CBD Leafline - Skin Rejuvenating Night Cream & Marine Collagen Eye Gel

Today we are back with another British CBD brand that we’ve recently uncovered and are super excited to tell you all about it. At The Amazing PR, when it comes to CBD infused skincare, we’re always on the looking out for the next best thing; and with the brand CBD Leafline what sets them apart is that they are both a formulator and manufacturer, and kindly sent us some of their range to try.

The brand is founded by CBD enthusiasts Paul and Sonia Shrive; where Paul, who had a lifesaving encounter with CBD in Africa during his youth, wanted to create quality CBD-derived products for others to share the same benefits of well-being. Thanks to his experience in manufacturing, distribution, and wholesale; and Sonia’s expertise in marketing and customer service, they finally launched CBD Leafline in 2018. After much research and development, their first CBD-infused skincare the Skin Therapy range launched at the end of September last year. Over the past few years, studies have demonstrated that topical use of CBD helped regulate the sebaceous glands (responsible for making you look shiny), reduce inflammation and is also a powerful antioxidant. All products in the range combine high-quality whole-plant hemp oil containing CBD (THC-free) with cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, omega 3/6 and amino acid. These interact with other anti-ageing natural and vegan-friendly ingredients, which are derived from plant and fruit extracts, marine collagen (seaweed not fish) retinol, hyaluronic acid and pro-vitamin B5. All CBD Leafline products are independently tested (see here), and the brand is a CannaPro certified business.

The first product that we tried was the Skin Rejuvenating Night Cream and think that this will soon become your hydration hero, if like us, you have dry and dehydrated skin. The 100mg whole-plant hemp extract is paired with other powerful antioxidants like oat silk, plum kernel and argan oils, and green tea extract. This formula is also packed with hydrating properties; starting with our old friend hyaluronic acid together with evening primrose, shea butter, and a complex of natural oils (apricot kernel, avocado, arnica, and passionfruit); where these fatty acids that maintain the skin’s hydration are here to keep it nourished.  The cream’s scent is a subtle and delicious mix of green tea and plum. To use, simply apply a small amount to cleansed skin in the evening, avoiding the eye contour and massage upwards gently working the cream into face and neck. What we liked abut this Night Cream was that in the morning, our skin felt soft, looked dewy and was slightly more plumped-up. The 30ml Skin Rejuvenating Night Cream is available for purchase at £44.99 here.

The second product we tried was the Marine Collagen Eye Gel and in this 30ml bottle the CBD dosage is 50mg; this works alongside the seaweed-extracted marine collagen to help the skin regain its elasticity. This Eye Gel is also rich in hyaluronic acid and avocado oil both of which improve skin’s moisture levels. While alongside the hemp terpenes, the arnica and aloe vera here tone and fights puffiness and dark circles . Use morning and night by dabbing a small amount of gel onto the eye area and let it absorb. We found that it glided onto the skin effortlessly and left the area feeling cool and refreshed; it also worked brilliantly for reviving tired eyes - especially with our constant screen fatigue! You can purchase the 30ml Marine Collagen Eye Gel for £34.99 here. All products have super-potent formulas and to get the maximum benefit from their natural actives do remember to store them in a cool spot (below 25°C) and away from direct sunlight. All of their skincare products are available on their own or as sets and bundles.

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.

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.

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.

Dr Ankerstjerne - URBAN PROTECTION & SUPERFOOD

If you tot up the annual cost of your skincare, does it make you draw breath in horror? When we did this at The Amazing Blog it certainly gave us quite a shock!  We are all for economy and multitasking products, so when we heard about a new advanced Nordic skincare Dr Ankerstjerne , that would not only save us time but money – we had to try it. We also think that it’s perfect as a Christmas gift for anyone looking for a simple anti-ageing skincare routine with excellent results.

Dr Ankerstjerne is an advanced skincare brand developed by two Norwegian doctors, who got their inspiration when they couldn’t find skincare that would endure the extremes of the Scandinavian weather. Stine and Andre Ankerstjerne went on to develop an effective cosmeceutical brand based on one particular insight: Why use multiple products when the key actives needed can be condensed into just a few? In 2018, after five years of research, development, and testing, they decided to launch their own skincare brand with advanced skincare that’s easy to use. To answer the need for a simpler skincare regime, all the products are packed with multiple actives that work in synergy to provide long-lasting results without taking so much time or money. These all underwent clinical and laboratory testing with advanced dermatology equipment to measure very precisely the depth and length of wrinkles, skin firmness, skin elasticity and moisture levels. Dr Stine Ankerstjerne said: “Documentation of our skincare range’s effect assures us that our products do what they promise. The anti-age effects have been thoroughly investigated in double-blind, long-term studies, where independent dermatologists have performed advanced 3D scans of the skin of test subjects before and after the test period. The impressive study results showed a reduction of wrinkles, increased moisture content in the skin, as well as improvement of skin elasticity and tightness.” There is a core range of five products, all of which are high in vitamins and antioxidants (see here ) where these target anti-ageing for all skin types. They are also vegan, free from paraben, silicone and microplastics. 

We received two products, both beautifully presented with simple and clean white branding. The first product that we reviewed is the URBAN PROTECTION Anti-pollution/Anti-ageing day cream . As the name suggests,  this cream is to be used in the morning to hydrate and safeguard skin against environmental pollutants and aggressors. This is one of the few creams that we’ve tried that offered SPF 30 UVA and B filtering and quick absorption into the dermis. Best of all,  for us, it doesn’t leave a white residue or clog the pores! It uses CityStem™ an ingredient known to restore the autophagic functions that can be altered by pollution in order to detoxify skin cells (i.e. it reduces the penetration of air pollution into the skin, strengthen the epidermis, and limits DNA damage). To slow ageing signs, this is combined with niacinamide (vitamin B3), well-known for its hydration and skin barrier function, as well as reducing hyperpigmentation. It keeping wrinkles and fine lines at bay, whilst improving skin texture and elasticity by boosting the collagen production. After using, their testers found that in eight weeks the wrinkles were decreased by 24% and noticed an increase in skin elasticity and firmness. We think that if, like us, you live in a city then this URBAN PROTECTION day cream will soon become a must-have addition to your daily skincare routine! 

The second product we tried was their  SUPERFOOD multipurpose vitamin facegel. This is what Dr Ankerstjerne calls an “ultra-hydrating antioxidant vitamin bomb”…And we quickly understood why, looking at the list of ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin B5, A, E and sea buckthorn extract for vitamin C. All of these ingredients are known for their powerful hydrating and antioxidant properties. It offers the perfect cocktail to help reduce hyperpigmentation and skin irritation while helping with skin moisture and maintaining the skin’s natural elasticity and firmness. Because it is so deliciously rich in vitamins, this cool-to-the-touch gel can either be used alone or under your day or night cream, and as an eye contour cream.  This truly is an all-in-one anti-ageing product and here, after eight weeks the clinical tests with SUPERFOOD it showed 10/10 results for improvement of wrinkles/elasticity and firmness.  We used this alone at night where it felt cooling, fresh and moisturising. When used under URBAN PROTECTION, it gave us the reassurance that we needed, for our skin to be adequately shielded from pollution and chilling winter weather. It is easy to use, timesaving and we think good value for money as a high-performance cosmeceutical. Rest assured these two products will be a good investment and your two great allies for all-year-round protection. You can purchase the 50ml URBAN PROTECTION day cream here for 850.00nok (approximately £70.50), and the 50ml  SUPERFOOD multipurpose vitamin facegel here for the same price.