Suneeta London: Cleansing Pack (Combination Skin)

We believe that to find some the best skincare, it doesn’t always have to be expensive. Today at The Amazing Blog, we’d like to introduce you to an artisan skincare and zero-waste brand Suneeta London with their Cleansing Pack, which has everything you would ever need to cleanse your skin - without having to spend too much.  

Suneeta London is a family run business launched by Suneeta Dinraz in 2019. They sell hand-made, natural and fresh skincare, deodorants, hair and body care products for all skin types and ages. Their formulas are based on the Ayurvedic principles, which are known for enhancing well-being, combined with an original twist to make skincare products fun and easy to use. Suneeta believes that families should use products that they trust are safe to use. Don’t we all?  To increase this trust, Suneeta is working to raise awareness for natural ingredients and inspire future generations to take care of what they put on their skin. By purchasing their products, you’re helping their campaign against the use of unnecessary chemicals and animal testing. They recently won an award for Best Inclusive Beauty Product in the 2020 London Pure Beauty Awards; and Suneeta holds an incredible passion for keeping high ethical beauty standards: “There is definitely a double standard in what we as consumers in the west deem to be ethical. Frustratingly, we know more about animals being harmed for our cosmetics than we do about black and brown workers supplying ingredients. Luckily more and more businesses are making it easier to make the right choice.”  The brand also focus on creating zero waste skincare and accessories - which we love!  

Suneeta’s three-step Cleansing Pack (Combination Skin)  contains the Mandarin & Calendula Cleansing Balm, a toner specifically chosen for your skin type and a sample size of the Aloe & Jojoba Facial Scrub with Sandalwood. Also included here’s are a small hand tooled wooden spoon, an organic cotton cloth and cotton bag.  We started by opening the Mandarin & Calendula Cleansing Balm   it is a light anti-ageing balm suitable for removing even the most stubborn mascara, make-up or daily impurities from the skin. The unrefined virgin cocoa butter softens the skin and works as an antioxidant to prevent ageing signs and reduce scarring. The calendula stimulates collagen production to promote skin healing, and the mandarin essential oil maintains moisture balance in the skin to boost cell production and immunity. It smelled incredible and was super easy to use. We gently massaged a small amount onto dry skin, and then used their cotton cloth (provided) damped with warm water to gently wipe away the daily grime. Next, we tried the sample size Aloe & Jojoba Clay Facial Scrub with Sandalwood which is a gentle grainy scrub made with natural jojoba beads and Fuller’s earth which mildly exfoliates away dry skin. They recommend using this scrub once or twice a week but it can be used as often as you like. We found that it stimulated the skin and made a good pore-cleansing facial scrub and left skin soft and fragrant from the sandalwood oil here. Finally, there’s the toner. This varies in the Cleansing Pack according to skin type, we were sent Orange Blossom & Aloe Vera Skin Toner which, as they say, is an excellent cooling and hydrating toner for combination skin. It contains cooling aloe vera, healing orange blossom water and a refreshing peppermint essential oil to help reduce oiliness while also soothing and healing the skin. After cleansing, we sprayed the toner onto a cotton pad and gently sweep across the face and neck to ensure removal of any further impurities. We also liked to spritz this during the day to boost skin hydration - from living with too much central heating! The other toners available are Organic Rose Water  designed for normal skin, or the Frankincense & Lavender Toner  which is for dry or sensitive skin and made with natural flower hydrosols. We were impressed with both the performance and affordability of this Cleansing Pack, and to purchase Suneeta’s Cleansing Pack for your skin type at £20.00, see here.  

Benny Hancock For Men: Moisturising Face Perfector SPF 15

Taking care of our skin is nothing new. Each of us has, to some extent, a daily routine to try and keep skin looking at its best. However, men’s skin, and the look they want to achieve, can be quite different from that of women. We know 30% of our readership is men, which is why at The Amazing Blog we wanted to introduce this best-selling new all-in-one lightweight moisturiser and foundation Moisturising Face Perfector from Benny Hancock For Men. 

Working closely with celebrities, supermodels, and VIPs for over a decade, Benny Hancock is an influencer and a global industry pro-makeup artist who understands men’s skin and their priorities when looking for a makeup. After realising men’s increasing need for makeup, he founded Benny Hancock For Men, with a masculine-looking range of vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics, to help men build their confidence and enhancing their appearance. He believes that “makeup for men should enhance rather than conceal” and, therefore, has worked hard to design products that are feel invisible, are convenient, and long-lasting. Benny Hancock For Men is an innovative brand that combines high-tech and wearable formulations to achieve the perfect makeup look that men are seeking out.  

With the Moisturising Face Perfector what we like is that this product is a multi-tasker. It works as both as a moisturiser and foundation. While the hydrogenated coconut oil and argan oil it hydrates the skin just like a moisturiser, the fragrance-free formula provides natural yet buildable coverage that disguises uneven skin tone and imperfections without being sticky or cakey. The SPF 15, along with vitamin E, silica, and Ectoin, protects your skin from UVA/B rays and is clinically proven to create a barrier that defends against pollutants. This foundation is available in five different skin-compatible shades, and if you’re unsure of what colour suits you the best, you can use their ‘Virtual Try-On Mirror’ to find the perfect match, using the camera on your smartphone or computer. As a tip, they advise using the buffing brush to apply the foundation for best result, but it can also be applied with the fingers - if unarmed combat is more your thing! Men’s makeup, is still a relatively new concept for your average bloke. Our tester (that bloke) not one to normally wear makeup, was curious and sceptical all at the same time. We gave him the shade of NC15 fair to try. Our powers of persuasion which involved pointing him to the tutorial at Benny Hancock on ‘How to Use’ and telling him about how the SPF factor and ingredients would protect his face from the sun and city pollutants - he was off and running. Much to his (and our) surprise he was amazed at how natural it looked! He later confessed to having it as one of his ‘empties’ with a view to reordering. You can purchase this 30ml Moisturising Face Perfecter SPF 15  here  for £25.

Organic Works: Bergamot Hand Wash

Washing your hands is the best way to kill germs and prevent infectious diseases from spreading. Especially during this pandemic, we find ourselves in a constant cycle of washing our hands just to avoid getting sick, and then applying hand cream when the hard London water dries them out. We’ve been looking for the a natural and moisturising hand wash to use at The Amazing Blog  to keep our hands clean, healthy and soft. This is when we found heard about an award-winning Bergamot Hand Wash from Organic Works. 

Initially known as Organic Surge, Organic Works decided to rebrand itself as Organic Works after a fire started at a neighbouring warehouse in the winter of 2019, which destroyed all of its products and stock. Organic Works have more than 50 years experience in the world of natural, organic and clean beauty; making them trailblazer with their much-loved formulas and philosophy: ‘Organics that truly Work’. This family-run business manufactures focusing on fresh and natural ingredients with no preservatives. Everything is made in small batches, which means that rather than mass production, the products are handcrafted and made in small amounts to ensure the best quality. As a privately owned, vegan, cruelty-free, organic brand, it also values transparency and sustainability. Its products use not only sustainably sourced and traceable ingredients, but also have minimal and recyclable packaging. All of which we applaud.

Because of its clean yet effective formula, Organic Works Bergamot Hand Wash  won the Best New Natural Product in the Pure Beauty Awards London 2020. It is 100% cruelty-free and great for all skin types, especially for sensitive skin. As a clean beauty product, 98.89% of its total ingredients come from natural sources, and 96.34% of the total plant-based ingredients are from organic farming. It’s formulated with aloe extract and several coconut-derived cleansing agents, which gently wash away impurities and keeps our skin silky smooth. Enriched with sweet orange and bergamot oils, it has a distinctive soft citrus fragrance combining the tropical orange and bergamot scent. Plus, the essential oils contained in the formula provide long-lasting protection against bacteria and dryness, and the therapeutic properties here can boost mood and awaken the senses. Best of all it leaves hands fragrant and soft – we can’t wait to try more from this brand. To purchase the 300ml Organic Works Bergamot Hand Wash at £10 for 300ml, see here. And when you’ve reached the end of the bottle, they offer a BIG 1000ml refill for this too at £27!

Elan Skincare: Wonder Face Cleanser Melon & Cucumber Cleanse & Calm

Cleansing is the foundation of every skincare routine. By removing makeup, dirt, and other kinds of pollutants from the skin, a good cleanser keeps pores clear and maintains skin health. Today at The Amazing Blog we’d like to introduce another award-winning organic skincare brand that we’ve been keen to try,  Elan Skincare. They recently launched the Wonder Face Cleanser Melon & Cucumber Cleanse & Calm, a gentle yet effective plant-based cleanser for removing makeup and daily grime which we put to test.

When Elan Skincare was launched in 2017, it had a mission to create an honest, transparent and organic skincare that combined both science and nature. Founded by women and made for women, Elan Skincare’s primary aim is to empower women, and with Joanna Silva at the helm and her ten years of experience in the medical industry, it’s a brand you can trust, as she understands the importance of women’s health and wellbeing. Elan’s commitment is to produce natural, sustainable and organic formulas that are cruelty-free, vegan and recyclable. All products are dermatologically tested and embrace the latest green technologies for producing cold-pressed unrefined butter and oils, the purest CO2 organic plant extracts and actives, coenzyme Q10, vitamin C and E, hyaluronic acid and more... All products contain organic botanical ingredients that are Eco-cert and Soil Association certified.

The Wonder Face Cleanser Melon & Cucumber Cleanse & Calm  is a lightweight, silky-textured cleansing oil ideal for all skin types, especially those with sensitive skin. Enriched with the key ingredients of hazelnut seed oil, containing tannins which work as powerful antioxidants. The sunflower seed oil is high in omega 6 and vitamin E, whereas the caprylic/capric triglyceride (derived from coconut) works as a preservative to bind ingredients. The isoamyl laurate (derived from sugarcane) is a skin conditioning agent which resurfaces, tones and brightens the skin. The hydrogenated farnesene (plant-derived squalane) works as an emollient, and the sea buckthorn oil is full of vitamin C to nourish and moisturise skin.  The unusual addition here is bakuchiol (often referred to as the plant-based alternative to retinol) known an anti-inflammatory which helps deliver a smoother skin texture and stimulate collagen production. There is also a plethora of fruit extracts making this a potent mix, as it effectively and gently dissolves makeup (yes, even mascara!) We like how it improves skin texture and firmness while at the same time cleanses the skin. Without using artificial fragrances, alcohol or essential oils, it has a refreshing scent of cucumber and melon incorporating these fresh fruits extracts into the formula.  In the evening, we massaged in a 50p amount of the cleansing oil on to a damp skin, then rinsed it away with warm water and a washcloth. It removed daily grime and makeup with ease. Elan Skincare also recommends apply the cleanser as a mask, leaving it on for a 5-10 minutes allowing it to penetrate, feed and strengthen the skin; this felt like an early morning treat, before our shower. We love their use of organic botanical actives and the gentle performance of this cleanser. It even soothed our red and irritated #lockdown eczema! Yes, we consider this yet another of our #amazingfinds. It can be purchased here a 50ml bottle for £28.

Pura Vida Organic: CBD Face Mask CBD and CBD Eye & Wrinkle Serum

As we always say, taking care of your skin should be the number one priority, and as we move into a new season with spring this is the time to look into changing your skincare routine. We've already recently introduced Pura Vida with their CBD haircare collection here, so today we’re back with more of Pura Vida's award-winning CBD products. As our regular readers will know we love all things CBD, and this time it’s with the Pura Vida CBD Face Mask and the CBD Eye & Wrinkle Serum. 

Pura Vida Organic was founded in 2015 by Jennifer Deegan. The brand was developed specifically for problematic and sensitive skin, using the purest ingredients. The brand focuses on organic CBD products, where sustainability is at the heart of the brand, with recyclable plastic and boxes made of 25% grass pulp, recycled paper and cardboard. Even the labels use vegetable dyes and vegan-friendly glue.  90% of the products are handmade offering both the personal touch, and a decrease in energy consumption from mechanical production. Pura Vida Organic's primary ingredient is CBD (THC-free) broad-spectrum or isolate. In 2018, Pura Vida Organic passed the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations enforced by the FDA (CGMP) and the international standard for quality management systems (ISO9001). In 2019, they were the first CBD skincare production facility to obtain the COSMOS Organic and Natural certification, allowing them to have their organic and natural skincare commercialised world-wide. They have experience in distribution, wholesale and manufacture, but makes sets Pura Vida apart from other CBD brands is their organic ingredients. Pura Vida Organic is proud to have one of the most comprehensive ranges of organic CBD products which range from CBD oil, to baby care, men’s, body care, skincare and haircare. They are Bronze winners for their full body care range at the recent Cosmetique Mag 2021.

This time Pura Vida kindly sent us two skincare products: the CBD Face Mask  and the CBD Eye & Wrinkle Serum The luxurious CBD face mask is packed with plant-based nutrients. The base is comprised of kaolin clay, camellia sinensis (AKA as green tea seed oil) and mango seed butter. Together these feed, nourish, calm, and deeply cleanse the skin of impurities; gently sloughing away dull dead skin and absorb impurities from the pores. The 300mg of CBD isolate counteract free-radical damage and visibly diminish issues like wrinkles, skin dullness, and red-coloured skin tone. The magnolia bark extract successfully combats breakouts, and oily skin. It has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine containing magnolol and honokiol compounds, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. There are rosehip and passionfruit seed oils here to boost vitamin C and omega-6 linoleic acid. The rose flower extract is high in vitamin C and also tannins, offering toning and antioxidant benefits to prevent signs of ageing. Finally, the calendula flower extract (AKA marigold) has skin-soothing and antioxidant properties and helps reduce the production of excessive sebum. This face mask is undoubtedly one of the gentlest that we’ve tried. It’s not grainy or abrasive and applies smoothly over the skin. We used it 2 or 3 times a week and found it left our skin soft and hydrated. With all its nutrient-rich skin food, we’d recommend it to those needing a skin boost or as something to calm irritated and sensitive skins. Apply a generous layer of face mask to your clean skin and relax for 20-30 minutes then rinse it off with lukewarm water, and splash with cold water to close your pores. To purchase the CBD Face Masks in 30ml for €29.00, click here. 

The CBD Eye & Wrinkle Serum is a lightweight serum designed to hydrate the delicate eye area and reduce dark circles and puffiness.  With 200mg of CBD and cannabis sativa seed oil (cold pressed from hemp seeds) these help to moisturise and nourish while also helping strengthen the skin barrier. The chlorella vulgaris (green algae) extract stimulates the skin cells and increases the skin's firmness and tone, lightening the effect on dark circles. It has seawater with hydrolyzed algin (this binds the water) to minimise the size and puffiness of any undereye bagging. The polysaccharides here are responsible for the skin's natural ability to hydrate, retain moisture and are critical for skin repair and skin renewal. The raspberry seed oil is for a slightly brightening effect, reducing any redness or swelling. The butterfly lavender (French lavender) extract boosts blood circulation with a tightening and smoothing the skin. And finally, there’s also the magnolia bark extract, rosehip and passionfruit seed oil (see above para). This Eye & Wrinkle Serum we couldn’t get enough of! What a difference this made to the eye area after little or no sleep…. The Serum calms, soothes and magically seemed to lighten and tighten the area.  We used morning and night until… empty! In particular, we noticed how it minimalised fine lines and plumped up the skin so dark circles seemed to disappear! Pura Vida also recommends gently massaging the Serum into  face, neck and décolletage with circular upward motions - although with this tiny 10ml bottle we think it rather a waste!  We loved this Serum and really noticed an increase in firmness and tone in our delicate eye area. This is without doubt, another one of our #amazingfinds. To purchase Pura Vida's CBD Eye & Wrinkle Serum in 30ml for €45.00, click here.