ah-mee:skin

The Back story behind the brand..... So...I will take a deep breath before I start, I still get very emotional about this. July 2018, I lost my beautiful Mam, Val, my best ever friend in the whole world. She found out she had Cancer 16 months previous and we knew we had one hell of a fight on our hands. Chemotherapy treatment was the first port of call and once she started it, the Cancer became visible to her and the rest of the family. I'm sure a lot of you can relate to this, if you have watched a love one suffer or if you have been through the battle yourself. The sickness, the tiredness, the thinning or loss of hair, the change in your skin and ultimately the change it has on your mind and your mental health. Making my mam feel comfortable in her own skin was challenging, trying to find products to replace what she was currently using. Finding Products that didn't cause her any discomfort and that worked well on her skin and her body was not as easy as I first thought. She also became nervous to keep trying new brands in case they caused any irritation to her already delicate skin. I had to make sure that ah-mee:skin was going to be safe to use during treatment and also after treatment has finished. I needed the products to be natural and free from sulphates and parabens. I wanted the products to be safe for everyone to use including children. I didn't want anyone to feel they couldn't use our products so I had to make sure they were vegan friendly too.  Once I found the company that could manufacture these amazing products I then just had to think of a brand name. Something that tied both me and my mam together. That is where ah-mee:skin came from. My mam chose the French spelling of my name when I was born 'AMIE'. I then found the French pronunciation of that name 'ah-mee'. Amie has a meaning of 'Friend' so I felt that this all tied in perfectly together. I now still have a part of my mam running through the spine of my business. The 'we' in our company is me and her. Always together in mind and spirit. I hope that she is proud of the legacy I have tired to create for the both of us, and that she is happy that I am making sure I can comfort others who have to suffer Cancer and the effects of the treatment by gently comforting their skin.  

Ladies, Ladies, ladies... If you don't have the two above ingredients in your daily cleansing routine, are you even doing this properly? Alteromonas Ferment Extract is found in deep areas of seawater and is a by-product of the fermentation of the marine bacterium called Alteromonasmacleodii. The good thing about the location of where it grows, allows organisms to evolve into special polysaccharides. The structure of Alteromonas has been found to be very consistent with polysaccharides, it is able to hold a good amount of water, redistribute moisture in the skin by triggering skin hydrating processes. This strengthens our skin’s barrier when it’s applied through skincare. Various testing and research have also shown that Alteromonas Ferment Extract allows for better skin tissue repair and rejuvenation when used as part of a  daily skincare routine. Alteromonas Ferment Extract is on its way to skincare celebrity status just like Hyaluronic Acid. Its likeness to polysaccharides have had a long presence in the skincare world. Now, I know those were a lot of technical terms in a single sentence but our skin really consists of complex structures that maintain its balance and polysaccharides are an example of that. The polysaccharide structure is quite crucial to our skin’s natural ability to hydrate and retain moisture. It stimulates the production of natural hyaluronic acid and lipids in the skin. This structure allows for skin renewal, tissue repair, and protection. Polysaccharides are both emollients and humectants so it’s really a win-win when it comes to skincare! As a skin hydrator, polysaccharides help the skin reap the benefits of good hydration. Our skin thrives when its hydration level is at its best. Well-hydrated skin is well protected from damage caused by sun exposure and other environmental factors like pollution and dry weather. Dry skin is also prone to signs of premature aging like fine lines, dark spots, wrinkles, and loss of skin elasticity. Just because you have dry skin, it doesn’t mean you’re safe from oiliness. In fact, what happens is the complete opposite. Because there is a lack of natural protection for your skin, an oil imbalance occurs as the skin produces more sebum to try and shield itself from external factors. This can lead to skin breakouts and acne. When skin is properly hydrated, your skin’s youthfulness, health, and integrity are preserved. This means you’ll have glowing, bouncy skin with a healthy barrier against UV exposure and pollution from smog and smoking. Other benefits of using skincare that contains Alteromonas Ferment Extract are for skin conditions such as inflammation like rosacea and skin sensitivity to chemical exfoliants and drying treatments can all benefit from anti-inflammatory agents. It also helps settle mechanical irritations from micro-tears that can happen with activities like waxing and shaving. Because it’s an antioxidant as well, it limits free radical activity that leads to the loss of collagen in the skin. Collagen is a protein that gives our body’s components — skin, bones, muscles, and more, their structure. Losing collagen in our skin results in fine lines, wrinkles, and loose, saggy skin. Using Alteromonas Ferment Extract along with Hyaluronic Acid in your daily cleansing and skincare products can only be a win win situation for us all. One natural Ingredient is working on locking in the moisture within the skin and the other helps to hold and retain the moisture of the skin. The two together will create magic for the skins cells and ironing out those fine lines and wrinkles. You will find these amazing Ingredients in our Anti-Age Day Cream which is one of our BEST SELLING products. Now you can see why!!!              

This Summer’s Travel Essential - Facial Oil One of the hottest items within the skincare product market at the moment are facial oils. I know a lot of you are curious about them and may never have used them before or even thought about adding them into your daily skin care routine. I think facial oils are an underrated skincare product and feel I that more people need to know about the benefits of using them, especially this time of year. Historically facial oils have been used for centuries for applying moisture to the face by extracting the natural oils from berries, plants and seeds. This was way long before moisturisers came onto the skin care market. Finding a Facial oil for you will depend heavily on what your skin type is and what your skin needs and lacks. Facial Oils are a great way of feeding the skin and giving drier types the love and care they need. Also, seasonal changes to anyone’s skin can cause issues. Going from winter to summer weather and back again, can also cause the skin loose nourishment. Its our job to put that back. During the easter break this year, I when on a trip to Turkey with my family and friends, I packed all of my skincare products and made a fundamental mistake…. FORGETTING to take my facial oil!!! I was devastated and so was my skin by the end of the week that’s for sure! So, here’s the thing…. Air Con! We don’t use a lot of it here in the UK, apart from in our cars when we are melting in the summer or in shopping centres & office blocks. How ever when we go abroad, this is the one thing our skins are subject to almost from the moment we hit the tarmac on the runway to fly out of the county. Air con is super dehydrating for the skin, so being on a plane for hours, then arriving at an airport, to your transfer blasting the aircon then finally arriving at your hotel or resort……. For the next 7 days or more, your room or apartment is firing aircon into your room just to keep it a temperate we can all cope with. Like I say, we are brits and we just can’t cope with heat!! So, in all fairness, its no wonder our skin feels like a dried-up leather boot by the time we return, and all this is on top of the rays from the sun that we hammer while we are away. If….and only if, I had of remembered to take my facial oil with me, my skin would not have suffered anywhere near half as much as it would have had I been feeding it will 11 different natural oils twice daily!!There would not have been a rubber boot in sight. Now try and tell me a good enough reason as to why you’re not going to make a facial oil top of your holiday cosmetics list of things to buy? I can categorically promise that you will thank me for this blog by the time you come back into the UK. Not only will you have a beautiful healthy summer glow by tanning safely, you will also have stunning nourished skin that glows. The Nourishing Facial from oil from ah-mee:skin is a perfect size bottle to take with you on the plane in your hand luggage, a few drops from the pipette into your hands and straight onto your face while you’re on the plane will also get you in the summer mood. The smell alone from the Argan, Avocado and jojoba oils will give your senses a summer vibe instantly.   Enjoy your summer this year everyone…. You can all thank me later!

The key to healthy glowing skin is all in that word above! Ive been in the beauty industry now for over 12 years and had a lot of conversations with clients about their skin and skincare routine. It always surprises me as to the amount of people that don't exfoliate regular if at all. This is something that Ive done weekly since I was young. Our skins shed like a snake, just not all at once thankfully! Your skin wont always look dry and flaky like the image above, sometimes it will look dull, feel rough and can be a little irritated and tight. Our skin starts to shed every 7-10 days so we really should be looking at giving the skin a polish once every week. I like to try and describe the skin and its pores as a Tupperware box....bare with me on this one and I will explain. A box with a lid on does not let anything out or anything in. Removing the lid of the box allows access. So if you exfoliate the dead skin cells which have formed a lid over our pores we will be able to clean out all the dirt oil and sebum build up as well as allowing the ingredients from our skincare products in, to absorb freely and with ease.   On a Sunday, I have my pamper night. A hot bubble bath with all my skincare products to hand, this way I can make sure that I exfoliate each week and my skin is healthy and glowing for the following week. I use the cleansing foam to remove my makeup then go in with a second application using the facial polishing mitt. With very little pressure this will remove all the dead skin cells with ease and leave my face silky smooth. I apply the Nourishing Facial oil afterwards to give the new exposed skin a good feed of natural oils to leave it looking amazing and feeling fresh and healthy. All skincare products and beauty accessories are available to purchase. If you don't already exfoliate, why not try it? See for yourself the difference it will make to your skin, the results you will get from your products and also how your makeup and foundation applies and lasts all day long.

I don’t know about you, but for us the countdown to Summer is on! While we all want to look golden and glowing this Summer, it is important to always tan safely and sensibly. Spending extreme amounts of time exposed to the sun can be majorly harmful to your precious skin, so it is best to learn how to tan safely.   The importance of staying safe in the sun! Sunburn – Not only can sunburn be painful, it can cause lasting skin damage and blistering Premature signs of ageing – Sun damage can affect the collagen and elastin levels in the skin, these are two essential protein's that maintain it’s youthful, healthy appearance. Excess UV exposure can also speed up the signs of ageing, allowing wrinkles and sagging to appear prematurely. Hyperpigmentation – Hyperpigmentation is often caused by too much time in the sun, as the skin naturally produces excess melanin to protect itself. How To Tan Safely! Your heart may desire a natural tan from the glorious sunny rays, however ensure you take these tips on how to tan safely: Use a broad spectrum SPF (factor 30 or higher). SPF should be applied all year round to protect the skin from UV damage. Allow 15 minutes before heading outside to allow the sun cream to form a shield on the skin for maximum protection. Reapply throughout the day, as contact with sand, water, sweat and towels could cause the sun protection to be rubbed off. Staying hydrated is particularly crucial in the summer. Not only will drinking water keep your body topped up with hydration, but it will also help calm the effects of sunburn, keep heat headaches at bay and give the skin a naturally radiant glow. Our skin care range has a fantastic Tinted SPF30 for the face so there is no need for burnt noses and foreheads this summer. Its mineral based and super light and comfortable to wear without leaving the skin feeling clogged. Its works really well underneath our Luminous Foundations too so you can still do summer glam safely.