Scentimental candles : Candle Mini Duo Set

With yesterday’s arrival of the Winter Solstice and the dark evenings that still envelop us, we thought it timely to celebrate such a landmark by lighting some candles. At this time of year, at The Amazing Blog, we like to sit quietly with a lit candle, reflecting on past events and giving thanks for all the good things. There's also something rather inviting about putting candles in the window, it makes a home feel welcoming and 'hygge'. To add to the Christmas vibe and get you in the mood, meet another of our #amazingfinds with Scentimental and their Candle Mini Duo Set, their heady fragrance and evocative aromas, will add to making your surroundings warm and harmonious.

Scentimental began in 2015 when Salma Bello, the founder, took her inspiration from a visit to Grasse, the world-famous perfume capital. From here, she went on to create her British/ Nigerian home fragrance brand, which uses the medium of scent to tell the untold stories of many places that contribute to the richness of a global community. Scentimental is based on the principle that "Each fragrance is personal, intimate and memorable and leaves a lingering sense of nostalgia as well as a footprint on your bucket list/travel map." And with this olfactory journey, the brand seeks to empower the culture and its people and, in their own little way, reinvent tourism by taking their community on unforgettable fragrant memories and travels around the globe. Salma explained, "Our scents individually speak to a myriad of cultural depths and heritage. With each of our fragrance compositions, the key ingredient is a vibrant effusion of culture." Scentimental is a luxury artisan brand 'born in Lagos', with products handcrafted in the UK. They offer affordable, premium-quality fragranced goods with a selection of hand-poured and gender-neutral candles, reed diffusers and fragrance oils.

They kindly sent us for review their Candle Mini Duo Set that offers "A memory waxed in time." Beautifully presented in a small elegant gift box, wrapped in bespoke tissue with a 'Scentimental Express Telegram' to encourage us to light the candles to make a wish or set intentions. The two 9cl (70g) travel candles inside are Lagos and Kwara. Both are richly scented, and even as the gift box opens, without being lit, the candles fill the air with an exotic fragrance.

Lagos has a notable light and fruity element, "An accord of tart pineapple notes, mango, and cucumber." As it warms up, the heart notes echo a floral mix of hibiscus, lilac, damask rose, and jasmine finally layered in the base note of white musk. The white musk anchors the fragrance and is there to elevate the mood and offer a feeling of general well-being. We found its fragrance unique and uplifting. It's aptly described as "Effervescent, vibrant and bursting with energy just like the city it's named after." It has a touch of tropical and exotic easily spiriting us away to far and distant climes.

Kwara is a different candle altogether, and our favourite of the two. It smoulders with the heady and intense fresh top notes of tomato, and green leaf with a dab of pine; which then open up with calming notes of earthy rosewood, followed by spicy black pepper and finally the soft accents and base notes of sandalwood. Sandalwood is well placed here, as it’s believed to be beneficial in treating anxiety and fatigue, Whereas the spicy black pepper relieves stress, making them a harmonious coupling. It’s a luxurious, warm, nostalgic scent that sets the scene; and made us want to hunker down and snuggle up during this hectic festive season.

All their candles are made of blended fragrance oil and 100% natural soy wax, a non-toxic alternative to paraffin. As a natural and renewable resource, soy wax is biodegradable and has a lower melting point than other waxes commonly used for candle-making. This difference means soy wax candles will burn and last longer; they also burn cleaner and emit less black soot than other candle types. These 9cl (70g) candles each offer a burn time of 15-18 hours, whereas their other larger 30cl (220g) candles burn up to 40 hours. Whether you are looking to light a candle to set intentions or want to fill the room with a hypnotic aroma, we find at this time of year, candles always help to brighten up the mood.

These luxurious and unique scents will undoubtedly lift any flagging spirits – which after this challenging year, is something we all could do with! To help you get to your happy place, we recommend purchasing the Scentimental Candle Mini Duo Set for £40, available exclusively online here.

We wish you all: Health, Wealth & Happiness.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

The Universal Soul Company - Uitrasonic AURA Aroma Diffuser Humidifier & Purifier

Today we want to share one of our favourite #amazingfinds for this year; it’s a brand that we’ve followed since its inception, The Universal Soul Company. We love how they feel passionately about making a difference and want to inspire positive energy inside and out. It would be wrong to define them as just a home fragrance company, and to quote Sara their founder, they offer “Beautiful products and services to help us reconnect to ourselves, others and the wider world…” And at this time of year, their cutting-edge Ultrasonic AURA Aroma Diffuser Humidifier & Purifier with its uplifting colour-changing mood light, really adds to the festive run-up to Christmas. We also like how they’re promoting the awareness of #CallJust1 by asking us all to take time out to call anyone who will be spending Christmas alone to see how they are. Such a brilliant idea, to show that you care…and one that’ll help to make a difference in their day.

The Universal Soul Company’s founder is Sara Griffiths, a qualified spiritual mentor, actress, presenter, lecturer and therapist. She founded the Universal Soul Company to bring clients inspirational support through her products to ‘Awaken your senses & uplift your heart & soul.’ The Universal Soul Company is built on sharing the experience of being human, particularly in this fast-paced and challenging era of technology and social change. More than just a brand with lifestyle products, Sara explained why she started her fragrance range, “The olfactory sense is the only sense that is fully developed at birth, so it was out of that, that we decided to make our Soul Mist STILL a 3-in1 signature fragrance,” she went on to say, “With this, I want the fragrance to inspire people to reconnect with themselves, other people and then the wider world and beyond”. The brand is also committed to sustainability and has been awarded the ‘Butterfly Mark’ powered by Positive Luxury, which recognises the company for being a responsible brand that minimises its environmental footprint while maximising its social good. They’re a multi-award winning brand and recently won ‘Best Aromatherapy Diffuser - Electrical Device’ at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards. All products are vegan, chemical-free, environmentally friendly and even have Braille writing on the packaging to make them accessible to everyone. Not forgetting that they focus on ‘profit for purpose’ and donate a portion of their revenue to charitable causes - which we applaud.

Their Ultrasonic AURA Aroma Diffuser Humidifier & Purifier also includes their 15ml signature essential oil STILL, a natural essential oil with its unique blend of nurturing base notes of patchouli, and soothing top & middle notes of lavender; filling the air with tiny breathable particles of essential oil, it’s a delicate & uplifting fragrance that’s designed to adapt to suit one’s mood, and energises by day and relaxes at night, offering a both a calming, and uplifting ambience. Most importantly, at The Amazing Blog, we found that using the combination of the Ultrasonic AURA Aroma Diffuser, and STILL, helped us manage our stress response, and triggered our body to rest, reset, and restore itself.

The Ultrasonic  AURA Aroma Diffuser Humidifier & Purifier comes in two finishes, a sleek Chrome or a white Blanc making either an elegant addition to any room. What we love are all the features, its 1hr/3hr auto timer, a remote control, the changing or fixed LED lights, two mist settings, and a sleep mode. The light function can also be set to the desired length of diffusion, colour and ‘Hi or Lo’ mist setting for each occasion or time you use the diffuser. If you haven’t already discovered the joys of using an aroma diffuser, then this one with all its sophisticated functions is for you, plus it also offers multiple benefits for mental health and well-being. Finally, to use the AURA Aroma Diffuser, you need to fill the tank with 300ml of filtered water (which will benefit the quality of the fragrance), and add 5-10 drops of your desired essential oil to experience the full effect. If you want to ‘Love the air you breathe’ then you can purchase this Ultrasonic AURA Aroma Diffuser Humidifier & Purifier with their STILL essential oil here for £130.00.

BTW if you’re out and about doing Christmas shopping In London, why not drop into the iconic Peter Jones, where Sara has a pop-up shop until 18 December, and say ‘hello’. See here.

WOTNOT Naturals : Certified Organic Gradual Tan Lotion & Tan Water Mist

With autumn hot on our heels, the big question is, how do we top up our holiday sunkissed-glow? Here at The Amazing Blog, it’s a bit of a conundrum. However, worry not; WOTNOT Naturals' Certified Organic Gradual Tan Lotion and Certified Organic Tan Water Mist will help to enhance your skin’s natural glow while also providing a further streak-free self-tan - all with the utmost nourishment and hydration. Both products are our recent discoveries and winners of The Beauty Shortlist Awards in 2022.

Believe it or not, it WOTNOT Naturals all started with nappies. Irish mum Sinead Roberts received environmentally-friendly nappies as a gift from a friend; it blew her mind. She never knew such things existed. There were little to no environmentally-friendly nappies when Sinead lived in Australia – that's when she knew she needed to create them. In 2004, she and business partner Sioned Guard introduced the world's first environmentally-friendly disposable MOLTEX Nappy to Australia. Fast forward a couple of years, the nappies were a hit with a loyal community around Byron Bay and beyond asking for more products, including complementary all-natural baby, beauty and sun care products. As mothers, Sinead and Sioned wanted to create a caring, conscious brand that tends to their families and the environment through producing eco-friendly beauty, baby and suncare products enjoyed by mothers, babies and the planet. Sometimes, these products don't exist yet, so they work with the community to create unique products that fulfil each customer's wants and needs. "Our mission has always been to help improve the wellbeing of people and our planet," Sinead and Sioned went on to say, "Today, we do this by co-creating innovative (sometimes world first!) natural and organic skincare that matches conventional brands on performance but ditch the toxins! We do this with courage, commitment, collaboration and respect." All products are made with effective, natural, gentle, non-toxic and organic alternatives to conventional ingredients, where performance is never compromised, and conventional alternatives are consistently outperformed. Each product is always designed to be used on the most sensitive of skins; it’s even endorsed by the Eczema Association. Equally important is their passion for giving back to nature through sustainability. All its sun, tanning and baby skincare packaging is sustainably made with recycled materials and is recyclable. They work with Carbon Neutral Australia to measure, reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions while planting trees in deforested areas annually. It's not just the environment that WOTNOT gives back to; they support Women's Community Shelters and Bear Cottage, a children's hospice.

WOTNOT Naturals also creates a highly personal customer experience like no other. First, customers submit product ideas, followed by company research, creation, testing and lastly, production of the once non-existent product of your dreams. Once a trial product is created, customers volunteer to test it, allowing for reformulation to achieve the best product based on your feedback. If you'd like to be one of these customer volunteers, also known as co-creators, or if you have a brimming product idea, click here. WOTNOT is always ready to make your product dreams come alive.

"On Your Marks, Get Set, Glow!" WOTNOT Naturals say about their Certified Organic Gradual Tan Lotion. And rightfully so, it's a velvety soft moisturiser packed with skin-nourishing organic ingredients that hydrate the skin while gradually building and effortlessly extending a tan for the ultimate year-round glow. The lotion contains skin-perfecting actives like the Australian kakadu plum, camellia oil and aloe vera, to name a few. On top of that, it's vegan, cruelty-free, toxin-free – suitable for sensitive skin and pregnancy – and free from streaks, fake tan odours, and transfers. After using the lotion, expect silky smooth skin with a tan that will fade naturally and evenly.

Made with 99.65% natural ingredients, including 21.9% certified organic, that can be found. These include aloe vera, which softens, moisturises and soothes the skin for an even, glowing tan; coconut oil, which moisturises and reduces inflammation; sunflower oil, which offers sun protection with its rich antioxidant content, and olive oil, which is abundant in moisture and antioxidants. You may be wondering what the actual ‘tanning’ ingredient is here; it’s dihydroxyacetone (AKA as DHA), that’s often derived from plant sources such as sugar beets and sugar cane, and by the fermentation of glycerin. It works by reacting with the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin where it darkens the skin and gives it a temporarily tanned-looking glow.

Meanwhile, other organic components like shea butter, linseed oil, and green tea extract keep the skin soothed, nourished and hydrated, reducing signs of ageing – especially with shea butter and linseed oil's high fatty acid content and green tea's high antioxidant content. Two essential ingredients besides aloe vera comprise certified organic Australian kakadu plum and camellia oil. Both supply nutrients and antioxidants to slow ageing; kakadu plum extract’s rich vitamin C content is responsible for that natural glow, while camellia oil is high in proteins and fatty acids, like oleic acid, which reduces inflammation and helps the skin hold moisture. If you're wondering what gives the lotion a silky finish, it's cetearyl and sorbitan olivates (vegetable emulsifiers), non-ionic emulsifiers that allow rapid absorption.

This has to be one of the best gradual tan lotions we’ve tried. They recommend using it overnight, but we prefer to use it in the morning. WOTNOT Naturals recommends leaving it for 6-8 hours at night to develop and promises it won't stain sheets or clothing. Having worked hard to acquire our ‘real tan’, this lotion works wonders to help prolong a natural sun-kissed glow, and we used it several times a week to achieve the right shade. Best of all, we found that it didn’t dry out the skin as the formula is super-hydrating, and to top it off, it’s fragrance-free. It’s truly one of our #amazingfinds and one we want to buy more of!

Enough about the Gradual Tan Lotion, WOTNOT's Certified Organic Tan Water Mist is a competitor to match. A gentle, non-toxic mist that also provides a gradual and buildable tan, it's carefully formulated with a 3-in-1 formula that ‘tones, tans and hydrates’ while containing nine organic actives to nourish the skin. Like the Gradual Tan Lotion, the Tan Water Mist contains Australian botanical aromatherapy; it fades evenly and naturally, contains zero to no toxins, and is vegan and cruelty-free. They give the promise of salon-quality results that will outperform conventional tans with the lack of streaks, fake tan odours and non-transfer onto clothing.

Similarly, the Tan Water Mist contains kakadu plum, aloe vera, camellia seed oil, and green tea extract. Plus, the dihydroxyacetone which activates the colour. Some newcomers include marshmallow root extract, an anti-inflammatory oil, rose otto flower oil, an uplifting, rejuvenating and energising oil for toned skin, and orange peel oil, an oil with astringent effects that tightens pores and regulates sebum levels while protecting the skin from environmental damage through the oil's high limonene content. Lime oil can also be found, alleviating excess oil and improving the appearance of dark spots. Furthermore, geranium flower oil's high antioxidants and anti-inflammatories boost skin health for a natural glow.

Most importantly, two key ingredients are ylang-ylang and patchouli. Ylang ylang is best known for balancing oil production to create the right amount of moisture in the skin, which is not dry or oily. At the same time, ylang ylang soothes inflammation and irritation. In contrast, patchouli is revered for its ability to regenerate skin cells through its active ingredients and anti-bacterial properties, reducing wrinkles, scars and signs of ageing.

It has a gentle natural, refreshing fragrance from the ylang-ylang and patchouli. Again we used this Tan Water Mist twice a week, but this time at night, spraying it onto a bamboo pad, dabbing directly and evenly onto the face, neck and décolletage, then waking up to a fresh and flawless glow. Top tip, remember to spray, dab and pat as you go, and wash hands afterwards. We found it gave our skin a buildable and almost instant subtle glow. We love how it’s free of orange tinges, streaks or patchiness – mimicking only a natural tan. It’s so easy to incorporate into a skincare routine, and WOTNOT Naturals say that If used in the morning, it can be followed by regular skincare or makeup without affecting the efficiency of the Tan Water. A win-win!

We highly recommend both these two certified organic self-tanning products, even if you haven’t been lucky enough to catch the summer sun, they’ll certainly give your skin a radiant boost for autumn. To purchase a 130ml tube of WOTNOT Naturals' Gradual Tanning Lotion here at £12.60, and a 100ml bottle of WOTNOT Naturals' Tan Water mist at £17.26 here.

MotherSage™ : CBD Body Butter

If like us, you’re off and away to catch the last of the summer sun, then the one body care multitasker we’d recommend packing in your hand luggage is a balm. Today at The Amazing Blog, we’d like to introduce this award-winning CBD Body Butter from MotherSage™. But it’s not just ANY body balm; it has one of our favourite ingredients CBD, which when paired with other vitamins and oils, nourishes, repairs, and calms irritated or inflamed skin.

Farard Darver, launched Healthcare International Research (HIR) in 2021, specialising in cosmetic and herbal cannabinoid products, it is the umbrella company for CBD brands such as MotherSage™ and Hempe®. After a successful army career, Farard focused on making his passion a reality in the well-being and CBD sector. “Seeing first-hand the extent that CBD was helping people around me with a range of issues, I knew I had to investigate further and my investigations led me to the Czech Republic”. In an interview in The Daily Echo, Farard also went on to say, “I am creating the conditions for HIR to become the authoritative voice on the use of CBD in cosmetic and lifestyle applications, demonstrated by our credentials that show we are driven by science and regulatory compliance, resulting in products that are truly lifestyle changing.” All of HIR’s products are backed by 65 years of research from scientists in the Czech Republic, and this multi-award-winning brand ensures that their products have full traceability, as well as are effective. With the environment in mind, HIR has created its two CBD brands, where they are committed to reducing the carbon footprint by using raw materials for their packaging and following sustainability guidelines. Based in Lymington, Dorset, they are proud supporters of Litter Free Dorset and are also partner members of the British Beauty Council.

MotherSage™ offers a range of natural cosmetic skincare products that contain cannabidiol (CBD); these include balms, body butter and bath salts. We love how nourishing this CBD Body Balm is, but don’t just take our word for it; it was recently a winner in the 2022 Pure Beauty Global Awards. The CBD in the balm helps to maintain moisture levels by interacting with endocannabinoid receptors, which helps to fight dryness and inflammation. And if you’ve been reading our features on CBD, you’ll know that it is bioactive and single compound found in the hemp plant that contains many naturally occurring antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it the ideal ingredient for skincare as it balances and hydrates. MotherSage™ uses CBD isolate to ensure there is no THC which removes all cannabis plant compounds.MotherSage™ told us, why they choose to use CBD isolate, “In all of our topical products, we use CBD isolate, so our products are essentially THC free (< 0.000025%) - It is difficult to control THC levels in distillate as they vary, so any company offering products that are used in sports or work settings where drug testing may take place would be best using isolate.” It’s named ‘isolate’ as it isolates only the CBD found within the hemp plant, removing any THC and terpenes. it is normally in a crystalline or powder form, with the added advantage of being odourless, which means it will combine with other fragrances, like the essential oils here, without any conflict of scents.

Apart from the 100g CBD isolate, it’s combined with other natural key ingredients, including shea butter, jojoba oil, sea buckthorn oil, lavender, argan oil, and vitamin E. Shea butter is an emollient, which means that it works by adding moisturising oils to soften and keep skin supple. Jojoba oil is an anti-inflammatory that supports skin immunity. Sea buckthorn oil is filled with antioxidants such as carotenoids and vitamin E, which help to regenerate the skin. Lavender oil sets a relaxing tone while also preventing infection and irritation with its antifungal, antimicrobial and detoxifying properties. Argan oil is occlusive, which means that it acts as a barrier to keep moisture from evaporating out of the skin. It’s also packed with omega fatty acids, vitamin E, and linoleic acids, which work together to address dry patches and soften skin.

The three other ingredients on the list worth mentioning are caprylic/capric triglyceride,  ethylhexyl olivate (olive oil) and hydrogenated castor oil. The hydrogenation in the olive and castor oils provides more stability. Both these oils are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids; they are ultra-hydrating and act as humectants retaining moisture by preventing water loss. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is derived from coconut oil and glycerine and is sometimes mistakenly referred to as fractionated coconut oil. It is usually used in skincare as an emollient and skin-replenishing ingredient.

 What we love about this CBD balm is that it doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy. They call it “An Evolution in Body Butter.” It’s certainly quick to absorb, but we can’t tell you why it is ‘evolutionary’. Perhaps HIR could enlighten us on this? That said, it’s one to keep at hand to help prevent (or treat) skin dryness. As mentioned at the beginning, we think it’s the perfect travel companion, to help soothe any insect bites or calm redness for the dreaded sunburn. Is it suitable for sensitive or eczema-prone skins? We’d say probably not because of the essential oil content. However, the isolate CBD here is an anti-inflammatory and has been known to help skin conditions such as psoriasis. So, if you have sensitive skin, we’d recommend doing a test patch first. Also, don’t worry, there’s absolutely no trace of a hempy smell, it only has a very subtle floral bouquet. As it’s solid and 100ml, it’s easy to pack away for your travels and we think is ideal for treating any skin mishaps or dry skin. To purchase the 100ml CBD Body butter for £19.99, see here. 

Skin W1® : Collagen Stimulating Serum

As we grow older, it goes without saying that we all want our skin to age well and keep its youthful bloom. At The Amazing Blog, we’ve been looking for a new age-defying serum, one that’s packed full of antioxidants and science-driven ingredients. With autumn fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about using a more potent daily skincare, and lucky enough, we were sent this award-winning Collagen Stimulating Serum by Skin W1®. It certainly piqued our interest, with its pioneering ingredients and medical know-how. Did you know that by the age of thirty, collagen production diminishes rapidly, thus affecting the elasticity of the skin; so we couldn’t wait to try this serum.

Skin W1® is science-driven skincare founded by Dr Rabia Malik, an aesthetic doctor and GP who has a particular interest in non-invasive, non-surgical facial rejuvenation and problem skin solutions. Dr Malik completed an attachment in dermatology at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital, in the USA before launching her aesthetic medicine practice in 2011. Today, she is based at The Harrods Wellness Clinic, where Dr Malik offers bespoke skin peels and non-injectable facial rejuvenation to improve skin tone and texture. "My focus is on non-injectable facial rejuvenation and maximum skin health. I specialise in providing bespoke skin peels to help achieve a glowing, natural complexion." In 2021, Dr Malik launched her line of skincare Skin W1® with a range designed to support skin health, in particular, collagen production, these include a cleanser, serum, moisturiser, mask and facial oil. Taking over three years in research and development, she commented on the range, “I didn't want to create a product range focusing on actives already on the market. I wanted to focus on something innovative and new – something we know delivers results." One of these special ingredients includes copper amino acid complex, a combination of methyl glucoside phosphate and copper lysinate/prolinate; these can be found in her serum and moisturiser. It’s best known for boosting the skin's own collagen as well as encouraging elastin production. She went on to say, “I have worked with these active ingredients in the clinic for years, and I wanted to bring these powerful results to clients at home.” All products are free from parabens, sulphates and fragrance (except the serum), and all claim to have non-irritating ingredients. The brand believes that Skin W1®’s three core products can replace other additional products, helping to declutter and simplify a skincare routine. They have a very instructive Ingredient Library here where all the products are listed and explained in full.

The Collagen Stimulating Serum is their hero product, collecting some well-deserved wins at the Beauty Awards London 2021 and Get the Gloss 2021. This is a performance-led serum that has a range of actives that are not typically found in retail skincare. Suitable for all skin types, don’t think that this is just for the 40+ age group; it’s for anyone over 25, which is when collagen levels start to decline. Apart from the 2% methylglucoside phosphate and 2% copper lysinate/prolinate (mentioned above), the niacinamide (vitamin B3) and aminopropyl phosphate (a derivative of vitamin C) also work together for impactful anti-ageing benefits, similar to those of retinol, but as much gentler version; which is why Dr Malik chooses to use these ingredients over others.

The seven key ingredients mentioned are witch hazel extract, niacinamide (AKA vitamin B3), aminopropyl ascorbyl phosphate, 2% methyl glucoside phosphate, 2% copper lysinate/prolinate,  L-carnosine and adenosine, which we will explain.

Witch hazel is antioxidant-rich with tannins, its unique medicinal anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties aid with the vasoconstrictor tightening blood vessels and reducing redness in the skin. Niacinamide (vitamin B3), helps build skin cells, reduces hyperpigmentation, boosts collagen and protein production, and protects skin from environmental stressors. Aminopropyl ascorbyl phosphate, is a form of vitamin C  and an antioxidant used for reducing hyperpigmentation and collagen-boosting; it also helps with the stability of l-ascorbic acid. However, the main anti-ageing ingredients present are the 2% methylglucoside phosphate and 2% copper lysinate/prolinate. These work together by using amino acids to increase collagen and elastin production for firmer, tighter skin. With daily use, a high percentage of the copper amino acid complex will stimulate collagen to plump up the skin and soften fine lines. Finally, the L-carnosine and adenosine are both synthetically manufactured peptides, that assist in wound healing activity, and protect and repair the skin barrier making it more robust.

There are also the ubiquitous skin plumping ingredients that you would expect to find in an anti-ageing serum with hydrolysed hyaluronic acid and sodium hyaluronate (which we have often discussed). Also, there’s one that we haven’t come across before with phenethyl alcohol, it’s a preservative with antimicrobial activity and gives the serum its delicate rose-like scent.

We like that Skin W1® has worked hard to avoid using plastic, which we applaud. The serum comes in a small frosted glass bottle with a pump and with a protective cardboard outer shell, which could be repurposed to store other products or toiletries while travelling. Dr Malik recommends applying this product in the AM or PM using 1-2 pumps on clean skin, massaging it into the face and neck. We liked how the serum is simple to use and absorbs quickly, allowing us to follow it with our regular moisturiser/SPF in the morning, although at night; we felt it was best to use the serum alone, to allow its powerful antioxidants to penetrate the skin and do their work encouraging cell renewal, and plumping up fine lines. Our verdict? It’s very gentle, unlike retinol-based products which tend to give us redness and irritation. It leaves skin soft and more luminous; plus we noticed that it faded some of our pigmentation spots. It does have a hefty price tag, but we think it’s a worthwhile investment. After all, what price can you put on having healthy and youthful-looking skin? To purchase the 30ml Collagen Stimulating Serum for £125.00, see here.