Facialderm Advanced Neurocosmetics – 05 Anti-Pollution & Anti-Stress Serum and C1 Anti-Ageing & Anti-Stress Moisturiser

We all experience different skincare issues from time-to-time either with redness or dehydration, which can be triggered by environmental issues or stress. Today at The Amazing Blog we’re excited to introduce to you Facialderm, who have begun a skincare evolution with their innovative neurocosmetic range and patented technologies.

Founded in 2004, Facialderm’s parent company Sensalia Labs prides itself on bringing the future to cosmetics. Recent winners in The Beauty Shortlist Awards 2020 for Best Beauty Breakthrough Brand (innovation), they offer unique formulas based on new technologies in neuroscience which are then applied to their skincare. After all, the skin and the brain are connected. In simple terms, they explain: “Stimuli perceived from the outside through nerve receptors in the skin, are transmitted to the brain and processed by it for interpretation.” These are related to wellness and energy, which in turn focus on the reduction of facial stress.  Facialderm has a range of five customisable serum boosters and two creams all of which are formulated with Neurophroline™. This is an inhibitor for the production of cortisol, the stress hormone and acts on its consequences such as accelerated ageing, flaccidity of the skin and decreased luminosity. Neurophroline™ is an extract based on tephrosia purpurea, a plant native to India and also a key ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine. Let’s talk about the technical stuff: The Neurophroline™ in Facialderm’s products claim to reduce up to 70% of cortisol production in just two hours. Neurophroline™ also increases up to 163% the amount of beta-endorphin released by the cells, a natural and pain-relieving peptide. All products have natural ingredients, where they refer to them as ‘earthceuticals’ (concentrated plants) and ‘seaceuticals’ (concentrated sea plant) power.

We tried the 05 Anti-Pollution and Anti-Stress Serum which is detoxifying and moisturising with antioxidants and vitamins to protect the skin from dehydration, solar radiation, pollution and REM/blue light. Apart from the Neurophroline™, there are antioxidant plant extracts ginseng, apple, peach, wheat and barley;  as well as marine glycogen (protections against blue light) and vitamin B5 which activates cell regeneration to soothe itching, redness and irritation. Suitable for all skin types, we applied 3 - 4 drops alone (or you can mix with another product in the line), it absorbed quickly leaving skin feeling soft, we also liked the slightly fruity/ginseng fragrance.

We then combined this with the C1 Anti-Ageing & Anti-Stress Moisturiser which is best suited for normal to dry skin. Its ingredients include hyaluronic acid, chrondrus crispus (an extract of red algae), providing cells with the energy necessary for their metabolism to aid the process of regeneration and tissue repair. Caviar extract also helps to slow down the ageing process, and rice extract to help with cell longevity slowing down the process of cell senescence. The cream feels luxurious, almost whipped in texture; regenerating and soothing on the skin it left skin our supple and hydrated. We applied day or night after using the Serum and massaged into the skin to promote absorption.  We like that this can be customised with any of the Facialderm Serums as a ‘booster’ in the cream too. The 05 Anti-Pollution & Anti-Stress Serum 30ml, can be purchased here for £34.95, and the C1 Anti-Ageing & Anti-Stress Moisturiser 50ml for £34.95 can be purchased here.

These dermatologically tested, and cruelty-free products are packaged in bright colour-coded glass bottles and jars. As mentioned previously, this intelligent skincare range can be personalised to target specific skincare issues, while the advanced neurocosmetic technology uses their Neurophroline™ to limit the production of stress hormones. Best of all, it’s available at a very competitive price point!

Fi-ne - Body Serums

At The Amazing Blog it’s no secret that we love luxurious body lotions and serums. And probably no surprise that today’s #amazingfinds is on Body Serums. Meet a new German brand called Fi-ne Cosmetics whose rather unique trio of Body Serums are luxurious organic moisturiser-oil-serums specifically created for this area. Their founder had a light bulb moment when she discovered that most people were using luxury skincare on their faces, but completely neglecting their bodies.

Fi-ne Cosmetics was created by Judith Springer in Germany when she couldn’t find a range of natural, healthy and functional deodorants. Since then the brand has evolved to offer body serums, masks, eye serums and perfume oils. Her belief is that she won’t ever bring something to market that either already exists, or doesn’t offer the right solution for the problem. Fi-ne Cosmetics products are handmade, certified organic, 100% vegan and not tested on animals. They are also GMO-free, paraben-free and free from all synthetic preservatives, colours, and fragrances.  Manufactured in a laboratory in Germany, their natural and organic products are made under strict conditions in accordance with the EU Cosmetics Regulation. They avoid plastic materials in their packaging.  Wooden spatulas that come with their cream-based products are created in a workshop for people with special needs in Berlin.

Fi-ne Body Serums are a fusion of a rich nourishing blend of effective oils and a hyaluronic moisturising serum.  These Body Serums primarily feature a distinctive blend of original Australian Bush Flowers. The flower essences contain the individual energy of the specific plants from which they are derived. The second key ingredient is the Mediterranean algae which provide a multitude of protection and healing properties.  There are three different Body Serum in the range which cater to individual needs.

We tried the set of three Body Serums all of which contain the ingredients of cooling and hydrating aloe vera and squalane. Let’s begin with Focus, this uses apricot kernel and safflower seed oils with the wood additions of douglas fir/atlas wood oils, it also has lavender and grapefruit peel oil for a more citrus/woody scent. Focus is for grounding and centring it has helped to boost concentration and clarity. These ingredients also help to restore hydration, leaving skin fresh and radiant. The second we tried was Energy serum as the name suggests it’s empowering and uplifting helping to stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis. The key ingredients are sweet almond oil together with hazel and grape seed oils. More unusual here are the palmarosa and manuka branch/leaf oil making the scent ‘warming and comforting’. The final Body Serum in the trio that we tried was Peace serum which helps let go. Since the Peace serum is for use at night time, it features a higher quantity of plant oils,  such as camellia seed and peach kernel oil. It has a delicious and slightly fruity fragrance, where the smell of the dog rose with juniper and lavender oils comes through. This is perfect for city living as its purpose is to repair UVA/UVB and pollution-induced damage, restoring skin while you sleep!

Fi-ne Cosmetics recommends applying the Focus and Energy serums after a shower in the morning and applying the Peace serum before bed in the evenings. Each of the Body Serums scents can be purchased individually in 200 ml or 50 ml sizes. We had the set of three Body Serums in 50 ml which can be purchased here for €50.  We think these make a great gift or for yourself for a little luxurious self-care.

Sweet Mary Jane – CBD Infused Luxury Body Lotion

All types of cannabis-infused beauty products are hitting the market here in the UK, ranging from cosmetics to ingestible. Today at The Amazing Blog we’re excited to share with you a budding (yes, pun intended) CBD skincare range.  Sweet Mary Jane is a luxury CBD infused skincare brand based in the U.S. Aside from the hydrating benefits of Sweet Mary Jane’s CBD Infused Luxury Body Lotion, the benefits of the CBD are numerous providing relaxation, help ease anxiety, and reduce inflammation. For those of you less familiar with CBD see our recent couple of features here.

Sweet Mary Jane was founded in 2018 by Dr. Sam Musallam who saw the benefits of CBD as a natural aid to help his patients. Musallam teamed up with his ex-wife Dee Morales to search for locally sourced small-batch products, before eventually creating their own line. Dr. Musallam sadly passed away before the launch of Sweet Mary Jane’s first product, but Dee and her daughter, Mallory are committed to providing their customers with quality, luxury CBD products. Dee has a background in sports broadcasting and Mallory is a gym obsessed sports fan, saw how there was a gap in the market for a unisex CBD skincare, and so part of their mission was to create gender-neutral products. We discovered Sweet Mary Jane at a trade show, and recently learnt that it has already received some beauty industry recognition.  They were named by Beauty Independent as one of the “10 Cannabis Beauty Brands You Should Know” from Indie Beauty Expo - New York in 2019.

Sweet Mary Jane uses a full-spectrum CBD that is processed in small batches in a US health department compliant facility, where all stems and seeds are removed by hand.  As many of you will already know CBD, is short for cannabidiol and as this range is full-spectrum CBD it contains THC.  However, Sweet Mary Jane’s products are legally compliant for the UK and contain less than .02 per cent THC. We’re fans of CBD as we believe that it can help aid ailments such as pain, anxiety, inflammation, acne and insomnia. The other key ingredients included in the Body Lotion are citrus peel, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, squalene, frankincense and extract white tea leaf.

Sweet Mary Jane’s Body Lotion is for all skin types. They suggest liberally applying the lotion for hydrated skin and the many benefits of CBD. The product can be used in the morning or night, but we think that it would be perfect post-bath and before bed to get the benefits of it being as a relaxant. It has a citrus and bergamot scent and contains 150 mg of CBD. If you’re interested in a great body care that will take you from winter to spring, whilst reaping in the many benefits of CBD, then this Sweet Mary Jane’s CBD Infused Luxury Body Lotion is for you. At 14oz (approx 400ml) it can be purchased for $38 here.

Flow Cosmetics - True Expression Chakra Soap & Body Butter Bar

While make-up has the magical ability to brighten your eyes, contour your face and plump your lips. Enhancing your outer beauty, but feeling good on the inside can often be challenging. When you don’t feel at peace, refreshed and energised, it often reflects on your external appearance. Here at The Amazing Blog, we’d like to introduce you to Flow Cosmetics, a brand we recently discovered at a trade beauty show. They are made for your skin but with properties that impact your inner strength, peace and more specifically, your chakras.

Born in Finland, Flow uses active ingredients in its products which are native Finnish wild berries and herbs that are full of vitamins, antioxidants and northern robust energy. Nature has always been a strong and important part of Finnish identity. Finland has the world’s cleanest nature with blue lakes, free-flowing rivers, pristine forests and untouched wilderness. This unique northern energy is conveyed and Flow Cosmetics focuses on giving their customers bright and clear skin, a healthy body and a serene mind. All their products are activated with positive energy because the brand wants to help you empower and strengthen your own energy. Flow products contain therapeutic quality essential oils and the healing energy from crystals, hence making their products to be even more than just high-quality skincare. You can feel and sense the therapeutic effect throughout your body and being, providing care at all levels – body, mind and spirit – just like nature.

We tried out Flow’s new natural salt soaps and body butter bars that are inspired by the seven energy centres of the body. Each salt soap and butter bar represent one chakra with its aromatherapeutic fragrance and colour. Chakras are spinning wheels of energy/light and have the loving responsibility of taking in, incorporating and emanating energy to keep us functioning at optimal levels.

Let’s talk about the products we tried, the True Expression ‘I speak the truth’ Throat Chakra Aromatherapy Salt Soap which is twinned with the Body Butter Bar with clarifying Sage & Peppermint. When the throat chakra is in balance, it is easy to speak the truth and express your feelings clearly. This Chakra’s colour is azure blue and both products smell and feel amazing!

The gentle Salt Soap is suitable for daily use and for hair washing and is made from top-quality organic ingredients. It’s suitable for all skin types, especially for itchy and flaky skin. In addition to skin moisturising organic plant oils, the mineral-rich Himalayan rock salt and arctic wild blueberry seed oil to nurture the skin. Himalayan salt has skin cleansing, detoxing and moisturising properties whereas the blueberry seed oil offers antioxidant protection. The Butter Bar includes specific essential oils with peppermint, sage, roman chamomile and frankincense and is made with organic cocoa butter and organic coconut oil to nourish and soften dry skin.

Priced at €15 and €26 respectively, both the products will be sure to prove to be a worthwhile purchase. It’s a fun way to select from a range of Aromatherapy Soaps and Body Butter Bars is to choose the colour of the chakras that you’re drawn to,  see their official website here.

Face Matters Skin Health - Serum, Balm and Cleanser

Living in London, it’s no surprise that we’re constantly around pollutants and toxic chemicals produced by one of the most metropolitan and commercial cities. In an environment such as this, your skin and health can often take a turn for the worse which is why at The Amazing Blog, we would like to reintroduce to you to one of our favourite brands  Face Matters Skin Health.

Founder, Sally Curson spent 30 years working in the beauty industry; as a therapist, within larger brands and also a product formulator. Although content and successful in the same, her life took a turn which resulted in the birth of this fantastic company. It all began when she suffered from rosacea and struggled to find products that helped and so began researching ingredients herself. Her goal is to offer the gentlest formulations that really work and to provide a range of natural/organic products that will be kind to both the skin and the environment.

Now with their NEW eco-friendly packaging (no cardboard or plastic bottles) and rebranding, their focus is on affordable luxury-quality products made from natural ingredients all made using reduced disposable packaging. The provenance of the ingredients contained in their formulations is integral to the whole brand. The products are made from natural and certified organic plant extracts, many of which are fair trade and sourced from small farms and producers. Each ingredient is assessed to ensure that it is totally pure. The artisan manufacturers are inspected annually by the Soil Association, who audit the ingredient trail from the farm to the finished product. Further, natural and organic skincare now has the ability to perform as well as synthetic skincare, whilst having the added benefit of feeding the skin in the best possible way. She kindly sent us three of her amazing products to review Face Off Cleanser, Face Food Serum and All About Face Balm.

The Face Off Cleanser is a super-efficient yet gentle formula ideal for removing makeup and all the everyday deep down dirty stuff. It leaves the skin soft, smooth and ready to glow and is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin. Made with aloe, rose, lemon, calendula and burdock, the cleanser proves to be essential for healthy skin elasticity, density and radiance.  Face Off Cleanser is 100ml priced at only £25 here the cleanser is surely an investment everyone needs to make.

Up next we tried the Face Food Serum it is a lightweight oil-based serum to deeply feed and nourish the skin and is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin. It is a super serum with key ingredients of safflower, calendula, lemon and sandalwood. Safflower is packed full of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids which are the building blocks of healthy cell membranes. These polyunsaturated fats also help produce the skin's natural oil barrier, critical in keeping skin hydrated, plumper, and younger-looking. Calendula is full of vitamin E which is non-greasy and quickly absorbed, keeping the skin healthy and moisturised, whilst soothing it simultaneously. Priced at £35, the serum is money well spent! 30ml priced at an affordable  £35 here.

Lastly, we tried the All About Face Balm which is a hardworking, multi-tasking balm. It can be used to pre-cleanse, cleanse and most importantly to nourish your skin. It leaves skin soft, nourished and ready to glow. It contains key ingredients of unrefined shea butter, jojoba, rose, geranium and clary sage. Jojoba is full of nutrients like vitamin E and B, as well as antioxidants and minerals like chromium, copper, and zinc, which all nourish and protect the skin. Organic, cold-pressed, jojoba oil has one of the highest levels of antioxidants and nutrients. Shea butter nourishes the skin with vitamins A, E and F. Vitamins A and E maintain the skin and keep it clear and healthy. These are particularly helpful for sun-damaged skin and to help prevent premature wrinkles and lines... And soften those pesky ones that are already there! 50g priced at £30 here, we think that this Balm is an absolute essential!