Smooth Skin

Repêchage – Triple Action Peptide Serum

The Amazing Blog brings you once again, another pearl from the sea, with the brand Repêchage. We’ve written about quite a few of their products from Repêchage serums to moisturisers. However, today we want to talk about their new launch, the Triple Action Peptide Serum which promises to help give us a brighter, firmer and more hydrated complexion.

Repêchage was founded in 1980 by Lydia Sarfat, a renowned aesthetician, who created this salon brand out of her passion for skincare. All Repêchage products are made with sustainably harvested seaweed from Maine, USA. This is then processed through an extraction that retains at least 12 vitamins, 18 amino acids, 42 trace elements/minerals, and phlorotannins; all perfect ingredients for deep surface hydration and balance.

Their new Triple Action Peptide Serum is made with powerful peptides and marine seaweed extracts. The palmitoyl tripeptide 1, 5 and 7, in this serum, will help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by firming and smoothing it.  That’s not only it, but other ingredients found in this serum are acetyl hexapeptide-8 which has a water-binding function that aids the reduction of wrinkles. It also has Laminaria digitate (seaweed), aloe vera, sweet almond, chrysin and mirabilis Jalapa extract. These ingredients are rich in vitamin B12, C, E, K, beta carotene, amino acids, minerals and enzymes which smooth out our skin by providing elasticity, removing imperfections like dark circles, dry skin and again, by hydrating your skin, it will feel firmer, brighter and more youthful. Suitable for the face, neck and décolleté just massage eight or so drops twice a day into these areas. Let it settle for about ten minutes and then you can keep applying your creams or make up etc. We found that this serum layered easily with our other skincare, it didn’t feel greasy and absorbed well. So, if you’re looking for a serum that has advanced skincare science with natural ingredients, then this potent seaweed and peptide-based serum is for you. Make this Triple Action Peptide Serum from Repêchage part of your daily skin routine by getting it here for £75.00.

Skin Academy - Pure Range

While there are many paraben, sulphate and cruelty beauty products out in the market, there aren’t many skincare brands that are both colour and fragrance free. For The Amazing Blog readers that have a sensitive skin, we have found an entire skincare range that is free from any irritating chemicals and scents. Manchester-based beauty brand Skin Academy has developed the six-product Pure range that leaves your skin feeling replenished and nourished - all at an affordable price.

Skin Academy’s Pure range contains products for every step in your skincare routine and that are great for all-skin types. The range contains a Cleansing Facial Scrub, Cleansing Facial Wash, Moisturising Eye Cream, Daily Moisturiser, Cleansing Micellar Water and two Soothing Sheet Masks. All six products contain two key non-irritants: Aloe vera and green tea extract, that soothe, cool and protect the skin. Skin Academy prides itself on offering ‘incredibly high quality skincare at extremely affordable prices’ and after trying the Pure range first hand, we can completely recommend their products for anyone who is looking for a brand that is gentle to your skin and kind to your wallet.

The first product of the line, the Cleansing Facial Wash is gentle cleanse for everyday use that provides great results.  In addition to cleansing the skin, this gel-based facial wash can remove all make up as well.  If you want something more exfoliating, the Pure Cleansing Facial Scrub removes any dead skin or impurities to reveal smoother skin. Since the facial scrub is a little harsher, Skin Academy recommends only using this scrub for a maximum of twice a week.  After cleansing the skin with the wash or the scrub, apply a thin layer of the Daily Moisturiser to your face and neck. In addition to the aloe vera and green tea extract, the moisturiser contains Glycerin, Shea Butter, Pro-Vitamin B5 and even SPF 15 and UVA-UVB filters that work together to moisturise and protect skin from any sun damage.  Next, the application of their Moisturising Eye Cream which soothes any puffiness while hydrating the skin around the eyes. After those long days that leave you too exhausted to do your full skin care routine, the Pure Cleansing Micellar Water is the perfect solution to do a ‘one swipe’ to remove the day’s makeup and grime, while softening the skin in the process.   The last product of the range doesn’t need to be used daily, the set of two Pure Soothing Sheet Masks are a great pick-me-up to lock-in moisture and leave you feeling pampered.  After removal of the mask after 20 to 30 minutes, the Soothing Sheet Mask leaves your skin feeling glowing and fresh without the added redness.

If you’re wanting to pamper your skin but not wanting to break the bank in the process, Skin Academy’s Pure Range is available to purchase here products price range is from £4 - £14 each.

Mitomo's Face Masks

Most of The Amazing Blog team swear by a weekly face mask. It’s our (not so) secret method of maintaining a clear complexion, but equally, is a ritual we don’t always have the patience for. This was until we discovered Mitomo, a brand producing sheet face masks packed full of goodness. For the past month or so, a weekly face mask has been firmly back in our regime!

Mitomo provide high-quality beauty and healthcare products, with ingredients sourced from Japan. We tried their innovative Eye Masks (see here) in January, so were keen to see whether our face masks would live up to the hype. The verdict? We were highly impressed, and although we don't like to speak for others, we know we’re not the only one in the office to have snaffled a few extras to take home! We tried three of their face masks: Hyaluronic + Lithospermum, Q10 + Lithospermum and Collagen + Lithospermum - all part of their Essence Mask collection.

The Hyaluronic + Lithospermum Essence Mask is a hydrating and anti-ageing solution for your skin. Hyaluronan is a highly moisturising ingredient, injecting your skin with much-needed plumpness, thus decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Lithospermum, on the other hand, is a plant extract well documented as soothing and antiseptic. The combination of these two ingredients left our skin feeling supple, less inflamed and smoother; making for a brighter and clearer complexion. We were also big fans of the Q10 + Lithospermum Essence Mask, a profoundly anti-ageing mask, enriched with Coenzyme Q10. It regenerates the skin, working well on deep-set wrinkles, and as with all three masks, it cools and soothes even sensitive skin. The added bonus? They are eco-friendly and all masks are made solely from bamboo.

Finally, the Collagen + Lithospermum Essence Mask proved effective at making skin more elastic, promoting skin renewal and smoothing imperfections. We noticed a decrease in mild acne scarring from the first use, as this masks help to plump up the skin; simply apply for 20-30 minutes (the same with all three masks) and once removed, pat any excess product into the skin. We recommend using each mask before bed, for a glowing and refreshed complexion. To try these anti-ageing gems for yourself, visit the Mitomo website here, where a pack of 10 masks are from £27 and an individual mask is available from £2.99.

Rosenserien's Shampoo and Body Scrub

Rosenserien is a brand that we know and love at The Amazing Blog. We have featured both their Natural Deodorant (click here) and Self Tan (click here) products as part of our Friday Favourites, and featured their Wash and Shave Gel for Men last year (click here). We were therefore thrilled when they surprised us with two new products, their Shampoo and Body Srub. Both are based on litsea cubeba, an Asian cleansing and refreshing plant, providing a detoxing effect to both your skin and hair simultaneously. They are also 100% vegan and natural, without the use of harsh chemicals or parabens.

Revealing the sweet natural scent of roses when opened, the 65% organic Shampoo immediately enticed us. With the uses of green tea and nourishing camelina oil, the ingredients work together to allow this shampoo to become an all-around package for your hair. It is suitable for all hair types and does excellent work on split ends (which is a problem we all share). Even dry and sensitive scalps will love this treatment. Fancy a little insider tip? Add some drops of jojoba oil for an extra nourishing hair mask.

Just as we uneartheated silky smooth hair, we wanted to replicate this on our bodies. That’s when the Body Scrub came into play. It smooths, softens, tightens and strengthens your skin, and with the use of organic and fair trade marked aloe vera as a base, this scrub exfoliates dead skin cells, while moisturising at the same time. The ingredients open your pores and leave your skin smooth and firm. Spreading a fresh citrus scent, this 84% organic product is your perfect companion for smooth skin, and is excellent when used before tanning, and before and after waxing.

To treat yourself to smooth hair this January, then you can purchase the Shampoo here for £17. Equally, for silky smooth skin, the Body Scrub can be purchased here for £24.

Mirati Cosmetics Body Lotion

The Amazing Blog loves finding new hero ingredients that are unique and nourishing for the skin, so while researching various ingredients, we came across Ghee! Yes Ghee, and that's where we discovered the Slovenian skincare brand Mirati Cosmetics. The majority of skincare have a cream base, which is essentially made of oil and water. Ghee, or clarified butter, takes this process two steps further – firstly, the butter is produced from cream, then it is clarified, leaving out all the water and milk, purifying the butter and ensuring that only the qualities essential to caring for your skin remain. As the key ingredient in Mirati Cosmetics' skincare, it moisturises, soothes and is rich in antioxidants.

Given the current plummeting temperatures, we decided to try the body lotion.  As well as using certified organic Ghee from India; the body lotion also contains plants grown in the MediterraneanAmericaAustraliaSouth East Asia (i.e. organic aloe vera and honeysuckle). The honeysuckle gives the lotion a beautiful scent that lasts all day, while the aloe vera stimulates blood circulation, tightens and smoothes skin. The body lotion is suitable for all skin types as its gentle but effective formula works to improve skin texture and appearance over time. Just apply the lotion to skin after washing and gently massage it into skin until it’s fully absorbed. The product is dermatologically approved, paraben, phthalates, SLS and Synthetic fragrance-free and is cruelty-free.  Mirati Cosmetics is also committed to giving at least 10 % of their profit to good causes see here. You can purchase The Body Lotion here for £17.99