Incensum Fragrance – Sanctifino Perfume Oil

These past few months, the COVID 19 pandemic has forced us all to reconsider our place on this earth. During the lock-down, nature began to take back this place that we call home: Plants were able to finally grow freely and animals started coming out fearlessly to live their happy and simple lives. And while each and every one of us at The Amazing Blog has had time to reflect about the endangered state of our planet Earth, a new fragrance that we’ve received from Incensum has helped to uplift our spirits, and reconnect us back with nature.

Sanctifino is a unisex perfume oil from the LA-based brand Incensum Fragrance, which is created by designer and founder of the brand Jeannine Clark. With its completely vegan, synthetic-free, and hand-crafted formulas, the brand celebrates the origins of perfumery by honouring the reverie that the ancestors avowed to nature. Through its all organic perfume oil, the brand aims to calm the senses, helping the wearer find peace and embark on a spiritual journey to commune with nature and the universe. When talking about their alchemy and olfactory process, they told us: “Both human and non-human creatures are known to communicate their emotional states through the scents they emit. A fragrance may complement or intensify one's own natural pheromones which can evoke subconscious effects.” Intriguing! This may only be their debut perfume oil, and if Sanctifino is anything to go by, we feel sure that their next one will be even more alluring! 

This perfume oil Sanctifino is supernatural – in every sense of the word – an elixir trapped in a luxurious hand-crafted bottle, that reflects the mystical and heavenly ambience that emanates from the bottle. It comes in two sizes 50ml and 5ml, we received the 5ml with a roll-on top, making it the perfect size to fit into even the smallest bag.  With strong top notes of incense and a piquant of very intense green scent from the galbanum green resin fighting for dominance, it oozes autumn.  We think it’s reminiscent of the wafting smoke from sweet autumn leaves left to smoulder. It gently caresses and with its oily finish makes for a longer-lasting scent release on the skin, unlike its cousin Eau de Parfum. When the organic jojoba base oil warms up, the middle notes become more apparent as they liberate softer aromatic and more comforting notes of clary sage, silver fir. The sweet orange here also lingers, helping to create a warmth and sense of wellbeing. If describing it as a smoky scent sound surprising for a fragrance, we want to point out that it is nonetheless deliciously original, and works well with the other essential oils, to create a perfect balance of a smoky-sweet-earthy scent. When we close our eyes and inhale, we can almost imagine being transported to an ancient temple, surrounded by wild plants, where the incense burn and the sunlight cast shadows on the gold-carved statues of gods. We recommend anointing the wrists, rub a little to warm the perfume oil, and then taking deep breaths; it helps to soothe the mind giving you your own little piece of calm throughout the day.  Again, they say that it is a: “Multidimensional experience as well as shedding light into the nature of reality by fusing the mind, body and spirit through aromatic essential oils.” And, we couldn’t have said it better! If we’ve managed to intrigue you with this Sanctifino Perfume Oil, you too can purchase their 5ml here for $35. 

Bean Álainn Naturals Skincare

Are you tired of searching for chemical and toxin-free skincare? Then we at The Amazing Blog have just the brand for you, meet Bean Álainn Naturals. All their products are completely chemical-free, cruelty-free, and utilise 100% organic, cold-pressed oils.

Mother and daughter duo LeAnn C. Riley and Erin L. Sorena are the co-founders of US skincare Bean Álainn Naturals. Their mission is primarily to create pure and organic ingredients with no hidden extras. With their respective backgrounds in molecular biology and wellness, it was the perfect match for creating this brand. The origins of the name Bean Álainn, is from a Gaelic phrase meaning ‘beautiful woman’. Ingredients are sourced from all over the world, although the products are produced in their own private laboratory in California, USA. They all go through a rigorous checklist to ensure purity, potency and minimal processing. To this end, their products are chemical-free, cruelty-free, and use 100% organic cold-pressed oils. We like that the EWG Skin Deep Organization has given them the highest safety rating of zero for being completely non-toxic and that they were also awarded by Cruelty-Free International a Leaping Bunny certification.  They pay meticulous attention to detail, with their skincare being formulated, bottled, and packaged only in small batches. By the way, the packaging and branding have changed since we were sent their products.

We were sent three of the products, and will begin with their hero product, the Master Mix Anti-Ageing Powerhouse Serum. It is a daily face serum for both morning or night. Use alone, or in our case, as a primer under makeup. This serum is in actual fact more of a face oil and contains some potent and luxurious anti-ageing oils. These oils are sourced from all around the globe with argan, jojoba, orange, apricot seed, pomegranate seed, grapeseed, evening primrose, krill and emu oil.  Argan oil, as we all know, helps protect against sun damage with its omega fatty acids, vitamin E, and linoleic acids. Jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce redness. Emu oil is rich in vitamin E and has small particles that allow it to penetrate deeper into the dermis to moisturise and prevent skin ageing. When we asked co-founder Erin Sorena, why emu oil? She told us: ”Many oils make these same claims, but studies show that emu oil far outperforms other oils in its class, including olive oil (which does not absorb into the skin as easily and clogs some prone skin). Emu oil is a luxury but comes from emus that are sustainably raised.” The Orange oil helps dry, irritated, acne-prone skin and gives the serum its citrus fragrance. Apricot oil is also anti-ageing and prevents blackheads, softening and soothing the skin. Pomegranate oil regenerates and repairs skin. Grapeseed oil helps the skin be more elastic. Evening primrose oils enhance the textures and elasticity of your skin. Lastly, the krill oil here improves the overall appearance of the skin. It is a very rich serum, so only a few drops are needed. Shake the bottle well, then massage into a damp face and neck. They recommend using it both in the morning and evening to get the best results. The 1oz Master Mix Anti-Ageing Powerhouse Serum is available here.

The Enliven Mist helps brighten the skin. You would typically use it before their Master Mix as a prep or primer. We used this Mist on face and neck after cleansing then followed it with our regular skincare routine. However, some of us spritzed it during the day and found that it offered excellent hydration (particularly now we have the central heating on!) That said it’s not a flower water and leaves a slight dewy residue, which in turn gives the skin more of a glow. The organic green and white tea extracts help with skin-firming.  Whereas the organic liquorice extract is effective in improving an uneven skin tone. Plus, with its glabridin, a potent antioxidant, it’s a skin-soothing ingredient too. Helichrysum oil here is a slightly more unusual ingredient (from the Latin it translates as immortal or everlasting) it’s hydrating and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Cucumber seed extract gives a protective barrier and helps with cell regeneration, while the rosehip oil has lots of fatty acids and has cell-repairing notes. The 4oz Enliven Mist is $35 and available here.

The last, but certainly not the least, is their Transformation Clay Mask. We like that this is formulated with only three ingredients. The seaweed here is full of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and antioxidants. The bentonite clay helps to remove sebum or oil from the skin's surface and has a calming effect on inflamed breakouts. And the organic peppermint oil will detoxify the skin while moisturising and tightening. This mask is designed for a monthly or weekly home facial, we used it weekly and found it easy to mix with equal parts of water (and we even added some of the Enliven Mist). It took about 20-30 minutes to dry then we rinsed it away. This was our favourite product; we loved the simplicity, purity and of course, the results which gave us incredible soft and hydrated skin. At 6oz the Transformation Clay Mask is $40 and available here. To start your chemical-free skincare journey go to Bean Álainn  Naturals here.

Mitomo: Aloe + Cherry Blossoms & Camellia Flower Oil + Matcha Essence Sheet Masks

Today at The Amazing Blog we’re talking about sheet masks. Did you know that they originated in Japan (not Korea)? Sheet Masks are thought to have been invented by the Japanese Geishas who would soak small silk squares in flower water, and then rest them on their faces as part of a skincare routine. We don’t have silk sheets but we do have Mitomo’s Essence Sheet Masks which are made from sustainable bamboo fibres and impregnated with botanical extracts.

Mitomo is a Japanese company that launched in 2006, which specialises in producing high-end sheet masks. Their products and branding reflect the culture, where you can’t miss the famous cherry blossom on their packaging and extracts in most of the ingredients. The symbolism cherry blossom in Japan means ‘a time of renewal’, as the blossom is only evident for two weeks before it starts for fall. In a bygone era, it signalled the rice-planting season, where its blooms were used to bless the forthcoming harvest. We’ve already tried many of their different sheet masks, see here; so, we’re looking forward to trying two new sheets masks that they have added to their Ukiyoe Essence Masks collection with the Aloe + Cherry Blossoms Essence Sheet Mask and the Camellia Flower Oil + Matcha Essence Sheet Mask. These are made from bamboo bio cellulose material and what we like about bamboo is that it’s biodegradable and the fibres have no chemicals. It also has good breathability and water absorption; together with being antibacterial. They also manufacture and designs sheet masks for other international beauty brands, and are known in more than 60 countries all over the world. 

Let’s start with our favourite, Aloe + Cherry Blossoms Essence Sheet Masks which are ideal for those who wish to enhance moisture and elasticity in the skin. It contains a rich source of caffeic acid and other phenolic antioxidants for antioxidants that prevent cellular damage; as well as arbutin known for reducing dark pigmentation spots. The cherry blossom extract is used as a soothing agent because it has an anti-inflammatory effect. It helps to repair skin damages and gives the skin a natural barrier. It is rich in collagen, therefore, not only can it improve skin elasticity, but also prevents the effect of glycation, a process in which the excess of sugar in the body destroys the elasticity and create wrinkles and sagging. This face mask is also rich in multivitamins and enzymes including vitamins A and C and stops skin breakouts thanks to the aloe vera extract here. Finally, the mask is rich in a boswellia serrata gum extract (also known as Indian frankincense)  known for its ability to keep the skin look firm and youthful. We used these once or twice a week, on cleansed skin, leaving for 20 minutes, removing and squeezing out any excess extracts which we gently massaging into the face. You can find it here for £2.70 each or a pack of 10 for £23.90.

The Camellia Flower Oil + Matcha Essence Sheet Mask is a very different mask, it’s a purifier. One of its main ingredients is the camellia flower oil, which is non-greasy and an excellent moisturiser for oily or combination skin. It absorbs quickly and reaches the dermal layers of the skin, therefore providing even deeper hydration. It’s also a great balancer rich in vitamins A, B, D, and, E as well as omega 3,6, and 9. The matcha (ground green tea) here is very popular in East Asia and is used for detoxing in both cosmetics and food. Good for the body and digestive system; it provides DNA restoration for the skin. The tea polyphenols in matcha powder offer protection against UV ray damage. It can reduce the redness of the skin and bring an overall feeling of smoothness. It also has properties that help with the reduction of sebum secretion. The boswellia serrata gum extract used in both masks is included for anti-ageing reasons and as an acne reliever. Alongside these great ingredients, it also contains refreshing and soothing aloe vera. You can find this purifier mask for £2.70 each or a set of 10 for £23.90 here 

West Barn Co (WBCO) - Balancing Cleanser & Brow Elixir

At The Amazing Blog, we love to make new brand discoveries, especially when they have been created for professional makeup artists. Meet West Barn Co who specialise in brow and skin preparation products, where today we review their Cleanser and Brow Elixir.

West Barn Co (WBCO) is based in the heart of Durham and created by a mother and daughter team, Donna McCann-Turner and Kim Cattin. It all began in August 2016, when Kim was working as a professional make-up artist on an editorial photoshoot. She wanted to create something entirely different for the Instagram brow trend that was buzzing at the time; Kim wanted to create a brushed up, fluffy, natural brow. Having found no product that could actually fulfil her wish, Kim used an old Hollywood trick by using soap to freeze the brow in place but was a little hesitant about using hand soap on the faces of her clients. This is when Donna and Kim locked heads and created a little tin of brow soap with a brow brush, and the legendary Soap Brows® was born. This then went on to explode on social media last year with fans such as Beyonce, Perrie Edwards and Sophie Turner. This natural and ethical brand went from being a small artisan product made in Donna's home to becoming a globally successful business, all within a year. The company now focusses on creating high-quality brow and skin preparation products for professional make-up artists. Amazed and inspired by the increasing success of the original Soap Brows® they turned their attention to other skin preparation products. Donna has gone on to formulate more skincare products that have proved just as popular with the pro make-up industry elite. Today, this successful company contains 14 staff members working in fulfilment, manufacturing and marketing. It ships internationally to 60 countries, and their mission has evolved into creating a complete range of exceptional brow and skin prep products that professional make-up artists will choose for their kit. All products are cruelty-free and vegan. 

We were sent two of their products. First, we’ll talk about the Bog Myrtle and Lime Balancing Cleanser. It's a beautifully light and creamy face cleanser that will deeply clean and tone skin in just one simple step. It is made to give an instant brightening effect and is refreshing, uplifting and balancing. This facial cleanser is ideal for including in a daily routine or a part of a self-care session. It has properties from the bog myrtle plant which are known to tightens pores and reduces spots. It is has a balancing effect on the skin and can stop breakouts thanks to its antiseptic properties. The lime oil in the blend is used to reduce pores, tones the skin and add a refreshing zesty scent to this energising lotion. Castor oil here has antioxidant properties that help keep skin detoxified; It also has excellent moisturising properties and will hold moisture. Finally, the agonis fragrans branch/leaf oil adds a citrus/spicy scent and purifies the skin with its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties. We found that this Cleanser worked best for us when used it primarily as a make-up remover, as the castor oil makes light work of gently lifting away foundation and daily grime. What's more, this Cleanser comes with a sustainably sourced organic bamboo and cotton cloth. To use it, WBCO advises to take the cloth and run under lukewarm water for a few seconds. Place it over your face to allow the warmth to open those pores and soften your skin. Two pumps of this Cleanser should be enough. Gently work the cleanser into the skin using circular motions and working up the face. Once you have thoroughly cleansed your face, use the wet cloth to remove the product, which leaves skin soft, clean and clear. It can also be used as part of a double cleanse too. To purchase this 100ml Cleanser see here for £19.00.

The second product was our favourite, the Brow Elixir which is full of brow enhancing ingredients. This brow elixir claims to boost and stimulate the healthy growth of your eyebrows. So, if your brows feeling a little lacklustre or perhaps like us you had a little too much tweezer time in the 90s, this will help to revive, nourish and promote growth. I’m always cautious when it comes to using brow serums, as I’ve got brows with permanent makeup and regular use of ‘active ingredients’ can fade the pigments. I was delighted to read on the list of ingredients here, that there are no actives! This contains key ingredients such as evodia rutaecarpa fruit extract, which has a balancing and soothing effect on skin. The camelia seed oil (aka tea seed oil) which will enrich skin feeding it with a plethora of vitamins and minerals. The blend also includes hydrolysed vegetable proteins which will give a power boost to strengthen brow hair. The cucumber extract will keep skin refreshed. The vitis vinifera seed oil is extracted from grapes and promotes healthy hair growth and acts as a natural dandruff treatment. The macadamia oil will bind to the hair shaft and infuses it with fatty acids, leaving hair follicles stronger and healthier. Finally, your eyebrows are left silky and soft thanks to the propanediol, which is plant-based glycol, that enhances the absorption of all other ingredients too. To use it, WBCO advises coating the brow hair, from root to tip. Brush through your eyebrows, using a circular motion to stimulate microcirculation and get the follicles stimulated. When this has finished, I’ll be purchasing another, despite no regrowth being evident yet, I’m hoping in another month, I’ll see some… to get your 8ml Brow Elixir, see here for £29.00.

La Coèss - REVITALISÉ Nutrient Organic Face Oil

As the nights are drawing in and temperatures drop, this signals to us at The Amazing Blog to change our skincare regime by adding in something a little richer and more protective. That’s why we’ve been searching for plant-based face oils with concentrated nutrition to revitalise, restore and helps balance our complexions. Today is one of our first #amazingfinds for autumn skincare with REVITALISÉ Nutrient Organic Face Oil from La Coèss.   

La Coèss REVITALISÉ Nutrient Organic Face Oil took over eight years in the making. This is because the founder Sophie Wang wanted to search out the best of the best for this her signature product. In her mission to find the perfect face oil, it led her on a long journey with testing over 312 ingredients, in order to find the right blend. So as to optimise these organic plant-based oil extracts, they are all freshly crafted in micro-batches in Portland, USA. Every attention has been given to the detail and design including the stylish handmade glass bottle, with its dropper top made from wenge wood. This REVITALISÉ Nutrient Organic Face Oil feels luxurious. The packaging is made up of a quality white cardboard box, embossed with a rose and separated into two parts. It has a closure of a seal, that is stamped with their logo and when opening the box, you find the heavy frosted bottle on its throne, all of which screams sophistication and luxury.   

Let’s talk about REVITALISÉ Nutrient Organic Face Oil itself, it is a powerhouse to fifteen natural oils from 10 different countries. When you first open the bottle a hint of the jasmine immediately greets you, its role is to offer protection from external stress factors and pollution and will even skin tone. However, this face oil contains first and foremost, jojoba and rosehip oils. These natural ingredients are known to rebalance the oil on your face, they contain vitamin B and fatty acids that are known for their ability to soothe skin. The rosehip, in particular, will repair any skin damage thanks to its high concentration in antioxidants, linolenic acid, and provitamin A. Together with the sea buckthorn they generate the rosy coloured hue in the oil. Sea buckthorn here will also purify and fight clogged pores. Then there is the magical golden Argan oil, straight from the Moroccan it has an incredible ability to nourish, moisturise and, protect. The avocado oil provides an emollient ingredient ideal for dry, dehydrated, damaged and mature skin and is rich in chlorophyll which will reduce inflammation. Moving on to the camellia oil used in the ancient Japanese traditions, this will soften lines and act as an anti-ageing oil, simultaneously, giving a natural radiant glow. The Rosemary will refresh and balance and rejuvenate the complexion. The exceptional blend also contains chia seed oil which will help to maintain the moisture level and the healthy protective layer. It will give relief from irritation, dryness and peeling.  Among the long list of other potent natural ingredients, there is lavender which is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent that will help with breakouts, relax and detoxify. The pomegranate makes for a reliable hydrator; it will also soften and regenerate. The grapeseed oil is a highly penetrating oil that will protect and shield, whereas the prickly pear is an extraordinary healing agent that has been used for centuries, rich in amino acids that will stimulate the collagen which will promote cell renewal. It also contains vitamin K, which will brighten the face. The evening primrose is rich in fatty acids that will leave skin deeply hydrated. Finally, the carrot root oil is an exceptional cell regenerator. And that, I think concludes on the function of each of the fifteen oils found here. 

This REVITALISÉ Nutrient Organic Face Oil is suitable for all skin types and is vegan, cruelty-free and certified organic. Apply to a cleansed face adding the Face Oil by dropping 3-8 drops on the hands or directly on the face. Massage the oil in an upwards and clockwise movement making sure it reaches face, neck and décolleté. For best results, apply it both day and night.  We used this Face Oil alone at night with their clear quartz guasha ( I’m not sure whether they send this automatically with each order?) This guasha is a beauty tool used to apply pressure and gently scrape the skin to relieve tension, it helps increase skin cell nutrition and improves blood flow.   During the day we mixed a few drops of the Face oil to enhance our regular moisturiser, which made it a better base for applying makeup. To purchase you can find the 30ml  REVITALISÉ Nutrient Organic Face Oil here for $108. Although this may seem expensive, we found a little went a long way and the bottle appears to have lasted much longer than we anticipated. Would we buy more? Definitely.