Argan & Orange Blossom Elixir by SoapNSkin

At The Amazing Blog, we think that everyone needs a go-to product. For us, our number one go-to beauty product is the handmade Argan and Orange Blossom Elixir from SoapNSkin, which is as versatile as it is effective. We cannot live without this product, it is 100% natural, effective on all skin types and can be used on your face, body and hair. Before we discuss the many ways you can use this product and the reasons behind its versatility, we have to tell you a little about SoapNSkin, which is one of our favourite brands. Founded by two mothers, SoapNSkin aims to empower women in any way they can, so not only is their Argan Oil Soil Association Certified, but it is also sourced from a supplier that is dedicated to looking after 600 Berber women that it has employed at its mill. This supplier only employs women and pays them a fair wage as they are often the sole supporters of their families, as well as providing free crèche facilities and education programmes.

Made with ethically sourced organic Argan Oil and Orange Blossom Oil, this beautifully fragranced elixir has a multitude of uses. This is because the Argan Oil moisturises, heals and renews lost vitality in skin and hair, while the Orange Blossom Oil helps to create an enviable glow. The ingredients are packed full of Vitamins A and E, Omega Fatty Acids and anti-oxidants which mean that your skin doesn’t just look better but is actually healthier on a cellular level.

To use this on your face, we would recommend gently massaging a few drops into freshly cleansed skin. The Argan oil is non-comedogenic which means it won’t clog up pores but will leave skin looking more radiant than ever. If you want to heal dry or damaged skin on your body – which can especially occur in the winter months – then we suggest applying the elixir directly to areas of concern and watch skin heal within days. Otherwise merely apply after showering for softer skin. Our favourite use for the elixir has to be when it’s used on hair.  If applied like a serum it will help to control frizz and leave hair glossy, but it also will soften hair and treat an unruly scalp if used as a leave-in conditioning treatment before showering.

We love this product and brand and hope you do too. The product only costs £42.00 and can be purchased here. All profits made from selling the elixir are given back to the communities who help mill the Argan Oil. 
 

Excellent Exfoliators - Friday Favourites

Exfoliation is a necessity in any facial skincare routine, but with so many options to choose from it can be slightly daunting. We at The Amazing Blog are here to share some of our favourite methods. No doubt you'll be left with a glowing, baby-soft, smooth face; the perfect canvas for makeup to glide over.

We started off with the first of our handy helpers, The Konjac Facial Puff Sponge. Made with 100% natural products this palm-sized sponge is the answer to all of your exfoliation prayers. The Konjac Sponge Co. graciously sent us two of their signature sponges: the Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Facial Puff Sponge and the Chamomile Konjac Facial Puff Sponge. Each with specific healing properties, both of these sponges will balance your skin’s pH levels while gently exfoliating and deeply cleansing your skin. They stimulate blood circulation and cell turnover, so you'll be left with supple and vibrant skin. The best part is it is safe to use on your eye area and is entirely suitable for sensitive skin.

The Bamboo Charcoal Sponge is specifically designed for oily and spot prone skin. The activated charcoal in this sponge works to eliminate excess oils, clear blackheads and kill acne-causing bacteria. This sponge even removes water-based make-up. The Chamomile Sponge is ideal for those with hypersensitive skin. The Chamomile is hypoallergenic and calms the skin while purifying, soothing, and plumping the skin.  All of their sponges are vegan, animal cruelty-free and made with 100% natural materials.

These sponges are the original Konjac Sponges and are multi award winning. Purchase The Konjac Bamboo Charcoal Facial Puff Sponge here for £8.99 and the Konjac Camomile Facial Puff Sponge here for £8.99.  

Our next little wonder product is the Exfolia Microexfoliation Beauty Cloth. This cloth is safe to use for all ages and on all skin types and will, in a few minutes,  leave your skin feeling smoother and looking radiant. Made without any chemicals or additives, the hypoallergenic cloth removes the dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. This allows following serums and moisturisers to soak deeper into the skin and work more efficiently. 

This cloth is very soft to the touch and is gentle enough to use on baby skin. The Exfolia Beauty Cloth aids in repairing sun damage through skin regeneration and increases the elasticity of the skin for younger looking and healthier skin. This beauty cloth is washable and reusable and can be used 60-80 times before it needs to be replaced. To use just run under warm water and use with your facial cleanser for softer, cleaner and more radiant looking skin. It is our ideal product for a quick face wash in the morning.

Purchase your own Exfolia Microexfoliation Beauty Cloth here for £10.35. 

Next up, we have one of our favourite exfoliation cleansers, Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator. This creamy cleanser is perfect for all skin types but works particularly well for oily and combination skin. This cleanser is formulated with 97% all natural products and is filled with micro-grains, derived from corn, to gently scrub away dead skin cells without being too abrasive or irritating. Infused with grapefruit, mint and sweet orange to give the skin a burst of freshness and clarity while exfoliating, you will feel rejuvenated and refreshed.

Caudalie recommends only using this cleanser 1-2 times a week for a truly deep clean. When using the product, wet your face and neck with water before gently working the cleanser into your skin. As it scrubs away the skin’s impurities, the fresh scent of citrus and mint awaken your senses, transporting you to your own little spa in the comfort of your home.

Purchase the Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator here for £20.00. 

Our final exfoliator is a chemical exfoliant, but don't let the word 'chemical' scare you. Chemical exfoliants are a staple in any skincare guru's stash, and we never skip this in our routine. Murad's AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser contains Salicylic, Lactic and Glycolic acids which work to dissolve dead skin cells that are just sitting on the skin's surface. The result is skin clarity, brightness and improved cell turnover, unveiling a radiant complexion. This cleanser also incorporates physical exfoliants, and the Jojoba Beads gently polish, exfoliate and nourish the skin. A weekly beauty rendezvous with Murad’s exfoliating cleanser will result in unblemished smooth skin, making common issues like pores and uneven skin tone history. Murad is a pioneer in chemical exfoliants and was actually the first brand to use Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) in topical skincare, and this little gem is still one of the best.

Purchase Murad’s award winning exfoliating cleanser is here for £34 with free UK delivery.

We hope we've inspired you to get on the exfoliating bandwagon, or perhaps inspired you exfoliating experts for your next venture. If you haven't been able to tell, we are very into exfoliating and this concoction of methods keeps our complexions smooth and radiant.

Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, Peptide Eye Serum - Bea Skincare

It's important to have an effective skin care routine, not just to help make our skin as bright and soft as possible, but because our skin first and foremost works as a barrier to unwanted infections. That’s why at The Amazing Blog we constantly like to remind ourselves and our audience to find a good skincare routine that suits them. We were excited when the brand Bea Skincare sent us two of their products.

The first product we received was a Gentle exfoliating cleanser. Cleansing your face is an essential step in any skin care regime as it helps prevent a buildup of unwanted dead skin cells. Not cleansing your face leaves skin more prone to oiliness, dryness and dullness.  Bea’s new skincare range focuses on an efficient, high-quality beauty range that is non-irritating to the skin and simple to use.  It is recommended that you cleanse your skin daily, once in the morning and evening. Doing so will eliminate dead skin cells and dirt, without over-drying your face. This product uses beneficial ingredients such as green tea to treat your skin.

The next step is the Peptide Eye Serum. If you're self-conscious about your under eyes, then this is the product for you. Once your skin is cleansed, you can apply this product gently under your eyes to reduce puffiness and remove dark circles. Similar to the cleanser, it's recommended that you use this product twice a day for best results. This product's key ingredients include vitamin B and hyaluronic acid.

These products are available to purchase you can get the cleanser here for £29.00 and the serum is also available here for £39.00. 

Kris D' Amour - Balancing Body Lotion

Does your skin feel out of control? Here at The Amazing Blog we have learned about the benefits of using oils; they balance the skin like nothing else. So when Kris D’Amour’s Balancing Body Lotion arrived to our offices, we were ready to slather it on!

The Balancing Body Lotion is especially formulated to effectively treat oily to combination skin types, purifying the skin and refining the pores. Made from 100% pure plant extracts, butters and plant oils, it will nourish and hydrate your complexion. The unique combination of Juniper Berry, Petitgrain, Patchouli, Tamanu and Lavender Oils help clear up greasy skin, acne and other skin blemishes while also releasing congestion, dissolving excess sebum, regenerating and rejuvenating the skin.

As someone who suffers from oily skin, I couldn’t wait to try this product. The lotion goes on smoothly and doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy; it soaks right in. The only issue I have with the lotion is the scent: it is very overpowering and it also lingers for quite a while. Others in the office don’t mind the smell, but it was a bit too much for my liking. Other than that, I think the lotion does exactly what it says on the tin... and that’s all that you can ask from a beauty product.

You can purchase 200ml of the Balancing Body Lotion for £19.00 on the website.

Jane Scrivner - Balance Skin Elixir

At The Amazing Blog we're true lovers of a good oil - we're just obsessed with hair oils, body oils and face oils. One of our early discoveries this year has been Jane Scrivner's Balance Skin Elixir. It claims to balance every skin type - from dry, to oily and dehydrated. Since December I've been using a face oil every evening, and ever since the texture and the appearance of my dry (now normal-ish) skin has dramatically changed for the good. When Jane Scrivner's Balancing Skin Elixir arrived to The Amazing Blog's HQ, I was running out of my regular serum of choice and I decided to give it a go - and I'm completely taken with it.

Jane Scrivner's Balance Skin Elixir's main ingredient is Jojoba - perfect for dry, dehydrated and oily skin alike... contradictory in terms, but it actually makes sense. Jojoba penetrates deep and merges with the skin's natural oils, tricking the skin to reduce or increase - in order to regulate - the production of sebum, transforming your skin to a balanced canvas.

My skin absorbes this fantastic oil almost instantly, leaving it soft, supple and healthy-looking and feeling. I just squeeze one pump onto my fingers, warm it rubbing my fingers and patting it onto my skin (not rubbing it). It is perfect either by itself or under your regular moisuriser.

As I said, I've been using face oils for a couple of weeks now, and the overall appearance of my skin has changed for the better. My skin is no longer dry  (it's much less dehydrated now) and I've found that oils have helped me a  fading scars (I have a small electrolysis scar just above my lip). At The Amazing Blog we can't recommend using face oils/serums enough and Jane Scrivner's has quickly become one of our favourites.  A little goes a long way and this 30ml bottle is still going strong - so a good price at £29 - which will probably last anything between - 30 to 60 days. We will also be writing about her Nourishing Cleanser which has been a real hit with Lara - but you'll just have to wait until February to read her review :o)