2020 Mama & Baby Awards are now OPEN

Calling clean, green parent and baby brands! The 7th annual Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby awards are now open for entries. But hurry – the final deadline is May 8.

The hotly anticipated Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby awards are back to celebrate outstanding ethical products for parents, babies, toddlers and beyond. 

Right now parents are more plugged in than ever to global health concerns. So there’s never been a better time to shine a spotlight on cherishable essentials that beautifully nurture, pamper and protect our families.

“There’s huge demand among parents for products that meet high ethical standards with an ingredients list that’s as pure and natural as possible,” says awards founder Fiona Klonarides.

“However, well-meaning mums and dads can find it tough to navigate the category. We need to direct consumers away from the big non-natural ranges cluttering the shelves of high street chemists and towards the gentle, ethical, clean natural brands – big and small.

“We’re not looking at a brand’s advertising budget. We’re finding out if their products perform for the most discerning audience possible: parents and their kids.”

Brands can enter now here .

Find out who’s won on Friday 12 June

These awards provide The Beauty Shortlist's definitive run-down of top-ranked natural, organic and earth-friendly baby products, plus beauty and wellness for mums and parents.

Experts, consumers and editors trust the awards to highlight excellence and ethics through a proudly independent judging process. 

For 2020, the global panel includes: 

– UK Katie Hill, co-founder of green living magazine My Green Pod (distributed quarterly with The Guardian to six million eco conscious consumers). 

– USA Makeup artist (Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue) and wellness coach Denise del Russo. 

– AUSTRALIA Holly Spierings, creative director of award-winning make-up brand Eye of Horus. 

Looking for recommendations right away?

Here are three of our previous winners… 

1. Madara Organic Baby & Kids Cocoa and Plum Creamy Oil
Judges loved how the extra-creamy consistency makes massages feel soothing and special for everyone. Meanwhile the rich cocoa butter smoothes away dryness and nourishes soft and delicate skin.

2. Balmonds’ Skin Salvation
Natural balms are a positive boon for parents protecting against nappy rash. The beeswax base seals away the skin’s moisture while protecting against irritating dampness – making it a must for the baby bag.

3. Bloom and Blossom Matilda’s Miracle Detangler
A natural product that takes the fight out of bed-time or pre-school hair-brushing is a big win for parents. Judges admired the calming lavender scent and how it worked across all different types of hair (however tangled).

About the awards
Originally launched seven years ago by beauty writer and respected natural living expert Fiona Klonarides, the awards are a 100% independent guide to parent and baby products.

Each year they’re judged by a panel of unbiased industry experts with no sponsorship or advertising to sway their decisions. This unique, transparent approach with an intrinsic focus on “natural, eco and ethical” attracts entries from across the world – creating a uniquely level playing field for both big and small brands.

PHYT’S – Gommage Contact+ Gentle Face Scrub and Elixir Hydratant 24H

Today at The Amazing Blog, we’re reviewing a French salon brand new to the UK, offering the consumer organic skincare and cosmetics, as well as salon based treatments. We are talking about PHYT’S who have over 48 years of experience in the professional skincare sector.

PHYT’S was founded by Jean-Paul Llopart a biologist and naturopath and Rosanne Verlé a beautician. Since 1972, PHYT’S has used only 100% natural and organic ingredients, most of which are sustainably sourced locally in France. With products such as the Crème Absolue, the Masque Gommage Contact+ and the Sérum C17 Purifiant gaining cult status in France; and their five award wins in the global 2020 Beauty Shortlist Awards including Solaire Fluide Protecteur High Protection SPF50 and Men’s Oxygenating Cleansing Gel, they’ve certainly piqued our interest!

PHYT’S has grown from their specialised treatments for the face, body, and hair; to makeup, dietary supplements and even baby products. With all this expertise, Phyts has fast become a global company with distributors in over forty countries. With its unique approach to cosmetics, in 2009 PHYT’S became the first fully-organic certified makeup line. The company’s organic focused methodology and ingredients have certainly made it into the distinguished brand that it is today. The two products that we’re reviewing today are the Gommage Contact+ Gentle Face Scrub and the Elixir Hydratant 24H water infusion.

Let’s start with the Gommage Contact+ Gentle Face Scrub this product has a warming scent of ylang-ylang and cloves, it’s ideal for all skin types, especially those who tend to react or a sensitive complexion. This effective yet gentle product helps to eliminate dead skin cells and removes impurities. To use first cleanse the skin then lightly apply the product to face and neck. Leave it on for at least 2 - 5 minutes, then delicately massage the area so that the scrub starts to roll or peel. Rinse the skin, pat dry and follow with a nourishing serum and moisturiser. The scrub’s ingredients have anti-ageing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties; these include ylang-ylang which balances oil production and cloves, which help to reduce fine lines and maintain moisture. Priced at £24.99 for a 40ml tube from here

Next, we used the Elixir Hydratant 24H, which is perfect for any dry or dehydrated skin types, it offers an all-day-long added water infusion as it moisturises and holds hydration in the skin. PHYT’S tests showed that by using this Elixir Hydratant the skin hydration increases by 88% even six hours after application. It’s an intense lightweight serum that plumps and revitalises the complexion. The product is easy to apply, simply put a few drops onto clean skin morning or evening which can then be followed by other products in the range. We loved the pale lavender colour, the light floral scent and the hyaluronic acid. The actives are extracted from wood, aloe vera and hazelnut oil, all of which help to keep the moisture locked in. We can happily report back that we found these both to be impressive ‘must-have’ products, and we’d certainly buy more. Priced at £55.99 for a 30ml bottle here. These products can be used together or alone. The Gommage Contact+ and Elixir Hydratant 24H are both available from Beauty Fresh here.

Beautanix - Beautiful Glow Clay, Day Oil and Serum 40

As regular readers will know at The Amazing Blog we like to search out new indie brands that have created something special. Therefore, it’s great to find a new natural skincare brand that specifically targets the 30+ age group. We are talking about Beautanix whose affordable products work to combat early signs of ageing by using only natural ingredients that help the regeneration skin cells, protect the skin and help to give us a more youthful appearance.

The Beautanix Founder Margaret Frixou is a reflexology and massage therapist who early in her career used essential oils and is well-versed on their wonderful healing properties. Margaret saw first-hand how natural ingredients really make a difference. Shocked by the list of harmful chemicals in her regular skincare, she decided it was time to create her own range using her knowledge and experience, thus Beautanix was born. Beautanix has seven key products that have natural ingredients that are vegan and ethically sourced. We received three products to try the Beautiful Glow clay mask and the Replenishing Light Day Oil and Serum 40 .

First, we used the refreshing Beautiful Glow clay mask, then went on to apply the Replenishing Light Day Oil to restore and protect our complexion. The Beautiful Glow is both soothing and nourishing. The product glides onto the skin flawlessly leaving a subtle floral/zesty scent. Made with fine kaolin clay, it has organic avocado and rice bran oils which help to lift dull and tired skin both hydrating and giving a healthy glow. Other key ingredients are carrot seed and sea buckthorn CO2 extracts which promote healthy skin cells. This refreshing clay mask works well on dry or sensitive skin types and is best used once a week on clean skin. We found Beautiful Glow to be a gentle product that left skin feeling soft and moisturised.  The pot contains 8-10 full face applications, and once applied, wait 30-45 minutes for it to absorb then rinse off with warm water.

Next, we used The Replenishing Day Oil which was our favourite product of the three. It has key ingredients of rice bran oil, thistle meadowfoam, rosehip. The combination of these potent raw botanicals contain antioxidants and wonderfully beneficial giving the skin a much-needed boost. This Day Oil is suitable for dry and sensitive skin and can be used daily on face and décolletage. It’s light in texture and we loved its delicious floral bouquet. We used it after the Beauty Glow clay mask, which helped to keep the skin supple and protected – we also found that a little went a long way.

The final product we used from the trio was Serum 40, which was a recent Editor’s Choice Winner in The 2020 Beauty Shortlist Awards, it’s perfect for irritated or sensitive skin. It’s a rich serum that helps to regenerate skin cells and prevent wrinkles. Vital ingredients here include sea buckthorn, eco marine extract, prickly pear seed oil with frankincense and patchouli, the latter two are the ideal essential oils for nourishing more mature skin. The serum is best used at night 2-4 times a week it immediately nourishes the skin upon touch and has a refreshing and calming aroma. The serum is the perfect way to end the day. We think these products complement each other well. You can find The Beautiful Glow clay mask in 60g for £25.99 here, the Serum 40 in 15ml for £31.00 here and the Replenishing Light Day Oil is 15ml for £24.99 here.

Danielle Creations - Erase Your Face

Much as we like to wear long-lasting makeup to take us through from day to night, the downside is that it requires using lots of cleansing cream and toner plus a bit of extra effort to remove.  As regular readers will know at the Amazing Blog we like to support eco-friendly alternatives, so you can imagine how thrilled we were to discover  Erase Your Face cleansing cloths. What could be more perfect than to be able to repeatedly use a cloth to instantly wipe away makeup with no waste? Not only good for the environment but also our skin. Solo these clever cleansing cloths combined with just water remove all kinds of excess from the skin, leaving a flawless and makeup-free finish.

Erase Your Face was invented by Danielle Creations, founded in 1969 they’re probably best known for their cutting edge makeup accessories and cosmetic bags. Based in the UK, they’ve grown into a global brand offering everything from cosmetic accessories, K-Beauty skincare to men's manicure and shaving sets.

Let’s talk about how to use the Erase Your Face, it’s made with a delicate and soft fabric which is 100% polyester, it is both pleasant and soothing to use. This cleansing cloth is water activated, once ready, dampen the cloth with warm water and gently wipe away the makeup in sweeping directions. After use, wash and ring out the water before hanging it up to dry. NB: They recommend machine washing the cloth before use to prepare the cleansing cloth for use. These face cloths are perfect for travel or just a quick cleanse. With an array of different colours and patterns to choose from, Erase Your Face is the ideal for anyone who has sensitive skin or doesn’t want to use harsh cleansers. We particularly like that it removes the likes of stubborn waterproof mascara or lip stain – ingenious! Get a pack of two for £6.99 here.  Or you can purchase a pack of four for £9.99 here, or separately for £4.99 each here.

YARD ETC – Green Tomato Hand Balm & Lemon Nettle Hand Soap

Although we’re all now in lockdown here at The Amazing Blog dispersed to our various homes and only allowed outside for a limited period, all this makes us appreciate nature and our quick quota of fresh air even more. For some of us who don’t have a garden and miss the feeling of grass underfoot, we’ve found the perfect hand care products for you. These natural skin care products will transport you to the countryside with their fresh fragrances of green tomatoes and wildflowers. We're talking about the YARD ETC and what better timing to be talking about these products with the nation’s current handwashing need. After all, what could be nicer than to have an all-natural Lemon Nettle Hand Soap followed by a gentle Green Tomato Hand Balm to cleanse and soothe your hands? 

This Swedish brand gets its inspiration from the garden, the founders Jessica Geigel and gardener/author Tina Raman clubbed together to launch the brand about 6 years ago. YARD ETC is primarily aimed at the amateur gardener (us) as well as the gardening enthusiast. They are the purveyors of stylish garden-related paraphernalia selling everything from furniture, seeds, tools and of course skincare. What we like about the YARD ETC skincare, is that they are carefully handcrafted with high-quality natural ingredients using organic ingredients wherever possible.

The first product we tried was the Lemon Nettle Hand Soap which not only cleanses muddy hands but acts as a natural antiseptic with the lemon and birch. This generously sized 350ml of liquid soap is extremely effective, although it’s mild with other ingredients such as rapeseed oil and aloe vera, it manages to deeply cleanse the hands while maintaining moisture. We also like is that it has no harsh detergents, thus making it ideal for a sting-free experience on any cut or damaged hands. 

Next was the Green Tomato Hand Balm which comes either in a handy (excuse the pun) 30ml or 75ml tube. The unique fresh aromatic scent of green tomatoes gives a slightly earthy/grassy/lemony fragrance, other ingredients here are almond oil and shea butter which help to soften and nourish the hands as well as cooling and healing the skin. This product is creamy and light, and blends and absorbs effortlessly into the skin making it one of our favourites.

This Hand Balm and Soap are some of the brand’s best-selling products and make an unbeatable every day essential for any household.  They also ease the frustration and pain of gardeners chapped hands, soil-stained fingernails, and cracked cuticles; and best of all, they’re cruelty-free and don't contain any nasties such as parabens. We can’t wait to try more products from Yard etc like their Lip Balm, Scrub Cleanser, Hand Scrub and Salubrin (a natural disinfecting fluid with acetic acid and ethanol). The Lemon Nettle Hand Soap in 30ml can be bought for £7 here The Green Tomato Hand Balm in 350ml can be purchased for £14.50 here