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.

Ecoya Guava & Lychee Sorbet Candle

I have probably mentioned it a lot but I do adore candles, whichever room I am sat in, I have one burning, I find them relaxing and of course I am intrigued by their scents and whether or not they live up to their claims.

Ecoya isn't a brand I am too familiar with, but if this Guava and Lychee Sorbet Candle is anything to go by, then I want and need to know more. Before the candle is removed from the box, the scent is already quite captivating and most definitely has a tropical note to it, summer time might almost be over, but this is a candle which will make you forget that Autumn is coming. 

Founded back in 2004, Ecoya is described as being 'a leading eco-luxe fragrance and bodycare brand'. They are an Australian brand and use hand-poured natural waxes and lead-free cotton wicks to craft their signature paraffin-free scented candles. Ecoya focus on pure ingredients and meticulously blended scents has led to them becoming popular in more than 25 countries worldwide.

The candle arrives inside a beautifully peach/coral sorbet coloured box and inside is glass jar which houses the candle.  This particular one has a burn time of 55 hours and its fragrance is described as follows:

Layers of delicious guava nectar interwoven with the sparkling sweetness of lychee, underpinned by voluptuous tropical berries.

So full of fruity notes, the scent of Guava is really quite evident and even before the silver embossed lid is removed and once alight the scent becomes even more alive and literally travels to each room of the house leaving behind the most incredible tropical scent, very uplifting and a definite mood pleaser.

If this sounds like a candle for you, then John Lewis has both a mini version which is £17  and the larger size candle, which is the one I have for £39 at John Lewis. If candles are not for you, but you like the sound of the scent, there is also a reed diffuser option right for £45.

*this post contains PR samples/Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise stated. Please see my disclaimer for more info.

Christian Breton DELICIOUS FACE OIL

Christian Breton is a new brand to me, one until very recently I had never come across, but it is one that I am glad I have been given the opportunity to use. To that end I have been enjoying the Delicious Face Oil and some products from the Eye Priority Range (here).

Radiance in a bottle! This NEW Delicious Facial Oil (£59.00, 30ml) from Christian Breton is described as being 'a beautiful oil but with the performance of a serum' quite some claim, but given how much I adore the eye care range, then I had high hopes for the oil.

The oil is enriched with Camellia oil, an ingredient which is proven to visibly replenish the skin with essential moisture whilst at the same time working to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The use of Baobab oil works alongside the Camellia oil and it helps to improve the skin's elasticity whilst Tocopherol protects the skin against elements such as pollution and dryness. Further ingredients include:

Ingredients include:

• Spilanthes Acmella: relaxes facial muscles to decrease facial lines and wrinkles
• Sunflower Oil: rich in vitamin E it acts as an antioxidant on the body to neutralise free radicals and prevent damage to healthy cells
• Gycine Soja Oil: contains essential fatty acids that are key to maintaining skin health and restoring long lasting radiance.

The oil comes inside this beautiful frosted glass bottle and the use of a pipette for distribution is really welcomed. All you need is two or three drops of the oil in the morning or evening, depending on your preference and then you apply it to your skin either from the palms of your hands, or if you can manage it, the pipette itself, but it is really runny.  I also like to add it to my moisturiser if I am in a bit of a hurry.

On the skin, the oil absorbs really quickly, possibly the quickest I have ever tried (that or my skin is really dry) and once it has done so, there is not a trace left behind that it was ever there. After use, my skin feels incredibly soft to the touch and definitely hydrated.  There is a slight scent to it which I can't place, other than to say it has a clean smell, but one which doesn't transfer on to the skin.

I am loving this oil and it has really lived up to its expectations for keeping my skin moisturised and hydrated, but as yet, I am still unable to say how well it does with wrinkles because I haven't got any.  

You can find the Christian Breton range on both LookFantastic and BeautyExpert

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise