oil cleansing cakes, the Rebirth Facial Oil Cleansing Cake  and the Radiant Facial Oil Cleansing Cake. Both the Oil Cleansing Cakes are 4-in-1 products that clean the skin, take off makeup (even waterproof makeup), and balance and nurture the skin. The Rebirth Facial Oil Cleansing Cake is for dry and normal skin, brightens and revives skin, and was Luonkos’ first product! Ideal for the 30+ age group this cake also helps to address any hyperpigmentation. Some of the ingredients in this cleansing cake include cacao seed butter, coconut oil, almond oil and Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract for fragrance. The cacao seed butter moisturises the skin, the coconut oil helps cleanse the skin effectively, the almond oil softens and nurtures skin. This Cake has a warm and comforting fragrance that reminds of delicious sweet cacao/chocolate. The Radiant Facial Oil Cleansing Cake is for dry and sensitive skin, has no added fragrance. There are only five ingredients in this cleansing bar which include apricot kernel oil, cacao seed butter, coconut oil, shea butter, and sea buckthorn seed oil. The apricot kernel oil nurtures and nourishes skin, the cacao seed butter moisturises the skin, the coconut oil helps cleanse the skin effectively, the shea butter nourishes and protects skin, and the sea buckthorn seed oil rejuvenates and strengthens skin. Which was our favourite? As we have sensitive skin – Radiant was our preferred Oil Cleansing Cake here. That said, we loved the performance and fragrance of Rebirth. We used them to effectively remove makeup at night and freshen up our complexion in the morning. What we love is that these Cakes is that they are gentle with no eye-stinging or excess oily residue. We still have Radiant on-the-go where it has pride of place, in the bathroom. If you are scared to try oil cleansing because your pores clog up easily, they recommend that you first try to double cleanse with your chosen Oil Cleansing Cake before using it solo. These Oil Cleansing Cakes are 60 ml, which means approximately 60 uses, making them very cost-effective. To store the Oil Cleansing Cakes, keep them in a dry place and out of direct sunlight; and to apply, rub the cake in your clean, dry hands to release the oils, massage this oil onto dry skin to remove makeup or impurities, and then wipe away the remaining oil with a warm damp cloth or sponge.You can purchase the Rebirth Facial Oil Cleansing Cake here for 24,15 €, the Radiant Facial Oil Cleansing Cake here for 24,15 €.

In addition to the Oil Cleansing Cakes, Luonkos sent us their Celebrate Sparkling Body Cake. This Celebrate Sparkling Body Cake brought a glorious sheen to our legs, cleavage, arms, and even cheekbones! Some of the moisturising ingredients include aloe vera, frankincense oil, jojoba wax, cacao seed butter, mica mineral pigment, lychee essential oil, barley starch, grape seed oil, peppermint essential oil, and sea buckthorn seed oil. Let’s talk about the ingredients and what they do: The aloe vera cools and calms the skin after sunbathing, frankincense oil improves concentration and calms the mind, the jojoba wax and cacao seed butter soothe and hydrates the skin, whereas the tiny mica mineral pigments give the skin a reflective glow. The lychee essential oil is an anti-inflammatory and protects skin; the barley starch helps the product spread evenly. The grape seed oil balances, t the peppermint essential oil cools, and the sea buckthorn seed oil rejuvenates and strengthens skin. Like the Oil Cleansing Cakes, this is 60 ml and is also recommended to be stored in a cool, dry place (place out of direct sunlight) so that it doesn’t melt! Sadly, this didn’t last as long as the Oil Cleansing Cakes – but with good reason as we used it all over the body (not exclusively on the face). To apply this Body Cake, simply rub the cake in your clean, dry hands (again) and put the oil on damp skin (ideally after a shower), let your skin dry with the oil before getting dressed, to help keep skin soft and hydrated. This Body Cake is perfect for now to show off your summer tan with its touch of sparkle, making you ready for a night on the town. To purchase the Celebrate Sparkling Body Cake, see here for 22,54 €. Luonkos is yet another of our our #amazingfinds and we hope to see them here in the UK soon.