AK Pure Skin - Face Tan Water

With the questionable hours of sunshine with our inclement British weather, we all seem to crave that elusive healthy golden glow, and this is where a good self-tan comes in very handy. However, when it comes to the face, we found that not all tanning products are created equal. And after much trial and error, we at The Amazing Blog, prefer to use natural facial tanning water. Meet another of our #amazingfinds from the Icelandic brand AK Pure Skin with their award-winning Face Tan Water. Whether you wish to enhance your natural complexion or deepen an existing tan, this product is for you.

AK Pure Skin is a unisex beauty brand that offers natural and organic Icelandic skincare. The founders of AK Pure Skin are husband and wife Aron Einar & Kristbjörg Jónasdóttir. Aron is probably best known for being a professional footballer at Qatar Stars League club Al-Arabi and is also the Icelandic national football team captain. Together, they created AK Pure Skin in 2019 after three-plus years of perfecting the formulas and packaging. Kristbjörg explained their inspiration as a mother and athlete, “We wanted to make effective formulas with the best ingredients that slot effortlessly into life and give skin the health and nutrition it needs. Formulas that do for my skin what I try to do for my body.” She went on to say, “Our key focus is developing effective, natural and unisex skincare products made from Icelandic pure water, using only carefully selected ingredients that benefit and enhance the skin’s health to provide the best results possible.”

The brand offers a range of products made with all-natural and organic ingredients, which are cruelty-free and vegan. They have collaborated with Pharmarctica, an Icelandic contract manufacturer and formulator, accredited as GMP certified, and who fulfil the standards required for producing organic and eco-certified cosmetics. With this partnership, AK Pure Skin has achieved a range of natural skincare products that are 100% produced in Iceland and, most importantly, made with pure Icelandic water. 90% of their products have ingredients derived from natural origin; they are free from parabens, PEG, SLS/SLES, silicones, alcohol, petroleum, and nanoparticles. In an interview with Trendnet.is, Kristbjörg said, "The products are made from pure Icelandic water, which may sound like a cliché, but is a very important part of the production because our water is so clean. It allows us to use fewer materials in the products than if they were produced where the water quality is worse." She went on to say, in Akureyri.net, “After three years and incredible fluctuations due to the COVID pandemic, online sales have been growing, and we felt that there was a demand for advice and personal service in-store. We, therefore, took this step of opening a store in Iceland and are extremely happy with the result." The brand also ships globally and considers itself a pure, natural and down-to-earth skincare that prides itself on being ‘Real, Raw and Unique’.

We discovered the Face Tan Water when we were privileged enough to be invited to be one of the judges at The 2023 Beauty Shortlist Awards, where it won ‘The Best Self-Tanner - Face’. One of the first things that impressed us was how it’s made up of 98% natural origin-derived ingredients. It’s easy to apply, gives excellent results and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive ones. We found it nourished our skin and was also versatile enough to be combined with a serum or moisturiser to make it more of a gradual tan. A great deal of time and care has gone into creating this facial tanning water, and Kristbjörg said, "The Face Tan Water was the first product we developed, so for us, this is our baby and very close to our hearts. In making it, we knew exactly what we wanted: to develop a product that would give you a beautiful, refreshing sun-kissed glow and help even your skin tone."

The key ingredients are pure Icelandic Water, dihydroxyacetone, vegetable glycerin, erythrulose, panthenol, and sodium hyaluronate. There’s also aloe leaf, beta-glucan, calendula flower extract, lemon oil, citric acid and plankton extract.

For facial tanning water, the first ingredient is the most unique; pure Icelandic water provides hydration and nourishment to the skin and is also known for its ancient healing properties.

Dihydroxyacetone and erythrulose; are both natural and organic tanning ingredients. Dihydroxyacetone is derived from sugar cane that reacts with amino acids in the skin to produce a natural-looking tan. Erythrulose works with dihydroxyacetone to provide a long-lasting, even tan. Next is vegetable glycerin, a natural humectant that draws moisture into the skin to leave it hydrated and nourished. This ingredient works well with sodium hyaluronate, which helps to hydrate and plump the skin. Panthenol, aloe leaf and beta-glucan are here to soothe and hydrate. Aloe leaf reduces inflammation and irritation; panthenol contains pro-vitamin B5 to retain moisture levels and shield skin from irritation; and beta-glucan is a natural polysaccharide that improves the skin's texture and appearance, reducing signs of ageing.

Working with the ingredients above are calendula officinalis flower extract, a natural extract with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Lemon fruit oil and citric acid exfoliate and brighten the complexion to reduce the appearance of dark spots and blemishes. And, the plankton extract reduces oxidative stress, protects the cells and fights the signs of premature skin ageing. Since all these ingredients are natural, this Face Tan Water needs natural preservatives to keep the integrity of the product. It uses phenoxyethanol and sodium benzoate; both are natural and prevent the growth of bacteria as well as keep it fresh.

The great thing about facial tanning waters is that their colour can last up to three or four days. This, of course, depends on your skin type and how often you cleanse your face. When considering using facial tanning waters, there are a few things to remember: Tanning drops and moisturisers are typically more subtle and buildable. In contrast, facial tanning waters can provide a more intense colour with just one application. Gradual tans can take longer to build up but can be more forgiving if you make a mistake during application. Avoid using products with exfoliating properties, such as alpha-hydroxy acids or retinoids, for a few days after application; this will prevent premature fading.

When using this Face Tan Water, it took 4-6 hours to develop, and we found that it was best applied at night. It's recommended to prep your skin beforehand by cleansing and gently exfoliating to ensure an even colour. Also, another tip, when we first used the product, we used a water-based serum as a base to make sure we didn’t overdo it! We also applied a moisturiser to dry areas, such as your eyebrows or hairline, to prevent the product from clinging to those areas. It creates a good, even and healthy glow that typically lasts about four days, which we then let gently fade before applying more. AK Pure Skin Tanning Water does not contain any SPF, so please use a separate sunscreen if you spend time in the sun. We love this Face Tan Water, it saves us time and money, as there is no longer a need to use a BB cream or foundation to even out our skin tone, and this gives us the ideal sun-kissed glow. Get ready to say goodbye to pale skin and hello to a beautiful, healthy looking all-year-round tan. Click here to purchase 50ml of Face Tan Water from AK Pure Skin for £31.

Chapter Organics - 'The Quiet' Rollerball Pulse Point Oil

Although we think summer is for chilling, the reality is often very different, as it can come with a set of stresses and distractions. You know how it is, trying to fit everything into one day and then, to top it all, lack of sleep from the humidity or noisy air con! That’s why at The Amazing Blog, we’re big fans of aromatherapy rollerballs because they offer us a little time out on the go.  The one we want to discuss today is from Chapter Organics, with their ‘The Quiet’ Rollerball Pulse Point Oil. As the name suggests, ‘The Quiet’ helps us all to be more mindful, pause, breath and take stock. It contains a unique aromatherapy blend designed to restore inner peace in moments of need. Genius.

Charlotte Nutland founded Chapter Organics in 2017 to create natural aromatherapy blends that fit into everyday life. She first started blending aromatherapy oils when she was pregnant with her first child, as she wanted to prioritise her own self-care and general wellness. In an interview with Highcliffe Cornwall, Charlotte said, “I shared these blends with my friends and family, and they, too, noticed the difference in their sleep, anxiety, mood and energy. I was driving one day wondering if I could turn my love of Aromatherapy and plant oils into something more?” Soon after, she established Chapter Organics, creating and sharing unique blends to fit into a daily routine. She went on to say, ”I started to use essential oils to cope with symptoms and promote general wellness. I made up my own little blends and began to see benefits immediately,” she explains, “Friends and family loved my blends and kept asking to try them. It was then I started to wonder if other people could benefit from them too.”

What sets Chapter Organics apart is its collection of aromatherapy blends, all of which relate to ‘a chapter of your day’. Each of their five blends The Remedy, The Tonic, The Peace, The Quiet and The Self, are available as candles, atmosphere and linen mists, hand and body cleansers, moisturisers, pure essential oils, and room diffusers. Alongside Charlotte making self-care more accessible, Chapter Organics maintains a firm commitment to sustainability. The brand donates £1.00 from every sale to Marine Conversation Society via Work for Good to support a cleaner and better-protected ocean. To help reduce waste, all the glass used in their packaging is recyclable and reusable, and they even offer refill candle wax inserts. All products are handmade, vegan, cruelty-free, and 100% natural. For those new to aromatherapy, they offer a Mood Quiz on the website, and based on the response, this produces a unique selection of products best suited to promote an individual’s well-being; Chapter Organics is an award-winning brand and recently swept the board as an Aromatherapy brand in The Beauty Shortlist 2023 Mama & Baby Awards, and the Eco Lifestyle Awards which is where we made our discovery.

As mentioned earlier, "The Quiet" Rollerball Pulse Point Oil has been coming to our rescue. ‘The Quiet’ range is designed to ground those with a ‘runaway mind’ and creates a calm and stillness in daily life. The blend has five essential oils with rose geranium, rosemary, frankincense, bergamot and clove. The carrier oils are a combination of sunflower and jojoba; both are aroma-free and full of omega-6 to help keep skin well-hydrated.

Rose geranium has a soothing, sedative effect on the mind and encourages relaxation and optimism. Rosemary enhances concentration by improving alertness and improving memory and lowers cortisol levels to reduce anxiety. Frankincense enhances mood by diminishing negative feelings. Bergamot has been shown to trigger the release of dopamine and serotonin in the brain producing feelings of happiness and ease. Lastly, the stimulating scent of the spice clove is reputed to help minimise anxiety and strengthen your focus. We found ‘The Quiet’ therapeutic for both mind and body, giving us clarity and tranquillity and allowing us to be more present.

We’re fans of aromatherapy pulse point oils, as they’re always effective. Did you know your body has nine pulse points? A pulse point is where the blood pumps closer to the skin; therefore, applying essential oils to pulse points such as the temples, below the ears, jawline, or wrists allows faster absorption into the bloodstream. Rub in three slow circular motions onto the inner wrist or side of your neck and inhale the aroma deeply to restore your inner calm. This is another of our #amazingfinds for whenever we feel unfocused and in need of recentring ourselves to find our zen. To purchase the 10ml ’The Quiet’ Rollerball Pulse Point Oil for £20 see here.

BodyBees : Bee Gone - Outdoor Balm

As we're now in the midst of the summer festival season, we thought it an appropriate time to talk about warding off those far too frequent uninvited, flying insects! At The Amazing Blog, we're not fans of those chemical insect repellents with all their harsh toxins; we prefer to use natural and essential oil-based products. This was when we discovered BodyBees, and their effective hydrating Bee Gone - Outdoor Balm, which is 100% safe for skin, and has the added bonus (not something they advertise) of keeping mosquitoes at bay.

BodyBees is a Swedish family-owned natural skincare brand based in Danderyd, Sweden. Founded in 2019 by Lars Jacobi and his daughter Therese Fal'en, it all began because Lars struggled to find a cure for his eczema. However, this all changed when he visited South Africa, where he discovered some of their healing ingredients, i.e. honey and propolis, which literally "changed his life." From this moment on, he began experimenting and creating his own skincare as a way of also helping others. The brand now collaborates with local producers in South Africa for their natural and organic ingredients, with the hero base for their balms: beeswax and olive oil. They firmly believe in nature's way of healing, restoring, and protecting the skin. Therese told us, "I think it is fascinating how powerful these ingredients are in all their simplicity. When I used them myself and on my children, I actually realised that they help keep me and my family’s skin to stay protected and hydrated, as well as bringing a sense of wellness to everyone." For BodyBees, sustainability is at the brand's core, together with monitoring each batch of products to ensure all ingredients used are natural, organic and safe. They currently have a range of four balms, including one that's fragrance-free and suitable for babies.

We tried Bee Gone - Outdoor Balm, which has recently scooped up an award (think the Swedish Beauty Oscars, see here) with 'Best Protection'. To quote these awards, "Bee Gone is nature's own recipe and works well when it comes to keeping mosquitoes away. As well as caring and effective at the same time." Although the brand is careful not to promote Bee Gone as an insect-repelling balm, as they don't have the official product registration to make this claim; they are, however, quick to point out that it is an all-natural outdoor balm with many different uses.

What we like is that it's only made with four simple ingredients. These include the essential oils of citronella, lemongrass, beeswax and olive oil, all of which make it super-nourishing for the skin. Citronella, of course, is one of those ingredients which helps to repel insects. Combine this with lemongrass, another natural insect repellent, and you have ingredients which are both anti-inflammatory and antifungal, as well as gentle enough even for the most sensitive skin.

The base combines water-resistant beeswax and olive oil, rich in vitamins; they form a protective barrier and shield the skin from toxins while also supporting natural hydration. The blend creates a powerful antioxidant with an antibacterial effect for healing, moisturising, and all-important skin replenishment. When asked, Therese told us about her inspiration behind this product, "The Bee Gone Outdoor balm is one we created for our own use as a family. It's the perfect product to fill a much-needed gap in the skincare market. In Sweden, we all love being outside in nature, so we wanted to create a hydrating skin balm that contained citronella and lemongrass, to ward off insects, and to leave the skin with a fresh scent." 

As someone who is usually feasted upon by pesky mosquitoes, I was a little apprehensive to try this as a repellent. When applied, it smells fresh and zesty, giving the skin a smooth and hydrated feel. Lo and behold, for the first time, I can confirm that the mosquitoes left me alone; they weren't even buzzing around my head. Result! However, the brand does recommend reapplying Bee Gone every four hours as a top-up to keep skin safe.

Another of our #amazingfinds, we'd highly recommend this pocket-sized tube of outdoor protection for the whole family to keep skin protected, moisturised and nourished. To purchase the 40ml push-up tube of BodyBees Bee Gone Outdoor Balm for £14, see here. 

The London Dispensary - Aromatherapy CBD Candle: Slumber

We thought we’d start our July blog features by discussing the current ‘Buck Moon’. It’s the supermoon that appeared on 3 July and, according to Nasa, is closer than usual with its orbit around the Earth, staying full for up to three days (i.e. .today). See the pic above with the Aromatherapy CBD Candle: Slumber. Research has shown when it’s a full moon; some people take longer to fall asleep or sleep less, even if they’re in a dark room. It’s thought that this lunar phase changes sleep patterns with its heightened energy.

If you know us at The Amazing Blog, then you know how much we value our sleep! After all, sleep is our bodies way of recharging to support healthy brain function and maintain physical health. Having found ourselves listless and majorly sleep-deprived during these past few nights, a comforting thing we like to do is light a candle. This Aromatherapy CBD Candle: Slumber from The London Dispensary, we found particularly helpful to calm, soothe and enhance deep relaxation with its heady mix of botanicals, Not only a winner at the 2023 Beauty Shortlist’s Wellness Awards for ‘Best CBD Candle & Best Candle for Calm & Sleep’ - it’s a winner for us too.

The London Dispensary all began when Jack Oscar Brown, the founder, struggled to find suitable natural and effective wellness products to use on himself. After experimenting with different formulations, he also delved deep into each of their individual properties and benefits. “I sat and thought about all of the areas I had found benefit from over the course of my wellness seeking. Then the concept ‘why don’t we combine all the best parts of each?’ came to mind.” Jack went on to say, “By blending the natural mood-enhancing aromas of aromatherapy, stress-reducing adaptogen ingredients, the focus on helping nootropic fungi, and the healing properties of cannabinoids.” This has created some extraordinary botanical blends targeting ‘wellness from within’ with three specific ranges: Boost, Balance, and Bed. They utilise traditional Eastern and Western ingredients together with CBD and pure essential oils. They are all based on the latest research and scientific studies to ensure safe, effective, multi-sensory experiences. As an eco-business, they only use recyclable, reusable packaging to offset their carbon emissions and also add to this by planting a tree with every review they receive. They help fund socio-economic change worldwide by working with Ecologi, a program where people donate money to help fund projects working to help save the planet. They ensure each element of their supply chain and operations are morally and ethically sound. Manufacturing is done in small batches, which guarantees that blends contain the proper ratios and high enough quantities to be as effective as possible. Being an honest and transparent brand, they even have detailed ISO-accredited laboratory CBD report available here, together with nutritional information regarding their CBD edibles as well as CSPR reports which show the safety of our topicals and wax-based products.

Back to the Aromatherapy CBD Candle: Slumber, we want to share as another of our #amazingfinds, and as one of our favourite CBD-based candles. It’s part of the ‘Bed’ range, with seven different products to help enhance sleep. The candle is blended with essential oils lavender, clary sage, eucalyptus, nutmeg, and ylang-ylang.; these are combined with L-theanine, sleep terpenes and the all-important 100mg of premium CBD per 120ml candle jar. Lavender reduces stress levels, improves quality of sleep and helps with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Nutmeg brings a warmness that eases tension to support calmness and improve restlessness, along with clary sage to ground the senses by adding a sweet earthy tone and a herbaceous fragrance. Ylang Ylang effectively relieves stress and promotes relaxation with its rich and exotic floral scent.

For aiding sleep, the candle uses sleep terpenes and L-theanine, which are natural compounds that cause drowsiness. The candle combines the best sleep terpenes, the first being linalool, found in lavender plants, and the second being the most prominent of myrcene, found within hemp and lavender plants. These two sleep terpenes have natural properties for relaxation and reduced anxiety, along with L-theanine, an amino acid usually found within green tea that stimulates relaxation, reduces stress and anxiety, and has anti-inflammatory properties for easing pain. L-theanine works in causing more relaxation by increasing the brain waves associated with calmness and less stress and blocks excitatory neurotransmitters to help enhance our soothing ones, such as GABA, a gamma-aminobutyric. CBD in the candle is an essential ingredient as it is a cannabinoid and one of the hundreds of chemicals found within cannabis or hemp plants. It has health benefits due to positive interaction with the body's endocannabinoid system involving cell signalling with a vast network of cell receptors. The body then produces endocannabinoids to bind these cannabinoid receptors to regulate critical functions such as memory, appetite, sleep and balanced energy. The brand uses a CBD isolate extracted from hemp by removing all other compounds within the plant to isolate the cannabinoid for the purest and most potent form of CBD with no fear of any THC extract. CBD is typically a crystalline or powder form with the added advantage of being odourless. They have the complete CBD lab testing available here.

They use their own house blend of sustainable vegetable waxes with soya, coconut, and rapeseed for the wax base. Rapeseed wax is particularly beneficial, being non-toxic, renewable, and biodegradable, with a low carbon footprint. The candle burns with a sustainable cotton and paper wick, and the wax melts at a slow and steady rate, allowing the fragrance to evaporate gently from the wax pool, making the aroma linger for longer and giving an extended burn time of 28 hours. What we love about this 120ml Slumber candle is that it’s 100% natural, hand-poured, and you’re promised an uplifting and comforting floral scent, perfect for winding down at the end of the day. To purchase, see here; it’s currently at a special price of £18 for a limited time.

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.