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.

Nêô Sephiri's: Pure Kalahari Melon Facial Oil

At The Amazing Blog, regular readers will know that we love introducing new skincare ingredients together with their extraordinary benefits. Today it’s with Pure Kalahari Melon Facial Oil from South African skincare Nêô Sephiri. Kalahari melon seed oil is something that we have discussed before here, but only as one of many in skincare. This time, it’s exclusively as a solo ingredient..

Nêô Sephiri is a luxury skincare brand dedicated to only selling their Pure Kalahari Melon Facial Oil. The brand's name means 'a secret gift' in Tswana and was founded in 2020 by Olga and Bernard van Vuuren after ten years of researching the properties of Kalahari melon seed oii. This Kalahari region of Africa has been experiencing regular harsh droughts caused by climate change, many plants were dying, leaving this melon as one of few to adapt to the extreme conditions. For some reason the native Kalahari Melon, an indigenous plant, has survived and evolved in these desert conditions for hundred’s of years. This melon is citrullus vulgaris, ’the first wild watermelon, coming in all shapes and sizes with a yellow colour and is only grown in region of the Kalahari. They are far from the refreshing watermelons that we all know and love and have a very bitter taste. Bernard first discovered the ingredient while completing his PhD in Biochemistry in England after his uncle, a farmer within the Kalahari Basin, contacted him to investigate the potential of this oil. He discovered these melon seeds could be cold-pressed and filtered to produce a 100% nutritious oil to treat the skin. Co-founder Dr Bernard van Vuuren said, "What I really want people to understand is that this one ingredient can serve 80% of your skin's needs by promoting skin health and restoring skin barrier function." His wife Olga also had a very positive experience with this cold-pressed Kalahari melon seed oil when it changed her skin for the better. It healed her sunburn, windburn and post spots scarring, and she says that it repaired her skin even when it was in the most desperate states. Together they created a prototype and were astounded by the influx of positive comments they received from people with various skin concerns. The Pure Kalahari Melon Facial Oil helped to soothe acne, rehydrate skin and even decrease scar marks. Friends began to use the oil on their babies for baby massage and on their baby bumps. Hence, Neo Sephiri was born as a vegan certified, sustainable, ethical, skincare. In addition to harvesting from their local accredited organic farm in Kalahari Basin, they also cold press, filter, and bottle the oil themselves. Which gives back to the community by providing support, jobs, opportunities and livelihood to help the economy and indigenous people grow. This also guarantees the quality and purity of their products. The brand commented, "Our mission is embedded into our company foundation documents, and we are fully focused on achieving meaningful and lasting social impact for communities in the Kalahari Basin." Sustainability is at the forefront of Nêô Sephiri and its ethos with a multifaceted approach, encompassing ecological, economic and social impact and being part of the Cambridge Social Ventures cohort. All the waste from the melon's harvesting process is returned to the same land as the next harvests' fertiliser, and any excess from the oil production, is returned to the farm, as high protein animal feed. The brand has already gained international recognition, and are recent winners of The 2021 Beauty Shortlists Editor’s Choice and the Best New Sustainable Skincare Product in the Pure Beauty Global 2021 Awards.

Pure Kalahari Melon Facial Oil is currently Nêô Sephri’s only product. It is 100% natural, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and of course, vegan. This unrefined cold-pressed facial oil is packed with essential fatty acids and vitamins; the fatty acids repair at the cellular level, building resilience against irritants and environmental stressors. Other antioxidants in the oil reinforce the skin barriers lipid matrix causing the skin to look firmer, reduce wrinkles and promote elasticity. In addition, this oil locks in hydration to enhance moisture for a natural glow. Repairing the integrity of the skin barrier reduces inflammation, scar marks and offers a soothing effect. Compared to other plant oils, Kalahari melon seed oil has more antioxidants with vitamin A.C and E and 70% omega-6 linoleic acid than most other African oils. It contains five times more vitamin E than argan oil and almost ten times more than marula oil. The natural tocopherol vitamin E (not the lab version of ‘tocopherol acetate’) is a fantastic ingredient that we all look for in our skincare products as it nourishes and hydrates. Linoleic acid gives this oil its fast-absorbing quality and promotes natural oil production. It’s a dry facial oil that is excellent for all skin types: particularly sensitive, dry, oily, acne-prone, and combination (see here for their Tested on Reactive Skin). For all readers with dry skin, this oil is ideal due to its essential nutrients that nourish the skin and boost skin health. And for those with oily and acne-prone skin, don't overlook this oil. Its lightweight formula leaves skin with the perfect amount of oil to not over clog pores and controls sebum production. Why not make a direct impact on the communities of Kalahari Basin, and add this unique facial oil to your skincare collection. We love how pure, lightweight and easily it absorbed into the skin, best of all it’s a facial oil that leaves little or no residue! With just three to five drops, It really does bring a little luxurious glow to the skin. We gently massaging it into the face and neck using any leftover oil for hands and cuticles. This is truly another one one of our #amazingfinds with this magical natural ingredient. To purchase Nêô Sephiri's 30ml Pure Kalahari Melon Facial Oil see here for £85.00.

Toucan Eco: eSpray

Because of the pandemic, cleaning has become more important than ever. That’s why at The Amazing Blog  we were excited to discover the Toucan Eco eSpray which cleans effectively and is also very eco-friendly! What we love the most about this product is that it kills coronavirus; and no, it isn’t just a single-use plastic bottle. Keep reading on….

Toucan Eco, a British company under the Robert Scott brand, who create eco-friendly cleaning products. The company’s products use one of the safest and most effective disinfectant and cleaning solutions — with JUST water, salt, and electricity. Toucan Eco’s technology was inspired by our body’s immune system, which can produce hypochlorous acid, a potent and naturally occurring disinfectant. Following the same idea, the technology in this product recombines the naturally occurring elements of hydrogen, oxygen, and chlorine into hypochlorous acid, which makes an effective disinfectant, a sodium hypochlorite, and a mild pH level cleaning agent. Hypochlorous acid is used to disinfect ambulance cabins, clean health care workers’ clothing after testing people for COVID-19, and is used as a cleaning product in other businesses. The idea of using water, salt, and electricity has been around since 1834, and Toucan Eco is now bringing it to the home or workplace. The company’s products include the Toucan Eco eSpray, the Toucan Eco Worktop, the Toucan Eco Active, the Toucan Eco Active Plus, and the Toucan Eco Flow. Toucan Eco is the first hypochlorous disinfectant to receive double certification against viruses, including the EN 14476 and EN 16777 certifications. EN 14476 tests the solution’s efficacy, and EN 16777 tests if this efficacy can be applied to the real world of cleaning. Since Toucan Eco is the first hypochlorous disinfectant to have both these certifications, it is the most effective hypochlorous solution on the market. The EN 14476 and EN 16777 certification tests target viruses, including coronavirus, and many chemical disinfectants do not have these certifications. In addition to these certifications, the solution is EN 1276 and EN 13697 certified (which test for bacterial efficacy) and registered as an EU Biocide. The company won  the British Toilet Association 2011 Innovation Award for the Best New Product and the Innovation Award for Best Eco/Green Product at The Cleaning Show. Steve Courtney, the Business Development Manager at Toucan Eco, recently said in a conference, “This year has been a different year, and so it’s worth emphasising that this solution when it’s made is a very, very powerful sanitiser and disinfectant but totally harmless, non-hazardous, can’t harm anybody.”

The Toucan Eco eSpray lets you create a disinfectant, cleaner, and deodoriser from ONLY water, salt, and electricity. Although it may not sound like much, it kills more than 99.99% of germs, including coronavirus. The product is used to clean and disinfect any surface (kitchens, bathrooms, fabrics, glass, etc.) it’ll deodorise and kill the germs that create odours, sanitise hands, sterilise children’s toys and clothes. You can even spray fresh fruit and vegetables to remove dirt and pesticides. They also suggest using it to remove trainer odour by soaking overnight, and even spray pets’ paws and coats!. The list is endless….Making this eSpray much more versatile than any other standard chemical cleaning product. We think that this makes this eSpray the easier, greener, safer, proven and money-saving option. The product is easy, because you only have to add two ingredients, greener because it doesn’t contain chemicals, and isn’t a single-use plastic bottle. Plus it’s safe because it is hypoallergenic, 100% natural and proven because it has been tested by EU accredited independent laboratories and university research departments. It’s money-saving because it costs less than the average household spends on home cleaning products each year. This eSpray makes 350ml of disinfectant cleaner, and all you have to do is add 3g of table salt, fill with tap water, and then activate, which will take five minutes and last seven days before the solution is just salty water again. When activated the eSpray goes through a colourful array of red, blue and green light settings, and when completed the solution is ready to be sprayed onto any surface and left to dry or wiped away — you can also apply it as a mist to disinfect larger areas.  As mentioned earlier, with this eSpray, you kill 99% of bacteria and viruses and it’s not only safe but hypoallergenic and practically free to make! This is one of our most exciting #amazingfinds for 2021, and something that we wish we’d discovered sooner! We highly recommend this eSpray it comes with a one-year guarantee, and if like us, you’re interested in what this Toucan Eco eSpray has to offer, you can find it here for £59.99. 

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!

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.