Skin:Genius : 'Hits the Spot Spot' & 'Best Cleanse Forever'

Here at The Amazing Blog, we know to our cost, that the dreaded acne isn’t just reserved for those teenage years. Adults also struggle with acne, so we wanted to talk about this natural and solution-based skincare brand Skin:Genius. Their ingenious (pun intended!) Hits the Spot purifying gel is a quick zapping, maximum-strength spot-on treatment gel that immediately fights the bacteria, ridding the spot quickly and effectively. Combine this with their multi-award-winning Best Cleanse Forever Cleansing Face Wash, an organic and natural botanical-packed face wash, specifically formulated to help target spots, breakouts, oily and acne-prone skin, and here you have the perfect dynamic duo!

A beautician by training, founder Julia Vearnacombe was well aware of the number of adults and teens struggling with oily skin, breakouts, flushed complexions and the anxiety that comes with it all. When researching solutions to the skin issues posed by clients and mums, Julia realised there were very few effective solutions out there that were natural and worked with the skin, not against it. This was when she approached her homoeopath friend and co-founder of Skin:Genius, Hilery Dorrian. Together they conducted extensive research in combining the most effective ingredients to tackle acne and spot-causing bacteria with natural botanicals known to cleanse and calm red and irritated skin, as well as non-comedogenic vegan ingredients that soften and soothe the skin. In a recent interview with Squirrels&Bears, Julia said, "Together we created Skin:Genius in order to offer an accessible, affordable range” she went on to say, “ We have recently rebranded, so we’re not just targeting teenagers: we were finding many parents of teenagers – in the 40s and 50s – who were suffering from hormonal and menopausal skincare breakout problems, were having great results with Skin:Genius too.” The brand doesn’t just specialise in helping spots and acne; they also offer solutions for eczema & psoriasis-prone skin.

Acne is a persistent, inflammatory skin condition caused by an overproduction of oil, resulting in breakouts and pimples. The most common cause of adult acne for women is hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause. Stress is another common factor for both men and women, especially with challenging times and the continuous cycle of trying to achieve a work-life balance. To learn more about acne, please see here. Skin:Genius believes that everyone deserves to be happy in their skin. However, after learning that some of those with skin conditions have experienced social and mental health problems, they recently launched their support group FaceUp2It . This group brings together trusted experts and people with first-hand experience of bullying and/or living with problem skin.

Let’s take a look at Hits the Spot purifying gel, which is loaded with oregon grape, nettle, roman chamomile, and yarrow, making it rich in antioxidants to reduce, prevent, calm and soothe spots and breakouts. It’s an extremely versatile gel and can also be used to ease stings, bites, rashes and hives. Organic ingredients include witch hazel, an astringent with potent anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties; aloe vera for healing and softening skin; yarrow, a pampering herb with pain-relieving and antimicrobial properties; agrimony, another herb ideal for mild skin redness and swelling and lastly, marshmallow, a root that alleviates inflammation while retaining moisture in the skin. In addition to these power-packed ingredients, there’s roman chamomile, an antimicrobial and antibacterial essential oil, oregon grape that has a compound called berbamine which kills on contact any bacteria that contributes to acne; calendula, a plant with substantial healing properties; lavender, which is calming and reduces inflammation, and lemon tea tree, an essential oil which aids in treating oily and acne prone skin, can be found too. There’s also ribwort, known for its wound healing and antihistamine properties; red clover, ideal for eczema and psoriasis; and finally, nettle an astringent, also suitable for treating oily skin issues.

Besides the above, Irish moss is an emulsifier, there’s lecithin is an emollient, and pectin serves as an anti-ageing structure provider. Coumarin carries antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory activities, citral provides an antibacterial and antifungal component; and together with eugenol, farnesol, geraniol, linalool and limonene all-natural ingredients that enhance the citrusy scent. Whereas compounds like benzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid, potassium sorbate, and sodium benzoate are preservatives.

We used only the tiniest amount; they say, ”a small dot directly onto the spot and soak it up”. We left it on overnight to work its magic. However, the brand says it’s so gentle that it can be used several times a day or whenever needed. The gel is an opaque pale yellow with a fresh herbal/ citrusy scent. There’s no tingle when applied, (which, ahem, we’ve experienced with some other spot gels!) It was quick absorbing, non-irritating and left no sticky residue. Best of all, our spots were dried out the very next day. It’s one to keep in your SOS skincare draw, and one we’d whole heartily recommend.

The Best Cleanse Forever Cleansing Face Wash helps control bacteria, soothe inflamed skin and reduce redness. Key ingredients are red clover, calendula, witch hazel and lemongrass, which work together to reduce and clear spots by deep cleansing pores, making it feel super clean yet not over-drying the skin. Cleverly some ingredients mimic the sebum in your skin to stop the overproduction, for a better skin balance. Similar ingredients in the Hit the Spot purifying gel can also be found here, i.e. witch hazel, aloe vera, yarrow, agrimony, marshmallow, roman chamomile, oregon grape, calendula and lavender. New ingredients include sodium cocoyl glutamate, a mild surfactant with outstanding cleaning and foaming properties; caprylyl, a glucoside and gentle cleanser; glycerin, a humectant with moisturising properties; with lauryl glucoside, and cocamidopropyl betaine, both hydrating and mild cleansing surfactants. Vitamin E (tocopherol) is a fat-soluble antioxidant that protects the skin, while citric acid is a chemical exfoliant and protective antioxidant. Meanwhile, organic lemongrass removes impurities, and detoxifies leaving the skin feeling clean and clear; whereas organic sunflower abundant in vitamin E helps ward off any premature ageing.

This foaming cleanser is in a pump bottle and needs a quick shake, then apply and distribute a small amount of the foam over the face and neck. Massage in and simply rinse off with warm water, or if you’re us, use a face cloth for a bit of extra gentle exfoliation. We recommend applying it morning and evening to keep skin and pores clean to get optimum results - follow the Skin:Genius mantra which is “Cleanse: Treat: Hydrate: Repeat” We found the cleanser foamy and gentle with a mild and uplifting citrus scent; it left our skin feeling clean and hydrated. If you have hormonal breakouts and sensitive skin, then this is for you. It’s another ‘yes we’d buy’ from us, and both these products are another of our #amazingfinds.

To purchase a 10 ml bottle of Skin:Genius Hits the Spot purifying gel for £13.50, click here. For a 100ml bottle of Skin:Genius Best Cleanse Forever Cleansing Facial Wash for £16.50, click here. For those interested in a special 2-in-1 deal, Skin:Genius has a unique ‘Genius Set Starter Collection’ with both products and a face cloth for £33 (now £27!), click here.

Oodee: Aurora Perfecting Serum

After a small autumn break from The Amazing Blog, we’re back with more of our #amazingfinds for you to enjoy.

Let’s talk about sudden skin flare-ups that sometimes happen to us all; we’ll predict with this colder weather that we’re probably not the only ones experiencing irritated, blotchy and dry skin. So what to do? Step forward Oodee, a newly launched skincare that we discovered earlier this year at The CEW brand showcase. What excited us about Oodee is that it’s the first and only beauty brand to actively remove all known food and fragrance allergens from its products. We’re reviewing Oodee’s Aurora Perfecting Serum which, with its Allergen Neutral™ formula, excludes 14 major food allergens, 26 fragrance allergens and all known skin irritants. It offered the perfect solution to our sometimes moody skin, which is why we want to flag it up today.

Oodee was born out of the frustrations of two women, Karen Harwood and Victoria Tydeman. Karen is no stranger to the world of skincare and beauty, having worked for some of the most inspiring beauty companies, including L'Oréal and The Body Shop. Despite this, she struggled with painful and stressful flare-ups for over a decade, trying everything to soothe her skin but to no avail. Frustrated with skincare, she made a shift to the food industry. The free-form movement was trending during this time, demanding allergen awareness in food. It made Karen wonder if the allergens found in skincare products, but were absent in food, were the cause for her flare-ups. Victoria, the founder of Japanese wonder-cream Steam Cream, took notice. It wasn't long until the pair, and a team of highly skilled skincare experts set off to create the world’s first Allergen Neutral™ skincare solution that eliminated food and fragrance allergens. Oodee was founded in 2018, and Karen’s skin issues were finally laid to rest. "Being the researcher I am, it was clear to me that Oodee's Allergen Neutral™ skin care could help many others beyond myself. I discovered that 58% of people have experienced a skin flare-up, and 90% don't know why. It turns out that there are millions of people like me," commented Karen. A revolutionary skincare brand aiming to make Allergen Neutral™ the new gold standard, Oodee is the first and only brand to actively eliminate all known food and fragrance allergens from its products while proudly incorporating innovative science, plant power, formula first and being sustainably minded too. To quote Karen, “If you wouldn’t eat something you’re intolerant or allergic to, why would you put it on your skin?”

Through fermentation and gemmotherapy (a comprehensive energetic cell therapy), Oodee’s radical green chemistry distils the essence of its ingredients to obtain superior benefits, resulting in exceptional, scientifically proven results. Oodee employs powerful superfoods, like collagen-boosting prickly pear and calming Atlantic kelp, to get the finest natural, innovative and nutrient-rich ingredients nature has to offer. With a strong belief in quality over quantity, Oodee’s products simply contain potent Allergen Neutral™ formulas are boosted with DermaRDE+™, a one-of-a-kind multivitamin blend comprising 22 vital nutrients, superfoods and botanical actives for healthy, happy skin. Among the 22 essential nutrients, you can find niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, amino acids, pre and postbiotics, enzymes, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, essential fatty acids, omega 6, omega 9, antioxidants, as well as vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C, E and H. As if it couldn’t get any better, Oodee’s products are cruelty-free, vegan, and manufactured using green chemistry methods, with recyclable packaging and even upcycled ingredients where possible.

Oodee’s Aurora Perfecting Serum is radiance in a bottle, to say the least. This ultra-light serum is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories to help boost the skin’s natural ceramides for a desirably smooth, firm and dewy finish completed with a beautiful afterglow. Much like Oodee’s other products, the brand’s Aurora Perfecting Serum contains its unique Allergen Neutral™ formula, which excludes 14 food and 26 fragrance allergens, along with 22 vital nutrients packed in its one and only DermaRDE+™ multivitamin powershot blend. The beneficial ingredients don't end there; the serum also consists of shiso sprouts, shizandra berries (both pictured above), black cumin, Irish moss and arginine. Sustainably grown shiso sprouts boost radiance through potent antioxidants, and essential fatty acids that slow ageing and reduce oxidative stress. The advantages of shizandra berries and black cumin don't fall far behind. Shizandra berries carry calming properties that reduce redness and imperfections plus improve the skin’s radiance banishing breakouts. At the same time, black cumin's abundance in essential fatty acids and ceramides nourishes and restores the skin’s natural barrier function. Furthermore, Irish moss is a super alga loaded with mineral salts, amino acids and vitamins, visibly improving the skin's appearance, protecting against external aggressors and reducing ageing and inflammation. Last but not least, arginine, a potent amino acid, increases the skin’s visible hydration levels, protects against damaging free radicals and helps support collagen production while balancing PH.

To experience the benefits, massage 2-3 pumps of the serum onto a cleansed face and neck during morning and night. The brand recommends pairing it with Oodee’s 3-Step Phenomenal Skin Edit for optimal results. First, start with Oodee’s Halo Purifying Foaming Cleanser, a silky-soft non-drying cleanser starring rice protein and Prickly Pear to purify and hydrate the skin, followed by the Aurora Perfecting Serum, and end with Oodee’s Nova Illuminating Moisturiser, a potent, supercharged mix of Vitamin C and biodynamic buckwheat sprouts to protect, plump and boost luminosity.

Back to the Aurora Perfecting Serum, the texture is slightly viscous and cloudy, with a very delicate prickly pear scent. What we love about this Aurora Perfecting Serum, is its two-in-one ability to reduce painful skin flare-ups with its anti-inflammatory properties, while simultaneously sustaining the skin through its highly restorative DermaRDE+™ multivitamin complex paired with the Allergen Neutral™ formula. Based on the research conducted by Oodee, stats say that 58% of respondents have experienced skin irritation or flare-up while using a beauty product, and 93% of respondents stated that they felt more beauty products should consider people's allergies. Oodee listens to its consumer’s concerns, catering to this 93% in addressing skin irritation.

We found it very nourishing and yet weightless. It’s also quick to absorb, instantly soothing, and restores the skin’s hydration with its hyaluronic acid and special botanical actives; quickly added, this natural and adaptable serum is suitable for all skin types, not just sensitive ones. We think it’s a winter must-have. See here to purchase a 50ml bottle of Oodee’s Aurora Perfecting Serum at £65.00.

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.

Melitta Meszaros Natural Skincare : Face Oil for Oily & Combination Skin

It’s not often that we come across a face oil that’s specifically intended for oily & combination skin. The younger members of the team at The Amazing Blog, requested that we find them a face oil for their slightly oily skin. So, we thought we’d try out the Face Oil for Oily & Combination Skin from this vegan and artisan skincare brand Melitta Meszaros Natural Skincare.

Melitta Meszaros Natural Skincare is a beauty brand that offers handmade natural skincare products with transparent ingredients. The brand’s story begins ten years ago when founder Melitta Meszaros noticed how many ambiguous ingredients were in her skincare products. This was when Melitta decided to start her journey to the world of natural cosmetics and begin looking for the best way to create skincare using natural, vegan, cold-pressed and preferably organic ingredients. Melitta finally launched skincare under her own name with a range of plant-based face oils, floral waters and a clay mask.  The brand’s mission is “to give you quality skincare products which are natural, simple but give high performance.”  All products are cruelty-free with no artificial synthetics, fillers, or additives. Their products are made in small batches in the UK and are designed to treat all skin types, including sensitive skin. For those with particularly delicate skin types, the brand even produce identical face oils without the essential oils with only a natural fragrance from the carrier oils. We were also pleased to see that all bottles and pipettes used are deemed to be recyclable, and the boxes and pouches used are compostable & biodegradable.

This award-winning Face Oil for Oily & Combination Skin uses only natural oils to promote overall skin wellness and to leave skin nourished. This face oil was recently awarded the Best 100% Natural Product and was a silver winner at the 2021 Global Green Beauty Awards. This face oil is specifically made for oily and combination skin (which we’re sure you already gathered from the product name) and is also suitable for most other skin types too. It is common for people with oily skin to avoid face oils for fear it will just make their skin worse - however, we know that this is not the case! 

Certain face oils (non-comedogenic) in fact, help balance sebum production and improve skin elasticity to leave your skin looking moisturised and healthy. Oily skin tends to produce excess amounts of sebum, which can cause clogged pores and breakouts. Regulating sebum production is key for oily skin because it helps keep your skin's natural moisture, and reduces the excess sebum oily skin produces. The right kind of face oils can even provide long-lasting hydration by enabling the skin barrier to effectively lock in moisture. To ensure this face oil retains all its healthy antioxidants, it is made with a combination of high-performing, cold-pressed oils.

Here the Face Oil for Oily & Combination Skin combines natural botanical carrier oils like grapeseed, jojoba, sunflower, rosehip, and argan.; together with the essential oils of grapefruit peel, rosemary leaf, and geranium bourbon. Let’s talk through the key ingredients that help oily skin. Jojoba oil is very similar to the naturally-occurring sebum in your body, which means it can efficiently regulate sebum secretion. It also has moisturising properties to help maintain the skin's hydration, elasticity, and smoothness. The skin-brightening rosehip oil is also ideal for treating oily skin, as it does not clog pores and is rich in retinoids, compounds that can help fight acne breakouts. Another hero ingredient is argan oil, which is non-comedogenic, and packed with oleic and linoleic acids to create a balanced and soft skin complexion. The face oil is multifaceted, as the essential oils also give it a mood-boosting and uplifting fragrance. Grapefruit peel has a fresh citrus scent to revitalise your mind, and its antibacterial and antioxidant properties are excellent for soothing acne. Rosemary leaf is also known to treat acne due to its antiseptic properties, and it can even out the skin's oil content - not to mention its energising fragrance can help reduce tiredness and improve mood. The geranium bourbon adds to the face oil’s scent with its calming floral notes; plus, it is an anti-inflammatory that leaves a healthy glow. 

Our verdict? It’s lightweight and doesn’t leave any oily or sticky residue. As for the fragrance, it has a subtle natural blend of botanical and citrus scents to leave you feeling soothed and refreshed. We applied a few drops and gently massaged them into the face. Melitta Natural Skincare suggests using the oil as the last step of a skincare routine because the oil will lock in all the ‘goodness’ of the other skincare products; it will also be absorbed better on a slightly damp complexion. We found this face oil revived skin and kept it feeling supple and hydrated. The team particularly recommend using this at night on the face, neck and décolleté. Or for a dewy look, during the day you can add a few drops to your foundation. It’s a face oil made with simple, honest and natural ingredients, that work at their optimum when combined. To purchase the 30ml Face Oil for Oily and Combination Skin for £25, see here.

The Speak Collective : Rose+Peach Hydrating Mist

During these colder months, skin hydration is more important than ever for us at The Amazing Blog. We notice how our skin suffers from the yo-yo-ing effects as we go from warm central heating to the chilly outdoors. We’ve always keen to use facial mists as they stop our skin from feeling tight and dry, so we were thrilled to be sent the Rose+Peach Hydrating Mist from natural skincare brand The Speak Collective.  

The US-based skincare The Speak Collective was founded in December 2017 by Nisa Zulkifli and her cousin Tiara. Nisa had been struggling with eczema for years when she began researching all the ways she could help her condition. With the lack of natural remedies available, she decided to handcraft her own formulas. At the same time, Tiara was also on the hunt for a skincare product to improve her hormonal skin and ended up trying one of Nisa’s creations. Tiara knew this skincare product had to be shared with others, so from this, The Speak Collective was born. Nisa is certified in organic skincare formulation from Formula Botanica, a leading teaching institution for organic cosmetic science. The brand aims to solve “the frustration of looking for effective products for sensitive skin, by using plant-based skin essentials to unleash your confidence.” They offer a range of skincare essentials made from carefully selected biocompatible ingredients, with no parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrance or colour. The Speak Collective prioritises optimum skin health, as their products are created in a GMP certified facility, tested in independent labs, and use pure and gentle botanical ingredients. They are built upon the values of transparency, education, and respect for the planet and community. By educating customers on what is in their skincare, the brand empowers customers to make informed decisions about their choice of skincare. They also put sustainability at the forefront of their mission by using recyclable packaging and teaming up with upcycling NGOs. The Speak Collective contributes to the reforestation effort, and are partnered with One Tree Planted, where they donate $1 from every product sold to plant trees. They advocate for clean and conscious skincare, as all their products are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and specifically made to treat sensitive skin.  

The Rose+Peach Hydrating Mist is a refreshing botanical face mist that hydrates skin with each spritz. Facial mists are ideal for dehydrated skin because they give it an instant dewy, fresh, and restored feeling. This mist is created as a multitasker, as it can boost hydration, strengthen the skin barrier, nourish irritated skin, and of course, help to improve the appearance of the skin leaving it soft and dewy. The mist is made from a blend of plant-based ingredients designed to combat the effects of any dry, tight, red, or itchy skin. It contains a blend of 9 natural and functional ingredients may rose water, peach, evening primrose, yuzu ceramide, artichoke, eisenia (a type of algae), jiou, oubaku, okra and houttuynia. These are 97.55% naturally-derived ingredients and are kind to sensitive skin, the mist is also free from any essential oils and fragrances. The Rose+Peach Hydrating Mist harnesses the power of four key active ingredients, in particular, may rose flower water, evening primrose seed extract, peach leaf extract, and yuzu ceramide extract. 

The rose water comes from the may rose flower, this gives the mist a very light, honeyed sweet scent. The may rose, AKA rose centifolia, is one of the key ingredients used in the legendary perfume Chanel No 5. Unlike other roses, it’s edible and sometimes has 100 petals per rose. the may rose flowers once a year in may (hence the name) and can only be harvested on the same day that it blooms! The two most common species of rose used in perfume and cosmetics are the damascena rose (grown in Morrocco, Turkey and Bulgaria) and this may rose found in France, where it’s the emblematic rose of Grasse. Not only does the may rose water provide a natural, delicate fragrance, it also acts as a skin conditioner and an anti-inflammatory to help calm skin redness and hydrate the skin. 

The evening primrose extract is rich in fatty acids and linoleic acid, which help improve the skin by retaining water and balancing sebum production. Excess sebum is often a cause for acne and clogged pores, so regulating it is key for healthy-looking skin. The extract is also known to effectively fight inflammation and soothe dry skin.  Another key ingredient is the peach leaf extract which is packed with phenolic compounds that calm irritated skin and reduce inflammation. It also has powerful antioxidant properties and can stop free radicals, the damaging molecules that create wrinkles, dark circles, and uneven complexions. 

Finally, the mist uses a potent little citrus yuzu fruit extract high in vitamin C it’s an antioxidant powerhouse for brightening the skin, fighting signs of ageing, and even helping to combat dry skin. It also helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and restores the skin barrier function, so your skin is left healthy and radiating.

As we’re all about natural products, it’s good to know that this mist is only naturally coloured with hibiscus flowers extract – meaning that there are no artificial pigments that can irritate the skin. We used it in a variety of ways, after cleansing our face, and on top of makeup to give us a more dewy look. In fact, keeping it at our desks and spritzing it during the day, also protects it from the effects of the drying air-con or heating. We found the rose scent subtle and soothing, with the mist leaving our skin feeling immediately hydrated. For an even more refreshing and cooling sensation, The Speak Collective suggests you keep it in the fridge - however for us in the UK, perhaps not now in mid-winter!. They also recommend following the mist with a facial oil to ensure your skin seals in the moisture. To keep your skin nice and hydrated throughout these cold weeks, you can purchase the Rose+Peach Hydrating Mist here for $36.00.