MOA's The Green Balm

Happy New Year! We’re back in the office at The Amazing Blog, and are ready to make 2019 the best year yet. We’re kicking off the week with an overhaul of our beauty products, in an attempt to rectify the previous year of hoarding. The general office consensus is that multi-purpose products are the way forward, so we were excited to try the relaunch of MOA's The Green Balm. We were very pleasantly surprised, and wanted to share our findings with you…

MOA (Magic Organic Apothecary), began in 2010, when founder Charlie Fowler found a distinct lack of natural eczema products. Given that her daughter suffered from this condition, Charlie made it her mission to fomulate a natural and organic product, that would soothe, cleanse, tone and moisturise the skin. And so The Green Balm was born. Encased in a lightweight glass jar, this product is the ultimate multi-purpose beauty balm. As well as working as a cleanser and moisturiser, it is particularly effective at soothing skin post-shaving, waxing and threading. Additionally, it acts as an eyelash moisturiser and works to help fade stretchmarks. For those of you who have dry hands, knees, elbows and cracked heels then this balm also nourishes and moisturises these significantly. Finally, if that's not enough, then it acts as an effective eye makeup remover, taking it off quickly without any need to rub forcefully. What more could you ask for?

With ingredients like organic yarrow, known for its nourishing and healing properties, and tea tree oil know as a naturally powerful antiseptic; these all natural ingredients help to nourish and soothe all dry and itchy skin. Other ingredients such as coconut, sweet almond, beeswax and soy bean oil work as the carrier and also help to make this balm smell delicious. If you’re looking for a multi-purpose product that works wonders on your skin, then take our word for it, MOA's The Green Balm is our new go-to product for 2019. It has a great price point making it affordable at £6 for 15ml or £15 for 50ml. Click here to purchase your very own pot of magic.

Friday Favourites - Natural Cleansers

What’s more important to you… A skincare regime in the morning to pep up your skin? Or perhaps in the evening, to help get rid of the daily grim? When we did a quick poll in the office and found that we all tended to lean towards an evening ritual. Although maybe one or two of us might admit to having fallen asleep with our make up on - oh what a sin! Of course, when this is the case we’ve paid the price; you know the look of dark panda eyes, streaky cheeks and an irritated skin breakout. Today we at The Amazing Blog explore four natural, cruelty-free and gentle cleansing products to help you up your cleansing game - whether its for the day, night or both.

First and foremost, we all know that we’ve got to remove our make up. Nadur is an Irish natural and vegan skincare brand that has a wonderfully gentle and effective make up remover. Nadur was a Pure Beauty Global Awards 2018 Finalist, and they are committed to crafting non-toxic and well-designed products that are safe for the environment and the user. The name ‘Nadur’ means nature and comes from the ancient celtic/viking alphabet ‘Ogham’, with their 20 symbols that represent sacred trees. They focus on the ‘acid mantle’ (the skins natural defense mechanism) and their products are a careful blend of science and artistry using ‘green chemistry’.

We tried their Genie Rinsable Oil Cleanser & Makeup Remover and were pleased to find the naturally ethical formula is non-greasy and hydrating. This cleanser and make up remover hybrid works well for normal, oily, combination, and dry skin. To use it, smother over dry skin, wetting the face to emulsify it, and gently work it in. Give your face a rinse, and you’ll feel squeaky clean, without the tight sensation. This water-soluble solution is gentle on the skin’s natural protective barrier because of the inclusion of organic jojoba oil, which means the skin’s moisture levels are restored. We particularly like all the antioxidants and minerals, such as pomegranate seed, that help to rejuvenate the skin. The Genie Rinsable Oil Cleanser & Makeup Remover is vegan, gluten, cruelty-free, non-toxic, and 100% natural. Its faint floral, nutty fragrance comes from the sweet almond oil and ylang-ylang flower extract. Purchase Nadur’s Genie Oil Cleanser & Makeup Remover 200ml here for £25.00.

Let’s move from Ireland to Britain, to explore Nakin Skincare. We’re particular fans of this new British brand which focuses on natural anti-ageing products, and recently featured their Active Dew Face Cream here. As a nominee for Best New Skincare Brand in the Pure Beauty Awards, founder Cris Beetham said: “Our whole ethos is about effective natural skincare, for people who want great skin without the use of harsh chemicals.” And we certainly do! Hyaluronic acid, seaweed and plant extracts, healing butters, and reviving oils are some of the powerful ingredients in Nakin’s products that help to enhance your skin’s natural beauty. All of their products are cruelty-free and are without parabens and artificial colour and fragrances.

We took their Natural Anti-Ageing Advanced Cleansing Milk for a spin. This cleanser is 98% natural and wheat and gluten-free. We particularly enjoyed using this product because of how gentle it is on sensitive and dry skin, and it proved to be a great hit with our Exec Editor. The Cleansing Milk is easy to apply, simply massage in circular motion before removing with a cotton pad - it’s brilliant for removing stubborn make up. The hyaluronic acid and pomegranate fruit extract help to fight the key signs of ageing. The seaweed extract also helps to even skin tone. The completely natural, light floral fragrance is refreshing but more importantly we liked that this cleanser was effective. If you’d like to try Nakin Skincare’s Natural Anti-Ageing Advance Cleansing Milk, it can be purchased 150ml here for £15.00.

If you’re in the mood to try something different, then Speak Skin Beauty has got you covered. They are a natural skincare company founded by Nisa and Tiara, who wanted to make a difference. Their mission is to empower women with fair and reliable information on skincare ingredients, to allow them to make an informed decision; and wishing to make a positive impact on their community and environment. Both had struggled on their journey to find a suitable skincare for their complexions; Nisa with dermatitis and Tiara for her ever-changing, hormonal skin. This skincare brand is all about advocating good clean and conscious products. They carefully choose their ingredients to ensure that their products are appropriate for even the most sensitive skin. We love how they are minimising waste by getting rid of unnecessary packaging. We received their 01 Cleansing Powder in a charming fabric mini tote all made from recycled material. This packaging makes the product all the more meaningful in our eyes. They’re strictly cruelty and paraben-free, and make all their products in small batches.

Speak’s 01 Cleansing Powder system was new to most of the team here, as they hadn’t used a powder cleanser before. It is a gentle, soap-free cleansing powder that has only four ingredients: organic oats, lavendar extract, kaolin clay and sweet almond oil. It’s simplicity at it’s best. The scent is particularly enticing, the fragrance of this almost poultice-like texture is lead by the combination of lavender and oatmeal. The oats help to soothe the skin; the lavender calms redness; the sweet almond oil prevents dryness and hydrates, and the kaolin clay diminishes sebum production. This cleanser proved very popular with those of us who have more oily skin with frequent breakouts, as it helps to calm and stabilise. Mix the powder in the palm of your hand with warm water to make a paste, then apply by gently massaging the paste on the face, rinse off, et voila! You too can purchase Speak Skin Beauty’s 01 Cleansing Powder 60g here for £8.88.

Last but by no means least, we found Skincare with Compassion, an organic skincare company founded to be entirely cruelty-free and vegan. Based on the Island of Jersey, founder Emma Froch explains that the brand is “dedicated to changing the way in which people think about skin care” by advocating natural and animal-friendly products. Emma’s thirst for expertise in the skincare industry began over nine years ago when she realised that cruelty-free and vegan products were in short supply. She made it her mission to formulate 100% natural and non-animal derived products, working with beauty experts to discover ethical ingredients without nasty additives. We certainly admire the ethics of the company and were thrilled to try the Geranium and Thyme Purifying Face Wash.

This face wash is designed for those with oily or spot prone skin, a welcome discovery for certain members of The Amazing Blog team who suffer from hormonal blemishes. It contains 83.7% certified organic ingredients, including four superpower botanicals: geranium, thyme, lavender flower and rosemary. The geranium provides the benefit of minimising the look of wrinkles whilst still leaving your face feeling moisturised and supple. The thyme is a powerful force against bacteria, helping to eliminate and calm sebum levels. Similarly, lavender flower has antibacterial properties, reducing blemishes and fighting against the dark spots and scars that we are often availed with (as if having the spot in the first place wasn’t bad enough!) Finally, rosemary is antiseptic, helping to reduce redness and puffiness, by balancing congested skin. All in all, a robust set of ingredients that not only soothe our skin, but smell light and fresh.

To see the results for yourself, apply a small amount of the cleanser to wet skin (we suggest opening your pores with warm water first) and gently massage. You’ll be met with a silky foam, which needs only to be rinsed with warm water to remove. To purchase a 100ml bottle of Skincare with Compassion’s Geranium and Thyme Purifying Face Wash for £18, then click here.

There is a natural cleanser here to suit almost every skin type. We think that all four of these cleansers are fabulous alternatives to the plethora of chemical-infused cleansers, that are so readily available on the high street. Please let us know if you get try out some of our new finds, otherwise we hope that we’ve inspired you to go and search out new cleansing alternatives.

Exotic Millet Body Polish - Naturally Tribal

While Summer seems to be slipping through our fingers and we begin to enter September, all of us at The Amazing Blog are desperately trying to maintain that Summer glow we worked so hard to achieve! Dry and dull skin has the evil power to leave you feeling insecure and unattractive. So we were naturally thrilled when we got our hands on Naturally Tribal's superbly hydrating Exotic Millet Body Scrub.

This product is perfect for firming and repairing damaged and dehydrated skin. The shea butter in the product acts as a moisturising base that protects skin from UV light, acts as an anti-inflammatory and manages blemishes such as acne, wrinkles, sunburn, and eczema. Meanwhile, the millet serves as an effective exfoliant to remove dead skin helping to brighten and refresh dull complexions. Millets, both whole, and ground, contain amino acids which help your skin maintain its elasticity.

Made with 100% natural ingredients this product will leave your skin looking brighter and feeling softer. You can purchase your own Body Polish here for £23.99

Rosehip Oil, Rosehip Oil with Vitamin C and cellular radiance serum - [A'kin]

The idea of 'pure' ingredients may not seem like something you’ve thought about, or if you have, it might sound like a fanciful dream, but we here at The Amazing Blog have found the reality. [A’kin] is a brand which defines itself by its dedication to “the power of purity.” Their products undertake a unique process to ensure that their ingredients are: properly researched for their health and beauty benefits, extracted in their purest and most beneficial form, and selected and tested for synergy and skin compatibility. As such we had high hopes and expectations for the two oils and one serum we tried.

Both of the [A’kin] Oils we tried used Rosehip as the basis of the products, but both achieved different results. Rosehip is rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids which help to give skin a youthful and healthy glow. Rosehip is also full of Omega 3, 6, and 9 which help to restore moisture as well as nurturing and rejuvenating the appearance of skin. The first Rosehip based oil we tried was the Brightening Rosehip Oil with Vitamin C, and we can honestly say it did everything it said and more! Our skin felt brighter and clearer, as the Vitamin C in the oil acts as a powerful reviving antioxidant helping to neutralise free radicals, clear up the skin, all the while keeping it hydrated and fed! While the Brightening Rosehip Oil with vitamin C is suitable for all skin, the Pure Radiance Rosehip Oil is better suited for dry and or sensitive skin types. This oil left our skin feeling smooth and deeply hydrated. The oil is enriched with pure active botanicals and contains only two ingredients: rosa canina seed (rosehip) extract and rosemary leaf extract. [A'kin] Pure Radiance Rosehip Oil has a concentration of Omega essential fatty acids that is no less than 80%!! This award winning Rosehip oil helps to restore moisture and helps reduce the visible signs of aging. The result is vibrant, glowing and healthy radiant looking skin.

The [A’kin] Revitalising Cellular Radiance Serum was a fantastic anti-aging serum that completely rejuvenated our skin, restoring youthfulness. The powerful serum combines 6 organic and certified extracts: pomegranate amaranth, seabuckthorn, rosehip, calendula, and chamomile. All of which help to moisturise skin, while firming it up. It’s no wonder, therefore, that in a recent study on 32 women aged 50 and over, the serum was shown to improve skin texture by 84%, skin radiance by 69% and reduce wrinkles by 22% over a three month period. What more could you want from an all natural anti-aging serum!

You can purchase [A'kin]'s revitalising cellular radiance serum here for £26.00 their brightening rosehip oil with vitamin C here for £24.00 and their pure radiance rosehip oil here for £18.00

Body, Face & Foot Balms by Okko

It is no secret that here at The Amazing Blog we value good skin care products above all else after all beauty trends come and go, but our skin is here for life, so it’s imperative that if we always want to look our best that we take care of it. As such we are always searching for new and exciting products that to help care for our skin and manage any conditions it may have. So we were thrilled when Okko Skin Care sent us some samples of their 100% natural and environment-friendly balms. 

Okko’s balms are deeply moisturising sticks containing organic rosehip oil, organic jojoba oil, aloe butter and organic chia seed oil just to name a few.  Okko produces two distinct body balms, two unique face balms, and one original foot balm. The body balms are suitable for all skin types, and both left our skin feeling nourished and moisturised. We particularly loved the Organic Borage and Rosehip Body Balm Stick, as the borage oil helps to enhance skin’s elasticity. The two face balms were light and gentle. The Organic Chia Seed and Rosehip Balm was great on dry skin, as chia seed and rosehip are deeply nourishing. The clary sage and rose geranium, in the Organic Clary Sage and Rose Geranium Balm, left our skin feeling velvety soft. 

We think that the Organic calendula and Eucalyptus Foot Balm is a must have this summer. As we approach summer so do we approach sandal season. The foot balm is an excellent way to calm and smooth feet. The organic calendula oil aids to smooth skin and helps with tissue regeneration, therefore healing and smoothing rough or broken skin on feet. Using has removed any fears we may have had about getting our feet out this summer!

You can purchase all of the Okko products on their website here, and prices range from £18.00 - £22.00. However, if you want to test them out first before buying full-size balm you can! Okko have Try me versions of all their products for £2.50