Judging the Cert Clean Beauty Awards 2022 - Face Mask Category - #CleanBeautyAwards

Over the past few months, I've been busy testing out this wonderful array of natural face masks and treatments for the Cert Clean Beauty Awards 2022. As the final judging date approaches, I thought it would be a good time for me to share some of my thoughts on these products.

What Are The Clean Beauty Awards?

The Clean Beauty Awards have been created by CertClean who is North America's leading certification for safer skincare. Although many of the products that I've tested out below fall into typical areas of green, vegan, natural and organic beauty, the general idea behind the awards isn't about how natural or organic a product is, it's about the overall safety of that product instead (in particular, CertClean focuses on products which are free from over 1400+ potentially harmful chemicals). 

One of the best things about CertClean is the huge panel of natural beauty advocates and bloggers who make up the judging panel - I believe this year is a record high with over 130 experts taking part!

As you all know, I'm a huge fan of face masks so I was delighted to be ask to judge the Face Mask category this year. Let's take a closer look at the products that I've been judging.

Ameōn Ice Cubes Supreme Energy 

Starting with the product that is more of a facial treatment than a mask, Ameōn Ice Cubes are a fascinating innovation which is designed to hydrate and rejuvenate whilst detoxifying. As the name suggests, this is indeed a frozen product; to use them you store the premade 'ice cubes' in the freezer and then use the mould and gauze provided to sweep it over the face in circular motions. It may sound a little strange at first, but it definitely helps to boost circulation and reduce redness, plus my skin felt so much smoother and softer afterwards. One to check out for sure!

La Vigne Derm Immortelle Bakuchiol Overnight Mask

Bakuchiol is one of the most popular natural ingredients in skincare right now and I can confirm that the hype surrounding this plant extract is totally justified. Hailed as a natural alternative to retinol, bakuchiol is quite simply an outstanding ingredient that delivers results fast. This Ayurvedic-inspired formula from La Vigne is brilliant for anyone who has those first signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles, and it's great for plumping the skin back up to make it look smoother and younger. One of my favourites.

KPS Essentials La Luna Rose Peel Masque

I love a good natural peeling treatment and I've thoroughly enjoyed testing out the KPS Essentials La Luna Rose Peel Masque. Packed with Glycolic Acid, Rose distillate and Pearl powder extracts, it gently exfoliates and removes dull dead skin cells for a brighter result. This is one that I would reach for in my skincare routine about once a week to keep my complexion glowing.

Byroe Golden Carrot Overnight Relief Mask

Initially, I was excited to try out this luxury mask from New York based brand, Byroe, but I feel it's fallen a little short off the mark for me personally, and is perhaps the less effective of all of the face masks and treatments that I've tried for CertClean. Described as an Overnight Relief Mask that intensely hydrates, brightens and soothes troubled skin, I sadly found this much too rich and thick for my oily/combination skin. That said, I would perhaps recommend it to those who have drier or more mature skin types instead.

Epoch Glacial Marine Mud

Next up, we have the Epoch Glacial Marine Mud mask which is formulated with more than 50 different minerals and trace elements that are sourced from the Pacific Northwest. This is a straight up, easy to use mud mask that's ideal for multi-masking or applying all over if you have oily skin that's prone to blemishes and breakouts. It does the job well, but did leave my skin very dry afterwards so following up with a good moisturiser or facial oil is a must.

Moor Spa Kelp Enzyme Mask

Finally, the last product that I tried for the judging panel comes from Moor Spa and I may be a little biased here, but I've used and loved this particular product before! Check out my previous review of Moor Spa Kelp Enzyme Mask here. It's similar in some ways to the Epoch Mud mask above, though I personally like this a lot more and would happily continue to repurchase it in the future as it doesn't dry out my skin or leave it feeling stripped afterwards. The blend of fossilized Sea Kelp definitely seems to have a much bigger detoxifying effect on my skin and it's amazing for drawing out all of your impurities, including those pesky stubborn blackheads! Highly recommended. 

Keep in touch online to see who the winner of this category is in the upcoming Cert Clean Beauty Awards 2022!

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Judging CertClean's Clean Beauty Awards 2021: The Body Care Finalists #CleanBeautyAwards

 

Over the years, I have been invited to be a judge on several independent beauty panels for various awards, and this year, I'm very excited to be working with CertClean again for their Clean Beauty Awards 2021.

What Are The Clean Beauty Awards?

The Clean Beauty Awards have been created by CertClean who is North America's leading certification for safer skincare. Although many of the products that I've tested out below fall into typical areas of green, vegan, natural and organic beauty, the general idea behind the awards isn't about how natural or organic a product is, it's about the overall safety of that product instead (in particular, CertClean focuses on products which are free from over 1400+ potentially harmful chemicals).

It's worth noting that all of the entries into the Clean Beauty Awards MUST be free of the following nasties; Parfum/Fragrance, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Siloxanes, Petro-based Glycerin, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl, Urea, Methenamine, Quaternium-15, Parabens, Petro-based PEG compounds, and Triclosan.

Which products have I been judging?

This year, I have been judging the finalists for the Best Body Care category so I've been testing out the following which have all been new-to-me brands:-

• Farmer's Daughter Lavender Hand and Body Lotion
• Flora's Bare Baoban & Lemon Hand Cream
• Puur Ingrid Ultra Body Oil
• Leaf People Nourishing Body Oil
• Pevonia Age Defying Body Cream

How have I been testing them out?

I've been trying out one different product each week and making notes on the ingredients, application, texture, scent, packaging, and of course, how my skin feels after using them.

When will the winners be announced?

Judging ends on 25th June 2021 and I will be announcing the winners on my social media pages as soon as all of the results have been compiled. You can also keep an eye on certcleanbeautyawards.com and reviews.certclean.com for all the updates.

Big thanks to Cert Clean for asking me to be part of their judging panel for the fourth year in a row! 

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Introducing: Moor Spa Skincare - Hydrating Serum, Nourishing Facial Oil & Kelp Enzyme Mask review

Moor Spa are a natural Canadian skincare brand who I was introduced to at the end of last year by the wonderful team who run the CertClean Beauty Awards. 

Unlike some green beauty brands which can be 90 or 95% natural, Moor Spa prides itself on only creating products that are made from 100% naturally derived ingredients which makes them an attractive brand, not just for skincare obsessed consumers like you or I, but also for spa destinations around the world. This strong commitment to natural formulas means that their products are happily free from the likes of synthetic preservatives, parabens, sulfates, artificial colours, synthetic fragrances and petroleum-derived chemicals, such as PEG, propylene glycol and mineral oil.

In addition, Moor Spa is certified cruelty-free by the Leaping Bunny programme and has been certified by CertClean, leading certification for safer skincare. Based in Vancouver, BC, this intriguing Canadian brand is also looking into ways to transform their packaging by sourcing biodegradable alternatives, so with all this in mind, you can see why I was excited to try out some of their bestsellers!

I've been trialling the following three products for the past month or so which has served as an excellent introduction to Moor Spa.

Moor Spa Hydrating Serum* (30ml, link)

A high-quality hydrating serum is an absolute must during the Winter months and the recent cold snap in the UK has provided an optimal time to put this serum through its paces! Featuring natural actives such as Marine Phytoplankton, Hyaluronic Acid, Kelp Extract, Vitamin C and Ectoin, this hard-working serum does a fantastic job of moisturising, protecting and nourishing the skin and I've found that it works well underneath any brand of moisturiser or facial oil to sandwich all that hydrating goodness in. Skin feels much less dry and more plumped up. I imagine all skin types will enjoy using it.

Moor Spa Nourishing Facial Oil* (30ml, link)

100% natural face oils are relatively easy to find in the green beauty world, however, the formula is truly what makes the vital difference here and I tend to use facial oils that are composed of a variety of plant oils, rather than just one singular ingredient. This perhaps explains why I love this Nourishing Facial Oil so much as it has a seriously hydrating INCI that boasts Rosehip Oil, Kukui Oil and Argan Oil, all of which are rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to feed the skin exactly that it needs. It also contains Vitamin E and is delicately scented with a hint of Rose Otto Essential Oil for a truly relaxing experience - very 'spa' indeed!

Moor Spa Kelp Enzyme Mask* (80ml, link)

No spa brand bestsellers feature would be complete with mentioning at least one face mask and it's clear to see why Moor Spa's Kelp Enzyme Mask is so popular with its client base. This exfoliating treatment is packed full of mineral-rich fossilized Sea Kelp enzyme which is made up of 70% calcium in a bio-available format and has an incredible profile that includes over 70 trace minerals such as Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Manganese, Selenium, Phosphorous and Iodine. It has a fresh and clean scent, and a thick layer applied to a clean face and neck allows the mask to get to work in just 10-15 minutes. As it dries, it has a tightening feeling similar to a clay treatment, and after rinsing with warm water, my skin looked instantly clearer and felt much smoother.

Discover the full range at moorspa.com and oshadhi.co.uk

Are you missing Spa Days?

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Beauty News: I'm judging CertClean's Clean Beauty Awards 2020! #cleanbeautyawards

I'm thrilled to announce that I've been asked to be a finalist judge for CertClean's Beauty Awards 2020! For the past couple of weeks, I've been testing out the exciting finalists for the Best Eye Care category and now that I'm in my last week of judging, I thought I would give you a quick glimpse into the products that have been gracing my vanity table.

What Are The Clean Beauty Awards?

The Clean Beauty Awards have been created by CertClean who is North America's leading certification for safer skincare. Although many of the products that I've tested out below fall into typical areas of green, vegan, natural and organic beauty, the general idea behind the awards isn't about how natural or organic a product is, it's about the overall safety of that product instead (in particular, CertClean focuses on products which are free from over 1400+ potentially harmful chemicals).

Where Can I Find Out More?

You can check out CertClean's official website here, and be sure to head on over to the PurPicks website here as well as they are basically like a Tripadvisor review site for nontoxic skincare, and a partner to the Clean Beauty Awards.

Which products have I been judging?

I've been given the very exciting task of judging the finalists for the Best Eye Care category so I've been testing out the following which have all been new-to-me products:-

• Polyn Cooling Under Eye Serum
• Biossance Squalene+ Marine Algae Eye Cream
• Puristy Yerba Mate Eye Cream
• Eco By Sonya Eye Compost
• Sanre Organic Skinfood Eye Candy
• Biossance Squalene+ Peptide Eye Gel
• Lo & Behold White Turmeric & Green Tea Eye Cream

How have I been testing them out?

With just over five weeks of time available to trial seven eye care products, I decided to follow Sali Hughes' expert skincare judging advice and test out two different products at the same time by applying one to each undereye area. I then took notes over the days of using them and switched up the products accordingly - pretty easy! I was quite surprised by some of the differences that I noticed by doing this method as it really drew attention to how my skin responded to the different ingredients and formulas of the products.

When will the winners be announced?

Juding for the finalists ends on 20th March 2020 so I will update my social media to let you know who the winners are when they are announced in due course.

Huge thanks for Cert Clean for asking me to be part of their judging panel for a third year in a row! 

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Introducing: Routine Natural Deodorants - Blackberry Betty and Like A Boss review

Shortly before Christmas, I was asked to be one of the Finalist Judges for the Cert Clean Beauty Awards and since then, I've had the pleasure of trialling a bunch of natural deodorants. With three weeks of judging left to go, I thought I'd share my thoughts on one of the brands that I've been using.

I hadn't heard of the Canadian brand Routine before and when I saw their cute packaging for the first time, it instantly grabbed my attention. They specialise in cruelty-free, natural cream deodorants that come packaged in glass jars which is brilliant for the environment. All of the products are made at the base of the Canadian Rocky Mountains by two sisters who share the same ethical practices, and with Routine having such a wide and varied range of deodorants available in numerous fragrances and formulas, I was very keen to try them out.

But I know what you're thinking - are they actually any good?

The short answer is yes. They're very, very good in fact!

I was sent two natural deodorants from Routine to judge; Blackberry Betty and Like A Boss - both of which I like for different reasons as you'll soon discover below.

Routine Natural Deodorant in Blackberry Betty* (C$28, 58g, link)

If you have sensitive skin and you're into sweet, fruity berry scents, Blackberry Betty is a must-try. Most natural deodorants that I've tried from other brands have had a very typical 'clean' or floral fragrance, so it was exciting to try out something different which was so wonderfully fruity! 

Made with a formula that's designed to be gentle on sensitive skin, this deodorant contains the likes of Coconut Oil, Magnesium, Kaolin Clay, Arrowroot Powder, non-GMO Corn Starch, Baking Soda, ethically sourced Beeswax, Shea Butter, Olive Oil, Vitamin E, Cocoa Seed Butter, and a carefully chosen selection of Organic Oils such as Blackberry, Raspberry, Citrus and Vanilla. This combination of natural ingredients yields a deodorant which is effective at keeping body odour at bay, moisturises and nourishes the delicate underarm area, and makes you smell like you've been walking through a dewy patch of fresh blackberries - yum!

I love using Blackberry Betty as it feels so gentle and it's particularly great for days when I'm not exercising or running around doing lots of errands.

Routine Natural Deodorant in Like A Boss (C$28, 58g, link)

Like A Boss, on the other hand, is definitely for those busy days where you're rushing around doing a million things and have no time to worry about your deodorant! This is one seriously hardworking deo which has a clean and ultra-fresh, unisex friendly fragrance.

With similar base ingredients to Blackberry Betty above (you get all of the gentle hydration and powerful sweat absorption properties from Coconut Oil, Kaolin Clay, Corn Starch, Arrowroot Powder, Beeswax, Shea Butter, Vitamin E and more), Like A Boss is different as it has much stronger essential oils blended into the mix such as Geranium, Rosemary, Mandarin, Spearmint and Lavender, to keep you fresher for longer, so it's perfect for the gym and my sweaty HIIT workouts!

With both of these natural cream deodorants, a little goes a long way as you only need to rub a pea-sized amount into your pits in the morning and you're good to go for the rest of the day. With this in mind, one of these jars will last you around 3-6 months depending on whether you need to reapply after exercise/workouts etc, so they're good value for money if you're looking to switcher a more natural alternative with good ingredients.

Discover the full range at routinecream.com

Do you use a natural deodorant?

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