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. 

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.

Hempura: 250mg Revitalise CBD Cream with Terepenes

As regular readers will know, we love to introduce new CBD products on The Amazing Blog (see here), and If you're looking for a natural alternative to help muscle or joint fatigue, CBD might just be the answer. Today we’re featuring the brand Hempura who we recently reviewed here. However, this time it’s with their newly repackaged 250 mg Revitalise CBD cream clinically proven to repair, restore and soothe the skin.

Founder Lewis Hadaway created Hempura in 2017 with the idea of educating consumers on CBD and providing high-quality authentic hemp extract. His passion for CBD made this brand what it is today - one of the more established premium CBD brands in the UK. They aim to provide the most natural and healthiest CBD products and extracts the UK has to offer. Hadaway commented recently in Cannabis Health News, "We empower our customers to make informed decisions. This reduces concerns and fears, especially for seniors." One thing that consumers love about Hempura is that they are all-natural, never adding ingredients that are unnecessary or artificial, compared to some other CBD brands. In order to ensure confidence in consumers, Hempura tests all products to the highest standards of safety with lab certificates. Never using synthetically derived CBD, pesticides or additives makes their products the best for all-natural lovers. The best full-bodied CBD products come from using a clean extraction process that preserves the natural hemp each plant has to offer. Hempura guarantees this by using all raw cannabidiol plants locally sourced at an Eastern European organic farm that ensures the quality of naturally occurring minerals. Hempura sells products like vape liquids, edibles, capsules, creams, or oils - all products are GMO-free and vegan. Making this brand a member of the Vegan Society and Cannabis Trade Association. This brand's love for nature shows with their sustainability efforts. All productions of hemp and products are protective of the environment, whether that's by using eco-friendly packaging made from recycled materials, using renewable energy that maintains a commitment to carbon neutrality or creating as little waste as possible. Hempura is one brand that believes in true principles and proves it with its efforts of providing exceptional CBD products. 

Hempura's 250mg Revitalise CBD Cream has 250mg of broad-spectrum refined extract CBD per bottle and 1.1mg of CBD per pump. Recently repackaged in an eco-friendly glass jar with a sustainable bamboo lid, this topical cream contains refined hemp extract and natural high antioxidant properties that repairs and restores the skin. The cream is luxurious and rich, perfect for soothing the skin, plus it’s in a base of hydrating cocoa butter and olive oil. We find that CBD cream and balms are good to help ease hand and elbow pain (over typing!) or even rubbing on temples to stop a headache. Some of their customers even say this cream eliminated lasting redness on the skin and have seen results within weeks. It is lab-tested, giving clinically proven results, and made with organically grown industrial hemp. CBD creams applied to the body work by CBD molecules bypassing cutaneous receptors activating neurotransmitters that block signals for pain. Other key ingredient in this cream is terpenes and flavonoids, commonly found in herbs, fruits, and plants, and is used to help the cream penetrate the skin more effectively. High in antioxidant properties and phytonutrients, they also have other medical benefits like antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and helps prevent inflammatory diseases. We are great believers in CBD as an excellent option for people looking for alternative medicine for pain relief, and it’s something we use on a regular basis. We recommend a topical cream as a good first step to start exploring the power of CBD. This 250 mg CBD cream is perfect for all adult age groups especially those looking for an all-natural topical cream to soothe over exercised limbs. This product can be used any time of the day, but we particularly recommend using it after a long hard work out to achieve optimum muscle relaxation i.e. resulting in little or no soreness the following day. To purchase this 50ml Revitalise CBD Cream in 250mg for £23.99 see here, or if you would like to go for a stronger version of 50ml Revitalise CBD Cream in 500mg see here for £39.99.

Käsämä Cosmetics: Sea Buckthorn Exfoliating Clay Mask

Self-care is important, especially during these stressful times, and we think the best way to start a relaxing self-care routine is with a face mask. As always, we’ve been on a quest to find a new face mask that work with the skin’s natural balance. Today we’re introducing a waterless face mask from Käsämä Cosmetics with their Sea Buckthorn Exfoliating Clay Mask made of 100% natural ingredients.

Käsämä Cosmetics, is a natural skincare brand from Finland, and founded by Pauli Wigelius. Wigelius has a background in commerce but was inspired by Finnish wilderness and nature to get into the business of cosmetics — Käsämä is named after an area in North Karelia, Finland, where the clay is sourced and first used by the indigenous people for making pottery nearly 6500 years ago. The brand currently sells three different clay masks, each for different types of skin — the classic mask is for all skin types, the cranberry mask is for sensitive and normal skin, and the sea buckthorn is for oily and combination skin. All face masks are sustainable, vegan, cruelty-free and waterless, and the latter allows for the products to be stored safely for several years, even without preservatives. The brand said, “Käsämä clay deeply cleanses and purifies our skin and helps us see and appreciate our pure, innate beauty, our truest self and brings a touch of the purest natural healing power within reach of modern-day city dwellers in the world’s busy metropolises.” Although the company is based in Finland, they have distributors in multiple countries and deliver worldwide. 

The face mask that we tried was nominated in the Nordic Beauty Awards 2020, the Käsämä’s Sea Buckthorn Exfoliating Clay Mask is formulated primarily for oily and combination skin; this mask exfoliates and purifies skin by absorbing impurities, removing dead skin cells, and cleansing clogged pores — pretty much everything we look for in a mask. The only ingredients this mask contains are clay, sea buckthorn extract, and zea mays (corn) starch. 75% of the powder in the mask is clay, which is the key ingredient here to absorb impurities and excess oils. Sea Buckthorn is one of nature’s wonder-berries, full of antioxidants it has a healing and rejuvenating effect on the skin and is also a natural cleanser and exfoliator. It also contains vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, and C that hydrate and regenerate skin. Whereas the zea mays starch reduces oil and has anti-inflammatory properties. To apply, measure 1-2 teaspoons of the powder and add lukewarm water by drop until a smooth paste is created. Then, massage onto your face, neck, and shoulders and wait 5-10 minutes before rinsing away with lukewarm water. They recommend using it 1-3 times per week and avoiding contact with the eyes. Each package contains 35g, which is enough for about 10 full facial applications. The strength of the mask can be adjusted by adding different measures of water, making this a versatile mask for every skin type. We love the brand’s eco-credentials as it’s contained in a simple recyclable paper packet, and of course, being in powder form it cuts the weight of the product in half. What is fantastic about this powder mask is its purity, how refreshing it is to have no additives or chemicals - you really feel like you are at one with nature. If you want to feel the healing benefits of this mask, you can find it here for €17.90.