Poppy’s Natural Skincare : The Soothe & Cleanse Face Mask Kit

We are revisiting one of our favourite brands, the award-winning British natural skincare brand, Poppy’s Natural Skincare, to review, their Soothe & Cleanse Face Mask Kit which Poppy very kindly sent to us to try. At The Amazing Blog, we’ve previously reviewed their very special Super Age-Defying Organic Face Oil Bakuchiol and Amla, which you can read about here.

Poppy’s Natural Skincare is a high-performance natural skincare brand founded by Poppy Choudhury. Although raised in England, Poppy was born in Bangladesh and has made frequent trips back and forth where it’s given her the opportunity to learn more about native botanicals and natural remedies. Poppy has sensitive skin and found flare-ups much more manageable in Bangladesh, due to the healing and soothing ingredients derived from neem leaf paste. When Poppy noticed her son had similar skin sensitivities, she decided to research and develop a natural product to minimise their use of topical steroids. Due to her scientific background with studies in Molecular Biology, Cosmetic Formulation and Science in Skincare combined with her knowledge of natural remedies, she created the Neem and Chamomile Balm the first of Poppy’s Natural Skincare products. When Poppy shared the story of her brand, she said, “The beautiful thing is, I can now trace so much of what I want to achieve with Poppy’s Natural Skincare back to those early days of observing plant remedies seamlessly incorporated into people’s everyday medicinal and beauty routine.” Poppy’s Natural Skincare is a range of potent botanicals designed to help repair and protect the skin’s barrier function together with a whole host of other benefits. The product range currently includes face oils, face masks, accessories, body butter, balms, and cleansers. Uniquely formulated, all products are handmade in Poppy’s workshop, located in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire. They use the most potent ingredients that are 100% plant-based, ethically, and for the most part locally sourced, sustainable, cruelty-free (certified with Leaping Bunny), and with 12 out of the 13 being 100% vegan Plus, all products and packaging are 100% recyclable. This brand dedicates itself to helping women and donated 10% of its profits to the Myna Mahila Foundation. This charity aims to break down taboos that surround the topic of menstruation and instead encourage these discussions. It also employs women from urban slums in Mumbai to fabricate and sell sanitary pads to women from their communities to improve menstrual hygiene and overall welfare. Poppy’s Natural Skincare has a dedicated following and has won many awards from Natural Health, Global Green Beauty, FreeFrom Awards, Green Parent Natural Beauty, the Janey Loves Platinum Awards and The Beauty Shortlist.

The Soothe & Cleanse Face Mask is in a powder form, made of 100% natural ingredients of which 93% are organic. The first thing we noticed is that half the ingredients here are food-grade, in fact, it’s 12 out of the total 17 ingredients. These include colloidal oats made by grinding oat grain into a fine powder. Colloidal oats add moisture to the skin and keep it soft to prevent transepidermal water loss; they also possess anti-inflammatory capacities. Others include cacao, coconut milk and aloe vera, all of which have excellent moisturising qualities; the chamomile and calendula officinalis help soothe redness and reduce the appearance of ageing, and antioxidants burdock root extract and centella asiatica (AKA gotu kola), are a good source of amino acids ideal for skin healing and hydration. Arrowroot helps absorb excess oil, and the hibiscus rosa sinensis is rich in vitamin C and promotes collagen production. Finally, there is MSM organic sulphur to help further boost and maintain collagen, and maltodextrin which acts as a binding agent, stabiliser and skin-softener.

The Soothe and Cleanse Face Mask also incorporate other non-food-grade botanical active such as niacinamide, bakuchiol, comfrey root and chickweed. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that boosts collagen, and hyaluronic acid production reduces enlarged pores and helps fade hyperpigmentation and skin discolouration. The bakuchiol, an extract from the babchi plant, is known as the natural alternative to retinol. Like retinol, bakuchiol increases healthy collagen production in the skin. The comfrey root extract has allantoin, a substance that encourages the new growth of skin cells. Chickweed soothes irritated skin and reduces inflammation and the neem leaf extract has powerful antibacterial properties, it pacifies irritated skin and evens skin tone reducing dark spots and blemishes.

Poppy’s Natural Skincare encourages trying different ingredients to mix with the powder face mask; some of their recommendations include; water, rosewater, honey, buttermilk, yoghurt, apple cider vinegar, or even Poppy’s own face oils. As we have very sensitive skin, we tried the mask first mixed with water and then with yoghurt. Both had a slightly different effect. The water made the mask slightly thinner but more intense, whereas the yoghurt made a thicker paste and gentler. However, the results were the same, skin felt smooth, hydrated and cleansed - they also say it’s exfoliating but the mask was so mild we didn’t feel that. We love the simplicity of Poppy’s natural and organic ingredients here, and how the mask left a rather delicious cacao fragranced finish! We’d recommend using this at least once a week, for us, it nourished skin and cleansed it of city grime. All you need is one teaspoon of the powder mask mixed in a bowl with a few drops of the liquid of your choice, to make a paste - then apply to the face for 8 - 10 minutes before rinsing away. The Soothe & Cleanse Face Mask Kit includes a bowl and spoon, both made from sustainably sourced wood. These masks come in amber glass jars, ideal for prolonging the shelf life of the ingredients; and it’s recommended that this face mask be kept somewhere out of direct sunlight, preferably in a cold, dry place. To purchase The Soothe and Cleanse Face Mask at 60g for £30, see here. Or if you would like to buy it as The Soothe and Cleanse Face Mask Kit, it costs £40 (which includes a 60g face mask, a sustainably sourced wooden bowl and a spoon to match), see here. Poppy’s Natural Skincare is another of our #amazingfinds and one we love to use, because of its performance, brand ethos and natural ingredients.

MIG Living : Ritual Body Lotion Bar - Bloom

At The Amazing Blog, it’s no secret that we love natural ingredients in our skincare and also firmly believe that nature knows best! We like to look for the more unusual artisan skincare products from around the globe, so when we heard about this waterless Ritual Body Lotion Bar - in Bloom by American award-winning wellness brand MIG Living, we were very eager to give it a go.  

MIG Living is a Colorado-based beauty and wellness brand whose mission is “to activate the inner and outer well-being of mankind through pure, authentic true beauty rituals.” This family-run company was founded in 2010 after entrepreneur Jaime Cross, who stepped away from her banking career and decided to set up her own business. After studying chemistry, naturopathic healing, and herbal alchemy, Jaime learned how to develop her own formulas. She began selling her products at farmer’s markets, where her business continued to grow, becoming what it is today. In a recent interview with Forbes, Jaime explained, “Our whole foundation is about creating products that are sourced from nature, and that can help solve our bodies most innate problems.” With health, wellness, and good living at the forefront of the brand, MIG Living works to create self-care products that nurture the body and soul. MIG Living offers a wide range of products, from serums, lotions, and toners, to balms and supplements. Their products are toxin-free, cruelty-free, and natural, as they use the most natural and effective ingredients to balance and restore the skin. They are also clean formulas, handcrafted in the USA, and sourced from American farmers. To work towards their goal of being a leading brand in the clean self-care and wellbeing sector, MIG Living develops products specifically to promote optimum mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. As a brand dedicated to helping people find their purpose, MIG Living offers opportunities for aspiring ambassadors through its True Beauty Ambassadors program. While they are a direct selling company, in April of 2020, MIG Living decide to also take on a different approach and created training systems and ambassador workshops to help people become marketing leaders and entrepreneurs. The brand is also passionate about the movement to end child trafficking, and are partnered with Not for Sale, a campaign that aims to fight modern slavery and exploitation. Jaime and her brand have already been recognised for their pioneering approach; where she won the Gold Stevie Award for Entrepreneur of the Year, and MIG Living won the Gold Stevie Award for Company of the Year at the 2021 American Business Awards. 

We received the Ritual Body Lotion Bar in the fragrance ‘Bloom’. It’s part of a range that’s been designed to help soften, moisturise, and soothe the skin. Lotion bars are conveniently housed in a push-up tube, in a waterless solid form, made from all-natural ingredients with no nasties. The lotion bar comes in three different fragrance options, ‘Bloom’ (which we received), ‘Blood Orange & Grapefruit’, and ‘Lavender & Primrose.’ What we love is that these are all waterless, meaning a longer shelf life and more hydration for the skin. While you may think taking away water will cause dry skin, it actually does the opposite. Water-based products can draw out moisture and natural oils from your skin, leaving it dehydrated and even irritated at times. With no added water, the lotion is free from preservatives, stabilisers, and emulsifiers, leaving more room for the botanical actives.

The combination of wild-crafted herbs, farm-fresh beeswax, and plant-based ingredients leaves the skin with a healthy glow. They all work in synergy to restore moisture and reduce dry or irritated skin, promoting elasticity, which in turn helps to fight signs of ageing, and improves the skin’s overall wellbeing. Let’s do a quick rundown on the ingredients: The base is made up of shea butter, olive, coconut, pomegranate, caster, pumpkin seed, hemp oils and beeswax. These work as humectants, meaning they help skin stay hydrated and lock in moisture, and together they act as a protective barrier against environmental stressors. The lotion bar is also blended with hyssop and calendula (see photo), which creates an uplifting and fresh fragrance. Hyssop has cleansing properties that help diminish large pores and regulate the skin's natural oils, leaving the skin looking replenished. As for calendula extract (commonly known as marigold), it’s anti-ageing and promotes collagen production and skin-firming, It also revitalises and soothes skin by combating dry and itchy patches. Other ingredients include the raspberry leaf which acts as an astringent by tightening the top layers of skin and balances out the oils here. The moringa oil slows down ageing and prevents free radical damage. The wild clover has isoflavones, which stimulate the skin's natural collagen production, increasing the skin's thickness, and together with the yarrow flower and marshmallow root, they provide instant hydration and boost moisture levels. A quick mention to the pomegranate seed oil,  one of our favourite ingredients, it’s rich in vitamin C, and an antioxidant that aids collagen production with its age-defying actives and anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties.  We also like that this lotion bar is cruelty-free, is completely natural with no nasties and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive ones.  

To apply, twist up the container and gently massage the lotion bar over the body. We used it sparingly on your arms and legs, concentrating on elbows, knees, and hands. We found that by using just a small amount, it gets the job done and were pleasantly surprised with how lightweight it felt. The fragrance gives a hint of refreshing florals, and the overall effect left skin feeling soft, hydrated and nourished - which is exactly what we need during these cold long winter months. The Ritual Body Lotion Bar is available for purchase directly from MIG Living's website here for $49.00.  

Little Green's CBD : Unwind Candle

As we kick off the new year, finding new ways to improve our hectic lifestyle and reduce stress, we're making a priority. Here at The Amazing Blog, it is no secret that we are huge fans of CBD, as it helps relax our minds and improve our focus. Regular readers will know we’re also big fans of scented candles, so when we received the UNWIND Candle by CBD wellness brand Little Green's CBD, we knew we were in for a treat.  

Little Green's CBD was founded by former personal trainer and model, Sasha Green. Having worked for over ten years in these professions, he noticed the stressful impact they were having on both his body and mind. Sasha started using CBD products on his journey to find a holistic way to help deal with stress, sleep, and recovery, but his experience was not exactly what he was hoping for. With his research and difficulty to find top-quality CBD products that also offered full transparency, it inspired him into creating his own brand, Little Green's CBD. Sasha explained, "Little Green's CBD was created with the main focus on being high quality, and where each product had a specific purpose." The brand has a range of CBD products that include candles, oils and a balm, where each is aimed at targeting a specific need. The candles have been developed to promote a sense of calm and help de-stress, the oils, one for the day to combat stress and anxiety, and the other to be taken at night to improve sleep patterns, and the balm to relieve pain and revitalise overworked bodies. Both the candles and oils are made from the broad-spectrum distillate, which is THC-free and uses the whole plant to retain the full-plant synergy. Sasha himself has benefited from using the products and commented, "These CBD products have helped me immensely and have become an integral part of my self-care routine." The emphasis here is on the importance of full transparency, as they work with a certified government supplier, and all their products are developed and tested in the UK. The brand also conducts thorough in-house testing at its factory and sends all products to a third-party lab for further testing. They also work closely with hemp plant farmers who avoid using pesticides, which means the CBD will be additive-free, with a more natural and sustainable growing approach. The company works towards safeguarding the environment by using a more eco-friendly extraction method, and through their partnership with One Tree Planted This charity aims to help with global reforestation, they plant a tree for each product sold. We were also happy to hear all their products are made from natural ingredients and are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.  

The UNWIND Candle is made from 100% eco soy wax and is infused with CBD to soothe the mind and body. Soy wax, derived from soybeans, known to be an excellent carrier oil. As a natural and renewable resource, soy wax is biodegradable and has a lower melting point than other waxes commonly used for candle-making. This difference means that soy wax candles will burn cleaner and longer, and emit less black soot than other candle composites. This candle uses a natural hand-made cotton wick, which also means it burns longer and emits less smoke. The infusion of 1500mg of broad-spectrum distillate allows the candle to harness the soothing and healing plant powers of CBD. When this candle is lit, and the fragrance fills its surroundings, the CBD here offers benefits such as boosting mood and promoting a sense of relaxation and relieving insomnia. The candle also includes a blend of essential oils with holistic and aromatherapeutic properties combining tobacco absolute, lemon, mint and jasmine – which create a warm and comforting oaky scent. The tobacco fosters an enriching and energising aroma which has been proven effective in relieving symptoms such as mild depression. The zesty lemon oil fights fatigue and listlessness, and the refreshing peppermint has uplifting qualities with compounds that promote muscles relaxation. As for jasmine essential oil, it's believed to relax the nervous system while also improving mood and wellbeing. For those looking for new ways to integrate CBD into their lives, this candle is perfect, as the CBD is not ingested, so the effects are more gradual as the candle disperses its scent into the atmosphere. Let us explain; as this CBD infused candle burns, the uplifting aroma from the CBD and essential oils stimulates the cell receptors, transmitting tranquil messages throughout the nervous and limbic system (the part of the brain that regulates emotion). Burning a candle is a great way to unwind and promote a feeling of calm and serenity, so adding CBD into the mix only further enhances these positive effects.

By lighting a candle, it offers a soothing and intimate ambience, which is precisely what we all need to start this New Year by feeling calmer and stronger. This CBD infused candle's burn time is around 30-35 hours, but we suggest trimming the candle wick around ¼ of an inch to make it last longer. Remember that you should only snip the wick when it is completely cool and always clean off any smut or remnants. This hand-poured 20cl UNWIND Candle (with 1500mg CBD) is available for purchase directly from Little Green's CBD website here are now on offer at £29.  

Object : Moisturising Shampoo Bar

At The Amazing Blog, we like to find new and artisan natural brands to talk about, and today, we’re featuring an award-winning eco-friendly natural haircare from the British artisan brand Object. We tried out their  Moisturising Shampoo Bar and their purposefully designed Light Weight Travel Tin shampoo bar container.

Object, is co-founded by Jack Wolton and Hugo Tylor, and focuses on providing “natural, ethical, and plastic-free products.” After struggling to find hair and body care brands that offer both sustainable and high-quality ingredients, Wolton and Tylor decided in December 2020 to create their own. The two are eager to offer new alternatives to wasteful plastic packaging, while also providing well-designed and effective natural ingredients. Object launched to fill this gap in the market and is built on the principles of creating natural alternatives and “objecting to the status quo” - hence the inspiration for the brand name! The founders also want to tackle and create awareness of social and environmental issues and in a recent interview with It’s Nice That, Wolton describes here how they care a lot about inclusivity and promote acceptance and diversity, and celebrate being ‘different’ in everything that they do. They also donate a percentage of their sales to local charities, plus they have a strict code of ethics which all their suppliers must comply with. To reflect their values, they do not use any chemicals in their products and only use natural ingredients, which can be found on their website here. The brand takes its sustainability efforts even further by being a waterless and plastic-free brand. The packaging is made from 50% recycled cotton, and they only use FSC (The Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper and cartons. They have gained brand recognition for their eco-friendly efforts, as their Moisturising Shampoo Bar was recently awarded Gold for the Best Sustainable Hair Product at the 2021 Global Green Beauty Awards. Object has also received the Butterfly Mark Certification by Positive Luxury to show how they meet the “highest verified sustainability standards.”  

As fans of shampoo bars, we couldn’t wait to try this Moisturising Shampoo Bar. We find that shampoo bars tend to last longer than liquid shampoos, and are gentler on the hair and scalp as they don’t contain sodium lauryl sulfate or ammonium lauryl sulfate, which can contribute to dry hair. The Moisturising Shampoo Bar is gender-inclusive, handmade in Spain, and does not use any sulphates, parabens, artificial colouring, or palm oil. As regular readers will know, palm oil contributes to deforestation, and the sulphates can lead to a dry and irritated scalp. This award-winning bar is made from moringa, jojoba and argan oils, blended together with coconut milk and essential oils. The moringa oil, made from the seeds of a moringa oleifera (a type of tree found in the Himalayan mountains), is packed with omega-3, which moisturises and strengthens the hair and scalp. Jojoba oil contains a blend of oils, vitamins, and minerals that help to regulate scalp sebum production, and leave hair feeling hydrated. As for argan oil, it helps soothe and nourish hair cuticles with its vitamin E and fatty acids. The coconut milk here is also packed with omega-3 fatty acids, along with vitamin E to fight against serum build-up in the hair. The combination of these ingredients helps hair to have more volume and shine and overall be more healthy. The sustainable nature of this product also is important to point out, as it’s all-natural, vegan, 100% plastic-free, and cruelty-free. Did you know that a shampoo bar saves the waste of up to three shampoo bottles? The bar also has a fragrance combination of earthy and citrus scent that is derived from the blend of ylang-ylang, cedarwood, citronella, and lavender essential oils. We found it long-lasting and both refreshing and nourishing for the hair. To use the shampoo bar, we soaked our hair and rubbed the bar in our hands to create a frothy lather, and worked it into our scalp. We then ran the bar down the hair strands to cleanse and finally rinsed. The shampoo bar left our hair squeaky clean with zesty fragrance; however, we did need to follow up with our regular conditioner to leave it tangle-free.

What we also like the ergonomically designed shampoo bar container, Object's Light Weight Travel Tin, to store the bar and to help to make it last longer. It’s made from rust-proof aluminium with strong durability and a screw top to prevent leaking. This container is perfect for draining your shampoo bar dry straight from the shower or for travel purposes. They suggest frequently emptying water from the tin, and ensuring that the bar is dry before putting it into the tin. The Light Weight Travel Tin can be purchased here for £5, and the Moisturising Shampoo Bar can be purchased here for £14.  

2022 Beauty Shortlist & Wellbeing Awards - Are Now Open for Entry!

Good to grow: 2022 Beauty Shortlist & Wellbeing Awards open for entries with new blue beauty and plantable beauty categories and fresh faces on the judging panel.

Entries have opened for the upcoming Beauty Shortlist Awards which will celebrate the highest-scoring brands and products that celebrate NATURE on Wednesday 2 March 2022.

Honouring the most-loved earth-safe and ocean-safe beauty and wellness products – all tested by experts – the ethical, natural and organic showcase returns with over 40 new categories embracing blue and green beauty, more age-specific skincare and self-care categories, eco-packaging, holistic health, eco innovation, nutrition, aromatherapy, CBD and more.

2022 BEAUTY SHORTLIST & WELLBEING AWARDS ENTRY FORM (ENTRIES CLOSE 29 OCTOBER)

ENTRY FORM

If you had to pick the most stellar month of the year for beauty and the planet, September would be up there: Organic September, a new season with lots of new launches, the Great British Beach Clean, World Car Free Day - and it’s FSC week soon, celebrating & raising awareness of responsible forestry 🌳

Never have we lived through a time when comforts and joys have been more important to our wellbeing - and it’s exactly those that are celebrated every year at the Beauty Shortlist Awards:

You are warmly invited to celebrate the top-scoring beauty, grooming and wellness of the year with the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards on Wednesday 2 March.

These independent and 100% sponsor-free global Awards celebrate the highest-scoring ethical brands and products of the year, evaluated by beauty and wellness industry experts:

• natural + organic beauty, personal care

• nutrition, wellness, health supplements, CBD & eco cleaning

• men’s hair, skincare, self-care, body & shower products

Happy September!