Be + Radiance : Velvet Touch Primer Natural and Breathable & Cucumber Water Matifying Foundation

We all know how difficult finding THE perfect foundation can be. With so many different foundations available and seasonal colour changes with our skin, it’s always a challenge. Luckily for us at The Amazing Blog, we were able to try out this duo of primer and foundation with the Velvet Touch Primer and Cucumber Water Matifying Foundation from the natural skincare and cosmetics brand Be+Radiance.

Aïmara Coupet is the visionary behind this French brand Be + Radiance. Aïmara has been working in the cosmetics industry for over 20 years as a makeup expert. Through her experiences working for L’Oreal, Sephora, and blackUp Cosmetics, she’s gained the expansive cosmetic knowledge that she now puts into Be + Radiance. After working in a laboratory during her consulting days, Aïmara was able to create a silicone-free foundation which pushed her into creating Be + Radiance. With her plural heritage, she has personally felt challenged to find the right products for her skin. She wanted to design a “collection of shades to represent the diversity of women” and to provide a product that anyone could use, and has a passion to “create a new art of makeup: healthy and sophisticated, luminous and universal.” Beyond creating the inclusive shades for anyone, Be + Radiance utilises natural ingredients to treat your skin well. Each product uses clean formulas, natural ingredients, probiotics, and other rich active ingredients to help the skin. In particular, they wish to make the skin healthier and more beautiful without clogging the pores or masking it with heavy pigments. The researchers and formulators at Be + Radiance understand that the skin has a delicate balance to keep it healthy. The formulas all contain probiotics to help strengthen the skin’s natural barrier and protect its microbiome, the natural bacterial ecosystem of the skin. The protection of this barrier helps to keep our skin healthy.  The brand's cosmetics are made in France and are vegan and cruelty-free.

Let’s start with Velvet Touch Primer Natural and Breathable, this is designed to prepare the skin before applying makeup. This natural and breathable primer helps to reduce the appearance of pores while prolonging the wear of makeup. It helps to smooth the skin for that ‘blur’ effect. This primer is silicone, paraben and fragrance-free, and made up of 97% natural ingredients. The formula uses pomegranate extract for its antioxidant properties, which helps restore the skin for optimal hydration. The blackcurrant extract soothes, softens and strengthens the skin, while the shea butter promotes skin regeneration, hydrates, and nourishes the skin. The use of sunflower oil also nourishes and softens the skin. What we like about this primer is that it’s natural as well as lightweight and velvety smooth to apply. It also marries well with a serum or foundation (like their Matifying Foundation) and worked well on the eye area too.

We followed the primer with the Cucumber Water Matifying Foundation, a natural, water-based foundation that’s lightweight while also providing good coverage to even out the complexion. This foundation uses organic cucumber water to make this a fresh and natural product. They use 85% natural ingredients, like organic cucumber water, because of its soothing, hydrating and antioxidant properties. There are no parabens or phenoxyethanol, and it doesn’t contain any mineral oils, phthalate (from petrochemicals) or fragrance - making it ideal for even the most sensitive of skins. For the non-natural ingredients, Be + Radiance provides full transparency by listing each ingredient with their use and origin, which can be found here. This foundation is available in seventeen different shades that match a variety of skin tones. We were sent shade 13 which was a good colour match. Again it’s a silicone-free formula and super light leaving an almost veil-like finish, perfect for those wanting natural-looking coverage. This Cucumber Water Matifying Foundation is perfect for oily skin, combination skin or sensitive skin. We have quite dry skin so the primer was definitely needed prior to application, we loved how it gave a really good matte finish with no need for a quick dusting of powder to remove any shine. Our only ask for the brand, is to put an SPF in either your primer or foundation - then these would be perfect for us! Both products are available for purchase through Be + Radiance’s website here. Or the 30ml Cucumber Water Matifying Foundation is available for £21.85 here and the 30ml Velvet Touch Primer Natural and Breathable is available here for £20.05

LUUV : Lip Gloss Balms

Now we’re officially in autumn, it’s time to protect our delicate lips and add a swipe of moisturising colour to complement the vibrant hues. At The Amazing Blog, we’d like to introduce another of our #amazingfinds LUUV, a brand new to the UK, with their vegetable-based natural Lip Gloss Balms.

LUUV is an Estonian cosmetics brand that was officially established in 2017. It all began four years ago with the co-founder Jüri Paltser, who ran a family-owned store in Estonian that stocked a range of over 50 cosmetic brands. Seeing a gap in the market, he decided to develop his own range of skincare and cosmetics, where he could bring all his ideas and innovations into production. Combining his background in marketing and advertising, and his interest in cosmetics, Jüri opened a small cosmetics factory in 2017, which has since grown to become the 6th biggest cosmetics manufacturer in Estonia. The LUUV brand is a big supporter of natural cosmetics, believing that cosmetics should be easy to use, with natural, clean and transparent ingredients. Their products are developed from scratch using only natural and vegan ingredients, all with the help of Estonian based bio-chemists. Products are COSMOS ECOCERT meaning that they’re eco-friendly, in recyclable packaging, and do not contain any GMOs, parabens, perfumes, synthetic colourants, or phenoxyethanol. This certification also means that LUUV uses natural resources responsibly, respects biodiversity through their production processes, and uses only green chemical alternatives. Within the Environmental Investment Centre's Circular Economy Program framework, they have acquired a modern reverse osmosis device, allowing them to use only the purest of water during production! By the end of the year, LUUV will have over 52 different cosmetic products to choose from, which range from skin and body care to cosmetics.

We were excited to be sent LUUV’s Lip Gloss Balms in four shades from their range of seven. They were recently awarded a silver medal for Best Vegan Makeup in The Global Green Beauty Awards 2021. We’d describe these as a hybrid of lip gloss and balm as they deeply moisturise, offer a dazzling shine, as well as a subtle hint of colour. Young LUUV is a pale pink,  Soft LUUV  is a nude, Fun LUUV is a light cherry red, and Perfect LUUV is rich juicy red. All of these colour shades are derived from plants, including beetroot, radishes, and potatoes. Packed with natural actives, they contain botanical ingredients such as plum seed oil, which is full of 13 different kinds of omega fatty acids and vitamins A and E that hydrate and heal. And the candelilla wax which acts as a binding agent for the ingredients, and conditions and protects chapped lips. All formulas are 100% natural and vegan, making these Lip Gloss Balms COSMOS ECOCERT certified. These Lip Gloss Balms are waterless, flavour and fragrance-free and free from synthetic chemicals or preservatives. Perfect for everyday wear as the colder season approaches; and best of all, the finish is lightweight, not too sticky, long-lasting with excellent staying power. Our favourite shade was the Perfect LUUV, it gave our lips a natural glow adding a little colour, without veering too far from the natural lip shade. To purchase the LUUV Lip Gloss Balms, visit here where all seven shades are available at €8.95 for each 10g tube. 

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!

EasterMia: Crisp Apple Nail Polish & Nail Kit

Nail polish is the quickest (and chicest) way to change up your look from day to night, or from season to season. With spring here, at The Amazing Blog  we’ve selected a beautiful true-red nail polish and a Nail Kit to share with you from the Canadian nail brand EasterMia, for a quality at-home manicure. With over 40+ shades to choose from, these nail polishes are vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic and deliver a great professional looking manicure. 

Mia Phan, the creator and founder of EasterMia, owns a local nail salon in Burlington, Ontario. Inspired by her clients and her mother, Helen, who has more than 30 years of experience in the nail industry, she wanted to create a relaxing and fun experience for all the  hardworking women who are time-poor and deserve a little pampering at home. Phan established EasterMia in 2019, and  understands the importance of self-care and nail health. EasterMia was created in collaboration with a chemist, where the range of nail polishes and nail care are free of all the most common toxic chemicals and fragrances used in other mainstream brands. They are also a Leaping Bunny approved brand. So, whether you are a soon-to-be mother or prone to allergies, this nail brand should be safe for you.

The first product to introduce is the Crisp Apple Nail Polish. With so many reds to choose from (think blue-based, neutral or orange-toned), we decided upon this stunning and versatile true apple-red shade; which adds a classic pop of colour. The shiny and vibrant finish of this trans-seasonal red adds a opulent shade to complement any spring, going into summer wardrobe. We also think that this sophisticated hue looks just as chic for sporting on office hands, as it would on the red carpet. It is a 10-free nail polish, meaning that it does not contain the ten common harsh chemicals found in nail polishes, like formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, toluene, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, triphenyl phosphate and fragrance. We like how the formula allows you to apply it thinly onto the nails, and delivers an opaque coverage with just one coat. They suggest for a longer lasting colour, to top-up with their high gloss Top Coat finish, all of which we’re happy to report, are entirely gloop free. 

We also received the Nail Kit. This essentials kit has everything you need to start an at-home manicure, including a clear Base Coat, Top Coat, Organic Cuticle Oil, a small buffer and file. The Base and Top coat serve as foundation and protection for their nail polish. The Base Coat’s unique ingredients help smooth the nail surface and evens out the nail plate, as well as offering no stain residue on the natural nail. The Top Coat is slightly tinted to make it even more light reflective and keeps the nail polish from yellowing. EasterMia purposefully adds aloe vera and vitamin E to its Organic Cuticle Oil to nourish your cuticles. With the pineapple scent here, it makes the experience even more pleasant and relaxing.  To get your nails polished to perfection in a matter of minutes, see here to purchase EasterMia’s Crisp Apple nail polish for £8, and the Nail Kit is here for £15.

Epicuren Discovery® : Defend & Balance Sunscreen Tinted Mineral SPF 50

As the weather warms up and summer fast approaches, we hope that like us, at The Amazing Blog, you’re upping your game by applying stronger sunscreen. We have been looking for an all-in-one sunscreen and discovered this recently launch Defend & Balance Sunscreen Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 from Epicuren Discovery®. We love how this includes all our asks of sunscreen, CC cream, AND moisturiser.

Epicuren Discovery®  is a family-owned and established advanced skincare brand with the goal of ‘leaving the biggest impression on this world through natural skincare while leaving the smallest footprint’. Founded by Colleen Lohrman with developmental scientist Robert Heiman over 35 years ago,  Epicuren® skincare products originated from pharmaceutical enzyme research, performed on severely damaged skin. For over a decade, Epicuren® continues to incorporate the result of its research using technologies, especially with its Metadermabolic Enzyme (a complex of proteins and vitamin B’s) anti-ageing formulas, in their high potency skincare. The range is made up of natural skincare created for both the consumers and the professional. However, occasionally synthetic ingredients are used to enhance product quality;  Epicuren® uses pure, natural ingredients with certified organics to make their safe yet effective products. Based in California, it’s a popular brand amongst Hollywood celebrities like Megan Fox, Kristen Davis. and Gwen Stefani. We like how Epicuren® commits to natural beauty and sustainability, plus its packaging is BPA free and recyclable. 

Released last year, the Defend & Balance Sunscreen Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50  is a unique mineral-based, chemical-free, skin-brightening and reef-safe SPF 50 sunscreen that automatically adapts to and enhances every skin tone with light coverage. It is a sunscreen that provides maximum full-spectrum sun protection and uses vitamin C to shield your skin against UVA and UVB rays. The great thing about this 4% titanium dioxide and 15.5% zinc oxide mineral UV filters is that it’s harmless to the environment and are considered the safest and most effective sunblock ingredients today. The antioxidant in the formula, such as green tea leaf extract, vitamin E and argan oil, balance inflammation and protect skin against environmental stressors. The sunscreen is also rich in sodium hyaluronate, meadowfoam seed oil, kukui nut seed oil, which all serve as hydrators. What we loved about this Sunscreen was its light citrus fragrance, a thin and non-tacky texture and self-adjusting subtle tint which didn’t leave any white cast or residue. It’s also nourishing enough to wear on its own as CC cream, or as a primer under makeup.  It is cruelty-free, recycle-friendly, vegan and water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. It is one of our #amazingfinds and we’ll certainly be ordering more! You can purchase the 30ml multi-tasking sunscreen Defend & Balance here  for $84 on their website.