Love Sun Body - SPF 50 Fragrance Free

With the UK experiencing its hotter and hotter summers apply a high SPF is an essential part our daily routine, not only our faces but also our bodies. From recycling to using reusable straws, we can change little things in our day-to-day lives for the better, including changing what sunscreen we use. According to the Environmental Working Group,  the chemical-filler oxybenzone which is widely found in non-mineral sunscreens can cause bleaching and deformation to the ocean’s reefs. With that in mind, many began talking about the need for reef-safe SPF, including the state of Hawaii who recently banned any sunscreen that is not deemed safe for the ocean. Once we heard this, at The Amazing Blog we started the hunt for a summer sunscreen that is free from these harmful chemicals. When we read all the rave reviews about Love Sun Body’s range of natural mineral sunscreens, we knew that we had to try.

The founder is Dr. Terry Zickerman is a former banker who returned to his passion for science, biology and healthy living. Love Sun Body was born out of a conversation at the beach in Point Pleasant in New Jersey. After six years dedicated to research and formulation, this US skincare brand Love Sun Body made its debut last summer. Instead of the chemical UVA and UVB filters found in most sunscreens, Love Sun Body’s sun protectants contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to physically block out the rays instead of turning the UV into heat as chemical filters usually do. The ingredients found in their sunscreens are water-resistant and safely yet effectively protect you from the sun. Love Sun Body are also the first U.S. sunscreen brand that is internationally certified by Ecocert Cosmos Natural. While we wished we could try all of Love Sun Body’s products, they kindly sent us their SPF 50 Fragrance Free sunscreen to try. Known fact: Mineral sunscreens do not penetrate the skin – they sit on top and act as a barrier – whereas chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin. Oxybenzone, one of these chemical sunscreen ingredients, is added to 70% of non-mineral sunscreens and, in a study of 2500 Americans, the CDC found Oxybenzone in 96% of the participants bodies.

In addition to being fragrance-free, Love Sun Body’s SPF 50 sunscreen contains 100% natural ingredients that won’t irritate eyes or break out your skin. Unlike other mineral sunscreens, the SPF 50 sunscreen isn’t chalky and dries into a sheer matte finish. Inactive ingredients found in the sunscreen like almond and sunflower oils also make sure your skin stays moisturised. The sunscreen has also proven to be non-comedogenic, so no need to worry about your pores clogging or forming acne. Before taking a dip this summer, make sure to use Love Sun Body’s SPF 50 as you would any sunscreen and re-apply every 80 minutes. SPF 30 sunscreens filter out up to 97% of the sun’s UV radiation while SPF 50 sunscreens filter out up to 98%.For everyday use, we like to apply a small amount of the sunscreen over our favourite moisturiser or serum. If you want to protect both your skin and the environment, purchase a 100 ml bottle for $21 or a 200ml bottle for $32 on the Love Sun Body website here or on Amazon here.

Body and Facial Oil - Holos Skincare

When we find a product at The Amazing Blog, that not only works but are also handmade, ethically-produced and mindful of the environment, it is quick to become a favourite of ours. As such, after trying their Body Oil and Facial Oil, the Irish brand Holos has become a staple among us here at the office and is now a valued step in our beauty regimes.

Holos describes their rich and nourishing Body Oil as the basis of their 'Love Your Skin' range. It is a blend of essential oils of Rose, Palmarosa, Benzoin and Frankincense in Sweet Almond oil. This oil is suitable for all skin types but especially benefits dry and mature skin as the hydrating properties of these oils help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The special blen of essential oils means that the product is ble to achieve a lot of results; the palmarosa oil encourages cell regeneration, the rose and benzoin oil reduce inflammation of the skin, and the rose also helps fix broken capillaries. 

Their Facial Oil is Holos’ best -selling product, and we can see why. It contains the same oils as the Body Oil (Rose, Palmarosa, Benzoin and Frankincense) but this time combined with Argan oil to give you a premium anti-ageing oil. It works brilliantly at the plumping skin, which helps smooth out wrinkles and restores a glow of youthfulness to ageing skin. Equally, the unique blend of essential oils helps to reduce any redness of inflammation. We love that the oil has multiple uses; it can be applied with a moisturiser or on its own, and it works a replacement eye cream marvellously. What's more, four drops are enough to use on both the face and neck.

So give your skin some love with this amazing all natural, gluten free, vegan and paraben free brand, Holos. You can purchase the Body Oil here for £15.99 and the Facial Oil here for £22.99

Love Your Skin

Our skincare regime can change on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. It's totally dependent on what our skin is doing at any given time and of course the ever changeable British weather. At The Amazing Blog  we all have varying skin types and therefore very different beauty routines.  However, there is one skincare range that we all agree on and that is the Love Your Skin products. They have been a great addition to all of our skincare regimes. There are a plethora of cleansers, toners, lotions, serums, and gels, so what more could one possibly ask for?

Their facial range includes: Cleanse & Smooth Exfoliating Wash, Complete Cleansing Creme Lotion, Complete Cleansing Water, Floral Hydrating Spritzer, Intensive Hydra Gel Moisturiser, and a variety of Treatment Serums. One of my favourite products in this collection is the Floral Hydrating Spritzer, it's a great way to freshen up and give your skin a bit of a boost especially if it’s taken its toll with all the recent seasonal partying. This spritz really has helped to balance and freshen up my complexion. A delicate combination of ingredients (Rose and Aloe Vera) are used to create this spritz, including Frankincense and Myrrh (er sadly no gold!) All at a reasonable £19.99 for 100ml.  This is currently my everyday handbag staple.  The Complete Cleansing Water  is another favourite with The Amazing Blog team. It's a great way to remove  makeup without agitating your skin. It’s oil free, making it suitable for all skin types. This is also good for the other members of the team as they tend to have more oily skin types, so an oil free product for them is always a positive. There are calming anti-oxidants in the water in the form of Linden Blossom and Green Tea. The girls just added a small amount to a cotton pad and gently wiped away their foundation and eye makeup. They loved it as they were left with a moisturised and beautifully cleansed face. This is definitely a very gentle way to remove your makeup, we like the ingredients and also the price £22.99 for 200ml. The serums are worth having a look at too, as there are plenty to choose from and each one is packed with different ingredients depending on the what skin imperfections you are targeting.

The Body Skincare products for Love Your Skin comprise of two main types the Arnica and the Collagen ranges. There are the Arnica and the Collagen Body Moisturising Gels, as well as the Collagen and the Arnica Bath & Shower Gels. The Arnica Montana plant (found in the Arnica range) has been used for centuries in topical application for healing the skin, it is one of the most popular homeopathic remedies in Britain for soothing wounds and bruising. Therefore no surprise as to why Love Your Skin includes it in almost all of their bodycare products. All the gels are a very light and non-greasy and don’t have the same density as some other gels have. We like the fact that the gels get absorbed quickly, are not overpowering with their fragrance and are very easy to apply. They have excellent skin calming qualities so brilliant for any aches or pains that you might have. I found the Arnica Duo Set a great combination especially for using after a hard session at the gym.

The prices vary but you can find all them and further ingredient information here. There are so many lovely products to explore and lots of sets to make great presents, it’s only a month away until Valentines Day so maybe start scheduling in some heavy hints now…?