Optiat's New Organic and Hemptastic Collection

A brand that I loved from the off has been Optiat, I featured them here on my blog. The name Optiat stands for One Persons Trash Is Anothers Treasure and having created some pretty fantastic coffee scrubs, William and Anna Brightman, who are brother and sister, have a new range of products to share.

The hemp face mask collection are a 100% natural, certified organic face masks which are made from unloved hemp husks. They come packaged in slimline vials and there are three masks within the range - Purifying and Exfoliating Clay Mask, Nourishing and Hydrating Clay Mask with the final one being a Men's Exfoliating Clay Mask. I was kindly given the Purifying and Exfoliating Clay Mask which is ideal for combination and oily skin and it comes with the following description:

Deep cleanse your way to a clearer, more radiant complexion. English Hemp Husks gently polish away dead skin cells, while Bentonite and Activated Charcoal draw out toxins. Skin-loving super-foods Chlorella and Kelp brighten your skin, boost cell renewal and fight the signs of ageing.

This antioxidant rich face mask uses marine super-foods which include organic kelp and chorella which work to brighten the skin and help prevent against premature ageing. This particular mask is also infused with juniper and eucalyptus oils.  Juniper is a really good oil for helping to relax and ease tension as well as being really good for oily skin.  Eucalytus oil has a lot of properties but in a product such as helping to calm skin eruptions and clear congested skin.

To use this mask you need just a teaspoon of the powder with some warm water to make a paste.  Then gently massage the paste onto the face, using an upward circular motion and as always, be gentle around the eye area.  Once it is on the skin, leave for up to ten minutes and then rinse off using warm water and a damp cloth.   The mask, as it contains Eucalyptus it smells just incredible and it leaves the skin feeling so clean and fresh feeling and ive had no reactions or irritations since using it.  Again, Optiat have really impressed me!

The three masks will retail for £17.95. To find out more about Optiat, the story behind the brand and more information on these amazing masks and coffee scrubs, everything you need to know is right here.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Sönd Skincare

Sönd are a UK based skincare brand which creates their products over in Germany and work with top silica scientists and skincare specialists across Europe. I came across Sönd some time ago thanks to my love of beauty boxes.

Sönd believe everyone can improve their skin with silica as follows:

• Collagen production – silica sits inside collagen acting as glue to provide the connective tissue with strength, flexibility and resilience.
• Water retention – with it’s ability to create bonds with protein molecules (collagen & keratin) and polysaccharides which, are responsible for the skin’s natural ability to hydrate and retain water.
• Soothe irritated skin – as the silica can form strong bonds with free radicals, reducing inflammation.
• Improves the blood vessels’ ability to deliver oxygen and nutrients to skin cells by increasing their elasticity and firmness.

The first product I have been using is the newest to the brand - Sönd Gentle Daily Cleanser (£22). Described as being a gentle but effective cleansing cream which contains both Shea and Cocoa butter which work together to lift off impurities from your skin without stripping away essential moisture, alongside the extracts of chamomile and marigold which will soothe and calm your skin due to their natural antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties. To use the cleanser you really need at most between three and four pumps of the cleanser for massaging onto your face and neck and then once you have massaged it on, you rinse and remove using a muslin cloth or whatever your preference might be.

What I really like about this cleanser is that it has a pump action dispenser which means minimal waste of the product and that it works whether your skin is wet or dry. My preference is to use it on dry skin, as I do similar products and given there is a very subtle floral fragrance, my skin isn't left feeling tight or dry after using. 

The second product is one I have tried before but as a sample (here) and it is the Hydrating Face Spray (£24). I am a huge fan of face mists/sprays and insist that there is always one to be used whether I am at home or at work. This one from Sönd is described as being "A gentle water based infusion of silica that’s quick to apply, it’s a simple, everyday essential for healthier skin". The use of a light aqua-based infusion of silica is said to prepare your skin to receive best results from other products. 

On the skin, this spray is lightweight and does not leave your skin soaking wet. One of my pet hates with a face spray is the dispersal of too much product and the soaking of the skin. If spritizing it directly onto the face is not for you, can you spray it to the palms of your hands or onto a cotton wool pad and then pat it onto the skin. It is really refreshing and a great little pick me up for those mid afternoon slumps when you have been slaving away at the desk and just want a disco nap (which you should also have) or you can use it as a toner which is a great way of adding it into your skincare routine. I use it as a face mist and it does leave my skin feeling hydrated and refreshed and because it is fragrance free, it is perfect for sensitive skin too. 

In total, Sönd has got five products on offer; Gentle Daily Cleanser, Energising Mineral Supplements, Replenishing Facial Oil, Revitalising Face Serum and Hydrating Face Spray and they are definitely worth looking at and trying.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.