The Clean Beauty Club : Wonder Balm & Serums

At The Amazing Blog we love to have a go-to beauty staple or two, and for us, not many beat The Clean Beauty Club's trio of Wonder Balm, Wonder Morning Serum and Wonder Evening Serum with their brand transparency and simple ingredients.

The Clean Beauty Club is a Scottish brand that started small and simple and has now grown into the 'wonder – ful' company that it is today. Originally called 'A Pony Called Steve,' The Clean Beauty Club went through a name change so that the branding matched the high-quality products they were producing. Owners Emma Campbell and Aminah Morgan have been working closely together since they met at school. Their friendship made it easy to make this necessary branding change. They said it best, "So it's time for us to rethink what we're saying to the world. We want everyone to know how incredible this balm is, because it really is changing skin for the better." The name change came with a change in products and how they sold their products. Prior to the change, A Pony Called Steve only sold to independent shops and had an extensive collection of products. When The Clean Beauty Club came to life, their focus was to produce and perfect their Wonder Balm, which was a balm they had personally been using for over ten years. The new branding aligned with this great product using only the best, natural ingredients and recyclable packaging to embrace the idea of 'clean beauty.' An important component to their brand is that their decisions are "based on love and joy, not success." Emma and Aminah want their customers to be happy with their products and love them as much as they do.

Their Wonder Balm is one of their hero products. They have been making different variations of the balm for about ten years. Over the years, they have worked tirelessly to create the best version of the Wonder Balm that they could, and they researched until they were "100% sure that they had the best ingredients they could possibly use."  With a list of powerful antioxidant and vitamin-rich ingredients with anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-ageing properties, the Wonder Balm will have your skin feeling cleansed nourished and moisturised all in one - it’s a multi-balm. The lemon seed oil helps soothe inflammation and moisturise the skin helping maintain the skin's health, appearance, and texture. While the moringa oil is used to moisturise and cleanse the skin. And the pomegranate seed oil supports the skin's hydration. We love how this Wonder Balm can be used as a ‘one and done’ skincare routine - great for keeping to hand for when you’re on the go. It can be used to remove makeup, even tough products like waterproof mascara, while cleansing and moisturising skin. The Wonder Balm has been nicknamed 'facial in a tin' by users of the product it's easy to use and available for a one-time purchase for £12.00 here or a subscription option with your choice of delivery every month, two months or even three months for £9.60 – a savings of 20%! 

Next, we tried the two Wonder Serums – both share hero ingredients similar to the Balm, including lemon seed oil and pomegranate seed oil (see above). Plus, the moringa oil is a key ingredient that is extremely lightweight in texture but full of vitamins, A.C and E. It also has cytcytokinins, which promote cellular growth to support and nourish cell tissue and fatty acids, which are high content of mono-saturated oleic acid (omega 9) to help improve the skin's natural protective barrier that keeps skin looking hydrated and plumper. These are the Wonder Serum - Morning and the Wonder Serum - Evening.

Let's talk about the Wonder Serum -  Morning first; this is an oil-based serum used following a morning cleansing routine. This product gets to bear the Wonder name due to similar, powerful ingredients like the Wonder Balm. It was a finalist in the Clean Beauty Awards 2021, and with good reason, this serum has high levels of moringa oil, which, as discussed, is known for its moisturising and healing properties. Another one of the active ingredients here derives from a microalgae, which reduces the damage usually caused by adrenaline when we are stressed. The results speak for themselves as it leaves skin glowing. It’s easy to use in the morning after cleansing and super gentle and with little or no fragrance - so it won’t clash with any other skincare used. Just use a few drops and pat gently into the skin on your face and neck. The Wonder Serum - Morning is available in a 10ml bottle for £12.00 here. 

To round out the Wonder products, let finish with the Wonder Serum - Evening which packs a powerful punch. This serum uses the same natural yet effective ingredients as the Wonder Balm and Morning Serum, just at a higher concentration. Pomegranate seed oil nourishes our skin due to the high concentrations of vitamin C, which offers regenerative, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to give skin that glowing appearance. Just like the morning serum, the Wonder Evening Serum should be used after cleansing by just using a few drops, then patting it gently into the skin. The Wonder Evening Serum is available for £10.00 for a 10ml bottle from their website here.  Our favourite? We’re suckers for multi-use products so it’d have to be the Wonder Balm - and in this cold weather, it’s also great protection against chapped lips!

All three of these Wonder products are available for purchase through The Clean Beauty Club's website here.

The Cool Projects : Mood of the Day Box of 7 Soaps

With Christmas just around the corner, spirits are high and keeping that festive mood going is just what we are looking for, that, and of course, finding the perfect last-minute Christmas gift. At The Amazing Blog we couldn’t resist this Mood Of The Day: Box of 7 Soaps by The Cool Projects, these are a set of 100% natural soaps, beautifully designed with feel-good themes that helps keep the festive mood going.

The Cool Projects is founded by Greek designer Marina Koriolano-Lykourezou and her artist life partner Giannis Zagorianakos after they moved to the island of Aegina from the hectic city of Athens. What they found there were lots of olive tree groves, and a beautiful environment, which would later spark their business idea. Living in Aegina brought Marina and Giannis closer to nature, prompting them to create handmade, natural cold processed soaps using the traditional Greek method of production. In 2013, they began their business journey with the launch of their soap company, Cool Soap. In a recent interview with Greece Is, the co-founders explain how they wanted to develop a “local product that could travel”, and their soaps, made from Aegina extra virgin olive oil and other natural ingredients, reflect just that. Greece is known for its olive oil, and it’s one of its top agricultural exports. Their goal is to “produce a series of quality natural handmade Greek olive oil soaps with respect to nature, people and animals.” Cool Soap has gained an international cult following and expanded to become the brand The Cool Projects, that we all know and love today. Under this umbrella are four collections, Body, Bath, Kitchen and Lifestyle.  The Cool Projects team work in collaboration with skilled artisans from Aegina to produce not only handcrafted soaps but also bath and home accessories ranging from ceramic cups to cutting boards.  The Cool Projects company, as a whole, values the importance of craftsmanship, high-quality designs, “natural handmade products, and an effort to sustain small traditional workshops.” The Cool Projects also works to respect the environment by reusing and recycling as much as possible and only using natural ingredients. 

The Mood Of The Day: Box of 7 Soaps is a part of ‘The Mood Series’ collection which has soap bars, soap flakes and shower gels. The idea for this product stemmed from a collaboration between The Cool Projects and graphic designer Iliana Alexandrou. They wanted to create the ideal gift by providing customers with natural and colourful soaps presented in unique packaging. These offer a range of olive oil-based soaps in seven different colours and scents to help improve specific moods, hence the name. What we like about these seven soaps, is that you can use one for every day of the week for a different positive affirmation. As we near Christmas, being able to choose a desirable mood to improve our day sounds like the best way to let the festivities commence! Each of The Mood Series soaps represents a different mood, curious, happy, loved, sexy, calm, relaxed, and lucky. 

As these soaps are all made with olive oil, they’re rich in antioxidants with anti-ageing properties and are packed with vitamins that leave skin moisturised. They use palm oil which they reassure us is from “responsible sources” see here for more on this. Plus a blend of carefully selected essential oils which are coloured with natural pigments and oxides to match the given mood. For the yellow ‘Curious’ mood soap, it is scented with rosemary and sage essential oils. Some studies have found that rosemary essential oil can increase brain activity and combat tiredness, and sage has been known to clear the mind and fight fatigue as well. The orange ‘Happy’ soap blends citrus fruits and rosewood essential oils together to create an improved mood. Citrus fruits harness the power of vitamin C to help combat depression and drowsiness, and rosewood essential oils have sedative properties that allow the body to calmly deal with stressors. The pink ‘Loved’ mood soap purposefully combines jasmine and bergamot essential oils to encourage a warm, loving feeling, as jasmine has been linked to acting as an aphrodisiac and bergamot is believed to help the brain release dopamine. The ‘Sexy’ red soap is scented with ylang-ylang and bay essential oils, known to promote sensual energy. The jasmine and lavender essential oils found in the blue ‘Calm’ soap accurately depict this mood, as they help relax your nerves to relieve stress. As for the ‘Relaxed’ mood soap, it’s a combination of lavender and chamomile essential oils that creates a masterful cocktail for relaxation. Lavender and chamomile are some of the most well-known essential oils for promoting a sense of calm and fighting both depression and anxiety. Finally,  ‘Lucky’ the green mood soap, is composed of lavender essential oil, which eases stress and boosts your mood, and eucalyptus essential oil, known to stimulate and revitalise your mind and body. 

Their stylish packaging is also very pleasing with the white canvas-looking background paired with the playful and colourful imagery exclusively designed by Iliana Alexandrou, with a character holding the ‘mood’ like a present. We think these are perfect for those looking to create a positive affirmation and good energy, making this box of 7 soaps the ideal gift for all. They also offer a single soap where you can select any specific mood which makes the perfect stocking filler at €4 each, see here. You can purchase the full set of The Mood Of The Day: Box of 7 Soaps on their website here for €22, or you can buy here in the UK for £18.

LUUV : Natural Self-Tanning Dry Oil

The festive season means Christmas parties - Covid permitting - and what do Christmas parties mean? That’s right, wearing your killer little black dress! Apart from the outfit, at The Amazing Blog, we like to sport that all-year-round natural looking sun-kissed glow - all from out of a bottle! We were thrilled to discover this Natural Self-Tanning Dry Oil from LUUV, which didn’t let us down.  And for those who don’t know this Estonian cosmetic brand - you can also read our review on their vegetable-based natural Lip Gloss Balms here.

Jüri Palster, the brand’s co-founder, launched LUUV to fill a gap in the market. This story began in 2017 when Jüri decided to take his innovative ideas and formulations to the next level. He decided to produce a range of natural skincare and cosmetics that were functional, clean, and simple to use. Today LUUV is the sixth biggest cosmetics manufacturer in Estonia and continues to grow. Their products are made in Estonia by biochemists, using all-natural, organic, vegan and transparent ingredients. The brand also has COSMOS Ecocert certified products, highlighting their commitment to their formulas, showing how LUUV works hard to protect the environment and meet all their sustainability standards. They also use natural resources and only green chemical alternatives, avoiding the use of any GMOs, parabens, perfumes, and synthetic colourants, demonstrating further the brand’s eco-friendly efforts. Worth mentioning too is their recyclable packaging, and a modern reverse osmosis device, within the Environmental Investment Centre’s Circular Economy Program framework, which provides them with the purest water to use in the development of their products. By the end of this year, LUUV told us that they will have over 52 different cosmetic products, ranging from skin and body care to cosmetics. This Estonian brand certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed in the world of beauty, like their Natural Self-Tanning Dry Oil (see below) was recently awarded Best Natural Beauty Product Silver Winner at the 2021 Global Green Beauty Awards. 

We couldn’t wait to test out their Luuv’s Natural Self-Tanning Dry Oil in medium shade. Let’s start by saying what we really liked about this 100% natural and vegan self-tan. It’s odourless, clear, and an aloe-based dry oil, that gives an even colour and moisturises skin leaving no oily residue.  Aloe vera is one of the key ingredients and hydrates and prevents skin from becoming dry  - even when this Natural Self-Tanning Dry Oil is applied frequently, which is precisely what we look for. The formula boasts a list of other natural ingredients like water, glycerin, dihydroxyacetone (a fermented part of sugar beet), erythrulose (raspberry sugar extract), sunflower and carrot oil, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and citric acid. When the erythrulose and dihydroxyacetone come together, these sugars create a natural-looking and even-toned colour. The sunflower oil contains linoleic acid, which helps skin retain moisture, and the carrot oil is packed with vitamin A and beta-carotene, both good antioxidants to help keep the skin soft and hydrated. And finally, the sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, which are two different kinds of salts, and when combined, work as a preservative keeping the formula bacteria-free. As we mentioned earlier, this Self Tanning Dry Oil is fragrance-free, a big plus in our eyes. It has a slightly viscous consistency and is easy to dispense. As a dry oil, it’s super-hydrating and can be applied two to three times a week for a gradual tan build-up for a natural-looking tan.

The best part?  This Natural Self Tanning Dry Oil glides easily onto skin, and is quick-drying; we recommend waiting between 4-6 hours before washing to give it time to develop, and if you’re worried about it getting on your clothes, the good news is that it doesn’t transfer! When you want it off, it fades away slowly and evenly - just like the real thing. It’s the perfect choice for a natural all-year-round self-tan and is another of our #amazingfinds. So, if you’re looking for a  long-lasting, radiant tan, which leaves skin soft and luminous - this is for you. Why not make family and friends envious, and rock an effortless natural golden glow this season. To purchase the Natural Self-Tanning Dry Oil (100 ml size) in the medium or dark shade for €19.90, see here.

Be+Radiance : Duo Palettes - Set+Glow+Highlighter & Color+Glow Duo Blush+Highlighter

Whether we want to get dolled up or go for a natural look this party season, blusher, powder and highlighter are our three must-haves here at The Amazing Blog. Happily, one of our favourite French natural cosmetic brands, Be+Radiance, sent us both their Set+Glow Duo Powder+Highlighter and the Color+Glow Duo Blush+Highlighter, perfect for adding a touch of festive glamour that will see us well into the wee hours! And if you missed our previous review of their Primer and Matifying Foundation, click here.

The Be+Radiance story starts with beauty expert Aïmara Coupet whose dedication to offering clean products for all skin tones is second to none. After years of working with major brands like L’Oréal, Sephora, and blackUp, Aïmara decided to shift her focus to providing people with inclusive skincare and cosmetics that would actually be good for the skin. With over 20 years of beauty experience and an innate passion for makeup, this Be+Radiance founder, has developed her cosmetics expertise, especially when it comes to the complexion. During the time, Aïmara was working as a consultant to explore the science of the microbiome, the natural bacterial ecosystem of the skin, and was able to work with a laboratory to create a silicone-free foundation. This creation is what prompted the launch of her brand Be+Radiance. As a mixed-race woman, she has pushed for the cosmetics industry to recognise plural beauty, and is determined to create diverse collections with makeup that is “healthy and sophisticated, luminous and universal.” In an industry that struggles to develop products with the right textures and colours for darker skin, she has committed her brand to formulate for all skin tones, and only using clean beauty practices. They make sure to have “equity in the choice of shades and in the adaptation of textures to different skin types.” The brand uses clean formulas, rich ingredients, and probiotics to create makeup that respects the skin. These products all contain probiotics to help strengthen the skin’s natural barrier and protect its microbiome. Their products avoid the use of silicones, parabens, and perfume to maintain the natural balance of the skin. As a clean beauty brand, their products are made in France, are vegan and cruelty-free with an R & D team that integrates raw materials with 85% - 100% natural ingredients to help keep skin healthy and beautiful.  

We loved using the Set+Glow Duo Powder+Highlighter and Color+Glow Duo Blush+Highlighter palettes. They’ve both been created using 95% natural ingredients and are also enriched with probiotics that positively colonise the microbiome to repair the skin barrier, resulting in stronger skin microbiota. These microorganisms also help retain moisture more effectively to keep skin hydrated, healthy, and smooth. The microbiota then offers rebalance and protection when these probiotics and prebiotics come together. The duos include a blend of organic oils rich in antioxidant properties, with moringa, sunflower and jojoba; plus organic shea butter, rich in linoleic acid, which when combined these both nourish and smooth the skin. These duo palettes are free from talc, mineral oil, silicone and fragrance making them suitable for all skin types. They harness the skin benefiting properties of probiotics, and as the brand says these are made to “respect the skin balance, let the skin breath and take care of the most sensitive skin.”

The Set+Glow Duo Powder+Highlighter is half matte powder and highlighter and comes in a selection of 17 shades. It is ultra-smooth in texture and helps set makeup or add a shimmering glow. We received this duo in the No 13 where the shades perfectly complemented each other. The fine powder is used to set the foundation and give a matte finish, whereas the highlighter catches the light and provide the skin with a radiant and glistening look. The way we applied the powder was to take a large powder brush and sweep it along the central panel of the face to help mattify any shine. Then with another brush, we applied the highlighter in an upward movement just above the cheekbones and with our forefinger blended a little on the brow bone to accentuate it. The brand also recommends mixing the powder and highlighter together for a dewy look.  

The second product, the Color+Glow Duo Blush+Highlighter, again, is half blush and highlighter and is available in a variety of 4 shades. The blush in the duo palette is highly pigmented and has been carefully curated to blend and modify and work with a wide range of skin tones. Whether it is a warm pink or a coral with gold undertones, we found the choice of colours blends well. The highlighter works with the blush to create a balanced shimmering effect. We used the duo palette in the shade 02 and found that the blush was perfectly pigmented to bring out a warm rosy look in our cheeks, and the highlighter topped off the look with its illuminating finish. We applied the blush along our cheekbones and a little into the centre of our cheeks, adding the highlighter just above, and a dab also along the brow bone. 

Both these products are another of our festive #amazingfinds. Whether you're looking to buy for yourself or as a gift, they’re available from the Be+Radiance French website here. Or you can also purchase the Set+Glow Duo Powder+Highlighter for £26.40 here and the Color+Glow Duo Blush+Highlighter for £26.40 here.  

Clarity Blend - Mind Spa Bath & Body Oil

At this time of year, at The Amazing Blog, some of the favourite things we enjoy are aromatherapy based products - especially when we can add them into a long de-stressing hot soak. This is where this multi-tasking Mind Spa Body & Bath Oil from Clarity Blend’s comes to our aid. Also for Christmas gift ideas, we thought we’d kick off with Clarity Blend, and share a few more in the run-up to the big day.

Clarity Blend is a natural aromatherapy brand based in the heart of Berkshire, where they offer well-being and at-home spa products for a more balanced, positive, and healthier lifestyle. Bulgarian born Veronika and Dimitar Vasilev, founders of Clarity Blend, wanted to start a brand that shares their passion for aromatherapy. Their love for essential oils was founded when the couple wanted to reconnect with themselves and nature, helping to give them a calmer way of life. “With happy memories of growing up surrounded by the aromatic meadows of the Bulgarian countryside, we found ourselves craving the feeling of calm that time spent in nature had given us.” Their journey began after a long search for natural, non-toxic and sustainable products, that would fit their remit. So, they started with research combining nature’s best from woods, flowers, resins, and fruit essential oils to create quality products with the help of top clinical aromatherapists, and finally launching their two initial ranges with Sweet Dreams and Energy Boost. Clarity Blend values education and sharing the power of aromatherapy and its many benefits with its loyal customers. “The power of aromatherapy is a wonderful thing, and we’re passionate about sharing its benefits so you can enjoy a more balanced, positive, and healthier lifestyle. We like to call it ‘Nature in a bottle,” and they went on to say, “We source pure essential oils from all over the world and sprinkle a touch of our Bulgarian heritage into our blends. Our aim from the outset was to capture the essence of the meandering meadows and flowery scents of our childhoods and share their natural benefits.” All products are eco-friendly, 100% natural, vegan and free from artificial fragrances, parabens, sulphates, phthalates and SLSs. In addition, they are handmade in the UK under Good Manufacturing Practice using oils sourced from worldwide reliable suppliers. A core value of Clarity Blend is never harming endangered or vulnerable plant species. However, what makes this brand even more noteworthy is its sustainability efforts, where they use glass products, bamboo and rubber-capped glass, and metal roller balls to minimise the use of unnecessary plastic. Even their hampers and delivery boxes are made with kraft boxes, fully recyclable filling or biodegradable peanut pellets. They now have ten collections and within each of these are four different products with Body & Bath Oil, Bath Salts Roll-on and a Diffuser Blend.

The Mind Spa range focuses on relieving stress, anxiety, irritableness, and tension in daily life. Truly an at-home spa experience, filled with four key essential oils eucalyptus, patchouli, bergamot and lemongrass. Eucalyptus eases breathing, giving one a sense of fresh air and the feeling of a deep breath. This fresh and clean smell is one of our favourite oils of all time. Patchouli has antidepressant properties that help the nervous system and emotions become more balanced. It also gives this product a sweet and earthy scent. The Sicilian bergamot is fresh, citrusy with hints of floral, and exudes positive and happy vibes. Lastly, lemongrass helps reduce fatigue and lack of motivation by stimulating the mind and emotions. We’re focusing today on the Body & Bath Oil. This product is a good body oil that nourishes and moisturises the skin while also treating the mind and spirit, particularly when inhaling the aroma. In addition to the essential oils, this Body & Bath Oil also has the carrier oils of jojoba and almond. Both these oils treat dry skin while also reducing the appearance of stretch marks and scars. We were curious to try this product as it recently received the Bronze Award for Best 100% Natural product at the Global Green Beauty Awards 2021 and was a finalist for best body oil at the Natural Health Beauty Awards 2021. We put a few drops in our hands to warm it up. As directed, we applied it directly after shower or bath on warm, dry skin, then massaged it in gentle circular motions towards the heart. We also think that you could add a few drops of this oil to a warm bath for even greater relaxation. We liked how there was no oily greasy residue, and it absorbed quickly and thoroughly into the skin. It made us feel balanced, focused and boosted our end of the week self-care night. Whether you’re a beginner or avid lover of aromatherapy, the brand offers the opportunity to join their Wellness Club where you’ll receive valuable tips for healthy living. Plus, members get a free digital copy of our Wellness Pocket Companion and 10% off on all orders. To purchase Clarity Blend’s 100ml Mind Spa Body & Bath Oil, for £16, see here.