Zaza & Cruz - Glacial Mineral Detox Mask

Let’s talk natural face masks, after all, now we have more time on our hands between zoom calls and bedtime, there’s now no excuse for not finding a moment to pamper ourselves! At The Amazing Blog, we’ve covered quite a few face sheets, mud and liquid masks but none so unique as today’s powdered Glacial Mineral Detox Mask from Zaza & Cruz.

After spending time working as a makeup artist and beauty expert, Rebecca Hastings founded Zaza & Cruz in 2013. It all began when she started to question all the chemical ingredients in both her skincare and that of her clients. With her background in makeup and beauty, this already gave her knowledge and an added advantage; thus in 2011, she began research on natural ingredients to create her own skincare line that would not only look and feel good, but have health benefits. Based in Scotland, Hastings has developed this range into a unisex and eco-aware brand to provide products that offers protection against pollution, cellular and environmental damage. Hastings commented: “At Zazu & Cruz, we’re proud to work alongside businesses that provide sustainability, are environmentally friendly and produce a low carbon footprint with their products.”

Recently a silver medal winner at 2020 Pure Beauty, Global Green Beauty Awards, this Glacial Mineral Detox Mask is specifically formulated to give skin a boost and is one of the first companies to utilise pure Canadian Glacial Clay as its key ingredient. Found only in British Columbia, the resident indigenous people here have been using this Clay for centuries.  This Clay comes from underneath a live and active glacier that emerges with Canadian Pacific waters, where it is ethically sourced and hand-harvested. Every jar is made with over 80% pure organic glacial clay, that is enriched with more than 30 natural minerals which are rich in marine phytoplankton and healing micronutrients. It’s designed to be used on the face and body to draw out impurities, hydrate, plump and tighten the skin.  Ground into a powder form, it only needs a small amount of water to activate it into a creamy consistency ready to apply.  It forms a green paste, no distinctive fragrance, only a neutral and pleasant mineral/flinty scent.  We used this at night and found that the Clay dried quickly and left it on for 15 minutes. Then we gently wiped away the residue with a warm wet flannel; it left skin feeling cleansed, firmer and velvety to the touch. To follow, we suggest using a face oil to seal in the goodness (Zaza & Cruz have one here ) A weekly face mask for us is a must and what makes this so special, is that it feels pure and unadulterated, and contains only the simplest three ingredients with sea salt, Canadian glacial marine clay and kaolin. We applaud Zaza & Cruz for creating such a unique beauty find! To purchase the 30g pot of Glacial Mineral Detox Mask for £22 see here.

Relaxayvoo - Protect & Renew Face Oils

We think simplicity is best, and if you are looking for pure and organic ingredients that work, then look no further than this artisan skincare brand Relaxayvoo with their two facial oils. At The Amazing Blog we like to focus on skincare products that provide the best ingredients for the best results and with both of these face oils, you can’t go wrong.

Relaxayvoo was founded a couple of years ago, by two young entrepreneurial Parisian mothers based in London, Constance Laperche and Rebecca Libchaber; both of whom had successful careers in France in advertising and marketing. Finding themselves in London, bringing up young families, they decide to collaborate creating something they both loved – organic skincare. What started as sharing beauty and skincare tips progressed into a business and a passion, where they developed their ideas and ingredients with a team of beauty experts. In an article in London.French Morning.com Libchaber said: "We shared our grandmother's tips for taking care of oneself without relying on beauty/nail salons, or commercial cosmetics. Also, I want to raise my children without the obsession with brands. For example, teaching them to pay attention to the product and design, its merits and benefits rather than just the label.”  At the moment, they have only have two products in the range; these are suitable for all skin types, and are made in small batches with fresh organic ingredients; as the brand is conscious of maintaining its eco and sustainability credentials.

They kindly sent us both their face oils to try, theses come in 20ml dark glass bottles with pipette tops. The Protect Day Oil is specifically formulated to hydrate and protect the skin. The camellia and evening primrose oil are excellent sources of antioxidants and vitamins such as A, B, D, E. These help with skin elasticity, nourishing the skin, and preventing fine lines. The argania spinosa kernel oil which is more commonly referred to as argan oil is anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory and moisturising. Helianthus anuus seed oil, aka sunflower oil, helps strengthen and soothe the skin. Plukenetia volubilis seed oil is rich in fatty acids that help nourish and moisturise the skin. Calendula officinalis flower extract is anti-inflammatory, moisturising, and skin firming. The tocopherol is rich in vitamin E and can help prevent sun damage. Pelargonium graveolens flower oil or rose geranium flower oil, can reduce wrinkles, and soothes irritated skin. Sandalwood and rose otto rejuvenate and energise the skin. Anthemis nobilis flower oil, aka roman chamomile, (pictured here) contains azulene that helps calm and refreshing skin. Rosa damascene flower oil hydrates skin and reduces signs of ageing. They recommended applying 3-5 drops onto your palm and massage onto clean skin in the morning. We found this was all we needed. It couldn’t be more perfect for this time in #lockdown, when our skin is make up-free and the goodness from the organic oils can absorb deep into the dermis throughout the day. This Protect Day Oil smells divine – as the fragrance from the sandalwood, rose otto and rose geranium mingle, it’s quite intoxicating and mood-boosting!

The Renew Night Face Oil is formulated to help skin repair and renew through the night. It helps fight signs of ageing with rosa rubiginosa seed oil, more commonly referred to as rosehip oil, together with evening primrose oil they help to speed up cellar renewal and plump out wrinkles. Opuntia ficus-indica seed oil, prickly pear oil is a rare and precious oil, rich in vitamin E smoothing texture and overall toning the skin. Argan oil is not only anti-ageing but also moisturises the skin. Prunus amygdalus dulcis seed oil, sweet almond oil, contains vitamin E and B, which soothes and softens the skin. Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, aka jojoba oil, is intensely moisturising and the anthemis nobilis flower oil, roman chamomile is calming (as mentioned above) and ideal for those with sensitive skin. Rosewood helps balance dry, oily, and combination skin by rejuvenating skin cells. Again, they recommend applying 3-5 drops onto your palm and massage onto clean skin during your night-time skincare routine. As we said at the start, simplicity is best, and this has a gentle, comforting fragrance of rosewood and sweet almond oil. We found it easy to apply and it left our skin soft and dewy in the morning. To purchase Relaxayvoo skincare, see here for The Protect Day Oil at £55 and the Renew Night Face Oil here for £60.

Jillian Dempsey: Cheek Tint ' Rosy'

Now we’re back again in #lockdown holed up in our homes, at The Amazing Blog we need to find something to bring back that healthy glow to our cheeks.  For us, blush and cheek tints are the way forward, and today we are reviewing Jillian Dempsey’s easy to use and blendable cream Cheek Tint, which gives just the right amount of subtle radiance. 

Founder Jillian Dempsey is a professional makeup artist from Los Angeles. Her star-studded clients range from Kristen Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Winslet, Emilia Clarke, and so many more. If it’s good enough for them, then it’s certainly good enough for us!  Her work has been featured in editorials such as Vogue, ELLE, Vanity Fair, and Dazed, and photographed by famous fashion photographers like Mario Testino and Annie Leibowitz. Having an artistic eye, she’s always able to find fresh and new ways to give her clients’ skin a radiant glow. So, the natural progression was for her to create her product range with exciting textures and colour palettes. In February 2016, Dempsey started her self-titled line releasing her Waterproof Khôl Eyeliner and Lid Tints. A little over two years late in the summer of 2018, she released her Cheek Tint cream blushes. All products are formulated without parabens, sulphates, phthalates, petrochemicals, GMOs, synthetic fragrances or dyes. They are also classified vegan and are therefore cruelty-free.

The Cheek Tints  come in a variety of six shades and we received ‘Rosy’, which a vibrant medium pink. All the Cheek Tints have a velvety texture making them effortlessly glide onto the skin; plus they’re smooth and easy to blend. Not only that, this is also preservative-free and made with natural and organic plant extracts and waxes such as those from the Chinese lacquer and Indian shala trees. The organic sunflower seed wax acts as a thickener and provides a non-sticky feel, while both the organic shea butter and the bamboo stem extract help to nourish and hydrate the skin. The organic coconut oil provides a protective barrier giving the Cheek Tint smoother appearance when applied. Dempsey said: “Blush is one of my favourites. It’s transformative because depending on where you apply it, you can change the shape of your face. My Cheek Tint has an unbelievably smooth texture, so blending is fast and finger-friendly.”  And we think this Rosy hue complements a wide range of skin tones, it certainly gave us a warm pinky glow to our very dull city pallor. Purchase the Jillian Dempsey Cheek Tint in Rosy for £24.50 here.

Organic Island: Paw Paw Multi-Use Balm

Although we’re all wearing masks in the outside world – don’t forget that your lips need protection still against the chilling winter winds. Yes, it’s sad to see our favourite lipsticks and glosses now gathering dust, but using a shielding multi-balm for the lips is our new beauty must-have. With this in mind, The Amazing Blog is happy to report in today with a good clean, potent and tested winter salve from Organic Island with their Paw Paw Multi-Use Balm.

Organic Island was launched in 2007 by Mark Powers and is one of Australia’s few organic skincare brands to have been awarded certification by two of the most highly regarded industry commissions:  Australian Certified Organic (ACO) and BDIH Germany (BDIH). These societies ensure that all certified products are free from any synthetic materials, hormones, petrochemicals, and made with raw plant and mineral extracted materials. Not only are Organic Island’s products certified by both commissions, but they also qualify as advanced organic skincare, and are clinically tested using patented formulations unique to Organic Island. Oh, and the fact that they do not dilute their products with water shows the purity and potency of thier ingredients. Products currently range from multi-balms, hand and skincare to the gentlest of baby care. 

One of the products that Organic Island kindly sent us is their hero, the multi-award-winning Paw-Paw Multi-Use Balm. Using their patented delivery of OliveM1000, Crystal Skin and Si02 Matrix, these hasten the absorption directly into the dermis for faster results. This incredibly potent papaya formula is a multi-balm ready to be used on any part of the face or body where it’s needed for instant soothing, healing or a cell renewal boost. Rich in three types of pawpaw, which include pumpkin papaya, papain (papaya enzyme) and carica papaya fruit extract. Combined with cocoa butter, vitamin E and beeswax, these gently exfoliate chapped lips or dry skin thus promoting hydration. This, in turn, creates a protective barrier where the antioxidants act as a shield, to heal and protect the skin. We used it on bare lips out in the cold, which was a huge success; however, it could also be used as a primer under lipstick or over lipstick to add a subtle gloss. If you’re looking for a highly effective multi-use salve, then look no further, this Paw Paw Multi-Use Balm with its anti-inflammatory properties make it the perfect companion for skin irritation, eczema, burns or insect bites. You can purchase this very special balm as your winter salve, 25ml for only $9.95 (£5.48) here directly from Organic Island’s website. 

Berries Skincare: Radiance Pigmentation Solutions

As we’re all now working from home and sporting ‘naked faces’ (who can be bothered with makeup?!) It’s brought to our attention the patches of pigmentation and sun damage. With this in mind, The Amazing Blog has been on the hunt for a product to help even out our skin tone. Step forward the artisan brand Berries Skincare with their Radiance Pigmentation Solution.

Berries Skincare’s  Guyanese founder is Maryam Hack who has created a skincare range that helps remove pigmentation and boosts skin self-confidence. Although she still resides in Guyana (South America), the brand is based in the USA. Having only launched a year ago, word of mouth travels fast and they now ship to over 220 countries worldwide.  With a background as a nutritionist, where she set up a home-based healthy food service, called Mary Hack’s Diet Food; armed with this knowledge and experience, it has stood Hack in good stead to find and curate the ingredients for her products. While there are currently only three products in the range, she hopes to expand with more offerings in the future. All Berries Skincare products are with less than 0.25% natural fragrance, manufactured in an FDA certified facility, they follow Good Manufacturing Practices, and are inclusive of all genders and skin types. These products are formulated without parabens, sulphates, synthetic dyes, phthalates, silicones, hydroquinone and triclosan. They are also Non-GMO, cruelty-free and vegan.

The Radiance Pigmentation Solutions can be used on both the face and body. It’s three primary objectives are to help even skin tone, brighten skin and reduce pigmentation/sunspots. Although the ingredients are mainly of a natural origin, they still recommended a sensitivity patch test first before use, ensuring there’s no adverse reaction. Apply onto moisturised skin, twice daily until the skin tone evens out (this could be anything from 2 – 6 weeks). This Pigmentation Solutions product should be gently dabbed onto the skin (not rubbed back and forth) in the localised area where needed. It is formulated with five key active ingredients kojic acid, vitamin B3, E and C, plus chamomile and camellia sinensis aka green tea (our photo above is with camellia sinensis). The kojic acid is a by-product from the fermentation process of malting rice for use in the manufacturing of sake (the Japanese rice wine). It targets and prevents pigmentation and lightens the skin. Vitamin B3 blocks melanin production and helps even out the skin tone; vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that nourishes and soothes the skin. Vitamin C fights signs of ageing while brightening the skin. The chamomile extract helps reduce redness, whereas the green tea extract fights signs of ageing and soothes the skin. The most important point to mention here is that an SPF 30+ must be used during the day while using this product. it prevents further sun damage, particularly with the kojic acid ingredient, which will make the skin more sun-sensitive. We found it easy to use and it didn’t cause any irritation. Did we see any results? Yes and no – it certainly helped reduce the darkness of sunspots but not banish them, although to be fair, we only used it for two weeks – we needed to use if for longer. Also, I’m not sure how permanent the results are, we’ll let you know when we return back from our next sunshine holiday. However, with the UK’s yo-yoing #lockdowns this might be 2022! To start your journey to a more even and brighter skin tone and head to Berries Skincare here to purchase a 50ml bottle of Radiance Pigmentation Solutions for $29.95, shipping costs will vary according to your location.