AYPA Terra Inka: Raw Face Balm with Copoazu, & Hydrosol with Andean Hierba Luisa

There’s something very comforting about knowing that we are nourishing our skin with products that are also kind to the earth. Today, we’re revisiting a brand whose top priority is their connection to the earth: Aypa Terra Inka. In June, we covered two products here from their Aypa Raw Collection, and today at The Amazing Blog we’re excited to feature two more with the Raw Face Balm with Copoazu and the Hydrosol with Andean Hierba Luisa .

Aypa’s journey began in 2009 when founder Mirella Crovetto travelled to the Andes in her native Peru, where she sought to develop a skincare and spa brand rooted in Andean traditional healing and botanicals. There she lived alongside indigenous communities as she learned about their philosophy of life, relationship to nature, and knowledge of plant-based healing techniques. Incorporating those teachings with her background in working with international cosmetics companies, Crovetto settled in Spain and officially launched Aypa in 2011. Aypa means ‘earth’ in the indigenous Quechuan language, symbolising the values that the Andean Inca culture holds for nature. At the intersection of tradition and innovation, Aypa’s philosophy and practices are best summarised by a quote from the founder herself: “I have recovered ancient Andean wellness recipes and, with a more personal view and experience of health and beauty, I have integrated them into our contemporary world, while staying true to the Andean values.” Aypa expresses these values through their organic, toxin-free, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly skincare and through the various skin and body treatments they offer at their exclusive Aypa Spa . We also love their products are in stylish glass container with integrated bamboo lids and in minimal packaging.

The first of today’s products is their award-winning Raw Face Balm with Copoazu, a handy balm that doubles both as a cleanser and a moisturiser. This balm has a 70% concentration of copoazu butter, an ingredient extracted from the copoazu fruit native to the Peruvian Amazon rainforests. The butter is rich in antioxidant polyphenols, phytosterols, and fatty acids, all of which work together to combat free radicals, reduce inflammation, and moisturises and hydrate the skin. This allows the copoazu butter to attract 240% more water than other types of butter, preventing trans-epidermal moisture loss and maintaining the skin’s elasticity. The Raw Face Balm with Copoazu also carries babasRsu oil, another ingredient native to the Amazon extracted from the seeds of the babassu palm. It includes phytosterols and antioxidants such as vitamin E, protecting the skin while soothing and regenerating it. To use it as a cleanser, apply the balm to dry skin and massage in circular motions, add warm water to the skin and let it emulsify and removes impurities, then rinse away thoroughly. You can use the balm on its own, they recommend pairing it with Aypa’s Quinoa Face Cleanser as part of a double-cleansing routine. To use as a moisturiser (our favourite), simply apply the balm to clean skin and leave it on overnight, cleansing with warm water in the morning, with a quick spritz of their Hydrosol to freshen up. As all Aypa products go through strict screening process to ensure that they are organic and toxin-free, the Raw Face Balm with copoazu is suitable for all skin types. In addition, Aypa sources all the ingredients ethically and sustainably, and packaging is minimalist and eco-friendly. We’re thrilled to find that the Raw Face Balm with copoazu is just as kind to our faces as it is to the environment.

The second product is the Hydrosol with Andean Hierba Luisa, a toner and mist that is suitable for all skin types and is neither comedogenic nor photo-sensitising. The key ingredient in this product is hierba luisa, also known as lemon beebrush, a plant native to the Peruvian Andes used for its medicinal and therapeutic properties since ancient times. Distilling the essential oil of hierba luisa results in the aromatic hydrosol that captures the cellular water of the living plant. This nutrient, mineral, and antioxidant-rich hydrosol provides plenty of benefits: it fights oxidative stress and prevents ageing, calms skin irritation, reduces pore size, evens skin tone, regulates sebum production, and refreshes skin to produce an instant glow. You can use the Hydrosol as a cleanser, facial toner, or hydrating mist. To apply close your eyes and spray the pump about three times over your face, allowing time for your skin to absorb it afterwards. The Hydrosol is refreshing and hydrating with a soft zesty scent. With the hierba luisa it’s organic, pure, toxin-free, and contains no other fragrances or essential oils, so it’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive ones. It’s also comforting to know that Aypa holds this Hydrosol to the same eco-friendly and ethical standards as their other products. Luckily, you don’t have to travel to Peru to experience the benefits of these very special traditional Andean raw botanicals! You can purchase the 50ml Raw Face Balm with Copoazu for 59.00€ here and the 100ml Hydrosol with Andean Hierba Luisa for 38.00€ here . The full range from the Aypa Raw Collection rates very highly with us, and we highly recommend these as another of our skincare #amazingfinds.

Les Parfums de Rosine: Rose Griotte

On these midsummer days like these, we think that there’s nothing better than after the rain, taking a stroll through the garden with the flowers in full bloom and their scent is at its most potent . Today, we bring you another one of our #amazingfinds with Les Parfums de Rosine. Regular readers of The Amazing Blog  will know that at we’ve been fans of Les Parfum de Rosine for quite a while, as we've already reviewed their Ballerina No. 5 and Bois Fuchsia. We’d now like to introduce one of their newest fragrance: Rose Griotte.

Les Parfums de Rosine is a French perfume house founded by Marie-Hélène Rogeon. She comes from a longline of distinguished perfumers, where her great grandfather Louis Panafieu even created an Eau de Cologne for Emperor Napoleon III. Inspired by her illustrious heritage Marie-Hélène immersed herself in the world of perfume, where she’s combined her love of fragrance with her passion for cultivating roses. She has a collection of rose perfumes, each one different, all stemming from two main rose varieties, the fresher Un Zest de Rose to the more sensuous Une Folie de Rose. Marie-Hélène curates collections of rose based aromas which are made with natural essences. These result in a wide range of floral scents that are "immediately understandable and readable."  She also has a keen eye for detail and all bottles are carefully adorned with a silk tassel, hand-wrapped in coloured tissue paper before being delicately place into the luxuriously embossed cardboard boxes.

Rose Griotte is a perfume released in early 2021 under the creative direction of Marie-Hélène and formulated by Nicolas Bonneville. At the age of 14, Nicolas fell in love with the world of perfumes after traveling to Grasse, where he was captivated by its abundant plants and flourishing perfume industry. Similar to Marie-Hélène, he has a passion for scents and travels world-wide to harvest botanicals for his fragrances, and even cultivates a few exclusive floral varieties himself in Paris. They first collaborated in 2015 on the perfume La Cologne De Rosine and they have once again combined their mutual love for flowers to create Rose Griotte. This fragrance is part of the LES SOLIFORES COLLECTION which also includes fragrances such as Mon Amie La Rose, Le Muguet De Rosine, and Le Magnolia De Rosine.

The griotte cherry is one of the most popular cherry varieties in France and blooms every May, where its bloom and fragrance has inspired poets and artists since the beginning of time. Likewise, the griotte cherry’s beauty influenced Marie-Hélène to develop this very special Rose Griotte. The key element of the Eau de Parfum is cherry blossom which represents purity and prosperity, and the cherry fruit itself is synonymous with beauty and softness. Mirroring the plant that inspired it, this is a fresh fragrance that has both "light juicy and fruity inflexions,” balancing the cherry blossom’s delicacy, with the cherry fruit’s tartness, and the sweetness of the rose. The top notes are tangerine essence, nashi pear, bergamot and pink pepper. The middle notes are Sakura flower (Japanese cherry blossom), peony, osmanthus, and sambac jasmine; lastly, the base notes are heliotrope flower, musk, cedar and white amber. All of these notes combine together to create a delightfully light and fruity fragrance that transports you to the middle of a blooming cherry blossom garden. Best of all, Rose Griotte has lasting longevity of an astonishing 10 to 12 hours! We think it is the perfect fresh summer scent and if you'd like to experience this soft, fresh, fruity and floral beauty of Rose Griotte for yourself, you can purchase it here for 108,00€ for 50ml or 140,00€ for 100ml.  

Bescher: Sea Cucumber Collagen Regeneration Serum & Sea Cucumber Collagen Anti-Ageing Cream

At The Amazing Blog  we know how important skincare is!  And as we like to support smaller and more natural brands today, we’re featuring the Australian skincare Bescher which has a very unique key ingredient of sea cucumber collagen in their range of three products.  

Bescher is a natural skincare brand founded in 2019 by Renee Alyce. Before developing Bescher, Renee had many skin issues, including fair and sensitive skin, pigmentation, redness, and pimples. Renee lived on a secluded island in the Pacific for six years, and this is where she discovered all of the benefits of the sea cucumber. On the island, she noticed villagers applying sea cucumber collagen to minor wounds, infections, and other skin conditions. This is when Renee researched sea cucumbers and found that they possess extraordinary regenerative and healing properties and even help to regenerate themselves. This was enough to convince her to try sea cucumber collagen extract on her face, and after a week of application, she felt like her skin was ‘reborn’. Renee recently said in an interview, “Sea cucumber collagen changed my skin and the way I felt about myself, and I just knew from that moment if it had the power to make me feel better and to help heal my skin, maybe other people could feel the benefits too.” When Renee returned to Australia, she worked with a leading laboratory to help her formulate the skincare line. Using her products has made Renee feel empowered and confident in fact, so much so, with the improvement in her complexion she’s stop wearing foundation. The base of every Bescher product is sea cucumber collagen, which contains benefits that far outweigh terrestrial mammalian. For a long time, people have eaten sea cucumbers to gain health benefits, and Bescher is the first skincare brand to put sea cucumber collagen into a skincare. The sea cucumbers are sustainably sourced from a specialist in research and development for marine biotechnology. These are harvested from unaltered marine ecosystems, where they are all about preserving the marine environment and working with local communities to return young sea cucumbers to their habitat for further growth. Bescher, a natural skincare, promises its products are clean and free from all nasties. They are fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin, contain sustainable ingredients and come from small-batch production. They are completely recyclable, with two products in glass jars, and the plastic serum bottle with pouch can both be disposed of safely, each in its proper recycling chain.

Bescher’s Sea Cucumber Collagen Regeneration Serum is an ultra-concentrated serum that rapidly influences collagen production and boosts skin cell turnover. This serum helps delay visible signs of ageing, gives the skin radiance and luminosity, and reduces scarring, redness, and ageing. The main ingredients in the serum include sea cucumber collagen, orange stem cells, matrixyl 3000 TM, and hyaluronic acid. Sea cucumber collagen is the star ingredient — it repairs skin collagen and elastin protein fibres, generates a protective layer on the outer skin surface, and enhances the homogeneous distribution of collagen fibres. Orange stem cells protect the protein and nucleic acids in our skin from oxidants, enabling cells to excrete free radicals to avoid UV oxidisation, genetic mutation, pigmentation, and wrinkles. Matrixyl 3000 TM transforms your skin through increased collagen production, rapid skin cell turnover and renewal, anti-inflammation, skin pigmentation reduction, UV protection, and increased blood flow to the skin. Hyaluronic acid encourages skin cell growth and renewal, provides anti-inflammatory benefits and free radical protection. We used it morning and night to clean, dry skin. It’s a clear, viscous liquid that’s fragrance-free and absorbs quickly and gives a feeling of slightly tightening the skin. We then followed this with the Sea Cucumber Collagen Cream (which we’ll discuss below). Our favourite area of use this was around the eye area, where we found that the serum worked well to brighten and soothe dry, tired eyes and reduce fine lines and under-eye circles. You can find the Sea Cucumber Collagen Anti-Ageing Cream herefor £63.75.

The  Sea Cucumber Collagen Anti-Ageing Cream regenerates the skin’s tone, texture, and luminosity and reveals younger, brighter, and they claim it will revitalise skin from the first application. This cream leaves the skin looking and feeling renewed and minimises lines, wrinkles, and signs of sun damage. The main ingredients in the cream include sea cucumber collagen, munapsys, squalane, kakadu plum, and hyaluronic acid. Sea cucumber collagen is again the star ingredient — it repairs skin collagen and elastin protein fibres, generates a protective layer on the outer skin surface, and enhances the homogeneous distribution of collagen fibres. Munapsys is a ground-breaking anti-age ingredient that flattens wrinkles, elasticises tired skin, and dramatically improves the appearance of skin texture. Squalane hydrates and moisturises skin and is a detoxifier, natural booster of collagen, and anti-bacterial. Kakadu plum brightens dull skin, antioxidises to prevent free-radical damage, protects from carcinogens, banishes fine lines and wrinkles, soothes inflammation, and heals hyperpigmentation and busting acne. Hyaluronic acid encourages skin cell growth and renewal, provides anti-inflammatory and supports collagen production. This was our favourite out of the two. Again fragrance-free, in an almost opaque gel x cream consistency - we found that a little goes a long way, making it perfect for our dry and sensitive skins. It was a joy to use as it hydrated and plumped up the skin creating the perfect canvas for foundation or makeup. Yes, another one of our #amazingfinds! You can purchase the Sea Cucumber Collagen Regeneration Serum here for £68.67.

Skin Beautiful Organics: Gold Luxe Clean Oil & Matcha Rose Antioxidant Toner

There is something about all-natural skincare which has all of us at The Amazing Blog coming back for more. That is why we are revisiting Skin Beautiful Organics, which you may remember we have reviewed before here. Today, we had the opportunity to try two more of their luxury skincare products, this time with their cleansing duo the Gold Luxe Clean Oil and the Matcha Rose Antioxidant Toner. 

Skin Beautiful Organics, founded by Ethel Emmons, is a newly launched luxury skincare brand based in the USA. Ethel, a digital strategist and entrepreneur, searched in vain to find skincare products that were gentle, natural, and chemical-free for her sensitive skin. She felt as though she was in an uphill battle with her skin, struggling to ward off swollen, red, and itchy skin that came as a result of using her favourite face creams. This struggle led her to experiment with creating homemade, natural skincare remedies to soothe and protect her skin using various ingredients, such as whole fruits, hydrosols, herbs, and essential oils. With this, she found her passion and decided to pursue formal studies at the UK International School of Natural Skincare, where she received her Certificate of Natural Skincare Formulation. After finishing her studies, Ethel created Skin Beautiful Organics to help others find their perfect skin care match. Skin Beautiful Organics consists of an extensive range of cleansers, serums, creams, scrubs, toners, and masks, all made with the latest and most innovative natural science techniques. All products are manufactured in an FDA-registered and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) compliant facility powered by 100% renewable wind energy. To maintain the freshness of their ingredients, all products are handcrafted in small batches. Organic and locally sourced ingredients are used whenever possible. Skin Beautiful Organics is proud to announce that their formulas have met or exceeded the Whole Foods Premium Standards for Personal Care Products .

The first step for of the cleansing was the Gold Luxe Clean Oil. This deep cleansing facial oil aims to clean the skin and melt away impurities without stripping the skin of its natural oil balance. The oil nourishes the skin and combats inflammation, all whilst removing makeup and leaving the skin feeling soft and supple. The organic facial oil also focuses on restoring skin through its anti-ageing formula with the help of fourteen high-performance ingredients. A few key ingredients include organic rosehip seed oil, raspberry seed oil, and tamanu seed oil. Organic rosehip seed oil is responsible for depleting dark spots and sun damage through its abundance of omegas (3, 6, and 9) and vitamins (A, C, D, and E). The rosehip seed oil actively rejuvenates the skin to create a smooth and flawless look. Another contributor of the antioxidant vitamin E is the raspberry seed oil, which is added to prevent damage leading to premature skin ageing, leaving the skin plump and firm. The vitamin E found in these natural ingredients help to protect the skin from UV damage and other free radicals. The tamanu seed oil, also known as green gold, is a natural non-steroid anti-inflammatory agent that prevents the skin from becoming irritated or red. The multi-faceted facial oil contains many other ingredients that contribute to its nourishing and cleaning properties that leave the skin feeling refreshed, smoothed, and nourished. The application is simple: use your hands, washcloth, sponge, or cotton pad to massage the oil on your face until the makeup or impurities are removed. Finally, rinse off with lukewarm water and enjoy freshly cleansed skin. 

The second step is the Matcha Rose Antioxidant Toner. This toner contains award-winning plant-based antioxidants and the highest possible concentration of botanical actives to deliver remarkable results. The toner aims to remove any last traces of impurities following the cleansing oil and also prepares the thoroughly clean skin for a serum and/or moisturiser. There are twenty-five (yes, twenty-five!) high-performance ingredients found in this toner. A notable few include one of our favourites sea buckthorn oil (which we have written about when found Scandinavian skincare brands), organic green tea, and bayberry. Sea buckthorn oil is well known for its complex lipids and sterols that help keep the skin hydrated, improving skin elasticity and firmness. Organic green tea has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness and irritation, making it a perfect post-cleansing ingredient. Bayberry is an all-natural ingredient that helps to remove excess oil that may stick to the skin after cleansing. There are a remarkable amount of other ingredients that enhance the power of this toner and boost cellular regeneration. The toner can be easily applied with a cotton pad and gives off a light matcha green tea and rose scent. We found that they work perfectly as a set, starting with the gentle cleansing of the facial oil, followed by the toner to ensure that all impurities were removed, and finished with a serum and cream. The oil and toner gently removed all makeup and left our skin with a refreshing and smooth finish. If you are looking to deeply cleanse, protect, and nourish your skin using all-natural ingredients, these products might be the perfect addition to your skincare routine. Apart from the ingredients that we love, we also like the elegant long line frosted glass bottles that are chic enough to complement any dressing table or bathroom shelf. You can purchase the 120ml Gold Luxe Clean Oil here for £74.00 and the 120ml Matcha Rose Antioxidant Toner here  for £65.00.

Booheads: Soniboo

Today we are talking about brushing teeth, as we all do every day, if not twice a day. At The Amazing Blog we’re big fans of electronic toothbrushes but always have the dilemma regarding the plastic heads - which are not great for the planet. We don’t want to keep littering our beautiful earth with plastic toothbrush heads, and this is where we found these eco-friendly toothbrush heads, made with natural and environmentally friendly bamboo from Booheads, with their Soniboo collection. This is where brushing teeth has now got a little more earth-friendly!

Ben Caspary, the founder of Booheads, realised a gap in the dental market for a sustainable option for electric toothbrush heads. After much time, research and thought, Ben took the opportunity and launched the first electric toothbrush head made from sustainable, biodegradable, and plant-based materials. He told us, “Booheads was created out of lockdown where I was reflecting on my own consumption habits, and started the question of why we cannot make products more sustainable? After a bit of exploration, I noticed that the electric toothbrush market was not as eco-friendly as our manual equivalents, with a solution not existing. I decided to take the plunge and Booheads was born.” The bamboo is FSC certified, with their bioplastic being made from plant-based. The head is compatible with all the Sonicare range from Philips. All packaging is made from recycled kraft paper and is biodegradable too. The bioplastics can start biodegrading as soon as 90 days, depending on the conditions, and bamboo takes around three years to decompose fully; however, it is 100% organic.

Booheads  Soniboo range are a zero-waste replaceable electric toothbrush heads and a brilliant alternative to the plastic ones. This product is compatible with the full range of Sonicare, DailyClean and ProtectiveClean’s base handles – we also see that they are now producing heads for Oral B handles. As mentioned, the heads are made of plant-based materials with bamboo and bioplastics, which are FSC Certified, renewable and easily disposable. Bamboo is a natural plant grown with zero pesticides or fertilisers. It’s a biodegradable botanical, able to regenerate soil and prevent soil erosion. Bioplastic is a material made from corn starch and castor bean oil, causing it to break down into renewable resources. Cornstarch is derived from corn, which means it doesn’t contain any toxins and is easily compostable in most recycling facilities. The bristles are plant-based medium-soft bristles with 62% castor oil and Dupont nylon, whereas the fitment comprises 80% cornstarch and 10% PBAT and 10% talcum powder. If concerned about degrading of the nylon in the bristles, they can be removed with a pair of pliers before disposing of the heads. The structure of this head is designed to get into the crevasses and cavities of the teeth, leaving them sparkly and clean. Even dentists love this product because of it’s efficiency at cleaning while being a great eco alternative (a win-win). We love the array of the four snazzy colours, which not only look pretty and will stop you and your partner won’t get the heads mixed up – eww, after all, who wants to share a toothbrush?! This is another of our #amazingfinds, so If you have an electric toothbrush or thinking about buying one, pair these sustainable toothbrush heads with it, to help the world become a cleaner and greener place. We believe that this is something worth investing in, not to mention how clean your teeth look and feel.  Why not start by buying the Booheads’ Soniboo two-pack here for only £7.99. Hurry, as they are running out, and we’ll be ordering more!