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. 

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.

nknaturals - Summer Collection

At The Amazing Blog we first discovered today’s skincare brand when their Cleansing Balm ‘Beautiful’  was listed among the finalists in The Beauty Shortlist Awards 2019. We’re excited to be featuring nknaturals today with their natural skincare to coordinate with the seasons. As we know only too well, with each new season brings new environmental challenges for the skin. This is where nknaturals have rather cleverly incorporated seasonal ingredients to help the skin adapt.  

Nicola Kidd the founder, has had a life-long interest in skincare, from a trainee scientist in skincare development at Boots through to the start of creating her own small natural artisan skincare range in Lanzarote during 2011. It was only 2017, after moving back to London that these seasonal collections were born. She soon realised that having only one type of skincare routine for all year round wasn’t enough. Nicola found her skin reacting differently to the changeable British weather, which is where her inspiration came for creating Spring, Winter, Autumn (and now Summer) Collections. Just as we buy seasonal food ingredients, each of nknaturals product ingredients follows the lunar calendar, being optimised the benefits of each new moon. Plus, nknaturals only uses locally sourced ingredients that are non-GMO and free from pesticides. We also love that she uses beeswax from local independent beekeepers.  Nicola said: “This is essential to support the wellbeing of the bee population in England and completely different to mass bee farming. None of my formulations contains more than eight ingredients in total to maximise each of their qualities and when blended they enhance each other.” This sunny and joyful Summer Collection has five energising, luxurious and natural products to help to fight the rising temperature and humidity. Nicola believes in using a minimal amount of ingredients in order to enhance the effect of the products. Therefore, when blended all together each ingredient intensifies the other, thus creating the perfect formula.

First, we tried the Summer Concentrated Cleansing Balm in 60ml. nknaturals are probably best known for their balms. This new Summer Concentrated Cleansing Balm contains sesame oil, vitamin E, sea buckthorn, spikenard, red raspberry seed oil, frangipani. However, what makes it unique is its richness with the raw organic beeswax where the brand uses local beekeepers. This handmade balm, with its organic bee wax, gives it the bonus of healing capabilities and provides natural hydration to the skin. Rich in vitamin A, the beeswax will support cell regeneration and creates a skin barrier. We found the best way to use it, is by working a small amount into the skin then wiping it away with a damp muslin cloth - both morning and evening. It leaves the face both supple and smelling divine. They also suggest following the cleansing balm with the Summer Copper Distilled Botanical Mist.

This Summer Copper Distilled Botanical Mist is ideal for rebalancing the skin’s pH and unclogging the pores. Restoring moisture, it provides instant relief for any over-sunned skin which could be either parched or clammy. We think this is an essential item to keep in your bag while out and about, as it refreshes, soothes and invigorates tired skin. Ingredients include cedarwood hydrosol which acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and grapefruit seed which is anti-bacterial and helps to regulate any oil build-up. This mist gives a sense of wellbeing and calmness. We used this Botanical Mist with every step in the range from cleansing, moisturising to the home halotherapy (steam inhalation with the Summer Deep Steam Salt Infusion).

Then we have the Summer Enriched Protection Moisturiser available in 60ml. This lightweight daily moisturiser is for face, neck and décolleté. It absorbs quickly leaving no residue and offers enough hydration to keep skin moistured all day long. Key ingredients are again sesame oil, beeswax, vitamin E, sea buckthorn, red raspberry seed oil, spikenard, cedarwood oil, frangipani. What makes it a perfect skin balancer or even a great first base for make-up is the oat kernel flour. The latter provides a silky feeling to the skin with the lipids and ceramides and reduces redness and skin irritation while also hydrating and protecting the skin. Finally, the addition here of titanium dioxide, which is an anti-inflammatory and helps to provide a protecting barrier against UV rays. 

At night we used the Summer Nutrient Rich Facial Oil available in 15ml. This hand-blended facial oil with its a lymphatic drainage effect should be ideally massaged into the face before bed. It has wonderful regenerative qualities with the sesame oil, which is non-comedogenic (meaning that it doesn’t clog pores) and also acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory on the skin. It also contains red raspberry seed oil that helps soothe the skin and heal redness and eczema, reducing flare-ups. This Oil has sea buckthorn as well as, cedarwood oil, spikenard and frangipani all of which can help uplift the mood while still deeply hydrating the skin. They also suggest using the Botanical Mist before use.

Last but not least, we have the Summer Deep Steam Salt Infusion available in 120ml. This salt infusion should only to be used once a week, preferably in the evenings. They suggest using these as halotherapy (a steaming technique) in a skin routine to open pores and act as a deep cleanser. The salt infusion is made out of vanilla pod rich in vitamin B and antioxidants that help it deep cleanse the skin and aid conditions such as acne. It also contains sea buckthorn berries a ‘superfood’ known for their ability to hydrate and provide skin elasticity. This Summer  Deep Steam Salt Infusion also contains Atlantic Sea and Himalayan salts that have detoxifying powers and increase circulation as well. And let’s not forget the air-dried rose petals a skin cleanser and another antioxidant. All-in-all, we think this product is a bit of a wonder treatment for the skin.

Tempted by this Summer Collection? Then see here where all these products can be bought individually or you can get the entire bundle for £85.

SKN-RG – Waterless Intensive Repair: Cleansing Ritual Daily Detox Cleanser & Night Therapy Oil

Our regular readers will know that at The Amazing Blog we’re fans of the organic vegan performance skincare brand SKN-RG, (you can read our recent feature on their Alpha Serum here). Today we want to talk about their range of  'Waterless Intensive Repair’ which features six products that are not only made with 100% natural and organic ingredients, but the packaging is composed of eco-friendly compostable bamboo, this separates from the other glass parts, making it all ready for recycling! The two products that they kindly sent to us to try were their Cleansing Ritual Daily Detox Cleanser and the Night Therapy Oil.

Winners of Beauty Shortlist’s 2019 Mama & Baby Awards with their Cleansing Ritual Daily Detox Cleanser this balm-like formula caught our eye. They say that this range is ‘no fuss, no mixing and plastic-free’ and we couldn’t agree more. This cleanser features key organic ingredients such as eucalyptus, safflower, babassu; together with hops, copaiba and astragalus which tackle breakouts, spots, oily skin and blackheads, all without drying out the skin. It has herbal adaptogens which are enhanced and energised by SKN-RG's award-winning method of extraction the Quanta® Wave Technology which is used for all of their products. The adaptogens help the body to resist stress whether physical, chemical or biological, enabling the skin to adjust, rejuvenate and restore. To apply, work a 2 pence sized dollop of the balm into the palms to activate, then massage over the face and rinse with a warm damp washcloth. The 30ml Cleansing Ritual Daily Detox Cleanser can be purchased here.

SKN-RG's Night Therapy Face Oil is designed to calm, soothe and de-stress and also aid in a restful night's sleep. With key ingredients such as macadamia nut, ylang ylang and blue chamomile; these lead to feeling skin rejuvenated when you awake. This oil provides deep overnight moisture while lifting, firming and fighting blemishes. This weightless, quick-absorbing oil can be used day or night, we suggest applying it before bedtime after washing your face with SKN-RG's Cleansing Ritual Cleanser. We think that this Face Oil is money well spent at £49.50 for 30ml, it can be purchased here. 

We applaud SKN-RG for their innovation helping to lessen the carbon footprint with their solar and green chemistry. They also continuously strive to look for alternatives like plastic or animal-free products, particularly with their packaging, which is approved by both the Soil Association and the Vegan Society. We’ll be reviewing more soon.