Methode Physiodermie : Shot C15 Anti-Aging Serum

We’ve recently written about a variety of award-winning serums, and today Methode Physiodermie is the next of our #amazingfinds on The Amazing Blog. This brand made a great impression at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, winning not one, but six awards on its debut entries. And we can see why - with its researched and scientifically proven ingredients in this innovative Shot C15 Anti-Ageing Serum, which includes 20% from organic farming and 99% from natural origin.

Methode Physiodermie is the flagship concept skincare range of the Swiss company Laboratoire Sintyl. The company was founded in 1974 by Swiss biologist Dr Calato, who dedicated much of his life to researching and developing the formulation of effective skincare, with a complete range of anti-ageing solutions, backed by 40 years of research on skin rejuvenation. Today their CEO, Alexandre Vacher, has had extensive experience in the biotechnology and cosmetics industries; in an interview with South China Morning Post Country Reports, he said, “The fact that all our products are proudly Swiss- made in our Geneva facility ensures that they only get the highest quality ingredients and, therefore, with the highest effectiveness.” The company creates skincare through science at its headquarters in Geneva and dedicates vast amounts of time and resources to research and development before launching its products. Their skincare is scientifically formulated with a range that includes organic ingredients that uses the latest revolutionary and cutting-edge technology called microencapsulation (MEIMA). Through this process, active ingredients are acquired into a liposome capsule and are then protected and delivered to the layer of skin where the cells need them most; it’s a skincare concept that specifically adapts to every type of skin and allows the achievement of visible and lasting results. Methode Physiodermie’s products are available to both consumers and professionals. 20% of the company’s sales go towards further research and development innovation methods, and in another interview conducted by I Feel Good Event, CEO Alexandre Vacher stated, “We are also leading Research and Development activities in the field of functional ingredients, plant extracts and formulation techniques to offer consumers ever more efficient products.” And as a cosmeceutical brand, they only rely on scientifically proven ingredients. Although all their products are produced as professional skincare and distributed in medi-spas and beauty salons - they are also available from the website for consumer use.

With Edwina as one of the judges at The Beauty Shortlist Awards, The Shot C15 Anti-Ageing Serum, certainly got her vote as the Best Serum (age 50+). It is part of Methode Physiodermie’s Clinical Swiss Organics collection, where the range is certified by Ecocert Greenlife according to the COSMOS-standard and is free from fragrance, silicones, parabens, mineral oils, EDTA/BHA/BH; it also went on to win the Best Skincare Brand (age 60+).

The Shot C15 Anti-Ageing Serum is their first certified organic serum with 15% pure vitamin C. The product has an ultra-concentrated formula, which has given the product a very effective anti-ageing effect. It is scientifically proven to firm the skin, visibly reduce brown spots, stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis, and protect cells from free radicals. The Shot C15 Anti-Ageing Serum separately includes Pure Vitamin C sachet which needs to be mixed in and when combined must used within one month, as it is only stable within that time frame. If exposed to heat, light, or air, it can also become unstable. Something to note is that stabilised vitamin C is the only effective way to use vitamin C, as when it becomes unstable and oxidises, there is no longer a benefit to its use. 

Let’s look at the ingredients and what they do. Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) fruit water comes from (organically grown) red cranberries. It is rich in antioxidants with vitamin C, to combat free radicals and slow the appearance of the effects of premature ageing. Ascorbic acid is pure vitamin C, again as the primary antioxidant here it’s known to brighten the skin, improve wrinkles, and help fade any skin discolourations. Sodium citrate also has antioxidant properties and helps maintain the pH level in skincare products. Sodium hyaluronate is a form of hyaluronic acid and a potent skin humectant that helps the skin retain water. Salicylic acid is an exfoliating ingredient that helps the skin feel smoother. Glycerin is naturally occurring in the skin and is an ingredient that protects the skin from dryness by helping the skin retain moisture. Xanthan Gum is produced from the fermentation of simple sugars and acts as a thickening ingredient and stabiliser in skincare products. Benzyl alcohol is a preservative and pH adjuster used in skincare. Sorbic acid is another preservative and form of vitamin C; it encourages new collagen to grow and maintains the existing collagen, and is deemed to be a very safe ingredient used in skincare and also prevents the growth of bacteria.

We used this serum morning and night; only a few drops were needed. All you do is add the contents of the Pure Vitamin C sachet into the serum bottle. Then screw the dropper back on and shake vigorously for approx. 10 seconds. Then they recommend letting it stand for a few minutes before use. It’s for the face, neck and décolleté; gently massage to let it absorb and then apply any regular moisturiser or SPF (if applied in the morning). This is another of our #amazingfinds, and we love how it has proven scientific ingredients from the natural origin combined with the organic cranberry fruit water. Don’t be put off by the high percentage of vitamin C. We initially had our reservations, as we thought this serum might be too potent for our sensitive skin type. However, we were very pleasantly surprised at how gentle it was! It has given our complexion back its glow and helped fade some of our more visible pigmentation patches. As an anti-ageing serum, what more could we ask for? To purchase the 27ml Shot C15 Anti-Ageing Serum see here for £64.

EasterMia : Blushing Bride and Top Coat

With the Easter break only moments away - shock horror - at The Amazing Blog, we’ve had no time to get our regular manicure! Thankfully all is not lost, as we have two new nail products from the award-winning Canadian nail brand EasterMia. Perfect for an at-home mani-pedi, we used their Blushing Bride and Top Coat, as all their nail polishes are non-toxic, vegan, and made with cruelty-free formulas. Regular readers may remember we’ve written about their Crisp Apple nail polish and Nail Kit here.

Mia Phan founded EasterMia in 2019 and owns a local nail salon in Burlington, Ontario. Mia had two thoughts while creating her nail brand: self-care and nail health. Her mother, Helen Nguyen, has been in the nail industry for over 30 years, and clients in her salon will often come in talking about juggling work, making dinner, and driving their kids around. Mia also had a first-hand account of seeing hard-working women in action. "Trust me, I know how rare moments of self-care and rest can be. That is why I love to create a relaxing experience for my clients that leave them feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the week's responsibilities." Mindful also of nail health, Mia created her nail formulas alongside a chemist to ensure her products were free-from fragrances and all toxic chemicals. “Seeing people around me working with toxic chemicals and using toxic chemicals on clients. I wanted to make a change in the nail industry so I decided to create EasterMia for all clients that can wear nail polish that is toxic-free.” All EasterMia nail products are safe for everyone, from expecting mothers to people with allergies. They are also a Leaping Bunny approved brand, and recently a global award winner at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, where they won the Best Nail Brand and Editor's Choice for four products, including the Blushing Bride Nail Polish, Top Coat, Base Coat, and Rite on Red Nail Polish.

If, like us, you’re looking for a beautiful pastel pink shade this spring, then this Blushing Bride Nail Polish is for you. The name is fitting, as nudes and pastel pinks are the traditional and popular colours for brides on their big day. This natural shade of pink is highly versatile and will neatly coordinate with almost any outfit. In fact, the Pantone Fashion Colour Trend Report for S/S 2022, has one of the key season’s colours ‘13-2004 Potpourri,’ a light fresh mix of nude and pastel pink - not far off this pink Blushing Bride hue. It’s a colour statement that’s gone from the runways to the high street and is already being used as an accent in many outfits, like bows and stripes. What we like about EasterMia’s Blushing Bride, is that it’s a classic colour that makes everyone’s nails look good. Pastel pink is always a favoured colour as it has greater longevity than brighter colours, and doesn’t show the ‘wear and tear’ quite so quickly! We found Blushing Bride to be richly pigmented, giving complete coverage in a single swipe - making it super-easy for anyone like us on a busy schedule. 

The EasterMia collection is 10-free and doesn’t contain the ten most common harsh chemicals used in ordinary nail polishes. These no-nos include formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, toluene, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, triphenyl phosphate and fragrance. Large amounts of these can cause some serious health problems, from mild irritation to congenital disabilities, or even cancer! Considering nails grow slowly (averaging 3.47 mm a month), you might want to check what’s in the formulas of your regular nail polishes.

Mia recommends using her Top Coat to help make the colour last longer. This clear polish also helps to reflect more light. Top Coat also blocks harmful UV rays and keeps nail polish from yellowing. The average person spends £450 on their nails in the UK. So, in these times of inflation, what better to cut some of the costs than by doing your own nails at home. Top coats, in our view, are essential they add a layer of protection to a basic polish manicure and keep nail polish from chipping and peeling. We recommend for a longer-lasting colour, always top up with their high gloss Top Coat finish. Which, BTW, we’re happy to report both this and Blushing Bride are entirely gloop free. To try these excellent nail polishes click here for the Blushing Bride and here for Top Coat. All nail polishes are 15ml and available for Canadian $16 each (approx £9.66). EasterMia is a brand to watch and we hear whispers that these might be coming into the UK soon…Happy Easter.

L’abeille : Hyaluron-3 Hydration Essence

Some days, our erratic British weather feels like it’s constantly drying out our skin. So, at The Amazing Blog, we're always on the lookout for a serum that will help with skin hydration and luminosity. And today, this is another of our #amazingfinds with the award-winning Hyaluron-3 Hydration Essence by the South African beauty brand L’abeille, which collected an Editor’s Choice, and we were lucky enough to judge for the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Karen Potgieter officially founded the South African brand L'abeille in 2017. Her first foray into the world of skincare began with her first range Bee Pure in 2013. However, four years later, Karen decided that she wanted to produce a more high-performance natural skincare line to work on a cellular level and with more scientifically proven claims. After lots of research and studying, she created L'abeille. Karen told Formula Botanica, "I am very fortunate to have a well-equipped lab on the farm in South Africa, and am able to work from home. It all started after our first honey harvest. I started researching all the amazing benefits of honey & the use of beeswax in skincare." Being of French descent, Karen decided to combine her love for both Africa and France. The brand uses high-performance actives found in African oils, some botanicals harvested from the coast of Brittany, France. The honey and floral extracts in L'abeille come from her bee colonies on the farm. These colonies are vital to sustaining their flowers. This is also why they chose the name L'abeille which translates to "the bee" in French, and the brand has a clean beauty ethos. "From our raw material sourcing to the production lines, we are committed to providing luxury skincare of unparalleled excellence and revolutionary results. Our ingredients are carefully selected locally and abroad from trusted and honest suppliers." L'abeille uses quality ingredients that are sustainably sourced, environmentally friendly, and cruelty-free. The brand also promises full transparency between the company and the customer. It includes bio-based/bio-available and bio/nature-identical ingredients to optimise skincare benefits without compromising on their ethos. With a constant commitment to research and development, all products are scientifically engineered and this is where they aim to stay at the forefront of the clean beauty movement. . Their packaging is in Miron glass, the violet glass is an excellent all-natural, high-vibrational frequency container that can preserve and protect from UV damage and enhance the quality of ingredients. The brand is no stranger to winning awards, see here.

We loved using this Hyaluron-3 Hydration Essence; it’s made with three different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid and sodium PCA (hence the name). These enhance hydration and make skin appear firm and plump. The key ingredients here are pentylene glycol, polysiphonia elongata microalgae extracts, niacinamide and ectoin. These combined to help to significantly improve the skin's quality, density and dullness for smoother, brighter, and more luminous skin.

Let’s look at those key ingredients; hyaluronic acid, as well all know, has many skin benefits. It's excellent for skin hydration as it locks moisture into your skin. The sodium PCA, in essence, has humectant properties. This attracts moisture from the air and retains moisture in the skin. Sodium PCA also has anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, and skin protectant properties. The pentylene glycol is sourced from sugarcane and corn and is a by-product. It’s also known for its hydrating properties and solvent to aid penetration of other ingredients, helps improve the formula’s texture and is a mild preservative. The polysiphonia elongata microalgae extracts claim to help with ageing signs such as fine lines or wrinkles. This red species of microalgae extract improves and brightens the complexion, aiding in hydration whilst revitalising and toning. What interested us is that these algae in vitro studies show an extraordinary collagen increase of up to 35%! It’s full of essential vitamins and antioxidants that protect skin and repair previous damage, protecting the skin against harmful free radicals. The ectoin is an active cell protector (against pollution). It’s hailed as a revolutionary nourishing ingredient with a patented cell protection booster that protects skin from environmental stressors and photo-ageing, which is done by binding molecules and forming hydration shells around skin cells. Niacinamide is (AKA vitamin B3) along with being one of the best ingredients for anti-ageing, niacinamide has lots of other skin benefits. Vitamin B3 is known for helping with fading hyperpigmentation. Because it also produces ceramides and elastin, this ingredient also helps strengthen the skin's natural protective barrier. This allows it to fight against free radicals that cause DNA damage from everyday pollutants. Lastly, niacinamide is safe for all skin types, including those who have a sensitive skin.

Other ingredients present are jojoba seed oil, vanilla planifolia, lavender and jasmine oil. Vanilla planifolia fruit, commonly referred to as vanilla bean, is a source of catechins (also known as polyphenols), which have antioxidant activity and serve as skin-soothing agents. Lavender oil moisturises and is non-comedogenic for pores, and is skin calming. It also has antibacterial properties meaning it kills harmful bacteria that might infiltrate the pores. Jasmine oil has strong moisturising properties and is full of antioxidants and actives that help to stimulate cellular regeneration.

The Hyaluron-3 Hydration Essence has a viscous texture, a cross between a liquid and gel; it’s been created to help make the complexion brighter, smoother, and more luminous. We loved using this as a first skincare step, using it on the face, neck, and décolleté. A huge bonus is that it’s safe and gentle enough to use around the eye area and really helps to plump out fine lines. L'Abeille recommends using the products before applying heavier serums and creams; we used it alone, day and night, and also with our regular moisturiser. It has the subtlest natural fragrance, so it won’t conflict if you use it in conjunction with other skincare products. It’s always of interest to us when a brand has cutting-edge formulas where science meets nature, and L’abeille certainly has this! We loved the performance of this serum, and would heartily recommend this to anyone looking for an excellent newt skin-boosting serum. To purchase the 50ml Hyaluron-3 Hydration Essence, for R1290 (which is approximately £63.68), see here. 

Dr Jackson's : 05 Face & Eye Essence

Following on with more of our Beauty Shortlist Winners, here is a brand that has won no less than six awards this year, with some of the highest accolades given which include ‘Best Blue Beauty Brand” and “Best Vegan Skincare UK”. We are talking about Dr Jackson's a British beauty and well-being brand that prides itself on being clean, organic, gender-neutral and fragrance-free. Today we are featuring one of our favourites, which was awarded “Best Product of Tired Eyes/Signs of Fatigue” their 05 Face & Eye Essence.

Dr Jackson's was founded in 2008 by the PhD pharmacy in pharmacognosy Simon Jackson. However, the history of the company dates back a few decades. Even as a child, Simon was always intrigued by the power of nature and took an interest in native plants used by indigenous tribes in Amazon, Indonesia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Simon relates how a particular fruit drew his fascination and how it was sparked an idea to create his skincare. It was the Kigelia or "sausage-tree", traditionally, this fruit is used topically for its anti-microbial properties, which help reduce symptoms associated with eczema and skin irritation. Dr Jackson related in a past interview that, "95% of the world's population use natural products or plants as a primary healthcare, so for me, it is a real inspiration as to why people use natural products as a medicine." With his extensive botanical knowledge, a range of incredible plant-powered, vegan, sustainable skincare, and organic herbal teas, were born. Dr Simon Jackson is currently the CSO and co-founder of Modern Botany skincare.

Today the company is led by Kristijana Durakic, a scientific officer. She is a biological sciences, pharmacy, and biomedicine professional who oversees a team of scientists and formulation experts. Under her leadership, Dr Jackson's stays true to its roots and offers clinically tested and sustainable products with reduced waste that minimises its carbon footprint where it is “led by science, inspired by nature.” The packaging of the products is always eco, simple plastic-free, and in recyclable 100% compostable cardboard boxes. Additionally, Dr Jackson's is a member of 1% for the Planet, a non-profit organisation whose purpose is to ensure that the earth and future generations thrive. One of the key ingredients that the brand uses is Baobab. They now have an alliance with the Baobab Foundation to support their educational programmes and Baobab Wilding Campaign, planting young Baobab trees and protecting them from external threats. The brand considers itself gender-neutral and inclusive, as its products are designed for everyone regardless of their age, gender, or skin type. 

The 05 Face & Eye Essence is a firm favourite with us as a hydrating and toning gel, particularly for the contour area of the eyes. The four key ingredients are damask rose flower water, bitter orange flower water, chamomile flower oil and baobab seed oil.

The damask rose flower water restores, tones and calms leaving a soft mood-boosting fragrance. The bitter orange flower water is excellent for relieving stress and boosting energy, and is full of vitamin A and phosphorus, known to tighten large pores and even out skin tone - it leaves skin clear and radiant. The chamomile flower oil is ideal for sensitive skin as an antipruritic and anti-inflammatory it neutralises any irritation. The baobab seed oil strengthens and moisturises thanks to its vitamins C, B, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium; and as the brand says, “The fruit has six times as much vitamin C as an orange, is a plentiful source of antioxidants and it combats skin ageing by improving skin firmness and strength by boosting the elastic quality of the skin and encouraging cell regeneration”. 

There’s aloe leaf juice which hydrates and soothes and is enriched in vitamins and antioxidants, to help prevent premature signs of ageing. Finally, the marula seed oil is a nod to the brand's origins and is one of the most popular skincare oils in sub-Saharan Africa, Packed with vitamins C and E, as well as a lesser-known antioxidant phytochemical epicatechin which helps to stave off the free radicals caused by exposure to UV rays or pollution.

This Face & Eye Essence is dermatologically tested and suitable for sensitive or eczema-prone skins. It is a multi-purpose product that can be used to reduce puffiness or applied as a primer. It’s a little gem that will be your new best ally for soothing tired eyes after a bad night's sleep or for cooling the skin after sunburn. It comes in a glass jar that can be recycled or reused and has a small spatula for application to avoid any contamination. Apply night and day and gently tap the gel around the eye area. A little goes a long way, as it’s highly concentrated in actives, let the skin absorb the gel for a few minutes, before applying makeup. Our top tip is to store it in the fridge before using it - as cool, it’s absolute heaven on tired eyes! This is another of our #amazingfinds, one we repeated buy, and can’t live without. See here to purchase the 50ml 05 Face & Eye Essence for £60.

Honey Heaven : Green Therapy - Firming Anti-Cellulite Body Butter

Our latest CBD discovery at The Amazing Blog is the British brand Honey Heaven's Green Therapy CBD skincare - we tested this Editor’s Choice award-winning Firming Anti-Cellulite Body Butter which we judged on The 2022 Beauty Shortlist’s Wellbeing Awards.

Honey Heaven was founded in 2015 by siblings Silvia and Robert Mocsari. Inspired by their childhood in Hungary, they were keen to share the benefits of local premium organic and unpasteurised honey from their homeland. This is where they have combined their knowledge of medicinal botanicals to produce a range of honey, honey wines and teas with unique recipes passed down through the generations. They have since expanded their range to include CBD products, sourcing their full-spectrum organic CBD virgin hemp supercritical C02 extract from Switzerland, boosted with pure CBD distillate. Honey Heaven's edible products are ethically sourced, 100% natural and organic and made in the UK and do not contain any artificial colours, preservatives, flavourings, sweeteners. The company's motto is, "Nature's choice for a healthier life!"

The Green Therapy CBD Cosmetics range was developed by Silvia in 2020, “I developed our Green Therapy CBD cosmetic range because for a long time I had been searching for a natural anti-ageing product that contained different botanical oils and hyaluronic acid, that could prevent the signs of ageing but moisturise as well. I couldn’t find one and so decided to make my own.” Silvia quickly pointed out that this natural skincare range doesn’t contain their signature organic honey. However, it’s vegan with the exception of the CBD balm, which has beeswax, to thicken the balm and enhance the CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects. It also ensures a non-greasy consistency. Suitable for all skin types, Green Therapy uses a unique blend of herbal oils and CBD to nourish and hydrate the skin.

The Firming Anti-Cellulite Body Butter is one of Honey Heaven's most popular CBD body care products. As a body butter, it’s designed to protect the skin and restore freshness and elasticity. It also has the added benefit of helping to diminish the appearance of cellulite. We particularly liked how it super-hydrated our skin, leaving it soft and supple, and has ingredients that are designed to work together to keep skin looking smooth.

One of the product's key ingredients is Cannabidiol (CBD oil), which as we all know, has numerous health benefits for the skin as it is rich in antioxidants and has many anti-inflammatory properties. Here there is 750mg full-spectrum distillate. CBD oil is believed to help prevent skin ageing because it contains fatty acids, minerals and is full of rich nutrients that all have strong moisturising abilities to pump up the skin. Plus, there is hemp seed oil (which doesn’t contain any CBD), which is rich in nutrients, fatty acids, and valuable bioactive compounds that keep the skin moisturised.

There is shea butter and caprylic/ capric triglyceride, all high in fatty acid content making them an excellent natural emollient and humectant, to lock in moisture. There’s also sunflower seed, and coconut oil, full of skin-calming antioxidants to soften and soothe skin. Cocoa butter is rich in antioxidant polyphenols which aid blood flow to the skin and slow skin ageing by protecting against damage from the sun's harmful UV rays.

Silvia told us, “With this body butter, I was amazed at the results. I loved not only the texture and feel of the product but also the light natural fragrance and colour thanks to the tamanu, sea buckthorn, moringa and the CBD oil we use. I knew I had created something special.” Apart from the fragrance, the tamanu seed oil, sea buckthorn and moringa all have lots of other benefits. The tamanu seed oil helps with the production of collagen and has wound-healing abilities, that can help reduce any scarring. Tamanu oil is also often used to heal sunburns and minor burns. The sea buckthorn helps revive skin cells and smooth any bumpy appearance on the skin and is known as a high-powered anti-ageing defence ingredient. And the Moringa seed oil has vitamin A and C, these compounds have powerful anti-ageing and inflammatory effects, and work to protect skin cells from environmental stresses, such as UV radiation.

Finally, the other two actives here are aloe vera for cooling and soothing and rosehip oil full of emollient properties. Rosehip, like moringa, is full of vitamins A and C to reduce inflammation and irritation in the skin, and also protects it against sun and pollution-induced oxidative stress.

We found that this body butter had exceptional long-lasting and super-hydrating qualities, it kept our skin moisturised and soft - even during the harsh winter months. However, to see the effects of reduced cellulite, we think this need to be used in conjunction with a regular exercise routine. This is something worth remembering, as no cream will ever work to remove cellulite on its own. Cellulite is a build-up of fat under the dermis combined with the weakening of the connective tissue, which in turn creates an orange peel ripple look on the body. It is a harmless and natural condition that affects about 9 out of 10 women - and believe it or not, even some men. And if you’re like us, you’ll probably need to be more disciplined on the diet and exercise front together with using this body butter in order to see any results. Cellulite aside, It’s a wonderful body butter and one we’d order more of, making it another of our #amazingfinds. To purchase Honey Heaven's 150ml Green Therapy Firming Anti-Cellulite Body Butter for £28, see here.