O.Moi – All-In-One Multi-Purpose Balm (Fragrance Free)

Why use several products when you could use one? O.Moi is back with their All-In-One Multi-Purpose Balm Fragrance Free. The Amazing Blog are big fans of o.Moi Skincare; in fact, we like the brand so much, that we’ve recently written about o.Moi Skincare’s Botanical Cream Deodorant here and have a few more products to come...

The All-In-One Multi-Purpose Balm Fragrance Free was launched in 2017, as a derived version of the original All-In-One Multi-Purpose Balm. It was formulated without any essential oils, and has a higher content of vitamin E, in comparison with the original balm. It is thus fragrance-free and allergy certified. As winners for two years running in the international 2017 & 2018 Beauty Shortlist Awards, this balm is perfect to heal dry, itchy and irritated skin on the face and body. What sets this natural balm apart from the others on the market, is its ability to heal psoriasis, burns and wounds and we think that this balm's qualities are second to none. It can also be used on the hair to repair, nourish, reduce, and prevent split ends. The balm doesn’t leave the hair greasy, but hydrated and soft. When o.Moi says 'multi-purpose' they truly mean it!

The All-In-One Multi-Purpose Balm Fragrance Free contains only four simple ingredients: Certified organic shea butter, coconut oil, peach kernel oil and vitamin E. NB: In the heat of the summer, we recommend keeping this balm in the fridge so that it doesn't liquefy. For us, this is our number one SOS go-to balm, and we cannot recommend it highly enough. You too can purchase O.Moi’s All-In-One Multi-Purpose Balm - Fragrance-Free 50ml for £48.00 here.

Africology - The Rose Body Balm

Culture is an integral part of the journey for the beauty industry and its products. It is where both ancient and new ideas come together, transforming knowledge into something special. The Amazing Blog always gravitates toward beauty products that have adopted innovative ideas, especially ones that use culture as the foundation of practice. Africology is one such company, who celebrate Africa’s heritage and plant life, subsequently capturing the flora and fauna of Africa in their skincare products. I first came across Africology when I had a friend from South Africa to stay. Buried deep in her hand luggage was their serum, a product she eulogised for hours about. It was a piece of 'home' that she prized more than anything else that had travelled 8k miles to get here! Then Africology popped up again, as winners at 2018 The BeautyShortlist and that's when I knew that I had to try it. 

The Rose Body Balm was the first product we requested to try.  Infused with shea butter, marula oil, rosehip seed oil and unrefined beeswax. Its texture is light and soft and glides across the skin during application. While massaging the product into the skin’s surface, the balm becomes a medium for increasing lymph flow and circulation. As it becomes a source of nourishment, the balm also alleviates muscle pain. The purpose of the balm extends far beyond hydrating dry areas and cracked heals. Rose, a foundational component of the product, is a mild anti-depressant and balances emotions and hormones. The floral aroma is subtle and calming. For use, warm a tiny amount in your hands and apply to the affected areas. The product can be used during a bath or shower, as part of a message, or melted in an aromatherapy burner. However, Africology recommends applying it to damp skin after a warm bath.

Interested in learning more about the key ingredients’ perks? Keep on reading...Shea butter: The fatty acids contained in shea oil are a source of vitamins A, E and F. Shea oil is an anti-inflammatory, and helps to retain moisture, relieve itchiness and soothe sunburnt skin. Marula seed oil: The oil extracted from the kernel of the marula fruit, the seed oil is rich in antioxidants and stimulates collagen and elastin production. Due to its light consistency, the oil doesn’t clog pores and treats acne with its antimicrobial and non-comedogenic properties. Beeswax: Beeswax is thick in nature, and acts as a protective barrier for the skin. As the foundation of the balm, it also prevents the separation of oil and liquid components. Rosehip seed oil: This oil contains vitamin A and C, which exfoliates and moisturises the skin while boosting skin regeneration and elasticity. Green rooibos (leaf powder): With its natural compounds, leaf powder is an excellent aid for eczema, nappy rash and acne. The alpha-hydroxy acid found in leaf powder also maintains healthy skin. African potato (root powder):  Root powder contains sterols and sterolins that are helpful in acne, eczema and psoriasis treatment.  It also boosts the immune system.

This product did the rounds at The Amazing Blog, we dabbed it onto our pulse points (gorgeous rose aroma) and also put a 1/2 teaspoon of the balm into our aromatherapy burner, which melted to give the office a sense of calm. A little does go a long way (hence the 125ml jar), you can purchase yours for £21 here.

Skin Laundry's Gentle Foaming Wash and Restoring Night Serum

The Amazing Blog is continuously updating our skincare regimen. Whether it’s with products, facial treatments, or newfound application tricks, we are always searching for ways to combat both oily and dry skin. We have found it to be quite tricky choosing products that fight oily skin, without over-drying the face. During our quest, we discovered Skin Laundry’s products, that leave our skin feeling smooth and clean. The company was founded by Yen Reis, who originally created this range of skincare to be used in conjunction with her laser and light therapy treatment. She established her first flagship in 2013 and has since expanded across the U.S., Hong Kong and London. Reis’ goal is to improve skin health and provide affordable and convenient treatments. The treatment that Skin Laundry offers, is with a combination of Yago laser and IPL which target and reduce redness, brown spots, inflammation and bacteria. Each treatment leaves the skin glowing and clean. Over time, and together with the Skin Laundry products, it improves clarity, tone and texture. If you would like to experience the laser and light therapy, combined with Skin Laundry products, then book here. Currently, these treatments are available in London, Leeds and Bristol.

The first product that we tried was Skin Laundry's Gentle Foaming Wash, which serves all skin types, especially sensitive skin. The mild foaming wash, free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates, is an everyday cleanser with a fresh scent of botanical extracts. The product contains shea butter and cucumber and chamomile extract. The shea butter fights dehydration, while the cucumber extract soothes and regulates moisture. Chamomile extract is also a soothing agent and anti-inflammatory. After massaging the wash onto damp skin for 30-60 seconds, rinse with water and pat dry. Skin Laundry recommends following the application with a toner to help seal the pores. The product works best if used mornings and evenings. The wash rids away dirt, and excess oils and impurities, without drying out or irritating the skin. You can purchase the 200ml bottle here for £20.

In addition to the  Gentle Foaming wash, we used the Restoring Night Serum and were pleased with the results. With its key ingredients, we have noticed a brighter, even complexion and overall rejuvenated skin. The primary focus of the product is on anti-ageing, with benefits that include brightening and tightening. The power of Glycolic Acid exfoliates and clears your pores of dead skin cells, reducing fine lines. Niacinamide has Vitamin B3 properties that remove blemishes and signs of ageing. A derivative of Vitamin C produces an even skin tone, battles photoaging and increases collagen synthesis. Finally, an algae extract, composed of vitamins and amino acids, stimulates the skins cell renewal. In the evening, massage 3-4 drops of the night serum onto your face and neck. Skin Laundry recommends applying the serum after your nightly cleansing and toning, and before moisturising. You can purchase the 30mL bottle here for £46.

Friday Favourites - Natural Deodorants

Summer for us at The Amazing Blog, is enjoying the sunshine, drinks on the terrace, buying new swimsuits, and lots of SPF protection. Wonderful though it is to be in Summer, currently here in the UK it's 30+ degrees, humid and very hot! Which has concentrated our thoughts on coping with the sweaty commute and being forced to get far too up-close-and-personal on the crowded tube. Why is it that some people don't use a deodorant?! This led us on to a search for effective, fragrant and natural deodorants that don't contain harmful chemicals like aluminium and parabens. We hope these three new and natural #amazingfinds will inspire you to throw out your old deodorant and try something new. 

First up is the recently launched vegan and certified organic company, Ben & Anna. Ben and Anna are a German conscientious vegan couple, who wanted to formulate their products with as many sustainable and organic sources as possible. They saw a gap in the market and decided to create their own range of unisex deodorants, all based exclusively on natural ingredients.

Ben & Anna have created seven different fragrance combinations for their deodorants, all packaged in their eco-friendly plastic-free Natural Soda Deodorant Stick Paper Tubes. Each of the deodorants contains the key ingredients of shea butter and soda. These are solid deodorants, free from aluminium compounds, vegan and cruelty-free.

We tried the Pink Grapefruit scented stick which glides effortlessly over the skin with absolutely no sticky residue. When applied to the skin, it activates the sweet citrus scent of pink grapefruit, proving to be light and fruity summer choice.  The packaging is young and stylish featuring each of the fragrance themes on each tube, all of which are coated with a natural wax. Purchase a Ben & Anna Natural Soda Deodorant Stick Paper Tube 60g here for £9.95

We now move on from the stick deodorant to a deodorant balm 'Déodorant Crème Botanique' by o.Moi Skincare. O.Moi is a Danish company founded by Kristele Sun, who sought to develop a gentle, skin-friendly range to help soothe her eczema. Every o.Moi product utilises aromatherapy and is inspired by Kristele’s experiences. For instance, some products contain neroli oil (orange blossom) because the scent reminds her of her childhood on the island of Mauritius. 

Finding the right cream deodorant can be very tricky. We've found that many of the cream deodorants were too pasty and left our underarms feeling sticky and damp. O.Moi offers a wonderful alternative. Their award-winning Beauty Shortlist  2018 Editors’ Choice  Déodorant Crème Botanique (Botanical Cream Deodorant) is made from pure, moisture-absorbing kaolin clay, to preserve dryness, and deter odour-causing bacteria. When we tried this certified organic deodorant, we found that it had a revolutionary cream-to-powder consistency. When smoothing it onto the surface of the skin, we also noticed it absorbed quickly as it released a subtle mix of essential oils.

The Botanical Cream Deodorant is composed of shea butter, grapeseed and glycerine which hydrates to protect the skin. It also encompasses tea tree, lavender, bergamot, and sweet orange oils for scent. We found that this combination leaves the skin with a clean, sweet fragrance. It is also aluminium-free and an ideal natural solution to body odour. Purchase o.Moi Skincare’s Botanical Cream Deodorant 50ml here for £23.00.

We’ve looked at German and Danish skincare companies, next up is Sweden with the beauty brand Rosenserien. Established in 1980's they are an award-winning and leading Swedish organic skincare brand, who is one of the top trailblazers in the natural and sustainable beauty sector. Rosenserien has a long-standing international fan base of environmental-friendly consumers. With a range of over thirty-five different skin and haircare products, they are all free from synthetic and animal ingredients, are vegan-friendly, and use only 100% naturally sourced ingredients.

We tried their rose-scented Deodorant Spray and were not disappointed. This was on the recommendation from our client The Beauty Shortlist, where they recently won 2018 Finalist with their Roll-on Deodorant. As you can imagine we were eager to try one of their organic deodorants. We found that the Deodorant Spray was long-lasting and had us feeling fresh throughout the day. As big fans of rose based products, we were excited by the fresh floral scent and also loved the easy action spray pump. Their organic ingredient index must be applauded too: Essential rose oil, certified and fair trade aloe vera gel, Chinese green tea, and vegetable oils. Making this product perfect for sensitive skin, it's free from parabens, aluminium, and alcohol. This Deodorant Spray will certainly be keeping us dry and smelling garden-fresh this summer. Purchase Rosenserien Deodorant Spray 100ml here for £14.00.

Beauty Kitchen: Abyssinian Oil Facial Moisture Cream

A good skincare routine is essential for clear, and healthy skin. Here at The Amazing Blog, we believe that finding a trustworthy moisturiser is the first essential step. When we received the Abyssinian Oil Facial Moisture Cream from Beauty Kitchen, we were delighted to find a natural solution to all of our dehydrated skin needs. Beauty Kitchen is a brand we already know and trust, having previously shared our love for their Seahorse Plankton Skincare Treasures collection. What makes this brand special to us is that they use only pure essential oils, naturally derived ingredients and a 'precycle' packaging system.

Jo-Anne Chidley founded Beauty Kitchen in Glasgow, and at the heart of her mission was a strong desire to create natural products that worked well, without breaking the bank. Perhaps most importantly, she also believes in the importance of crafting products that are never tested on animals and finding ingredients that are sustainably sourced. 

Let's look at the ingredients for the Abyssinian Oil Facial Moisturiser. We have the star of the show: Abyssinian Oil. This best-kept beauty secret is lightweight and will never leave unwanted grease lingering on your skin. Rather, this powerhouse ingredient provides quick lipid hydration that never clogs your pores. For those of you with sensitive skin, it is also fragrance-free. We simply apply a pea size amount (a little goes a long way) after a thorough cleansing and find that it’s absorbed incredibly fast, leaving our skin feeling super soft and supple. Our skin honestly ate this stuff right up and it quickly became a staple in our everyday routine. These skin-loving ingredients are 100% natural, meaning they are gentle enough for those of us who struggle with skin problems, such as acne, rosacea and eczema. The Abyssinian Oil Facial Moisture Cream from Beauty Kitchen is available to purchase here for £19.99 for 60ml.