Berrichi: Travel Set

For the first time in over a year, people are finally travelling again! Whether it’s a quick dash for a weekend getaway or a more relaxing fortnight, everyone deserves a holiday after this tough 18 months. At The Amazing Blog we’re excited to be travelling again, and have been looking for travel-sized skincare that fits neatly into our hand luggage. You many remembered the brand Berrichi (see here).  Well, today we’re talking about their Berrichi’s Travel Set.

Berrichi,  is a natural skincare brand from Estonia, and was founded by Berit Joosep. Joosep’s dry, allergic skin and inflammation caused her to look for help from pure nature, and began mixing creams in her kitchen. Her inspiration first came from herbal medicine books and her grandmother’s wisdom, and then she discovered healing properties of algae after a trip to Bali. After two years of research, algae and super-oils became the key ingredients in the creams — these algae-based antioxidants astaxanthin and furcellaria have been studied, tested, and scientifically proven to give results. The astaxanthin is an extract derived from the green algae haematococcus pluvialis and when compared to other antioxidants, it is an astonishing 6000 x stronger than vitamin C, 3000 x stronger than reservatrol, 800 x stronger than CoQ10, 560 x stronger than green tea catechins, and 500 x stronger than vitamin E!  The red algae furcellaria, found in the Baltic Sea, is a potent neutraliser of free radicals, anti-pollution and removes toxins. Combine these super-algae, and they become very potent botanicals in this skincare. Berrichi is based on the idea that our body can heal itself when balanced. The name Berrichi comes from Berit’s nickname “berri” and the word “chi,” which stands for life, energy, and soul. Therefore, “Berrichi awakens your skin’s natural ability to regenerate, activates your skin’s own chi.” The brand has won many awards, two of the most recent being the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2020 Editor’s Choice. They say, “Berrichi’s products are unique and effective. They awaken the body’s natural ability to regenerate and heal.” They export globally and are recognised for leading the way with ‘clean beauty’ and their unique botanicals. The products are free from parabens, sulphates, phthalates, artificial fragrances, vegan and cruelty-free. They are also dermatologically tested and have and Ecocert COSMOS certification.

This useful Berrichi’s Travel Set includes ten small sachets of their Day-Age Defence and ten small sachets of their Night Powder Age Defence; which, as they say, allows you to “travel in comfort with your favourite creams.” Each sachet has 2 ml of cream, which gives you 40 ml total. Both the Day-Age Defence and the Night Powder Age Defence is suitable for all skin types.and apart from the astaxanthin and furcellaran algae, the other main ingredients in both are aloe vera extract and a selection of oils that include cacay nut, avocado and apricot kernel. Berrichi’s Day Age Defence Cream is velvety soft and fast-absorbing; it really nourishes and moisturises the skin. The cream also soothes irritated, allergic, and inflamed skin giving a radiant and fresh looking complexion as well as a more even skin tone. In addition, the cream restores the skin’s natural balance, prevents and reduces wrinkles, protects from environmental stressors, and can be a makeup base or primer. Berrichi’s Night Powder Age Defence restores hydration nourishing the skin while you sleep. The cream improves collagen production and restores the skin’s natural protective barriers, slowing down the signs of ageing. It also improves the skin’s elasticity and firmness, restores the skin’s natural balance, prevents and reduces wrinkles, and protects from environmental stressors. Again, apart from the algae and the other ingredients (mentioned above) there is also retinol/vitamin A. This is a potent fat-soluble vitamin; it accelerates skin renewal by stimulating microcirculation, which speeds up new skin cell production, giving an anti-ageing effect.  If you, like us, you want to take Berrichi’s Travel Set with you for your next trip, you can purchase it here for 28.00€.

Luonkos: Rebirth & Radiant Facial Oil Cleansing Cakes and Celebrate Sparkling Body Cake

Are you feeling guilty about your bathroom shelves being stacked full of plastic bottles? At The Amazing Blog, we are! We’re trying to do our best to have more zero-waste, and this week we’re featuring our second sustainable Scandinavian brand, from the land of the midnight sun. Today it’s with Luonkos and their multitasking ‘Cakes’ that help to minimise our skincare products, and reconnect us back to nature.

Luonkos is a natural skincare brand from Finland, founded in 2018 by an enterprising trio of women; Miia Leino, Jonna Vesterinen, and Piritta Fors. Their primary mission is to help stop plastic bottles flooding bathrooms by giving us more sustainable alternative. The company currently sells Oil Cleansing Cakes, Body Cakes, Forest Cakes, and Hair Products. Luonkos’ facial Oil Cleansing Cakes won the Best Natural Innovation award in the 2020 Nordic Natural Beauty Awards. The company’s Cakes are all oil-based and composed of natural oils that cleanse the skin in a gentle, nurturing and healing way. Luonkos has a product for every skin type, and promise with regular use these will return the skin back to its natural pH balance. Having a zero-waste ethos is important to Luonkos, and all their products are plastic-free, handmade with all-natural ingredients, waterless, vegan and packaged in stylish biodegradable hexagonal cardboard boxes. Co-founder Fors recently said in an interview with Nordic Natural Beauty Podcast, “We really wanted to create a valued-based brand and inspire people to start thinking about the what’s in the products that they use.” She went on to say, “we’ve created multi-use zero-waste natural products that don’t have any preservatives or chemicals. We believe that you’re allowed to have this ‘I love me’ moment while cleansing so that you are taking care of yourself and your skin.” Although the company is based in Finland, their products are sold in multiple countries in Europe and are delivered internationally. Luonkos chose to call their products ‘cakes’ instead of ‘bars’ because cakes have a more joyful connotation!  Last October they were the first consumer products in the world to use a revolutionary Finnish invention, a forest microbe extract that, research shows, supports and strengthens the body's immune system. They were also the first products with EXAKT smart tags to arrive on store shelves. 

Luonkos sent us two facial oil cleansing cakes, the Rebirth Facial Oil Cleansing Cake  and the Radiant Facial Oil Cleansing Cake. Both the Oil Cleansing Cakes are 4-in-1 products that clean the skin, take off makeup (even waterproof makeup), and balance and nurture the skin. The Rebirth Facial Oil Cleansing Cake is for dry and normal skin, brightens and revives skin, and was Luonkos’ first product! Ideal for the 30+ age group this cake also helps to address any hyperpigmentation. Some of the ingredients in this cleansing cake include cacao seed butter, coconut oil, almond oil and Styrax Benzoin Resin Extract for fragrance. The cacao seed butter moisturises the skin, the coconut oil helps cleanse the skin effectively, the almond oil softens and nurtures skin. This Cake has a warm and comforting fragrance that reminds of delicious sweet cacao/chocolate. The Radiant Facial Oil Cleansing Cake is for dry and sensitive skin, has no added fragrance. There are only five ingredients in this cleansing bar which include apricot kernel oil, cacao seed butter, coconut oil, shea butter, and sea buckthorn seed oil. The apricot kernel oil nurtures and nourishes skin, the cacao seed butter moisturises the skin, the coconut oil helps cleanse the skin effectively, the shea butter nourishes and protects skin, and the sea buckthorn seed oil rejuvenates and strengthens skin. Which was our favourite? As we have sensitive skin – Radiant was our preferred Oil Cleansing Cake here. That said, we loved the performance and fragrance of Rebirth. We used them to effectively remove makeup at night and freshen up our complexion in the morning. What we love is that these Cakes is that they are gentle with no eye-stinging or excess oily residue. We still have Radiant on-the-go where it has pride of place, in the bathroom. If you are scared to try oil cleansing because your pores clog up easily, they recommend that you first try to double cleanse with your chosen Oil Cleansing Cake before using it solo. These Oil Cleansing Cakes are 60 ml, which means approximately 60 uses, making them very cost-effective. To store the Oil Cleansing Cakes, keep them in a dry place and out of direct sunlight; and to apply, rub the cake in your clean, dry hands to release the oils, massage this oil onto dry skin to remove makeup or impurities, and then wipe away the remaining oil with a warm damp cloth or sponge.You can purchase the Rebirth Facial Oil Cleansing Cake here for 24,15 €, the Radiant Facial Oil Cleansing Cake here for 24,15 €.

In addition to the Oil Cleansing Cakes, Luonkos sent us their Celebrate Sparkling Body Cake. This Celebrate Sparkling Body Cake brought a glorious sheen to our legs, cleavage, arms, and even cheekbones! Some of the moisturising ingredients include aloe vera, frankincense oil, jojoba wax, cacao seed butter, mica mineral pigment, lychee essential oil, barley starch, grape seed oil, peppermint essential oil, and sea buckthorn seed oil. Let’s talk about the ingredients and what they do: The aloe vera cools and calms the skin after sunbathing, frankincense oil improves concentration and calms the mind, the jojoba wax and cacao seed butter soothe and hydrates the skin, whereas the tiny mica mineral pigments give the skin a reflective glow. The lychee essential oil is an anti-inflammatory and protects skin; the barley starch helps the product spread evenly. The grape seed oil balances, t the peppermint essential oil cools, and the sea buckthorn seed oil rejuvenates and strengthens skin. Like the Oil Cleansing Cakes, this is 60 ml and is also recommended to be stored in a cool, dry place (place out of direct sunlight) so that it doesn’t melt! Sadly, this didn’t last as long as the Oil Cleansing Cakes – but with good reason as we used it all over the body (not exclusively on the face). To apply this Body Cake, simply rub the cake in your clean, dry hands (again) and put the oil on damp skin (ideally after a shower), let your skin dry with the oil before getting dressed, to help keep skin soft and hydrated. This Body Cake is perfect for now to show off your summer tan with its touch of sparkle, making you ready for a night on the town. To purchase the Celebrate Sparkling Body Cake, see here for 22,54 €. Luonkos is yet another of our our #amazingfinds and we hope to see them here in the UK soon.

Grevinnans Rum: Firming Body Oil

At The Amazing Blog we have a soft spot for Scandinavian skincare brands, especially those that include their native ingredients. We have had our eye on this lifestyle brand Grevinnans Rum as many of their products contain locally sourced organic botanicals and cold-pressed oils. Today we are featuring their Firming Body Oil.

Grevinnans Rum is an organic lifestyle and skincare brand based in Gränna, Sweden. Founder Karin Egertz has worked with skincare all her professional life, and has always made her own small batch skincare. After realising that the type of sustainable and organic skincare, that many people were looking for didn’t exist, she decided to expand her production and open a shop. In a recent interview, with the Nordic Natural Beauty Awards  Karin said, “With help from my husband and sons, we expanded the production to meet the demands. Everything was handmade by us from the finest organic raw materials. The demand was so great that we decided to close the shop and only focus on production.” Unlike other skincare brands, Grevinnans Rum products are handmade using the finest raw materials sourced from local Swedish producers. Products are also free from palm oil and animal testing, making them cruelty-free, vegan friendly and suitable for all skin types. The range has artisian soaps, lotions, body balms, salt scrub, body oils, face oils, serum and many more. When asked what Grevinnans Rum is about, Karin said in an interview with a Scandinavian lifestyle blog Stromstadspa, “In short, you can say that everything about us, is about natural luxury and no-nonsense!” The formulas are designed with the utmost care making them one of the most exclusive natural brands in Sweden. They bring to life traditional knowhow with their use of medicinal plants, with an alchemy that embraces both the old and the new.

Grevinnans Rum Firming Body Oil is a luxurious dry oil designed for the whole body. it has benefits such as anti-ageing, helping to get rid of stubborn wrinkles and cellulite, and of course, skin firming; with the added bonus of soothing the skin and giving it a natural glow. The ingredient include: Sea buckthorn oil, this is extracted from berries and seeds of the plant, which are rich in vitamins and minerals. This specific oil can help stimulate skin regeneration and reduce inflammation following UV exposure, protecting skin against sun damage. Rosehip oil contains vitamin C and A which can benefit the skin in many ways as it can reduce hyperpigmentation and stretch marks. In order for this body oil to keep the skin supple and nourished, marigold oil is added, which has healing properties that offer an immediate boost to dull skin. Avocado here is rich in vitamin E and biotin, this fruit helps increase skin elasticity and prevents dry skin. Carrot and sunflower oil contains anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the skin. Lemon verbena is another botanical here that not only awakens the body, but it also detoxifies and treats the skin. Lastly, natural peppermint adds to the relaxing smell and cooling effect. Other ingredients include thistle oil, safflower seed and a few others. With this plethora of botanicals and natural oils, makes this a nourishing Firming Body Oil ideal for rosacea, psoriasis, eczema or stressed skin. The fragrance is subtle - all we could detect was a gentle mix of lemon verbena, mint and marigold. When applied it left our skin looking glowing and radiant - we used it on décolletage, arms, legs and torso; and when applied it felt super- luxurious! It may be for skin-firming but we also found it hydrating and replenishing too. It’s a fantastic multipurpose oil (think about adding to ends of hair too) making this 100ml bottle, in our view, a ‘must-have’ item to take on your travels this summer. To purchase the 100 ml Firming Body Oil see here for 499 KR/£42.02. 

BeMoral: Facial Masks - Narcissus, Angel Silver Wing and Goddess of Victory

It’s not a secret that at The Amazing Blog, we love beauty facial masks! And we were recently sent the award-winning facial mask collection from BeMoral to try. These come all the way from Taiwan; it’s an intriguing and esoteric brand with both it’s concept and messaging - we couldn’t wait to try them!

BeMoral, is a Taiwanese gender-neutral lifestyle skincare brand, was founded in 2019 by Mr Dang when he couldn’t find any products in this sector that he liked or ‘lived up to his standards’.  The company strives for equality and diversity. The words ‘be moral’ mean being moral, ethical, virtuous and, of course, having good behaviour; the brand focuses on this concept and “being genuine” hence their name. They currently only sell facial masks and home fragrances, but they plan to expand the range with additional lines in the future. BeMoral is a multi-award-winning brand and has won Champion of Les Victoires de la beauté 2020-2021 in Mask Category for all three of their facial masks. A Bronze at 2021 Belgium Monde Selection, Plus, at the Pure Beauty Award, 2020  in the Best New Mask, Highly Commended for their Narcissus Nude Mask. BeMoral believes that humanity and nature can work together in harmony. Mr Dang recently commented, “I respect the power of nature and the core desire of humankind. Every course just makes sense; the cycle of dependency and survival between human and nature makes everything more equal, forgiving, diverse, and harmonious.” They believe that they are a brand, “symbiotic with the next generation of skincare.” All facial masks are made by a leading textile technology company in Japan, and the raw ingredient are sourced Germany which comply with EU regulations.

BeMoral sent us their collection of Narcissus Nude Mask, Angel of Silver Wing Setting Mask, and Goddess of Victory Setting Mask. The Narcissus Nude Mask and Angel of Silver Wing Setting Mask contain silver pearl essence. The Goddess of Victory Setting Mask has gold pearl essence — this glitter essence is from the natural mica mineral that brightens the skin. The copper ammonia fibre continuous long fibre non-woven fabric in all three facial masks and is made of cotton lint by Japan Transnational Chemical, which retains moisture and adheres tightly to the skin. BeMoral’s facial masks are different from most other masks because they are pre-makeup masks, so you can apply them before putting on makeup to give the skin a luminous glow. 

The Angel of Silver Wing Setting Mask is hydrating, oil-balancing and they describe it as having a hint of a sweet strawberry scent. The silver pearl essence in this mask helps the skin achieve a concealing effect. The following ingredient here they share in Goddess of Victory Setting Mask and Narcissus Nude Mask. These are provitamin B5, and witch hazel extract, Ruscus aculeatus (AKA butcher's broom) that is believed to improve blood circulation, it is added to skin care formulations that are intended for dark under eye circles. Arnica montana is also here to decreases puffiness and the horse chestnut is made up from the glycosides of saponins., which are potent anti-inflammatory compounds. The Malvaceae (AKA hibiscus abelmoschus) has anthocyanins, and flavenoids which offer high antioxidant properties which deflect the effects of free radical damage and photo-ageing. There are the vitamin B3 (niacin) and provitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) both known for their complexion enhancing qualities. This facial mask gives a translucent quality to the skin, and when makeup or foundation are applied afterwards, it helps to enhance and prolong the original colours and pigments. The fragrance in this mask is sourced from Grasse in France, using ODOURCO ® technology to create a hypoallergenic scent - making this mask suitable for even the most sensitive of skins. When all of these are combined they capture and retain water molecules, which in turn plumps up the skin. The Goddess of Victory Setting Mask is both moisturising and nourishing, and is suitable for all skin types. The gold pearl essence in this mask smooths fine lines and locks in makeup. The ingredients are the same at Angel Silver Wing and also include a bumper amount of 4.0 upgraded hyaluronic acid. The Narcissus Nude Mask is hydrating, polishing, and brightening, and is for semi-dry and combination skin. The moonlight essence in this mask helps the skin achieve a nude glossy effect and has micro particles that help to control excess sebum. Some other ingredients here include extracts from Japan’s Hayashibara bio-carbohydrates, aloe extract, and hyaluronic acid — which help water enter skin cells and maintain osmotic balance. 

We enjoyed using all three of these award-winning facial masks, with their cutting-edge ingredients and stylish design. Our favourite of the three was the Goddess of Victory Setting Mask; we liked how it hydrated the skin and left it looking and feeling dewy with the minuscule flecks of gold mica. it made the perfect base for applying our SPF or CC cream in this current heatwave. To apply any of these facial masks, clean the face, putting the mask directly to the skin, and then pat it lightly to keep it in place. Remove the mask after 10 minutes, and massage the remaining essence into the face and neck — they suggested not to wash the face after applying, as you’ll lose all the skin enhancing benefits. What we like is that no serum or moisturiser is needed afterwards as these make the perfect base with or without makeup. You can find the Narcissus Nude Mask here,  Angel of Silver Wing Setting Mask here, and Goddess of Victory Setting Mask here all packs of 5 facial masks are €36.24.

Avani Skin: Hydrating & Illuminating New Skin Serum

If you are an avid reader of  The Amazing Blog, then you'll know that on super-hot days, like today, we keep our skincare to a minimum. It's always with a light hyaluronic-based serum and an SPF. This is why we are excited to introduce you to a new brand Avani Skin with their all-natural Hydrating & Illuminating New Skin Serum.

Avani Skin  is a natural British skincare brand founded in 2020 by Hannah Wilson. She began this journey by living a more natural plant-based lifestyle. Hannah realised that many of the products she used daily contained unnecessary animal-derived ingredients or harmful chemicals. It was then that Hannah decided to begin researching natural, vegan and cruelty-free ingredients to create products for herself, family and friends. After some trial and error and deciding whether to turn the hobby into a business, Avani Skin was born. The name Avani comes from the Indian origin meaning Earth, and represents what the brand revolves around - naturally sourced ingredients. They are an artisan brand committed to making vegan and cruelty-free products that are gentle yet effective on the skin. They take pride in their high-quality ingredients without the use of mineral oils, parabens or sulphates. Although they only have two products in the range, they wish to highlight their status as a sustainable and all-natural brand. As a part of their sustainability effort, Avani Skin offers a reduced price of thirty per cent off for refills using returned skincare bottles. Another aspect of their mission is to create custom-made products that suit all your needs in one bottle. They offer a personalised skincare service to add specific ingredients for an individual skin type and all of the main active ingredients found in their natural skin serum.

The Hydrating & Illuminating New Skin Serum is a gel serum that works to replenish the skin's natural glow by fading scars, boosting collagen levels, and locking in moisture. This serum is specifically designed to help rejuvenate dry, dull skin and promote skin elasticity, making it an excellent choice for individuals with sensitive, dry, or ageing skin. One of the main active ingredients in the serum is hyaluronic acid, or as Avani calls it, "The Fountain of Youth." Hyaluronic acid is one of our 'must-haves' in a serum as it seemingly slows down the ageing process by plumping and rejuvenating the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines. This ingredient also helps lock in moisture and lock out pollutants or other harmful substances that the skin can absorb. As always, what we find most astonishing about this natural ingredient is its ability to hold 1000x its own weight in water, meaning just a drop of hyaluronic acid contains an incredible amount of moisture - goodbye dry skin! Another natural ingredient that fights against wrinkles and fine lines are the lupine proteins. These proteins stimulate collagen and elastin production, which help to keep the skin smooth and youthful-looking. The serum also focuses on brightening the appearance of tired skin through its use of Chinese Wu Zhu fruit (see photo above) extract and vitamin B3. Wu Zhu extract is an all-natural ingredient derived from the evodia rutaecarpa fruit, which helps with circulation, increases elasticity, and improves skin texture. Vitamin B3 (niacin) acts as a toner by helping to reduce pigmentation and creating an illuminating glow that can only be the sign of healthy skin. All of these active ingredients together make for a quick-acting and multi-purpose skin serum. We used it during the day, first thing in the morning, on damp skin after the shower, as it helps activate the hyaluronic acid and kept skin looking dewy and refreshed. Best of all, it absorbs fast (even in the heat), which made it quick and easy to layer up and apply our SPF. It is a clear and viscous liquid (the HA) with a pleasant and subtle floral fragrance. For the best results, Avani advises applying a pea-sized amount twice daily on damp skin. They also recommend following up with a hydrating cream and nourishing oil blend to lock in the moisture of the gel-serum ). If you are experiencing dull, dry skin or looking to attain a youthful glow, this serum will make a good addition to your skincare routine. To purchase this 50ml Hydrating & Illuminating New Skin Serum for £18.99 see here.