Netsai Rose & Avacado Cleansing Balm

Who doesn’t love a balm? At The Amazing Blog, we actively look for new natural balms, any balms that are for cleansing or moisturising the face, lips and body. Out of all of these, the cleansing balm is the winner for those of us living in London. The hard water here is full of calcium and magnesium compounds that not only causes limescale but strips our skin of all its natural oils, which can then lead to large pores, dry skin rashes, itching or worse rosacea! That’s why we want to talk about a natural cleansing balm from British indie brand Netsai.

Netsai was founded by Esnath Moyo in 2019, when she realised that most beauty brands on the market never represented the people that she identified with. Wanting to be an example to her loved ones and making sure that they would all be accepted for their beautiful selves, she set herself a challenge to create her own beauty brand Netsai. This is where she followed her dream, to produce this skincare, promising products that would hold innovation, support sustainability, diversity and inclusion. This cruelty-free and organic brand promote community helping change lives by ‘inspiring confidence in the marginalised’ that’s then reflected into every day. We applaud you Esnath!

Back to balms. With our love of balms, we chose to review the Rose and Avocado Cleansing Balm. This is suitable for all skin types; it’s a luxurious balm and contains a plethora of great ingredients. Let’s start with the key ingredients of shea butter, which is highly concentrated in fatty acids and vitamins, and also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Then the lactic acid which is an anti-wrinkle and pigmentation-fighting ingredient. It’s an alternative to glycolic acid which means that it’s less irritating, yet just as effective and an excellent ingredient for sensitive skin. The carnauba wax is actually an edible ingredient, as an emollient, it has a high melting point and can be used for thickening skincare as well as being a deeply hydrating moisturiser. Avocado oil, will deeply penetrate the skin to nourish, soften and boost your skin’s immunity against environmental stresses. What makes this balm even more of an exceptional hydrator is its richness with the coconut oil.  Lavender in this is for a deep cleanse and to calm any redness and irritation. Rose oil is the antioxidant powerhouse, which will strengthen skin cells and regenerate skin tissues. If you have dry skin, then this will help hydrate it, and finally, the addition of orange flower water which is a good toner that balances oils brightening the complexion.

We applied 10p size dollop of the cleansing balm, with a spatula from the jar, into our hands. We then warmed it up in our palms and spread it liberally over a dry face and neck. Massaged in for 60 seconds and splashed with warm water to emulsify, rubbed in a little more and then wiped it away with a damp cloth. It integrated easily into our skincare routine and this natural high performing formula even melted away make-up and SPF, all in one go. What set this apart for us, is its ability to be used as a make-up remover or as a second cleanse, where it worked like magic with the hard water and left our complexions clean and soft. If you live in a city with hard water, you need this cleansing balm! See here for your 60ml jar for £18.00.

Elo Cosmetics - Hydra Derm Clay Mask, Soothing Lavender Mist & Hand & Body Moisturizer

At The Amazing Blog, we find that simplicity is best, and that’s why today we’ve chosen to talk about an indie vegan skincare that contains only a few simple key ingredients. Meet the Canadian-French brand Elo Cosmetics who pride themselves on being ‘the new face of vegan skincare’. 

Elo Cosmetics was born from a challenge when the two founders Elodie and Luis took up a ‘pas cap’ contest.  As devout vegans, they would try to outdo each other, by finding beauty products with the purest vegan ingredients that mirrored their values, but also didn’t have a long list of ingredients, that they had to decipher! Having drawn a blank in finding their perfect products, this prompted them to create their own natural and 100% vegan skincare and cosmetics, partnering with a Canadian formulator to help develop their range. They are all about keeping it simple, from the branding to the ingredients.

We were sent three of their skincare products. The first is one of their three clay masks, the Hydra-derm Clay Mask which has its key ingredient of kaolin clay, rich in vitamins, minerals, silica and offers a neutral pH balance. This ultra-hydrating face mask will both nourish and remove impurities from the skin balancing the hydration and leaving it smoother, softer and more supple. The clay helps to remove sebum from the skin's surface and has a calming effect on any inflamed breakouts. It also contains vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant protecting skin from damage caused by free radicals. This pale green mask has the addition of avocado oil, rich in protein and fatty acids as well as vitamins A, D, and E which protect and also increase collagen production. The grapeseed oil is high in omega-6 fatty acid, fortifying the skin's barrier aiding the reduction of water loss. While other ingredients such as almond oil reduces puffiness and under-eye circles and the chamomile, has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Finally, the aloe vera will moisturise the skin, boost healing and fighting skin ageing. This clay mask is a powerhouse of antioxidants and ideal for revitalising and hydrating the complexion. We used it in the evening, applying it to the face for 10-15 minutes then rinsing off in warm water, it gave us silky soft skin. You can find it here for $21.99.

Following the face mask, we used the Soothing Lavender Mist, again, this is one of three face mists from their range. This nourishing mist will soothe irritated skin and detoxify; it will moisturise helping to regenerate and repair cells, offering a healthier-looking complexion. The lavender, besides having anti-inflammatory properties it will calm dry skin. The blend has the deep hydrator aloe vera and chamomile (properties discussed in the above paragraph). The cucumber here will detoxify the skin and boost elasticity and decrease water loss. Say goodbye to inflammations and skin breakouts with this mist! This subtly fragranced lavender mist has hyaluronic acid, providing excellent hydration which in turn improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Finally, there is vitamin C that will even out skin tone and resveratrol to brighten tired-looking complexions and minimising any redness. This Soothing Lavender Mist we used to freshen up the skin not only after using the face mask but throughout the day. What we love is that this will combat free radical damage and enhance collagen production. The Soothing Lavender Mist can be found here for $23.99.

We’re saving our favourite until last, the Hand & Body Moisturizer. This is a non-greasy and rich lotion that quickly absorbs into the skin.  Its fragrance is a delicate, a combination of green tea and chamomile. It has a high concentrate of aloe vera that will instantly heal dry skin and help to reverse any sun damage. We used it on the face, hands and body, which left us with a velvety soft skin, we think this is a great multitasker and one to take for a weekend away when luggage has to be kept to bare a minimum. it’s designed to keep skin radiant, smooth and deeply nourished as well as counteracting the effect of pollution. The benefits of the green tea here are as an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. The matricaria flower extract, (aka chamomile) is a natural healer and contains tannic acid for skin calming. Finally, the lanolin oil (which we presume is sourced from plant butter not wool?) is known to be an emollient or balm which restores water loss and soothes dehydrated skin. This product, in particular, was a hit with us all and you can find this Hand & Body Moisturizer lotion here for $19.99. 

We’d also love to try their cosmetics range of vegan eyeshadows and glitters – which we think would be perfect for the forthcoming winter months and party season ahead.

Puritx - Superior Hand Sanitisers

In this new strange world of COVID-19, none of us at TheAmazingBlog leave home without some sort of hand sanitiser tucked away in a pocket. However, knowing how we all like to use natural products, finding a hand sanitiser that has 99% natural ingredients has proved tricky to find – until now. Meet Puritx and their deliciously fragranced superior hand sanitiser.

Puritx is a brand born mid-quarantine, as their parent Canova a home fragrance company, went temporarily on hold in order to speed up the production hand sanitiser to meet the nation’s demand. Puritx’s mission is to create the most superior hand sanitiser with the finest ingredients available. Based in Herefordshire, they have produced six fragrant products that have 99% natural (29% organic) ingredients in a skin-soothing aloe vera base. All the ingredients are sourced responsibly and ethically and contain 70% ethanol alcohol from British grain. Apart from this brand being a shining light in these dark times, we love the fact that they support the local key workers by donating 20% of their production of hand sanitisers to help keep them safe.

We received two x 60ml samples to try. First the Manuka, Cedar & Grapefruit. This has a great combination of healing ingredients with the manuka honey here as the miracle worker, with its antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, studies show how it has wound-healing capabilities and tissue regeneration. Thus, it’s an effective skin barrier and helps to prevent any infection. Besides being an excellent mood lifter in aromatherapy, grapefruit essential oil also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties too. Finally, the cedarwood in this blend is an all-natural antiseptic and known to be used topically to help combat bacterial and fungal infection. The fragrance is mellow and warm with keynotes of citrus and wood. 

Then we tried the Geranium, Lime & Peppermint. This is a refreshing blend of geranium oil which works as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent and is used in natural medicine for infection and pain management. The lime oil provides both uplifting and invigorating properties together with its limonene which contributes to its cleansing ability. Then, the peppermint oil will cool, clear and refresh the surface of your skin and with its antiseptic powers help to purify your skin. The geranium is the dominant fragrance note here making it floral and revitalising. All Puritx Superior Hand Sanitisers contain aloe vera known for being a natural moisturiser helping to rehydrate dry and rough skin, as well as being a cleansing agent that will shield the skin from bacteria. Squeeze a generous amount onto dry hands, spread from fingertips over palms and back of hands. Allow it to dry for 30 seconds giving time for the aloe vera and essential oils to absorb fully.  Why not invest in these fantastically fragranced, 100% vegan and natural hand sanitisers here starting from £4.50 for 60ml.

SELF - Boost of Protection Sunscreen SPF 30

The sun is now getting lower in the autumn sky, but this doesn’t mean that the UV rays are getting any weaker! We thought we’d review a few natural SPF products in the next few weeks, as some of you may be jetting away for a quick boost of Mediterranean sunshine. As regular readers will know, we’re big on our sun protection and always try to find some of the best and most natural products to suggest. We’ve been itching to try the natural skincare SELF who has its renowned SPF 30 Boost of Protection Sunscreen.

This natural skincare brand SELF hails from Belgium and launched in 2016 by Isabelle Ulenaers. Previously a psychologist, she now juggles her life between being a mother, wife and entrepreneur. The brand story started with her daughter, who has eczema and problematic skin. None of the prescriptive creams or so-called natural skincare worked. So, Ulenaers decided to take matters in her own hands, and SELF was born. The products are suitable for all skin types and are made from a list of natural and hypoallergenic ingredients. She personally oversees every formulation from the origin of the plant to the final product, and pushes her ideas to the limit, only using certified recyclable and sustainable packaging. We think that SELF is a safe, natural, ethical and transparent skincare. A multi-award winner; with Beauty Shortlist Awards in 2016, 2017 and 2019 and Natural Health International Beauty Awards in 2019. It is a vegan, cruelty-free and every product is gentle enough for even pregnant women and babies. All SELF products are free from parabens, artificial colours and odours and other synthetic components. They chose to work with recycled materials for and currently use plastic components such as polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The Boost of Protection Sunscreen SPF30 a powerful and moisturising sunscreen, made with 100% vegan ingredients. We like that it offers optimal protection from the sun while also maintaining the moisture in the skin. Developed primarily for sensitive skin, this water-resistant sun lotion protects against UVA and UVB rays. It is very reef and environmentally friendly and contains euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax which helps reduce the appearance the stretch marks and signs of ageing. The avocado oil has a high percentage of vitamin E, as well as potassium, lecithin, and many other nutrients boosting in collagen levels. Which in turn, accelerates the healing process of issues like sunburn. The sesame seed oil blocks up to 75% of UV radiation and will shield and protect. The freshness of cucumber extract soothes and alleviates any pain from sunburn. It is rich in minerals, potassium and sulphur, and these ingredients cool the skin and keeping it refreshed. Finally, theobroma grandiflorum seed butter will absorb damaging UVA / UVB rays offering natural sun protection. The other ingredients such are coconut,  macadamia (palmitoleic acid), Argan oils are all full of antioxidants, vitamin E and essential fatty acids all of which are incredibly hydrating. The shea butter, has vitamins A, D and E and allantoin, an excellent moisturiser and protector against dehydration. These ingredients work as skin firming agents and is a UV protector. Then there’s aloe vera known for soothing burns, healing and boosting and protecting. Finally, there are essential oils with mandarin and geranium. Mandarin helps with both dry and oily skin, the geranium has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and cleansing properties and is remarkably effective against fungal skin infections. We love that this Boost of Protection Sunscreen is water-resistant, pH neutral and leaves no white residue. And that they claim that it is 100% safe for all sensitive skins, even for those having chemotherapy. I’ve been using this throughout the summer and it’s light, absorbs quickly, and has a very subtle natural fragrance. It’s easy to use, plus if I feel the need for applying foundation, it works brilliantly as a primer under makeup. Would I buy more? Absolutely! See here to purchase your 100ml bottle for €38.00.

Azzedine: Raw Moroccan Rose Water & True Moroccan Rose Serum

Nature never ceases to amaze us. For centuries it has blessed us with its most exceptional ingredients for our body and soul, and today, at The Amazing Blog, we’re diving deep into the beauty of the rose. And what better country to talk about this majestic rose than Morocco, where they’ve been cultivating this queen of flowers for centuries. This highly-scented rose is from the Damask Rose variety and was originally grown in the Dadès Valley for dried flowers and rosewater. In the 1940s the French built distilleries in the area to produce rose oil which has been widely used in perfumery and skincare ever since. Each year during April and mid-May, the M'Goun Valley, also known as the Vallée des Roses produces between 3-4k tonnes of wild roses. This precious Moroccan rose has intoxicating rosy notes accented by spicy facets. Today, we want to introduce you to another of our #amazingfinds with the award-winning pure organic rose skincare range from the newly launched brand Azzedine.

The festival of roses is an annual three-day celebration in Morocco derived from the Berber traditions. Every year, thousands of people gather with garlands of fragrant roses, and a queen rose is elected to reign over the valleys for the year. The brand Azzedine, is a family run business and a recent start-up that brings the essence of Morocco rose right to your doorstep. When you close your eyes, and spritz their Raw Moroccan Rose Water, you can almost imagine yourself immersed in a sea of rose petals, smelling every fragrant note that it has to offer. Sourcing the roses directly from Vallée des Roses at the base of the Atlas Mountains, you can feel the love, passion and absolute devotion that has gone into their products. Where local Berber women harvest the fresh petals, which are then immediately steam distilled. During this process, purified distilled water passes through fresh rose petals, and extracts all of the soluble elements. The water then condenses and drips into a collecting vessel which is then called rose water. Azzedine recently won Editor’s choice in the prestigious 2020 Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards and we couldn’t be more delighted to share with you their two products: Raw Rose Water and True Rose Serum. They are an organic, authentic, ethical and luxurious skincare brand beautifully packaged in 100% recyclable bottles and boxes.

It’s no secret that we have a weakness for all things rose….so let’s start with Azzedine‘s Raw Moroccan Rose Water.  Rose water has been used throughout the ages not only topically but also to ingest. In fact, this majestic rose has been used for a multitude of purposes. Drinking rose water (NB this Raw Rose Water is not for consumption) is said to relieve depression, bloating and constipation. It is also a remedy for colds, flu, and sore throats and thought to help respiratory illnesses too. However, we’re concentrating on topical application. We used this 100% pure organic Raw Rose Water as a refreshing spritz spray during the hot weather, as well as a toner after cleansing.  It is also good for maintaining pH levels and controlling any excess sebum production. However, it’s the antioxidant properties that we like the best, where it protects against harmful free radicals and environmental aggressors. It is also a skin calmer, soothing eczema, dermatitis and acne inflammations. We found that with just a quick spray, it invigorated the skin and aura throughout the day, keeping us looking and feeling fresh. It is ideal for travelling, as a chemical-free perfume, on your hair, or tension-relief for tired eyes and is also gentle enough even for those with a sensitive skin. The aroma of roses is said to be a powerful mood enhancer and helps in the fight against ageing skin, keeping fine lines and wrinkles at bay. 

The next product from this Azzedine duo is their True Moroccan Rose Serum. Made primarily with raw organic Moroccan rose essential oil, all sourced from distilled pure rose petals, it smells unbelievably good and is super-soft on the skin. It’s mixed with natural texture enhancers and emollients such as cyclopentasiloxane,  dimethiconea, isopropyl myristate and finally, coco caprylate - all of which are considered true vegetable alternative for light petrochemical-based emollients.  The Serum is a great multitasker they recommend it as a mattifying primer before make-up or to applied to hair keeping it shiny and frizz-free, or even beards to keep them conditioned and smelling more fragrant!  We used it as a serum during the day under our SPF and then alone at night. We loved both the scent and texture – it left our complexions feeling like velvet. This together with a regular spritz of their Raw Rose Water made the perfect combination to keep our skin cool and hydrated during the heat of the summer months. We’re sure you’ll be just as charmed by these as we are. You can purchase this duo as a set here for £50.00