Matter of Skin : LEE - The Skin Barrier Osmolyte Concentrate

We believe that small is beautiful, particularly when it's a serum presented in a recyclable and pocketable pouch that’s from the new forward-thinking and circular economy skincare Matter of Skin. At The Amazing Blog, we’ve been itching to try this new brand and were lucky enough to be sent their serum LEE: Skin Barrier Osmolyte Concentrate, a lightweight, water-based serum that encourages skin barrier repair and long-term hydration with a high concentration of pro barrier actives. However, what caught our eye was that it’s formulated with upcycled ingredients and presented in a recyclable pouch, which means less waste, and of course, it’s better for our planet.  

The talented Caitlyn Smith founded this natural skincare Matter of Skin. It has taken two years in the making, and she’s incorporated all her knowledge and experience from working with other skincare companies - thus giving her an insight into the best supply chain and formulations. She is also part of the emerging trend of ‘circular beauty’. This means that Matter of Skin has a minimal waste policy, and encourages the reuse of their packaging materials to expand the life-cycle of products. 

Matter of Skin strives to break down information barriers, and states, "We believe the more you know, the better," Caitlyn is always thinking of new and innovative products to add to the brand portfolio; they launched with only two products: VIC and LEE. Both of these have been designed with full circle sustainability, as well as the use of actives, bridging the gap between performance and sustainability. Her company's goal is to assess every aspect of the product, including those that are ‘invisible’ to the consumer, offering innovation and minimising any environmental impact. The brands' key attributes include using 100% upcycled ingredients, zero waste packaging, a highly energy-efficient manufacturing process and solar-powered distribution. Examining their supply chain to ensure every step is done as carbon friendly as possible, is of the utmost importance. Not only are these serums effective, but they’re also all-natural and vegan, and come with traceability and stability testing with a full safety assessment. They manufacture in the UK using 100% renewable energy and low waste, with over 2000 solar panels on the warehouse's roof producing 212.10 kWp of energy – saving 93.7 tones of C02 a year. Matter of Skin affirms, "Our spout pouches on the product utilise approximately 80% less plastic by volume with a lower carbon footprint than industry packaging options." Their pouches are digitally printed, with no additional packaging labels or cartons required. All formulations have successfully passed 12 weeks of regulatory preservative challenge testing as well as stability and compatibility tests. Students can get a 15% discount on products, and as if it couldn't get any more eco-friendly, the shipment for these serums is free on £28 and above orders and is carbon neutral. Matter of Skin ships your products in biodegradable cardboard boxes obtained from FSC-managed forests and manufactured from 75% recycled materials. They recently won the ‘Best Circular Economy Beauty Brand’ at the 2023 Beauty Shortlist Awards. 

We tried the LEE: Skin Barrier Osmolyte Concentrate; it’s a clear, fragrance-free and gel-like serum that contains plenty of natural, hydrating key actives with betaine, ectoin, lactobacillus ferment, lactobacillus bamboo ferment filtrate, radish root ferment filtrate, chia seed oil, and inulin.

Betaine is a mighty amino acid discovered in sugar beet molasses and has powerful protective and humectant properties, enhancing the skin's ability to attract and retain moisture effectively. It simultaneously hydrates and protects the skin. Ectoin works as a powerful barrier to environmental toxins, is a microbiome protectant and is a clinically proven organic osmolyte known as an "extremolyte ". It supports the skin's defence system against external stressors, including pollution, blue light and UV-induced damage. It also attracts and binds water to skin cells, forming a protective hydration barrier and minimising inflammation, irritation, and dehydration. There are both probiotics and prebiotics in the serum. The probiotic lactobacillus ferment, lab-created, and non-living probiotic ingredient that plays a role in helping the skin’s microbiome. The other lactobacillus bamboo ferment and radish root are both prebiotic and antioxidant; they help to strengthen the skin barrier and minimise any irritation as they nourish and support collagen synthesis, fight free radicals and reduce inflammation. Chia seed oil is a rich source of fatty acids, and forms a protective barrier on the skin. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-pollution properties make it ideal for those who struggle with sudden skin flare-ups. Finally, Inulin is usually derived from chicory root or sugarcane; as a natural humectant, it draws water into the skin; it’s also prebiotic and can play a role in healing skin sensitivity.

LEE serum is not just a serum; it can also be used as an effective stand-alone moisturiser. Primarily it gives the skin the ability to defend itself from its environmental aggressors thanks to the lactobacillus ferment. With a viscous, almost gel-like texture, very little is needed. We used a few drops on clean damp skin, which swiftly absorbed, leaving skin ready for our daily SPF. They say that it’s at its most effective when used in the morning or mixed with your daily moisturiser, to protect skin against pollution and stressors. It's also microbiome-friendly, which means the product does not disturb the skin's microbial balance. An imbalanced microbiome could lead to skin issues such as acne or eczema. We found that a little goes a long way, and it adapted well to all our different skin types. We also found that whether skin tended to lean towards dryness, sensitivity or a combination of both, this serum helped improve the skin's overall appearance. We also found it helped offset factors leading to redness and dryness. A big plus, for us, is that this serum is both versatile and easily portable. The pouches slip neatly into any small bag, so, if needed, a top-up can be applied throughout the day.

To purchase the LEE: The Skin Barrier Osmolyte Concentrate in 30ml for £28 click here.

Herbal Earth: Sheer Tinted Lip Balms

As chilly mornings are still with us, we thought we’d share some new natural lip protection, with these Sheer Tinted Lip Balms from Herbal Earth. These four hydrating balms keep lips moist, are long-lasting and taste delicious! Regular readers of The Amazing Blog may be familiar with the name brand, as we reviewed their much-loved No 42 Antioxidant Facial Oil here.

Driven to find natural products with quality ingredients specifically formulated for even the most sensitive skin types, Nancy O'Reilly founded the Irish skincare Herbal Earth Skincare in 2017. Herbal Earth is a small-batch indie skincare range that, in her own words, "combines the best of nature and science to create advanced natural products for sensitive skin." Like many of us, Nancy became frustrated that even though many creams and serums made claims to be formulated for all skin types, they still caused irritation. This spurred her on to create Herbal Earth, a brand that aligns with being: "Natural. Gentle. Honest." Nancy graduated in Organic Skincare Formulation from Formula Botanica, where she has utilised her knowledge and expertise. According to an article by EMPOWER Female Entrepreneurship, "The brand is targeted at women aged between 35-55 who have sensitive skin, and are into wellness and natural products.” All products are handmade, vegan, cruelty-free, natural, and suitable for every skin type. They were a recent finalist in the 2022 Irish Made Awards and a 2022 Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards winner. It’s also important to note their commitment to sustainability, where consumers can order refill pouches of products which reduces waste, plus all packaging is recyclable or biodegradable. Future plans are to power their production using renewable energy from wind and solar technologies, enabling them to implement new initiatives to further minimise their environmental footprint and support Mother Nature.

What we love is that these Herbal Earth Sheer Tinted Lip Balms offer subtle and sheer pops of colour in a range of four colours: Perfect Plum, Deep Rose, Sangria, and Guava Lava. Perfect Plum has a purple hue, while Deep Rose has a deep pink. Sangria has a rich red tint, while Guava Lava is a softer coral. Warm reds and coral always look good on skin with a warmer undertone, while deep purples and pinks complement a cooler skin tone. Their Perfect Plum and Deep Rose echo the shade ‘viva magenta,’ Pantone’s 2023 Colour of the Year described as a "bright, crimson red, it balances boldness with a feeling of fun", a shade we’ve already spotted on the cover of Vogue and the 2023 spring/summer fashion runways.

These Sheer Tinted Balms contain hydrating ingredients such as calendula infused in rice bran oil and castor seed for shine. The candelilla wax offers a protective barrier and is a popular alternative to beeswax in vegan products. There’s also cacao and cupuacu seed oil, which gives this lip balm a delicious aroma and taste. Then there are the colours, they use varying amounts of manganese violet, for its purple or violet shade, and iron oxide for its red hue used to create the orangey/red tones.

All have the naturally occurring white pigment titanium dioxide, increasing the colours' brightness and opacity. Mica is present, too; it’s an ethically sourced and naturally-occurring mineral used for its light-reflecting properties, adding a touch of sparkle and shine to the balms. It also gives a smooth, clump-free texture and improves skin adhesion, helping the tint to last. Combine the mica and titanium dioxide, and they offer a glossy, pearlescent effect. These carefully selected ingredients are all-natural, vegan and contain no essential oils. Finally, they’re housed in simple wind-up polypropylene plastic tubes, which are 100% recyclable.

Something to note is that a tinted lip balm is not the same as lipstick or gloss. Formulated with translucent pigments, they have more natural hydrating oils or waxes and are primarily designed to provide lip nourishment instead of colour. Did you know that lips are 100 times more sensitive than fingertips? They have more than a million different nerve endings and have only 3 to 6 layers of cells, compared to the 16 layers elsewhere in the body. The lip’s blood vessels are close to the surface, which gives the lips their rosy pink/red hue. Red lips are perceived as more sexually appealing than pale ones, which is why the use of red lip pigments throughout the ages has always been so widespread.

These are brilliant and affordable sheer lip balms, and another of our #amazingfinds; they feel smooth and silky and can be reapplied as and when needed. Individual lip balms are £6.56 (€7.50) for 4.5ml, and a multi-pack including all four colours + a clear moisturising lip balm is £26.27 (€30.00). All Herbal Earth Sheer Tinted Lip Balms can be purchased here.

Aura Organics : Mango & Orange Cleansing Oil

How do you cleanse? Is it with a one-off cleanse and rinse? Or perhaps, it was like us, with a double cleanse using a cleansing oil and then followed by a water-based toner. Whichever way it is, we want to introduce you to a single cleanse, with this oil-to-milk Aura Organics Mango & Orange Cleansing Oil from Aura Cosmetics. It's a discovery from Edwina's 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards judging; and one that also wowed us with its exceptional performance and moreish fruity fragrance. A little while ago, on The Amazing Blog, we also reviewed their wonderful Exfoliating Face Mask, see here.

Aura Organics are a London-based indie natural and organic skincare brand. Founded by the holistic practitioner, formulator, and spa owner Danielle Andrean, whose experience in working in mainstream skincare revealed many unnatural and problematic ingredients, which were not only lacking in nutritional value but causing skin irritation in her clients. This began her mission to launch her own skincare with Aura Organics, a name that comes from the Latin word for a ‘breath of fresh air’. Alongside her existing knowledge, and study of organic cosmetic chemistry, it was the start of this natural, organic and cruelty-free skincare range. All products are made in small batches and are free from harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and harmful toxins. It's important to Danielle that her products contain natural and organic ingredients that align with her holistic brand ethos. This small, family-run business seeks to inspire and educate people on the importance of natural skincare and is committed to sustainable living with both products and packaging materials, that are recyclable, biodegradable and refillable to reduce pollution and waste.

 In addition to developing an organic skincare range, Danielle also launched Aura Organics Spa. The spa uses its own range of holistic and organic products paired with ancient healing remedies, allowing them to create individually tailored treatments and globally inspired wellness rituals. They aim to provide a relaxing experience that promotes physical and mental well-being. Apart from treatments, their wellness studio offers a variety of yoga, pilates, and meditation classes to suit all levels. To adhere to their sustainability ethos, even the yoga mats are made with renewable harvested tree rubber and recycled materials that are free of PVC and latex. They also run a free community meditation class to make yoga and meditation accessible to all. 

Their award-winning Aura Organics Mango & Orange Cleansing Oil , really caught our eye. It’s packaged in a stylishly frosted metallic glass bottle, which protects the special ingredients from harmful sunlight and contamination from plastics. A vegan blend of mango extract, organic orange peel oil, vitamin C, and magnesium helps to hydrate, soothe, brighten and fight acne breakouts. Organic gotu kola (AKA centella asiatica) has been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine and strengthens the skin while brightening dull-looking. Finally, beta carotene, a natural vitamin A form, helps boost the skin's defence and signs of ageing.

All the organic oils present are for cleansing and nourishing. The grapeseed and sunflower oil are rich in vitamin E, for the repair of the skin’s barrier, both are highly absorbent and won’t clog pores. Olive, peach kernel, castor, orange peel and rosehip are all rich in antioxidants and offer anti-inflammatory properties that fight bacteria and moisturise. Rosehip and sweet almond oil are is high in vitamins A, E, zinc and linoleic acid, all of which boost collagen production and hydrate.

If you wonder why oils are used for cleansing, it’s because they are non-comedogenic and bond with any makeup or grime. Did you know that your skin is home to over 1,000 species of bacteria? Quickly added, these are not all bad bacteria, in fact, the skin offers a variety of distinct ecosystems, with communication between bacteria, skin cells and immune cells. Unfortunately, washing the skin is completely out of sync with the needs of our skin, and damages the good bacteria making it harder for the skin to retain moisture. As a result, it disrupts the skin’s pH level. However, by using an oil cleanser, you are supporting your skin’s army of healthy bacteria. This interaction helps to reinforce, repair and bolster the barrier formed by the skin, and acts as a barrier to protect the skin from pollutants locking in moisture. Why do we like cleansing oils? It’s because they work to remove any stubborn residue from sunscreens and are also very adept at dissolving all types of makeup. Many cleansing oils and balms now contain an emulsifier; this allows the oil to mix with water to form a milky emulsion, making only a single cleanse necessary, as they remove all makeup and grime, and rinse away without leaving any greasy excess.

As mentioned earlier, this organic cleansing oil has a delicious smell of mango and orange. We found the scent uplifted our spirits, and left our skin beautifully fragranced. We found that by massaging a small amount of this oil to milk cleanser, the light and silky texture dissolved makeup, and the deep cleansing oils targeted pollution and grime leaving skin soft and squeaky clean. For stubborn eye makeup, we used a reusable makeup pad, wet hands and a splash of water, then massaged the cleanser until it became a milky white emulsion - best of all, no eye stinging!. Then, with a quick final rinse, we were left with a clean, hydrated, glowing complexion! It gets top marks from us and is another of our #amazingfinds. To purchase your bottle of Aura Organics Mango & Orange Cleansing Oil at £17.95, see here.

Sanatio Naturalis: Precious Oil Treatment

When it comes to skin nourishment, face oils are always our first choice, with bonus points given if they’re also natural and sustainable. At The Amazing Blog, we couldn’t resist featuring one of our favourites with its abundance of organic oils, the Precious Oil Treatment from the award-winning botanical and sustainable brand Sanatio Naturalis.

Sanatio Naturalis was created in 2015 by founder Valerie Ruonan Shi, and we wrote the brand in 2017 featuring their Lavender essential oil, see here.  The essential oil and aromatherapy range were developed with the help of leading aromatherapist and author Daniele Ryman. Sanatio Naturalis is a British brand that incorporates the healing powers of botanicals, and the Latin name itself means 'the healing power of nature’. As Valerie says, "The holistic beauty secrets of plants have been passed from generation to generation. The ancient Greeks shared them, inspiring our Latin name, Sanatio Naturalis." The brand has raw and organic natural ingredients, all of which are sustainably sourced. "We place great importance on the origins of our raw materials. We travel the world in search of plants and oils." These all have full traceability with ingredients like geranium comes from Egypt, rose is cultivated in Bulgaria (4,000 kg of rose petals are needed to obtain 1 kg of the essence), lavender is from Haute Provence (France); lemons are harvested in southern Italy and frankincense from Somalia. Ingredients are all COSMOS Certified Organic, cruelty-free and vegan; these are ethically grown and harvested raw, therefore, free from preservatives, fillers, and chemicals; made without any parabens, or phthalates, sulphates, mineral oil, petroleum, synthetic colours and fragrances. In 2020, the brand supported COVID-19 pandemic NHS workers by giving away one product for each product purchased to NHS staff members. Since its inception, Sanatio Naturalis has worked tirelessly to perfect its formulas, which has earned them several awards, including Eluxe Magazine's 2018 Best Up and Coming Beauty Brand, and of course the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, Editor’s Choice Winner.

Precious Oil Treatment is a concentrated face oil full of nutrients combining antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids. This blend is created to awaken the skin, and help it reach its optimum potential by restoring elasticity and hydration. As they say, "This silky light, nourishing oil absorbs instantly, leaving skin feeling smooth, supple and soft. A nourishing complex of 8 mostly organic luxurious oils to help restore firmness and elasticity, including jojoba, prickly pear, safflower, camellia seed, rosehip, argan, sunflower and cacay oil, it delivers immediate nourishment and radiant glow in just a few drops." This oil is also infused with calendula, edelweiss, and red-flowered silk cotton tree.

First, let's begin with the benefits of the oils. Jojoba is known to nourish your skin with hydration and vitamins; it also leaves skin feeling soft, silky, and smooth. Argan oil is easily absorbed by the skin, to give a glowing complexion. Prickly pear seed oil is an unusual raw ingredient on the list. This oil has antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It also carries different vitamins, omegas, and fatty acids to help reverse signs of ageing and improve firmness. Cacay oil with its high doses of vitamin E and 68% linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid), stimulates the renewal of cells to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Rosehip oil is full of vitamin C and works to stimulate collagen and heal scars. Camellia oil is used to retain hydration and promote soft and silky skin to reduce signs of ageing. Sunflower oil is used for skin hydration. Last but not least, safflower oil helps hydrate skin and soothe inflammation as it's filled with linoleic acid and vitamins B6 and E.

Then there are the three skin-protecting ingredients: edelweiss extract, calendula, and red-flowered silk cotton. Edelweiss extract is a natural anti-ageing agent and sun protectant. It acts as a powerful antioxidant, more potent than vitamin C, so it helps skin stay plump and smooth. It also helps protect from harmful UVA/UVB rays and helps repair damage caused by harmful free radicals. Calendula oil is made by infusing marigolds steeped in a carrier oil such as olive or jojoba oil. This blend helps with irritation and soothes skin with its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Last but not least, we have red-flowered silk cotton. Found in Africa, this tree has parts that hold medicinal properties. Using the thorny part from the stem, this ingredient helps prevent damage from UV rays and toxic pollutants and supports the skin's natural defences.

Natural essential oils are added to give it a fresh aroma. "Naturally fragranced with a precious blend of therapeutic essential oils including Neroli and Jasmine to relax and soothe the senses, and provide an immediate sensation of well-being." The Precious Oil Treatment is easy to incorporate into your skincare; Sanatio Naturalis recommends applying a couple of drops onto cleansed and fresh skin day or night. We even added a drop to our moisturiser to enhance its hydration. It feels deliciously luxurious and can work well with any other skincare used, the fragrance of this oil won’t conflictt with its subtle jasmine/neroli scent. Not only is the product itself perfect for nourishment, but it comes in a sustainable small white 30ml glass bottle with a dropper and recyclable box. It also makes a perfect travel companion fitting into hand luggage for those sunny weekends away. You can purchase the 30ml Precious Oil Treatment here for £60.

Youth & Earth : Preservage

We cannot stress enough the importance of taking care of your body from the inside out and new supplements always pique our interest. At The Amazing Blog, we’re constantly reading up on ‘biohacking’ and were thrilled to test Preservage from the award-winning Youth & Earth, where it recently won ‘Best Wellbeing Brand’ and ‘Best Supplement - Age Well’ at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards.

Youth & Earth is a British brand that produces natural anti-ageing supplements, using cutting edge science to slow down ageing at a cellular level. Although life expectancy has been increasing in the UK for the past few decades; there has been a slowdown over the last decade. There are ‘Blue Zones’, which are geographic areas where people are expected to live longer than elsewhere. In these zones, some people live to 90-100 years old. Youth & Earth explore this in their feature on ‘Blue Zones’ here. The brand is the largest supplier of NAD+ boosters in the United Kingdom and Europe - these are the natural fuel cells use to function. However, they become more depleted in our bodies as we age and “drop as much as 50% by we are 50.” Youth & Earth supplements target the nine hallmarks of ageing: Cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, poor intercellular communication, genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient-sensing, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The products target these by recreating the positive effects of a healthy lifestyle. Youth & Earth’s founder, Ed Van Harmelen, founded the company after learning that his NAD+ levels were dropping. He started learning about the principles of longevity pathways and researched the hallmarks of ageing back in 2017. He looked for supplements that address ageing at the cellular level, and found a gap in the market, so Youth & Earth was born. As they say, “Backed by science, rooted in rigorous research and, when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, are designed to slow down, stop or even reverse the ageing process.” All ingredients are researched, scientifically backed and have very high bioavailability. Products are all-natural, pure and vegan, with sublingual powders, delayed-release capsules, and liposomal formulas.

Preservage helps with cell health and antioxidant protection and is an all-natural supplement designed to optimise intestinal absorption of ingredients like Resveratrol (350%) and Curcumin (200%). The key three of quercetin, resveratrol and curcumin have scientific proof here. The full ingredients listed for Preservage are trans-resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin, bioperine (black pepper extract), rice flour, microcrystalline cellulose (plant fibre), and silicon dioxide.

The trans-resveratrol is commonly sourced from red wine, grapes, berries and chocolate (theirs comes from a surprising source - Japanese knotweed!) It is a natural polyphenol with many benefits, such as protecting the heart, helping the body fight disease, and lowering cholesterol. Trans-resveratrol versus resveratrol is more effective because it can cross the blood-brain barrier.

Curcumin is full of antioxidants and the principal curcuminoid of turmeric, a member of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory compound and a potent antioxidant that can neutralise free radicals and may increase brain levels of BDNF protein which plays a role in memory and learning.

Quercetin mainly comes from onions, and is also found in many other fruits and vegetables like capers, asparagus, and apples, It is also rich in antioxidants. It’s thought to help protect the body from cardiovascular diseases and contains flavonoids with potent antioxidant properties.

Bioperine is a black pepper extra, which helps enhance nutrient absorption (particularly the curcumin)> It decreases inflammation, and stabilises blood sugar levels; and is also said to combat cancer cell growth, decrease inflammation, and boost brain function. The fillers are rice flour, which contains vitamin E and other nutrients such as calcium; Microcrystalline Cellulose which acts as an absorbent and emulsifier, and silicone dioxide, a natural compound and anti-caking agent that ensures full absorption.

Youth & Earth recommends taking two capsules of Preservage every morning on an empty stomach, which provides 200mg Trans-Resveratrol, 200mg Curcumin, 400mg Quercetin, and 20mg Bioperine. Taking the supplement daily allows it to naturally slow down ageing in the body, and it delays cellular ageing and boosts the longevity gene sirtuin. By the way, sirtuins are a family of 7 proteins, with each one playing a variety of roles. However, they all work in synergy to keep the body healthy and functioning efficiently. Again, best explained by Youth & Earth detail more about this here.

The Preservage is a potent polyphenol booster and mTOR inhibitor. Polyphenols are full of antioxidants that protect body tissue and help maintain healthy and youthful skin, whereas mTOR is a longevity pathway that helps slow the ageing process. How was it for us? We love the ingredients and what they offer, and are big fans of curcumin and trans-resveratrol already. Here the combination of trans-resveratrol, curcumin, quercetin and bioperine offers us pretty much all we need to increase our energy levels, aid anti-inflammatory issues, with the added bonus of slowing premature ageing - all in two daily capsules! Youth & Earth also recommends taking their NMN with Preservage for the ultimate anti-ageing effects - something we’ve yet to do. Start your anti-ageing journey today and purchase Preservage here 60 x 410mg capsules for £29.99 as a one time purchase, or subscribe and save 15% off.