Skincare

Morris & Co. - Gardening Gloves Kit

After spending so much time indoors over the winter – we’re happy to be welcoming in the spring here at The Amazing Blog and we have to confess to a small gardening habit. We think that there’s nothing better than reconnecting with the earth and getting ‘down and dirty’ ready to plant our spring vegetables and bulbs.  

In fact, it couldn’t be better timing for us to receive Morris & Co Gardening Gloves Kit sent to us by Heathcote & Ivory from their new range here. Our regular readers may remember that we’re big fans of Heathcote & Ivory products, or if you are new to us, you can find all our posts about them here.

Morris & Co. Gardening Gloves Kit is a perfect gift set for any gardener. It features a pair of lightweight fabric adjustable gloves and Shea Butter Hand Cream. We found the gloves extremely practical for gardening either in or outdoors. They certainly take their gardener’s handcare to the next level, the cream has a dreamy combination for fragrances with honeysuckle, rose and jasmine. All enriched with shea butter, pink clay, vitamin E, jojoba, evening primrose and macadamia oils. This product has a thick and creamy texture and is sure to turn the roughest skin into the soft, smooth and velvety hands. If you or anyone you know would like this Gardening Gloves Kit for only £25.00, see here.

Face Matters Skin Health - Serum, Balm and Cleanser

Living in London, it’s no surprise that we’re constantly around pollutants and toxic chemicals produced by one of the most metropolitan and commercial cities. In an environment such as this, your skin and health can often take a turn for the worse which is why at The Amazing Blog, we would like to reintroduce to you to one of our favourite brands  Face Matters Skin Health.

Founder, Sally Curson spent 30 years working in the beauty industry; as a therapist, within larger brands and also a product formulator. Although content and successful in the same, her life took a turn which resulted in the birth of this fantastic company. It all began when she suffered from rosacea and struggled to find products that helped and so began researching ingredients herself. Her goal is to offer the gentlest formulations that really work and to provide a range of natural/organic products that will be kind to both the skin and the environment.

Now with their NEW eco-friendly packaging (no cardboard or plastic bottles) and rebranding, their focus is on affordable luxury-quality products made from natural ingredients all made using reduced disposable packaging. The provenance of the ingredients contained in their formulations is integral to the whole brand. The products are made from natural and certified organic plant extracts, many of which are fair trade and sourced from small farms and producers. Each ingredient is assessed to ensure that it is totally pure. The artisan manufacturers are inspected annually by the Soil Association, who audit the ingredient trail from the farm to the finished product. Further, natural and organic skincare now has the ability to perform as well as synthetic skincare, whilst having the added benefit of feeding the skin in the best possible way. She kindly sent us three of her amazing products to review Face Off Cleanser, Face Food Serum and All About Face Balm.

The Face Off Cleanser is a super-efficient yet gentle formula ideal for removing makeup and all the everyday deep down dirty stuff. It leaves the skin soft, smooth and ready to glow and is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin. Made with aloe, rose, lemon, calendula and burdock, the cleanser proves to be essential for healthy skin elasticity, density and radiance.  Face Off Cleanser is 100ml priced at only £25 here the cleanser is surely an investment everyone needs to make.

Up next we tried the Face Food Serum it is a lightweight oil-based serum to deeply feed and nourish the skin and is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin. It is a super serum with key ingredients of safflower, calendula, lemon and sandalwood. Safflower is packed full of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids which are the building blocks of healthy cell membranes. These polyunsaturated fats also help produce the skin's natural oil barrier, critical in keeping skin hydrated, plumper, and younger-looking. Calendula is full of vitamin E which is non-greasy and quickly absorbed, keeping the skin healthy and moisturised, whilst soothing it simultaneously. Priced at £35, the serum is money well spent! 30ml priced at an affordable  £35 here.

Lastly, we tried the All About Face Balm which is a hardworking, multi-tasking balm. It can be used to pre-cleanse, cleanse and most importantly to nourish your skin. It leaves skin soft, nourished and ready to glow. It contains key ingredients of unrefined shea butter, jojoba, rose, geranium and clary sage. Jojoba is full of nutrients like vitamin E and B, as well as antioxidants and minerals like chromium, copper, and zinc, which all nourish and protect the skin. Organic, cold-pressed, jojoba oil has one of the highest levels of antioxidants and nutrients. Shea butter nourishes the skin with vitamins A, E and F. Vitamins A and E maintain the skin and keep it clear and healthy. These are particularly helpful for sun-damaged skin and to help prevent premature wrinkles and lines... And soften those pesky ones that are already there! 50g priced at £30 here, we think that this Balm is an absolute essential!

SOS Serum

Alas, skin problems affect everyone at some stage, and at The Amazing Blog we’re definitely not fans of any unexpected inflammation or itchiness. That is why today’s #amazingfinds is a product that has a special formula to cool, heal and repair - meet the all-on-one rescuer, SOS Serum.  

Founder Bruce Green, is a chartered scientist, a chartered chemist, and a fellow of The Royal Society of Chemistry. He is a man with great expertise who understood the need for such a product as one skin issue still dominates – that is sensitivity. After many years of working in the industry, Bruce noted that from children to pensioners, everyone at some stage experiences skin dryness and itchiness. That is why he developed this unique advanced formulation that brings relief to most conditions. It can also be used to help eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, bites, wind-chapped and sun-damaged skin or allergic flare-ups.

The SOS Serum consists of only 12 active ingredients – rich in wasabi and burdock leaf extracts, these plant extracts are known for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Hyaluronic acid alleviates dry skin and speeds up wound healing, whereas peppermint provides soothing and cooling abilities that freshen and leave that pleasant ‘ice cube’ sensation to the skin. There are also two other products in the SOS range – SOS H2O Day Serum with anti-ageing properties and SOS SPF 50 skin protection. All three products are vegan, cruelty-free, with no parabens, SLS, mineral oil or fragrance and are proudly manufactured here in the UK.

We think the SOS Serum is a must-have it’s so gentle and even suitable for babies over one-month-old. Regular application of a small amount of gel-textured skincare will treat the skin issue swiftly. We found that the recyclable airless pump dispenser is easy to use and perfect in size for keeping in a handbag for regular application. The retail price of the SOS Serum is £15 for 50ml and can be purchased here.

Ayumi – Turmeric range of Body Care and Shampoo

As you may remember from our Christmas feature, we’ve now been fans of Ayumi skincare products for a while. We previously wrote about their Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang Face and Body Care Range and now can’t wait to share with you their Turmeric Body Care Range.

Ayumi is an Ayurvedic and natural skincare brand that originates from a successful family run business called Fudco, which also happens to be one of the leading brands and suppliers in the ethnic food market. By using natural ingredients with spice infusions and essential oils, Ayumi creates the most magical and extremely effective products. The beauty of the brand comes from the source it was inspired by - the Ayurvedic principals. For those who don’t know, Ayurveda is an ancient Indian philosophy that many scholars believe to be the oldest healing science. Holistic healing is a balance between mind, body and spirit.

Ayumi kindly sent us their range of Turmeric body care and shampoo to review. Each product was excellent to use and their fragrance felt like a warm hug on a cold night. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric has long been known as an extremely useful and effective ingredient for skincare problems. In fact, turmeric is often used to aid skin issues such as dark spots, acne or even Melanoma. The products from the range we were sent were Turmeric and Shea Butter Body Lotion, Turmeric and Argan Oil Body Wash, a Turmeric and Bergamot Body Scrub and lastly, Hibiscus & Turmeric Shampoo.

Let’s begin with the Body Lotion; made with turmeric, shea butter, papaya extract, argan and mandarin oil. This Body Lotion is a blessing for anyone who struggles with dry skin, as it is perfect for everyday protection and nourishment. Next up, we have the Body Wash also made with turmeric, argan and mandarin oil and papaya extract. It’s got a luxurious texture with an enchanting citrus finish. The wash left our skin deeply cleansed, refreshed and revitalised. The Body Scrub is a deep cleaning and exfoliating product for combination and blemished skin. It uses ground olive and crushed pumice stones to gently buff away dead skin cells and impurities leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth and radiant. Last but most certainly not the least, we have the Shampoo for cleansing, stimulating and restoring your hair’s natural shine and health. The powerful natural ingredients will give fine and dull hair a new lease of life. The brightening properties of turmeric and the regenerative properties of papaya, and amla for promoting hair growth, will nourish your hair leaving it thicker, brighter and holistically healthier. With its glorious ingredients and luxurious set of products, Ayumi has outdone itself with its Turmeric range. You can find the products online on their official website. All the products are priced at an affordable £6.99 here.

DAVISAGE - The DVS Visager Boxset

We all tend to run back and forth from the gym and other workouts to ensure our bodies are healthy, tight and toned. However, what about our faces? Surely just like the rest of the body, our face needs exercise and attention too? OK so keep reading on… To help fight off potential signs of ageing, here at The Amazing Blog, we came across just the perfect product that can be used for to create a little ‘face gym’ all in the convenience of your home.  Introducing the DVS FACE X’CERCISE & VISAGER with Luxury Peptide Serums by DAVISAGE. It’s quite addictive to use and when you start there’s quite literally no going back!

DAVISAGE believes in using proven technology and scientific techniques to help individuals enjoy a natural and perpetual facelift. They spent 8 long years perfecting the DVS Face X’cercise programme with expert consults from doctors, anatomical specialists, dermatologists and qualified beauty specialists; as well as established professionals from both Western and Chinese medicine. The programme includes a set of tried and tested exercises specifically designed for exercising face and neck muscles since they are the most often neglected. DVS Face X’cercise provides you with the knowledge to help you retain a youthful appearance.

The DVS Visager Boxset includes for €214.10, a 100ml bottle of Firming Mist Luxury Peptide, a 30 ml bottle of Face Serum Intense Luxury Peptide and a 12ml bottle of Eye Serum Intense Luxury Peptide. For optimum results, they need to be used in conjunction with each other. Let’s begin with The Visager. It is a unique all-in-one exercise and massage tool and is created using state of the art Japanese technology. It is an excellent tool for stimulating cellular renewal, boost collagen regeneration and improve skin elasticity. The device includes two germanium (GE) infused silicone pads that provide resistance and improve oxygenation at the top and one titanium microcurrent to detoxify and reduce puffiness. The GE infused silicon pads facilitate healthy oxygenation of skin cells thereby destroying damaging free radicals, increasing skin metabolism and also improving nourishment and hydration from within. The titanium-coated micro-current roller soother and stimulates acupressure points for natural healing. It effectively rolls away toxins and excess fluid from our lymph nodes, dramatically reduces swelling, puffiness, blemishes and acne. It also relieves tension and stress from underlying facial and neck muscles to restore youthful supple skin that looks relaxed, radiant and beautiful. When you purchase the product, you will receive a box that has an integrated video to give you directions as to how to use the device and the different exercises you can perform with the same. You can also find these videos online here. The DVS Visage Boxset is currently only available from the DAVISAGE website. However, all products can be purchased individually here in the UK, including Peptide products (below) from Harvey Nichols.

Let’s talk about the Peptide products, which are supposed to be used in conjunction with the Visager. Each of the products includes copper peptide which has a number of benefits. It helps to heal your skin and makes it look more youthful, it also calms irritated or reddened skin to give a more even skin tone, reducing spots, photodamage and hyperpigmentation. Plus it fights the first signs of ageing by increasing collagen production, fighting free radicals that cause wrinkles and fine lines, by plumping and tightening the skin. The Firming Mist Intense  (£30 from here ) which is used with the Visager, dramatically reduces line, restores firmness and elasticity. It provides long-lasting hydration, strengthens and repairs skin, helps fight against environmental stress as well as visibly reduces the appearance of dark spots and freckles. Up next we have the Face Serum (£40 from here) this too is recommended for use with the Visager. It has high-quality phytohormones that reduce lines, tighten and uplift the natural face contour preventing skin ageing. It restores the balance of natural anti-ageing for younger-looking skin and further improves the water storing ability of your skin, leaving it looking hydrated and supple. Last but not least, is the Eye Serum (£45 from here) it has a number of benefits including smoothing out expression lines, protecting and improving the dermis properties. It also helps to lift the upper eyelids, fade away dark circles, diminishing puffiness and it protects collagen and repairs elasticity to the eyes. These products, when used in sequence together alongside the Visager have the ability to leave you feeling, confident and energised.

We also want to give a quick mention to their clever little Handie Bottle. This is a combination of a hand cleansing gel & nourishing hand cream with two compartments, all in one 15ml bottle (from €32.99 here). Infused with luxury orchid oil, the hand cleansing gel is an effective cleansing gel removes dirt like a sanitizer, cleaning and renewing your hands for instant freshness. There’s no need for a rinse after use. The nourishing hand cream is packed with anti-oxidants, to keep hands silky smooth and hydrated. It's the perfect product to have in your bag when you’re on the go. You won’t ever have to worry about rushing to a public loo to wash your hands if you’ve got this Handie Bottle by DAVISAGE with you!