SKN-RG – Waterless Intensive Repair: Cleansing Ritual Daily Detox Cleanser & Night Therapy Oil

Our regular readers will know that at The Amazing Blog we’re fans of the organic vegan performance skincare brand SKN-RG, (you can read our recent feature on their Alpha Serum here). Today we want to talk about their range of  'Waterless Intensive Repair’ which features six products that are not only made with 100% natural and organic ingredients, but the packaging is composed of eco-friendly compostable bamboo, this separates from the other glass parts, making it all ready for recycling! The two products that they kindly sent to us to try were their Cleansing Ritual Daily Detox Cleanser and the Night Therapy Oil.

Winners of Beauty Shortlist’s 2019 Mama & Baby Awards with their Cleansing Ritual Daily Detox Cleanser this balm-like formula caught our eye. They say that this range is ‘no fuss, no mixing and plastic-free’ and we couldn’t agree more. This cleanser features key organic ingredients such as eucalyptus, safflower, babassu; together with hops, copaiba and astragalus which tackle breakouts, spots, oily skin and blackheads, all without drying out the skin. It has herbal adaptogens which are enhanced and energised by SKN-RG's award-winning method of extraction the Quanta® Wave Technology which is used for all of their products. The adaptogens help the body to resist stress whether physical, chemical or biological, enabling the skin to adjust, rejuvenate and restore. To apply, work a 2 pence sized dollop of the balm into the palms to activate, then massage over the face and rinse with a warm damp washcloth. The 30ml Cleansing Ritual Daily Detox Cleanser can be purchased here.

SKN-RG's Night Therapy Face Oil is designed to calm, soothe and de-stress and also aid in a restful night's sleep. With key ingredients such as macadamia nut, ylang ylang and blue chamomile; these lead to feeling skin rejuvenated when you awake. This oil provides deep overnight moisture while lifting, firming and fighting blemishes. This weightless, quick-absorbing oil can be used day or night, we suggest applying it before bedtime after washing your face with SKN-RG's Cleansing Ritual Cleanser. We think that this Face Oil is money well spent at £49.50 for 30ml, it can be purchased here. 

We applaud SKN-RG for their innovation helping to lessen the carbon footprint with their solar and green chemistry. They also continuously strive to look for alternatives like plastic or animal-free products, particularly with their packaging, which is approved by both the Soil Association and the Vegan Society. We’ll be reviewing more soon.

Berrichi - Day Age Defence & Night Power Defence

We think it’s important to use different types of skincare for day and night and at The Amazing Blog, we’ve discovered a great natural skincare brand Berrichi with their Day Age Defence and Night Power Age Defence, both of which contain very special extracts from green and red microalgae. Berrichi firmly believes in the philosophy that clean and natural is best for the skin, which is a philosophy that we can certainly get behind!

Berrichi is a brand that hails all the way from Estonia, it was founded by Berit Joosep, whose struggle with dry skin and inflammation prompted her to look for natural alternatives. Thus Berrichi was born where it started life made small batches in Joosep’s kitchen, where she drew inspiration from books on herbal culture and ancient beauty techniques. Today Berrichi is a multi-award-winning skincare brand, exporting globally and recognised for leading the way with ‘clean beauty’ and its unique botanicals.

The two products that we reviewed were their Day Age and Night Power Defence creams, both which are recommended to be used together. They feature some of nature’s strongest antioxidants, with their unique microalgae-based astaxanthine an extract derived from the green algae haematococcus pluvialis, the carotenoids contained in the astaxanthin protects the cells from free radicals (a natural antioxidant 500 x more powerful than vitamin E. and 800 x more effective than CoQ10). The red algae furcellaria which is found in the Baltic sea is a strong neutraliser of free radicals, anti-pollution and removes toxins. These are blended with other ingredients of cacay, avocado, apricot, jojoba and kukui oils, all of which help the skin to bloom. You may be questioning the ingredient of algae; well we learned that it has long been a hero ingredient for centuries in Asian beauty with its moisturising, calming and anti-ageing properties. This powerful combination of botanical ingredients penetrates the dermis to give the skin an even texture, aiding skin tone and supporting elasticity and immunity.

Let’s begin with The Day Age Difference, which won Editor’s Choice at The Beauty Shortlist Awards in 2018. It offers 24-hour hydration for a soft, youthful glow while calming irritated, inflamed or hypoallergic skin. The Day Cream is light and absorbs quickly, making it ideal to use alone or as a makeup base. It retails for 36€ for 50 ml here.  Then there is The Night Power Defence, which has a thicker formulation for slower, deeper overnight absorption. The Night Power Defence cream provides deep nourishment, hydration and regeneration, leaving the skin firm and balanced. It helps to slow down the signs of ageing while improving collagen production and the removal of toxins. It can be purchased for 39€ for 50ml here.  

Both products are free from parabens, sulphates and vegan, organic and cruelty-free. We think that they make a perfect combination for city living protecting us from pollution, whilst also delivering long-lasting hydration. Keep an eye out for Simon’s review of their Smoothing Age Defence which will appear shortly. We can’t wait to try more from Berrichi and they certainly get the thumbs up from us!

Jinmee - Hydrapuff

Have you found yourself with more product on your hands than on your actual face? At The Amazing Blog we certainly have, and it’s just such a waste! Meet Jinmee who have pioneered a new way of thinking about cleansing with something sustainable, practical, and high quality. They have developed a product called Hydrapuff, the new super absorbent skincare sheets.

Founded by Karen Hong and produced in Korea, Jinmee was created when she realised the amount of product wasted on hands or cotton pads particularly as these thick pads soak up more product than it is actually applying to your skin.  She came up with these clever Hydrapuff sheets which are super thin and multi-purpose. They hydrate the skin, maximise product use, reduce waste, she came up with the Hydrapuff, as an affordable and high-quality product that works through simplicity, honesty, and self-care.

Hydrapuff are super-absorbent skincare sheets that come in a double-layered sheet. For the first step of your routine, keep your Hydrapuff intact, folded in half to give it extra thickness, it can be used with all your favourite skincare products. These sheets not only hydrate the skin but also as mentioned reduce the wastage. Once you add a skincare product to a sheet, it transforms into a gel-like tissue that adapts to your skin, which means applying the entire product onto your skin, not on the cottonwool or bin! You can apply your choice of toner, cream cleanser or oils, start by cleansing your face with the Hydrapuff sheet and your chosen product, and then gently wipe away your makeup or daily grim. Hydrapuff can also serve as a mask, by applying a serum or product onto the sheet and split the Hydrapuff in the middle. Then, place with your product on cheeks or the desired area allowing it to sit for 5 to 10 minutes (remove them before they get dry), pat your skin gently and done!

Hydrapuff is suitable for all skin types, made from a natural rayon and pulp blend with 60 sheets in a box. The sheets are vegan, cruelty-free, bio-degradable with recyclable packaging,  making them tick all the boxes and getting the thumbs up from us. We loved this multifunctional product which has saved us up to 50% less waste with our serums, cleansers and toners. Get your Hydrapuff here for only £6.50.

2020 Mama & Baby Awards are now OPEN

Calling clean, green parent and baby brands! The 7th annual Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby awards are now open for entries. But hurry – the final deadline is May 8.

The hotly anticipated Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby awards are back to celebrate outstanding ethical products for parents, babies, toddlers and beyond. 

Right now parents are more plugged in than ever to global health concerns. So there’s never been a better time to shine a spotlight on cherishable essentials that beautifully nurture, pamper and protect our families.

“There’s huge demand among parents for products that meet high ethical standards with an ingredients list that’s as pure and natural as possible,” says awards founder Fiona Klonarides.

“However, well-meaning mums and dads can find it tough to navigate the category. We need to direct consumers away from the big non-natural ranges cluttering the shelves of high street chemists and towards the gentle, ethical, clean natural brands – big and small.

“We’re not looking at a brand’s advertising budget. We’re finding out if their products perform for the most discerning audience possible: parents and their kids.”

Brands can enter now here .

Find out who’s won on Friday 12 June

These awards provide The Beauty Shortlist's definitive run-down of top-ranked natural, organic and earth-friendly baby products, plus beauty and wellness for mums and parents.

Experts, consumers and editors trust the awards to highlight excellence and ethics through a proudly independent judging process. 

For 2020, the global panel includes: 

– UK Katie Hill, co-founder of green living magazine My Green Pod (distributed quarterly with The Guardian to six million eco conscious consumers). 

– USA Makeup artist (Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue) and wellness coach Denise del Russo. 

– AUSTRALIA Holly Spierings, creative director of award-winning make-up brand Eye of Horus. 

Looking for recommendations right away?

Here are three of our previous winners… 

1. Madara Organic Baby & Kids Cocoa and Plum Creamy Oil
Judges loved how the extra-creamy consistency makes massages feel soothing and special for everyone. Meanwhile the rich cocoa butter smoothes away dryness and nourishes soft and delicate skin.

2. Balmonds’ Skin Salvation
Natural balms are a positive boon for parents protecting against nappy rash. The beeswax base seals away the skin’s moisture while protecting against irritating dampness – making it a must for the baby bag.

3. Bloom and Blossom Matilda’s Miracle Detangler
A natural product that takes the fight out of bed-time or pre-school hair-brushing is a big win for parents. Judges admired the calming lavender scent and how it worked across all different types of hair (however tangled).

About the awards
Originally launched seven years ago by beauty writer and respected natural living expert Fiona Klonarides, the awards are a 100% independent guide to parent and baby products.

Each year they’re judged by a panel of unbiased industry experts with no sponsorship or advertising to sway their decisions. This unique, transparent approach with an intrinsic focus on “natural, eco and ethical” attracts entries from across the world – creating a uniquely level playing field for both big and small brands.

Beautanix - Beautiful Glow Clay, Day Oil and Serum 40

As regular readers will know at The Amazing Blog we like to search out new indie brands that have created something special. Therefore, it’s great to find a new natural skincare brand that specifically targets the 30+ age group. We are talking about Beautanix whose affordable products work to combat early signs of ageing by using only natural ingredients that help the regeneration skin cells, protect the skin and help to give us a more youthful appearance.

The Beautanix Founder Margaret Frixou is a reflexology and massage therapist who early in her career used essential oils and is well-versed on their wonderful healing properties. Margaret saw first-hand how natural ingredients really make a difference. Shocked by the list of harmful chemicals in her regular skincare, she decided it was time to create her own range using her knowledge and experience, thus Beautanix was born. Beautanix has seven key products that have natural ingredients that are vegan and ethically sourced. We received three products to try the Beautiful Glow clay mask and the Replenishing Light Day Oil and Serum 40 .

First, we used the refreshing Beautiful Glow clay mask, then went on to apply the Replenishing Light Day Oil to restore and protect our complexion. The Beautiful Glow is both soothing and nourishing. The product glides onto the skin flawlessly leaving a subtle floral/zesty scent. Made with fine kaolin clay, it has organic avocado and rice bran oils which help to lift dull and tired skin both hydrating and giving a healthy glow. Other key ingredients are carrot seed and sea buckthorn CO2 extracts which promote healthy skin cells. This refreshing clay mask works well on dry or sensitive skin types and is best used once a week on clean skin. We found Beautiful Glow to be a gentle product that left skin feeling soft and moisturised.  The pot contains 8-10 full face applications, and once applied, wait 30-45 minutes for it to absorb then rinse off with warm water.

Next, we used The Replenishing Day Oil which was our favourite product of the three. It has key ingredients of rice bran oil, thistle meadowfoam, rosehip. The combination of these potent raw botanicals contain antioxidants and wonderfully beneficial giving the skin a much-needed boost. This Day Oil is suitable for dry and sensitive skin and can be used daily on face and décolletage. It’s light in texture and we loved its delicious floral bouquet. We used it after the Beauty Glow clay mask, which helped to keep the skin supple and protected – we also found that a little went a long way.

The final product we used from the trio was Serum 40, which was a recent Editor’s Choice Winner in The 2020 Beauty Shortlist Awards, it’s perfect for irritated or sensitive skin. It’s a rich serum that helps to regenerate skin cells and prevent wrinkles. Vital ingredients here include sea buckthorn, eco marine extract, prickly pear seed oil with frankincense and patchouli, the latter two are the ideal essential oils for nourishing more mature skin. The serum is best used at night 2-4 times a week it immediately nourishes the skin upon touch and has a refreshing and calming aroma. The serum is the perfect way to end the day. We think these products complement each other well. You can find The Beautiful Glow clay mask in 60g for £25.99 here, the Serum 40 in 15ml for £31.00 here and the Replenishing Light Day Oil is 15ml for £24.99 here.