Elan Skincare: Imagine Pure Delight Hand & Body Scrub - Chocolate & Orange Renew + Revive

One of our most favourite self-care products at The Amazing Blog  is a body scrub. For us, by regularly exfoliating the body it’s a significant step for cleansing and invigorating the skin. Today we’re featuring again one of our favourite natural skincare brands Elan Skincare, but this time with their Imagine Pure Delight Hand & Body Scrub.

Elan Skincare was founded in 2017 by Joanna Silva, who wanted to create a brand with honesty and transparency, "with strong foundations in science, nature, and art." Silva believes that it is an art to combine science and natural ingredients to create a beautiful but effective products. One of Elan's main principles is to use natural and organic ingredients. Elan Skincare products combine botanicals, like aromatic plant extracts, nourishing oils and potent active ingredients to create their products. Their products use a combination of cold-pressed, unrefined oils and butter. These are eco-certified or Soil Association certified organic botanicals, with CO2 organic plant extracts, and natural, active ingredients like vitamins C & E and hyaluronic acid. Elan Skincare is a British brand and goes above and beyond to look at safety data to decide which ingredients to use and build their products' formulations. As a brand, they believe that their ingredients go beyond skincare and that "it is about creating a ritual of looking after yourself and taking care of your skin." 

Today we want to talk about their Imagine Pure Delight Hand & Body Scrub which is a sugar-based, natural and gentle body exfoliator. This exfoliator is rich in natural glycolic acid and vitamins A, B, E, and F. The sugar cane here is natural glycolic acid which works by removing all dead skin cells, smoothening and addressing other skin concerns such as sun damage or rough and flaky skin. The sugar's raw gritty texture will help remove the layer of dead skin cells and other impurities without damaging the surface layer of the skin. In fact, this Imagine Pure Delight Hand & Body Scrub will ‘buff away scaly skin’ and ‘banish dry skin’ while deeply moisturising, leaving a silky, smooth feeling. We also like that this is dermatologically tested and has pH is 5.5, which is slightly acidic. When the skin is balanced on 5.5, then it’s working to its optimum, as it requires a balance between alkaline and acidity for the acid mantle – the barrier that keeps moisture in and germs and toxins out. There’s also coconut, sesame, sunflower and oat oils, together with candelilla wax, tocopherol (vitamin E) and squalene. The delicious zesty chocolate orange fragrance comes from a bespoke aromatic blend and the rich orange colour is from the natural beta carotene.

With all the pure and natural ingredients, this Imagine Pure Delight Hand & Body Scrub didn’t disappoint. We used the scrub in circular motions to help the sugar cane crystals and oils work their magic. It banished dry patches leaving a revived, healthy and energised skin with a moreish fragrance that truly uplifted the senses. It’s vegan and cruelty-free; and another one of our #amazingfinds. By regularly using this Hand & Body Scrub, it will keeps skin looking fresh and smooth. To purchase this 280ml tub of Imagine Pure Delight Hand & Body Scrub - Chocolate & Orange Renew + Revive for £28 see here.

Ambre Luxe: Bronzing Foam and Tan Remover Foam

It’s summertime (AKA self-tanner time), and at The Amazing Blog we love how a good self-tanning product boosts our confidence, prevents us from spending hours roasting in the sun, allows us to get a tan from the comfort of our home, and more importantly, gives us a glow that is skin cancer risk-free! We’re always on the look out for a good, new and comment-worthy self-tanner and this new duo from Ambre Luxe with their Bronzing Foam and Tan Remover Foam didn’t disappoint!

Ambre Luxe, is an Australian brand that sells self-tanning products, was started in 2018 by Amanda Bankier and her daughter — they are a mother and daughter team that love anything to do with beauty. Since their inception they have grown into a team of four, and are continuously building on their brand. Currently, Ambre Luxe sells Bronzing Foam, Tan Remover Foam, a Polishing Glove, and Tanning Mitt and they have a couple of new products in development, including a Gradual Tanning Moisturiser. Bankier said, “We are passionate about creating multi-tasking bronzing formulas that deliver on every level, this is our Ambre Luxe brand mission.” Ambre Luxe is cruelty-free and vegan, and although they are an Australian brand, they deliver worldwide. They recently announced that they will be the official tanning partner of Miss Universe Australia 2021. Bankier went on to say, “As confessed self-tan and skin care addicts, we were constantly struggling to find a self-tan that offered potent skincare benefits without compromising on the effectiveness of the tanning actives. So we fixed that, and created our very own. At Ambre Luxe we are passionate about both bronzing perfection and skincare.” All products are paraben-free, include some organic ingredients, and come in containers made with plastic that can be recycled.

Let’s start with the Ambre Luxe’s Bronzing Foam, what we like is that this is that it allowed us to tailor our colour— leave it on for two hours for a subtle glow or eight hours for the darker finish (we preferred the latter). The formula contains 15% DHA, for the newbie self-tanners here, this DHA is in most self tanning products and can be from 5% to 15% in strength. As a general rule, you want to pick a product with a smaller percentage if you have fair skin and a product with a larger percentage if your natural skin tone is medium or dark. However, we have pale skin and flout this rule by nearly always using 15% DHA! Most people with sensitive skin have no issues with any DHA-based products, but to stay on the safe side we’d suggest always to do a patch test. There are also rejuvenating and moisturising ingredients in this Bronzing Foam with marula oil, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and carrot seed oil. The marula oil is antioxidant and fatty acid rich as well as deeply nourishing, hyaluronic acid is hydrating as it helps the skin attract external moisture, vitamin E repairs damaged cells as well as protects against further damage, and carrot seed oil adds additional antioxidants and nourishment. Ambre Luxe says the tan will last 5–7 days or longer with proper preparation and regular moisturising - NB: don’t use body oil it shortens the lifespan of the tan! We used this by first moisturising dry areas (hands, wrists, feet, ankles, elbows, and knees); you can use your hands to apply or if you’re like us, we preferred to use a Mitt (Ambre Luxe has one here) It’s easy to use and when applied has guide colour, so you’ll know if you miss anywhere. The fragrance is very pleasant being slightly sweet and berry-like but not overpowering. Then after tanning, we waited 5 minutes to let it dry before dressing. They very sensibly suggest avoiding contact with water while the tan is still developing or you may end up with water splatters - not a good look! The company says you can use the foam on your face but recommends against it if you have sensitive skin. One of the great things about this product is that it dries quickly and leaves skin feeling smooth and nourished — unlike some other tanners that we’ve tried, which have left us feeling sticky for hours. We also liked how natural the results were and how it didn’t dry out our skin - we’d recommend this.

Next we used Ambre Luxe’s Tan Remover Foam this works by speeding up the natural skin shedding process that fades tans, which can be done with physical or chemical exfoliants. Physical exfoliants require manually rubbing the tan and skin away, which can leave skin irritated and red. While chemical exfoliants in this Tan Remover Foam, gently removes old tan residue by dissolving the glue that holds dead skin cells together, so no harsh scrubbing is required. While the word ‘chemical’ may sound scary, in this case, it isn’t — the chemical they uses is citric acid, which is derived from citrus fruit. And fruit acids actually have many benefits, including smoothing and hydrating skin. The Tan Remover Foam also includes aloe vera, which is a soothing and calming anti-inflammatory. Ambre Luxe recommends exfoliating 24 hours before tanning. To apply, you can use your hands or use their Polishing  Glove that they’ve designed particularly for this exfoliating step. We were very impressed by its performance and how very gentle this Tan Remover was on the skin. Again the fragrance here was pleasant with a hint of fruitiness. It took next to no time to work - 5 minutes to be precise, then we had a warm shower to remove all residue. For all you tanning addicts, we feel sure that this will fast become your bathroom essential, leaving you now with no excuse for those orange patchy knees and ankles! Again, it’s easy to use and certainly beats soaking in the bath followed by a loofah. This is definitely one of our #amazingfind for tan removal, and has already been used on numerous occasions during this summer.

If you want to step up your self-tan game with these products, you can find The Bronzing Foam here for $29.95, the Tan Remover Foam here for $24.95, and the Duo Pack here for $45.00.

EARTH from Earth: Damask Rose Skin Balm

It is no secret that here at The Amazing Blog, we value natural skincare products above all else. After all beauty trends come and go, but our skin is here for life, and so it’s imperative to take care of it. As always, we’re on the hunt for new and exciting products, and today’s latest discovery is from EARTH from Earth, with their Damask Rose Skin Balm.

EARTH from Earth is a wellness brand that focuses on natural and organic skincare, haircare and grooming products. Founded by Kehinde Ogunba, a graduate of Formula Botanics, who saw that there was a “gap in approachable and effective self-care products that are made with the right combination of herbs and unconventional superior plant oils and butter.” Ogunba works closely with Minomi Adejumo, who is the formulator and brand alchemist for EARTH from Earth. Adejumo is a qualified pharmacist and medical herbalist with expansive knowledge of both African and Western healing traditions. Adejumo has “a strong appreciation and experience in harnessing the therapeutic properties of numerous herbs and plant oils.” EARTH is a acronym for Essences Aromas Relaxation Therapy Healing. These ideas are what the brand aims to offer for the modern woman, man and family; since their products are formulated to “nourish, uplift, calm and balance mind, body and soul.” EARTH from Earth describes their range of products as “indulgent, potent, aromatic and nutrient-dense” with all-natural, organic plant oils and herbs that are chosen specifically for their “therapeutic abilities and extraordinary efficacy.” Every product is made in the UK and handcrafted to nourish, condition, moisturise, rejuvenate, restore, uplift and balance. The fragrances only come from the raw aroma of the natural ingredients combined with the “delicate blend of aromatherapy oils to evoke a deep sense of sensory awakening.” Most of their products are plastic-free in brown amber glass containers and housed in a biodegradable paper tubes, with earthy jute sacs to keep them safe. They made with 100% ethically-sourced herbs, plant oils and butters which are vegan and cruelty free.

EARTH from Earth’s Damask Rose Skin Balm contains a unique blend of antioxidants and vitamin-rich superior butters, plant oils and herbs. We love that the natural and organic ingredients create their own natural and raw aroma. This skin balm feels and smells luxurious. It is specifically formulated to provide deep nourishment, hydration and replenishment. This balm is laced with one of our favourite ingredients the rosa damescena, “carefully hand-picked early in the morning before they can open and release their precious scent, soothing and sensual as it infuses the skin with enriching nutrients.” The herbal extracts are produced in-house to ensure the essence of every herb is fully released into the oils. To use this soothing skin balm, scoop a small portion into your hands to warm it up and take a moment to inhale the natural aromas, then proceed to apply the balm all over your skin.  The key herbal ingredients here are wild geranium, broadleaf plantain, gotu kola, nettle, calendula, licorice root, field horsetail, marshmallow, chickweed. Together they are blended with oils from coconut, grapeseed, castor, avocado, jojoba, olive and African oil palm. There is candelilla wax, murumuru and cacao butters to give the Balm its consistency. The fragrance is subtle combination of the essential oils, with rosa damescena, patchouli and geranium. In short, this is a beautiful and delicately scented Balm which is free from water, alcohol, chemical preservatives, stabilisers and additives. We used it on face and body, concentrating on elbows, knees and lips. We love how this is a wonderful multitasker, and if there’s only room for one skincare product to pack in you travel bag this summer - make sure this is it! To purchase this 120ml jar of Damask Rose Skin Balm see here.

AYPA Terra Inka : Raw Face Mask with Maca, and Raw Face Oil with Buriti & Maracuja

Raw and organic face masks and oils have the power to transform how your face both looks and feels, and Aypa Terra Inka’s products are no exception. At The Amazing Blog, we first discovered this brand at the 2021 The Beauty Shortlist Awards. What intrigued us was it’s extraordinary Andean raw ingredients, returning us back to heady days of our student backpacking travels in South America! 

 Aypa  is a beauty brand that is rooted in the nature of Peru. The company has skincare, special treatments, and at-home spa products, all in addition to having a Spa in Spain. Mirella Crovetto, the founder of Aypa, was inspired to develop a skincare and spa brand that included an Andean essence in its products, which she was couldn’t find in anywhere else. So, she travelled to the Andes in her native Peru and studied from the indigenous communities their centuries-old alchemy to bring into her skincare, and thus her company was born. Aypa means ‘earth’ in the Inca Quechua language, and stands for the respect the native Andeans have for nature. The brand fuses native tradition with innovation — combining the respect for nature and knowledge of plants inherited from the Incas, with today’s insight and research. Crovetto said, “It’s an invitation to travel inside my dreamed Peru, connect with the soul of its earth and get in harmony with nature.”

We were excite to receive four of their products, but today we’re going to review the first two. This is the Raw Face Mask with Maca and the Raw Face Oil with Buriti & Maracuja, which are two from the four in the Aypa’s Raw Collection. Both products are 100% natural, raw, organic and contain fair trade ingredients, which are cruelty free, and vegan. Aypa’s Raw Face Mask with Maca is a powder-to-paste mask that contains Andean superfood powers. Some of the main ingredients in this face mask include maca, algarrobo, lucuma, maras salt, muña, and green clay. Maca is a root found in the high Andean lands of Peru that is known as “the Inca fountain of youth.” Containing minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, it promotes cell renewal, increases skin luminosity, and slows down the ageing process. Algarrobo is a fruit found in the Pacific Coast of Peru that contains minerals, vitamin B, tannins, and lysine. This ingredient heals, balances, and has antioxidant and antiseptic properties. Lucuma is a fruit found in the mid-coast of Peru that contains vitamin B3, betacarotenes, and minerals. This ingredient energizes, nourishes, and has firming and anti-ageing properties. Maras salt is found in the high Andean lands of Peru, and its 84 minerals have anti-inflammatory and detox properties. Muña is known as “the mint of the Andes” and has antiseptic and soothing properties. Green clay contains many minerals and removes impurities, tightens pores, tones skin, exfoliates, absorbs, and reduces acne inflammation. To use Aypa’s Raw Face Mask with Maca as an exfoliant, mix a few drops of water into a teaspoon of powder on your palm until it is a paste, massage onto your skin, and then rinse. To use this face mask as a treating mask, mix a few drops of water or Aypa’s Raw Face Oil with one teaspoon of powder in a bowl until it is a mud-like texture. Then apply to your face and neck, leave for 10–15 minutes, and rinse, we could almost ‘feel’ the raw goodness healing our skin!

Aypa’s Raw Face Oil with Buriti & Maracuja contains four Peruvian oils that are cold-pressed from whole fruits. These oils include buriti, maracuja, palo rosa, and palo santo. Buriti, which is found in the Amazon rainforest in Peru, contains beta-carotene, vitamin C and E, and fatty acids. Beta-carotene protects skin from photo-damage, vitamin C and E regenerate skin, and the fatty acids moisturise and rehydrate skin. Maracuja is found in the sub-tropical north coast of Peru. Containing omega 6, vitamin C, and antioxidants, it hydrates and boosts collagen production. Palo rosa, which is rose wood, is found in the Amazon rainforest in Peru and helps regenerates tissues, improve circulation, and has antiseptic properties. Palo santo, which is holly wood, is found in forests in the north coast of Peru. This oil reduces oxidative stress and inhibits the elastase enzyme, thus creating a more youthful appearance. To use this blend of oils, apply one drop to your face and neck or mix with your moisturiser or liquid foundation. Whether you have dry or oily skin this adapts and balances to suit each skin type. There is a deliciously sweet and earthy fragrance (probably the rose wood?) where you can tell that there’s absolutely nothing artificial about this Face Oil. It’s almost a dry oil, as it hydrated and left our skin glowy without a hint of greasiness.

If you too want to reap the benefits of these raw ingredients, you can purchase the 30ml Raw Face Oil with Buriti & Maracuja here for 69.00€, and the 50ml Raw Face Mask with Maca here for 45.00€.

Pit- Tastic! - Rose & Ylang-Ylang and Orris & Sandalwood Zero Waste Deodorant

If there’s one thing all of our morning routines have in common — it’s the use of deodorant! And if everyone used a deodorant that was wrapped in paper, like the one today, there’d be a lot less plastic w­­aste in the world. Luckily, there are companies like Pit-Tastic! that sell plastic-free and biodegradable deodorant bars. If you’re familiar with The Amazing Blog, then you’ll know we are all about trying to be sustainable, and by using these solid Deodorant Bars, we think it’s a great way to help both yourself and the Earth!

Pit-Tastic!, which sells natural solid Deodorant Bars, was created by Alice Bardwell after she had a stroke in 2019. The stroke took her speech, understanding, reading, and writing — but by mixing, stirring, and creating the perfect solid deodorant bar, really helped her rebuild her mind and body. Because of the joy she received from hand-making Pit-Tastic! bars, Bardwell plans to launch a group called “Causing a Stir” to provide mental health support and bring people together to mix, chat, and talk through anything. Pit-Tastic’s deodorant bars are natural, biodegradable, and free of plastics, parabens, and aluminium. The aluminium salts in commercial deodorants, help plug pores, to stop the sweat. However, plugged sweat ducts prevent the body from ridding itself of toxins, and some even believe that using aluminium containing deodorant could lead to breast cancer. That’s why Pit-Tastic! was formulated to reduce sweating and eliminate odour naturally, all without aluminium. The company’s bars come in a paper wrapper to keep the bars fresh — and yes, the wrapper is biodegradable too! There’s also the option of purchasing a reusable hand-embossed travel tin, to keep it in. Pit-Tastic’s deodorant bars are formulated and created in Devon UK with vegan and sensitive alternative too. They and are recommended by a whole host of people, including athletes, breastfeeding mothers, menopausal women, travellers, and those who don’t want nasty ingredients on their body. Bardwell said, “I love my deodorant and use it everyday. I hope you do too!” 

All of Pit-Tastic’s Deodorant Bars are zero waste and as we mentioned earlier, they come in standard, vegan, sensitive, and vegan/sensitive. The standard deodorant bars contain the ingredients of coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, bicarbonate of soda, and distilled natural essential oils. The sensitive deodorant bars contain all the same ingredients as the standard, except have arrowroot in place of bicarbonate of soda. The vegan deodorant bars contain all the same ingredients as the standard, except have sunflower wax in place of beeswax. And lastly, the vegan/sensitive bars contain coconut oil, shea butter, sunflower wax, arrowroot, and distilled natural essential oils. The coconut oil helps the deodorant bar glide, moisturizes, and helps kill the fungi, yeast, and bacteria that contribute to underarm odour. The shea butter improves the glide of the deodorant and helps eliminate odour. The beeswax protects the skin and helps keep the bar solid — the vegan alternative for this is sunflower wax. The bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) helps control the odour causing bacteria that grows in our underarms — the sensitive skin alternative is arrowroot. And lastly, the distilled natural essential oils add fragrance to the bar. All of Pit-Tastic’s ingredients are sustainable and ethically sourced. The first deodorant bar we tried is the Rose and Ylang-Ylang Zero Waste Deodorant, which is described as a “Beautifully floral aromatic fragrance to uplift your day.” The second deodorant bar we tried is the Orris and Sandalwood Zero Waste Deodorant, which is described as “Tangy, zesty mouth-watering that make your underarm smell and feel clean.” We loved how both of these Deodorant Bars kept us feeling fresh and smelling fantastic all day long! They look and feel like a white smooth pebble, and are very tactile. Neither one had an overpowering fragrance, and both were easy to wear, and didn’t compete when we had an on-the-go quick spritz of our favourite Eau de parfum. It is recommended to keep the Deodorant Bars in a cool spot (out of direct sunlight) or even in the fridge. We keep ours in the bathroom cupboard in a tin. To apply, gently stroke the bar onto the armpits a few moments before you dress and re-apply as required. Pit-Tastic! says their Deodorant Bar should last up to four months, and we still have some left, on month three… Ooh and they recommend keeping it in a container — they sell a convenient Travel Tin here for £4.50. Another of our #amazingfinds, and so if you’re looking to help the environment and yourself, you can find the Rose and Ylang-Ylang Zero Waste Deodorant here for £10.00, the Orris and Sandalwood Zero Waste Deodorant here for £10.00. They also offer a subscription service for £40 a year which offers customers one bar per quarter, a free travel tin and free postage here.