Zalina : Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam

Here at The Amazing Blog, we strive to be ahead of the curve and be one of the first to reveal an exciting new beauty launch. Today, Zalina is that brand. Edwina recently judged their products at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards - it won her (and us) over with their award-winning ‘Best Zone-Targeted Beauty Product’ Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam; it’s a great little multitasker that won’t disappoint. 

As a certified health and lifestyle coach with a background in beauty, Zalina Walchi, founded her company Zalina in 2018 in order to make a positive impact on the world of health and beauty. Although her Swiss organic skincare only launched at the end of 2021. As a beauty, health and wellness brand, Zalina prides itself on having 100% organic, waterless and preservative-free products that focus on three themes: the purest natural ingredients, gentle effectiveness, and uncompromised freshness. All ingredients are sourced from sustainable, organic farms and are free from animal testing. It all began when Zalina couldn’t find affordable skincare that had the standard of quality, purity, and efficacy that she wanted to use on her own skin. Zalina said, "I'm very passionate about skincare and beauty. I am grateful to formulate products inspired by the warmth of the Caribbean, the energy of New York and the pristine purity of my surroundings here in Switzerland." What sets the brand apart is the supercritical plant extracts used to regenerate, repair, and improve skin health. They’re also about the microbiome (AKA microbiota), an ecosystem of bacteria on the skin's surface that protects against pathogens and balances skin and the immune system. The brand has excellent eco-credentials, where they only use biodegradable containers made from molten wood and bottles from renewable sugar cane materials. Zalina has also partnered with New Zealand company CarbonClick which helps fight climate change. When a product purchase is made online, there’s an option to click a green button, which adds a small contribution. This contribution purchases carbon offsets, which reduce the environmental impact of the carbon emissions generated from the purchase. All products are formulated in Switzerland under strict quality control, certification and standards and are European and Swiss certified organic, vegan, cruelty-free and Icada Clean Beauty and (soon) Ecocert. There’s also an online immersive beauty experience called the Zalina Seamless Beauty & Green Beauty Class, with education on her natural ingredients, application techniques for her products, and personal tips for your beauty routine.

The Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam is a multitasking product created for use on both the eyes and lips. Not many solo products have this dual-purpose, offering to nourish, hydrate and energise these areas of skin. It’s made up of eight 100% organic cold-pressed oils; karité, moringa, alpine rose, jojoba, wheat germ, rosehip, kukui, and chia.

Karité, (AKA shea butter), is an oil extracted from the fruit of a karite tree, with vitamins A and E, it has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Moringa is a non-fragrant plant oil that is full of antioxidants and vitamins. The Swiss alpine rose extract strengthens the skin's barrier function and protects skin proteins from oxidative stress and environmental damage. Jojoba is rich in fatty acids and has many skin-soothing properties. Wheatgerm softens skin and provides increased suppleness and strength. Rosehip oil is rich in antioxidants and known for its cell regeneration. Kukui is a Hawaiian plant that has emollient properties like fatty acids like linoleic acid and omega-3, which help calm and reduce skin inflammation. Chia seed oil is non-fragrant, again it’s rich in omega fatty acids and antioxidants, and shown to relieve dry skin and restore the skin's moisture barrier.

The Eye & Lip Balsam is gentle and is particularly good for the delicate skin around the eye. We should mention that it’s also very hydrating for the lips. It’s one of those great little multitaskers that needs to be close to hand on a desk or in a handbag. With its hydrating qualities, It certainly protected our lips against chapping, and when applied around the eyes, it felt soothing and worked as an excellent primer for makeup. Comprised of only eight organic oils, together these rejuvenate, protect and repair, it’s simple yet effective, which is why it’s another of our #amazingfinds. These hydrating oils give skin an all-around natural glow, lips feel smoother and softer, and around the eyes, fine lines plumped up. This is our little hero product, and the Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam can be purchased for 45 Swiss Francs here.

Mokosh : The Ultimate Nutritious Starter Pack

With so many different skincare products to choose from, mixing and matching products can often feel like trying to solve a puzzle! So, today at The Amazing Blog, we thought we’d keep it easy by featuring a set of products that work together in perfect synergy. Meet The Ultimate Nutritious Starter Pack, a sample-sized 4-step routine created by the organic skincare brand Mokosh.

Former medical scientist, veterinarian, and pathologist Marion O'Leary founded Australian brand Mokosh in 2006 after discovering many of the mainstream skincare brands she used contained toxic ingredients. She worked with her friend Jayne Bland who introduced her to the Indian science of Ayurveda, which focuses on working with the body's natural healing systems. The result is 10 years of research and experimenting, refining, and perfecting an organic skincare range that doesn’t compromise on ingredients - using the purest and most beneficial. Marion was determined to make "the world's cleanest skincare range" by creating Mokosh. She wants to target the root cause of skin imbalance and restore the skin's equilibrium with products that are potent, healing all made with simple botanicals. All products are formulated without water, or the skin-disrupting emulsifiers and preservatives. As a waterless brand, Mokosh products have a higher concentration of healing, natural ingredients that don't disturb the skin's microbiome or barrier. In addition, all Mokosh products are free from synthetic ingredients, fillers, palm oil, and artificial fragrances. They're cruelty-free, certified organic, and packaged only with refillable or recyclable materials. Mokosh offers a skin-match quiz on their website to recommend products based on your skin type, concerns, and needs. With natural products that are suitable for any skin type, it's no wonder that Mokosh is a multi-award-winning brand and recently received the "Most Revolutionary Skincare Brand" Award in the Luxlife Health, Beauty, & Wellness Awards 2021.

Mokosh sent us their Ultimate Nutritious Starter Pack,  a set of four different products designed to meet the needs of dry and mature skin. These products focus on hydration, replenishing the skin's protective barrier, removing dead skin cells, rebalancing skin pH, and delivering potent nutrients to promote collagen production and enhance elasticity. The first product in the pack is their Facial Cleanser, Exfoliator, and Mask,  a 3-in-1 formulation that removes superficial cell debris, clarifying, refining, and renewing the skin. It delivers humectants, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory molecules, minerals and α- and β- hydroxy acids that promote cell regeneration and collagen growth. It contains aloe vera gel powder to soothe and moisturise skin, meadowsweet leaf and flower powder which contains salicylic acid to exfoliate naturally, and pomegranate fruit juice powder to provide hydration and deposit vitamin C in the skin. This Facial Cleanser, Exfoliator, and Mask comes in a powder form, so to use it, take about ½ to 1 teaspoon of powder and add water to make a smooth paste. To cleanse, gently massage the face and rinse, and to use as a mask, apply it to the skin and leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing. We liked using this product in the shower to make it easier to mix and rinse, but be careful not to allow water into the jar!

The second product in the pack is the Pure Hydrosol Toner made with a blend of damask rose and lemon balm hydrosols. Hydrosols are made by distilling fresh flowers, leaves, fruits, and other plant materials. They're water-soluble and contain as many nutrients as essential oils but are much gentler on the skin. Rose hydrosol is a mild astringent, so it controls sebum production, tightens pores, and balances skin pH. It also maintains moisture in the skin, delays the formation of wrinkles, and has anti-inflammatory properties, decreasing redness and repairing irritated and damaged skin. Lemon balm Hydrosol also soothes inflamed skin, tightens pores, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Both of these hydrosols also have aromatherapeutic properties, helping to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. You can spray this onto your face and neck after cleansing and before applying the serum. We also liked using it throughout the day, as it’s a refreshing pick-me-up.

The third product is the Raspberry and Pomegranate Beauty Serum, a hydrating concentrate that Mokosh designed for normal and dry skin. The serum is a blend of ten organic botanical seed oils that work together to protect dermal elements and plump and soften the skin to reduce signs of ageing. Pomegranate and raspberry seed oils contain high concentrations of antioxidants and essential fatty acids that fortify the skin's barrier, as well as Vitamin E, C, and A that provide deep moisturisation that helps to restore damaged skin and fade scars. After cleansing, warm about 3 to 4 drops of this serum in your hands before patting gently into your skin.

This routine's fourth and final product is the  Rich Face Cream formulated for mature or dry skin types. It's an award-winning and best-selling cream that delivers potent botanicals and nutrients that protect collagen, build the skin's protective barrier, and support cell growth. This cream contains ten oils mixed with shea butter, including rosehip, avocado, pomegranate, neem, and prickly pear oils - all rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, triglycerides, and vitamins. These nutrients nourish and repair skin, and help to reduce inflammation, and even skin tone. As the last step in your routine, take a half pea-sized amount, warm in your hands, and pat onto skin. It smells amazing and feels luxurious, almost balm-like in texture, and best of all, very little goes a long way. Being small and compact this Ulitmate Nutritious Starter Pack could also be a very good travel companion for a weekend away. To experience the benefits of the Mokosh Ultimate Nutritious Starter Pack, you can purchase it here for $45.00AUD.  

Sintra Naturals : Soothing Cleansing Balm

With the colder months approaching, skin dryness will likely be on the menu, which is why at The Amazing Blog, we always look for kind and gentle products. Particularly with a cleansing balm as we need it to remove makeup, and also soothe our sensitive skins. We stumbled upon this indie natural skincare brand Sintra Naturals, who pride themselves on offering natural skincare solutions, with their Soothing Cleansing Balm.

Sintra Naturals is a women-owned and run brand. Geethika Ghanta created this brand to create affordable, natural skincare. In India, she grew up using natural ingredients for each part of her daily routine – from skincare to haircare. Ghanta has always been interested in the formulations and ingredients of in-store skincare products, and this interest turned into a passion when her son was allergic to the “shop-bought baby soaps and lotions.” Even when Geethika looked at more high-end formulations and products, she found synthetic fragrances and additives. With this realisation, Geethika took matters into her own hands by learning how to make natural skincare and launching Sintra Naturals. “My mantra is that the term natural shouldn’t have to be expensive.” Sintra Naturals pride itself on creating handmade, vegan and effective natural products for all skin types. By only using natural ingredients, Sintra Naturals has developed products to calm and smooth skin. Geethika has one simple rule when it comes to ingredients: “if an ingredient is not deemed for human consumption, it should not be in our skincare routine.” She went on to say, “I will not claim that my products will heal any skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis but they are definitely gentle enough to bring relief.” The brand’s products are handmade and they also take the sustainability issue very seriously; they are plastic-free and have either recyclable or biodegradable packaging. The soaps are essential oil-free (good for sensitive skin) and packed in reusable organic food-grade re-usable cotton bags. There are absolutely no synthetic ingredients, fragrances or additives in the Sintra Naturals skin or body care. 

The Soothing Cleansing Balm is ideal for helping to restore hydration to the skin in a gentle and calming way. This Global Makeup Awards Bronze-winning balm, uses shea butter to restore the skin by moisturising but not leaving a greasy feel. Combined with castor oil which is well known for its natural cleansing properties, it helps clean out the pores by drawing dirt out without drying out the skin. Grapeseed oil is used due to its allergen-free and suitability for all skin types. Geethika loves to use this versatile oil in her products because it has “amazing, skin-loving properties” and is a by-product of the wine industry, making it a sustainable ingredient. Grapeseed oil is high in vitamin E and other vitamins and minerals used to maintain the elastin in the skin. The Roman chamomile here not only offers the balm its fragrance it also soothes redness with its anti-inflammatory properties. Finally, the kaolin clay ingredient is a gentle clay used to help clean the impurities from the skin, with antibacterial properties, which help to remove oils and contaminants from the skin. The Soothing Cleansing Balm is perfect for removing makeup or the residue from a day. To use simple warm a pea-sized balm in hands before gently massaging onto around the eye area, face and neck. Then wash away with warm water (or as in our case a warm washcloth), we particularly liked how it was gentle and efficient in removing all stubborn makeup. It’s suitable for all skin types, and we found it especially good for soothing problematic skin. This skin balm is available in either Tea Tree and Chamomile blends - we received the Chamomile. Sintra Natural’s Soothing Cleansing Balm is available for £10.00 from their website here.