Marie Reynolds - MRL Restore

Here at The Amazing Blog, we are all in agreement that a girls night in, is long overdue. We’ve got our chick flicks, chocolate (and wine) lined up, but one thing we couldn’t forget, is a good face mask. We were therefore pleased to discover MRL Restore by Marie Reynolds, part of a successful skincare range designed to balance and brighten the skin. Marie is most well known for her facial treatments, which she undertakes at Fortnum & Mason in London and her clinic in Norfolk.

This very special skin food facial mask supports imbalances within the epidermal flora, and is completely cruelty-free. It is also 100% organic and uses no artificial colours or preservatives. The product is entirely natural and, just like all Marie Reynolds products, it doesn’t only focus on visual and physical causes of skin imbalances, but also aims to combat the impacts of stress and lifestyle.

The mask adapts to every skin type and condition, balancing the skin’s natural flora and fauna. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, rejuvenating and brightening results thanks to the plant-produced chemicals (phytonutrients) which are used to protect the skin from environmental toxicity. Using eight strains of live bacteria during the production process, a wide range of imbalances in the skin are targeted. The MSL Restore multi-strain formula works in multiple areas, providing protection against a wide range of harmful bacteria, fungi and yeasts that may be present on the skin.

We can confirm that the cleansing effect kicks in immediately, and as one jar contains about 19 applications, you can deliver a refreshing cleanse time and time again. To use this mask, you simply mix one teaspoon of MRL Restore with a small amount of water. Blend this into a smooth paste and apply it evenly on your face and neck. After 10 to 15 minutes, loosen the mask with wet hands, massage it again for a further minute and then remove the residue with warm water. This process is best followed by moisturising your skin, preferably using the Marie Reynolds’ Epidermal Blanket, but of course, any desired moisturiser is suitable.

Ramp up your girls night, and purchase your own MRL Restore jar for £68.00 (80g) here. Pass us the popcorn!

You've got snail!

Snails, well  you either love ‘em or hate ‘em. Personally, I love them  gently sauted in garlic butter , served on a bed of rocket with some warm squidgey white bread to soak up the juices– yum!  But I’m not talking snails to eat here but 80% snail secretions specifically formulated to not only enhance the complexion but to heal scar tissue. Snail secretions! I hear you exclaim. And this is the moment that I quickly point out that there are lots of other beauty ‘ick’ factors and snail cream is only the latest addition to a long line of recent bizarre ‘nature derived’ ingredients: Chicken bone marrow (moisturisers), bird faeces (spa treatments), beetles (lipstick) and even whale vomit (perfume). Now there is quite a story and science behind snail secretions and the Elicina snail cream (or caracol cream at it is also known) is a natural hypoallergenic skin cream with proven properties that regenerate, heal and protect human skin. It’s made from the secretion of the Chilean earth snail, the Helix Aspersa Muller Snail.  Elicina was discovered and formulated accidentally when the Bascuñán family of Santiago, Chile started farming the Chilean earth snail (the Helix Aspersa Muller snail) for the French export market.  They noticed that when they scratched themselves handling the snail cages that their wounds would heal quickly, older scars were diminished and how soft their hands were after farming snails all day.  The cream has taken 15 years to develop and the University of Chile did further analysis at independent laboratories where they concluded that these snail excretions consisted of these key ingredients: Allantoin which regenerates healthy cells and stimulates healthy tissue formation, Collagen and Elastin which gives body tissue firmness and strength, Glycolic Acid which both exfoliates and moisturises and finally a cocktail of Vitamins A,C,& E. The Bascuñán family patented the process of milking these Chilean earth snails of their secretions; and they are quick to point out that no snails are harmed during this process (!)

Elicina fell under my radar when I was looking for something to help rid me of a small new-ish  keloid scar in a rather prominent position on my decolletage.  I read how it is safe to use Elicina cream after surgery, on skin grafts, on burns or any area of the skin that has been damaged.  So I’ve just started applying Elicina snail cream twice a day to the scar in hope that it’ll start to diminish… It really is very pleasant to use, so much so I’ve even tried it under my moisturiser (recommended to help diminish wrinkles!)  It is odourless, creamy in texture and not in the least bit ‘snail-y’. My scar is very slightly smoother (only day 2) let’s see what happen by day 10.  How thrilled I’ll be if my scar echoes this little boy Gregory’s scar recovery.

Elicina Original snail cream is £39.95 for 40g and available here.