Jinmee - Hydrapuff

Have you found yourself with more product on your hands than on your actual face? At The Amazing Blog we certainly have, and it’s just such a waste! Meet Jinmee who have pioneered a new way of thinking about cleansing with something sustainable, practical, and high quality. They have developed a product called Hydrapuff, the new super absorbent skincare sheets.

Founded by Karen Hong and produced in Korea, Jinmee was created when she realised the amount of product wasted on hands or cotton pads particularly as these thick pads soak up more product than it is actually applying to your skin.  She came up with these clever Hydrapuff sheets which are super thin and multi-purpose. They hydrate the skin, maximise product use, reduce waste, she came up with the Hydrapuff, as an affordable and high-quality product that works through simplicity, honesty, and self-care.

Hydrapuff are super-absorbent skincare sheets that come in a double-layered sheet. For the first step of your routine, keep your Hydrapuff intact, folded in half to give it extra thickness, it can be used with all your favourite skincare products. These sheets not only hydrate the skin but also as mentioned reduce the wastage. Once you add a skincare product to a sheet, it transforms into a gel-like tissue that adapts to your skin, which means applying the entire product onto your skin, not on the cottonwool or bin! You can apply your choice of toner, cream cleanser or oils, start by cleansing your face with the Hydrapuff sheet and your chosen product, and then gently wipe away your makeup or daily grim. Hydrapuff can also serve as a mask, by applying a serum or product onto the sheet and split the Hydrapuff in the middle. Then, place with your product on cheeks or the desired area allowing it to sit for 5 to 10 minutes (remove them before they get dry), pat your skin gently and done!

Hydrapuff is suitable for all skin types, made from a natural rayon and pulp blend with 60 sheets in a box. The sheets are vegan, cruelty-free, bio-degradable with recyclable packaging,  making them tick all the boxes and getting the thumbs up from us. We loved this multifunctional product which has saved us up to 50% less waste with our serums, cleansers and toners. Get your Hydrapuff here for only £6.50.

Fi-ne - Body Serums

At The Amazing Blog it’s no secret that we love luxurious body lotions and serums. And probably no surprise that today’s #amazingfinds is on Body Serums. Meet a new German brand called Fi-ne Cosmetics whose rather unique trio of Body Serums are luxurious organic moisturiser-oil-serums specifically created for this area. Their founder had a light bulb moment when she discovered that most people were using luxury skincare on their faces, but completely neglecting their bodies.

Fi-ne Cosmetics was created by Judith Springer in Germany when she couldn’t find a range of natural, healthy and functional deodorants. Since then the brand has evolved to offer body serums, masks, eye serums and perfume oils. Her belief is that she won’t ever bring something to market that either already exists, or doesn’t offer the right solution for the problem. Fi-ne Cosmetics products are handmade, certified organic, 100% vegan and not tested on animals. They are also GMO-free, paraben-free and free from all synthetic preservatives, colours, and fragrances.  Manufactured in a laboratory in Germany, their natural and organic products are made under strict conditions in accordance with the EU Cosmetics Regulation. They avoid plastic materials in their packaging.  Wooden spatulas that come with their cream-based products are created in a workshop for people with special needs in Berlin.

Fi-ne Body Serums are a fusion of a rich nourishing blend of effective oils and a hyaluronic moisturising serum.  These Body Serums primarily feature a distinctive blend of original Australian Bush Flowers. The flower essences contain the individual energy of the specific plants from which they are derived. The second key ingredient is the Mediterranean algae which provide a multitude of protection and healing properties.  There are three different Body Serum in the range which cater to individual needs.

We tried the set of three Body Serums all of which contain the ingredients of cooling and hydrating aloe vera and squalane. Let’s begin with Focus, this uses apricot kernel and safflower seed oils with the wood additions of douglas fir/atlas wood oils, it also has lavender and grapefruit peel oil for a more citrus/woody scent. Focus is for grounding and centring it has helped to boost concentration and clarity. These ingredients also help to restore hydration, leaving skin fresh and radiant. The second we tried was Energy serum as the name suggests it’s empowering and uplifting helping to stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis. The key ingredients are sweet almond oil together with hazel and grape seed oils. More unusual here are the palmarosa and manuka branch/leaf oil making the scent ‘warming and comforting’. The final Body Serum in the trio that we tried was Peace serum which helps let go. Since the Peace serum is for use at night time, it features a higher quantity of plant oils,  such as camellia seed and peach kernel oil. It has a delicious and slightly fruity fragrance, where the smell of the dog rose with juniper and lavender oils comes through. This is perfect for city living as its purpose is to repair UVA/UVB and pollution-induced damage, restoring skin while you sleep!

Fi-ne Cosmetics recommends applying the Focus and Energy serums after a shower in the morning and applying the Peace serum before bed in the evenings. Each of the Body Serums scents can be purchased individually in 200 ml or 50 ml sizes. We had the set of three Body Serums in 50 ml which can be purchased here for €50.  We think these make a great gift or for yourself for a little luxurious self-care.

Friday Favourites - Body & Hand Care

At the Amazing Blog we have to confess to being a little obsessed with body and handcare products, particularly during these cold winter months. We don’t know about you, but our skin tends to be much drier and we find ourselves piling on layers of lotions and body butter. However, as always we’re ever mindful of ingredients and prefer to use more natural products. For today’s #amazingfinds we’re going to highlight some natural/organic body and handcare products, not just for winter, but for the whole year-round.

Avid readers of The Amazing Blog know that we have showcased many of the Lavera products, previously reviewing their products like their Firming Body Milk. Lavera, which means ‘the truth’ in Latin, is an affordable natural skincare range for people of all skin types. Containing 100% natural and organic ingredients, we love how transparent they are with their ingredients. With Lavera, we can rest assured that what we’re putting on our bodies is natural and safe.

That’s why we wanted to try the Lavera Neutral Body Lotion, which is specially formulated for sensitive and easily irritated skin. With organic evening primrose oil, it’s good at soothing itchy or flaky skin. Lavera body care in general consists of a rich emulsion with high lipid content, meaning that they nourish skin for longer than perhaps other body lotions. The organic jojoba oil and shea butter are the perfect combination to help lock in moisture, keeping the skin smooth and supple. We recommend using it daily after showering to experience the enriching benefits of their balanced pH-neutral composition which supports cell renewal. We also mustn’t forget to mention the all-important squalene, fennel, witch hazel and olive oil extracts. To feel the uplifting effects, you can buy the Lavera Neutral Body Lotion 200ml here for £14.95

Next, we have an award-winning beauty brand, Beeutiful. We discovered Beeutiful when they were crowned The Best Bee Beauty Brand at the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2019 as well as winning the Best Body Balm Category with the B-Rose Frankincense & Rose Body Balm. Beeutiful’s skincare is so natural that you could almost eat it! Made from 100% natural ingredients, the product range is created by using UK sourced ingredients and beeswax and honey from Beeutiful’s own hives. To quote Carly, the founder: “Our products are not tested on animals and we only harvest that from the bee that does not harm them; honey, wax and propolis. You will not see Royal jelly or bee venom in any of our products as dead bees are necessary for their obtainment!”

The B-Rose Frankincense & Rose Body Balm comes in a generous size glass pot that is fully recyclable. The luxurious oils feel rich and extremely hydrating on the skin, and we loved using it morning and night. The combination of jojoba, coconut and cocoa butter and beeswax glide onto the skin. The essential oils of frankincense and rose were chosen for their toning, skin-soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. Together they create a ‘beeutiful’ blend and fragrance, particularly with the rose absolute (one of our favourite scents). This Balm not only hydrates but also calms the skin making it an excellent anti-inflammatory for sensitive skins. It’s a hot favourite with our Exec Editor! Apart from producing this glorious body Balm they also donate 10p from every sale to Friends of The Honey Bee. All products are free from parabens, sulphates, preservatives, artificial or synthetic colours or fragrances, phthalates, silicone, GM ingredients and petrochemicals. See here to purchase your B-Rose Frankincense & Rose Balm it is £43 per 200ml or a smaller 120ml size for £28.

Philosophia Botanica is inspired by African beauty secrets. Surrounded by the nature of Cape Town, South Africa, founder Francesca was inspired to create a 100% natural beauty brand while supporting sustainable agricultural practices. Francesca who’s an oriental medicine, acupuncture spa consultant and formulator, took her passion for well-being, herbal remedies and anything natural and Philosophia Botanica was born.

The Philosophia Botanica Baobab Hydrating Body Oil is created with the key ingredient Baobab seed oil. Often referred to as the ‘tree of life’, the baobab tree is grown in Africa and produces a velvety-looking fruit the size of a coconut which is where the baobab seed oil goodness comes from. With a rich and recognisable scent, it packs a healthy punch for the skin with calcium, magnesium and ten times more vitamin C than in oranges! It’s filled with antioxidants, fatty acids & vitamins to replenish the skin all the way down to the cellular level. Baobab seed oil is an excellent choice for lightweight hydration for any skin type. The oil formula absorbs quickly and nicely, removing any signs of dryness and is particularly good for anti-ageing. The other key ingredients here are moringa oil, which is also famous for its anti-ageing properties, it helps to eliminate wrinkles and slow down the ageing process. Plus, the yangu oil which is full of linoleic acid, omega-6, and oleganic acid, omega-9 these essential fatty acids make it perfect for moisturising the body. This ingredient hails from seeds of the cape chestnut tree also found in Africa. Finally, there’s neroli oil, which is obtained from the bitter orange tree, it is steam-distilled from the small white waxy flowers. Apart from its gorgeous aroma, something we were intrigued to discover is that it also possesses actives that have the ability to reduce acute and chronic inflammation too. A little goes a long way and this Hydrating Oil is a great multitasking product and can be used as a massage oil and in the bath too. To experience Africa’s best-kept secret for yourself, the Philosophia Botanica Baobab Hydrating Body Oil can be purchased here £52 for 200ml.

While we’re making sure that our body is moisturised, we mustn’t forget about our hands, too! Born from a passion for nature, natural and organic products, Akamuti’s founder Lindsey was determined to create a range of products that were brimming with goodness and mindfulness. Lindsey aimed to develop products that told a story with their ingredients, and the Cuticle Moon Hand & Nail Butter certainly does just that. They have a zero-waste policy where all of their waste is recycled, whether it be plastic, aluminium, glass, printer toners, cardboard – nothing reaches the landfill. Akamuti also use a mixture of materials for their packaging. The PET containers are fully recyclable, phthalate and BPA free. NB since writing this, they seem to have swapped this container for an aluminum tin.

This hand cream is one of three in their range of handcare. Scented with lime, lemon and a dash of lavender, this Cuticle Moon Hand & Nail Butter smelt so good that we had to stop ourselves from slathering it all over our arms and torso! it smells divine and we recommend spreading a generous amount on your hands and nails, particularly after washing to replenish oils and moisture. This award-winning Cuticle Moon Butter (The Green Parents Natural Beauty Awards Best Buy 2016) is enriched beeswax and honey (from the forests of Zambia and Ethiopia), and organic cocoa butter to combat dryness. The lemon oil is a natural nail treatment to help cleanse, purify and strengthen with its natural antiseptic properties. The organic virgin cocoa butter has nutrients essential for skin repair to feed your dry hungry skin. The Akamuti Cuticle Moon Hand & Nail Butter 50ml can be purchased here for £6.95

Stellar Décolletage – Elixir Extraordinaire Dry Oil Mist

We’re going to try not to mention ‘anti-ageing’ here at The Amazing Blog, let’s talk ‘age-inclusive’ products aimed at a less than youthful skin – particularly as there is an age variant here in the office! As time goes by, our skin can’t hide the sun damage, a bad diet or any environmental stress that we sustain; and let’s be honest, none of us ever gave ageing a second thought in our 30’s. Well, here we are today, wondering if there is help at hand. Happily we return to a brand that has already left a deep impression on us, Stellar Décolletage. We recently wrote about their Velvet Restore Sleep Complex which is the second step of their trio of products that have been designed to replenish, restore and rejuvenate the décolletage.

We bring you their third step in the trio, with this exceptional award-winning product the Elixir Extraordinaire Dry Oil Mist. Rich in vitamins and designed to target the much-forgotten areas of the delicate neck, breast and décolletage. With its unique blend of six oils, it is light, absorbs quickly and leaves you with a wonderful powdery and floral bouquet. Key active ingredients are the Inca inchi oil, which contains vitamin A, E and amino acids, all of which have antioxidant properties, reducing lines and boosting the anti-ageing factors. There is also macadamia oil, rich in omega 6 and 7 which support skin restoration and act as an antimicrobial (which are mainly found in younger skins). And finally, shea butter that hydrates skin sweet almond, jojoba and borage oils all of which rejuvenate, soothing and help to relieve breast tenderness.

To use the product, apply it daily (morning and evening) on cleansed skin by spritzing it over your breasts and décolletage. Using your hands massage it moving upwards towards the neck and upper arms, allowing it to smooth into your skin. Hydrate and protect your skin with this lightweight oil that comes as a spray, not only does it feel good but we love all the antioxidants that it has too. Get your Stellar Décolletage Elixir Extraordinaire Dry Oil Mist 100ml bottle for £68.00.

Tracie Cant - S.C.D. Oil

As Albert Einstein once said “Energy can not be created or destroyed, it can only be transformed from one form to another.” Here at the Amazing Blog we know that is true for Tracie Cant’s S.C.D oil. 

Tracie Cant is an alchemist, reiki practitioner, holistic nutritionist and quoted by Jo Foley in The Luxury Spa Edit as an inspiration. However, she is probably best known as a top celebrity and editorial hairstylist and would gift little bottles of her S.C.D oil to actresses, models and musicians on set. After getting glowing reviews from everyone she gifted it to, Tracie decided to make S.C.D oil for a larger market. In ancient times, the ritual of 'anointing' was reserved for saints and kings, to inspire a divine presence or purpose, and S.C.D oil was designed to bring that practice to more people. It takes its names S.C.D taking the three keys letters from the word SaCreD.

Tracie used her 20 years of experience as a Master Energy Healer to create S.C.D oil, a unique blend of pure ancient sacred oils, chosen for their innate high vibratory frequency and healing potential. She works with energy centres and uses her S.C.D oil to balance, unblock and elevate physical, emotional and spiritual energies for clients in her Harley Street clinic. The ancient oils that she has combined in her S.C.D oils have a measurable electromagnetic frequency. When high-frequency oils are used, they assist in the elevation of our frequency, which promotes health and well-being. Our energy fields can be lowered by many factors including stress, processed foods and illness. The leading plant geneticist Bruce Tainio discovered that the lower our energy systems, the more likely we are to have illnesses. So it makes sense to keep the system vibrating at a higher frequency. Raising the frequency of our energy system, not only has a greater capacity and potential for self-healing but also helps to create a space for encouraging inspiration.

Tracie believes that ‘Energy Healing’ is not a substitute for conventional medicine, but can be used alongside it to ‘kick start’ the body's innate healing mechanisms. We loved using the S.C.D oil during meditation or for everyday general well-being. It is beautifully perfumed and the luxurious faceted crystal bottle is a perfect addition to any dressing table or armoire. Made with a unique blend of natural high-grade ancient anointing oils, it has a carrier of sweet organic almond oil, no additives, preservatives or alcohol. We think that the S.C.D oil is the perfect addition to a meditation routine.  Apply a small drop on the back of the neck at the base where the shoulders meet and cross, it can also be placed on the chakra points of the chest, wrists and feet. Want to anoint yourself with ancient oils? The S.C.D oil can be purchased here for £85 for 30ml.